The students had all filled into The Great Hall, and the first years were sitting on benches. Ron and Harry were still marvelling at the sheer beauty and size of both the Great Hall and Hogwarts itself, but not Rio. Ever since he had laid his eyes on the Sorting Hat, a sense of unease had overcome him, but he tried to push it aside. After all, both Hagrid and Ron said no muggleborns ever went into Slytherin… right?
Before the Sorting, however, an elderly man with an impossibly long, wispy, white beard appeared out of thin air, wearing odd looking robes, and for some reason, holding a pair of trousers. Despite his odd appearance, Rio knew there was no mistake. This man exuded power – he exuded magic – from his very core, and even he, a muggleborn, could sense it.
Dumbledore.
True to Rio's assessment of him, the Headmaster proceeded to say a string of incoherent, nonsensical words, confusing many of the students, and making some of them laugh.
Odd man.
Next on the list of odd happenings in Hogwarts, the Sorting Hat began to sing (which did not surprise Rio at all, especially after seeing the skeleton pegasi), but Rio's unease continued to grow, until finally, the Sorting began, and Rio's unease was replaced by anticipation.
Name after name was called out, and each time there was applause from the respective house.
"Draco Malfoy!"
The arrogant boy walked up to the front and had barely put on the hat before it yelled, "Slytherin!"
Expected, thought Rio, and Ron voiced similar thoughts.
"Rio Ramson!"
As Rio walked to the Sorting Hat, the uneasiness returned, this time greater than ever – but when he put it on, the strangest thing happened: the Sorting Hat was talking to him!
Well, isn't this complicated!
What? You can speak?
Of course I can speak, silly child. Now, let's see… you're certainly not a Hufflepuff, are you? Not kind enough for them. You are academically inclined, aren't you, but there's far more to you than that – it's not Ravenclaw. Either Slytherin or Gryffindor it seems, the Sorting Hat mused.
Please, not Slytherin, Rio pleaded.
Yes, that would be difficult for you, wouldn't it? And you are a very loyal individual, aren't you? But that loyalty makes you ambitious – very ambitious. In fact, there's not been ambition like yours since the Dark Lord himself.
Voldemort? Rio's breathing stopped at the comparison.
Yes, him. Hmm, curious indeed. You want to be as powerful as possible, don't you child?
Yes, I do.
No matter what it costs you? the hat asked.
Rio thought of Malfoy's threats and insults. He thought of his brother and mother back home. He thought of his father's final words.
No matter the cost.
Then, I know where to put you. You will suffer, but if you can overcome it, you'll be powerful beyond measure. Rio froze at its words.
Wait! Does that mean-
"Slytherin!"
The room went silent for a second, as professors and students alike looked at him in shock, before the whispering commenced, and as Rio walked over the Slytherin benches, someone stood up from their ranks – an older boy.
"Professors, this must be a mistake! There's no way he is Slytherin!" The rest of Slytherin joined in his protest, but just as quickly as it started, Professor Snape, who had been introduced earlier as the Head of Slytherin, put an end to it.
"Silence!" he said, his voice low and almost silky.
"Slytherin House, you will welcome your newest housemate, and you will welcome him now."
Jaws and fists clenched, the Slytherins slowly clapped their hands together, and slowly and quietly as possible, as the rest of the school looked at Rio in pity. He caught the eyes of Harry and Ron on the benches and saw their faces – a mixture of shock and pity, but also something else – distrust. Have I already lost the only chance at having a friend already?
Rio quickly realised that he was still standing up, and he straightened his posture. If they're going to rip into me like this already, they'll do it later too. I can't let them think I'm weak.
He made his way to a seat as far away from the older Slytherins and Malfoy as possible, eventually sitting between 2 first-years, who made a conscious, visible effort to shuffle away from him.
What the hell is going on? What am I gonna do? Rio's mind raced, as fear began to grip him. He had asked Ron about Death Eaters – they were the army of Voldemort, the wizard who killed muggleborn wizards. If Malfoy's father was one, and he heard that a 'mudblood' was in Slytherin…
"Harry Potter!"
The hall went deathly silent, and as Harry walked up to the front and put the hat on, distracting the hall from Rio, he couldn't help but feel grateful for the Boy-Who-Lived's fame. Oddly, the hat took quite a long time – about as long as his had. Why's it taking so long? Rio wondered. Is it deciding between 2 different houses, like it did for me? Is Harry coming to Slytherin too?
Finally, the Sorting Hat yelled out "Gryffindor!", and the cheers from the lion house were the loudest they had been all day, and Rio's heart sank.
Soon after that, Ron followed, and in similar fashion to Malfoy, the Sorting Hat had barely touched his head before it decided on Gryffindor, much to Ron and the other Weasleys' happiness.
As the students began to eat lunch (not Rio, he had lost his appetite), he felt a bony hand on his shoulder.
"Mr. Ramson," a silky voice spoke, silencing the whole hall once more. As Rio turned around, he saw a man wearing black robes, with long, oily black hair and hooked nose. Professor Snape.
"Come with me. We have much to discuss."
AN: Thanks for reading, everyone! Please remember to COLLECT and VOTE with POWER STONES for more chapters - I'll be releasing a BONUS chapter when we hit 25 Power Stones!