Minerva was worried. She had intently observed the children Hagrid had just entrusted to her and none looked like James or Lily.
She immediately spotted the latest Weasley easily, such hair could only come from this family. Her only hope was that he wouldn't be as tiring as the twins. She sincerely had thought that she wouldn't find anyone worse than the Marauders but Fred and George Weasley made her fear the worst.
She also recognized several children of former students, young Malfoy was the spitting image of Lucius at the same age and young Longbottom had the features of his father, softened by those of his mother. Little Abbot looked a lot like her mother.
There were of course several Muggle-born students that she recognized for having introduced them to the magical world.
But among this sea of students, none had Lily's eyes, none had the famous Potter© hair.
Once the Sorting Hat and stool were ready for the Sorting ceremony, she guided the students down the central aisle of the Great Hall. As usual, curious looks from the older students followed them.
Minerva opened the parchment containing the names of the students to be sorted. She had no surprises until she reached the name of young Neville Longbottom. Oh how Augusta would be angry that her grandson didn't go to Gryffindor. She was going to have to warn Pomona to protect her new badger. Although she had been friends for decades with the Longbottom dowager, she did not at all approve of the way she treated Frank and Alice's son.
She paused at the name after the Patil twins. He was definitely on the list. She looked attentively at the children who were still waiting to be sorted but still did not see the child she was waiting for.
- Potter-Peverell Harry!
Her eyes widened when she saw the young boy hopping forward. She could always look for the Potter© mop, this boy had some of the smoothest hair she had seen so far. And although his eyes were green, they were neither the same shape nor the same shade as Lily's.
- HUFFLEPUFF!
The Sorting Hat's shout seemed to bring the Transfiguration professor out of her thoughts. She slowly took the hat that Harry handed her with a big smile.
The rest of the Sorting took place without surprise until the youngest Weasley was sent to the badgers' house. Although everyone applauded this sorting, she could see the astonishment in many students. She was nonetheless relieved to see her red-headed lions accept with a smile that their brother was not joining them.
Once Blaise Zabini had been sorted into Slytherin, Minerva took the Sorting Hat and the stool to the adjacent room where the Headmaster would collect it at the end of the evening.
Dumbledore stood up to give his usual welcoming speech.
Once the dishes appeared on the tables, the professors began to discuss Sorting, as they usually did.
This time, however, several elements were unusual. Ten students had been sorted into Hufflepuff, a house which normally did not exceed six students, including seven boys while only four ended up with the Gryffindors.
In addition, several sortings were surprising to say the least. Minerva and Severus had bet that young Longbottom, Potter and Weasley would be sorted with the lions. Filius won a nice little pile of Sickles since he had bet that none of the three would be in Minerva's house.
- What surprises me the most, confided the Charms professor, is the appearance of young Potter.
- Potter-Peverell, Filius. His letter was addressed to this name, so it is his official name.
- Certainly. However, if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed that this young boy was James and Lily's son.
- Hmm. It is true that his physique is far from what I imagined myself, replied Severus. Albus, you told us that at one year old, young Potter looked exactly like his father and that he had Lily's eyes.
The old man didn't answer right away, glancing at the first years. Harry appeared to be bouncing on the bench as he actively chatted with young Ronald. He frequently turned around to exchange a few words with little Granger who was behind him. He looked like a hyperactive puppy unable to focus his attention on anything.
- It's not just its appearance that is astonishing. Did you notice his demeanor?
- By the way, Albus, asked the Herbology professor, didn't you tell us that Harry had a scar in the shape of a lightning bolt on his forehead? There are no marks on his forehead.
Suddenly, all professorial eyes turned towards the topic of their conversation. His forehead was clear of hair and everyone noticed that it was perfectly smooth and flawless.
-How is this possible, Albus? I saw that scar with my own eyes when we handed Harry over to his aunt!
- I don't know Minerva. Everything has an explanation, we will know it at some point. Quirinus, will you please give me the potatoes?
The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor took the dish in front of him to give to the Headmaster without commenting.
Internally, he was extremely confused, as was his 'passenger'. In reality, he didn't know what to think of the young Potter at all. He had learned of his disappearance by eavesdropping a few years earlier. When he met the Dark Lord during one of his travels, he was quick to inform him of the disappearance of the child who had caused him such harm. His Master hoped that the young child had died in a dirty alley, without recognition, as he deserved after daring to "defeat" the most powerful Dark Wizard in centuries. He had, however, overheard Minerva and Severus discussing the boy during a meeting during the holidays.
And there he was, sitting before them, carefree and in perfect health. However, he was different. Oh, he didn't think about the differences with his parents like the other teachers did, no. Voldemort felt something emanating from this boy, something both terribly dark and bright. Like an end and a beginning. Something that made him terribly uncomfortable.
When the meal was over, Dumbledore stood up to give his start of the year speech.
Minerva pursed her lips when he mentioned the forbidden corridor. According to her, it was already a bad idea to keep the philosopher's stone in the school but making such an announcement to the students was sure to attract their attention. She would have to keep an eye on the twins, having no doubt that they would be among the students who would take this warning as a challenge.
The teachers saw the students stand up, the first years gathering around the prefects. They witnessed young Potter-Peverell giving young Granger a big hug before joining Longbottom and Weasley.
.oôOÔOôo.
After going down many stairs, the Hufflepuff students arrived in front of huge barrels placed on top of each other.
- Look carefully, younglings. The entrance to our Common Room is through this barrel. To open it, you must tap your wand in the rhythm that I am going to show you on that barrel. Be careful, if you hit the wrong barrel or in the wrong rhythm, you will be sprayed with vinegar and the students inside will be warned that someone tried to enter.
The boy tapped the barrel he had shown and the other barrel opened with a click. He motioned for them to follow.
Neville seemed to swoon at the Common Room which was overrun with plants. On the walls, long vines separated the different doors while plants grew on the ceiling which gave off a soft light, making the room comfortable and welcoming.
Ron was more attracted to the multiple beanbags and upholstered armchairs that were scattered throughout.
Harry, as usual, tried to look everywhere at once.
-Welcome to Hufflepuff! I'm Gabriel Truman, fifth year prefect with Beatrice Haywood. Wow, there are a lot of you this year... Usually, we go around the table, so to speak, in order to get to know each other better, does that tempt you?
Faced with shrugs from the first years, Gabriel called Beatrice to help him move the beanbags closer to the area where they usually gave presentations.
- So, I'm Gabriel. I'm in fifth year, my favorite subjects are Transfiguration and Care of Magical Creatures. I have an older brother who has already left Hogwarts.
- Hello everyone, I'm Beatrice. My favorite subjects are Herbology and Runes. I'm a chaser on the Quidditch team. I have an older sister, Penny, in seventh year.
The two prefects looked at the younger ones to see who would have the courage to start.
- Um… I'm Neville. I think my favorite subject will be Herbology, I already have several greenhouses at home that I take care of. Um… I'm an only child.
Neville looked nervously to his right, hoping the next student would speak before he sunk into the ground in embarrassment.
- I'm Susan. I don't know yet which subject I'll prefer but since my aunt works at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, I'm quite drawn to Defense Against the Dark Arts. I am also an only child and have lived with my aunt since my parents died.
- Hello, I'm Hannah. I wait until I start classes before deciding on a subject. I am also an only child.
- I'm Ron. I don't have any idea about the subjects yet but my brothers told me that Potions class was a nightmare. On the other hand, I can't wait to have flying lessons, I love flying. I have five brothers who have all been sorted into Gryffindor and a little sister who will be coming to Hogwarts next year.
Gabriel couldn't help but whistle. Seven kids? This was extremely rare in wizarding families.
- Good evening everyone, I'm Zacharias Smith. My family is directly descended from Helga Hufflepuff herself.
An awkward silence settled over the boy's visible arrogance.
- Um… I'm Ernie. I think I'll wait to see which subject suits me best. I have a little sister who is only five years old.
- Hi, I'm Wayne. Not much to say at the moment.
Obviously, the boy had a fairly reserved nature. The prefects promised to keep an eye on him so that he did not isolate himself too much from others.
- I'm Justin. I was supposed to go to Eton before Professor McGonagall brought me my letter. I really like learning so I think I would have several favorite subjects. I have two older brothers but they are not wizards.
- I'm Lily. I think I'm going to really like the Charms classes. It was Professor Flitwick who brought me my letter and the spells he showed my parents fascinated me.
- Oh, Lily? Like my mummy Lily! cried the last Hufflepuff happily. I'm Harry! I think everyone thinks they know me but I don't think anyone really knows me. From what my guardian told me, I have a good chance of doing well in Potions and Care of Magical Creatures when I can take this class. He also said that I shouldn't have any problems with subjects that require a wand. I'm an only child, you know that, but I'm not really alone. I can't wait to start classes!
All the students looked at Harry. He hadn't taken a single breath during his rant, and as soon as he finished speaking, he started looking around again.
This year was definitely going to be special.
Gryffindor students:
- Seamus Finnegan;
-Dean Thomas;
-Lavender Brown;
-Parvati Patil
Hufflepuff students:
- Justin Finch-Fletchley;
-Wayne Hopkins;
-Neville Longbottom;
-Ernie Macmillan;
- Harry Potter-Peverell;
-Zacharias Smith;
-Ronald Weasley;
-Hannah Abbot;
-Susan Bones;
-Lily Moon
