The Story of Tonight
September 1st, First Year
Well, well, well. What do we have here?
As soon as the Sorting Hat was plopped onto his head, a small little voice spoke in Alex's ear.
Yes, yes, I'm in your mind. The Hat chuckled gleefully, and Alex squirmed a little. He still smiled. Let's see what's here, shall we?
Alex held his breath. Was he supposed to relax? Think? Respond?
Calm down, child, the hat reprimanded in his head. Your mind is so overactive, perhaps Ravenclaw….
Alex wrinkled his nose. He was not expecting Ravenclaw.
No? The hat pondered. Yes, I suppose you're right. Your mind may be bright, but you're much too ambitious and brash. Let's see then...
I don't want Hufflepuff, Alex thought hurriedly when there was a pause. Hufflepuff seemed too bland and ordinary for him to amount to anything.
Goodness me, you're harsh, the hat said. But, fine, no Hufflepuff. Hm.
Alex fidgeted. His Sorting was taking a significantly longer time than the others before him. What if he wasn't sorted at all?
Patience, the hat reminded. That leaves Slytherin and Gryffindor, interesting…
Alex suppressed a frown. What was so interesting?
On the one hand, I can see ambition so strong in you I would normally sort you in Slytherin right away, the Sorting Hat told him. But then again…
You're incredibly brash, and outspoken, too… The Sorting Hat hummed. Instinct is in your blood, and you have an open heart… Gryffindor would be good to you.
I just want to grow up to be great, Alex wished, squeezing his eyes shut.
The Sorting Hat paused for a second. Great, you say… The hat thought. Gryffindor is great, definitely… But what does greatness count without a few challenges? An outspoken, brash, ambitious child as yourself could be in either, The Sorting Hat sounded both confused and confident.
… But you would fit in if sorted into Gryffindor, and since you want to be great... I suppose…
Alex held his breath again. This was it.
"SLYTHERIN!"
The Sorting Hat's voice rang out over the hall, making Alex's eyes snap open as the Hall erupted into cheers. Slightly disoriented, Alex quickly took off the hat to put it on the stool again, smiling at his friends across the room, who clapped for him. John, Alex noticed, looked the tiniest bit disappointed. Maybe that was because the majority of John's family had been in Gryffindor, and it was likely he would be to.
As he hurried over to his new house's table, Alex caught Aaron's eye. His first friend had been sorted into Slytherin as well, which Alexander thought made sense. Aaron was almost everything he was not. While Aaron was cautious and polite, Alex was blunt and outspoken. When Aaron was quiet and careful, Alex was loud and brash.
But that didn't mean Alex didn't like him. And as far as he could tell, both boys wanted to go far in life. They just had different ideas on how to do that.
Which made Alex confused- why had both Aaron and he been sorted into Slytherin? He'd thought he would be Gryffindor! Now, he was conflicted, just as the hat had been.
Alex offered a small smile and wave as he sat down a couple seats down from Aaron, which Aaron returned hesitantly before looking back at his plate. A couple Slytherin prefects clapped Alex on the back and looked at him proudly before before quieting again, looking to the Sorting.
"Welcome to Slytherin," a red-headed boy whispered to Alex. He was young, and Alex recognized him as Benedict Arnold, a boy who had been Sorted earlier on.
"Thanks," he returned with a hesitant smile.
After a few minutes of watching the Sorting, Alex felt mild boredom. Why couldn't his friends just be sorted already? Another Gryffindor girl was Sorted shortly after Alex, but he soon lost interest, until...
"Marie-Joseph Lafayette!"
Alex was snapped out of his distraction by his friend's name, which he almost didn't recognize.
That was the inside joke, Alex realized with an understanding smile as a few snickers were heard around the room. Luckily, Lafita proud and not easily offended, and he marched up to the hat as the Great Hall shushed.
After the hat rested on Lafayette's head, it took what seemed like forever, but was probably shorter than Alex's, before "Gryffindor!" was bellowed out, and a mixture of pride and excitement shown on Lafayette's face.
Alex beamed and clapped his hands wildly, despite a slight disappointment that his friend wasn't in Slytherin. Eventually, he was forced to stop clapping, mostly because his fellow housemates didn't show much enthusiasm for Gryffindor, and were now shooting him dirty looks.
One girl with the last name Lancaster was sorted into Hufflepuff after Lafayette, before -
"John Laurens!" One of the professors called out.
The wavy haired boy with freckled skin hopped up to the seat, his features playful. Alexander smiled in admiration. John was always so confident!
Barely a second passed as the hat touched his head before "Gryffindor" was shouted out again, and the hall erupted into cheers again.
Alexander kept smiling, and he laughed as John raised his hands up as everyone clapped for him. The newest Gryffindor waved at Alex before he plopped himself down next to his Lafayette first years.
The Slytherin swallowed, but he was still smiling. It was expected that John would be in Gryffindor, just like his older brother, but Alex was a little sad he and John weren't in the same house. Of all the three boys, he had immediately connected with John the most.
Still, Alex wasn't too worried about being in different houses - John told him that you could choose wherever you wanted to sit at meals, and classes were together anyway. They'd be fine.
They waited anxiously for a few more people - only Hercules was left of their friend group. Secretly, Alex hoped that
Finally, Hercules was called, and Alex watched in anticipation…
As Herc, like the rest, was sorted into Gryffindor after a short Sorting.
The Slytherin watched as Hercules joined John at the table. All three Gryffindor boys were smiling and laughing with each other. For a moment, Alex's stomach tightened, but then John, Laf, and Herc all looked across the hall and caught his eye.
They beamed at him, and Alex smiled back, still clapping for Hercules. The young Slytherin could only dream about future sleepovers and sneaking out and classes together and studying in the library and Quidditch tryouts...
Despite being in different houses, Alex hoped, and secretly felt that he knew, that they would stick together. The Story of tonight would be one he would remember forever. The four of them had no idea that this was the start of many years together as a team.
That night - the welcoming feast in the Great Hall - was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, and a beautiful story.
Yay! The Sorting is done! I honestly had a lot of trouble sorting Alex. At first I put him in Gryffindor, but so many people said Slytherin and I admit that he would do well in both. But I chose Slytherin because I thought it could create later conflict blah blah blah ...anyway, I'm hoping everyone is satisfied (wink wink). Up next is the Schuyler Sisters, with Angelica and Eliza (and Peggy), two of my favorite characters. I hope you're enjoying. Please review!