Sucked In

chapter 2

***

"Uh ... sir?"

Will he think it's suspicious if I call him by his name? Am I allowed       to call him by his name?

"Where are we going?" I say, my voice a bit louder.

He ignores me, and I scoff. I hate it when people ignore me.

"Patience, Ms Nibley." He responds, and my face goes hot with shame. He brings me into a large room, and sits me down on a stool, before leaving. A large swan-sized bird draws my attention. The astonishing creature had red and golden plumages and a long golden feathered tail. I then face the huge walls. The walls were covered with portraits of people. I wonder who they are.

I hear the bird chitter to my left, I look to it and smile. The bird pierces his black eyes right into mine, making me feel connected with it. At the same time, it made me fear him . Out of nowhere, the bird bursts into flames.

I leap from my chair. "Holy Shi-"

"Ms Nibley." He calls from the other room. Please stay seated.

I gulp, and sit back onto my wooden stool, ignoring the steaming pile of ash that was once his bird. Dumbledore comes into the room, and rolls his eyes once he sees the gray lump.

"Sir, I swear it wasn't me it just happened I promise-" I exclaim, frightened that they might send me out into this world where I don't belong. He hushes me, and places an old matted hat onto his desk, which yawned ferociously.

Ah. The Sorting Hat. I knew what that was, too. It tells you what house you're in. Which means it will tell me what house I'm in. Is this really happening or is this just a dream?

"So." Dumbledore says. "Are you going to tell me what you're doing here?"

I smile, awkwardly. "Erm ... No." How on earth was I ever supposed to explain that I was watching a movie based on their life when I suddenly woke up in their world.

He looks taken aback. "Very well then. You can't stay in my office all year, let's get you sorted."

Before I had time to correctly process what he said, he clamped the hat over my head, blocking my eyesight. Ew, it melts like greasy 11-year-old hair.

"Interesting" A voice said, which I was hoping to be the sorting hat. "It seems to me that ..."

"Seems what?" I say, unable to hide the quivering in my voice.

"That at the same time, you do not possess the qualities of any one house, yet you possess the qualities of all."

That doesn't even make sense. "That doesn't even-"

"Oh, but it makes perfect sense. You are daring like a Gryffindor, yet lacking determination. Witty like a Ravenclaw, but lacking creativity. Loyal like a Hufflepuff, yet lack patience. And resourceful like a Slytherin, yet lack ... ambition. . "

I scoff. "Well that was humbling."

"Mm. Can't be sorted."

"Huh?"

"CAN'T BE SORTED!"

The hat is lifted from my head, and my eyes focus to see the concerned stares of Dumbledore. And Snape. I remember him, how could I not. Shit, how embarrassing.

"Professor, this is Jaida." Dumbledore speaks, placing the hat back on its shelf. "Newest member of ... nothing it seems."

I attempt to smile at Snape, only to be met with a cold, hard glare. Hey stammers. "Headmaster, surely you are not thinking about letting her into the school? She could be a threat to the students. For heaven's sake, she couldn't be sorted! Is that not an indication of something?"

"Severus, please." Dumbledore says. "I did not ask questions, but I think- I know that Jaida is harmless, and would be a wonderful asset to our school."

"I thought you, of all people Albus, would not be one to be deceived by appearances." Snape snarls. I felt hot in my position on that puny stool while he towered over me. .

Dumbledore ignores him, and smiles at me warmly. "Well what are we going to do with you? I suppose you cannot choose your own house, that's simply just not allowed. What did the hat say?"

I'm nervous to voice myself in front of Snape, but I speak nevertheless. "Uh .. I fit into all of them?" My voice trails off at the end.

Dumbledore fails to conceal his amusement. "Well! I suppose you should be in all of them then! One day at a time, of course."

He moves to behind his desk, and begins searching for something. Snape still towers over me. "Now it's getting late." Dumbledore says. "We better hurry up and find you a place to sleep". He places four goblets on his desk.

I look at him, be confused.

Snape smirks. "Pick one." he says, his voice almost growling. I couldn't tell if he was enjoying or hating this.

I take a moment to look at all of them; one was jet black, and twinkled like diamonds. Hm, I liked that one. One was thick and orange, and melt like cinnamon. That one was really good too. One was brown and frothed at the top, and melt ... spicy almost. The last was gold, shimmering gold. Melt like candy, too.

I scoffed. "Easy decision" I say to myself, and confidently grab the gold liquid. Only when it was in my hand did I register the thought of how this may have been a trick and I grabbed the most predictable option. Shit.

Dumbledore smiles from above me. "Gryffindor for the night!" He exclaims, and ushers me out of the room. "I'm sure you will find everything you require for the night in the common room."

I manage to sneak a quick look back at Snape, who was still glaring.

"Wait, where is it?"

"Goodnight, Ms Nibley!" Dumbledore says cheerfully, and shuts the door in my face. I remain still long enough to hear their raised voices escape through the cracks of the door.

I sigh, and turn to face the castle. Gryffindor common room, let's go.