This is new chapter! Previous one is on the previous page.
It was dusk. The sun was just setting into the the pretty Scottish horizon, leaving an array of colors as a final farewell, catching the brilliance of the castle along with it. Artemis was impressed. And that's saying something.
Hagrid, the big oaf who was almost the size of Butler, had led them out of the boats and to Professor McGonagall.
"Now Children, you are very lucky to be here today. As a Hogwarts student, no matter which house you are, it is your duty to uphold the student honour. Am I clear? "
Mummers of polite versions of 'Yes, Professor!" was heard.
" Professor, what are the houses' names?" asked the dim-witted photographer.
" Well Mr. Colin Creevy, the houses are: Ravenclaw, for the clever; Gryffindor for the brave; Hufflepuff for the loyal and Slytherin for the cunning."
" I heard Slytherin's the house of evil wizards," whispered a boy next to Artemis.
" Yeah. Nasty bunch. They say You-Know-Who himself is from Slytherin."
" Really?"
" Yeah."
" You couldn't pay me a million galleons to go there."
" You wouldn't be able to anyways, apparently it's not your choice..."
" Professor, is it true that Harry Potter is at Hogwarts?"
Dead silent. What did this Harry Potter do again? Ah right, Voldemort.
" Indeed he is."
Excited whispers instantly broke out among the crowd.
" But I suggest you do not bother him, he is..."
" I heard he defeated You-Know-Who when he was one!" Shouted a particularly excited first year..
" I heard he has a lightning scar on his forehead!"
"That's nothing! I heard he defeated You-Know-Who again, just last year!"
Soon, the entire group of eleven year olds were shouting out the various deeds of Harry Potter. Some not even close to the truth.
" I heard he slayed an entire clan of dragons with his bare hands!"
Only a few students were not yelling the praise of Harry Potter.
" I heard..."
Professor Mc Gonagall, who after several attempts at calming them all down, irritatingly flicked her wand to create a shower of bright gold sparkles above them all.
The noise clattered down and the Professor sorted out her own robes( which were frazzled from her efforts).
" First years! I expected better from you. Now I understand your excitement over Mr. Potter but I do.."
She never finished that sentence because,
Splash!
A bright neon orange, honey-like substance fell onto some students from thin air.
" My camera!" Wailed one.
" My hair!"
A horrible-looking ghost cackled above them all, scaring a few people as he appeared.
" Ickes Firsties, what fun!"
" Go away Peeves or I'll call the Bloody Baron on you."
Peeves, manically pouted then laughed, throwing another batch of the slime ( luckily, Artemis had the sense to turn away and didn't touch any of it) before floating away. No doubt going to torment some other poor victim.
McGonagall waved her wand again, this time to relieve the students from that now rather awful smelling goo.
Once she finished with that, a small bell sounded.
" That's the signal," she sighed. " Remember, I expect you to be on your best behaviour. This sorting will determine how the rest of you seven years at Hogwarts will be like. Understand?"
A chorus of yes's was heard.
" Good, now."
She nodded to an invisible somebody and the grand oak doors opened, revealing a magnificent hall with the illusion of having no ceiling. Weather illusion charm, Artemis mused. McGonagall strided in, the rest of the first years having a little trouble keeping up with her. There were four long tables and a smaller oval one at the far side of the hall. Above the long rectangular ones were colourful banners.
" There's Harry Potter!" A little girl shrieked.
" Where? Where?"
Artemis had to admit, he was a little curious on this Harry Potter bloke.
Before he had time to scan the tables for him, the dusty old brown hat, onto of a stool, burst into song.
" Oh you may not think me pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
A thousand years or more ago
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of renown,
Whose names are still well known:
Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.
They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,
They hatched a daring plan
To educate young sorcerers
Thus Hogwarts School began.
Now each of these four founders
Formed their own house, for each
Did value different virtues
In the ones they had to teach.
By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition.
While still alive they did divide
Their favorites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When they were dead and gone?
Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!
Now slip me snug about your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind
And tell where you belong!"
" Arknook, Sofia!"
And so the Sorting began.
"Chitou, Maria-Myrto!"
" HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Feltham, Isobel!"
" GRIFFINDOR!"
" Flowersickle, Hannah!"
" HUFFLEPUFF!"
" Fowl, Artemis!"
Right. Mask? On. Heartbeat? Calm. Alright.
Deliberate slow steps. Artemis scanned the eyes of his eventual peers. Some looked shocked. Internally smirking, he thought of his ancestor Hugo de Foul. Powerful wizard. Excellent knowledge of the Dark Arts though not necessarily a Dark wizard.
He sat on the stool, facing the crowd. Some who were not familiar with his name were chatting vividly, ignoring the nasty glares from the staff table. A Professor put the dirty old hat on his head.
" Ah, a Fowl!" The Sorting hat exclaimed. Artemis schooled his features as not to show surprise.
" Haven't gotten one of you in a while. Now, I'm just going to take a peak at your memories. There! Finished. Hm, where to go though. Brilliant brains, extensive knowledge. I sense absolute magnificence in you boy. A sense of cunning you definitely have. Courage top, though hidden and loyalness that hard to find. You are able of self-sacrifice. Though where would you shine the most? Hm."
Artemis didn't really take this seriously.
" Well, I think my choice is clear. SLYTHERIN!"
A round of applause as the hat was taken off him.
Artemis headed off to the green and silver bannered table to await the rest of the Sorting.
" Jones, Amelia!"
" GRIFFINDOR!"
The names went on and on.
" Zhang, Lily!"
An extremely tall girl with thigh-long hair walked over, she was the last one. She had a chubby, cute face with large cho colate eyes with dark rings around the pupil making them look like dark black holes. She sat on the stool.
"RAVENCLAW!"
The sorting was finally finished.