The entrance hall was much the same as Harry remembered. With the Patils, Longbottom, Weasley and Hermione following him, he stood at the front of the group, not really bothering to listen to McGonagall's lecture. It was certainly disconcerting, knowing how much had already changed. Malfoy, instead of being by his side, making fun of Weasley's tired, worn robes, was somewhere at the back. Admittedly, he was probably still making fun of Weasley's robes, but it worried him regardless. The small changes did set him to wondering though. How much had he already changed just in these few short hours? And what would that mean going forward?
His ruminations were interrupted by the appearance of the Hogwarts ghosts, who went through their usual spiel that they went through every year. Harry just rolled his eyes and waited patiently for McGonagall to come back. Finally, the ghosts left, and McGonagall returned, her severe eyes looking over the new year. It was a tiny cohort, probably one of the smallest year groups in Hogwarts history. Understandably so. Not many people wanted to bring children into the world when their very existence was at risk. If Harry remembered correctly, however, the next year would more than make up for the scarcity of new students. Yes, there'd be Harry's and Harriet's aplenty next year.
"We're ready for you now, follow me." McGonagall's stern voice echoed around the chamber, as she opened the doors to the main hall.
Harry could almost feel the hundreds of eyes searching for him, hungry faces desperate to gaze upon the face of the Boy-Who-Lived. A lucky few would probably catch sight of his scar, even hidden as it was beneath his fringe. As the new year walked into the hall, scattered whispers echoed in the hall, speculating, explaining, gossiping. Harry just ignored them. He'd heard it all before. He smirked a little as he heard a Weasley twin claim there was no way he'd go anywhere else but Gryffindor. Oh, how deliciously ironic. He couldn't wait to see the looks on their faces when he went to their arch-rivals. Meanwhile, Hermione was explain that the ceiling was enchanted to look like the night sky. Apparently, she learnt it from Hogwarts: A History. Harry sighed internally. He had hoped that his memories had exaggerated how much of a know-it-all she was. Apparently, he was mistaken.
Meanwhile, the other students were nervously regarding an old, leathery hat that was frayed and worn more than any har had a right to be. Harry smiled at their confusion. In retrospect, it should have been obvious what it was. But, every year, without fail, the new students always faltered when confronted by the undeniable strangeness of the Sorting Hat. As he chuckled a little, a wide rip above the brim opened up, and the hat, to the consternation of the new First Years, began to sing.
"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!"
With that finale, the cap subsided, to the cheers and claps of all four houses, united as one in their applause. It was funny, Harry considered, that the only time the four houses ever seemed truly united was in their support for an old piece of leather headwear.
"Hannah, Abbot." McGonagall read, as the blonde girl timidly stepped forward, sitting on the stool and sitting on the chair. After a few moments of deliberation, the hat gave its verdict.
"Huffepuff!" it cried, to the applause and whistles of the badgers, who welcomed their newest member heartily.
And so it went on, much the same as last time. Granger went to Gryffindor, Malfoy to Slytherin. No surprises there. Longbottom, of course, managed to con his way into Gryffindor, leaving with the Sorting Hat still on his head before being called back with glowing red cheeks. Parvarti went to Gryffindor, whilst Padma went to Ravenclaw. Finally, the moment of truth came.
"Harry Potter." McGonagall said, her normally stoic voice catching on the name.
Immediately, whispers filled the hall as Harry stepped up to the stool, each house waiting with bated breath to see where the hero of the wizarding world would go. Harry, of course, sat down confidently. When you know the future, it was hard to be apprehensive, he thought as the hat came down onto his head.
As Harry shut his eyes, he could hear the hat's raspy old voice whispering in his mind. "Hmm….well, aren't you an interesting one, Mr. Potter. Plenty of angst and fear, more than I would expect from one of your age…and talent, yes, such talent. And your knowledge! You are a very impressive wizard, Mr. Potter. But, the question remains…where to put you."
"I think we both know where I'm going." Harry communicated confidently, trying not to show his sudden uncertainty.
"Do we, Mr. Potter? Do we indeed? I can see your ambition, your thirst to prove yourself. Such burning zeal to succeed. But, there's more to you, I think, than what first appears."
"Really?" Harry replied, with an affected disinterest.
"Yes, of course! There is really only one choice for you, child. Bravery, courage, determination to make Godric himself jealous, strong sense of right and wrong. Better be…. Gryffindor!"
As the cheers and cries of joy became audible to Harry once more, his eyes widened to an almost comical degree. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't possible. This was all just a bad dream. Surely, he must still be on the Hogwarts express. Perhaps he had drifted off? Yes, that must be it. He pinched himself. Nothing. He pinched himself again, harder this time. Still nothing. He looked about the hall, at the faces full of mirth and cheer, staring at him expectantly, as if this was always meant to happen. As if this was the way things were meant to be. He was dimly aware of the Weasley twins shouting obnoxiously. "We got Potter, we got Potter!". Those idiots. Those fools, those troublemakers were…now his housemates. As if in a trance, he stood, put the hat back on the stool, and walked robotically to the table gaudily decorated with red and gold, ignoring the congratulations being shouted at him. It was all so wrong. Where were the whispers, the confusion pervading the hall? Where were the crestfallen faces of the other three houses, shocked that their hero could go into the dark house? Not a single person in the entire hall was accusing him of being the Dark Lord, reborn into the body of the dead baby Harry. Instead, all he could see were smiling faces lining the hall, except for the Slytherin's of course, who clapped politely and stared balefully at the Golden Boy. As he sat down next to Parvarti and Longbottom, steadfastly refusing to look at Hermione across the table, he couldn't help but think about all the plans that just went up in smoke.
Sorry for the short chapter folks, I just didn't want to keep you all waiting for the moment of truth – I feel like I've prevaricated long enough. But, now we're done with the big twist in our hero's plan, and I'm looking forward to getting into the meat of the story in the next few days. Hopefully I'll have another chapter to post tomorrow, but I must admit I'm not entirely sure where I'm planning to go from here – especially regarding pairings (admittedly that's a long term proposition but I'd like to start laying groundwork early on). If there are any specific plot-points or pairings you want, be sure to let me know in a review! Furthermore, I'm planning to go back in the next day or so and edit the earlier chapters, especially the first one. Also, please don't be afraid to point out any errors or shortcomings in my writing, I'm trying to improve my writing and can take any punishment you want to give me, so long as its constructive.