Crossroads of Two Worlds

14- Hogwarts

While Albus seemed to be glad to see Scorpius, Rose didn't even look at him. I didn't blame her. It wasn't that he was ugly, but his condescending gaze made me want to avoid him at all costs.

Feet came up from behind Scorpius but the boy didn't notice. A scroll tapped him on the shoulder and Scorpius backed up again. Professor Longbottom glared quickly at Scorpius, surprising the platinum blonde to speechlessness with the bitterness of the wise man's gaze. Turning away from the kid he lazer-eyed, Professor Longbottom said smoothly, "We are ready now."

On cue, the doors opened wide and the first year students got their first good look at the Great Hall. The ceiling, as of the moment, was bewitched to look like the night sky, the stars forming constellations and the moon shining bright. For a moment it seemed as if there was no ceiling at all, and the Hall was simply open to the heavens. It reminded me of my cabin back at camp, the feeling slightly muted by the knowledge that the ceiling was fake.

Running lengthwise down the room were four huge tables, one for each house I presumed. We stopped at the front of the room where, up a few shallow steps, was a small platform, and behind that was the teacher's table. Atop a stool in the front of the room was an ancient, stained, torn, scorched wizards hat.

Professor Longbottom pointed at the hat, "This is the Sorting Hat, we ask if you all would be quiet while it sings a brief song."

Suddenly the hat moved. A large rip in the front of it opened and it began to sing with a bold voice.

I may not be beautiful
But beautiful is not me.
For I am the Sorting Hat,
The only one you'll ever see

I sort the strong and sort the weak
The bold and clever and kind and cold
I sort the one and I sort them all
Wherever you fit, whatever your mold

Whether Gryffindor for brave and bold
Or Ravenclaw for clever and quick
In one you'll find you truly belong

In Hufflepuff for loyalty and charm
In Slytherin for cunning and sly
You'll find one of them through my wise eye

I am the Sorting Hat of old
For bold and clever and kind and cold
Through me you'll find who you really are
Come forth and find what you may be

The hall exploded in applause for the hat but I could barely move my arms I was so nervous.
I knew that I had to be closer to the beginning of the list, as I'd been told that it was alphabetical. I hadn't realized that I would be the first one. Usually alphabetical meant by last name...

Professor Longbottom read my name off of the scroll first in a loud and clear voice, "Alana Faye!"

I took a breath as the hall went silent and pushed my legs to the stool. As I walked I was very aware of everything around me. I felt my robes swishing around my ankles and my hair tickling my neck, I heard the flaming candles crackling, I even heard a few stomachs rumbling. I kept walking through all the noise and nerves, and it felt like ages, getting up to the hat, but it was on my head as soon as I sat. The stool creaked when I sat, and if it creaked when less than eighty pounds sat on it, then it too must have been old, maybe even as old as the hat on my head.

A quieter version of the singing voice rang through my head, "A Demi-witch I see, very rare... practically unheard of... yes, yes, quite brave, like your grandmother... I remember-"

I cut it off by saying inside my head, "You knew my grandmother?"

It responded, almost chuckling, "You don't miss much! Yes Alana, I knew your Grandmother. Her name was Kalani, was it not? She came to school here, I sorted her into Ravenclaw. Your mother had some witch in her but mostly demigod, so she never received a letter. I wonder how you inherited so much magical blood? You have a brilliant mind as well, I see. You're outstandingly clever really, and very creative. I don't think you'd quite fit in Ravenclaw though. Kind and loyal, but not a Hufflepuff. You have traits of all the houses, but I think you'd do best in Gryffindor or Slytherin."