Redamancy- Fred Weasley Fanfic

Chapter 11- The Hat

I stand next to Minny as more and more students are pulled up to the stool.

"I think she's a squib," I hear students whisper.

"Minny?" I whisper as I look up at her.

"Yes," she answers as she looks down at me.

"What is a squib?" I question.

"Nothing you need to be concerned about right now," she answers.

"Why didn't I get a house like the others?"

"It is called a hat stall. It is when the hat has a very difficult time placing you in a house. I just wanted to let you know that there is nothing you need to be concerned about. Normally, when there is a hat stall, it just takes longer than normal, but you seem to be extremely difficult for the hat to place. The hat is extremely old, and I have a feeling you may have hurt his very fragile ego, so he will think about your house while he continues to sort others," Minny explains.

"Do you know what house I will be in?" I question.

"I don't Miss Noir, only the hat truly knows," she answers, but her voice makes me think she is hiding something. 

Students after students step up to the stool to receive their house. The more that receive their houses easily, the more nervous I become. I glance up at Minny, she seems calm and focused as normal. I take a deep breath and try to change my body language to be as controlled as Minny's. I then try to make my emotions as controlled as Minny's, but it doesn't work.

What if Minny is wrong? What if I don't have magic like the other students? Is that something that they could mess up? Who is in charge of deciding who has magic and who doesn't? Is it a trustworthy system? When was the last time it failed? Could it have failed with me? What would happen then? Would I go to a new non-magical family in England? No, wait, would I go to a family in France? Would I go back to the girl's home?

"Miss Noir," Minny whispers as she guides me back towards the stool. I look around and notice
I'm the only student left. Minny lifts the hat off the stool and waits for me to climb up. I didn't notice I was shaking until the stool rattles against the floor. Minny places the hat back on my head.

The hat sighs as if he is annoyed that I'm back, but the hat can't be more annoyed that I'm back than I am.

"Anywhere or nowhere?" the hat asks. "That is the question. Is it that you belong everywhere or nowhere?"

I close my eyes, wishing that it would make this feel quicker. When I open them, I see the whole room looking up at me in an unsure way.

"Ravenclaw!" the hat announces.

Minny lifts the hat off of my head and I start to walk towards the table with a blue banner that hangs over it.

As I walk, I hear a voice scream over the clapping, "Go Syria!" Whistling follows the cheering.

I slow down and look for the voice of the cheering. I spot a red-headed boy with fingers in his mouth to make his whistling louder. I quickly look away and find an empty spot on the bench and sit next to a girl with long straight black hair and bangs that cover her eyebrows.

"Hello, I'm Syria," I introduce myself.

The girl looks at me and then scoots over on the bench as far as possible.

"Let the feast begin," announces a man with a long white beard and glasses that resemble half of a full moon.

Bowls and platters with mountains and hills of food appear in the middle of the table. I look around at the food lines at the other tables as well. I look around and nobody seems shocked at the amount of food. I grab a scoop of the mashed potatoes and some of the chicken. I eat what is on my plate before I grab more food. The feeling of knowing I can eat all I want is strange. It is addicting. At the girl's home, we had learned proper etiquette, but now that is lost and now I'm eating as fast as possible.