We walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the great hall. It was magnificent. Thousands of candles were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up here so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them.
The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. I stared at the ghosts, amazed. We stopped in front of a long table. Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of us first-years. On top of the stool she put a pointed Wizard's hat. It was dirty, old, and frayed.
"I think we're going to wear it," I whispered to James.
"What do you think, that we're going to try and get a horse from inside it?" he whispered back sarcastically.
"Maybe," I said, serious. "Probably not a horse, although it would be eventful," We both chuckled. Suddenly, the hat started singing.
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffis are true And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
The whole great hall burst into applause, so I clapped too. The hat bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.
"Told you," I smirked at James. Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long role of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Lockhart, Gilderoy!"
A cocky looking boy swaggered up to the stool, moving his blond hair away from his eyes. He sat down and McGonagall placed the hat on his head. After a moment's pause, the hat shouted:
"Ravenclaw!" She took the hat off and he went to the Ravenclaw table.
"Foser, Amanda!" A short girl with brown hair sat on the stool.
"Hufflepuff!
"Evans, Lily!" A girl with ginger hair and green eyes stepped up.
"Gryffindor!" Lily's eyes widened, and looked at someone behind me. I turned around, and saw a boy with black shoulder-length and kind of oily hair. His expression was hurt as she went to sat at the Gryffindor table.
"Malfoy, Lucius!" Almost instantly, the hat shouted:
"Slytherin!" The Slytherin table cheered as he went and sat there.
"Hill, Jenine!" With my heart beating faster than a cheetah, I quickly stepped up and sat on the stool, and McGonagall placed the hat over my head.
"Hmm. You're a tricky one!" The hat announced in my ears.
"Am I the only one that can hear you?" I asked.
YOU ARE READING
Friends with The Marauders!
FanfictionStart: 4th March 2020 End: NOT FINISHED Jenine Hill is a girl who thought she was an ordinary muggle. Learning that she's a witch, she goes to Hogwarts, where she becomes friends with The Marauders, all of them troublemakers. Join her and her adv...
