The Sorting

Amelia and Olivia walked back to their compartments, trying not to show attention as they passed several compartments. They walked over to their compartment, none of the two saying a word. Olivia’s eyes were narrow, while Amelia’s eyes were full of relief, yet fearful of what Olivia was going to say to her. Before they even put their feet in the compartment, a rib-breaking hug grabbed them.

‘OLIVIA, YOU’RE ALIVE! I WAS SO SCARED! AND AMELIA! I KNEW YOU DIDN’T MEAN TO PETRIFY HER AND I WAS SO SCARED! HOW ARE YOU TWO? ANSWER ME NOW!’ Isabell was actually crying.

Olivia and Amelia eyed each other, surprised. 

‘I don’t deserve to have great friends,’ Amelia whispered suddenly. 

She wore her robes quickly and took Bianca and her heavy trunk with her. She started to exit the compartment when-

‘No wait!’ Isabell yelled after her.

‘Let her be,’ Amelia heard Olivia whisper.

‘Why? She didn’t jinx you on purpose did she? She didn’t even know what the spell did until she tried it-’ 

‘I said let her be.’

Isabell re-entered the tiny compartment. 

‘No.’

She pushed Olivia’s arm out of the way, wore her robes so fast, took Mocha and her leather trunk, and rushed to Amelia, who started to run away. 

‘AMELIA! WAIT!’ Isabell stared at her, then she put her fury on Olivia, who stood next to her.

‘WHY DID YOU DO THAT?’

‘Isabell, dear. You have no idea what happened with me and Amelia, we need to give her some space…’

‘Then tell me all about it,’ Isabell crossed her arms.

Olivia sighed, and re-told the stressful event between her and Amelia.

‘She didn’t mean it, I told you already!’ Isabell sighed.

‘Do you know how hard it was to choose between those punishments? No, you don’t. Now if you please let me wear my robes-’

‘I would have picked the last one instantly!’

Olivia muttered, then wore her robes just as the train made a stop.

‘So…’ 

‘So, what?’ Olivia raised an eyebrow.

‘Did we really just let our new best friend leave this compartment?’

‘Maybe.’

‘Ok…’

They exited their compartment and followed students out of the train. Olivia thought she saw a blond person pass by her. 

My eyes not working again, Olivia grinned.

‘FIRS’ YEARS, COME THIS WAY!’ a voice boomed.

Olivia gasped, and instantly followed the sound.

‘Hagrid!’

‘Hullo, Olivia!’ 

‘Who is that?’ Isabell said as she approached Olivia and Hagrid.

‘This is Rubeus Hagrid, gamekeeper of Hogwarts.’

Hagrid looked surprised.

‘Oh, hello Hagrid!’ Isabell blurted, amazed by how massive he was.

‘Made a friend already? Excellent!’

‘Yeah, amazing,’ Olivia said, though her voice had no happy tone in it.

The first-years entered the castle, and they reached a woman dressed in an emerald green cloak and a witch’s hat. She looked very strict.

‘It looks like we can’t cross her,’ the girls heard Harry Potter whisper. 

‘Welcome first-years! You will step in the Great Hall and be sorted in the house you are perfect for. For whoever doesn’t know, the houses are: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin,’ said the woman, and she winced when saying Slytherin.

‘I guess there are some teachers who loath Slytherin too!’ whispered Isabell as a grin spread across her face. 

Olivia was close to giggles, but she too, grinned.

‘I think I might get sorted in Ravenclaw! My dad was,’ Isabell said happily.

‘What about your mother?’

‘My mum is a Muggle,’ Isabell snapped.

‘Oh, right.’

‘I’m so excited!’ Isabell was jumping up and down. 

‘Well… I don’t know which house my parents were sorted into because they...’

There was silence for a moment, but it was broken by the teacher in emerald.

‘You may enter the Great Hall,’ she said.

The first-years entered the Great Hall, and it was great. Floating candles were hanging from a magical ceiling that revealed the weather. It showed dark clouds, thunder and rain.

‘It is a magical ceiling, I read that in Hogwarts: A History,’ Hermione explained to Neville, who were students too.

‘This is just the most amazing place I’ve ever been in!’ Isabell sighed. 

‘Same,’ exclaimed Olivia.

At the end of the hall was the teacher’s table. One stand, which represented an owl, was in the middle, the girls thought it was the Headmaster who stood there. A tall man approached the stand. He had a very long, white beard (that almost reached his knees) and he looked old. He wore half-moon spectacles and was wearing a long, dark purple cloak with golden stars and moons on it. Olivia glared at the man. He was the one who un-petrified her. He was the one who made her choose from those punishments. Hate started to creep up her body-

‘May the sorting begin,’ the witch called out. ‘The Sorting Hat-’

‘Will there be a test or something?’ Neville asked anxiously.

‘First of all, don’t interrupt. And secondly, no, the sorting hat will choose your house and you will get your tests in June.’

‘What’s that?’ asked Olivia as the teacher brought an old looking hat.

‘That is the Sorting Hat, it chooses which house you’re in, depending on your personality and all that,’ replied Isabell. ‘Dad told me.’

The witch got out a long parchment, which was so long that it rolled to the floor. She started reading out some names.

‘First student, Abbott, Hannah!’

A girl sat on a small stool and the witch put the sorting hat on her head. Hannah waited for a few minutes.

‘HUFFLEPUFF!’ the hat yelled, which startled Olivia and Isabell.

Clapping and cheering was heard from the Hufflepuff table as Hannah went to join them. 

Next came a girl called Susan Bones, who was sorted into Hufflepuff. After her was a boy called Terry Boot, who was sorted into Ravenclaw.

‘Bluesky, Isabell!’ 

Isabell was sweating. Olivia gave her a thumbs-up, but she too, looked slightly worried.

‘Hmm… Another Bluesky. Loyalty, marvellous! (the edges began to turn yellow for Hufflepuff) Bravery is here, (the edges of her robes started to turn slightly red for Gryffindor) but intelligence takes over, so that's pretty simple, RAVENCLAW!’ 

Blue took over and there was a loud cheer coming from the Ravenclaw table. Isabell went and sat down at the Ravenclaw table.

A boy with dark brown hair and grey eyes nervously sat on the stool and waited for the hat to be placed on him after Isabell. He looked at the girls’ direction then faced the front again. 

‘Intelligence… a lot of ambition…’ 

The hat seemed to be choosing between Slytherin and Ravenlcaw as the edges of the boy’s uniform kept changing from blue to green and from green to blue. 

‘Dear boy, you better be… Slytherin!’ 

The boy walked over to the Slytherin table, who were cheering for him. The boy looked toward the three girls’ direction then sat next to Draco, who was talking to an overgrown boy opposite him.

Then, a girl called Lavender Brown (sorted into Gryffindor) and a girl called Millicent Bulstrode (sorted into Slytherin).

‘Clearwater, Amelia!’

‘Ah… Clearwater… a very long generation of wizards and witches, one of the most ancient families, all in Slytherin too.’

The edges of her robes got really close to becoming pure green.

‘Not Slytherin,’ Amelia commanded in her head.

‘Not Slytherin? Oh my… Well, I see lots of nobility, bravery is of a great amount here!’ the hat said as the edges of her robes started to become red, ‘Yet smartness and intelligence rule over, then it better be… RAVENCLAW!’ The edges turned a clear colour of blue and she ran to the Ravenclaw table.

The Slytherins couldn’t believe it, for most of them knew the Clearwaters very well. Draco was shocked. But it didn’t bother Amelia, she was glad to be with Isabell. Isabell attacked her with another rib-breaking hug and sat next to her. She glanced rapidly at Olivia, who nodded and gave a polite smile. After Amelia, two boys came with their last name starting with a C. Michael Corner (sorted into Ravenclaw) and Vincent Crabbe (sorted into Slytherin).

‘Dragonheart, Olivia.’

Olivia felt a thousand eyes staring at her. She hated the feeling. She glanced back at Isabell, who was sitting at the Ravenclaw table and Isabell nodded at her. She then sat on the stool.

‘Ah, the famous Dragonheart, hmm… There is smartness, (Blue) not a lack of bravery (Red), oh, this is difficult. And there is loyalty (Yellow), hmm… Ambition! (Green) Hmm...this is challenging indeed.’

‘Please not Slytherin,’ Olivia whispered as the edges of her robes slightly swapped between the colours red, blue, green and yellow.

‘Are you sure? Well… alright then, RAVENCLAW!’  the hat shouted.

An explosive cheer came from Ravenclaw as the edge of her robes suddenly turned the same colour as Isabell’s.

‘WOOHOO!’ Isabell yelled.

Olivia sat in a seat next to Isabell, which she had saved for her.

Seamus Finnigan came next (sorted into Gryffindor), Justin-Finch-Fletchy (sorted into Hufflepuff), Anthony Golstien (sorted into Ravenclaw), followed by Gregory Goyle (sorted into Slytherin), Hermione Granger (sorted into Gryffindor).. 

‘Longbottom, Neville!’

Neville stepped on and sat on the chair. The witch put the hat on his head. The hat didn’t say anything for about ten minutes, Neville began to look worried.

‘GRYFFINDOR!’ the hat called out later.

The people on the Gryffindor table began to applaud as the edge of Neville’s robes turned red. 

‘Malfoy, Draco!’ 

The boy with blonde hair walked proudly to the stool. He sat down. As soon as the hat touched Draco’s head, it called out:

‘SLYTHERIN!’

A loud cheer came from the Slytherin table as the edges of Draco’s robes turned green.

‘Well, that is one true Slytherin if you ask me,’ said Isabell as she peered at the Slytherin table.

‘Macmillan, Ernie!’ 

Ernie was sorted into Hufflepuff.

‘Nott, Theodore!’

Theodore was placed in Slytherin.

‘Parkinson, Pansy!’

Pansy was placed in Slytherin. Two twin girls came next, Padma Patil and Paravati Patil. Padma was placed in Ravenclaw and Paravati was placed in Gryffindor.

‘Potter, Harry.’

There was silence as everyone stared at him.

‘GRYFFINDOR!’

There was a loud cheer from the Gryffindor, probably the loudest they had heard so far. Draco glared at them in jealousy. A couple of people came next. 

Then it was Harry Potter’s friend’s turn.

‘Weasley, Ron!’ 

A tall, thin, red-haired boy with freckles walked towards the stool, his ears red. He sat down on the stool and the witch put the sorting hat on his head.

‘GRYFFINDOR!’

Cheers erupted from the Gryffindor table, Harry Potter clapping along with them. The line of first years shortened even more, until the last student was placed in Hufflepuff and the edges of her robe turned yellow. 

‘The sorting is over, Professor Dumbledore,’ the witch informed the headmaster.

‘Thank you, Minerva,’ he said in a very calm voice.

 He had spoken in a more harsh tone when he was with Amelia and Olivia. Amelia looked amazed at the change of his voice. But on the other hand, Olivia glared at Dumbledore, as though trying to see through his twinkling eyes. 

‘Welcome back to our old students! New students, welcome to Hogwarts! May the feast begin!’ and as he said those words, food appeared on the golden plates that were laid on the four tables.

‘Wow! What was that?’ all the first year students exclaimed.

‘Bloody hell,’ they heard Ron say as he stared at the food.

He started to eat a mouthful of roast chicken hungrily. Harry laughed while Hermione rolled her eyes.

‘Well, certainly Amelia has broken the tradition of the Clearwaters,’ Draco was saying to the Slytherins.

‘Yeah, I did.’

Draco and his fellow Slytherins glared at Amelia.

‘You were talking about me so I had to answer,’ she shrugged and started to eat lasagna with tomato sauce.

‘My parents will kill me,’ said Amelia sadly to herself after a while.

She thought no one heard her but she was wrong. 

‘But you didn’t do anything…’ said Olivia.

Amelia didn’t expect Olivia to talk to her after what happened.

‘Oh! Why are you talking to me? I thought you hated me!’  Amelia said, laughing.

‘Well, that was offensive enough,’ muttered Olivia. ‘And I do not hate you. It’s just that man- he looks oddly familiar.’

‘I see…’

‘Great, now you talk like him,’ groaned Olivia.

Amelia and Isabell giggled.

‘Wait a minute! What if I invite you for Christmas at my house? That way you won’t need to think about anything and it will be just fun,’ said Isabell thoughtfully.

‘Won’t her parents need to know, so she has to ask them?’ Olivia asked seriously.

‘Whatever! They won’t care, would they Amelia?’ Isabell stared at Amelia, as though daring her.

‘I guess they will mind… I dunno... My stepm-I mean my mom always wants us at Christmas to go and visit the Malfoys, or meet them...’ 

‘Well, I will murder them if they don’t allow you to come to the party,’ Olivia said, trying to look serious.

‘Olivia! You can’t do that-’ Isabell began.

Olivia snickered and soon started to howl. Amelia and Isabell exchanged concerned looks.

‘I am sad to inform you that the feast has ended, and your warm beds await for you in your Dormitories, chip chip!’ called out Dumbledore. 

‘I- I need to go… to… do something, I’ll catch up!’ Amelia called out as she ran away. 

‘Sure…’ Olivia said suspiciously.

‘Ok...’ Isabell said, arching her eyebrows. 

‘Ravenclaws, this way please,’ called out a girl from the end of the table. She had curly blonde hair (It was as short bob) and green eyes.

‘Who is that?’ Olivia asked.

‘She’s a prefect, it says so on her badge,’ Isabell said.

‘Oh,’ Olivia said.  

Amelia rushed to a dark looking corridor. She didn’t know why she was suddenly thinking about her mother. She sniffed and was rubbing her wet eyes. She then heard sniffing. She glanced around. She could barely see because of how dark the corridor was. It was an outline of a man who seemed to be wearing a cloak. His hair almost reached his broad shoulders.

‘I’m so sorry Lily,’ the man said softly. ‘I will always try to protect your son… I should have never called you that… You didn’t deserve to go away. S-stay with m-me Lily.’

The man kept sniffing and he was holding something in his pale hands. Amelia was thinking whether she should comfort the man or not, but she heard Professor Dumbledore tell the students to go to their Common rooms. She cautiously went back to the Ravenclaw table. The man quickly glanced at where Amelia was, but nobody was there.

‘I’m back’ said Amelia, appearing out of thin air (she looked extremely sad).

‘Where were y-’

‘Come on, Ravenclaws follow me,’ the prefect called, interrupting Isabell. 

They reached some stairs that went all the way around. They climbed it, panting and sweating.

‘Wow, moving pictures!’ Olivia exclaimed as people in the pictures ran from frame to frame or talked to each other. 

‘Yeah…’ said Amelia, rather sadly.

‘You ok?’ Olivia asked.

‘Yep, fine, thanks for asking,’ Amelia said as she was sniffing.

‘No, seriously, there’s something wrong!’ Isabell noticed Amelia sniffing.

‘I’m fine, ok?’

‘Not convinced, but sure,’ Olivia said as they reached a door.

‘Yeah, definitely not convinced at all,’ said Isabell, peering at Amelia.

‘JUST STOP, WILL YOU?’ Amelia frowned, staring fixedly at the door. 

They had to climb a tight spiral staircase to get to their common room. Olivia and Isabell stared at each other. Suddenly, the bronze door knocker on the door, which resembled the shape of an eagle, spoke.

‘Answer this riddle: Which came first, the phoenix or the flame?’

‘I dunno…’ they heard a boy say.

‘I think it doesn’t matter,’ his friend laughed.

‘Incorrect, you shall not pass.’

‘Oh, no! I didn’t mean it!’ he cried.

‘Bad luck, mate,’ said the other boy, who had ginger hair, patting him on the back.

‘Oh, I know!’ Isabell called out.

‘The answer is… that the circle has no beginning,’ explained Isabell.

‘Well phrased, you may come in,’ said the cool voice as the door opened.

The Ravenclaw common room was wide and circular. It had graceful arched windows, and the walls were hung with blue and bronze silks. The domed ceiling was painted with the night sky, which was echoed in the midnight-blue carpet. Tables, chairs, and bookcases covered the expanse of the floor, and a white marble statue of Rowena Ravecnlaw, founder of the Ravenclaw house, sat next to the door that led to the dormitories above.

 ‘Ravenclaw colours are bronze and blue,’ explained the prefect.

‘We already know that, thank you!’ Isabell said, rolling her eyes.

‘You will get your timetables tomorrow morning in the Great Hall,’ said the prefect, ignoring her.

‘Where will we eat breakfast?’ said the boy who guessed the wrong answer.

‘In the Great Hall,’ the prefect said, now completely annoyed.

‘Now, all the dormitories are upstairs, girls right side, boys left side, got it?’ she said.

All the students nodded, looking tired. 

‘Good, sleep well Ravenclaws,’ she said as she went upstairs, followed by some students.

‘Good night,’ said Olivia.

‘I wish I was a prefect, but if I was I wouldn’t sound like a grandma like her,’ muttered Isabell.

Olivia laughed.

‘Haha, very funny. But we only get them in the fifth year,’ said Amelia. ‘Of course you already know that. As you are smart.’   

‘I’m in Ravenclaw you know,’ replied Isabell as all of them giggled.

They (Isabell and Olivia) sat around the mini-sized library in the corner and read some books, while Amelia looked at them smiling. They all felt sleepy, and bade each other good night. 

The next day, the girls woke up early and went downstairs to the common room. Strips of sunlight lightened the room. They all sat lazily by the library and yawned.

The Ravenclaw prefect that showed them to their common room the previous was in the common room, fully dressed.

‘Hello girls,’ she said.

‘Hello Penelope,’ Amelia said.

‘How do you know her name?’ asked Isabell. ‘You sound like that girl Heromine Grunion or whatever her name was.’

‘She talked with me yesterday when everyone was asleep, happy you know my business now?’ Amelia snapped.

‘Sorry, alright? Don’t make a big deal out of it!’ said Isabell, rolling her eyes.

‘Enough already you guys, stop arguing, it’s time to receive the timetables, alright?’ Olivia said.

‘Right,’ Isabell said sheepishly.