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The Ruins of House Potter

Chapter 8 – A Sorting

By Jamnaz79

Notice: I do not own Harry Potter. I do not claim to own it or wish to make any money off of it. I am merely using the characters to write some hopefully enjoyable stories. All rights belong to the sacred lady, may she grace us with future stories someday.

Both Annabelle and Harry spoke up at the same time "Puddlemere United!"

Cedric rolled his eyes with a grin, "Well I see you both agree to follow losers. Then again anyone that isn't a Montrose Magpie is second place! At least you don't follow the horrible Chudley Cannons!"

Just like that the three started a debate and talked that would last them the rest of the train ride. Conversations from family, friends, school subjects, and most of all Quidditch dominated the trip but at least it started up a friendship. They barely realized that they were at Hogsmeade when the train whistled blew and they had to rush to change. Annabelle went first without the boys there then Cedric and Harry next quickly changing.

~~~ RoHP ~~~

"First years! First years over here!" The voice was loud and strong as it rang out over the hustle and bustle of students. The man shouting it was the largest man that Harry had ever seen. He stood over eight feet tall and had a large stomach despite his broad shoulders. His beard was dark as his hair and smile lightened the size of the man making him seem friendly. "Over here first years!"

Cedric and Annabelle followed Harry over till the trio of them joined a crowd around the large man. The first years were numbering around forty teens. Harry glanced around and saw excitement over the faces of young teenagers from multiple countries. He couldn't help but grin himself at the idea of being at Hogwarts! His carrier in magic was about to start.

"I am Hagrid Keeper of Keys for Hogwarts. You lot follow me to the boats." The large man spoke in a roar of volume yet there was a kindness to his tone. He smiled over his gathering of children and turned to guide them down to a small set of docks against the lake. Waiting for them was a number of small boats for the children to sit in, "Four to a boat now hurry up!"

Harry and Cedric rushed over to a boat while Annabelle walked behind a bit more stately then the pair. They were joined by a lanky boy with brown hair and grey eyes. None of them got a chance to talk as the large man Hagrid called out, "We are off!"

As soon as the man spoke up all of the boats at once started to move forward. Their speed wasn't too fast but it carried a little bit of wake over the waters. The sun had set a glorious night sky filled drew the eye to so many stars. In his life Harry had never seen so many beautiful stars. In Surrey there was always lights, because of those he never realized how breathtaking the night truly could be.

They turned a corner and the stars were forgotten as Hogwarts appeared. The castle seemed to rise out of a cliff side majesty and beautiful. Torches flickered and light streamed out of her windows. It seemed to pulsate with life and magic. Harry didn't realize it at first but he was holding in his breath in wonder. The boats moved quickly, perhaps too quickly for Harry as he enjoyed the single most beautiful sight in his young life. Before they knew it the large man was yelling out to everyone watch their heads. Harry didn't lower it or worry if Hagrid could fit then surely he could fit! Once the boats settled they all disembarked and followed the large man up to the doors. There he knocked three times with loud bangs, "You lot wait here and the Professor will be right with you."

The door opened up and a stern looking witch looked out. She had brown hair that was going to grey, a pair of spectacles that she looked down onto the students. The witch pressed her lips together before raising a single eyebrow at Hagrid, "They appear to all be here Mr. Hagrid. Thank you for the assistance."

She opened up the doorway towards all of the student and motioned into the chamber with a pressed smile, "Come in young ones. Come in and welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall the Transfiguration teacher and Deputy Headmistress of the school. In moments you will be sorted into your Houses. The Houses are Gryffindor for the Brave and Chivalrous, Hufflepuff for the Hard Working and Loyal, Ravenclaw for the Wise and Studious, and Slytherin for the Ambitious and Cunning. All of these houses of our founders are wonderful in their own way. A house is like a family, you will come to depend on the members of your house in your time here at Hogwarts. Now please stay here a moment while I prepare for your sorting."

The witch walked away leaving the children in the room. Whispered started up all around them as everyone started to talk at once about their excitement or how they would be sorted. Harry wasn't worried as mum's journals had ruined that surprise. She had written all about the sorting hat, she had actually been hoping to study it someday for it's amazing properties. Unfortunately that never came to pass.

Harry was drawn out of his thoughts as a cold settled over the room as dozens of ghostly figured floated out of the walls around the first year students. One ghost who barely had his head attached spoke up, "Welcome to Hogwarts! We look forward to hosting you!"

Then in a flash all of the ghosts disappeared back into the walls. All of the ghosts disappeared except one ghost. The only ghost left stopped and floated down before Harry. She stared at him for long moments and the young many couldn't help but believe she was beautiful. She had long tresses of hair that fell down her back and a cloak that covered much of her form. Her eyes looked to be pale grey with a sadness in them that was only overcast by the haughty look on her face. Harry realized her gaze was not on him but instead on the right arm where his wand was attached to a holster. The only word that she spoke was "Interesting." Then she too disappeared into the walls of the castle.

Harry shivered as she left and realized a number of the children were staring at him with wide eyes. Cedric leaned over and whispered, "Know who that was?"

"No, I don't have a clue." Harry shook his head with a frown.

Before anything else could be said, the doors opened to the Great Hall and the future students started to press forward into it. They walked forward filling in the group to find four long tables filling the room. Each of the table was filled with students in different colors. At the front of the hall was a staff table filled with individuals who must be the professors for the classes. In the middle of the table on a throne-like chair sat the oldest looking man Harry had ever seen. He had white hair and a long beard. He wore a purple set of robes with pink and neon green stars and moons covering it. Harry swore he saw a comet zip by around the robes as he was looking. His attention was stolen from the old man as Professor McGonagall spoke up again, "I will call you names one by one."

The first few names were called and different children walked forward each time to have an old hat placed onto their heads. After a moment each time the hat would yell out their house. Harry didn't worry too much of the sorting as he looked around. The ceiling was the same as the night outside beautiful and open to the stars. Below it floated numerous candles that shimmered light into every corner of the vast chamber. Harry's attention was drawn back to the sorting when he heard his friend called, "Cedric Diggory!"

He gave his friend a good clap on the back as he watched him march forward. The hat rested on the head of the young man a moment before it yelled out, "Hufflepuff!"

There was no break for Harry though as next his own name was called out by the stern witch, "Harry Potter!"

There were a few mutters when his name was called out. He heard offhand one loud whisperer saying, "His is the family that betrayed the boy-who-lived!" But the boy just ignored them as he stepped forward and sat on the stool. He felt the hat fall down over his eyes and thought to himself, 'Hello?'

'Hello to you Mr. Potter. I see someone told you the secret that I can read your mind and talk to you. A pleasant surprise, I see here that it was from your mother's journals. She was such a wonderful and smart witch.'

'Thank you. I just wish I had gotten to know her better.'

'They say Mr. Potter those that love you are never truly gone. They are always with you inside. Remember she gave everything up for you. It is a trait that fit a Hufflepuff if I ever saw one, she would have done well there.'

'Perhaps I should go there?'

'Let me see here. Hmmm, I see plenty of courage but intelligence so you wouldn't rust in foolhardy without a plan. I see too that you are ambitious and cunning to get what you want. But, you don't want to live off of others, you want to make your own way, you own future. You have the hard work and loyalty to those that are kind to you. Yes, it has to be then. You shall be a ….'

"Hufflepuff!" The Hat yelled loudly to all of the room. The hat was pulled off and a large amount of clapping came from the gold and black table as everyone there stood up. Harry quickly scooted down and missed the looks of surprise on a number of the professors as he joined Cedric.

"I knew it, we will be the best this school has ever seen together!" Cedric stated with a smile.

"Agreed, better together then apart." Harry gave a mischief filled grin towards his new friend. The pair of them turned to watch the rest of the sorting. Annabelle was sent to Ravenclaw and a pair of red heads that tried to walk up for the wrong name was both sent to Gryffindor.

The sorting finished up quickly than the old man that must be the Headmaster stood up to speak, "Now that is settled let the feast begin!"

Piles of food too numerous to count appeared all over the table. Everything from fish and chips to steak to pumpkin juice was found on the table. Harry smiled brightly as he started to fill his plate. He had been taught in the academy to eat quickly but politely. So he enjoyed a fast meal which seemed to fly past.

"Tomorrow you want to search the castle Harry? Jaina over here wanted to come with us." Cedric nudged Harry in the side drawing his attention to the girl across from him.

The girl was pretty with curly auburn hair and light blue eyes. She had a little nose and high cheekbones of fine breeding. Harry had not caught her name at the sorting but offered his best smile to the girl, "I am Harry Potter, it is nice to meet you Jaina…"

"Smith, Jaina Smith." The girl said with a smile then she turned to look at Cedric raising an eyebrow, "He seems to zone out some doesn't he?"

"I think he was famished, we skipped the sweats trolley." Cedric teased his new friend with a grin. Then he looked back at Harry, "You coming with us Harry?"

"If it is in the afternoon I would but in the morning I need to test into runes." Harry answered with a smile.

"Testing into runes? This is the Sunday before classes start. You should enjoy yourself! Besides aren't runes supposed to be till third year?" Jaina answered with a frown.

"Harry here is a brainiac. Are you sure you shouldn't be in Ravenclaw? I am sure they could take out the hat." Cedric teased with a grin.

"I just like runes. They like me, so it seemed to work out well." Harry shrugged once pushing around some mash potatoes' on his plate. His eyes wandered up to the head table and studied the different teachers. He knew who the Headmaster and Transfiguration professor was but he didn't know many of the others. His eyes lingered for a moment on a beautiful woman with curly black hair starting to go to grey and light grey eyes. The woman had high cheekbones and an elegant grace to her. He could see the start of wrinkles against her smooth skin from age. She looked about the room with a calm demeanor. For a brief moment his eyes locked onto hers and he felt his heirship ring turn a bit hotter on his hand. Harry broke eye contact and looked down at his hand and the ring with a frown. When he glanced back towards her she was already looking away.

The Headmaster stood up again and clapped twice and all of the food at the tables disappeared from before the students. He turned his twinkling eyes around the large chamber before he spoke up, "Now that we are sorted and fed I have a few words. First I would like to welcome everyone back to another year at Hogwarts."

The old man paused waiting for the applause to die down. Then he spoke again, "I would like to remind all students that the Forbidden Forest is indeed forbidden to all students. In addition Mr. Filch has a list of all banned items from the school. Please see his office if you have any questions. Finally, I would like you all to give a warm welcome to our newest Defense against the Dark Arts Professor Cassiopeia Black."

The ancient Headmaster raised his right arm over towards the dark haired and grey eyed woman. She slowly inclined her head with a stoic demeanor towards the students. Then the attention was back to the Headmaster. He smiled kindly towards the students as he continued, "The Prefects will lead first years to their new House dorms. Good night to all and please have sweet, wonderful dreams."

The first year Hufflepuffs all crowded around as a Prefect came down to guide them towards the new chambers. The walk was not too long for Hufflepuff's common room was below the ground like the Slytherin Dungeons. Instead of a dungeon like Slytherin, Hufflepuff was based just outside of the kitchens near an old butterbeer keg. When they arrived at the keg the prefect stopped outside and smiled at the first years, "Our dorms are a little different than the other houses. While Ravenclaw is said to have a riddle and there are passwords for Gryffindor and Slytherin. We prefer a statement of meaning to ponder over the two weeks that each password takes effect. If you have problems getting in and forget the password please see any prefect or Housemate and I am sure they will be happy to help you out.

The prefect turned and knocked three times on the doorway and spoke out loud, "Friendship is what makes life worth living."

Slowly the barrel started to squeak open before disappearing all together. Harry blinked in surprise as his eyes lit up at the beautiful common room for the Hufflepuff house. It was like the world opening up before him to find a new home. In a way this was his new home, his place to live, laugh, love, and learn over the next seven years of his life. This was the start of his future and he was excited.

Author Note: Ending it here, I know it is rather short but I want to get a nice long chapter for the introduction to the world of Hufflepuff and first few weeks of classes. I am still looking for a beta if anyone is interested in doing it for this story.