The Sorting

Sorting

Waiting in the Hall for their names to be called, the crowd of first year students was busy with their own thoughts. All of them had their dreams of which house they wanted to be in, and fears of being placed in a different house. Adam Brooks was the calmest person there. As a muggle born, he was one of only three students that were muggle born this year, and they had been talking to other students about the houses. Adam had meant to meet a few students, but the clean lines and paint of the Hogwarts engine had inspired him, and he had spent most of the ride to Hogwarts sketching the engine. Not being able to see the engine would have been an obstacle to most artists, but Adam had an unusual memory. Adam was incapable of forgetting anything. If he saw, heard, smelled, tasted or felt it, he remembered it. "Brooks, Adam" was called, and Adam sat on the small stool and put the old battered Hat on his head.

"Ummm, let's see here. Ah, one of them, and well suited for the task coming your way. Only one place for you Lad." Adam was mildly surprised to hear the Hat in his head, but not overly so, after it had spoken out load. "Gryffindor" exclaimed the Hat loudly, and Adam made his way to the table that Professor McGonagall pointed out to him. He was the first of the new students to enter Gryffindor, and he waited to see who would join him.

Martin Crabbe was enjoying his thoughts about how to make Lisa Malfoy's life hell. The Malfoys had always lorded it over the Crabbes, by virtue of their superior birth, social standing and money, but that had changed at the end of the Voldemort War. They had become near total outcasts, and where the Malfoy name had once commanded respect and fear, now it was the butt of jokes and curses. Martin was planning more pranks of a nasty nature when he was called. "Crabbe Martin" walked through the crowd at the sound of his name. Halfway to the Hat, his foot slipped on something he didn't see, and he fell down. Face flaming red, he continued to the Hat and placed it on his head.

"Bah, another Crabbe, and no different than the rest." "Slytherin" called the Hat, and he smirked, heading for the Slytherin table. He was nearly there when he felt his foot slip again, and he fell. More laughter rang through the hall, and he slumped in his chair, fighting an urge to yell at the people laughing at him. As he sat, waiting for the sorting to finish, he found a lump on his robes, and pulled it off. It was a small disk, marked with the green flower of the new line of pranks sold at the Weasley Wizard Wheezes shops. He looked around and found a green-eyed boy he didn't know smirking at him. He glared at him, but the boy just turned away. He made a note to find that boy and pay him back.

Daniel Creevey was worrying about Malfoy as well. His family had nearly dropped dead when they found out about Lisa, but after three weeks of owling her, Daniel was not at all sure that Lisa was anything like his family thought. He was certain though, that there were going to be problems involving her very soon. "Creevey, Daniel" came all to soon, and he had barely put the Hat on his head when it shouted "Gryffindor" and he was sorted. At the Gryffindor table, he sat next to his older brother Michael, and waited to see the other seven be chosen.

James was laughing at the Slytherin when Daniel was called, and after he went to the Gryffindor table, it was James's turn as Professor McGonagall called "Evans, James". James sat, and pulled the Hat on his head.

"Hm, Another one of you, but beware your temper boy, it could cost you everything." "Gryffindor" was the word James expected, and the Hat did not disappoint him. James sat down, and cleared a seat for his twin right next to him.

Rose was certain the Hat would put her in Gryffindor, having used the Sight to see it, but she did not expect what happened when she put the hat on.

"Another one. Seer, you know what is coming, and I have something to say. You will see many things with your gift, but think long and hard before you tell anyone what you see. The gift will show you what will be, but no one human can chart all the paths from every decision. Some changes might be worse than the thing you are trying to stop. You will have to tell them about some things, and the Gift was given to you to stop the Patient Child. Those things you can see and talk about, but don't use the gift for purely personal things. That path will lead to disaster."

"You know about the gift, do you know about that thing?" Rose shivered as she thought of the thing under the house again.

"I know, and you will have to deal with it soon enough, but it will not be important to you for a couple of years."

"Thank you, that relieves me no end."

"Be strong Seer, Your twin will need you sooner than he knows." With that last bit, the Hat stopped talking to her, and spoke aloud. "Gryffindor" rang out, and Rose walked down the aisle to the seat James had saved.

"What was that all about Sis?" queried James as Rose sat down.

"Long story, I'll tell you later." Rose was still considering the implications of what the hat had said.

Cary was worried about getting into a house his Grandfather would approve of. Cornelius Fudge was the Minister of Magic, and he wanted his grandson in a good house, which meant Ravenclaw to him. Gryffindor were foolhardy and impulsive, Slytherins were loathsome sneaks, and Hufflepuffs were loyal mindless drones. While Minister Fudge would never speak his mind that clearly in public, but that meant nothing when he was alone at home with the family. Cary was not sure what would happen if he were not in Ravenclaw, but he was certain it would not be good. When his name was called, he walked to the stool and settled the Hat on his head.

"Let's see, what have we here. Not for Gryffindor, nor for Slytherin. I see your worries child, but you just don't fit the Ravenclaw mold." "Hufflepuff" said the Hat, and Cary Fudge walked to his new house, wondering what his Grandfather's reaction was going to be.

Hangeld Hagrid had known he was going to be a Gryffindor since his Father had told him about the prophecy and his part in it, but when the Professor called his name, He approached the Hat with a certain trepidation. After all, He was a giant on both sides of his family. What if the Hat decided he was not the one the prophecy spoke of? He settled the hat on his head, and waited.

"One of them. A word of warning for you. Compassion is going to be the saving of you all, but not all will see who needs compassion. Be true to yourself Lad." Hangeld was absorbing this, and nearly missed the Hat saying "Gryffindor". He joined the Gryffindor table and grinned at the thought of the feast to come. His father was a great person to grow up with, but his cooking was dubious at best.

Lisa Malfoy was doing her best to ignore the various mutterings around her. She was aware that the pale skin and blonde hair marked her as a Malfoy to anyone with eyes, and she was equally aware that her family was not high on anyone's list of favorite people. It had taken a great deal of self-control to keep from gaping like a fish when Rose had approached her with the prophecy. Since it offered her an escape from the future she saw coming, she had leaped into it, and was studying everything and everyone involved. She had even started owling the others after she found out, and had a good idea of just what they thought of her. As she had expected, the Potters, Weasleys and other European wizards were not happy about her being involved. The Evans, having been a bit more removed from the Voldemort War, didn't care who she was, and after what seemed like a million owls, the British wizards were coming around a bit. Lisa had her own agenda for the next few years and the prophecy would help her plans. "Malfoy Lisa" was called and Lisa strode up to the Hat, ignoring the looks and mutterings that her name caused. She placed the Hat on her head and started thinking at the Hat.

"A Malfoy hmm? Yet, you are different child. What's this? One of them. Yet, the fire of ambition burns hot in you. You could rule Slytherin if you wished, or give anyone in Ravenclaw an inferiority complex, are you sure of your desires?"

"Sorting Hat, I am sure." Lisa hoped she sounded sure at least.

"Your path will be harder than any other child, lean on your friends, and look for help in unexpected places." Lisa smirked inwardly at the dumbfounded looks from most of the students when the Hat called out "Gryffindor". She walked over to the table and sat next to Hangeld, who had made room for her. She saw James marking several faces of people glaring and muttering, and remembering what had happened to Crabbe, she resolved to have a private word with him. After all, she should have some of the fun of revenge too. She was the target of those mutters and looks.

Richard March was from an old wizard family, and he knew all about the Sorting Hat. His family had been coming to Hogwarts for nearly 700 years, and few even knew it. The Marches had never been heroes, or very famous. They had been clerks and followers forever, and they were happy with that. "March Richard" was called, and he put the Hat on, waiting to hear which House he would be in.

"Another March. You're the latest in a long line of Marches boy. Where are you going? Hmm, you would do equally well in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. Where to put you, where to put you... I think "Ravenclaw". Richard smiled as he went to his new House table.

Tiffany was of two minds about her parents working at Hogwarts. On the one hand, she'd be able to talk to her mother about things and having Harry Potter teaching Quidditch was a dream for the players and fans. On the other hand, Tiffany had a large supply of "Gifts" from her uncles Fred and George that she had definite plans for. Some of the new line of time delayed pranks from the Green Flower line that they were selling looked very interesting, and she couldn't wait to try a few out. She had a sneaking suspicion that Crabbe's tripping twice in front of the whole school had something to do with the "Slippery Soles" prank. She was very curious to know who had that prank here, as on the market yet. She had not really accepted the things her parents had told her about the prophecy yet, and had barely given it any thought. She was more worried about having her parents at the school. "Potter Tiffany" sat down and put the Hat on.

"One of them again. Moreover, blood to most of the rest. You will soon have other things to worry about, and I hope your courage will be strong enough." The Hat called "Gryffindor" and Tiffany sat at the proper table, smiling at her parents, who were watching her. Harry and Ginny looked at each other. Their pride in their daughter was tempered by the knowledge of what was coming.

Emma Weasley was having a hard time thinking of Lisa as a friend, and somebody who she would be tied to by prophecy and life. Her uncles had read her chapter and verse about Malfoys and their treachery. Her owls to and from Lisa were cutting her faith in that, but Emma was still of two minds about the whole thing. She had decided that she would wait and watch until she could make her own mind up about Lisa. When Professor McGonagall called her name, she sat on the stool and put the Hat on.

"Another Weasley. Just how many of you are there anyway? I don't think Hogwarts has been Weasley free in two decades." Emma suppressed a giggle at the mental image of hordes of Weasleys running through the halls like insects. "Keep that sense of humour red, you'll need it in the days to come. Well, even if you were not one of them, there's only one place for someone like you." The Hat had barely paused before calling out "Gryffindor" and Emma went and sat next to Lisa Malfoy. She could watch her, but she was also incensed at the people that were judging her without even knowing the first thing about her. Emma had always had a soft spot for the underdog, and Lisa definitely was that.

"Xavier, Melissa" was the last name called, and as she put the Hat on, she was glad to be finally up here.

"Hmm, Another Xavier bound for Raven... No. The last of them, and different from the rest of your family. You have hard times coming Healer."

"I know Hat. My family kept a copy of the prophecy, and I knew before the Evans contacted us. We have been waiting for this for centuries." "Gryffindor" was the last one called, and Melissa sat next to Emma and Hangeld.

Albus Dumbledore had watched the Sorting with great interest, and breathed a sigh of relief when the last of the Eight was sorted as they had expected. He had faith in the Sight of Rose Evans, but confirmation was always nice. Dumbledore looked at the Eight, and had his reoccurring thought. What was the Patient Child that so much talent had to be assembled to combat him?