NOVEL NEXT Chapter 23 – Sorting and Houses
After inspecting us, the stern-looking Professor leads us toward a pair of giant doors.
"You are now standing outside of the Great Hall of Hogwarts, here, you will be sorted into your houses, where you shall stay for the rest of your time at Hogwarts! I am the Head of Gryffindor, Professor McGonagall, as well as the Deputy Mistress of Hogwarts. You should have seen the name of the letters that Hogwarts sent out. The sorting shall take place in alphabetical order of your last names, so line up accordingly."
Saying that, Professor McGonagall motioned us to line up. Looking at the line that was slowly forming, I instinctively go towards the back of the line.
"What's your last name?" I asked the guy at the back of the line.
"Veritium." Said the young boy.
"Ah ok, I'm behind you then."
Standing behind him, the line slowly formed in front of the Professor. Seeing the line taking place, she makes one last announcement.
"Perfect, I hope you are all ready, when I call your name, you come up to me. And one final thing, I hope to see more young Gryffindors."
After saying that, she turns towards the two giant doors, which begin to open without any movement from the Professor. As the doors opened, I was assaulted by the cheerful noise of chatter and shouting, as well as the occasional screams. Seeing the doors open, the chatter in the Great Hall slowly started to die down as Professor McGonagall walked in. Walking up next to a chair with a dirty old hat on it. Looking around the hall, I am surrounded by magical things. Looking at the old-looking man front and centre, I see Dumbledore smiling at us.
Upon the hall going quiet, the Hat suddenly 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 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,
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 folks 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!"
Hearing such a dastardly song, I can't help but tear up. Wiping the tears from my eyes, I return my attention back to the front of the hall.
"Creevy, Colin."
Looking at the front of the line, a young boy with blonde hair walks towards the Professor, slowly coming to a stop before her. Professor McGonagall then picks up the dirty hat, and motions Colin to sit on the chair. Seeing that Colin has sat down, the Professor then puts the dirty, lacking in singing talent, hat on top of his head.
"Hmmmm, I see. GRYFFINDOR!"
"YEAAAAAAA!"
Hearing loud shouting coming from the left-most table, I applaud as well, acting on auto-pilot. Professor McGonagall announces the next name, but I am too distracted by the scenery to pay attention. Looking towards the ceiling, I see a similar, but much more expansive night sky on the ceiling of the Great Hall. Focusing my attention on the teachers table, I see the tall, gruff man standing at the end, followed by an egotistical-looking man, with golden hair that literally sparkles. Wondering what his deal is, I look towards the next teacher, who can only be described as the stereotypical nerd, with glasses that magnify the eyes to unrealistic proportions. Following that, there is a man wearing all black, with an aura that screams edgy looking toward the new group of students. The next person is someone I vaguely know due to my past life, Albus Something Something Dumbledore. Thinking of him, I look at the left-most table, where I heard all the Gryffindors cheering a new member, to try and find the infamous Harry Potter. Even with my brief introduction to the Wizarding World, I have heard of Harry and his infamy. Adding my past life's very brief knowledge of Harry Potter, I can't help but want to find him among the other students.
Looking up and down the Gryffindor table, I couldn't find Harry at all. Trying to think back on my past life, whether he attended Hogwarts, I heard something that pulls me out of my stupor.
"Zouglas, Zane!"
Opening my eyes wide, I become a bit startled. Looking towards the source of the voice, I see Professor McGonagall staring at me, the last student in the group to be sorted, waiting for me to approach the chair.
Walking towards her, I cant help but think of what house I am going to get sorted in, and then to Luna, who I met on the train. I missed where she was sorted into, but she still has Meowser, so ill need to find her later.
"Please Sit, Mr Zouglas."
"Ok, Professor McGonagall."
Sitting down, the Professor puts the mucky-looking hat atop my head. Closing my eyes, I prepare for the hat to shout the house I will belong too.
'And what do we have here?' I heard a voice.
'Ah great, voices.'
'What?' The voice continued.
'What?' I replied.
'What do you mean, voice- never mind. Let's see... Books, a lot of them... Eccentric behaviour and generally unpredictable... Two in one year doesn't happen often.'
'Ok.' Accepting the voice, I begin to ask it questions.
'Where did you come from, Mr Voice.'
'I am the hat upon your head, young child.'
'What? How? Why?'
'Many questions, huh? I use a form of surface mind reading to get a read on your character and habits before sorting you into a house where you will thrive. Why? Good question, I don't even know myself. You'll have to ask the founders that one.'
'Ok, where are they?'
"Hahahahaha!" Hearing audible laughter, I open my eyes and look around to see who is laughing. Only to see audible chatter throughout the hall.
'They are long gone, young man. Find the answers yourself.' The voice continues in my head.
Before I could ask another question, I hear shouting coming from my head.
"RAVENCLAW!"
Feeling the hat being taken off my head, the Professor points towards a table dressed in blue and motions for me to join them. Walking up to the table, I Luna sitting towards the end of the table, holding Meowsers. Walking up next to her, I sit down and pet Meowsers who seemed to have missed me.
"How did you make the hat laugh?" Luna asked.
Turning towards her, I think nothing of it before replying.
"I asked it a question."
Getting a light chuckle as a response, I turn towards the ringing sound coming from the teacher's table. Looking at the source, I see Dumbledore standing up.
"Another year has begun at Hogwarts and a new beginning for many of the new students. Before we begin our feast tonight, I will remind the students of a few things, and update the new students on some ground rules.
The forbidden forest is forbidden for a reason, and any grade of students is strictly prohibited from entering it. Mr Filch has requested me to remind you to read the banned item list outside of his front door.
And lastly,
We shall sing the Hogwarts song."
Saying that, text started appearing above him as he started singing. What followed can only be described as nails on a chalkboard. Muttering out the last word that appeared above him, I start to tear up again.
'Surely all the songs in the Wizarding World aren't that bad, right?'
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Author Corner:
Few Things, Will be quick.
Join the discord, sorry for no chapter yesterday, uni is a time sink and it will keep happening, the discord is for me to let you know of delays, as well as discuss any plot points you feel I missed and feedback in general.
I have gotten a comment from a reader that the author's corner (this) ruins the immersion, let me know what you think. The comment is now deleted (I think) but I can still see it.
And finally, HOGGY WARTY HOGWARTS!