CHAPTER 8: IT TAKES ALL SORTS AND A HAT.
Harry and Neville hung back at the tail end of the first years' crowd as they followed Professor McGonagall into a vast hall crammed to the rafters with four tables nearly overflowing with students. Facing the students, on a raised platform was the head table, and nearly all teachers and other staff seemed assembled together there. Harry recognized most of them from descriptions given by Ciri and Aunt Selene. Some were new faces. There was a beautiful older witch in bohemian style of robes and a wizard doused head to toe in purple, and even had a purple turban. The tall, thin, somewhat emaciated looking wizard with an absent air also seemed new. Harry guessed that they would be teaching DADA, Arithmancy and Muggle Studies. He took note of the pale faced teacher dressed entirely in black sitting next to the purple turban head. That man had all his senses tingling and screaming danger alert. Hiding behind the crowd of students, Harry continued to observe until he sensed Dumbledore's eyes. The old man sat in a gilded golden throne, unlike the simple chairs of the other teachers and gave of the air of a dotty grandfather. He kept stroking his beard and smiling at everyone.
The noise gradually quieted down and Harry noted that Professor McGonagall had brought a rather dirty and frayed looking Hat and a three footed stool and placed it right at the base of the head table, directly in front of the Headmaster. Harry was still examining the headmaster and noticed the momentary sharpening of the old man's gaze and narrowed his own eyes, scanning him for his wand or any other trick. He ignored the Hat that had now burst into song and thought rapidly. He came to a decision just as Susan was sorted into Hufflepuff. Harry nudged at Neville and then whispered really softly into his ears, instructing him to follow Susan into Hufflepuff, even if Neville had to threaten to burn the hat; Harry would join them there. Neville nodded very slightly. They both then slowly began to fall into their act, trembling slightly and widening their eyes. Soon, it was Neville's turn and the sly bugger played up the helpless clumsy boy for all he was worth, tripping over his own feet on the way to sit on the stool, the teary eyed look at being sorted into Hufflepuff and running off to the Hufflepuff table, the hat still placed on his head. Harry had to give it to him; Neville nearly had him convinced of his clumsy, timid personality. Harry had to up his game to match his best friend.
By the time it was Harry's turn, he had mastered the full body trembling, and panting slightly, hunched over as if expecting to be hit any time soon, Harry avoided everyone's gaze, resolutely ignoring the whispers gathering momentum around the hall. He shuffled over to stand in front of Professor McGonagall and tugged at her robe, beckoning her to bend over. He then whispered to a confused McGonagall that he was really, really scared and requested to be sorted last, as he was afraid the hat would decide that the Dursleys were right and he didn't belong here. He then looked into McGonagall's eyes, wet green eyes all wide and lips a-trembling. To everyone's surprise, it was the hat who answered his request in affirmative.
The hat then addressed the entire hall and cited the exact clause in the Hogwarts' Charter where special circumstances allowed a delay for a student, at the discretion of the Castle and the Hat himself. Being an orphan newly discovering the world of magic, and being suddenly thrust into centre stage, the hat deemed, a sufficient and just cause for a child who had saved their entire community from a war at great personal cost. The stern professor smiled sadly at him, embraced him gently and nudged him to a side, and then turned her attention back to the scroll in her hand, reading out the next name. Harry played it up for all he was worth as the crescendo of murmurs rose steadily, grabbing McGonagall's tartan robes and hiding behind her. He took a peek at the head table from between the folds of her robe and noticed the smug look on the Dumble's face and the puzzled, somewhat angry expression on most other professors' faces. Mission accomplished, he thought smugly, ruthlessly squashing the urge to grin.
Soon enough, Daphne had her wish and glided off to the Slytherin table and the last names on the list, Weasley went to Gryfindor and Zabini went to Slytherin. It was now his turn. The deputy headmistress gently guided him to the stool and placed the hat on his head. A voice echoed inside his head, telling him that sorting would only work if he lowered his Occlumency shields a wee bit. Harry thought back that it wasn't necessary as he wished to follow his friends to Hufflepuff. The hat agreed, saying that for all that he was the epitome of a true Slytherin, no proper Slytherin worth their salt ever actually went to Slytherin house in the past 30 years. Hat then went on to brief Harry about the visuals the Castle had been feeding him and Neville since they stepped past the ward line.
The hat then warned Harry of the headmaster's machinations, his suspicions about the new DADA professor, the treasure hunt headmaster was planning in the third floor corridor and the founder's chambers. Harry informed the hat that neither Harry, nor Neville or the last Heiress who was to join them only next year sought to reveal their connections to Hogwarts for safety and security purposes, the Hat said the Castle understood that but needed the heirs to quickly tackle the weakened state of the wards and reset the protections. Hat then informed Harry that Fawkes belonged to the school and wasn't any witch or wizard's familiar, and that between Neville and Harry, they aught to have enough power to tackle at least a few initial problems and bond the elves to the castle, rather than the headmaster. The castle also conveyed its despair and frustration, as the hat clarified that the headmaster altering the security wards was driving the basilisk in the Slytherin's chamber slowly mad and had also kept Fawkes enslaved even on a burning day.
And, after dropping that particular bomb shell, giving no further warning, the Hat then loudly announced, "Hufflepuff" to a stunned hall full of shocked students, teachers, staff and ghosts. And a furious headmaster. Harry mentally doffed his hat to his very first prank at Hogwarts, in the honor of his father's Marauder Legacy as he fairly beamed at McGonagall like a naïve, honey-sweet Hufflepuff, handed over the hat, hugged her enthusiastically and trotted off to the Hufflepuff table, even before his uniform was done changing its colors to a lovely honey gold yellow with black stripes. Neville and Susan grinned eagerly; they had saved a seat between them for him. He searched for Daphne and then nodded happily at her, smiling widely, looking positively thrilled. No one noticed that everyone had forgotten to clap for Harry's sorting.
Harry, Neville and Susan mingled with everyone within reach, eager and excited, throughout the meal. The area around them hushed when Neville asked Harry why his sorting had run somewhat longer than normal. Harry replied that he had a long conversation with the Hat; Harry had grown up knowing nothing of his parents and Potters in general. And the Hat knew every single Potter for a thousand years. Harry confessed that he had initially worried that he wouldn't fit into any of the houses and didn't want to delay other student's chances to get sorted. But the hat had been so very kind; it had taken the time to talk to Harry about his family history, family magics and had given oodles of great advise.
When asked to explain, Harry politely declined, claiming that the Hat had advised him that it was Potter tradition to be private and not share his family magics and secrets; Harry firmly announced that he was so happy to know that his aunt and uncle hadn't been right to think that his parents had been drunken louts who died in a car crash, that from now on he would proudly follow the traditions of the Potters. Both Susan and Neville promised to help him. Neville clasped his hand earnestly and declared that it was a tradition of Potter-Longbottom Brotherhood that for more than twenty generations now, wherever a Potter went, a Longbottom followed. They were god-brothers, after all. Milking their audience for all their worth, Harry grew tremulous, all surprised to discover a brother and vowed to be the best brother he could be.
Daphne smirked behind her napkin, knowing the boys; she could literally see the gossip fly across the tables like nearly visible ripples over deep waters. Personally she hid the thought that the two dorks were laying it on a tad too thick. But then most wizards were far too gullible. If they bought this act then they deserved it and everything else. It was a bit disturbing to note that it wasn't just Hufflepuff, Gryfindors and Ravenclaws but Slytherins and even the Adults at the head table bought the sops' pathetic act. It disturbed her deeply how easy it was to fool this lot. It was little wonder their country had been ripe for not one but two dark wizards. She shook off the morose thought and checked the antics of her men.
Harry was all shy smiles as he sat talking to Neville, Susan and Hannah. He was explaining how the Hat told him that the Potters always shied away from limelight, and never sought power, fame or influence in any way but always stood for justice. Everyone was now listening keenly as Harry sadly explained that since he stepped through the leaky cauldron, everyone calling him the Boy Who Lived always reminded him that he survived when his parents did not. That a mad wizard had murdered his parents, leaving him to a lifetime of loneliness and misery was not a happy thought, and it upset him that people assumed that they had a claim on his orphan status while ignoring the possibility that his mum and dad must have done some powerful magic to protect him even as they died.
Those around him, listening intently to him were visibly taken aback at that. Harry plodded on rather doggedly, determined to plant seeds of doubt and rebellion early on. He wondered why it had been so very easy for everyone to sweep him under the rug so to speak; even the Dursleys were always pretending he wasn't part of their family. When Hagrid had come for him, and told him about his story, first thing he had felt was hurt. Everyone, he muttered out loud in a bewildered tone, had celebrated the past ten years of peace while he was abandoned to the mercy of muggles, who weren't exactly very nice or kind. He confessed that sometimes things were so bad back home that he often feared for his life. He had become fairly good at running and hiding to escape their anger often enough. He had felt glad to embrace the world of magic if only because it would be a welcome respite from them, he sadly admitted. He then blinked rapidly, as if to avoid crying.
Harry, Neville and Susan secretly rejoiced at how attentive an audience they had, especially after Neville had detected the listening charms; obviously someone at the head table was monitoring their conversations. Susan discretely checked out the head table and saw Professors McGonagall and Snape cringe and grow pale. She also noted that the headmaster was looking angry. Sprout, Pomphrey and Flitwick seemed otherwise occupied and engaged in a heated, but happy discussion amongst themselves. It didn't appear as though those three were involved in the noxious habit of eavesdropping on students. The dinner soon winded down and the headmaster rose to give the start-of-term notices. He managed to sound genial until he warned the students not to approach the third floor corridor, if they valued their lives. On that crazy note, everyone was dismissed and marched off to their dorms and their beds.
Aunt Andy's daughter, Dora Tonks was the seventh year prefect who escorted them. Neither of the Younger Grey had met her or even Andy previously but had heard of the cheerful mien'ed metamorphmagus with the pink hair. She lead the first years to the end of the ground floor corridor in the far east wing of the castle and taught them to imprint their magical signature on the wall of barrels which hid the entrance to the Badger's hole. They only had to do it once and they were set for the next seven years; the badgers preferred the freedom of no passwords. It was a rather smart way to avoid the security leak as well. Harry's instincts were spot on, in choosing Hufflepuff as his house for the next seven years. Whoever said that Hufflepuffs were duffers, were stupid indeed to underestimate them.
Once inside, the first years were escorted into the huge, multi-level conversation pit in the middle of the common room even as other students joined in. They began to settle down in the assigned circles, oldest years furthest out, to the youngest ones closer to the centre. Prefects came into the centre of the pit in pairs and by the year and introduced themselves, giving a little background information about themselves, their families, their ambitions and hobbies. Each prefect had been assigned very specific duties within the Badger's Hole. One couple, 6th years called Megan and John, helped the younger years with navigating their way around the castle. She handed out hand drawn maps with shortcuts for access to greenhouses, other house dorms, the library, various classrooms and a useful little spell to point them in the right direction if they got lost out of either of their reach.
The fifth year couples were the assigned resource pursers. If anyone needed anything, ran out of supplies, didn't know which reference books they would need, wanted to throw a party, or refresh their knowledge of the Hogwarts Charter or Rule book, Sue Ellen and Chad were the go-to folks in the Hole. Dora and Benjamin were the counselors and were also assigned to heal bruises, to take them to infirmary, to provide primary first aid and handle all their wellness related concerns, as well as to supervise their potions studies. the sixth and seventh year prefects would also tutor the students from fifth to seventh years needing help. The fifth year prefects were selected from a pool of third and fourth year students who volunteered to tutor their juniors and peers. Each year had elected spokespersons, and Dora reminded them that the election had to be sorted within the very first weekend.
Professor Sprout had slipped in during the discussion and stood back, observing this year's crop. She would have been entirely unnoticed if the castle hadn't chosen to alert Harry and Neville to her presence. Sprout now introduced herself to the group, calling out to old faces and greeting most of them personally. She informed the newcomers that her quarters was right at the end of the bend down the corridor near their dorms and that she was available to them at all hours. She indicated a bell and a rope hanging off a wall by the door, and informed them that pulling the bell would summon her to the common room and should be used only for emergencies. She then addressed their misconceptions about being a house of leftovers and misfits; reality was far from that.
From Madam Bones to Madam Marchbanks in the present day list of dignitaries, all the way to Helga Hufflepuff who was the last of the founders to run the school, who was also the one to define it and give it shape and aim, there have been many notable witches and wizards from Hufflepuff who have defined history through fairness, diligence, honesty and justice. Here, being bright and smart didn't suffice. One's blood status didn't matter nor did knowing big names or having insurmountable wealth count. A witch or wizard's personal amiability, work ethics, behavior, and sense of honor was the only thing that counted. Hufflepuff had an internal point system which mapped individual contributions and losses of each and every student and recorded the reasons as well. This was a house elf monitored system, which they as a house valued more than the inter-house point system monitored by the staff and a Quidditch cup.
Professor then concluded that no matter who mocked them or for what, the only thing that should count with any Hufflepuff, especially the first years that they should gain the ability to look past all that, set lofty goals for themselves, and work hard and honorably to achieve the same. More than fame and fortune, more than public acknowledgements, more than a house cup and a Quidditch cup, this is what truly counted for the House of the Loyal and the Hardworking. She also strongly advised that everyone only venture out in a group of at least four or five at any given time, to ensure their personal safety. She noted that they should always strive to be fair but most certainly not expect the same from any quarter.
With a nod to Harry and a warm smile, she concluded by hoping that Mr Potter choosing them should surely boost their reputation. Even Harry chuckled at that. The Young Greys in the house were all truly impressed with the structure, ethos and organisation involved in their chosen house. Here was a model to aspire to; Harry had truly chosen wisely for them all. Sprout then announced that she would be meeting each of her badgers individually and the appointment schedule would be posted in the common room noticeboard by tomorrow morning. With that, she dismissed them with a hug for each first year and a huge basket of cookies for them to enjoy. Dora and Ben then guided the first years into their sleeping arrangements.
Apparently, there were no common dorms. Instead two students were assigned to individual en-suite rooms with baths attached. The room appointed to Harry and Neville were very comfortable, if much smaller than the rooms they had gotten accustomed to in the past eight years. Harry and Neville felt this was a lucky break; they needn't hide their discussions or their special projects within their room. A regular scan to ensure no leaks or spying charms or invisible portraits is all they needed. It was a perfect lair, indeed. And rather cozy too.
The inside of the door to their room had a large full length mirror. Two beds occupied two opposing walls in the middle of which were large, enchanted windows. They had chest of drawers, a desk and a chair each adjacent their beds and a set of comfortable couches and a small coffee table in the middle of the room. The bath was larger than it appeared and had separate shower cubicles, toilets and sinks. Harry remarked to Neville that if not for grandfather, Harry would have been heartbroken to go from this to the miserable cupboard under the stairs with the Dursleys. It had stopped bewildering Neville how blasé Harry could sound about his past. He mused that he himself was no better.
The two boys quickly locked up, raced to freshen up, change and quickly warded the room to the gills, and instructed Hogwarts to inform them if anyone approached them. They then settled on Harry's bed and pulled out the communication pendant. A tapped out message and five minutes later, Daphne, Susan, Astoria with Luna, Aunt Selene with Grandfather, Granny Gus, Aunt Amy, and Aunt Cassie (with Ciri stuffing his face into the screen right next to her) appeared on their respective screens. Soon everyone was caught up with the events.
The elders were really surprised to hear of the Castle's sentience and Harry's conversation with the Hat. Both Granny Gus and Ciri remembered that James, Harfang and Charlus had always displayed a deeper understanding of the Castle. The three had always referred to the Castle as a "She". So maybe the ability to tune in to the castle's sentience was hereditary for the founder's heirs who simply chose not to discuss this with anyone. They wondered if Luna would be able to sense the Castle as well.
The issue regarding the third floor corridor and Quirrel, everyone remarked, was extremely suspicious. Amy wanted them to be careful around that man, never alone anywhere within the campus, if they could help it, and strict instructions to keep the elders posted regularly irrespective of whether they think they have news or not. The Young Grey all rolled their eyes even as they nodded in agreement. The duo then informed the alliance about castle's desperation for the heirs to update the wards and repair the ward stone. Release of Fawkes and the Basilisk from the ward induced imprisonment, and attending to the Junk Room also seemed to demand quick resolution. The elders informed the kids that Andy, and Ted would join them tomorrow and would take an oath of secrecy to ensure not even Dora knew the full situation.
The talk now turned lighter; A tour of the boys' quarters had Susan and Daphne returning the favor. They too had a dual sharing room; Daphne had been assigned to share with Tracy and Susan, with Sally Anne Perks, the shy and unwilling muggleborn witch. Harry reminded Susan to talk the girl into going to Gringotts for an inheritance test at the earliest opportunity. Daphne then updated them on the situation in the Snake Pit in the dungeons. Daphne was very amused that Harry being so Un-Harry like had thrown the snakes into chaos. Blaise Zabini and surprisingly enough, Theodore Nott Jr had already approached her for an alliance, and neutrality within the pit and outside as well. There was rampant speculation among snakes of all years and the only common denominator was their desire to test the waters and see how far up Dumble's arse Harry was before approaching him personally.
Malfoy, Parkinson, Crabbe, Goyle, Carrows twins, Tony Dolohov, Perseus Yaxley, Walter McNair, Moira Mulciber, Marlene Rosier, Bigsby and Roland Selwyn, Thomas Wilkes and others coming from a DE background had gathered in a corner of the Common Room, not caring to hide their intent, and openly discussed Harry Potter. There was a clear divide in the group. For a rather unexpected change, Draco Malfoy and Amadeus Rookwood, along with Rosier, Wilkes, Bulstrode, and Selwyns seemed to avoid expressing any enthusiasm for their parents' causes and ethos. Zabini, Daphne and Tracy, along with Nott, Mulciber and Rowle were openly stating their support for strict neutrality at least until they were done with school. This was a great way to track their parents' allegiances and movements, Aunt Amy mused. But Harry disagreed somewhat. Students like Draco Malfoy and Theo Nott were forming their own opinions which had little to do with how their parents approached things, people, ideas and events. Harry was positive that Draco Malfoy had had his assumptions about the world shattered in the train ride today.
Daphne and Susan agreed, noting that normally the boy was all fumes and bluster, coasting along on his father's name and influence and browbeating everyone around him into submission. But in his interactions with Harry, and subsequently with others in the compartment and thereafter, the kid had been subdued and thoughtful. If the boy could be counted up on to utilize his Slytherin nature, then, in the long run, he would have been a worthy acquisition. But none of them could actually bank on that possibility. He and his peers could certainly be cultivated though. Their political affiliations hadn't entirely formed yet, and their parents' own political leanings had little to do with blood, power or magics; rather they were all about politics, influence, control and money.
Aunt Amy and Uncle Cyril had slipped the approval signature for the fortnightly news magazine past the Minister; all they now needed was a fairly innocuous name that would initially slip past everyone's radar. Luna recommended using Potter name, explaining that any of the fans could have started the idea, what with him starting school this year. And given how Dumbledore had allowed fictional books and far too many toys and accessories to be promoted in his name and likeness, despite having no authority to do so, he was hardly in a position to complain or raise a stink in attempt to stop it.
Harry glared at the now tittering Luna; he hated the idea but agreed with the principle behind it, knowing that in future they would need their own mouthpiece. Then Neville added his two bits saying that would work in a fair weather situation but work against them in bad times, taking away their credibility. He suggested simply calling it "The Hogwarts Express News"; even the dullest mind in their society couldn't fail to grasp the meaning. No ambiguity there. This suggestion had everybody on board and Harry stuck his tongue out at Luna, even as he promised his signature on the contract next time they met.
The situation at school being so tenuous, they agreed not to antagonize major league troublemakers by socializing openly and figured they could always meet in the trunks on weekends and nights, if nothing else seemed to work. Daphne pouted at this, pointing out that this pretty much guaranteed that Susan would monopolize Harry's attentions. Astoria and Luna then exchanged an exaggerated wink and laughingly pointed out that the older girls could always take a leaf out of their book; they had had a heart felt discussion and agreed to share Neville between them. Neville would of course be glad, if he knew what was good for him, the cheeky blighter. Harry and Neville gulped audibly and declared in unison that first day of school was tiring even for 19 year olds, hint, hint people. The elders chuckled merrily and they all wound up and disconnected.
Everyone in the alliance went to bed that night, quite satisfied with the direction they were taking and their pace. However, not everyone in the castle was feeling the same.
END OF CHAPTER 8.