ITS HATTENING GET IN HERE

       A partly cloudy night covered the enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall as the tables buzzed with gossip and the students gorged on the many dishes that left little room for the students' own plates. Garland, who had yet to touch his plate of meats and breads, remained focused on the line of new arrivals keeping to the wall near the main entrance of the Great Hall. He caught sight of a silver blonde in the middle of the group and recognized her as April Windsley, his life-long mate from his childhood.

       Alan Anderson, one of his Ravenclaw colleagues, noticed Garland eyeing the new students that just arrived and briefly scanned them before returning to the table. Garland felt the tip of a shoe bat at his shin from under the table as Alan tried to get his attention, but he was too focused to immediately acknowledge it. "Is she there?" Alan asked. "Yes. Right there, center towards the back. Near-white hair in a ponytail" Garland replied, subtly pointing at the only girl intently scanning the tables. Alan turned again, just in time to see April catch sight of Garland. She raised a hand from her books and gave a slight wave before returning to the imminent ceremony.

       The foreign presence quickly dredged up a dull roar among the student body as it meant that the Sorting Ceremony was about to start. Before long, the rumbling of gossip came to a halt as Headmaster Black tapped his goblet, sending out magically-augmented chimes that always signaled an announcement. "Quiet, students!" he said, walking towards the podium in his usual high-strung gait, "It is time for Hogwarts to accept our newest students into the fold through our traditional Sorting Ceremony! Tonight... each new student will be placed into one of the four Houses and it will be their House's responsibility to ensure they get a thorough and proper education! I expect everyone to guide them and keep them out of trouble as failure could cost you House points. And absolutely NO HAZING!"

       Headmaster Black gave a brief moment of silence before turning to a spritely old woman holding a beaten up hat with deep creases that resembled a noseless face and said, "Professor Weasley, would you do the honors?" Mrs. Weasley nodded and replied, "I would, Headmaster." She walked up to the podium as Black returned to his seat, and with a flick of her wand the podium melted, shifting rapidly before turning into a rustic and sturdy stool.

       "Now students, when your name is called, please come take a seat and we shall sort you into your houses", she said. For the next hours, each student was called to the stool where the hat would come alive and describe the deepest recesses of their personalities enunciating every word in drawn out verbal slogs. It eventually came time for April's sorting and Garland couldn't be more excited. As she sat upon the stool and the Sorting Hat was placed on her head, the rough leather hat came alive like it did the others. Its creases and folds shifted on their own, making the facial attributes far more prominent.

       It slithered and shifted on April's head as it dug into her mind and then finally said, "Hmmmm... I have known similar minds like yours... but not this severe.... Mmmm. Yeeesss, are you sure you belong here?" April straightened a bit, looking up at the rim of the hat. "I can not say for sure, however, I would very much like to stay and get an education."

       "Fair enough", the Sorting Hat said. She quickly looked over to Garland who was leaned out of his seat pointing towards his head and mouthing the words, "Think Ravenclaw!" The Sorting Hat Shifted again, "Ravenclaw, eh? You would most definitely get help among like-minded colleagues, there is no doubt... but that isn't entirely your choice now is it...? Hmmmmm...."

       Garland's enthusiasm died on the spot. Many of the surrounding boys felt his disappointment and moved to console him. Alan kicked him again saying, "Tough break, chap!" But April maintained a smug demeanor as she made her way down the center isle. As she reached him, she turned to the Gryffindor students and managed to get a seat directly across the aisle from him, crossing her arms and legs. Garland responded in kind but with an aura of disappointment. "Really, April? Gryphon-dor?" he snarked. "Well that isn't your decision now, is it?" she replied, throwing the same tone back at him. "Besides, you are better off without me around all the time losing you points. You get in enough trouble as it is!"

       Garland leaned towards her, "The points don't matter since I have ways to get them back."

       "Like how you have ways to bypass the law?" She said, forcing him into silence. "I know you did something, Garland."

       An exaggerated smile broke across his face and he said, "I have no clue what you are talking about."

       "Mr. Stephald!" Headmaster Black walked up to the two and stopped, briefly inspecting April's uniform before quickly turning to Garland. The sudden snap of his gaze made Garland recoil and he could feel negativity radiating from the Headmaster like a jet of dragonfire. "I need not remind you that my office is off limits unless summoned by me, personally! Your handwriting was found in the Book of Admittance, one that has not been touched since it's establishment. These two infractions would have earned you a month's worth of detention and a severe deduction in points!"

       He paused to adjust his suit and tie before returning to Garland in a calmer tone. "Fortunately for you, Ms. Windsley has vouched for your past... mishaps, considering she willingly coordinated with you on your rulebreaking. I only agreed to let it slide because you have ultimately solved any issues regarding this matter and with that, it would not be just to exclude your accomplishments. You are one of Hogwart's better alchemists, after all. As for you, Ms. Windsley," April straightened up and shifted her attention towards the Headmaster.

       "Since you are an animagus, you must know that animals are not allowed inside the castle regardless if they are students. Should you feel the need to change, I ask you do so outside, preferably off school grounds. I don't need feathers littering the halls or priceless art accidentally getting destroyed. Do you two understand?" Both nodded and said "Yes, Headmaster!" Headmaster Black then faced forward and said, "Welcome to Hogwarts, Ms. Windsley. Carry on, you two" before trotting off.