CHAPTER 8: WHAT OF, WHEREOF, KIND OF, SORT OFF.
The school was about to sort them, label them, and cast them into stereotypes on their very first day. None of them would ever get a chance to be anything else beyond that label. Harry narrowed his eyes while his mind rapidly sought and discarded ideas and plots. In no time, the great doors at the top of the stairs flung open and the kids all trailed after the smiling professor, like little ducklings. On a lark, Harry smirked and chuckled and tugged at Neville and Luna and whispered into their ears; if they could pull it off, this particular prank would entertain them for the next seven years. The three nodded briefly and exchanged fist bumps and moved along the line, passing the word to their Hogwarts Express friends. Harry bet his best cloak and wand that Dumbledore would not have seen this particular trick coming.
The great hall was magical; no other word fit so aptly as a description. It was exactly like Aunt Dora had described; a fascinatingly enchanted ceiling with the floating candles competing with the stars for attention, cramped tables full to the brim with loudly chattering students, a crude platform, and the head table draped in red brocade furnishings. And of course the spectacular throne for the chief bee. Or would it be a spider with his silvery webs? Harry shrugged internally, studying the adults already seated at the head table. Dumbledore seemed absent. It was an elderly, grey-haired, stern-looking witch in tartan robes presiding at the head table tonight. She picked up a goblet and a fork and tapped it for silence and attention.
Professor Sinistra had brought out a three-legged stool and a rather shabby looking pointy hat and set it at the base of the Head Platform and now stood to attention beside it, a long scroll in her hands. Silence finally settled in and the professor began to call out names in alphabetical order. Harry focused, determined to memorize the names and faces of his classmates, and put his eidetic memory to good use. He began mentally cataloging the names to go with faces and distinctive features as well.
Abbott, Hannah, blonde, chubby, soft, round-faced features, blue eyes, sharpish chin. medium height. - Hufflepuff. He was hard-pressed to hide his smirk at that announcement. She seemed disappointed as she looked at the crowd of first years until she found him. He shrugged lightly and smiled at her, discreetly throwing up a thumbs up. She seemed to ease up and smile at that as she headed off to the Hufflepuff table.
Boot, Terrence - Thin, wiry, fussily neat robes with iron-crease marks, light brown hair rigidly arranged, the edge of specs handles peeking out of his pockets, but not wearing them - vain? - Oh, a Ravenclaw and happy about it, if his relieved smiles are anything to go by.
Bones, Susan - She's nice, was his first impression. charmingly red hair that shone like ripening strawberries, neatly arranged into pigtails. While she had set next to him in the compartment back in the train, he had noticed that she had a soothing voice, quiet and strong and gentle all at once. Odd, how he wasn't able to be clinical in cataloging her as he could with Hannah. - Whoa, a Ravenclaw? Was she not in on the prank with Hannah? This would be nice too, but he was sad for them that Hannah didn't make the cut.
Brown, Lavender - Sandy blonde hair, light brown and lively eyes that sparkled with energy, energetic or nervous tapping of feet, rather fond of sweets she was clutching in her hands even now, and chubby-cheeked smiles. - Gryfindor. And Happy excitement, he guessed.
Brocklehurst, Amanda - Mahogany brown hair in tight curls, extraordinarily short and stocky, cheerful face and rather a light brown, wide-set eyes, clever and sharp look that seemed to catalog all she saw. A Hufflepuff? He would have pegged her a claw.
Bulstrode, Millicent - Dark brown hair, square-jawed, obstinate kind of face. dark eyes, inset, wide bulgy nose, and rather thin lips. Slytherin. Absently, he wondered what her ambition was to land her in Slytherin; she didn't look very thrilled at her placement. He aught to make friends and ask her about her ambitions; it could be something interesting.
Crabbe, Vincent - Whoa, blank face, blank eyes. Barely there black hair and small, inset eyes - he couldn't discern the color. Plump but not fat, more like muscular; how odd to develop muscles at this age - he wondered if there was a wizard who believed in hand to hand combat. Didn't he have a rather similar looking twin, with him and Draco, back in the train? He distinctly remembered a blonde-haired version of the boy, dressed near identically. What? A Slytherin? Cunning and ambition? or simply ambition? Or was the stoic muscled moron simply a clever mask? Note to Self: He'd have to find out. It would be stupid to dismiss a Slytherin based on their appearance alone.
Cornfoot, Stephen - Regular Joe. Tall for his age but lanky and with thickset arms of an industrious fellow. Jolly demeanor and clever, laughing eyes. Unassuming dark blonde hair and dark eyes. Happy, curious, too curious to be nervous. Studying everything. A million questions but not enough courage to voice them. A Hufflepuff.
Corner, Michael - Smarmy. How can an eleven-year-old child come across as smarmy? But the boy reminded him of Piers Polkiss, Dudley's charming sidekick. Same shrewd mind. Same calculating eyes. A less ratty, more pretty, somewhat androgynous face. Average height and weight. Longish, well-styled hair, carelessly tucked behind one ear. Nervously drumming the sides of the stool, but hiding the gesture discreetly behind the folds of his somewhat faded looking robe. Aaah, hiding his financial background. A Gryffindor. Eager to get off the platform; doesn't like intense scrutiny not particularly happy with his sorting if his narrowed eyes are to be believed.
Davis, Tracy - Ooh this would be fun, he decided. Her face hadn't been still long enough back in the train for him to properly study and catalog. Now it was a firm mask. Her blonde ringlets seemed off, set against such seriousness. Cornflower blue eyes. The posture of a dancer; fluid and languid but ready. Amused eyes widened in surprise when the hat announced the sorting, though. - A Hufflepuff; yet another bosom buddies broken up into two different houses. He noticed Professor McGonagall frowning.
Dunbar, Fay - A tiny girl. Iron straight, ordinarily brown hair tending towards more dark than light. similarly colored brown eyes and a hexagonal face, sharp cheekbones barely emerging from behind the baby-fat of very young children. Sharp, impatient steps with an economy of movement. Squared shoulders ready for rebellion. She could do well with actually finding a decent cause, Harry chuckled to himself. He wondered if the hat was arguing with her. Three minutes of tense anticipation before the hat seemed to sigh and announce Gryfindor. How disappointing; here's another one who bought the legend over the realities, he thought as he watched her nimbly hop off the stool.
Entwhistle, Kevin - Plump. Shy, if his nervous, wobbly smile was anything to go by. Sun-streaked brown hair, messy and unassuming. Food smears in the front of his uniform already. Round, Penny-like-face with Penny-like features and pale, watery blue eyes that seemed fearful and harmless. A Hufflepuff.
Finnigan, Seamus - Hair sticking up with nervous energy already. Beady brown eyes in a solid, square face. Compact body coiled with suppressed energy. Chaotic and undisciplined, he would bet. - A Gryffindor, of course. What else could he be?
Finch-Fletchley, Justin - He would have guessed him a pureblood if his name wasn't a dead giveaway. An open face, but rigid and correct posture. A polite nod to Professor Sinistra and to the teachers at the head table. Oh, Harry had picked a good one for his team alright - this one knew how to play the game very well. Trained at the cradle, only a muggle one. Ravenclaw. He could see Professor McGonagall's frown deepen.
Goldstein, Anthony - Accountant material. Meticulous. Brown hair meticulously combed. Spectacles sparkling with the polish hiding enormous blue eyes and a rather smallish nose. Nervous pushing at the bridge of the specs every few seconds. Weak chin and a waifish body clumsily curved inwards as if wishing to hide. - Ravenclaw? He didn't peg him for the studious kind. Hufflepuff.
Goyle, Gregory - Aah the bookend twin. The blonde one. Just as stoic and expressionless as the other. Even the eyes didn't seem lively. How odd. Another Slytherin? Another one to watch for.
Granger, Hermione - Missy. Prissy. Fussy. Scared? She was so bright - he couldn't guess what she was afraid of; she didn't really seem the kind to dwell on fears. Oh, dear! A Gryfindor, the poor thing. Dear lord, she ran off with the hat on!
Greengrass, Daphne - Cool as a cucumber. Not even a single strand of hair out of place. Literally gliding across the floor to gracefully sink on to the stool. The hat seemed to have ticked her off, though; she pursed her lips lightly, ever so barely one would hardly notice the change. Her neatly folded arms on her lap seemed to tighten as she flexed her fists ever so lightly. Another case where the hat seemed to give in, sigh, and huffily announce Ravenclaw.
Hopkins, Wayne - An unassuming, kindly, and portly looking boy with dark brown hair and pale, hazel green eyes and such a beaming smile and a sunny disposition, Harry remembered from their brief meeting on the train. A quintessential, charmingly sweet Hufflepuff if there ever was one.
Jones, Megan - Dimpled, cute little pixie. Happy as a lark and just glad to be here. Loved and Loving. And so very shallow. Harry felt hard-pressed to find anything even remotely interesting about her. Sadly, Hufflepuff.
Longbottom, Neville - His brother in all but blood strode off to doff the hat and perched it jauntily and closed his eyes and waited less than ten seconds before the hat literally bellowed - Ravenclaw. It was all Harry could do to stop himself from rolling on the floor, laughing out loud. Neville, meanwhile, took off the hat, bowed saucily to the crowds, and skipped off. Only Harry understood that Neville was setting up a mask that Harry could hide behind. He felt a surge of love and respect swell within for his normally shy and quiet brother.
Lovegood, Luna-Mae - Sweet little monkey that she was, Luna skipped, literally skipped her way to the stool, and sat down. And then like the charming little rapscallion she was, she simply looked up at Professor Sinistra expectantly, like a little queen waiting to be crowned. Harry snorted when he saw that the professor only blinked once and then sought to comply with Luna's unspoken command. Harry felt glad to hear the hat announce less than a second or two later - Ravenclaw.
Li, Soo - Nimble. Swift footed. Obviously a practitioner of some form of martial art or dueling training - would she make a willing sparring partner? He watched her practically glide off towards the Ravenclaw table. He would have to ask - Another note to self. Good thing she had been sorted a Ravenclaw.
Macmillan, Ernest - A toff with a chip on his shoulder. Dark mahogany brown hair growing out but groomed with military precision. wide set watery and pale green eyes with a hint of downward tilts. Chubby cheeks, fingers, and a rounded middle indicating fondness for sweets and temptations. A higher grade quality fabric even for uniforms and dragonhide boots or Hebridian black dragons, polished to a sheen. Wealthy and confident of his place in the world. An open, honest, and welcoming face despite the pomp and ruffles. A Hufflepuff of course.
MacDougall, Morag - Shy, hesitant steps. nervous twitch to the fingers. Jerky motions. Haphazardly pleated, thick and glossy but rather messy blonde pigtails and wispy bangs hiding the eyes. A little kitten peeking out her robe pockets hastily pushed back. Hesitant smiles for Professor Sinistra as she gingerly sat down on the stool and rammed the hat onto her head. One minute, two minutes, three minutes, and finally, Hufflepuff. The girl's eyes widen in surprise, but she isn't displeased; she smiles, more relaxed now as she hands the hat over and moves over to the table for badgers.
Malfoy, Draco - Ah, the confident, cocky strutting, belies the frantically clutching fingers ruining the seamless smoothness of his fine robes. Expensive clothes, exquisite fit, and Harry recalled even a hit of cologne from the boy, back in the train. Hair rigidly gelled and swept back into his head, but growing out, like any self-respecting heir. Harry noted that all heirs and noble titled folks tended to maintain long hairs, jauntily tied back with ribbons, and strings like this was the fifteenth century. Harry noted that Draco's cocky smirk had slipped and he was looking positively worried and scared. He seemed to be moving his lips in inaudible arguments and shaking his head imperceptibly; and then the hat fairly roared, Gryfindor.
The poor boy slipped off the stool in shock. The hall descended into pin-drop silence as everyone from the student tables, candles in the rafters, the staff at the head table with slack jaws and disbelieving eyes watched as Professor Sinistra helped the poor boy to his feet and guided him to the Gryfindor table; Draco seemed helplessly out of his mind. Harry turned to search out for Neville and Luna and threw up two discreet thumbs-up, biting his lips to hold down his laughter, only to forget the merry sparkle glittering in his green eyes. Contrary to everyone's expectation, Harry didn't even have spectacles to hide his eyes behind. At least not today.
Malone, Roger - Professor Sinistra cleared her throat and had to call rather loudly for Roger Malone twice more before everyone assembled in the hall shook off their shock and refocused on the sorting. Harry's stomach had begun to rumble faintly; the scones and petite fours and strawberry swirls had been so long ago it was a distant memory. Roger seemed to be yet another happy-go-lucky regular Joe, with a cheerful smile and nod for everyone and bubbling energy. Already his robe sleeves were rolled up and ready for work. Charmingly curly dark hair that wasn't exactly black or brown, light but sparkling blue eyes and a uni-brow and strongly dimpled chin - that was new and a distinguishing feature, Harry noted in the back of his mind. Less than a minute and the Hat loudly announced him Hufflepuff. He was off the stool and happily ambling over to the assigned table with barely any prompting.
Moon, Lilith - The one literally looked like the moon; pale wispy hair and barely-there eyebrows and large, limpid and extraordinarily pale silvery eyes and a line in place of lips all set in a round moon-like face with pale, pale skin giving the impression that she was nearly transparent. With tiny, measured steps she had already reached the stool before Professor Sinistra had finished reading her name. Less than ten seconds later she gracefully handed the hat over to the gawking professor and walked off to her assigned table before the hat finished announcing Slytherin.
Nott, Theodore - Wiry, tightly coiled, and nervous. Fawn colored hair and dark blue eyes. Scholarly and detached sort of disinterest in faces was a mask that had settled like a second skin to his face. He didn't want to be read. He wanted to be forgotten. The hat had barely touched his head before it shouted Slytherin and he stalked off to the table on the far corner.
Parkinson, Pansy - Dark, short hair, pug-like nose in a wide boned face and unhealthily sallow and thin body. Makeup at eleven? Another strut-stalker - wasn't she part of Draco's entourage? The hat didn't take long before sending her off to Slytherin.
Patil, Padma - Gorgeous long black hair pleated in a single long braid that fell past her waist, dark brown eyes lined with kohl, and a golden colored dot of paste on her forehead. A lovely oval face and strong, pointy chin. Dimples peeking out of the left cheek but barely as she nervously chewed her lower lips and anxiously rolled her eyes upward to look at the hat on her head. Harry noted that both hands were demurely folded in the lap and relaxed. A well trained young lady. Ravenclaw.
She smiled daintily and handed the hat over to an exact replica of her, standing nearby but radiating nervous energy, rapidly tapping her feet. Harry let out his tendrils of magic and read their auras; they tasted distinctly different - Padma seemed placid and easy-going. Parvati, no matter they looked exactly alike, seemed more energetic, impulsive, and flighty. He felt confident he could easily tell them apart, and pulled back the tendrils of his magic, hoping no one noticed.
Patil, Parvati - She practically rammed the hat onto her head and waited, tapping her feet in what felt like a frequent gesture to ease off excessive energies. A minute passed, and then another, and then another, while her feet tapping slowly became more and more frantic. Students had already lost interest and begun whispering amongst themselves when finally almost four minutes into the sorting, the Hat seemed to relent and announced - Ravenclaw. She squealed and rushed off to join her sister. It was easy to guess that she was happy and thrilled with her sorting.
Perks, Sally-Anne - Harry remembered, the quiet, mousy haired and a rather wispy Sally Anne from the train but the girl gliding across the hall to gracefully don the tattered relic like it were a crown was full of quiet dignity and confident poise. She seemed to search out with her eyes and perked up when he met her eyes with a smile and a nod. He let out a tendril of magic, pushing some confidence into her mien. She visibly relaxed and sat back, and a second later, and then her eyes widened in surprise, wonder, and joy as a small smile bloomed into a big beaming grin. The Hat called out - Gryfindor and she hopped off the stool and practically skipped in joy to the Gryffindor table.
Harry was by now a tightly wound coil of nerves, ready to spring at a moment's notice.
He had to laugh at his own perfidy of falling into the trap of anxiety of being sorted. He had fallen for the trope; hook, line, and sinker, and he hadn't even felt it. And he hadn't even believed in the concept, to begin with. 'This is what is peer pressure, eh?' he mused to himself, recalling what he read of the topic.