CONTROL | harry potter

FIVE

"What is a Sorting Hat?" Cordelia asked, her brow furrowed against the blinding brightness of the setting sun. "Sounds like a lottery tool to me. Like when you pick names out of a hat?"

Not quite, Cordelia." Dumbledore plucked a ratty, faded, and patched monstrosity of a witch's hat off of a shelf in his office and dusted it off a bit.

"Okay . . . then what is it?"

"Just put it on, and you'll see," he said, holding the hat out to her.

Cordelia made a face and took the hat out of the professor's hand. She inspected the thing for a moment before placing it upon her head. Instantly, she felt as if her mind had been invaded, like someone was digging through her thoughts and memories, but there was nothing to dig through. It was like when you put your head back and your neck is exposed, vulnerable, and you fear being tickled. She had no idea how she knew that feeling, but she did, and she did not like it.

How can I Sort someone who has no memories?

Cordelia jumped and threw the hat to the ground. She shuddered. "I heard—I heard a voice; it was raspy and deep—"

The headmaster was chuckling. "I've never seen anyone react to it like that, not even Muggle-borns. It's fine, Cordelia. The hat was enchanted by one of Hogwarts' founders to Sort students into the four houses, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff; you already know about them. Usually, the hat uses one's memories to determine their characteristics, so I assume you must be a special case. I'd advise putting the hat back on, and try not to throw it this time. It doesn't exactly appreciate being tossed around."

She eyed the hat and nodded. "You could've told me that before," she suggested, picking it off the ground and placing it on her head for the second time. The brim of the hat fell over her eyes, cutting off her sight. This time, she was prepared for the gravelly voice that resounded through her body.

Will I get a chance to actually Sort you, this time? it asked.

"Yes," Cordelia replied, rolling her eyes.

See, the question is, how do I do that? Your mind is empty. How can I get a feel for what kind of person you are if I have no material to study? It's like a scientist analyzing an experiment without results.

"Thanks, I love being called an experiment."

Quite cheeky, I see. Perhaps I should ask you questions and Sort you based off your responses. Yes, that seems like a good idea. Okay, Cordelia, if someone who had bullied you in the past was drowning in the lake, would you jump in to help them?

"What? What kind of question is that? Of course, I would help them. Who wouldn't?" Cordelia asked, perplexed.

I think you'd be surprised, Cordelia. Anyway, next question: would you rather be famous and wealthy and a cheater, or a regular person with immense kindness?

"Why don't you ask me actual questions with actual options? The second choice, of course. No one wants to be a cheater!"

The voice laughed heartily. Again, I think you'd be rather surprised at what people would do to get what they want. Cheat, lie, kill . . .

Cordelia's eyes widened. "Kill?"

Absolutely. Which is more appealing: intelligence or physical capability?

"Finally, a real question. But, I'd have to say intelligence. Every situation can be talked out of, right?"

The pen is mightier than the sword, right? I assume you won't like this question either, but it will probably be the last one: would you put others down to make yourself seem more intelligent or just greater in comparison?

"If I was greater than someone, I wouldn't need to put them down for others to see that. So, no."

Then, I am proud to declare you a RAVENCLAW.

Cordelia removed the hat. "Which house is Ravenclaw?"

"Ravenclaw is the house of wits and knowledge," Professor Dumbledore explained. "They treasure wisdom above anything else. Anyways, the students will be arriving soon, I suspect." It was nearly dark outside, Cordelia observed. "You can do whatever you want until they get here, and then you should join them at the Ravenclaw table. It's the one with the blue and bronze tablecloth and the eagle symbol."

She nodded in agreement and walked out the door, down the steps, and into the corridor below. A sense of contentment overtook her; she had been Sorted, and soon she was going to have a regular life in this castle, among thousands of other children just like her. She was normal again. And soon, she would form relationships and memories, just like anyone else, and she wouldn't even have this gaping hole in her mind to set her aside from the rest of them.

It was so sudden she almost didn't register it; a skull-splitting, shuddering agony that struck her head like a bolt of lightning. It felt as if someone had mistaken her head for a gong and bashed her skull with a two-pound mallet. Or maybe someone had dropped a dumbbell on her head. She felt like her entire lunch was going to come up as she staggered down the hall, clutching the wall for support. She dropped to her knees, jaw clenched, fingernails digging into her palms as they curled into fists, and tears streaming out of her eyes. She threw her head back, about to cry out, but before she could, the pain disappeared.

She stood up and looked around. There was no one around. There was no residue of the pain, not the faintest shadow to indicate it had been there. Nothing but the crescent-shaped indents in her palms from her nails. Had she imagined it? She could hardly believe she had gone through such torture not a minute ago. Shaking her head, she wiped away her tears and continued walking to the Room of Requirement. 

- - -

(AUTHOR'S NOTE)

this is ridiculously short for the wait time but im not even gonna try to justify myself. anyway i hope you liked this chapter and ill try to get the next one to you guys sooner!

update: i changed cordelia's house to ravenclaw because i felt it suited her past personality better !!