After the War.

Housed and Sorted.

The small talk with newly met Professor Hagrid went well but he soon left and a faint voice was then heard. A dark bob was seen through the crowd as a short man called for our attention. His nose was pointy and his moustache definitely caught the eye as it was as big as he was. The tailored suit fit him and his wand was clearly seen in his hand as he waited for us all to pay attention.

"I am Professor Flitwick. Together we shall head into the school where, provided you behave, you shall be sorted into your houses." His lips stretched over his teeth roughly. Soon he marched on and we followed like sheep. Not only that but we kept our heads down only to lift them when talking briefly. This stopped when we got to a set of steps. We all stopped and the man walked on. As he left we all spoke of how large the castle already seemed and a flicker of fear filled us all at the multiple chances to get lost.

It was a Friday and so we would have two days to make ourselves comfortable until finally the days of work started. Friends could be made and also fun to be had. The whispering slowly silenced and Isaac even stopped talking to me when the door was again open and the man walked out.
"You are about to be sorted into one of four houses, Ravenclaw is for the witty and quick to think, Hufflepuff is for the kind and quick to do good, Slytherin is for the cunning and quick to power, Gryffindor is for the brave and quick to act. Now, follow me." He was beckoning us all to follow him. I was closer to the back so just followed the others until we were in the hall. Older students all spoke and Hermione caught my eye. She had spotted me long before so a wave was sent my way and I smiled brightly at her.

The ceiling was covered in stars and candles that had me momentarily mesmerized until I noticed that the students further forward had halted and so I would have to. That was when I looked to the front of the hall properly.

At the front stood a large table. Multiple professors all hunched around and watching. A woman with jet black hair was seen with a tall hat. It was just like a common witch hat and I smiled. She seemed to be the most important one. Probably the headmistress and those around her looked awfully serious. It was going to be very different to muggle schools and that was for sure.

Slowly though a voice was heard, I had no clue who it was from and I had missed the words as I searched for it, only when the voice stopped did I realise where the words had come from. A hat had been talking but it was also to a little bit of a silent tune. As I was about to ask what was happening the small man from before pulled out a scroll and spoke loudly. Making sure all heard him.

"Agnus Lia Flowers." A small and terrified girl stood and sat on the stool. It was silent for a time and then a loud voice, just as before, spoke, it was gruff and tired. Just as the hat seemed.

"Hufflepuff." She smiled and cheers filled the hall. The table in green didn't say anything though. This was true for the whole ceremony unless the table had gained a person for themselves. Teachers all clapped and some were far more excited than others. An older man seemed to be happiest of all but his eyes crossed the green table the most, he seemed to smile when this happened and so I believed him to be a Slytherin himself.

The three of my friends were all placed into the very same house. Smiles met me each time as I awaited my time on the stool.

"Iona Amara Flint." I felt red run up my face as I heard the name and eyes from the Slytherins hit me as well as the old man from before. Professor Bell was kind as she smiled warmly at me. Once I turned and sat though I could see all of their faces on me and when the hat was placed I heard a voice. It was so unexpected that I jumped slightly and a few laughs were heard. It surprised me when those that sat at the head table laughed.

'Hm. Very odd, parents in Slytherin but you aren't like them at all. You would still do well in that house though. Your kindness is shining, quite the kind and endearing Hufflepuff. Your brains are something to recommend you. That attitude of yours is so brave and courageous. A true Gryffindor to my mind. Dare I ask what house you want to be in?' his voice was so rough I wasn't sure that I had heard right.

"Oh, um, I don't know. They all seem to have their own qualities." I really had no clue and the small man at my side watched closely as the hat and I had spoken. He smiled as I peeked a look at him and after a while, he turned back to the teaching table and waved his hands a little.

'Well that is as convenient as a tree is to a car. Come on, what house do you get along with the most? The people in the house that you are mostly friends with or the such.' I shrugged and he was getting to be a little unsettled. Then he unexpectedly shouted for all of the hall to hear, "inconvenience." I laughed slightly and waited to see if I had done something wrong. No-one spoke to tell me anything until the hat finally spoke again. He was so outraged with me. He seemed most upset and it confused me but that didn't matter as I had to wait for my house then the hat shouted, "she belongs in them all." I sat stunned. Not sure of what to do or say. All I did was take the hat off and let it fall into the hands of the short professor and a hurdle of whispers hit me. A hand had met my back as they hoped to get my attention and I noticed that a kind woman met me. Her eyes glanced out but she seemed to be caring, I hoped. That didn't stop me from flinching from her touch though.

"Come with me dear." The woman spoke and I did as she told me to. I followed and soon I found myself at the base of some steps. The woman wasn't a large woman but her outfit was less than flattering as she walked. She had a type of nun look with her hat and the apron.

I had been so focused on following her that I had no clue where we had gotten to. That was when she blurted the strangest word. "Tabby." The stairs began to move and she stepped onto one. I followed as I hoped that is what she had wanted. Then the open door met me and I walked in and the woman smiled at me. One portrait was filled with an old man with half moon spectacles and he had a beard so long it met his lap. The colours flowed off of him and a smile crept up my lips and he gave me a smile. Nothing said, but I noticed the window looking down onto the grounds and walked to it. Watching the water soothingly move and then I found myself climbing onto the small ledge that was directly below it. My knees pulled up to my chest as I looked out. My reflection showing my mother all over again and I could see her lifeless face. All I was able to do to stop it was blink. This caused a few stray tears to fall as my eyes had been dry but after I had wiped them I watched intently. Something was very clearly moving in the lake but I didn't know what it was.

A cold draft had flown up my skirt and so I tucked it between my thigh and shins as my chin rested on my knees. My arms pulled my legs closer to me and I pulled at the sleeves around me arms. I kept all of the air close to me as I watched out the window for even longer. I could also see portraits moving and the soft flitter of talk filled my ears. I had been in my own mind for so long that I had blocked them out completely. Their words still couldn't register when I realised that they were speaking and so I blocked them out again.

I screamed slightly and turned my head when a hand moved to my shoulder. It was the woman that had walked me up here and I smiled up at her as she looked down. Not saying much at all. I didn't know what there was to say as I had made quite the first impression and it wasn't even my fault. If it was up to me I would have been in any one of the houses. Just one though, not all.

"I am Madam Pomfrey." I smiled quickly at her but knew it couldn't have met my eyes because I had no clue how it could have. Fitting in wasn't something I ever did. I didn't start school until after my parents had passed and with my anger issues no-one would talk to me. Suddenly I saw people that welcomed me with open arms and this happened. Hopefully, I would either wake up at home or I would have just left there and then. Even got sorted again but I was sure nothing would let me fit in. Not even this, I just wanted to fit in for once in my confusing life.