Disclaimer: I don't own any of this.

A/N: Always wondered what would happen if a person wasn't Sorted. So, here it is.

The Black Tie Affair

Chapter 1

"Did you here about the new kid?"

"Who hasn't?"

"I heard he broke the Sorting Hat."

"I heard he blew it up."

"You idiot…you were there!"

"I didn't think you could break the Sorting Hat. It's a piece of history."

"At least he was the last person to get Sorted. It's funny…his name began with a 'I'"

"He went directly to second year idiot."

"I'm just glad he's not in my House."

"Does he even have a House?"

"Who cares? We have to get to class."

Ken Ichijoji shoved past the snobby wizards, ducking his head down. He had heard the same stories over and over. It had only been a few hours since the Sorting Hat had burst into flames on his head, but word had spread like wildfire. It didn't help that the entire school had witnessed the undoing of a moldy old accessory.

Ken had thought it was embarrassing after he was dragged to Diagon Alley to get his supplies by an unhygienic half-giant. Also, catching up on a year's worth of studies in two months was a task in itself. For a fleeting moment Ken appreciated the Dark Spore; being a genius did have its advantages.

To the utter amazement of Hagrid, Ken hadn't been surprised that a Wizarding World existed. It was perfectly logical; if the Digital World could exist, a magical one could. Ken had heard about Izzy's theories that there were thousands of alternate worlds in existence, and the computer geek had been ecstatic to learn he was correct. In Ken's mind, the realm of wizards was as logical as algebra.

Thinking about Izzy made him think about what he really missed; his friends and family. Hagrid had told him they could send him letters via owl post, but from Japan? It was too much of a hassle, and wasn't fair in the slightest. Ken had finally made friends and couldn't even see them.

Wormmon was one of his greatest losses. His digimon was completely inaccessible, but at least he was with Ken's parents. His D3 didn't work her; electronics were just about as useful as the Sorting Hat. What kind of digi-destined deserted his partner…twice? One who was too stupid to realize the Digital world was more than just a videogame.

"Ahem," a deep male voice came from above him as he realized he had just run into someone. The group of unidentified students who had been gossiping about him earlier let out a collective gasp. "Going somewhere?"

Gulping, Ken looked up at the man before him and immediately thought of Oikawa. The man who had implanted the Dark Spore into his brain along with innocent children. The man who had ruined his life. Instinctively he grabbed the back of his neck, covering the red scar where the man had scanned the spore.

Ken watched in horror as the stack of books fell from his hand and onto the man's foot.

Ken mumbled a string of apologies for his behavior as he knelt down to retrieve his books. The man merely moved his boot and peered down at him with cold black eyes. Ken hadn't heard the teachers' introductions due to the fact that he was getting his singed hair fixed by the resident nurse. He had no idea who this teacher was, but had an inkling he was already on his bad side. Ken dusted off his robes and faced the teacher with a nervous expression.

"I apologize for my ignorance Professor," Ken said, bowing briefly. "It will not happen again."

"Muggle-born obviously," the teacher said, pointing to one of Ken's books. "I would not expect a Pure-Blood to read something as useless as 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Adobe Photoshop.' You do realize Muggle electricity is not permitted on school grounds."

"I was informed of that Professor," Ken replied. "However, I do believe instructional texts are encouraged at Hogwarts."

"THIS is officially confiscated," the greasy professor said, snatching the book from Ken's arms. "Now, may I have the pleasure of your name and House so points may be deducted on your behalf?"

"Ken ichijoji," he managed to say, blushing profusely. He hadn't even made it to his first class and he was already in trouble. "I'm not currently in any House Sir."

"That is a shame," the teacher said, sizing Ken up. "Perhaps this book is correct; only a complete idiot would run into his Potions Instructor."

Before Ken could respond, the professor strode off in a flurry of billowing robes. Ken shuffled in his wake, since Potions was his first subject. He had really screwed up this time, and he didn't have a single friend to confide in.

For a genius, he sure was stupid.

************

Ken soon found himself in the Potions classroom. It was something that would strike the Digimon Emperor's fancy; a dingy dungeon full of empty cauldrons. Pickled things sat in jars around the room, looking like a macabre parody of a Chemistry Lab.

Entering the room, Ken noticed the seating was arranged according to House. Griffindors were far left, Hufflepuffs centre-left, Ravenclaws centre-right, and Slytherins far right. Ken was the Black Sheep of the room. Actually, he was the Black Tie, since he still wore the plain tie of Unsorted first-years.

Finally, Ken found his seat. It was smack dab in the middle of the front row, between the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. On his desk was a lone sheet of parchment taped to it. The words Black Tie House were scrawled on it in poor cursive.

Ken sneered and burst into angry tears as he ripped off the paper. Crumpling the paper into a ball, and then ripping it to shreds; Ken vented his anger on the simple statement. This was not the way a teacher should welcome their students; this was complete malice.

Then Ken had an idea.

Taking out his new wand, he repaired the piece of paper with as silent spell. If the Oikawa look-alike wanted to play mind-games, he would participate. The Digimon Emperor loved games…especially winning them.

He dug through his book-bag and pulled out the essentials for his class. Textbook, ingredients, parchment, and his quill came out quickly. His hand stopped over his quill and he began to write on the crumpled parchment.

"For those whose destiny a Hat cannot define,

The Black Tie House is yours and mine."

Ken ensured his writing matched the teacher's exactly as he taped it back in place. If it was a battle the teacher wanted, he'd get it. No one messed with Ken Ichijoji's happiness; not by a long shot. This was just another person toying with his kindness, and Ken would not be taken advantage of.

"I am Professor Snape and this is second-year Potions," said the male voice of the teacher from the hallway as he strode to the front of the class. "All wands are to be put away; there is no need for such nonsense in this class."

"Just like there's no need for foolish things like electricity in this school?"

Ken didn't bother to wait for the teacher to call on him; he merely raised his hand and let out his answer. He wouldn't be hurting anyone but himself, and it was true. Let the teacher take points; he HAD given him a House after all.

"Mr. Ichijoji," the teacher said, striding up to his desk. "I see you've found your House."

"Yes Professor Snape Sir," blue eyes narrowed and met black. "I find it quite fitting."

Professor Snape glanced down at the paper sign and mumbled the words under his breath. Looking up with an expression of a mixture of fury and admiration, he stood up with a snarl. Twirling to face the class, Snape spat his instructions like a cobra.

"All of you will turn to page 37 in your texts and prepare the potion as instructed. I need to discuss something with Mr. Ichijoji and the Headmaster. I will return at the end of class. Surely you dunderheads can accomplish that with your cauldrons intact."

Ken felt Professor Snape's steely grip on his wrist as he was jerked to his feet. In his other hand, the teacher held the crumbled sign he had written himself. Ken stumbled as he tripped over his chair, dragged across the room by his new teacher.

Then, Ken began to scream.

The pain felt like a thousand hammers were simultaneously hitting his skull. His brain was going to explode. Snape's grip slackened as Ken grabbed his head in his hands.

The Dark Spore was inactive. The headaches should have gone away. This wasn't right!

Ken felt the jolt of pain as his arm smacked into one of the shelves housing the pickled things. He heard a sizzling sound similar to that of his hair when the Hat had blown up.

Before Ken blacked out, he realized it was the sound of acid on his skin.