Chapter Eleven:
The Sorting
Off the train and onto the platform came a sea of students.
"First years! First years this way! Transfers, as well!" Called a loud, female voice.
"Go with Hag... Where's Hagrid? Doesn't matter, go with that lady." Hermione said, as she and the others walked another way.
Kaiba, Yugi and Ryou looked at each other, but walked up to the woman holding the lantern.
"You must be the transfers Dumbledore was telling me about!" She said cheerfully.
"Yep.." Yugi muttered.
"Well, come along! FIRST YEARS! TO THE BOATS!"
The boats didn't have any oars, or a motor, but as soon as everyone was settled, they moved of their own accord, scaring the crap out of Kaiba. He nearly fell into the lake, but Ryou caught him.
"Careful, Priest." He said, smirking down at his classmate. Kaiba growled at him, but allowed him to pull him up.
Across the lake, which was huge and beautiful, up the lawn and just outside the huge oak front doors.
Kaiba, Yugi and Ryou (Especially Kaiba) were giants compared to the first years.
"Excuse me!" Called a tall, grey-haired witch in emerald green, "Here at Hogwarts, there are four houses. Gryffindor, the house of the brave, Ravenclaw, the house of the clever, Hufflepuff, the house of the loyal, and Slytherin, the house of the cunning. While here, your house will be like your family. You will eat with them, room with them, and learn with them. Come along."
She turned and walked into the castle, not checking to see if they followed.
The transfers and first years scrambled into the school after her.
The entrance hall was huge, cathedral-like, and beautiful. Torches sat on the walls and suits of armour nodded to greet them.
The Great Hall- as they would later learn it was called- was even better.
Tall and cathedral-like, as well, but you could not see the ceiling. The ceiling was the sky outside- a blanket of black with a splatter of stars. Candles floated around them, and Ryou reached out to touch one. It floated to the side a bit, before returning to it's original position.
"Wicked.." He breathed.
The emerald-clad witch placed a hat on a stool, which started to sing.
In times of old, when I was new, United by a common goal, "Together we will build and teach" For were there such friends anywhere So how could it have gone so wrong? Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those These differences caused little strife Take only those they wanted, so, And only those of sharpest mind
And Hogwarts barely started,
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted.
They had the selfsame yearning
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
The four good friends decided.
And never did they dream that they
Might some day be divided.
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw,
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there, so I can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Whose ancestry's purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest."
With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot
And treat them just the same."
When first they came to light.
For each of the four founders had
A house in which they might
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning just like him.
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest So Hogwarts worked in harmony The Houses that, like pillars four And for a while it seemed the school And at last there came a morning And never since the founders four And now the Sorting Hat is here But this year I'll go further, Though I must fulfill my duty Oh, know the perils, read the signs, And we must unite inside her
and taught them all she knew,
Thus, the houses and their founders
Maintained friendships firm and true.
for several happy years,
but then discord crept among us
feeding on our faults and fears.
had once held up our school
now turned upon each other and
divided, sought to rule.
must meet an early end.
what with dueling and with fighting
and the clash of friend on friend.
when old Slytherin departed
and though the fighting then died out
he left us quite downhearted.
were whittled down to three
have the Houses been united
as they once were meant to be.
and you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
because that is what I'm for.
listen closely to my song:
though condemned I am to split you
still I worry that it's wrong,
and must quarter every year
still I wonder whether sorting
may not bring the end I fear.
the warning history shows,
for our Hogwarts is in danger
from external, deadly foes
or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you...
let the Sorting now begin.
"Tell me I'm going crazy and that hat did not just sing." Kabia whispered, leaning over to Yugi.
"No.." Yugi whispered back, sounding dumb-founded, "It sang.."
The first years dribbled by too fast. The first-year who asked Kaiba for his autograph was sorted into Hufflepuff.
"Bakura, Ryou."
...
\
Ryou walked up, heart pounding.
He sat on the stool, clenching it so hard he had white knuckles, and the hat was placed on his head.
Hmmm... Ryou leaped at the unfamiliar voice in his head, Not a bad mind. And not only one, but two.
((Just sort the boy. I have nothing to do with him.))
As you wish. ... Smart, very smart. At the same time, very kind, very loyal. But bravery wins in this situation.
"GRYFFINDOR!" It called aloud. The table on the far left roared, and Ryou assumed that was where he had to go.
"Kaiba, Seto."
...
Kaiba walked up to the stood and sat down, hands shaking.
Hmm... Kaiba jumped, Not a bad mind. Actually, an amazing mind. Intelligence beyond belief. A thirst to prove yourself, also... You are loyal to those you love... Hm... And brave. Very brave. Like Ms. Granger,
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Kaiba stood and walked over to the Gryffindor table, sitting calmly. Just as Bakura's had, his tie turned red and gold, and the Gryffindor emblem on the left side of the chest of his robes.
"Moto, Yugi."
...
Yugi sat down, ready for it.
Just like your friend: Two minds.
/Simply sort Yugi. This is not my place to meddle/
You are just as much a part of him as a leg or an arm, Pharaoh. Though, it is unquestionable where you go.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The hat was taken off his head, and Yugi walked over to the Gryffindor table, sitting amongst his new friends. His new family. Perhaps this place wouldn't be so bad, after all.