Disclaimer:
I solemnly swear that the literature and works of the Harry Potter Verse belong to JK Rowling, Bloomberg and Warner Bros. The only thing I own are the one-shot ideas that popped into my head and whatever OCs I would create for them. This is a work of pure fiction made solely for fun, constructive reviews will be welcomed, flames will be ignored. Any references to characters in real-life or fiction are purely coincidental. If I could make money out of my ideas, it would be nice...
Mischief Managed Damn It!
Title: The House of Skepticism and Common Sense (Working Title)
Posted Date: July 31 2020
Tags: Fifth House of Hogwarts, Common sense trumping magic, Younger / Mentor / BAMF Bathsheda Babbling, Sorting Hat Mentor, other character focus
The sounds of chatter filled the Great Hall as students and staff alike awaited the sorting of the new batch of students for the year 1991. This was the year that mattered to people in different meanings, whether it was a regular year close to graduation, a year to welcome the generation marked by war, a year to welcome the saviour of Britain, or a year of cunning plans coming to fruition.
But for one hat staying disillusioned beneath a spell, this was a year that needed changing.
The Sorting Hat looked at the students that it had sorted into their houses over the years, and sighed at how many have failed to meet their potential, all because they wished to fit into the stereotypes imposed on the houses. How the children wished to fit in with one another and in so doing, alienate the rest that do not conform to their way of thinking. The Sorting Hat could not help wondering how the Founders would react to this, when to some extent they helped to push that image. It had counted maybe a small handful of students who had reached their potential to earn the respect they rightfully deserved, only to be destroyed by the people of Britain for going beyond their stated fixture.
This was not helped by the recent years of war due to that young man Tom Marvolo Riddle, a person whom the hat could tell carried a lot of resentment inside his heart but held some of the greatest potential that could be used to usher in a new age for Britain. The hat believed that in Slytherin, he could reach his potential and helped to heal the world. And in many ways it was right, but the darkness in the boy's heart was too strong, not helped with perceptions on blood purity that perverted the country, nor was the unusual focus displayed by Dumbledore.
All this made Hogwarts very sad in her foundations. The Hat could feel her pain from the machinations of the headmaster, how her attempts to protect her students were stopped and the situation was barely simmering under the safety level.
No, this could not go on.
The Sorting Hat needed to do something about this, but what could it do? It was ultimately a tool to sort and perhaps give advice that most would not bother listening to. The change had to come from the students or staff, but it was a long shot.
Its thoughts were interrupted when the doors opened to usher in the new students for is sorting. The hat would give it a thought later, right now it had to do its duty, especially since this was the year that Albus kept trying to influence its decision to sort certain students, especially his 'weapon' as he kept referring to the poor lad.
The old man forgets that it was the hat who did the sorting, not him.
~ooOOoo~
For one Harry Potter, he was feeling overwhelmed by everything around him.
He was finally at the place where his parents evidently studied at, and away from the place that his 'relatives' had kept him under protest. He was now in a place where his relatives could not get to him, a place that could explain all the weird things he had done.
It was also a place that had people knowing him and his family more than himself.
Harry did not know how to feel at the idea that people knew him for surviving an attack that took away his parents, or that they wrote stories of him living in castles and having adventures while he was languishing at the Dursleys and getting punished for the minor of issues. Everything was so new and frightening to him, he did not know what to think.
Harry watched the sorting with interest as each prospective student got called forth to be sorted into their future houses, noting how some would get in immediately while others took a while. His companion Ron Weasley groaned when the girl named Hermione Granger got sorted into Gryffindor, and inwardly Harry felt torn about it, considering the girl's attitude and how he did not think Ron was being reasonable to voice out his words of her in the house of the lions. Harry felt a bit sorry for Neville as his sorting took a while to be confirmed, and then he got laughed at for taking the hat with him in his joy of getting into Hogwarts. Harry then affirmed his thoughts of not going to where Draco Malfoy was going once the hat announced his placement without even touching his head.
Yet, there was something niggling at the back of his head regarding the sorting. Harry was not sure what to think at the idea of being judged by the colors of the house upon the sorting. It just seemed odd to him, but he had no idea why and he dared not voice it out. Further thoughts got interrupted when his name was called out, prompting to walk forward while whispers broke out around him as the others leaned and stretched to try and catch a glimpse of him. Harry sat on the chair and tried to ignore the children and teens blatantly staring at him for what's to come.
Then the rim of the hat covered his eyes, something which he was truly grateful of to not see their faces, and Harry waited silently while resisting the urge to fidget.
"Hmm. How interesting."
Harry stiffened at the voice that suddenly came about in his mind, feeling a touch freaked out at the invasion of his mind, even if he had some idea of it from the verse of the song.
"Apologies for the intrusion, young lad. Rest assured that I mean you no harm, and that whatever goes on in your mind remains strictly between the two of us." The voice remarked in a soothing tone.
"Erm, okay?" Harry spoke lightly. The voice gave off a chuckle at that.
"You need not answer verbally to me, just think out your thoughts and I can talk to you like that. Well then, let's see what is in your mind shall we?" Harry had the odd sensation of his thoughts being rummaged like someone trying to go through papers for something. "Ah! There we go. Hmm~ I must say, you are certainly an interesting read, Mister Potter. Now where should I put you?"
'I am more or less okay with any one, just not Slytherin, Mister Sorting Hat.' Harry answered with his thoughts.
"Oh my, so polite you are." The hat chuckled at his words. "You may call me by my real name, Sebastian. It is certainly less of a mouthful. Now then, not Slytherin you say? Ah, I see that you have a rather problematic first and second impression with Mister Malfoy, not to mention the dark descriptions of the house, but do not count the house out just yet just because of a few bad apples and stereotypical rumors. I believe you do not wish to think like your silly relatives, do you?" That definitely got Harry to think a bit on that question, and then grimaced at how he was already judging on the house of snakes just on first impressions.
"Got you thinking huh? Then again, your sources of information are biased in their own manner. Hagrid had never gotten over how he was expelled over a certain matter by a Slytherin whom, while done with bad intentions, did raise the concerns of a creature running around with the potential of hurting people. And as for your other companion, he has been raised in a family that has seen Slytherin in a bad light over a feud lasting for quite a few years now, not to mention that he would likely be instructed to tell anyone to get away from Slytherin."
'Why would Ron do that?'
"Well, as stated Mister Weasley's family does not like those raised around the Dark Arts, and aside of a small handful, they can be a touch fanatical without reasoning. One of the reasons why they follow Albus so readily and pretty much do whatever he wants, whom I might add is quite the busybody and insistent on getting you into the house of Gryffindor by all means."
'Wait a minute, how is where I am going any of his business? Is it not our choice or yours for that matter to decide about the houses? I mean, I get that he is some important person who defeated someone in a war, and he has posts like being the headmaster and some position as a judge, but the more I am hearing about him, the more I am wondering about how people just follow him like he is some magic Jesus that they should be devoted to without question.' Harry replied back a little hastily as recollections of how people kept praising Dumbledore and how he seemed to have no faults. 'I do not have proof, but I get the feeling he may also know about my placement with the Dursleys.'
"And you would be right about that." Sebastian answered firmly. "He did play a key role in placing you with the Dursleys, an action that is actually illegal I might add. Nope, I can't tell you all right now. I will leave that for later if you would allow me to continue with the sorting." Harry was having a mental war over the hat's words but decided to yield for the time being.
"Thank you, I will try to finish this up. You do have courage in you waiting to come forth, after all you had to endure all those years under those damn muggles to make it this far. Your brand of courage is certainly a different sort from the stereotype of those 'brave enough to walk where no angels dare', it is rather refreshing to say the least. But it appears that you have made up your mind on that house."
'...People seemed to look at me as the so-called "Boy-Who-Lived" or the son of James and Lily Potter. I don't even know my parents at all, yet all of them expect me to be some copy of them or at least my father, going about on adventures. I do not think going into the house they went to really defines me, and it is not just because I do not want to go to where that old man wants me to be!' Harry added that last bit in haste, to which the hat chuckled again.
"Need not worry lad, you are hardly the first to want to step out of the shadows of one's family. Despite what people tell you, your family line has seen all four houses, not exclusively Gryffindor. Yes, that means members of your family line have been a Hufflepuff, a Ravenclaw, and a Slytherin. Three times for the last one if memory serves."
'Really?' Harry perked up at that unexpected bit of information.
"Indeed. I can tell you more later if you wish, but we really should speed up the sorting. The students are looking quite hungry." Sebastian remarked before continuing. "it would seem that Gryffindor is out, and I suppose Slytherin is excluded as well despite your hidden talents and cunning. With all the children of past followers to the Dark Lord in one place, your life would be in constant danger. You have intelligence that derives a little from books and more on how to keep yourself from getting hurt (apologies for your hurt), and you know how to apply them. But Ravenclaw might not be good enough for you as you have opposing approaches to viewing intelligence."
"Loyalty to you, is a commodity that many have taken for granted for many years. You do not have close friends due to your upbringing, but the few who could reach out to you would likely gain that loyalty, provided of course that they do not betray that trust." Sebastian paused before continuing in a grave tone. "I do not often offer advice on matters of this level, but from what I am discerning from your memories, I wish to impart a warning even if you feel that I am merely rambling. There are plenty who wish to take advantage of your lack of knowledge of this world and your lack of self-worth. You had one example from Mister Malfoy, and then we have the headmaster who wishes to place you in the house to reinforce the image you have. There are also the subtle hints that two of your companions have done beforehand."
'... Then what should I do?' While Harry may be able to hide his expression from the outside world due to the hat covering his head, his mind was turbulent with all the thoughts of his upbringing and the people he had met so far, all open to the Sorting Hat to view. Not for the first time, Sebastian wished to have a physical body in order to hug the children that come to it if not pat the head lightly to reassure them. In this case, Sebastian wanted a body to wrap Albus's beard around his neck for the plans he had for the boy.
It may be physically incapable of doing that, but perhaps it can do the alternative.
"I can only grant you advice, it is your choice to decide." Sebastian answered before chuckling. "I must say, it has been a while since I had anyone able to question my words and let me take apart their thoughts so willingly. Not to mention you having such qualities that qualify you for the houses and disqualified at the same time. Hmm~ I wonder…"
'Are there houses I do fit? I mean, it is odd that people of certain types go into these four, at least that is how I think considering we are only eleven and they just view us that way. What if there are those who don't fit, or maybe fit them all at once?'
"Good, good! You are pointing at the heart of this little dilemma, everyone seems to judge you youngsters the moment the colors come onto you, whether you are reckless, a bookworm, an upcoming dark lord, or a nobody who won't have anything to achieve. People seemed to believe that the colors define the residents of Britain, along with the blood flowing inside oneself. No one looks to talents or worth as much as they used to!" Sebastian then gave a hum, something that got Harry thinking that the hat had an idea. "Young lad, I have an idea for you to consider."
'An idea?'
"As you may have surmised, Hogwarts has been defined and set by four founders. Their traits are often touted as being the types that people should aspire to have when entering their house, but over the years, people have been misled and made to follow ideals that are not good for oneself or others. What people do not remember or even realize, there were other people who helped out in the creation of Hogwarts. There were others who had ideas of how an academy of magic should be done. Some whom I also had the pleasure of interacting when I was first made and granted some of their magic to aid with the sorting." Sebastian talked while the idea took root in both their minds. "I have been waiting to ask someone this question for a good many years. Tell me, would you like to be sorted into a fifth house of your own?"
'Wait, what?' Harry had his eyes wide open, not that anyone could tell with the hat covering his head. 'Is that even allowed?'
"Oh, I'm sure the staff will be thrown into chaos and the students will be completely out of sorts, not to mention a big great mess to come once news of this gets out of the castle. But quite frankly in my opinion, it will be worth it just for the pandemonium. This situation has gone on for too long, it needs to be shaken up. Besides, the old farts like Dumbledore (pardon my language dear boy) are overdue for a comeuppance for how badly they've screwed up this school." Sebastian answered with a very jovial tune evident in its tone. "And I have stated, you have traits that both qualify and disqualify you for the current houses. Why not have a fifth to handle this?"
'Will I be the only one though?' Harry asked feeling a little worried of being singled out.
"Not if I take a good look at the other minds to come. Oh dear."
'What is the matter?'
"It would appear that Albus does not like how long I am taking to sort you and is trying to influence me to get you into the house he wants. Time to shake his beard off, think you can play along with me?" Sebastian asked with a cheeky tone.
'Okay, you can count me in.' Harry replied with a cheeky smile of his own. This could be fun.
"Right then." Sebastian straightened itself up before turning on his head and calling out loud. "Trying to influence my sorting, Albus?"
~ooOOoo~
This was unprecedented.
For the most part, the sorting of students would not take too long, what with many having desires to enter the house their parents or friends went to, or traits that were evident in their minds. Every so often, there would be a few that would take a few minutes like Neville Longbottom due to them either having dual traits that made them ideal for other houses, or they wish to argue their placement. Those cases were referred to as "Hat Stalls", where the Sorting Hat would take the time to go through their thoughts to place them in the best house possible.
This particular Hat Stall was certainly a first, in that it has been fifteen minutes since Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived got called forth to be sorted. He had been sitting there since then while the hat wiggled and shifted on his head, its expressions being the most number to date. The senior students were telling the first-years how unusual this case was to be taking so long, and while the younger years were starting to grumble from hunger, the older years were looking at this with fresh eyes, particularly the darker-aligned who were thinking that the boy in question may not be as simple as they had considered.
At the staff table, the opinions were varied. Some were curious as to what was going on in his mind, others were not too interested and more concerned about the others awaiting their turn. One's opinion was of the boy showing off like his father and making inconveniences for everyone.
For one Albus Dumbledore, this was not what he needed.
Dumbledore frowned at the boy whose back was turned to him and the hat covering his head. This was not what he had intended, the boy should be jumping at the opportunity to go to Gryffindor like his parents where he could be monitored and influenced by the old man's guidance. He would have thought that Hagrid's comments on Dark Wizards and the interactions between the Weasley and Malfoy would be sufficient to discourage the boy from Slytherin. Harry Potter having a Hat Stall would mean that the boy was more complicated than he needed to be, and that he could possibly be sent to Slytherin or other houses that would not allow the old wizard to spread his influence. Dumbledore had been planning for many years to have the boy prepare for his destiny and he would not let this stop him.
He would need to speed things up anyway, this sorting was taking too long and he was looking forward to the stew made by the house elves. Fingering his wand hidden in the robes, Dumbledore directed it at the Sorting Hat and began to push his magic through when the Sorting Hat straightened and turned to him suddenly.
"Trying to influence my sorting, Albus?" The question echoed loudly in the Great Hall as everyone directed their eyes at the old wizard who clearly did not expect the hat to call him out.
"No, my friend. Of course not." Dumbledore answered with a grandfatherly tone while his mind pondered on this odd behaviour.
"Uh-huh… Sure~" The drawl and tone from the hat made it clear that it did not believe his words, something that made a good many raised their eyebrows and looked at the old wizard with narrowed eyes. "It has been a while since I have one this complicated and interesting, and I will make sure to give this young one a good house. You will not interfere with this one like you have done a few other times before." That comment definitely got people's hackles up as the students looked to each other in disbelief at the fact that the headmaster would interfere with the sorting done for generations, while the staff looked at him with sharpened eyes. Dumbledore winced internally at the look on Minerva's face, he was going to need to do damage control quickly.
A bark of laughter drew everyone's attention back to the Sorting Hat which now adopted a very pleased expression.
"Oh my, it has been interesting. You, young lad, have quite the intriguing mindset. Your traits make you ideal for any of the houses, yet at the same time you would be restricted by said traits if you are in any of the houses. There is courage of a measured sort that Godric lacked. There is loyalty of a level Helga would be afraid of. There is intelligence that would please Rowena. And then, there is talent, oh yes~ and a thirst… to prove yourself worthy which would make Salazar quake his knees." The hat spoke out loud, its words sparking the imagination of everyone in the room, wondering how the hat would determine the boy's placement. "You are also untouched from the world's intentions, something I believe a certain someone is about to regret." Dumbledore winced again at that jab. "Yes, I have decided." With that proclamation, everyone leaned forward to listen as the Sorting Hat straightened up and opened its mouth to announce its decision…
"He gets his own house!"
"WHAT!"
