Always Your Loyal Girl

Chapter 4: Part 1

I breathed in the crisp night air as I walked through the huge double doors into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Warm and glowing fires flickered in the torch holders as a swell of excited chatter rose around me. I smiled wide, I had an okay family life and I enjoyed being at home, but Hogwarts was my favorite place to be.

Cedric and I had ridden in one of the threstral-driven carriages along with two of his friends, Nate Harrington and Violet Russo. They were both in Hufflepuff and very nice. Nate was one of the Beaters on our Quidditch team, and he did have a knack for keeping bludgers away from us! He was tall- not Cedric tall, but enough that he could look over my head-, and he had a head of curly dark brown hair that framed his chocolate complexion. Violet was very tan, owing to the fact that her parents were Italian, and had short brown hair that she always held back with a Hufflepuff headband. I had been her partner in Potions a few times, and we shared a dorm with beds next to each other. I was glad that I was getting to know them both better.

I chatted amicably with my new friends for a little while. It turns out that Cedric was at the Quidditch World Cup when it was attacked by Death Eaters! It was a fascinating story, he says that they tried to blame it on Harry Potter, the boy who should hate Death Eaters the most. It was all very strange. Nate, Cedric, and I chatted about Quidditch strategy for this season, and promising new players, and Violet told me about her family's trip to America, apparently they have a wizard school too: Ilvermorny!

All of the sudden the doors to the Great Hall were opened, and we all excitedly filed into the huge chamber. I felt very lost in the swarm of people, and I glanced wildly around for Cedric and my friends. I found him finally and he grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the Hufflepuff table and into the seat next to him. I don't know why but this made me nervous, I saw a couple of people, especially girls eye me suspiciously. I glanced around worriedly, and saw some Ravenclaw looking at me. She was a fifth year, and I think her name was Cho? She stared daggers at me, so I quickly looked away. Oh no, I hoped people weren't getting the wrong idea! Cedric and I definitely weren't -

"A thousand years or more ago,
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of renown,
Whose names are still well known:
Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.
They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,
They hatched a daring plan
To educate young sorcerers
Thus Hogwarts School began.
Now each of these four founders
Formed their own house, for each
Did value different virtues
In the ones they had to teach.
By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition.
While still alive they did divide
Their favorites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When they were dead and gone?
'Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!
Now slip me snug about your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind
And tell where you belong!"

The Sorting Hat finished it's song and we all clapped politely. I hadn't even realized that the Sorting had begun!

"Alfred, Mary." Professor McGonagall cried out suddenly, we all turned our heads towards the first-years, and a little blonde girl tentatively shuffled up to the stool with the Sorting Hat. McGonnagall placed it on her head and it drooped over her bright blue eyes. The hat scrunched up a little and seemed to be considering things, we all waited patiently. I could still vividly remember my Sorting, even if it was six years ago...