Voldemort's Hidden Gem

Chapter Three

Disclaimer: I don't own what J.K. Rowling came up with just the stuff I thought of by myself.
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"Hermione Granger." The stern faced teacher calls. Timidly the bushy-haired, blonde girl from the train shuffles to the stool.

Her fingers tremble slightly as she drops the worn hat on top of her head. Almost immediately after it's situated the hat shouts, "Gryffindor!"

A happy smile brightens her previously pale face as she excitedly hops off the stool and takes an available seat at the table. Older students slide over to make room for their new house member.

Some more names are called and I zone out until I hear a familiar one. "Ronald Weasley."

Looking slightly nauseas he wipes his palms against his robes before walking stiffly to the hat. By now we've all seen it used a multitude of times and know exactly how it informs us. Surprisingly it shouts before even landing on Ron's ginger head. "Gryffindor!"

Elation blooms across his features as he races towards his older siblings. The twins groan and mumble something along the lines of, "How the bloody hell did Ronny make it in Gryffindor?"

"Can't say. 'Thought he was going to be a Hufflepuff for sure." The other one replies.

Stifling my laughter I place a hand over my mouth and attempt to appear stoic as a few more names are called. That Draco boy gets sorted and to no one's surprise is placed in Slytherin. His goons are sorted there as well. The bunch of first years is dwindling until it's just Harry and I left.

Finally the woman yells, "Harry Potter!" Nervously Harry leaves my side and takes a seat on the rickety stool. The hat looks abnormally large as it sits atop his messy hair.

It takes a while for it to decide and Harry's mouth is moving continually through it like he's whispering something. Nobody seems to be able to hear it though. "Gryffindor!" The hat shouts eventually, and an extremely relieved Harry hobbles off the stool to join Ron.

I'm the only one left. Yay? All eyes are on me as the next name is read.

Spoiler alert: it's mine.

"Jade?" The woman says confusedly, probably wondering why I don't have a last name.

Mustering up whatever confidence I can, to erase any nerves, I hold my head high as I walk towards the stool. The short walk feels like an eternity as I ponder which house I will be placed in. I kind of hope I'm in Ravenclaw, but I'd probably be happy as a Hufflepuff or Gryffindor also. Stiffly I grasp the edges of the wooden stool as the slightly moldy hat is placed on my raven locks. 

With furrowed brows I wait for something to happen.  "Well, well I didn't expect another Riddle, alas this world full of many surprises."  A raspy voice purrs in my ear.  Riddle?  As in a phrase that you have to solve?  "The obvious choice for the heir would be Slytherin... yes Slytherin.  I'll put you there."  Instantly I tense not liking the idea of being seen as evil.  The hat seems to have sensed it also.  "No?  You're a brave girl to dare come here.  The place your birth right is least wanted.  Good luck... GRYFFINDOR!" 

I doubt anyone heard any of that conversation since I wasn't able to hear anyone else's.  Still confused about what it said, I spend a few moments in shock before racing towards my friends. 

As I near the clapping Gryffindors I notice a few of the teachers staring at me oddly.  A lady, with a mess of knotted, ratty, grey locks and large spectacles with a thin layer of grime coating them, turns towards Snape.  They have a small conversation before facing us students once again.  I wonder what that was about. 

Dumbledore, the headmaster, stands briefly and says, "Let the feast begin." His voice isn't loud or demanding, but his tone holds a quiet power. 

Golden plates appear along the heavy tabletop filled with loads of mouthwatering dishes.  Before I can even react Ron digs in piling everything he can onto his plate and Harry follows his lead soon after, but in a bit less animalistic manner.  I share a look with Hermione who happens to be across from us and roll my eyes at the two pigs sandwiching me.  She just laughs. 

Deciding to eat I begin loading my plate and tasting the assortment of lavish foods.  Nothing really happens except classic small talk until ghosts begin to fly around the hall.  Transfixed by their opaque bodies I don't notice one stop next to Harry.  The two behind to converse, but I'm to busy watching the others fly around to listen.

Suddenly the poltergeist grabs his hair and yanks at it swiftly causing his head to fall to the side.  Not expecting it I, along with a few others, gasp in shock.  A few Hufflepuff girls scream while a lot of the Slytherins snicker from across the room.  Most of the older students aren't fazed and it's obvious they've seen it before. 

Not exactly hungry after seeing what a barely connected neck's inside looks like I push my food away. Even Ron begins to turn a little green.  Not too long after we're all excused from the hall and along with all of my fellow Gryffindor first years I'm lead to wherever we will stay. 

Our herd stops in front of a lady portraying a lavishly dressed, heavyset woman.  Percy, the head boy and one of Ron's older brothers, turns to us all.  "Caput Draconis.  Follow me, everyone.  Keep up.  Quickly, come on.  Gather around here.  Welcome to the Gryffindor common room." 

He then tells us all where our dormitories are located.  Hermione and I run up the thin staircase that leads to the girl's dormitory.  Once we've settled as prepared for bed we lie awake talking.

"You excited?"  I ask her with an easy grin while staring out the window.

"More nervous, I think.  There's so much to learn an I don't want to fall behind."  She replies quickly. 

After meeting her I'm not surprised at all by her answer.  She seems like the goody-two-shoes kind of girl, but that may come in handy.  "You're already ahead of everyone else.  Most are like Ron who doesn't even know how to properly hold his wand." 

She giggles most likely remembering the fiasco on the bus.  "You're right he's lousy already.  Hopefully we don't make too much of a fool of ourselves tomorrow." 

"Yeah I hope so too."  We're silent after that.  Both of us mulling over what the next day will bring. 

A/n Hello guess what!  It's me again... yay?  I want to thank anyone that has actually read this far because, well,  it's probably not that entertaining. 

Anywhore I just wanted to apologize for not updating quickly.  Normally I don't have this much of a life, so I'll try to post more often. 

Toodles,

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