Adopted by the Malfoy's {Harry Potter fanfic}

9. The Sorting

A/N: J. K. Rowling owns the world of Harry Potter, I only claim ownership of Lexie, Max and the five new characters I've mentioned in this chapter and will introduce formally in the next. No money is being made from this fic, it's just a bit of fun. I'm sorry for the ending but it's all I've got so far. Enjoy!

The door swung open at the man's knock, and everyone looked ahead to be greeted by the sight of a tall, brown haired witch in emerald robes. Her hair was piled under her hat and her stern face surveyed them all as they stood in the doorway.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said the man.

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

She pulled the door open as wide as it would go to allow everyone inside, and Lexie was amazed to see the size of the entry hall, it could have fit her room and Draco's with much more space to share. The walls were stone, flaming torches giving off most of the lighting, with a marble staircase that led to the upper floors.

The students followed Professor McGonagall across the stone floor toward another doorway on the right, where Lexie could hear the low buzzing of voices. She expected that Professor McGonagall would take them into the room with the rest of the school, but she showed the first years into an empty chamber off of the main hall. They crowded in, all standing a little too close to each other for comfort, all looking about nervously.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start of term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be very much like a family within Hogwarts. You'll have classes with your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own history and each has produced noble witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your accomplishments will earn you house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, this is a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

"The Sorting will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all prepare yourselves while you are waiting." Her eyes flicked from Neville, to red hair’s dirt-smudged nose, to Messy hair's unruly mop. Lexie noticed Hermione trying to flatten her bushy hair but failing.

"I shall return when we are ready for you, please wait quietly." Professor McGonagall left the chamber, and everyone started to fidget and talk in low voices. Draco glanced beside him to see that his foster sister looked deathly pale from nerves so he reached over and gently squeezed her hand once. She seemed to come out of a trance and gave him a shaky smile.

"How do you think the Sorting ceremony is done?" Messy hair asked the boy beside him, the redhead.

"Some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking." The boy answered and Lexie gulped, fighting to keep her lunch down. It would not do to get sick in front of everyone, but it terrified her that she would be placed into a house in front of the entire school. Draco didn't seem so concerned, but he stayed close, a little worried that she would fall over at any moment.

Lexie saw Hermione glancing around and she followed suit to see that she wasn't the only one who looked scared. No one spoke much, but she could faintly hear Hermione whispering what sounded like spells to her inexperienced ears. The girls locked eyes and Lexie tried to smile, but Hermione was too busy with her whispering to notice.

Suddenly Lexie felt a new presence and was startled when at least 20 ghosts emerged through the back wall. They were all translucent, gliding over the room and talking to one another, not noticing the scared first years below. They seemed to be arguing, one was saying: "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance."