The Slytherin King

3

Cepheus stood with the group as Professor McGonagall brought them into a small chamber off the hall. She looked like a strict yet fair woman. However, he knew looks can be deceiving, so he decided to wait and see.

"Welcome to Hogwarts!" said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your houses will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
- Professor McGonagall,
Ch.7 Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

She then stated she would come when they were ready and left the chamber. He heard a muggle-born ask Weasley how they were to be sorted. Apparently, one of the Weasley Twins said they would fight a troll. He was sure it was a joke.

"Of course, it was a joke, Weasley!" Stated Draco with an eye-roll. "You'd have to be stupid to believe it!"

Before Weasley could reply, they were taken to the Great Hall. Cepheus saw that it looked just as Uncle Lucius described! There were four long tables, one for each house. He saw the High Table for the faculty, which was long, facing the tables for the students. Upon closer examination, he saw which houses sat at which table.

At one end, there were students wearing green and silver—the Slytherins, he remembered. He wanted to be in that house. He knew his Uncle said his Mum and Dad would be proud no matter what, but the house just felt right. Plus, the house animal is a serpent—his favorite animal!

Next to the Slytherin table was a table full of blue and bronze. 'Ravenclaw,' he thought. According to his aunt, they were a decent house. She told him his Uncle Barty was a member of that house. He supposed if not Slytherin, then Ravenclaw would do. However, why they have an Eagle for their animal when the name is Ravenclaw is a mystery to him.

Next to them was the table filled with yellow and black. Hufflepuff. His Aunt told him they were often underestimated but for him not to do so. They were hard workers and had patience for miles. But they were also Loyal, and if you had a Hufflepuff on your side, you were going to have a friend for life. He thought Neville would make a great Hufflepuff.

And then next to them was a house of scarlet and gold. The colors looked odd to him. He would refuse that house no matter what. Especially because he remembered the story of Sirius Black. His Mum was apparently really disappointed in her cousin. He wasn't sure if he could handle that.

He finally looked up and saw Professor McGonagall standing next to a stool with a brown pointed hat upon it. It had a rip near the brim, which opened and began to sing:

"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.