Chapter 3: The Sorting Hat
"WAKE UP RON! YOU LAZY GIT!" shouted Ginny at her favorite brother.
Today is the 1st of September. Weasley's children are going for Hogwarts. Weasley's third youngest son Percy will begin his fifth year as a Prefect. The twins Fred and George are in their third year. The youngest Weasley's son Ron is starting Hogwarts.
"Geroff me" grumbled Ron, lying on the bed.
Ginny is in bad mood for quite some days. She doesn't like to be left alone at home. She is one year younger and will attend Hogwarts next year. She yanked the blanket off from Ron furiously.
"We are leaving in THIRTY MINUTES," she shouted.
'WHAT, thirty minutes! Oh no,' Ron thought. He sat up abruptly. "Why did not you wake me earlier?" he complained at her only little sister.
He jumped to his feet and dashed out in the bathroom. He quickly brushes his teeth and showered in ten minutes. He does not take much time to get dressed and run down to have a breakfast before leaving.
"Hurry up, we are going to be late," said Mrs. Weasley gesturing a plate of food towards him.
They made it to King's Cross barely in time. Mrs. Weasley is shouting at her children to hurry up while muttering 'full of muggles, of course -'. Mr. Weasley clearing the way for the family from the muggles. He does not hate muggles but wanted to keep a minimum distance from them.
They quickly cross the barrier and made their way towards the scarlet train. Ron was both excited and nervous at the same time after seeing the Hogwarts Express. The family of red hair made their way towards the train to find the empty compartment. They cross their path with Diggory's who lives near the Burrow. They find an empty compartment at the back of the train.
"Mum, I needed to go early. We have a Prefect meeting," said Percy while puffing his chest showing shiny prefect badge. Ron and the twins rolled their eyes.
"I am very proud of you dear," said Mrs. Weasley while giving him a hug. "Keep an eye on your brothers,"
"I will mum, don't worry," said Percy reassuringly and leave for joining the Prefect's compartment.
"You two listen, I don't want any letters this year about any of your pranks," warned Mrs. Weasley to the twins.
"What about a toilet seat mum!" offer maybe Fred.
"I am warning you two, if I get another letter of yours pranks, I will -"
"Sorry mum," said George cutting the wrath of his mother.
The twins find their friends and left with them after receiving a bear hug from their mother and waving at Ginny.
Now Mrs. Weasley turns to her youngest son. "Ron you have something on your nose," she said and started rubbing his nose with a handkerchief.
"MUM! Geroff me" he said as he finally managed to get away.
"Asked your brothers if you get in any problems,"
"Yes mum," he said while receiving a bone crushing hug from his mother.
Ron turned to Ginny who had unshed tears in her eyes. He hugged her tightly while lifting her off the feet.
"Shhh! Ginny. We will be back at Christmas,"
"It is too long,"
"Don't worry you can help mum with her work or you have Luna or.." he lowered his voice so that only Ginny can hear. ".. you can borrow my broom for practice."
He knows that his sister will become a professional Quidditch player in the future from his dreams. His mother is very protective of her only daughter and never allow to ride her in a broom. Many times Ron caught his little sister flying on a broom at night. She is a good flyer.
"Really?" she asked surprised.
"Yeah. That if you do not crash it because... I don't know when I get a new broom," Ron said as he waited for Ginny's reaction.
"Fool! You worry more about your dirty broom than your little sister," Ginny said, punching him on the shoulder.
"Ouch! It was a joke... I care about your personal safety little sister, do not fit any doubt." He said while rubbing his shoulder.
He received another punch.
"Hey! Why was that?" Ron complained.
"For calling me 'little sister'," Ginny answered.
"Ron writes to me," said Ginny in a low voice.
"I will," confirmed Ron.
"Come on Ron, it is nearly eleven," called George from the train.
"Do not cry Ginny we will send you a toilet seat," Ginny giggled a little.
"Fred!"
"Just joking mum."
Ron hugged his sister one last time.
"Good Bye Ginny,"
"Good Bye Ron,"
And he also left to find an empty compartment.
Ron was lucky to find an empty compartment for himself. He already ate the corn-beef sandwiches his mother has packed. He was staring out the window watching the scenery. No one has joined him in the compartment so he was surprised when after two hours the door of the compartment burst open revealing the same bushy-haired girl with brown eyes from Diagon Alley.
"Have you... Oh! Hello again!" she said after remembering him.
"Err. Hi!" Ron said, waving back.
She chuckled after seeing him.
"What?" he asked.
"You have got a dirt on your nose, did you know? Right here," she said pointing the spot at her nose.
"Bugger!" he cursed while rubbing his nose.
"Don't swear," she complained.
He notices that she was already wearing her school robes. He offered her a chocolate frog that he was about to eat. He really did want to eat it alone but offer it anyway out of courtesy.
She shook her head. "My parents don't allow me to eat many chocolates. It is harmful to your teeth." He chuckled a little.
"Tooth healer, right?"
She nodded. "Dentist,"
"You should try it sometimes. It is really great."
She smiled a little. "Well, have you tried any spell? I tried a few simple spells just for practice and I was very happy when it worked for me. I think Transfiguration is an interesting subject. Charms also look good. Do you know what house you will be in? I have been asking around, and I hope I am in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best. I hear that Professor Dumbledore was also in Gryffindor. But Ravenclaw is also good for me."
"Hermione breath!" Ron exclaimed. She was talking very fast.
"I do not try any spells. The twins give me one spell to turn someone yellow but I don't believe them. They called themselves the best pranksters of Hogwarts. They are very funny actually but they also managed to get good grades. And as for the house my whole family was in Slytherin, so I suppose I will also end up there. I don't think I will be in Ravenclaw." He answered.
He observed the disappointment in her face by the mention of his whole family was from Slytherin. He wondered whether she already heard that the Slytherin house is for dark wizards. He hate when people referred to Slytherin house as the house of dark wizards. He admits that most of the dark wizards are from Slytherin. He knows that his father will never join the dark side if Voldemort does not force him by threatening the family. After seeing her face fell at the mention of Slytherin, he wonders what she thinks of him when she knows his father was a former death eater. He shuddered at the thought.
At the same moment, the door of the compartment burst open again but this time by a boy. He has a round face and red cheeks. He is looking rather impatient. Then he noticed Hermione in the compartment.
"Hermione, have you been able to find Trevor?" he asked facing Hermione.
"No. So silly of me I forget why I come here in the first place," She turned towards Ron. "Ron have you seen a toad. His name is Trevor."
"Err... No." he answered.
"No problem," she said with a warm smile. "Neville, this is Ron Weasley and Ron this is Neville Longbottom," Hermione introduced.
Ron's blood froze at the mention of the name Longbottom. He knew that Longbottoms are tortured to insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange but his father is also present at the scene. His father confessed all his crime at Wizengamot after the war and it is publically known that his father is one of the people who are responsible for the misery of the Longbottom's. He was so deep in thought that he did not notice that the other boy tackled him into the ground and punched him in the jaw.
Neville is getting impatient. He cannot believe that he lost his toad again. He doesn't know why his toad is always getting away from him. He already embarrassed himself in front of the most famous wizard Harry Potter. He is sharing the compartment with him. His gran helped him to find the platform nine and three quarters. He was eating the sweets that Harry buy from the trolly and informing Harry about Quidditch for one and half hour. Why he has to lost his toad again.
He was looking for his toad in every compartment asking peoples have they seen Trevor. Luckily a first-year girl Hermione Granger decided to help him. They divided their task. After half an hour later he started getting frustrated by himself. His gran always accused him of not been a half a wizard as his father was. He also thought he was not good at magic, practically a squib. When he was one year old, his parents are tortured to insanity in the war. After that, he lives with his gran. His parents are currently admitted at St. Mungo's.
He looks in one of the compartments for his toad. When he opened the door, he found that Hermione Granger is talking with a red head boy. He asked for a toad and she was also not able to find Trevor. Then she introduced him with the redhead. Ron Weasley.
Weasley. All his previous thought about Trevor is forgotten and his mind went blank. He knew that Arthur Weasley was accompanied by Bellatrix Lestrange when that mad woman was torturing his parents. She was famous for breaking her victims in her own twisted way. He knew that Arthur Weasley was transferred to Azkaban for seven years but it was not enough for him. He lost his parents for the entire life. His own parents do not remember him. He always thought about what his life would be like if his parents were normal. He is living happily with his parents. He even has siblings. His parents will come to drop him at King's Cross. He thought of all the moments he was able to spend with his parents and siblings. But that was all taken away from him because of the mad game of Bellatrix Lestrange and her followers. His mind now filled with pure rage and all he saw was red. Before he controls himself he launched at the present Weasley, tackle him hard on the floor and placed several brutal punches on his face.
Ron was so immersed in his own thoughts that he did not even realize that Neville tackled him on the floor and starts punching his face. He groaned in pain when he came back from his train of thoughts. He was able to pull back himself from Neville with the help of Hermione who registers the scene in front of her with horror.
When he gets himself free, he also placed one hard punch at Neville's jaw but control himself after that. He was glad that Neville did not hit him in nose or eyes otherwise he was sure that his face was bleeding. However, after receiving several punches in jaw he was sure that he was not able to chew properly for few days.
"STOP FIGHTING YOU GUYS." Shouted Hermione. Then she turned her attention at Neville. "WHAT WAS THAT FOR? CARE TO EXPLAIN "
Ron noticed that the other boy was only glaring at him with pure hatred. So he decided to speak.
"I am sorry Longbottom. But what happened was not my fault. Okay." said Ron trying to calm other boy's anger.
"That was the fault of the bigot people like you. You peoples are disgusting with that pureblood rubbish of yours. I am sure that if You-know-who is not defeated by Harry Potter than you peoples are enjoying your lives in that dark world." shouted Neville.
Ron has no answer to the last part of Neville's sentence, so he remains silent. But Neville is not finished yet, he continued.
"A lot of families have to suffer because you bigot peoples supported You-know-who. Do you even know how many muggles and muggle-borns were killed in that war? I am sure that in future if there is another Dark Lord then you bigot peoples are the first to join his force again."
"NO! SHUT UP! You can't say something like that to anyone without knowing them." said Ron to Neville but the other boy was already stormed out of the compartment.
Hermione listens in silence the conversation between the two boys. She assumed that something horrible happens to Neville in the past and somehow it involved the Weasleys. She figured out that the Weasleys are on the dark side in You-know-who's war. She hears Ron's last statement to Neville's back and chanced a glance at him only to see the pained expression on his face as he watched Neville's back. She decided to leave him on his thoughts and followed Neville out of the compartment.
Ron watched the retreating backs of Neville and Hermione. Neville words are still fresh in his mind. How did he blame me like that? He considers Neville's hatred towards himself. He lost his parents and his father is not innocent. Yes, Voldemort becomes powerful because of bigot peoples like my family who supported him. But my family does not join either side until forced by Voldemort. Yes, if Harry Potter is not able to defeat Voldemort then that madman is ruling the world and surely his family is favored by Voldemort by taking his side. But did he enjoyed that life? The life where he was considered superior to most of the wizards and witches. Sure he would enjoy that. But did he enjoy that life forever? Did he is really superior to half-bloods and Muggle-borns? He knows that there is only one way to find this out. Hogwarts.
All his train of thought was interrupted when the door of the compartment burst open once again. This time by a blonde boy with grey eyes and pale skin. He was accompanied by two really fat students.
"Well, well, well. Look what we have here. Red hairs, freckles, hand-me-down robes. You must be a Weasley." sneered the blonde boy.
"What do you want?" Ron asked acidly.
"I heard of the fight between you and Longbottom. You really get crushed by that idiot Longbottom. You are a pathetic Weasley. What a disgrace to the house of Salazar." said the blonde boy.
Ron stood up and push the blonde boy outside the compartment and shut the door. He wanted to be alone. He needed some time to think about the accusation made by Longbottom.
He heard the blonde boy say something like 'My father will hear about this' from the outside.
Harry was happy to finally leave that horrid house of his relatives for the whole nine months. He was gazing out of the window watching the forest while patting Hedwig head by one hand. He was lost at the King's Cross searching for platform nine and three quarters. Luckily he heard the conversation between Neville and his gran and asked for the help. He was sharing the compartment with Neville Longbottom and was having a good time. He notices that Neville is a shy boy who does not have much confidence in himself. He lives with his grandmother. Harry was tempted to ask why he did not live with his parents but not dare to ask. Harry was sitting alone in the compartment for over thirty minutes and Neville is out finding his toad.
Suddenly the door of the compartment burst open and a very red and upset Neville Longbottom entered the compartment and sat across Harry.
"Neville, are you alright?" Harry asked concerned.
Harry watched as a girl with brown hair enter the compartment and sat beside Neville.
"Are you okay?" she also asked.
"Neville did you find Trevor?" Harry asked. The girl shook her head on his behalf. "What happened?" Harry asked the girl.
"He got involved in a fight." answered the girl.
"What? Why Neville? Did you get hurt?" asked Harry.
Neville just shook his head and remained silent.
Harry wondered why his shy friend involved in the fight. He was definitely not looked like a student who fights. Is it because he is not able to find Trevor? He glanced at the third person in the compartment and found her deep in her own thought. She must know something. Harry leaned towards her to ask the reason when suddenly the door of the compartment burst open.
Harry saw a pale blonde boy with two of his bodyguards enter the compartment.
Is it true? The pale boy asked. "They are saying all down the train that Harry Potter is in this compartment. So it is you, is it?"
"Yeah I am," said Harry eyeing the two big boys.
"Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle," said the pale boy, noticing where Harry was looking. "And my name is Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."
The pale boy waited for some response but nothing came so he continued, "You will soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort." He said looking at Neville. "I can help you there."
The pale boy held out his hand to shake Harry's, but Harry did not take it.
"I think I can tell who the wrong sorts are for myself, thanks," Harry said coldly. Neville gave him a grateful look.
Malfoy huffed the little bit. Must not have like that comment.
"I'd be careful if I were you, Potter," Malfoy said slowly. "Unless you are a bit politer, you will go the same way as your parents. They don't know what was good for them, either. You hang around with this wimping idiot Longbottom and that Hagrid, and it will rub off on you."
Harry stood up fast. Clearly not liking the comment.
"Say that again," he said as calmly as he can manage.
"Oh, you are going to fight with us, are you?" snickered Malfoy.
"Unless you get out now," said Harry moving forward.
Malfoy stepped backward not wanting to be in a fight with famous Harry Potter on the first day. But he opened his mouth one more time.
"You better watch yourselves, Potter, if you don't want to end up like your parents." With that, he was gone.
Harry quickly closed the door of the compartment. Nobody said anything for a long time. All are deep in their own thoughts. The silence was broken by Neville.
"Do you want to know why I lived with my gran?" asked Neville in a soft voice.
Harry was stunned. He glanced at the girl and saw that she was also surprised but there was also a sad look on her face. "If you don't mind," answered Harry. 'Is that why he got upset' he thought.
After some minutes of silence, Neville explained why he loses his temper when he met Ron Weasley. His parents being an Aurors and fighting beside Dumbledore in the war against You-know-who and how Bellatrix Lestrange, You-know-you's biggest supporter with the help of the Arthur Weasley and other death eaters tortured them to insanity when he was just one year old and they are now admitted in the special ward at St. Mungo's. He also explained that the Malfoy's are also supposed to be the death eaters but they were escaped by saying that they were under imperius curse and bribing the officials.
Harry was too stunned after listening to Neville's. He knows how it feels to not have parents. He compared his condition with Neville's and realized that it was much painful for Neville. Having your parents died is one thing but having them alive but do not remember their child is more painful. He glanced at Neville and saw some tears were falling out off his eyes. 'He must be thinking about his visits to his parents.' Harry thought. Neither of them said anything for several minutes, all are busy in their own thoughts.
Finally, Harry turned towards the girl. "Who are you?" he asked politely.
"I am Hermione Granger." answered the girl.
"Harry Potter."
"Are you really?" said Hermione. "I know all about you. I got a few extra books for background reading, and you are in Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and, Great Wizarding events of Twentieth Century."
"Am I?" said Harry, in awe.
Neville chuckled slightly at Harry's expression.
"Goodness, did not you know? I have found out everything I could if it was me," said Hermione.
"You two had better change, you know. I expect we will be there soon," said Hermione as she left the compartment.
Neville's mood becomes better after some time and the two new friends start to talk about everything.
Hermione was in her own thought when she left the compartment. She met two boys who will probably end up in Slytherin and both their fathers are the death eaters. She did not like the Malfoy from the start but she thinks good for Ron. She was having a nice conversation with him before Neville's arrival. She remembered how he was staring at her family back at Diagon Alley. Back then she thought that he was intrigued by the muggles but now she was confused. She knows You-know-you hated Muggle-borns and that was the main reason that started the war. She doesn't know what to think of Ron now, is he the same bigot person like Malfoy as Neville said or he was different. She remembered his last comment to Neville's back but she was not sure. Only time will tell.
But she knows one thing for sure. She will prove all those bigot people wrong. She will prove them that muggleborns are as much as capable wizards and witches as the others. She will prove that all those pureblood superiorities are rubbish. Now she was determined for her goal. People don't know that once Hermione Granger set her goal, she will not stop until she achieved it. She will show all the peoples at Hogwarts that Hermione Granger is not to be taken as lightly because she is a muggle-born. Now she will show them exactly how much capable of Hermione Granger is.
Ron was pulled back to the reality when he heard few 'wow' and 'ooh' from the students. No one came into his compartment after that blonde boy and his two cronies. He spent the rest of the time thinking about what Neville's said to him.
He looked up and his jaw dropped at the sight that was in front of his. Hogwarts Castle. Wicked. It was huge. The entire castle was lit. There are huge towers, flags, massive stone walls. It seems like the castle was sat on a cliff. The starry night sky and the moon made it look very beautiful. He was surprised nothing flew into his mouth by the way it was hanging open.
He crossed the dark lake and went through the tunnel like all the students. He gets out of the boat and made his way up the stairs. He also notices that Hagrid giving Neville his toad and his thought immediately went back to their argument.
"The first years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank You, Hagrid. I will take of them from here."
She pulled the door wide open and the students followed her into the massive entrance hall.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start of the term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seat into the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and, Slytherin. While you are at Hogwarts your triumphs will earn your house point, while any rule-breaking will lose house point. At the end of the year, the house with the most point will 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." She said as she glanced over all the student and left the chamber.
Ron swallowed. He was nervous. Fred told him that he has to fight a troll to get sorted. But he did not believe him. Well, who in the right mind will believe him? Suddenly all the ghosts started popping out of nowhere. Some students yelp in surprise. Professor McGonagall returns after some minutes and formed a line. All the students follow her in the Great Hall.
He looked up at the ceiling. The ceiling looks like the sky outside with twinkling stars and clouds. He heard Hermione saying to someone 'Its bewitched to look like the sky outside, the ceiling. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History'. Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool in front of the students. The wizard's hat is put on the stool. There was a silence for a few seconds, then wizard's hat starting its song. When the song is complete everyone bowed and clapped. 'So we have to just try on the hat. I will kill Fred.' Ron thought.
Professor McGonagall comes in front of the students. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool."
"Abbott, Hannah!"
A blonde girl put on a hat and sat down.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted hat.
"Bones Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Boot Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Ron noticed that one goon of that blonde boy, Crabbe is sorted into Slytherin.
"Granger Hermione!"
He noticed that Hermione walk towards the stool nervously and keep muttering something to herself. The hat takes some time but after shouted
"GRYFFINDOR!"
When she was heading towards Gryffindor table, he smiled a little at her but her expression remains blank and she quickly averted her gaze and went straight to Gryffindor table. He shook his head and sighed already having a bad feeling.
"Greengrass Daphne!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Goyle Gregory!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Longbottom Neville!"
Ron noticed that Longbottom looks pretty scared and he fall over the stool. Everybody laughs, which made him even more scared and nervous. The hat took time but eventually shouted
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Ron knew how much scary Longbottom can become when he wants to be.
"Malfoy Draco!"
Ron noticed that he was the same blonde boy. He groaned when he realized that where he going to be sorted.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Nott Theodore!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Potter Harry!"
Soon the Great Hall fill into the whisper. Students are whispering to each other like 'The-Boy-Who-Lived!'. The sorting hat seemed to take its time, probably the longest by any other student. Finally, after a long time, it shouted
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Turpin Lisa!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Now it was Ron's turn.
"Weasley Ronald!"
He walked slowly to towards the stool and sat down. He put down the hat on his head and closed his eyes.
'Another Weasley, eh?' asked the Sorting Hat.
'Hmm' was his only reply.
'Let me take a look at your mind.' The hat remained silent for a moment. 'Hmm... Interesting you possess the gift of seeing.'
'How do you know that?' asked Ron.
'I was made to read student's mind boy. I can read your mind.' answered hat.
'Don't tell anyone about it. Please!' pleaded Ron.
'Your secret is safe with me boy.' reassured the hat. 'You are already changing things.'
'I did not change much.'
'Preventing someone's death is a big change boy. You already changed many things.'
'I can't let her die. Luna is my friend.'
'I am not complaining my boy. What you did is a noble cause.' The hat was silent for a moment. 'I believe that you are intended to save more lives if you can.'
'I will try my best. I can not let my family and friends suffer.'
'I believe that you know that the future is not good. I assume that you know about the war.'
'I can only guess. I saw too many horrible visions of people dying both muggle and magical.'
'Very well boy I can see you are determined to keep your family safe. Your gifts are too precious. You are the secret weapon for whatever side you will choose.'
'Who told you I am participating in any way if there is a war? I am only intended to keep my family and friends safe and that's all. I will not join the dark side. I just want to be neutral the way my family wanted in the previous war and that is all.'
'Your gifts can change the outcome of the war my boy. The path you choose will also prevent those horrible deaths you have already seen.'
This time Ron remained silent for some time. 'If I can prevent the whole war in any way, that will be great. I will think about it.'
'I know you are brave enough to be sorted into Gryffindor.'
'What? No. Not Gryffindor. My own family will disown me. All the Gryffindors already hate me. They will never accept the son of a death eater. I already get that idea in the train.'
'As I was saying, you already change things, my boy. You already prevent one death and I am sure that you will prevent many more. You already have the glimpse of the terrible future. This is the beginning of your journey my boy.'
'But-'
'You can not do all of this alone. You needed people by your side and for this, you need to prove first that you are not a person that other thinks you are. You need to prove to them that you are different. You have noble intentions my boy and Gryffindor will help you.'
'But my family-'
'Understand me, my boy we are on the same side and I want the best for you. This path is harder but I am sure you will do great in the end.'
This time Ron remain silent feeling dreadful.
'I know you are brave my boy. Good Luck.'
Then the hat shouted 'GRYFFINDOR!'.
A/N:
I don't like my previous idea, so I re-edited this chapter. I hope you like it. Please read and review.
