"Good evening!"
An overweight, elderly man with silver whiskers met the First Years at the castle steps. He had such an openly friendly smile that Drucy could not help but to smile back, despite her growing nervousness. "Such a lovely group of students!" he enthused. "Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor Slughorn, Potions teacher and head of Slytherin House. Come with me, come on in, all of you…" Drucy had not missed the groans and stares from some of her fellow students as the Slytherin Head introduced himself, and she could not keep herself from cringing slightly. This was the fate she was facing. Nobody liked the Slytherins. Still, she didn't know how anybody could help liking Slughorn. He ushered them into a comfortable, warm side room, clustering them near a brightly crackling fireplace. "Here, get warm, relax a moment. Sit down if you'd like. In just a few minutes, you will be sorted into your Houses. At Hogwarts, your House will be your home away from home. If you have any concerns, you may take them to your Prefect or to your Head of House. Don't be afraid to approach us! We're here to help you, to make your transition easier. Each House has a lovely common room where you can work on your homework, or make a few friends." He winked at one frightened-looking girl. "You're Miss Stebbins, aren't you? You're from a Hufflepuff family. You're a lucky one, you know, your Common Room is right next to the kitchens. What a warm, cheery place to live! And you, sir, I bet you'll be in Gryffindor, you'll be a tower-dweller… soft cushions in that room, you know. I hope you're not afraid of heights. And… Oh! And that's our cue! Right this way, come on in…" Professor Slughorn, obeying a signal Drucy had neither heard, seen, nor felt, quickly ushered his young charges away from the fireplace and through an enormous door.
The Great Hall was far larger than Drucy could have imagined. Her family mansion had a lovely dining hall with a balcony, but this room was far wider and higher. The bewitched ceiling showed the last remnants of a glorious sunset, dark blue and purple in the far distance. She and the other first years entered in a straggling line. Drucy tore her gaze from the ceiling to the tables, quickly spotting the green cloth of Slytherin and scanning the seats until she saw a familiar face. Her sister offered her an encouraging smile. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. This was for her sister. She had to succeed, for her sister.
Professor Slughorn reappeared, pulling a stool into place and setting a worn, battered hat upon it. Drucy felt a wave of terror rise from her toes right into her head. This was the Sorting Hat of Hogwarts, the one she had to convince that she belonged in Slytherin. The world seemed to expand, then contract, so that the only thing she could see was the Hat. Then Drucy felt something touch her hand and startled, turning slightly to see her Muggle-born friend, whom she had almost forgotten completely in the rush of new sights and sounds. Daniel's hazel eyes were intense and fixed on her face. "Are you alright? You're very pale. Do you want to sit down?"
Drucy shook her head, closing her eyes for a moment, and he seemed to understand what she needed. "It's alright, Drucy, it's just a hat. The room is huge, it's messing with your head. Breathe in… breathe out. Breathe in… better?" He patted her arm kindly as she opened her eyes, her head beginning to clear. The Hat was already in full song.
My friends, whichever House in which you find your home,
Try to avoid the same mistakes that pulled the Founders down.
Gryffindors, bold and brave, beware your basic flaws.
Kind Hufflepuff can warn you against your arrogance.
Ravenclaw lends wisdom when you act to fight your cause,
And Slytherin can help you find a better-guarded stance.
Sweet Hufflepuff, please do not hesitate to spread your calm,
But look to clever Slytherin to guard your innocence.
Reach for Gryffindor's courage to keep you safe from harm.
Friend Ravenclaw will temper comfort with love for intelligence.
Madam Ravenclaw, though wise, died lonely and weak.
Seek Hufflepuff's common sense to ground you in your quest.
Gryffindor finds purpose for the wisdom that you seek.
Trust Slytherin to guard your wisdom's power from the rest.
The students at the tables were murmuring in shock and mild outrage, especially at the last line. The Hat paused for a moment. Slytherin's table was the quietest, many of the students staring round-eyed at the battered antique. Gryffindor's murmuring was the loudest. "Trust? Trust Slytherin? Aren't they the evil ones? Didn't Voldemort – Riddle – come from Slytherin?"
Looking extremely annoyed, Headmistress McGonagall rose from her spot at the head table and waved her hands. Immediately, the students settled down, and the Hat continued.
Slytherin, you must forsake your fears.
Hufflepuff will lend you her ears.
Brave Gryffindor misunderstood.
You never sought to forsake good.
When Hogwarts' foundation was laid,
Wizardry feared the Muggle blade.
Muggle's fire was dangerous then,
And Slytherin feared Wizardry's end.
When Muggle-borns began to rise,
Slytherin watched with worried eyes.
Their fathers killed his family!
His students needed their safety.
At this point, the entire Hall had gone silent and still, listening.
But that all happened long ago.
There is no need for further strife.
Forget, forgive! And learn, and grow,
Seek brave, kind, wise, shrewd, peaceful life!
The Hat stopped singing and somehow looked quite smug, despite having not much more than a rip for a mouth and some creative folds hooded like eyes. Drucy risked a glance at McGonagall, whose mouth formed a thin line. She glanced at the House tables, where not a single student spoke. Nobody applauded. After a long moment, Slughorn stepped forward and cleared his throat, holding up a list of names. "Drucilla Bulstrode," he announced.
Drucy stood for a moment, not realizing that her name had been called. She knew that she had to be near the top of the list, but she had not anticipated being first. "Go on," Daniel whispered, nudging her gently. Feeling as if her legs might collapse, she approached the stool and sank down on it. Slughorn reached out and squeezed her hand with a kindly smile, and then the Hat sank down over her eyes.
Slytherin, she thought frantically and as hard as she could. Slytherin. Slytherin Slytherin Slytherin. O please.
"My dear," the voice sounded, muted, quiet. Drucy somehow knew that she was the only person who could hear it. "Slytherin? Are you sure? You're a puzzler, you are. Bulstrode… and Lestrange… you come from a long line of green, that you do. Frightened families, cautious families, and not always the nicest people. But here you sit, gentle as a lamb, innocent as a rosebud. Slytherin? Are you sure? I could put you in Hufflepuff, you know. They would be kinder to a pure-blood than other Houses. You could live near the kitchens, in the yellow sunlight. I think you would like that. I think you would like it very much."
Drucy forced away the images that held her head, images of things like cinnamon bread, checkered tablecloths, and daisies, and held stubbornly to her wish. Slytherin. It has to be Slytherin. Please, it has to be Slytherin.
"Why?" the hat asked her in mild surprise. "Oh, I see, I can feel it now. You're concerned for your sister. What a brave thing to do! I wish I could put you in Gryffindor. Come now, sweetheart. You need to become your own person, and your House will affect your entire education. Let me put you somewhere else, do."
Drucy wanted to cry. Part of her definitely feared the dungeons, the cold, damp place she pictured in her head, the way the other students glared and sneered. She wanted to reach for the sun. She wanted to run away from this high hall, from her new wand, even from her own pet snake, and just go back to the pretty gardens at home. She took a deep breath, then, thinking of her sister, and shook her head again, slightly. No, she couldn't run. She couldn't leave. She had to see this through.
"Very well," the Hat said kindly. "I wish you well in SLYTHERIN!"
Drucy gasped as the hat was lifted from her head, gasped as if she had been unable to breathe while that aged brim shielded her eyes. She heard applause fill one side of the room, where her sister was waving wildly at her and the rest of the students were smiling. Drucy made her shaky way to her sister's side, and the two girls collapsed into a hearty hug. "Wow, Drucy, you were quite the Hatstall!" Esme told her excitedly, as another table began to erupt in applause to welcome one of their own. "But I knew you would make it in. You're going to love it here! Come on, come sit next to me, and we can eat soon. You must be hungry. Oh, honey, you're shaking…"
Esme put her arm protectively around Drucy, pulling her close, just as they had always been… but Drucy felt a pang of regret as her little Muggleborn friend barely touched the Hat before it spoke.
"GRYFFINDOR!"