Hogwarts was mesmerizing.
Tall, sturdy walls, beautiful lights, a sunset backdrop.
It was all Percy could do to not drop his jaw like all the other children in the boats.
Wow, Harry muttered, staring in awe.
I know, Percy replied as they neared some cliffs.
"Watch 'yer heads!" The half-giant on the front boat shouted and everyone insinctively ducked. Except for Percy, Draco, and some other Purebloods.
They eventually stepped off of the boat onto the dock, watching as Crabbe and Goyle tied the boat down because Draco was a pimpy prince who didn't want to do "servant work".
"The firs' years Professor Mcgonagall", the half-giant said as they came to the front doors of the school.
"I'll take them from here Hagrid", a stern looking woman whom Percy and Harry recognized as the transfiguration teacher, Minerva Mcgonagall stepped out.
She made a follow me gesture with her hand and started leading the children through a hallway on the way to the Great Hall. Some bushy-haired girl was yapping about the charm on the ceiling but Harry and Percy weren't really paying attention to that. Eventually, they came to some great, big doors.
Professor Mcgonagall turned around.
"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. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room. 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. 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", The professor looked pointedly at some students before turning around and walking through the doors.
Soon, as expected, the ghosts flew out. There was Nearly Headless Nick, the Gray Lady, the Bloody Baron, and the Fat Friar. You could just see the surprise on all the student's faces and there were even a few shrieks. Draco didn't react, probably because his parents told him about the ghosts and Percy didn't react either because he and Harry had found that fact in some obscure book on Hogwarts.
Eventually the door swung open and Professor Mcgonagall started ushering the students into a line. Percy and Harry raked their eyes over the Great Hall, observing and memorizing details.
There was the Sorting Hat sitting on a stool in the middle of the room.
"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 folk 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!"
The hall burst into applause and there were some whoops coming from the Gryffindor table.
Professor Mcgonagall cleared her throat looking at a sheet of paper, "When I call your name, you will come up here to put on the hat and sit on the stool".
"Abbott, Hannah".
Hufflepuff. Her whole family was there, Harry muttered.
And she acts like it too, Percy agreed.
"HUFFLEPUFF", the Sorting Hat shouted and the Hufflepuff table burst out with applause.
"Bones, Susan".
Hufflepuff, Percy guessed. He was correct.
"Boot, Terry".
Ravenclaw, Harry said. He was also correct.
And they kept guessing the houses the students would go to. They were correct every time.
"Jackson Perseus", Mcgonagall finally called and Percy walked up hat with confident, sure steps.
The hat was placed on their head.
And immediately fell off with an exclamation of "WHAT?".
Well that never happened before, Harry commented dryly, picking up the hat from off the floor in the silent, shocked hall.
SOUL TWINS OF A DEMIGOD AND A WIZARD! The hat shouted in their mind.
Sorry about startling you there but yes, Percy snickered. He was not sorry.
The hat apparently also realized that and huffed, I haven't seen soul twins since the day Merlin was sorted. And the other twin was dormant at the time!
Harry snickered.
Alright, I should probably sort you now, the Great Hall is staring at you funny. Percy and Harry realized the hat was right. Their sorting was taking a long time and many students in the hall were staring with anticipation on their faces.
Hmm, self-sacrificing but careful, impulsive but self-preserving. My what a mix. Gryffindor and Slytherin would fit you two quite well. Oh, but you wish for Slytherin. Well SLYTHERIN it is I suppose.
Hesitant clapping ensued from the Slytherin table.