Chapter 4 - A Sorting... of Sorts
by Zero Star (zrostar)
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The crowd of frightened first years remind him of his first sorting. They all looked like sheep bound for the slaughter.
From the corner of Harry's eye, he saw a flash of white light. Colin Creevey had taken a picture. After his first year, the mousey boy hadn't seemed so irritating, but the "Famous Mr. Potter" still didn't want any photographs.
Professor McGonagall had set the hat on the stool and it burst immediately into song!
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Long ago, but not far away,
Just a newly made hat, I lay.
Unaware of the destiny that
Gryffindor had in mind for me.
I am sure we share a similar tie.
Now it is in me your fate will lie.
I shall put you were you need to be,
To follow your own destiny!
Gryffindor was a man of heroic deed,
Perhaps he's in your family tree.
If you are just and brave and true,
Then Gryffindor's for you.
Hufflepuff was a gentle soul.
In her gardens she often did stroll.
If you enjoy flora and toil,
In this group you will never spoil.
Ravenclaw now she was very well read.
Her books were her butter and bread.
If your strength is in your head,
Her house is where you'll find your bed.
Slytherin was a spooky old man,
But his wisdom he did greatly expand.
If you are cunning, clever and shrewd,
Then here you will find a familiar brood.
So place me on your little head
Even though your heart may fill with dread,
I will put you were you most belong,
In the arms of a welcoming throng.
Professor McGonagall took her place beside the stool and read from a list of first years. A whole string of names and faces slowly passed by. Harry caught himself nearly asleep once or twice, cheering only when the name GRYFFINDOR was shouted. Then, with a quick movement, Snape jerked his head upwards. Harry noticed.
"Katrina De Tiganii!" McGonagall shouted out.
A frightened young girl with long black hair and a colorful sash around the waist of her uniform stepped hesitantly onto the stage. She sat on the stool and the hat was lowered over her head. It was much to big for most first years, but her small form, it was especially large. The hat pondered for quite some time, and pondered, and pondered.
Soon the students started whispering. Harry sat and watched, remembering when he was a first year the terror he had when he thought the hat wasn't going to do anything.
She sat while longer, Snape holding his breath. The girl didn't move, until it looked as if she were about to burst into tears.
At long last, it took nearly five minutes to declare her a "RAVENCLAW!"
Snape, between his ashen face and sudden attention, observed the girl as carefully as he could. She swiftly made her way to the Ravenclaws, who were all cheering. Snape studied her for several more moments, before he lowered his head again.
"I wonder what the hat saw. Took a blasted long time for a Ravenclaw." Ron pondered, "Let's better keep an eye on that one."
Harry nodded in agreement seemingly not the only one to notice Snape's reaction. At that moment Neville attempted to get Harry's attention. Confused, Harry's eyes darted into the direction Neville was pointing... behind the High Table.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat shouted.
There were 3 figures looming in the background of the staff table. They were barely noticeable save for a slight shadowy, movement in the floating candlelight.
"SLYTHERIN!" One of the blonde girls marched happily to her new home.
Something about the anonymous onlookers gave the four Gryffindors a very bad feeling. Especially, Harry. He stared into the shadows for several minutes before a familiar burning in his forehead told him to look away. Much like the first time he had seen Professor Snape...
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table exploded with cheers. A young blonde girl had joined their ranks. Harry cheered at automatic mention of his house.
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At great length the sorting was over, and the Headmaster rose to address the students. "Now that you are all properly starving, I shall hold back the feast a bit longer." He punctuated the sentence with a broad, kind smile, despite the booing from a select few.
"First years, the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students. Absolutely NO prowling the hallways after dark." With that he gave a garish glare to the Gryffindors. He continued with a few other yearly announcements. "But now, I must introduce my guest. I believe he will be spending the majority of the school year with us. Amun Cherti."
Here the Egyptian rose and gave a polite bow. He was slightly taller than Dumbledore, which did nothing to dispel his powerful presence. He then seated himself again.
"Let the feast begin!" At the Headmaster's announcement the food appeared.
If there was one thing Harry missed most about Hogwarts while he was away, it had to have been the food! All he could eat of wonderful classic meals. Nothing was ever "good" in a Hogwarts meal, it was always excellent.
By Ron's second helping of everything, Hermione had changed the conversation topic back to the unannounced staff members.
"I wonder who our next Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher will be this year?" She asked Seamus Finnagin, who seemed far to involved with his bread pudding to answer.
"Maybe it will be the Sorting Hat!" Dean Thomas piped up. "I mean, why not! He's the oldest member of the crew, isn't he?"
"Yeah, why not?" Ron laughed between mouthfuls. "That old mop has been here longer than Snape has!" Ron snickered to himself.
However, Hermione interrupted the fun. "Ron, you forget. Snape has wanted that job since before the three of us got here! He might BE our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher!"
The Gryffindor table fell silent for a long moment.
"But that doesn't make sense," Neville added nervously. "I mean, it would be harder to replace a Potions Master than it would be a Defense teacher, wouldn't it? And what about the empty place settings? Maybe the new professor just hasn't arrived yet."
Ron eyed Neville sharply. "You just want the old bat to stay in the Dungeons where he belongs, don't you?"
Longbottom nodded vigorously, turning a shade paler. Just thinking about Snape made him sick and frightened.
"Speaking of new staff..." Harry looked up, "Dumbledore's guest hasn't eaten a bite."
"Maybe he's not hungry, after all English food rarely agrees with foreigners. I read all about it." Hermione pushed her plate way, thoroughly stuffed.
"I read all about it!" Ron mimicked in a high pitched voice. "You need to get out more. Honestly a game of quidditch would do you good."
The red headed boy defended himself agaist a girlish attack. The Gryffindors laughed and talked, until it was time to say goodnight.
----
It was time to head back to their dorms for the first night of the new school year.
Ron and Harry finally got to play a game of chess before bed, which Harry lost since he was so sleepy. Hermione had settled herself not to far from them, with her well worn copy of "Hogwarts, a History." Perhaps even reading it for the 800th time. Her justification in this was that the book must be enchanted, she keeps reading about knew things.
Ron whispered to Harry, "Probably because she keeps falling asleep in the middle of it and forgot everything she just read."
One by one each of the Gryffindors made their way to the dorms. The evening of chatting and getting to know new friends and reconnecting with old class mates, wore on. Finally, Harry couldn't take the exhaustion and dismissed himself, only to be followed by Ron a few moments later. Hermione stayed engrossed in her book and was showing no sign of weariness.
After saying his goodnights, Harry drifted off into a heavy sleep.
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I dreaded writing the sorting song, but it was fun!
Anyway, hope you like it. I'm not a big poetry writer.
I have noticed a lot of Severus fans in my reviews (thank you, thank you!!)
Don't worry, I am a Slytherin at heart.
I could never let anything really nasty befall him.
10-28-02