Unexpected

Chapter 10

All of the older students were sat down at the 4 long house tables. Us first years had been led into an awkward line in between the teachers's table behind us and the students in front.

Professor McGongagall, whom I recognised instantly from James's description, stood up, "Good evening everyone. I understand that you must all be anxious to get eating, but, as you are all well aware, our First Years have to be sorted into the houses in which they will spend the remainder of their time at Hogwarts." She clicked her fingers and a very short man (probably Professor Flitwick) placed a stool with a very old hat on it down in front of her. The sorting hat. He handed McGonagall a piece of parchment and went to sit back down.

"I am the Sorting Hat, you see

Nobody knows more secrets than me.

I could place you in Gryffindor,

Brave and strong,

Or how about Hufflepuff,

The charming one?

If it's success you're craving,

I know where you're aiming,

That's Slytherin house!

If you're of wit and learning,

Your heart will be yearning,

For the house of fair Ravenclaw!

I can tell you easily,

When on your head I see,

For I am the Sorting Hat!" The Hat itself finished the song it had just sung, and the Great Hall broke out into applause. It was rather fun to watch that old hat sing, not nearly as scary as I'd anticipated.

The ceiling was bewitched to make it look like the sky outside, dark and starry. I was staring at it until McGonagall announced, "And now we shall begin. First up, Able, Matthew."

I watched Matthew Able timidly walk over to the stool, perch on the edge and place the hat on his mop of blonde hair.

There was a moment of consideration from the hat, and then, "Hufflepuff!" It screamed. The Hufflepuff table whooped and applauded as they received Matthew into their house.

I watched the same thing happen with, "Acerton, Julie." Except she went to Slytherin. Their cheering was somewhat louder.

And then, before I'd even considered walking over myself, "Adams, Clara." Was called out. Albus squeezed my hand and Rose gave me a push forward.

I made my way over to the stool, gently picking up the hat and placing it on my head.

'This is actually exciting,' I thought to myself, 'I'll finally know what house I'm in!'

"A thirst for knowledge, eh?" A voice said, it sounded like the one that had just been singing, so the hat must've been talking to me.

"But knowledge isn't the only thing is it? You have dreams, ambitions, hopes. All Slytherin qualities." The hat continued.

"Please not Slytherin..." I whispered.

"Not Slytherin eh? Well that takes me back to Ravenclaw, but now that I think about it, it's obvious, GRYFFINDOR!" It yelled.

Hazily I got to my feet. I was the first to go to Gryffindor, so they were cheering hard.

"Clara!" James yelled as he came bounding over to where I had sat down, next to our prefect Martha Stirling.

He hugged me tight, "I got Gryffindor, James!"

He laughed, "No way? Wait until everyone at home hears about this!"

James sat next to me for the rest of the sorting. He grabbed my hand when Albus sat down on the stool and I squeezed his.

That hat took a long time to deliberate before it yelled, "Slytherin!" On Al's head.

The entirety of Hogwarts fell silent. It was a stark contrast to the last boy's reception when he had gotten Slytherin. Malfoy, Scorpius had been received like a hero.

Al just stood there. Soon enough though, the emptiness was filled with the loudest cheering I'd heard yet. Slytherin were even chanting, "We got Potter! We got Potter! We got Potter!" Over and over again.

I turned to see the bemused face of James, "Gryffindor chanted that for me last year." He muttered absentmindedly.

There was no time for us to talk about Al's placement, but there was sure to be soon.

Rose was sorted into Ravenclaw almost immediately.

"No surprise there." I said, as a happy looking Rose made her way to the Ravenclaw table.

"Nope. Al though..." James replied.

"I know!" I said.

We spent the majority of the school song and McGonagall's speech whispering about Al. Honestly, I was being bad already. What would Hermione say?

I was grateful when the food appeared in front of me, and I ate happily next to James and opposite the twin girls we'd seen on the train.