6 Chapter 6: Sorting
As the Hogwarts Express slowed to a stop at Hogsmeade station, I grabbed my Hogwarts robe from my red trunk and put it on. Despite Madam Malkin's adjustments, the robe was still uncomfortable and too restrictive for my liking.
I suppose my days as Green Arrow influenced my preference for comfortable and practical clothing and exited the train.
As he followed the other first-year students through the station and down the path leading to the lake, Alexander looked around in amazement at the thestrals pulling the carriages waiting for them.
Suddenly, a booming voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Firs' years, over here!"
Alexander looked over to see a large man with a wild beard and a fur coat waving them over. It was Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper, and keeper of keys.
"Welcome to Hogwarts! I'm Hagrid, yer' friend and guide to the wizarding world. Now, follow me to the boats, we'll be takin' yeh across the lake to the castle."
Alexander joined the other first-year students but made sure to be the last as they followed Hagrid down the path to the lake. As they walked, Hagrid talked to them about Hogwarts, pointing out interesting facts and answering questions.
Looking out at the lake, Alexander was awed by the beauty of the scenery and the serenity that emanated from nature it reminded me of the purgatory islands. He felt at peace, but also nostalgic at the thought of starting his student life again.
Eventually, the students arrived at the end of the lake, where a large black boat was waiting for them. Alexander took a deep breath before boarding.
Once on board, Alexander looked for a spot on the deck, scanning the other students and memorizing their faces easily. He was quickly joined by a girl with blonde hair, who asked if he was new to Hogwarts. Alexander nodded, and she smiled kindly at him.
"My name is Penelope Clearwater," she introduced herself. "I'm a fourth-year Ravenclaw. What house are you hoping to be in?"
Alexender decided to answer her question in a bored manner and said "Ravenclaw or Slytherin". He turned to the front of the boat and watched in fascination as Hogwarts drew nearer.
The castle was immense. He was eager to discover all the secrets hidden within the walls of Hogwarts, to meet the ghost, and students, and to begin his life of magic.
Upon arriving at the Hogwarts dock, Alexander anticipated the start of his new life at the world's most renowned school of witchcraft and wizardry.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take it from here," a woman wearing long, flowing robes in deep emerald green, adorned with silver clasps and buckles said as he disembarked the boat.
The professor bluuurh it's really hard to call her a professor knowing the many rules she broke and the lack of attention to the student of her house during the year.
Deciding to concentrate on her speech to observe how much did her personality change from the cannon timeline which I found to be perfectly the same.
She first led them up the marble staircase towards the grand hall where Alexander could hear the sounds of the students behind the large, closed door. During the short ascent, the professor gave a brief speech about the point system,
prompting many of the first-year students to whisper about their parents' houses and their own potential placements.
Alexender frowned at the lack of ways to use house points apart from the house cup.
Suddenly, Ron's loud talking caught Alexander's attention, but before he could react, the mischievous student known as Peeve made an entrance, arousing many students with a water balloon.
Thankfully, he didn't target Alexander even if he didn't have a chance to touch him, who was wary of being seen as "special" and stigmatized.
Before anything could be said to the ghost the door opened to reveal hundreds of students from the four houses, seated at their respective tables with ghostly figures floating above.
The hall was breathtakingly beautiful and magical, far surpassing the images Alexander had conjured up in his mind from reading and watching Harry Potter.
During this brief moment, some ghosts guarded their distance but some started to take an interest in certain children I wonder why?
The sorting hat started singing the first song
"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!"
McGonagall arranged us into a line in the Great Hall by order alphabetic starting with "Abbot Hannah"
I watched curiously as Hannah was sorted into Hufflepuff, just as she was in the canon timeline despite her talking with Hermione about magical theory above the first years. She exchanged a smile with Susan Bones and Harriet before taking her place at the Hufflepuff table.
The sorting continued, with each student being sorted into their respective house.
Even if I couldn't help but notice the change in the sorting this year, with a female version of Neville Longbottom named Nevina, Hermione Granger, and finally Harriet Potter being sorted into Hufflepuff. It was an interesting deviation from the canon timeline
Finally, the Sorting Hat was placed on my head, and I heard its voice in my mind as it evaluated my qualities. After a few moments, it called out "Ravenclaw!" and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding as I made my way over to the Ravenclaw table.
As the sorting ceremony came to an end, Dumbledore gave a brief speech welcoming us to Hogwarts by saying: "As you know, Hogwarts contains many secrets, and it is true that one of these secrets is a valuable object that is being guarded
by a series of magical defenses in the forbidden corridor on the third floor. But I must ask you not to go wandering around the corridors at night. If Prefects catch you, you'll be in trouble.
And believe me, when I say that the object that is being guarded is not something that you want to get your hands on."
Then, the feast began, and I indulged in the delicious dishes served including roast beef, chicken, lamb, and pork, as well as fish and vegetarian like there was no tomorrow. The side dishes included potatoes, vegetables, and salads.
After eating a little of all the food provided by the Hogwarts house elves sweet treats began to appear on the table and I ate a little of treacle tart.
Eventually, the feast came to an end, and we were dismissed to our dormitories. We followed the perfect in the west side of the castle on the seventh floor where the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room. It was a narrow door carved into the stone wall that was
barely visible from the outside that gives us a riddle to solve "What has a heart that doesn't beat?"
Seeing nobody answering I answered "a painting" in an angry manner, I was tired, being without 72 hours of sleep will do that to you.
I knew it was time to retire to my room. I reached the door to my room like the other did and fished out my wand and muttered the incantation to unlock the door.
The door swung open, revealing a cozy room with a comfortable bed, a desk, and a window that overlooked the Hogwarts grounds.
I quickly changed into my pajamas, applied some ward to wake me up if someone breached them, and climbed into bed applied, feeling the soft sheets and warm blankets envelop me. I closed my eyes and felt myself drift off to sleep, feeling grateful for the peaceful solitude of my private room.
