If I were in Ravenclaw...
by Elementary98
Disclaimer: For the disclaimer, check out Chapter 2 - An introduction to magic
Chapter 5 - The Sorting Hat
After a long train ride, we were ushered towards the lake, where a few boats stood, waiting for us, the 'ickle firsties'.
The man I had seen at Madame Malkin's, Hagrid was his name if I remembered right, enthusiastically led us towards them, all the while talking about a giant squib living in the lake. The lake we were about to cross. Lucky me, I get eaten before I even enter Hogwarts for the first time. Seriously, who had put that thing there? And what did it eat to survive? Did I even want to know? Probably not.
I don't know whether it was a coincidence or not, but I ended up in a boat with no one other than Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. The latter flopped majestically into his seat and gave a superior sneer. "So I end up in a boat with the mudblood and...? I totally didn't catch your name."
Harry frowned. "Harry Potter. And stop calling her that, it sounds like an insult." I smiled at the brown-haired boy and ignored the Malfoy heir, who started talking about how some families were better than others and how he could help Harry there.
"Harry", I interrupted rudely, glaring at the platinum blonde, "how was your train ride, met someone nice?" The boy with the lightning-scar on his forehead shook his head. "I did meet someone, but... he was biased, saying everyone sorted into Slytherin is going to go evil. It was... I did like him, but once he started up on that I liked him less and less, he judged without personally knowing anyone in Slytherin..." Obviously, it was hard for Harry to talk bad about the other boy."I think... blood status and the house you are sorted into don't matter at all."
I gave a soft smile, nodding encouragingy for him to continue, but Malfoy snorted and rolled his eyes. "What are you, a Hufflepuff? Stop that sentimental wittering, blood status is the only thing that counts!" I glared at the pureblood. "Says the inbred spawn. Ignore him, Harry, he's a snotty, arrogant prat! The way you think is admirable, many people can learn a lot from you."
Harry gave a grateful smile, then looked up at the castle that throned in front of them. Wow.
We stepped into the Great Hall and took in all the students at their house tables and the teachers at the Teacher's Table. Yeah, there was Professor Snape! My mouth split into a wide grin and I waved at him, hopping up and down. The hook-nosed man gave a sigh, shook his head and looked away.
Next, there was this weird hat, which started singing the moment it was presented to the students:
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 folks 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!
A few moments later, the sorting began. I was one of the first to step forward. Sitting down on the stool, I eagerly took the Sorting Hat out of Professor McGonnagal's hands and placed it on my head.
Hello there? Can you hear me?, I asked into my mind.
Of course. What is it you want to talk about?, a voice replied.
What kind of enchantments do you possess? And what do I need to do to get sorted into the house that helps me best with collecting as much knowledge as possible? And what is wrong with Professor Snape, why is he so grumpy?
The Sorting Hat gave what seemed to be a laugh. You're a curious one, I see. There are many enchantments on me, if you want to know every single one, ask Professor Flitwick, the Charms Professor and Head of Ravenclaw.
And you don't need to do anything to get sorted into the right house, I choose it for you, so don't worry, I know what I'm doing, I've done this for more than a thousand years already. And, well, the hat giggled softly, Professor Snape changed a lot since his sorting, I won't tell you more, you'll find out about it on your own.
Now, back to the topic, 'll put you into..."RAVENCLAW!"
Loud cheers at the Ravenclaw table, a contented sigh from Professor Snape and a grinning Harry. I sat down at my new house table and watched the other sortings.
Padma and Parvati Patil were both sorted into Ravenclaw, Draco and -surprisingly- Harry into Slytherin. Everyone was shocked at this result, but I stood up and clapped, grinning at my friend. A girl called Hermione Granger and a boy named Ronald Weasley were sorted into Gryffindor. Neville Longbottom was now part of Hufflepuff.
I was now a Ravenclaw, and knew Hogwarts would soon become something similar to a second home.