The first years made their way silently up the grassy slope, too awed to speak. Corbin gave a low whistle as the massive doors creaked open and Hagrid marched them into the Great Hall. The first years instinctively grouped closer together, and Fred imagined that they must look very small and scared to the older students.
As they were led past the long tables filled with students from different houses, Fred caught sight of several familiar faces. Louis and Molly waved happily at him from the Hufflepuff table, and Victoire smiled encouragingly from her place among the Gryffindor sixth years. He didn't see Dominique, Victoire and Louis' sister, but assumed that she was somewhere in the crowd of Slytherins on the other side of the room.
His breath caught in his throat. What if he were sorted into Slytherin? Uncle Bill had been very upset when Dominique was sorted there. He was only now getting used to the idea. Dommie had written Uncle Bill letter after letter, saying how she wanted to mend Slytherin's tarnished reputation, and that just because she was in Voldemort's house didn't mean she was a Dark witch. Fred knew that his own parents would never forgive him for being sorted into Slytherin. George and Angelina were staunch Gryffindors to the core, and he knew that they could barely stomach the idea of a son in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, let alone the house that had produced every Dark wizard and witch to date.
While he began to panic, the other first years had lined up in alphabetical order, and he rushed to find his place in line. He stood a few places behind James, his most famous cousin and Harry Potter's firstborn son.
"If I don't get into Gryffindor, I swear I'm going home," James muttered to Fred. "Dad said that if you ask for a particular house, the Sorting Hat will put you there."
Fred nodded politely. He and James had never been close, although he liked James' siblings, Albus and Lily. James was usually all right, but sometimes he had a tendency to be a little cocky, even arrogant. Supposedly, he was just like the grandfather he was named for. Fred had no doubt that James would be in Gryffindor. He was the bravest boy Fred knew, so brave that he was prone to taking reckless risks in the name of glory.
The Sorting Hat began to sing, but Fred was too far away to hear its words. Several Hufflepuff fourth years to his right were giggling in an extremely distracting way, and he tried to shuffle closer to be able to hear the lyrics. But James was too tall to see around. He saw Corbin near the head of the line, right behind the Avery twins from the station. He was doing his best impression of careless nonchalance.
"Abbott, Lucy!"
The girl from the boat's name rang throughout the hall, and Fred saw that the voice speaking belonged to a severe-looking woman in olive robes, whom he presumed to be Headmistress McGonagall.
Lucy marched to the front of the room. She sat primly on the chair, and the Sorting Hat was placed on her head. It took only a moment to decide before calling, "RAVENCLAW!" to the assembled students. There was a tumble of applause from the Ravenclaw table, and a smattering of polite claps from the other houses. Lucy went to her house table, looking slightly relieved.
"Avery, Ivor!"
Ivor strode to the small stool, seemingly unfazed by the eyes of hundreds of students on him. The had was still an inch above his head when it shrieked, "SLYTHERIN!" to Ivor's obvious satisfaction.
"Avery, Owen!"
Owen was slightly more reserved, and Fred could have sworn he looked a little green as he approached the recently vacated seat. He made eye contact with his brother before the Sorting Hat slipped over his head.
The hat took much longer to decide Owen's house. Just as the assembled students began to wonder what was happening, it piped up, "SLYTHERIN!" and Owen stumbled over to sit by Ivor.
"Boot, Corbin!"
Fred snapped to attention. He wanted to see what house his only new friend would be in. Corbin sat with some trepidation upon the stool, and the hat was lowered onto his head. It thought for several seconds.
Please not Slytherin, Fred thought. He didn't want Corbin to be in a house with the Avery twins.
"RAVENCLAW!" bawled the Sorting Hat. Corbin stood up with a grin and a wink, taking his place by Lucy Abbott.
Several more students were Sorted, and Gryffindor and Hufflepuff got their first students each, to great applause.
Finch-Fletchley, Maura was sorted into Hufflepuff. Goyle, Gordon was sorted into Ravenclaw, to the absolute astonishment of all assembled. Fred stopped paying attention as the line dwindled, focusing instead on his sweaty palms and the butterflies in his stomach.
"Potter, James!"
The Great Hall went silent, and several students stood up to get a better look at the son of the great Harry Potter. James swaggered up to the stool with great aplomb, but Fred could see the tension in his brow. James needn't have worried. The Sorting Hat had barely brushed the top of his messy black hair before it confidently called "GRYFFINDOR!" to the Hall. The students burst into applause, and even Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw students clapped loudly. James took a seat at his house table, looking immensely relieved.
There were only a few students left to be sorted. Dean Thomas, Junior, a boy Fred had known growing up, became a Gryffindor. Finally, it was Fred's turn.
He walked to the Sorting Hat, hoping that he looked confident rather than terrified. He ignored the whispers around him about his parentage and family connections. He sat down, and the worn fabric of the Sorting Hat slipped over his ears. The smooth tones of its voice whispered to him, weighing his fate.
Well, what have we here? Another Weasley? But different, different from the rest of your family. And clever, yes, very clever. Quite a prodigious amount of talent. A penchant for mischief as well, I remember that very well from your father and uncle. And yet your temper reminds me of your mother. I see only two possibilities. Which, though? Gryffindor or Ravenclaw?
Fred tried not to think anything that would sway the Hat one way or another. He had no idea which house he would prefer, and since the Hat had so much experience in the matter of Sorting, perhaps it would do a better job than Fred could.
Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, Gryffindor or Ravenclaw? It'll have to be... "RAVENCLAW!"
These last words were said aloud, and the Hall was filled with surprised whispers. Two Gryffindor parents, but a son in Ravenclaw? It was not unheard of, but certainly unusual. Especially with a Weasley. Fred grinned happily that the whole thing was over. He walked to the Ravenclaw table and sat with a thump next to Corbin.