The Sorting Hat Series: Quatre Winner

Quatre Reberba Winner was completely disinterested in the entirety of the sorting ceremony. His name, which usually opened so many doors for him, was completely useless at getting him through alphabetical proceedings any more quickly. And he wasn't at all sure how he felt about attending a wizarding school in England. Those sisters of his who had displayed magical talent had been sent to schools all over the world, some as far away as the Uyariy Wasi in Peru. And his father had decided he should go to Hogwarts, in cold and dismal England, without so much as a brief consultation with him on the matter. Typical.

He remained wrapped in his apathy as he finally made his way across the platform, and let the stupid tatty old hat be put on his head. Let the hat put him wherever it wanted, it wasn't as though it would make any difference. If he did poorly his father could just commission another child and try again. Or turn things over to any of his twenty nine sisters. They were all graduated and off doing successful work as research witches, or healers or purveyors of rare materials or whatever. His father hardly needed yet another successful child to keep track of. It would only make boasting at parties that much more tedious.

The hat seemed to grumble to itself for a while, as Quatre sat wrapped in his own bitter thoughts. You're an interesting one, it said at last, unique really. You could do well in any of the houses, if you wanted.

I don't much care what house you put me in. It doesn't really matter.

The hat seemed to smirk, even though he couldn't feel it shift in any way, much less see what it was doing. That's an interesting thought. Quite arrogant, really. Do you expect everyone to follow you about? Well, of course people will follow you. Oh yes, they will most certainly follow you.

Quatre didn't bother to respond. The hat was clearly as senile and insane as the headmaster at this stupid foreign school.

Hmm, yes, you'll need to get used to that though, won't you? Well, you'd spend too much time alone as a Gryffindor or a Ravenclaw. And Hufflepuff really won't suit if you wish to lead. So unless there are any objections, you'll be in Slytherin.

Really, Quatre repeated, I don't care.

The hat seemed to laugh as it called out:"Slytherin!"

And so Quatre settled himself at the far end of the Slytherin table, across from a tall, brown haired boy who was sitting quietly and not speaking to any of the other students, and next to a boy with a long braid and a very dangerous, almost angry look in his eyes. Another first year from further up the table introduced himself as Draco Malfoy.

"Quatre Winner," he said without any enthusiasm.

The other blond raised a pale eyebrow and extended an elegant hand, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Quatre."