Chapter 2 The Sorting

The great hall was crowded as James expected it to be and he was able to ditch Roxanne for the time being. He knew that she would only find him again once they were sitting in the dining hall at the Gryffindor table. Until then James complained to Lysander and Tara about his meddling cousins, it was nothing that the two had never heard before.

They exchanged a bored look with one another as James continued to prattle on about how he had absolutely no privacy at Hogwarts with all of his family around him. Tara broke off early having spotted her fellow Hufflepuff friend Susan Merryweather, a plump short girl with dark hair and a heart shape face.

James and Lysander bid each other a goodbye once they had made it inside the Dining Hall. Lysander moved to sit at the long table that ran against the fireplace, Tara the table opposite of the Slytherin table by the windows, and James found an opening at the Gryffindor table opposite the Ravenclaw.

He could see Lysander sitting next to his twin they seemed to be getting a long a bit better than they had on the train. Soon he was engaged in conversation with Mark Sanders, the new Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain. James watched them for a moment before his view became obstructed by the narrow face of Travis Conner, another boy in his year from Gryffindor.

“Long time no see.” Travis sat with a grin.

“Really, how was your summer?” James asked trying to hide the fact that he didn’t exactly want to talk to him.

Travis was not a bad guy, just a bit annoying at times and always felt that he had to prove himself to James. He believed that James had some sort of club all because he hung around with Lysander and Tara a whole bunch. Travis didn’t seem to understand the concept of best friends. He was probably the least liked of the 3rd year Gryffindor boys because he was so clingy to others, and obvious to know when he wasn’t wanted or had over stayed his welcome.

Thankfully James did not have to hear about Travis’s minute-to-minute story about his summer. Headmaster McKnight had stood up at the head table. Everyone in the hall grew silent and all eyes turned forward. Professor McKnight was a young man, probably in his earlier thirties with almost a perfect oval face, and dirty blonde hair that had started to thin out in the front. He came highly recommended from the Ministry over four years ago. The youngest Headmaster Hogwarts had seen in centuries.

James liked him; he looked like he may have been a rule breaker in his days at Hogwarts. It was a theory that made James respect him more than he normally would have. McKnight was Scottish and had a heavy accent but it was still easy to understand him. He liked to over pronounce certain words and took unnecessary pauses during speeches. James noted that he was trying too hard at times.

“Good evening students, and welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. In a moment the first years will come walking through that door to be sorted. Before they do though I want to remind everyone to help and make them feel welcome here and—“

James tuned out and began scanning the Gryffindor table for some of his cousins, Roxanne in particular. She was sitting nearest to the head table with her friends, whose names escaped James’s memory. One of them though, the girl with the long brown hair that was tied into a high ponytail, was Daniel’s girlfriend. Daniel who was sitting just on the other side of him, and for a moment James wondered if they had broken up over the summer. But then the girl turned and flashed a smile down the table wiggling her fingers in a wave. James blinked and glanced of his shoulder at Daniel who gave a stupid grin and waved back, flushing slightly. Clearly embarrassed she had addressed him that way in front of his friends.

Daniel was kind of a jerk; had this way of thinking he was better than everybody else. Not like the guy came right out and said it but there was always this tone in his voice that made James feel like he was inferior in some way. However it did not stop Daniel from talking to James and assuming the two were pals.

The doors creaked open from the other end of the hall and every head redirected itself to watch as Professor, and deputy Head Mistress, Nellows walked briskly through the door followed closely by a group of terrified faces. Amongst the faces James recognized his younger brother and cousin Rose. As Albus passed him by he shot James a look his green eyes danced with worry. James sighed and gave him two thumbs up with the most encouraging smile he could. Albus craned his neck to stare at his brother as he continued down toward the three-legged stool. A slight smile appeared on his face before he turned forward again.

Professor Nellows turned sharply holding a scroll that held the names of all the first year students. Her long blonde hair with streaks of gray swung around like a whip falling over her right shoulder. Clearing her throat after the first years had finished gathering she unrolled the parchment.

James never liked Professor Nellows, she was very prim and proper and, like Daniel, thought she was better than everybody. He hated Charms for the reason she taught it alone. It never escaped his attention that whenever Professor McKnight went to say something she was always looking on seemingly judging his every move. Clearly she had been upset that the position of Head Master went to someone a good twenty years younger than she.

Just before Professor Nellows spoke the Hat cleared its throat, or rather made a sound that mimicked clearing its throat. She looked at the Sorting Hat for a moment before rolling the parchment back up.

Every year I sing a song before you find your place

I tell you of the founders who gave me such a face

You know them well and the traits that each house posses.

And every year new witches and wizards stand here stressed

So to ease your worry I’ll make this quick in doing so

Just come up here and you are free to go.

Four houses there are and certain traits for each

Ravenclaw’s are wise knowledge is what they seek

Hufflepuff’s are loyal and just

Slytherin’s are cunning ad can cause such a fuss

Gryffindor’s are brave, daring and bold

To which one you belong watch as it unfolds

Try me on, do not be afraid

I will tell you what house for which you were made.

As the Sorting Hat finished it’s song everyone clapped and once again Professor Nellows un rolled the parchment. She glanced at the first name and spoke clearly,

“Aldon, Trinity.”

A tall thin girl with a short dark bob walked right up to the stool and took a seat. She didn’t seem as nervous as the others. The hat was placed on her head and after a moment of two it called out.

“Slytherin!”

The Slytherin table clapped as their new member joined them with a smug grin on her face. James looked over to the Slytherin table watching them all, his eyes falling on one person in particular. He had dark hair with brilliant blue eyes, it was odd to see such an oddity. But Perry Hunter was anything but interesting; he was just simple a bother and nuisance. Ever since James’ first year at Hogwarts the two had a dislike for the other. He referred to Hunter as his own Malfoy. His father had a schoolmate enemy while at school, and now so did James. There wasn’t even an event that sparked the dislike, at least nothing too big.

Since the mutual hatred Hunter and James had tried back and forth to make the other one look like a fool. Jinxing the others school items, messing with the others potions during Potions classes, and an attempt at a duel once last year. The failed attempt resulted in a week’s detention for the both of them and thirty points from each house. The duel didn’t plan out when someone had gone and told on them both; James always suspected it was Roxanne. She always had this moral about never fighting. The complete opposite of her brother Fred.

“Kramer, Claire.”

“Ravenclaw!”

“Malfoy, Scorpious.”

James smirked at the son of his father’s once rival. There was something inside of James that made him a bit jealous that Albus would have an actual Malfoy to fight with. Not that Albus seemed to have it in him to fight with anyone. He hardly won the fights he had with his brother back home.

“Slytherin!”

That seemed almost too obvious. James shook his head slightly as the Malfoy boy hopped off the stool and marched down to the table to join everyone else. Hunter clapped him on the back and was cheering him on. James imagined that hating the two of them could be a brother thing, a way of bonding with his younger brother.

“Norton, Tony.”

“Gryffindor!”

James applauded, the boy with sandy hair was so excited her tripped over his feet on the way to the table. Every student in the hall laughed, even James. The poor kid got up beat red and sat down.

“Overman, Clarissa”

“Hufflepuff!”

“Potter, Albus.”

Everyone, professors included, sat up a bit straighter and paid close attention as Albus slowly moved to sit on the stool. People struggled to see around others in an attempt to get a look at him. James gave a quick glance to his cousins who were in sight. Roxanne was smiling at Albus; Molly was sitting with Fred her fingers crossed while Fred sat back with a sheepish look on his face. His younger cousin Louis was sitting on his legs anxiously waiting.

James looked back at the front of the hall where the Sorting Hat was now being placed on Albus’s head. Any moment now he waited for the hat to call out Gryffindor, but it took longer than he thought it would. An entire minute passed by and people began to whisper back and forth. James stared expectantly at his brother beginning to sweat wondering what was taking so long for the hat to decide. It was clear that Albus belonged in Gryffindor, maybe Hufflepuff at the least. James found himself holding his breath waiting for the hat to say something anything.

“Slytherin!”

Nobody said anything for a few moments wondering if they had heard it correctly. James blinked thinking his mind was playing a cruel joke on him. He jerked his head around to those sitting close to him and they shared in James’s shocked expression.

“Isn’t that your brother?” Daniel asked.

James just nodded.

“He got into Slytherin?” Travis half whispered.

So James hadn’t heard wrong, everybody had heard the Sorting Hats verdict. James looked back up at his brother, Albus was sheet white and he was staring straight at James. The students began to murmur to one another as Albus got off the stool and headed toward the Slytherin table. The staff began to exchange talk, James noticed Hagrid above them all. He was half standing but Neville Longbottom had hold of his arm and was forcing him to sit back down.

Professor Nellows looked a bit abashed and hesitated before continuing with the ceremony.

“Prince, Jacklyn.”

James couldn’t focus on the remainder of the sorting he was too busy trying to process the fact that Albus made it into Slytherin. He didn’t even tune back in to hear what McKnight had to say to the entire student body. Daniel had to elbow James hard to get him to come back to reality and to grab some food before it was gone. Although that was never the problem, there was always more than enough food on the table.

A couple times during the feast James caught the glare of Roxanne, and Victoire all the way from the Ravenclaw table. He sighed and shoved the food on his plate around in circles. A frightening thought came to James when he wondered how his parents would react. Turning his head to try and catch a glimpse of Albus at the Slytherin table James was angered when he saw that Hunter had moved to sit next to Albus. He was talking Albus’s ear off while Albus slowly took a bite of his chicken. Hunter glanced up catching James’s eye and gave a sly smirk and raised his eyebrows in acknowledgment. James’s eyes narrowed and his grip tightened on the fork in his left hand.

Lysander and Tara caught up with James as they made to leave the hall after the feast. He didn’t say much to them as they began firing questions.

“Look I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow about it. See you in History of Magic Lysander. Tara meet us in the library during break.” James instructed.

“Library?” Lysander asked.

Tara heaved a sigh, “Yes, Ly we have a library. It’s where the books live.”

“I know what a library is.” he growled.

James let them bicker while he followed the rest of the Gryffindors to the tower. He made it into the common room before he was bombarded with people, his cousins the leaders.

“Look what you did!” Roxanne shrieked waving a finger in his face.

“What I did? How is any of this my fault?” James cried.

“You are the one who told him he’d be in Slytherin.”

James threw his hands in the air, “I’m sorry Roxie I had no idea that I could influence the decision of the Sorting Hat, you got me.”

“Roxie leave him alone.” Molly came bouncing over,

“Thank you.”

Molly reached over and smacked James on the arm.

“What the bloody hell was that for? I thought you were on my side?” James cried out holding his arm.

Soon an argument broke out and everybody was shouting some siding with Roxanne and Molly and others with James. When the two new prefects William Underwood and Bridget Smith began trying to get everyone to calm down unsuccessfully Head Boy Michael Jones stepped forward. He pointed the tip of his wand at his throat.

“Everybody calm down now!” his voice reverberated off the walls; the portraits even covered their ears.

The noise died quickly. Michael got up on a chair taking the wand away from his throat.

“What is going on here?” he was looking directly at James when he asked this, Molly spoke on his behalf thought.

“It’s family affairs, it’s nothing.”

“Then keep it amongst your family and keep it quiet, or do I have to go and get Professor Longbottom?” Michael asked, by his tone he sounded like a Professor himself.

“Like that’s anything of a threat.” James muttered and received another smack on the arm from Molly. Michael hadn’t heard the comment however and continued on.

“Now I suggest everybody just goes up to their dorms and call it a night. Most of all you three now go.”

James didn’t need to be told twice if it meant getting away from his cousins. He stormed off wondering where Fred was in all of this; he would have been on James’s side.

Up in the dorm he was greeted by Travis, Daniel and Lee and Brice the other too in his year. They muttered a hello as James wandered over to his bed and flopping down on it. Closing his eyes James silently counted until Daniel would speak up, he reached seven, a personal best for Daniel.

“Why do you suppose Albus got into Slytherin?”

James groaned and put a pillow over his head. “I don’t know Daniel.” his voice muffled but still audible.

“It’s very weird, a Potter in Slytherin.” he mused.

“You know I heard that Harry Potter was supposed to be put into Slytherin, I read it somewhere, cause he had all of those traits of You-Know-Who.” Travis said.

James was tempted to throw the pillow at him.

“For Merlin sake Travis just call him by the name Voldemort. It’s been like nineteen years since his downfall. And besides that can’t be true.” said Lee, the four of them began to have their own conversation acting as if James was not there at all.

“No I think it is true, I read it somewhere.” now Brice voiced his opinion.

James took the pillow off his head and sat up, “Guys, please. Can you either talk about this somewhere else or not talk about it at all? I’d rather not think about this right now.”

James quickly changed into his pajamas and climbed under the covers. He shifted for a few minutes before he got comfortable. Daniel and the others had done the same and soon the room fell into complete silence leaving James alone with his thoughts.

It was hard to fall asleep with everything spinning around in James’s head. Albus had been sorted into Slytherin the very same day that James said he might be. He couldn’t help but some how feel guilty for the whole thing even though James knew there was no possible way that he could have been the cause.

The next day was going to be rough, James knew there would be talk all over Hogwarts about this not to mention his cousins who he didn’t have contact with tonight would love to have a go at him when they got the chance. Victoire popped instantly into his mind and it made him shudder a little. She was older and far better at spells and she was vicious at times. Who knows if she’d jinx him or at least perform some kind of charm on him as a form of karma.

Just as these thoughts began to fade out and James was ready to drift to sleep he heard the hushed voice of Travis in the dark.

“Does this mean he’ll become a dark wizard?”

“Shut it Travis!” James, joined by Daniel and the others shouted.