Chapter 7

The demigods walked into the great hall, all eyes on them. On the way in, the Professor whispered, "The Sorting has been rigged, if you would like to call it that. You'll be split up equally, but still in the House that best suits you." She then stood by a stool with a tattered, old hat on it. They were told to line up and did so.

Piper looked around and noticed the five tables. Every student had black robes with the Hogwarts crest on it, but one table was full of kids with "Hufflepuff" written on the crest too, and the next table had "Ravenclaw" written, the next "Slytherin," and the last "Gryffindor." The students at the Slytherin table all looked mean and dark though, and Nico had a fake scowl on his face to fit in.

"When I say your name, come up to the stool and put the hat on, which will sort you. Once you are sorted, go sit at your table, and then dinner will be served," Professor McGonagall explained. "Chase, Annabeth."

Annabeth stepped up to the stool confidently and sat down. The hat drooped down below her eyes, and her last sight was dozens of students craning to get a view of the exchange student. An old male voice, quiet yet loud, spoke into her ear.

Ah, yes. Annabeth Chase. I have been looking forward to meeting you. How is your family in San Francisco?

That's creepy. Forget about that stuff, where and who is this giant? Where in the school is he? Is it… is it disguised as a student?

Good questions indeed, yet not the time for answers. Now, the only question to be answered is: what house shall you reside in? Hufflepuff? Gryffindor? Ravenclaw? Definitely not Slytherin. How about… GRYFFINDOR!

Annabeth knew that last word was announced to the entire room. One of the tables burst into applause, and Annabeth took it to mean that she was to join them. Then Jason was called, then Thalia, then Percy, Hazel, Piper, Leo, and Frank. All of their conversations with the hat were similar to Annabeth's with "questions that shall not be answered," and their house being told to the whole Great Hall. Soon, all the demigods were seated at separate tables, with Annabeth and Percy in Gryffindor, Piper and Jason in Ravenclaw, Hazel and Frank in Hufflepuff, and Thalia and Leo are Slytherin.

Now, Thalia may seem fit in Slytherin, but why, you ask, is sweet, fun, joke-making Leo in Slytherin? Well, his conversation with the Sorting Hat went slightly different than the others, in multiple ways.

Why hello, Leo Valdez. I've been waiting.

This time the voice was different, it was feminine and sounded familiar to Leo, like someone they knew.

You are different than the others. More special than the others. You could be the best. Better than Jason, than Percy, better than all of them. They would amount to nothing against you. You could rule them all. Isn't that right, Leo?

Um, I guess. I've felt like that before, but that was when that evil sorceress Medea had me under her spell.

Is it really? All Medea did was bring out what you truly felt, deep down. What's right, what you deserve to get. What your heart truly desires.

A scene took place in Leo's mind. He was standing on a stormy beach, waves and land clashing as if at war. The wind howled and echoed in his ears. Standing in front of him was a dark figure, sporting a sea green robe that flowed behind the her in the sea breeze. Leo was almost blown over by a gust of wind. The hooded figure spoke once more, in the same familiar voice. It seemed to be talking to him without moving her lips.

I will help you get what you deserve, Leo. Fame, fortune, and best of all, recognition. You will no longer stand in overly large shadow of Jason Grace or Percy Jackson. They will cower in yours. Does that sound pleasurable?

Yeah, it- it does. It sounds great.

Wonderful. Now, it's about time we get back to reality. Stay with me, and you will find everything you need. Are we clear?

Yes, of course.

Marvelous. Now, for the next year, you shall be residing in… SLYTHERIN.

On the last word, lightning cracked through the air, brightening the figure's features. She had dark hair, pale skin, and eyes that matched her robe.

When Leo lifted the hat from his head, the scene having ended, and turned towards the table applauding for him, he saw the girl from his vision, clapping and smiling wickedly. He looked across the room at the Gryffindor table where Percy was sitting, and immediately saw the resemblance. He turned back to stare at Percy's sister, who had stopped clapping by now. Instead, she was peering into his soul, inviting him to sit down. Leo did just that.