Chapter 74: "Sorting"

The first-year students, wide-eyed and filled with wonder, made their way to the front of the Great Hall, eagerly anticipating the moment that would define their next seven years at Hogwarts. Amidst the quiet murmur of the hall, a soft cough echoed, drawing everyone's attention to a seemingly ordinary hat perched on a stool before the teachers' podium.

This was no ordinary hat, however; it was the renowned Sorting Hat, famous not only for its pivotal role in sorting new students into their respective houses but also for its annual song.

With a flourish, the hat burst into its latest composition, a tradition that marked the beginning of every school year.

The song, crafted with care over the course of the year, began with a self boast about the sorting hat's wisdom and insight, then continued into the description of each house's core virtues.

While the song resonated with the younger members of the audience, enchanting them with tales of bravery, loyalty, intelligence, and ambition, Harry found it somewhat lacking. To him, it seemed tailored more to the tastes of children, failing to stir any particular fondness in him.

As the final notes of the Sorting Hat's performance faded, a polite round of applause filled the hall. Professor McGonagall, holding a lengthy scroll with the names of all the first-year students, stepped forward. Clearing her throat, she announced that she would begin calling names, instructing each named student to approach the podium for their sorting. 

She began the ceremony by calling out, "Allen, Ray."

A muggle-born boy, clearly nervous, stepped up to the podium. With a reassuring smile, McGonagall gestured for him to sit on the stool and placed the voluminous Sorting Hat atop his head, enveloping him completely.

A hush fell over the Great Hall, punctuated only by the murmur of the hat as it deliberated. Then, for all to hear, it announced, "Hufflepuff!"

The Hufflepuff table burst into applause and cheers, welcoming Ray as his robes magically transformed to reflect his new house colors. Grinning, he hurried to join his new housemates, while McGonagall proceeded with the next name.

Roger Davies was next, a name Harry recognized. As expected, he was sorted into Ravenclaw, moving to his house's table with a confident stride.

"Diggory, Cedric," McGonagall called a few names later, drawing Harry's attention. Harry offered a supportive smile as Cedric approached the stool with composure.

"Hufflepuff!" was the hat's declaration. Cedric removed the hat, his smile broadening as the hall cheered. He then made his way to the Hufflepuff table, taking a seat near Ray Allen.

As the sorting continued, Harry observed the number of new students in his batch. The group was small, about thirty, reflecting the impact of the last war on wizarding families. Harry mused that this trend of reduced student numbers might persist for the next few years due to the fact that the war lasted for that many years and wizards fearing for their lives, had no time to make babies.

The sorting ceremony continued and saw familiar faces like Angelina Johnson, Lee Jordan, and Alicia Spinnet all being sorted into Gryffindor. Other names Harry didn't recognize were dispersed among the houses, with Hufflepuff receiving the most new members so far.

"Potter, Hadrian," Professor McGonagall's voice echoed in the Great Hall, pulling Harry back from his wandering thoughts.

The mention of his name caused an immediate hush, followed by a murmur of whispers among the students. Harry knew the whispers were likely due to him being the rumored brother of the Boy-Who-Lived or due to his recent emancipation news, perhaps both.

Walking to the stool with a casual demeanor, Harry ignored the eyes he felt on him, especially the gaze of Professor Snape and Dumbledore. Harry could bet their gazes would be filled with annoyance or anger.

The moment the Sorting Hat settled on his head, Harry was met with an unexpected internal conversation.

"A bright mind I see, and sturdy shields for Occlumency. Would you mind lowering them, or shall I attempt to bypass them? It might take a moment," the Hat proposed inside Harry's mind.

"If you try, I'll remove you and walk away. You're too close to Dumbledore for my comfort to access my thoughts," Harry retorted firmly.

The Hat reassured him, "Fear not, Mr Potter. My duty is to the school, and your secrets are safe with me. I must delve into your mind to sort you properly."

Harry, however, remained unconvinced. "No, I can't risk it. Why don't you just ask me questions, and based on my answers, decide my house? I'm indifferent to the outcome; it's merely seven years of school."

The Hat hesitated, "I cannot easily break tradition. It's typically a swift process."

Harry stood his ground firmly, wary of the Sorting Hat potentially revealing his many secrets. He wasn't willing to risk Dumbledore learning anything more about him through the Sorting Hat.

"Let's not remove me just yet," the Hat quickly said, sensing Harry's determination to remove it from his head. "Given your unique stance, I'll make an exception. But let's keep this adjustment between us. Now, let's move on to some questions. How do you perceive the houses, Mr Potter?"

Harry explained, "My original views aligned somewhat with your song, yet how you've sorted students over the years has changed my opinion about the various houses. Gryffindor now seems suited for the bold and somewhat reckless, Ravenclaw for those who cherish knowledge and solitude, Slytherin for the ambitious, often under familial pressure, and Hufflepuff serves as a haven for everyone else."

The Hat acknowledged, "Ah, a keen mind indeed, Mr. Potter. Of late, ensuring children find their place, not feel alienated, and meeting their parents' expectations, has been pivotal in my sorting. It's a grave matter when a child fears disappointing their loved ones. So, where do you see yourself?"

Harry responded, "Gryffindor's bustle doesn't appeal to me, and Hufflepuff may lack the privacy I crave. Slytherin... well, I'd rather not fuel rumors of becoming the next Dark Lord. That leaves Ravenclaw as my preference."

"Indeed, your logic is sound," the Hat concluded. "While Slytherin could be fitting, your concerns hold weight. Therefore, it's decided – better be RAVENCLAW!" This final word, the Hat proclaimed aloud for the hall to hear.

Harry removed the Sorting Hat with a sense of achievement, handed it back to Professor McGonagall, and hurried towards the Ravenclaw table.

The Ravenclaws welcomed him with open arms, their chants of "We got Potter" filling the hall with excitement. While the Ravenclaws around him extended their congratulations, their curiosity was piqued by the length of Harry's conversation with the Hat.

To their inquiries about the delay, Harry offered a cryptic response about discussing the meaning of life with the Sorting Hat, which, though unsatisfying, ended their probing.

Harry really didn't think his bold move with the Sorting Hat would actually pay off. He had brainstormed several strategies about how his sorting might unfold, focusing on whether the Hat could directly dive into his memories. Harry's main worry was if the Hat managed to read his thoughts, there was a chance, it might share his secrets with Dumbledore.

To Harry's relief, the Hat couldn't directly access his memories, prompting him to activate his plan B: threatening to leave Hogwarts if the Hat tried anything funny. Surprisingly, this tactic worked.

Harry figured that if the Hat couldn't peek into his mind in an instant, it wasn't as powerful as he'd assumed, which also meant there was a risk his secrets could end up in Dumbledore's lap. Not willing to take that chance, Harry stood his ground, ready to walk out if pushed into a corner, hoping Dumbledore would intervene to keep him at Hogwarts.

In the end, Harry was glad his gamble succeeded; otherwise, he'd have been stuck continuing his education at home or possibly seeking schooling abroad.

After a short while, the sorting ceremony concluded. Harry watched as his companions from the Hogwarts Express found their new homes within Hogwarts. Reginald was sorted into Ravenclaw, joining Harry, and the girls, Arabella and Elvinia, were placed in Slytherin, as Harry had somewhat anticipated.

The Weasley twins, Fred and George, landed in Gryffindor, a decision that surprised no one. Slytherin welcomed two new members, Adrian Pucey and Cassius Warrington. Harry wasn't familiar with either boy, but he got the sense that Adrian might be alright, whereas Cassius gave off the air of a potential troublemaker for the year.

With the sorting out of the way, Headmaster Dumbledore rose to speak. He delivered a few words that made no sense and then signaled for the start of the feast.

The tables were magically filled with a vast assortment of British cuisine. Harry, whose palate had been refined by the international dishes Mira prepared, was less than thrilled by the offerings. The prospect of dining on this fare for the next seven years was not appealing, but given his rigorous physical training and the need for sustenance, he began to eat.

Thanks to the security measures imbued in his Potter heir status, Harry was confident that his food was safe from any harmful potions or tampering—a necessary precaution at a school known for its mischievous pranksters who might slip something into the meals.