The Sorting Hat May Have Made a Mistake
The punts pulled up onto the shore of Hogwarts. The boys and girls of wizard and witch parents were wondering which house they would end up in. Several knew which one they wanted—Draco was boasting to Crabbe and Goyle in his boat about how he was going to go in Slytherin, and they had better too. But which house are Caly and Bella going to go to…
"How come you know Griffith?" Caly asked as they walked up to Hogwarts.
"He's my friend," Bella said. "Your mum and dad would take turns visiting my family. They would always take Griffith with them, though. Your dad says he acts like I'm his daughter."
"They never mentioned me?" Caly said with a pang of sadness.
Bella appeared to think deeply. "Well maybe it was too sad to talk about you…" she figured. "I heard Dad say they finally found you after six years."
"Six years with the Muggles," Caly said softly. "I know the address—I could write—"
And then the door to the school opened. They were all led to a giant hall and then a small room by Professor McGonagall. She went through her whole speech and Bella listened intently.
"I bet I'll be in Hufflepuff," she whispered.
"OK I want to go there," Caly said.
"D'you reckon I'd end up in Slytherin?" a black haired boy with glasses near them said fearfully. "I don't want to go to Slytherin. Heard nasty things about it."
"Then you won't go there," Caly assured him. Bella could only nod. She hadn't met the boy before.
Professor McGonagall came back. "Line up," she said. Draco seized a hold of Bella's arm with a spluttered 'THERE you are' and Bella snagged Caly's sleeve. Mafalda, grinning, took a hold on the train. Neville clung to the back of her robes.
"Now now I said line up! This is not a train!" Professor McGonagall scolded. They all let go and filed into the main hall.
Caly stared in wonder at the floating candles. Bella was unfazed as though she had seen those a lot before. Draco stared wistfully at the Slytherin table, the one on their far right with the most dangerous and cunning looking students. "I'm gonna go there," he whispered.
They lined up, facing the students at the tables. Bella was glad she was short so she hid a bit behind Caly and the black haired boy. The stool and hat were set before them. Draco wrinkled his nose at the sight of it. The hat began a song:
The Hogwarts students are here, now I will have to sort you all!
The independent and witty go in Ravenclaw,
They're intelligent and capable too!
Gryffindor is for the daring and brave,
They're chivalrous and courageous!
The cunning and determined go to Slytherin,
They're ambitious, clever, resourceful!
Hufflepuff is for the best of all-
"OI!" a Slytherin called. The Hat chuckled before continuing,
But anyway, they're loyal and dependant, believe in fair play too,
patient and hardworking-so yea, I said they're the best!
"I told you not to favor a certain house!" Professor McGonagall said low and fiercely to the hat.
The hat shrugged the sides of its brim. "What? I favor a different house each time! Taking turns, you know."
McGonagall sighed while Dumbledore and the Hufflepuffs clapped. She turned to the first years. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," McGonagall said. She glanced at her scroll. "Abbot, Hannah!"
She was sorted into Hufflepuff.
"Avery, Calypso," the Professor called. Nervously, she wandered to the stool.
"Hu-ffle-puff, Hu-ffle-puff," Bella whispered as she passed. Draco elbowed Bella. The black haired boy hissed at him, and the boys glowered at each other.
Caly sat shakily on the stool.
Ohh what a kind girl we have here, a voice in her head said. Caly nearly jumped. O don't worry, it's me, the hat.
Can you put me in Hufflepuff?
You don't even know what that is, the hat said.
I don't care. That's where my friend Bella is going.
There was a moment of silence, before the hat said, Alright that's where I was going to put you anyway, in—
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat bellowed. The Hufflepuffs cheered. Caly proudly swaggered to their table.
"Bones, Susan" went into Hufflepuff as well and "Boot, Terry" was sorted into Ravenclaw. "Broklehurst, Mandy" joined him at that table but "Brown, Lavender" became a Griffindor. "Bulstrode, Millicent" sauntered off to the Slytherin table.
A polished looking tall boy with glasses and brown hair came forward at the name "Carnelian, Sam" and went into Ravenclaw.
"Crabbe, Vincent" made his way to the Slytherin table. "Finch-Fletchley, Justin" joined Hufflepuff while "Finnigan, Seamus" went to the Griffindor table. "Granger, Hermione" went off with him there as well. "Goyle, Gregory" lumbered his way to fellow Slytherins. "Longbottom, Neville" joined Justin.
After several more, (including "MacDougal, Morag") Professor McGonagall called, "Malfoy, Bellatrix."
"I don't want you in my house," Draco whispered as she slowly made her way up. Her heart fluttered in a bundle of nerves. Her breathing was shallow. She stumbled up to the stool, and shakily sat. She didn't want at all to be up in front of all those people, staring, staring. She was so small the hat fell down to her shoulders, blissfully covering her eyes from the scene of horror. Her breathing evened out. She could hear the students at the tables stifle a laugh. Someone, most likely Draco, outright howled before McGonagall quieted him.
Don't be shy, a voice said.
You're the hat, she said calmly. (In her head, of course.)
Indeed I am, the hat said cheerfully. Let's see…my lots of courage. Independence, too! What were you doing up so late? Reading? Goodness, child. No, don't worry, I won't tell your parents. Hmm, maybe that boy will end up in your house. Harry Potter, too? That aside, you have the very makings of a Hufflepuff! Although I cannot deny that you would do splendidly in Slytherin.
Why Slytherin? she wanted to know, confused. Honestly. I have as much Slytherin material in me as the dark lord has Hufflepuff in him.
The hat laughed. Really? That's funny. I can tell you're torn between glory for your family and loyalty to your friend.
Are people here friends with people from other houses?
I think so…the hat mused.
I could really go in either couldn't I…O, I can't decide, she sighed, exasperated. Just put me where you think I'll do best.
Immediately, the hat roared with full confidence, "SLYTHERIN!"
"Nooo," Caly moaned. Draco sneered in disgust. Bella, quivering with the fear of the new people who didn't exactly look very nice, stumbled down to the Slytherin table. Draco swaggered up and got into Slytherin after the hat spent half a second on his head. He shoved Bella aside to the floor on his way to Crabbe and Goyle. She didn't even try to sit next to him, instead claiming part of a long empty stretch at the table.
She wiped her eyes off on her sleeve before watching the rest of the sorting. She hoped the boy with black hair could at least come into her house, though he didn't want it. She also hoped Harry Potter could be a Slytherin. But if he wasn't a pureblood, what were the chances?
"Mate, Jon," the messy boy with green eyes, orange hair and only one shoe went into Griffindor. "Moon, Jerry" got sorted. "Nightshade, Mafalda," "Nott, Theodore," then "Parkenson, Pansy" all went to Slytherin. The "Patil" twins went to Griffindor. A girl with blond, curly hair, "Patronum, Skyler" went into Hufflepuff. "Perks, Sally-Anne" was sorted right after.
Poor Harry was a bundle of nerves watching his fellow first years get sorted. It felt like they were doomed-or blessed-with whatever house they ended up in. It felt like they were getting picked off like flies. He stared hard at a man sitting at the staff table, who was glaring back at him murderously through curtains of black greasy hair. He saw him mouth, you better not be a Slytherin, boy. Harry shuddered, and reinforced his decision not to go in Slytherin. He watched that pale, blond boy-O right, Malfoy-go into Slytherin. My was he glad; according to the sorting Hat's song, the Slytherins were clever, determined, cunning, ambitious, and resourceful, and right now, that by no means sounded like him. He just knew he didn't have to share a room or anything with that annoying boy. Thank goodness.
With a jolt, his nerves rose to a crescendo when his name was called. He staggered up to the stool. He felt like the time he had somehow managed to chip the paint of Uncle Vernon's car without actually being close. It did feel kind of good, though, the very same day his uncle had denied him lunch which he had badly needed. But still, the fear was too much.
Shakily, he sat, and reflected how he was nervous much like that little girl who went into Slytherin. She was quite pretty, too-his thoughts were interrupted when he jumped at a voice in his head.
Hullo, the voice said.
Who are you? Harry asked shakily.
The sorting hat! the sorting hat said cheerfully. Hmmm, now, put that girl out of your mind, will you? Yes, she almost went into Hufflepuff. Hmm, nope, that house is not for you, boy…How about Ravenclaw? Nope, not that either...
Where will I go? Harry asked frantically. Please not Slytherin!
Why not Slytherin? You will do wonderfully in Slytherin! You're clever, cunning, resourceful, determined…
Harry felt sick dread fill his stomach. He was glad he hadn't eaten. Not Slytherin! he managed. Even in his head it sounded like a half strangled mouse.
"Let's be reasonable, then," the hat said out loud. Whispers increased. Harry had been so nervous he hadn't even noticed they were there. Everybody seemed to wonder where he, the famous Potter, would go. The hat just sat grimly in deep silence, leaving everyone in suspense.
"Put him in Hufflepuff!" a girl shouted. It was the redheaded girl he met in the entrance hall. He recognized her voice. Several others agreed with her.
Finally, the hat shouted "SLYTHERIN!"
The reaction was immediate. The Slytherins roared in triumph as the other houses groaned in disappointment. Malfoy visibly scowled. Harry was clinging to the stool, stone still in complete shock. He didn't want to see the face of the black haired man. Out of curiosity, he did-and wished he hadn't. Even Uncle Vernon's deathly looks couldn't compete. So why was he clapping hard?
Something was poking him in the back-O, Professor McGonagall was gently prodding him to go down for the next student. He staggered off the podium. He dared a glance at Ron. His friend looked as though he had just realized he had seen his best friend turn into an ogre or something.
Malfoy stood as Harry stumbled by. "I'm in charge of the first years. I'm the king. Got it?" he hissed in Harry's face.
Lost in emotions so strong he couldn't identify or untangle them, Harry found himself nodding. Not knowing what else to do, he sat heavily at an empty stretch of table, staring blankly at the empty plate in front of him.
Something gentle brushed his shoulder. He looked up. His green, almond shaped eyes met the startlingly heavy lashed grey eyes of the little girl. He felt dazzled for a second by her little, round face. He had never seen anything so-pretty, or even interesting on Privet Drive.
"Don't be friends with my brother," she whispered. "He's a meanie."
Whether it was because of her beauty or helplessness that made him nod, he wasn't sure. She seemed the kind of girl who would get easily picked on, and felt that he would defend her if need be. He wasn't sure if he could have the courage to stand up to Malfoy, really-she was his little sister after all, what if he was butting in-but one thing was certain.
"You and I can be friends," he said quietly, glancing to make sure Malfoy wasn't looking. Harry saw her eyes sparkle. She hugged him. Satisfied or at least a bit less stormy inside, they watched the rest of the sorting.
"Snape, Mae," the girl with short black hair and grey eyes went quickly into Slytherin. The students closest could hear her mutter for it. As she went to her table, everyone couldn't help but notice Snape was actually and audibly clapping.
"Thomas, Dean" joined Griffindor. "Turpin, Lisa" became a Ravenclaw and "Weasley, Ron" headed off to the Griffindor table. He glanced behind him at Harry, stuck at the Slytherin table. "Zabini, Blaise" joined Slytherin.
They had eaten and gone to bed. While Harry did not at all feel welcome, but out of place in Slytherin, he was warmed by a girl with red hair and green eyes who identified as Lily Snape. She got half way through her welcome before she squealed and hugged all the first years, which he and Bella thoroughly enjoyed. To Harry's joy, he could see, over Lily's shoulder, Malfoy make a face after he had been hugged and declared 'cute'. It was quite funny. Harry tried to sleep with Malfoy's constant chatter. He was rather annoyed that he did indeed have to share a bedroom with him. Half of it was boasting, but the other half was complaining. ("I am quite an amazing kid, of course, but naturally it's my perfect little sister who's friends with the famous Harry Potter and not me!") Harry retreated under his pillow, wondering if aside from Lily and Bella, and Ron, life at Hogwarts might end out much like life at Privet Drive with the insufferable Dursleys.
They all had survived a whole week of getting used to Filch and Peeves and trying to figure out the way the castle worked. Only Bella seemed to realize a pattern. Harry was quite glad to have her as a friend, even though Slytherins and Gryffindors alike gave them weird looks. It wasn't everyday a couple Slytherins went around with a Gryffindor, and a Hufflepuff, for sometimes Caly joined them.
Draco was going on about how Bella was a little wimp, not at all fit for Slytherin. "Slytherin is for the really clever people, like me," he would say. She would just whimper and try to ignore him. Caly and Harry had to stand up for her—well, when they were there, at least.
Bellatrix was in fact quickly manifested as the best in the classes. She managed to turn her match into a nettle and even back again before the Transfiguration class was out. She knew the answers to questions Hermione didn't know. Bella wasn't able to bring her books to one herbology class, (Draco stole them) but she managed perfectly fine without them. She excelled at history, and was able to stay awake throughout Professor Binns's entire droning lessons. She didn't get Emeric the Evil and Uric the Oddball mixed up.
When she was asked how she did it, she just hid behind someone. Harry had to jump in and say her parents knew she was gifted, so they let her borrow their wands and read all she could on magic. Trusting Harry, she had told him all that.
The only problem was that the other first years, especially Draco, seemed to be envious of her. They made fun of her and pointed out all her mistakes. She had to force herself not to cry. She stuck to Harry and Lily, quickly learning the hard way not to boast about her friendship with the famous Harry Potter.
They all had double potions on Friday. Bella was rather excited, because then Draco was focused on doing well for Professor Snape and less so on intentionally messing her projects up. This time, just to be sure, she sidled in next to her Slytherin friend Harry before Pansy took that spot. She seethed, and Harry looked less dejected (Bella helped him with all his subjects) but the lesson started.
Snape glowered down at them from his desk. Bella huddled closer to Harry for warmth in the cold dungeon. The teacher began, "Today you will brew a potion for curing boils. Turn to page 11. Mae will come up to my desk and demonstrate for you."
The lesson commenced. Draco leaned with determination over his potion while Bella silently helped Harry with his.
"Let him do it by himself, Malfoy," Snape suddenly said. Bella jumped. She stared guiltily at the floor, even though she was simply helping him, not doing it for him. Snape turned to Harry. "You fool, making her do it for you."
"Sir, I wasn't-"
"I would take points from you, Potter, if you weren't a Slytherin," Snape drawled, before moving on to chide Neville behind them.
The lesson was almost soon over. Draco spilled his powdered Wizarding Snapdragon (on purpose, of course) and went to steal some from Harry or Bella. He paused, appearing torn between the two of them. Bella turned to see him just in time as he snatched up Harry's.
"Oi!" Bella squealed. "Give it back!"
She made a grab for it, but, dancing out of her way and sticking out his tongue, Draco poured all of it in his potion just as Harry noticed.
"Oi!" he growled.
Draco snickered. "Too late!"
Grinding his teeth, Harry didn't notice Bella pass on her good mark by letting him have her powdered Wizarding Snapdragon.
Finally, as Snape assessed everybody's potion, notably most of the scoldings and scowls were aimed at the Gryffindors. Harry felt glad he wasn't a Gryffindor.
Snape came to his potion. Slowly, after staring at it for a long time, the teacher glared at Harry. "Why did you steal her powdered Wizarding Snapdragon?" he hissed.
"I didn't!" Harry insisted. "She gave it to me!"
"The Malfoy?" Snape sneered. "Likely."
Harry sputtered, but didn't say anything else. Snape moved on. Draco smirked as he cleaned up, knocking over Bella's potions book into his potion while doing so. Only a puff of red smoke was all that was left of it; Snape was rebuking a Gryffindor and didn't notice. "Oh no! Good luck with your potions now," Draco sneered as he left.
Bella immediately wrote back home for another copy. (She left out the part about Draco dissolving it, of course. Their relationship was a constant 'do this/don't tell or I'll tell Mum and Dad you read at night/sneak candy' from him.)
Author's question: Now that Harry is not a Gryffindor, how do you think things might change?