Sitting in the Great Hall was nothing to Stan. He'd seen magic being performed every day of his life. Everything from the whimsical charms he'd soon be learning himself to the heavy, advanced spells his dad liked to show off. He had even tried some himself, under the instruction of his parents, and he had gotten them all to work.
However, the other kids in his year had expressions that reflected differently. Some of them were looking around with big eyes as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing, while some of them looked as unimpressed as Stan felt. Some of them just gazed at the floor, appearing much too overwhelmed.
But Stan knew exactly what was going to happen. He'd be sorted into one of the houses, and then he'd start learning. For some, this moment was a life-changing experience, but for him, it was just school.
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"First years! Settle down, mkay!"
A small, quiet man approached the front of the Great Hall. The first years sat in nervousness while the man gave a speech about the beginnings of Hogwarts and the four houses. A speech Stan had heard plenty of times before from his dad. He tuned out the preaching and took a look at the room. He looked up and noticed that there wasn't even a ceiling.
Wait, there is a ceiling. It's just enchanted.
When Stan squinted, he could see faint linework through the cloudy sky scene.
"Alright, we're gonna start the sorting ceremony, mkay?" The Headmaster announced, taking a drab old hat off the table that was lined with the professors, each of whom were eyeing the first years curiously. Stan made accidental eye contact with his dad, who was sitting on the left end of the table, talking to a professor who looked less than thrilled to be listening to Randy Marsh talk. Stan diverted his eyes before his dad could wave, and faced the front in time to watch the ugly, moldy hat come to life. Of course, he already knew what was about to happen. Each first year would be called up one at a time, and would be sorted into the best fitting house. And of course, because his dad was a professor at Hogwarts, Stan knew the drill. He'd heard it countless times.
"Mkay, we'll go in alphabetical order. so can I get Token Black?"
A few of the other first years snickered at the name as Token pushed himself towards the front. He sat down on a stool near the center, and the Headmaster placed the hat on his head. There was a moment's silence, while Token grew more and more nervous.
"Ravenclaw!" the hat shouted. One of the tables behind the first year roared in applause. The hat was taken off the boy's head, and he headed to sit with his new house. A bright smile had formed on Token's face. Stan watched him for a moment, until the next name was called.
"Kyle Broflovski"
A skinny, ginger boy stood up and walked up front. Stan began to lose interest. It would be a while until his name would be called. He took another look around. He looked behind him at the Gryffindor table. They seemed rowdy anyway, but when Kyle had been announced a Gryffindor, they all went mad. Stan scooted as far away from the table as he could without getting too close to the girl in front of him. Another two had been sorted before it was Stan's turn.
"Stanley Marsh"
Stan could practically feel his dad staring at him with pride. It irritated him so much, but he refused to look in that direction. Headmaster Mackey placed the hat on his head. It slid over his forehead a little too far, and smelled unsurprisingly of dust.
Oh, an interesting mind!
Stan resisted the urge to look around for the voice, but he already knew the hat would talk to him from inside his head.
