Sitting upon a golden-rimmed throne in the midst of the teacher's table, within the grand hall of Hogwarts, the wizened old headmaster stroked his beard in deep thought. His eyes, usually flashing with a magical twinkle, were dulled blue orbs that stared off into the mid-distance as he continued to stroke his beard.
The last few days had been difficult for the old Warlock. Ever since his greatest love's child had miraculously and mysteriously appeared he had been placed on his back feet. Forced to capitulate to the momentum of personality that the young girl wielded. She reminded him so much of Gellert that it had nearly made him tear up a few times. He'd always loved that man, his charismatic ease with the most difficult of arcane arts, the swagger he held in his gait as he walked amongst his fellow purebloods... Every time he thought of him it made him want to curl into a ball at the thought of where he had imprisoned his love all those years ago.
Dipping into his Occlumency he stymied those intense emotions, choosing to refocus his efforts towards his newly found opponent. Solaris, she was a misguided girl who was quickly shifting from the light. It was obvious to him. The tone that she took against the Wizengamot and then her political opponents showed a propensity for conflict and violence only rivalled by her bitch of a mother. Oh how he loathed them both... But the mother was dead and the child could still be moulded to follow the light. A genial smile curled across his face as the grand hall's doors shuddered forwards. The only question he had yet to solve is the manner in which he would mould her and Harry simultaneously.
He dragged his eyes over the rim of his golden chalice as he took a delicate sip of his red wine. The first years looked quite promising this year, based upon their statuses and the faint pressure of magic he could feel from them. Some of them he would need to be careful about, namely Susan Bones who was the niece of the DMLE director; Amelia Bones. The only other he felt even the slightest bit of wariness over was the lilac-haired Solaris who was ominously surveying the room. Whether she was ominous or not was an academic question for most, but for him... Well, she was ominous for what she represented; a reminder of his deepest pain and the discoverer of his most secret plans.
His thoughts stewed for a few more moments at that final point, his eyes murkily examining the girl from head to toe. The smattering of heels on cobblestones however snapped him from his task, Minerva stepping before the new students and up towards the podium where the sorting hat sat atop a stool. Four table's worth of students watched the first years trundle forwards through the centre walking space, their nervous glancing bringing small chuckles to the older years. Gryffindor, those dressed in red-black robes with a Griffin crest upon their breast, were boisterously pointing out their guesses for who would join their house. They were seated adjacent to the walking space, much like Hufflepuff. Members of Hufflepuff sat rather quietly and merely whispered to one another every now and again. Their robes were yellow and black with a badger instead of a Griffin yet this did nothing to lower the pride that shone through as they wore their house's symbol.
Ravenclaw were imperiously observing the newcomers with all the arrogance of a prince observing their domain. Several of them could be seen sitting with books in hand despite the official 'ceremony' playing out around them. Many simply ignored the proceedings, far more concerned over their small debates. Slytherin, in perhaps a direct opposite of the blue-black robed house, sat in perfect concentration. Garbed in a mixture of Green, Silver and Black many of them seemed to be paying superb attention to the details of the sorting. None could be seen conversing with one another as Minerva reached the podium space and lifted the sorting hat...
He barely held back a grimace at the possibility of the hat going against his requests. The thing was too cantankerous for his liking...
...
(Solaris's and Lunaris's Perspective)
We watched as the professor from before guided us up the path, gesturing for us to stop half way to wait, and reached the chair in front of the teacher's table. All five of us, Lunaris included, looked to one another as the cranky old lady lifted an old raggedy hat from said chair whilst looking over a newly emerged clipboard in her left hand.
"Abbott Hannah!"
A girl with sunshine-bright blonde hair nervously stepped forwards, her feet dragging somewhat as she twirled a single lock around an index finger. She looked quiet comely for her age and looked rather sweet, if you were to judge her purely off of appearance that is.
Hannah stepped up to the chair, the professor lightly guiding her, and sat down. A moment passed as she settled before the hat was plopped down on her head. The disgusting rag of a hat covered her eyes almost completely, far too large for her head. She of course tried to adjust it but was stopped by a distinct movement from the hat.
Where once there were just folds in it, now a mouth and vacant eye sockets stood. Humming and haring ensued for a minute before with a mighty yell it roared out the name of one of the houses. "HUFFLEPUFF!" The entire hall burst into applause, barring the house of green who were all politely golf clapping. Hannah rushed away from the chair, her robes having transmuted from their plain grey-black state to the yellow-black of Hufflepuff.
"Bones Susan!" My brother and I simply watched on, our own thoughts and considerations left for later as we understood the importance of living in the moment; sometimes.
The crimson redhead calmly walked up the stairs to the chair, sat down eloquently and within seconds was thrust into Hufflepuff, the house shouting out their excitement as she summarily joined their ranks.
"Boot Terry!" Though he was a pureblood there was very little to distinguish him from normal wizards and witches. His figure was lithe and his hair a bit pompously tied into braids in a few places... But other than that he was, inconspicuous... He ended up becoming a Ravenclaw, half of said house celebrating as he join them whilst the other half simply nodded and continued with what they were doing.
"Brocklehurst, Mandy!" Ravenclaw again... There was nothing spectacular with this girl, as far as we could tell. She was brown haired and had blue eyes. Her disposition seemed completely neutral when looking at us so neither of us really cared.
"Brown, Lavender!" Lavender was a rather pretty girl, her rosy-gold hair meeting her shoulder blades easily as a dazzling smile carved itself into her rather soft face. She ended up going to Gryffindor, the entire table shouting out 'hazzahs' and 'hurrays' as she shyly scooted in amongst the second years who were all greeting her.
"Bulstrode, Millicent!" She wasn't really ugly, perse, she was just somewhat obese and lacked some style... Ultimately she ended up becoming a Slytherin. The house already had some space set aside for the first years and she was quickly given a small, hushed, conversation as she sat down.
"Crabbe, Vincent!" He looked like a troll, having similar style to Millicent accept as a boy. He got put in Slytherin as well.
~We may have to change our mind on going to Slytherin if they dump all the ugly ones there~
Lunaris snickered as the next name was being called out.
'Shhh, I'm trying to pay attention.' He rolled his spiritual eyes.
"Davis, Tracey!" He perked up at her name, I did as well. Tracey was a stunningly beautiful girl with straight brown hair that shimmered slightly in the light; as if polished to a shine. Her eyes were a tame orange-gold mixture that added a spark of mystery amongst the otherwise normal appearance she held. The way she walked was rather controlled and looked well-practiced. Both Lunaris and I were smitten with her looks it seems as we couldn't exactly drag our eyes off of her until after she was sorted...
'Where did they place her brother...?'
~S-Slytherin I think~
'N... Nice.' He nodded emphatically as she sat down at Slytherin, our eyes stuck to her's until the next name was shouted.
"Finnigan, Seamus!" He was a normal looking boy and got put in Gryffindor.
"Granger, Hermione!" The girl gave us all a nervous glance before breathing in deeply and slowly walking up. Harry looked a touch worried for her whilst Neville contained himself to a tightening of his lips as she walked up to the chair and sat down.
The wait was rather extended for her, an interesting distinction in relation to the relatively quick sorting of previous students. Everyone noticed this fact and were beginning to have hushed conversation between each other. They didn't get much of a chance however as the hat screamed our her house... "SLYTHERIN!"
Almost the entirety of Slytherin began blinking rapidly, their expressions somewhat breaking under the unexpected addition of a 'mud-blood' into their pure-blood sanctuary. Millicent began clapping along with Crabbe but were stopped by some of the more neutral second years who shook their heads rapidly. This addition obviously wasn't as, accepted, as the previous sorting results. We didn't care though, once we get in there no one would target her or have the chance of being an imbecile in our presence or even outside of it. Hermione sat at the very end of the Slytherin table, her eyes looking out to all of us hopefully.
"Greengrass, Daphne!" Our head snapped to the next girl, both of our intellects working at how to leverage our political power to secure Hermione within the house of cunning.
When our eyes met the girl named Daphne both of us became just as shell shocked as we were when we watched Tracey. This girl looked angelic in a way, her straight platinum blonde hair reaching her mid-back and sway back and forth as she confidently turned and sat on the sorting chair. Her eyes were a mixture of red and purple that allowed her a piercing gaze, said gaze matching our own before one of her eyebrows rose; the hat slapping down onto her head and obscuring both of those features. "SLYTHERIN!" She rushed to the table and sat next to Hermione, her stance made abundantly clear as the rest of the house seemed to almost wince at the decision.
"Goyle, Gregory!" He looked much like Crabbe and was placed in the same house; we only realised because he sat just a little ways up from Daphne.
"Longbottom, Neville!" Neville grimaced slightly before gulping down his nerves and pushing on shyly. Harry slapped his back in support before he left the group and sat on the chair. "GRYFFINDOR!" The house roared in approval once more, two twins inside the house jubilantly celebrating with miniature fireworks; much to the chagrin of McGonagall and the laughter of everyone else.
"Malfoy, Dracoria!" She looked at us with anxiety, her eyes searching us for some sort of support. We quickly gave it with a small smile and a thumbs up which caused her to brighten in happiness before rushing off to get sorted herself. Her silver-blonde hair splayed out across the front of her robes as she slumped into the chair and all but pulled the hat on, excited to get it over with. "SLYTHERIN!" Her entire being seemed to thrum in elation as she quickly rushed over to Hermione; hugging her tightly as they began whispering to one another in their joint excitement.
"Moon, Lily!" She was a pretty girl of fire-coloured hair and vibrant pink eyes. Her poise was that of a pureblood heir and nothing else was conveyed through her gait. She was placed in Ravenclaw.
"Parkinson, Pansy!" She was plain looking and was actually rather reminiscent of Millicent. She got put in Slytherin.
"Patil, Padma!" , "Patil, Parvati!" Padma was placed in Ravenclaw, Parvati into Gryffindor. Neither of them had anything really unique about them except for the fact that they looked Indian.
"Potter, Harry!" The entire hall went eerily quiet as 'the-boy-who-lived' trudged forwards in trepidation. Whispers were non-existent inside the room as everyone wished to witness this moment in its entirety. Which house he would be placed in was the prevalent question inside everyone's minds.
...
(Harry's Perspective)
I sat down on the sorting chair, the old looking hat grumbling above me, as everyone in the room was looking at me like I was a lab rat. It made me feel awkward and somewhat awful. Living with the Dursleys had taught me to cling to the shadows, stay unnoticed to avoid pain. This was the antithesis of that concept and it made me equally paranoid and happy. Anything that was the opposite of those times should be good, right?
The hat slowly lowered onto my head, the grumbling from above ceasing immediately. Every staring pair of eyes in the room faded until I was looking around into a dull, grey-black space.
~Ohhhh... A very intelligent mind...~ I shivered at the voice that seemed to consume all of my surroundings.
"W-Who are you?"
~I am the sorting hat... Mmmm, yes... A very inquisitive mind, though tainted by the misery of your past... Salazar would have sheltered you...~ The hat ground out the very last word of its monologue, the raspy tone making me shudder slightly.
I realised this was how we were sorted, we were mentally scanned.
"So you rape our minds and then use that information to place us in a house. What do you do with the information afterwards?" A cackle broke through on the last syllable I had spoken.
~Very, very, cunning and cautious! Slytherin is definitely your home...~
It interrupted before I could re-deliver my question.
~All information I scan... Is oath-sworn to be entirely confidential...~
I interrupted him this time.
"Ah, you would cease to be if you were to break an oath. However, if you are held to an oath, doesn't that mean you used to be a person and there is in fact a soul inside the 'hat'?"
~Ravenclaw would do good for you... as well... Choose...~
"Slytherin. My friends are there, for the most part."
~Hehehehe... I hope to see great things from you... Potter...~
I rolled my eyes.
...
(Solaris's and Lunaris's Perspective)
"SLYTHERIN!" The entire hall gasped in shock as their saviour turned out to be a sneaky snake. Dumbledore was almost apoplectic at the pronouncement, his body rocketing upwards as he rounded on the hat which had been freshly plucked from our newly made friend's head.
"You have made an error...!" His mannerisms showed a desperation and disgust that shocked nearly all of the student body and teachers alike.
The hat didn't seem to be taking his shit either.
"Enough whiskers. I have made my decision and according to the charter it cannot be reversed. Sit down before your entire façade shatters, you useless cunt." Many grimaces and winces washed through the room as Dumbledore stumbled back into his 'throne' and stared at the retreating form of Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, who was ignoring him and calmly sitting at the table of cunning.
Lunaris had a shit-eating grin as McGonagall continued, my own expression placid as I tried to maintain our neutrality towards Dumbledore. The evidence against the headmaster wasn't enough to charge him yet and it was unlikely that any trial or investigation would make headway given the amount of influence he held in Britain. Dad had always said that the UK was his place of power.
The ceremony ended rather quickly after that confrontation with Dean Thomas entering Gryffindor, Lisa Turpin going to Ravenclaw, Ronald Weasley going to the house of the Brave and Blaise Zabini, shockingly, going to Hufflepuff. It was a very Slytherin move to shift to another house of one's own choice; We both could tell since he had a rather cheeky grin.
Finally we were placed in Slytherin, Solaris's name being used for the call; though we both got acknowledges as separate entities by the castle and the hat. He didn't really want to speak with us just yet as apparently the heir of the founders had been found in a previous sorting and he wished to include me in the discussion. We both shrugged and just went along with the placement to Slytherin.
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