Chapter 5
In which Harriet discovered that it is possible to drive a hat into a wall
The debate of Gryffindor versus Slytherin had incited a severe headache for Harriet.
"Gryffindor is the Greatest House!" Granger insisted, " Our headmaster, Albus Dumbledore hailed from Gryffindor! I would be honored to be sorted to Gryffindor! "
"No! Noble Slytherin is the best! We upheld Honor, Duty and Sacrifice as a family in and outside of school! And the connection we can build there is very valuable for the future! " Draco drawled as Daphne and Theo looked disinterested.
Harriet sighed as she looked at the compartment's occupants.
"Slytherin bred dark wizard and witches! You Know Who was a Slytherin. So are his Death Eaters! No wonder you want to be there, following your Death Eater father's footsteps, no doubt! While me, The Weasleys had been in Gryffindor for generations. No doubt that I will be immediately sorted there! So does the Potters! " Weasley said snidely.
"That is not true." Harriet cut the pandemonium before it can go back to sniping each other "my Great Grandfather, Harold, Grand Uncle Fleamont, Grand Aunt Euphemia and Grandmother Dorea was in Slytherin. In fact, he was dorm mate with the current Lord Slytherin's Grandfather. Honestly, if you believe that eleven years old could be separated as evil and not evil, why would they be allowed at school? That is strike one, by the way, Weasley. "
She sighed. "Personally, I don't want to be in either Gryffindor or Slytherin. So maybe either Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. "
A collection of protests filled the room. Closing her eyes briefly in irritation, she reopened it to see Neville stared at her.
"You want to be in Hufflepuff? " He asked timidly.
"Sure, why not? From what I've heard, Hufflepuff is the House of hardworking and loyal people, whom I would be honored to be counted amongst. I have no interest in politics, it sounds tiresome. When we grow up, I might appoint a political representative for my House so I can focus on what I wanted to do. "She answered tiredly.
" But… but you're supposed to lead our world as a light witch! These Death Eaters are corrupting you! " Weasley shouted in indignation.
"Strike two, Weasley, one more and you're out. That is Racism. This is why I said leave everything at the station. You're free to your way of thinking, but so do I and so does all of the others. Don't force your way of thinking to anybody else. If you don't agree, just keep silent. Don't go into baseless accusations. Do you know how innocent people got executed at witch hunts? Exactly like how you are right now. Do you want to be the cause of another genocide? " Harriet retaliated harshly as the others winced.
Weasley looked as if he was sucking a lemon.
"Look, you like chess, right?" She'd seen him eyeing the wizard chess Theo was playing with Daphne to pass the time while the others argued about houses.
He nodded mutinously.
"When you play someone, Draco here for example. Are you playing to win, draw, or just take every other piece regardless of winning or losing? "
"To win, of course, why would I aim to draw or to lose? " He puffed a bit.
"And would you use any battle strategies you know of, taking advantage of your opponent's weakness while exploiting all your resources to win? "
"Of course. I 'm good with strategies. My Grandfather said so. " He preened, then turn to Draco. "Would you like to prove it? "
"That's a strong Slytherin trait you exhibited. Of course, there are Ravenclaw and Gryffindor too, but your Slytherin side is more dominant. " Harriet continued blithely, making the others gape at her.
"Ambition, willing to do anything necessary to reach a goal. Sound familiar? " She waved her hand unconcernedly. "My point is, we have all traits of the founders in us. The most dominant one didn't really factor in your sorting. Rather it's what you valued the most. Sure, maybe Slytherin produced more Dark Wizards and Witches than other houses, but they also have values that are necessary in life. Whose to say that the other houses never produce Dark Wizards and Witches? And if you were indeed sorted in Slytherin, are you going to conform to the existing stereotypes or change other people's prejudice of Slytherin? "
Neville looked interested.
"I agree with you, both my parents are Gryffindors, but my Gran is a Slytherin, she didn't mind me in any house, just that I do my family proud. I also have ancestors in all houses, so I'm not really worried." He commented.
Harriet nodded thoughtfully. Then someone knocked at the door and reminded them to change into their robes. Weasley left in a huff, while Granger was deep in thought as Neville led her out of the compartment with a promise to talk later.
She was still thinking when Draco escorted her to a boat with Theo and Daphne, leaving Crabbe and Goyle with Neville and Granger who decided to stick with them.
"Galleon for your thought? " Draco asked as he noticed his cousin not paying attention on their first view of Hogwarts.
Harriet smiled and shook her head. "I think I solved a puzzle, but to see if it's the correct solution, I have to wait until Christmas Holiday. I have a question. Do you know of anyone from the House of Smith?"
Draco tilted his head to a direction, where an obnoxious voice could be heard talking loudly about being a descendant of the founders.
"You meant Heir Zacharias Smith?" He asked as he helped her climb down from the boat.
Harriet wrinkled her nose. "No, the Founders families would not have been that open about their heirship. He's most likely descended from a second son or something. Maybe the name changed? "
"Neville's mother, Lady Longbottom was born a Smith if that's what you meant. She's a cousin of Heir Smith's family. I have to check with Father. His father is on the Board of Governor with Father, I think. " He drawled.
"Oh, definitely not him then." Harriet nodded and looked up to see a stern woman watching them approach.
"Good evening Students, I am Professor Minerva McGonagall. Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts" She said before leading them to a big double door.
She went in to prepare for their entrance, and Draco turned to her.
"Are you serious about not being in Slytherin?" He asked seriously.
Harriet nodded and said, "I'm so pissed off with those two I'm liable to explode or burn something in their House. I think that's unproductive, so I choose to be in either Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff."
"You know that I can't protect you in a different House, right? My friends and I, we'll all be sorted before your turn." He said worriedly.
"That's alright. I can take care of myself. We can always talk during breaks." She patted his shoulder fondly.
Draco nodded stiffly as Professor McGonagall returned and took them inside.
As he predicted, Draco and his friends were sorted into Slytherin, while Neville is in Gryffindor with Granger. Then Professor McGonagall called her name.
"Potter, Harriet"
Harriet could hear the Hall broke into whispers and even an outright shout. She took a deep breath and walked to the seat. The Sorting Hat touched her head and she almost jumped when it talked.
"Oh ho, what do we have here? An Heir of the founders! My, what an honor to sort two Heirs in a year!" The Hat said.
"Good evening Mr. Hat, may I know who the other heir is? " She asked politely.
"I'm sorry dearie, he is not aware of his heirship, so I can't tell you his name. Heirship of the Founders House is private, you know. Now, traditionally, an heir is sorted to their Founders House, unless unaware. The other heir wished to go to a specific House to help a friend, but you have a choice between your paternal House or your husband's House. I must say that Slytherin can bring you to greatness, but of course, you have plenty of the Gryffindor traits too." The Hat answered
"Can I go to either Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff? I don't mind any between those two." She said firmly.
" Are you sure? You are aware of your heirship and as such is allowed to choose, you know. " The Hat said skeptically.
"Very sure. I'm not interested in politics, nor charging thoughtlessly into situation. Also, I'm liable to destroy either of the House. Rebuilding costs are quite high these days. I asked at Gringotts. So, it's better I go to Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff and use the fund to build something else." She answered and proceeded to tell all about the complexity of rebuilding.
The Hat cut her out when she talked further about costs and benefits of rebuilding, and shouted.
"Better be… RAVENCLAW! "
Harriet sniffed as she was cut mid rant. "How rude" She said and handed the Hat back to the Professor and walked calmly to the Ravenclaw table who welcomed her whole heartedly.
She sat beside an Indian girl whose twin went to Gryffindor and smiled at Draco who clapped politely.
finally, "Zabini, Blaise" went to Slytherin and they could start the feast.