:3 'll just leave this here.
I don't own HP~
Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall paused in her reading of new student's names. She gave a quick glance at the dwindling number before her. Subtracting the girls gave her little less than half. Now, which one…?
"Lupin, Remus," she said after a few seconds.
A tawny head scuttled from the very back of the small group and timidly hopped onto the stool, not catching anyone's eye, rather staring at the four House banners hanging over each of the long tables.
Minerva set the Sorting Hat on his head, eyeing him just as every other teacher did.
The Hall was silent as the Hat deliberated.
The small boy jumped, signaling that the Hat had begun to reflect to him. His eyes crossed as he tried to look up at it. A tiny frown pulled at his lips and he kept swallowing at an unforgiving lump in his throat.
Time seemed to slug by as the four Heads of House bit their lips or twiddled their thumbs or even held their breath in anticipation.
Who would get stuck with the werewolf?
Just a couple seconds longer and it would have officially been called a Hat-Stall, but just before it could be, the Sorting Hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Minerva nearly dropped her scroll. Little Filius Flitwick wiped his brow with his napkin and Pomona Sprout heaved out a sigh and gave Minerva a tiny apologetic smile as she did. Horace Slughorn sighed heavily, wiped his brow, and gave a loud, nervous laugh.
The Hall was burst into applause as Gryffindor welcomed their newest recruit. The small, tawny-haired werewolf scurried around the group of unsorted students and took a seat at the loud table, a bit aways from anyone else. Despite himself, a genuine smile was plastered on his face, even though he was staring down at his empty plate.
Minerva cleared her throat and waited for the last of the applause to resume her name calling. But before she did, she gave newly appointed Headmaster Albus Dumbledore a glance. It was his first year as Headmaster and already he was welcoming Dark Creatures to educate themselves in magic at Hogwarts. Even Minerva, who'd idolized Dumbledore in his work of Transfiguration in and out of school, questioned the sanity of the man and the appropriateness of the situation.
She saved a sigh to heave later away from the other students. She would have to wait and see what exactly Dumbledore was thinking when he invited the werewolf to their school. Then, she thought as "McMillan, Eloise" sat down under the Hat, she would be able to see how he acted and interacted with the other students.