To Meet History

Chapter 4-And She Was Sorted Into...

Le-Annette stood in the Entrance Hall, just outside the Great Hall where they were to be sorted, with her classmates. Bathsheba was literally jumping up and down with excitement. Le-Annette looked down at her robes. They were comprised of a long-skirted, gray dress with a black robe covering them. She wore a tie around her neck and black half-boots on her feet. All the other girls wore the same. The boys, however, wore gray pants with a white shirt and the same black robe covering them. Ravenclaw had entered the Great Hall earlier saying that the students were to wait until someone came to retrieve them. Le-Annette guessed that they we're taking the time, in the Hall, to quiet last year's students down.

"My bother came here last year," Nicholi said from beside her.

"Really?" Le-Annette asked. "Did he tell you what it was like?"

"Yes. He said the class aren't as easy as you'd think they'd be, but our four professors are nice and easy to talk to."

"Four professors?"

"Yes," said Bathsheba. "You missed our conversation in the carriage; it hadn't picked you up yet. They are the four who founded this school."

"We've met one already. Rowena Ravenclaw," said Roland. "But there's also Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, and Salazar Slytherin. And each of their houses bare their names."

"Houses?" Le-Annette asked, fearing that she was getting on her friend's nerves, but they seemed happy to answer her questions.

"Four of them, like the Founders. Each baring their surname. Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Slytherin. Each stand for a different quality. Ravenclaw, intelligence; Gryffindor, bravery; Slytherin, ambition; and Hufflepuff takes the rest," Nicholi complied.

"Why have everyone separated?"

"Well, they didn't separate everyone until the end of last year. My brother wrote me about it. He said that the four professors got into some sort of a spat, and the result was the Sorting,"

Le-Annette was about to reply when the doors to the Great Hall opened. A squat but elegant woman in sunshine yellow robes appeared with a smile on her face. Her hair was wispy and mixed the colors of brown and gray nicely. She seemed awfully kind.

"I am Helga Hufflepuff. Come in, first years, and let us all find out what House you'll be in!" she said as she turned her backs on them and began to walked into the Great Hall. The students followed.

"What House was your brother sorted into?" Le-Annette heard Bathsheba whisper to Nicholi.

"Hufflepuff," he whispered back.

Professor Hufflepuff lead them all to the front of the Hall, at which stood a long table. Three people were seated at this table, and Hufflepuff went to join them. Le-Annette recognized one of them as Ravenclaw. The one seated in the center of the table-a man in his mid-twenties with strawberry blond hair and blue eyes-stood up and gave all of the students a dashing smile.

"Welcome to Hogwarts! I am Professor Godric Gryffindor! I would like to take this time to, not only, welcome our newcomers,"-at this Gryffindor paused and smiled down at the group gathered before his table- "but to also welcome back our second years!"

Le-Annette took this moment to stare around the Hall. Their were hundreds of children, all only about a year older than she, seated at four long tables. She turned her attention back to Gryffindor.

"Now, to the Sorting. How this is done is that we, myself and my fellow founders, ask each of you a question. Only one, but it has four different answers. Each student will have a different question. Depending on your answer is what House you are sorted into! Your choices are: Gryffindor," -he pointed at one table near a large fireplace- "Ravenclaw," -he pointed at the table beside Gryffindor- "Hufflepuff," -the next table- "and Slytherin." -the final table.

"Now, let the Sorting begin!" he said with a gallant wave.

Gryffindor sat, and Ravenclaw stood.

"When I call your name," she said, "you will step forward, we will ask the question, you will answer, and you will be sorted. Anaulde, Christine!"

A short girl with copper curls for hair stepped forward. They were asking her the question, but no one could hear what it was. Le-Annette took this moment to stare at the only man she didn't know yet. The one that must be Slytherin. He had blue-black hair that was graying. His eyes were as though they were coal. His skin was shallow and pale. He looked no older than Gryffindor, though the look on his face was one of distaste. It was as though he didn't want to be here, as though he hated this place and these people. He looked as though he were someone to fear. But, for some reason, Le-Annette could not tear her eyes from him. He caught her staring, and her heart seemed to stop. She didn't want to be the thing he glared at. His glare looked like it could turn you to ash, but, to her surprise, he gave her an odd sort of smile. Like he didn't want anyone one but her to see him smile. She smiled back.

Her attention was being called back to the sorting. Christine was long gone, and Le-Annette couldn't find where she had been sorted to.

"Cataland, Bathsheba!" Ravenclaw called.

Le-Annette watched this sorting with rapt attention. They had asked the question, Bathsheba was now considering her answer. She said it.

"Gryffindor!" Professor Gryffindor exclaimed.

Bathsheba smiled and took her seat at the Gryffindor table as her fellows cheered. A few more students were called and then, "Marc, Nicholi!"

The same process began again, only this time the result was, "Ravenclaw!"

He sat down. Again more students before, "Potter, Roland!"

Again the same, ending with, "Slytherin!"

He sat. Even more names were called before, "Zachary, Le-Annette!"

She stepped forward. She was shaking. The four founders were smiling at her. Well, three of the four. It seemed that Slytherin rarely smiled.

' "Are you ready for your question? Don't be afraid. No answer is wrong," Gryffindor said.

"I'm ready," Le-Annette said.

"Very well. Picture this: You are in the middle of a battle. You know there is a great chance of you dying. Which of this would you rather happen: You die with honor, you use the sneakiest tactics you know to stay alive, you die while planning a strategy for your side to win, or you die protecting and helping your friends," Gryffindor said. "The choice is yours. Answer honestly."

Le-Annette went over the choices four times in her head before she answered, "Honestly, sir, it would be either the first or the second choice."

Gryffindor and Slytherin exchanged glances. They put their heads together and began to whisper so low, Le-Annette couldn't hear what they were saying. Gryffindor seemed to be trying to convince Slytherin of something. Finally, Slytherin looked back at her and asked, "Are you Muggle-born or pure-blood?"

"What?" Le-Annette asked. She didn't know what a Muggle was.

Slytherin let out a low growl. "Are you Muggle-born or pure-blood?" he said through gritted teeth.

"Please, Salazar," Hufflepuff said kindly, "she may not understand. Child, are your parents wizards?"

"No. Well, my mother may be a witch; she's always working with herbs and such. But my father is definitely not," Le-Annette said.

This answer sent Gryffindor and Slytherin back to whispering. Finally, Slytherin burst out, "Fine! Slytherin!"