Little bit of a cliffhanger on that last one... Can't tell the whole story in one go now can I? But yes Maxximus finally made it to Hogwarts! At this point I would urge you to pay attention to different POVs, some things that are obvious to some are unknown to others and the narration will reflect that. Keep in mind, Maxx has never left his village, he doesn't know anything about the Muggle or Magical world besides what he's learned from home.
P.S. Rowling's world, character and dialogue are hers. The variations will evolve into something else...
Chapter 6 – The Last Sorting
"My name is Maxximus Alexander Sphinkus."
The entire castle rumbled.
The hall erupted with yelling and the sound of panicked shuffling. A few of the youngest students were even crying. Some of the older students, quicker to recover from the shock of such an unusual phenomenon, were helping the adults, who were themselves now wandering between tables, to calm the panicked children. Maxximus however, his courage fleeing as quickly as it came, was visibly shaking in his sandals. He had just fled from the stampede, how could it have followed him here, wherever here was. His eyes were now darting around the room waiting for any sign of impending Erumpent explosions. If they made it here so quickly, what happened to his village, his friends, his mother. Tears were now beginning to swim in his vision. His knees were about to give when the only seated man, Albus, finally rose, clapped once loudly, and raised his arms over the room. Like magic, the hall settled, everyone retook their seats, except the adults, who opted to stand amongst the students, offering comfort with their presence. Maxximus took advantage of the silence to notice that the rumbling had stopped a while ago. No Erumpents would be coming. That was good news at least and he managed to blink away the water in his eyes. He then took another moment to look around the room and observed that this time, not all eyes were on him. Some were taking turns looking at the man with the long white beard and himself. The man, Albus, walked around the long table to stand behind a lectern not far in front of the table.
"Mister Sphinkus, there is nothing to fear, you will be safe here, if here is where you are meant to be, that is?" He now joined his fingertips together and leaned forward, implying the rest of the question.
The boy, a wave of calmness washing over him as the man's words seemed to carry an aura of serenity, found the last words mother told him.
"Hello Mister Albus sir, my mother told me to get to the school and find my forebear. He is waiting for me."
"Ahh, well, you must certainly be in the right place, for this is the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and I am Professor Albus Dumbledore, humble Headmaster of this fine castle. Now, before we begin to seek out your family, I believe one more sorting is in order." He turns to the stern looking woman from before as she makes her way from the left-most table, where all the students had red-trimmed robes, to the center of the room clutching an old-looking piece of cloth in her hand.
"Professor McGonagall, I suspect a new name was just added to your list." A subtle nod in response and he continues "In that case, I would like to apologize students, we must delay the Welcome Feast a little longer as the Sorting Ceremony has not yet concluded. Minerva, if you will."
The tall woman, Professor Minerva McGonagall, placed the cloth onto the stool that the other boy, Blaise Zabini, had sat on and it revealed itself to be a hat. A wrinkled hat with peculiar creases that made it look like it had a face. He was snapped out of his analysis of the strange hat by the instructions of Professor McGonagall.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted."
At this point, Maxximus had absolutely no idea what was going on, sorted into what, this was a school? Were students sorted based on how much they knew. If so, where would he go, he's only ever seen his mom do magic, never done any himself. The headmaster said he would help find his family, if for that only, he would do what they asked.
"Sphinkus, Maxximus!" he dutifully stepped forward and placed the hat on his head when he heard a voice, but not through his ears, the voice was speaking directly to his mind.
"Sphinkus? Did that Professor really say Sphinkus? Well, I'll be damned, didn't think the old man had any family left." The voiced boomed.
"Hush now Godric, there's a boy here if you hadn't noticed. Sorry little one, he gets carried away easily this one." Another voice, a woman's voice with a distinct warmness responded, again in his mind.
Now Maxximus is extremely confused, who are these people? Why are they in the hat talking to him? His thoughts were interrupted by a third voice, another woman with very measured speech, every word chosen and spoken carefully.
"We are the founders of Hogwarts, Maxximus, through this hat we are responsible for sorting students into one of the four houses that will be like their families for the duration of their stay here. However, we usually task the hat itself with doing the sorting, but you are special. We've been waiting for you, or at least someone like you, a Sphinkus. Now the school can function as it should."
Waiting for me, how could you have been waiting for me, I'm not from here, wherever here is. How do you know my family name?
The first voice cuts in, "Don't worry little Sphinkus, it'll all make sense shortly, you'll want to hold on to your hat, or my hat, for this one."
In the Great Hall, silence reigned for ten whole minutes. The longest Hatstall in known Hogwarts history. At the Gryffindor table, Ron Weasley whispered to Harry,
"Bloody Hell Harry, he's taking even longer than you did! What do you think they could be saying in there, maybe the Hat doesn't know where to put him, I sure wouldn't."
On the other end of the room, at the Slytherin table, Draco Malfoy sneered to anyone who was listening.
"Even the Hat knows not to sort this one, he's clearly not Hogwarts material. Maybe he'll be sorted into the kitchens with the other House-Elves."
The novelty of the situation fading rapidly as their hunger accrued, the students all began expressing their impatience. It looked like this boy was never going to get sorted and they were tired and hungry. Even Professor McGonagall was slowly making her way to Maxximus, ready to take the hat off his head.
Finally, the hat opened its mouth-crease, but a sound did not come out. Instead, four flashes of light shot out and materialized into four ghosts. Except they were not exactly ghosts, while they had ethereal qualities, they were not completely silvery in nature. The first apparition, a tall, broad man in plated armour had a fiery red beard and an equally vibrant mane of hair. On his waist one could see the ruby red gems adorning his sword. He could be none other than Godric Gryffindor.
The second apparition, a plump woman with very warm eyes, donned a robe where the trim was all a visible yellow, in her hand was a resplendent golden cup. She was surely Helga Hufflepuff.
Thirdly, a second woman appeared, beautiful and tall, carrying a similarly stern disposition to Professor McGonagall who, at the moment, conceded her usual demeaner in favour of an awestruck appearance at this extraordinary turn of events. Except, on the brow of the silvery woman lay a beautiful diadem with brilliant blue gems encrusted within. Rowena Ravenclaw had joined the hall.
Finally, the last jet of light, the slowest to materialize, as if resisting the process, evolved into a second man with a long beard, not dissimilar to Professor Dumbledore's beard. However, the similarities ended there as Dumbledore's twinkling blue eyes were not mirrored in the man's cold bright green eyes. Beneath his beard, one could barely make out the emerald green 'S' on a silvery locket. This must be the infamous Salazar Slytherin.
This time, the hall erupted, and the professors would be unable to calm them as they were also discussing rapidly amongst themselves. The Four Founders of Hogwarts appeared out of the Sorting Hat while sorting a student who was not even from Great Britain. This occasion was momentous by all accounts and would not fail to live long in the memories of each and every person at Hogwarts this day.
The Four Founders, aware of the effect their appearances would have on the school, waited a moment and reveled in once again being in the presence of students eager to learn, all carrying looks of fondness towards their houses. All except Salazar Slytherin, he cast his cold and calculating green eyes across the hall. Not even the sight of his own house was able to thaw his gaze. Rowena Ravenclaw, satisfied with her degree of reminiscing, walked or more aptly floated towards the lectern.
"Headmaster, if you please. We have appeared not without purpose."
At this, Professor Dumbledore once again raised his hands, palms down to settle the room. Then, slowly at first, the few who chanced glances towards the headmaster would help quiet down their neighbours until the hall was quiet again, for the third time this night. This was Godric Gryffindor's cue to address the room.
"Good evening professors and students. If your reactions are any indication, you are all aware of who we are. In any case I am Professor Gryffindor, long passed Head of House Gryffindor." He took a moment to bow dramatically, as would befit a member of his house. "We, the Founders of this school you've all surely come to love, have returned to these hallowed halls to right a wrong that has been allowed to exist for far too long. For centuries, students have put on my hat and been sorted into one of the four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin." At the mention of each house, their respective members gave a brief cheer. "And for centuries, animosity has been allowed to grow between you. This was not supposed to be so. Now, one of us had the foresight to prevent this extended tragedy, but he passed away before he was able to finish his work. But, today, thanks to the arrival of this young man, we may finally begin to close that chapter." Ever the orator, he paused tactically to allow his message to sink in and to gauge the condition of his audience. Judging their curiosity sufficiently peaked he continued.
"First of all, at the beginning of every year, young Maxximus will first put on my hat. This will allow us to come out again and sort the students more personally. This is how it was meant to be." Naturally, such a declaration caused audible reactions from many students.
"Blimey, Ginny has all the luck, to be sorted by the Founders themselves, I wish." Whispered a disappointed Ron Weasley.
"First Potter, now this half-naked fool. What's so special about him anyway." Muttered an indignant Draco Malfoy.
"Wicked! We'll be seeing the Founders every year!" exclaimed an excited third-year, Cedric Diggory.
Professor Gryffindor, after waiting for the students to settle, continued.
"Secondly, I am delighted to announce the reestablishment of the house of our Forgotten Founder." The uproar to be heard after this statement could rival the stadium during the always awaited Gryffindor versus Slytherin Quidditch match. Taking advantage of the noise, Gryffindor made a quick mention that Professor Ravenclaw would be walking them through the process and left the dais with a mischievous smirk plastered on his face.
The moment the wisest Founder took her place behind the podium, the room quieted once again. Something about Rowena Ravenclaw's presence just draws people in to listen. Not wasting any time, she resumes where her colleague left off.
"As Professor Gryffindor mentioned, yes there was supposed to be a fifth house. However, we were unable to establish it without the magic of our long-passed friend. As you noticed, the presence of this boy was recognized by the school. This was a contingency I enchanted should this situation arise. To complete the ritual, Headmaster, we need you to call the ghost of Praetor Virinius Sphinkus." She turned to face the man in question.
"I must apologize Professor Ravenclaw, as Headmaster, I have a full accounting of all beings, living and returned, that reside in the castle. Yet, I can assure you, there is no such ghost haunting these walls. Perhaps he has passed on to the next greatest adventure long before I assumed the mantle of Headmaster." The now very curious old wizard responded.
"That is not possible, Praetor V. S. is unable to pass on until his house is fully formed." Ravenclaw responded curtly.
While everyone in the room was enraptured by this exchanged, a couple of redheaded twins were snickering at the Gryffindor table.
"Praetor V. S. what sort of name is that." Said George.
"P. V. S, you know what that sounds like George?" Replied Fred.
"Bloody hell, he's the Founder?"
"We would get re-sorted."
"I would make Prefect."
"Surely he'd choose me."
"Prefect George, mom would pop a vessel."
"You're not George, I am."
"No I'm Fred."
"That's what I said."
The twins had not noticed their volume increase throughout their dialog and at this point half of Gryffindor was laughing at their antics, the other half was sinking into their seats at being embarrassed in front of the first Gryffindor, Hufflepuff table was in similar condition while both Ravenclaw and Slytherin were glaring daggers. The Ravenclaws at the interruption of their namesake and the Slytherins at any attention being given to the boisterous Gryffindors. A stern McGonagall cut in:
"Perhaps you boys would like to share with the school why you have chosen this very moment to entertain an identity crisis."
"Sorry Professor it's just that-"
"We think we've found-"
"Your ghost." This, they finished in unison.
"Pray tell Misters Weasley. And I hope for your sake this is not another of your antics. I would not wish to remove points from our house before the start of term." The Transfiguration Professor intoned.
The twins exchanged a look before reciting together as if rehearsed.
"Your ghost is not a ghost. It's P. V. S…. Peeves!" They could no longer contain themselves before falling backwards over their seats laughing and continuing their earlier exchange between wheezes.
Rowena Ravenclaw, not missing a beat. "Summon Peeves, headmaster."
"As you wish Professor Ravenclaw, however I must advise caution, the young Weasleys were correct in their assessment. Peeves is our resident poltergeist and existed long before the Sorting Hat adorned my head many years ago." As commanded, Professor Dumbledore gave a brief tug of his wand, and Peeves came rushing into the hall as if a leaf caught in a windstorm.
"AHHHH, the jolly old headmaster summons Peeves, perhaps found my prank or so he believes. To think he could catch me, oh how the hunt fills Peeves with glee."
"Dear Peeves, I understand your inclination towards mischief, but we appear to need your cooperation for but a moment. The apparitions of the Founders seem to believe that, perhaps, Peeves is not your entire identity?" says Dumbledore while maintaining his magical hold on the poltergeist.
"Weeheehee, Peevesy be me and me be Peevesy. Founders are playing a joke you see, a case of mistaken identity."
Ravenclaw, quickly losing her patience with the uncooperative rhymer, quickly interrupts. "Clearly the Gryffindor twins are equally as spirited and the ghost they suggested we summon. Headmaster, we will need to see all the ghosts. I must be insistent, he is here."
Helga Hufflepuff having thus far been silent since she appeared from the hat, chose this moment to speak up.
"Hang on Rowena, it's been over a millennium, I'm certain he just needs a reminder of who he is. Go on young Maxximus, I believe this is who you were looking for. Tell him who you are and address him by his name."
"Hello Praetor Virinius Sphinkus, my name is Maxximus Alexander Sphinkus. My mother asked me to come looking for you."