Ch 9 - Sorting

Hagrid assigned us all to a boat and I sat with the two girls I road the train with and surprisingly Neville Longbottom

"Hello my name is Harry Potter"

Neville: "Ne-Neville Longbottom"

"Nice to meet you Mr. Longbottom I hope we can be friends"

Neville: "Me too"

That was very easy.

I think I forgot I'm currently surrounded by preteens.

We were ushered into the castle and I could feel increase in density of magic and even my breathing method had increased in efficiency noticeably.

I clamped down on my core and had worn large clothes with my cracked glasses to keep up appearances for the old goat.

I wasn't shapeshifting to appear more sickly as it took up a lot of my concentration to stay in an unnatural state for extended periods and hunching with big clothes will do the trick for now.

It seems Malfoy is avoiding me and after McGonagall's boring speech she ushered us inside.

I gotta say the stars in the roof is very cool and something that I will try to emulate in my own home.

Hermione: "The ceiling is charmed I read in 'A Hogwarts A History'"

Ah yes I remember the incessant need to show off her knowledge now.

"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, Where they are just and loyal, 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 folk 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!"

The names began to be called and everything was going normally.

"RON WEASLEY"

"GRYFFINDOR"

I tuned it out and wondered how to convince that hat to put me in Ravenclaw.

"HERMIONE GRANGER"

"GRYFFINDOR"

Well there is my counterparts original friends.

I'm trying not to judge people based on movie preconceptions but everything is too similar for me to dismiss it completely.

"HARRY POTTER"

Dead silence.

I walked towards the hat and saw the incessant twinkling in an old man's eye, curiosity from the other teachers, a scowl from a bat, and a fake nervous look from a turban wearing Jacko lantern.

McGonnogall put the hat on me as soon as I sat.

"Hello Hat, I don't suppose you could just let me pick a house without all the song and dance can you"

After a few more seconds I felt a strong compulsion telling me that I should follow in the magnificent Dumbledore's footsteps and go to Gryffindor and stay away from anything Slytherin but I quickly squashed it.

Hat: "Intresting, although my original purpose was to be impartial I'm afraid some haphazard changes were made but I'm impressed you are resisting. I can feel that despite you wanting to spite 'the old goat' as you call him you'd rather stay away from both the houses he concerns himslef with.

"Why yes, the more freedom and less scrutiny I face the faster I can grow and shove a lemon drop up his ass"

Hat; "Hahahaha are you sure you don't want to go to Slytherin. You would do very well there"

"Heard it all before but as I said I can't be bothered to dance around inbred fools. I have too much trouble on my hands as is so if you would put me in Ravenclaw I would appreciate it."

Hat: "Hmmm no you are not someone I would put into Ravenclaw. You are a person who takes action and learns by doing rather than a researcher or scholar and you would quickly become disinterested with you fellow housemates. With such qualities normally I would put you in Gryffindor but I fear that if I do you may set me on fire so we will go with..

HUFFLEPUFF"

Well it wasn't all bad.

Tonks is in my house and I'm sure she will be a lot of fun.

I think I could also befriend Susan Bones or Cedric.

Hannah is also in this house who I already befriended but Daphne is still in Slytherin.

I looked over at her and she seems a bit awkward so I smiled and waved which she didn't respond to except for a small nod and twitching of her lips.

I peaked over at the old goat and I can see a strained smile.

He probably believes that I resisted the compulsion due to luck or my strong desire to make friends thus being sorted to Hufflepuff.

He begins his speech with all the veiled warnings and threats of death.

Dumbledore: "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"