Ember Potter and the Secret of the Gems

Chapter 16

Ember looked around at the giant room and was a little impressed. It was nothing on some of the rooms in her homes, but it was big enough to hold everyone and that was what mattered.

She looked up and was awed when she saw the ceiling was charmed to show the night sky. The bushy-haired girl from earlier was going on about how it wasn't the real sky and that the ceiling had been spelled and how she read it all in Hogwarts a History.

She turned to the front where Professor McGonagall was standing with a ratty-looking hat and Ember raised her eyebrow. Looks like no one was taking proper care of the poor thing. Soon a rip appeared in its brim and the hat started 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.

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 Hufflepuffs 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 folks 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!"[1]

She held back a snort when she heard Ronald and Damien cursing the twins for making them think they would have to fight a troll. Even if the sorting wasn't done by a hat, Ember would like to think that the adults of the wizarding world weren't stupid enough to make eleven-year-olds, who haven't even learned any magic yet, fight a troll.