I've Got You // Perciver

Chapter 3: Sortings and Sophistication

Bill and Charlie had spent hours talking about Hogwarts, regaling their siblings with stories about the school. They told them about the moving staircases, the expansive lawns, the huge library (Percy was the only one excited about it other than Bill), and the quidditch pitch (something all the Weasley children were excited about). They, however, failed to mention the Great Hall and its strange but spectacular beauty.

It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. On the tables, glittering golden plates and goblets sat, waiting to be filled.

At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers and Headmaster were sitting. Behind the table stood four giant hourglasses, each one filled with, what Percy assumed were, different colored stones and adorned with a different animal: blue stones and an eagle for Ravenclaw, green stones and a snake for Slytherin, yellow stones and a badger for Hufflepuff, and finally red stones and a lion for Gryffindor.

Oliver, who Percy noticed had been staring up at the ceiling, nudged Percy to do the same. He couldn't help but gasp as he looked upward. The ceiling had been enchanted to look like the night sky. He'd read about it in Hogwarts, A History but he never thought he'd get to see it. It looked so real that, for a moment, Percy imagined he could reach out and touch the stars. It hardly looked like a ceiling at all and if he didn't know otherwise, he might've thought there simply wasn't one.

Percy quickly looked down again as Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years,gathering the entire Hall's attention. If she was bother by the sudden onslaught of it, she didn't show it.

On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty.

For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. He only had a moment to note that his father had indeed been right when a rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth and the hat began to sing:

"I'm the sorting hat, and I'm here to say:
I'll sort you out, in a magical way.
I'll look inside your head, and see what's true.
Then I'll sort you out, to the house that's best for you.

You may belong in Gryffindor,
where the brave and daring dwell.
They're the ones who take the lead,
and never fear to rebel.
They stand up for what they believe,
and never back down from a fight.
They're the ones who blaze the trail,
and always shine their light.

For those with wit and wisdom,
Ravenclaw's the place to be.
They value knowledge and learning,
and seek truth and clarity.
They're the ones who ask the questions,
and never settle for less.
The ones who seek to know,
and always strive to progress.

In Hufflepuff you'll find a home,
for those who are loyal and true.
They value kindness and hard work,
and always see things through.
There you'll have friends by your side
and find a place to belong.
But be wary and never tarry,
don't ever do them wrong.

Or perhaps in Slytherin
is where you should be,
where your cunning and ambition
will likely set you free.
They're the ones who know their worth,
and never do they fail.
They're the ones who rise above,
and always do prevail.

So let me sort you,
it won't take long.
You'll find your place,
now that I've finished my song."

Everyone burst into applause once the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still.

"So we've just got to try on the hat?" Oliver whispered to Percy who nodded.

Professor McGonagall stepped forward, holding a roll of parchment. When the students began to whisper, she whistle sharply and they quited immediately.