When Niko returned, things became quieter except for Niko's almost never-ending questions. Teddy's resentment only grew as he talked; apparently Niko's parents were Kayla and Daniel Isenberg who had been several years older than Harry. Both came from wizarding parents and it seemed as though they both must have been Slytherins, although Teddy did not voice that opinion out loud, as he couldn't be sure how Niko would react.
Felix still had not spoken a word when the train finally stopped. Kristen seemed to speak for the two of them, and Teddy couldn't help but be reminded of Uncle Georges pained, empty look whenever his late twin, Fred, was mentioned. He wondered if all twins were like that. In any case, both of them seemed to have little more knowledge of the wizarding world than a muggleborn, which, considering what little he had gleaned about their upbringing, made sense.
They all exited the train in silence and again the lack of people struck Teddy. So few younger students. There were a few more older ones, but it seemed that this year, his year in particular had the fewest. When Hagrid, aging yet cheerful as ever, called them over, Teddy could only count about nineteen in total, not including himself. That would mean five, boys and girls, for each house. And some might have even fewer
The lake glimmered from reflected lights as they sailed across. The sheer enormity of Hogwarts captured Teddy as did the magic that emanated from every particle of air. It felt intoxicating, and he could have sworn that he had seen Felix's eyes light up for just a second, allowing himself to be taken over by wonder. But that moment passed too soon.
They stepped off the boats and entered the castle in Hagrid's shadow, enormous as it was. Stepping under the door, apprehension seeped through Teddy unwillingly, and the brisk shout of "First years, this way. Hurry please," did nothing to help.
His first impression of Professor Kane did nothing was that he hardly ever smiled. Frown lines had ingrained themselves into his skin long ago and his hard eyes pierced them all with a practiced precision.
His eyes landed directly on Teddy and paused there for a moment, leaving Teddy quivering under that glare, but he quickly moved on.
"Now, you are about to be sorted into your respective houses. While you attend Hogwarts, you will live with your house, eat with your house, and sleep with your house in your dormitories. The sorting hat will tell you which house best suits you and you will proceed to that table for the feast. Would you all please follow me."
They all walked slowly into the Great Hall. After hearing it described for years by his grandmother, his uncles and aunts, actually seeing it felt more like déjà vu then something really new to him. In fact, while he whole castle had awed him, he still felt like it had been apart of some dream of his, so vivid were the descriptions. Headmistress McGonagall sat at the head of the staff table, looking old, but still possessing something strong deep within her that kept her at the school.
The sorting began quickly. Kristen and Felix were first, having the last name Astori. Without Kristen standing behind him, Felix looked a little nervous. He stared anxiously up at his sister and she looked back at him with a piercing stare. Professor Kane cleared her throat and she sat down on the stool. Teddy wondered what she would be; the sorting hat was taking a long time with her. He hoped it would be wherever he was, although he had no way of knowing that.
"Ravenclaw!" the hat finally shouted and Teddy's heart sank as the table in blew erupted.. Of all the houses, none of his family had ever been in Ravenclaw. His father had been a Gryffindor, his mother a Hufflepuff, and his grandmother a Slytherin. He didn't know what his grandfather and other grandparents had been, but he felt sure it hadn't been Ravenclaw.
Next Felix was up and he seemed to be shaking. What would happen if he were separated from Kristen? He thought about Padma and Parvati Patil whom he had met a few times. They had been twins yet still ended up in different houses. The hat took even longer on Felix, but when it opened its mouth, the result surprised even Teddy.
"Gryffindor!" the hat shouted and Felix turned even paler than before. Teddy doubted if any of the ghosts were whiter than Felix at this moment. He even saw Kristen looking shocked and a little lost. What had the sorting hat been thinking?
He watched as Genina Brook became a Hufflepuff and Lily Dray was sorted into Ravenclaw. Michael Enderfield became a Hufflepuff as well. Then it was Niko's turn. The sorting hat paused on him for a few seconds before shouting, "Slytherin!" I knew it, thought Teddy, watching Niko's face, looking almost satisfied and disappointed at the same time. After Niko, Kayla Jenkins joined Genina and Michael at the Hufflepuff table and another girl, Jasmine Kohlhoff, a very foreign looking girl, was sorted into Slytherin.
Then Professor Kane called out, "Lupin, Theodore." Teddy's legs were beginning to shake, not helped out at all by Niko's gaping face which he could see as he walked up the steps. With a stern face, Kane placed the hat on Teddy's head.
If he hadn't heard stories, he would have been slightly terrified when the hat started talking to him. As it was, he was prepared. Ah, Teddy, the hat whispered to him. I've been wondering when I would meet another Lupin. Very much like your father I see, but I dare say that must be a bit of your grandmother in you. You would do fine in Slytherin, I can see that. You would adjust and it would bring out your ambition, sometimes hidden. Teddy turned cold. But no, that wouldn't be best. Not Hufflpuff, and I don't think Ravenclaw would suit you very well either. Yes, I think Gryffindor would be a good fit for you, don't you think?
Teddy didn't hear the sorting hat shout out Gryffindor for the whole school to hear. He took the hat off and walked slowly down to the red and gold table, taking a seat next to Felix. The only things he noticed after that were that two girls, Nya Eve and Silvia Torr were sorted into Gryffindor as well as another boy, William Wood. Felix's haunted look made it hard to enjoy the feast and Teddy couldn't help but be grateful when it was over.