She sat at the stool, her last sight that of the hall of students watching her curiously before her vision went black, the hat sinking below her eyes when McGonagall placed it upon her head, a musty smell tickling her nose.
She waited a moment, alone with her thoughts, before a voice spoke up.
So it's finally happened then came the hats voice, resounding through her mind. It's voice made her think of age and dust, of the scratching of pencils on paper; It sounded resigned as she felt it rifling through her memories. I knew it wouldn't be long before another rose up, the conditions are all there.
Oh? So it had been expecting someone like her?
Aye, though perhaps not so... Worldly it said, sounding amused. I've seen the effects of oppression in my long years and it always results in the rise of someone like you, out to change the world by any means. I don't know whether I want to throttle you now, or wish you good luck.
Ah, so she took it that the hat didn't approve of her… tactics? A small, mocking smile appeared. It was such a shame, the hat's opinion just meant so much to her, how would she ever bare it?
No, but I don't know whether the pain you will cause will be less than that created by your lack of action.
Morgan shrugged. The thought was of no concern to her. She could hardly make things worse, could she? And who else was there, really? The broken old fool, sitting uselessly behind her even as Voldemort gained more ground?
The hat sighed heavily. He's not the man he once was, anymore.
Oh, joy. So she was right then, she really was alone.
The hat said nothing, searching through her mind in a sort of mournful silence for a moment. You are not the person you once were either. Tragedy changes people, some become stronger…
And others break beneath the weight. Was it strange that she didn't know which side of the coin she was on? Her original self was a person full of optimism and hope, enthusiastic for the future and as forgiving as a person could be.
Yes, I must admit, it really is quite startling to see a person change so much. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen it before.
They sat in silence for a couple minutes more, both occupied with their thoughts. Morgan wasn't ashamed of who she was, the hat could look all it wanted, so long as it knew to keep its mouth shut.
Oh, don't think I'll be saying much. I rather value my existence, small though it may be.
Seemed the hat had gained some wisdom in its many years. She'd contemplated just burning the thing should it prove... Disagreeable.
And besides… I think you might be right, you can't make things worse and someone needs to try and stop him. Albus will try - is still trying - but you're right. His heart won't be in it as he currently is. Such a sad state of affairs, that a person like you is what might be needed. A monster to stop another monster.
As he currently is? That gave her a thought. Perhaps she might be able to hammer some spine into the man.
Ah, I wish you luck in that endeavor. Now then, where to put you…
Honestly, she didn't really have any strong thoughts about which house she wanted to be in, so she would allow the hat to do its job.
How kind of you it said, sounding amused. You could probably fit in any house, honestly. That's always the problem with adults, they are so much more nuanced than children. I would be hard-pressed to think of an adult that lacks the qualities of even one house, though they may have said qualities in different amounts. Hmm…
For a moment, the hat was silent. Then, it spoke up, a cautious tone to its voice. Well, I'm ruling Gryffindor out.
She waited for an explanation. She wasn't particularly concerned about not being in Gryffindor, but she was interested in the reason.
A Gryffindor… And how careful it sounded, as though about to step on a landmine. A Gryffindor would have already visited their own families gravestone, not run from it like you have.
And suddenly, its caution was made clear. For a moment, she wanted to burn the hat, wanted to stamp it to ashes then scatter them to the wind. How dare it go there! How dare it even look at those memories! This fucking run-down relic! She wasn-
You learned apparition just so you could visit, then kept putting it off, always coming up with more and more excuses.
She wanted to argue, wanted to shout that she was just busy, that there was no point in visiting the grave of a dead person anyway! But then, her anger faded, and she was left only with the knowledge that it was right.
God, it had been far too long. She missed her sister.
The hat started to talk again, now that her anger was gone. She cast her moping for later, pulling herself back together.
Not Slytherin either. Oh? That was far more interesting. You have the ambition but… The cunning and resourcefulness, you have them, but you don't value them, they're merely useful tools. No, what you value is different. Huh, well the hat wasn't wrong. She felt like she could see where the hat was going. But how curious, that she was being sorted on what she valued, not what she was.
It's a bit of both, really. As I said, you could fit anywhere, so I'm going off of what you will most value. Or maybe the House that has the most worth to you.
Ah, well, Gryffindor would have been out anyway then. Bravery, chivalry, she cared little for such things.
Indeed. You value loyalty, though you yourself refuse to give it to anyone. But you also value knowledge, you value the mind and wits, knowing that only the sharpest mind will be capable of achieving what you desire.
So Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, huh? If she had to decide…
Memories fluttered to the forefront of her thoughts, of the countless painstaking hours she'd spent mastering her power. No amount of boredom or frustration had deterred her, and she'd been rewarded with the small wandless power she now had at her fingertips.
Hufflepuff, then? The hat sounded tired and resigned. If the world were in a better state, I don't think I'd consider it. The students of Hufflepuff are usually more… trusting than others. It will be easier for you to… acquire them.
But?
But the world is no longer what it was. If your memories are correct and he does return, then perhaps they will be safer under your wing.
So Hufflepuff then? Well, she had no problem with that. But wasn't that the House of honesty?
Aye, but it's also the House of patience, loyalty and hard-work. I think it suits you just as well as some other.
Then it was decided. But before she went-
Yes it cut her off, reading her thoughts. I'll try my best to warn Potter. I'm not sure how much good it will do, but you're right. As he is now - if he's the same as the one in your memories - he simply won't survive.
Well then, I've decided. Best of luck in "HUFFLEPUFF" it shouted to the hall. The hat was lifted off her head, revealing the politely clapping Hufflepuff table and the shocked face of Professor McGonagall.
Surprised that she wasn't a Slytherin, perhaps. Oh, Professor, that bias is no good.
Hufflepuffs can be just as evil as Slytherins.
Su watched anxiously as Morgan was sorted into Hufflepuff, walking over to sit next to the two girls they had shared a boat with, smiling at the brunette who smiled in return.
She bit her lip, watching uneasily. Jealousy sprouted within her, a burning fire that consumed her thoughts. Why was she smiling at Morgan? What did she want with her? If she tried stealing Morgan from her, then she'd...
She glared at the brunette - Hannah, if she remembered correctly - visions of beating her smiling face into the ground filling her thoughts. Maria was bad enough that, sometimes, when Maria was spiriting Morgan away for the night, she almost wished she'd never had Morgan save her.
"Su Li" came the call from the Professor. She quickly ran up and sat on the stool. The longer she was separated from Morgan, the more chance of someone trying to steal her.
Well now, what's this? She startled at the voice in her mind as the hat covered her vision. Ah, girl, you have no idea how sorry I am it said, a sad note to its tone. You've been so twisted...
Su collected herself. She didn't care what it was talking about, she just wanted to get to Hufflepuff.
Hufflepuff? You certainly have the loyalty, but I wonder... Is that what you really want?
Yes, that was what she really wanted. Morgan needed her, she wasn't very good at controlling herself. If one of those bitches showed any interest, Morgan wouldn't be able to stop herself. She needed Su to stop her making any mistakes.
Heh, I guess she does struggle with impulse control, huh? But I don't think Hufflepuff is right for you.
The implied denial filled her with anger. Morgan was in Hufflepuff, therefore she should be in Hufflepuff.
The hat sighed. This level of attachment isn't healthy, but I guess it's natural after the life you've lived. Hufflepuff is the house for hard workers; do you really think you belong there?
Su hesitated. She'd always worked hard when Morgan said to, but she never liked it. She liked learning, but it could get so boring. She didn't know how Morgan did it.
Yes, I think, instead... You've got her wrapped around your finger, don't you? You certainly show no shame when it comes to manipulating Morgan...
Su blushed, embarrassed. She had no choice, Morgan kept spending too much time with Maria. She hated it when she saw Morgan was spending the night out. And someone needed to stop her getting so angry. Su could remember at least twice when Morgan had just flipped out for seemingly no reason.
Oh yes, definitely not Hufflepuff.
Her heart felt like it was going to jump up into her throat. She had to get into Hufflepuff!
Tell me, what would Morgan want? said the hat tiredly. Would she want you to blindly follow her into Hufflepuff, or perhaps go where you could become more... useful?
That gave her pause. Morgan... Morgan valued usefulness most of all. She still remembered that moment when she was younger, when she'd approached Morgan and had been accepted. For some reason, something had caused her to see Su as better than the other children, had raised her in Morgan's eyes. It was a nice feeling.
See? Rather than a follower, don't you think she'd value you more if you became... more than you currently are?
Su clenched her hand, nails biting into the skin of her palm. The hat was playing her, she could feel it, trying to keep her from Morgan! But...
But it was right.
Yes, it will be difficult for you, but perhaps better, in the end. Well then, good luck in "SLYTHERIN!" it yelled.
She sat there, upon the stool, body rigid with shock. She wasn't in the same house as Morgan. She'd be separated from her, different classes, different bedrooms...
The hat was removed from her head, and she hurriedly looked over to Morgan. She was in a different House, and various what-ifs twisted their way into her thoughts. Though Slytherin might be better for her, she couldn't stop the worries from plaguing her.
Morgan was surprised, looking at her with wide eyes, but then she smiled, a full happy smile, waving to Su.
She breathed a sigh of relief, running to the politely clapping Slytherin table.
So Su was a Slytherin huh? She'd expected her to follow her into Hufflepuff, but Slytherin was fine as well. Still, why Slytherin? She'd have expected Ravenclaw if not Hufflepuff. Oh well.
She watched in fascination as the sorting proceeded. Everyone was going where they should, with Harry throwing her a startled look after the hat was pulled from his head. Seemed the hat had given a warning too, hopefully it wouldn't be so hard to turn him into something useful.
Dumbledore started the feast as per canon. Honestly, she would have found herself hard pressed to see any differences had he not been old, but they were there. A certain tiredness to his face, a subtle lack of enthusiasm that would probably be missed were you not looking for it.
The price of his failure was heavy and Morgan was not feeling the slightest sympathy.
At his clap, the plates of the table became filled with food, from roasted chickens to bowls of pasta, there was something for everyone on the table.
She gave an idle thought to if the Elves would cook her personal meals if she asked, before digging in.
"So, hey! Was that Slytherin girl your friend?" chirped Hannah to her right.
Oh Lord save her. The girl was a picture-perfect reason for why you should never allow children to drink coffee.
And she was stuck with her. For years.
She turned, putting on a patient smile. "Of course, we've been friends for years now. Is her being Slytherin a problem?"
She looked at her, wide-eyed, mouth clamped on a chicken leg. She was… a cute girl, for an eleven year old. Brown eyes, a button nose, and dark brown hair that looked as though it had been straightened, with a perfectly straight fringe.
She could only wish strength to any boy that tried to deal with her in the future.
"No, it's fine! Slytherin, Gryffindor, who cares, right? But" she looked around shiftily, "Susan's aunt says a lot of Slytherins become… Criminals!" she said, as though imparting a scandalous secret.
To Hannah's right, the ginger girl Morgan assumed was Susan face palmed.
"I'm sorry for her" said Susan. "She's… excited."
She sounds like she's high on a sugar rush. "It's… fine. I'm Morgan" she offered.
"Susan" she responded. "It's nice to meet you." Susan had a face spotted with cute freckles across her nose, ginger hair done up in a tight ponytail. And she seemed to carry herself proudly, sitting straight-backed upon her chair.
"And I'm Hannah! Susan's best friend!"
Was she always like this? She couldn't be, right? Why does Susan look so resigned? Oh Lord, seven years with this.
The other girls they would be sharing a dorm with a Megan Jones, apparently related to Gwenog jones, for which she sounded rather embarrassed about, as well as Leanne, a dirty blonde haired girl who seemed rather shy.
They were finally sent off to their dormitories by Dumbledore, with a warning not to visit the third-floor corridor. How long could this continue? How long could 'canon' keep itself intact before the waves broke it?
At maximum, she gave it until fourth year before everything changed, at worst it could just be this year. Who knows what Malfoy would do with the diary, after all. And what were the chances of the Weasleys winning the lottery that ended with Peter's picture on the newspaper delivered to Sirius, by a man who's not even minister anymore?
They were led by the two fifth year prefects to the hufflepuff dorm, situated on the ground floor apparently nearby the kitchens. The entrance was in a room filled with large barrels; with a rhythmic tap, one of them opened, allowing them to walk into the Hufflepuff common room.
Warm, that was her first impression. Lots of brown colouring and thick rugs. It was a circular room, with fireplaces and furniture set around the wall. Enchanted windows, showing a grassy field beneath a night sky, were dotted around the room and would no doubt allow warm light inside during the day.
The girls dorms were on the left, boys on the right. Their shared dorms seemed adequate, if a little annoying to be sharing a room with so many pre-pubescent girls. She could only shudder for what things would be like once puberty hits. Sweet Jesus.
Her bed was placed at the far end of the room, facing the door with her trunk at the base. Interesting thing about the trunk, it was expanded on the inside, as all school trunks were. How else would a student fit a year's worth of clothing and supplies inside? Just the cauldron for potions took up a huge amount of room.
Throwing on her pajamas, she threw herself into the big, comfy bed for a good night's sleep.
