Two heads bobbed up occasionally through the swarming crowd, one with flame red hair that danced in the wind, and one with hair the same shade of dark chocolate tied up tightly in a neat bun. Lily and Alice were hurrying along to the boat dock with the first years, led by a tall figure that they had not met yet. They finally arrived, soaked to the skin, at the boats, and Lily and Alice clambered into one, followed by Severus, who stuck to the pair like a limpet.
‘Don’t you have any other friends?’ asked Alice desperately, as the boats began to row themselves.
Severus shook his head.
‘I can’t bear to have him hanging around us!’ Murmured Alice, and Lily agreed, though her better judgement said otherwise.
‘Through ‘ere! Come on, move along!’ Bellowed the tall man at the front, who stopped, and stood aside to let the crowd of 11 year olds through. Lily, Alice and Severus entered the Entrance Hall, where the tall man departed and was replaced by an elderly woman with light brown hair that was grey in most places. She stood in front of the first years, and spoke in a clear and loud voice:
‘Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In a few moments, you will be Sorted into your houses. Please follow me,’ And she turned on her heels and led the children to a small door of the side. She pulled it open, and strode confidently in front of the gaggle of 11 year olds, who followed impishly behind her.
‘I bet that boy- you know, the one with the greasy black hair?’ Whispered James Potter to his friend. ‘I reckon he’ll be Slytherin. Looks a bit dodgy. I’d stay well away.’
The children stood in a large group in front of an old and battered hat.
‘Huh?’ Scoffed a Muggle-born boy. ‘What’s it gonna do, sing?’
‘Yes, dear boy, I shall.’ Said the Hat, and it began its song.
‘Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hog-Hog-Hogwarts!
Teach us something new!
If we’re old, or teachers that scold,
Or boys with cut-up knees,
Do your best and we’ll do the rest,
Just teach us something please!
Will you be Hufflepuff,
Loyal and hard-working,
with hearts of purest gold?
Or Ravenclaw,
Witty and clever,
Solving riddles hundreds of years old?
Maybe Slytherin, then,
Sly and cunning,
With wit as sharp as a knife?
Perhaps Gryffindor,
Brave and gallant,
And lead a heroic life?
Hufflepuff, Gryffindor,
Slytherin, or Ravenclaw?’
The Hat finished, and McGonagall led a round of applause. Then, she pulled out a scroll, and began reading names from it, starting with ‘Ursula Abwell’, who was Sorted into Hufflepuff. Lily waited, knees weak, whilst James and Sirius waited confident as anything. Sirius went up to the stool, and sat down. The Hat was dropped on the curly mass, and the Hat screamed: ‘GRYFFINDOR!’. James cheered for his friend, and Sirius went to the Gryffindor table. Next was his cousin, the mean Bellatrix Black. She sat on the stool, a smirk upon her face, and McGonagall lowered the Hat, but it was not even on the head when it screeched: ‘SLYTHERIN!’. She slipped off to the Slytherin house table, and Lily still waited, until McGonagall called:
‘Evans, Lily!’
She slowly walked to the stool, and McGonagall put the Hat on her.
‘You’re not a Slytherin, girl!’ Said the Hat. Lily shut her eyes tightly, and pursed her lips. ‘Better be…’ The Hat pondered. ‘Rave- no, GRYFFINDOR!’. Lily took the Hat off a shuffled to the Gryffindor table. A bit later, James was Sorted into Gryffindor. Alice was Sorted later, into Gryffindor, much to Lily’s delight. Severus was Sorted straight afterwards, but not into Gryffindor.
'SLYTHERIN!' The Hat bellowed, much to Lily's dismay. Soon after, everyone was Sorted, and the feast could begin.
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