Chapter 10: Sorted

The room clapped. Wendi saw James staring at her from the Gryffindor table, a mixture of anger and confusion on his face. Wendi took off the Hat and walked to the Slytherin Table. By now, everyone's attention had been redirected to "Ember, Theodore". Cara grinned at Wendi as she sat down next to her.

"I knew you'd make it!" she whispered. Wendi nodded and pretended to be focused on the Sorting. Meanwhile, her head buzzed. Albus had been so worried about getting into Gryffindor. Should she have been, too? Wendi didn't know what to think. For the short time she had been in the wizarding world, all she ever heard about Slytherin had been negative. But this is where she belonged, Wendi thought to herself. Make the best of it.

"Hayes, Tammy!" called Professor Solem, and Wendi immediately snapped to attention, watching Tammy practically skip, unembarrassed, to the Hat. She put the Hat on and it was silent for a few minutes.

"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the Hat, and Wendi clapped along with everyone else.

"Hayes, Tara!" called Professor Solem, and Tara walked to the Hat, not daring to look at the crowd watching her. The Hat didn't hesitate. The second it touched her head, it called

"RAVENCLAW!"

Wendi wasn't surprised.

Several minutes later, Gabriel Morgan and Martin Parker had joined Wendi and Cara at the Slytherin table.

"Potter, Albus!" announced Professor Solem. Wendi saw Albus' pale face glancing out at the crowd before it disappeared beneath the overlarge Hat.

Gabriel snarled from beside Wendi.

"That Potter kid." he muttered.

"What's wrong with the Potters?" asked Wendi, surprised, deciding against mentioning they were related.

"Do you remember that blonde first year that got Sorted into Hufflepuff?"

"Yeah."

"That's Malfoy's kid. Pathetic baby." whispered Gabriel harshly.

"So?" asked Wendi

"Put it this way: I'm taking his job. And I hate the Potters for, er, private reasons."

"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the Hat.

"That settles it." said Gabriel grimly, leaning back on his seat.

"I don't think you should be enemies because of his House." warned Wendi. Gabriel ignored her.

Rose waved at Wendi from the Ravenclaw table. Wendi waved back. She didn't hold grudges.

When Wendi looked back down, she noticed the golden plates had filled with all different sorts of food. There were types of food she had never seen before, ones she had never even heard of. Wendi grabbed some chicken, mashed potatoes and peas. She wasn't one to try new things. [Although,] she thought wryly [I guess I'm not going to be able to avoid trying new stuff.]

Wendi listened attentively to the Headmaster when he stood up and began to speak. This was rather difficult as the other students around her were sniggering and muttering amongst themselves. Eventually she began to get annoyed.

"Can you shut up?" she hissed, "I'm actually trying to listen."

Most of the other Slytherins looked taken aback. But after a few sideways glances at Wendi, they turned their backs on her and began whispering again. Wendi opened her mouth, but Cara put her hand on her arm. "It's no use." Cara whispered, "Just let them alone. They'll never listen to you."

"Why not?" Wendi whispered back angrily.

"Because-"Cara began.

"Just because I'm a first-year? Does that mean what I say doesn't matter?"

"What you say does matter. But next time, try to say it another time than when the Headmaster is speaking." said an unfamiliar voice from behind her. Wendi gulped and slowly turned around. A very tall teacher was glaring at her. "I think detention tomorrow night will suffice. Come to the Potions room at 9." he said, and walked away stiffly.

Cara looked at her sympathetically. "That's Professor Kerendy. He's really strict."

Wendi thought it best not to reply.

A/N: Sorry for the super short chapters recently!