A/N: I hope you all have a lovely day! :D For this chapter, picking Henry's house took me seconds, but like the hat, deciding Harrys took me a bit longer. I'm proud of my decision though and I think you'll enjoy it.
Fun Fact: The Darken bloodline is very pure and though not enough so that they would be a part of the sacred 28, they are recognized by many on the list of sacred 28 as being richly pure, though by far not rich in terms of money. All the money Zander and Xayla have to their name, they have earned on their own.
(Henry POV)
Never in my wildest dreams, had I even imagined such a strange and splendid place. Even though I'd heard countless stories from dad, my uncles and Xayla, it was as if I'd never even heard of this amazing place.
It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that we came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind us. The hundreds of faces staring at us looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Mainly to avoid all the staring eyes, many of us looked upward and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. Taking in a deep breath at its beauty, I heard as Hermione Granger whispered, "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History."
It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn't simply open up to the heavens.
Quickly looking back down again, I watched as Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty.
What the heck? Were we supposed to transfigure it or something? Oh man… I hadn't really even read through my books that thoroughly. What if I couldn't do it and they sent me home with a note saying that I needed to practice before coming back to school. What would mum say?
I glanced back for a moment and my heart seemed to calm when I caught my fathers eyes. He nodded kindly, assuring me that everything was going to be just fine. Turning to look at Harry, I saw he'd looked at dad too and before anyone could see, I took his hand for a moment and squeezed it before letting go. No matter what. We would be okay and still friends and cousins.
Turning back around, I noticed that everyone was staring at the hat, so turning a little, I stared at it, too. For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth - and the hat began to sing:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.
"So we've just got to try on the hat!" Ron whispered. "I'll kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling a troll."
I looked at Harry, who was smiling weakly and I grinned. Yes, trying on the hat was a lot better than having to do a spell, but I couldn't help but wish that we could have tried it on without everyone watching. The hat seemed to be asking rather a lot; I didn't feel brave or quick-witted or any of it at the moment. If only the hat had mentioned a house for people who felt a bit queasy, that would have been the one for me.
Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
"Abbott, Hannah."
With that, the sorting had begun and as I stood there and watched kid after kid get sorted, I couldn't help but feel more and more nervous. "It's okay." Harry looked at me, and I tried to smile, though it didn't really feel right, especially when my cousin looked just as sick as I felt.
"We'll still be friends, regardless."
"Yeah." It was Ron that replied and looking at him, he looked just as pale as we probably did.
I looked back at my father again, feeling extremely lucky that he was here to give me the encouragement I needed, until finally the time came.
"Darken, Henry."
Feeling as if I was going to pass out and vomit at the same time, I made my way toward the stool. Suddenly, I tripped on my robes and stumbled the last few feet, only catching myself when I grabbed the stool, causing it to wobble.
As several kids snickered, I grabbed the hat and had barely touched it to my head, not even having sat down yet, when the last word I had expected to hear came out.
"SLYTHERIN!"
(Harry POV)
When I heard which house my brother was sorted into, my mouth went dry and everything around me seemed to stop. Slytherin? How..? He was definitely not a Slytherin. There had to be a mistake, like maybe I'd heard wrong. However, as I watched my brother slowly pull the hat off his head and stare at it in shock, I knew I hadn't misheard.
Had the hat even touched his head? Maybe just barely but even still…
Setting down the hat, my brother continued to stare at it for a moment, looking as if he was going to cry, then turning toward the table of cheering Slytherins, he hurried over and joined them as McGonagall now called me up.
"Darken, James."
Suddenly wanting to give that stupid hat a good telling off, I marched over to the stool, picked up the hat and jammed it onto my head. As soon as the happed dropped onto my head, I only saw the inside of its old and stitched up seams as it covered my eyes and ears.
"Hmm," said a small voice in my ear. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, my goodness, yes - and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting... So where shall I put you?"
"Why'd you put my brother in Slytherin?" I couldn't help but think this as anger went through me and boiled my blood.
"Your brother?"
"Henry."
"Ah, yes. That is not only where he belongs, but it is his birthright to be in that house."
"What do you mean?"
"Why do you not want him in Slytherin? The house isn't a bad choice."
His words hit me and I knew he was right. Aunt Xayla had been a Slytherin after all, so why was he so upset?
"Do I belong in Slytherin?" This thought felt very meek, but at this moment, I didn't really care. I just wanted to make sure Henry would be okay.
"Yes, you could be very great in Slytherin. I see it all right here, in your head."
"Then put me there."
"Very well, then it must be… SLYTHERIN." The last word he said aloud and ripping off the hat, I set it down, then ran to the cheering table and sat beside my brother with a grin.
"We're in the same house!" Henry hugged me tightly and I cheered with him, not minding being in this house at all, especially because I knew I'd have at least one best friend here.
Turning back to the ceremony as our table quieted, we watched as Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom went to Gryffindor, a girl named Luna Lovegood went to Ravenclaw, Draco Malloy joined us at the Slytherin table then as Jakoba Skyknight went to Gryffindor, and a few more students were sorted, it was finally time to watch as Ron was sorted into Gryffindor.
We were disappointed to see that he was in a different house, but as he looked at us, we gave him a kind smile and a thumbs up. We'd meant what we'd said to him about being friends. I just hoped he had meant it, too.
