Chapter #8- The Sorting Hat's Confusion
Noticing that the large jolt meant that the train had now stopped moving, Eric waited for the other students to depart. Once the last door had shut and no more footsteps could be heard, Eric left the train.
"Hey!" A voice greeted.
Displeased that he was seen, Eric raised his hand in a careless wave. "Hello Argen." He said with an edge of contempt in his already dull voice.
"Did you meet my sister? She's in Slytherin." Malfoy asserted.
"No, what year is she?" Eric asked coldly, his eyes moving to watch a group of disgruntled forth years which were now moving out of sight.
"She's a first year like you, but I know she'll be in Slytherin; all us pureblood Malfoys are you know." Malfoy boasted.
"Right..." Eric pretended, than began to absently stroke Saevus's head. He had read about purebloods during his train ride, and from the way Malfoy was acting; he wondered if there might be some truth to the old rumor of a pureblood's snobbish behavior.
"Where do your parents descend from?" Malfoy asked with a half-grin.
"I don't remember my parents." Eric replied in a hostile tone.
"Oh... they're not Mudbloods are they?" Argen hissed, than grinned at Eric's apparent irritation.
"I don't know who they were and no one else seems to either!" Eric fumed, than realizing his hand was still on the snake, he guessed he had been squeezing too hard as Saevus's fangs had sunk into his unwary hand. He pulled away with a sudden cry of pain. Seeing that Argen was beginning to smile, he quickly stuffed his hand into his pocket.
"Can't even control your own snake?" Argen mused. "Maybe your parents really were Mudbloods, but than why would you have..." Malfoy paused, than grinned at Eric.
"Why would I have what, Malfoy?" Eric asked trying not to sound too interested.
"Oh, nothing... just that wand you have. I'd hate to think that such a thing might ever be given to an, an, unmentionable!" Malfoy hissed as though even the word Mudblood was insufficient to reflect his disgust. "Not that it ever could be of course... given to a Mudblood I mean." He announced proudly.
"You seem to know an awful lot about my wand, Malfoy. Perhaps you would be willing to explain why?" Eric accused, his swollen hand again stroking Saevus's smooth hide.
"No, got to go. So do you." He replied quickly, than rushed off to join the other second years which were just beginning to disappear into the gloom; their faces barely visible through the thick fog.
"First years over here!" Eric heard a voice yell. The voice came from Mrs. Telipity, a green-eyed Squib woman who wore the most awful colored robes Eric had ever seen; venom yellow.
Eric cringed. 'What on earth would possess someone to wear robes like that, even if they are a Squib?' Eric pondered this idea for a while, than deciding it was because of child abuse, he followed the group to a docking of rather rickety old boats. Eying each one carefully and very unsure if any of them were sea-worthy; Eric plopped himself in the one closest to the left.
"Did you hear about the new kid?" A girl began whispering, but Eric was to busy reading to listen.
"Yea... got a dark wand he did... Malfoy told me. Weird hey..." The other one replied quietly.
Hearing this, Eric perked an ear. Annoyed though he was at Malfoy's apparent lack of secrecy, he still wanted to know what the little git might be hiding about him and this, he thought, was the perfect opportunity to do so. So, with his nose buried in a book, Eric listened.
"Why would he have a dark wand?" The red-headed girl asked.
"I don't know, but it can't be good." The other girl responded.
"No, it's never good Katie. Do you think He'll be in Slytherin?"
"Of course" Katie whispered. "Is there any dark wizard alive today who wasn't?" She questioned as though it was obvious that nothing good ever came out of Slytherin House.
"I suppose." The other girl answered.
Hearing the last of their conversation, Eric noticed that the boats were nearly arriving. Hogwarts was a huge castle with burning gold lights and several large towers. Eric wondered what it would be like when he entered, but his thoughts were immediately dragged back to the idea of him being a dark wizard. He supposed it might be possible, but why than was he heading to school. Shouldn't he be locked up in Azkaban or something? After all, all the others were. Why should he be any different? Eric pondered these thoughts for a little while longer, than paused as he climbed up the stone staircase which lead into the castle.
When Eric entered, all thoughts of his being evil had left his mind completely as he was immediately transported into a wonderland of fire-light which shone from rows upon rows of gleaming torches. Eric admired the decor; his small head upturned to reveal just how large this place was though it did not seem so from the outside.
"Come on... sorting's about to begin..." A small voice huffed. It was Amare Armando; an excited boy with olive colored skin and bright brown eyes. Eric followed him and stood in a line along with the others.
"Hope... I... get picked for... Gryffindor..." he said still slightly out of breath. Eric gave a sullen nod.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, My name is Professor Dumbledore and I am the Head Master here. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you all to Mrs. Twidly; our new nurse and Mr. Potter; our Defense against the Dark Arts teacher." Mrs. Twidly and Mr. Potter gave a small bow, than took their seats. "I'd also like to introduce your new potions teacher, Professor Malfoy; who will be head of Slytherin House." The green table gave a loud cheer and Eric realized this must be the Slytherin table. "As I was saying... I'd like also to introduce your new Muggle Studies teacher, Ms. Telipity." Dumbledore paused and Ms. Telipity smiled and took her seat.
Eric recognized her venom yellow robes immediately, but thankfully he was not planning on taking Muggle Studies this year so he wouldn't have to deal with her.
"As you all know Professor Potter is head of Gryffindor house, Mr. Muller of Hufflepuff and Ms. Rice of Ravenclaw." Dumbledore paused again as the teachers named stood up and bowed, than immediately took their seats. "Now, when your name is called I would like you to please step up to the stage, sit on the stool and place the sorting hat on your head. The hat will tell you where to go and you will be expected to join that table." Dumbledore gave a wide grin. "Now, without further hesitation, let the sorting begin!" He finished.
Suddenly, Eric noticed the large black witch's that was perched upon the stage was beginning to sing. Eric wondered where its mouth was, but than seeing a huge wrinkle which opened like one, he just stood still and listened.
Gather round all young and old
Let me tell a story told
That when I was sewn in days past
Everyone knew that I was best
Sir Gryffindor, the brave and bold
Young Hufflepuff, the kind
Miss Raven claw, the clever one
Slytherin, the shrewd of mind
They sought their students far and wide
Searching without rest
But each one thought within themselves
"I know who's the best"
Gryffindor liked those with spirit
Adventurous, strong, and daring
While Hufflepuff preferred those
Who were pleasant, loved and caring
Raven claw, the clever girl
Chose those of books and learning
While Slytherin, The picky
Chose those with ambitious yearning.
Each founder thought that they were best
That no one could compare
And so just put me on your head
I'll sort you if you dare!
All the tables broke out in applause, than came to an abrupt halt as the first name was called.
"Ann, Mary" the voice commanded and Eric noticed a small mousey haired girl walk up to the platform. She was about eleven like all the first years and her small round face was dotted heavily with freckles.
"Hufflepuff!" The hat yelled and the girl made her way silently over to the yellow table where she was greeted by warm hugs and friendly hand shakes.
"They're all so fragile. The whole lot of them... I could..." Eric mumbled to himself, but was shocked at what nearly came out of his mouth. He was thinking about doing serious harm to her. Eric excused this thought quickly, than continued to watch the sorting. He watched a boy with midnight hair walk up shakily to the stage, than gave a dull smile as he realized this was Amare Armando.
"Gryffindor!" Eric heard the hat yell, than watched Armando prance along to the red table which gave him a very rowdy welcome. Eric eyed this, than turned his face away in disgust. He would stay away from Gryffindor at all costs as they looked like trouble makers. Besides, he didn't like to be touched.
"Black, Carol." Someone called as a young dark haired girl padded her way up the stage. She had the agility of a panther and Eric was sure, if angered, she could be twice as deadly. Unfortunately the hat placed her in Gryffindor so Eric would have to scrap that idea.
Finally, after what seemed like hours the list of students with C's in their last names came to a halt with Creevy, Candice; a dusty blond haired girl with flecks of what looked like dirt etching her smooth cheeks.
"Dolus, Eric!" The voice called.
Cringing slightly from the utterance of his name, Eric strode towards the stage. "Hmm, this seems to be easy." He whispered to himself as his confidence raised and he sat squarely on the stool. It was old and cracked, but not too uncomfortable. He grabbed the hat and pulled it over his head. It was a snug fit. Eric waited for several minutes, than gave the hat a sharp poke but nothing happened, everything was silent. Eric looked out from under the rim, but only found the gazes of his classmates. They looked quite shocked and when more time passed; about eight minutes. They began to whisper to each other, all the while checking back on Eric. He began to feel nervous and now realized that even the teachers looked perplexed.
Just than, as he was about to take the hat off his head once and for all, Eric heard a voice whisper, "Hello young V... Dolus." the hat corrected. Eric muttered a few words of acknowledgement than let the voice continue. "You have a very powerful mind... Dolus." the voice hesitated as though it had difficulty in pronouncing his name.
Eric gave a small nod, but said nothing.
"You would do well in Ravenclaw, but this is not your destiny I feel." The hat continued. "No, you're destiny is in Slytherin... but..." the voice paused. "There are things about you that..." the voice stopped abruptly as Eric felt the hat squeezing tight around his head, than to his relief it stopped. "I cannot sort you young... Dolus..." It hesitated again, than stopped completely.
Eric pulled the hat off his head, stood up and placed it neatly on the stool. Everyone was watching him and the teachers were shifting nervously in their seats. Eric stood there for a good six minutes before Dumbledore rose and told him to go and take a seat at one of the empty tables. Eric obeyed, but found the rest of the ceremony was somehow too silent because everyone kept glancing back at him.
Noticing that the large jolt meant that the train had now stopped moving, Eric waited for the other students to depart. Once the last door had shut and no more footsteps could be heard, Eric left the train.
"Hey!" A voice greeted.
Displeased that he was seen, Eric raised his hand in a careless wave. "Hello Argen." He said with an edge of contempt in his already dull voice.
"Did you meet my sister? She's in Slytherin." Malfoy asserted.
"No, what year is she?" Eric asked coldly, his eyes moving to watch a group of disgruntled forth years which were now moving out of sight.
"She's a first year like you, but I know she'll be in Slytherin; all us pureblood Malfoys are you know." Malfoy boasted.
"Right..." Eric pretended, than began to absently stroke Saevus's head. He had read about purebloods during his train ride, and from the way Malfoy was acting; he wondered if there might be some truth to the old rumor of a pureblood's snobbish behavior.
"Where do your parents descend from?" Malfoy asked with a half-grin.
"I don't remember my parents." Eric replied in a hostile tone.
"Oh... they're not Mudbloods are they?" Argen hissed, than grinned at Eric's apparent irritation.
"I don't know who they were and no one else seems to either!" Eric fumed, than realizing his hand was still on the snake, he guessed he had been squeezing too hard as Saevus's fangs had sunk into his unwary hand. He pulled away with a sudden cry of pain. Seeing that Argen was beginning to smile, he quickly stuffed his hand into his pocket.
"Can't even control your own snake?" Argen mused. "Maybe your parents really were Mudbloods, but than why would you have..." Malfoy paused, than grinned at Eric.
"Why would I have what, Malfoy?" Eric asked trying not to sound too interested.
"Oh, nothing... just that wand you have. I'd hate to think that such a thing might ever be given to an, an, unmentionable!" Malfoy hissed as though even the word Mudblood was insufficient to reflect his disgust. "Not that it ever could be of course... given to a Mudblood I mean." He announced proudly.
"You seem to know an awful lot about my wand, Malfoy. Perhaps you would be willing to explain why?" Eric accused, his swollen hand again stroking Saevus's smooth hide.
"No, got to go. So do you." He replied quickly, than rushed off to join the other second years which were just beginning to disappear into the gloom; their faces barely visible through the thick fog.
"First years over here!" Eric heard a voice yell. The voice came from Mrs. Telipity, a green-eyed Squib woman who wore the most awful colored robes Eric had ever seen; venom yellow.
Eric cringed. 'What on earth would possess someone to wear robes like that, even if they are a Squib?' Eric pondered this idea for a while, than deciding it was because of child abuse, he followed the group to a docking of rather rickety old boats. Eying each one carefully and very unsure if any of them were sea-worthy; Eric plopped himself in the one closest to the left.
"Did you hear about the new kid?" A girl began whispering, but Eric was to busy reading to listen.
"Yea... got a dark wand he did... Malfoy told me. Weird hey..." The other one replied quietly.
Hearing this, Eric perked an ear. Annoyed though he was at Malfoy's apparent lack of secrecy, he still wanted to know what the little git might be hiding about him and this, he thought, was the perfect opportunity to do so. So, with his nose buried in a book, Eric listened.
"Why would he have a dark wand?" The red-headed girl asked.
"I don't know, but it can't be good." The other girl responded.
"No, it's never good Katie. Do you think He'll be in Slytherin?"
"Of course" Katie whispered. "Is there any dark wizard alive today who wasn't?" She questioned as though it was obvious that nothing good ever came out of Slytherin House.
"I suppose." The other girl answered.
Hearing the last of their conversation, Eric noticed that the boats were nearly arriving. Hogwarts was a huge castle with burning gold lights and several large towers. Eric wondered what it would be like when he entered, but his thoughts were immediately dragged back to the idea of him being a dark wizard. He supposed it might be possible, but why than was he heading to school. Shouldn't he be locked up in Azkaban or something? After all, all the others were. Why should he be any different? Eric pondered these thoughts for a little while longer, than paused as he climbed up the stone staircase which lead into the castle.
When Eric entered, all thoughts of his being evil had left his mind completely as he was immediately transported into a wonderland of fire-light which shone from rows upon rows of gleaming torches. Eric admired the decor; his small head upturned to reveal just how large this place was though it did not seem so from the outside.
"Come on... sorting's about to begin..." A small voice huffed. It was Amare Armando; an excited boy with olive colored skin and bright brown eyes. Eric followed him and stood in a line along with the others.
"Hope... I... get picked for... Gryffindor..." he said still slightly out of breath. Eric gave a sullen nod.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, My name is Professor Dumbledore and I am the Head Master here. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you all to Mrs. Twidly; our new nurse and Mr. Potter; our Defense against the Dark Arts teacher." Mrs. Twidly and Mr. Potter gave a small bow, than took their seats. "I'd also like to introduce your new potions teacher, Professor Malfoy; who will be head of Slytherin House." The green table gave a loud cheer and Eric realized this must be the Slytherin table. "As I was saying... I'd like also to introduce your new Muggle Studies teacher, Ms. Telipity." Dumbledore paused and Ms. Telipity smiled and took her seat.
Eric recognized her venom yellow robes immediately, but thankfully he was not planning on taking Muggle Studies this year so he wouldn't have to deal with her.
"As you all know Professor Potter is head of Gryffindor house, Mr. Muller of Hufflepuff and Ms. Rice of Ravenclaw." Dumbledore paused again as the teachers named stood up and bowed, than immediately took their seats. "Now, when your name is called I would like you to please step up to the stage, sit on the stool and place the sorting hat on your head. The hat will tell you where to go and you will be expected to join that table." Dumbledore gave a wide grin. "Now, without further hesitation, let the sorting begin!" He finished.
Suddenly, Eric noticed the large black witch's that was perched upon the stage was beginning to sing. Eric wondered where its mouth was, but than seeing a huge wrinkle which opened like one, he just stood still and listened.
Gather round all young and old
Let me tell a story told
That when I was sewn in days past
Everyone knew that I was best
Sir Gryffindor, the brave and bold
Young Hufflepuff, the kind
Miss Raven claw, the clever one
Slytherin, the shrewd of mind
They sought their students far and wide
Searching without rest
But each one thought within themselves
"I know who's the best"
Gryffindor liked those with spirit
Adventurous, strong, and daring
While Hufflepuff preferred those
Who were pleasant, loved and caring
Raven claw, the clever girl
Chose those of books and learning
While Slytherin, The picky
Chose those with ambitious yearning.
Each founder thought that they were best
That no one could compare
And so just put me on your head
I'll sort you if you dare!
All the tables broke out in applause, than came to an abrupt halt as the first name was called.
"Ann, Mary" the voice commanded and Eric noticed a small mousey haired girl walk up to the platform. She was about eleven like all the first years and her small round face was dotted heavily with freckles.
"Hufflepuff!" The hat yelled and the girl made her way silently over to the yellow table where she was greeted by warm hugs and friendly hand shakes.
"They're all so fragile. The whole lot of them... I could..." Eric mumbled to himself, but was shocked at what nearly came out of his mouth. He was thinking about doing serious harm to her. Eric excused this thought quickly, than continued to watch the sorting. He watched a boy with midnight hair walk up shakily to the stage, than gave a dull smile as he realized this was Amare Armando.
"Gryffindor!" Eric heard the hat yell, than watched Armando prance along to the red table which gave him a very rowdy welcome. Eric eyed this, than turned his face away in disgust. He would stay away from Gryffindor at all costs as they looked like trouble makers. Besides, he didn't like to be touched.
"Black, Carol." Someone called as a young dark haired girl padded her way up the stage. She had the agility of a panther and Eric was sure, if angered, she could be twice as deadly. Unfortunately the hat placed her in Gryffindor so Eric would have to scrap that idea.
Finally, after what seemed like hours the list of students with C's in their last names came to a halt with Creevy, Candice; a dusty blond haired girl with flecks of what looked like dirt etching her smooth cheeks.
"Dolus, Eric!" The voice called.
Cringing slightly from the utterance of his name, Eric strode towards the stage. "Hmm, this seems to be easy." He whispered to himself as his confidence raised and he sat squarely on the stool. It was old and cracked, but not too uncomfortable. He grabbed the hat and pulled it over his head. It was a snug fit. Eric waited for several minutes, than gave the hat a sharp poke but nothing happened, everything was silent. Eric looked out from under the rim, but only found the gazes of his classmates. They looked quite shocked and when more time passed; about eight minutes. They began to whisper to each other, all the while checking back on Eric. He began to feel nervous and now realized that even the teachers looked perplexed.
Just than, as he was about to take the hat off his head once and for all, Eric heard a voice whisper, "Hello young V... Dolus." the hat corrected. Eric muttered a few words of acknowledgement than let the voice continue. "You have a very powerful mind... Dolus." the voice hesitated as though it had difficulty in pronouncing his name.
Eric gave a small nod, but said nothing.
"You would do well in Ravenclaw, but this is not your destiny I feel." The hat continued. "No, you're destiny is in Slytherin... but..." the voice paused. "There are things about you that..." the voice stopped abruptly as Eric felt the hat squeezing tight around his head, than to his relief it stopped. "I cannot sort you young... Dolus..." It hesitated again, than stopped completely.
Eric pulled the hat off his head, stood up and placed it neatly on the stool. Everyone was watching him and the teachers were shifting nervously in their seats. Eric stood there for a good six minutes before Dumbledore rose and told him to go and take a seat at one of the empty tables. Eric obeyed, but found the rest of the ceremony was somehow too silent because everyone kept glancing back at him.
