Chapter 5- The Sorting

"New years, new years, over here", the deep voice boomed over the crowd. The huge shape of Rubeus Hagrid formed threw the darkness, leading the newcomers under the stinging rain. "Ove' here, Al", he called, noticing Albus. He was so tall he had to crouch down to reach Albus shoulder, almost knocking him over with his huge hand. He wore a massive brown fur coat, and with his gray, barbed wire like frizzy hair, big stick in the palm of his hand and over all wild look it was clear why the rest of the anxious new students preferred to keep some distance from him.

"Oh, and here Rosy", he bellowed, and this time actually knocked her over by mistake. He apologized to Rose as she got up, blaming the slippery ground, but she didn't seem to mind. In the occasional flash of lightning, Albus could see her excited face, her mouth moving quickly, but in the now loud storm only Hagrid with his deep voice could have been heard. "Well than", he straightened himself with a heavy groan, after making sure all the first years were with him, "follow me, kids", he called and started leading the youngsters threw a narrow path, Rose at his side. Every step of him was so wide, that everyone else were forced to more or less run after him.

"In a moment you'll see Hogwarts", he shouted over the loud winds. And sure enough there was turn and from the darkness a huge castle with numerous towers and battlements appeared. Even under the heavy rain noise Albus could hear the admiration sounds from the rest. The reaction was understandable, the colossal fortress was located on a tall mountain in the middle of a turbulent lake and conveyed untold power, invincible on the stormy backdrop. Albus couldn't even imagine what kind of force will be necessary to threaten it.

"No more than fou' in one boat", called Hagrid, pointing his stick towards a small fleet of boats on the lake shores. "Can we just go in the carriages?", shouted Tom from behind. "No, no, it's a tradition", answered Hagrid, distracted, "what if we fall?", yelled a blonde girl with a ponytail. "Either the giant squid or the mermen will catch you, everything completely safe", said Hagrid, losing his patience, making the kids hurdle in even more worry. "If yer afraid, feel free to stay behind", he finished and got on a boat, filling it all by himself.

Albus followed soon, and sat down in the rocky vehicle, and for his dismay Tom and two of his friends followed him. The bloated kid was terrified of the ordeal, muttering under his breath, "Endangering students, when my dad will hear about it….", repeatedly, as he held the side of the boat with such force his knuckles became white. And since he was so big, he occupied half of the space alone, forcing the three others to group together uncomfortably on the other side. But Albus didn't mind, weirdly enough, his anxiety calmed him down.

"Everybody on board?", Hagrid scanned the shores, "good, now go!". The boats started to move on their own, shaking a bit on the turbulent lake. Tom clenched his teeth, looking green even in the deem light. Albus was quite sure he recognized the others next to him as higher up ministry officers' sons as well. One was small and mousy looking with straw like hair and borderless glasses and the other one was thin and mean looking, leaning on the side, his black hair waving in the air, emitting an undeniable coolness.

The castle loomed bigger and bigger, radiating its power on the newcomers. Soon they reached a cliff and entered a hidden opening behind an ivy curtain, leaving the blizzard behind. As soon as they got to the underground harbor, Tom pushed the other three aside as he hurried to safe ground, tackling the mousy looking boy into the water in his hurry. "Careful there, big fella", Hagrid appeared next to them and drew the kid from the water like a wet doll, "I think I know spell to make you dry", he said and pointed what turn out to be his massive wand toward the shaking child.

The kid backed off so quickly that he almost fell into the water again. "Ye probably right", Hagrid misread the situation, pocketing his wand, "I need more practice with that". After that they began climbing up a narrow stairway, their clothes soggy from the rain and their hair messy from the wind. Finally, out of breath, they rested in front of a massive oak door, where a tiny white-haired man, reminding Albus of a huge cue tip, has already waited. "Thank you, Hagrid", he chirped, looking a bit ridiculous next to the giant, "follow me", he called and let everybody inside.

They entered the main hall, so wide it was it could have contained a large house and so tall that the ceiling wasn't visible in the partial darkness. On the other side of the space were located marvelous marble stairs that let upwards and on the right was a large wooden door, sounds of buzzing chatter coming from behind it. But what caught Albus' eyes were the countless portraits and statues depicted across the stone walls, shimmering somewhat in the torches' fire. He briefly checked some as they were led by the little man to a side room inside of a small corridor, managing to catch a glimpse of his late uncle Fred portrait, who winked at the newcomers, and of a big golden statue of a handsome man Albus was not familiar with.

"Listen here", the man squeaked as all the kids finally packed the room. "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen", despite being shorter than most of the kids he still managed to capture their attention with ease, "my name is Filius Flitwick, and I'm the deputy headmaster of Hogwarts. During your stay in this establishment, you'll belong to one of four Houses- Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin. You will spend most of the time with your house mates- learning, feasting, and resting with them. And you will earn and lose points to your house according to your accomplishments and failures. The sorting ceremony into your perspective houses will began in a short time".

He examined the storm ridden kids and clicked his tongue in disapproval, "Remember", he continued, "each house has its own exceptional history, and with you contributing to your house it may win the house cup, which is a great honor. So, prepare yourselves accordingly". He patiently waited while the students tried to make themselves somewhat presentable. "May I help?", he asked the mousey kid, who tried hopelessly to squeeze his damp sleeves. The kid nodded nervously and Professor Flitwick, with a complicated flick of his wand, dried his clothes, making them look like they just got ironed.

"In a second thought", he said and waved his wand in big circular motion and the whole room got hot for a second as Albus felt his clothes drying out a bit. It wasn't good as the mousey kid but better than the previous humidity. After that Flitwick led them back into the main lobby and arranged them in a line before the dining hall. Albus' heart throbbed hard in his chest, the excitement around was tangible now. "Best of luck ", the Professor exclaimed and finely opened the heavy door.

The buzzing suddenly turned into a loud chatter, and Albus, who felt like he forgot how to walk, barely registered his new environment. There were transparent floating ghosts, hovering candles on the background of the stormy skies and four-long tables, stacked with students, all surrounded by colorful flags and banners. Deciding it will be best to not embarrass himself by falling on his face, he transfixed on his legs and was led to the head of the space with the rest, where a fifth long table was located, seated by the faculty. There, they were organized so their backs were to the teachers and their faces to the students, and Albus, who was uncomfortable with all the shadowy faces staring at him, just stared into a random spot in the distance.

Professor Flitwick placed a small stool in front of the new students, and then brought over an old and raggedy looking hat with burn marks all over it. It was so tattered that Albus could hardly believe when it opened a tear at its side like a mouth and began singing:


Hear me, old and new,

As I have a clue for you.

The past seems far and deem,

Yet forever it appear!

A divide fairly wide

Only one thing it can hide.

That in the end it's the same hat,

only on a different head!

And if you dare to take the name,

only one thing I will care.

Judge the other for his game,

not for his display.

And now when all conclude,

I should make my rule.

Because if not me,

Who else will be so cruel?


Careful clapping started as the hat nodded to each of the tables, but mostly dumfounded looks were exchanged. Professor Flitwick stepped forward, long scroll that reached his feat in his hands. "When I call your name step forward and sit on the stool", he said, "after that, the hat will sort you and you will proceed to your designated tables". It was clear which house belong to whom by the flag color and animals' shapes that surrounded them. Finally, he conjured a stand for himself to stand on and began:

"Alton, Avery", Albus recognized the blonde kid that stepped forward on uneasy footing from the wand shop, the whole ordeal seamed so far away now. He sat down improperly and almost fell over, what threw some laughs. The hat took it time and finally shouted "Hufflepuff", the kid got up so fast that he tumbled on his robes, his wand falling from his pocket, rolling away with flashes of blue light.

After he clumsily picked it up, he walked to the wrong side of the hall. The laughter was deafening now as Avery finely got to his needed place, his face tomato red. "Of course it's Hufflepuff", Albus saw his brother and his cousin Freddy rolling out with laughter in the front of the Gryffindor table. He hoped he wouldn't make a fool of himself as the ceremony continued, his brother will never forget him that.

Next, came "Alves, Joshua", a thin dark skin kid who went to Ravenclaw, and were met with loud clapping and cheers. "Baker, Ariana", a small and a bit round redhead was the first to be sorted into Gryffindor, the shouts of appreciations when she went to the table, all joyful, were only tamed after Professor Flitwick send orange sparks in the air. The three houses seemed to be neck in neck in number of students who got into them.

However, there was a significant difference between them and the Slytherin table. It was noticeably thinner in numbers and the response for their sorting was distinctive. When "Burke, Rollo", a trollish looking kid with small head and long arms and legs, was the first to be sorted into their house, the boos from the other students almost drowned the cheers. The ceremony continued in a similar fashion, with regular jeers at Slytherin and ovations for the rest.

Albus watched with interest as "Malfoy, Scorpius" was called forward and the students noise simmered down a bit as he hesitantly sat on the small stool. It took a long time- the hat covered his eyes and perceived to been in a deep conversation with him. "New low, looks like even Slytherin don't want him", James shouted, some in the Gryffindor table chuckled, and then groaned when Flitwick abducted 20 points from them.

But Scorpius didn't seem to hear that, and after what have felt like an eternity he slouched down, the hat on his head yelling "Slytherin" loudly. There weren't any boos or cheers as he advanced to his new table, but the looks he got from their house didn't appear to be too sympathetic. Albus couldn't help but feel bad for him and wondered when he will have a chance to speak with him again, if at all.

After that the ceremony continued without any stoppage. "Dehoff, Harry", the nervous mousy kid (Albus had a strong feeling he was named after his own father), "Horton, Hunter", the black-haired cool kid and of course, " Blishwick, Thomas", all went to Gryffindor. Albus wondered how the hat made the decision given Tom's fear on the boat. It was hard to keep track of all the names at the same time, and only when "Page, Matilda", the girl with the pony approached next, he started to pay attention again. With soaring excitement Albus waited in anticipation and after "Palmer, Harry", "Payne, Joseph" and "Peakes, Ralph" finely came "Potter, Albus".

"Good luck", whispered Rose as he started wobbling forward, one step at a time, and sat down. The moment finely came, and he found himself calmer than he thought he would be. Now everything was clear, he would probably never admit this aloud to his family, especially his brother, but their presence did help him a lot- he made his call. Professor Flitwick took the hat and placed it on Albus head, it barely scraped his scalp before it immediately bellowed:

"Slytherin"