Losing It
By Daedream
DISCLAIMER: Yes, I own Harry Potter, he lives in my closet and I feed him biscuits at night. Here you go Harry…it's cheese-flavored…
Chapter 4: The Sorting
Dumbledore's Office
They entered a circulatory room. Glass bookshelves lined the walls; there was an assortment of silver objects on the desk. In the center of the room a colorful bird sat on a perch, crooning happily. Ara stroked it lovingly. "…A phoenix…" she breathed. "Where on earth did you get it…?" Dumbledore waved his wand and a fluffy purple chair appeared. "Please, do sit." He smiled at the phoenix. "That is Faukes." Then he turned to her. "I am…surprised that you… know this. Not many… know… of the… Phoenix…" Ara waved it away with a dismissive hand. "I read a lot of books as a child…before they were all burned…but anyway, you didn't say where the phoenix was from. I'd like to know, if you don't mind." Dumbledore sighed. "That…is of no…great importance…" Ara noticed, with a little sympathy, that he paused every few words to inhale a large, wheezing breath. He looked quite strong and stable for his age. Probably magic…
"I am growing old, yes…I have not long to live in this world…"
Dumbledore replied breathily, as if sensing her thoughts.
"…But death is not sad, Ara. It is simply the passage from one life to another…do keep that in mind."
Ara sighed. "So my parents just passed from one life to another, is that right? They're just…in another life now? Without me?"
"…Yes. But someday…someday you will join them…of that I am sure." He paused for a moment, then continued. "You have endured quite a great loss, Ara. I understand that. Is there…anything…you…wish…to...tell…me?"
Ara shook her head, changing the subject. "No. Am I in trouble?" Dumbledore laughed. "In trouble! Whatever for? No, not at all…there is simply a matter of sorting that I wish to discuss." Ara frowned. "…Sorting?" Dumbledore nodded, rose from his seat, and picked up a strange looking pointed hat from a high shelf. He placed it on her head. "This hat will determine which house you belong to." Ara frowned doubtfully but she left it there.
"Don't believe in me, eh?"
Ara jumped. "…it…talks…" she squeaked. Dumbledore smiled. "Indeed it does…what does it have to say, I wonder?"
The Hat growled. "Don't treat me like that! I work all day, shoved onto children's smelly heads, and what do I get for it? Disrespect, I tell you, this is not---"
"Silence."
The Hat rolled the creases it had for eyes and fell silent. There was a long pause as it examined Ara's brain. "hmm….let's see…. I see intelligence, wit, observation, bravery, kindness, and determination…Oh my. Oh dear. This has never happened before…. not in the history of Hogwarts, oh no no no…"
"What is it?" Asked Ara timidly. "Oh dear, I didn't do something wrong, did I?"
The Hat sighed. "You fit exactly into each of the four houses. But which house do you want to be in? Dumbledore, why don't you explain each house?" Dumbledore nodded. "Okay, Hogwarts in a nutshell: Gryffindor is based mainly upon bravery and honor, Ravenclaw is based upon wit and leaning, Hufflepuff is based upon loyalty and justice, and lastly, Slytherin, is based upon cunning and ambition. Now, Ara, you seem to fit in all of these houses. The Hat could test you again…it may hurt slightly…or you could choose for your own. Which one do you prefer?" Ara was gazing off into space.
"You said it never happened before…" she murmured absent-mindedly. "Well, actually…" The Hat gave Dumbledore a sideward glance. "There was this one case…"
"Ah, yes." Dumbledore chuckled. "Harry Potter. Do you know him?"
Ara nodded. "I met him, yes. What about him?"
Now Dumbledore gazed off into space, his eyes growing misty with memory. "He fit…equally into both Slytherin and Gryffindor. The only way we could put him into either house was because he chose Gryffindor. But anyway, do you think you have enough information to pick a house? Because you cannot choose again, once your name has been put into the record."
Ara smiled. "Oh, I know which one I want. Definitely Ravenclaw." She paused for a moment, then muttered to herself: "Wit and learning…I wonder why Hermione isn't in Ravenclaw…?"
The hat answered her, hearing her thoughts rather than her voice. "Yes, Hermione is a complicated girl. However, she valued chivalry and loyalty and such enough that Gryffindor seemed to fit more. Ravenclaw, you say? Yes, yes, I think you'd be perfect for it. Don't you agree, Professor?"
But Ara was lost in her own thoughts. Bravery….boy, could I use some of that…Gryffindor does sound fun…hmm…
"Ah-HA!" The Hat exclaimed. "Indecision, eh?"
Dumbledore frowned at her. "Miss Aronin, we haven't got all night."
Ara sighed. "I choose…Gryffindor!"
The Hat yawned. "Fabulous. Now off to bed with you."
Dumbledore smiled cheerfully as she left. "Good evening, Ara Aronin. And best of luck in Gryffindor."