Case of the Cintimani Stone: A Hammer Mystery

Chapter 8

 The door swung open to reveal a familiar face from Harry's recent summer,

"The firs'-years are all here, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid reported.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."

She took a small step backwards between the doors and waved both of her hands outward, an unseen force responding to her as the doors opened themselves wide. The torchlit entry hall was enormous, the light from the sconces dying before it could illuminate the ceiling. The Hammer gave an appreciative whistle following the lines of a marble staircase upward with his eyes.

The group followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. The noise of hundreds of voices came through a closed doorway to the right - the rest of the school by the logical conclusion - but instead of joining them immediately the professor showed them to a small, empty chamber just off the hall. Once the last student was in, the room was standing room only, the tension and anxiety amplified by their new circumstances.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall, "The start of term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. The Hammer broke concentration and glanced at the back of Hermione's bushy head before going back to the Professor.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will be awarded the House Cup. This is a great honour. I hope each and every one of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting.

Mr. Potter, remove your hat. It isn't to the uniform standard and you can not be wearing anything on your head for the sorting ceremony. I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly."

The Hammer felt everyone's stares as he removed his fedora and put it to the lip of his mokeskin pouch, pushing the brim up just enough for him to shove it into the pouch.

"So you're the famous Harry Potter." The boy from the robe shop had pushed his way through the crowd with two big mooks that had the same kind of baby face as everyone else in the class.

"Call me the Hammer," Harry countered on instinct, "but who are you?" He gave another look to the two big goons flanking the pale boy, reaching slightly to his sides and pushing Hermione and Neville behind him.

"This is Crabbe and Goyle, "The boy introduced them with a nod of his head in either direction, "and I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."

"No offense, pal, but your name sounds like one for a two-bit grifter in a vampire flick."

Malfoy changed from pale to a few different shades before replying, "Funny to you? You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others. Hanging around a coward like Longbottom and," his eyes moved to Hermione, lingering for a little too long, " this no name mud-"

"Bushwa!" Harry said in the harshest seethe he could not to disturb the level of noise, "I spotted an egg like you and yours a mile away, Malfoy. Go sell your snake oil to a Sweeney that'll buy it."