"Firs' Years over 'ere!" A very large man that is quite obviously Hagrid is hollering from the front of the line while waving his arm. Ushering the students into the boats in groups of four with a gentleness that definitely belies his size and appearance.
"Sor' inter groups an' lets get yeh all ter Hogwarts", He says one last time as myself, Daphne and Tracey climb into a boat alongside a boy I don't recognize who seems quite quiet.
As the boats make their way slowly to the castle I can only marvel at its majesty and imagine the things I'll be able to learn to do. First thing to do is definitely find the Room of Requirement though. Not only is it a good place to practice magic but I can even find magical items left behind from previous students and possibly get Ravenclaw's Diadem out if I can find a way to get rid of the Horcrux within it.
As my musings take over I almost fail to notice that we've finally hit ashore until Daphne jostles me to catch my attention. "Little in awe are you Rin?" She asks with a small innocent smirk as I stare back with a slightly embarrassed look.
"Yes yes laugh it up Daphne", I climb out the boat and follow the rest of the students to the entrance of the castle. I can hear Hagrid helping another student that stumbled getting out of their boat just as I see Draco Malfoy climb up the stairs and address Harry at the front.
"Now then Potter you'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better then others." I let out a snort at hearing that, catching the attention of the people around us along with a slight glance from Malfoy before he resumes. "You don't want to go around making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there." He punctuates his last words by holding his hand out towards Harry.
Unfortunately for him Professor McGonagall then appears behind him. Her stern eyes taking in all of our faces as she addresses us all at once. "Now then students, the Great Feast will be starting soon but first you shall be sorted into your houses. Follow me and let us get this handled swiftly." At that she turns and begins walking and we all follow along.
"The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room." She continues as we walk through the halls, our footsteps echoing loudly throughout the corridors.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rulebreaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours." My thoughts wondering again with her voice droning on and on over to where I'll be sorted when I hear a soft ping.
[Quest Alert]
[Quest: The Sorting will soon begin and is a momentous occasion. Be sorted into a House and win the House Cup at the end of the year.]
[Quest Reward: 5,000 EXP, Increased Affection with all students and Head of your House]
[Accept/Decline]
I quickly hit Accept and begin contemplating which House I should convince the Hat to put me in as Professor McGonagall continues with her explanation. "The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." She says as we arrive at the entrance to the Great Hall and she turns to look us over, her eyes meeting mine briefly to which she smiles, before saying, "Now if you are all ready let us enter."
The doors swing open slowly with what must be great weight and we are led through by Professor McGonagall halfway towards the front where she instructs us all to stop as she continues forward to the table at the end. As she does I hear both a gasp and shriek behind me and turn just in time to see ghosts streaming through the walls and ceiling towards us. Flying above and next to us they all begin introducing themselves and then a shrill clanging of chains leads my eyes to the Bloody Baron making his way over the Slytherin table amidst the students there. His ghastly body being quite different from the other ghosts around as the noticeable blood on his ghost body stands out more then anything else.
Tearing my eyes away from him I look towards the back of the Great Hall where Professor McGonagall is setting up the Sorting Hat. Its tattered and beaten appearance contrasting with what I already know it is and then the accursed song spills from its lips, shattering the illusion.
"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 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 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 your real friends,
Those cunning folks 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!"
Thankfully the song ends quickly with a lot of applause from the older students and teachers and I watch Professor McGonagall as she pulls out a long roll of parchment and prepares to say the first name to be sorted.
"When I call your name please make your way up here and put on the Sorting Hat to be sorted into your proper House. Abbott, Hannah!" She says loudly and the first new student makes her way to the front and dons the hat.
"Hufflepuff!" The hat declares.
"Bones, Susan!" Someone to be in good graces with I'd say.
"Hufflepuff!" The hat declares once more.
"Boot, Terry!" McGonagall announces.
"Ravenclaw!" Ooh first smartypants.
"Brown, Lavender!" Ah a Gryffindor I recognize.
"Gryffindor!" Yes yes.
"Bulstrode, Millicent!" Slytherin of course.
"Slytherin!" Mhmm.
"Corner, Michael!" I don't recognize him.
"Ravenclaw!" Fair enough then.
"Crabbe, Vincent!" Classic Slytherin.
"Slytherin!" Not even fun at this point.
"Davis, Tracey!" Oh here we go.
"Slytherin!" Good luck Tracey, you'll need it there.
"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!" Boring so Hufflepuff.
"Hufflepuff!" If only I could get something for this.
"Finnigan, Seamus!" Another one it seems.
"Hufflepuff!" Yups.
"Fraener, Rin!" My turn now, lets do this.
I begin walking to the hat, my thoughts racing as I wonder just how well the hats abilities will work and if it'll be able to see my knowledge of the future or the Gamer abilities. Finally reaching it I take a seat and place it on my head. Immediately I get the same feeling as I did when I first got my wand. As if my mind and body are more complete like never before.
"My oh my~ I've never see a mind like this before. Such a fascinating specimen you are, if only I had the time to pick your brain for all you know." The hats words sounding aloud in my head as I answer back with my thoughts. 'If we ever have time Hat then I'd be all for it but hows about we get my Sorting done first and we'll see what we can do?' I think back haughtily.
'Bwahaha~! I like your spunk young one! Now then where to sort you? Definitely not Gryffindor I see, nowhere near courageous or noble enough for it. Hufflepuff neither, not enough loyalty to anyone but yourself it seems. So Ravenclaw or Slytherin it is.' The hats debating thoughts filling my head I begin to think on which House would be better for me. 'Ravenclaw would be good for strict learning but I wonder, would Slytherin push me further Hat?' I ask with my thoughts.
The hat is silent for a moment before answering, 'Yes... yes it would young one. Is that where you'd prefer to go?' It asks in a questioning tone.
'Yes. I need as much of a challenge as possible to push me as far as I can go.' I decide and pledge to the hat to put me in Slytherin House. 'Very well! Then it better be' "Slytherin!" The hat announces to the Great Hall.
As the room slowly applauds I deposit the hat back down and make my way to the Slytherin table, the eyes of the older students keeping track of me intently, before plopping down next to Tracey as we watch the rest of the Sorting. Though I do end up zoning out on a few of them.
"Granger, Hermione!" Ah I wonder if she'll actually go Ravenclaw this time.
"Gryffindor!" Nevermind.
Greengrass, Daphne!" Ooh Daphne's up, lets get some Slytherin.
"Slytherin!" Yes!
Daphne makes her way over to the Slytherin table and sits on the other side of me, a few of the older years keeping their eyes on us for a moment before looking back to the sorting.
"Longbottom, Neville!" The other Chosen One goes to...
"Gryffindor!" Of course.
"Malfoy, Draco!" The pompous of pomps.
"Slytherin!" Unfortunate, but expected.
"Nott, Theodore!" Once more.
"Slytherin!" Gonna be a rough first year.
Gosh this is taking a lot longer then I thought it would when I read the books. I have no idea how anybody can deal with this each year.
"Potter, Harry!" Oop the true Chosen One now.
"Gryffindor!" Ya no real other choice. Though I wonder if there was some way I could've influenced him before now. Ah well, no need to worry to much about it.
"Weasley, Ron!" An idiot cometh.
"Gryffindor!" And a perfect match.
"Zabini, Blaise!" The final student.
"Slytherin!" And I can relax.
Finally it seems we're done with sorting and can get to the food. Then suddenly Dumbledore stands at the Head Table.
"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"
I do so wonder what those words ever meant. Maybe I can get a chance to ask sometime.
Finally the food appears before us and what a glorious feast it is. Goblets of water, pumpkin juice, and soda. Heaps of mashed potatoes, chicken, turkey, corn, and green beans. Swallowing briefly I begin grabbing large amounts of everything and begin eating, talking with Tracey and Daphne all the while. Discussing our new lodgings in Slytherin as I notice something odd.
"Hey, is it just me or are a lot of people looking at us?" I ask Daphne, who immediately seems abashed but answers anyways. "Its probably everyone wondering who you are actually Rin, since you're associating with me I mean."
"Oh. Are you famous or something? Like Harry over there?" I ask despite knowing what the answer is. My hand grasping my wand beneath my robe just in case. Already knowing the answer.
"What? No no no. Just that I'm a pureblood and heir to my family. So its usually seen as odd that I'd associate with someone like you or Tracey really." She says softly, probably hoping that I don't want to quit being around her for it.
"Huh, thats neat. Guess I should consider myself lucky to have you Daphne~" I tease her just as the Professors get everyones attention, making me not notice Daphnes surprised reaction.
"Students! Just a few words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you." Dumbledore announces to everyone.
"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." Really what could go wrong telling a bunch of children they shouldn't do something like that.
"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors." Boring. I'm gonna be using magic as much as possible no matter what Filch wants.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch." Not interested in the slightest.
"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death." Probably the worst thing to say in a school. Who put these people in charge really?
"Now then off to bed students. You're going to have a busy morning tomorrow and will need plenty of rest." He says with a bow before a bunch of older students with small badges get up at each table and pull the First Years aside to lead to each dorm.
"Slytherin First Years! Over here!" The prefect I don't recognize hollers us all over and as we approach demands our attention. "Now then our dorm is in the dungeons. Follow me closely so I don't waste my time showing you again." We make our way down through the castles corridors deeper and further away, deep into the dungeons of Hogwarts until I'm sure we have to be there soon or we'd be lost.
The prefect stops suddenly in front of a stone wall and says loudly, "Pure-blood", causing the wall to open up leading into the Slytherin Common Room, a spacious stone-walled room with lamps of green flame hanging in chains from the ceiling and a cackling fire place adorned with a mantle showing a giant snake.
"This is our common room, remember the password used to get in and be prepared for it changes every week. Now, each of you form into groups of 3 separated by gender so we can assign your dorm rooms." He says quickly and broaching no room for disagreement.
I quickly move closer to Daphne and Tracey and the three of us form a dorm group together. "It seems great minds think alike right?" I ask the two of them, causing them both to laugh lightly. A disapproving look from the prefect as he sends us to our dorm room up a small couple steps, the glow from the glass forming the ceiling showing off the splendor of the underside of the Great Lake we are now beneath.
"Excited Rin?" Tracey asks breaking me out of my stupor and I turn to see that both her and Daphne have already changed and are preparing for bed themselves.
"Oh yes. Sorry about that, I got a little lost in thought." I mutter to myself about being more careful and begin getting ready as well. Climbing into bed and telling my two dorm mates goodnight as we each drift off to sleep.
The last thing I see before falling asleep is quite surprising though.
[System Notification]
[Faction Tab Unlocked]
That'll be fun to try out.
And I'm back already~ Really had the juices flowing in this chapter! Hope you all like it, tried to get it to be a tad longer to try that out and see if thats a better length in the future.
Anyways~ keep up the good reviews, follows, favorites you guys know the drill.
Keep the kelp lovelies~ Caenis out~!