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Chapter 5-Hogwartz 1973

At the end of the ceremony, Professor Dumbledore began the feast with the shortest toast I had ever heard. Halfway through the dinner my eyes met his across the hall and he smiled slightly at me before turning back to the plump professor talking to me at his left. Once the feast was done, my heart accelerated and I tried to focus on my breathing and thinking brave thoughts. As the exodus from the Great Hall began, the boys looked at me hopefully and wished me luck before traipsing off to their dorm. Lily hung back with me, talking animatedly about the new classes they would get to take this year and her friends that she would introduce me to. Once most of the students were cleared, Lily started walking me up to Professor Dumbledore's office, since I wouldn't know the way there other than via floo.

"Listen don't fret, all the houses are just fine, regardless of what those stupid boys say. There are friends to be made everywhere. I have some in all the houses, I am sure you will too." The kindness in Lily's eyes calmed me frayed nerves as they approached a gargoyle statue.

"Licorice quills." said Lily and the gargoyle sprang to life and jumped aside as a winding staircase appeared behind it.

"I don't think I'm ever going to get used to this castle."

"Oh me neither. It still feels like an odd dream some days. I half expect to wake up to Tuney yelling at me through the door that we are going to miss the school bus if I don't wake up RIGHT NOW." We giggled as they approached the heavy wooden door that lead to Dumbledore's office. Lily was about to reach out to knock when I held up my hand, gesturing that I could knock for them. I rapped the door with as much confidence as I could muster and gave a quick nod to Lily. We faced forward again when the door opened and there stood Professor Dumbledore gesturing us in.

"Miss Evans and Miss Castor, right on time. Did you enjoy the feast? I found the treacle tart was exceptionally pleasing if I do say so myself."

"Yes sir." We chimed together and glanced at each other quickly while Dumbledore swept across the room towards his desk.

"I expect Miss Evans has given you a brief explanation of the sorting process? Or perhaps Mr. Potter or Mr. Black beat her to it?" Dumbledore quirked an eyebrow at me as he pulled the sorting hat onto the table and gestured at the open chair for me to sit. I gulped, hopefully not as audibly as I thought I had, and walked forward with m shoulders pulled back.

"I explained it to her briefly at dinner, sir." Lily couldn't figure out why all of a sudden she was feeling nervous too I could tell by her aura. She figured it must just be because she liked my spunk and would be excited to have a new roommate to introduce to my friends back in Gryffindor tower if I got sorted with them.

I sat gingerly at the edge of the chair and crossed my ankles. I eyed the dingy hat wearily, half expecting it to burst into another song like it had at the ceremony. But it remained silent until it was placed onto her head and sunk over her eyes.

My, my, my, what do we have here? I haven't seen one of your kind since I was newly stitched you know...

Yes sir, I know.

You were in Thunderbird, eh? Interesting, very interesting. The house of the s-

Soul. Yes, I know. It was my nature that overpowered my placement. I wanted Pukwudgie.

Clever girl. The heart is connected to the soul of course... Now... Where to put you here... I see much inside this head of yours...

Do you see a Gryffindor?

Ah... tsk tsk tsk... A lion, I see... An interesting answer to an interesting puzzle. I know just where to put you...

"g-RAVENCLAW!"