Chapter VI

The Sorting Hat

The sign for the pub said The Hopping Pot. Harry guided Kelsey over to a small corner table at the back of the dining room and the two sat down. Kelsey's nose tickled from the dusty air and she fought the urge to sneeze. Harry laughed at the funny face she made and Kelsey turned a deep red in embarrassment. It was not too long that a witch in a beet colored cardigan came over to take their order. Kelsey was at a loss as to what to order. She did not know what it was that witches and wizards ate and the names presented to her did not make any sense. Razzling numterspints? Hopping buttermash? It made her head spin trying to make sense of it all. Harry took the lead and ordered two plates of something she wasn't even going to try and pronounce and two orders of butterbeer.

"But Mr. Potter... I'm underage," she said. Harry just winked at her and smiled. Kelsey blushed again.

Harry brought out a small box with the name Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans on it and took one out and handed it to Kelsey.

"Every flavour? It can't be every flavour, can it? That's just not reasonable!" she said incredulously.

"Go ahead and try it out," Harry replied smirking.

Kelsey hesitated for a moment then popped the bean into her mouth, and immediately spit it out.

"It tastes like vomit!" she cried out. Harry nearly doubled over laughing and wheezing. Just at that moment their waitress arrived with the drinks and she smirked upon seeing Kelsey gagging.

"When they say 'every flavour', they mean it," she said. Kelsey groaned and chugged the butterbeer, attempting to wash away the horrid taste. Very soon, their food arrived and Kelsey eyed her plate greedily. So it was normal food after all - they just gave it weird names. Her plate consisted of what appeared to be shepherd's pie. She scooped it up with her spoon and tasted it. It was delightful indeed. Suddenly she remembered something.

"Mr. Potter I have no clothes to take with me to Hogwarts," she said. Harry looked at her with a gleam in his eye.

"Not to worry, my dear. That is already taken care of," he said. Kelsey was confused for a moment then caught on.

"Oh, you sent them to your house already?"

"Indeed. All we need to do is get your required school things."

Kelsey took out her list and scanned it again. The list was fairly extensive.

"How am I supposed to carry a cauldron?" she wondered out loud. Harry chuckled at her remark.

"We'll keep in my car, how about that?"

The two chuckled and then it was quiet for what seemed to Kelsey to be a long while (although in reality it was more likely a minute).

"Mr. Potter?" she said.

"Yes?"

"Can you tell me more about that dark wizard? Voldemort?"

She could see Harry visibly stiffen at the name and felt bad. But she couldn't help it. She was curious about him.

"I'm sure you'll learn about him in your classes..."

"Yeah, but..."

Harry sighed and relented. "What do you want to know?" he said.

"How did he get so powerful? I mean, surely someone knew what he was up to?" Kelsey asked.

Harry sighed again and rubbed the strange lightning shaped scar on his forehead. He gazed at Kelsey, obviously deeply in thought and took a sip of his drink before speaking.

"Kelsey, I want you to know that some wizards are just bad. Really bad. Tom Riddle was rotten to his core. It's a fundamental problem. Riddle hated the idea that his father was a Muggle and sought to rid the world of Muggle influence and anyone he deemed inferior. Unfortunately a lot of people shared his world view and with his charisma it wasn't hard to convince them to follow him."

Harry paused here before continuing.

"Voldemort believed in blood purity, which was ironic considering he wasn't even a pureblood. When most of the purebloods agree with your ideology it's very easy to amass a following willing to do anything you tell them to."

Kelsey looked at his scar again.

"How did you..." she trailed off.

"Get this scar?" Harry finished for her. She nodded.

"Voldemort murdered my parents when I was a baby. He tried to kill me but the curse backfired and destroyed his body instead. I was left with this scar."

"Why would he try to kill you?" Kelsey asked, horrified at the thought.

"There was a prophecy. It said that I would kill him and he was so terrified of dying that he would stop at nothing to keep himself alive. Fat load of good that did him."

"You killed him."

Harry nodded solemnly. Kelsey blew out a heavy breath that she did not know she had been holding. There was an awkward silence between the two after that, in which they just finished eating their food. Upon finishing they bought the rest of Kelsey's supplies, but the mood had been permanently changed - there was no more lighthearted conversation or joking, and Kelsey wondered if she had ruined things. That feeling did not last long, however, as Mr. Potter took her to Florean Fortesque's Ice Cream Parlor and bought for her the largest cone they had in seven different flavors. She squealed in delight and immediately bit into it but instantly regretted doing so. Harry roared in laughter at the sight of the girl frantically bouncing up and down trying not to lose her ice cream while suffering an intense magically induced brain freeze.

Kelsey wanted to see her parents one more time before they left for King's Cross. Harry obliged and drove her over to her home. She hadn't even knocked on the door before it swung open and her mother scooped her up in her arms. The two hugged as if it had been years (it had only been twenty four hours) and Rachel started sobbing hysterically.

"I won't let you go, I won't allow it!" she cried.

"Mum, I want to go!" Kelsey protested.

Harry cleared his throat, making his presence known.

"If I may, Mrs. Remington, perhaps I can help you with this."

Rachel stared daggers at him and seemed to want to throw him out, but her husband put a hand on her shoulder and she held her tongue. David invited Mr. Potter to sit and he and Rachel sat on the sofa across from him. Kelsey sat in the armchair adjacent to the three adults, swinging her legs.

"What Kelsey needs more than anything right now is your full unconditional support. She has magical ability, whether or not you like or want to acknowledge that."

Rachel glared at him again.

"What are you implying? That I don't know my own daughter?!" she hissed at him. Harry shook his head.

"Of course not. I am merely saying that many Mug - er, non-magical folk - have difficulty accepting this. Of course, I don't blame them - it's a very big thing to suddenly have thrust on you like this. But the point is, Kelsey needs to learn to properly control her magic. It's not a question of whether or not you allow it. Kelsey will get her education regardless. The Ministry of Magic won't allow her not to."

David and Rachel looked at each other then back at Harry.

"The Ministry of Magic?" David asked. "What is that?"

"The Ministry of Magic is the governing body for wizardkind. It regulates magic and makes sure all magical people get trained and follow the wizarding world's laws. One of those laws states that all witches and wizards must be properly trained on how to use and control their magical powers. If Kelsey doesn't get sent to school, the Ministry WILL step in, and I promise you that you don't want that."

David and Rachel gulped and glanced over at Kelsey who was not paying attention. They looked over at Harry again.

"W-What will happen?" Rachel asked.

Harry grimaced and looked sternly at the two.

"You will be obliviated and Kelsey will be placed in the care of a magical guardian ensuring her education will be carried out."

"O-Obliviated?"

Harry nodded. "Your memories will be wiped. You will never remember Kelsey again. It will be as if you never knew her."

At this her parents broke down into wails and Kelsey looked at them in fear. David held Rachel close and rubbed her back. Harry got up and prepared to leave.

"Think about it. You don't want to lose her do you? You have until 8 am tomorrow. After that I will be contacting the Ministry of Magic. I'm sorry."

"Just take her. Take her and go!" David said. Kelsey hugged her parents and they said their goodbyes, and she followed Harry out of her home. Once they were inside his old Ford she turned and looked at him.

"Is that true? That the Ministry would take me away from my parents?"

Harry smirked and shook his head.

"Of course not. Education is compulsory but can absolutely be done at home. The Ministry isn't that cruel. Besides, your parents could never teach you. They're Muggles. I had to make sure they would allow you to attend to Hogwarts."

"Mr. Potter, that was so mean!" Kelsey hit his arm. "But... thank you."

Harry smiled at her and started his car, and they drove to his house. Kelsey could barely sleep a wink that night - excitement coursed through her body. Tomorrow she would be attending Hogwarts. She would be trained as a witch!

At 7 am sharp Harry woke Kelsey and they loaded her things into his car. The drive to King's Cross was relatively uneventful but the energy was palpable. Kelsey struggled to sit still. Harry parked his vehicle and helped Kelsey unload her things into a trolley and they walked onto the platform. Kelsey looked for Platform 9 3/4 but could not see it anywhere.

"Er, Mr. Potter... where is Platform 9 3/4?" Kelsey asked, bemused. Harry pointed at a brick column in between platforms 9 and 10. Kelsey followed his gaze, still confused.

"Just run your trolley right towards that wall and you will be on the platform." he said.

Kelsey hesitated, unsure of whether or not to believe him. The wall looked as solid as anything around her. Harry sensed her hesitation and pulled her gently off to the side, noticing another wizard family coming up behind them. The family all had brunette hair. Three boys whom appeared to be aged eleven, fourteen and sixteen, and a girl who also appeared to be eleven, and their parents. All of the children had trolleys. The siblings were all thin and lean, while the father appeared to be burly fellow and their mother was portly. Their mother ushered them all to go through the same column.

"Come on dears, come on, let's not dilly dally!" she said.

"Mum, we know how to do it!" said the youngest boy.

"Well get on with it then, you git!" the oldest said. He gave his brother a shove and he ran through the wall, vanishing into thin air. Kelsey gasped in shock and looked towards Mr. Potter, unsure of what she had just seen. Harry just nodded, amused at her reaction. The other two boys followed suit. The girl appeared to be unsure of herself, the same as Kelsey had been.

"Come on, Pepper, don't be afraid. You're a Griffin, right? You saw your brothers go through," her father said. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'll go through with you, alright?"

The girl nodded and the two ran through the wall, followed by the mother. Harry motioned for Kelsey to do the same. "I'll be right behind you."

Kelsey, now a bit more confident that she won't smash into the brick wall and make a fool of herself, squeezed her eyes shut and ran towards the column. A slight whoosh enveloped her and she opened her eyes to be greeted by a large, crimson and black locomotive with the number 5972 on it, and the words Hogwarts Express emblazoned on its side in bright gold lettering. Steam billowed from the enormous locomotive, traveling over the platform, which held hundreds of wizards and witches eager to get their children on the train. Kelsey stared in awestruck wonder until she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Magnificent, isn't she?" Harry said. Kelsey nodded. Harry ushered her to the door of the passenger car. Before boarding the train, she gave him a great hug and held onto him tightly. Harry returned her hug affectionately.

"Mr. Potter, what if I'm sorted into Slytherin? You said Slytherin almost always produces bad wizards..." she said, holding back tears. Harry got on one knee and cupped her face in his hands.

"Kelsey, it doesn't matter what house you get sorted into. I knew two amazing wizards who were sorted into Slytherin, one of whom was a Headmaster of Hogwarts and one of the bravest men I had ever known. No matter what house you get sorted into, I know you will be a great witch. What matters most is your heart, Kelsey. Follow your heart, do what you know to be right, and your house won't matter."

Harry smiled gently and hugged her once more, before stepping back and allowing Kelsey to board the train. He waved at her from the platform. Kelsey stood at the window of her compartment and waved back. She felt a great mix of confusing emotions. Excitement, joy, fear, and sadness that she was being separated from her newfound friend for a year. She bit back her tears and sat down, running through all the events that had occurred in the past week. A week ago she was just a lonely girl with no friends. Now she was on board a magical train to a school to become a witch. It seemed like a surreal dream. Kelsey took out her wand and examined it as the train left the station. She had barely had any time to slow down and sort out everything that had happened. Sitting alone in her compartment she finally had time to breathe. What new wonders awaited her at Hogwarts? Would she finally make friends now?

Kelsey's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden slamming on her compartment door. She jumped and turned her attention to a young witch and wizard shoving their way inside. It was two of the siblings from the platform earlier. Pepper and... she never actually got the others' names. The two youngsters scrambled into the compartment and the wizard cast a spell on the door.

"Colloportus!"

Collo... what? Kelsey watched the two in utter bewilderment. A group of mean-looking students arrived in front of the compartment and attempted to open the door, with no success. Pepper and her brother stuck their tongue out and taunted the group. Her brother made a rather rude hand gesture at them, before the group filed off. The two sat down and sighed, and finally seemed to notice Kelsey watching them. The boy was wearing black robes with red trim.

"Hullo," said the boy, offering his hand. "My name is Evan. Evan Griffin. You are?"

Kelsey gingerly took his hand. "Um, Kelsey Remington..."

The boy grinned widely, nodding. He pointed at Pepper. "This is my sister, Pepper." Pepper nodded politely and also shook Kelsey's hand.

"Sorry, but, what was that back there?" Kelsey inquired. The two Griffins looked at each other and smirked.

"Oh nothing we just gave those good for nothing Slytherins a surprise dung bomb delivery!" Evan proudly said, crossing his arms and nodding.

"A what?" Kelsey asked. Evan and Pepper looked at her curiously.

"You don't know what a dung bomb is?" Evan asked.

Kelsey shook her had apologetically. Evan leaned in and examined her closely. Kelsey leaned back, uncomfortable by the sudden close proximity. Pepper pulled her brother back, chastising him for his rudeness.

"You're Muggle-born aren't you?" Pepper asked. Kelsey nodded. "That figures. Not to worry, you'll learn all about stuff like that while at Hogwarts."

Pepper took out a purple pentagonal shaped box and offered it to Kelsey. She took it, unsure of what to do with it. Pepper giggled.

"Open it!"

Kelsey did so and a frog hopped out. Kelsey shouted in surprise and the two siblings laughed at her. She reached to grab the frog and held it close. It smelled like chocolate. Pepper nodded.

"That's because it is chocolate. It's only enchanted to hop. You can eat it."

Kelsey carefully took a small bite and was pleasantly surprised by the sweet and warm taste. She quickly ate the rest of the frog much to the amusement of her newfound companions. A gleam in the box caught her eye. There was a card inside the box. It had Mr. Potter on it! He smiled and waved at her. Kelsey quickly took the card out of the box and held it up to her face.

"It's Mr. Potter!"

Pepper spoke up again. "That's a wizard card. Each box comes with a random card inside it. I've got almost all of them myself!"

Evan interrupted much to her displeasure. "Wait, you said Mr. Potter. Do you know him?"

Kelsey nodded. "Yeah, it was him who got me here. He lives in my town."

This piqued the interest of the two who both leaned in excitedly.

"Really?! What's he like? Is he hot?" Pepper said.

"I bet he's so cool. What kind of magic does he know?" Evan asked.

Kelsey, overwhelmed by the sudden barrage of questions, clammed up and fidgeted uncomfortably. The two seemed to notice and backed off.

"What kind of stories did he have?"

Kelsey perked up and began telling them all of the stories Mr. Potter told her at his house. She told them of his discovery of the Mirror of Erised, his battle with Tom Riddle and the basilisk in his second year, and most of all, his journey to find the Horcruxes. The stories filled their time on the train and before she knew, they were pulling up to the platform in a little village called Hogsmeade. It was nighttime by now, a full moon high in the sky. Kelsey gathered her trunk and Aurora her owl, and joined the crowd waiting to disembark from the Hogwarts Express. She stepped down onto the platform and took in the sights around her. Evan tapped her on the shoulder and pointed off into the distance, where a great castle was situated atop a large cliffside.

"Hogwarts..." Kelsey breathed, awestruck by its majestic towers and size. She suddenly was shoved to the side, quite painfully, by a tall boy with shining silver hair.

"Out of my way, twerp!" he snarled.

Kelsey rubbed her shoulder and faced her accoster.

"You should really say 'please'," she said. The boy scoffed and walked off. Pepper and Evan joined her and looked towards the tall boy.

"That's Mica Codde," Evan said, disgust dripping from every word. "He's a pureblood brat. His entire family is rotten. Slytherins, all of them. His father was a Death Eater."

"A Death Eater..." Kelsey whispered. She knew what that was. Mr. Potter had told her all about them. "Er, well... maybe he won't turn out like that..."

Evan scoffed. "Yeah, don't bet on that, Remington. Way I've heard it, Mica's got a cruel streak that rivals the worst of them."

"First years over here!" a loud booming voice called out. A very large, bearded man loomed over the crowd with a lantern. Kelsey knew instantly who this was.

"Hagrid!" she called out. Hagrid looked over towards her, attempting to locate the child who called his name. Evan tapped her on the shoulder again.

"I have to go the other way. Only first years ride the boats. I'll see you in the great hall."

Kelsey nodded and made her way down the path to the boats. She walked up to Hagrid and introduced herself.

"Excuse me, are you Hagrid?" she asked.

"Yes, I am - and who might you be, miss?" he said, smiling broadly.

"I'm Kelsey Remington. Mr. Potter told me to find you when I got here."

A gleam shown in Hagrid's eye at the mention of Harry's name. He stroked his beard and cleared his throat.

"Well I do believe Harry mentioned somethin' about a young witch he wanted me to watch over. Yessir I think yer the one," he said. Kelsey giggled. "Why don't ye go on and get in the boats and we'll speak more later?" Kelsey nodded and got into one of the small rowboats. The bright orange lights from the castle shown in the water, gently distorted by the waves from the rowboats. High above her the castle loomed, blocking out the starry sky. Kelsey held her breath, still wondering if this was a dream. The boats docked at a little waterside platform and the first years disembarked, following Hagrid up to the entrance of the castle.

Inside the entrance stairwell Hagrid turned and motioned for the crowd of first years to stop. The door at the top opened and an elderly woman joined Hagrid on the landing. He nodded at her and exited through the door she entered from. The woman cleared her throat and the chattering crowd of students died down.

"Good evening," she said. "My name is Professor Geneva Sinthrap. I am the deputy headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Tonight we will be sorting you all into your houses. Before we begin the sorting ceremony I would like to say a few words."

The crowd of students looked up at her in silence. Professor Sinthrap cleared her throat before continuing.

"To study at Hogwarts is a privilege. Do your work with integrity. Treat your fellow students with kindness. Never misuse your magical abilities. Do all these things with honor and humility. Long has this school stood for something greater - its foundations rooted in courage, wisdom, integrity, humility, knowledge and forthrightness. Know this - the abuse of the privilege of being here will be met with severe consequences. Do right by your house - and by your school - and you will be rewarded."

With that, Professor Sinthrap motioned for the students to follow her and the waved her wand, causing the large, ornate doors to open and reveal a huge dining area. Kelsey knew this to be the great hall Evan mentioned to her before. Four incredibly long tables stood side by side, with hundreds of students seated at them. The students all wore robes with different colors. Green on the far left - Slytherin. Yellow next to that; Kelsey imagined that one was Hufflepuff. Blue; Ravenclaw, and red - Gryffindor. Oh, how Kelsey hoped she would be sorted into Gryffindor! The group stopped right in front of a stool with a very old manky looking hat. Was this the sorting hat? A wizard with a great mustache stood up to the podium and raised his arms to address the students. He was dressed in a black robe and wore a feathered hat.

"Good evening!" he said. "My name is Professor Mignamus Finch. Tonight I wish to welcome our new arrivals to the Hogwarts family."

The crowd clapped and Kelsey felt a surge of excitement. The man held up his hands again and the clapping stopped.

"I would like to say a few words before we begin. Tonight is a momentous occasion. This sorting ceremony marks the most students we have accepted into Hogwarts since the defeat of the dark lord, Voldemort, twenty years ago. A great cause for celebration indeed."

The students at the table clapped again.

"I would also like to welcome back our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Harry Potter. As many of you know, he had taken a leave of absence for several years, but tonight we welcome him back into our fold."

Kelsey's heart thumped wildly as she watched Mr. Potter enter the great hall and wave, before seating himself next to Hagrid, who hugged him. The crowd of students cheered wildly and clapped enthusiastically for Mr. Potter - Kelsey among them, of course. She barely heard anything the headmaster said after that. She was too fixated on Mr. Potter. She was shaken out of her reverie by the following words: "Let the sorting ceremony begin!"

Professor Sinthrap took out a roll of parchment and called out a name.

"Heath Oliver!"

A chubby boy with blonde hair stepped forward, stumbling over himself and eliciting several laughs. He sat on the stool and the professor placed the hat on his head.

"Ah yes, what have we here. Clumsy it seems, but kind of heart. A wish to be seen as equal to your peers. Well I say you belong in Gryffindor!"

The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers and Oliver ran to join them, receiving many pats on his back. Kelsey clapped for him.

"Elijah Sow!"

A sporty looking boy with black hair sauntered up to the stool and sat down. The sorting hat spoke again.

"Athletic and ambitious. You enjoy the admiration from others. Hmmm... better be... Slytherin!"

The Slytherin table roared with excitement and the young wizard ran to join them. Kelsey clapped again, although she desperately did not want to join that house. Several more students were sorted into Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Slytherin, and then it was her turn.

"Kelsey Remington!"

Her heart in her throat, Kelsey gingerly walked up to the stool and sat upon it. The professor placed the hat on her head and it nearly engulfed her. She heard a tiny voice in her mind.

"I see... You have a great sense of curiosity about you. An inquisitive mind. You would do great in Slytherin, or even Hufflepuff. No? Why not? Many great witches and wizards come from these houses."

Kelsey steeled herself, ready for the worst, although she wished greatly for Gryffindor.

"Better be... Ravenclaw!"