The Sorting and God
The massive oak doors groaned as they swung open slowly, revealing a tall, severe-looking woman, dressed in emerald-green robes standing behind it. Professor McGonagall. Her demeanor coupled with her robes and tight bun, was already giving her an imposing presence.
"The Firs' years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid announced.
Professor McGonagall gave him a curt nod. "Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
The entrance hall was vast—larger than any of them had likely imagined. Stone walls, lined with flaming torches like the kind Harry had seen at Gringotts. The ceiling was impossibly high, and directly ahead, a magnificent marble staircase gleamed under the torchlight.
Even though Harry had already sensed the layout of the place with his magic, experiencing it with his own eyes was something else entirely. The ancient magic woven into the very foundation of the castle thrummed in the air, and Harry could feel it like a pulse. It was old, and alive.
They followed Professor McGonagall across the vast chamber, their footsteps echoing against the stone floor. From a doorway to the right, a steady hum of voices spilled into the hall—the excited chatter of older students waiting in the Great Hall.
McGonagall led them past the grand staircase and through a smaller door, ushering them into a side chamber. The first years shuffled inside, pressing together in the limited space.
Harry shifted uncomfortably as shoulders bumped and robes brushed against him. He had never liked being boxed in like this, surrounded on all sides. It felt stifling.
The room fell into a hushed silence as McGonagall turned to face them, her gaze sweeping across the nervous faces before her. "Welcome to Hogwarts," she said. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your Houses."
Harry already knew all this from the books, and Vernon, and Sirius, who had spent a good portion of their ride to King's Cross rambling about Hogwarts—their tales often exaggerated, but informative nonetheless. The Sorting Hat would sort them into one of the four houses, which would essentially act as their family during their time at Hogwarts.
"The Sorting is a very important…" McGonagall continued, but Harry found himself tuning her out.
His mind wandered back to the wards he had felt earlier—ancient and intricate. Dumbledore had cut him off the last time he had tried to probe them further, which meant there was more to them than met the eye. But should he try again? No, best not to push it for now.
Instead, his thoughts drifted to the Sorting. Should he take the expected route and end up in Gryffindor, or should he go for other houses this time? If his goal was power, then Slytherin was a logical choice. For knowledge, Ravenclaw would be the best. But would it be worth the hassle? He barely caught McGonagall's last words as he snapped back to attention.
"Please wait quietly," she instructed before sweeping out of the chamber.
The moment she left, a hushed murmur spread through the room—nervous whispers and speculative chatter. Harry ignored it, slipping back into his thoughts. He barely noticed when the temperature in the room dropped slightly, a soft whooshing sound breaking the silence.
"I say, what are you all doing here?" a voice asked.
A few gasps followed as the first years turned to find a ghost hovering in mid-air, dressed in an old-fashioned ruff and tights. His pale, semi-transparent form flickered faintly in the dim light.
Since no one else seemed capable of forming words, Harry spoke up. "We're first years, waiting for the Sorting Ceremony."
"Ah, of course!" The ghost beamed. "Always a pleasure to see new students. I do hope some of you end up in Hufflepuff. That was my old house, you know. Marvelous place!"
Before anyone could respond, McGonagall's sharp voice cut through the air. "Move along now. The Sorting Ceremony is about to start."
The ghost gave them a parting smile before floating away through the opposite wall. McGonagall turned back to the first years. "Now, form a line," she instructed. "And follow me."
Harry fell into place at the front, with Ron, Hermione, and a sandy-haired boy lining up behind him. As they stepped out of the chamber, anticipation prickled at the edge of his thoughts.
McGonagall led them into the Great Hall. As the double doors swung open, the sight before them stole everyone's breath away.
The Great Hall was magnificent. Hundreds of floating candles hovered above four long tables where the older students were seated. The enchanted ceiling mirrored the night sky, a vast expanse of deep blue dotted with glimmering stars. At the far end of the hall, the teachers sat at a raised table, Dumbledore in the center, his eyes twinkling behind half-moon spectacles.
A hush fell over the room as the first years stepped inside, all eyes on them. And in that moment, the Sorting truly began.
McGonagall placed a three-legged stool in front of the gathered first years, and atop it, she set a patched, ancient hat. The Sorting Hat. Its brim moved, and suddenly it began to sing.
One by one, students were called forward. Then, "Potter, Harry."
Harry stepped forward and placed the hat on his head, which was quite large for his head and fell down to almost the level of his nose. Instantly, a voice spoke in his mind. "Well, well, well… What do we have here? How peculiar… You don't belong in this world."
Harry stiffened. "You know that?"
"Oh, I see everything in your mind, my boy. Your past life, your memories… Fascinating." the hat said.
Harry frowned. "Can you not look through my memories? I don't appreciate that."
The hat replied in a dismissive tone. "Oh, calm down. I cannot do anything to you. And it's not the first time someone from a different world has appeared here."
Harry's breath caught. "It's happened before?"
"Ah, yes," the hat mused. "Nearly 800 years ago, another like you appeared."
"Who?" Harry demanded.
"I cannot say. Some things are not mine to reveal." the hat clipped back. "Now, which house to put you in… Since you don't really need to be here after all."
"You have ambition, cunning and intelligence… Slytherin would definitely help you achieve greatness." the hat continued.
"Gryffindor, If I'm destined to be great, I'll be great anywhere." Harry countered. "And put Ron and Hermione there too."
The back and forth with the sorting hat continued and after twenty four agonizing minutes, Harry was victorious as the hat relented. "GRYFFINDOR!"
The hall erupted into an applause bigger than any before, as Harry removed the hat and made his way to the Gryffindor table. Not only Gryffindor but even Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were cheering, not louder than the Weasley twins though, who were chanting on how they got Potter. Afterward, Hermione and Ron were sorted as well, both joining him in Gryffindor, just as he had asked.
He could see the High Table properly now. At the end nearest to him sat Hagrid, followed by Babbling, Snape, Quirrell, Vector, and Sprout in order. At the center, in a large golden chair, sat Dumbledore, who caught his eyes and smiled, nodding at him. On the other side of Dumbledore, there was an empty chair which Harry figured would be McGonagall's seat, next to that, Flitwick was seated followed by Kettlebrun, Trelawny and Madam Pomfrey.
Neville came to join the Gryffindor table too. And as usual Draco and his lot went to Slytherin. After the sorting was over, Dumbledore got to his feet beaming at the students. He opened his arms, as if nothing could have pleased him more than seeing them all there.
"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Now, before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"
"Thank you!"
He sat back down as everyone clapped and cheered. Harry didn't know whether to laugh or clap. Just like the books, Dumbledore was a bit mad and seemed to love to keep people guessing. The empty plates and trays in front of him were now piled with food. He had never seen such a variety of food at once, roast beef, chicken, turkey, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, bacon, steaks, mash, roast potatoes, chips, Yorkshire pudding, veggies, tarts, pies, gravy, and for the strangest reason peppermint humbugs.
Harry smiled as he looked around the table. The magic with which the food just appeared out of nowhere seemed very interesting, not that he would be able to learn it as he was about ninety percent sure that it was house-elf magic. Well let's not dwell on things I cannot learn when I have this amazing spread in front of me.
With that thought, he proceeded to fill his plate with all the meat he could reach and proceeded to start eating, while the twins who were seated next to him started cracking jokes that almost had others snorting out their food. Just as he was cutting into his steak, a note flew in and landed in front of him.
"I would like to have our pending discussion after the feast, Harry, if you don't mind waiting afterwards.
—Albus Dumbledore"
Harry stared at the note, his appetite fading instantly. He had almost forgotten about the discussion he had promised Dumbledore. What would he tell him? Well certainly he couldn't tell him that he was from a different world, where the Harry Potter universe is nothing but a series of books for teens and childrens. And even if he did, he would end up becoming an experimental body for Dumbledore as that man wouldn't stop at anything until he gets every detail out of him. Yes, no one could deny that Dumbledore is a good man, but he is controlling, there is no denying that either.
As all these thoughts ran amok in his mind, the prospect of the meal seemed quite unappealing now. Harry also didn't realise that he had stopped moving with that note clutched in his hand until Ron reached over the table and shook him.
"Harry? You alright, mate? You've been staring at that note like it's going to explode or something." Ron said, frowning.
Harry shook his head and forced a smile, "Yeah, just… thinking."
"Well, stop thinking and start eating!" Fred grinned. "Wasting food should be a crime, right, Georgie?"
"Absolutely, Freddie. Heinous behavior. We might have to report you."
Harry chuckled, shaking his head as he picked up his fork again. There was no reason to act paranoid. He will definitely make something up, enough to satisfy the old man. But right now, he really should enjoy the delicious spread in front of him.
After the last morsel of pumpkin pie disappeared from the plates, Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again, and the hall went completely silent.
'Ahem—just a few more words, now that we are all fed and watered. A few start-of-term notices that I wish to share." He looked around the hall, with his twinkling eyes.
"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." Dumbledore's eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins. "I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors."
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch." Dumbledore smiled. "And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Harry thought about this. Well getting bitten to death by Fluffy would certainly be quite painful. After all, the 'Sorcerer's Stone' was being kept at Hogwarts right now. Well he would have to deal with that later, for now he looked forward to the library and most importantly, the Forbidden Forest. There was no way he was staying away from those two.
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore. Harry noticed that the other teachers' smiles had become rather fixed. After everyone sang the song, the prefects started showing the first years to their respective common rooms. He told Percy that he had to wait as Dumbledore wanted to talk to him. At this Percy nodded, and led the other first years towards Gryffindor tower. Harry could see that Percy wanted to ask him more, but he was thankful he didn't.
Just as Percy made it through the door, Harry heard his name and he turned around to see Dumbledore walking towards him.
"Harry! How have you been?" Dumbledore beamed at him.
"I have been good sir. Pretty excited to come here to be honest." Harry replied with a smile.
"Ah, yes. I could sense your excitement earlier." Dumbledore beamed. "Now onto more important matters. Why don't we continue that discussion in my office?"
"Sure sir," Harry nodded.
Dumbledore led Harry out of the Great Hall and into the entrance hall. He stood in front of the stone gargoyle and said out loud, "Lemon Sherbet." At once the gargoyle sprang aside revealing a spiral staircase.
"Follow me, Harry." Dumbledore said as he started climbing the staircase.
Harry followed the old headmaster as they made their way to his office. Soon they came to a door which Dumbledore opened and entered revealing a circular room unlike anything Harry had ever seen before.
The room seemed to have a life of its own. The tapestries on the walls shimmered with a subdued luminescence, their intricate details catching Harry's attention. The tens of different magical instruments spread across the room, flickered and tweaked. Dumbledore's desk, which was now illuminated by the warm flicker of candles, stood silently in the middle of the room.
Harry's eyes glided over everything from the flickering fireplace to the book shelves, trying to take in everything in its whole. Harry had such an excited expression on his face that it caused Dumbledore to smile, when he turned back to look at him.
"Well then Harry, I believe you promised me a discussion." Dumbledore said as he sat down at his desk.
Harry sighed. There was no way he could get out of this. He had to tell him. But what kind of story should he make up, cause there was no way he was telling him the truth. Not just Dumbledore, he wasn't going to tell anyone about that truth ever. It's going to the grave with him.
"Well, just take a seat first," Dumbledore said, pointing to the chair in front of the desk.
Harry sat down and his mind immediately zeroed in on one word, which caused him to calm down. He could get out of the situation after all.
"Now Harry, would you mind telling me how you came across the news about Pettigrew?"
"Well sir, the entire thing is very confusing to me as well. But it happened about a year ago. I was up late that night trying to make sense of one of the books that I was reading." Harry started. "I went to bed frustrated since I wasn't exactly able to figure it out, and I had this weird dream."
Harry paused for a moment before continuing, "I wasn't exactly sure what I was seeing, but I just heard a woman scream and a really big flash of green light."
At the mention of this Dumbledore made a sudden movement as if to grab Harry's hand but decided against it. He pulled his hand back and sighed, deeply.
"Later I came to realise that what I saw was my mom being murdered by Voldemort." Harry replied in a solemn tone. "But that's not important… you see, after having that dream for a few days, I didn't wake up immediately. That's when I saw them—my parents. I knew it was them from various photos Mum had shown me."
Dumbledore raised his eyebrow at that. He had just heard Harry call Petunia, Mum. While he was sure that Petunia must be overjoyed by that, but Harry calling her Mum voluntarily was something he found quite intriguing.
Harry continued, "They greeted me. Hugged and kissed me while telling me how much they loved me and that they were sorry for leaving me like that." A tear rolled down Harry's cheeks as his mind flashed back to the memories of his own parent's death.
"They continued talking with me about various things. Then Dad asked what Sirius was up to these days, and I told him that he was in Azkaban for betraying them. That's when I knew something was wrong, since both of them looked confused." Harry said. "After that they told me everything on how they had switched to Pettigrew as the Secret Keeper right before their death. And how it was Pettigrew who betrayed them and not Sirius."
"They also told me how Sirius had gone after Pettigrew. How Pettigrew had blown up the entire street and disappeared. This shocked me because this all happened after their deaths. I asked them how they knew about what had happened after their death." Harry stared at the table in front of them. "They had thought that Pettigrew was caught and punished."
Dumbledore thought deeply about what Harry was describing. While there was almost a certainty that Harry was lying, he wanted to know why he was lying. What could cause him not to divulge what he knew.
Then Harry continued, "Mom told me that they saw the thing about Pettigrew since they had not crossed over yet, but they couldn't tell anyone. James said that you would have seen through it right away and how you wouldn't have let Pettigrew get away. He also told me that they wouldn't be able to come see me again, since even that meeting was arranged by a god with much difficulty. And that god had blessed me or something…"
Dumbledore was now both shocked and guilty. Guilty since he wasn't able to prove Sirius innocent at that time… no not that he wasn't able to… he didn't. He could have easily asked for administration of Veritaserum, which would have saved Sirius from all those years at Azkaban. And shocked by the mention of god. He was racking his mind trying to figure out why he had never come across such a situation before.
Harry looked up at the Headmaster. He knew that the subtle hint of him failing to protect Sirius would be a serious guilt trip for the old man, but he could not not say it, since it was true. He could have easily administered Veritaserum and found out the truth, but he didn't.
"That is a very rare and interesting dream to experience Harry. And I believe your mastery started after this weird dream?" Dumbledore asked as his twinkling eyes regarded Harry in a peculiar gaze.
"Yes sir, after that dream, I somehow started understanding magic on a deeper level."
Dumbledore sighed. This was a very confusing and weird occurrence to him. He didn't really believe Harry's words since he knew he was lying, but he couldn't really force him to tell the truth. If that boy didn't want to share it, he didn't really have the right to try and pry into it. And given Harry's wand and prowess, it wasn't completely out of line to think that greater powers were at play.
"Very well, Harry. Before I let you head back to your dormitory. May I see your wand?"
Harry was taken aback by that request. He didn't think that Ollivander would have told Dumbledore about it. Well he didn't really blame that guy, since the appearance of Elythral was unprecedented and he could see that Ollivander was just scared of the worst.
He reluctantly held out Elythral towards the Headmaster. Dumbledore didn't touch the wand since from what was written in Ollivander's letter, there was a huge possibility that he might just die. So instead he looked at it, trying to figure it out and after about five minutes of him silently studying the wand, he thanked Harry and sent him off.