chapter: 10
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Harry was amused as he saw the worried face of a young student whose hair was very similar to the girly haired wizard he had conned earlier and realized this might be his son. So much for pureblood nobility.
Minerva scolded the Ghosts who had been given earlier instructions not to haunt the ante room and her strict demeanor instantly enforced discipline on the scared first years. She lined the first years into two lines of boys and girls and headed towards the Great Hall to announce that the first years were ready to be sorted.
Abbot, HANNAH!
The young girl nervously headed to the head of the Great hall and sat down to the small three legged wooden stool and patiently waited to be sorted.
Minerva stepped forward and placed the object on the young girls head and Hannah abbot saw a fuzz of pink and smelled the scent of an old woman's perfume.
It took several minutes until Hannah Abbot, impatient from seating so long at the uncomfortable stool spoke aloud. "What am I supposed to do?"
Albus Dumbledore immediately stood up when he realized that a pink frilly woman's hanker chief was on top of the young girls head. Minerva also realized that something was wrong and began to check her pockets for the missing ancient artifact she had misplaced.
"The sorting hat! It suddenly vanished!" Minerva shrieked as she panicked. "I swear it was in my hand just a moment ago!"
The students in the four houses began to mutter and talk amongst themselves when they heard the proclamation. The sorting hat was missing.
Harry realized what he had on his pocket and for the first time he was actually nervous at stealing something. He also felt strangely excited... thrilled that he had unknowingly stolen a priceless artifact that seemed to have great value judging from the look on the faces of the teachers.
Albus and Minerva rushed to the anteroom to look for the sorting hat and left a confused Hannah Abbott still wearing the ridiculous pink hanky over her head.
Headmaster's office, the day after the theft.
"It's gone... the sorting Hat's gone..." Albus said sadly as his staff surrounded him in his office. "A thousand years of tradition... and it suddenly vanishes."
"I have searched everywhere... The students in my house have assured me that they had nothing to do with this." Severus Snape said.
"Nor with mine." Filius Flitwick said.
"My Puffs are also innocent." Pomona Sprout added.
The three head all looked at Minerva McGonagall and she stared back defiantly. "You think my Lions had anything to do with this?"
"Just two of them." Severus said. "The Weasley Twins are guilty of this... they have gone too far this time."
"I'll have you know that Fred and George have volunteered to swear an oath on their magic that they had nothing to do with this... they are even suggesting that we use Veritaserum on them." Minerva said. "Is that someone who is guilty would do?"
"Well... no." Filius Flitwick admitted. "With the sorting hat missing... how are we going to sort the first years?"
"We have to interview them ourselves..." Albus said. "One person at a time" He winced when he heard the much expected protest from the heads of houses.
"Albus no!"
"We don't have time for this!"
"I have classes to teach, and potions to brew!"
"How many of them are there, forty? Fifty? It would take the whole day..."
Albus raised his hand to silence their protests and stared at them hard, reminding them that he was the headmaster and he was in charge. "What do you propose then? If you can think of something better... by all means tell me."The four heads of house remained silent as they sat on their seats. Albus Dumbledore smiled and said. "We will announce that today will be a day off, in light of recent events. The five of us will begin to interview the first years in thirty minutes, and the majority... that means three votes would be required for a student to be admitted to one of the houses."
"Is there a time limit for each student Headmaster?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"No...It is our responsibility to ask questions to make sure each student is sorted into their proper house. Adding a time limit will pressure us to act in haste and commit a mistake that these children do not deserve... does everyone agree to these terms?" Albus asked.
The heads of houses nodded and the Headmaster dismissed everyone, save Severus Snape. Once they were alone Severus began his report.
"Quirrell's not acting like himself... he is not the same man he was last year." Severus said.
"Keep an eye on him then..." Albus said as he took a lemon drop from the bowl.
"And him too?" Severus asked.
"And Harry of course." Albus said as he popped the lemon drop on his mouth. His wrinkled face wrinkled some more as the sour taste of the candy rushed towards his mouth.
"May I ask why the Sorting Hat didn't speak out when it was... kidnapped? It could have asked for help..." The potions master asked.
"The Hat was deactivated at the time... and there is a reason we always use the three legged brown stool. Once the two connect, the magic fills the hat and comes to life for the whole school year to sort the students and occasionally give a bit of advice to the current Headmaster." Albus said. "I have tried looking at Minerva's memories... the memory was hazy as she was distracted at the time... but I think that the Hat was stolen before she met the first years in the ante room.""It could have been a time delay switching spell..." Severus suggested. "The thief transfigured the pink Hanky to look similar to the sorting hat, and would change back once the sorting hat was needed."
"That is plausible" Albus admitted. "Who was with Minerva before she met with the first years?"
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