Disclaimer: I do not own anything that has to do with Harry Potter books except for this story. Any characters whose names are that of real people are purely coincidental. Characters except for originals, Histories, Settings, etc. are property of JK Rowling and whoever else owns the series.
Chapter 3: Where are all the Brave?
"Achmed, Arina," Professor McGonagal said out loud as she began reading the list of first years. They all stood in front of the old Sorting Hat, waiting to be sorted into their houses. Many of them were nervous and Arina Achmed was shaking, scared of being the very first one. She sat there for a while, waiting for the hat's decision.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted, the rip opening wide. The table of Hufflepuffs cheered as Arina made her way to them.
"Alpine, Sherman," Professor McGonagal said out loud. Sherman Alpine quickly ran to the chair and McGonagal placed the hat on his head. It fit quite snugly, for Sherman had a very big head. The hat didn't waste much time with Sherman and he was sent to Ravenclaw right away.
"Bowman, Boris." Boris staggered towards the chair. The hat fell down to his ears and shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" The Slytherins cheered very loudly and all stood up as Boris slumped his way to the table where he slouched in his seat.
"What are we doing? How is it deciding?" Oliver whispered to Percy, Penny, and Virginia suddenly as the hat was taking a particular long time with Portia Bolkin.
"Weren't you listening?" Percy said, crossly.
"No, I was thinking about how a raven's like a writing desk. What did it say?"
"It said 'I'll tell if you are man or mouse, and sort you into the right house.'"
"But how?"
"It reads our minds or something," Penny whispered back.
"But how does it know who's in where?" Portia Bolkin was then sorted into Ravenclaw and then Kat Candor was being sorted. She also was spending a long amount of time on the stool with the hat.
"Gryffindor has those who are brave," Percy said.
"And Ravenclaw is for the cleverest," Penelope said.
"Slytherin is for the bad apples. They're ambitious," Virgina added. She saw the confused look on Oliver's face. "They're power hungry."
"And Hufflepuff is for the ones most loyal, but Bill says its for whoever's left over," said Percy.
"Clearwater, Penelope," Professor McGonagal read loud and clear after the applause for Kat Candor of Hufflepuff. The boys and Virginia wished Penny luck as she approached the seat. She sat there for only 30 seconds and the hat made its decision.
"RAVENCLAW!" the hat shouted. Penny smiled at Percy and waved as she joined Portia and Sherman.
"Now I really want to be in Ravenclaw," Percy muttered under his breath, still looking at Penny, who was now watching Kalvin Clein being sorted.
"What was that, Percy?" Oliver asked.
"Now I- no, nothing. I didn't say anything…" Oliver just shrugged as the kids moved on. After a while, everyone found something very odd. No one was sorted into Gryffindor yet! They were at the E's and Virginia was happy that she wasn't called during the D's. Soon, they reached the L's.
"Oh my," McGonagal said, glaring down again at the scroll with the list of names. Virginia said quietly to Percy and Oliver, "Probably me."
"Virginia Mary Strawberry Daiquiri Lovegood," McGonogal said. Everyone started laughing and chuckling, except for some of the teachers, Virginia and her sister Margarita, who was hiding her face over at the Hufflepuff table. The hat sat on her head and was pondering for quite some time. People began to get lazy and bored and started conversations. Finally, they were interrupted by the loud shout of the Sorting hat.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor table exploded since they finally had someone join their table. Virginia was all smiles since she was the first Gryffindor and not in the same house as her sister. Soon after that, Lucille McGillian, Henrietta Newbourne, and Patsy Owens joined Gryffindor. Patrick Portabello was sorted into Hufflepuff. Yao Phi was sorted into Ravenclaw with his brothers Chao and Ling. After more Slytherins, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws, the Gryffindors got nervous again. Where were the brave boys of Gryffindor's first years? Finally the reached the W's.
"Weasley, Percival," Professor McGonagal called. Percy was very confident that he would be put in Ravenclaw. He knew he was very clever and smart, and ready for a challenge. Or was this something that defined a courageous Gryffindor? No…There weren't any Gryffindor boys picked yet. He wouldn't be the first. Then again, there were only three people left to be sorted. Percy got nervous. He didn't know why he was. He had been confident all night, why would he be nervous now? He was a big brave boy. No, he wanted to be the smart one. The smart one in the house with Penny. He looked over at her and his face started turning red again. Could the sorting hat see blushing people? No, it didn't have eyes…….But it could read your thoughts.
The Sorting Hat dropped over his head, hiding his red hair. Percy froze as a voice spoke in his head. "Hmmm…your brothers were Gryffindors. Your mother and father as well…But you have such a good mind. A strong healthy one, ready to learn…study…perform well academically. You even want to be in Ravenclaw. But just for a girl? No, I see that you're not a 'Nervous Nelly' nor do you take crap from anybody. You're brave in that sense, and I see…a small thirst for power…prefect? Head boy? Lofty goals! Maybe Slytherin would do you good…"
No! Percy thought with fear.
"Okay, okay…not Slytherin…Ravenclaw or Gryffindor…this is a very difficult choice. I haven't gotten any truly brave boys come to me. Most were like you, intellectual, cunning, what do you call them these days? Study Buddies. Smart Alec prats, you say. Yes. But you…you are ready to live your life and face the difficulties of ridicule, stress, and peer pressure...you're different. You wear glasses and like books. The quintessential nerd. You read too much and learn a lot. But don't forget, what you do makes you who you are. Hmmmmm….you come from a family that's not quite as serious as you. True you have that Head Boy brother, and the Seeker brother. Then you have two crazy twins, the youngest son, and the only daughter. With you stuck in the middle. You had to follow in your elders' footsteps, but at the same time look after the younger ones. Bravery above anyone else here! Bravery to live up to the schools standards and bravery to stand up against bullies, who you know won't leave you alone. You, being boring and bookish. But I know that you know that you're more than that. What an honor it would be to stand as the first Gryffindor of the group. The first to be known for his bravery, his courage, his honor, his readiness for new beginnings and-"
Are you finished yet? Percy couldn't help but think.
"Be patient young one. It is I alone who can change your future. Your destiny."
I'm ready for that challenge. Just make a decision, please! Percy thought, eager to find his place.
"Well in that case…GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted. The Gryffindor table erupted as Percy was known as the first boy to be chosen in Gryffindor. The first brave boy of all the first years. The first…to lose his chance of being closer to Penny.
No, no, that's not a reason…Percy thought to himself as his brothers, who were cheering the loudest, welcomed him. Virginia was beaming, glad to know someone, for Lucille, Henrietta, and Patsy seemed to already be great friends.
"Well done, Percy!" Bill cheered.
"You'll make Mum and Dad proud!" Charlie cried. "What did it say for you to be up there so long?"
"Very good! Brave, noble Percy! I knew you'd be in Gryffindor!" Virginia said. "With your brothers in it, why wouldn't you be?"
Everyone, except for the Slytherins, was still cheering and chatting about the first Gryffindor boy until Professor Dumbledore stood up to silence everyone, for there were still three more students to sort. Everyone shut up at once. There was something most majestic about Dumbledore. His appearance made many quiver in awe at the well respected wizard. Yes, when Dumbledore wanted silence, he got it. One could be able to hear a pin drop, but no one would drop one, what with Dumbledore already asking for silence.
"Wilkens, Phillip." Philip Wilkens stood up and nervously walked up to the stool. To his relief, the hat didn't take as long as he did with Percy and sent him to Hufflepuff. There were two people left when a horrible thought came to Percy. What if he was the only boy chosen for Gryffindor? He began to panic and wished and wished that Oliver or the other kid would be sitting next to him soon. Who could take living alone and having classes with all girls? Giggly, gossiping, out-going girls. Even though Oliver was such an opposite, Quidditch loving guy, Percy still desired his new friend to be his roommate.
"Woldworth, Walden," Professor McGonagal called. Walden Woldworth stepped up, and just like Philip Wilkens, he was sorted right away into Hufflepuff, too. He got a light applause from the Gryffindor table as he filled in the last chair at the Hufflepuff's. Percy looked around. All the tables were quite full. Oliver had to be chosen for Gryffindor. But does the hat choose, based on seating arrangements? Percy knew Oliver was brave. He did after all speak to him at Platform 9 3/4. But was he smarter than he looked? Would his generosity send him to the Hufflepuffs, even if they had no seats left? Was he really an ambitious boy, thirsting for power and place at Slytherin? The hat seemed to be thinking the same things, for Oliver was taking longer than Percy. Hagrid had fallen asleep in his chair, and if Professor Sinistra hadn't used a silencing charm, everyone would hear his snores. Though the other souls in the great hall were paying close attention, wanting to see if Percy would end up only being the only brave boy of the first years.
The brim of the hat began to crack open. It grew wider. This was it. The final student. Would Oliver Wood be chosen as the only other Gryffindor First Year male or would he just be added to the bunch of Hufflepuffs or Ravenclaws?
It was such a quiet night on the Hogwarts Grounds. The frogs were croaking merrily in the lake as the squid swam lazily on the lake floor. The crickets began the beautiful symphony played naturally in the night. The serene atmosphere created a picturesque evening of a castle by a lake. Though, if Oliver Wood was chosen for something other than Gryffindor, the night would have remained the same.
A loud boom and chorus of cheers exploded from the Great Hall. The Gryffindors were jumping up and down and Percy was happy that he wasn't alone. Even the other tables were glad, since now they could eat. They cheered and shouted and jumped for joy. It was like a party! A bonfire! Pep rally! Quidditch Game! But this all ended too soon as Dumbledore stood up and everyone heard the pin dropped.
***
The feast was magnificent! There were roast duck, turkey, pig, chicken, steaks, chops and side dishes. There were grilled vegetables, steamed vegetables, mashed potatos, string beans, lima beans, kidney beans, green beans, green peas, salads, carrot sticks, celery sticks, asparagus, chicken pie, and much much more. There were soups and rolls, butter in the shape of a lion, eagle, badger, or serpent, depending on where you were sitting. There were spring rolls, egg rolls, jelly rolls, sea food, land lubber's food, Asian dishes, European Dishes, African Dishes, Hispanic Dishes, and American Hot Dogs and Burgers. There were meals and dishes to please even the pickiest of palettes. There were so many desserts afterwards that everyone was too full and happy to figure out what they were. Finally, the dishes cleared clean like magic and Dumbledore stood up for silence and his usual speech.
"Now that we are all full and in no need of our belts, I would like to begin with a few rules to our new students and reminders to our elder ones. Now, the Forbidden Forest, also known as the Dark forest, is strictly forbidden to all students. The meanest of beasts dwell in the shelter of the foreboding trees… Our caretaker Mr. Filch requires me to read off the list of forbidden items in school corridors: Anvils of the flying variety, Apple bombs, Aphid farms, Artichokes, Automatic Fire Starters…
10 minutes later…
"Happy Valley Playing Cards, Hecate Heifer Holes, Humungo Dungo Hyperworks…"
30 minutes later…
"…Zapping Zipping Zoomerangs, Zipping Zapping Zoomeroos, and Zilches. Anyone need a repeat? I am sorry to say that this will be the last year of the reading of the list, as it has grown quite long over the years. It will be posted on his door in the dungeons in case any student desires to double check. Now, we have a new Professor with us, Professor Quirrell for Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. I trust he will be a fine asset to the school and I hope you all make him feel welcome. Please Quincy, stand up." A chipper, young wizard stood up and bowed as everyone politely applauded the new teacher. He sat down and Dumbledore resumed his speech. "Now is the time for the school song and afterwards, you may follow your prefects to the dormitories for a good night's sleep. Now choose a tune, and let's begin!" He waved his wand and the lyrics appeared in golden ribbons of words.
[The following is by JK Rowling, not me.]
Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald,
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot.