Where do I belong?
My heart was beating just a little too fast for comfort as I entered the Great hall with the other first years. My thoughts were running in overdrive as I nervously walked down the isle towards the front of the hall. The teachers table was at the front looking out over the students. Four long, wood tables were set out, one for each house. I looked up and wasn't surprised in the least to see the enchanted ceiling that made the great hall exceptionally special. The sky was clear, the stars sparkled and a crescent moon shone boldly against the dark sky. I sighed and smiled – looking up at the stars had always calmed me down. I pulled my gaze away from the beautiful scene and looked to the front where Professor McGonagall stood placing an old worn hat – the sorting hat, mum and dad had told me about - on a stool. I watched in amusement as the other first years jumped when the sorting hat burst to life and sung:
Oh you may not think me pretty, You might belong in So put me on! Don't be afraid!
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.
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.
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
I cheered along with the other students when the hat finished its song. McGonagall cleared her throat and explained "When I call your name I will place the sorting hat on your head – and you will be sorted into your house."
"Abbott, Hannah."
A pink-faced, blonde girl who had her hair in pigtails stumbled nervously towards the stool. McGonagall placed the sorting hat on her head. After a few moments of silence the hat's voice rang out through the hall as it shouted "Hufflepuff". The Hufflepuff table burst into applause as the girl walked briskly over to her new house table.
A few more names were called out and the students scurried off to their respective house tables. Draco's name was called and he walked confidently up to the hat. The nervousness had died down within most students now as they realised they could do nothing to change the outcome and there was no danger around. The hat had just touched the top of Draco's head when it shouted "Slytherin". From the corner of my eye I saw Ron bite his lip to stop from commenting. Draco looked at me nervously – Harry was very good at reading people (another of his long list of talents) and so had no trouble realising Draco thought there friendship might be in danger because he was in Slytherin. Harry gave him a large smile to reassure him; Draco visibly relaxed and returned the smile. The sorting continued on in this manner.
The hall grew silent as my name was called. I walked up to the front nervously, well aware of all the stares that followed my every move, and sat on the stool. McGonagall placed the hat on my head then stepped back. The hat covered my eyes which I was slightly grateful for as it meant I didn't have to look out at the students. 'Hmm…this is difficult' the hat said in my head, I didn't visibly jump but my heart rate increased a little. 'Very difficult – you have a lot of loyalty to your friends and those you trust so perhaps Hufflepuff. But you thrive to learn if not always just for the sake of learning so maybe Ravenclaw. And then you have a cunning mind and a thirst to prove yourself so Slytherin? And yet you have great courage for such a young one so would it be best to place you in Gryffindor? My, I've never had this trouble before – my reputation will be ruined.' The hat finished sadly.
'Only if I tell – I mean nobody can hear us can they!' I said in my head. I was feeling slightly bad so I decided to cheer him up.
'And why wouldn't you tell?' The hat asked me suspiciously 'What do you want? I don't have any belongings as I am a hat – so what is it you want Mr. Potter?' I hadn't thought of asking for anything but now I thought about it there was one thing I wanted and so I told him. 'Very well Mr. Potter.' The hat said with slight amusement. 'Right, now back to the sorting – um why don't you pick it is your future after all.' I chuckled at his superior tone, and told him the house I wanted to be in. 'Very well – Gryffindor.' He finished out loud. Then before I could get up he spoke in my head again 'Do remember to visit Mr. Potter it does get awfully lonely – I reside in Dumbledore's office.' I assured him that I would before removing the hat and jumping of the stool.
The Gryffindor table erupted into shouts and applause, much louder than any of the other houses had, as I walked over and took a seat next to Fred Weasley, a smile still in place on my face. After receiving a few pats on the back and many introductions the noise died down and Professor McGonagall carried on calling out names.
I looked up at the staff table for the first time. Dumbledore was smiling at me with a curious expression on his face and I gave him a small reassuring smile in return. I would talk to him after dinner – the sorting hat said he wouldn't mind if I told Dumbledore as he trusted him. Dumbledore looked very old but still looked to be full of energy. His long silver hair fell past his waist and his matching beard was tucked into his belt. He had bright, twinkling blue eyes framed by his half moon spectacles, which rested on his long, crooked nose (which looked like it had been broken at least twice).
Quirrell was watching the sorting, his lip quivering as if nervous of something my eyes narrowed in suspicion. I would have kept looking but the man next to him was staring right at me a scowl on his face. The man was pale with greasy black hair that fell to his shoulders, a large hooked nose and black eyes that were empty showing no emotion. I knew this mans name as my parents had talked about him – mum had always said kind things but dad had always said horrible things and told me stories of the marauders past that made me feel sorry for the man. The marauders had singled him out when they were at school and most of their pranks had been aimed at him. I inwardly sighed as I realised that the man would make my life hell because of what my father did and the fact that I look exactly like him. However I had my secret weapon and I would use it the first chance I got.
I turned back to the sorting in time to hear the hat shout out 'Gryffindor' for Ron. I cheered loudly along with the rest. The sorting eventually finished and Dumbledore rose from his seat. "I would just like to say a few words before we eat, and they are: Nitwit, blubber, oddment, tweak, thank you." He finished with a smile retaking his seat and waving his arms. All kinds of food appeared. Most first years gasped in awe before attacking the food like everybody else. I ate at a slower pace, savoring the different flavors that entered my mouth.
Just as Ron leant forward for a second leg of chicken a silvery form floated up through said plate of chicken. Ron gasped along with a few other first years. However Harry, the bushy haired girl whose name Harry recalled to be Hermione and the older students stayed calm. "Hello Sir Nicholas" Harry and Percy said at the same time.
"Hey, that's our thing – we are the only ones that are aloud to talk in perfect unison in this family!" One of the twins cried indignantly directed at Percy. Percy just rolled his eyes and turned back to his dinner.
"How did you know who he was?" Ron asked still slightly shocked.
"I told you Ron I read all my books – it mentioned the ghosts in 'Hogwarts: A History'." I replied neutrally, it was half true the book did mention the ghosts but that wasn't how I knew his name – mum and dad had talked about them.
Remembering the conversation we had had on the train I pulled out my notes and turned to Percy and asked "Do you know a spell that will make a copy of these?" I saw curiosity burning in his eyes so I continued before he could ask. "There the notes I made on my school books – I told a couple of people I'd give them a copy." I was watching Ron out of the corner of my eye – he seemed grateful that I hadn't said they were for him, seeing as those around us were all obviously listening in.
"Oh, umm there is a spell for that." Percy motioned for me to give him the notes so I did. I watched the wand movement carefully and listened to the incantation – "Replicus". I watched as Percy flicked his wrist and another set of notes lay next to the original ones. A few 'wow's were heard from various places around the table. "Thanks." I said gratefully.
Mindless chatter was heard all around the hall as dinner continued. I learnt a lot about my fellow first years as dinner went on. I learnt that Seamus was a half blood, Dean liked football, Hermione loved to read (well she did seem like a know-it-all, I knew I could be labeled this as well, but at least I didn't have an arrogant bossy air about me), Ron loved the Chudley Cannons (a Quiditch team), Neville lived with his grandma, Lavender had a baby rabbit and Pavarti had a twin in Ravenclaw.
I looked over at the Slytherin table to see that Draco was looking right at me. We smiled at each other before turning back to our pudding. We would still be best friends – I would make sure of it. Even though mum and dad had talked badly of the Malfoy's – and some of the things they said are true, such as the prejudices most of which seemed to have been passed on to Draco – I still liked him and promised myself I would help him change. For we are who we make ourselves to be, it is our choice; how we act; what we believe etc. we don't have to follow our parents or anyone else's beliefs or actions. We can think for ourselves.
Dinner soon came to an end. After a small speech about not entering the forbidden forest or the 3rd floor corridor on the right hand side, or risk 'dying a most painful death.' The headmaster bid everyone goodnight. The students rose and filled out of the Great Hall. I stood and headed over to the staff table, which had been barely evacuated. Professor Quirrell had left, I noted with a bit of suspicion.
"Hello headmaster, I was wondering if I could have a word with you." I said calmly. Snape stood next to the headmaster glaring at me, his eyes showed surprise but it was gone the next second as his emotionless mask came back into place. I decided the best way to deal with him was to play him at his one game, so I raised an eyebrow at him (to which he responded with another flicker of shock in his eyes replaced a second later by a full force glare) before turning back to the headmaster. A small smile was present on Dumbledore lips. "Why of course Mr. Potter. Why don't we go up to my office? I was going to come and get you myself as I was hoping to have a word and there is someone here who wishes to see you." I frowned but followed Dumbledore up to his office.
"Chocolate frogs" Dumbledore said to the Gargoyle guarding his office once we had arrived. Dad had told me all about it and his office he had been in it enough times when he was at school. They stepped onto the moving staircase and waited as it moved upwards.
My breath caught in my throat as I saw the person who wanted to see me. I would have recognised him anywhere.