DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter
The train arrived at the destination and everyone got off, the second years and above headed to an area where they would be taken to the castle via carriages, while John saw a large man, face almost completely hidden behind his thick black beard, carrying a lantern, who was approaching the first years.
"Hello first years, follow me, this way to the boats."
The large man took the kids to the boats, it was 4 to a boat. John got into one of the boats with Isaac, Octavia and a blonde haired boy.
"Everyone in? Alright, FORWARD!"
The boats sailed forward towards the large castle, John couldn't believe he was finally looking at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, after hearing the stories from his uncle, he was ready to leave behind his own legacy at the school. Once the boats docked, the large man, who John realised from Ken's stories, must be Hagrid, the school gamekeeper and teacher of Care of Magical Creatures, took them to the inside, where they were taken up a flight of stairs, at the top was a man who looked like the personification of the word 'authority', a large frame in a black three piece suit, a neutral look on his face and his hands behind his back. John assumed this must have been Marin Ironbark, the Deputy Headmaster that sent him his acceptance letter.
"First years, welcome to Hogwarts, in a few moments, you will all be taken through to the great hall and meet your classmates, but before you may sit with them, you will be sorted into your houses, the four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, your triumphs and accomplishments will earn you house points, but rule breaking will lose you house points, at the end of the school year, the house with the most points will win the Hogwarts House Cup, the sorting ceremony will begin shortly, until then, I ask you to wait here." said Ironbark
The man walked through the doors to the great hall.
"What is the sorting ceremony?" asked Isaac
"My uncle told me, they sit you down on a stool and place the fabled sorting hat on your head, the hat looks into your mind and then declares which of the four houses you will be in." said John
"My parents were both in Ravenclaw, I hope that's where I'm put too." said Octavia
"Any of the four houses would be good."
Professor Ironbark stepped back through the doors.
"Students, please come through."
Ironbark led the students into the great hall, John looked at the students watching the first years approach the front of the hall, where a tattered hat sat on a stool.
"There it is." said John
"The Sorting Hat." said Octavia
A rip formed in the hat, forming a mouth as the hat began to sing.
For centuries and ages back
As far as I remember
I'm brought out on a stool each year
The first night of September
The first years put me on their head
I say where they belong
But first you must indulge me in
Expository song
The song, you see is more than just
A stodgy old tradition
It also helps me better to
Fulfill my steadfast mission.
I primarily sort first years, but
I also feel the need
To help out the entire school
So older ones take heed!
I try, each year to clarify
Enlighten and alert you
To each house's history
And character and virtue
See, views about the Houses Four
Are oftentimes distorted
So here I am, the Sorting Hat
And I will get you sorted!
You may be part of Gryffindor
where courage is valued most.
Perhaps you'll be in Hufflepuff
with loyalty and patience to boast.
Then there's wise old Ravenclaw
with knowledge is the best.
Finally there's Slytherin,
with more ambition than the rest.
I invite you now to put me on
to see what I may find.
I will find where you belong
by looking within your mind!
With the song over, Professor Ironbark took the sorting hat and a scroll.
"Now, when I call your name, come sit on the stool and I shall place the sorting hat on your head and you shall be sorted into your houses."
Ironbark picked up the hat.
"Thea Aves!"
A girl with short, black hair with white streaks stepped up and sat down. John heard some students talking about her sharing a name with Dominik Aves, a professional Quiddich Chaser for the Montrose Magpies, who also had 6 sons, all pro Quiddich players. Ironbark put the hat on Thea's head. There was a brief pause before the hat declared…
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Everyone applauded as Thea made her way to the Gryffindor table.
"Karma Buttah!"
A girl who was clearly of Indian descent sat on the stool as the hat was placed on her head.
"RAVENCLAW!"
More applause as Karma went to the Ravenclaw table.
"Almeda Chameleon!"
A tall girl with bright green hair sat down on the stool and Professor Ironbark placed the sorting hat on her head.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
After Almeda, a couple more students were sorted. An Asian boy called Parker Dixon went to Hufflepuff, redheaded Violet Doves was sorted into Ravenclaw, Shadow Foxglove would join her in the blue house.
"Caleb Goldfinch!"
Caleb had light brown hair and green eyes, he sat on the stool. John could see Caleb crossing his fingers as Professor Ironbark placed the sorting hat on his head.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Caleb practically ran to the Gryffindor table, right into a hug from a student about 2 years older, presumably Caleb's brother.
"Isaac Gulls!"
Isaac and John shared a look before Isaac walked up and sat on the stool. His hands were shaking as the hat was lowered onto his head.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
John gave Isaac a thumbs up as Isaac went to the Gryffindor table.
"Cary Hatch!"
A student with spiked black hair sat on the stool and the sorting hat was placed on his head.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
After Cary took his seat at the Hufflepuff table, John realised he was next.
"John Hawthorne!"
John took a deep breath before approaching the stool, sitting down and the hat was placed on his head. In his eyes he was in a black void with the sorting hat infront of him.
"Hm, interesting, VERY interesting…" said the hat
"What is happening?"
"I sense many traits, you may fit into any house, I sense the courage of Gryffindor, the loyalty of Hufflepuff, the wisdom of Ravenclaw and the ambition of Slytherin, any house I choose will be a seemingly perfect choice."
"Surely this can't be the first time something like this has happened."
"Of course not, I will always remember that boy, I remember his words, 'Not Slytherin', yet he would have done well in Slytherin."
"I know my father was a Slytherin, but I want my house placement to be about more than that."
"That's perfectly fair, I'm actually more torn between 2 houses, but which one? Oh, I know…"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The students applauded as the hat was removed from John's head, John smiled and went to take his seat at the Gryffindor table, he sat next to Isaac as they continued to watch the sorting ceremony.
"Mathias Holly!"
The blonde haired boy John, Isaac and Octavia shared the boat with was next.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The boy went wide eyed with shock, but still went to the Gryffindor table. After Mathias, Anson Humming was sorted into Ravenclaw.
"Octavia Ibis!"
Octavia went up and took her seat.
"RAVENCLAW!"
John was a bit disappointed, he would have preferred to have both his new friends in the same house, but he knew he would have some classes with her, and he still had Isaac in Gryffindor with him. After Octavia, 2 students called Connie Inkwell and Linden Inkwood both were sorted into Hufflepuff, Luetta Jackbuck was sorted into Slytherin, Vance Karter went to Ravenclaw, mysterious girl, Alma Logg was put into Slytherin. After Alma, more students were sorted into their houses, until John heard a familiar name.
"Celestia Nightshade!"
John remembered the girl who had that name, the girl he met at Madam Malkin's.
"SLYTHERIN!"
Celestia had the hat removed from her head and approached the Slytherin table. John believed he saw her look back at him as she took her seat. After Celestia, a blonde boy called Flame Otters joined him, Isaac and the other Gryffindors, the tough looking Sunny Primrose went to Ravenclaw and more students went until the final student, a girl called Indigo Tadpole was sorted into Slytherin. After the sorting ceremony was done, Headmistress McGonagal stood.
"I welcome you all to a new year at Hogwarts, it is great to see so many familiar faces of students and the new faces of new students. I trust you all to enjoy your time here and to follow Hogwarts rules, the entire Hogwarts staff looks forward to teaching you all they know, and we also look forward to seeing the friendships you develop, now, without further ado, let us begin the banquet."
Without another word, the food appeared on the tables and the students tucked in. John reached for a chicken drumstick when a pair of see through feet landed on the table, he looked up to see the ghost that stood on the table.
"Greetings to all you first years, welcome to Gryffindor!"
"GHOST!" screamed Isaac
Isaac hid behind John, earning laughs from the others.
"Calm down, young Gryffindor, I won't hurt you, couldn't even if I wanted to, I'm not Peeves."
"Relax Isaac, this is Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor House Ghost." said the older boy sat next to Caleb Goldfinch.
"It's Sir Nicholas, please. I thought at this point, Vern, you'd remember that."
Isaac stopped hiding and saw the other house ghosts greet their new students, The Fat Friar welcoming the Hufflepuffs, The Grey Lady welcoming Ravenclaw and the Bloody Baron greeting the Slytherins.
"It's great to meet all you new brave young Gryffindors."
"Um, may I ask a question?" asked Isaac
"Don't bother, I know what you're going to ask…" said Sir Nicholas, grabbing his head and showing his partial decapitation
"AGH!"
Nick placed his head back on and floated away as more ghosts filled the great hall, the students are and talked until it was time to head to the dormitories. After the feast, John, Isaac and the other Gryffindors followed the Gryffindor prefects to the dorm room. John could swear he saw a floating man in bright clothes and a blue hat chuckling at them down the hall.
The Gryffindors reached a large portrait with a fat lady with a glass of wine.
"Password?"
"Superbia Leonum." said Ashley, the female Gryffindor prefect
The fat lady smiled and her portrait swung open, the Gryffindors went inside their dorm, where the prefects told them the rules.
When it was late enough, most of the students went to bed, but John stayed up a little later. When he was sure he was alone, he walked up to a mirror and placed the tip of his wand against it.
"Communico"
John traced the mirror with his wand and it started to shine for a few seconds before changing to show Ken in their house.
"I've been waiting to hear from you"
"Haha, hey Uncle Ken"
"Wait, am I seeing the red and gold of Gryffindor?"
John could only smile and nod in response.
"That's amazing, I loved my time in Gryffindor when I went to Hogwarts."
"Yeah, I would have honestly loved any of the houses but I'm really happy that the sorting hat chose Gryffindor."
The uncle and nephew duo talked for a little bit before John went to bed.
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