Chapter 4
"Holy Christ," Duo whispered, looking wide-eyed at all the people sitting at the tables in the room. The room – it was more like its own separate building – was filled with teenagers. A table lined with adults was at the other end. And they were all looking right at them. Duo glanced side to side at his comrades, noticing Quatre's bright red hue and Wufei's glare at McGonagall for drawing so much attention to them. Heero was edging towards the shadows, very uncomfortable in the spotlight. Silence reined in the room as McGonagall made her way towards the front table. Duo cleared his throat nervously, calling up on his life-saving charm.
"Uh… hi?" He called out, waving slightly. A wave caught his eye and he looked towards one of the far tables. He noticed the dark-haired boy, Harry, sitting next to a redhead and a bushy-haired girl. Glancing at Heero, he saw the Japanese boy had noticed him too. Duo gave him a questioning look, and the former Wing pilot nodded. Together they started moving towards the one table, where everyone seemed to be sporting red and gold robes. Harry beamed as they approached.
"Hello again! I'm glad to see you got those robes you were asking about."
Duo smiled, sitting in one of the vacant seats. Heero sat next to him, Quatre and Trowa fitting in across. Left without a seat, Wufei stood behind Duo, very aware of all the people watching them.
"Yeah, so are we. So uh… what the hell's going on?" Duo asked, now noticing the line of littler kids next to the adults' table. McGonagall was conversing with Dumbledore, who was holding gesturing to a ratty old hat that sat on a stool in front of the little kids.
Harry followed his line of sight and nodded. "That's the Sorting Hat. It places all those smaller kids into their houses. This table is Gryffindor house, the far one's Slytherin. That's the Ravenclaw house, and that's Hufflepuff," Harry explained, gesturing to the tables as he spoke. "I'm not sure what they'll do with you, since you're too old to be first years. They might place you."
"Yeah… we had the privilege of hearing McGonagall muse about the same thing."
As if hearing Duo speak her name, Professor McGonagall straightened from her conversation with Dumbledore and looked towards them. She gestured with her hand that they come to the front, and so they did. Harry smiled reassuringly at them, and as soon as the five of them had moved away Heero heard Harry's two friends whisper questions at him. He smirked.
"Uh, Heero. Is it just me or are all these people staring freaking you out?" Duo murmured from his side. Heero glanced out at the sea of faces and shrugged.
"Ignore them. They must lead boring lives if we're so interesting."
Duo chuckled softly.
Once they reached the front with McGonagall, she directed them to stand with the first years. "Your names will be called," she announced to all, "in alphabetical order. You are to sit at your house table until the sorting is complete."
She began reading from a long list of students, and Duo frowned when she skipped over Trowa's name. When she skipped Wufei's as well, he realized that she was going to announce them at the end.
"Saving the best for last," Quatre murmured, smiling. He was quite unnerved by the people watching them, and had been unconsciously slipping closer to Trowa. The boy's stoicism was comforting in its own way.
"Of course, Quat. Isn't that always how it works?" Duo smiled. Quatre nodded, sighing. When the last first year had been sorted, Quatre breathed deeply.
"These last boys have come to the school quite unexpectedly, and although they will be placed in sixth year classes they are going to receive privileges until they have adjusted to the school and its courses.
Barton, Trowa."
Trowa glanced back at his comrades who merely nodded. Trowa walked forward, scrutinizing the hat before sitting on the stool. The hat was placed on his head, and Trowa frowned at a voice that began speaking into his head. It commented on his strong sense of loyalty and compassion, and its admiration of his strength.
He was placed in Gryffindor.
"Chang, Wufei."
Wufei sat in the stool with less apprehension than Trowa, and everyone watched curiously as the oriental boy's lips curved in a small smile.
He was placed in Gryffindor as well.
"Maxwell, Duo."
A few whistles and catcalls came from the crowd and Duo turned to glare at the sea of people. "Oi!" he hollered. "Whoever thinks they're so damn funny – I hope you realize I'm a GUY at least!"
Laughter sounded from the table to the far left, but Duo ignored it to sit in the stool. He glowered at the crowd. When the voice began speaking in his mind, he started. It spoke of his hardships, and praised his strength for overcoming those hardships. It realized his want for companionship, assessing his needs and wants.
And he was placed in Gryffindor.
The Gryffindor table continued to cheer politely, even though a confused murmur began rising among the students. Duo looked back at the hat with a confused look as Quatre was called towards it. Duo made his way to the table and sat next to Trowa. His two comrades looked as curious as he felt, and he turned to watch the blond Arabian get sorted.
It came as a surprise, or none at all, when the short boy was placed in Gryffindor.
"This is different," Harry's redheaded friend murmured. Even though Duo was new to this place, he was inclined to agree.
"Yuy, Heero."
The final pilot approached the stool, eyeing it carefully. He looked towards his group of friends curiously before sitting on the stool. Duo flashed him a thumbs up and Heero nodded slightly.
Dumbledore sat with an amused smile on his face, his fingers forming a steeple before him. He watched the exchange with keen interest, ignoring the confused questions that the Professors around him were asking.
Heero sat on the chair, distinctly uncomfortable with being the center of attention. 'This is Duo's place', he thought. 'Not mine.' The hat picked up his discomfort, analyzing his childhood. Heero did not respond to its questions, merely listening to its commentary. The hat finished its assessment and seemed… confused.
[There are two minds in you, boy,] came the voice of the hat. Heero nodded. [Which one is real, and which is an act?] Heero didn't answer. [Part of you plays the soldier – strong and courageous and bold. The other is the same, only kinder, gentler. Friendlier. Which is the real mind, you strange boy?]
Duo watched curiously as a frown appeared on Heero's face. His eyes had been closed, and he seemed to be listening intently to the voice speaking to him through the hat. When those eyes opened, Duo tried not to jump when they focused right on him.
[That boy is the key, then, is he?] Heero frowned, mentally asking the hat what it meant. The key to what?
[Yes… that's the one. And with the others – how odd. You're all so much the same. Very well then.]
"GRYFFINDOR!"
