I'm sorry this chapter is so short guys. I wanted to make it longer, but I really wanted to give everyone at least something before I left for the weekend in about two hours from now. Going to Anime Boston. :D (Badge name is Bakura, so if you're going to be there during any of the three days, feel free to say hi X3~ (I tend to wander so if you see me and wanna catch me, be quick. XD))
I promise a longer chapter next chapter.
Harry had heard a lot of things on the Hogwarts Express; things ranging from "Did you know the Headmaster's name is Near?", (Near? What kind of name was Near?) to "I heard a mermaid teaches flying lessons!". Some of the rumors were strange but probably true, where as others were downright absurd. Honestly, mermaids don't know how to fly! Anyone could tell you that.
But nothing Mello told him or that he'd heard on the train could accurately describe Hogwarts, he was certain. Harry couldn't think of any words that could, but eventually decided that Hogwarts just felt right.
Hogwarts was the feeling you got when mother hugged you tight and told you she loved you.
Hogwarts was home. (Mello had said the same once, a long time ago after mommy had stopped loving him. Care workers were there to feed and clothe, not to give hugs and kisses to a child who could set fires with his thoughts. Hogwarts had let him forget.) Harry loved it immediately.
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The Sorting was nothing like any of the rumors either. One boy had said that his older brothers had to fight a troll during their Sorting the year before, and that made most of the new students rather nervous, Harry included. He couldn't fight a troll, no matter how stupid Mello said they were.
When the Sorting turned out to involve nothing but a stuffy old hat yelling out House names at random, everyone was relieved.
Harry wasn't sure which House he wanted to be in, to be honest. He'd heard lots of Slytherin horror stories, both on the train and from Mello himself.
When it was finally his turn to sit on the stool to be Sorted, he was vaguely relieved to hear "RAVENCLAW!" was his new house.
He was only halfway to his new table before the Hat suddenly bellowed, "I MEAN GRYFFINDOR-WAIT, PERHAPS SLYTHERIN!" It was followed by complete silence, because never in Hogwarts history had the Hat ever changed its mind about the placement. The Hat began to argue quietly with itself as everyone watched.
Near's quiet musings on the fifty percent chance of enchanted objects going insane echoed in the silence, before the Hat spoke again.
"Boy, come sit back down and let me have another go at you!"
Slowly, Harry turned and moved back to the stool, sliding onto it quietly. The Hat was replaced on his head, and he waited nervously. Everyone staring at him like that was a little creepy, and sort of unnerving. It was as if he'd broken their Hat or something.
There's anger here, lots of it, he heard in his ear. The Hat.
Someone named Mello? Ah, I remember Mello. He was an interesting child, you know. Very angry, very bright, so much ambition that he was only suited for Slytherin. You're very much alike-Oh? You don't think so? Interesting. You would do well in any of the Houses, if you only straightened out this mess of a mind and decided which you liked most- Of course you can choose, boy. Everyone chooses their House, they simply don't know they've chosen. I don't yell houses at random- ...You thought I did? I am offended you think me so useless, but I... Yes, well. I think you'll do best in Gryffindor then, if that's how you feel about it.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
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For the first three days of the school term, Mello reveled in the silence that accompanied a house without Harry Potter.
On the fourth day, he realized he was bored.