New School, New Life

Two Houses

What do you get when you have a lazy procrastinator with time management issues decide they want to write a story? You get a chapter that is a month over due.

I'm incredibly sorry for the lateness of this chapter. I had this one started before I even posted the last chapter but there were several times that I didnt know where to go with it or where I should end it. But hey, its finally done and here.

I hope you enjoy :)

Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to the wonderful, and talented J. K. Rowling.

I was in shock. This could not be happening. Gryffindor and Slytherin? No, this had to be a prank. Some kind of sick joke by someone I somehow managed to piss off already. Soon everyone would be laughing at my expense.

But the collective gasp I heard from students and teachers alike told me this what not a prank. It was not some joke. It was real. I had just been sorted into two houses.

Professor McGonagall took the hat off my head but I was too petrified to move. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Dumbledore talking to her. Eventually she nodded and turned to me, gesturing for me to follow her.

I slowly got up from the stool and followed her around the head table to a wooden door. She lead me through winding hallways, and twisting corridors, and up staircases, until we came to a beautiful gargoyle. It was set in a sitting position and, though the hind legs had hooves, the front ones had talons. The gargoyle also had large, feathered wings and a head of a bird. It was absolutely stunning.

McGonagall came to a stop in front of it and spoke in a strong, clear voice, "Gum Drops." The gargoyle started to spin and rise from the floor as a spiral stone staircase began to appear. McGonagall stepped onto the stairs and I quickly followed behind her. The stairs stopped spinning when we reached oaken double doors which she pushed open and gestured for me to go first.

As I stepped in, I saw that it was a large and beautiful circular room, full of funny little noises. A number of curious silver instruments stood on spindle-legged tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke. The walls were covered with portraits of old headmasters and headmistresses, along with bookshelves upon bookshelves. There was also an enormous, mahogany desk at the top of a small set of stairs on the far end of the room. This was the only room in the entire castle that I was familiar with: Professor Dumbledore's office.

It felt nice to finally be on somewhat familiar ground. I walked further into the room and saw the magnificent, orange and yellow phoenix perched on its stand.

McGonagall walked past me and went up the small set of steps and placed the Sorting Hat on Dumbledore's desk. She turned to me and said, "I must return to the Great Hall. It will be a little while until the feast is finished, would you like something sent up to you?" I shook my head.

"Well, then," she said, heading for the door, "I must go. Professor Dumbledore, myself, and the other teachers will come back here when the feast is over."

She turned to me one last time before leaving, "Are you sure I can't get you anything?" I, again, shook my head. If I had been hungry at all, I lost my appetite when that hat had been placed on my head.

With that, she left and I was alone. Well, not totally alone. There was still the beautiful phoenix and the magical hat that - I was fairly certain - just ruined my life.

I looked over at the old, worn Sorting Hat sitting on the desk. Hesitantly, I made my way over to the desk and addressed it, "Um...excuse me?"

It once again jumped to life and - although it didn't have any eyes - seemed to look directly at me. "Yes?"