SATURN'S SHINE

CHAPTER FOUR: THE SORTING HAT KNEW BEST

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Hotaru stepped out of the scarlet train and onto solid ground with Tethys walking in front of her. Behind her was Usagi with Luna on her shoulders. It was then that she heard a giant, of some sort, calling for first years.

"Where do we go?" Usagi asked while she looked curiously around.

"I don't know," replied Hotaru when she was confused as well.

"Hotaru!" a familiar voice sounded from the crowd.

Hotaru's senses traveled towards the voice and found, "Hermione!"

"Hey, how is it?" Hermione asked, "And this is?"

"This is Usagi, my friend and we're... well... we don't know where to go," Hotaru told her as Harry and Ron appeared.

"Hello," Usagi greeted cheerfully as Harry and Ron stared at her.

Hermione smiled at the greeting and introduced her two friends, "This is Harry and Ron."

"Hey..." Ron said while admiring her thick golden hair.

"Hello," Harry, on the other end, actually got his head straight and got out a solid word without wavering, "Hello Hotaru, Tethys."

Tethys gave a small pleasant growl, telling Harry that she approved of him.

Hermione was about to speak when Professor Dumbledore came from almost nowhere and directed his voice to Usagi and Hotaru, "Welcome ladies to Hogwarts, the school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I'm the headmaster of this school; you may call me Professor Dumbledore. Now, please, if you'll follow me."

Hotaru stared at Hermione, dumbfounded. Hermione just struggled and signalled to her to follow the headmaster to Hogwarts. Hotaru nodded dumbly and said to Usagi, "I think we should follow."

Usagi nodded her head in agreement as she started to walk behind Dumbledore. When Hotaru saw Usagi follow Professor Dumbledore she then said to the others, "Seeya then?"

"Of course," Hermione returned with a smile. Hotaru nodded and grinned, making Tethys lower her defences towards Hermione since the frizz-haired girl was getting along quite well with her mistress. As Hotaru walked away, Hermione had to pull Harry and Ron by their collars into Hogwarts since they were still dazed from meeting with Usagi.

"Professor Dumbledore, where are we going, if I may ask?" Hotaru questioned in a polite voice as Tethys stayed quietly behind her.

"Of course you may ask and to answer your question, we are going to the Dining Hall to get sorted, Miss Tomoe," the old headmaster answered with a smile.

"Hotaru, Professor, please call me Hotaru," she told him with a nervous smile.

A laugh emitted from Albus Dumbledore, "Yes, yes. Hotaru... such a beautiful name if I don't say so myself."

"Thank you," Hotaru whispered with a red blush painted on her cheeks.

"You're very welcome," he whispered back, "Now. We are here. The Dinning Hall, please line yourselves up against the left wall where the first years are."

Hotaru nodded lifelessly as she stared at the candles floating in mid-air, with so many people sitting on chairs. It was then that she felt Tethys nudge the back of her leg, making her take Usagi's hand gently and lead them to the wall where first years were.

Then a woman professor set an old and worn looking witch hat on a stool. The professor then started to call out names. One by one, each first year went up and sat on the stool, the professor set the hat on the student's head... and it spoke!

Tethys growled because of the unexpected voice from a normal object. Hotaru placed her hand on Tethys' head to calm the growling beast. When all the first years were sorted into their houses, she began to realize that many people hated the house called Slytherin.

When it was their time to be sorted, Professor Dumbledore stood up and told the school that Usagi and Hotaru were transferred from their old school into Hogwarts. The first out of the two to get sorted was Usagi Tsukino.

While Usagi sat motionlessly on the stool, the hat began to talk. Telling all of her talents, "Much courage you possess, child. You have beauty, both in and out. Your heart is beyond those of pure. You are difficult to sort. Though you definitely do not in Slytherin or Ravenclaw."

Hotaru saw the faces of the boys in Slytherin and Ravenclaw frown and heard a deafening sigh. She then knew that they wanted Usagi into their houses... really bad.

The hat spoke again, "You most likely belong in Hufflepuff, but... your courage direct to a different path. You, Usagi Tsukino, belong in GRYFFINDOR!"

The house of Gryffindor roared in excitement. Most of the noise was from the male population of Gryffindor. Hotaru saw Malfoy sneer at the table, and she also saw Heero keeping his eyes on Usagi intently. It was then that Hotaru was called.

A supportive nudge from Tethys got her to move up to the mini-platform and onto the stool. The hat was then placed on her head, covering her eyes. She felt her heart beat loudly when eyes were upon her.

The hat had a difficult time in reading her. But eventually it spoke, "Very interesting... very... unique... such darkness... yet such light. The courage you have surpasses even Usagi's... your strength is beyond imaginable."

Then the hat whispered, "But you are lonely... so betrayed... so sad."

"There is no mistake... the house you will truly achieve well in is defiantly... SLYTHERIN!" the hat yelled the name.

The Slytherin table fell silent. Hermione was shocked. Harry gave out fit of coughs. Quartre chocked on his water. Even the great Albus Dumbledore gave out a frown on his face. Surely, they thought, that the Sorting Hat made a very serious mistake.

Hotaru stayed silent as she pulled the hat off and put it on the stool gently. Tethys let out a low growl as she felt Hotaru become tense and nervous. Hotaru then walked gracefully to the table and sat quietly.

No noise came as another disturbing thought came up in Hotaru's mind. Not only were boys falling for Usagi quite fast, but also she must train Usagi in bother the queenly way and the magic way. Not only that, they were in separate houses. What was she to do now?

Hotaru didn't mind when the hat told her to go to the Slytherin House, besides the hat knew best. But being so far away from her princess was another story. And it bugged tremendously.

"Well, she's not with losers after all," came Malfoy's remark.

"Shut up bastard," Hotaru sneered.

No one said a word after that. And Hotaru already hated the house Slytherin, but who was she to question the hat, besides, the Sorting Hat knew best.

~*~

TENSHI CAT