American Beauty

Chapter 4: Sorting and The Feast

All of the scared little first-years, myself included, filed into the Great Hall. The ceiling was made like a blanket of stars and there were floating candles above my head. Four long tables stretched through the hall and at each were quite a lot of students. Up at the front, the teachers sat waiting as well as a tattered hat on a stool.

When the students finally paused in front of the hat, everyone quieted. The teacher unfurled a piece of parchment and began to read names. After a few I got bored but was still paying attention. Hermione, Neville, Harry, and Ron were put in Gryffindor and Luna was put in Ravenclaw. No surprise, Malfoy was in Slytherin. When the teacher finally called my name, I was a bundle of nerves.

I ascended the stage to the stool and sat down very carefully. A million thoughts were racing through my head. What if I'm not sorted? The whole school will laugh at me. I can't do this. The hat was placed upon my head and I immediately began to hear a murmur in my mind.

"Intelligent and wise I see," it said, "and creative as well. You have all the makings of a RAVENCLAW!" I felt giddy with excitement. I hopped off the three legged stool and walked over to sit next to Luna. I was sorted and I was satisfied.

Once everyone was sorted, the headmaster stood up and made a few quick announcements. Then the plates before us filled with food. My eyes lit up in amazement. This school was going to be cooler than I thought.

.___________.

After the feast, the prefects led us to our house common room. Our boy prefect was Kenneth Walker and our girl prefect was Marley Corner. On the way up, Kenneth told us how to get into the common room and what to expect every day.

When we got the the door, Kenneth rapped the knocker. Then the knocker spoke, "Rip one off and scratch its head. What was red's now black instead." Kenneth frowned then turned to us.

"Anyone know this one?" he asked. I timidly raised my hand and Kenneth looked right at me. "You," he said and pointed.

"A matchstick?" I said questioningly. Then as soon as the words left my lips, the door swung open. Kenneth smiled at me before stepping inside.

Inside the common room was blue themed for the Ravenclaw colors. There were several couches and plenty of tables for doing homework at. Up the staircase to the girl's dormitory were paintings of important witches in history and a little explanation of what they contributed under each portrait. In the room itself were four, four-poster beds with blue curtains and each bed had a side table. Our trunks had been delivered earlier. In my year was Luna, a girl named Cho Chang, and another girl named Marietta. I didn't make note of her last name.

I picked the bed the farthest away from everyone but the closest to Luna. I set out my robes for the next day and packed my bookbag. Then I changed into pajamas and collapsed into my bed. Today had been a long day and I was ready for sleep.