LOST ☞ REMUS LUPIN (being rewritten)

vi. the great hall

The door swung open at once. A tall witch clad in Emerald green robes stood, waiting for them.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall."

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."

She pulled the doors the rest of the way open, giving the students room to file in. The entrance hall was huge, and the ceiling was too high to be seen. McGonagall motioned for them to follow her up the marble staircase. The students could hear the older students voices from a doorway to the right. At first, Bast thought that they would go in there, so she turned around and accidentally rammed into a fellow student. McGonagall showed them into a much smaller empty chamber on their left. They crowded together, looking up at the Professor.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," began Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will take place shortly, but before you are able to take your seats, you will be sorted into your houses. This ceremony is very important because, during your time here, your house will be like your family. You will have classes with them, sleep with them, and spend your free time with them."

McGonagall looked around, checking that no one had fallen asleep or walked off.

"There are four houses; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each has its own noble history and each has produced many wonderful witches and wizards. While here at Hogwarts, you should note that your triumphs will earn you house points, and any rule-breaking will lose them. At the end of the year, the house with the most house points will win the House Cup. The Sorting Ceremony will begin shortly. I will be back to get you all momentarily."

With that, McGonagall left the room. Lily turned to Bast. "How do we get sorted?"

"I- I don't actually know. I never thought to ask. Some ceremonial way, probably."

"Thanks. You're really helpful."

"Move along now and form a line," said a sharp voice. "The Ceremony is about to begin."

Professor McGonagall had returned. The students converged to form a messy line. Bast ended up between the two boys who had been in the first compartment they had sat in. The boys who had talked about setting off dungbombs on the train. She just hoped that they didn't have any more in their pockets. McGonagall led them out of the small chamber, through the hall, and back to the wooden double doors that led to the Great Hall. The buzzing of the voices stopped as McGonagall pushed the door open. All the students had their eyes on the first years. Several students gasped as they looked around at the ceiling.

McGonagall disappeared for a moment before reappearing with a stool and a pointed hat. It was patched in multiple places, fraying in others, and was covered in a great deal of dirt. Everyone stared at the hat in curiosity, so Bast focused her attention on it also. The hat twitched. A rip formed near the brim and then opened as if it were a mouth. Then, in a deep and raspy voice, the hat sang. It was the most horrid thing Bast had ever heard. The sing was intriguing, but she was more than grateful when it was over. The rest of the students were clapping, so Bast joined in. The hat bowed to each table and then the group of students before becoming still once more.

McGonagall stepped forwards, holding a long scroll of parchment. "When I call your name, step forward and sit down so that I may place the hat upon your head."

"ABBOT, TERRIANN."

McGonagall placed that hat on her head. It sat for a minute before calling out "HUFFLEPUFF!"

"AUBREY, BERTRAM."

"SLYTHERIN!

"Avery, Mulligan."