The Mystery of the Chamber of Secrets

Chapter 4: The Sorting

As the Hogwarts Express pulled into the station, there was a general movement towards the corridors of the train. Loud thumps and excited chatter could be heard throughout the train.

When Etta got off the train, she heard a voice booming out above the babble of other voices, "First years! First years to me!" (She knew it was Hagrid.)

Ginny and Etta walked slowly towards him, making their way carefully through students and luggage, heading in the direction of the carriages. Etta felt quite confident on her first day. She knew what to expect and had already made a friend to share the experience with, who was enjoying her first day as well. 

Once all the first years seemed to have moved towards Hagrid, he called out, "Follow me!" He led them to the edge of the lake and everybody clambered into the boats moored on the shore. Etta and Ginny shared their boat with a blond girl and a very small mousey-haired boy.

"Hello everyone. I'm Etta Potter and this is Ginny Weasley," said Etta.

The blond girl said, "I'm Luna Lovegood."

Turning to Etta she added, "Are you related to Harry Potter?"

"He's my brother," Etta replied.

"I'm Colin Creevey," said the small boy.

"I didn't know Harry Potter had a sister. It's fantastic to meet you Etta," he blushed as he hurried to say, "I'm pleased to know all of you. My parents are Muggles, so meeting other witches and wizards is a bit strange but exciting."

The girls all smiled at him, as he looked like an over-enthusiastic puppy! The ride was very short and they were soon walking up to the impressive front doors of Hogwarts. When everyone had entered the castle, they saw a severe looking woman looking down at them from the top of a large stone staircase.

"First years, to me," she said with quiet authority. 

When they had all assembled at the top of the stairs, the witch introduced herself as Professor McGonagall and explained about the Sorting.

"Try to smarten yourselves up, while I go and check that everything is ready in the Great Hall," she said.

As Etta straightened her robes she said to Ginny, "I don't know about you but I really hope I'm in Gryffindor like Harry."

"I expect I'll be in Gryffindor," said Ginny, "all of my brothers have been Gryffindors."

A girl with black hair, standing close to Ginny said to a mousey haired girl next to her, "I know I'll be in Slytherin, in my opinion, that's the best house."

She spoke quite loudly so Etta and Ginny could hear her clearly.

"I agree, Bridget, it would be a disgrace to be in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw and so annoying to be stuck with those boastful Gryffindors," said the other girl.

"And who might you be?" Etta asked the mousey haired girl.

"I am Rachael Adams and this is Bridget Pothill."

"I know you're Potter's sister," said Bridget, with a sneer, "I heard you, you were in the boat next to ours."

"So what?" Etta replied. 

"Don't start going on about how great your brother and Gryffindor are," said Rachael scathingly, "All Gryffindors are boring and stupid."

"And all Slytherins are selfish, mean and cowardly," replied Ginny calmly.

"I don't want to be in either," Luna interjected, "I want to be in Ravenclaw. Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure."

"Well, better Ravenclaw, than Slytherin, good for you Luna," Etta said.