Chapter 4: The sorting
I do not own Harry Potter or Pokémon
[Hecate's Crossways]
Hecate's Crossways was a train station that was located a mile away from Stella Village, the village acted as a service for both Hogwarts students and traveling trainers.
"Firs' years, firs' years with me!" Harry could see Hagrid's face over the crowd of students. "All right there 'arry?" He asked
"Yes, Hagrid" Harry said while smiling.
"C'mon, follow me." Hagrid proceeded to lead the first year students onto a path towards the lake. "Yeh''ll get yer firs' sight o' 'ogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."
Suddenly the Castle appeared from around the bend. What was once an ancient castle the progress of time could still be seen. The castle made out of stone and reinforced by steel. The stain glass windows had been weatherproofed. Generators powered the castle with solar panels built along the roof.
Hagrid whistled and from the lake raised a blue dinosaur like creature. "All right four to a Lapras."
Harry did as told, sitting onto one of the blue creatures rising from the lake. Following him was Ron, Hermione and Neville along with Eevee and Saur. Once all of the new students were on a Lapras Hagrid gave the order for them to move forward.
"So why are we riding these?" Harry asked, "I noticed that some of the older students were getting into carriages"
Hermione spoke up before anyone could say anything "It's a tradition started by the founders when they built the school. They traveled on Lapras to get to the island and so every new student going to Hogwarts has to ride on a Lapras."
Soon enough the Lapras came to the main island where the castle was located on. Hagrid lead the first years into the castle where they entered a hall filled with four portraits of the founders of Hogwarts.
They soon stopped in front of a woman standing in front of a pair of wooden doors. The woman wore a scarlet jacket over a green shirt with brown trousers, with her black hair worn in a bun. Her face was set in a stern expression as she looked over the new students.
After a moment she smiled and said "Thank you Hagrid you may go in and take your seat"
"Right. Professor." Hagrid said to the woman. He waved to the first years and exit through the door.
The woman turned to the first years before she said "Hello I am Professor McGonagall. Now before you enter the hall let me explain what will be happening. You will be sorted into one of four houses. The houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin; named after the four founders of Hogwarts. These houses will become a sort of family for you. Good behavior will reward your house and bad behavior will punish your house. Now if you will follow me we will begin the sorting."
Entering the hall the first years were left in awe of the beauty of the hall. There were five tables four for students and one for teachers at the end of the hall. The four tables were decorated with red, blue, green, and yellow. Upon looking up at the ceiling the students could see the night sky with the stars twinkling and a few shooting stars.
Finally the first years stopped in front of the staff table when the man in the middle of the table stood up. The man wore black trousers, a bright blue dress shirt, mostly covered by his beard, and yellow sneakers. Over his shirt he wore a purple jacket.
"Welcome, new students, to Hogwarts. I am Professor Albus Dumbledore and I am the Headmaster of this school. As you know there are four houses." Dumbledore said while gesturing behind home to show four banners. On red with a gold Pyroar, one blue with a bronze Pidgoet, another yellow with a black Sandslash, and the last one was green with a silver Serperior.
"You have already met Professor McGonagall, who is head of Gryffindor. The other heads of houses are, Professor Flitwick of Ravenclaw," Dumbledore gestured to a man who was as tall as the first years with slicked brown hair and a mustache. "Professor Sprout of Hufflepuff," a kind looking woman wearing a green jacket waved to the first years. "Professor Snape of Slytherin." A black haired man wearing all black clothing just nodded to acknowledge the introduction.
"You probably have heard rumors of sorting between fighting a teacher to answering a quiz." Dumbledore said. He paused a moment to gaze at the nervous first years before continuing "However we have developed an easier method."
Dumbledore throw out a pokeball releasing a large pinkish Pokémon with a shell like crown on its head. "This is Slowking. You will sit on the stool next to Prof. McGonagall and he will judge which house you belong in."
"Abbott, Hannah!" McGonagall called.
Harry watched as a blond haired girl with pigtails nervously walked over to Slowking. Slowking smiled reassuringly before putting a hand on the girl's shoulder before both froze in place.
"Hufflepuff" Slowking suddenly called out.
"Did Slowking just talk?" Harry asked.
"Yes" Hermione answered, "It's rare but some Pokémon are able to learn how to talk like a human."
"Granger, Hermione" McGonagall called out. The girl rushed to sit on the stool next to Slowking freezing in place when he put his hand on her forehead. After a minute Slowking called out "Gryffindor" with the table bursting out into cheers.
Soon Neville nervously went up before Slowking's hand was placed on his shoulder. Saur sitting by Neville's feet made sure that his trainer was safe. Slowking after three minutes called out "Gryffindor".
After some time McGonagall called out "Malfoy, Draco." The boy walked forward with a smug look on his face. When he got to Slowking the Pokémon barely brushed his shoulder before calling out "Slytherin."
"Potter, Harry"
Harry began to walk to Slowking until he noticed that all of the students had stopped talking. Everyone was watching him.
"James and Lily's son" some were whispering.
Harry finally got to the stool where the last sight of the hall was everyone looking at him before everything faded.
"This brings back memories" A voice said.
"Slowking?" Harry thought finding that he can't move his mouth.
"Yes, Harry," Slowking, said in his head. "I sorted both of your parents. Your Father was sorted into Gryffindor but he had hints of Hufflepuff and some of Slytherin. Your mother had also been sorted into Gryffindor with her showing a hint of Ravenclaw."
Harry could only listen to Slowking talking about his parents. "Are you able to tell which house I belong in?"
"That is a tricky question," Slowking answered, "It would be best to show you."
Suddenly four shapes began to form in front of Harry. Suddenly they became to his shock older versions of him.
"You have many qualities of all four houses and in turn each has something you want," Slowking said. One of the Harry's stood forward. This one wore jeans and a yellow t-shirt. By his feet was a Hardier and on his arm was a Butterfree. "All your life you have wanted acceptance by others. In Hufflepuff you will find a whole new family."
The next Harry stood forward. This one wore black trousers, and a blue turtleneck under a white lab coat while carrying a tablet. "You have a very intelligent mind held back by your fear of the scorn your relatives would have inflicted upon you. In Ravenclaw you would no doubt shine and eventually bring to this world a new era of intellectual enlightenment."
The Third Harry stood forward wearing jeans; his red jacket was open to show his black t-shirt. In his hand he held a pokeball as if he was waiting for a challenge. "You have lived a life few could ever imagine. Many in your shoes would have used it as an excuse for their anger at the world, but you choose to let go of the past and look to the future. In Gryffindor you would rise to be a champion among champions."
The last Harry stood forward wearing black trousers and a green dress shirt. Standing behind him was a Gengar acting as his shadow. "Through the years you learned how to adapt to different situations. In Slytherin you would be a force of change maybe one day being the Minister of Thrylos."
"So what do you choose Harry Potter," Slowking asked "Acceptance, Knowledge, Glory, or Power?"
Harry just sat and thought of his choices, each one appealing to him. However he was not sure which fate he wanted. Then he began to think of what Slowking had said about look to the future.
Three of the Harrys began to change their shapes until they took the form of older versions of Ron, Neville, and Hermione. That was when Harry realized his answer. "I'll go into any house where my friends are," he answered.
The world began to return as Slowking began to talk. "Yes I see that right now you don't need to think of the future. Right now you just need to enjoy time with your friends. They will help you grow into your destiny without fear. So in all my wisdom I place you into Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor table exploded into cheers. "WE GOT POTTER" Fred and George Weasley were shouting. Harry proceeded to sit at the table next to Neville and Hermione where he learned that it had taken five minutes for him to be sorted.
Soon Ron had been sorted into Gryffindor and the rest of the first years have been sorted. Dumbledore rose and began to speak "Now I know that everyone is feeling hungry so I will make these announcements quickly. The Dark Forest years one through three can only enter with a staff member." Many older students snorted. "Mr. Filtch has posted a list of banned items on his office door." Now many actually laughed out loud. "After the feast first years will be guided to their common room and given their class schedule. Bippity Boppity Boo!"
Before Harry could question the nonsense words a mass of Wigglytuff came out carrying trays of food. Harry couldn't focus on anything else as he began to dig into the best meal of his life.
I apologize for the long period of not updating. I was just getting the hang of college, a part time job, and changes at home next update will be quicker.
