But What If I Don't Believe You?

Chapter Three - The Sorting

"Harry, wake up. The trains in the station," I faintly heard Hermione say as I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. Apparently, I had fallen asleep reading at some point during the ride. Ehhh, whatever. I'll probably finish the book tonight if everything goes how I want it to.

As I hopped off the train, I heard Hermione calling to me from a carriage, waving me over. Damn it! I had been hoping to slip into a different carriage and have a silent ride to Hogwarts, mainly so I could finalize how I was going to ask for a resorting. 

Pushing those thoughts aside, I strode over to the carriage and grudgingly climbed inside, settling in between Ron and the wall. Almost immediately after I sat down, the carriages started to move, prompting Hermione and Ginny to dive into some conversation about Charms or the like. As they chatted away loudly, Ron attempted to make conversation with me, about Quidditch.  I wasn't really listening and just claimed I had a headache so he would shut up. Bad idea. Hermione overheard and started loudly fussing over me, asking if its "He-who-must-not-be-named", and all that. I was starting to get irritated and just tried to block her and Ginny out. Hermione eventually let me be, but not after a long couple minutes of her and Ginny screeching about Voldemort and visions. 

I felt the carriages pull to a stop and immediately hopped out, claiming I had to use the bathroom to my companions, and immediately ran off to find Professor McGonagall. 

"Shit, where is she? Its almost time for the Sorting." I whispered under my breath as I ran through the first-floor corridors. "Maybe she's already with the first years."

I raced back to the entrance of the Great Hall, hoping that they hadn't started the ceremony yet. As I turned the corner, I saw Professor McGonagall talking to the first years, about to open the door. 

"Professor!" I yelled while running to her. "Can I ask you something?"

"Mr. Potter! No running in the corridors!" She yelled at me as I came to a stop in front of her. "What is it you wish to ask me?" 

"Professor, well... I want a resorting. Gryffindor just isn't where I'm supposed to be, the hat said so. I don't feel like I'm reaching my full potential in this house and I know where I'm supposed to be." I told her, trying to be brave, but inside I was quaking, hoping she wouldn't say no.

"Are you sure?" She asked me. "You seemed to be happy in Gryffindor when you went home last year. Did something happen over the summer?"

"Not exactly Professor, I matured over the summer and I just don't feel like Gryffindor fits me anymore," I responded. It was kind of the truth, I just left out the betrayal part.

"Alright, Mr. Potter. You're completely sure about this?"

"Yes Professor."

"You'll be sorted before the first year. Go inside and sit at your table. I'll call you up, sort you, and you'll go sit at your new table. Whatever house you get, you're stuck with. You can't be resorted twice."

"Ok Professor."

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I slipped into the Great Hall and slid into a seat next to Neville. I didn't think my 'friends' would react well to my decision and didn't want to be near them when they found out. They also didn't leave me space and didn't even seem to notice I was there. Neville didn't seem to notice me either, which was fine. I was much more preoccupied at the moment and didn't really want to talk to anyone.

A few minutes later, Professor McGonagall led the first years into the Great Hall. She then walked up to where the stool with the Sorting Hat was. She announced the Sorting was starting and the hat did its usual song. I wasn't listening and was way more focused on the fact that the hat might try to sort me back into Gryffindor, due to all the weird potions that had been affecting me.