Riddle Me This (Harry Potter Fanfic)

Chapter Four: The Sorting Hat

I sit patiently on the bench as a large mass of students makes their way to their seats. People in black cloaks with red patches laugh next to me, while eyeing the food with lust.

"Here, my Dear. You can come in with the rest of the new students and as for you," Professor eyes the students who sit there innocently, their cheeks puffed, "this will come back after the sorting." He snaps his fingers, all the food on the tables disappearing, several groans come from many of the students.

I giggle as the Professor walks me out to the downstairs where an Asian woman stands, a large mass of young students standing behind her.

"Cho Thinwick," Professor Longbottom smiles at her as she curtsies politely.

She looks up at him with inferiority, "Yessir?"

All the students behind her stare at Professor Longbottom, "There's a new student here. She came a different way to Hogwarts and got lost. Please make sure she feels comfortable and please introduce her to the students."

I whisper to the Professor, "But I have no name to introduce myself."

He looks at me strangely, "Well that is a problem. What shall we call you for now?"

I think for a second, Mrs. Thinwick waiting on us, "How about Destiny LeHeart?"

He smiles at me, "It is a suitable name." he looks towards the new students.

Mrs. Thinwick nods to the students who stand there awkwardly, "This, students, is Headmaster Longbottom. He is the Headmaster of the school and he has brought a new student."

The Professor gestures towards me and says, "Destiny LeHeart. Please welcome her."

"Yessir. Now Miss LeHeart, if you will, please get in a formal line with the rest and we will begin the sorting," Miss Thinwick let's me join the crowd of curious students. Two students in particular stare over the shoulders of the others at me.

"Pssst!" a tiny voice whispers.

I look back at a girl with fiery red hair and big hazel eyes that sparkle with interest, the boy standing next to her acting a little protective, his dark black hair barely hiding his blue eyes.

She smiles at me as I just look back at her, "I'm Rose! This is James! It's nice to meet you."

I nod at her, feeling shy at her comment. James smiles politely at me, "I'm-I'm Destiny."

Rose's face brightens at my response. As we continue on I look next to me, noticing that Rose and James both stand there, "What house do you want to be in? I want to be in Gryffindor!"

I smile shyly at her, "I honestly don't know. I only learned about this school yesterday."

"See I want to be like Harry Potter someday and he was in Gryffindor! You know that James's dad is the famous Harry Potter?" she smiles enthusiastically.

"Proud to be and already living up to the expectation!" James laughs.

Rose giggles and hits him playfully on the stomach, "As humble as always!" she laughs as James hits a heroic pose.

"Hey I better get back with the rest of the students. I can't wait for you to be placed in Slytherin!" James laughs.

Rose shivers, pushing James as he walks upstairs to the Dining Hall, "You butt!"

"What's so bad about being in Slytherin?" I ask and almost the whole room grows quiet.

One student looks at me with curious eyes, "You don't know?"

"What?" I ask the blonde girl who looks at me as if I should know this juicy bit of information.

Rose just sighs, "We shouldn't talk about it! Come on," she says as the crowd moves to behind the Dining Hall doors.

A shy boy stands next to me, twiddling his thumbs.

"Oh! And this is Albus! He's my cousin and the brother of James!" Rose smiles at me.

I smile shyly back at him, "I'm Destiny."

After a long wait behind the Dining Hall doors, they finally open and all the new students pile in, in a single file line. Rose holds my hand in line while she taps her foot nervously. The line continues to shrink and after many applause sessions and much cheering, Rose and Albus stand at the front of the line.

"I heard that the hat used to say everything out loud while he looked through your memories. How embarrassing!" Rose giggles.

"What does he do now?" Albus asks.

Rose smiles while patting his shoulder, "He says everything in your head and when he makes a decision, he announces."

"Oh..." Albus says. Professor Longbottom calls up Rose and she takes a seat in front of the crowd of anticipating students. Professor Longbottom smiles at her as he puts the hat on her head, its fabric like burlap and the folds in a shape of a face. It only takes two seconds before the hat yells out, "Gryffindor!"

The students with the red patches on their cloaks begin to cheer as she veers off the 'stage' and sits next to a couple of students who pat her on the back.

I look up and my heart leaps in my chest as Professor Longbottom nods towards me in his remarkable attire. His hair remains a dusty black as I walk onto the stage to the chair in the center. The hat stares at me as if judging me already. I feel self conscious as I step slowly up onto the chair as the Professor lifts up the hat. He gently places it on me as many eyes watch intently.

'Ah, Miss "LeHeart" as if that's really your name,' a mocking voice echoes inside my head.

'How does he know that?' I think. The hat moves atop my head, freaking me out for a second that the hat's alive.

'Please, I know all your secrets even if you don't. Now, for the sorting. Mmmm....' the hat's voice pauses in my head, 'I know exactly where to put you. I hope I never see you again, you disgusting kid,' the voice stops in my head.

"Slytherin!" the hat yells and a table of excited looking people cheer on the right side of the room. I look over at Rose who sits there, a little disappointed.

What did the hat mean by, I hope I never see you again, you disgusting kid? I guess he must know something I don't...