Please be aware that major edits was done to Chapter 4 & 7, as well as minor edits to the other chapters.
In order to make up for the stupidly long gap between updates, I've written and posted this really long chapter instead. This is the longest chapter of the story at nearly 10,000words. I hope that you like it.
Chapter Sixteen: A Hat's Difficult Choice
Harry spent the train journey by himself. No one so much as opened the door to his compartment, but he did get a guest. He'd left his compartment for a short while to use the bathroom and, when he came back, he found a toad sat on the bench opposite the one he had rested his book on. Blinking twice in surprise, Harry pulled out some parchment from his trunk and transfigured it into a box. The toad could jump out since it wasn't an enclosed box, but once he added an old shirt for him to rest on, the toad seemed quite happy to nest.
When the train pulled up to Hogsmeade station, Harry picked up the box to carry with him instead of leaving it with his trunk. He knew the house elves would be able to take it to the school, but he didn't trust that the toad would remain inside the box if it had already run away from its owner once. No one even glanced at him as he merged with the students and then slipped to the back of the first years who were gathering around Hagrid.
When they made it to the edge of the Black Lake, where the boats were waiting to take them across to Hogwarts, Harry ended up in a boat with an extremely nervous young boy with a soft figure and face. A face that was a picture of nerves and misery until he spotted the toad sleeping inside the box he carried.
"Trevor!" he cried out in delight as their boat jerked into movement despite the fact that there was only two of them in it. It seemed the students didn't evenly split with four to a boat.
"I found him in my compartment," Harry offered the box to the boy. "He's not eaten anything since I found him, so you might want to feed him as soon as possible."
"I don't have anything on me," the boy's face fell slightly. "I won't be able to feed him until we're back at our forms."
"I'm sure he'll be fine. He doesn't seem to be distressed." Harry comforted. "Toads can go without eating for two weeks. I'm sure a few hours won't harm him."
"You're right, thanks." The boy relaxed as he hugged the box to himself. "I'm Neville, by the way. Neville Longbottom."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Neville. I'm Harrison Paxton." Harry introduced himself. "But everyone calls me Harry."
The boats turned a corner that was created by the forest which separated the station and Hogwarts, allowing them to see the beautiful building that was perched high on the mountain. They'd come up the back side of the school, but that didn't make it any less beautiful, with the golden lights signing out of the hundreds of windows.
"Hogwarts," Harry smiled softly as he looked upon the building. It wasn't as graceful in its beauty as Cair Paravel was, but it was still beautiful in its own strong way.
"I didn't think I'd ever make it." Neville whispered to himself in amazement.
"Why not?" Harry asked curiously.
"Everyone thought I was a squib, that I didn't have enough magic to make it." Neville admitted shamefully. "We were all surprised when my letter arrived, but I still think they made a mistake."
"Why? If you got your letter then that means you have more than enough magic to make it to NEWT level. That's how the Admittance Quill was enchanted," Harry blinked, surprised at the amount of self-consciousness and lake of self-esteem that this boy was projecting.
"I didn't really show any accidental magic growing up. Not till I was eight." Neville blushed. "And even then, it was just bouncing when I was dropped out a window."
Harry opened his mouth, second guessed himself, and then changed his mind. "Well, you're here now and you get to prove to everyone and yourself that you can do magic."
The boats passed through a curtain of ivy before docking in an underground pier. The dock and pier they used was only a quarter of the space available in the cliff under the school. Once all the students were out of the boats, they were led in nervous silence up the many steps round to the front of the school.
Hagrid knocked on the great doors which were swung open by the stern visage of Professor McGonagall. Her eyes swept across the students, pausing to rest on a mess of black hair at the strong of the group before coming to rest on Harry and Neville. Her face didn't change when she spotted them, but her eyes did lighten slightly.
"The first years, Pr'fessor." Hagrid announced brightly.
"Thank you, Hagrid." Professor McGonagall looked briefly to her college before addressing the gathering of students in front of her. "First years, follow me."
She span sharply on her heal and began walking across the white marble steps in the large and open entrance hall where the staircases and many winding passageways were. The group of students were quick to pass through the doors and scurry pass her. McGonagall remained silent until she'd led all the student into the room to the left side of the entrance to the Great Hall – a place that used to be used for meetings with parents and lords many centuries before.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," McGonagall addressed the students. "This is the start of seven amazing years of learning magic among the best and brightest – among you're your future friends, co-workers and family. Shortly, I will lead you into the Great Hall where you will take your seats among your fellow students. Before that, however, you will be sorted into your houses."
Harry tilted his head at this turn to McGonagall's introductory speech. He thought that the houses and sorting ceremony would be common knowledge to even the non-magically raised students, with information imparted when they were introduced to the magical world.
"The sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you here, your house will be like your family within Hogwarts. It will be the responsibility of the older students to watch out for and guide you, while your year mates will help you through the hardest of times. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room."
Letting out a near silent hum, Harry wondered how true that truly was. With the nature and shape that society had taken, Harry couldn't see how this school could be fostering family relationships and responsibility between the years.
"The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards." A statement that would have made a better impact if she followed it with an example or two, but McGonagall just carried on. "While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."
Ah, the merit system which the non-magical world had only adopted in the last twenty years but the wizarding world had been using it for over a thousand years. a system which was typically only affected in the house format when a group format and family relationship was fostered between the students.
"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." McGonagall's eyes landed pointedly at the mess of black hair at the front along with his ginger companion. "Wait quietly."
And with this stern order, she left the nervous group of first years waiting.
Neville started nervously flattening out his ropes and straightening his tie. Harry resisted the impulse having gone to the bathroom to put his school robes on ten minutes before the train came to a stop so he knew that his appearance was fine and that his school robes were wrinkled or unkept.
"Neville, you look fine." Harry stopped the boys nervous fiddling. "Your robes are sitting flat; your tie is straight and your face clean."
"Right," Neville let out a nervous breath. "Sorry. What should I do with Trevor? I shouldn't bring him into the Sorting Ceremony."
"I'm not sure." Harry looked around, but the room was empty but for the fireplace which used to be used to travel to the school but floo'ing was now restricted to a select few undisclosed rooms with passcodes.
"Does sir's need something?" A soft pop preceded the appearance of a small creatures with large eyes and drooping ears – a house elf.
"Oh um, I was just wondering what to do with my pet, Trevor." Neville blushed as he addressed the House-elf
"Betsy be looking after Trevor. I's can put in dorm with trunk when bed picked." The House-elf, Betsy offered.
"That would be amazing, thanks." Neville passed the box to Betsy who was quick to pop out.
"Thank you, Betsy." Harry tagged on softly despite the fact that the Being has already left. if she had been able to know that they needed something, he assumed that she was also able to hear his gratitude for her intervention.
"I didn't think house-elves would show themselves to students." Neville shifted, glancing uneasily around the other students who hadn't noticed their little interaction with the Being.
"Maybe they only showed themselves in certain situations, where being visible would help." Harry suggested. Information on House-elf culture was limited in the books that he'd gotten through so far, and Tom didn't have a lot of knowledge either but he intended to find out more either through research or by speaking with the beings in question. He also couldn't make reference to any creature in Narnia, since there wasn't a 'servant-race' like that in Narnia and he highly doubted that the House-elf's current status was natural.
"House-elves do like to help." Neville agreed. "Maisy. My family house elf, is always popping up with things that I need before I know I need them."
"Betsy is the first house-elf I've seen since my grandparents…" Harry stopped there; the Longbottom family was allies with the Potter family, he would have known about the night of Dora and Charlus' death even if it hadn't become what amounted to a second national holiday and celebration.
A startled scream at the back of the room led to a handful of truly frightened screams as the students turned to the back of the room and found a group of ghosts passing through the wall into the room. Harry's instinctive stiffening at the screams remained rigid for a moment longer as he took in the new figures who had a form similar to the wraiths of Narnia. The difference being that these had more physical detail which distinguished them as once being humans, and they were more of a pearl then a grey. Those additional features and the fact that they were speaking English was enough to help Harry relax again – he didn't have fond memories of the Wraiths.
"It is best to forgive and forget," The ghost who was dressed as a 4th Century monk, with hemp brown robes and a tri-twisted white rope around his slightly rounded waist. His feet were protected by leather formed sandals, which were redundant now that he was a corporal being who floated off the ground.
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the second chances in the world these past centuries. He's a pest and menace, who gives us ghosts a bad name." The ghost who responded was dressed as a man of the court – a shirt which came in slightly at the waist before coming out slightly over where the waist of his trousers came. The trousers themselves were puffed, until it came in just below the bend of the knee with a thin band. He was sure that it used to be of fine colour, with what was likely gold or silver detailing which formed along both the shirt and the trousers. On his feet he wore pointed shoes, with something around his ankles that he couldn't make out due to the faded nature of being a ghost. His shirts colour was raised and round, hiding his neck.
The courtly ghost looked away from the monk only to start lightly when he spotted the humans. The other ghosts followed his gaze and also startled slightly as the group came to a holt behind the two who had been talking.
"I say, what are you doing here?" he questioned, a mischievous smile curled up the corner of his mouth.
"New Students," the Friar played along with a happy smile.
"Ah yes, it's that time of year." the man of the court seemed to say in realisation. "About to be sorted I suppose?"
A few of the students silently nodded.
"I hope to see you in Hufflepuff." The Friar confessed.
"We all hope you find a home among whichever house you are chosen for." A deep voice from among the ghosts corrected the Friar's assessment. With around twenty ghosts grouped together, the translucent bodies made it difficult to make out individual forms and so see who it was who had spoken.
"Move along now," McGonagall's sharp voice had the students turning back to the door which led to the Great Hall as opposed to the one which led to the entrance hall. "The Sorting Ceremony is about to start."
The ghosts passed, one by one through the wall and into the Great Hall. Once they were all gone, McGonagall addressed the students.
"Form a line, and follow me."
Harry ended up in line in front of Neville but behind a boy with sandy hair. They were somewhere near the back quarter of the group, but with just over fifty students near the back quarter still had around six children been him. As they entered the brightly lit Great Hall, Harry reached forward and lightly touched Neville's elbow when he saw the boy's shoulder hunt forward self-consciously and his whole-body tense with an instinctive flight instinct. With the contact, Neville relaxed slightly and but his shoulders remained hunted with his instinctive urge to hide.
The Great Hall itself was amazing: an enchanted ceiling that reflected the clear night sky from above. With no clouds in sight that night, and no city near, there was no light pollution to obscure the stars. The Hall itself was lit with hundreds of handles which floated above the tables – the wax seemed to be enchanted to disappear when it reached the bottom of the candle to prevent it landing on the students.
There were six fire places down each side of the hall, large and ornate pieces with marble mantles which clearly showed that the Founders had been extremely rich upon modelling the castle or the Lord whom they brought it from. For now, only three fireplaces on each side were lit – evenly distributing the light and warmth around the room without over heating the students who were sat with their backs to the fire places.
They were led down between the four tables: the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor tables to their right while the Ravenclaw and Slytherin were to the left. Above each table and the floating candles, suspended from the ceiling was four house banisters. The tables didn't seem to take up as much off the hall as he thought it would – long enough to fit around a hundred students on each, but there was quite a gap on each table which the first years wouldn't be able to fill unless all of them were sorted into the same house.
Finally, once he'd taken in the hall for as long as he could Harry looked up to the head table where he knew his godfather would be sat and so would his parents. Old man Dumbledore sat on a throne year in the middle of the long table, the heads of houses sat on either side of him: Severus and Flitwick on his right with McGonagall and Sprout on his left. They were set up like the house tables, since Severus and Flitwick were the wrong way round, and if they were sat to reflect the tables that they would be sat at the heads of those tables instead of the lady he though was Sinister sitting at the head of Slytherin, Sirius at the head of Ravenclaw and Rolanda Hooch was at the head of Gryffindor. Sprout was the only head teacher who was actually sat at the head of her own table.
James Potter was sat at the far end of the head table next to the eccentric woman that Sirius said was the Divination teacher, with his only other potential conversation partner being Hagrid who was on Trelawny's other side. Overall, there was nineteen staff members sat at the head table but Sirius and Remus both shared a role; Rolanda Hood and James Potter were flying instructor and Quidditch Coach respectively with only the one proper class between them; and then there was Irma Prince and Poppy Pomfrey, the Librarian and the Matron who didn't teach any classes at all. Even including the non-teaching members of staff, the ratio was around 20 students per adult with his quick estimation off around 400 students; a ratio that was far too high for a boarding school especially since Sirius and Remus commented that only the heads of houses typically interacted with students outside of classes and office hours.
As all the first-year students gathered before the stool and the hat that had been placed on it, Harry stepped up next to Neville and consciously kept his eyes away from James and Dumbledore so they didn't see any hint of distaste in his eyes and his mother because he didn't know her situation and he couldn't have her seeing his grief and longing. He'd talked with Sirius and Remus about his mother, and they'd promised to get together with Severus and watch her but she was only on a half time table so that she wasn't living full time at the castle with her daughter. They couldn't approach her until they had a greater understanding as to her situation, the magic she might be under and what if anything James or Dumbledore was doing to her.
The hat that was sat on the stool was clearly very old, with dirt and patches covering the cloth. with all the preservation magic that existed in the magical world, Harry couldn't understand why the hat looked to be in such a state – especially since they could probably clean it without disrupting the enchantments or at least have found a way to create such a spell in the last thousand years. The hat twitched and a face formed upon it's surface, before it's mouth opened wide and a deep baritone began to sing:
"There was once a noble man,
Whose heart was full of woe
I watch him frown, I cried hello
A smile grew as he stumbled upon a plan
With a heart full of joy, he set to find his friends
"I have an idea" he cried,
In times of future-past, the students will need to find a place
Now I know how to make our case
"A hat to preside," he supplied.
The wise woman frowned as she comprehends
"I can make this work," she hummed.
And so, it came to be, I gained a voice of my own
The Sorting Hat was what I became to be known
With strict guidelines I was made, to sort when fur friends succumbed.
Into the house of red and gold
I was to send the bold
To balance their impulsiveness, loyalty they were to show
Until childishness they out grow
Into the house of the Raven,
The critical thinkers seek haven
To find joy and friends among their own
So they don't grow up alone
Into the burrow
A smile shall defeat sorrow
With friends and hard work
Each shall show their quirks
Into the den of silver
The sunning will find familiar
Hearts and minds, together they shall find
Goals worthy of the grandest designs
And so, I shall place
Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin
I shall make the case!"
As the hat's rather rambling song came to an end, the students and staff members clapped politely. Harry hummed lowly in the back of his throat at the both informative and uninformative song that the hat had made. There was a little in there about the attributes for the houses but just one trait out of several that had been chosen by the four founders. Perhaps the hat had simple run out of creative ways of describing the traits.
"When I call your name, step forward and put on the hat." McGonagall began unrolling a scroll.
"Hannah Abbott," McGonagall called the first name on her list.
A nervous girl with long blond hair which was pulled back into two low pig-tails behind each of her ears. Her face was round with innocents, her eyes wide and blue as she turned to face the Great Hall when she settled onto the stool so that McGonagall could slip the hat over her head. Since the hat was originally designed for a man – a man who was reportedly a knight and therefore a strong and large man – it slipped down over her eyes and came to rest on the tip of her nose.
"Hufflepuff," the hat announced brightly after less then a minute under the hat. The house of badgers burst into loud applause as Hannah took off the hat and scurried over to join them.
On the Hufflepuff table, the open space for the first years was between what looked to be the seventh and third years at the half of the table near the head table. The second years seemed to be sandwiched between the fifth and fourth years with the sixth years separating the fourth and third years. It was an arrangement that made sense in that it offered the best support for the younger years – allowing the younger students to be within easy reach of role models and mentors.
"Lavender Brown," McGonagall moved on.
The girl who energetically stepped forward to sit on the stool was full of energy. She had long hair which was formed into ringlets and bounced with her steps, but it was restrained by a pink hair band which was tied just off centre of the top of her head. her eyes were a soft brown and she had a soft sprinkling of freckles across her cheeks.
"Gryffindor." The Hat called faster than he had with Hannah. Lavender blushed brightly when the two red-haired twins whistled in appreciation as the rest of their house clapped in congratulation of her sorting. She ducked her head slightly as she ran to her seat.
The Gryffindor table had an open space for the first years at the end closest to the head table. Unlike the Hufflepuff table, they were arranged in age older so that the seventh years were far from the teachers and so able to get away with more than the closely watched first years. The only odd man out was another red head who had a brightly polished prefects badge pinned to his right pocket. Despite the horned rimmed glasses and superior look, Harry guessed he was likely only a fifth-year prefects but at least he had placed himself between the first and second years so that he could provide some kind of support for the newest and youngest members of his house.
Susan Bones was next, a shy girl with auburn hair, who seemed to be good friends with Hannah because she looked very happy and pleased to join the blond at the Hufflepuff table.
"Terry Boot," McGonagall called the first boy up to be sorted.
The boy who stepped forward was of average hight with dusty blond hair which was thick on his scalp. He was short and stocky, squared body, with a strong frame and confident strides; this was a kid who was used to being stared at by strangers. His strong physic suggested that he probably played some kind of sports – likely in competitions or in front of crowds.
"Ravenclaw," the hat declared after nearly two minutes under the hat.
The clapping this time was more reserved and polite with none of the cheering which had come from the other tables. The Ravenclaw table was arranged slightly out of order: the fourth years were closest to the head table, then there was the gab for the first years before the third years. Then it was the second, fifth, sixth and seventh respectively. Having older students sandwiching the second and first years meant that there were mentors available, but the sixth and seventh years were sat separated enough that they could focus on their studies without having to pander to the curious of younger students.
Mandy Brocklehurst was next to be called and sorted into Ravenclaw. She was tall for a girl, with long brown hair and murky green eyes. Despite being only eleven years old, the girls were wearing concealer, eye shadow and mascara.
"Millicent Bulstrode," McGonagall summoned up a very broad girl with rounded cheeks. The sort of girl who wouldn't ever be considered conventionally beautiful but, in a few years, she would grow into her features and she would learn to be confident in her form.
The clapping of the Slytherin table was even more reserved then the Ravenclaw's had been; all of them clapped with three fingers tapping into the palm of their left hand. It was more than just polite; it was extremely controlled. The Slytherin table seemed to have the most complicated of all the houses in their seating arrangements. The girls were all down the long side of the table with their backs to the wall, while the boys had their backs to the rest of the hall. There was a space close to the head table for the first years, then it was the second years. based on the age of their faces, the third and fourth years were mixed up – likely based on some kind of social hierarchy. The fifth, sixth and seventh years were broken down with the prefects seeming to be the barrier that separated the year groups although it was harder to tell age differences.
Next to be called up was the 'C's: Austin Chambers, Rosie Chambers, Oscar Colton, Michael Corner Faclicity Cowley and Vincent Crabbe. Austin Cambers went to Gryffindor, while Rosie went to Hufflepuff; despite sharing the same last name, they didn't appear to share more than passing similarity which suggested cousins instead of fraternal twins. Oscar joined Rosie in Hufflepuff, Michael Corner was sorted into Ravenclaw while Falicity and Vincent ended up in Slytherin.
Both of the 'D's: Tracy Davis and Diana Dedworth ended up in Slytherin and automatically took seats near the head table while Millicent had been more central of the gap. Seamus Finnigan was placed into Gryffindor while Justin Finch-Fletchley went into Hufflepuff and Annabell Folton was also into Gryffindor. The final 'F', Wendy Fuller also went into Hufflepuff.
There were four students with the surname starting with 'G': Anthony Goldstein, Hermione Granger, Daphne Greengrass and Gregory Goyle who ended up in Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Slytherin and Slytherin respectively. Daphne took the seat on the girl's side closest to the second years like it was her right, while Gregory sat closest to the head table. This automatic seating arrangement suggested that it was definitely done by some kind of social standing that all the students sorted into Slytherin seemed to know.
Sam Haunter and Gavin Holder were placed in Hufflepuff, with Cortney Jared was added to Ravenclaw. Oddly, Sam Haunter was actually a girl but she was using the male version of her name instead of the one of the extended version of Samantha as was typically used in Britain. After Kiley Kurstin was placed into Hufflepuff, Neville's name was finally called.
Harry hadn't removed his hand from Neville's elbow during the whole sorting process. Seeing how white the boy turned at finally having his name called, Harry brightly gripped the elbow before letting him go. Neville took courage from his subtle assurance, straightened his shoulders and walked to take his place on the stool.
The hat sat on his head for longer than it had for anyone else; longer even then it had done for the tightly wound Hermione Granger who had appeared to be arguing with the hat. The longer that he was sat under the hat, the tighter Neville's grip became on the edge of the stool. When the hat finally called Gryffindor, Neville's shoulders deflated in relief as he removed the hat and stumbled over to take his place among his new house mates.
Following Neville, there was Ernie Macmillan placed in Hufflepuff, Draco Malfoy into Slytherin (arrogantly sitting opposite Daphne) and Lily Moon into Ravenclaw. After Theodore Nott was placed into Slytherin and sat beside Draco, they finally made it to the 'P's'.
Maddie Park went into Gryffindor, then twins Parvati and Padma Patil were separated into Gryffindor and Ravenclaw respectively although they didn't seem to mind the separation and Pansy Parkinson went into Slytherin.
"Harry Paxton," McGonagall called. As he walked forward, Harry was proud to see that nothing in McGonagall's barring gave him away as being anything but Harry Paxton. A quick scan of the head table before he turned to sit on the stool told him that Dumbledore and James didn't recognise him but there was a brief spark of something in his mother's eyes before it died and they became bland once more.
As the hat settled on his head, Harry closed his eyes at a very unfamiliar feeling of something scuttling over the top of his mind. It wasn't intrusive or violating like the Horrors had been when they invaded his body; this felt more like someone knocking gentle to enter his mind. Something old, and with power behind it but the power didn't seem to come just from the hat – there was something else behind the magic of the hat. After a moment of indecision, he metaphorically created a door for the presents to come through as he slipped into a meditative mindset so that he could meet it in his mind properly instead of just thinking at it.
"Well, I am most impressed Mr. Paxton." The image of the hat that formed on the grass of his mind meadow – which had gained a handful of trees and flowers, - looked much newer than the thing that had been sat on the stool. After speaking, the hat shifted into a tall man with slim features, a trim waist and ginger hair which was pooled back at the nape of his neck.
"Thank you…" Harry trailed off.
"Angus." The man supplied with a chuckle. "Been a long time since I've been asked my name."
"You're over a thousand years old, I can't imagine something that old not having a name." Harry shrugged. "Would you like a seat, Angus?"
As he asked the question, two armchairs appeared besides them. The armchairs where imitations of the comfortable chairs he and Edmund used to sit at while playing chess: comfortable, warm and burgundy.
"In order to sort you, I'm going to need access to your memories and through them your core." Angus commented as he took a seat.
"With the power I can feel you have access to; you don't need me to show you them. You could simply pull them out of me." Harry countered, wanting to test Angus before he allowed him access to those personal memories.
"That would destroy your mind." Angus pointed out. "I was designed to sort students and as part of the protections of this school. I cannot harm any student of this school."
"What will you do with what you find in my mind?" Harry challenged.
"Nothing. Any secrets I discover will never be passed on from me. I cannot break the confidentiality of the mind. Salazar had a very strong influence over my creation, and he was paranoid especially about mind magic. he ensured that all students studied mind defence and he was also the one to teach the other founders the art." As Angus explained, the red of his hair turned black and his eyes turned green as his cheeks rose. This new image held only for a moment before drifting back to the wider cheek bones, blue eyes and red hair he'd had before.
"Your image, it's influenced by the founders." Harry blinked, surprised.
Angus smiled as he shifted once more. His body became stronger, his shoulders wider and his waist less trim and he gained a moustache. The image of Godric Gryffindor. So, the image he'd first taken had been a blend of the two men. He held the new image only for a moment before shifted back into the blend.
"I've not been in a mind this protected since Salazar." Angus looked around curiously. "You have an outer defence, and then you've concealed your memories somewhere in this meadow. I'd assume the flowers, but you're too cautious to leave it that obvious. Perhaps the leaves of the trees?"
"In the ground, under your feet." Harry corrected. "I've got false tunnels and memories in the event that someone figures it out; I'm the only one who can open the right tunnel with the right memories. Even if the correct tunnel is found, the memories found within will be false unless the correct method is used to open the passage."
"Impressive," Angus complimented. "May I see?"
"I'll wait here." Harry waved his hand in the direction of the first tree he'd created where the ground fell away. As Angus disappeared into the tunnel, Harry looked up at the white clouds which he created as he'd seen them while cloud watching with Lucy one day.
It didn't take Angus long to return, his face grim as he sat opposite Harry once more.
"I am so sorry," Angus said solemnly.
"For which part?" Harry smirked. "So, what do you think? Where am I best suited?"
"You would do well in all the houses. It's why you were such good friends with the Pensive siblings." Angus hummed.
"King Peter the brave," Angus used the adapted title Peter had become known as instead of the 'magnificent'. "The eldest who was given many responsibilities that he accepted without complaint. He is fearless in the face of challenges and he is the first to step forward to defend the innocents; a natural leader who always does what he believes to be right. He even has the rash and often impulsive behaviour that Godric was often faulted for by Salazar. You, unlike Godric and your dear friend Peter, do not let your impulses dedicate your actions and never act without rational thought even when you step forward to defend the innocent. You never wanted responsibilities, but you took them upon your shoulders without even thinking about passing them onto another."
To prove his point, Angus brought forward the memory of the time when he'd ran to face the White Witch to protect the other members of the army; when he'd thrown himself between the Witch and the Fox and the time that he'd jumped between an assassin's dagger and Prince Cor.
"Queen Susan the gentle, kind and caring she might have been, but her exceptionally logical and wise mind was what she was remembered as. Susan was extremely cautious in her approach, the voice of reason and the one who didn't conform to what is deemed normal. Smart, witty and enjoys learning as she excels at almost everything she attempts, but not conventionally book smart. The sort of Ravenclaw that Rowena strived to sort into her house and nurture so they didn't loose their creativity as so many focus intellectuals did. You love to learn, to deepen and develop your knowledge, but you aren't as limited in what you're willing to accept: your mind is open to new and unusual things which Susan and Rowena would have needed more convincing or proof to believe."
This time, Angus pulled on the times he would search through the library and organise it, stopping and reading books as they caught his interest, the sessions he spent listening to the other creatures of Narnia fascinated by their culture, the hours he dedicated to documenting and learning the history of Narnia, and sitting with Susan and talking about random facts they'd stumbled across that day.
"Then there is Lucy, the hardest of the Pensive siblings to place and the one you protected the most: the Hufflepuff with the heart of a Gryffindor. Lucy is kind, helpful and willing to help anyone. She made friends with so many, and you were always there to make sure no one took advantage of her. But she had to be brave in order to put herself out there like that, to be so open with everyone she met. She was even prepared to fight besides her siblings even though she hates harming overs, and was willing to learn to be proficient under your and Susan's tutelage. Lucy taught you to completely trust, and be the glue that held the Pevensie's together even through the toughest of times."
The memories of Lucy had Harry smiling as he saw the times that they'd been together, playing games and laughing – even when they were training in the use of daggers.
"There is only one other you were more loyal to then Lucy, and that was Edmund. Edmund embodies the true characteristics of Salazar's house. Ambitious, but he learned to control that ambition so that it didn't hurt him or those around him. Like Susan and yourself, Edmund is intelligent but his intelligence is more strategic which he proved with his ability to lead armies and sweet talk kings and courts. A true diplomate, with a heart that would allow him to go to any level to protect those he loved. But you, you would go further then even he would; and he would die for the ones he loved."
The memories Angus pulled up was the first time Harry had met Edmund and the fear he felt for Tumnus and for his siblings, the determination he had to fight besides his siblings and the Narnians. And then the times they'd worked side by side, making treaties with the different Beings of Narnia and the times he'd used his silver tongue to twist the emotions of kings to get what he wanted.
"You are brave, cunning, wise, intelligent, ambitious, trust worthy, steadfast, determined, creative and so much. You could go into any of the Hogwart's houses and succeed, you could even make friends. In Slytherin, you could help redeem the house and show the world the believes and ideals Salazar truly stood for. In Hufflepuff, you would show the world that Helga didn't just accept duffers but also the strong and the determined. In Gryffindor, you might be able to pound some sensibility into the reckless stupidity that runs rampant there. And in Ravenclaw, well you might be able to give them back the creativity that has been lost and perhaps even show the world that they are more than book smarts." Angus smiled apologetically. "I suppose, it's not so much what the houses can do for you but what you can and am willing to do for the houses."
"Who says that I only have to help one of the houses?" Harry raised an eyebrow. "Helping Hogwarts as a whole would be far better then just helping one house. Why just only a symptom, when rooting out the cause and adjusting the outlook would be far more effective."
"Well, that's certainly ambitious." Angus blinked, shocked. Despite having raffled through his memories, Angus couldn't determine or predict Harry's thoughts or responses.
"I think Ravenclaw would be the best fit. Under the radar but not so low I won't make waves." Harry decided. "It was good speaking with you, Angus."
"Come see me sometime, Mr Paxton. It will be interesting to follow your progress." Angus said in parting.
Harry waited until he felt Angus' presents leave completely before he also left his own mind and became aware of the world around him once more. The quite whispers coming from the students told him that he'd been under the hat for a while, perhaps seven minutes based on the typical time slow of his passed attempts at tracking it outside of Narnia.
"Ravenclaw," the hat declared loud and proud.
Harry had time to remove the hat and begin walking to his new table before the startled students got over their surprise and the clapping started – led by Filius who was dancing happily in his seat. The glancing at his watch suggested he was so happy because of how long his sorting had taken – Harry assumed because he'd beaten some kind of record.
Sally-Anne Perks was placed into Gryffindor swiftly before Charlie Potter was called up to the hat stool. As he cockily walked up to the seat and sat with a smirk, the hall broke into excited whispers. He was sorted in under a minute to Gryffindor who exploded in excitement.
Jessica Quin was next into Hufflepuff besides Walter reed. Then Sophie Roper went into Gryffindor; David Runcorn into Slytherin, Kevin Sanders into Gryffindor, Justin Sanders into Hufflepuff, Derick and Sally Smith were split up: Derick into Gryffindor and Sally into Slytherin. The numbers were really starting to get low as Dean Thomas was sent into Gryffindor, Lisa Turpin into Ravenclaw, Kia Underhood, Ronald Weasley joined the red head horde in Gryffindor; Bella Webb went into Hufflepuff with Issac Yan. Interestingly, when Blaise Zabini went into Slytherin there was an awkward moment before Theodore slid down and allowed Blaise to sit next to Draco. The last student was Peter Zen into Ravenclaw.
"Welcome one and all, old and new," Dumbledore stood with a smile; his arms open wide as though he was hugging the room. "To a new school year at Hogwarts. After such a long sorting, I shall leave my typical speech till after we have eaten. Nitwit, Bubbler, Oddment and Tweak!"
With this last word the golden plates and goblets that lines the tables were suddenly filled with more food than Harry had seen outside of the opulent feast of the Telmarine. His kings and Queen had hosted feast, but they never served more than necessary since gluttony and food wastage wasn't tolerated. Glancing over the food options before him, Harry wasn't impressed: roasted chicken, pork, beef and sausage. There were pots of gravy, fried vegetables, heavily buttery mashed potatoes, peas and a white sauce. Then there was a grease fish stew of some kind, boiled potatoes and baked potatoes. After a little bit of searching through the dishes available, Harry found some plain rice which he served with the boiled carrots and a slice of the chicken breast. He drank only the water, avoiding the sickly-sweet smelling pumpkin juice.
Although bland food wasn't what he enjoyed eating, he preferred that over the greasy, fatty or oiling foods that were on offer. His stomach wouldn't be able to handle such a drastic change in diet. During his eighteen years in Narnia, his stomach had never been able to handle such thoughts – he'd preferred to eat vegetables and nuts with the occasional grain and fish with very little meat.
Harry ate in silence, simple allowing himself to adjust to being around so many people and so much noise once more while observing and listening to the students around him. His fellow first years were taking the opportunity to question the third years, who'd clearly been briefed by their older house mates, because they seemed to be willing to humour those questions. Behind him, he could hear the rolling voice of Draco Malfoy taking command of the conversation among the first years behind him, and slowly the second years also fell into line – which was impressive considering the fact that they only had an hour and a half for dinner.
Once the food had disappeared from their plates, Dumbledore had stood and given some notices before having the students sing the ridiculous school song. His little speech included a reminder about the list of banned items posted on the caretaker's door – a list that would do more good sent out in the school letters – the Forbidden Forest as well as the recently banned third floor. The forbidden forest made sense, but why ban an entire section of corridor and then announce it to the school without an explanation? Curious students are going to want to find out why the corridor was banned, and some might view it as not being truly off limits.
Once they were dismissed, the seventh-year prefect gathered the first years while allowing the other Ravenclaw students to leave. They introduced themselves as Jenny and Gavin before gathering them in two lines and beginning to lead them through the school.
They were led up the main staircase, pass floor after floor until they reached the seventh floor. Once they were there, the prefects led them down a serious of corridors and to the other side of the school to which the main staircase had led. The door they were gathered around was blank with no doorknob – looking like a painting – and above it there was a golden eagle.
Jenny tapped the side of the door with her wand and the eyes of the golden eagle opened as the soft voice of a woman came out. "What can go up a chimney down, but can't go down a chimney up?"
"In order to get into the Ravenclaw common room, you have to tap the door as I just did and you will be given a riddle. You have three attempts to answer the riddle." Jenny explained. "Would any of you like to give it a go?"
"Umbrella." Harry supplied the answer when his fellow year mates simple frowned in confusion.
They hadn't made it to the school until 18:00, it had then taken until nearly 18:40 before they'd sat down to eat dinner and it was now nearing 20:30 – it was getting late considering the fact that he still had to settle into his new dorm room and do his meditation to make sure he didn't do anything like wake up screaming on his first night at school. His meditation had helped reduce the frequency of his nightmares, but they couldn't get ride of them completely and, when the nightmares did hit, they were more intense.
"Correct." The door clicked before it swung open.
"You need to tap your wand on the side of the door as you enter the common room so that the Eagle will recognise you as a Ravenclaw student and give you the riddle." Gavin stopped them from stepping forward.
One by one, the ten of them entered the common room where they were directed to some comfy chairs set up around the fire. The common room was nearly deserted of students, with the others students likely getting settled in.
The Ravenclaw common room had a large alcove of books set behind a marble statue of who he assumed was supposed to Rowena Ravenclaw on the north facing wall. The ceiling was a fixed image of the night sky, the carpet was a deep blue and there were several small clusters of study tables scattered through the room. The group of arm chairs that they'd settled in seemed to have been pulled from around the three fireplaces that were placed at the remaining cardinal points of the room. The windows that were in the tower were set high so that they couldn't look out of them, but light was let into the room. The exit was between the east and south fire places while there were two staircases that curved up the tower set between the north and west.
The common room was cosy and practical, laid out for sitting quietly and studying – not hanging out and socialising. With the room set up as it was, Harry couldn't see it getting too loud or disruptive except on special occasions.
"Welcome to Ravenclaw," Filius Flitwick stepped into the common room with a bright smile on his face. "I am Filius Flitwick, the head of Ravenclaw house and charms professor. Within Ravenclaw, we are lucky to have access to books in our common room, do not place library books on those shelves as Madame Prince will come after me first." Flitwick shuddered theatrically causing giggles.
"Right then, I've got your time tables so that you will be prepared for lessons starting tomorrow. On the back of your time table are two different dates and times where you will be meeting with me as progress check ins. Your time table also has my office hours mark, feel free to drop in to speak with me about anything. If you do not feel confident talking to me in person, you can drop a note in the box by the door and I will reply in the house meeting which happens on Saturday nights." Flitwick flicked his wand causing a stack of parchment to reveal itself next to him and then settle in front of each of them.
"Are there any questions?" Flitwick finished his brief introductory.
Immediately there was a surge of hands flying into the air, causing Flitwick to chuckle in good humour. Harry paid attention to the questions with half an ear while he looked at his time table, only to stair at it in shock. There are six periods in the day, plus one for astronomy lessons in the evenings, each lesson seeming to last from between 45minutes to 85 minutes depending on which slot was assigned.
Monday was Herbology period one, and Defence period three.
Tuesday was herbology period one, transfiguration period three followed by study hall for period four until lunch, then it was history in period five. History was the only subject besides study hall where all the first years were together.
Wednesday was transfiguration period two, potions period four and defence period five.
Thursday started with study hall in period one, followed by charms period four.
Friday had charms period one, potions period five and history period six. Finally, astronomy from eleven at night until midnight.
Overall, that was twelve subjects and two study sessions across thirty periods, plus the thirteenth subject of Astronomy in the evening period. They had eighteen empty periods of lessons in a week, which equated to just under seventeen hours within the school week when they weren't working. Then there were also the hours outside of lessons from four thirty until curfew at eight. The older years had a later curfew and so more free time, but Harry guessed that balanced by the fact that third years had between two and three new subjects.
Harry knew that they were understaffed for a boarding school, but to be so understaffed that they weren't able provide a full-time table, this was not worth the entrance fee. The non-magically raised, at the least, should be able to recognise this, but looking around at the other first years – no one seemed to mind the timetable. But then, they were only eleven years old – why would they complain about a lack of work?
"Professor Flitwick, how does the dorm situation work?" Harry finally put his hand up and asked a question.
"The girls will go up the staircase on the right and go up two floors. On the second floor. Names will be one the doors; look for your own name. The toilets and showers are at the end of your floor. Boys, you're on the left, the rest is the same as with the girls. Your trunks will already be in your dorm at the foot of your beds. You may decorate your portion of the dorm how you like, as long as it is restored at the end of the year and you do not step on the boundaries of your dorm mates." Flitwick answered. "And, I can see you're all growing tired. I will see you in the morning. the Great Hall opens for breakfast starting at 6:30, first period is at 8:00 which is also when breakfast comes to an end. Good night."
"Good night, professor." They parroted before trudging up their respective staircases.
Harry purposefully slowed his steps so he was the last to make it to the second floor. Although there were five doors on each side of the corridor, only two of the doors had names on. The right had: Terry Boot, Michael Corner and Kia Underwood while the left had Anthony Goldstein, Peter Zen and Harry Paxton.
Stepping into his dorm, Harry closed the door behind him as he took in the layout. There were three small double canopy beds with royal blue hangings on each. At the foot of the beds their trunks had already been placed. On the right side of the beds there was a bedside table with a small dresser standing next to it, while on the left was a small lift up writing desk with four books shelves above it. There was a lot of floor space in the room, enough that they could easily add another three beds with desks and dresser and still not be crowding each other.
With enough space for six children per room, ten rooms per floor and seven floors, it showed clearly that there was once a time when Hogwarts had a much higher student capacity, and could even push for a little higher if necessary. The desks weren't essential, and removing them would allow nine beds in each room. That's only if they keep to these four house dorms, and not many of the other rooms that were left standing empty throughout the school.
Anthony and Peter, his dorm mates, were playing twenty questions with each other as they got ready for bed. Harry kept silent as he moved to his bed which was the closest to the door and had the window direct opposite it so the sun would shine directly on him in the mornings due to the fact that it was facing east.
"Harry, what's your favourite colour?" Peter tried to include him in the conversation when he noticed his presents.
"I'd rather not join the twenty questions, thank you. I just want to head to bed, I'm an early riser." Harry responded as politely as possible.
"How early?" Anthony questioned with an unhappy frown.
"Five in the morning, but I'm used to getting ready without waking anyone else up." Harry assured him.
"You wake me up and you'll regret it." Anthony threatened before throwing a question at Peter. "Do you have any pets?"
Harry shook his head and accepted the apologetical look from Peter and the fact that he'd just been deemed 'irrelevant' by Anthony. Making friends was something that he wanted to do, but there was something about Anthony that said he would not be more than an acquaintance and he couldn't get a read on Peter. It would take him more time to figure out where he'd end up standing with Peter in the future, but he didn't plan on making enemies out of his dorm mates.
From out of his trunk, Harry pulled the school books that had been on his list and placed them on the first shelves above his desk. Then, into the desks itself he placed some spare parchment, his coloured ink, some black ink and a handful of quills. On the second shelf, he placed the journals that he would transfer his subject notes into and he left the top two shelves clear for now. Into the dresser he placed a weeks' worth of his under clothes (underwear and under shirts in the top draw, then his smart trousers and shirts under that), and five of his school robes plus ties into the third draw. The bottom draw contained three sets of non-uniform clothes. The last thing he pulled out of his trunk was his wash kit and the night-clothes (jogging bottoms and long shirt).
The night clothes and wash kit he took down the hall so he could grab a quick shower before getting changed. He didn't feel like sleeping with the dirt of travel on him, and he always slept better when he was freshly clean. That, and the only privet place for him to change in the dorm room would be within the privacy of his curtained bed, and he had no desire to be answering privet and invasive questions from his dorm mates. He was already surprised that no one had brought up the scars on his face which were the only ones not hidden by his clothes. Even the ones on his neck were concealed by the fact that his undershirts covered his neck and his 'school-shirts' had a collar and his robes also had a high collar.
By the time he made it back to the dorm, it was to find that Anthony and Peter had already turned in for the night. they left their bedroom curtains open so he could see their dozing forms easily.
Placing his wash kit into the bedside draw, his dirty clothes into the laundry bag in the corner of the room, Harry crawled into bed and drew the curtains tight around him. the last thing he did before sleeping to sleep, was set the alarm charm on his wand that Sirius had taught him. as the wand was in the holster concealed on his forearm the vibrating would wake him up in the morning without causing problems with his dorm mates. Sirius had recommended the one that made noises, but Harry wasn't into the habit of antagonising people around him by startling them awake with loud and piercing sounds.