Chapter 6: The Sorting
Wow I cannot believe we are at chapter 6 already. Thank you to those that have stuck with this story for the last 3 years. I know apart from this past weekend it has been a very long time since I have posted a chapter. I am hoping that I won't ever take that long to post a chapter again. It is the end of the school year and things are about to get crazy at work so I may not get to post another chapter until the school year is over, but I will try my hardest to post one before then.
This chapter is by far the longest chapter, but there are a lot of important things that I wanted to have happen in the sorting. Enjoy the chapter!
BTW I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER, if I did this is how the story would have played out.
"Oh by the way Ron, my name is Harry. Harry Potter"
Before Ron could even think of a response he could hear people whispering about Harry and him coming to Hogwarts or what house he would be sorted into. As Ron was getting ready to make a remark to the whispers and Harry Professor McGonagall walked up to them and told them to follow her.
"Welcome to Hogwarts first years. While you are here you will be sorted into one for the four houses. Your house is like your family. Each house will be competing for the House Cup. Triumphs will earn you points, while rule breaking will lose you points. The four houses are as follows: Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Gryfindor. Now when we walk through these doors into the great hall you will follow me to the front where you will sit on a stool. From there I will place the Sorting Hat on your head and you will be sorted into one of the four houses where you will then go and sit with your fellow housemates while you wait for the rest of the first years to be sorted. Let's get started" Professor McGonagall told the first years before they walked into the Great Hall.
As they were walking Draco and Hermonie were whispering "I really hope we get sorted into the same house Drac I don't know what I would do if I didn't start the year off without a friend in the same house." Hermione was working herself up into a state. Draco reached for her hand and squeezed it, something that didn't go unnoticed by Harry and Delphina. "Don't worry Mione, I'm sure we will get sorted together. The hat puts your wants and desires into consideration when it sorts you so just think about how you want to be as close to me as possible. You with my good looks and all (at this she rolled her eyes good naturedly at him)." Leaning into Draco for a quick hug Hermione whispered a soft thank you to him, but didn't let go of his hand and it seemed that Draco was just as content with holding her hand.
"How long do you think it will take them to realize that they are good for each other and have true feelings for each other?" Harry asked Delphina. "I'm sure it won't take them long to realize, but it will take them forever to act on those feelings. Once they realize their feelings we will just need to give them a gentle push in the right direction, but I'm sure that won't be for a few years." Came her reply. Harry nodded and tucked that information away for later while wondering if the same was true for Delphina. "Wait why am I thinking that?"Harry thought to himself. He filed that away as well.
"Welcome first years. I am your Headmaster, Professor Dumbledor. Before you are sorted we have a few announcements to make. First off the Third floor corridor is forbidden for students as well as the forest. Anyone caught pulling pranks will be sentenced to detention for a week (Dumbledor looked pointedly at the twins here). Quidditch tryouts will be in two weeks. All students in second year and up are welcome to try out. The first match of the year will be at the end of next month. Quidditch captains will need to get together to determine what day works best for you and your team for tryouts. Lastly let's have a great year. The floor is all yours Professor McGonagall."
The sorting went quickly for most students. They sat on the stool and within 30 seconds the hat had told them what house they were going to be in. With the exception of a few students that is.
"Draco Malfoy." Professor McGonagall called out. Draco quickly gave Hermione's hand a squeeze, which sent a jolt through both of their hands, and then he walked up to the stool. "Oh young Mr. Malfoy, I was wondering when you and your sister would be joining us. You would do well in any of the houses, you are loyal, witty, cunning, smart, brave, willing to help those you love, even if you don't realize that you love them quite yet." The Sorting Hat spoke into his mind. At this moment the hat paused and Draco sat up a little straighter wondering what that hat meant while looking up at Hermione, where she gave him an encouraging smile which made him feel light as a feather.
"Please put me and Hermione in the same house." Draco thought to himself as he sat for what felt like forever, when in all reality it was only 2 minutes. "Hmm, okay if that is what you really want...better be RAVENCLAW!
The whole Great Hall gasped while slowly clapping and looking on in shock. As far back as anyone can remember all Malfoy's have been a part of Slytherin. Many of the pure blood students gave Draco a sympathetic face while silently thinking that Lucius and Cissy were going to be very unhappy when they heard that the heir to the Malfoy family was in Ravenclaw. Draco on the other hand didn't care and showed that when he happily walked over to the Ravenclaw table and turned to watch the sorting. making sure to leave space for Hermione. He was pretty sure she was to be sorted there as well.
"Delphina Malfoy." McGonagall called out next. As quick as she could to draw attention away from her brother, Delphina made her way to the stool and the hat. "Ah young Ms. Malfoy it is nice to meet you. I see you and your brother are a lot alike yet so different at the same time. You also would do great in any of the four houses. You are caring and loving. brave, smart. loyal, willing to prove yourself and what is this I sense. A want to be close to him huh." She looked up confused at who the hat could be talking about. I mean yeah she wanted to be in the same house as her brother and friends, but she didn't need to be close to him. Shaking the feelings off she waited for the hat to finally tell her where she would be.
"Well then we better place you my dear in RAVENCLAW." The hat all but screeched. Once again the Great Hall gasped while slowly clapping and looking in shock, thinking the same thing they thought only moments ago with her brother. Surely the hat isn't this crazy. One of them should have been in Slytherin, everyone thought. The hat must be losing it. The professors, especially Snape, thought nothing of it knowing the family and how they have changed, they knew Lucius and Cissy would be pleased, especially with the fact that they are in the same house.
"Harry Potter." McGonagall called out and the Great Hall immediately hushed. You could hear a pin drop, that was how quiet it got as everyone watched to see where the hat placed the boy who lived. "Ah young mister Potter, it is glad to finally meet you. So sorry about your parents, but enough on that. Let's see where to put you. You are more difficult to place than the two that came before you. You could do great in any house and I have half a mind to let you choose." This was rare for the Sorting Hat as he never truly lets anyone choose he just takes what their mind says into consideration. Harry paused for a moment and began to think. "Please do not put me in Slytherin. I am not that cunning. I don't want to be in Hufflepuff, while I am loyal to those close to me, I don't think that is the place for me. Hat you decide between Ravenclaw and Gryfindor." Harry spoke to the hat in his mind. " Okay then if you insist, I will place you with the ones that you will need and will need you. In time you will see what I mean. Just don't let those who you grow close to run away. At this point the whole Great Hall was sitting on the edge of their seats wondering where he was going to end up. Better be….RAVENCLAW! The entire Ravenclaw table, Draco and Delphina (more so Delphina) cheered as The Great BNoy Who Lived came waltzing over to their table.
With Harry being sorted that just left Hermione, Ron, Neville, and a girl named Hannah Abboty. "Ronald Weasley." Ron slowly made his way to the hat. "Ha, (this made Ron jump) another Weasley. I know where to put you. Better be...GRYFFINDOR! This made Ron happy as he got to be with his brothers in the same house, but sad that he doesn't get to be with his friends new and reacquainted that he had made on the train. No matter they can still be friends.
"Hermione Granger," Hermione slightly started panicking as she walked to the hat. "What if I got sorted into Slytherin? As a blood traitor I don't think I could handle that. As she sat upon the stool and Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head she looked out and saw Draco with a big beaming smile for her. She relaxed and realized that no matter what everything would be okay. "Oh young Miss Granger so happy to finally meet the great daughter of two of the most powerful people in the Wizarding World. Hermione looked up puzzled as did a lot of the Great Hall. Deciding that now was not the time or place the Sorting Hat simply told her she would learn about it when the time is right and moved right along. "I see you have your mothers smarts, both book and street, and your fathers cunning, as well as bravery, loyalty and commitment. Seems hard to choose…" The hat rambled on while Hermione sent a silent prayer to be in the same house as her friends. She felt if she wasn't with them especially him (Whoa Hermione what are you doing thinking like that at only 11 almost 12) that she would be lost. The hat must have sensed this for he quit rambling and blurted out. "Well Miss Granger it shall be…RAVENCLAW for you! Hermione visibly relaxed as she jumped off the stool and all but ran to her friends at the Ravenclaw table. Draco was first to congratulate her and give her a big hug. Harry was next and then Delphina. Hermione noted to herself how different the hugs from the boys were but thought that it was just because of everything that was going on.
"Neville Longbottom" The four friends sat and watched as Neville was sorted into GRYFFINDOR after the hat spent a good 2 minutes talking about his parents, his gran and their bravery. The hat said he saw the same bravery in Neville and was sure he would make the lions and his family proud. "Hannah Abbott" was the last name that McGonagall called out. She did take as long as the others to be sorted, but it did take a little time. "Ah young Miss Abbott, I can see that you are super loyal and would be great in Hufflepuff. Oh but wait what is this I see? A thirst to prove your bravery and determination to be great. Oh those are all great qualities of the lions. So where to put you? "Please put me in Gryffindor. I want to show that I am brave and not just a loyal cuddle bunny." Hannah said to the hat in her head. "If you are sure young Abbott, then it best be...GRYFFINDOR! Hanah let out a small squeal as she hopped off the stool and ran to sit with Ron and Neville.
With everyone finally sorted. Dumbledore stood once again and said the best 4 words in the world. "Let the feast...begin."
Wow a lot of things were thrown at you in this one. I decided to add Hannah Abbott like this because I always felt as Neville's future wife she should have had more time in the books/on screen, so I am giving it to her now. Up next the feast and the first night. As you can see I have stayed try to the OG as far as some of the things that have been said or done even if not by the OG characters because they still fit the story. I did not mention the Slytherins getting sorted because this chapter would have been so much longer, however all the OG Slytherins (minus Draco of course) are still in Slytherin and all have the same views as their OG characters. We will meet the new "Bad Boy" of Slytherin here in the next few chapters and I think you are gonna like who it is.
Until next time. Have Fun and Read On!