Lightning Summoner

By James The Fox

"I've got a new computer, so I may be a while, sending my fanfiction documents to the new computer..."

Harry: "Yeah... plus there's that stupid laziness that keeps screwing with you..."

"Shut it."

Harry: "Just calling it like I see it."

"Feh... Chapter start!"

Chapter 4: The Sorting Hat
Harry stepped out of the Hogwarts express, followed by his new friends and his guardian. All about him were students from all the different years. The older students were greeting each other and talking about any hopeful staff changes, most of all whether the infamous Professor Snape was still among the teachers. Meanwhile, the new students, especially the "muggle-borns," were staring in awe at the castle that loomed in the distance.

Harry simply yawned. He had seen much in his short life, and compared to the crystal forests of Macalania and wonderous depths of the Farplane, a centuries-old castle didn't seem very impressive.

"Firs' years over here!" Hagrid, the half-giant gamekeeper, called out. Harry strolled over to the towering man.

"Hello, Hagrid." Out of just about everyone he had met in the "magical world", Harry found that he enjoyed the company of Hagrid the most. They both had a knack with animals, as well as a liking for Dragons. Harry had spoken a while of the island to the south-east of Spira's main contenient, where a type of dragon called the Wyvern lived. After describing the way that the dragons allowed others to ride them, and even bonded with people who were worthy, all under the ancient orders of the Dragon-King, Bahamaut (now a Fayth), Hagrid had been convinced that he wanted to visit this island over the upcoming holiday. Meanwhile, Hagrid had told harry about his pet Cerberus, Fluffy, even going as far as to show him to Harry. It was... an interesting experience.

Overall, Harry felt that Hagrid was a good person, if a little foolish at times.

"So, Harry, made any new friends?" Hagrid asked.

"A few." Harry replied, pointing his thumb behind him to Ron, Hermione, and Neville. The latter was struggling to keep a hold on his frog while Ron and Hermione argued about something.

"Hmph," Ensiath remarked. Hagrid gave a hearty laugh. He guided the students (Ensiath got into a carriage and rode to school) to the boats. As soon as everyone got in, the boats were off. Harry snoozed, Ron and Hermione argued, and Neville tried desprately to not lose his frog. Suddenly, a squid tentacle burst from the water, giving everyone but Harry, who was calmly ignoring the disruption, a jolt. The tentacle swung in a motion similar to waving, then sank back into the depths. The rest of the trip was uneventful, and the first years stepped onto dry land at the entrance to Hogwarts.

As Harry stepped into the Entrance Hall, he noticed Professor Minerva McGonagall. Coughing to gather the students' attention, she greeted the children. As she told her charges about the four houses and of the Sorting, Harry sighed, feigning interest very convincinly. He had read about what his teacher was talking about before he even arrived in Britain, and didn't need this discussion. After she left momentarily, the students started babbling about what the test might be. Rumours of trolls, obstacle courses, and charms reached his ears. Eventually, the doors opened, and the First Years stepped into the Great Hall. Standing opposite them, a ratty old hat upon a stool suddenly moved and began to sing.

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty..."

"E lyh'd pameaja drao teth'd keja ed y kuut cehkehk juela..." Harry muttered under his breath. 'Ugh... if there was any test, it would have to be how well the first years endured this singing...'

"... Cause I'm a thinking cap!" As the cap finished its song, everyone clapped, save for Harry, who kept as inconspicuous as possible.

"Tuh'd drao naymewa dryd lmybbehk ec uhmo kuehk du ahluinyka ed?" Harry silently asked himself. One by one, students were called up to the Hat, which then sorted them into thier house.

"Syopa drao mad ed cehk ajano oayn yc byosahd vun edc canjelac..." Harry mused to himself as Hermione got sorted into Gryffindor. Soon after, Neville found himself in the same house, and Draco became a Slytherin (The Hat didn't seem to want to be put on his head, as it had started struggling as soon as McGonagall lifted towards the blond snob, and even went as far as to sort him right into Slytherin before it landed on his head...)

"Potter, Harry!" Mcgonagall called, and Harry sighed as he walked up to the hat, ignoring the stares his name earned him. Sitting with a neutral expression on his face, Harry permitted the Hat to be placed upon his head. All at once he heard the Hat in his mind.

"I'll have you know that everyone tells me I have a wonderful singing voice!" The Hat mentally exclaimed.

'Yeah... Right. Well, are you gonna sort me or what?'

"... Fine... hmmm... It seems that you'd do well in almost any house... Courage to face death in the face, a thirst for knowledge, loyalty to your friends and to Spira, and ambition to boot... However... I would say that you'd do well in Slytherin..."

'Yeah, except that I'd rather not have to deal with the whole "blood superiority" thing I've noticed the other slytherins have. And don't get me started on how rude they can be... Plus, I'd really like to be with as many of my friends as possible.'

"You speak of the Malfoy boy? Well, if you're so opposed to him... It better be... GRYFFINDOR!" Harry got off the stool, handing the hat to Mcgonagall before sitting at the now-cheering Gryffindor Table. Ron eventually got placed in Gryffindor as well. After everyone was sorted, Dumbledore stood from his seat.

"Now, before we have our feast, I'd like to make a few announcements. As always, I'd like to remind you that the Forbidden Forest is, as the name implies, forbidden." He looked toward Ron's twin brothers, Fred and George, who smiled back. "Argus Filch, our caretaker, has added to his list of banned items. You can find the updated list hanging on the door to his office. In addition, I would like to warn you that the Third Floor corridor is forbidden to those who do not wish to die a painful death..."

"Cuihtc y ped mega dra Omega Ruins..." Harry mused under his breath.

"...Now, let the feast begin."

After the Feast, Harry walked up the castle stairs to the Gryffindor Common Room with the rest of the first years, thinking about his experience at the school so far. 'Eh, I think I can stand being here until summer...'

Suddenly, one of the steps on the stairs dissapeared, and he tripped. As he got up, Peeves, the school poltergeist, swooped down, grabbed his nose, and screched, "Got your honk!"

"Sorry that this chapter is so short, but I couldn't think of much else to add..."

Yuna: "You did well. This was a short scene in the book..."

Harry: "Plus you were lazy..."

Yuna: (Glares at Harry.) "...You couldn't find the book to see if there were any scenes you wanted or needed to add..."

Harry: "Plus you were lazy..."

Yuna: (Glares at Harry more.) "...And I personally enjoyed it."

Harry: "But still, you were lazy."

Yuna: "Excuse me, I'm trying to give James a confidence boost!"

Harry: "And I was trying to break down his confidence a few pegs."

Yuna: "Why you-"

"Uh, I think we're gonna have to cut to a break... See you next- what the?!" (a portal of ultimate power bursts forward. A figure steps out of the portal.)

Future James the Fox: "Stop right there."

"What the..."

"I come from a few hours in the future. I am here to-"

Harry: "Kill your past self, thus commiting sucicide?"

Yuna: "Stop a tragedy from occuring?"

"Warn me about a plot to kill me and everyone I love?"

Shadow: "No, please don't tell me he found out about that..."

Future JtF: "No, no, and no, but Shadow is planning something like that... I came here on public service. Some reveiwers are asking about the alternate language Harry is using. It is none other than the Al Bhed language, found in FFX. If you google 'Al Bhed Translator,' you'll surely find a good model. I personally use the one at FF Hybrid. Thank you. Now, see you next time."