Welcome to the Rest of your Life

Sorting Ceremony {year 1}

"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

The next Gryffindor was Fay Dunbar. Then it was Seamus Finnigan, the sandy-haired boy to my right. Then came Hermione – someone groaned when this happened. And, eventually as the list went on—

"Longbottom, Leonora!"

"I love you, Leo!" Neville whispered to me. "Best of luck!"

I smiled nervously and crossed over to the stool. My stomach was coiled around itself rather tightly, feeling more and more like lead with each step I took towards Professor McGonagall. As I sat on the stool, the hat went over my eyes with one fell swoop, and I heard a voice.

"Longbottom, eh ... maybe not one by blood, but without a doubt one by truth. Mm, there are many places you could be in. Longbottoms are notorious for having plenty of different traits, and you are no exception, young lady! You are quite smart, so you'd do well in Ravenclaw ... especially kind-hearted, just like a Hufflepuff ... cunning, like a Slytherin ... yes, it is a hard decision, yet ... but I can clearly see where your true, fated potential lies—"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

I grinned with relief and excitement as the Gryffindor table broke out into another round of thunderous applause. Behind me, I could hear Neville whooping. I took off the hat and crossed over excitedly to the table. A smiling pair of twins offered the seat beside them, which I took happily.

"Welcome to Gryffindor!" said a red-headed boy with a prefect's badge on.

"Oh, come on, Perce!" George called. It was quite impossible to know which was which, but I had a very good feeling that this was George talking. "Really, you need to give it more feeling!" he grabbed my shoulder. "Welcome to the rest of your life, Leo!"

"Longbottom, Neville!"

My celebration was quickly snuffed out. I whipped my head back to the front of the Great Hall as all relief quickly drained from me. The Great Hall quickly quieted as Neville tripped his way up to the stool. When the Sorting Hat was placed on his head, it took an excruciating long while to decide where he would go. With my fingers crossed in my lap, my heart pounded; I couldn't help but worry over whether or not he'd make it into Gryffindor. Would I have to spend the next seven years without my brother on my side?

But, finally, it yelled "GRYFFINDOR!" and I cheered loudly alongside the other students at the table. He ran off, still wearing the hat, and had to walk back to hand it over to 'MacDougal, Morag'. Many people in the Great Hall laughed at him. Luckily I didn't hear any laughter coming from Fred or George behind me. Neville came and sat in front of me, blushing.

"Told you you'd be in Gryffindor." I whispered to him. He made a small smile.

"Malfoy, Draco!"

The disruptive pale blonde cockily stepped up to the stool. Not even a second after the hat touched his head did it scream. "SLYTHERIN!"

"How surprising." Neville whispered sarcastically. He must have noticed them during the song, too.

"Yes, I wonder what would have ever gotten him in Slytherin." I chuckled lowly. "That name sounds familiar, doesn't it?"

"Son of Lucius Malfoy." One of the twins whispered behind me. "I think he was a Death Eater when You-Know-Who was alive. Now he works at the Ministry."

A few more people went up to the stool. The next Gryffindor was Parvati Patil, the twin of Padma Patil, who was put in Ravenclaw before her.

Then, suddenly, it was Harry Potter. Whispers broke out all over the Great Hall.