Slytherin or Gryffindor, which one is it gonna be?
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
It's the start of a new year, the new students will take part in the sorting ceremony like every year. Professor McGonagall is calling out the student's name, as is customary, so that they can put me on their head and I can do my magic. However, today there is a different ambiance. It's not like the usual aura of everyone here coming with a blank slate on them and me deciding how things will be for them.
Professor McGonagall exclaims,"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!" . I watch as Justin walks one step at a time. He ambles towards me face filled with uncertainty. That is why I believe he would fit in Hufflepuff. His hands are cold as he picks me up from my filthy cloth skin. As a result of cold sweating. He sits calmly on the bench, like the puffballs of a dandelion quietly waiting for the wind to determine their fate. I am certain of my decision.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" I holler.
As I wait for the next student to come up, I move my pointy head to scan the fresh meats. My eyes land on the boy with a lighting bolt mark. I stare at him, taking in the way he wears his uniform and round spectacles. I know exactly how he got the lighting bolt mark. I wonder if he is brave enough to win over him or if he is a complete fool to think about coming to Hogwarts. Likewise, I ponder if he is even aware of him. You know who I m thinking about ! Professor McGonagall summons another student, and I cease to think of him.
It's been ages since I served at Hogwarts. I am the beginner of every student's story and my decision decides their destiny. My decision makes the students achieve their dreams. They are our dearest students. Hence, it's my duty to make sure that they don't face any trouble. What's that called? Ugh! Ya, I want to make sure they have a happy-ending. And I'm the sentient hat of Hogwarts, which is called the Sorting Hat.
As I'm assigning each student their house, I know how each one of them will flourish. The new students who I ve assigned to houses have their own special personalities. Some of them are brave and daring who I ve sent to Gryffindor. Some are loyal and patient who belong to Hufflepuff. Some are intelligent, learners, and witty who are in Ravenclaw. Some of those are cunning, ambitious, and have leadership qualities that went to Slytherin.
I look around the great hall as the next boy picks me up and sets me down on his head. The hall looks the same with all the candles and the ghosts sitting in between the houses.
"Hmm," I say to the boy whose head I m sitting on. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, A my goodness, yes - and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting... So where shall I put you?"
I can feel the lighting bolt mark on his forehead under my battered fabric. The mark is a sign of his bravery or should I say it was his fortune. He is determined, which makes me ponder if he belongs to Slytherin. That ll bring the best out of him.
"Not Slytherin, not Slytherin," Harry muses.
That s quite weird. I can see how Harry will grow. If he goes into Gryffindor, he ll have to face him . You know who I m thinking about. He ll lose his loved ones, which are only a handful of people. Whereas, in Slytherin he ll achieve a lot and save a lot.
"Not Slytherin, eh?" I voice. "Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness." This little boy has made me question my decision. I can see that he isn t aware of him and Gryffindor is the path for Harry to meet him. Till now, I ve made sure that each student has a happy ending to their life, and I d want the same for Harry.
"Harry, you don t belong in Gryffindor, and I do not want you to regret your decision. The decision I m going to make might upset you, but you ll not regret it," I assert. "Therefore, you belong in SLYTHERIN," I declare coldly in the last section.
The crowd sitting near the door erupted with cheers. Harry picks me up from my patched cloth. He keeps me down facing my back head to the students. Dumbledore s eyebrows furrowed together.. His forehead has a thick line of wrinkles. The decision doesn t satisfy him, but he can t see what I can. I d never want Harry to suffer. Not only Harry, but I d not want anyone of the Hogwarts students to suffer. If Harry had gone to Gryffindor, there would have been many deaths, sacrifices and sorrow lining up for everyone present over here. Which I d never want for our Hogwarts family.