Chapter 29: New Houses, New Beginnings
Candles floated through the banner draped Great Hall, with starlight matching its glow to create an ethereal aura. Fine silver plates and crystal glasses with matching sets of silverware were set immaculately by the time everyone filed in. At the top table sat the faculty, whispering and chatting amongst themselves. Once everyone was sat down, Headmaster Dumbledore rose from the central seat at the top table. His beard fluttered as he shifted his old frame.
"Thank you all for being patient this year. It was imperative that all students arrived safely and soundly." His voice echoed through the halls, not with thunderous force, but as if he were speaking to everyone like he was next to them.
A few sneakers eked out of some members of the crowd but were quickly silenced by the combined gazes of McGonagall and Snape. Soon, the Headmaster spoke again.
"However, normal traditions and festivities, despite their delay, will proceed at once! It is time for the Sorting Ceremony!" Dumbledore cried, getting cheers from the crowd.
McGonagall stood up and walked around the table. Produced from her robes was an old and worn brown leather Wizard Hat. With a small flick of her wand, a stool swiftly was set up in front of everyone, and the Hat was sat upon it. As soon as the old leather hat sat upon the stool, slits opened to reveal a mouth and a set of eyes. After shaking itself a bit, the hat began to sing. However, to the upper classmen, its tone was far different than any they had heard. Less long like a song, but a warning dirge.
"Through lake and wood, you came to us
You're sure to see them all.
But just beware when you're out there
Of creatures big and small." It sang, starting low but raising its voice into almost an echo.
"The hat is singing…why is the hat singing?" Damien asked, quite perplexed by the vocal article of clothing.
"It's the Sorting Hat. It's going to put you in your house." Harry whispered to his cousin.
"And why is it singing? Who taught it to sing, and does it know it's pitchy?" Damien further questioned tilting his head in curiosity.
"Oh, it's not gonna like that…" Ron whispered.
"No need to fear, no cries or tears
You're safe and sound in here.
Don't worry about what house you want
Cause the Sorting Hat is here." The Hat sang, taking a more soothing and firm tone, as if to try and calm the First Years.
Garrett leaned on his walking stick with a pensive, curious look on his face, eyes scanning the hat. "I wonder what magic was used to bring him to life?" He glanced around, expecting someone to follow his line of thinking, only receiving mixed reactions ranging from bewilderment to mocking sneers. "What?"
"Don't mind them. Also, to answer your question, nobody knows. But, according to our big brother Alejandro, the Sorting Hat was originally Godric Gryffindor's hat that he took off his head and brought to life personally." Gabby whispered to Garrett from nearby.
"House Gryffindor, oh they can roar
And send them to the hills.
House Hufflepuff, times toil and tuff
Will stay loyal through them all." The Hat sang, putting more force into each word.
As others sat, entranced by the Hat's song, Albert among the crowd noticed something odd about it. Emanating from the hat, he saw the swirlies he saw in his room. More than that, it was practically covered in them. He bit his thin lips and trembled nervously. He dared not think what other students would think of him if he spoke of the swirlies.
"House Ravenclaw, wisest of all
No beast can escape their sight.
House Slytherin, beasts beware their den
For they strike with the cunning of men." The Hat sang, singing whimsically for Ravenclaw's stanza, and dropping into a lower, ominous pitch for Slytherin's.
Eddy smiled as he listened, nodding along. "For a dusty old hat, that thing is talented." He said, praising the Sorting Hat's vocal skills.
"So don't worry and fright
Against monsters and might
Now woe, it is time to sort!" It sang, finishing on a forceful punctuation with the word sort.
With the Hat's song complete, everyone began to clap as Eddy cheered. "That was great! Encore! Encore!" He called out, eager to hear it sing again.
Soon the students clapped and cheered, catching the old hat off guard. But soon, its face turned into a smile, and it bowed to the applause. Yet, even as they quieted down, those attentive few in the room could still hear the song echoing in the high rafters. Before anyone got to dwell upon that oddity, one by one students were being called up to be sorted. Each one sat down on the stool, and the Hat was placed on their head. Sometimes, it was immediately given; sometimes the Hat took time to deliberate.
"Garrett Becker!" Professor McGonagall yelled after looking at the list.
Garrett stood up and brushed off his pants a bit before walking up. Sitting down, everyone could tell he was a bit tense but kept an outer calm. Yet as soon as the Sorting Hat was placed upon his head, it belted out its decision.
"Hufflepuff!!" The hat yelled, catching the Professors a bit off guard with its speed and decisiveness.
With a smile, Garrett stood up and walked back to his seat. Five others came and went before Damien was called next. He sat there hesitantly, until Harry prodded him with his elbow. Nervously, he walked up and sat down, trembling a bit as he felt the gaze of many in the crowd bearing the color red.
The Hat was soon placed upon his head, and its leathery face scowled. "Hmm… curious and loyal… a dangerous mix." It mused audibly.
"If possible, Mr. Hat—or is it Miss Hat—could you not put me in my cousin's house? Given the way it looks like they want to murder me, and how my cousin can't help but stick his neck out for others, it would only cause problems for everyone involved—especially with this competition I heard about last night." Damien requested the hat.
"Quite wise for one so young." The Hat mused. "Ravenclaw!!"
"I like blue. That's cool." Damien commented.
However, as the Hat was taken off Damien, he heard it say something behind him. "Pitchy indeed." It huffed indignantly.
A good fifteen students were called up to the sorting. Things were going smoothly, with the hat having to do little debating or musing. At best, it had a silent argument with the person in question. Soon McGonagall looked down at her list again and had to read and reread the next name multiple times.
"Gabriela Emperatriz Serpiente de García!" Professor McGonagall cried out.
Gabby flinched at that. "Just 'Gabby,' please!" She replied as she walked up to sit down and have the Hat put on her head.
As soon as the Hat touched her head, its face grew pensive. It grumbled, ummed, and growled as it went back and forth with itself. Easily passing the five-minute mark to make it a hatstall. Finally, after nearly eight minutes, it finally came to its decision.
"Ravenclaw!!" It proclaimed.
Gabby squealed with joy before clearing her throat and composing herself. "Thank you, Mr. Hat." She replied politely but happily.
"It's nothing, dear. You wanted it, after all." The Hat politely said.
As she walked away, Professor McGonagall looked at her list. Her brow furrowed in frustration at the next name but let out a small sigh.
"Rey Leon Eduardo de García!" She called out.
Eddy smiled. "Just 'Eddy' is fine, Professor." He said as he walked up to take the spot his twin sister had sat in on the stool.
The boy felt the hat touch his head, and it tensed up again. Unlike his sister, however, it was not quite as pensive. Despite the lessened reaction, it still took a full four minutes to sort its decision out.
"Interesting. Interesting." It muttered to itself. "Gryffindor!!"
"All right!!" Eddy called out in joy before hopping off the stool as soon as the Hat was taken off his head.
Several more were called up as those who were sorted began to chatter amongst those of their House near them. The Hat breezed through several easy Sortings, until McGonagall raised an eyebrow at who she was to next call for.
"Albert Hoggerton!" She called out.
The short Half-Goblin gulped and slunk up to the stool. It was a bit difficult for him to get on it at first, getting snickers from the audience. Yet even as he sat on the chair, he shook and trembled like a leaf. Soon the hat sat upon his large head, and it quickly became intrigued.
"A Half-Goblin. How novel." It mused.
"D-Does that matter?" Albert meekly asked.
"Not at all. It just makes the Sorting a little more interesting. Now where to put you? Let's see…" The Hat replied as it began contemplating.
The Hat began to dither and deliberate, muttering fiercely to itself. Over five minutes passed as it was on the verge of ranting with itself over the choice. Slytherin and Gryffindor being the two houses it was hung up on.
"P-Please not Slytherin… I don't want to get bit by snakes…" Albert muttered under his breath quietly.
"Not Slytherin, eh? So, like Potter before you, you reject the greatness that Slytherin could help you down the path to? Or do you fear how the Slytherins would treat you because of your heritage? I wonder…" The Hat mused quietly.
Albert sat there, and gulped before speaking, remembering something. "Is a craft truly worth doing if you use a shortcut?" He asked the Hat.
"Hm. How noble of you. All right then. Gryffindor!!" The Hat replied in amusement before calling out the name of the House of the lion.
The decision caught many off guard, but soon a slow applause grew from the crowd as Albert got out of the seat. Again, he nervously slunk back to his seat, watched by those of House Slytherin and Gryffindor intently. More students were called, with the Hat finding its stride. As there was not a hatstall to be seen. Even as Luna Lovegood was called, the Hat made quick work of her Sorting.
"Ravenclaw!!" It bellowed firmly, even giving itself a little nod.
"Thank you, Mr. Squiggly Hat." Luna said with a smile, before giving the Hat a kiss on its 'cheek.'
The Hat seemed stunned, almost as if it were blushing. Clearing its throat, it waited for the next name to be called as Luna went to take her seat at the Ravenclaw table. Meanwhile, McGonagall refocused on the list. Dozens more were called out and sorted, at a rate even the staff were shocked at. Despite three hatstalls, the same as the previous years no less, the Hat was making good time. Soon Ginny's name was called, and she gulped a bit. Ron gave her a bit of a push to get her to go up.
Yet to her surprise, the hat barely brushed her hair when it gave its verdict. "GRYFFINDOR!!" It bellowed loudly, as if to make absolutely sure everyone understood.
"All right, Ginny!!!" Ron called out in joy.
"That's our sister!!" Fred and George cheered as Percy gave a small smile and politely clapped.
"Mafalda Weasley!" Professor McGonagall yelled out.
"Sounds like another Gryffindor." A random Slytherin commented.
With a big, ear-to-ear grin, Mafalda confidently marched up and sat down. Yet as soon as the Hat was placed on her head, its mouth hung agape. Wider than anyone had seen before. It sat there for several minutes in stunned silence, all while Mafalda had a knowing grin on her face.
"Well? What do you think?" Mafalda asked smugly.
"Are you sure, girl? I mean… you know what your family will think…" The Hat whispered to her.
"Oh, they think so many things about me. You know that." Mafalda replied, her smile not wavering.
"All right. Then let's see… where else to put you…?" The Hat mused as it began searching her mind.
The hat then sat there musing for several minutes, seemingly at a genuine loss. Yet despite this, it trudged onwards. Until finally, it came to a very unexpected decision.
"Slytherin!" It called out, stunning the room.
"... WHAT?!?!?!" The other Weasley's all yelled in disbelief.
"Thank you! Thank you! Hold your applause!" Mafalda said as she stood up before bowing.
"Well then… It looks like a Weasley is finally getting on the right side of history." Draco Malfoy said with a smirk.
"Oh, I wouldn't say that. I'm going to make you all see my side of history!" Mafalda replied with a twisted grin.
For some reason, that filled all Slytherin House with fear. Soon she walked to the Slytherin table with a confidence few expected and sat down. Swiftly making her mark on those around her. As that shocking finale to the sorting wrapped up, Dumbledore stood up again and cleared his throat.
"And, thus, another Sorting ends. To students new, we welcome you all to dear Hogwarts. To students old, a hoggy warty Hogwarts welcome back. We look forward to teaching you all something if you listen. And remember: In our world, surprises lie behind every corner. Those who rise above them and achieve something are those with the courage, cleverness, determination, and ambition to see their goals through to the end. With that, let the feast begin. Cheerio." Dumbledore told the present students as, with a clap, he signaled the beginning of the feast.
In the blink of an eye, the tables were covered in decorations of the fall season and majestic mountains of food. Roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, buttered rolls, steaming puddings, and goblets full of sparkling pumpkin juice. All of that and more as the candles floated through the air triumphantly. Soon conversation and laughter rippled through the hall like a symphony of music. To the returning students, the atmosphere was as whimsical and comforting as ever.
Harry smiled after drinking from his before looking past Ron at Ginny. He soon saw her slip a treacle tart onto his plate, before putting a finger on her lips, motioning to Ron. Harry smiled and nodded before swiftly eating it. However, the peace was short lived as Ron swiftly flew into a rant.
"This year is already a disaster!" Ron snapped, before ripping off a chunk of the roast and plopping it on his plate.
"What do you mean? It seems pretty normal from what I heard, orange hair." Damien from the left side of Ravenclaw table says
"Who are you?" Ron asked.
"Damien Dursley. Harry's actually good cousin who doesn't hate magic." Damien said, offering Ron his hand for a handshake.
"... Ron Weasley." He replied before awkwardly shaking his hand.
"Wait…" Fred said in stunned surprise.
"You don't mean…" George chipped in.
"HARRY POTTER'S YOUR COUSIN?!" The twins called out in disbelief.
"... Yeah." Damien replied awkwardly. "By the way, do you think I can fly that car?"
"He saw the car?" Fred asked Ron, standing up behind him.
"You said no one saw you in the car." George added, looming over Ron from the other side.
"I was getting a late-night snack." Damien said as if it explained everything "I was getting it for me and Harry so I could tell him… well… this." He added, gesturing to himself being at Hogwarts.
"Oh, dear lad, you're fine. He's not." Fred said, before looking back at Ron.
"I was a little focused on worrying about my best friend! How was I supposed to know someone was awake?!" Ron snapped back.
"You blokes weren't exactly discreet." Damien nonchalantly commented before clamming up when the cute blonde Luna sat next to him.
With a mischievous glint in her eye, Mafalda watched what was going on at the Gryffindor table. Then, her eyes swayed over to the other tables, looking for some way to cause trouble or chaos. Soon she found it, as her eyes locked onto Garrett. Then she walked over to him and pulled a Sickel on the table in front of him.
"Hey, transfer. Want to bet a Sickel on who'll cause the first disaster of the year?" Mafalda asked.
"A wager? Hm, I'll take it," he said, circling the top of his stick with his finger, causing it to spin slightly as it rested next to his knee, a smile on his face.
"My Sickel's on Gryffindor." Mafalda replied, her smile widening.
"Slytherin. Their whole thing is ambition. I'm betting they're too ambitious to not try anything." He said with a casual shrug.
"Then may the more chaotic House win." Mafalda said as the two shook on it. Now the wait began. And to the victor went chaos.