Aevumiter

6: Sorting Hat

After a very awkward exchange with Luna and Hermione about Hagrid's teaching, they arrived. Harry was the first out, and didn't hesitate to head to the Great Hall. He knew he wouldn't find Hagrid on the grounds for a while yet.

Harry took a long moment to appreciate the view. Things had been nice after the war, but there was still a somber air. The darkness hadn't touched Hogwarts yet, and the shadows were smaller, beaten back by the bright torches and cheery voices.

"He can't have left." Ron said.

"Of course he hasn't." Harry said.

"You don't think he's hurt, do you?" Hermione asked.

"No." Harry said, and then spoke quietly so the others wouldn't hear. "He's probably just been busy doing that thing for Dumbledore over the summer."

"Yeah... Yeah, that'll be it." Ron said, but Hermione wasn't convinced.

Hermione's gaze scanned the head table. "Who's that?" She asked.

Harry didn't even have to look up to know who she was asking about.

"Dolores Umbridge. She works for Fudge. Was at my hearing."

"Nice cardigan." Ron said, smirking.

"She works for Fudge?" Hermione frowned. "What's she doing here, then?"

"Our new Defense teacher." Harry said.

"You're kidding!" Ron's eyes went wide.

"We've had a new teacher every year..." Hermione trailed off.

Professor Grubbly-Plank and the first years arrived. The young faces glowed faintly in the candle light, and the hum of conversation died out as the Sorting Hat was brought out.

The rip near the brim opened, and it broke into song:

In times of old when I was new,
And Hogwarts barely started,
The founders of our noble school,
Thought never to be parted,
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning,
To make the world's best magic school,
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach!"
The four good friends decided,
And never did they dream,
That they might some day be divided,
For were there such friends anywhere,
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell,
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those whose
Ancestry is purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot,
And treat them just the same."
These differences caused little strife,
When first they came to light,
For each of the four founders had
A house in which they might
Take only those they wanted,
So, for instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning, just like him,
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,
And taught them all she knew,
Thus the houses and their founders
Retained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
For several happy years,
But then discord crept among us
Feeding on our faults and fears.
The houses that, like pillars four,
Had once held up our school,
Now turned upon each other and,
Divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
Must meet an early end,
What with dueling and with fighting
And the clash of friend on friend
And at last there came a morning
When old Slytherin departed
And though the fighting then died out
He left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
Were whittled down to three
Have the houses been united
As they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
And you all know the score:
I sort you into houses
Because that is what I'm for,
But this year I'll go further,
Listen closely to my song:
Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it's wrong,
Though I must fulfill my duty
And must quarter every year
Still I wonder whether Sorting
May not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you...
Let the Sorting now begin.