The Sorting

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Emerald sat next to Harry at dinner in the great hall. They sat across from Hermione and Ron as the fellowship time was wrapping up between students and some were heading off to bed.

Ron was continuing to stuff his face with dessert, Pumpkin muffins and apple pie. Fall was in the air and Halloween would be upon the students very soon.

"What could dumbledore want to talk to you both about?" Hermione wondered aloud. "He said he was going to sort me into a house." Emerald said.

"What for?" Ron asked before he swallowed his mouthful of pumpkin muffins. "You're in Gryffindor, aren't you?" "Not exactly." Emerald said slowly.

"Dumbledore named me an honorary Gryffindor for the time being until he could sort me into a house properly." "When's that happened before?" "Never." Hermione said. "But Hogwarts has never had a student arrive half way through the first term before." She looked to Emerald.

"Emmy's an exception." she said brightly. "Lets just hope you stay in Gryffindor." Ron grumbled and took another bite of the muffin.

✮ ⊹₊ 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 𓆏 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊₊ ⊹ ✮

Harry led the way to Dumbledore's office. Between the two of them, only he knew how to get past the defenses set in place to guard the headmaster's office.

"Ah, I was wondering when the two of you would arrive." Dumbledore said as they entered, pausing his conversation with another professor, Professor McGonogal.

"Leave us Minerva." Dumbledore said and the witch nodded before she left. She cast a knowing look to Harry, and a cautious one to Emerald before exciting the way they came.

"Did you enjoy the apple pie?" Dumbledore asked, his focus on Emerald.

"I'm sorry?" "The apple pie at dinner," He continued. "Your mother was particularly fond of apples. When they weren't being viciously thrown at her by a grouchy tree, of course." Harry stifled a laugh.

"She lived on an orchard, right? In the mountains? Dorothy was so proud of her apple trees." "Yes sir." Emerald spoke with a nod. "An orchard in the east." Dumbledore smiled.

"I should hope our apples would have made her proud." He said.

"Now as to why I called you here." He turned to his desk and retrieved something that looked like an old hat. "I believe I promised to properly sort you into the correct house." He said. "Come take a seat, miss Thropp, and let the sorting begin."

✮ ⊹₊ 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 𓆏 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊₊ ⊹ ✮

"Mmhhh"

the hat grumbled in her ears as it was placed on her head. The sensation of wearing a talking hat was new and unusual to her.

"You... you child are something else." It spoke. "A daughter of magic both good and evil. A child of two worlds." It continued to rumble. "The stench of wickedness is overpowering. You bear her name, her power, and you despise it. The heir of the Wicked Witch."

"No!" Emerald said in a hushed tone. "No? My dear child. There is no denying who you are. It's all here, but there is your mother's over powering light. Dorothy Gale, innocent, sweet, just and above all the slayer of dark witches. She freed an entire people from the tyranny of witches and wizards. That would make an excellent Gryffindor... your mother would be quite at home in Gryffindor."

"then let me stay in Gryffindor!" She hissed.

"Not so fast, child. As much as you are your mother's daughter you carry the sin of her wickedry. You want to forget. So badly. You want Elphaba eradicated from your family tree. But you don't understand. There are two sides to every story, Emerald Thropp. And with her blood running through you I understand. I see it. The makings of a perfect SLYTHERIN"

✮ ⊹₊ 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 𓆏 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊₊ ⊹ ✮

Harry paled and took a step back at the announcement.

"No..." He muttered.

"There we have it." Dumbdledore said and removed the hat from emerald's head.

"Slytherin? But I wanted-" "It doesn't matter what you wanted, my dear, the sorting hat is never wrong." Emerald frowned. She knew arguing would be ultimately useless. Even from beyond the grave, the Wicked Witch of the West was controlling her as her slave.

"I shall see to it that your belongings are brought to your new dormitories. I think a Mr. Malfoy would make a decent assistant to guide you to your new room. You should meet him outside the great hall."Dumbledore announced. "Do I need to lead her there, professor?" Harry asked, a look of worry on his face.

"I should think not." Dumbledore said with a shake of his head. "Miss Thropp will manage. Meanwhile, you and I will have a much needed discussion." He said as he held up a bottle of liquid and Harry understood.

As much as he wanted to walk with Emerald, to warn her of the dangers of not only the Slytherin house but also of Draco Malfoy, he knew how important his time with dumbledore was.

Researching horcruxes through memories. Harry sighed. He turned to Emerald, he hoped the foreboding expression was enough to send her a warning to be cautious. "Good night, Emmy."