Interstellar || Draco Malfoy

3 || The Sorting Ceremony

The Sorting Ceremony was something that Desdemona had looked forward to since she'd read about it. Of course, the floating candles that never seemed to melt interested her, as did the ceiling enchanted to look like the sky above it. But nothing seemed more interesting to Desdemona than the Sorting Ceremony and the houses of Hogwarts.

She turned toward the table full of students clad in yellow. Hufflepuff students were known for their unwavering loyalty and dedication. Beside them, students clad in red smiled brightly at the incoming new students. The Gryffindor students pride themselves in being courageous and brave. The next table was a sea of students in blue. The Ravenclaws were known to be intelligent and wise, but they weren't boastful about it. The final table was full of students clad in green, glaring at the new students. The Slytherins were known for their ambition and their cunning nature.

Desdemona was torn; she didn't know whether she belonged in Gryffindor house or Slytherin house. She'd grown up on the streets, so she'd learned to be brave and courageous- especially in the face of danger. And, her upbringing in the streets forced her to be cunning and ambitious- mostly when she had to steal food.

Stopping alongside the other students, Desdemona scanned the table at the very front of the Great Hall. She allowed her eyes to travel over the professors, willing herself to mentally name the current heads of houses. Professor McGonagall, head of Gryffindor house, was placing the Sorting Hat onto the head's of students. Desdemona's green eyes flicked over to the table located behind the professor, spotting Severus Snape. He was the head of Slytherin, Desdemona remembered, and he was shooting small glares at the curious girl. Filius Flitwick was next, head of Ravenclaw. His smile was bright as he regarded new and returning Ravenclaw students. Finally, Desdemona's eyes landed on Pomona Sprout, head of Hufflepuff. She'd smiled warmly at the curious girl, and clapped happily as another student was sorted into her house.

Headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore sat patiently in the largest chair in the room, a youthful glint in his eyes as he regarded his new class of students. When his eyes and Desdemona's locked, the young witch couldn't help but look away. His eyes held many, many truths; most of which Desdemona wasn't ready for. His eyes held the truth of her parents; she could tell this because his expression changed when he laid eyes on the girl. She kept her eyes forward after that, hoping to disappear from the headmaster's heavy gaze.

"Desdemona Littlesea." Professor McGonagall called. With slightly shaky legs, Desdemona climbed the two steps before her and sat on the stool the other students had sat on. The professor paced the Sorting Hat gently on her unruly curls, standing back to let the hat do its job.

"Smart little street rat," The Sorting Hat had mumbled, prompting Desdemona to huff in annoyance. She wasn't a street rat, despite how she lived. "Maybe street smart, but not academically so. Not Ravenclaw. Alone since you could form memory, so no sense of loyalty either. Definitely not Hufflepuff. Hmm."

As the hat hummed in contemplation, Desdemona allowed her shoulders so sag. She didn't think it meant to be, but the hat was quite rude and offensive.

"Courageous, but your bravery is a farce. Used to convince others you're something you're not." The hat droned on. "Your cunning, however, is true. As true as the ambitions you hold within your mind."

Desdemona read about this; the hat was stalling. It didn't know whether she belonged in Gryffindor or Slytherin, so it was buying itself time. She shifted uncomfortably, the eyes of many anxious students on her all at once.

"Definitely more resigned than social." The hat hummed again, perking up slightly. "I know! Slytherin!"

Professor McGonagall finally took the hat from Desdemona's head, after a gruelling five minutes of listening to the hat abuse the poor girl. Desdemona turned toward the cheering students, all proudly wearing their green and silver. She made her way to the table and sat at the very end, hoping to be as far away from anyone as possible.

Draco watched as she did so, smiling softly to himself as he realized he would be sharing a house with Desdemona. She tilted her head and rested her chin on the palm of her hand, watching the other kids get sorted with the ghost of a smile on her face. It was then that Draco knew that his next seven years at Hogwarts would be spent trying to solve the riddle that was Desdemona Littlesea.