Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or his marvelous world, it belongs to J.K Rowling.
Enjoy.
The Great Hall was more magnificent than Albus could even have imagined. The sky was clear and the stars were shining brightly overhead on the enchanted ceiling. Albus had read Hogwarts, A History nearly seven times but no book could ever capture the true beauty of the Great Hall. The students filed in with mouths agape and eyes wide trying to take in everything that was happening. They continued forward until they stood before a ruddy old hat sitting on a small four legged stool. Curious looks played on their faces and Albus was about to whisper something to Louis when the tear at the brim of the hat opened and it began to sing.
I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And yes you'll find it's true
I will find the house that
Is a perfect place for you
You may belong in Gryffindor
Where stands the brave and chivalrous deed
Unless ambition is your quest
Then Slytherin is what you need
Perhaps you surpass all of those with great intellect and wit
Then I think that you will find Ravenclaw a fit
Of course you might be fair and just and always ever loyal
In Hufflepuff you will find hard work will never spoil.
So go ahead and try me on
You have no need to fear
I will put you in a house and
It will be quite clear
I never have been wrong before,
I don't plan to start now
And with that song all said and done
I heartily take my bow.
The hat became still once again and the hall burst into applause.
"When I call your name please step forward to be sorted." Professor Longbottom opened a scroll as he instructed.
"Anderson, Leon" The professor called. A tall boy with broad shoulders walked foward and placed the hat upon his head.
Half a minute passed before the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!"
The boy smiled as he took a seat at the long table reciving many pats on the back as he went.
"Blodgette, Samuel"
A small dark haired boy took a seat on the stool and his head nearly disappeared under the hat before it cried "GRYFFINDOR!" once more and the boy took off to sit next to Leon Anderson.
"Bowman, Ashton"
The thin olived skinned boy became the first Hufflepuff, followed by Bratton, Neil who became the first Slytherin. Brooks, Thomas became a Ravenclaw and joined the table of cheering students while Byrd, Imogen and Carwell, Hiram joined the Slytherin table.
"Crest, Andrea"
A face with soft features came forward and sat on the stool. It was about half a minute before the hat shouted "RAVENCLAW!" and she took the hat off her platinum hair before skipping over to the table. Days, Azayla joined Andrea Crest at the Ravenclaw table and Dowler, Adam headed over to the excited Hufflepuffs.
"Dunn, Zara"
"SLYTHERIN"
"Eberhark, William"
"GRYIFFINDOR"
"Finnigan, Maddison"
"GRYIFFINDOR"
"Fulton, Leah"
"GRYFFINDOR"
"Grenshaw, Niam"
"SLYTHERIN"
"Hamilton, Margret"
"HUFFLEPUFF"
"Hartwell, Ian"
"HUFFLEPUFF"
It was a while before Professor Longbottom called out "Malfoy, Scorpious"
The hall went completely still as Scorpious looked over to Albus, who gave him a small grin, and went towards the hat. It fell over his eyes and he heard a distinct voice in his ear.
"Ahh, Malfoy, yes well naturally you have the blo odline of a Slytherin but..." The hat made a small pause. "You are quite different from your father. Hmm, I see much knowledge and a knack for learning quickly. Very interesting, yes, I think you'd better go with RAVENCLAW!" The last word came as a shout and the entire hall was filled with stunned faces and questioned looks. Finally a small applause came from the Ravenclaw table as Scorpious walked over and took a seat.
The sorting went on and all four tables continued to gain students. McLaughlin, Tyler, Nolan, Scarlett and Perkins, Elizabeth joined the Hufflepuffs while Pierce, Kavi sat with the Slytherins. The moment Albus was dreading came at last. He began trying to recall everything he had read about Hogwarts sorting and all the advice his father told him.
"Potter, Albus"
For the second time that night the hall was entirely silent. Albus, still dripping and sopping wet from his dip in the lake, slowly made it to the front and put the hat on his head.
"Another Potter eh.. Ahh but not like your brother, no.... quite unique. Hmm where to put you...you wouldn't be bad in Gryffindor, you've got some nerve, but its not your strength. No and ambition isn't what drives you either so, no Slytherin won't do." Albus let out a small sigh of relief. He began to wonder how the hat knew all about him by simply being put onto his head, what kind of enchantments had been placed on it, how old it was, it seemed quite interesting and now that his fear was out of the way he was more at ease to let his wandering mind get the best of him.
"Ahh you are a very curious boy I see. Interested in finding out how things work and a love for books as well. Well then, I think that settles it. You will do many great things Albus Potter...RAVENCLAW!"
The Ravenclaw table burst with applause as the Gryffindors mouths hung open in surprise. Rose gasped with her eyes wide and a majority of the Weasleys at the Gryffindor table gave disapproving looks. Albus took a seat next to Scorpious as the Professors regained silence amongst the hall again. Scorpious was looking down and didn't acknowledge his friends presence which Albus thought to be very odd but he simply shrugged it off and turned his attention to the sorting that commenced once again.
The sorting went on as the last few students joined tables and it was Louis up next. The hat slid over his head and his eyes were hidden from view.
"Yet another Weasley. You must be what...the fifteenth...sixteenth Weasley in the past two generations to attend Hogwarts?" The hat mused.
"Yeah, something like that." Louis muttered
"Well no matter, your not like any Weasley I've sorted before. You have got brains boy but, I know how Gryffindor pride runs in your family so I am willing to make an exception for you if you so wish."
Louis was torn between family tradition and being where he really belonged. It took him a moment to count the pros and cons and realize the importance of this decision.
"Ahh hell, put me where I'm ment to be would you."
"Very well then. RAVENCLAW!" The hat shouted and cheering erupted from the Ravenclaw table as objections spewed from the Gryffindor side and a few Weasleys began cursing the hat.
"Weasly, Rose" called professor Longbottom.
Rose nervously shuffled foward and took the hat to her head.
"Aha! A Weasley who follows in her familys footsteps. Though I was so hoping you be different like your other recently sorted cousins, breaking traditions and whatnot. Hmm well no matter then, just like your mother. Smarts and daring, only if you don't object..." Rose shook her head. She couldnt bear to imagine the shame and fury of her father if she wasn't sorted into Gryffindor.
"Alright then...GRYFFINDOR!"
The table burst into a mixture of applause and sighs of relief. '"Finally a right decision." came Roxanne's voice as Rose moved through to the table and recived many pats on the back and hugs from her family. She plopped herself down onto an empty seat and looked over to her cousins at the Ravenclaw table. They gave her a small grin and waved to her in congratualtions.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts!" A tall woman stood and addressed the mass of students.
"I realize that there is much to be said, but first let us eat." With a wave of her hands food appeared on the tables.
Students began stuffing thier faces and chatter broke out in the Great Hall. Albus hleped himself to a few pieces of chicken and a heaping of mashed potatoes. He had only begun to eat when he heard Louis talking in a low voice, which ment he was not trying to attract any attention to his conversation.
"Whats the matter Scorpious?"
"Father is going to kill me." Scorpious replied without looking up from his empty plate. Either he hadn't noticed the food on the table or it wasn't important to him at the moment. Regardless his thoughts were far from eating.
"It'll all work out, don't fret." Louis reassured.
"Well now firsties, glad to have you join our beloved house." A familiar freckled boy with a shiny prefect badge pinned to his chest sat amongst the group of first years and introduced himself.
"I'm Lorcan Scamander. Nice to meet you all." he smiled at the bunch. He caught Albus's eye and gave him a small acknowledging nod before turning back to the rest.
"Who's that?" inquired Andrea Crest with wide eyes towards a handsome man in dark purple robes at the staff table.
"Oh thats Professor Durna. He's the transfiguration teacher." Lorcans eyes followed down the staff table.
"I suppose I should inform you about the Professors. Well you know Professor Longbottom I presume, he teaches Herbology and is Head of Gryffindor." He gestured toward the familiar man chatting with Professor Durna.
"Then there's Professor Murray next to Professer Longbottom. He teaches charms and is Head of Hufflepuff." A grey haried man in deep yellow robes sat laughing with Hagrid.
"Then there's Hagrid which again you have had the pleasure of meeting. He teaches Care of Magical Creatures and is Groundskeeper as well." The large hairy man took notice of the group of Ravenclaws observing him and gave a hearty wave in their direction. The first years and Lorcan smiled and waved back.
"Next is Professor Roux. She is the Defense agains Dark Arts teacher as well as Head of Ravenclaw." Lorcan stated with pride.
A woman in dark blue robes and dark brown hair sat listening to the headmistress with deep interest.
"And of course there is Professor Witte. She is Potions teacher and Head of Slytherin." Lorcan gave a small smile as she turned her attention to him and the new Ravenclaws when he stated her name.
"Wow, its like she heard you." Azayla observed.
"Well she probably did. She has quite amazing hearing." Lorcan mused
"And why is that?" Thomas Brooks probed.
"Oh I'm sure you'll find out soon enough." Lorcan answered quickly and got up from his seat.
"I'd better go finish my dinner, desserts about to be served. See you lot later" He waved and walked off.
Professor Witte kept her startling blue eyes on the group as they returend to eat.
"Honestly Scorpious buck up, I'm sure your father will understand." Louis pleaded.
Scorpious grunted in response but never took his eyes from the spot before him. Soon the main courses fizzled away and the desserts appeared in thier place. Albus spent the rest of the time trying to get Scorpious to down something while Loius struck up conversation with Azayla Days about Quidditch.
"C'mon you have to eat something" Albus argued with Scorpious.
Scorpious sighed and was about to give in when the Headmisstress stood and all the food vanished from the tables. The hall went silent and an unsuccessful Albus frowned as he faced foward away from Scorpious who was still sulking and staring at the now empty table.
"Welcome all, I expect this to be another wonderful year." The raven haired woman smiled.
"Now a few things before you disperse. Please note that the Forbi dden Forest is off limits to all students." she gave a glance toward James and his cousins before continuing.
" Quidditch tryouts are in three weeks please inquire the captians of your house if you are interested." She looked over to a man who coud have passed for a statue standing at the end of the hall. He wore a scowl across his face and towered over all other heads in the room.
"Mr. Kluscar, our caretaker, has asked me to remind you that any and all Weasly Wizard Wheezes merchandise is not permitted in the classrooms or halls." again she looked toward James.
"Well I believe that is all. I expect this year to be marvelous and I wish you all the very best." She waved her hands and the students rose from their seats and began to file out. Prefects began to call out for first years of their houses to follow them as the mass of students split with Hufflepuffs and Slytherins heading down a set of stairs and Ravenclaws and Gryffindors up a large staircase.
"I was only joking when I said you wouldn't be sorted into Gryffindor." James had grabbed his brother by the arm and held him back a few yards from the crowd of students. He was frowning down at Albus.
"I know... the hat said...I just..." again Albus was at a loss of words for his brother.
"Well at least you weren't put in Slytherin" James sighed and followed the Gryffindors down a hall.
Albus watched his brother dissapear around the corner before running to catch up with the group of Ravenclaws.
Huzzah!
Well now- sorry this chapter took me so long to do. I have good reasons though.
1. I was gone in New York for a week [which was a blast by the way] you can check my dailybooth for pictures. :)
dailybooth.dot.com.slash.alexandramichele [it won't let me put a url for some reason :( ]
2. I had a debate on whether to put them in Ravenclaw or Slytherin but in the end I chose Ravenclaw becasue I wanted to show how different Scorpious was.
3. Names are so darn difficult to come up with.
4. I have one week left of my Senior year and its pretty hectic.
5. It was a difficult chapter all together.
Oh by the way- Tomorrow is my birthday! :D
***10 points if you can guess why Professor Witte has such good hearing.
Please Review!
Thank You:
I'S Watcher
annouska
Sorrow's Quill
TwistedRaver
and Kashy for reviewing my last chapter.
Music: No Surprises- Radiohead
-Wotcher :)