The two headed up to Dumbledore's office after that. The headmaster waited for them in his chair, a fire red bird on his han.
"Hello gentlemen." He smiled, eyes twinkling
"Good evening, professor." Arthur said.
"I'm too old for dancing around subjects, so I'll cut to the chase. I have talked it over with the teachers; we would all like to extend our hand in welcome, and ask you to join our school." Merlin looked at Arthur excitedly, "it would cost nothing, you would be treated as normal students, and the teachers have extra supplies and books." He said. Arthur looked at Merlin, who nodded slightly.
"Thank you." Arthur said, "we would love to."
"great you will be sorted tonight before supper." He smiled, and after grabbing an old hat he followed them downstairs.
"Good evening students." Dumbledore smiled, "we are lucky to have gained another two students recently." He smiled, "Arthur and Cathal will be sorted this very eave, before supper." He said, and turned it over to McGonagall, who held an old ratty hat.
"Summoned twice in one year," the hat smiled, "It's a thing of legend." He said looking at the young men.
"I may not be much, rough to the touch,
Dirty and ragged, ripped and torn,
But no better hat has been born.
The Sorting Hat, that's me
Everything inside you I can see,
The bravery rival to any knight's,
Daring nerve, ready for any fight,
Chivalrous as Gryffindor himself,
Or your loyal to the end,
Like Hufflepuff, Patent and kind,
Or your wisdom and ready mind,
Wit and learning was the specialty
Of Ravenclaw, as well, you see.
But maybe you're like Slytherin,
cunning enough to always win
But yet I can tell that one of you
Have the qualities of all four,
But don't you worry, don't you fret,
I've never once been wrong, yet."
"Ok, so the hat sings." Arthur mumbled to Merlin who smiled.
"Arthur James" McGonagall called, Arthur walked up, and sitting down on the stood in front of the teachers' table, she put the hat on his head.
"Ah, the Once and Future King." The hat said into Arthur's head he jumped, "this is no trouble." It said, "GRYFFINDOR!" it called out, the Gryffindor table exploded with cheers and clapping.
"Cathal O'Regan." McGonagall said next. Merlin shivered when he felt everyone's eyes on him and sat down. He picked at his hand nervously as the hat slid over his head.
"Emrys." The hat said, "you have finally made it." Merlin bit his lip nervously, "this choice may be hard, but I must warn you of something first: This New Age of Magic is different from the Old Religion, it's drawn from inside a person as opposed to from the Earth Herself, this means a broken soul can perform very dark and demented magic. Beware, Emrys, it has become harder to see an enemy now, your closest friends could be black of heart but now, without the Magic of the Earth, it will be impossible to tell." The hat said, and with that yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor table cheered again.
"we were worried you'd get Slytherin." Sirius said spitting the word Slytherin out like a curse word.
"Well, you didn't hear it from me, but Cathal's probably the bravest man I've met. Merlin was surprised by his King's kindness, "'course he's also a complete air head, I'm surprised he didn't get Hufflepuff."
"Oh good, you weren't actually being nice to me." Merlin said sarcastically, "I was worried you'd pass out from exertion and I'd have to drag your royal arse out." They all laughed. Arthur rolled his eyes. With that the rood appeared and they dug in.