3 The Sorting Ceremony

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"Did you hear that, Tom? Professor Slughorn awarded him detention because Abraxas persuaded them that Goyle had cast an illegal spell last year when he pranked him by sticking his pants with the seat, preventing him from getting up. God this is so mean yet amusing at the same time", said Isabella as she chuckled and clutched her stomach.

Tom, who was frightened by his uncertainties, appears to calm down and says, "Yeah, I knew I was there too," while nodding. Isabella nodded and enquired, "Are all of you in the same year?" "Us? We are, of course. We're all second-year students. How about you, Bella?" Rose asked Isabella open-ended questions. "Um, me? My first year is now ". Tom Riddle gulped when Abraxas said, "Well that's great, some other fellows of mine are coming too this year, you and them can have fun with us together." Isabella simply said, "Sounds great, but I am not into the pranks and other stuff you told me, I want everything... Simple." While reading his book with his eyes lowered, Riddle arched an eyebrow at Isabella's remarks.

"So Bella, which house do you think you'd be in?" "Yeah, considering the history of your family's houses, I think it would be different for you." Abraxas and Rose both made a simultaneous observation. "What are you two attempting to implement?", Isabella inquired, giving them both a dubious look. "What we're attempting to imply is that it's possible that you won't become a Slytherin or Ravenclaw." Rose went on. "Why is that, then?" Curious, Isabella questioned.

Tom said matter-of-factly and with a hint of sarcasm, "If it has escaped your notice, your mother was a Ravenclaw and father was a Slytherin, but if you remember, your brother ended up being a Gryffindor, what these two are trying to implement is that there may be a chance of your getting sorted into Hufflepuff." Grasping that hint, Isabella added, "Why does a family's history describe a person's home? Given that it is obvious that a person's motivations and personality are taken into consideration when choosing their house, I don't believe my parent's house will determine my own. In addition, since my brother was sorted into Gryffindor on account of himself, neither will I ". Everyone in the cabin murmured in agreement after Isabella's conclusion, "Yeah, you're right," with the exception of Riddle, who appeared to be silently critiquing Isabella.

Isabella's response to Rose's attempt to lighten the atmosphere when she asked, "So Bella, what are your housing preferences then?" was, "Huh."

"Yes, which house do you choose? Personally, I prefer Slytherin." Isabella casually cocked her head and began as Abraxas said, "Because you are one, it is. Personally, I have no favourite, but for various reasons, I would rather not be separated into some houses ". Riddle inquired, "What are those houses?" after finding this issue to be rather intriguing, to which Isabella just responded, "I am not going to say that." In an attempt to read her thinking, Riddle cocked an eyebrow at her and peered intently into her eyes, but a firm barrier stood in his way. When Isabella responded, Rose questioned, "And why is that?" "Personal reasons", Isabella said with a simple smile.

Then, spotting Riddle in the front, she looked at him as his brows furrowed in perplexity. She looked into Riddle's confused eyes as he attempted to read her mind but was unsuccessful. His eyes widened in shock as he heard a voice, a female voice, Isabella's voice.

"Tom, you can't read my mind."

Widening orbs and letting out a heavy breath as Riddle attracted the attention of others as well. "Hey, Riddle, what happened to you? Is everything okay?" Abraxas asked. "What's up with that frown, Riddle?" inquired Rose. Tom sighed and lied, "Nothing, I just forgot something, but seems like it was there," as he appeared to be anxious from the interrogations. Both Riddle and the others reclined on their seats.

As Isabella looked sideways at Riddle while appearing to smile, Riddle's temper flared. His inner thoughts were,

"How? How was I unable to read her mind? What causes this to occur? I am supposed to be best at Legilimency. How is this possible for her?"

Riddle's train of thought was interrupted by the prefect opening the cabin door, and other students nodded in agreement. "The train is about to reach, change yourself in the meantime," he said.

Rose and Isabella made the decision to leave the cabin and use the bathroom to change. Rose stepped outside her cabin to retrieve her trunk. Malfoy and Goyle also departed to collect their possessions. Isabella tried to reach it but was unable to because her trunk was on the rank in front of her. She reached into her jeans pocket to take out her wand in preparation to cast a spell, but before she knew it, a hand had reached up to the trunk above her, grasped it, and was pulling it down. When she sensed warmth coming from a body behind her, she stiffened and cautiously turned around.

'Your trunk,'

Riddle faltered, but something about Isabella's flushed face made him feel warm. Riddle observed that Isabella has a habit of saying "Thanks" under her breath when she is feeling shy. Tom had goosebumps as she grabbed his trunk with her fingertips. Till she entered the cabin, Tom maintained his composure, but as soon as she left, he lost it. He,

His face was plastered, he yelled inaudibly, and most significantly, he reddened.

Everyone arrived at Hogwarts after the train arrived. First year left for the castle in boats with a few other students. There, Isabella met Zack, who gave her his possessions after giving her some instructions like a big brother for the first time before leaving with his friends and without bothering to follow her. With other first-year students, Isabella sat in the boat without bothering to strike up a conversation with anyone.

When she arrived at the castle, she was greeted by the magnificent lighting and decorations prepared for their entrance. They were directed by a professor to wait there till the gate was opened and they were given the go-ahead to enter. She waited for a few moments until the door finally opened, allowing her to enter the hall alongside other first-year students. Looking up at the artistically designed seal, which was adorned with floating, lit candles in the air. There were four enormous tables lying sideways, two on each side, each with a different hue, signifying four separate residences. Another teacher was seated at a large, long table in front of us. She noticed a stand in front of them, which she recognised as the headmaster's podium for speeches and significant announcements. She had read about everything in her wonderful novels, and it was exactly the same in real life.

As she made her way to the front, she saw Zack smiling at her as if he was about to win something. She knew it was a bet, but she genuinely wanted the hat to decide her fate. Every first-year student is summoned one by one by the professor, and they are sorted into their homes. While waiting for her turn, she felt some eyes on her. She went with her gut and turned to look, only to be met by the same orbs of Riddle that moved aside right away. Rose was waving at her, encouraging her, and she responded by nodding and giving a gummy smile, which was obviously noticed by Riddle.

She noticed their attire and remembered that they were all Slytherins. When her name was called, she walked over to the stage and took a seat on the stool. The day has come when her fate will be written and her home will represent her in all its glory. She was wearing the Sorting Hat when it began speaking,

"Isabella, I see a strong sense of devotion and a caring personality that would fit in Hufflepuff brilliantly. But I also sense that you possess a wave of intelligence and cunning, making you a Ravenclaw and Slytherin alike. More than anything else, she has a strong desire to fit in. Without a certain, not a Gryffindor." 

At this point, Isabella was anxious but relieved that she was not enrolling in Gryffindor near Zack. However, she was terrified of Hufflepuff. The sorting hat went on to say,

"Oh, let me think, either Slytherin or Hufflepuff, too near, ah, too close."

Isabella slammed her eyes shut in terror, and the minute after that, she heard children cheering as the sorting hat yelled,

"Slytherin"

Causing Riddle's heartbeat to quicken, Rose to jump with joy, Zack to choke on his food, Abraxas's eye to gleam, and Isabella's chest to swell with victory...