Snakes and Ravens

The Sorting Ceremony

<Hi everyone! It has been a WHILE sorry for not uploading I had A Levels and now -don't- have A Levels so you can expect much more frequent uploads :) DISCLAIMER: I probably should have done this for every chapter but this is (obviously) a fan fiction and I don't own the HP universe or any of its characters- the only characters I own are Penelope Potter & her friends. SIDE NOTE: I actually used the sorting hat speech from the philosopher's stone book for Harry's sorting so just to let you know it isn't mine <3 - Enjoy!>  

HARRY POV

Upon stepping off the train Harry and the other first years he met on the train all scurried off after a kind giant, by the name of Hagrid, who had led them from the boats. Each and every one of them utterly enthralled by the elegant sweeping ceilings and beautiful cascading marble pillars which seemed to support the enchanted castle. Harry began to look around for Penelope, he hadn't seen her leave the train. He began to sweat. What would become of him if she wasn't around to help him? How would he cope? His breathing quickened as he stared at the floor. 

She's going to leave me. 

He thought.

She doesn't love me anymore. Maybe I ought to just go home. 

The thought of the nightmares at number four privet drive seemed to prove too much for Harry, he let hot tears spill down his cheeks as he stared at the cold floor. This was until he felt a slim, soft, hand meet his shoulder; a gentle Scottish tone his ear. "Are you alright, Mr Potter?" The voice said with concern. Harry slowly glanced his eyes up to meet the gaze of an older, stern looking lady, with her grey-silver hair tied up into a tight bun. Despite her somewhat hard exterior Harry felt he could trust the woman; something he found particularly unnerving as he had never been able to trust an adult before.

"I can't find my sister..." He whispered quietly, afraid his voice may falter. 

MCGONAGALL POV

"ahh" The woman said knowingly before kneeling down to Harry's own hight. She hesitated. There was something off about the child, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. "That's because she's sat with the rest of her house in the great hall" she said kindly. 

"Now" she said in a louder tone, addressing all of the first year students as she rose-who were now staring at her in anticipation "my name is Professor McGonagall; I am deputy head mistress and head of Gryffindor house here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and wizardry." McGonagall looked around at the students, her gaze stopping on Harry. 

Something is definitely wrong there.

"In a few moments time you will be brought into the great hall and sorted into one of the four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Your house will be your family for the next 7 years while you study here" She continued. excited whispers oozed across the gathering of first years before her. McGonagall smiled softly, they had no idea how much their house would mean to them for the rest of their lives. She found her gaze stopping at Harry once again, he seemed separated from the rest of the students, his gaze still firmly on the floor. For the third time that day she found herself thinking.

Something is definitely wrong there.

She put the thought to the back of her mind, she would deal with this later. For the meantime... The woman turned her attention back to the excitable babble of eleven year olds she was currently dealing with before simply saying "follow me" and turning her head.  

HARRY POV

As the students began to follow the Professor into the great hall, Harry kept his gaze on the stone tiles beneath his feet. He can hear the soft "oohs" and "ahhs" of the rest of the students walking with him as they have their first sight of the hall. Harry, however, could not bring himself to look up- he was feeling all to over whelmed without the safety of his cupboard or his sister. This did not go unnoticed... 

SEVERUS POV

Severus sat back in his seat, unimpressed by the new gaggle of inconveniences making their way down the main walkway in the main hall. He usually had no interest in students until they came to choosing whether or not they would take his subject for their O.W.L.S or not. Until then he was merely babysitting the little brats. However, this year was different, he scoured the new arrivals looking for one Mister Potter; still confused from their encounter on the bus and sharing the same thoughts as his elder colleague  (though, it was unbeknownst to the individual wizards in question.) 

Something is definitely wrong there. 

It was then that the Potions Master noticed Harry, staring at the floor, his meek demeanour evident. 

Ah, I suppose our  hall doesn't impress the boy who lived much

Severus frowned, he knew this may not be the case, still, he was certain once Potter had gotten over his nerves that he would be just as insufferable as his late Father. 

Plus, the boy does seem significantly smaller than his peers...

Severus thought to himself, at the age of eleven the boy should not be so small...He glanced over at Potter's sister, while she was not small in height (she got her frame from Lily) she certainly seemed more fragile than she had leaving the school in the previous July. He grunted into his goblet as he looked on, his gut instinct telling him that something was wrong...awfully wrong... 

PENELOPE POV

The eldest remaining Potter sat nervously at the Ravenclaw as she watched the procession of first years enter the hall, her eyes glued on her brother. He looked utterly miserable! Guilt punched her in the stomach as she knew how anxious he must be now he was away from the Dursley's; she understood too. Whilst they were never kind both children felt obliged to care about them and never considered themselves disadvantaged.

He's going to give the game away...

Penelope panicked; she couldn't face the probing questions. Professor Mcgonagall had almost got her in the first year there, Penelope only hoped that Harry was stronger than herself. She looked on as Harry stared at the floor waiting for the sorting hat to call his name; honestly. She wasn't sure where he'd be placed. Ideally, she'd have liked it if he'd be sorted into Ravenclaw like herself- then she could keep an eye on him (and more importantly what he'd say.) Yet she felt that Harry wouldn't be placed there, he never had the same lust for knowledge that she and her owlish friends shared. Her next best bet might be Hufflepuff- then she could get Lily to keep an eye on him for her, or perhaps Adrian if he were placed in Slytherin. Plus, there was always the Percy should he placed in Gryffindor. Satisfied with this knowledge; seemingly promising to keep her secret safe. She relaxed and watched excitedly as McGonagall  called out her brothers name: 

"Harry Potter!"

HARRY POV 

Harry heard his name being called, his body rushed in a cold sweat- he felt nauseous at the very notion of standing in-front of all those people, who were all staring intently to see where the next Potter would be sorted.

Harry could feel every single eye in the room resting upon him. The great hall, which was usually brimming with chatter, was now silent. Even the air swishing around them seemed to stiffen as the had was placed upon his head. 

' "hmm" said a small voice in his ear. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind, either. There's talent, oh my goodness, yes- and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting...So where shall I put you?" Harry gripped the edges of the stool. You could be great you know, it's all here in your head....better be SLYTHERIN!" '