Harry gave Minerva McGonagall a warm smile as she gave the first years her welcome to Hogwarts speech. He eyed his year mates almost all of them looked worried. Which Harry wanted to laugh at, all of them had obviously been sheltered. They didn't understand that joining a school wasn't something to worry about. Dying, facing wizards intent on destroying the world, coping with losing those you cared about, these were things to worry about. Harry was sure that the sorting wasn't something to worry about. But then again most of these children had never had to face anything remotely like what Harry had had to in his brief time on earth which he supposed was as it should be.
But that realization also made Harry feel old, he knew chronologically he was a year and eight months older but he felt almost like an adult in comparison. But he wouldn't trade the choices he'd made the last few years, they had made him into who he was. Harry was as startled by the school ghosts as any of his peers, but suddenly Harry had the feeling that despite everything coming to Hogwarts was going to be a grand adventure and that he was going to enjoy this.
He listened as the sorting hat sang its song and smiled as it sorted Hannah into Hufflepuff. He cheered knowing she had been hoping for that house. Next Susan was called.
Susan gingerly sat on the stool and pulled her braid as the Hat judged her.
"What is this? Hmm, ordinarily I would place you in Hufflepuff because you have a vast loyalty to your friends, but you seem to have developed a crusader streak child. You are more loyal to the changes you wish to see in our world than you are to a single person. A recent development, I see… Due to Harry… I will get to meet him you say, how interesting… Ambition too, hmm, Slytherin is a possibility…"
Susan shuddered at the hat mentioning that possibility but she supposed her goals of changing the divisions in the school qualified as ambitious.
"Where do you want to be child?"
" Put me where I can do the most good." She thought to the Hat.
" Hmm, I guess it will be-GRYFFINDOR-The lions have been lacking in hard work and loyalty the last decade or so."
Susan removed the hat with a bit of a gulp, she had honestly expected to be in Hufflepuff alongside Hannah and Harry, if Harry had his way. She looked to Hannah.
Hannah shrugged as she smiled at Susan in reassurance while cheering for the new lion, they were still best friends. .
Children continued to be sorted when the hat got to Neville it again took more than a few minutes.
Neville was shaking as he approached the Hat.
"Why so frightened, boy?"
"I don't have much magic. I'm not sure I should be here."
"But you are here, despite your fear. Where do you think you should be?"
"Hufflepuff, I know how to work hard but I'm not much good, I am afraid of lots of things."
"Courage isn't just fearlessly charging into dangerous situations. Sometimes courage is being afraid and going forward anyway because it's the right thing to do. I think young one you will find your heart and courage in- GRYFFINDOR!"
Draco all his life had been told Malfoys were Slytherins. But until the last few months when he'd been around the Duke and Duchess, he'd been told purebloods were superior too. He was no longer as certain of that as he had once been. As he had stood awaiting his turn at the Hat his assurance in the rightness of what he'd been told most of his life was shaken. Harry had told him to think not just of tradition but also of the future. Was he truly sure that Slytherin was the best place for himself. Could he live up to the reputation for cunning the House of Slytherin was famous for? His parents sometimes got frustrated with him when he acted without thought and had told him he was acting like a Gryffindor. But he wanted to be a man of influence and power which he believed made him a Slytherin. Which was he, a snake or a lion? Finally his name was called and he went forward. Draco felt an almost overwhelming relief as the Hat barely touched his head before shouting out "SLYTHERIN!"
As he removed the hat he looked to Harry who like Hannah, Susan and Neville cheered for him. He was reassured by Harry's expression. Harry, even if he ended up a lion, would maintain the relationship they had been building. His father would be very pleased. He took a seat at the Slytherin table.
When Harry's name was finally called, he moved forward with confidence; ignoring the sudden spate of conversations and the stares. "Hufflepuff," he thought with all his concentration as the Hat slipped over his head.
The sudden spate of laughter in his head startled his concentration.
"You! A Hufflepuff, Bwah-hah-hah-hee-hee-hah-hah-hee-hee-hee!That's funny! Tee-hee-hee."
"But-"
...
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