Authors note:
I neglected to come up with a Sorting song, since I'm absolutely horrible at all things musical or poetical. If anyone thinks it would be fun to make up one and send it to me, then I'll be glad to repost this chapter with the song if I like it. Also, I would accept songs taken from other stories, but kindly mention who the original author is in that case, so I can ask her permission (excuse me if the author in question is male, it seems that FF.net is mostly a female dominated society). Giving me a Sorting Song to use, will result in a chapter in your dedication ^_^
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Chapter 7: The Sorting…
When they reached the Great Hall, Gabriel could feel a slight nausea coming up from the overwhelming smells. He quickly swallowed his queasiness and examined the Great Hall. It was just as magnificent as the rest of the castle, maybe even more due to the enchanted ceiling. It was reflecting the sky outside, which was truly exquisite at the moment.
The four large tables at the front of the Hall were where the students sat and there was another table on a raised platform at the end of the Hall to seat all the teachers. In front of the teacher's table, the new first-years were already waiting for the Sorting to begin, all of them looking extremely anxious and nervous.
At the beginning of the raised platform, Hermione stood next to a chair, holding an old hat. The hat looked shabby and worn, but Gabriel understood immediately that this was the famed Sorting Hat, which would decide in what the new students would be put.
While he was walking down the middle lane to the group of first-years, Gabriel could already see most heads turn in his direction. Most of the students only saw him now for the first time and had no idea that he was going to come to the school.
Taking a look around, he saw that Helena was sitting at the near end of what he assumed to be the Hufflepuff table. She smiled at him and he returned the favor. But he noticed that there was no one sitting exactly close to her. They were all seated a bit further down the table, as if to avoid her.
I really wonder why people don't like her. She's sweet, not to mention a nice person to be around with.
Looking around he saw Gloria sitting at the Gryffindor table. She too smiled at Gabriel and gave a little wave. Gabriel didn't have the time to return it though, as one of Gloria's friends had already pulled her close and was no doubt questioning her about knowing him.
Looking over the other two tables, he didn't see anyone that he knew or thought was worth thinking over. Which in this case included the three bullies that were pestering Helene, who were seated at the Slytherin . He noticed a larger boy sitting next to them, that was glaring at Gabriel with a malicious but also curious stare.
Must've heard what happened to his friends. Guess I'll get to meet him soon enough.
By now Gabriel had reached the group of first-years. Only then did he notice the two heads with red hair. They looked even more anxious than most of the students.
Heh, they're still worried about their little fur balls of hell attacking my face. I had already forgotten about that actually. Now, let's hear what Dumbledore has to say.
Dumbledore stood in front of his chair, in the center of the head table and asked for silence. It was remarkable how quickly he got it, especially considering that most of the student body were still discussing Gabriel's presence in the school.
"Welcome back to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, my students. And a big welcome to our new first-years, who from this moment on will enjoy their first seven years of magical education in this castle. Now, we will begin the sorting. Ms. Granger, if you would please take the honors?"
Dumbledore sat down in his chair, while Hermione nodded at him and poked the Hat a tiny bit. The Hat seemed to awaken and almost looked as if it was looking around the room. Then suddenly, it burst into a song, describing Hogwarts and its founders, depicting the four houses as to what they entail and welcoming the new students and inviting them to be sorted.
After the song had finished, Hermione once more to the new students. She spoke then, not in the cheery voice that Gabriel had hear her use before, but in a serious stern voice that tolerated no disobedience.
"Now, when I call your name, you will come forward and sit on the chair. I will place Sorting Hat on you and it will decide in which house you will be. After you are sorted, kindly give the Hat back to me and take place at the right table."
And with that, she called out the first few names on her list in alphabetical order. All the new students looked awkward wearing the Hat that was too big for their head, almost always giving a little start when it shouted their designated house. Then Gabriel noticed that they had already past the 'R', which meant that they have skipped him for now.
Odd…Is he trying to make this big a fuss about having a transfer student? Seems he really is glad that there finally is one.
"Weasley, Lucy."
The little girl whose cat had attacked Gabriel now sat on the chair. The Hat only sat on her head for a second before it shouted: "Gryffindor!" The girl let out a breath and smiled at the other redhead among the first-years. She then left for the Gryffindor table and sat down at a space that was big enough for two people, greeting those around her.
"Weasley, Mike."
Now the other redhead sat down on the chair. And just as quickly as with his sister, the Hat had designated him to be a Gryffindor. After giving the Hat back to Hermione, he made a beeline towards where his sister sat and seated himself next to her.
The ceremony went on after this, until Gabriel was the only new student that hadn't been sorted yet. And then, Dumbledore rose from his seat and addressed his students.
"Now, I have an announcement for you all. I have great pleasure to introduce to you all our new transfer student, Gabriel Rayon, who will join the ranks of fourth-year students. It does me great joy to see that there are students willing to extend their magical education beyond what they have grown used to for years.
"Now, I'll have to disappoint those that wanted to hear new stories about other schools. Before his enrollment into Hogwarts, he has received his education through home schooling. I have great faith in that you will all make him feel welcome here."
Inwardly, Gabriel felt thankful towards the headmaster. He hadn't thought about it, but he realized that constantly having to say he wasn't from another magical school would be terribly annoying. Then, Dumbledore turned towards him.
"Now Mr. Rayon, if you would please be seated. I'm sure that you are curious as well as to what house will be your residence."
Gabriel nodded and sat himself down on the chair. When Hermione placed the hat on his head, it fell to just over his eyes. Being bigger than most of the first-years still didn't make him big enough to wear the hat properly. He gave a start when he heard the hat talking to him, though he was hearing it in his head instead of through his ears.
[[ What have we here? You were the one that they asked me to sort sooner if you wanted. Sorry about that, but I'm rather self-conscious about singing my song. ]]
No worries.
Gabriel instinctively thought this instead of saying it aloud.
[[ Now then, let's see what you're ma-…]]
The Hat grew silent all of the sudden. Gabriel had no idea what was wrong with it, but waited patiently for some seconds. Then he thought that it was taking too long.
Hat? You still here?
[[ Yes, yes…]]
The Hat sounded rather exasperated, out of breath. Like he was struggling against something.
[[ Y-you truly are something else, Mr. Rayon. I'm sure you aren't completely aware yet of what you can become, but I… I'll leave you to your own devices to handle that. But I know that you have a lot of courage and that you will need to nurture it. Therefore, I… place you in Gryffindor! ]]
The Hat shouted the last word out loud, cheerful as it had been with all the other students. But when Gabriel took it off, he held it in his hands for awhile, examining it. Though it didn't look any different from before, he knew something odd had happened and wondered if this also had to do with his curse.
Dammit… why can't I just have a normal life. It would've been so much simpler if I didn't have this bloody, freaking, damn curse.
Gabriel scowled a little as he gave Hermione the Hat back, but she didn't comment on it. Gabriel walked to the Gryffindor table and only then noticed that they were applauding their new student, just like every table had when someone was sorted into their house. His mood grew better again, glad to know that at least he had some normality in his life.
As he walked along the table, nodding some greeting as he went along, he sought out the one person there that he already had a conversation with. Gloria already saw him coming and scooted over a bit to let him sit beside her. And as he greeted her and met some of her friends, he knew that going to the school would be the best thing he had done yet.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
** You know, it's not nice to scare poor little spirits like that. **
The nine-tailed fox grinned as she admonished the black wolf playfully.
~~ Hey, it was you who dragged that 'poor little spirit' out of the hat and brought him here. Besides, I was just here to look mean and scary. ~~
** Well, you do that very well. Besides, I'm impressed you didn't rip his head off. **
~~ You wound me. I don't do that that easily, only when it's necessary to end something rather permanently. ~~
The fox smirked at that comment, her nine tails swaying around her in a seductive dance, knowing about the brutal methods that her companion used to end severe matters permanently. Though she commended him for only using those when absolutely necessary.
** You know, I think Gabriel is going to end up like you in that aspect. He's rather blunt with things he doesn't like. **
~~ He's got your charm though. And he's paying for it already, it makes him look like a girl. ~~
** Bah, he should be glad, girls are much nicer to look at anyway. But I still think that spirit was a bit rude. Imagine, we only brought him here for a moment to get acquainted and to tell him that Gabriel is also our little boy and that he should take good care of him. And he freaks out! **
~~ To be expected. Even though he was stuffed with the knowledge and insight of those four wizards, he's still a lesser spirit. ~~
The wolf yawned lazily after this statement and stretched out. His black fur gleamed in the eerie light as he lay down again. He looked concerned about something.
~~ You know… ~~
** What? **
~~ The higher-ups weren't glad with what we did to save the boy. ~~
** Ah, you were thinking that too. But I'm sure that whatever they want to send, Gabriel can take them head on. Besides, it'll be fun watching those stuck-up fools get frustrated. **
The fox smirked almost evilly. The wolf just glared at her and closed his eyes. He thought about Gabriel's other form. That had been a totally unexpected side-effect of their actions to save him, but it seemed as though it wasn't that much of a problem. The boy would probably be alright. Gabriel was strong, just like him and his foxy companion.
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No reviewer thanks here, since I posted the two chapter simultaneously. See my previous chapter for details. Review, please?