Children of War
By Lord Capricorn Black
A/N: Sorry about the shortness about chapter 2 but I wanted Hogwarts to start on its own chapter. I know I'm not perfect at writing but I hope to get better, and now the story can get going.
Chapter Three: Sorting Hat Drama
The Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmead station around nightfall, a voice echoed through the train "We have reached Hogwarts! Please leave your luggage on the train it will be taken up separately." Hermione and the others did as instructed. When they reached the cool night air Hermione saw that a giant of a man was carrying a rather large lantern "Alright first years follow me!" Hermione heard Neville greet the troll "Hello Hagrid." The giant looked down a said "Ello Neville!" Neville replied the greeting. Hermione almost jumped when the giant boomed " Fris'years! Fris'years over here!" Eagerly the swarm of first years followed Hagrid, slipping and stumbling they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep narrow path. Draco smirked as Neville cried out when he took a misstep down the path. "Yeh'll get yer fris'sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder. There was a loud "ooooh!" Hermione gasped in amazement the narrow path had openly suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Hermione and Draco were followed into their boat with Harry and Pansy. "Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself "Right then FORWARD!" And in unison the armada of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was dead still. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they glided nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood. Finally reaching land they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, casting out shadow on the damp grass. They walked up a staircase reminding Hermione of an ancient Gringotts but this door was easily twice the size of the banks. "Everyone here?" Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
The door swung open at once. A tall black hair witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Hermione first instinct was this is a powerful witch and not to be taken lightly. "Professor McGonagall." Said Hagrid "Thank you Hagrid, I will take them from here." Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin." Hermione grinned along with Draco and Harry at the last one. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose. Hermione let out a small laugh she and her group looked prefect. "I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."
She left the chamber.
The first started either to fix themselves or talk amongst themselves, Hermione and Draco were talking to Harry in which Harry informed that his parents co-headed the Slytherin house as well potions, but then suddenly they were interrupted by Ron Weasley irritated the trio turned to face him. "You!" he said pointing at Hermione "You need to say sorry to Lavender!" Hermione knew what he meant but adopted a look of confusion "Whatever are you talking about Blood-Traitor?" color flushed his face "Don't call me that! And you called her a Mud-Blood!" Hermione laughed menacingly "I call you whatever I want Blood-Traitor and regarding the other thing, I call broom a broom, a book a book so why would I call her anything other than what she is?" Ron face was a deep red and he went to pull his wand but Harry was faster, pointing his wand in Ron's face "Step back now." He said softly his green eyes stared unblinking at the Ron. Suddenly Neville rushed forward grabbing Ron's arm "No! It's not worth." He pleaded Ron didn't seem to agree but didn't draw his wand. Seeing that Ron was not drawing his wand Harry put his own away with a smirk. That sat Ron off again but before he could do anything they all heard "form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me." Excitement from the encounter and the sorting Hermione lead Draco and Harry in first behind Professor McGonagall and they walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.
Hermione had heard about Hogwarts from her family but had never imagined such a splendid place. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Mainly to avoid all the staring eyes, Hermione quickly looked down again as Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. Aunt Narcissa wouldn't have let it in the house. For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth - and the hat began to sing:
"Oh, you may not think I'm 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 Gryffindor apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuff 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 folk 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!"
The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!"
A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. A moment's pause -
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.
The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. Hermione saw the ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at her.
"Black, Hermione!" steeling herself Hermione sat down on the stool as the Hat was placed on her. "Hmm… it has been over fifty years since I have had the privilege of resting on an heir head." Hermione was lost "The Blacks are the heirs of Slytherin?" she though trying to follow the Hats thinking, "Yes, that is true but your father's line is… but alas I've taken too long."
"SLYTHRIEN!" Hermione had so many questions but walked to the far table she saw the house cheering her to join them, the list went on.
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah.
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
The table second from the left clapped this time; several Ravenclaw stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them.
" Brocklehurst, Mandy" went to Ravenclaw too, but "Brown, Lavender" became the first new Gryffindor, and the table on the far left exploded with cheers. When Neville Longbottom, got up there he fell over on his way to the stool. The hat took a long time to decide with Neville. When it finally shouted, "GRYFFINDOR," Neville ran off still wearing it, and had to jog back amid gales of laughter. Malfoy swaggered forward when his name was called and got his wish at once: the hat had barely touched his head when it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!" He sat to the right of Hermione when he reached to table Crab and Goyle sat next to him. Finally Harry's named was called "Slytherin!" Hermione watched as Harry looked up to his parents who smiled back at him.
The Headmaster clapped his hands and food filled the tables Hermione reached for the big pile of steaks getting herself a medium rare steak her personal favorite, but she only got it when she visited Sirius who refused to let house elf's cook it instead like a muggle he preferred to grill it on a open flame. As she ate Harry explained to her and Draco how to get to their common room. At last, the desserts too disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent.
"Ahern - just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.
"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."
Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of two twins sitting at Gryffindor table.
"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.
"And finally, I must tell you that this year; the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death." "And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore. Hermione noticed that the other teachers' smiles had become rather fixed and Harry's parent didn't even try and fake but look straight face.
Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike, into words.
"Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!" And the school bellowed:
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot.
Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest.
"Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
Hermione and the rest of her house followed Felix Rosier the house prefect, they took a few turns going deeper and finally they arrived at the dungeons area. "Pura Anguis." Said the prefect to a painting on the wall, which then reveled a door way. The first years followed the Felix through the doorway, Hermione instantly felt a home. The Slytherin common room was a long, low underground room with smooth black granite walls and ceiling, from which greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling in an elaborately carved fireplace. Elegant furniture filled the room, reminding Hermione of Malfoy Manor. Felix explained how the common room functioned and then directed them to the dorms girls on the left, guys on the right. Waving goodbye to Harry and Draco, Hermione went up the stairs. The beds had black silk sheets with green and sliver curtains, Hermione found her bed which Aparator was curled up looking peaceful. Hermione changed into her pajamas and slide into the sheets, once she got comfortable Aparator slithered up her to rest on her chest. Hermione petted her loyal snake thinking about tomorrow's class when she drifted off to sleep.