Chapter 17: Sorting Cereromy
Great Hall
McGonagall opens the doors and lead the first years inside, as they enters through the open doors they all look around at awe at home huge the hall is, especially when the so many candles are floating above as well as the ceiling when it appears to resemble a starry night sky. They were at awe at this, Hermione who was next to Trevor starts stating out they the Ceiling is bewitched to appear like that and reading about it in Hogwarts, A history.
The first years continues to follow the McGonagall as they walk across the row of four long tables that are displayed in the centre of the room, each of the tables are occupied with students, each were appointed in the aforementioned Houses which their black school robes have a splash colour on their collars, sleeves and tail. The Gryffindors adorn the crimson and gold, the Hufflepuffs have Yellow and black, Ravenclaws got the blue and bronze, and the Slytherins have their Green and Silver.
The four houses turn their heads when the first year arrive and walk pass then as they approach another table. The fifth table is reserved for the school professors, and sitting amongst then in the centre is Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster. But there are others sitting at the fifth table with the professors, on the right side of the table, which got the first years' (excluding Harry) attention. But before they could ponder these people sitting with the professors are, Professor McGonagall stops in front of the fifth table and stands next to an old wooden stool where a batted old witch's hat rests upon the base.
"May I have you attention please," said McGonagall to everyone within the Great Hall. "Sorting Ceremony will now commence. In order to the first years, each of you will be called upon to wear the Sorting Hat."
McGonagall gestures the old witch's hat, which is an old batted thing that's perhaps centuries old, even older, the first years are confused by this, especially Ron as he realised something off.
"All we got to do is wear a hat?" said Ron in disbelief and later on, anger. "I'll kill Fred, he told me we got to fight a troll."
"I would've been fun to fight a Troll," said Harry with an amusing chuckle when hearing that Fred fooled Ron about the sorting ceremony.
"Of course you'd say that, Potter," said Malfoy with a mocking scowl, "That's all you savage pirates ever do is fight."
"And since when have you ever got in a fight?" said Harry without even looking back at Malfoy. "And no, whining like a baby doesn't count."
Malfoy went pale pink once again as Harry humiliated him once more, not wanting to push even further for the sake of his wounded dignity, he shuts up and turns away from the orange hat wearing boy. Ron couldn't help but smile at the verbal burn which Harry gave to Malfoy, considering the panic caused by Peeves the Poltergeist ad the lie told by Fred, he needed a cheering up.
"Now before we can start the ceremony, it is a custom for the Hat to say a few words to our first years." Said McGonagall as she stands in wait.
Once again, the first years are confused by this until suddenly the old hat begins to twitch and the folds on it would bend and curl until it resembles a face, it even tears to form a pair of eyes and a mouth. It babbles and splutters out dust from its mouth so it can clear it's...throat?
Anyway, the hat looks around and notices the group first years looking at it, the hat smiles and begins to recite a poem.
Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you find,
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your pirate hats made of straw,
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 to Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry,
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong to Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patients Hufflepuffs are true,
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin,
You'll make your new friends,
Those cunning folks 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!
After the poem, all but the first years applauded by this as it was a fun and insightful song which the hat recited. It does give Harry some thought though, especially with the verses mentioning the four houses and how they are described. Funny, or convenient for him to had all of these aspects of character for each house.
Courage: which Harry has gained from his time as a pirate in the 10 years living with the Straw Hats and going on countless adventures with them. Loyalty: being with the Straw Hats taught him enough about loyalty that (despite certain circumstances with the likes of Usopp and/or Nami) the Straw Hats stick together and never leave anyone behind. Wisdom: well, you don't get to be a pirate without learning how to fight, survive or prepare for the worst to come. Be it the navy, rival pirates, sea monsters or the unpredictable nature of the sea. And as for Cunning: pirates are opportunists, not to mention ambitious, and despite not having ambitions of his own...yet, but he's been given so much opportunities and exploited them.
So, the question to that's now brewing in the pirate Prince's head is: what will the hat place him in?
As Harry ponders on this, the Sorting starts as McGonagall begins to call out the first name, comprised in a now open roll of parchment where each name is arranged with their family names first and all in alphabetical order.
"First, Abbott, Hannah."
Hannah Abbott, a Girl with long blonde hair, nervously steps out from the group and approaches the stool. She sits down and waits while McGonagall place the old hat on her head. The hat comes to life once more as the creases and folds starts to form a twisted resemblance of a face, causing the rest of the first years to be taken back when that happened. The hats starts to ponder while it rests on top of Hannah's head as if it's thinking for a moment. And after about 5 seconds, the hat starts to shout out "Hufflepuff!"
The students sitting on the Hufflepuff table starts to cheer and applaud to Hannah as she is sorted to their house and she heads to that table to join them.
"Bones, Susan", McGonagall calls another name, belonging to another girl in the group bus this time she has long wavy red hair as she also nervously approach the stool and sits on it and gets herself sorted.
"Hufflepuff!"
The hat announced her house, which the Hufflepuffs cheer on as they welcome Susan Bones like they did with Hannah Abbott.
"Boot, Terry,"
"Ravenclaw!"
The Ravenclaw table is now cheering this time when a boy named Terry Boot was just sorted in their house. More names are being called out and each of them are being sorted by the Sorting Hat. Mandy Brocklehurst went an as a Ravenclaw, Lavender down became the first Gryffindor which resulted in the Gryffindor table roaring out their cheering as they finally got one after Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw receiving two each.
Bulstrode, Millicent"
"Slytherin!"
Millicent Bulstrode, a troll of a girl with her mean looking face and her long matted black hair, has been sorted up to the Slytherin House, which the students on that table merely applauded to their new arrival. When Harry took notice of the students in the Slytherin House, the Sorting of Millicent Bulstrode makes sense to him for the rest seems to have the same thuggish look about them, reminding him of two-bit pirates that prey on the weak because they are cowardly to go against the big shots with high bounties. Nothing but bullies the lot, and the pale tall ones all have an aura of pride and arrogance about them which reminds Harry again of the nobles in Marijois.
Let's hope he doesn't end up in that House, Oda and Merlin help him.
"Crabbe, Vincent"
"Slytherin!"
One of Draco's goons, Vincent Crabbe was called up and is been sent to the Slytherin House, considering that Millicent Bulstrode was previously sent to that house is no surprise for Harry when he watches the beefy boy march off to the Slytherin table. Once Crabbe sits among the rest, it's hard to tell where is among the others.
"Not surprising for Crabbe to be in Slytherin," said Ron as joins Harry in watching Crabbie join with the rest of the Slytherins. "The Crabbes are a nasty lot, some were considered dark wizards dating centuries back. And there is not a dark wizard in the world that wasn't from Slytherin."
"That sounds a bit unfair" said Harry looking at Ron for the profiling Slytherin as evil, but considering that Crabbe is in it, and seeing the others there, Harry has another reason not to be in that house...especially if a certain someone is appointed there. "I sure there are those in that House aren't descendant from evil wizards."
"Unlikely," muttered Ron under his breath while returning his attention on the Sorting Ceremony.
"Davis, Tracey"
"Slytherin!"
Another girl is been called for and is been put into Slytherin, but unlike Millicent Bulstrode, Tracy Davis seems to be pretty in comparison and more human. It is strange for Harry to see her in Slytherin as she would be the odd one out among the trollish brutes and the pale arrogant lot.
He just hopes that this girl would be alright to be in a house with those unsavoury lot, and pray that they do not take advantage of her or anything.
"Finch-Fletchly, Justin"
"Hufflepuff!"
It didn't take long for Gryffindor's time to shine when Seamus Finnigan's name was called next. Sandy haired Irish boy was called to the Gryffindor House and joins along with the others. Hermione Granger's name is called up next, the mousey haired girl is was nervous much as Hannah and Susan were during their sorting, she steps forward ands sits on the stool so that the Sorting Hat can be placed on her head, and waits for it to announce her appointed House.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Once more, the Gryffindors starts to cheer for Hermione as she stands up from her seat and hastily rushes to the table while covering her face as feels embarrassed of the attention, Harry is a bit confused at why would Hermione would be embarrassed instead of being delighted, he then turned to Ron when he groaned and palming his freckled face when the mousey haired girl was sorted to the lion crested house.
"Greengrass, Daphne"
"Slytherin!"
Ok, Harry is once again surprised when Daphne Greengrass, a beautiful blonde is now sorted into the house of Slytherin. He tilted his head in confusion by this because when he compares her the rest, much like when Tracy Davis was put in Slytherin. Daphne silently walks off to join the Slytherin House, she would ignore the others in her new house but sits next to Tracey, showing that she and Daphne are friends.
The Sorting would go on for quite a while, Gregory Goyle is called and now a Slytherin, he joins with the table and sits next to Crabbe. Further on the names would be called up until it is not Neville Longbottom's turn. The poor boy would approach the stool but not without clumsily tripping before sitting on the stool so that the hat can sort him. The long silence would make things anxious for Neville so much that he held onto his toad Trevor so hard that he would nearly slip out of the boy's hands.
Then, the Sorting Hat calls out the name of the chosen House.
"Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindors would applaud to poor Neville as he immediately ran off to the table, forgetting that he still has the sorting hat on his head and returns to give it back to McGonagall.
A few more names later and it is now Draco Malfoy's turn, Malfoy swaggers on towards the stool and sits on it, McGonagall lowers the hat onto his head but the Hat immediately shouts out "Slytherin" before it could even touch him. Harry is now sure that Slytherin is NOT the house he would want to go, to be with him of all places is the last thing he wanted. And as mentioned, he would rather be a Hufflepuff than a Slytherin if that's the case.
Further on, more names would be called out, Theodore Nott and the pug faced Pansy Parkinson are both sent to the Slytherin House, next are the Indian twins Parvati and Padma Patil. Sadly for them, Parvati is sent to Gryffindor while Padma goes to Ravenclaw, having siblings himself, Harry seems to understand what it's like to be separated from since Hinagiku has to stay in Amazon Lily to train in the way of the Kuja.
Then, after waiting for so long, it'd be Harry's turn. As McGonagall calls out his name, he steps forward and approaches the stool to sit on it. And as he take off his uncle's hat so he can wear the Sorting Hat, he takes notice that everyone murmurs when his name is called out. Once again, his reputation got everyone's attention, albeit an unwanted one but unavoidable regardless. He waits for McGonagall to put the hat on is head and waits for it to call out his chosen house. But as the hat rests on his head, he then suddenly hears a voice in his head.
"Hmmm, difficult, very difficult, plenty of courage I see, not a bad mind either. There's talent, oh yes, so much talent even for some at such a young age. And then there is the need to prove yourself, despite earning quite the reputation. So where shall I put you? "
Not Slytherin, Not Slytherin, Harry mentally repeats in his head, even though the sight of the other Slytherin is rather put off for him, with some exceptions of the likes of Daphne Greengrass and Tracy Davis, proving him that maybe being in Slytherin wouldn't be that bad, if the bad does outweigh the good. But when Malfoy was called and put in that house, he immediately changed his mind as he doesn't want to do anything about him, plus, there is the fact that there are others like him among the visually challenged lot, being pale, pompous, and reeking of arrogance.
Not Slytherin, not Slytherin
"Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it all here inside your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, there's no doubt about that."
No, not when that prick is on that house, thought Harry as he was referring to Malfoy, which the hat see called to be sorted . You sorted him before, no doubt what's floating in his head.
"Hmm I see your point," the hat stated as he turns to stare at Malfoy, looking so proud of himself. And seeing this, Harry has made up his mind, no matter much the hat would convince him so, "well if you're absolutely sure. Better be... GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindors roared out a cheer as they leap out from their seats and applauded to their new arrival. When Harry's name was called out, they along the rest of the houses were hoping to have Harry Potter among them, given his reputation it would been quite the surprise for them. But now that Harry Potter is placed in Gryffindor, it was a victory for them, especially when the twins Fred and George went overboard by bragging loudly at the rival houses with "We've got Potter, we've got Potter" before getting scolded and told off by their big brother Percy who is in fact the Head Boy and Prefect of the Lion crested house.
Harry casually walks off the stool and makes his way to the Gryffindor table, where he is being welcomed personally by his new fellow house members. He sits down next to Percy and right opposite to Seamus Finnigan. He looks ahead to the fifth table and notice Professor Dumbledore smiling at him and raise his goblet at him. Not only that, not at the right side of the table, his father Luffy along with a few of the crew consisting of Zoro, Nami, Robin, Sanji, Pudding and Hancock.
Usopp, Chopper, Franky, Brook and Jimbei are still on board the Sunny, perhaps to keep an eye on the ship as well as the children as it is very late for them this evening.
Luffy tips his straw hat at Harry and he does the same before turning to watch the rest of the Sorting. But Harry doesn't pay any more attention to for the remainder of the Sorting as he turns to the table where the professors, which are all middle aged adults yet younger than the headmaster sitting in the centre. And among them he can see the nervous Quirrel who is sitting next to a gloomy pale man with greasy black hair, a crooked nose and dressed completely in black robes. Harry couldn't help but feel unnerved by this man in black, especially when his scar suddenly begins to ache him, aching him like it previously did 8 years ago back at Raftel.
Harry turns away from the table occupied with Hogwart's professors and returns his attention to then sorting, where it's Ron's turn to wear the hat. The red haired boy sits nervously while McGonagall puts the hat on his head, which spring to life with a sudden exclamation and realisation.
"Ah, another Weasley." The hat's exclamation scared Ron that he flinched when it spoke moments it's resting on the red-head's head. "Well, we all know what to do with you... GRYFFINDOR!
The Gryffindors including Harry cheer and applauded to Ron as he quickly rises up and paces to their table, with ear now pink from the nerves but a smile on his face as he glad to be on the same house as his brothers are. He sits next to Harry and gets a proud welcome from Percy while the twins each give him a thumbs up. Harry pats the poor lad on the back as he also congratulates Ron, then they continue to watch the rest of the first years get sorted. It would go on for a while until a boy named Blaise Zabini is last to be called and sorted into Slytherin.
And as the last first year is placed on the rest of the Slytherin House, that concludes the ceremony as the hat and stool magically disappears with just a swish from McGonagall's wand.
End of Chapter