CHAPTER FOUR: SORTING CEREMONIES
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ALEX LOOKED AROUND THE castle as the first years gathered in front of large doors. "The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said with a small nod.

"Thank you. Welcome to Hogwarts!" She announced. Professor McGonagall was in green robes."Now in a few moments, you will pass through these doors, and join your classmates, but before you can take your seats. You must be sorted into your houses. There are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Now while you're here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points, any rule-breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup-"

Before McGonagall could continue a toad was croaking. "Trevor!" Neville exclaimed and ran up and grabbed his toad. She looked a bit annoyed but didn't do anything about it. "Sorry."

She nodded and Neville rejoined the group. "The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily," she explained. She walked off.

"It's true then," someone said, Alex instantly recognized it to be Draco. Everyone turned to him. "What they're saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts."

A few mumbles of "What?" Could be heard by several students. Alex didn't know much about Harry Potter, just that he was the one who basically made her father disappear.

"This is Crabbe and Goyle. And I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," he introduced. There was a loud laugh from another student. "Think my names funny do you? No need to ask you yours, red hair and a hand-me-down robe. You must be a Weasley." Alex frowned amongst herself, realizing her own hair was red. Why was Draco doing this? "You'll soon find out that some Wizarding Families are better than others Potter. You don't wanna go making friends with a wrong sort. I can help you there."

Draco stuck his hand out and Harry didn't do anything. "I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thank you very much, thanks," he said, ignoring Draco's hand still.

Alex couldn't help but laugh to herself, although she probably shouldn't have. Suddenly McGonagall returned, patting Draco on the shoulder which sent him back by Crabbe and Goyle. "We're ready for you now. Follow me."

They walked into the Great Hall, and Alex was taken aback by the ceiling. It looked like the night sky, she overhear Hermione explaining it but didn't catch on. She gasped a bit but continued walking.

The hall was full of other students and the staff was at the front of the room. McGonagall stood in front of all the first years as they gathered around. The rest of the students were watching.

There were also four large tables in the Great Hall, which Alex assumed represented the four houses. They were stacked with plates and silverware that shined due to the lighting of the Hall.

There was a stool and a dusty hat in front of them. "Now when I call your name, you shall come forth and I will place the Sorting Hat on your head and you will be sorted into your houses," she explained. "Abbot, Hannah."

A girl walked forward and sat down. She also had bushy hair similar to Hermione's. She looked nervous.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

The girl smiled and hopped down as the Hufflepuff table applauded, she happily skipped over to the table.

"Bones, Susan."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Alex glanced around as there was still loud clapping, McGonagall kept going. "Baker, Tianna."

Alex watched her new friend walk up and sit down, the hat was thinking like it was going between a few houses.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Boot, Terry."

"RAVENCLAW!"

Alex watched him walk to the Ravenclaw table. Crabbe and Goyle, to no one's surprise, were sorted into Slytherin.

"Granger, Hermione."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Longbottom, Neville."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Neville looked relieved, but Alex knew he wanted Gryffindor because of his family. She was glad he was happy.

"Malfoy, Draco."

Alex watched Draco walk up and sit down. The hat barely touched his head.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Alex held back clapping, she was happy that he got Slytherin. Lucius and Narcissa would be proud of him.

"Potter, Harry."

"Hmm difficult... very difficult. Plenty of courage I see, not a bad mind either. There's talent. Oh yes, and a thirst to prove yourself," the hat said. "But where to put you?" Harry was mumbling something, that Alex couldn't make out. "Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure? You could be great you know. It's all here, in your head. And Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that. No? Well if you're sure."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry looked relieved as he joined the Gryffindors at their table. A few more people went until finally.

"Thornbury, Alexis."

Alex froze for a moment before she walked towards the chair. She noticed the Weasley boy staring at her, his mouth a bit agape. The hat was placed on her head. Alex sat there, in silence as the hat figured out where to put her.

She could see Draco watching her, and he gave her a small smile.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Alex froze for a moment when she didn't hear 'Slytherin' escape the hat. She glanced at McGonagall who even looked a bit shocked, but she ended up smiling at the young girl.

Alex walked to the Hufflepuff table, who were clapping and she sat beside Tianna. An older boy sat across from them. "I'm Cedric, Cedric Diggory," he introduced, shaking her hand.

"Alex," she told him and looked over at Tianna, who was staring at her. "What?"

"Alex... hm," she said, which got a confused look from Alex again. "I'm gonna call you Allie! I need a nickname that's my own."

Alex shrugged. "Alright, if that's what you want."

The next thing Alex knew was more people were sorted and finally, two remained. The Weasley boy and another boy.

"Weasley, Ronald."

He walked and sat down on the chair. He looked scared at well, just like the other students did.

"Another Weasley, I know what to do with you!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Ron sighed with relief and walked to the Gryffindor table and joined Harry.

The last boy was Blaise Zabini, who ended up being a Slytherin.

Alex looked over at Tianna. "What is Hufflepuff's like?"

"You don't know?" She asked.

"I never learned much about the houses," she explained, crossing her arms.

"Oh well Hufflepuffs are known to be loyal to those they care about, and hard workers," she explained. "Kind and stuff like that."

McGonagall clapped her fork on a cup, getting everyone's attention to the front of the room. "Your attention please." She said.

An old man stood up, he had a long white beard and some old robes on. "I am Headmaster Dumbledore. I have a few start-of-term notices I wish to announce. The first years, please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students. That no magic is to be used between the classes and the corridors," he explained. Also our caretaker, Mr. Filch. Has asked me to remind you that the 3rd-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone that does not wish for the most painful death. Let the feast, begin."

Food suddenly appeared on the plates in front of them, it looked amazing and it smelled even better. Tianna was already digging her way through the feast, so Alex did the same.

"Are you guys excited?" Cedric asked them.

Alex nodded. "Yeah," she said.

Tianna smiled. "Of course!" She exclaimed. Tianna was a lot more energetic than Alex was used to.

He nodded. "Good," he said. "You should meet our two prefects," Cedric called two names over.

"Hey Ced," the one boy said, looking at Alex and Tianna. "Ah, first years! I'm Gabriel Truman."

Alex smiled. "I'm Alex. It's nice to meet you." Gabriel had dark brown hair and brown eyes. There was a blonde girl next to him, who looked about the same age as Gabriel.

"I'm Tianna!" She exclaimed, with a smile, shaking Gabriel's hand.

The girl smiled. "Oh. I'm Charlotte Robinson." After a short conversation with Cedric both the prefects left to talk to other students.

"How old are you?" Tianna asked.

"I'm a third year," he told them. "All you really need to know about Hufflepuff right now is our head of house is Professor Sprout, she teaches Herbology. Gabriel and Charlotte can get a little strict, but they're trying to keep everyone in order so we don't lose points."

Tianna nodded. "What about quidditch?" She asked.

"Are you interested in joining?" Cedric asked, which got a nod from Tianna and Alex. "Well, we don't usually accept first years, just because most of them have never played before. I plan on trying out this year for seeker. You guys can come but I tried out my first and second years and didn't make the team."

Alex nodded. "I can wait until I'm older, I don't much about it yet." She explained. "I can watch some games and then try out in a few years."

Tianna agreed by nodding. "Yeah, me too."

"Awesome!" Cedric exclaimed as he ate some dinner. "What class do you have first tomorrow?"

Alex looked at Tianna. "We have transfiguration and then potions," she said.

Cedric nodded. "Well, transfigurations is taught by Professor McGonagall, the one who did the sorting. Then Professor Snape for Potions, no one really likes him, besides the Slytherins."

Alex shrugged, she could remember a few select times Lucius mentioned someone by the surname Snape.

-

Dumbledore rose, as all the students' attention drifted to him. "Prefects, lead your house to the common room. Have a great night, classes will start tomorrow!" He announced.

Alex stood to her feet, Tianna was beside her, and Gabriel and Charlotte were getting all the students together as they started walking out of the Great Hall.

All the Hufflepuffs were led to the Hufflepuff common room. Gabriel turned to them, pulling his wand out. He tapped on a barrel two from the bottom, and once on the middle one in the second row. "First years, this is how you get into the common room. Remember it, it is the rhythm of Helga Hufflepuff."

They all gathered in the common room. The common room was round and the ceiling was decently low. It was covered in plants and the walls were yellow. The furniture looked antique, but there were a lot of couches and chairs.

It wasn't long before Alex followed the rest of the first-year Hufflepuff girls to the girls' dormitory. There were five of them and five beds. Their bags were dropped off in their rooms. Tianna and Alex picked beds next to each other.

Alex shoved her suitcase under her bed, plopping on the bed. It had yellow drapes, and the bed was made of oak wood. She looked over at Tianna, before sitting up. "I like the common room," Alex told her. "It's very cozy, and homey."

Tianna nodded. "Me too, I'm glad I got Hufflepuff," she said. "Sucks that Hermione and Neville aren't with us. What do you think about Hufflepuff?"

Alex shrugged. "I didn't mind what house I got, so I'm happy with Hufflepuff," she said. But she wasn't, she just wondered what Lucius would think when her, Voldemort's daughter, was a Hufflepuff. "But yeah, at least Neville and Hermione are together."

Tianna nodded. "That's true," she said and looked over at her. "We should get some rest, so we're not tired in the morning.

She nodded and lay down in her bed, getting comfortable. Tianna did the same and the other girls were getting ready for bed.

She was a Hufflepuff. Lucius would be upset, she could already hear him screaming at her about it. Draco got Slytherin, at least there's that they can be proud about.

authors note

hi! i hope you enjoyed this chapter. i'm trying to keep them a decent length but not too long because i really hate long chapters, especially on wattpad.