Never Say Never

Never Say Never

Chapter 2 -- Sorting Out the Houses

"Wow!" was all I could say when we arrived at the Great Hall.

"Great, isn't it?" asked Hermione.

"Yeah," I said, admiring the night sky, which was reflected across the ceiling.

"Annie, you gotta go to McGonagall. She'll tell you where to go and get sorted. I've got to come with you, too, because I'm new," Ginny said.

"Then how do you know which house you're in?" I asked.

"All of the other members of the Weasley family got into Gryffindor," she said.

"The there's a high chance of you getting in. You're lucky," I said softly.

I was really hoping I would get into Gryffindor. Two of my friends were there -- well one was. The other would be soon.

"Don't worry, Annie. It'll be alright. Good luck. Just relax," Hermione said.

"Ok, I can do this. I can do this. What happens if I get into Slytherin?" I said.

I literally was freaking out. I really do get nervous over big things.

"I think I have to go do something," I said, trying to run away. But Hermione and Ginny stopped me.

"Seriously, Annie, it will be alright. You seem like a good person. There is a high chance of you getting into Gryffindor." Ginny's encouragement kind of helped.

"Yeah, stop worrying. Trust me," Hermione said with an encouraging smile.

When I looked into her eyes, they looked deep and meaningful. Could I trust her on this one? I had just met her, but Hermione seemed different from all my other friends.

"Ok, but if I'm in Slytherin, I'll hunt you down, chop you up into a million pieces, and feed you to..."

"Let me guess, some carnivorous creature with horribly long fangs and claws so it could rip me into a million pieces, right?" She laughed.

"Right. Thanks guys," I said.

"No problem. Good luck, Annie. Good luck, Ginny."

She gave us both quick hugs before leaving.

I looked nervously at Ginny, and she gave my hand a reassuring squeeze.

Then we walked over to the crowd of new students huddled around a professor who was taking role call. When I saw her up close, she SCARED me. She looked really strict.

"Welcome new students. I'm Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house. On behalf of the staff here at Hogwarts, I'd like to welcome you here and hope that you have a good time at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now, when we go in to the Sorting Ceremony, you are to follow me to the front where I will call you one by one to come up and get sorted. It's a simple and fast process. After you've been assigned to your house, you are to sit with them. I'll go see if it's time to go in."

The moment she left, I started panicking again. My heart was pounding so fast that it sounded like someone beating on a bongo.

"Ginny, what happens if I don't get into the same house as you and Hermione?"

"Even if you aren't in Gryffindor, we'll still be your friends. That's for sure," she said smiling.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that boy with the old-fashioned camera taking snapshots of everyone.

"Thanks so much, but..." I said.

"Look, you're going to go in there, and you're going to be yourself. And that freaky talking hat is going to put you in the house you deserve to be in --which I personally think is Gryffindor. And, I promise we'll still be friends even if you are in any of the other weird houses!"

She gave a sigh when she finished her speech.

I was really taken aback. Well at least the bongos weren't at work again. We both turned and saw everyone looking at us. Little snapshot boy was among the crowd. He pulled out his camera and took a picture of us. I turned back to her.

"Thanks Ginny. I'm really glad I've got friends like you and Hermione," I said shyly.

She gave me a hug.

"No problems, Annie. What are friends for?" she said.

"Oh," she continued, "by the way, you're not planning any evil plots to take over the world or anything are you??"

I looked at her awkwardly.

"No."

"Great, you won't be in Slytherin then," she said, and we both laughed.

The huge doors to the Great Hall opened, and McGonagall beckoned us in. I saw the amount of people in there and felt the bongos get to work again. Oh no, here it goes. I took Ginny's hand.

She smiled and whispered, "Good luck."

"You, too!"

Then we walked in for a date with destiny.