Sorry for the super long wait. Short version is that real life has been kicking me in the butt. It looks like I got my life back on track though so I should be able to get back to writing.
As always I don't own any of the RWBY characters and everything in bold belongs to J.K.
Team JNPR entered RWBY's dorm a little later than usual. Jaune was having trouble with his homework so he had to finish it after dinner. They finally entered to see team RWBY were studying as well, much to Ruby's annoyance. "Sorry we're late," Jaune said as everyone got into their reading spots.
"It's fine," Weiss said. "I wanted to refresh my studies for Port's first test next week."
"Well we can finally drop the Beacon stuff and move on to the Hogwarts stuff," Ruby cheered.
"That's right. We finally entered the school," Blake remembered.
"I don't think we'll see much of the school yet," Ren said. "It was pretty late when they got there. I don't think there's much time for anything besides dinner and bed."
"I mean that's what we did when we first got here," Yang reminded them.
"It is a pretty simple way for people to get accustomed to a new school," Blake agreed before handing Jaune the book. "It's your turn now right?" Blake asked him.
Jaune took the book. "Yeah, thanks." He turned to the proper chapter. "The chapter is called the Sorting Hat."
The door swung open revealing an older woman with dark hair wearing an emerald robe. Harry instantly knew that he shouldn't cross this woman. Hagrid presented Professor McGonagall with the first years.
"Wow you're right Yang. She really does sound like Goodwitch," Nora said.
McGonagall thanked Hagrid and took the first years from him, guiding him through the entrance hall, which was big enough to put the Dursleys' house in. It was lit with torches and the ceiling was so high you couldn't see it and the staircase was made out of marble.
Weiss looked impressed. "Clearly the founders of the school had a lot of money put into this."
As McGonagall gestured the students into a small chamber, Harry could hear the rest of the students through an ajar door off to the right where the other students were.
"Seems like they have some kind of ceremony for the first years," Blake guessed.
"Probably that's the sorting hat the chapter title refers to," Weiss said. "The hat must be what sorts them into their houses."
"Do they have to do it in front of everyone though?" Ruby asked.
"Seriously that sounds really embarrassing," Jaune agreed.
McGonagall welcomed the students to Hogwarts and explained that before the start of term banquet starts the students will need to be sorted into their houses which are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each has their own history and has procured many fine witches and wizards. These houses will become something like a family to the students as they will have classes with their housemates as well as sharing a dormitory and even a common room.
Ruby got star eyes at that description. "So even with the age difference everyone could still get along," Yang said.
"Sounds like a pretty good system," Pyrrah said.
"What about those in different houses?" Blake wondered.
"They probably combine some of the houses into the same class," Ren guessed.
McGonagall also told about how there is a point system for each house where each student will gain or lose points depending on their actions. The house with the most points at the end of the year will be awarded the House Cup.
"That sounds interesting. A little competition alongside those quidditch games," Weiss said.
McGonagall then left them to finish preparing for the sorting ceremony. The second she left, the students started talking amongst themselves. Harry asked Ron if he knew how this works and Ron thinks it's some kind of test with Fred having told him that it hurts a lot but it was probably a joke.
"I really wouldn't take anything he or George said at face value," Jaune said looking exasperated. More memories of his sisters came to mind.
"Plus I doubt they would quiz students before they even learned anything," Weiss said with a huff.
Harry became nervous at that. Looking around he saw that everyone looked anxious as well. Granger was whispering very fast about all the different spells she already knows and which one she will need.
"Don't think you're helping," Nora groaned.
This made Harry even more nervous than that one time he went back to the Dursleys with a note saying he somehow turned the teacher's wig blue.
"He did what?" Blake asked through her giggles. Everyone joined her.
"Aww man that is awesome!" Yang cheered.
"What prompted him to do that?" Pyrrah wondered though she was smiling.
When Harry figured that McGonagall would come back to lead him to his doom several students cried out in surprise.
"What's going on?" Blake asked.
"Let me read and I'll tell you," Jaune said.
Right behind the students were about twenty ghosts.
"Gh-gh-ghosts?" Blake asked with a shudder. She was not a fan of the supernatural.
"What are ghosts doing in the school?" Ren wondered.
"They're not going to try and hurt the students are they?" Ruby asked worryingly.
"Don't worry sis, they're probably friendly," Yang assured her.
The ghosts were talking amongst themselves about someone named Peeves. One was saying about how he should be given another chance while another said that he's had one too many before noticing the students. A fat friar guessed that they were about to be sorted and hoped to see some of them in Hufflepuff as that was his old house.
"So these ghosts are former students," Blake said in relief.
"Something must have happened to them and when they didn't want to move on the
headmasters would let them stay at the castle," Pyrrah theorized.
McGonagall came back and sent the ghosts on their way before guiding the students into the Great Hall. It was very interesting and beautiful with thousands of candles floating all around them. There were four incredibly long tables where the other students were at. In the front of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. And the ceiling was very dark and littered with stars. Granger whispered to someone that she read that the ceiling was enchanted to look like the outside sky.
"So cool," Ruby breathed, her own silver eyes shining.
"But what if it's storming outside?" Weiss wondered.
"I doubt that it would rain on the students," Pyrrah said.
"And the teachers would probably keep any lightning under control," Ren added.
McGonagall placed a four legged stool in front of the students which had a pointed hat on top of it.
"This must be the sorting hat from the chapter title," Jaune said.
"Makes me wonder how a hat of all things would sort them into their houses," Yang said.
"I'm sure McGonagall is about to explain," Blake said.
Harry wildly thought they had to get a rabbit out of it.
Everyone busted out laughing at Harry's imagination.
"That would be awesome," Nora cheered.
The hat then twitched a little. A rip started opening up near the rim and the hat started to sing.
[Not putting the song here because I'm paranoid about copyright claims. Besides, I'm pretty sure you guys know it by heart at this point.]
Everyone applauded when Jaune finished the song. Guy was a pretty good singer.
"So all they have to do is put on the mind reading hat and when it gets a good grasp on your personality it'll tell you what house you belong in," Yang said trying to sum up what the hat sang about.
"Sounds about right," Ruby said.
"So Gryffindors are brave, Ravenclaws are smart, Slytherin is cunning, and Hufflepuff is loyal," Ren summarized.
"Wonder what houses we would be sorted in?" Nora asked.
"Hard to say," Blake said.
Everyone gave a round of applause after the hat finished its song. Ron was a little peeved because Fred had him convinced that they had to fight a troll. Harry was also relieved that the sorting was this simple but he wished he didn't have to do it in front of everyone. Also he couldn't find himself fitting into any of the houses, believing that he would fit in more with a house for queasy people.
"I'm pretty sure every first year would have been sorted into that house," Yang joked.
McGonagall started calling names in alphabetical order from their surnames and once they were called the students would seat themselves at the stool where McGonagall would then place the hat on their head and the hat would declare their house. Afterwards, the students already in that house would applaud and the new student would join them. Harry got his first good look at the Slytherins when Millicent Bulstrode joined them, and maybe it was his imagination but they did look to be an unpleasant group.
"Probably his imagination," Weiss said. "I doubt all Slytherins look like that."
Harry also noticed that the hat would vary in how long it took to sort someone as Seamus Finnigan needed a whole minute before the hat decided on Gryffindor. Granger then came up and she too, was sorted into Gryffindor, much to Ron's annoyance.
"Welp, looks like he's stuck with her," Blake said with a smile.
"I'm sure she's really not that bad," Weiss said.
Harry was suddenly plagued with another horrible thought. What if the hat didn't pick a house for him? What if he just sat there for ages with the hat on his head before McGonagall yanked it off saying that there was a mistake and that he had to go back home?
"Jeez Harry calm down!" Nora shouted.
"If that was the case then he wouldn't get a letter at all," Ruby pointed out.
"I blame the Dursleys, those idiots are the reason he's got no self esteem!" Yang yelled, her eyes going red.
Neville came next and the hat took a really long time to decide before placing him in Gryffindor. In his excitement he actually ran off to the table with the hat still on. He quickly realized his mistake and rushed to give it back so Morag could be sorted.
Everyone snickered at that. "Not going to lie, I would have probably done the same thing," Jaune admitted.
Malfoy's turn came next and the hat didn't waste any time in putting him in Slytherin. He quickly went to join his friends who were also sorted into Slytherin.
No one was surprised by that.
After a few more names, McGonagall finally got to Harry. The hall broke into whispers as Harry approached the stool. Before the hat fell over his eyes, he could see a few people trying to stand up so they could get a better look at him.
Pyrrah groaned. "And I thought the Leaky Cauldron was bad. This is going to be way worse."
In the darkness of the hat a voice whispered in his ear about how difficult this was.
"How would it be difficult?" Nora wondered.
Harry had plenty of courage, a decent mind, some talent, and a thirst to prove himself.
"So Harry would be considered very good for all houses," Yang said.
"Though I don't think Harry should go into Slytherin mainly because of his reputation," Blake said.
"She's right," Weiss agreed. "It would be bad enough being housemates with someone like Malfoy, but considering that's the house Voldemort was in, Harry would likely be surrounded by people who would hate him."
"I get the feeling Harry doesn't want to go there anyway," Ruby said.
Harry thought hard that he did not want to go to Slytherin. The hat was surprised, claiming Slytherin would help Harry achieve greatness.
"The house itself could. But like we said before, it would be his peers that would cause problems," Ren stated.
The hat decided that since Harry didn't want to go to Slytherin then Harry would go to Gryffindor and it shouted the decision to the whole castle. Everyone at the Gryffindor table cheered so loud. Percy got up and shook Harry's hand with force while the twins kept cheering about how Harry went with them.
"Oh come on! I know Harry's famous but it's not that big of a deal!" Pyrrah shouted in annoyance.
Jaune placed a hand on hers. "They're just excited, is all. It'll wind down in just a few seconds," he said. Pyrrah took a deep breath and nodded. She was getting a little too wrapped up in this.
The final three students, Dean, Lisa, and Ron were sorted after that. Lisa became a Ravenclaw while Dean and Ron were sorted into Gryffindor.
"No surprise with Ron there," Yang said.
"Let's just hope that his brothers won't bother him as much in school as they do at home," Jaune said. Fred and George have him a little worried.
Dumbledore then stands to welcome his students. Looking as though nothing made him happier than to see them here. He wanted to say a few words before he started which were Nitwit, Blubber, Oddment, and Tweak. He then thanked everyone as he sat back down and some of the students giggled.
"Was there a point to that?" Nora wondered. Everyone just shrugged.
Harry asked Percy, who was sitting next to him, if Dumbledore was a bit mad. Percy did agree but also said that Dumbledore was one of the best wizards out there. He then offered Harry some potatoes. Harry was taken aback as the plates that were previously empty before were now filled with all kinds of food.
"I mean there's nothing wrong with being a little crazy," Nora said, wiping some drool off of her mouth.
"Wow, Hogwarts sure knows how to give a variety," Yang said, impressed at the selection.
"Is it possible that their food might be better than the food here at Beacon?" Blake asked.
"I can definitely say it sounds better than the food at Signal," Ruby said.
The ghost next to Harry remarked how good the food looks. Harry couldn't help but ask if he could still eat. The ghost says he can't nor does he need to but he does miss it.
"The simpler things in life," Nora remarks.
The ghost realizes that he hasn't introduced himself yet and says his name is Sir Nicolas de Mimsy-Porpington.
The Beacon students all start snickering. "Is he serious with that surname?" Weiss asks.
"Depends on whether or not I pronounced that right," Jaune smiled.
Ron reconzies the name and calls him by his nickname Nearly Headless Nick. Nick tries to correct the way his wishes to be called but Seamus interrupts by asking how he's nearly headless. Nick looked rather annoyed before answering Seamus' question by pulling on his left ear, causing his whole head to fall off save for a little bit of skin that hung the head to the neck. Clearly a failed attempt at beheading.
"By the Gods!" Jaune screamed.
"What the Hell!" Yang shouted.
"Could the executioner really have not been bothered to sharpen his ax first?" Weiss asked.
"Or check the guillotine?" Blake added.
"And right when they're eating dinner," Nora groaned, looking a little green in the face. Ren rubbed her back trying to sooth her.
"Seriously, that is unnecessarily cruel," Ruby said with a wince.
"That had to have taken forever," Pyrrha said.
Nick flopped his head back on his head and addressed the new students, stating that he hopes they'll win the House Champion this year. Slytherin has won it the past six and The Bloody Baron, who is Slytherin's ghost has become unbearable as a result. Harry was able to spot said ghost over at the Slytherin table to find him sitting next to Malfoy, much to the blonde's dismay.
"Ha!" Jaune cheered.
Seamus asked how he got covered in blood but Nick said that he never asked himself.
"I don't think I want to know," Pyrrha said.
Dinner was soon cleared away only to be replaced by dessert. Ice cream in every flavor by the bucket, jam doughnuts, strawberries, trifle, and all sorts of other stuff.
Ren had to shake Nora back to reality as she started to drool all over him in a daze.
Harry continued overhearing the others' conversations while helping himself to some treacle tart. Seamus told everyone about his family and how he got his magic from his mother while his father was a muggle. Though she didn't tell him until after they had gotten married.
"You wait till then to tell him something like that?" Weiss asked, appalled.
"That could have ended so poorly," Pyrrha said.
"She should have said something before he proposed to her," Jaune said. "That's how you can tell that he's truly committed." Ruby nodded in agreement.
Ron asked about Neville who recalled that his family thought he was all muggle for ages and kept trying tricks to get him to use his magic. It didn't finally kick in until he was eight when his great uncle dangled him outside an upstairs window by his ankles and he accidently let go. Thankfully Neville was able to magically bounce down the garden and into the road.
"And I thought Harry's family was abusive!" Yang shouted, hair in flames and eyes burning red.
"To force such expectations on him," Weiss growled, clenching her fists in anger.
"You'd think after that drowning incident they wouldn't let Algie go anywhere near Neville again," Nora cried out.
Neville's family was so pleased. Even more so when his acceptance letter from Hogwarts came. Apparently Treavor was a gift from his Great Uncle Algie.
"Yeah a toad that tries to run away from him. Great gift," Ruby muttered sarcastically.
Meanwhile, Granger and Percy were talking about their classes. Granger is looking forward to Transfiguration but Percy explained that they'll be starting off with small stuff such as turning matches into needles.
"What use is that?" Nora asked.
"It's just a small exercise to help them strengthen their magic so they can later work on the serious stuff," Pyrrha answered.
Harry casted a glance over at the High Table. Hagrid was chugging his goblet.
"Ugh," Weiss groaned with a roll of her eyes.
Dumbledore and McGonagall were deep in conversation. And Quirrell, now wearing a turban, was talking to what seemed to be another teacher with greasy black hair, sallow skin, and a hook nose. The unknown teacher locked eyes with Harry and, for a very brief second, Harry felt a flash of pain across his scar.
"Woah!" Ruby cried out.
"Is he okay?" Ren asked.
"Did that creepy looking teacher do something?" Nora asked.
Harry cried out in pain which caught Percy's attention who asked if he was okay. Harry said he was fine as the pain had now left.
"That was weird," Yang said.
Harry asked Percy who Quirrell was talking to. Percy says that he's Professor Snape, the potions master. But everyone knows he wants Quirrell's job.
"I don't know. There's something about him I don't like," Yang said.
Ruby brushed her off. "Oh come on Yang. He can't be that bad."
"He's definitely creepy," Nora said.
"He's probably strict like McGonagall. Don't be so quick to judge," Ren told her.
Harry watched Snape for a few more minutes but the two didn't make eye contact again. The deserts cleared away and Dumbledore rose causing everyone in the hall to quiet down. Dumbledore then spoke of certain rules in the castle. Such as how no one is to enter the dark forest on the outskirts of the castle. His eyes caught the Weasley twins as he said this.
"I feel so sorry for their mother," Weiss said. "I can't imagine the nightmare these two have put her through."
"But that dark forest looks like an awesome place to explore," Ruby said with Nora nodding in agreement.
The caretaker of the castle, Mr. Filch has also asked Dumbledore to remind everyone that no one is to use magic in the corridors.
"Fair enough. Wouldn't want to accidentally hurt someone when practicing their magic," Pyrrha said.
"Wouldn't stop certain people from starting fights though," Blake muttered.
Jaune gave the hidden faunus a smile. "Can't be helped there, but at least the teachers would be able to put a stop to it."
Quidditch trials start next week and ask any second year and above student to contact Madam Hooch if they are interested in joining the team.
"Really hoping we get more details on that sport soon," Yang said.
Finally for this year, the right hand side of the third-floor corridor is out of bounds unless someone wants to die very horribly.
"Ummm... why?" Nora said.
Harry asks Percy if he is being serious and Percy believes he might. But he doesn't know why, which is weird as they usually give students a reason not to go somewhere. Like the Dark Forest which had loads of dangerous creatures.
"Oh please," Ruby waved off. "If we can handle Grimm, we can handle whatever that forest holds."
"We can handle Grimm but they likely can't," Yang reminded her.
Percy was annoyed that at least someone like him wasn't told.
"You're a glorified hall monitor. Don't get ahead of yourself," Weiss scoffed which caused the others to snicker.
Dumbledore then encourages everyone to sing the school song with him before bedtime. Harry couldn't help but notice that some of the teachers didn't seem to be looking forward to this.
"Is the song that weird?" Pyrrha asked.
Dumbledore flicked his wand and a long ribbon came out which formed into the lyrics. The headmaster allowed them to pick whatever tune they liked and everyone started singing.
Jaune could not make it through the whole song with a straight face. In fact he had to pause a couple of times when his laughter took over. Some of the others were giggling with him as well.
Everyone finished at different times. The last two were Fred and George who sang to some kind of funeral march. Dumbledore conducted the last of their lines and he and some of the others gave the twins great applause before sending everyone off to bed. Percy led the first years away and Harry had trouble keeping up with how sleepy he was. They had nearly made it to the common room when something made everyone stop. There were a bunch of walking sticks floating in midair. When Percy tried to advance, the sticks flew towards him.
"I thought the ghosts were friendly!" Blake cried out.
"Maybe it's something else," Ren suggested.
Percy introduced the invisible creature as Peeves, who is a poltergeist, to the first years before demanding the poltergeist to show himself.
"So he's not dangerous. He's just annoying," Weiss said.
What sounded like the air being let out of a balloon was Percy's response.
Nora started giggling while Ren just shook his head. "Sounds like he blew a raspberry at Percy," Ren muttered.
Percy threatened to summon the Bloody Baron and that prompted Peeves to reveal himself who cackled at the "Ickle Firsties". Percy threatened to tell the Baron about this so Peeves left with a pop. Dropping all the walking sticks he was carrying on Neville's head and rattling the suits of armor as he flew by.
"Why is everything happening to Neville?" Ruby cried out.
"Seriously, that kid has the worst luck," Yang agreed.
Percy warned the students about Peeves saying that he'll only listen to the Bloody Baron, annoyed that he won't even listen to the prefects.
"You are not the head of authority Percy!" Pyrrha growled. This kid was starting to get on her nerves.
"What about the teachers? Can't they do something?" Jaune asked.
"Dumbledore might have the final say since he is the headmaster. So if he is keeping Peeves around then he can't be doing too much harm," Blake believed.
"And while the Bloody Baron may be the only one to control him I doubt Peeves would be stupid enough to try and push Dumbledore's buttons," Weiss added.
They finally reached the end of the corridor which held a painting of a large woman in a pink silk dress. The painting asked for a password which Percy said was Caput Draconis. The painting swung forward revealing an opening to the Gryffindor common room. The main room had a fireplace and lots of squishy armchairs. Two spiral staircases led to the boys and girls dormitories.
"That sounds really comfortable," Ruby said.
"Yeah, I mean our dorms are nice. But it's really cool how they have a simple place to just kick back and relax," Jaune said.
Harry and Ron went to their dormitory to find that their things had already been brought up and placed at the foot of one of the four poster beds. After shoving Scabbers off his bed Ron quickly fell asleep and Harry wasn't too far behind.
"So that's the end of the chapter then," Yang said.
"No," Jaune answered a little confused. "There's a bit more."
"Harry's in bed. What's left to tell for this chapter?" Weiss asked.
That night, Harry had a very weird dream. He was wearing Professor Quirrell's turban which told him to transfer to Slythern as it was his destiny. The more Harry refused the turban, the heavier it got. Harry tried to take it off but it just tightened around his head. He could see Malfoy laughing at him before turning into Snape. Then there was a flash of green light and Harry bolted awake.
Everyone was stunned at the dream. No one really knew what to say.
Harry just went back to sleep and by the time morning came around, he'd forgotten all about it.
"Well that was disturbing," Nora said.
Jaune closed the book and handed it to Weiss. "You want to read next?" he offered.
Please make sure to leave a review. I prefer constructive criticism to flames. Follow this story if you haven't yet. Favorite once it's done and I will see you all in the next chapter.
"Sure why not," Weiss complied and opened the book to the next chapter.