The Key to a Riddle's Heart (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 2 - The Sorting

We arrived at Hogwarts and my friends led me onto a carriage that seemed to be pulled by nothing. The carriage ride was quite short and soon enough we were walking into the grand stone castle. My jaw dropped in astonishment as I took everything in. Sure, Beauxbatons had been very nice, but Hogwarts had that wow-factor and it gave off a homey vibe. I was pulled aside by a teacher with a medium-length, slightly grey beard and was instructed to wait with the first years so I could be sorted. The Professor offered me a closed-mouth smile but didn't say anything as we watched the upperclassmen walk by.

Once all of the older, already-sorted students were inside what I assumed to be the dining hall, the professor with the beard introduced himself and explained what was about to happen. I learned his name was Professor Dumbledore and he taught the subject of Transfiguration- one of my favorites at Beauxbatons.

"Hello. My name is Professor Dumbledore. I teach Transfiguration and am excited to see you all this week in class. Anyways, once we walk through the doors you will be sorted into one of the four houses. All these houses are named in honor after the four founders of the school. These houses are Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Once you are sorted, you will take a seat at your house's table and begin to eat dinner. Now, come along."

We entered the dining hall and I immediately noticed the ceiling. It had been magnificently bewitched to look like the night sky. There were floating candles everywhere and I then noticed there were ghosts floating throughout the room. It was much different from Beauxbatons plain, marble ceiling. I continued to observe the rest of the hall and then noticed Charlus and Matthew waving obnoxiously at me. Once they realized they had completed their goal in making me laugh, their waving stopped (or they had stopped because Professor Dumbledore seemed to give them a disapproving look). Dorea just shook her head in annoyance at the two and gave me a quick smile. I looked over at the Ravenclaw table and locked eyes with Fran, who waved quickly and then went back to listening to her fellow house friends chat about what I assumed to be about their summer holidays.

The hall fell silent and I finally took notice of the worn-out, wrinkled brown hat that suddenly began singing, causing me to jump in shock.

"Oh you may not think me pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

A man who was sitting in the middle of the staff table- I assumed he was Headmaster Dippet- stood up and announced my name and explained that I was a transfer from Beauxbatons and that I would be going into my fifth year. I gently pushed through the crowd of first years to the front of the dining hall and sat down on the wooden stool. Professor Dumbledore placed the hat on my head and soon enough, the hat began speaking to me which caused me to flinch.