Chapter 2: The Sorting Hat

The new term at Hogwarts was about to be underway. The second-through-seventh year students had already found their seats at their respective tables, and the Hogwarts faculty was getting ready to commence the sorting ceremony for the first-year students.

Harry, Hermione and Ron were now about to start their third year at Hogwarts. They noticed a strange man sitting next to Dumbledore at the staff table up front. They couldn't help but notice the resemblance between the two men. "I didn't know old Dumbledore had a twin brother," Ron whispered to Harry and Hermione, with a slight chuckle. "They look a bit alike, but I don't think they're related. He does look rather important, I wonder who he is," murmured Hermione. Harry couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. There was something… different about this man, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, and announced thusly to everyone in the Great Hall. "Students and staff, before we begin our start-of-term feast, we have some new faces that should very much like to know where they're going to be for the rest of their time at Hogwarts. When I call your name, please step forward and I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head, who will then decide which of our four great houses you will be associated with, henceforth."

The Sorting Hat sang a song about each of the four houses and their various characteristics, and when it concluded, the Professor started reading all the first year students' names from the list in her hand. When she had read off all of the first years' names, and they had been sorted accordingly, she motioned with her hand to silence the four tables.

"We're not quite finished sorting yet, everyone. We have someone very special with us this evening, an accomplished wizard in his own right, from a land very far away called Sanctuary. He has an uncanny level of knowledge and wisdom in the fields of lore and mythology, hence his new title, Master of Lore and Mythology. It gives me tremendous honor to introduce the newest member of our staff – Professor Deckard Cain. Will you please join me in giving him a proper Hogwarts welcome?" The great hall erupted in applause, gradually becoming a standing ovation.

"Professor Cain is brand new to Hogwarts, so as a member of our staff he will also need a place to call 'home'. Professor Cain, please step forward to me so I can place the Sorting Hat on your head." Cain got up from his seat, and approached Professor McGonagall. "Please take a seat, Professor, and the Sorting Hat will take care of the rest." Cain sat down, and Professor McGonagall gently place the old, dusty brown hat on his head.

"Hmm… curious", the hat seemed to say. "In all my years of sorting, you are by far the oldest I've had to sort. I also sense something different about you. There is some magic in you, but it seems so strange, so foreign. You have loyalty, this is obvious. You have some courage as well. I also sense an unusually deep font of wisdom and knowledge. You prefer words over wands. Yes, a most… unusual wizard. But being unusual doesn't prohibit a wizard from being great. Where to put you… there is but one choice… RAVENCLAW!"

The Ravenclaw table erupted with thunderous cheers and applause. Professor Flitwick shook Cain's hand vigorously. "Welcome to the house of Ravenclaw! A genuine pleasure to have you on board!"

Professor Dumbledore stood from his seat, and motioned the great hall to hush. "The sorting ceremony is complete – now it's time for the Great Feast to commence!" With a snap of his fingers, a luxurious banquet instantly appeared on each of the tables.

When the feast ended, Professor Snape approached Harry, Hermione and Ron as they were about to get up from their table. "Weasley. Potter. Granger. I have need of your… services. Please wait for me after class tomorrow. I will make it worth your while." He did an immediate about-face and walked out of the banquet hall.

After Potions class ended, Harry, Hermione and Ron stayed behind as they were told. Snape folded his arms on his chest and spoke in a hushed voice. "This… Cain, I don't trust him. He's a charlatan. A senile doomsayer. Dumbledore and McGonagall may have bought into him hook, line and sinker but I won't be so easily swayed." Harry gave Snape a look. "Professor, you might be on to something. I got an uneasy feeling when I saw him last night. I'm not sure what to think of him… he seems like a likable bloke, but I'm with you. Something just seems a little... off." Snape arched an eyebrow, and seemed to actually give Harry a look of approval. "Ten points to Gryffindor, young Potter," he whispered. He paused for a moment. "Ten's overdoing it, so five points. For now. Ten more, guaranteed, if the three of you can spy on him for me this week. I'm enrolling the three of you in a first year class in Lore and Mythology," Snape tried to stifle a laugh – the very thought of the class was utterly ridiculous.

"Why us, Professor?" asked Hermione. "Miss Granger, to be honest I would have preferred to ask young Malfoy and his cronies, but that might be too obvious, so in this case, breaking house lines would be the wisest course of action. I don't throw out compliments readily, but I will say that I have placed a certain amount of trust in you three to accomplish this task. You will attend the class starting after lunch in the Divination Tower. I need you to take the class seriously – even you can handle that much, Weasley. I want you to report to me after class in one week with any unusual findings. And one final word – this is strictly confidential. Nobody knows about this arrangement and I'd like to keep it that way. I trust you understand." "Yes, sir," the trio responded. "Professor – is that ten points each?" Ron asked. Snape rolled his eyes a bit. "Ten points, total, Mister Weasley. Don't make me regret this."

During lunch, Harry, Hermione and Ron were munching on sandwiches at their table. "It's really weird that Snape asked us to spy on that new Cain professor," Ron said. "I still think that's a job for Malfoy and his goons." "Shush Ron! People can hear you!" Hermione whispered, making a "shushing" motion with her index finger. "Getting fifteen house points from Snape is virtually unheard of. And he literally said that he trusted us, so there really must be a person inside that cold, calloused husk." "To be honest, I thought about spying on him anyway with my Invisibility Cloak," Harry said in a quiet voice. "The first time I saw him, I got this uneasy feeling. Like, my scar was throbbing a little bit. That's… not normal."

"You said you felt uneasy earlier, Harry. You didn't mention anything about your scar," exclaimed Hermione. "You don't think this guy is connected to The Dark Lord, do you?" Harry shrugged. "I'm not sure. I don't know anything about him really, but based on the way he looks he doesn't seem to be Death Eater material or anything." "Or anything?" Hermione threw Harry a quizzical look. "He seems like a perfectly nice guy to me," said Ron. "Let's just sit in on his classes, pretend to pay attention, and say that he said something in Parseltongue or something." "No, Ronald," Hermione said in a slightly annoyed voice. "It's not everyday Snape asks us to do something for him. He's a tough nut to crack, but he really seems to be concerned, and again, I emphasize – he TRUSTS us. If we follow through to a T, he'll might be a little nicer to us going forward." "I wouldn't count on it, Hermione," said Ron.

The three of them finished their lunch and made their way to the Divination tower for their Lore and Mythology class. They sat in the back of the classroom to try and remain inconspicuous, while the first year students began filing in. A couple of minutes later, Deckard Cain entered the classroom, with his gnarled staff punctuating every step he took. He turned around, and greeted the students. "Hello my friends, stay awhile, and listen…"