Heretic - A Mila Vance Story

4 - The Sorting (Year 1)

The door swung open at once. A tall, grey-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. 

'The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall,' said the giant, 'Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here.' 

She pulled the door wide. The Entrance Hall was so big you could've fitted the whole Egyptian Sphinx's in it. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was nearly too high to make out, and a magnificent stone staircase facing them that lead up to the upper floors. They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged marble floor. They could hear the buzz of hundreds of voices from a large arched doorway to the right - the rest of the school must already be here - but Professor McGonagall showed the first-years into a small empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would have normally done, peering around nervously. 

'Welcome to Hogwarts,' said Professor McGonagall. 'The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend your free time in your house common room.  

'The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. 

 'The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. I shall return when we are ready for you' said Professor McGonagall. 'Please wait quietly.'

The second she had left the crowd burst into nervous whispers. Mila looked around and saw that everyone was nervous. It's just a bloody hat she thought Why is everyone fretting? She looked at Hermione who was muttering spells under her breath, then at a small blonde girl with pixie like features who was biting her nails, then at Ron who was looking around nervously.

Mila laughed, she wasn't worried too worried about any test she was sure she was going to be put in Gryffindor like the rest of her family. 

'Mila, look!' said Hermione whacking her harshly on the arm. Several people in front of her screamed. About twenty pearly-white slightly transparent ghosts had just streamed through the black doors in front of them. 

'Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance -'

'My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not even really a ghost – I say, what are you all doing here?' 

 A chubby ghost wearing a ruff and tights suddenly realised they were standing there. Nobody answered.                                                                 

'New students!' said the Fat Friar. 'About to be sorted, I suppose?' 

Mila, along with a few other mutely nodded. 

'Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!' said the Friar,  'My old house, you know.' 

'As if,' muttered Mila to herself. Minutes passed in silence as they waited.