Demigods At Hogwarts (Leo Valdez x reader)

6. The Sorting Ceremony

I had never even imagined such a strange and splendid place. I've seen a lot. But not like this. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles which were floating in mid-air over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. I even spotted the marauders and Lily and Marlene and Mary on one of the tables. I hope I end up in Gryffindor. At least I will be with them. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the Hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first-years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. The problem is: We too had to face them. I always got nervous with such a huge crowd.

Professor McGonall got out a four-legged stool and placed an old rusty and dusty hat on it.

"Once I call your name, you will step forward to be sorted by the sorting hat," she said, "Grace, Jason"

Jason walked up to the stool and sat down, the hat didn't even touch his head before it screamed "GRYFFINDOR"

The Gryffindor table clapped and cheered as Jason walked down to it.

"Jackson, Perseus" I snorted and Percy muttered something that rhymed with duck under his breath as he walked up to the hat. Percy sat down and the hat took only a moment to shout "GRYFFINDOR"

It went on like that. "LN, YN" she called. I took in a deep breath. The rest got sorted into Gryffindor, I hoped I wasn't the one out. 

I walked up and she placed the hat on my head. "Oh! A hard one. I see a lot of creativity. I sense a high level of determination and bravery like the rest. But there is also ambition. Strong one. Where do I put you? Ravenclaw? Slytherin? Gryffindor?"

"Please Gryffindor... please Gryffindor," I whispered.

"GRYFFINDOR" the hat shouted and I let out a breath I didn't notice I was holding.

I ran down to Gryffindor table as it clapped and cheered. I sat next to Percy and Piper, Lily was opposite me.

"Congratulations, YN," Mary said.

Percy jabbed me in the side. "Ow!" I said and jabbed him in the side.

"Why did it take you so long? I thought you were brave," he said.

"Well, the sorting hat thought I was awesome. That I was creative as a Ravenclaw, cunning and ambitious as a Slytherin and brave as a Gryffindor. But took you long as well. I am not the only one. And don't tell me 'I am awesome or I will give you a nosebleed."

"Not that again," (A\N: if you read Blood of Olympus then you know what I mean.) Percy groaned, "He was thinking of putting me in Hufflepuff. You know my fatal flaw is loyalty. But does that have anything to do with Hufflepuff?"

"The Hufflepuffs value kindness and loyalty," Lily explained.

"Of course it is. I wasn't surprised when you told me Hufflepuff. You are too dumb for Ravenclaw, and your only ambition in life is to find a dino nugget in a packet that is not a dino nuggets pack."

"Hey! That's not true!"

Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster stood up. His beard was so long it reached his waist, and his glasses where half-moon framed. He was beaming at us, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more to see us all there.

"Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwitt! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"

He sat back down and everybody clapped and cheered. I didn't know wether to laugh or not.

"Is he mad?" I asked Lily

"Mad?" said Sirius next to Lily. "He's a genius Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, right Prongsie?" he asked James.

"James, stop staring at Evans and answer!"

"Huh oh yeah he is mad. And you dimwitted I wasn't staring at Evans!" and they started bickering and I turned to Lily.

"Potatoes, YN?"

My mouth fell open. The dishes in front of us were now piled with food. I had never seen so many things I liked to eat on one table: roast beef, roast chicken, lamb chops and many many more. I dug in.

                                                                                  ...

I dropped my fork and knife. This was the best I had in ages.

"Hello, everyone! Welcome to Hogwarts." a flying ghost told us.

Lily whispered to me," That is Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor house ghost"

"Nearly Headless?" Piper asked. "How can you be nearly headless?"

"Like this," he said. He seized his left ear and pulled. His whole head swung off its place but only part of it was still holding onto the body.

"Ew," I said.

Dumbledore got to his feet again. The Hall fell 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.

"This year we have exchange students from the USA. They will be with us for the whole year. please welcome the hearty." The hall clapped and I suddenly felt hundreds of eyes on me.

"First-years and exchange students should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well"

Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the marauders and I think the whole Hall was looking at them.

"Yep! That's us! The marauders! Hail another year of mischief!" Sirius shouted in the quiet hall he was standing on his stool. James was standing next to him. Remus was looking like he wanted to disappear on the spot. Lily was hiding her head in her arms.

James and Sirius raised their wands and wrote in the air 'Itinerarium Maraudentium'.

"Latin for 'Marauder's Journey'" Jason muttered.

"Mr.Potter, Mr.Black, that is enough," said McGonagall. They both grinned and sat down.

"Of course, Minnie," Sirius said sitting down.

"Please keep going, Headmaster. Sorry for their behaviour." Remus said.

Dumbledore smiled but kept talking as if nothing happened. "I've also been asked by Mr. Filch, our caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes and in the corridors.

"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madame Hooch. Thank you. You all may return to your common rooms."

We all got up.

"Oh and exchange students, please meet me in my office."

I groaned. Of course. Never normal. So we followed him to his office.