Not an Average Sorting
Summary: A Hogwarts Sorting. Reiji decides that it's best to first make allies within their own dimension before traversing elsewhere. Using his connections with the Japanese Ministry of Magic, the Lancers tour the magical world in search of allies and finally arrive at the famous Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Because every fandom needs a Harry Potter Sorting (and a Familiar of Zero summoning). Focuses on what the Sorting Hat sees in the Lancers' heads.
{~~~}
There are many fates that can be bestowed upon immortal beings.
One becomes a name that is feared by all, terrifying the world with ice and darkness.
Another is trapped in an infinite loop, forever cursed to repeat the same events over and over again with no hope of changing them.
Quite a few (approximately a hundred and ninety six) simply existed as national icons and mysteries, making political conflicts more personal.
For one immortal, its job was to read the minds of children (and those slightly older on the occasion) and place them into a house where they will grow, learn and further breed prejudice into the society.
Not the most thrilling job but it was the Sorting Hat. Besides, that one evening on 1st of September was what made the other the three-hundred and sixty four days of the year on a dusty shelf worth enduring.
At least it got time to work on its poetry.
Like the year before, and the year before that, and the year before that and all the years up to the point of its creation, the Sorting Hat would sing its verse (and warning, not that anyone listened) before the Deputy Headmaster called the little First-Years up to be Sorted.
Now most people thought that the Sorting Hat would read their mind but if that were the case, every single student would be in the House of Nervousness, Jitters and Anxiety and not in one of Bravery or Ambition or Loyalty or Intelligence.
Not only did the Sorting Hat read the Sortee's mind, it entered their very soul as well. A room within each person that reflected their very being and potential.
As it placed the last nervous First-Year in the best suited house, the Hat prepared itself for another three-hundred and sixty five day cycle before the next Sorting when Albus Dumbledore made a surprising announcement.
"This year we are hosting guests from our sister school in the East, the Lancers of Mahoutokoro. Please make them feel welcome into our humble school and into whatever Houses they are to Sorted into."
Foreigners, and not just any old foreigners, older foreigners. The Hat felt giddy with excitement, or as excited as an enchanted piece of fabric can feel. It would finally see something other than the half-formed soul rooms of pre-teens because honestly, what difference is there in the tender and impressionable minds and souls of an eleven-year-old Tom Riddle or Harry Potter or Albus Dumbledore?
Once again, it heard the unfurling of parchment as Minerva McGonagall began the next but much shorter list. "Akaba, Reiji."
The Hat was dropped onto the head of a rather tall boy and found itself plunged into…a muggle office room?
It took a quick look around the soul room to confirm that, yes, it was modeled after a muggle office of some sort of businessman. Despite being large and incredibly spacious with a high ceiling, the room was sparsely decorated with the few furnishings spread across the room. With the professional atmosphere in the air, the room implied that Reiji Akaba was quite the business-minded, no-nonsense individual, one that liked complete control over a situation. Ravenclaw appeared to be a likely candidate but it was still too early to decide.
On one side of the room was a wide bookshelf while a paper-covered desk in front of a glass window wall sat on the opposite end. The Hat decided to inspect the bookshelf first, hovering over to it. The majority of the shelves were burdened with thick textbooks lined up in an orderly fashion with odd titles such as 'Synchro' and 'Xyz'. A representation of knowledge and its weight. A small collection of mismatched albums were stacked next to the bookshelf. A quick scan revealed they were memories, the happier treasured ones. Similar albums were found hidden on the top shelf, mature memories associated with work and ambitions, almost indistinguishable from the knowledge texts.
With nothing more left to see without being too intrusive, the Hat crossed the room to the window wall and desk. Behind the glass was a muggle city. Tall buildings, automobiles, the works. A stadium sat in the middle of a lake, flashing lights emitting from it.
The desk itself was scattered with documents and folders. Seven folders were spread out with a name and an odd title each. Most were labeled 'Standard' though two were labeled 'Fusion'. Though each folder was thick, one in particular was twice as large as the others and shared a common word with most of the loose documents on the desk. Pendulum.
"So how are you finding my mind?"
The Hat turned to see the mental projection of the boy it was Sorting, dressed in causal muggle clothing with a red scarf fluttering in an invisible wind.
"Quite interesting, to be honest." Very rarely did the Hat get to communicate with the new students. Sometimes it would be able to glean the stronger thoughts floating about their mind but the only time it had a true mental conversation was with someone who had a strong mind and defined image of themselves. Once again, very rare among new students. "My first impressions still remain. You are analytical and intelligent while striving to maintain control over a situation, to make everything go according plan. Ravenclaw would be a suitable house for you but…" The Hat looked across the desk at the various papers, a representation of what currently occupied Reiji Akaba's mind: plans of attack, battle strategies, what could push the other Lancers to their limits, how to win a war with minimal losses… and placing himself at the vanguard to be hated by both his allies and enemies alike for the greater good.
Reiji Akaba followed the Hat's gaze and adjusted his glasses. "Put me in the house where we can gain support for the war. While are forces are skilled, our numbers pale in comparison to those of our enemy."
The Hat could see why Albus Dumbledore accepted the Lancers into Hogwarts when they could potentially drag the Wizarding World into a much larger war. In fact, some parallels could be seen between the two.
"If that is what you want, then you should be…"
"GRIFFINDOR!"
The Hat was taken off and Reiji Akaba joined the ranks of the lion, where he was sure to find many allies.
"Akaba, Reira."
The next Soul Room the Hat was plunged into belonged to someone significantly younger…but was, for a lack of better terms, blank.
The Room was tiny and claustrophobic in comparison to any other room the Hat had entered before. It was completely empty with no defining features of any sort.
In the center of the room, a small boy sat in a lonely chair with a patched teddy bear, a muggle camera and a queer object with a deck of cards in his grasp.
While the Hat had seen people like Reiji Akaba who had a firm definition of themselves, this was the first time it had encountered someone on the opposite side of the spectrum. Reira Akaba had no definition of self. Only a blank room, a blank mind, a blank soul.
With nothing to analyze, the Hat asked the boy, "Which house do you want to be in?"
"I want to be with nii-sama." Reira Akaba replied.
The Hat nodded. Godric's house had a strong sense of character that would help Reira Akaba build himself and fill this empty room.
"GRFFINDOR!"
"D'Academia, Selena."
This Room bore a strong resemblance to a student's dorm room, if a cyclone had torn through. Selena D'Academia's room was a complete mess with books scattered across the carpet, a desk overturned in a corner and shredded pillows in another. The disorder of inner turmoil and a changing mind. The girl's Soul Room was in the process of remaking itself to suit her new ideals, to rationalize what new information.
A large photo frame that once hung on the back wall laid shattered on the floor, the portrait within slashed that the face could no longer be recognized. A betrayal of someone who she held in high regard.
The windows had been thrown wide open with the pale curtains fluttering in the wind. It was night 'outside' the window with a full moon shining through. A yearning for freedom beyond the restrictions of her former, or maybe even new, ideals.
A similar object to the one Reira Akaba was holding with a deck of cards was at the very center of the room, basking in the moonlight. But there was something fierce about this one, a sharpness like a blade, an aura of a weapon.
Now this was a more traditional sorting.
"Reshaping your ideals is always a tricky thing to do but it seems you have it mostly under control. Just be careful not to lose yourself. Someone with your spirit should belong in…
"GRIFFINDOR!"
"Fuuma, Tsukikage."
"Welcome to my mind, Honorable Sorting Hat." Tsukikage Fuuma greeted, dressed in ninja garb with a metal headpiece with a moon engraved on it.
"A pleasure." The Hat had landed in an oriental dojo and spied the same peculiar object and cards as before, with the same battle-ready quality. Sorting Tsukikage Fuuma would not be too much trouble but how often did the Hat get a chance to talk to someone? Might as well take every opportunity for a conversation before being placed on a shelf for the next year. "Do you have any preferences?"
"I trust in you decision." The ninja said. "…but I do wish to be placed somewhere where I will still be an asset to Lord Akaba."
"Lord?" Now that was an interesting title. The last person to call someone 'Lord' became a devoted Death Eater.
"My clan has devoted our services to Akaba Reiji and his goals. He may be…slightly manipulative but he does it so for the greater good."
"Even if you have already lost a brother?"
Tsukikage Fuuma winced. "We were well aware of the consequences when committing to his cause. But I will not let his sacrifice be in vain."
The Hat let out a soft chuckle. "Such a strong sense of loyalty. You may not be suited to be in the same house as your 'Lord' but may you serve him from the shadows in…
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Gongenzaka, Noboru."
Once again the Hat was in a dojo with the queer device and deck of cards in the center of the room. But this time, the device emitted an aura of protection and enjoyment. Something that can be used for fun yet can be used as a weapon if the time called for it.
Photographs lined the walls, each one containing snapshots of various memories. Alongside Noboru Gongenzaka in many of the photos were a girl in pigtails and a boy in goggles. Dear friends that he would never abandon.
Around the dojo were various pieces of samurai armor. Some were only single pieces such as gauntlets while others were full suits, eyeing the Hat making observations. The full suits of armor were guarding something, the more treasured parts of the soul, but when the Hat attempted to see past them, they refused entry. Though the Hat, with years of magic and knowledge, could find a way to bypass the armor, there was no need to. The armor would resist and remain rooted in their resolve, steadfast and unmoving.
A gentle tune echoed through the Room, a soothing melody on flute and trumpet the seemed to tie the room together.
Now this was an easy one.
"A steadfast heart and an unmoving devotion to your friends. Be careful that your loyalty does not lead you astray. Good luck in…
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Kurosaki, Shun."
Minerva McGonagall dropped the Hat onto the next waiting head…
…only to be driven out by a flock of angry birds.
Unprepared for such a violent resistance, the Hat was thrown off the head of the scowling Shun Kurosaki.
The Hat couldn't help but feel impressed by the boy's Occlumency skills. They were well developed for a person of his age and would be quite difficult for the average wizard to intrude his mind and soul.
A different approach was needed for this Sorting.
The Hat was dropped back onto his head and was once again greeted by the angry flock but instead of letting them push the Hat out like last time, the Hat absorbed the flock, and Shun Kurosaki, into its own Soul Room.
It was the first time the Hat had tried anything like this and so many things could go wrong from merging souls to a complete loss of sanity, but it worked out perfectly.
Shun Kurosaki was dropped into a replica of the Headmaster's Office and the Hat appeared before him.
"That was quite the stunt you pulled back there." The Hat grinned. "The most exciting thing to happen in the past thousand years. I applaud you for that."
But Shun Kurosaki didn't respond. He just kept staring at the Hat, silent and dumbfound.
"What? Surprised that a hat even has a Soul Room. Well, every sentient being has one, or even more in some cases. They're quite interesting actu-"
"Ute?" The boy mumbled.
"Ute?" The Hat looked over its current appearance to discover that it was no longer a tattered wizard hat but rather a boy in rather tattered muggle clothing. "Ah. Apparently I have taken the form someone you know." It tried to transform back to its original appearance, hands and legs were rather awkward things, but to no avail. "…and I am stuck in this form."
Shun Kurosaki snarled and dashed at the Hat. A blade appeared from the queer object it had seen in previous Rooms and was pressed against its neck.
"Who are you? What are you? And where are we?" he spat.
The Hat sighed. There was a chance of hostility when dealing with people in Soul Rooms, but this was ridiculous. "If you weren't listening to my lovely poem from earlier, I am the Sorting Hat and we are currently in my Soul Room to have you Sorted into one of Hogwart's houses considering you refuse to let me into yours. Now then…"
The Hat snapped its fingers and seated the both of them in a pair of chairs with a cup of tea in hand.
"Tell me about yourself." It was a rather mundane way to Sort but Shun Kurosaki was extremely protective of his Room and forcing itself in would lead to more trouble.
The boy scowled at the Hat. "I don't have time to play school and wave sticks."
"Oh, why is that?"
"Because there's a damn war!" Shun Kurosaki quickly shut himself up and started eyeing the Room suspiciously. "There's a Trust Me spell active."
Rage of a Lion, Mind of a Raven. This was definitely the highlight of the century. "Perceptive. I was enchanted with that spell to make children open their Rooms to me. Makes Sorting them much easier."
"It's fucking intrusive." His eyes were darting around, probably looking for an escape route.
"Language, young man." The Hat scolded. "How would the Sorting occur if I couldn't enter the Soul Rooms?"
"Just…find another way…" He must have decided that there was no visible exit and kept his eyes to the floor.
"So who's Ute?" The Hat asked, bracing itself for an outburst of anger. There had to be a reason Shun Kurosaki acted so negatively to its current appearance but it needed something to work with to Sort the boy.
Instead, the boy bowed his head solemnly. "Ute is…was my only comrade." He said, refusing to meet the Hat's eyes. "He's gone now."
"What about the Lancers? Are they not your comrades?"
"Akaba and his group of brats and clowns can drop dead for all I care. They don't stand a chance on a real battlefield. All they're doing is stopping my mission. I'm certain that one of them is an Academia Rat."
"Your mission?"
"Find my sister."
The Hat nodded. "I think I can Sort you now. Just answer one more question…
Which of the houses were you sorted in last time?"
Shun Kurosaki shot up. "How did you know?"
"The Trust Me spell isn't part of the mainstream curriculum of any school in the world other than Hogwarts. If you were from Mahoutokoro, you would have said something about a seal of trust." Besides, there was some sort of odd…familiarity to Shun Kurosaki, as if the Hat had encountered him before despite this being their first meeting.
He closed his eyes and muttered, "…Ravenclaw."
"Ah, I see. Though you may be wrathful and focused towards a goal even at the expense of others, you still have a sharp mind and a certain love for competition. Maybe by returning to your old house, you can rediscover who you once were. So find yourself in…
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Macfield, Dennis."
The Hat found itself dropped into a red seat. Before it was a stage with bright lights flashing and colorful signs everywhere. On stage, a show was about to begin.
A stream of flames lit up the stage before being devoured by a pair of round black creatures in pointed hats and capes. The two creatures then transformed into a pair of red lights, circling each other until colliding in a flurry of sparks.
From the sparks, a masked acrobat dressed in white with a red cape swung in on a trapeze. With a twist of his baton, the stage erupted into fireworks.
Dennis Macfield appeared center stage in an asymmetric suit with the two creatures and acrobat at his side.
"So what did you think?" the smiling redhead asked.
"Quite the entertaining show. A love for the stage and an ambition to be a performer. Quite the amazing set up. Now will you show me your true Soul Room or will this be another question and answer session?"
The smile dropped from faces of the boy and his creatures. He gave a mirthless laugh. "You saw right through my mask."
"I am a thousand year old hat created to examine Soul Rooms. It will take a lot more that some lights and mirrors to fool me."
The performers disappeared and the stage started to fade away.
The Hat found itself in a dorm room again, one identical to Selena D'Academia's except this one was well maintained and Spartan.
Any trace of the previous stage was gone.
The frame that was completely destroyed in the last room hung in perfect condition on the wall, the picture depicting an imposing bald man in purple.
Dennis Macfield was now dressed in a blue uniform with a grey helmet in his hand.
"So you are a spy?"
"While being an entertainer is fun, I am loyal to the Academia. I will not betray the Professor." He said monotonously.
"But are you happy?"
The child soldier bit his lip and refused to reply.
"Your loyalty to the Academia is unwavering and Hufflepuff would be a good fit for you. But you are happy as an entertainer, as a performer. Had your devotion been any weaker, you would have already become a traitor." The Hat materialized a mask similar to the one the acrobat was wearing. "Put back on your mask and don't make me regret this decision. Now have your fun in…
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Sa-"
"Sawatari, Shingo! That's me!"
The Hat watched as a blond flop pushed in front of the goggles wearing tomato-head and sat himself on the stool. Minerva McGonagall glared at the boy then sighed and dropped the Hat on his head.
The Hat entered a luxurious room with cream walls and red carpet. Tapestry of Japanese legends hung on the walls depicting mountains and humanoid weasels riding on whirlwinds. A fondness of mythology perhaps, or maybe pride in his heritage.
Opposite the tarps was a giant darts board with several darts sticking out of bullseye. Beside the board was a photo of Shingo Sawatari and three other boys, all dressed in white jackets with golden trims. A representation of a sharp mind with a deadly aim… or it could just be a hobby of throwing darts.
The Hat sighed and looked for something else to examine. While this boy might have appeared straight forward to examine to begin with, all the major features of his Room seemed to carry a double meaning.
Once again the queer object was in the center of the room but this time there were three decks of cards surrounding it instead of just one. It sat on a stage, one that looked newly erected, surrounded by a multitude of colourful costumes and show scripts.
Now this was the key to Sorting Shingo Sawatari.
Like every other main feature in the room, the stage had a double meaning: a new love for theatre and performing as well as a flamboyant and extravagant personality. But the reason why it was made, why it was such a prominent feature in the room, was the deciding factor. A photograph of another boy filled with dart holes laid at the foot of the stage, a rival that he wants to surpass. A shadow of a family portrait overshadowing the entire Room, from the tapestries to the dart boards to the glittery cards scattered around the Room, with the stage being the only thing that wasn't under its domain; the shadow of his father that he so desperately wanted to step out of and be recognized as his own person.
"You've had everything you've ever wanted handed to you on a silver platter but you still want more. You want to prove yourself as your own person but first you face reality. This is a real war you are planning to fight in and you can't rely on your father's influence to save you. Learn to stand on your own feet and achieve your ambitions in…
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Sakaki, Yuya." The finality in Minerva McGonagall's voice alerted the Hat that this would be the last Sorting of the year. While the Hat wished this could go on forever, mortals had to move on. They weren't stagnant like the Hat and other eternal beings.
So for the last time before it returned to the dusty shelf in the Headmaster's office, the Hat was dropped onto the head and entered the Soul Room of Yuya Sakaki…
…And it was a war zone.
There was no other way to describe it. The Hat was surrounded by the ruins of what might have been and prosperous muggle city. Buildings that once touched the sky now laid in crumbling heaps. Roads that should have been swarmed with people were deserted. The sky was an ominous grey with storm clouds brewing and blocking any hint of sunlight.
This wasn't the true form of Sakaki Yuya's Soul Room. Most likely, the boy had experienced a terrible event that inspired this war-torn scene. Had he actually watched this city be attack by invaders or was it merely symbolic of a great lost?
The Hat scanned the Room for something, anything, that told him who Sakaki Yuya really was. But there was nothing. No albums for memories. No books for knowledge. No pictures of friends. No toys or cards or even the queer object the Hat had grown accustom to seeing in these foreigners' Soul Rooms. Only shattered walls, broken homes and a heavy atmosphere of lost. The ruined city had complete consumed the boys soul.
And then there was the push, almost like Occlumency but not quite, trying to get the Hat to leave the Soul Room…
"Revolt of Lightning, DISOBEY!"
The battle cry alerted the Hat of an incoming attack and dodged the charging lightning bolt by threads of its fibers.
The Hat turned to see a black dragon crackling with electricity snarling at it. On its back, the Hat could barely make out a small figure, probably Yuya Sakaki.
"We need to get rid of this intruder." The Hat heard the rider mutter. "Attack again Rebellion. Mauling Mandible Charge!"
The dragon cloaked itself with lightning and charged at the Hat, reminding it a little too much of Shun Kurosaki and his flock of angry birds.
Seriously, what was it with teenagers and overly aggressive mental defenses these days?
Well, it asked for something that would help his sort the boy and the Hat got what it asked for.
The Hat jumped out of the dragon's path and began analyzing the beast. Dragons in general represented strength and power as well as protectors of great treasure. The fact it used lightning to attack meant a fierce and swift mind. By cloaking itself in lightning and heading for a charge that was sure to leave plenty of recoil showed recklessness and how quickly the dragon and its rider had started to attack it could be a sign of a trigger-happy personality that was quick to jump to conclusions.
Overall, Yuya Sakaki was revealing himself to be a run-of-the-mill Griffindor.
"Though I don't particularly like getting attack, this scuffle has revealed quite a lot about you. A protector and rebellious soul, learn to let go of the past or else it will completely take over your soul." Had the dragon stopped attacking? The Hat hadn't really noticed, this Sorting was just about done anyway. "Don't be so quick to judge those you meet or you just might find yourself making an enemy out of a potential ally. So, Yuya Sakaki, best of luck in… GRIFFIN-mrf!"
The Hat was muffled by a pair of rough hands as the rider covered its mouth. The dragon had landed behind its rider, growling at the Hat and awaiting further instructions.
After he was certain that the Hat wasn't going to continue talking, the rider released it. "You are… the Sorting Hat." The boy said slowly.
"Who else would I be?" The Hat retorted. First Yuya Sakaki presents a Soul Room with barely anything to Sort, attacks with a lightning-wielding dragon then interrupts just as its about to Sort him. The nerve of the boy.
"I'm not Sakaki Yuya." The rider said.
Now that he was in front of the Hat and not commanding attacks on the back of a dragon, the rider looked rather familiar. He wore a tattered black cloak over what once was a white uniform shirt, now an off green due to lack of washing. His hair was black with purple bangs, dyed or natural the Hat couldn't tell, and his face was obscured by a mask and goggles. He fit into the ruined city rather well with this rebel-styled attire…
Then it clicked.
"You must be Ute." The Hat said. The push and mental barriers were extremely similar Shun Kurosaki's but not as powerful or developed, muffled if the Hat had to describe it, and it remembered taking that form when Sorting that boy. But that did beg the question… "What are you doing in Yuya Sakaki's Soul Room?"
"In all honesty, I have no idea." Ute admitted. "I thought I was transported back to Heartland, or in Hell, when I first woke up here but then I started hearing things…seeing things…doing things. I don't know how but that damned Fusion Pawn knocked me into Sakaki's Soul Room and I have no idea how to get out."
"So you've been a guard dog, attacking any and all beings that enter Yuya Sakaki's mind and soul?"
The boy growled. "You were trespassing!"
"I have a job to do." The Hat responded. "You have three options: you lead me to Yuya Sakaki's Soul Room, I use you for the Sorting or I start breaking things until I find what I'm looking for."
The dragon snarled at the threat towards its master but the Hat wasn't intimidated. Ute and his dragon only existed in this Soul Room with nothing in the real world to anchor their existence. If it were destroyed, they would cease to exist.
"Fine." Ute said. He obviously wasn't happy with his decision but the Hat wasn't a major threat.
He pulled down his mask and removed his goggles, revealing a face identical to Yuya Sakaki's. The Hat was beginning to believe that 'Ute' wasn't his own person but rather second personality or defensive mechanism. His lack of…connection to the real world prevented the Hat from thinking that 'Yuya Sakaki' was the false persona. Maybe the two boys were twins and Ute had died recently, leaving the 'Ute' that the Hat was dealing with was nothing more than a memory. That would also explain why Shun Kurosaki said he was 'gone'. But then would the 'Fusion Pawn' be…
"Ladies and Gentlemen!" the boy yelled awkwardly, his voice echoing through the ruined city and snapping the Hat out of its speculations. "The real fun…"
"…starts here!" A distant voice responded.
A blue crystal appeared in the sky. Swinging from left to right, it drew arcs of bluish white across the bleak grey.
"The exit is through there." Ute said, pointing to the center of the crystal's path. "You'll have to find your own way to Yuya's Soul Room once you get out."
"Thank you." Hopefully this 'exit' wasn't another hostile defense.
"Don't cause any trouble." Ute replaced his mask and mounted his dragon, flying off deeper into the ruins.
The Hat floated up the crystal found a small gap where Ute had directed. Leaving the ruined city, the boy and his dragon behind it, the Hat entered the gap and emerged in a stone corridor, similar to the ones that run through Hogwarts' dungeons.
Behind it, a black door slammed shut. There was no turning back, not that the Hat was planning to anyway.
Wandering down the corridor the Hat found two other doors, one purple and one white, but 'door' wasn't the best word to describe them. They lacked hinges and handles and looked more like panels than they did doors as if they were placeholders for something else.
The Hat was giddy with excitement. Despite the rather rude welcoming party, Yuya Sakaki's mind was full of mysteries and it hadn't even found the main room yet!
Finally, the Hat arrived at the entrance to Yuya Sakaki's true Soul Room, a red and green double door with a blue star in the center. What will it find behind these doors? Maybe the bravery of the Lion, reckless and willing to do what he believes is right. Or the wit of the Raven, intelligent and pursuing knowledge and wisdom for the sake of it. Possibly the ambition of the Snake, cunning and doing whatever for his goals. Maybe even the loyalty of the Badger, steadfast and well rooted in his beliefs.
Pushing through the doors, the Hat found itself in a circus big top.
The Hat was taken aback by how different this Soul Room was to the other. Where the other stretched out to the horizon, unending with city ruin after city ruin, this one had purple cloth walls outside the main ring defining the limits of the Room. Colored spot lights danced around the room, creating beams of purple, green, yellow and fuchsia with a the main light source shining down from above. This was the soul of an entertainer, honest and innocent unlike the farce of Dennis Macfield or the developing stage of Shingo Sawatari.
Giant bubbles floated about the Room, memories enclosed within them, and colorful balls bounced wildly with various costumed animals riding them. Sometimes the creatures would turn into cards, the same cards that made up the decks from the previous Rooms, when under the light but would then dramatically change back in a puff of smoke and stars. They were not weapons or warriors but were a method of entertaining.
Two pillars of light stood on either side of the room with the blue crystal that lead the Hat swinging between them. Above it was a pair of figures, one in red and the other in white, distant and unreachable, held high over everything else in the room with nothing above them. But they watched over the performing creatures below, like teachers supervising students, and seemed to flicker in and out of view. They were his goal and ambition. Someone who had inspired Yuya Sakaki and taught him what he knew. Someone that the boy wanted to reach and surpass.
Pictures of people lined the cloth walls, all varying in size and shape. The larger the photo, the more trusted and influential the person was. The other Lancers were there in separate medium sized frames with the exception of Noboru Gongenzaka. He was in a much larger frame along with Yuya Sakaki and a pig-tailed Selena D'Academia, despite the girl already having her own separate frame. A blonde woman and a black-haired man in red coattails, identical to the red figure high above, stood side by side in the largest frame. His parents, the Hat assumed. They would have the biggest influence on the boy of course.
Despite the happiness and light that overflowed in the Room, a creeping darkness lingered in the corners. The Hat had sensed something similar in the other Soul Room and while wandering the corridor. Out there it was prominent, making its presence known and ruling, but here it was subdued. Hiding away and slowly consuming the room, a colored ball here and couple photo frames over there.
The Darkness was what stood out to the Hat the most. It wasn't ignored. The lights tried to brighten its corners and the creatures would sometimes pounce, but they attacked blindly. They knew that something was there but they didn't quite know where or what it was. It could be something sent by an external force to take over the Room but it fit in so well that it couldn't have been from the outside and it wasn't quite malevolent. It probably symbolized the harsh reality of the world trying to find its place in this idealistic room, a reality that clashed with everything that the room stood for.
The final Sorting of the year was something that didn't disappoint. "Despite the rather rude welcoming party, your Soul Room was something that I haven't seen in centuries. You have a strong trust in your friends and an unwavering loyalty to your father's style but what overshadows everything else is your ambition. A dream to surpass your father's legacy, holding true to your ideals no matter what the cost. In most recent years, it has been forgotten that being ambitious is not the same as being evil, that cunning and darkness are not synonymous. But be careful, do not let your ideals prevent you from seeing the truth. Sometimes you must accepting for what they are and accept that they cannot be changed. So go then and show them the other side of…
"SLYTHERIN!"
{~~~}
Did you agree/disagree with these Sortings? In all honesty, if the Hat had seen Shun and Ute real Soul Rooms, Shun would be in Slytherin or Hufflepuff (depends how you interpret his single-minded goal to save his sister) and Ute would be Ravenclaw (more level headed of the pair and generally avoid conflict) but because it couldn't, it had to go off interactions. As for other characters, I think Joeri would be Hufflepuff for his loyalty to the Academia/the Professor, and Yuzu and Hugo both Griffindor as both are considerably the most headstrong among their counterparts.
What you can expect in the future (in no specified order):
Not so Mysterious – A Gravity Falls AU in which the Yu boys take the place of both pairs of Pines twins, there are at least five Authors and twelve Journals.
Not what was expected – The standard 'Louise summons X instead of Saito' crossover in which Ute is as quick to jump to conclusions as Shun and Guiche should have never learned how to fuse his golems.
Not Dropping the Mask – The Black Rose Witch vs. Berserk Yuya had 5ds and the Synchro arc had taken place at the same time. Can also be seen as a rewrite/merging of arc-v ep 78-79 and 5ds ep 23-24
Not a Better Love Story – (Can also be called 'How Yuzu Hiragi's Life Went to Hell in a Weekend') A very loose Twilight AU in which Yuzu moves to a new town and a case of mistaken identity drags her into the supernatural world.
Not for Justice – (Death Note AU) Ute tries to be normal and go to university but Joeri is L and Kira is his latest hunt.
Not Beyond Space and Time – Yuya's trying to solve a puzzle, Yuto's hunting numbers, Yugo has a weird birthmark and Yuri goes to an overseas boarding school. Or Yugi's an entertainer, Yuma's actually competent, Yusei dresses like Jack and Judai's evil from the start.
Not in a Day (but he found out anyway) – In which Joeri isn't a completely heartless bastard and Hugo really becomes a pawn of fusion.
Also, I'll use the 'official' spelling for the Yu squads names (Ute, Hugo, Joeri) if they're not related and the other spelling (Yuto, Yugo, Yuri) if they are from now on. If Yuya needs an alternate spelling for his name, I'll use Iouiya (search 'Yuya Egypt' for why).
Thank you for reading and any and all ideas for future chapters as well as comments/criticism of previous ones will be greatly appreciated. Also comment if you want to see any of the ideas above first.