A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Chapter Five

All the ghosts float through the wall as McGonagall turns to the first years "Now, form a line and follow me." she tells them. Everyone quickly gets into a line and follow McGonagall through a large double door, into the Great Hall. Nathan looks at the thousands of floating candles, that are hovering above four long tables where the other students are sat. The tables laid with golden plates and goblets, a long table at the top of the hall with the teachers sat at it. McGonagall leads the first years to the front of the hall where they come to a stop, Nathan to avoid the staring students by looking up at the enchanted ceiling. McGonagall silently places a four-legged stool in front of them, a pointed, frayed, patched, wizard's hat sat on top. The hat twitches, a rip near the brim opening wide like a mouth "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. There's nothing hidden in your head The Sorting Hat can't see, So try me on and I will tell you Where you ought to be. You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell the brave at heart, Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart; You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal, Those patient Hufflepuffis are true And unafraid of toil; Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, if you've a ready mind, Where those of wit and learning, Will always find their kind; Or perhaps in Slytherin You'll make your real friends, Those cunning folk use any means To achieve their ends. So put me on! Don't be afraid! And don't get in a flap! You're in safe hands (though I have none) For I'm a Thinking Cap!" it sings, the whole hall bursting into applause.

The hat bows to each of the four tables before becoming still again "So we've just got to try on the hat! I'll kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling a troll." Ron tells Harry and Nathan. Professor McGonagall steps forward holding a long roll of parchment "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted. Abbott, Hannah!" she says. A blonde girl stumbles forward and puts the hat on "HUFFLEPUFF!" it shouts. The table on the right cheers and claps as Hannah goes over and sits with them. "Bones, Susan!" McGonagall calls. "HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouts again, Susan going off to sit next to Hannah. "Boot, Terry!" McGonagall says. "RAVENCLAW!" the hat announces. The table second from the left clapping this time, several Ravenclaws standing up to shake hands with Terry as he joins them. As the names are called out Nathan feels his anxiety heightening, Valour nuzzling into his leg to help ground him "Granger, Hermione!" McGonagall calls. Hermione all but runs to the stool and jams the hat eagerly onto her head "GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouts, Ron groaning as she goes to the Gryffindor table. Nathan slightly glares at Ron at the way he's acting towards Hermione before turning back to the front, watching as other students are sorted.

"Potter, Harry!" McGonagall calls. As Harry steps forwards, whispers break out across the hall as everyone wonders if they heard McGonagall correctly. The hat gets placed on Harry's head "GRYFFINDOR!" the hat proclaims after a couple minutes. The whole of the Gryffindor burst into applause as Harry walks over, taking a seat opposite Hermione "We got Potter! We got Potter!" Fred and Georgie cheer repeatedly. "Riddle, Nathan!" McGonagall calls. The whole hall goes silent a Nathan walks forward with Valour, Dumbledore eyeing him carefully as he sits on the stool. McGonagall places the hat on Nathan's head "Ah, the new heir of Slytherin. I know where I should put you..." the hat starts, talking to Nathan in his head. "Please no, I don't want to be in Slytherin." Nathan responds. "Hm, not Slytherin? Then it has to be... GRYFFINDOR!" the hat says, announcing the last part to the whole hall. None of the table except the twins and Lee clap as he lets out a shaky breath and stands up, going over to the Gryffindor table where he's immediately pulled to sit between the twins "Yes! We knew it!" Fred grins. "You're one of us." George adds with the same grin on his face. Nathan smiles as Valour rubs his head on his leg, making the boy stroke him under the table. Soon enough Ron gets to the sorting hat, looking a pale shade of green as he sits on the stool "GRYFFINDOR!" the hat announces, the Gryffindor table all clapping for him as he walk over and collapses into the seat next to Harry. "Well done, Ron, excellent." Percy tells his youngest brother. Nathan gently strokes Valour as the last couple of students are sorted, Dumbledore standing as the hat and stool are taken away "Welcome. Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" he says, sitting back down. Everyone claps and cheers, Nathan being confused but immediately being distracted by the food that appears on the golden dishes in front of him "Trust us." Fred starts. "It tastes as good as it looks." George finishes, they two of them already beginning to plate themselves some food. Nathan smiles and starts to do the same, sneaking Valour some chicken with Fred and George "That does look good." the Ghost with the ruff tells them, watching Harry cut up his food. "Can't you...?"Harry starts. "I haven't eaten for nearly five hundred years. I don't need to, of course, but one does miss it. I don't think I've introduced myself? Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower." he introduces. "I know who you are! My brothers told me about you, you're Nearly Headless Nick!" Ron realises. "I would prefer you to call me Sir Nicholas de Mimsy..." the ghost begins stiffly. "Nearly Headless? How can you be nearly headless?" Seamus asks. "Like this." the ghost responds, grabbing his left ear and pulling. His whole head swings off his neck and falls onto his shoulder, Nathan grimaces slightly and looks away "So, new Gryffindors! I hope you're going to help us win the house championship this year? Gryffindors have never gone so long without winning. Slytherins have got the cup six years in a row! The Bloody Baron's becoming almost unbearable, he's the Slytherin ghost." Nick explains. They look over and see a ghost covered in blood at the Slytherin table "How did he get covered in blood?" Seamus asks. "I've never asked." Nick responds.

Once everyone had finished their food, the dishes are emptied and placed with deserts. Nathan smiles as he grabs some chocolate ice cream along with any other chocolate items he can see "I'm half-and-half, me dad's a Muggle. Mom didn't tell him she was a witch 'til after they were married. Bit of a nasty shock for him." Seamus says, everyone beginning to talk about their families. "What about you, Neville?" Ron asks. "Well, my gran brought me up and she's a witch, but the family thought I was all-Muggle for ages. My Great Uncle Algie kept trying to catch me off my guard and force some magic out of me he pushed me off the end of Blackpool pier once, I nearly drowned but nothing happened until I was eight. Great Uncle Algie came round for dinner, and he was hanging me out of an upstairs window by the ankles when my Great Auntie Enid offered him a meringue and he accidentally let go. But I bounced all the way down the garden and into the road. They were all really pleased, Gran was crying, she was so happy. And you should have seen their faces when I got in here they thought I might not be magic enough to come, you see. Great Uncle Algie was so pleased he bought me my toad." Neville explains. "What about you Nathan?" Dean, a muggle born, asks. "I-I recently st-started to live w-with my Uncle Remus. My mum... she d-died when I w-was five." Nathan responds nervously, avoiding eye contact with everyone. "Aren't you he who must not be named's son?" Seamus asks, everyone stopping their conversations and looking at Nathan. "Y-Yeah." Nathan mumbles, looking down and fiddling with Valour's lead. "That's enough you lot." Fred glares. "Go back to stuffing your faces." George adds. Everyone turns away, continuing with their conversations "Ignore them Nath." the twins tell him, Nathan giving  them a small nod in response.

Soon the desserts disappear and Professor Dumbledore stands up again, the hall falling silent "Ahem, just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start of term notices to give you. 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." he starts, his eyes flashing to the twins who grin slightly "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. 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." he continues. Nathan frowns as a couple of people chuckle 0He's not serious?" Harry asks Percy. "Must be. It's odd, because he usually gives us a reason why we're not allowed to go somewhere, the forest's full of dangerous beasts, everyone knows that. I do think he might have told us prefects, at least." Percy responds.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" Dumbledore tells everyone, giving his wand a small flick. Along golden ribbon flies out of it, rising high above the tables and twisting itself into words. "Everyone pick their favorite tune and off we go!" Dumbledore smiles. "Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts, Teach us something please, Whether we be old and bald Or young with scabby knees, Our heads could do with filling With some interesting stuff, For now they're bare and full of air, Dead flies and bits of fluff, So teach us things worth knowing, Bring back what we've forgot, just do your best, we'll do the rest, And learn until our brains all rot." everyone sings, finishing sat different times. The twins left singing along to a very slow funeral march, Dumbledore conducting their last few lines with his wand as Nathan muffles a laugh behind his hand. Once they finish everyone claps, Dumbledore begin the loudest "Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!" he tells them. "We'll meet you in the Common Room." George starts. "Percy is going to show you lot the way." Fred finishes. Nathan nods and holds onto Valour's lead tightly as the rest of the Gryffindor first years gather together, waiting for Percy to show them where to go.