Chapter Two- Hogwarts, huh?
Eventually, the two trios found themselves sitting down in the Headmaster's office. It had taken awhile for them to get there, considering the outburst over poor Sora's change back to his normal form. (Sora didn't get it. Apparently this was a magic school. Shouldn't they be used to this kind of thing?) Not to mention even now the teacher's were throwing odd looks at his companions. Sora bristled slightly. As long as they left his friends alone, they'd all get along just fine.
The old, powerful one was called Dumbledore, the older lady was McGonagall, and the dark, somewhat sleazy looking one was Snape. The kind-looking woman was Pomfrey, and the very small wizard was Flitwick. They all had such strange names. But that was okay, Sora had heard weirder throughout his travels. The two his age that he had met at the lake were sitting across from him, along with another boy named Ron.
Sora was feeling much better now that he was back on his own two feet, and wearing clothes. He felt even better when two odd little creatures, house elves apparently, brought out two heaped trays of food. After a quick scan to ensure nothing was dangerous (He was hungry, not stupid) he and his two companions dived in. Not long after, Ron stole a pastry. Harry seemed amused, and Hermione was, for some reason, muttering to herself about freedom for all, and the rights of the oppressed.
"Well, Sora," Dumbledore offered, once they had finished eating, a task he had watched them perform with amusement. "And Donald and, Goofy, was it?" Sora could understand that. Goofy was a sort of odd name, really. The three nodded to the headmaster. Harry squirmed a little, full of questions, and Hermione was practically drooling with the desire to start the questioning.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, and Mr. Weasley say that the three of you arrived here at Hogwarts in a somewhat unusual manner. Would you mind explaining? Once we know more, we can see about getting you back home." He was smiling and twinkling as he said it, a vision of grandfatherly kindness. Nevertheless, Sora simply smiled back for a moment, turning to look at Donald and Goofy. They gave little nods, trusting him. Sora was an extremely good judge of character, although somewhat hopelessly optimistic, and he felt no danger from any of them.
Except the dark man, Snape. Sora looked at him for a moment, gauging him.
"Well, are you going to answer the Headmaster, brat, or not?" This charming voice was Snape of course, and Sora nodded, decided.
"Not in your presence," Sora stated flatly, over Professor McGonagall's gasp at Snape's tone. Snape sneered, seemingly automatically, staring at Sora and his companions with distaste.
"And what do you think-." Donald and Goofy were a lot of things. Donald may have been hot-tempered, and Goofy somewhat scattered, but they were all firm friends that had been to hell and back together- literally- and they wouldn't allow some stranger to badmouth him. They leapt up in indignation, demanding that Snape apologize. Since there was little to no chance of that happening, it's a good thing Dumbledore interceded when he did (no-one else was going to, the teachers too horrified, and the golden trio too gleeful) because otherwise things could have gotten very ugly indeed.
"Settle down now," he said sternly, once he had waved Snape to silence.
"Now Sora, what can't you say in front of Professor Snape? He is a respected teacher here at Hogwarts." Harry and Ron snorted in disbelief, then shrunk back at Snape's glare.
Sora stared back at the headmaster serenely. He smiled, and it lit him up, but he was still firm when he replied.
"I mean no offense, sir. I am thankful for your hospitality to my friends and I. But Sn-Professor Snape, sorry, does not feel safe. I have not survived as long as I have by ignoring my instincts. He has a dark aura, and I'm afraid I cannot trust him straight out with our secrets."
"Why you impudent bra-." The Headmaster once more waved him to silence, this time with a little more force. Now all of the teachers were staring at Sora with interest. (Not that they hadn't been before, but they'd also been staring at Donald and Goofy.)
"You can read his aura?" The headmaster asked, interested. Sora shifted position.
"After a fashion, yes. He is not safe. Sorry." Sora stuttered a little at the end, not liking being the centre of so much attention.
"Quite alright, child," the headmaster said merrily, ignoring Professor Snape's dark expression and the murderous sounds that were fighting past clenched teeth.
"Perhaps, after further explanation, you can come to trust Professor Snape as I do." Not likely, Sora thought, the icy dislike in the older man's eyes straightening his back, and acting instinctively to the danger, it was all Sora could do to keep the Keyblade from flashing into existence in his hand. As it was, a few soft sparkles glittered unnoticed around his fingers before vanishing.
"Severus? If you would just wait outside for now?" Snape got to his feet, his sneer once more firmly in place, and swept out the door.
Not only Sora relaxed when he was gone.
"Now," Dumbledore said, leaning forward, "if you could tell us what you are doing here?"
Sora sighed. Deeply. He wondered where to start.
"Uh, Donald? Goofy?" They turned and stared at him as if he was crazy. He mumbled to himself, then looked up at the teachers who were watching him with interest.
"Well, it's a really long story. I feel like I can trust you, but this could take awhile. As I said, my name's Sora, and I live on a world called Destiny Isle, and it's a world quite distinct from this once. My two best friends, Kairi and Riku, and I were just ordinary kids, but-." Once again, Sora was doomed to be interrupted.
"Another world? But that's impossible, isn't it? Pure theory!" Predictably, the interruption came from Hermione, who was shushed to silence by her friends.
Sora turned to look at her.
"Oh, it's possible. But it's not meant to be, see? The world's are all kept separate, but then something went wrong." Sora stopped and chewed his lip for a moment, thinking.
"Every star you see in the night sky is another world. And every time you see a falling star, a world is dying. When I was fourteen, I noticed there were a lot of falling stars. I didn't know what it meant, though. But I was having the oddest dreams, of falling and voices and shadows with eyes and mouths..." Sora drifted, for a long moment. Then he shook his head. He turned again to look at the teachers and noticed the disbelief in their eyes.
"At least let me finish before you start disbelieving me," he scolded. "This is a world of magic, isn't it? Believe me, I've met a lot of stranger things than my friends here. Anyway, the cause of all the trouble- my trouble, that is, was the Keyblade." Sora stopped and scanned the group again.
"Keyblade?" Dumbledore didn't sound disbelieving, just interested.
"Yeah, the Keyblade," Donald said, crossing his arms. Wings. Whatever.
"The Keyblade," Sora continued, "Well, no-one is sure exactly where it came from, or why. But it's a weapon designed to kill the heartless, to lock and unlock worlds. It chooses people with strong hearts to wield it. It's an incredibly powerful weapon, with many forms." Sora hesitated, then sighed.
"I'm the Keyblade Master."
And so saying, Sora held out his hand in front of him and called the Keyblade forth. Before the astonished eyes of the occupants of the headmaster's office, a golden swirl formed in Sora's hand, then flashed, expanding into the familiar shape of Oathkeeper. Running a finger along the blade, Sora smiled sadly.
"This is the Keyblade."
--
Everyone wanted to hold it. Sora blinked in bemusement, then shrugged, handing the massive, deadly weapon hilt first to Harry. It liked him, he could tell, and Harry stared at it in wonder, his two friends running their hands over it. Ron, of course, managed to knick himself on the edge, and pulled his hand back with a yelp.
"Careful," Sora offered, a little too late. Ron glared, but looked pretty ridiculous with his sore finger stuck in his mouth. Harry laughed softly, then passed the weapon back to Sora, who smiled one of his incredible smiles at him before handing the blade to Dumbledore, who took it with a competent hand. The keyblade allowed his touch too, but it shivered briefly under his touch, and Sora felt it in the silence of his soul. The teachers passed the blade around, Dumbledore once more asking questions.
"What exactly does the Keyblade do? What do you do with it?" Sora kicked his feet, stretching out his sore back with a little yawn.
"The Keyblade goes to the one with the strongest heart." Sora paused again, remembering the blade in Riku's hands, then his own.
"It's a weapon against the heartless. It can unlock or lock the heart of each world, unlock or lock anything that can be locked." Sora cocked his head to the side, wishing Donald or Goofy would help out here. Of course, normally Donald would be frying Goofy for mentioning other worlds, but this was a unique situation…
"Other than that, not a lot's known about it. But it is very, very powerful. There's a few of them out there. The King's got one, I know."
The Keyblade, evidently tired of being passed around, flashed back into Sora's grip. Unconsciously, Sora relaxed, tightening his grip and welcoming the warmth in his heart.
There were startled murmurs around the room. Sora grinned quirkily.
"It chooses the wielder, remember? This way it can't get stolen, or used by the wrong person." Unless, Sora thought privately, it was the Wielder that used it for the wrong purposes. He thought of Riku, possessed by Ansem, and shuddered.
"This isn't it's original form, you know. The key-chains I've found give it different strengths and forms." Reaching into his pocket, Sora brought out a few.
"Here." Slipping off Oathkeeper, the keyblade flashed and resumed it's appearance as the Kingdom Key. He lifted the glittering silver blade so everyone could see.
"This is the Keyblade's basic form, the Kingdom Key." Sora slipped a few key-chains on, morphing the blade several times before reattaching Oathkeeper.
"Oathkeeper's one of my favorites," he confided. "It's very strong, and it means a lot to me." Dreamily, he spun the weapon over his head, smiling at the feel of the hilt in his hands, then let it rest slanted across his knees, the spiky head biting into the carpet.
"Heartless?" With one word the headmaster brought him out of his reverie. Sora winced.
Happily, Donald evidently felt he'd been ignored too long, and spoke up.
"Yeah, heartless. You've probably got them here. Shadow creatures," he said professionally, "they go after your heart, ripping it out and leaving the victims behind to become heartless themselves. There's lots of heartless, and many different kinds."
"Rip people's hearts out?" Harry said dazedly, disgusted.
"Professor, I've never heard of them. Have you?" Professor Dumbledore's eyes were very grave.
"No, Harry, I haven't." Sora winced again, feeling guilty. It was only a matter of time, true, but with his presence, the heartless invasion would happen much faster. If heartless weren't attacking him within two days, he'd be very, very surprised.
"That's a little strange, but then, we really don't know where that portal has taken us. Unfortunately, heartless are drawn to me. To the Keyblade. It's only a matter of time before they track us down. And we don't really have time for this, there's this Organization thirteen running around, I've got to find Riku, and I still have to find the Door to light. But I also know that whatever brought us here, did so for a reason. Do you have any idea why? Is there anything you think we can help out with here?"
It was the teacher's time to shift their eyes away.
"As a matter of fact, Sora, there is-." Professor Dumbledore was cut off by the stern teacher, professor McGonagall.
"Dumbledore! Surely you cannot be suggesting we let this young boy become involved with such a dangerous situation!" Sora shook his head, and coughed, loudly. She swung her head to stare at him. Sora got to his feet, aware of Donald and Goofy getting up to stand beside him. He lifted the Keyblade, and watched as her eyes took it in once more.
"I'm the Keyblade master. My companions are very competent. I know I'm young, Professor, but youth didn't save me when my world fell. It didn't save me in any of the dangerous situations I've been in- and I've been in more than I think you can imagine. I've nearly died more times than I can count. Donald, Goofy and I have traveled to many different worlds, fighting heartless, Ansem and the Organization." Sora let the Keyblade fall, spinning it expertly around his wrist, throwing light around the room.
"I have faced darkness. I am still here. If I- we- can help, let us." She sat down slowly, face white. Harry watched Sora, eyes wide, one hand creeping up to rub over his scar.
Dumbledore watched them all from old eyes.
"Well spoken, Sora. Tell me, do you know any magic?" Donald jumped in, laughing his odd squawking laugh.
"Of course we know magic! I'm Court Wizard of Disney Castle! Sora knows heaps of spells, and even Goofy can use Curaga potions." Sora grinned, shaking his head.
"Calm down, Donald." He looked at the headmaster again.
"This is a magic school. You probably use magic for all sorts of things. I know quite a bit of battle magic, and Donald knows way more, but I have a feeling we use magic for different things." Dumbledore reached over his desk and snagged a lemon drop.
"You're quite right, Sora. We have more practical magic, here. Perhaps a demonstration is in order, so that we can decide where to place you."
"Place me?"
"Yes. I think for the time you are here, you will be benefited by learning as much as you can before resuming your-journey." Sora stared. Donald stared. Goofy stared.
"You're putting me in SCHOOL?" Unvoiced but not unheard, was the you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me.
"We'll see. I think it will all work out well, in the end. Now, I think we should continue exchanging stories, for I feel you have much still to say." Head still stuck on the 'school' comment, Sora just groaned, wishing he could bang his head against the desk.
"There, there, Sora," Goofy soothed, while Donald sniggered.
"It won't be that bad. I'm sure you'll learn lots."
"Oh, not just Sora, you two will be joining him."
"WHAT?" That was Donald, just in case you were wondering.
--
Two hours later, and with headaches all around, the group dispersed. Sora and his companions found themselves standing with Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Dumbledore had briefly argued the point about them trying out for wands, but the two magic-users, Sora and Donald, were adamant about keeping their weapons. They reminded him that heartless were sure to be attacking soon, and they couldn't afford to get out of practice, or they'd wind up dead. (Several teachers had paled at this blunt statement.) Dumbledore had changed tack, arguing for uniforms and supplies, backed up by the stern witch Professor McGonagall. Harry and his friends stood watching with a mixture of sympathy and amusement. Sora flat out refused to change his clothes. (Did they have any idea how often he would have ended up near bloody naked without self-repairing clothes? Not to mention the other tricks they performed. Had they forgotten when they'd first met he'd had a tail?) However he gave a little ground here, allowing for the inclusion of a cloak over his clothes. Tired of arguing, he let them decide on what supplies they would need, although when he asked if they had any cure potions all he received was a blank stare. The same blank stare appeared when he offered his money, which apparently had no relevance whatsoever to their monetary system. Universally accepted, ha.
Happily, Sora and his friends were full up with cure potions and Dumbledore seemed more than happy to pay for anything they needed. (Needed being an interesting term here, since the unhappy trio didn't think they needed anything, including schooling, thank-you-very-much.) While arguing a point with the professors, everyone was once again surprised as Jiminy chirped up, hopping out of one of Sora's pockets, adjusting his top hat primly. Sora, along with everyone else, just about had a heart attack. He'd completely forgotten about the poor cricket! And he might have drowned or something.
"A, a cricket? And he's wearing a top hat!" Hermione stuttered, since Professor McGonagall seemed able only to clutch at her chest and breathe in startled little gasps.
"Sorry for startling you, Madame," the 'cricket' said courteously. "My name is Jiminy, I am the official recorder for Sora and his friends. I just wondered if I might verify with you a few points about your fascinating world…?" Getting over her shock, the professor leaned forward, eyes alight with fascination. She seemed to react well to his good manners, and with her hands shaking only lightly, scooped him up to her shoulder, whereupon he whipped out his journal and gave her his complete and utter attention. The two wandered off down the hall, chatting amiably within a dozen paces. Ron stared open-mouthed after them, while Harry and Hermione exchanged bemused looks.
"Anyone else we should know about? A snake or something?"
"Of course," Ron interjected, "we could get Harry here to talk to it, if it was a snake."
"Ron, you idiot, Donald, Goofy and Jiminy have all been able to talk perfectly respectable English, why would you need Harry to translate?" In an attempt to stop Hermione and Ron from getting into an argument, or perhaps simply not caring, Harry stepped forward and linked arms with Sora, and walking away began to tell him all about Hogwarts, how it had secret passages and moving staircases. Sora's eyes lit up. He'd been is some pretty cool castles, and Hollow Bastion had had some pretty cool secret passages, but the little boy in his heart who had built pillow forts was instantly enthralled. Turning his brightest smile on poor, unsuspecting Harry, Sora charmed him into showing him some of the castle- more precisely, the 'cool' parts. Fighting laughter, Donald and Goofy followed in their wake. When they reached the end of the corridor, Hermione and Ron suddenly noticed their absence and sprinted after them, still arguing.
It was looking to be just another day at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but unbeknownst to most, the Keyblade Master, Magnet for Trouble and Heartless, had just moved in. And combined with the Boy-Who-Lived, Magnet for Trouble and Voldemort, the coming days would almost have to prove, at the very least, interesting. Most likely also thrilling, exciting, and downright dangerous…
--
Lunch proved to be almost as interesting as the morning, with Harry and his friends leading the three newcomers around the enormous castle, then dragging them into the main hall for a well-deserved meal. (Ron had wanted to bypass it and simply go straight to the kitchens, Sora had been delighted when they showed him how to tickle the fruit to gain entry, but fear of a Hermione Granger Freedom-For-All speech kept him quiet.) The trio dragged their new friends to the Gryffindor table, talking all the while. The rest of the table feel silent, staring at Donald and Goofy, in fact, pretty much the whole hall did, but since Harry and his friends were clearly ignoring their reactions, they all, slowly, resumed eating and talking, throwing confused glances towards the red and gold table.
"There's four houses here in Hogwarts, see, Gryffindor- that's the one we're in- Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Hufflepuff, stop laughing, Sora, Hufflepuff is for the friendly, hard-workers. Ravenclaw is for the really smart people, and Slytherin, well, Slytherin is for people with ambition." Ron interrupted with several choice words.
"Ron! I can't believe you said that! They're not all bad, except that little weasel Malfoy."
Sora raised his brows, glancing between the trio and the other three tables.
"Interesting," was all he said.
"I wonder what House you three will be sorted into?" Sora shrugged, glancing at Donald, who was more interested in seeing if his goblet was real silver, then at Goofy, who was smiling at a terrified first year sitting across from him, telling her all about his son Max.
"I don't think it matters. Dumbledore never mentioned a sorting, maybe we'll be able to avoid it." No sooner had Sora said this that Dumbledore stood, tapping his fork on the side of his goblet, calling for silence. He beamed around the Great Hall, deadly twinkle at full blast. The hall wasn't full, some people opting to study and eat later, but nonetheless there was more than enough people there than Sora felt comfortable with. And he didn't like sitting with his back to them. It was unlikely any of them were about to throw anything at him, but Sora had had too many people try to kill him to relax now.
"Now that I have your attention, no doubt you are wondering about the presence of our three visitors. They come from far away, and will be staying with us for awhile. They do, in fact, come from a different world," the Hall erupted in whispers, and Sora stared up at the teacher's table, eyes wide.
"Now, now, calm down. As I was saying, Sora, Donald and Goofy," there were brief titters over the last name, "Will be staying here at Hogwarts until their work here is concluded and they can go home. I warn you all that they are able fighters, who, on their world, have been fighting against a great darkness. Anyone found bothering them will instantly have a detention with Mr. Filch doing whatever he sees fit. Now, I would like the three of you to come up here and be Sorted for your time here with us."
Professor McGonagall stepped forward, a tattered black hat in her arms, which she placed gently on a chair. Oddly enough, the hat seemed to have a face. Sora turned and wrinkled his nose at Harry, whose ribs hitched with silent laughter, and got up in the sudden silence with his friends and moved towards Dumbledore. He felt better for their presence, and Ron's whisper of "good luck, mate," as he felt the stares of the rest of the students on his back. Strangely enough, he swore he heard a girl sigh…Sora settled himself beside Dumbledore, fidgeting lightly, noticing darkly that Dumbledore was completely unaffected and utterly serene. Donald and Goofy, as usual, seemed unconcerned with the attention, even though people were standing up to stare.
The hat moved.
Without thinking, Sora leapt back, back-flipping and putting distance between himself and the possible threat, Keyblade flaring into life as it reacted to his sense of danger. (It seemed to work both ways. If it sensed danger, it would appear, if he sensed danger, it would appear.) Donald and Goofy had reacted as well, spinning out to stand with him. He could feel the sudden hum over his skin as Donald's magic flared, heard the creak as Goofy shifted his weight, Save- the- King at the ready. He was ready, they were ready…
"Stop! Sora, I promise you, it's quite safe!" Sora blinked, shaking himself out of battle mode, suddenly remembering the horde of students around him, and turned to stare at Dumbledore once more. The hall was dead silent. Nobody breathed.
"Forgive me Sora, I warned the students and quite forgot myself. The Sorting hat is no threat, it is a magical construct that reads into your personality and decides which House you belong in. It will not harm you."
Magic, of course. Sora blushed, but knew it was hardly his fault, the most innocent of things were often traps, and over a year of constant battle had him constantly on edge. He straightened from his instinctive fighting stance, allowing the Keyblade to vanish again into his heart. He glanced at Donald and Goofy, and saw that they too were relaxing. The hum over his skin vanished as Donald let Save-The-Queen rest at his side, and Goofy was once more all smiles as he let his heavy shield fade away. Wow, he'd kept his secret for a whole half day…
"Sorry, Headmaster."
He wasn't. Adrenalin still pumped through his veins, he missed the solid comfort of Oathkeeper's weight.
"That's quite alright, Sora, I know Hogwarts is quite a change for you three." Dumbledore raised his voice so the whole hall could hear, not that he needed to for everyone was still very quiet.
"As you can see, startling them could have very sorrowful results. Now before I sort these new students, I would also like to warn you all of a possible new threat."
Sora knew he meant the heartless. Possible threat? It was certain.
"Dark creatures called Heartless could soon be on the prowl. If you see them, you will know them for their dark, shadowy coloring, or the distinct heart symbol on their chests. Just as with the Dementor's you will not approach them. You will call instantly for a teacher- or for any of these three, for they are well able to take care of them. Be warned, these creatures are deadly and will leave you worse than dead. Now, on with the Sorting."
Sora mourned miserably the danger he was bringing into these children's lives. (He didn't stop and remember he was a child himself.) And after all, they had danger enough on their own, with this Voldemort character running around trying to kill Harry and bent on world domination. It was like Ansem on a smaller scale, although no less terrifying for the people of this world. He felt Donald and Goofy shift closer, feeling his mood. He managed a smile for them, then his attention was yanked to Professor McGonagall as she said his name with a slightly shaky voice. Perhaps their actions had brought home the reality of the situation. Sora doubted it. He knew none of them would believe until the heartless themselves came. All he could hope for was that none of those mysterious Organization thirteen members showed up. Sora stepped forward, watching the hat uneasily. Now that he was closer, it seemed to have an odd sort of face. It quivered. The hair on the back of his neck stood up. Reading his personality, huh? He didn't like the sound of that. McGonagall lifted the hat to place it on his head. Unconsciously, Sora tensed, hand curling, ready…
Apparently no one had told the Sorting Hat that it had to sort late students.
"What's this? More students? But it's far too early, and it's far too late! I haven't a song for them!" Sora had seen it moving, but hearing it speak made him jump in surprise.
McGonagall lowered the hat again and scowled a little at it.
"There's only three of them, they don't need a song. It'll only take but a moment." The Hat ignored her, humming and ahhing as it twisted in her arms to stare at Sora and his friends. Ignoring all attempts to rush it, the Sorting Hat looked them over, seemingly seeing something that no-one else could. It had looked into a lot of heads, and Sorted many students, but no-one had ever stopped to really wonder about it's Song, the Song it sang each year, and was always different.
And always, universally, ignored.
Finally, the Hat opened the slit in its brim that served as a mouth, and sang:
Now our hearts they are connected,
Though we travel far and wide,
And they cannot be directed,
Nor the truths be changed inside
Now a Warrior may go seeking,
And a Wizard, and a Knight,
And despite all the havoc wreaking
They will always find the light
But the darkness it grows great,
And challenges the light,
And the fear, the lies, the hate,
Try to bring an endless night
With every light a shadow falls,
And each reflection has a face
And dark to light it calls,
And every life it leaves a trace
So go seeking and you will find,
If you look within without hate
Light exists in heart not mind,
And your way is marked by fate.
The Sorting Hat fell silent, pleased.
Less pleased was pretty much everyone else within the hall. Sora felt a chill go down his spine. First a talking hat, and then it had sang about darkness…In a cryptic manner that gave him nothing except a bad feeling. Professor McGonagall's voice was definitely shaking this time when she said his name. Teeth clenched, Sora stalked forward towards the hat as he would towards an enemy, fists clenched and head tilted forward. Professor McGonagall let the hat slip gently over his head, easing it over the soft spikes of his gravity defying hair. The brim slipped over his eyes.
He was very tense. How did it read his personality? What was with the song?
"Shh, now. Calm down." The voice did absolutely nothing to calm his nerves. In fact, it tripled them, until he was on the edge of the seat, ready for anything. The voice was in his head.
"I'm the Sorting Hat, Child, where else would I be?" Sora had a lot of answers, not all of them nice.
"Oh, hush. And you're normally such a nice boy, too. Such a bright spirit. So bright a light within despite all you've seen. No, that's not right. It's only grown. I've never read anyone like you, Boy, but then I've never read anyone from another world. And how many wondrous worlds you've seen…"
The Hat read his panic before he could give it voice.
"Don't fret now, I won't tell anyone what's inside your head. Hmm. Where to put you? You have friends now in Gryffindor, and you put great trust in friends. Perhaps too much. You've paid for that, with your wandering friend, haven't you?"
Suddenly Sora was full of memories of Riku. Riku and him sparring on flawless golden sand, wooden swords clanking. Racing across the beach, water flying in their wake. Riku, holding his hand out, always holding his hand out. Riku holding the Keyblade, not a wooden sword, and Sora doesn't know yet the look on the face, that strange look as he lashes at him. Riku trying to kill him, and finally, Riku standing behind closing doors, peace on his face.
Grief fills him, along with determination. I will find you.
"You have a great heart, Child, I hope you never lose your faith and your light. But you have such a dark path before you- will you not rest? I feel you have a long way yet to go. Why not go to Hufflepuff? Even Ravenclaw would take you. Slytherin as it is now would never take you, and you are already surrounded by Darkness. Perhaps Hufflepuff, although you are so fierce in your defense of others…and fierceness they have lost."
"No," Sora whispered, not even aware he was talking out loud. "No. I won't give up, ever. Not now, not later. Put me where I belong.
"Are you sure? It isn't wrong to rest, you know. You deserve it."
Images. Kairi, laughing. Riku, hand outstretched. Cloud, eyes sad and lonely and almost broken, searching for his dark reflection, Sephiroth. Leon. Yuffie. Donald and Goofy. They were all in his heart, all of them, so many that he had met, safe inside. I hold you here when I cannot hold you any other way. Even in the darkness- no, especially then.
"I see, then. There wasn't really any doubt, was there? I wish you strength on your journey, for strength you will need. Try to enjoy what time you have here. GRYFFINDOR!"
And Sora gasped, released, and once again he was alone is his mind, and someone was lifting the hat off his head. He stared dazedly around, hearing cheers from the table decorated in red and gold with the tapestry of the rearing lion. He could hear Harry and Ron, yelling something that might have been his name, while Hermione simply beamed happily. He found his way to his feet and walked over to them, still scattered from his talk with the Hat.
"You alright, there? You look real pale," Harry sympathized. "I remember my Sorting, really drained me." Ron elbowed Harry so he could stare around him at Sora.
"What was with the Keyblade? You moved so quickly- you all did! I mean, it was just a hat. Crazy song, though. Don't mind it, sings every year." Sora gave him a shaky version of his smile, murmuring, "I was merely startled." He turned to stare up at the dais as Donald was being sorted. It took some time, and Donald's expression changes- what he could see of them, were amusing. Finally, the Hat cried GRYFFINDOR just as loudly as it had before.
"I knew it!" Ron exclaimed excitedly. "Shoulda just put you all here with us lions." Goofy's sorting was so quick it was humorous. The hat sat on his head for only moments before breaking into laughter- apparently a first, if the reactions around Sora were anything to go by- and immediately Sorted the knight into GRYFFINDOR as well. The Gryffindor table broke into loud congratulations, and Sora rubbed absently at his forehead, wishing his headache would disappear. His time with the Hat had brought up memories he hadn't wanted disturbed. Nevertheless, he smiled at his new friends and congratulated his old, sipping from delightfully cold, clear water. Those house elves really knew what they were doing. He made the mistake of saying this out loud, and watched in astonishment as Hermione transformed before his eyes, seemingly possessed by indignation as those surrounding her cowered and shot Sora pained looks. Wide eyed, he grabbed a sandwich from the table and took off, needing some fresh air anyway.