You all have been hanging out for it. They're at Hogwarts.
-Doublesims
Chapter Six: The Sorting Hat.
"Potter, Granger, Frost. I want to see the three of you." Jack, Harry and Hermione turned around to see who was calling him. Professor McGonagall, Transfiguration teacher and Head of Gryffindor house, was calling over the heads of the crowd. She was a stern-looking witch who wore her hair in a tight bun: her sharp eyes were framed with square spectacles. Professor McGonagall had a way of making children feel like they have done something wrong.
"There's no need to look so worried –I just want a word with you in my office" She told them. "Move along there, Bunnymund, Weasley."
Once they were in her office, a small room with large, welcoming fire, Professor McGonagall motioned Harry, Jack and Hermione to sit down. She settled herself behind her desk and said abruptly "Professor Lupin sent an owl ahead to say that you were taken ill on the train, Potter, Frost."
Before Harry or Jack could reply, there was a soft knock on the door and Madam Pomfrey, the Matron, come bustling in. Jack rolled his eyes he hated it when others made a fuss about him, living alone for so long will do that to anyone and by the colour of Harry's face he didn't like the attention as well.
"I'm fine" Harry said. "I don't need anything –"
"Oh is it you, is it?" said Madam Pomfrey, ignoring this and bending down to stare closely at him. "I suppose you've been doing something dangerous again?"
"It was a Dementer, Poppy" Said Professor McGonagall.
Jack faded out as the started to talk about Dementers and a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher that knew what he was doing. And only came back in to focus when Madam Pomfrey came to stare at him, when Harry let slip that he was unconscious for longer.
"Are you sure you feel all aright, Potter?" asked Professor McGonagall sharply.
"Yes" said Harry
"How about you Frost?"
"I am fine now, but thank you all the same though, Professor McGonagall and was it… Poppy?" said Jack smartly. He may not like the how they were making a fuss about them, but he knew how to act to get them off his back.
"Madam Pomfrey to you and you're welcome." Turning back to back Professor McGonagall she added. "Nice manners this one."
"Very well. Kindly wait outside while I have a quick word with Miss Granger about her timetable, then we can go down to the feast together."
Harry and Jack went back into the corridor as Madam Pomfrey made her way back to the hospital wing. They didn't have to wait for long, when Hermione emerged looking very happy about something, followed by Professor McGonagall, and the four made their way back down the marble staircase to the Great Hall.
It was a sea of pointed black hats; each of the long house tables was lined with students, their faces glimmering by the light of thousand candles, which were floating over the tables in mid-air. Professor McGonagall made it to the head table, as Harry and Hermione made it to the Gryffindor table, and Jack made it to Sandy and Aster who were waiting at the back of the hall.
"You okay mate?" asked Aster
Just as Jack was going to explain what happed, the Headmaster stood up to speak.
"Latter" Jack said looking up to the head table. Professor Dumbledore, though very old, but always gave off an impression of great energy. He had several feet of long silver hair and beard, half-moon spectacles and an extremely crooked nose.
"Welcome!" Said Dumbledore, the candlelight reflecting off his beard. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, and as one is very serious, I think it's best to get it out of the way before you become befuddled by our excellent feast…"
Dumbledore cleared his throat and continued. "As you will all be aware their search of the Hogwarts Express, our school is presently playing host to some of the Dementors of Azkaban, who are here on Ministry of Magic business.
"They are stationed at every entrance to the grounds, and while they are with us, I must make it plain that nobody is to leave school without permission. Dementors are not to be fooled by tricks or disguises –or even Invisibility Cloaks."
Jack looked down at Sandy. "Is there such a thing as an Invisibility Cloak?"
Sandy looked up and nodded with a knowing smile. Sandy knew who it belonged to and who owns it now; after all the child's dreams got quite unique after he received it two years ago.
"Why would anyone own something to make them Invisible" Jack said more to himself but Aster and Sandy were listening sadly. "I've had enough years of being Invisible to know it's not a gift but a curse." Jack shook his head to get rid of the dispersing thoughts and went back to listening to Dumbledore.
"It is not in the nature of a Dementor to be forgiving. I therefore warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you… But Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light.
"On a happier note" He continued "I am pleased to welcome four new teachers two our ranks this year"
"Firstly, Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
There was some scattered, rather unenthusiastic, applause. Only those who had been in the compartment on the train with the Professor clapped hard, the Guardian brothers among them. Professor Lupin looked particularly shabby next to the other teachers in their best robes.
"As to our second new appointment," Dumbledore continued, as the lukewarm applause for Professor Lupin died away, "well, I am sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in older to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that is place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gatekeeping duties."
The hall was full of laughter and cheering as Hagrid stood up knocking the table.
"Wow he's almost as tall as North" Jack said to Aster. Aster gave a look to Jack glad that he was smiling again.
"Yes well done Hagrid, Now our Third and Fourth new appointment have been filled by a Husband and Wife, who had also had to bring their three boys who have been home schooled until now. I am sorry to say we have two teachers on leave this year. Professor Binns, our History of Magic is on long service leave and Professor North has happily come to fill in his place."
North in his new red robe waved to the group of students at the cheer when though the hall, but he couldn't figure out if it was because he was there or that Professor Binns wasn't teaching this year.
"I also have to say that Professor Burbage is on leave as well for a family matter and that Professor Toothiana is keen to take up this job."
Another lukewarm cheer when thought the students.
"Now we have a very special last sorting" Dumbledore looked up to the three brothers as North gave them a wave to come up. "When I say your name can you please try on the Sorting Hat?" He asked them when they made it to the front the boys nodded. Dumbledore nodded and looked back to the four house tables. "Now because these boys have been home schooled. So The Sorting Hat will not only sort them into a house but the year they most fit as well.
"Bunnymund, Emerson."
Aster rolled his eyes when is name was called up like that of course he watched the first years sorting but saying the child's last than first name was ridicules. He rubbed Jack's and Sandy's heads before he walked up to wear the old hat.
"Didn't he say his name was Aster?" asked Hermione.
"Shh I want to hear this." Said Ron.
The Sorting Hat didn't go over Aster's eye like the first years, but sat on his head quite snug.
"Well aren't you interesting" Aster almost jumped when he heard the hat talk. "You have lost your kind, but you still hold hope for your new family. Even the youngest, but of course you are the Easter Bunny."
'Don't tell the other teachers or students.' He shot back in his mind knowing the others can't hear what the hat was saying to him.
"Oh I won't you can trust me on that. Oh you're a scientist, so you could be a Ravenclaw, but you're extremely loyal and very hopeful and you maintain your friendships firm and true. You are also unafraid of toil, so I know what house you should go. But what year, you are smart but you still need to learn. I know…"
Aster shut his eyes.
"FIFTH YEAR, HUFFLEPUFF."
The table that dressed in yellow cheered as Aster took of the sorting hat. He caught Jack and Sandy's eye. 'It talks to you, think and it will listen' he mouthed.
Aster was welcomed about half way down the Hufflepuff's table with other fifth years.
"Frost, Jackson"
Aster has never seen this type of Jack before he looked nerves. Aster smiled 'I'll get him to be the Show Pony he is.'
"Cheer up ya sad sack!" He yelled out. Getting a smile from North as he remembered that Easter when Jack first joined their mismatched family.
"Aw… you do care." Jack yelled back with a smile. Most students could see it was a brother thing that they do to cheer one another up and some even laughed loosening Jack up even more.
The Sorting Hat sat just above Jack's eyes.
"Oh, you are quite smart" Jack smiled bigger as he heard that. "But you're Street Smart not Text Book Smart so not Ravenclaw. Oh and your cunning and you wish not to be alone and to have friends, so you can be a Slytherin, but you aren't a pure blood so you may have trouble in that house. You are just andloyal and true you also –even though you don't like to admit it –unafraid of toil. But don't have the patients to be in Hufflepuff. You have a few fears up here, but you would face off every one if you had to, you are very brave, and your remind me of the Weasley twins. I think you will do well in that house. Now what year to put you in. You're not as smart as your brother 'Bunny' and you still have a more lot to learn and the three of you have a task to complete so to help you I must put you in…"
"THIRD YEAR, GRYFFINDOR"
Jack took off the hat and looked at Sandy bitting his lip. He didn't want to be alone again, but he like the hat said he will face his fear. It was as if Sandy could tell what was going through Jacks mind he ran to grasp the winter spirits hand. Jack looked back as he was walking down the stairs to the high table when Sandy grabbed his hand.
'Whatever happens you can always come and see me.' He signed above his head with his dream sand.
Jack bent down and hugged him getting a few 'aw's' from the first years and quite a lot off the girls.
"Thanks Sandy, I'll think I'll take you up in your promise."
Jack walked up to the Gryffindor table after having a look up and down the table, he couldn't find a seat. Some first and second years liking Jacks natural aura decided to make him room between the two years.
"Mansnoozie, Sanderson"
Sandy sat on the stool; The Sorting Hat was cramped on to his head because of his hair.
"Well, well, well you're an old wishing star" Sandy could hear the wisdom in the hat's voice "You have been around for a long time, haven't you Sandman, giving good dreams to children. You always think of others before yourself, but you're not afraid to pull a joke now and then. You are just and loyal, patient as well you're true and unafraid of toil. So you will be with one of your brothers."
'Jack?'
"Ah you care deeply for him, maybe he will be the first non-Hufflepuff to see Helga Hufflepuff's basement. No I meet your other one, but you do not fit into any other house better than Hufflepuff and I can already see which year you fit."
'No. I know you are right, you seem very wise, you should meet Tsar Lunar one time, you two will get along just fine.'
"Yes the Man in the Moon sounds like someone I like to meet one day, but for now this Goodbye Sanderson"
"SIXTH YEAR, HUFFLEPUFF!"
Sandy gently pulled off The Sorting Hat and bowed to it. Sandy got some laughs as he tried to fix his hair on the way to sit next to Aster.
"Well I think that's everything of importance," Said Dumbledore. "Let the feast Begin!"