Chapter 6

Of speaking hats and pink toads

When they were already in the corridor to the Great hall they heard a voice behind theme saying:

"There you are Mr. Frost. The first classers are already in the hall waiting to be sorted. It would be nice of you to follow them so we could start the sorting. And because you seem to think coming late is such a good idea you will be waiting until last to be sorted."

Jack looked up at the professor. She was an older lady, with a firm posture and an energetic look in her eyes. He hoped she wouldn't catch him in his pranks. He didn't think she would take pranks easy when she already seemed kind of angry because of a few minutes lateness. He gulped loudly. Harry seemed to have noticed his hesitate said "Don't worry professor McGonagall doesn't bite."

Jack gave his new friends a smile and run after McGonagall. He wasn't really afraid of the professor. But he was indeed afraid to be sorted into a house where he could lose his friends. Of course he could make new friends easy but that wasn't the same. And he doubted that anyone would be as special as those. He could already feel that he was bound to them, and that was a bound that was painful to cut.

When he entered the Great hall behind McGonagall his eyes went wide. North would love this place it was just full of wonder. He knew that he looked pretty much like a child how he was gawking at the hall, so he forced himself to fall back in his coolness, so none of the likes of the blond prat could laugh about him.

He had seen the Great hall a few times but always trough the windows and when school already long began. So he was kind of surprised when the professor brought an old hat in and sat it on a chair. He had thought that the others were joking about the hat thing. Seemed not.

Then the hat began to sing.

Jack didn't really listen, he was just too nervous to concentrate on anything. But then he heard that the hat said something about wonder, hope, dreams, memories and joy. He cursed himself for not listening. He would ask someone later when this was over.

After the song Professor McGonagall started to read the names.

Jack had to hold back a grin when he saw some of the younger kid's nervous reactions. One boy in front of him was shaking so hard that Jack thought he would explode by any moment.

"Hey what's your name little one?" Asked Jack.

"L-l-lu-luke." He stuttered.

"You know what Luke?"

"W-what?"

"You don't have to be afraid."

"But what if the hat sorts me in a house that I don't like."

"I'm sure whatever house you come in you will like it. I don't think the hat makes any mistakes. I mean look around. Do you see any unhappy faces under the other students firs year or older?"

"No."

"See, so you don't have to be afraid. You just have to go forward and have fun and it will all work out." Jack smiled at the boy and got a wide grin back.

The boy was next to being sorted. Luke strode forwards. The fear that shook him just moment's ago was gone. And just as brave he strode to the hat so brave he got to his house as the hat called out

"Gryffindor"

Luke smiled one last time to Jack before he sat at the table and started to make new friends.

After a while only Jack was standing there. It wasn't a pleasant feeling to be so alone. And it didn't help that the murmurs that started when Jack walked into the hall were now increasing so that Jack was starting to panic a little. But only one look at the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw table, a look at his friends was enough to make him feel confident in himself. So as Professor McGonagall read his name he walked through the hall with head held high and a small smile playing on his lips. He could still hear the murmurs and, could it be, giggles? High pitched giggles.

Jack showed those thoughts aside as he came before the sorting hat

He sat on the chair while professor McGonagall sat the hat on his head.

Jack almost flew into the air as he heard a voice in his head. A voice that definitive wasn't his.

'What have we here? Aren't you a spirit, boy? The spirit of winter and guardian of joy. What brought you here?'

Jack pretty fast understood that the hat spoke to him trough his thoughts so he answered the same way.

"I nerved the other guardians out so they thought it a good idea to send me to school."

'But that isn't all. Is it? No, of course not. You too are here to protect the children. You may not know that now but you will see that this year joy will be needed the most. And I'm sure that you will too bring a little hope and wonder with you, won't you?'

"I'm not the guardian of hope or wonder." Protested Jack.

'No, you're not. But your joy will give the children hope in a better time, will give them wonder of fun, it will give them sweet dreams about happiness, and it will give them memories that they won't forget, ever.'

"I will give my best." Jack was indeed firmly resolved to protect the children from whatever danger may come.

'But now to the sorting. I see I will have to sort you into your school year too, you surely are not level with the first years. You really are the hardest to sort from the time I had sorted Harry. You are indeed cunning and also loyal to your friends. You would be a great Slytherin.'

"No!"

'Why not?'

"I want to be with my friends." Was the simply answer.

'Indeed you have quite a lot of a Gryffindor in you. You are loyal and, oh so, brave, and not to forget, your recklessness challenges the twins. I'm sure that you will be in good hands in the house...'

"Gryffindor, fifth year!"

The last word was shouted for the whole hall to be heard. There was cheering and clapping from most of the tables, the Slytherins weren't so happy that the new student goes to their enemy. But for that the Gryffindor table was the loudest. The Weasely twins started shouting "We got Frost! We got Frost!" like they had all this years before for Harry. Just Ron who sat next to the looked unhappy about that.

Jack stood up from the chair and gave the hat to professor McGonagall, but not before he said a last 'Thank you' to the hat.

He walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat between the twins and Hermione who made place for him.

"You know, if you want you can help us with a little prank next week. The particulars we will tell you later if you are interested." Said George. Jack had actually already learned how to tell them apart. But it was maybe just because he was a few centuries old and had watched kids a lot. He had seen the twins a few times when they were smaller over winter. He didn't really see a difference in their faces or such. No. It was something like an aura. Not everyone could feel it but Jack did.

"I'm just interested if it's something big." Grinned Jack. The twins grinned back. But before they could say something more, or before Hermione could berate Jack to not get himself into trouble with the twins, the headmaster stood up for a speech.

Jack already thought of an unbelievably long and boring speech when Dumbledore just said:

"Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you."

And with that the feast started. Jack didn't really need food but that doesn't mean he couldn't eat. And that was what he did. While they were filling their stomachs with the various kinds of food and deserts the twins were starting to explain what kind of prank it was. They were planning to get a ghost called Peeves to throw a few stink bombs of their own creation in a part of the castle while they would break into the potion masters room and let a few of naughty elves free. The only problem was the they didn't know whit what to fill the stink bombs, they needed something that was like smoke but at the same time difficult to get rid off so they had enough time to break into the dungeon. And they needed elves. And all the while Hermione was complaining about that all. Jack volunteered to get some elves, he already knew where to find some that would do whatever he ordered them to. And he said that it would be wiser to let the bombs free somewhere near the dungeons or somewhere where professor Snape would definitely be at that time, so they don't risked being seen.

The twins were happy to have found someone with the same will and brain for pranks. They had to end their planning when the ghosts entered so they weren't overheard by Nicolas, or God forbid by the Bloody baron.

A while after, when everyone already had a full stomach and leaned back and chatted, professor Dumbledore rose again and started a speech. Jack was surprised that he could follow this speech. He normally wasn't really able to follow some boring speeches.

"The very best greetings to you! Now to our new students, welcome, to our old students welcome back! Another year full of magical educations awaits you. The new students should know that the Dark forest is forbidden ground, and the older ones should remember that." Jack saw Harry, Hermione and Ron smiling at that. He would definitive ask them for a tour through the forest.

"You're welcome to read the rest of the house rules that hang on Mr. Filch's door. This year we have a few changes in our school staff. First we are pleased to welcome back professor Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank who will teach Care of Magical Creatures in absence of professor Rubeus Hagrid." At that the trio put their heads together in wonder where their big friend was. Jack didn't really understand why it such a shock for them.

"We too have a new professor in Defence Against the Dark Arts, if I may introduce professor Dolores Umbridge." At that Umbridge stood up. Jack had to hold back a laugh because she wasn't any taller when she stood than when she sat. When he looked at her he had to think of an big ugly toad with pink ribbon.

As Dumbledore continued to talk she couched a little. It was ridicules. The headmaster first didn't know where the noise came from, but when it replayed all eyes of the hall were on Umbridge. No one has ever seen someone interrupt Dumbledore.

Dumbledore stepped back. And then Umbridge started what Jack would call the dullest speech he ever heard.

"It great to be back in Hogwarts and have seeing all this happy faces." After that Jack didn't really listen, it was some political speech that the toad had learned by heart. He found it just stupid.

After she ended Dumbledore continued to speak but Jack didn't listen. He rather listened to what Hermione was saying. It seemed that Hermione was indeed able to follow the toad's words, and was right now explaining to Harry and Ron what she said. Jack listened to her explanation that the Ministry of Magic was interfering into the school.

"Haven't they interfered before?" Asked Jack. The trio almost jumped into air as they became aware that someone was listening to them.

"That is nothing for you to worry. Just stay out of it." Snapped Ron back and earned a punch from Hermione.

"Ron, be nice to our new friend." Said George.

"Yeah he is in the same boat as we all are." Continued Fred.

"And really..."stared Fred "... you weren't that subtle..." added George"... no wonder you three were overheard." They ended together.

Hermione rolled her eyes at them and said to Jack "No, the Ministry haven't interfered in the school before. But they are trying to get Dumbledore to leave, and Umbridge is not a good sign it just matter of time till it gets worse. I don't think she plans on staying just in her classroom and doing her job."

"I'm sure we will be able to get rid of her." Said Jack and earned smiles from the twins and Harry, and an interested look from Ron and Hermione. But Ron's was still distrusting but interested at least.

Jack hoped that he could get Ron to trust him after some time.

After Dumbledore ended his speech they went to their dorm. Ron and Hermione had to lead the first classers, so Jack went with Harry. The twins had already vanished.

When the two of them came to the dorm Harry remembered that he forgot to ask someone for the password. Jack already thought they had to stay out all night when Neville came running.

"Hey Harry, hey Jack. I really remembered the password this time. Isn't it great?"

"Jeah, especially when it means that we don't have to sleep on the floor than definitive yes." Said Jack.

Neville stood before the Fat lady and said "Mimbulus Mimbletonia"

The Fat Lady moved so they could go into the room. When Jack entered he couldn't but look around with big eyes. It was really beautiful.

The only thing Jack had to do was to stay away from the fireplaces.