Chapter Four
The Sorting Hat
"Welcome, all," the wizard said. He had a thin moustache that led into an equally thin beard, and most of his blonde hair was tied in a ponytail in the back, save for a strand that lay in front of his face. "I am Professor Lochram. I teach Defense Against the Dark Arts here in addition to acting as Professor Vector's Deputy Headmaster. I look forward to having you all as students for the next seven years.
"The first thing to do is the Sorting," he continued. "One at a time, you will be called, and the Sorting Hat will be placed on your heads. The Hat decides in which of the four Houses you will spend the rest of your Hogwarts education in, based on what it sees within each of you. Now that the formalities are out of the way, let the Hat commence."
The old pointed hat moved and opened its mouth:
Many centuries have passed
Since those darkest of days
Each more horrid than the last
For wizards and their ways
'Til four had chosen, four had fought
To make wizards disappear
Then children were, from then on, taught
At this very castle here
Each would have their own voice
On which students could attend
Rather than make a costly choice
They split it in the end
Ravenclaw, she did find
Those students worth concerning
Those who had the sharpest minds
Those with a lust for learning
Gryffindor, a noble man
Saw worth in those who gave
Their everything once it began
Those who chose to be brave
Only cunning, blood, and ambition
Would Slytherin admit
The spies, the stealthy, the tacticians
Those who, to the world, commit
Hufflepuff left none exempt
She would not deny
Those who could make the attempt
As long as they would try
Now, at last, you shall be placed
Where you'll stay for seven years
There is no time left to waste
The Sorting time is here
The Sorting Hat ceased, its song complete. A few people in the Great Hall clapped. Professor Lochram stood beside the Hat, took a parchment, and began reading off of it.
"Abbott, Alyssa!" Lochram announced.
A girl strode confidently toward the Sorting Hat and placed it on her head. The Hat only needed a second before shouting "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Adrius, Gareth!"
Pause.
"SLYTHERIN!"
Courtney waited through the names that came up, the students who walked toward the Hat. Some, like Alyssa, needed only a moment for the Hat to judge, while others took almost a full minute. Maybe even more. At last came the sound Courtney was waiting for.
"Glass, Courtney!"
Courtney went over to the Sorting Hat, which promptly went onto her head.
"Quite the mind," the Hat said.
An intelligent mind? Like, for Ravenclaw? Courtney asked.
"Not really," the Hat noted. "Ravenclaw minds, at least the ones that fit best there, have a strong desire for knowledge. You don't have that. In fact, you don't seem to have much desire for anything."
Courtney's face mentally paled. You don't mean… I'm meant for Slytherin, do you?
"No. Slytherins are naturally ambitious. They have goals and they plan and scheme to reach those goals. Like I said, you don't seem to have much desire at all."
But… I do desire things. Like… Why couldn't she think of anything right now? Like being in Ravenclaw.
"You don't have a real drive to learn. You only wish to have that drive so that you can be in the same House as your friend - don't try to deny it, I can see your mind. The fact is, any goals you have are simply the goals of others that you've decided to latch onto. You follow others always, and never lead."
Courtney tried to come up with an argument. Even if I don't lead, I can still learn to be a true Ravenclaw.
"Yes, you could," the Hat agreed. "That said, it's clear where you belong from the effort and devotion you put into your loyalty to your friend."
Out loud, the Hat shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
The students at the yellow Hufflepuff table applauded like they had for the previous students. Courtney absently made her way over to the table.
You follow others always, and never lead.
Was that true? Did she really have so few desires of her own that she would just do anything on others' behalf?
"Ibrams, Lynne!" Hearing Lynne's name snapped Courtney out of her thoughts. Lynne went to the Sorting Hat.
"RAVENCLAW!"
So, there went any hope of being in the same House after all. But Courtney couldn't find herself upset over it. She was happy that Lynne at least got to be in her House of choice.
Oh, lord, I am a Hufflepuff.
The Sorting continued a while. Then anticipation filled the atmosphere. The instant Lochram called for "Potter, Albus!", the entire Hall went silent.
Albus Potter, the youngest son of the Boy-Who-Lived. Courtney had almost forgotten that she was starting in the same year as him.
"What do you think?" a boy near Courtney muttered.
"We're not getting him," was the whispered response from another, older student. "No way he'll get anything besides Gryffindor or Slytherin."
Hushed questioning like that sprang up around the Hall as Albus went to the Hat.
Complete silence.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The red Gryffindor table applauded, even louder than they had for any previous Gryffindor students.
When it was all hushed, Lochram returned to calling out names. After "Yancy, Felipe" was Sorted (into Hufflepuff), Lochram went to the table in the front where the other professors sat. The witch at the center of the table stood up.
"Another Sorting has gone smoothly," she said in a controlled, clear voice. "Welcome, all, to another year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. For our new first-years, my name is Professor Vector, and I am the Headmistress here. Here are the announcements for this year.
"After many years of faithfully teaching at Hogwarts, Professor Filius Flitwick, the Charms Professor and Head of Ravenclaw House, has opted to leave the school starting this year. Professor Torrindale" Here, a witch on the side stood briefly "will be taking the role of Charms Professor, while Professor Lochram will be taking over as Head of Ravenclaw.
"As a reminder to all students, due to the sheer amount of danger present, the forest on school grounds, known as the Forbidden Forest, is strictly prohibited for all of you. Also note that we at Hogwarts are still fixing the building after last year's… incident, and as a result, students are not to enter the hallway behind the Potions classroom until further notice. That is all. We hope you enjoy the upcoming school year."
Professor Vector sat down. The students went back into their usual routines.
"First-years," an older girl said. She stood up and clapped her hands together. A boy sitting next to her stood as well. "My name is Genale and this is Lucas."
"We're Hufflepuff's newest prefects," Lucas said. "That's what these badges mean." Courtney noticed the badges on their robes, with a P in the center.
"If you have any questions, talk to us or one of the four other Hufflepuff prefects," Genale added. "Once you finish eating, we'll lead you to the dorms."
