It was cold. Were these people insane? Who puts a bunch of eleven-year-old's in row boats, sends them over a freezing lake, and then makes them stand in a drafty corridor in September? We were already terrified, one can't tell whether they are shaking from cold or fear. I watched, jaws clacking, as the wrinkled old lady in the green cloak stepped through the door. She held her hand up for our attention, an unnecessary gesture, and said, "Come with me please."
She led us through a very tall set of doors into one of the strangest rooms I'd ever been in. Four fantastically huge tables, overwhelmed by dishes, silverware, goblets, and the like, were swamped with other students who were beaming at us. It wasn't the students who seemed strange, however, though they all wore pointed hats and dark robes like us, it was the ceiling. My eyes blurred as I tried to define just where the walls disappeared and what appeared to be the sky emerged. It couldn't be the real sky, though, because it was raining. I tried not to think to hard about it.
The letter said "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry",and I was thrilled at the idea, but now that I was surrounded by what I supposed must be witches and wizards in training, I was scared beyond all reason. What was to become of me? Would I be alienated by my friends at home? I tried not to cry.
The old lady stood at the front of the hall. She said clearly, "When I call your name you will come up here. You will sit on this stool and be sorted into your houses. There are four houses; Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. While you are here, your house will be like your family. You will sleep in the same tower. You will eat at the same tables. You will study together, talk together, read together."
Great, I thought. Labels, just like any other school. The lady started calling names;
"Kara Addison."
The poor girl approached, taking small steps and green in the face. The woman had to assist her onto the stool, and then she put an old ragged hat on her head.
I'm just glad I'm not the only one who jumped a foot back when the hat screamed, "SLYTHERIN!"
The little girl started to shake then, and positively sprinted to the correct table. When she was seated she turned and buried her face into the shoulder of a young man. I could see they were brother and sister, and felt a jolt of envy; this girl probably knew this school existed already when she got her letter. She probably knows all about this place. I'm here alone.
"Dane Banner," the woman proclamed then.
So she was going in alphabetical order. It was going to be a long while before I was called up there. I watched as the cocky young boy who must be dane strutted up, plopped himself onto the chair was was promptly sent to the Gryffindor table. I continued to look on, watching carefully as two people were sent to Ravenclaw, one to Hufflepuff, and then two more to Slytherin. After that, I must admit I became a bit bored.
I was watching a cloud on the "ceiling" when she finally called my name.
"Erica Young," She announced, her voice miraculously still clear as a bell.
All comprehensive thought vanished. I started shaking uncontrollably. I took one step forward and started to fall to the side. A watchful boy caught my small frame and held me upright until I felt ready to continue. I gulped and took another step. And another. And another. When I finally reached my destination my eyes were swimming in fearful tears, my breath came in conspicuously loud hiccups, and the blood was rushing in my ears. I sat upon the stool and waited. The hat came down on my head with a dusty whoof, and I could almost feel the consciousness in the old thing probing my random, terrified thoughts.
A few seconds is a long time when you are waiting for something in silence in front of a large crowd of people. It was many seconds before the hat finally called out, "PUFFLECLAW!"
If the hall wasn't silent a moment ago, it certainly was now. My breath caught painfully in my throat. The lady whispered faintly, "Upon my word..."
My thoughts were in perfect order now, but there was only one thing there; What is wrong?!?
And that is what the had screamed next.
I began to cry. The hall was a mass of chaotic whispering, pointing, and giggling. Inwardly I begged the had, Just sort me already!
"JUST SORT ME!"
Now most everybody was laughing. I stood up, threw off the hat, and ran to the tall doors. They were locked fast. I turned to face the staring crowd. Get me out of here, were my thoughts now. I was in a blind panic. What was wrong with me? Why couldn't the hat sort me? I turned back around and beat the doors with my fists. "Let me out!" I cried. I felt a hand on my shoulder.
I spun around again, to see the lady once more. She was holding her wand. I could do nothing but stand there as she raised it to my forehead and whispered something. I could feel myself relaxing, could almost watch my mind sort itself out. She led me back up to the front. I shied away from the hat, but eventually allowed it onto my head again. It couldn't get any worse, could it?
I heard a quiet voice in my mind, I could only assume it was the hat. "You gave me a lot of trouble young lady," Muttered the voice gruffly. "Why were you so scared? I couldn't see past your fear, and so I could not sort you properly."
I needed not answer, he merely read me like a book. "Thank goodness Professor McGonagall put that calming spell on you. Now, let's get this done...I say RAVENCLAW!" It finished this last statement with a final declaration that contained a definite note of relief.
The woman, whom I assumed was Professor McGonagall, sighed. She removed the hat and pointed me to the right table. I walked shamefacedly to it, and was greeted by halfhearted cheers and handshakes. I did not look anyone in the eye for an entire week after that.
Life is full of hard times and good times. Lift your chin up, Ladies and Gentlemen.