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𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫: 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐲 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐭
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"I have a few start of term notices I wish to announce." Professor Dumbledore stood at a golden podium looking out at the mass of students. "The first years please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that the 3rd floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death. Thank you." He turned and sat down as Lydia looked over to a very confused Harry.
Professor McGonagall re entered as the center of attention when she went to stand beside a stood that held a mangy old hat.
"When I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses." McGonagall spoke loudly, addressing the first years. "Hermione Granger." Upon hearing her name called, Hermione started to panic. Muttering to herself as she walked up to the stool from her spot next to Lydia.
"Mental that one, I'm telling you." Ron muttered to Harry, earning him an elbow to the gut from Lydia who gave him a stern glare. As Hermione sat upon the stool and the hat was placed on her head, it came to life. Muttering to Hermione before shouting out and scaring Lydia.
"Gryffindor!" It shouted, causing a wave of yells and rounds of applause from the Gryffindor table. The next to go was Draco Malfoy, the hat hadn't even touched his head before shouting out Slytherin.
"There isn't a witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin." Lydia muttered to Harry, explaining why it wasn't exactly a good thing to be placed there. The next student to go was sorted into Hufflepuff.
"Ronald Weasley." McGonagall spoke but Ron was frozen slightly in his place, causing Lydia to shoulder bump him towards the stairs. As he sat on the stool and the hat was placed upon his ginger hair, it shouted out, scaring the shit out of him.
"Ha! Another Weasley. I know just what to do with you." Ron had his eyes clenched shut as he waited for the hat to call out his house. "Gryffindor!" A wave of relief looked to go across his face.
"Lydia Prewett." As her name was called, every Weasley that resided in the Gryffindor house had their full attention. Even though she was pure hearted and brave, they had no certainty that she was to be placed in Gryffindor, given her mother was from Ravenclaw. She sat down on the uncomfortable stool and the hat was put on her strawberry blonde hair, slipping over her eyes slightly. She sat on her pale hands and her fingers were crossed.
The hat came to life as it touched her head.
"Oh, a Prewett. I haven't had one of those in a while. Your father from Gryffindor like the rest of the family, but your mother. Your mother was from Ravenclaw. Brave yet brilliant, cunning yet loyal, daring yet witty. You could belong in anyone of these." The hat seemed to go silent as did the rest of the room. "Gryffindor!" The hat shouted out, every Weasley cheered the loudest for their beloved cousin. She hopped off of the stool, grinning. She trotted to the Gryffindor table and plopped down in between Fred and Hermione. The former giving her a big hug.
"Harry Potter." Yet again the whole room started to whisper in surprise. Moments went by as the hat talked to Harry, you could just barely hear Harry whisper. "Not Slytherin."
"Better be... Gryffindor!" And the table sprung to life as Fred and George chanted.
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Every first year had been placed into their respected houses and the Great Hall was abuzz with chatter from all over. The ding of a glass caught everyone's attention as they looked over to the staff table.
"Your attention, please." McGonagall spoke to the mass of children.
"Let the feast... begin." Dumbledore spoke and wove his hands. Food appeared on every inch of the tables. Lydia marvelled at the amount of food before glancing at Ron, who had already picked up two wings and started eating them simultaneously.
As Lydia started to eat her ribs, she heard Harry speak up.
"Say, Percy, who's that teacher talking to Professor Quirrell?" He asks Percy, his eyes trained on the professor.
"Oh, that's Professor Snape, head of Slytherin house." Percy answered. Lydia looked over to see Snape looking, well glaring actually, in Harry's direction causing Lydia to raise an eyebrow at her new friend. Who responded with a shrug before turning his attention back to his conversation with Percy.
"What's he teach?"
"Potions. But everyone knows it's the Dark Arts he fancies. He's been after Quirrell's job for years."
As Lydia and Ron both reached for another piece of food, a head popped up through the pile of chicken wings.
"Ahh!" Ron screams, dropping the wing he had just picked up.
"Hello! How are you? Welcome to Gryffindor." The ghost spoke, his voice was posh along with his outfit. Lydia had frozen in her spot, her hand stuck halfway between her plate and her mouth, holding a warm roll. Out of the walls and up from the floors, ghosts started flying everywhere, talking or scaring the children.
"Hello, Sir Nicholas. Have a nice summer?" Percy addressed the ghost, Sir Nicholas.
"Dismal. Once again, my request to join the headless hunt has been denied." Sir Nicholas looks up and begins to float away before Ron suddenly has an epiphany.
"I know you! You're Nearly Headless Nick."
"Nearly Headless? How on earth can someone be nearly headless?" Lydia's voice suddenly popped back up into the conversation.
"Like this." Nick then proceeds to grab his hair and yank his head off his shoulders, revealing a nastily hacked neck wound that went through the majority of his neck. His head barely hanging on by a centimeter or two.
Everyone of the first years gagged or looked away in disgust from the formerly alive man. He simply plopped his head back onto his shoulders and floated off.
