Edward walked into the great hall, a long line of scared first years walked in front of him. He saw the ceiling, and noticed it looked see through. He had read in his Hogwarts History textbook that it was bewitched to look like the sky.
Alchemy. He noticed Harry and his friends sitting at the table farthest to the right. Professor McGonagall sat an old black hat heavily patched up, down on a wooden stool sitting at the front of the hall. The buzz of the Great Hall quieted down, suddenly a rip near the brim of the hat opened up and it started to sing. Edward paled at realization what it was.
In times of old, when I was new,
And Hogwarts barely started,
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted.
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach"
The four good friends decided.
And never did they dream that they
Might some day be divided.
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw,
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there, so I can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry's purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest"
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot
And treat them just the same."
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light.
For each of the four founders had
A house in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance,Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning just like him.
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest
and taught them all she knew,
Thus, the Houses and their founders
Maintained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
for several happy years,
but then discord crept among us
feeding on our faults and fears.
The Houses that, like pillars four
had once held up our school
now turned upon each other and
divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
must meet an early end.
what with dueling and with fighting
and the clash of friend on friend.
And at last there came a morning
when old Slytherin departed
and though the fighting then died out
he left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
were whittled down to three
have the Houses been united
as they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
and you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
because that is what I'm for.
But this year I'll go further,
listen closely to my song:
though condemned I am to split you
still I worry that it's wrong,
though I must fulfill my duty
and must quarter every year
still I wonder whether sorting
may not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
the warning history shows,
for our Hogwarts is in danger
from external, deadly foes
and we must unite inside her
or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you...
let the Sorting now begin.
The hat stilled and applause rang through the Great Hall. McGonagall started to call out names, but Edward was lost in his own thought. How did that old hat become like that?
"Abercrombie, Euan"
I know what he is but. . .
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Who put him like that? The list of kids went by, some kids were easier and others harder. "Zeller, Rose" The young girl sat down and was sorted into Hufflepuff.
Only Edward stood up front. Professor Dumbledore stood and all eyes turned to him, "Students, I have a very exciting announcement. We have a transfer student from Japan that will be sorted into fifth year. Please welcome, Edward Elric!"
All eyes turned on him but Edward kept his face straight. McGonagall motioned for him to sit on the stool. Edward walked calmly forward and sat down. The old hat was placed on his head, and it slid over his eyes.
Interesting.
Edward jumped at the strange voice that rang through his head.
Hahaha! There's no reason to be alarmed, I'm here to sort you.
Edward realized that it was the hat that was talking to him.
I know what you are. Edward thought.
Do you know?
Yeah, your a soul. . . you've been sealed into an old hat.
You are quite smart for your age.
Who did this to you?
That, young one, is to long of a story. Now then lets see
Edward could feel the hat sort through his mind. Edward begin to push on the force but it sent out a calming thought. Edward could tell what the hat wanted.
Hmm. . . where should you go. . . you would do great in Ravenclaw. . . but I see here you are brave and trustworthy, great qualities for Gryffindor.
The hat dug deeper but suddenly stopped. Edward could feel the shock the hat was feeling. Without even turning his mind to Edward, the hat shouted
"GRYFFINDOR"
The table Harry sat at broke into applause. Edward took the hat off and walked over to the table. Sitting down next Harry and Ron.
"I knew you were Gryffindor material, mate" Ron said, slapping him on the back. Edward smiled slightly. Professor Dumbledore rose again and the hall fell quite.
"To our newcomers," Dumbledore's voice rang through the hall. At his pauses, you could probably hear a pin drop on the other side of the large eating room.
"welcome! To our old hands- welcome back! There is a time for speech making, but this is not it, Tuck in!"
Applause broke out as soon as the old man closed his mouth. Food suddenly appeared on the plates in front of everyone. Edward's golden eyes widened.
How is that possible? There was no alchemical light, I saw no one do any alchemy, and no transmutation circles.
Edwards thoughts raced as he looked around the hall for any signs of how the alchemy could have transported the food.
Maybe. . . NO! IT ISN'T MAGIC!
Edward screamed in his mind. On the outside though, he looked calm as he ate. Edward also saw ghosts- no, he saw transparent clouds formed to look like a dead human.
"What were you saying before the sorting." Hermione asked a transparent figure.
"About the warnings?"
"Oh yes." the figure said "Yes, I have heard the hat give several warnings before, always at times when it detects periods of great danger for the school"
Ron turned towards Ed
"Great year to come here, eh mate?"
Edward smiled "It's just my luck"
"Anyways, its advice is always the same stand together and be strong."
Ron asked question with his mouth so full, Ed was surprised he didn't choke. Harry and Ed exchanged surprised looks.
"I beg your pardon?" The figure asked politely.
Hermione made a gagging noise while pointing to her open mouth.
"How does it know the schools in danger? It's just a hat"
Edward snorted at that He's not a hat at all.
"I have no idea" the figure answered.
"And it wants all the houses to be friends?" Harry asked while looking over at the Slytherin table with hatred.
"Fat chance."
"Harry, just because people are different and have different ideas and beliefs, does not make them someone you must hate. When it comes to such times, I'm sure you all will find it easy to stand together against outside forces. Remember, there's always two sides to a story." Edward spoke in such a calming voice that everyone who had been listening in also stopped to look at him.
looked at Edward before a smile grace her lips.
"You're right Ed, there are always two sides to a story." The figure spoke on and Ron ended up insulting it. It floated away with a scowl on its transparent face.
"Nice going Ron." Hermione said.
"What? I can't ask questions?"
The two went on bickering as Edward and Harry ate and chatted. When the students had finished eating, the noise had begun to become louder. Professor Dumbledore stood once again and the hall turned quite
"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices. First years ought to know that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students- and a few of our older students should know too."
Professor Dumbledore glanced over in Harry's direction
"Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is that four hundred and sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of
other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr. Filch's office door. We have two changes in our staff this year. We are pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be teaching Care of Magical Creatures. We are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, Our new Defense against the Dark Arts."
Applause 'happily' rang through the hall. Dumbledore continued on
"Tryouts for the house Quidditch teams will take place on the-"
"Hem, hem"
Everyone looked over at the short, chubby professor. Professor Umbridge had stood, intending to make a speech. Everyone was shocked, Edward could tell by the looks on their faces, nobody had ever interrupted Dumbledore during his speech. Dumbledore looked surprised but sat down and looked at Professor Umbridge expecting her to start.
"Thank you, Headmaster, for those kind words of welcome." Her voice was like nails on a chalk board to Edward's ears.
She gave another Hem, hem. Before continuing
"Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say!" her lips pulled back revealing pointed teeth.
"And to see happy little faces looking back at me"
Edward glanced around, much like half of the Great Hall, and snickered. Almost everyone was staring at her shocked or glares headed her way.
"I am very much excited to get to know you all, I'm sure we will all be great friends." Half of the school, including some teachers, held back snickers and snorts at this.
Hem, hem.
Her voice turned more military like as she continued.
"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards of high importance. The gifts you were born with may be useless if not taught on how to use it. This knowledge has been passed down wizard generation after generation. Knowledge is power and you must use it. The noble teachers must guard it, replenish, and polish it for the young students."
Umbridge bowed slightly to the other staff members at the table. She continued on with her speech, but no one was really listening anymore. Edward gave a huge yawn, and rested his head on his automail arm. Finally she finished and Dumbledore clapped. The professors clapped as well but most only clapped once or twice before stopping.
Dumbledore stood again and Harry, Ron, and Hermione started to whisper. Edward snickered as Ron and Harry were confused about the important stuff hidden in the 'waffles' as Harry had called the speech. Hermione quoted a part of the speech.
"What does that mean?" Ron asked.
Before Hermione could even open her mouth, Edward had answered.
"It means the Ministry's interfering at Hogwarts."
Hermione nodded.
"Man, Ed, you as smart as Hermione." Harry said.
Edward just shrugged. Dumbledore dismissed everyone and Ron and Hermione rushed of to do their jobs as prefects. Edward followed Harry out the great hall as some first years pointed at Harry and whispered. They walked past moving paintings and dancing staircases. Edward would stop to stare at one but had to then run to stay with Harry.
The didn't talk, Harry seemed to be in deep thought. Finally the reached a painting of a fat lady.
"Password"
"Er. . ." Harry just stood there blankly.
"No password, no entry."
Edward sighed and stepped forward, pulling out his packet watch from his black robes.
"Does this help?"
The fat lady looked at the state alchemist watch and her eye widened.
"Of coarse you may come in Mr. Elric!"
The portrait swung open revealing the red and gold lions den. Edward and Harry walked in.
"What was that about?" Harry turned towards Ed.
"Nothing, nothing at all." Edward said as he put his watch safely away.
He walked to the stairs leading to the boys common room, feeling a pair of green eyes watching him.
"Night" and with that said, Edward climbed the stairs and went to bed.