{Great Hall, Hogwarts}
"I wonder if it is showing the exact state of the weather outside or if we can record a scene and store it to display, imagining the Northern Lights up there," I whispered to Hermione as we walked between the four tables. I noticed that everyone was looking at us, as if they were trying to find someone.
"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I don't think it works that way, Harry," Hermione replied in a confident tone. "I read about it in Hogwarts: A History"
I nodded and looked up at the professors' table. The first one that caught my eye was a dark-skinned witch wearing a dark robe. Hints of cleavage showed through the candles placed in front of her, and it became clearer through her green dress as we walked closer. My eyes flicked up to read her name and inhibition level.
...
[Aurora Sinistra]
[9]
...
Next to her sat a witch who had a stern expression plastered on her face. She was wearing a more conservative style than Aurora, hiding her body as her light grey eyes scanned the incoming arrivals. Her personality looked like a copy-paste of McGonagall even though she looked like the youngest teacher at the table.
...
[Septima Vector]
[10]
...
I eyed her brown sweater, which was a sharp contrast to how most witches liked to dress. It showed off her Muggle heritage a little bit.
Aside from these two, two more witches sat at the high table together, whispering to one another. They both looked a bit older, similar in age to Prof. McGonagall but had more wrinkles and lines marring their faces.
...
[Pomona Sprout]
[8]
...
...
[Bathsheda Babbling]
[6]
...
'Now that's a gilf,' I thought as I gave the last professor a brief look, noting her unfamiliar name as we arrived at the table. Looking past the unknown witch, I looked at the rest of the staff. I caught a brief glance with both Snape and Albus, broke it as soon as possible, and avoided looking too closely at the turban-wearing man at the very end of the table.
'Right, I need to know how to start practicing Occlumency, not only to protect secrets about future events but also my own personal secrets.' I thought. I should have been a bit more careful, but events with Emma and the quiet lull of a happy life had kind of made me forget my life was in danger.
'I'll try emptying my mind and meditating later tonight, and see where it takes us.'
My thoughts were broken as Prof. McGonagall waved her wand and a four-legged stool appeared in front of us. She then placed a hat that had seen better days on the table.
"That's the sorting hat, Harry," I heard Lavender whisper from my left. She had somehow joined our little circle. I nodded my thanks as the sorting hat started flapping its torn mouth and began singing.
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
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 in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk 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!"
'Right, how does the sorting hat work again? Will it be able to see that I'm not actually Harry Potter?' Another thought appeared in my mind. I really should have tried to learn Occlumency. I'm doing a really bad job at being a main character, ain't I?
As everyone around the four tables and the professors burst into applause at the frankly over-rhymed song, Professor McGonagall stepped forward, holding a long roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. Giving everyone just a moment to digest her words, she spoke again, "Abbott, Hannah!"
Hannah had been ready to move first, yet she blushed as everyone's eyes turned toward her. She took a shaky step forward as I patted her shoulder to comfort her. I would like to think I helped, as she steadied herself and carefully grabbed the hat as she sat down on the stool.
The whole hall fell silent as we waited. It wasn't even two seconds before the hat shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
I watched Hannah grin in relief as she waved at us a little before she ran and quickly settled down at the middle-right table, as her fellow housemates cheered her sorting. Professor McGonagall moved through the list and quickly shouted the next name, "Bones, Susan!"
Susan winked at me as she happily took the seat her friend had vacated, and a few seconds later she skipped down the steps to join Hannah at the Hufflepuff table. I did not remember the next few names, but Terry Boot, which seemed familiar, and Mandy Brocklehurst went to Ravenclaw.
Lavender Brown became the first Gryffindor of our year, and the list kept rolling. Hermione, like in canon, went to Gryffindor, and now I stood alone as all of my new friends and acquaintances were quickly sorted. I vaguely heard Malfoy being sorted into Slytherin, though his sorting took a second longer than in canon, so it was nice to see he had at least more personality than in canon.
"Potter, Harry!" Prof. McGonagall called, and the whole Great Hall went silent as everybody stared. I could feel everyone's eyes on me as my fellow first years parted. With anxious steps, I slowly walked over and sat on the stool. I looked at the Sorting Hat and prayed it wouldn't read my mind as it was placed over my head.
I saw the twins staring at me with wide eyes, realizing who they had met earlier that day. Susan gave me an encouraging look as I focused on hearing what the hat had to say.
"Of course I can't read minds, Mr. Potter, though I can hear your surface thoughts, an amazing piece of magic given to me by Rowena. Especially useful in difficult cases like yours." The hat hummed in my ear. I let out a silent sigh of relief and simply thought about being placed into Gryffindor.
"Gryffindor, really. Are you sure? You could be great in Slytherin, you know, it's all here in your head, you're smart, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that -- no? Well, if you're so sure about where you want to go-- better be GRYFFINDOR!" I heard the last word shouted, followed by a loud bang as fireworks erupted over the Gryffindor table.
'That would be the twins,' I thought as I walked down the steps, happy to have avoided a major accident as I heard them chant, "We got Potter! We got Potter!"
I settled down next to Hermione, who hugged me excitedly as I waved to Susan and Hannah, who both nodded. As Hermione let me go, my nerves settled, and I could focus more on the upcoming sortings.
'Alright, avoided my first major flag. Now I'm feeling rather hungry.'
---
AN: I could have gone for Slytherin, but I think I have already explained the reasons. Still, Harry won't be alienating the house in green like in canon.
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