The Crocodile, The Swordfish & the Enchanted Hob Nob
By DevilShoes and I-h8-sclub
Disclaimer- We own nothing except for the Crocodile and the Swordfish. And quite a bit of this chapter was borrowed from The Philosopher's Stone.
AN- This is chapter 2 and it's by I-h8-sclub.
Chapter 2- The Sorting Hat
The immense castle mesmerised them as they travelled across the lake in the self-rowing boats.
"I can't believe how big it is!" Exclaimed Swordfish. "How are we ever going to find our way around?"
"I honestly don't know." Crocodile replied.
They didn't talk for a while, both wanting to come to terms with the castle's size and beauty in their own way. The Castle wasn't the only thing that the two friends were trying to grow used to. Already they'd had many funny looks thrown their way, and they had only encountered the other first years. No one had approached their boat when the giant bearded man had told them that they must share. A bushy haired girl had glanced their way before noticing a spare place next to three other boys. Two of which didn't seem pleased with her decision.
Suddenly, the boats stopped. They all clambered out and waited as the big man hammered on the castle entrance. The door swung open and they were faced with a tall woman wearing emerald green robes.
"The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall." So that was her name. Crocodile made a mental note to remember that. He knew that this woman would not accept any idiotic behaviour.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." They all followed her into the vast entrance hall; Crocodile and swordfish brought up the rear. Everyone listened intently as Professor McGonagall started talking. She explained all about the different houses of Hogwarts. She then told them to wait quietly until she returned.
Crocodile and Swordfish turned to each other. Swordfish accidentally pinning a tall girl to the wall with his sword in the process. After apologising profoundly, he turned back to his friend.
"Crocodile," he began.
"Yes Swordfish?" Crocodile answered.
"What if we're not in the same house?" Crocodile looked worried for a second before reassuring Swordfish.
"I don't know." He answered. "But we'll still be best friends." Swordfish smiled and pulled his comrade into a hug.
They didn't seem to be able to hear the screams from the other students who had just noticed the ghosts gliding through the walls.
They became aware of everything again when the sound of McGonagall's drifted over to them.
"The Sorting Ceremony's about to start." She made them form a line, Crocodile and Swordfish once again at the rear. They made their way through the double doors that led to the Great Hall.
They had thought that the castle as a whole was amazing, but that was nothing compared to the magnificence of the Great Hall. Thousands of floating candles hovered over four equally long tables. The tables were set with sparkling plates and goblets, all ready for the welcoming feast. There was a head table at the end of the hall where Crocodile and Swordfish could see so many adults. They presumed it was the staff table. Nearly all of the first years were silent, most probably because they were nervous, but one wasn't. The bushy haired girl from earlier was commenting on the ceiling of the hall.
"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside, I read about it in Hogwarts, a History."
The two Animalusheadius' were brought out of their thoughts as they witnessed Professor McGonagall place a tattered and grimy Wizard's hat on a stool in font of the first years. The rest of the school seemed to be staring at the hat.
Much to Crocodile and Swordfish's amazement and amusement, the hat burst into song:
'You can keep your bowlers black,
You top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave of heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
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 in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk 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)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
As soon as the hat stopped singing, every single person burst in to applause. Crocodile and Swordfish looked at each other, both thinking the same thing.
"What if the hat won't fit on my head?" Before a chance to reply came about, Professor McGonagall had stepped out in front of the stool, and was now rolling out a long piece of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbot, Hannah!" A small girl with blonde pigtails ran over to the stool and placed the hat on her head. After a second or two, the hat shouted,
"Hufflepuff!"
The right hand table cheered as the girl skipped over to them.
"Bones, Susan!"
"Hufflepuff!" Came the cry of the hat, and Susan walked over to sit with Hannah.
"Boot, Terry!"
"Ravenclaw!" The table second from the left cheered this time and Terry was greeted most enthusiastically.
'Brocklehurst, Mandy' also got sorted into Ravenclaw, but 'Brown, Lavender' became the first new Gryffindor and the table on the far left exploded with applause. Crocodile became more and more nervous as his sorting grew closer.
'Bulstrode, Millicent' then became the first Slytherin.
Crocodile felt extremely nauseous now. He was on the verge of turning around and running from the hall when,
"Crocodile!" He took a deep breath and stepped forward. He could feel every pair of eyes on him. He glanced back at Swordfish who gave him an encouraging smile. When he got close to the stool, he picked up the hat and placed it on the top of his head. They were right, it didn't fit, so it just had to balance on his head.
"Ahh! An Animalusheadius! Haven't met one of you before." Said a small voice in Crocodile's...well, it was actually quite a way from Crocodile's ear but you get the picture.
"Hmm. Where to put you. Not Slytherin. They'll eat you alive. Though I suppose they'd be more worried about you doing that. Ravenclaw? No offence, but you really don't have the intelligence for Ravenclaw." 'Oh cheers!' Crocodile thought. "Hey," replied the voice, "I said no offence." A sigh escaped the young Animalusheadius' lips. "Gryffindor? Everyone else seems to get put there don't they? No, I'll put you in Ms Hufflepuff's house. Hufflepuff!" The last word was shouted.
The hall was silent. Nobody clapped. Crocodile was extremely embarrassed. To the extent that the scaly green skin on his cheeks were tinged with a little bit of red. He ran towards the Hufflepuff table and sat at the end, away from everyone else. He put his head on the table, trying to block out everything that was happening. They carried on with the sorting. Crocodile heard the loudest round of applause erupt for some kid named Harry something. He instantly disliked the kid.
Swordfish felt so sorry for his best friend, but he also felt sorry for himself. He knew that he was going to get the exact same response as Crocodile did. It came to his time, and he sauntered up to the stool and tried to block out everything the tattered hat was saying. All he heard was,
"Hufflepuff!" Thanking Ivan, the first ever Animalusheadius, that he was in the same house as his friend, he plonked himself down next to Crocodile.
"Come on Croc, cheer up! It might never happen!"
"What might never happen?" asked the melancholy youngster.
"I don't know. What a stupid expression!" They both sighed. This was not a good start. Definitely not good...