Clarity (Mauraders Fanfic)

The Sorting Ceremony

We sail to the castle and I hear voices yelling.

"FIRST YEARS TO THE LEFT!" A gruff voice yells.

I see the voice came from a tall, large, and extremely hairy man. I decide it's in my best interest, as well as James, Sirius, and Remus' best interest to listen to the man. We all head into the castle and down a hallway that leads us to the entrance of the Great Hall.

I look around to see vibrant colors on every student's robes, the tables, and banners on the wall. I'm awestruck by my surroundings.

A man with silver hair, a long beard, half-moon spectacles, and a funny looking robe stands at a podium. He begins to speak and it blares across the hall.

"First Years, welcome to Hogwarts! I implore you to take your seats so that we may begin."

The rest of the first years come crowding in and find seats. Once the chaos has calmed, the man begins to speak again.

"Welcome back to another wondrous year at Hogwarts! Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Albus Dumbledore and I am your Headmaster. We have some business to go over and then sorting will begin. Firstly, no student is allowed to enter into the Forbidden Forest without an academic escort as well as written permission. Secondly, no student under third year is allowed to go to Hogsmeade. Third and Finally, you are to maintain distance from the Whomping Willow. Breaking these major rules will result in expulsion. Additionally let me remind you, NO FIRST YEARS are permitted to have broomsticks. Now, let the Sorting Ceremony begin!" He ends with a smile.

All of a sudden a relatively older woman puts a rugged hat on a chair. I don't think anything of it until a hole rips in it and it begins to sing a song.

"In times of old, when I was new,
And Hogwarts barely started,
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted.
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach"
The four good friends decided.
And never did they dream that they
Might some day be divided.
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw,
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there, so I can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry's purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest"
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot
And treat them just the same."
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light.
For each of the four founders had
A house in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning just like him.
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest
and taught them all she knew,
Thus, the Houses and their founders
Maintained friendships firm and true.

So Hogwarts worked in harmony
for several happy years,
but then discord crept among us
feeding on our faults and fears.