Chapter 7
The heavy oak door slowly swung open. Minerva McGonagall stood there, wearing a green robe that matched her eyes. The robe bore a crest over the right breast. A Raven, snake, badger, and lion surrounding the letter H.
The giant bowed slightly. "The first years Professor McGonagall," he said.
"Thank you, Hagrid," McGonagall said. "I shall take them from here."
Hagrid smiled at the first years and strode off. McGonagall gestured them inside. "Come," she said.
The first years filed through the door and into a large room. Torches hung in iron brackets, casting a warm glow over the grey stone walls. Once they were all inside, the door swung closed. McGonagall turned to them and smiled slightly.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said. "It is a pleasure to see all of you. I must explain some things before we get started. Clearing her throat, she began.
"In a moment I shall lead you into the great hall where you will be sorted into your houses. Each house has a fascinating history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are here, your house will be like your family at Hogwarts. Accomplishments shall earn you house points while any misbehavior or rule breaking will cost you house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most house points will win the House cup a great honor. Are there any questions?"
Harry raised his hand. "What's to stop the points system from being abused?"
"Pardon?" McGonagall said.
"Well," Harry began. What's to say they wouldn't dock points for unethical reasons, say, breathing too hard?"
McGonagall stared at Harry for several seconds. "I assure you all of our staff are far too professional for such immature behavior."
Harry nodded, accepting the explanation. He would wait and see.
"Once it was clear there were no other questions, McGonagall clapped her hands together. "I suggest you take this time to make yourselves presentable."
Turning, she left the room leaving the students to begin muttering to each other nervously.
"Does anyone know what the sorting is?" the sandy haired boy Neville had ridden with asked.
"Dunno," a redheaded boy said. "My brother Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking."
"What if we have to perform a spell," the bushy haired girl Harry had ridden with asked.
"I don't think that would be it," Daphne said. "I mean it wouldn't be a fair test, would it?"
"Exactly," Draco Malfoy said. "Which is why no Muggle-born has ever been allowed in the noble house of Slytherin."
"To be sorted by a test would imply that one house was better than the rest," Harry said. "From what I've read, Ravenclaw is the house of knowledge, so any students with that mind set would pass any written exam. Gryffindors are usually the more courageous, so those students would have an advantage in an exam that tested bravery."
Daphne nodded. "Slytherin minded prospects are more cunning. They would win any test that had to do with stealth. Hufflepuff are the house of loyalty and fair play. Prospective Hufflepuffs would probably do the best when it came to team work."
Harry picked up from where Daphne left off. "Of course, this assumes that we all have similar magical training which we don't. So, the test can't be written or practical."
The bushy haired girl glanced at Harry. "That's extremely well thought out for an Eleven-year-old. You must be very mature for your age."
"Not really," Harry said. "My Godmother taught me to think through any given situation if I had the chance. I don't know everything, but with Daphne's help, I was just able to point out why a test wouldn't work."
"So, what do you think it is?" the redhead snapped.
Harry lifted one shoulder in a shrug. "No idea, but whatever it is, I bet it'll be something we don't expect."
Before they could say anymore, several ghosts flew through the back wall. They ignored the first years and seemed to be having an argument amongst themselves.
"Forgive and forget," a plump ghost wearing the clothes of a monk said. "I say we give him a second chance."
"My dear Fryer," a tall ghost wearing a Ruff said. "He's had more than enough chances and he's not even a ghost. Why one of the headmasters hasn't banished him is beyond me."
"Quiet," the ghost of a young woman said. "You'll frighten the first years."
"Of course," the tall ghost said. "Well spotted Milady."
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff," the fat Fryer said with a wave. "My old house you know."
"No, we didn't know," Harry quipped, "Or at least I didn't."
"The Fryer chuckled. "Ah I like you.
"That will do," McGonagall said.
The ghosts flew through the back wall, vanishing from sight. "McGonagall gestured for the students to follow her.
They all followed her out of the room and into a large hall. Four long tables sat through out the hall, two on the left and two on the right. Up at the head of the hall, on a small platform sat the staff table. Daphne nudged Harry. "Look at the ceiling," she said.
Harry looked up at the ceiling, but saw nothing but the night sky above them. It appeared as if there was no ceiling there. "Whoa," he whispered to Daphne. "That's creepy."
"McGonagall cleared her throat. Harry looked forward and saw her glaring at him. He felt himself blush.
"Now that everyone is paying attention," she placed a wooden stool in front of them. On the stool she sat a tall wizard's hat. The hat looked like it hadn't had a good wash in quite some time. There were several rips and tears in the cloth. A large cut ran the length of the hat right above the brim. As they watched, the cut flexed, rippled, and then opened like a mouth and the hat began to sing.
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me. You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So, try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a thinking cap."
The hall burst into applause. Daphne looked at Harry.
"So we have to try on the hat," she said.
"Looks that way," Harry said.
"I'll kill Fred," the redhead said. "He was going on about wrestling a troll."
Harry snorted. He stared at the hat thoughtfully.
"What?" Daphne said.
"My Mum was known for Charm work. I wonder if I inherited any of that?"
"Why?" Daphne asked. "Do you want something in common with your Mum." She smiled. "That's sweet."
"Well," Harry began. "That would be nice, but I just want to make a hat smarter than that one."
Daphne blinked. "Why?"
"To see if it would eat itself," Harry said grinning.
"Daphne swatted his arm. "That's terrible," she said.
"Yeah, I know," Harry said. "It probably lied anyway. I doubt it'd eat itself or even could."
"I'm pretty sure it was an expression," Daphne said rolling her eyes.
"Yeah, but so is 'when pigs fly.'" Normally that'd be impossible, but with magic…"
"I don't even know where to start with that," Daphne said. "Are you always like this?"
"Only when I'm nervous."
"At least I'll know when you are."
"Bright side to everything."
They were interrupted from their banter when McGonagall called for Hanna Abbot."
"Hufflepuff," the hat shouted. The table on the right cheered.
"Susan Bones," McGonagall said.
"Hufflepuff," the hat said.
Terry Boot."
"Ravenclaw." The table on the left cheered.
"Lavender Brown," McGonagall called.
"Gryffindor," the hat shouted.
The table of the far left cheered and clapped.
"Millicent Bulstrode."
"Slytherin." The table on the far right cheered as the large girl joined them.
A few more names were called before, "Tracy Davis."
"Slytherin."
Harry began tuning out the names. He looked up when the bushy haired girl, Hermione Granger walked towards the stool.
"Gryffindor," the hat called.
Harry clapped as Hermione joined the Gryffindor table.
"Daphne Greengrass," McGonagall called.
Daphne shot Harry a nervous look and made her way to the stool.
A few moments later the hat called, "Slytherin."
The Slytherin table cheered. Harry clapped and watched Daphne sit down.
He began wondering what house he would be in. He really didn't care. So long as it was a house where he could make some friends, that would be all that mattered to him.
Harry Potter," McGonagall called, drawing him from his thoughts.
Harry walked up to the stool and sat down. As the hat covered his eyes, he heard a voice in his ear.
"Ah, so you are Harry Potter. It's been a long time since I saw one of your kind."
"One of my kind?" Harry asked inside his mind. "What do you mean?"
"One of the folk," the hat said. "Your godmother had some of their blood in her. It's been decades since I've seen a Changeling."
"Decades?" Harry asked. "I'd have thought it'd have been a lot longer than that."
"Hardly," the hat said. "The curse made it hard, not impossible. The fae were really keen to protect their descendance."
"Right," Harry said. "So where are you going to put me?"
"Hmm," the hat said. "Difficult, very difficult. There's talent a lot of talent. However, you are confident in yourself. You merely want to be the best you can be and you have a strong sense of justice.
"Let's see, not Hufflepuff. While you do value fair play, it doesn't rule your life."
Gryffindor is a possibility. Brave, courageous, seekers of justice.
I don't see Slytherin being good for you. Once they find out what you are, they'd probably kill you." The hat paused. They might try and do that anyway."
Harry waited to see what the hat would say. He didn't really care where he ended up. He just hoped he'd be able to make some friends.
"I think I've got it," the hat said. "Yes, based on your personality and determination, that is perfect. "You would do best in Gryffindor," the last word was shouted for the entire hall to hear.
The Gryffindor table exploded with cheers and cat calls. Harry removed the hat and handed it back to Professor McGonagall. He walked over to the Slytherin table and sat down beside Daphne.
Neville grinned at him. "I didn't expect that," he said. "I thought for sure that you would be a Ravenclaw."
Harry shrugged. "Hat said I'd do better in a house where people weren't trying to kill me."
They both turned and watched the rest of the sorting. Once Blaze Zambini was sorted into Slytherin, Dumbledore stood up.
"I have some things to say before we dig into our delicious feast. "Oddment, Nitwit, blubber, tweak, thank you."
As food appeared on the golden platters before them, Harry looked over at Neville. "Did he just call us Nitwits?"
Neville paused in the act of cutting up his chicken. "Possibly, but he's one of the most famous and most powerful wizards alive. What are we going to do if he did?"
Harry piled some food on his plate and began to eat. Once their plates were clean, several desserts appeared.
There were blocks of various flavors of ice cream, chocolate cake, jelly donuts, treacle tart, and too much other stuff to count. Harry ate some of everything and once the meal was over, Dumbledore stood up.
"To our first years, welcome. To our returning students, welcome back. I have just a few announcements before we all head to bed.
"The forbidden forest is of course, forbidden. Don't go in there unless you want to meet giant spiders, werewolves, and a group of very annoyed centaurs.
Quidditch tryouts are in the second week in October. Those wishing to tryout need to sign up on the lists posted in the common room. Right, that's it I believe, off you go to bed, chop chop."
A tall brunette stood up. "Come with me first years," she said loudly. "I'll show you where the common room is."
Harry and Neville followed her out of the hall and up a spiral staircase. Harry felt full and sleepy. He couldn't wait to get to his bed. As they walked, a tall ghost wearing a ruff floated through the wall. Seeing the new first years he bowed. "Welcome new Gryffindors," he said cheerfully.
The prefect smiled at him. "Hello Nick," she said. "Have a good summer?"
Nick Grinned. "It's been positively dead around here without the students."
The girl groaned. "Honestly Nick, those jokes are older than you are."
"But they're still classics," Nick said.
They turned down a corridor, walked down another set of steps, and stopped in front of a portrait of a fat lady in Red and gold robes.
"Password," she said.
"Nobility," the girl said clearly.
The portrait swung open, revealing a low opening. They all filed inside.
The common room was filled with high backed chairs and long sofas covered in red leather with gold buttons. Two staircases led from the common room.
"Staircase on the right leads to the boys dorms. The one on the left leads to the girls. Don't get them mixed up."
Harry and Neville climbed the staircase. Walking down a hallway, they stopped at a door with a brass number 1 on it. As Harry entered the room, he gazed around at the four-poster beds. The frames were made of dark wood. A Griffin was carved into each bedframe.
Harry climbed into bed and sank down into the soft mattress. As he started to drift off, he felt a slight pressure beside him. Opening his eyes, he saw the swan perched on his pillow.
The swan nuzzled him with her head before tucking it under her wing. Smiling to himself, Harry closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.
A/N I'm finally caught up to three chapters ahead, so I'll be posting regularly accept for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please read and review.