Chapter Text
01/09/1991
As Mcgonagall waltzed in the Great Hall, every first-year seemed glued to her. Nobody would dare disturb anyone. You looked around, heart speeding up in greater anticipation. Candles were floating above you, releasing a light smell of wax. The walls had beautifully coloured windows although they held a certain amount of dirt, considering the fact that the castle was old. Every student had a plate stationed in front of them. Some looked like they were impatient to eat while other students were staring directly at the crowd of new pupils, and it made you nervous. You were about to be sorted in front of everyone, and all of their eyes will be on you, which was a thought that made your stomach bubble in anxiety. You could hear Hermione ramble behind you.
"It's not real, the ceiling," she started and you looked back at her. You were not sure whether she was talking to the girl besides her or to herself. "It's just bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History," she finished. You too knew that, as your parents have not ceased to practically shove your face in your school books ever since you got them.
Ron turned to you while you followed the deputy headmistress.
"Thank you for defending me back there... I'm Ron Weasley," he said, extending his hand towards you.
You took his hand and gladly shook it, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips. You told him your name. "And don't worry about it. If you're friends with my friends–" you gestured to Harry, " –then you're my friend too," you finished.
Ron's face beamed in delight. Your small conversation was cut short by everyone coming to a stop, making you look at Mcgonagall standing next to a pointy hat resting on top of a chair in the front of the Great Hall.
"All right, will you wait along here, please?" she questioned, making an area for the first-years with a scroll in her hand. Everyone complied. "Now, before we begin–" Dumbledore, who you have barely noticed, stood up. Seeing him with your own eyes, he looked much older and his white hair seemed to be practically glowing under the light of the candles. " –Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words."
There was a slight silence of anticipation from everyone before the old wizard spoke.
"I have a few short-term notices I wish to announce," he said, licking his lips before continuing, "The first-years, please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students," he said, looking at the Weasley twins. "Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch–" he gestured to a man in the back of the room with long, dirty hair, " – has asked me to remind you the the third-floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death," he said as if he was stating the obvious. A look of discomfort made its way on every student's face. "Thank you," he finished cordially, sitting down.
The room went calm and first-years were suddenly startled as the Sorting Hat began to sing:
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 tops 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 brave of 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 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 you won't get in a flap!
You're safe in my hands(though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
"When I call your name, you will come forth," demanded Mcgonagall as she unrolled the scroll, "I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head and you will be sorted into your houses." She looked at the first name. "Hermione Granger."
Hermione looked as if her heart stopped beating. "Oh no. Okay, relax," she murmured to herself while coming forward.
You heard Ron lean into you and Harry. "Mental that one, I'm telling ya," he whispered, eyebrows raised in judgement. You saw Harry nod discreetly in agreement while you pursed your lips, looking back at her. Hermione sat down on the stool, letting the tall witch place the Sorting Hat on top of her head.
"Ah, right then... Hmm... right," the Hat began murmuring, its crease for his eyebrows frowning. "Okay... GRYFFINDOR!" It finally yelled.
The said house's members began loudly clapping and some even yelling to welcome the new girl. The Hall flooded in their loudness, making you wince slightly. Mcgonagall took the hat back and Hermione jumped out of her seat, practically skipping towards the Gryffindor table where everyone wanted to shake her hand.
The sound died down for Mcgonagall to continue. She read the next name: "Draco Malfoy," she pronounced. The room went completely quiet and the blonde, who held a slightly worried face, came up front. You wondered for a bit what would have happened if he was not in Slytherin, which was probably what made the boy worried.
He sat down and before Mcgonagall even began to lower the hat on him, it boomed with no hesitation. "SLYTHERIN!"
Just like the previous house, the Slytherin table made a loud noise to welcome the new member, who held a confident smirk on his face whilst walking towards the table, taking a seat.
"Susan Bones!" Mcgonagall called out.
While the girl was getting sorted, Harry yelped.
"Ouch!" he exclaimed, touching his scar.
"Harry, what is it?" asked Ron in concern.
"Nothing... Nothing, I'm fine," he replied. You looked at him and the black-haired boy felt your gaze on him. You decided to speak up, noticing Snape looking at him.
"The staff member in black over there is staring at you, it's almost creep–" Ron was looking at you until his heart dropped.
"Ronald Weasley," the witch said. The red-head looked at you and Harry and gulped. You sent him thumbs up and he tried his best to smile. He marched towards the stoll and took a seat. Turning around, his face melted into one of horror. It almost made you laugh, knowing that nothing bad will happen.
Mcgonagall rested the hat on him. "HAH!" it squawked, making both the lady and Ron jump in surprise. "Another Weasley! I know just what to do with you... GRYFFINDOR!"
The boy sagged in relief, now walking towards the Gryffindor table as everyone there screamed. You could see the rest of his family who was previously sorted there stand up, waiting for Ron to come see them full of joy.
The joy came to a sudden end as the black-haired woman pronounced another name.
"Harry Potter."
The Hall held a loud silence and Dumbledore sat up straighter. voices began being heard across the room from the crowd of pupils and Harry looked at you as he was slowly going in the front. You smiled at him and nodded.
"Everything will be fine," you whispered to him above the crowd's murmurs.
His face contorted into a smile of appreciation, now slightly relieved. He mouthed a "thank you" and he sat down on the stool. Time seemed to be going in slow-motion as Mcgonagall put the hat on top of him.
"Hmm... difficult, very difficult," the Sorting Hat admitted. "Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind, either. There's talent, oh, yes. And a thirst to prove yourself. But where to put you...?" it murmured.
You could not hear what Harry said, but you knew what he was saying.
"Not Slytherin... Not Slytherin!"
"Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure?" the Hat asked in an almost playful tone. "You could be great, you know. It's all here, in your head. And Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that. No? Well, if you're sure. Better be..." The hat took a long pause, the room growing so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. Students were leaning in in anticipation until the Hat cried out:
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Nearly everyone seated at the Gryffindor table shot up, clapping and shouting. Even staff members applauded the boy for finding his house. People were shaking his hand, tapping him on the back, doing anything to get a look at him. It lasted for a long time until they all quieted down, letting the Sorting continue.
Your patience began thinning out as Mcgonagall seemed to call out every name except yours.
"Terry boot!"
"Mandy Brocklehunt!"
"Millicent Bulstrode!"
"Justin Finch-Fletchley!"
"Neville Longbottom!"
"Morag Dougal!"
And a lot of other names were said until you finally heard it. Your complete name, from start to finish.
Your heart pounded against your ribcage as if it wanted to be let out. You walked up to Mcgonagall who felt your anxiety. She let you sit down and she patted your back in comfort before putting the hat on you.
"Oh..." it simply said. The Sorting Hat, usually energetic, went almost limp. The room was completely silent, waiting for the pointy hat to say something. You, on the other hand, could practically feel it search through your head. Your every detail and stories were now his to know. "You... have come a long way to be here," it stated almost melancholically. "I... I, I don't..." The room exploded in murmurs and gossip while you looked at Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Dean. They each had a confused look on their faces. The older students, on the other hand, knew one thing:
The Sorting Hat never stuttered.
Mcgonagall, however, understood as she remembered her own sorting. It took the hat more than five minutes to sort her, debating whether to put her in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. She got what Hogwarts called a Hatstall.
The hat above you started murmuring some intelligible phrases, and hoped more than anything to be sorted into the same house as all of your friends.
One minute went by...
Then another...
And then another one...
Soon, people grew impatient and on the edge of their seats. Seven minutes had passed and the majority of students were hungry. At this point, it physically hurt for you to stay put, feeling shame drowning you.
The Sorting Hat finally came to its senses. "You have a great desire for greatness... to make your trip here worth it and succeed. You are also very resourceful... However, You are wise. Your creative and witty mind can not be contained. It is a vital part of you. You are willing to stand up for your friends against the most powerful forces... You can be scared, but it will never stop you from protecting the ones you love.
However, to protect your friends, you need loyalty. To obtain such knowledge, every bone in your body has to be hard-working, and lastly, to achieve greatness, you need patience... You shall be sent to–"
You were on the edge of your seat just like everyone else. You needed to be in the same house as everyone else. You wanted nothing but the best for them, and being in the same house as them would help you fulfil this desire. Your heart burned in desire and stress, causing your hands to clench so hard your knuckles turned white. You could not imagine being excluded. You have often felt like a burden and, in Gryffindor, you might just be able to find a sense of belonging, and that was all you ever wanted.
"–HUFFLEPUFF!"