If Things Were Different: The Sorcerer's Stone
Chapter Six: The Sorting
Summary:What if Harry left the Dursley's behind? What if he grew up far from Privet Drive? What if he wasn't a Gryffindor? What if he had different friends? What if he wasn't the golden boy that they wanted him to be? AU first year. NOT slash. R/R
A/N Sorry about the long delay. My internet was down for like a week, then I was busy for school-work and studying for my PSATs. But have no fear, for the next chapter is finnaly here. (hey, that rhymed!) R/R! Thanks to:
Serry - I'm glad you seem to like this, and sorry about the mixup with chapter 1. Oh, and the whole Harry-as-Dark-Lord thing you won't have to worry about... I think.
Devonny Rose - I'm glad you aren't a Ron lover, I've been liking him less and less since Prizoner of Azkaban. Also glad you like how i'm portraying Harry. Anyways, here's the next update, sorry about the delay.
Byproduct of Evil - Here's the next chapter, sorry about the wait.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, except a bit of the plot and/or new characters. Also, I may use some descriptions/quotes from the book. Don't sue.
*** The four had just finished getting dressed when the train came to a screaching halt at Hogsmeade station. They quickly joined the large throng of students making a rush off the train onto the platform. They weren't on the platform for long when the heard a loud voice beckoning them over.
"Fir' years! Firs' years over here!"
***
The four boys made their way over to the large, errr, man, that was beckoning over. "C'mon, follow me -- any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"
Slipping and stumbling they followed the giant-like, hairy man down a steep and narrow path. It was extremley dark and Harry thought they must be going through a forest. There wasn't a whole lot of talking going on, with the exception of Harry and Draco who were expressing their discontent of the uneven path.
"It's no wonder Weasley's not complaining about this pitiful path, it's probably a step up from the walkways at his house." Draco called out loudly.
"Shove it, Malfoy!" Ron called out through the darkness.
"I'd watch who you're telling to shove it, Weasley, remember our conversation earlier?" Harry called out in an emotionless voice.
"Quiet back there. Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' 'Ogwarts in a sec," The large man called over his shoulder. Just then the path took a sharp cure and opened onto a great, large, black lake. On the far side, hight atop a mountain stood a breath-taking castle, its windows sparkling like stars in the night sky.
"No more'n four to a boat!" The man's voice brought their attention to a small fleet of little row boats sitting on the shore. Harry was followed by Terry, Draco, and Blaise into one of the boats.
Soon all the boats were gliding across the smooth lake, piloting themsleves. They neared a high cliff, which the castle stood atop of. "Head's down!" The overly-large man called.
Harry ducked his head only seconds before the boats glided through some ivy which hid an opening in the face of the cliff. They came to an undergound harbor and unloaded from the boats, making their way up a flight of steps, coming out on the Hogwarts grounds. They made their way up to a huge oak, front door, which the large man walked up to and knocked on three times.
Almost instantly the door opened up to reveal the women from Harry's apartment who he recognized as the strict Professor McGonagall.
"The fir's years, Professor."
"Thank you, I will take them from here, Hagrid."
McGonagall led the students through the huge entrance hall, past a set of doors, which Harry could hear thousands of voices behind. Professor McGonagall led them on though, into a small, empty chamber lit by several flaming torches.
Once the first years had crowded into the chamber McGonagall gave a quick, straight-to-the-point speech on Hogwarts, the houses, and the coming sorting. Harry tuned out most of it, already having heard the basics earlier, back at his apartment, however he was quite delighted when McGonagall all but told Ron that he needed to clean up, before she headed out throught the door.
"How exactly do they sort us?" A sandy haired boy questioned.
"I heard its a test."
"I heard we have to fight a troll."
"Nonsense." Malfoy stated to the troll statment, which Weasley had made.
"What makes you so sure, Malfoy?" The red-head spit.
"Nothing really. Just my father, if you must know, is on the school's governor board, and they would never approve something that dangerous."
"Oh, well..." Ron muttered at a loss of words.
Suddenly something happend which nearly made Harry lose his compsure, which he had kept admiraly so far. Several people behind him, however, had no such luck as they let out screams.
About twenty ghosts, nearly transparent and eeirly white had just floated through the wall, talking to eachother, not even noticing the first years. They seemed to be having some sort of heated argument.
"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance --"
"My dear Friar, haven't we give Peeves enough 'second chances' already? He gives us all a bad name, and he's not even really one of us! -- I say, what are you lot doing here?"
A ghost wearing what could only be fifteenth-century attire had noticed the first years.
Nobody answered, instead vouching to stare nevously around at one-another.
"New students! No doubt about to be sorted, I suppose?" The ghost known as the Fat Friar called out. Harry, along with a few others, slowly nodded.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" The Friar called out.
"Nay, why not Gryffindor?" Another called out.
"Move along now," a sharp voice called and Harry spun around to see McGonagall, "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start, so form a line."
Harry attemted to gulp down the nervous lump that had appeared in his throat and got in the line behind Malfoy. They soon were off, out of the chamber, through the pair of double doors, and into the Great Hall.
Harry had never imagined such a starnge and beautiful room. It was lit by thousands of candles, hovering over four long tables where hundreds and hundreds of students sat. These tables were laid with glittering gold plates, bowls and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table, where the teachers sat, and this is where Professor McGonagall led them, so they came to a halt, facing the other students. To avoid all the pairs of staring eyes, Harry glanced upward, only to be awestruck by a velvety black sky, dotted with stars (He heard the bushy-haired girl inform someone that it was bewtiched to look like the sky outside). Harry, however, found it almost hard to believe that there was a ceiling there at all.
Harry gazed back down and saw Professor McGonagall placing a four-legged stool in front of the first years, and on the stool she placed a battered old hat, which seemed to be the focus of everyone's attention.
There were a few seconds of complete silence, until a rip near the brim of the hat opened wide and the hat began to sing:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty, But don't judge on what you see, I'll eat myself if you can find A smarter hat than 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. There's noting 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 at 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 Slytherin You'll make you're 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!"
The hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song and Harry breathed a sigh of relief as Malfoy voiced Harry's thoughts.
"So all we have to do is try on a bloody hat! I wasn't really sure, I only said that to Weasle to make him look bad."
Harry smirked weakliy, he knew Malfoy hadn't been half as confident as he had let on earlier. Professor McGonagall's voice broke Harry's thoughts as she called out, "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted....Abbott, Hannah!"
A pink-face girl with pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, and sat down.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat cried out. The table on the right cheered and Hannah went to sit at it.
"Bones, Susan" A tall red-headed girl put the hat on.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Boot, Terry!" Terry nervously stepped out of line. He caught Harry's eye as he made his way to the stool and Harry gave him an encouraging look. Terry placed the hat on his head and sat on the stool for nearly three minutes before the hat called out, "RAVENCLAW!"
"Brocklehurst, Mandy" followed Terry to Ravenclaw and then "Brown, Lavender" became the first Gryffindor.
Next a large, ugly girl named "Bulstrode, Millicent" became a Slytherin.
Harry observed as several more students went off to one of the four houses, noting that the buck-toothed Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom (the boy who had lost his toad) both managed to get into Gryffindor, much to Weasley's dipleasure.
A short, brown haired boy with dark eyes by the name of "MacDougal, Morag" went to Slytherin followed by:
"Malfoy, Draco!" Draco turned to Harry and said in a sure voice, "See you in a minute." Harry nodded and Draco made his way up to the stool. The hat had barley touched his head when it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
Two more boys, by the names of "Moon" and "Nott" followed Draco to Slytherin, as well as a pug-faced girl named Pansy Parkinson. Next were a pair of identical twins named Padma and Parvati Patil, who went to Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, respectivley.
Next was a girl who caught Harry's attention. Her name was Sally-Anne Perks, but she didn't look like what you'd expect a "Sally-Anne" to look like. She was tall for her age, with pale, almost pearly-white skin and long, flowing black hair, and even from a distance, Harry could tell that she had brilliant blue eyes. Harry also took notice that she had several black braclets on her arms and several assorted necklaces were visible around her neck.
She made her way out to the stool and carefully placed the hat on her head. The hat was silent for several minutes before it called out "SLYTHERIN." For some reason Harry was relieved with where she was sorted.
"Potter, Harry!"
As Harry stepped forward towards the hat, whispers broke out all across the hall.
"Potter, did they say?"
"The Harry Potter ?"
The last thing Harry saw before the hat obscured his vision was a hall full of people craning to get a good look at him.
"Hmm," a small voiced whispered in his ear. " Curious."
"Not sure if I like the sound of that." Harry thought to himself.
"Yes, I see why you say that.. However, on to buisness. You have quite a curious mind.... Hmm... Gryffindor would do you good, its where all the other Potter's have gone. Hmm..brilliant mind as well, Perhaps Ravenclaw? Ooooh, whats this. Yes, I see, a thirst to prove yourself... and my, my what talent!. You'd do well in Slytherin."
"Sounds good to me." Harry thought to himself. "Just not Gryffindor."
"Very well then. If you're sure -- better be SLYTHERIN!"
A/N: Once again, sorry about the long delay. I can't promoise the next chapter will be up this week, but I'll try. Oh, and I have a question, does anyone know why ff.net isn't allowing me to upload this as a .htm file so that I can have bold/italics and stuff?
Chapter Six: The Sorting
Summary:What if Harry left the Dursley's behind? What if he grew up far from Privet Drive? What if he wasn't a Gryffindor? What if he had different friends? What if he wasn't the golden boy that they wanted him to be? AU first year. NOT slash. R/R
A/N Sorry about the long delay. My internet was down for like a week, then I was busy for school-work and studying for my PSATs. But have no fear, for the next chapter is finnaly here. (hey, that rhymed!) R/R! Thanks to:
Serry - I'm glad you seem to like this, and sorry about the mixup with chapter 1. Oh, and the whole Harry-as-Dark-Lord thing you won't have to worry about... I think.
Devonny Rose - I'm glad you aren't a Ron lover, I've been liking him less and less since Prizoner of Azkaban. Also glad you like how i'm portraying Harry. Anyways, here's the next update, sorry about the delay.
Byproduct of Evil - Here's the next chapter, sorry about the wait.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this, except a bit of the plot and/or new characters. Also, I may use some descriptions/quotes from the book. Don't sue.
*** The four had just finished getting dressed when the train came to a screaching halt at Hogsmeade station. They quickly joined the large throng of students making a rush off the train onto the platform. They weren't on the platform for long when the heard a loud voice beckoning them over.
"Fir' years! Firs' years over here!"
***
The four boys made their way over to the large, errr, man, that was beckoning over. "C'mon, follow me -- any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"
Slipping and stumbling they followed the giant-like, hairy man down a steep and narrow path. It was extremley dark and Harry thought they must be going through a forest. There wasn't a whole lot of talking going on, with the exception of Harry and Draco who were expressing their discontent of the uneven path.
"It's no wonder Weasley's not complaining about this pitiful path, it's probably a step up from the walkways at his house." Draco called out loudly.
"Shove it, Malfoy!" Ron called out through the darkness.
"I'd watch who you're telling to shove it, Weasley, remember our conversation earlier?" Harry called out in an emotionless voice.
"Quiet back there. Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' 'Ogwarts in a sec," The large man called over his shoulder. Just then the path took a sharp cure and opened onto a great, large, black lake. On the far side, hight atop a mountain stood a breath-taking castle, its windows sparkling like stars in the night sky.
"No more'n four to a boat!" The man's voice brought their attention to a small fleet of little row boats sitting on the shore. Harry was followed by Terry, Draco, and Blaise into one of the boats.
Soon all the boats were gliding across the smooth lake, piloting themsleves. They neared a high cliff, which the castle stood atop of. "Head's down!" The overly-large man called.
Harry ducked his head only seconds before the boats glided through some ivy which hid an opening in the face of the cliff. They came to an undergound harbor and unloaded from the boats, making their way up a flight of steps, coming out on the Hogwarts grounds. They made their way up to a huge oak, front door, which the large man walked up to and knocked on three times.
Almost instantly the door opened up to reveal the women from Harry's apartment who he recognized as the strict Professor McGonagall.
"The fir's years, Professor."
"Thank you, I will take them from here, Hagrid."
McGonagall led the students through the huge entrance hall, past a set of doors, which Harry could hear thousands of voices behind. Professor McGonagall led them on though, into a small, empty chamber lit by several flaming torches.
Once the first years had crowded into the chamber McGonagall gave a quick, straight-to-the-point speech on Hogwarts, the houses, and the coming sorting. Harry tuned out most of it, already having heard the basics earlier, back at his apartment, however he was quite delighted when McGonagall all but told Ron that he needed to clean up, before she headed out throught the door.
"How exactly do they sort us?" A sandy haired boy questioned.
"I heard its a test."
"I heard we have to fight a troll."
"Nonsense." Malfoy stated to the troll statment, which Weasley had made.
"What makes you so sure, Malfoy?" The red-head spit.
"Nothing really. Just my father, if you must know, is on the school's governor board, and they would never approve something that dangerous."
"Oh, well..." Ron muttered at a loss of words.
Suddenly something happend which nearly made Harry lose his compsure, which he had kept admiraly so far. Several people behind him, however, had no such luck as they let out screams.
About twenty ghosts, nearly transparent and eeirly white had just floated through the wall, talking to eachother, not even noticing the first years. They seemed to be having some sort of heated argument.
"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance --"
"My dear Friar, haven't we give Peeves enough 'second chances' already? He gives us all a bad name, and he's not even really one of us! -- I say, what are you lot doing here?"
A ghost wearing what could only be fifteenth-century attire had noticed the first years.
Nobody answered, instead vouching to stare nevously around at one-another.
"New students! No doubt about to be sorted, I suppose?" The ghost known as the Fat Friar called out. Harry, along with a few others, slowly nodded.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" The Friar called out.
"Nay, why not Gryffindor?" Another called out.
"Move along now," a sharp voice called and Harry spun around to see McGonagall, "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start, so form a line."
Harry attemted to gulp down the nervous lump that had appeared in his throat and got in the line behind Malfoy. They soon were off, out of the chamber, through the pair of double doors, and into the Great Hall.
Harry had never imagined such a starnge and beautiful room. It was lit by thousands of candles, hovering over four long tables where hundreds and hundreds of students sat. These tables were laid with glittering gold plates, bowls and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table, where the teachers sat, and this is where Professor McGonagall led them, so they came to a halt, facing the other students. To avoid all the pairs of staring eyes, Harry glanced upward, only to be awestruck by a velvety black sky, dotted with stars (He heard the bushy-haired girl inform someone that it was bewtiched to look like the sky outside). Harry, however, found it almost hard to believe that there was a ceiling there at all.
Harry gazed back down and saw Professor McGonagall placing a four-legged stool in front of the first years, and on the stool she placed a battered old hat, which seemed to be the focus of everyone's attention.
There were a few seconds of complete silence, until a rip near the brim of the hat opened wide and the hat began to sing:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty, But don't judge on what you see, I'll eat myself if you can find A smarter hat than 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. There's noting 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 at 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 Slytherin You'll make you're 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!"
The hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song and Harry breathed a sigh of relief as Malfoy voiced Harry's thoughts.
"So all we have to do is try on a bloody hat! I wasn't really sure, I only said that to Weasle to make him look bad."
Harry smirked weakliy, he knew Malfoy hadn't been half as confident as he had let on earlier. Professor McGonagall's voice broke Harry's thoughts as she called out, "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted....Abbott, Hannah!"
A pink-face girl with pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, and sat down.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat cried out. The table on the right cheered and Hannah went to sit at it.
"Bones, Susan" A tall red-headed girl put the hat on.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Boot, Terry!" Terry nervously stepped out of line. He caught Harry's eye as he made his way to the stool and Harry gave him an encouraging look. Terry placed the hat on his head and sat on the stool for nearly three minutes before the hat called out, "RAVENCLAW!"
"Brocklehurst, Mandy" followed Terry to Ravenclaw and then "Brown, Lavender" became the first Gryffindor.
Next a large, ugly girl named "Bulstrode, Millicent" became a Slytherin.
Harry observed as several more students went off to one of the four houses, noting that the buck-toothed Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom (the boy who had lost his toad) both managed to get into Gryffindor, much to Weasley's dipleasure.
A short, brown haired boy with dark eyes by the name of "MacDougal, Morag" went to Slytherin followed by:
"Malfoy, Draco!" Draco turned to Harry and said in a sure voice, "See you in a minute." Harry nodded and Draco made his way up to the stool. The hat had barley touched his head when it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
Two more boys, by the names of "Moon" and "Nott" followed Draco to Slytherin, as well as a pug-faced girl named Pansy Parkinson. Next were a pair of identical twins named Padma and Parvati Patil, who went to Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, respectivley.
Next was a girl who caught Harry's attention. Her name was Sally-Anne Perks, but she didn't look like what you'd expect a "Sally-Anne" to look like. She was tall for her age, with pale, almost pearly-white skin and long, flowing black hair, and even from a distance, Harry could tell that she had brilliant blue eyes. Harry also took notice that she had several black braclets on her arms and several assorted necklaces were visible around her neck.
She made her way out to the stool and carefully placed the hat on her head. The hat was silent for several minutes before it called out "SLYTHERIN." For some reason Harry was relieved with where she was sorted.
"Potter, Harry!"
As Harry stepped forward towards the hat, whispers broke out all across the hall.
"Potter, did they say?"
"The Harry Potter ?"
The last thing Harry saw before the hat obscured his vision was a hall full of people craning to get a good look at him.
"Hmm," a small voiced whispered in his ear. " Curious."
"Not sure if I like the sound of that." Harry thought to himself.
"Yes, I see why you say that.. However, on to buisness. You have quite a curious mind.... Hmm... Gryffindor would do you good, its where all the other Potter's have gone. Hmm..brilliant mind as well, Perhaps Ravenclaw? Ooooh, whats this. Yes, I see, a thirst to prove yourself... and my, my what talent!. You'd do well in Slytherin."
"Sounds good to me." Harry thought to himself. "Just not Gryffindor."
"Very well then. If you're sure -- better be SLYTHERIN!"
A/N: Once again, sorry about the long delay. I can't promoise the next chapter will be up this week, but I'll try. Oh, and I have a question, does anyone know why ff.net isn't allowing me to upload this as a .htm file so that I can have bold/italics and stuff?