*Disclaimer*
A.N.: Here is the next chapter of KnH. Enjoy.
If you noticed the chapter's title then you know what's coming!
I thought about how to divide them on the Houses and used the official criteria from Pottermore.
Gryffindor values bravery, daring, nerve, and chivalry. Its emblematic animal is the lion and its colors are scarlet and gold.
Hufflepuff values hard work, patience, loyalty, and fair play rather than a particular aptitude in its members. Its emblematic animal is the badger, yellow and black are its colors.
Ravenclaw values intelligence, knowledge, and wit. Its emblematic animal is the eagle, and its colors are blue and bronze.
Slytherin house values ambition, cunning and resourcefulness. Its emblematic animal is the serpent, and its colors are emerald green and silver.
"It seems that the Sorting Hat tends to place students based on qualities they value rather than qualities they exhibit. (…) The Sorting Hat can detect nascent qualities in a student and place them in the House that will challenge them and put their character to the test. (…) The Hat also appears to take the student's wishes into account, considering how one's personal choices are very much of a reflection of the qualities that they values in themselves. Just because someone is placed in a certain House does not mean that they cannot display characteristics of other Houses. (…)"(source Pottermore).
So hopefully you'll understand why I put everyone where I did.
Do have in attention that because they have yet to reach puberty, all the characters are about the same height. Cute GoM shota!
Also, I introduced two guests from other fandoms on the student list. See if you can find them!
Thank you all for clicking favorite in this fic! It makes me happy when people like what I write. Thank you The Almighty Pyro andIt's Lucy's Wonderland Madnessfor your reviews and sorry for making you wait.
To clarify something: Regarding the timeline of the story, it's passed after the original Harry Potter story, maybe a few years before or after Harry's children go to school. So there are characters from the past that are still in the school, but most are gone and I'll be replacing them.
xxx
Hogwarts Express signaled its stop.
Hogwarts School of Sorcery could be seen in the distance.
Takao exited the train, happily pulling his Shin-chan with him.
If there was something Takao was, it was possessive. Not that he was particularly proud of it but it was a known fact. He had first seen his Shin-chan on the 9 and ¾ platform, surrounded by reporters. He noticed the commotion was about a certain group but from his perspective -and considering how well he could see everything, it was something- only Midorima existed in there. Why that was so, he wasn't sure. His eyes had caught the green hair and the cute blush and his mind immediately begun planning. He just had to talk to that guy!
But he had not approached him right away. After saying goodbye to his uncle and promising to say something if he ended up on Hufflepuff, he had boarded and proceeded to befriend anyone he could find. That's how he rolled. He wanted to know and liked to be known.
That's why he was so happy when he had stumbled across a very alone Midorima Shintarō! How lucky! And he was even cuter on a closer look than he had first anticipated! Takao was also a good judge of character. And he was even happier that he had contained himself from showing his talents. That meant his first wand study had been Shin-chan's. How happy!
"Let go of my hand Bakao! It's embarrassing!" Midorima tried to sound angry, and to anyone it would've made them flinch, but Takao could see beyond that and directly to the small rosy color on the other's cheek. How cute!
The great majority of the students was leaving for the grounds and Takao watched them go before following the gruff voice that was calling the first years. As they approached the lake he could see a giant man, not really a giant but really huge man wearing a mole coat! "Firs' years! Hurry firs' years! Four per boat! Hurry!"
He was about to drag Shin-chan to the first when he felt the boy tense. Thanks to his acute eyesight he didn't need to turn around to look at the boy's scared face or the angry red head glaring from a distance. What was with that guy?! He really didn't like the way he was looking at Shin-chan. Like he owned him! And mind you, he usually was a friendly guy that just loved everyone. That guy… was the exception to the rule. He really hated him and they hadn't even been introduced.
It lasted a fraction of a second but he clearly felt like Midorima was going to head to where that guy was, despite them holding hands, and his body moved automatically; with a sudden trust he effectively blocked the others vision of each other and quickly headed to a boat further apart from the other, like nothing was amidst.
"Shin-chan lets go on this one!"
x
Takao really was a shameful person! Why did he insist they held hands? It was embarrassing! Midorima could only hope no one was paying them attention. Optimistically, in the middle of the night, it would be hard to see them.
In the middle of his search for potential witness he felt a chill of horror course down his spine. He could tell he was glaring. He just had to slightly turn his head and there he would be.
Akashi was mad. Not just angry. Mad. That was not good. Oh God! He had forgotten to return! He had promised. Akashi was going to kill him!
He had just forgotten about everything after Takao had arrived and they had just spent the rest of the time doing nothing special. If eating an entire Bertie Botts Beans bag is called nothing special. Why had he been so excited about that?! True he had been extremely lucky and only gotten liver, spinach (because he doesn't like them), pepper and fish oil whereas Takao gotten booger, earwax and mud, probably because he didn't have his lucky item. But really! Akashi was definitely in for murder right now!
Maybe if he apologized right away he could get away with minor injuries. Yeah… he had to go apologize… but of course things are not so easy.
For some reason Takao, who he had forgotten about for a moment, suddenly started pulling him faster and soon Akashi was out of sight. Not that he couldn't feel, still, the other's glare. But he couldn't see him even if he tried to crack his neck up to above the other people.
"Shin-chan lets go on this one!"
He barely had time to think before he was thrown about and they were seating in a small wooden boat. He was about to yell at him for being rude again but he noticed Takao look a bit edgy at the moment. He seemed to be trying to mask it with a smile. It looked almost natural. Almost.
"Shin-chan… the castle looks so gorgeous right now!"
Forgetting about Akashi for a moment -he was forgetting a lot of things lately wasn't he?- he turned to look at the sight in the distance. True, the stone building stood majestically on the other side of the lake, millions of light spots, torches perhaps, giving him a magical glow.
"It does-nanodayo."
"Nanodayo." Takao parroted at the same time but he didn't have time to scold him before they were interrupted.
"Oh, Midorima-kun? What a surprise. Can we seat here? The others are full." Kuroko made himself known with his usual freaky way and the frowning boy with red hair behind him looked embarrassed.
"Kuroko?" He did not expect to see the other so soon. But, he was in the mood to upset Akashi so it really should be expect not to find the two close to each other. God! Akashi was going to think that he and Kuroko had been plotting to upset him! No wonder he was mad!
"Friends of yours, Shin-chan? Come in, come in!" Takao patted the seats behind them.
Friends? He definitely did not know the red haired delinquent looking guy, but what about Kuroko? He had been questioning the definition of friend as of lately.
Grumbling he held tight as the boat shook when the new passengers entered it. "So… who's your new friend Midorima-kun?" Kuroko asked him, and he could've sworn he looked amused.
"I'm Takao Kazunari! Nice to meet you! Are you Shin-chan's friends?" The raven greeted cheerfully.
"Somewhat… I'm Kuroko Tetsuya." The other answered calmly and somewhere from behind them a gruff voice commanded the boats forward. All heads turned expectantly to the redhead and he awkwardly presented himself again, to which Midorima answered in kind not helping to notice the poor state Kagami's clothes were in.
And then they sat in awkward silence as the castle drew near, the noise of excited whispers all around them as the other students were starting to get nervous. Ah, maybe he should be nervous as well… His future…
"Why are your hairs all so… extravagant!? I feel left out! And that blue reminds me of penicillin!" Takao broke the awkward silence. He didn't seem to like silence very much. It was good that Kuroko probably didn't know what penicillin was.
x
Kuroko watched the raven with interest. He had been surprised to find Midorima with a guy like this. He seemed to be the total opposite of his type. He wondered about the reasons that led Takao to hang around his friend. Midorima wasn't the best guy to be cheerful around.
Also, it was disconcerting how he seemed to look at him as if he could really see him. Normally first timers meeting him would quickly lose track of him and ignore him after a few minutes, but he was sure Takao was seeing him perfectly. Akashi and the others, after many years of being together had somewhat managed to lose that "habit" a bit.
"So… Takao-kun… when did you and Midorima-kun became friends?"
"Just now!" That guy was almost as shiny as Kise. But less annoying.
"Takao is very knowledged in wandlore. It's quite interesting-nanodayo."
Oh! Had Midorima just defended the other? That was new! And Takao seemed surprised about as well.
"Shin-chan, thinks I'm interesting! I feel so happy!" Takao looked genuinely happy at least.
"That sounds so cool…!" Kagami exclaimed in wonder making the midnight haired boy blush a bit from embarrassment and happiness.
"Want me to examine yours?"
The redhead looked quite excited about it and honestly, Kuroko also wanted to see. If Midorima-kun claimed it was interesting then it most certainly would be. As Takao took the other's wand in hand, everyone reached forward to better look. Even Midorima watched the boy work with awe. It was a sight to see him interest in something besides himself.
Takao worked with a professional look, if Kuroko's limited knowledge could tell. He rotated the stick a couple of times, waved it and tried to bend it and once or twice he looked at the redhead questioningly. Finally he flipped it around in his hands and presented the handle to the other looking quite satisfied with himself.
"You tried to trick me! That wand is not yours!" he smirked at the other boy's stunned expression.
"Wow! You could tell?!"
"Spruce, eleven and three quarter inches, quite bendy and Unicorn hair core.A spruce wand requires a firm hand and a bold spell-caster with a good sense of humor. Even if I didn't know your personality I can tell you right away that it's too small for you!" He pumped his chest with pride. "With how much you're going to grow I think a wand for you should have at least, minimum, thirteen inches."
"You can tell how much he's going to grow?" He was quite amazed. This guy really was interesting.
"It's essential for a wandmaker. Because first wands are bought when you are children, a wandmaker must know how much you'll grow to give you a matching wand. It doesn't always have to be like that but big hands usually need a bigger wand." The raven explained.
"Then… will you check mine too?" He really wanted to know. He felt really excited. Not that the rest of the people in the boat could tell but he was.
Takao took his wand in hand and performed the same tests he had for Kagami's wand and quickly handed it back, but this time he finished with an impressed whistle.
"Cedar, eleven and a quarter inch, slightly yielding and phoenix feather core. Strength of character and unusual loyalty;perspicacity and perception; the potential to be a frightening adversary. Man, you are the package!"
x
He thought that Kuroko looked excited. It was kind of hard to tell.
It was a shame he didn't have a wand of his own; so that Takao could tell him what personality it had.
"I suggest you change that wand in a few years. It won't work very well for you. Thankfully its previous owner seemed to have liked you because it doesn't seem displeased about it." Takao turned to Kagami once more.
"Yeah… I'm good friends with Alex." He smiled a bit at that. On the other hand, the wand really sounded like her.
"Won't your friend miss his wand?" Kuroko asked by his side, always with a passive face.
"She won't miss her wand. Alex has Progressive Squib Syndrome." The read head sighed sadly. It was such a shame, and she didn't deserve such a fate.
"Shin-chan, what is Progressive Squib Syndrome?" Takao pulled the guy's sleeve, whose name seemed to be Midorima, not Shin-chan, and enthusiastically – he seemed enthusiastic about almost everything! – tried to get him to tell him what he wanted.
"It should be what the name implies, no?" Kuroko arched his eyebrow unimpressed, the biggest expression he had managed in the last few hours. "Midorima-kun's parents are healers at St. Mungo's. He knows a lot of stuff. He's going to be a good healer himself." He explained Kagami.
"Forgive the Muggleborn here." The green haired boy tapped the raven's head. "Do you know what a Squib is?" He asked him.
The boy made a show of think hard pretending his head was going to explode, until they could almost see the light bulb light up in his head. "Dummy me! A Squib is the opposite of me!" He pointed at himself as if he had said a great joke.
Midorima looked like he wanted to protest but he turned pensive and after a while it looked like he had a revelation. Whatever it was, they never discovered because he quickly started to explain. "Then… PSS is when a wizard, for no apparent reason, starts to lose his magical capabilities and eventually loses them completely, making him or her… a squib in the end. The cause is unknown and there is no current cure available." Strangely he seemed excited about it.
"Shin-chan…" But Takao never got to finish because somewhere in the boats up front, and they were the last of the line, the giant man told them to duck.
After they passed the small hole they entered a small dock where they disembarked; and Kagami knew. They were at Hogwarts.
x
Shintarō wasn't usually one to be scared. He knew the basis of the House selection, so the crazy ideas of the many students around himself seemed almost laughable. But, nevertheless, he still was, because he didn't know where he should be selected into.
He could fell Akashi's irritated aura up at the front of the line. What should he do!?
The teacher up front, whose name was Longbottom and was their supposed Herbology teacher, was explaining some basic rules and why they had to wait for so long in that small hall while they waited for the rest of their school life to be decided, and Midorima was feeling slightly faint and weak.
The giant man, whose name appeared to Hagrid and apparently was the Keeper of Keys and Grounds of Hogwarts – big title for a big man – had left them with Professor Longbottom, after some friendly greetings, as if they were great friends and had gone through a lot together, and had gone ahead to the dinner hall.
He gripped his cactus closer to himself. He was so nervous! He had been thinking about what to do for so long that when stupid Takao grabbed his hand and pulled he was surprised the line was walking again.
"Shin-chan…" Takao seemed to notice his mindset. Encouragingly, he squeezed his hand as they walked. Suddenly he felt him get closer and heard a soft whisper. "You know… If you ask the hat, he will place you where you want to be placed." He looked at the young man besides him with surprise. Really? Then… if anyone could chose what was the point of real selection?!
Feeling better, he squeezed the hand back, and his little cactus. He could do what he could and fate would provide.
"When you hear your name, seat on the bench and put the hat on." Professor Longbottom explained the small group of first years that had stopped in the middle of the Great Hall in between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables.
Midorima heard a few comments about the small number of new students but the small parchment of paper was unrolled and the teacher started calling.
"Akashi Seijūrō." Figures he would be first.
A quick murmur exploded at the mention of his name. But Akashi strode from between the other first years like he was a God and calmly sat on the bench. The hat barely touched the first strands of hair before it was roaming. "Slytherin!"
The far off table to the left irrupted in loud clapping. And the redhead walked to it without hesitation. Thankfully he seemed to be in a better mood.
Trying to call, above the loud clapping, Professor Longbottom called for Arthur Clef and Andrino Rita, who both turned out to be Hufflepuff. After that he called for Aomine Daiki which caused another wave of whispering.
The blunet looked bored as he sat on the stool and there he remained. Midorima thought he saw him speaking to himself, and then he remembered that maybe he was talking to the hat. Once or twice he looked at the Slytherin table and more times he looked at the table he knew was Gryffindor. Finally the hat decided on Slytherin. The blue haired boy didn't look bored anymore as he joined the loud table of the snake.
After that Boggy Peter, Clerence Dorothy and Drosselmeyer Ahiru where called. They entered Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor respectively. Hufflepuff received yet Fukuda Hiroshi. Finally a very nervous Furihata Kōki, that tripped all over himself and seemed to be sweating buckets, was chosen, for some reason, to be in Gryffindor.
The scarlet house received as well Holmes Shirley, that was yet another near hatstall; that one lasted almost four minutes, that hat seeming to be unable to decide between Ravenclaw and the lion house.
"Kagami Taiga."
The redhead looked intimidating as he walked past the scared first years. Yet he picked up the hat with a reverence that said more than his face. If Midorima wasn't so nervous himself it would be laughable.
"Gryffindor!" Three perfect seconds. Wow.
"Kawahara Kōichi"
"Hufflepuff."
"Kise Ryouta." The blond left the group confidently and looked like he couldn't wait any other second to be selected, as the women in the room appreciated his good looks. Kise was a pretty boy and never said no to an interview so he was relatively well known.
Shintarō was about to pass the fifteen seconds level when the hat selected him into Slytherin as well. No surprises so far.
"Kuroko Tetsuya." Now we're talking. In an almost morbid way he couldn't wait to see what would happen now. "Kuroko Tetsuya? Is he here?" The Professor called.
A low murmur and chuckles filled the room and a small voice from the stool spoke. "I'm here." Of course he was already sitting and had the hat on.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't see you." The man was looking scarlet from embarrassment. And they waited, and waited, as yet another near hatstall appeared. If one would have known Kuroko as the GoM knew, they would have noticed that the boy was pouting as he argued discreetly with the hat.
For a moment he wondered if he would change his mind and join the others on the green table. But the hat answered his questions. "Gryffindor." And happily, Kuroko strolled away to his table that was cheering enthusiastically having acquired one of the Miracles.
Looking on the other direction, Midorima watched as Akashi's expression shifted from shocked to angry. Honestly… he felt that his shocked face had been quite funny.
He had made a decision. He barely registered as Lapley Sandra and Lucas Zacarias where both chosen to Ravenclaw, but he woke from his trance right away.
"Midorima Shintarō." It was time. Absently he felt another squeeze from the hand that was holding his - had they been holding hands all this time? How embarrassing… - before he squeezed back one last time and let go.
His feet guided him almost mechanically and stiffly he placed the hat on his head covering part of his view of people reaching forward to better take a look at him.
'Ah, another hard one, hey! It's full of them this year. I'm glad I like challenges!' Shintarō heard a voice, half on his ear, half inside his mind. 'Let's see… I see lots of valor inside you but what really stands out is definitely that intelligence, the wit and of course… the potential for greatness. Maybe a Gryffindor? Nah… You lack some important qualities for that… Definitely not a Hufflepuff! Of course it's going to be between Ravenclaw and Slyhterin!'
"Not Slyhterin." Midorima whispered back to the voice.
'Not Slytherin, eh? I don't know… are you sure? They can be powerful allies and you have the qualities for pursuing big ambitions!' The voice mocked him.
Midorima glanced at the Slytherin table and for a moment considered it. Should he do it? Maybe it would help him become greater. He wanted to be famous, better than most wizards. Then he caught sight of a crazy raven peeping from behind a tall guy in the small left over group. He was from the few that didn't look nervous and seemed particularly excited to hear where Midorima was going to be placed. Ah… He really didn't want to go to Slytherin. Going back to Akashi like usual. Like a dog to its master.
"No, not Slytherin, please."
He could hear the voice laughing as if he was extremely entertaining. 'I see… not Slytherin then! That just leaves you with…'
"Ravenclaw!"
While still in a daze, he gently placed the old hat back on the stool and took his place on the blue table that was now clapping enthusiastically for being able to snatch at least one of the Miracles. He could feel behind his back, Akashi's aura; considerably less angry than he expected, more on to the shocked side. On his side numerous people, from several years, excitedly tried to shake his hand and to make him remember their names. Attention suckers, looking for a little bit of contact with someone famous… like he had first thought Kazunari was.
And speaking of that, he could see the raven giving him a big thumbs up from where he was. It was a shame. Despite all, he was pretty sure he knew where Takao was going to be selected to; and it wasn't Ravenclaw.
Moving back to the hat, Midorima noticed that Momoi had been called after him. She was discreetly talking to the hat and soon he sent her to Slytherin, back to her Dai-chan. When she passed his table she gave him a nervous look. He wondered if Akashi would give her a hard time for not having predicted this sooner. He felt bad for her.
After her, it was Murasakibara's turn and Shintarō was sure he broke the record for a hatstall, a real hatstall, which was previously 5 minutes and half. True to be told, the purple haired boy had almost no personality, other than childishness. Even the hat looked constipated as if he couldn't get out what he wanted and he must have been trying hard to squeeze as much as he could from the boy. Luckily the guy seemed to get bored from it and quickly told the hat he wanted to go to Slytherin. He betted the hat had never been so happy that someone knew where they wanted to be placed.
"Sakurai Ryou." The petit guy that walked to the bench was shaking more than a wet poodle. As he approached the hat he seemingly tripped and it took at least two minutes to stop him from apologizing, sometimes to the teacher, others to the hat, to the students, to the air or whatever it was he tripped on and mostly to the world for ever being born. When Professor Longbottom finally managed to force the hat on him, it only took two seconds before he was selected to Slytherin.
There was a great silence in the hall for the first time.
Had Murasakibara broken the ancient sorting hat? That guy was clearly Hufflepuff material! It was clear that everyone agreed with him as even Professor Longbottom tried to place the hat back two times more; still the result was always the same and the last time, the sorting hat got mad and bluntly asked him if he was doubting his judgment. So poor Sakurai was released to the wolfs, or snakes in this case.
"… okay… lets continue. Takao Kazunari."
The guy was practically skipping now. Takao excitedly took his seat and waited with all the expectancy of the world; the huge hat in his head twisted here and there, his indicator that it was thinking hard but Midorima's prediction was correct.
"Gryffindor!"
Applauses erupted from the lion table and the boy cheerfully skipped there, after meeting his eye and showering him with a bright smile.
"And finally… Tanaka Kuromi."
More murmurs filled the hall, but this time he noted that there was no excitement in them. The girl, whose hair was a blue so dark it was almost black, simply took her seat as if nothing was amiss. Tanaka… He remembered that name from somewhere. It was someone from the ministry.
"Ravenclaw!"
There was barely any applause coming from their table, he noted. Still, she walked to them as if ignoring them, and sat quietly. How odd.
She took a seat right next to him, and some of her long hair fell on his shoulder. He wondered if he should talk to her. But he was incapable on socialization so he decided against it.
A scruffy short guy cleared his throat from behind the headmaster's stand and all heads turned to look at him.
"Welcome students. My name is Scrubbiest Harold, I'm the mediator between Hogwarts and the Ministry. As you know, for the past few years Hogwarts as been without a Headmaster, after Professor McGonagall retired – not that we don't have candidates – so the Ministry is currently taking care of all the bureaucracies. Still, I hope you'll all behave and listen to the House Heads as if there was still a Headmaster in this school. I ask the Heads not to forget the usual warnings so that there will be no repeats from last year. That is all. Have a good school year." And without anymore words he hopped away.
Ah. Tanaka… he was one of the candidates to the Headmaster position. Except he tried to buy his way in. Still was, probably. Hogwarts Headmaster seemed to be a very important title for some reason. Ever since Hogwarts involvement in the Dark Lord's defeat a few years back, the school had gained a new prestige and of course, being the leader of such an organization was of high status.
Midorima risked a small glance to the girl on his right. If she wasn't breathing he would have mistaken her for a life sized doll, her face more stoic than Kuroko's.
The teachers seemed somewhat surprised with Scruffiest's sudden departure and took them a minute or so, before someone gave the signal for the feast to commence. As soon as the word was given, the plates in front of him filled to the brim with delicious food and several appreciative and happy exclamations where heard through the room; two in particular, louder than the rest. One form behind him, that was clearly Murasakibara and another up front that he recognized as Kagami's.
The way the two attacked the food in front of them made Shintarō wonder if they were trying to compete with one another, and made him feel very bad about the students that were sitting the closest to the two monsters.
xxx
A.N.: So here you have it. Super long chapter with just their selection.
Kuromi is the only OC, apart from teachers, that I'll introduce to the story, because she'll be important in the future.
Head count of new students: 6 Slytherin, 5 Ravenclaw, 6 Gryffindor, 5 Hufflepuff. Very few, but rest assured that everything has a reason. Next chapter we'll get to see the common rooms, older students and the first confrontation with a pissed Akashi.
Now…. For core wandlore I'll just put here the three supreme cores (which are the ones Ollivander uses):
Unicorn hair: generally produces the most consistent magic, and is least subject to fluctuations and blockages. Wands with unicorn cores are generally the most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts. They are the most faithful of all wands, and usually remain strongly attached to their first owner, irrespective of whether he or she was an accomplished witch or wizard. Minor disadvantages of unicorn hair are that they do not make the most powerful wands (although the wand wood may compensate) and that they are prone to melancholy if seriously mishandled, meaning that the hair may 'die' and need replacing.
Dragon heartstring: as a rule, dragon heartstrings produce wands with the most power, and which are capable of the most flamboyant spells. Dragon wands tend to learn more quickly than other types. While they can change allegiance if won from their original master, they always bond strongly with the current owner. The dragon wand tends to be easiest to turn to the Dark Arts, though it will not incline that way of its own accord. It is also the most prone of the three cores to accidents, being somewhat temperamental.
Phoenix feather: this is the rarest core type. Phoenix feathers are capable of the greatest range of magic, though they may take longer than either unicorn or dragon cores to reveal this. They show the most initiative, sometimes acting of their own accord, a quality that many witches and wizards dislike. Phoenix feather wands are always the pickiest when it comes to potential owners, for the creature from which they are taken is one of the most independent and detached in the world. These wands are the hardest to tame and to personalize, and their allegiance is usually hard won.