Chapter Four: The Mysterious Words of the Sorting Hat
"Arendelle, Elsa!" said Professor Hummings as soon as the sorting hat stopped singing. Hiccup watched as the white-haired girl climbed onto the stool. She was nervous, Hiccup could tell, she was about to trip, but she kept her balance. When Professor Hummings put the sorting hat on her head, the little girl was startled. She sat there for about 5 minutes, during which the girl made faces of discomfort.
"Well, look at that. We have a hatstall!" Someone was heard saying, but Hiccup couldn't identify from where.
"Is the hat going to send her to a House or not?" Someone else was heard saying from one of the tables, followed by a few laughs. Professor Hummings looked in the direction of the noise and the laughter fell completely silent.
Suddenly the sorting hat screamed at the top of its lungs (if it had lungs). "SLYTHERIN!"
The table in the back to the right burst into cheers, the first student of the night had been to their house. Hiccup noticed how Professor Hummings had to bend down a little to say something to the girl, she looked at her with a terrified face but got off the stool between scared and relieved that her torture was finally over. Hiccup followed her with his eyes, and looking at her closely he realized that the girl looked really terrified.
"Arkrome, Agott". said Professor Hummings as soon as Elsa arrived at her table. Another girl climbed on the stool, her hair was curly and short, a few strands of hair reached her cheeks. The hat again took its time, and in about two minutes it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!"
Again the table at the far right erupted in cheers. They had two new students already.
"Black, Sirrah". A girl with pale skin and blond hair stepped onto the bench. Professor Hummings hadn't even put her hat on the girl's head when she yelled, "SLYTHERIN!"
"Another one?" Someone was heard saying. It was Olivia Perkins, from the Gryffindor table. "Are they going to keep everything this year or what?"
"The hat may be old and ugly", said a red-haired boy from the Slytherin table, wearing a badge with the letter P on his robe, "but he knows which is the best house."
"You wish", Olivia countered.
Hiccup followed the girl with his eyes while Bones, Amelia was called by Professor Hummings. She saw the third Slytherin sit next to a boy very similar to her, who hugged her energetically.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Later, Cavendish, Diana was sent to Ravenclaw. And then.
"Corona, Rapunzel." Hiccup watched as the barefoot girl climbed onto the stool.
"What happens with her feet?" someone said.
The girl's eyes widened as the hat twisted on her head. Rapunzel looked scared. "HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat screamed after about three minutes.
Rapunzel took a relieved breath and ran down to the center table on the left.
"DunBroch, Merida", Hiccup watched her advance decisively. The girl sat on the stool. Her huge head of hair barely allowed the hat to hang over her head, so Professor Hummings had to grab it by the brim and fasten it to the girl's head, who winced. "GRYFFINDOR!" The hat screamed after a few minutes.
The girl came down with a look full of pride and determination towards the table in the back to the right.
"Frost, Jack".
Jack stepped forward. The hat twisted on his head to yell after a minute, "SLYTHERIN!" Jack smirked and got off the stool. Hiccup's eyes followed him until he saw him sit near Elsa.
"Haddock, Hiccup."
"What do you say he is named?"
"The son of Stoick the Vast?"
Hiccup tried to control his noodle legs and advanced to the stool, amid laughter from some about his name and comments related to his father from others. Professor Hummings put the hat on his head which slid over his eyes and was only stopped by his huge ears.
'Ah, so you're the fourth.' The voice was coming from inside his head! 'Look at that, I'm surprised the four of you were called one after the other.'
What was the hat talking about? Fourth? If Hiccup's calculations didn't fail him, he was the ninth kid to go to the selection stool.
'No, idiot, I don't mean that.' The hat could read his thoughts! 'But of course I can. If not, how could I know which house to send you all to?' Makes sense. 'But of course it does!' The hat reproached him inside his head. 'Now be quiet, I have to know what's going on in your head. Hmm, yeah, you are a quick learner. You have wit, cunning, bravery, loyalty'. Something fails you there. 'Be quiet!' Sorry. 'But you're also smart, although you don't trust yourself very much. Well, I've already chosen the Gryffindor, the Hufflepuff, and the Slytherin, so you're going to…'
"RAVENCLAW!"
Hiccup stepped off the stool and headed for the center table to the left, which would be his home for the next seven years. Still wondering what the hat meant by saying that Hiccup was the fourth one and that he had already chosen the other three.
The selection ceremony was blurry to Hiccup, he only managed to perceive the names of some of the other children. Hamada... He saw how Hofferson, Astrid was sent to Gryffindor and followed her with his eyes until she sat next to Merida. And the names came and came. Hughes… Ingerman… Janson… Jogerson… Kagari… Longbottom… Perkins, Emily, was sent to Gryffindor. Poe… Roberts… Rowling… Selick… Smith… Stirling, Angela, a girl with sad eyes and hair like a bird's nest was sent to Ravenclaw. She sat down near Hiccup. Talyor… Then it was the turn of a pair of twins, boy and girl, Thorston, they were sent to separate houses. Wesley… Williams… Wood… Wright… Zacharias… And finally with Zalesky, Desdemona, sent to Slytherin the selection ceremony ended. He missed some names but he had calculated that in total there would be almost forty new students.
Hiccup thought about the hat's words for most of the evening until the food appeared in front of him and he was fed up with as much food as he could. The food at Berk was tough and tasteless; nothing compared to the delicacies he was eating that night.
The only thing he could think of, other than the mysterious words from the hat, was that he had been sent away from Jack and Astrid. He thought it would have been good to be sent to the same house as Jack, he already considered him his friend and, knowing that he was bad to befriend any living being, it would be difficult to make new friends. He didn't even care that he had been sent to Slytherin just to be with him. He wondered if they could befriend each other in separate houses.
At that moment he saw how the headmistress, Minerva McGonagall, was standing up.
Elsa couldn't believe it. Slytherin. SLYTHERIN? Maybe the hat was wrong. Yes, it was most likely. She had heard people say that some wizards and witches were sorted into the wrong houses. She always thought it was because they did not show all their qualities in the initial test, but now she knew that, if the selection was made by a simple hat, it could make mistakes. The same would be happening with her at that same moment. Flee tried to remove the hat from her head, but Elsa held it tightly by the brim.
You were wrong. YOU ARE WRONG. Send me to the right house. I am not a Slytherin!
'I'm never wrong. I sent you to the house that your inside told me you belonged to'.
Well, this time you are wrong. Send me to Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff or Gryffindor. NOW!
'My decision cannot be changed. I saw inside you, and deep down I saw that you belonged to Slyth ...'
No. No. No. NO. I don't care what you've seen. Send me to another house.
'My decision has been made. There is nothing that can be done now'.
Elsa was about to reproach something else the moment Flee leaned over her. "Elsa", she told her. "You already have to go down".
Elsa stared at her, her eyes filling with tears. "No, please", she whimpered.
"Yes, honey". Flee's voice was as sweet as ever, but it didn't serve to comfort Elsa. "You have to go to your table".
'You'll see that I made the…'
Flee took off the hat from Elsa's head
The wrong decision, Elsa finished for the hat.
Elsa reluctantly got off the stool and headed for the Slytherin table, her table. If they had celebrated her arrival, she did not hear them. She sat in the first available spot, still in shock. Several students must have welcomed her, but Elsa didn't know who they were or what they told her. Slytherin. Another girl sat next to her and introduced herself, but Elsa didn't know her name. I am a Slytherin. One more girl sat across from her and said something, but Elsa didn't know what she said or to whom. I am a Slytherin.
Minerva.
Elsa looked to the Great Table, and her gaze briefly met the headmistress's, but she looked away quickly.
Why? Why do you ignore me?
Elsa did not know what happened during the selection ceremony, did not hear any names, nor remember any faces. She didn't even notice where Punzie ended up. There was only room for something in her head. Slytherin. Slytherin. Slytherin. Slytherin. Her head was beginning to ache, she felt pangs in her temples. She pressed her temples hard with both hands and lowered her head.
She didn't know how long she remained in that position, but when she raised her head she saw Minerva standing up; and in the background, she saw Flee taking the sorting hat away. Elsa was filled with anger when she saw that gnawed old rag. Minerva said a few words. But Elsa's ears were buzzing so much that she didn't know what she said, but she looked very happy. How can you be that happy knowing where that damn filthy piece of cloth sent me to?
Look at me. Look at me. What did Elsa want Minerva to look at her for? Elsa wasn't sure. She had not the faintest idea… No, she actually did. She wanted to feel some comfort in Minerva's gaze. The same comfort that the director had made her feel since she was little. Please, she begged. Look at me. But Minerva didn't turn to see her that night, nor the rest of the semester.
Minerva sat down again and at that moment dozens of plates full of food appeared in front of Elsa's eyes. The plates were filled with different cuts of meat, pork, beef, and veal, fried, roasted, and mashed potatoes, roasted chicken, cooked vegetables, and one of Elsa's favorite treats: chocolate-filled mint bonbons. But, even though the food looked so delicious, Elsa couldn't eat a single bite.
"You're good?" Elsa listened as the boy sitting next to her asked, he was red-haired and had a badge on his chest, a shiny silver P was in the center of the badge.
"My... my stomach hurts," Elsa said, and it was true, for a moment she felt how her stomach twisted. "I think I'm going to vomit".
"Wow, but you haven't eaten anything. They are surely the nerves of the first day".
"Can't I be dismissed already? I really feel bad".
"Hmm, no, I don't think you can. The nurses are at the feast, so no one could attend to you, and you still don't know how to get to our common room. Try to eat something, it might help you".
Elsa took some fries and chewed them slowly. They were salty. When she swallowed she felt as if the fries had gone into a void inside her. She wasn't sure if that void was her stomach or her heart. She gave more bites to different dishes, but nothing tasted good. Nothing had flavor.
At that moment all the food disappeared and was replaced by all kinds of desserts, from cakes, ice cream, and rice pudding. The chocolate-filled mint bonbons were still on their plate. Even though everything looked delicious, she knew she was not going to like it.
She gave up trying to fill her stomach with food and just sat there, watching all the other students eat and talk to each other. She looked around for Punzie and found her on the next table, right in front of her, in Hufflepuff. Why didn't the hat send me there? Punzie looked happy, chatting with his new companions while devouring a huge piece of chocolate cake.
Punzie saw her, wide smiled at her and waved her hand, Elsa couldn't help but force a smile and wave at her.
At that moment Minerva stood up again.
"Bloody hell, everything it's going to disappear". She heard one of her first-year classmates say. It was a boy with brown hair and sharp features. "Take all you can". Elsa watched as he and a dark-haired girl, also a first-year, took as many chocolate-filled mint bonbons as they could fit in their hands and put them in the pockets of their robes. Elsa reminded that they were her favorite sweets and saved a couple too, maybe she should be hungry later. And just at that moment, all the desserts disappeared, leaving the plates as clean as in the beginning.
"Very well", Minerva said. "Now that we've had our feast, it's time I gave you some important announcements. First of all, I remind the students that the entrance to the forest is strictly prohibited for everyone. Secondly, our old caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you that all Weasley's Wizard Wheezes items are strictly prohibited within the school". There were a few complaints throughout the dining room, but Minerva seemed to ignore them. "And finally, the Divination class will be taught again at the school, since Professor Firenze has agreed to help us teach this class."
Elsa recalled that during the last two years the teacher in charge of that class vacated the position, she never knew why and Minerva always turned the conversation around when Elsa asked her.
"And now, before we go to sleep, let's sing the school song". Elsa could hear more than half of the students complaining and watched as most of the teachers made faces, except Flee, who loved to sing the Hogwarts song. "Come on, it's the tradition!" Minerva didn't seem very fit to sing either.
After everyone had finished singing, some more in tune than others, Minerva dismissed them and created a ruckus in the Great Hall. The red-haired boy who was sitting next to Elsa began to call out to all the Slytherins, leading them to their common room, in the dungeons. Elsa thought that that was just the way she was feeling, as a prisoner.
Rapunzel was too nervous when she got off the stool and headed for the Hufflepuff table. She saw Elsa sitting at the Slytherin table, right in front of her. Elsa's head was lowered and her hands clutched at her temples. When Elsa looked up, Punzie could see tears coming out of her eyes. Elsa's gaze was fixed on the Great Table. Punzie followed her gaze, but couldn't identify who she was looking at. What she did notice was the empty chair right next to Headmistress McGonagall, who was standing at the time, saying something.
"Why is there an empty seat? A teacher is missing?" She asked the girl sitting next to her. She was very pretty with wavy brown hair and eyes the same shade of brown as her hair. She turned when she heard Punzie.
"weg juo aid?" Said the girl, she had a huge piece of veal chop in her mouth. Punzie pointed to the empty seat and repeated her question. The girl swallowed quickly and wiped the grease from the corner of her lips with the sleeve of her robe. "Oh yeah. That's Professor Tenebrae's seat, he teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts; he is usually absent from time to time, for a week or two. But this is the first time I haven't seen him at the sorting ceremony. Usually, he is the one who reads the names of the students".
"Oh, I see". Punzie didn't think Elsa was looking at the empty seat, but who knows.
"Do you want some veal?" the girl offered her.
It was at that moment that Punzie realized all the food on the table. As much as in the banquets that were celebrated in Corona, during her birthdays and her parents'. She filled her plate with veal chops, mashed potatoes, roasted chicken breast, and a strange chocolate-filled mint bonbon. Everything was delicious. She was so entertained eating everything there was that she almost forgot that she had been sent to a different House than all the friends she had made on the train; Furthermore, the rest of her housemates saw as good people. Lucas Selik, a brown-haired boy, was chatting with her throughout dinner. And now and then, Rapunzel would notice Lucas glancing at the Ravenclaw table, searching for someone. At one point Rapunzel's gaze met Elsa's, she looked somewhat downcast and her plate was completely clean, she hadn't eaten anything. Punzie smiled at her and waved at her forcefully, Elsa barely returned the gesture. Maybe she's sick, Punzie thought.
Something else Punzie noticed was the grayish figures floating around all the tables. They looked like people... but... Oh, no. "Are those gho... gho...?"
"The ghosts of Hogwarts," Lucas replied.
"I didn't know there were so many ghosts." Suddenly she felt a knot in the pit of her stomach. And felt a cramp when she saw a ghost emerge in the middle of the food on the Gryffindor table, scaring Merida.
"That's Sir Nicholas, or as she likes to be called Nearly Headless Nick," the brown-haired girl told her.
"Nearly?"
"Yes look". The girl pointed at the ghost
At that moment, the ghost staggered or at least pretended to stagger, and his head fell off, hanging by a thin hide of skin. Punzie's stomach twisted. The brown-haired girl laughed out loud. "He's such an idiot".
As soon as the banquet was over, Principal McGonagall gave announcements, and then they sang the school song. Rapunzel had no idea that magic schools had songs, but she sang anyway, she loved to sing. She read the handwriting on some gold ribbons that Professor McGonagall made appear. She realized that she and Professor Hummings were the only ones who sang heartily.
"Now you have to follow me", said the brown-haired girl and at that moment Punzie saw how on the robe she had a badge with the letter P on it.
The girl, along with a blond boy who wore the same medal as her, led them through several corridors to the common room. They were informed that it was the kitchen corridor and that that led to Hufflepuff's basement.
"Stop", said the blond boy. Punzie didn't hear him, she was so engrossed in seeing the pictures that adorned the hallways, filled with witches and wizards of all ages. And most impressive of all was that they moved and greeted them. Punzie felt how a hand pulled her back, and right where she was standing half a second before, a huge glass jar fell, shattering into hundreds of pieces.
"Peeves!" The brown-haired girl yelled, she was the one who had pulled her back. The girl took out her wand and pointed at the ceiling, but there was nothing there. "Get out of there, you filthy vermin!"
A laugh came from the ceiling and a little man appeared with wickedly slanted, orange eyes, dressed in loud, outlandish clothes including a bell-covered hat and an orange bow tie. "But just look, who do we have here?" said the little man. "Nothing more and nothing less than the members of Hufflepuff".
"I'm warning you, Peeves", the girl began, "if you dare—"
"But look at that, if it's Kiara and Reynald. Who would say that the two lovebirds would be named prefects". Peeves made kissing sounds in the direction of the two prefects. Punzie noticed how Kiara blushed.
"I'm warning you, Peeves," Kiara repeated, "if I find out that you've disturbed any of the first graders, I'll call the Bloody Baron on you".
Peeves screeched the moment he heard Kiara and fled between the walls.
"That's Peeves", Reynald explained, "he loves pranks; although these are usually too dangerous".
After the little altercation, the two prefects led them to a pile of lying barrels. "Here it is", Kiara announced. "This way you enter the Hufflepuff basement. Reynald, will you do us the honor? "
"Sure, my lady", said the boy, stepping forward and standing by the barrels.
"Not here". Punzie heard Kiara mutter under her breath.
Reynald laughed and went on to explain the correct method to make the barrels open and let them enter the common room. "You have to do it right, otherwise you will be doused in vinegar and access will be blocked for you; until another student comes and taps the correct code".
The interior of the common room was very cozy, Punzie thought. The ceilings were low and the walls were lined with circular windows adorned with flowers. Punzie figured they must look beautiful by the day. Right in the center of the wall was a painting of Helga Hufflepuff, who welcomed them. Kiara and Reynald let them marvel a bit at the view of the common room before opening a circular door at the back of the room. "It's time for you to go to sleep", Kiara said. "Through here you can go to the bedrooms. Not everyone will have a problem finding their bedrooms, they are marked. And your belongings are already inside".
"Boys on the right and girls on the left," added Reynald. "We hope you enjoy your time at Hufflepuff and good luck with your classes tomorrow".
"You sound like a Muggle travel promoter", Kiara pointed out.
"Ouch". They both laughed.
"Goodnight everyone!" The two said in unison.
Punzie found her bedroom quickly, she was sent with the other four girls the hat had sent to Hufflepuff that year. She was so tired that she didn't have a chance to chat with any of them. As soon as she put on her pajamas and got into bed she was sound asleep.
She dreamed of golden flowers, paintings, and briefly, she dreamed of that terrifying tower.
A/N: Hellooooooooooo everybody. Chapter Four is finally here, the Big Four have been sorted and classes are about to begin. What will happen? What will the classes be like? How will the relationships of our protagonists develop? Keep reading to find it out.
By the way, thanks for worrying about me, I'm perfectly healthy now.
Now, there may be a little more time between chapter and chapter, since I have to do my university thesis. But do not worry, it is something that will be over quickly.
Stay tuned. See ya.