A/N: Today is Sunday which means it's the end of my spring break. There
will be less updates now due to school work. I'll try to update at least
twice a week and definitely on the weekends.
Yay! Over 100 reviews! Thanks to person: It doesn't say anywhere that his middle name is James, so I'm making it Andrew. Everyone uses James; liz; sk8reagle: I actually drew a picture of the new Harry, but I don't have a scanner. I want one so much!!!; PheonixFire; Avlyn; JerseyGirl03; potter- man; BookMaster3000; and Lirael!
CH12: Chat with a Hat
~"I could," he continued defensively. "I bet you - I don't know - one Galleon that I could prank him by the end of the week."
George and Fred glanced at one another and stuck out their hands. "Deal." A voice then announced they had arrived at Hogwarts.~
The four of them made their way into the masses of the train. A voice bellowed over the crowd.
"Firs'-Years! Over here!" Harry recognized the voice as Hagrid. He and Draco bid the twins farewell and went to stand by the giant man.
"Hey Hagrid!" Harry said.
"Ah, alright there, Andy?" Harry nodded as Hagrid rounded up the rest of the first year students. "Everyone here? Good, follow me now. Mind yer step!" The group followed Hagrid down a steep, slippery path. "Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec.*" There was a loud 'Oooooooh.' The path came to a vast, dark lake. On the other side, set up on a mountain top, was Hogwarts. It was a breathtaking sight. The school was a huge castle with many turrets and sparkling windows.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called. He was pointing at a fleet of small row boats by the shore. Harry and Draco scurried into a nearby one. They were shortly followed by Neville and that girl, Hermione. "Everyone in? Right then - FORWARD!"
As one, the boats moved across the deep waters. Everyone was silent, staring up at the magnificent castle. Suddenly, the fleet reached a wall with ivy growing down it. "Heads down," Hagrid shouted. The ivy parted a bit and the sailed inside an underground cavern. There was a large door at the top of high stone steps. The kids clambered out of the boats and followed Hagrid up to the castle. He knocked three times on the door.
It swung open to reveal a tall, black-haired witch in emerald green robes.
"The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank you, I will take them from here." She pushed the door open farther to allow them into the Entrance Hall. It was huge. The ceiling seemed to go on and on forever and their was a beautiful marble staircase. Through the door to the right, they could hear hundreds and hundreds of voices - 'The rest of the school must already be in there' Harry thought. But the professor led them off into a side chamber before turning to address them.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in the house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has it's own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever becomes yours.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting and I will return for you when we are ready." With that, she left the small room. Harry turned to Draco.
"The Sorting will take place in front of the whole school," Harry mimicked softly. "Way to calm our nerves, Professor." Draco and some of the surrounding people sniggered. A few feet away, Hermione was whispering excitedly to Neville, wondering which spells they would have to use, while Neville looked like he had swallowed a Trevor Sandwich. And, on the other side of the chamber, a red-haired boy and a blond one were talking very loudly on what would happen.
"How exactly do they sort us?" the blond said nervously.
"Some sort of test I think. My brothers said something about wrestling in a troll." Harry couldn't help but snort. The red-head gave him a death glare.
"Oh come on, you can't believe that. They wouldn't make us face a troll on the first day. There wouldn't be any students to teach." Harry eyed the boys hair. "Your brothers wouldn't happen to be Fred and George Weasley, would they?" The boy looked a little confused, but nodded. "Thought so. And, just so you know, 1) Your brothers couldn't go two rounds with a fruit fly, so they wouldn't still be in school**, and 2) With all the pranks they play, you actually trust something they tell you?" The Weasley boy scoffed.
"And why should I listen to you. You're hanging out with a Malfoy." Draco's cheeks turned pink as stared at the floor, but Harry simply said,
"So?"
Weasley opened his mouth to speak again, but was interrupted by McGonagall coming back into the room.
"The Sorting is about to start. Form a line and follow me." The did so. The professor led them through large oak doors into the Great Hall. It was a spectacular place. Thousands of candles were floating over four long tables, one for each house, Harry supposed. The ceiling was bewitched to look like the sky outside, he remembered from 'Hogwarts - A History', and heard someone behind him say the same thing. Just then, a door of the side of the hall banged open. In walked a man with long, greasy black hair, and flowing black robes, muttering something about like 'his experiment ran late'. From descriptions, this had to be Professor Snape.
Snape strode past the line of First-Years on his way to the head table and Harry saw his chance. Without taking his wand out of his pocket, he clutched it and directed the tip at the professor, and mumbled 'coluris.' He prayed something would happen. The effect way instantaneous.
Instead of the greasy black hair he had moments before, Snape now had a purple Mohawk. The Hall fell silent. Noticing the strange looks he was getting, he asked,
"What?"
Professor McGonagall began carefully. 'Severus, your-your hair..." Puzzled, Snape conjured a mirror and blew his top.
"Who did this?!?" he roared.
Harry put on his best innocent act. He positioned his hands over his heart and cried, "Oh! I am so sorry, Professor! I had my wand in my pocket and it just set off sparks. I don't know what could have caused it." Snape looked murderous, but, before he could verbally attack Harry, Dumbledore stepped in.
"See, Severus, it was all an accident. I'm sure young, Mr. Andrews, didn't mean it." His eyes were twinkling madly. "And he said he was sorry. We need to get on with the Ceremony."
"Of course, Headmaster. But, there at least needs to be a deduction of house points - "
Harry cut him off. "You can't do that, Professor."
"Why not?" Snape hissed
"I'm not in a house yet."
Snape started sputtering. "But - I - you - I'll just go fix my hair" and he stalked out of the Great Hall. After making sure he was really gone, Harry calmly walked up to the Gryffindor table and the Weasley twins, and held out his hand. They dropped a Galleon in it, glowering. He got back in line with the first years amid laughs from the rest of the school.
"I'm going to forget I saw that," said the Headmaster wearily.
"You do that."
Rolling her eyes, McGonagall asked, "Can we get on with the Sorting?" And they did so. McGonagall took out a battered old hat and placed it on a stool in front of the assembly. It started singing:
Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat then me.
You can keep your bowlers black, Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
^"Terrible pun,"^ Harry whispered. Draco giggled.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
^"Referring to itself in the third person. That's the first sign of madness."^
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
^"Are the twins chivalrous?"^
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means,
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
^"Ladies and Gentlemen, we have hit rock bottom."^
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
^And here's a lower place." ^ McGonagall glared at him as the hall broke into applause.
"Are you done?"
"Is the song?" he said sweetly. The Deputy Headmistress just sighed and took out a roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted. Abbott, Hannah!"
A pink-faced girl with blond pigtails stumbled forward. The hat fell right down in front of her eyes as she sat on the stool. A moments pause and the hat opened it's brim and shouted -
"HUFFLEPUFF!" A table on the right cheered. Next was:
"Andrews, Evan!" Harry started, forgetting that he had changed his name to start with 'A'. He strolled up to the stool and whispers broke out all over the hall.
"There he is!"
"That's the one who cursed Snape!"
The hat dropped over his eyes.
"Ah, Mr. Andrews. Or should I say, Potter."
Harry jumped a little at the voice in his ear.
'Can you read my thoughts?'
"Of course, how else would I sort you? And interesting comments during my song, by the way."
'Needed a little livening up.'
"Humph. I worked all year on that!"
'Really? It must be a boring life as a hat.'
"Yes it is. I believe you are the first to say that. No one else cares that I spend 364 days of the year sitting on a shelf! With no view! And no one to talk to! And - "
'Woah! Calm down! If it makes you feel better, I'll visit you later. Can we get on to the Sorting part?'
"All right. Let's see. I don't think you'd do well in Hufflepuff. You might frighten them."
"Hey!"
"So, that's definitely out. Your smart enough for Ravenclaw. And definitely cunning enough for Slytherin, if you managed to fool Professor Snape. And you have Gryffindor bravery. Hmmm. You might be the most difficult person I ever had to sort!"
'Thank you.'
"Looking deeper, you have many interesting talents. Many, many. Secrets you have yet to unlock about yourself. And what's this? Oh my goodness!"
"What is it?"
"You are definitely a man of mystery, Harry Potter. This seals where you will go."
"What 'seals' it?"
"You have to figure that out for yourself. But, remember, things are not always what they appear. You'll get no better advice than that. And for your house, better be -"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
I know, I'm evil! Enjoy the cliff hanger!
* = this, as well as other dialogue, speeches, descriptions, and the song, are from 'HP + the PS' English Version, chs 6 + 7
** = 'going two rounds with a fruit fly' is from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 2, Becoming Part 1
^....^ = are Harry's comments during the song
Yay! Over 100 reviews! Thanks to person: It doesn't say anywhere that his middle name is James, so I'm making it Andrew. Everyone uses James; liz; sk8reagle: I actually drew a picture of the new Harry, but I don't have a scanner. I want one so much!!!; PheonixFire; Avlyn; JerseyGirl03; potter- man; BookMaster3000; and Lirael!
CH12: Chat with a Hat
~"I could," he continued defensively. "I bet you - I don't know - one Galleon that I could prank him by the end of the week."
George and Fred glanced at one another and stuck out their hands. "Deal." A voice then announced they had arrived at Hogwarts.~
The four of them made their way into the masses of the train. A voice bellowed over the crowd.
"Firs'-Years! Over here!" Harry recognized the voice as Hagrid. He and Draco bid the twins farewell and went to stand by the giant man.
"Hey Hagrid!" Harry said.
"Ah, alright there, Andy?" Harry nodded as Hagrid rounded up the rest of the first year students. "Everyone here? Good, follow me now. Mind yer step!" The group followed Hagrid down a steep, slippery path. "Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec.*" There was a loud 'Oooooooh.' The path came to a vast, dark lake. On the other side, set up on a mountain top, was Hogwarts. It was a breathtaking sight. The school was a huge castle with many turrets and sparkling windows.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called. He was pointing at a fleet of small row boats by the shore. Harry and Draco scurried into a nearby one. They were shortly followed by Neville and that girl, Hermione. "Everyone in? Right then - FORWARD!"
As one, the boats moved across the deep waters. Everyone was silent, staring up at the magnificent castle. Suddenly, the fleet reached a wall with ivy growing down it. "Heads down," Hagrid shouted. The ivy parted a bit and the sailed inside an underground cavern. There was a large door at the top of high stone steps. The kids clambered out of the boats and followed Hagrid up to the castle. He knocked three times on the door.
It swung open to reveal a tall, black-haired witch in emerald green robes.
"The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank you, I will take them from here." She pushed the door open farther to allow them into the Entrance Hall. It was huge. The ceiling seemed to go on and on forever and their was a beautiful marble staircase. Through the door to the right, they could hear hundreds and hundreds of voices - 'The rest of the school must already be in there' Harry thought. But the professor led them off into a side chamber before turning to address them.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in the house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has it's own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever becomes yours.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting and I will return for you when we are ready." With that, she left the small room. Harry turned to Draco.
"The Sorting will take place in front of the whole school," Harry mimicked softly. "Way to calm our nerves, Professor." Draco and some of the surrounding people sniggered. A few feet away, Hermione was whispering excitedly to Neville, wondering which spells they would have to use, while Neville looked like he had swallowed a Trevor Sandwich. And, on the other side of the chamber, a red-haired boy and a blond one were talking very loudly on what would happen.
"How exactly do they sort us?" the blond said nervously.
"Some sort of test I think. My brothers said something about wrestling in a troll." Harry couldn't help but snort. The red-head gave him a death glare.
"Oh come on, you can't believe that. They wouldn't make us face a troll on the first day. There wouldn't be any students to teach." Harry eyed the boys hair. "Your brothers wouldn't happen to be Fred and George Weasley, would they?" The boy looked a little confused, but nodded. "Thought so. And, just so you know, 1) Your brothers couldn't go two rounds with a fruit fly, so they wouldn't still be in school**, and 2) With all the pranks they play, you actually trust something they tell you?" The Weasley boy scoffed.
"And why should I listen to you. You're hanging out with a Malfoy." Draco's cheeks turned pink as stared at the floor, but Harry simply said,
"So?"
Weasley opened his mouth to speak again, but was interrupted by McGonagall coming back into the room.
"The Sorting is about to start. Form a line and follow me." The did so. The professor led them through large oak doors into the Great Hall. It was a spectacular place. Thousands of candles were floating over four long tables, one for each house, Harry supposed. The ceiling was bewitched to look like the sky outside, he remembered from 'Hogwarts - A History', and heard someone behind him say the same thing. Just then, a door of the side of the hall banged open. In walked a man with long, greasy black hair, and flowing black robes, muttering something about like 'his experiment ran late'. From descriptions, this had to be Professor Snape.
Snape strode past the line of First-Years on his way to the head table and Harry saw his chance. Without taking his wand out of his pocket, he clutched it and directed the tip at the professor, and mumbled 'coluris.' He prayed something would happen. The effect way instantaneous.
Instead of the greasy black hair he had moments before, Snape now had a purple Mohawk. The Hall fell silent. Noticing the strange looks he was getting, he asked,
"What?"
Professor McGonagall began carefully. 'Severus, your-your hair..." Puzzled, Snape conjured a mirror and blew his top.
"Who did this?!?" he roared.
Harry put on his best innocent act. He positioned his hands over his heart and cried, "Oh! I am so sorry, Professor! I had my wand in my pocket and it just set off sparks. I don't know what could have caused it." Snape looked murderous, but, before he could verbally attack Harry, Dumbledore stepped in.
"See, Severus, it was all an accident. I'm sure young, Mr. Andrews, didn't mean it." His eyes were twinkling madly. "And he said he was sorry. We need to get on with the Ceremony."
"Of course, Headmaster. But, there at least needs to be a deduction of house points - "
Harry cut him off. "You can't do that, Professor."
"Why not?" Snape hissed
"I'm not in a house yet."
Snape started sputtering. "But - I - you - I'll just go fix my hair" and he stalked out of the Great Hall. After making sure he was really gone, Harry calmly walked up to the Gryffindor table and the Weasley twins, and held out his hand. They dropped a Galleon in it, glowering. He got back in line with the first years amid laughs from the rest of the school.
"I'm going to forget I saw that," said the Headmaster wearily.
"You do that."
Rolling her eyes, McGonagall asked, "Can we get on with the Sorting?" And they did so. McGonagall took out a battered old hat and placed it on a stool in front of the assembly. It started singing:
Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat then me.
You can keep your bowlers black, Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
^"Terrible pun,"^ Harry whispered. Draco giggled.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
^"Referring to itself in the third person. That's the first sign of madness."^
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
^"Are the twins chivalrous?"^
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means,
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
^"Ladies and Gentlemen, we have hit rock bottom."^
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
^And here's a lower place." ^ McGonagall glared at him as the hall broke into applause.
"Are you done?"
"Is the song?" he said sweetly. The Deputy Headmistress just sighed and took out a roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted. Abbott, Hannah!"
A pink-faced girl with blond pigtails stumbled forward. The hat fell right down in front of her eyes as she sat on the stool. A moments pause and the hat opened it's brim and shouted -
"HUFFLEPUFF!" A table on the right cheered. Next was:
"Andrews, Evan!" Harry started, forgetting that he had changed his name to start with 'A'. He strolled up to the stool and whispers broke out all over the hall.
"There he is!"
"That's the one who cursed Snape!"
The hat dropped over his eyes.
"Ah, Mr. Andrews. Or should I say, Potter."
Harry jumped a little at the voice in his ear.
'Can you read my thoughts?'
"Of course, how else would I sort you? And interesting comments during my song, by the way."
'Needed a little livening up.'
"Humph. I worked all year on that!"
'Really? It must be a boring life as a hat.'
"Yes it is. I believe you are the first to say that. No one else cares that I spend 364 days of the year sitting on a shelf! With no view! And no one to talk to! And - "
'Woah! Calm down! If it makes you feel better, I'll visit you later. Can we get on to the Sorting part?'
"All right. Let's see. I don't think you'd do well in Hufflepuff. You might frighten them."
"Hey!"
"So, that's definitely out. Your smart enough for Ravenclaw. And definitely cunning enough for Slytherin, if you managed to fool Professor Snape. And you have Gryffindor bravery. Hmmm. You might be the most difficult person I ever had to sort!"
'Thank you.'
"Looking deeper, you have many interesting talents. Many, many. Secrets you have yet to unlock about yourself. And what's this? Oh my goodness!"
"What is it?"
"You are definitely a man of mystery, Harry Potter. This seals where you will go."
"What 'seals' it?"
"You have to figure that out for yourself. But, remember, things are not always what they appear. You'll get no better advice than that. And for your house, better be -"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
I know, I'm evil! Enjoy the cliff hanger!
* = this, as well as other dialogue, speeches, descriptions, and the song, are from 'HP + the PS' English Version, chs 6 + 7
** = 'going two rounds with a fruit fly' is from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Season 2, Becoming Part 1
^....^ = are Harry's comments during the song
