❝ the sorting ❞

The door swung open at once. There stood Professor McGonagall with a stern face.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.

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

The door pulled wide open. The entrance of the castle was huge. The stone walls were lit with flame torches, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.

"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 like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend your free time in your house common room.
      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 rulebreaking will lose house points."

She glanced at Euphemia and Harry for a moment and continued, "at the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honour. I hope each 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," McGonagall stated, "I suggest you smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly."

McGonagall left and the chamber filled with hushed whispers. Sam tucked his tie and buttoned up the top button. Regulas wrapped his finger's with hair, trying to make them better and straiter. Ron leaned towards Regulas and told him about the troll challenge. Harry though, was in his own world.

Euphemia held his hand. "Don't worry Harry, you'll do great in every house!"

She gave him a small smile, warming his heart.

Though Harry lived with the Dursley's his whole life, he was demeaned into a slave. He loathed them! He never felt the love that family had for one another. When he was younger, he used to wonder why his aunt and uncle didn't love him and coddle him as they did with Dudley, yet he never got an answer. Living in a cupboard his whole life, being bullied every day made him feel like a nobody, that his existence didn't matter.

The wizarding world was a huge change for him. Being known, being wanted and liked felt so unusual. He was known for surviving with a scar, the only thing he used to like about himself. Now a part of him felt that it was his fault that their parents died.

Harry was a tad jealous. He didn't want to say anything to Euphemia, not wanting her to worry, but he wanted her life. He wanted to feel the love her adoptive parents gave her. But he couldn't say such a thing, knowing that they had been apart for a decade. He didn't want to ruin anything.

Euphemia was the first person who was kind to him. She cared. She was nice to him, she even brought him new clothes before leaving and sent them through tweety. Of course, they were a little big for him, but it was a sweet gesture.

All he could think of was, why was she so nice to me? Is this what family is? How does she not blame me for our parents?!

Harry felt a feeling of warmth and love, which was absent all his life. Every day, she sent him at least five letters, trying to get to know him as much as possible. She also sent along delicious cookies and treats with a few pieces of information about the wizarding world. Talking to someone made him feel as if he had a friend.

Harry felt as if he was worth something.

Euphemia was his first-ever friend. She was the first person to ever hug him. She was the first person who ever wanted to get to know him.

Harry was waiting for Euphemia to join him in the compartment, he was waiting for his hug and his extra cookies, but she never joined. His heart sank when Euphemia only came into the compartment for food with someone by her side.

He was heartbroken. Another person leaving me yet again. He thought.

Harry and Euphemia were both extremely insecure about this little newfound family. While all Harry wanted was to be with his sister, he felt she was abandoning him. On the other hand, Euphemia felt as if she was being needy.

When she reassured the scar-head and brushed his bangs lightly, his eyes watered. The nervousness bursting inside his stomach slowly faded away.

A while later, Professor McGonagall returned.

"The sorting ceremony is about to start," she announced, "now, form a line, and follow me."

They all formed into a huddle and walked towards the Great Hall.

Euphemia gasped with the others as they entered the hall. The Great Hall was lit by a thousand candles, floating over four tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. The tables were lit with golden dishes and goblets. There was another long table on top of the great hall, where the teachers sat.

Professor McGonagall led the awed students to the short staircase and towards the upper part of the great hall, just in front of the teacher's table. There was a stool in front of them, and a dusty old hat on top of it. For a few seconds, there was complete silence.

Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.

The hat sang! Euphemia thought. Bloody hell!

You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!

The hall burst into applause as the sorting hat finished his song. It bowed to each of the four tables and became still again.

Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
"When I call your name," said McGonagall, "You will put on the hat and sit still to be sorted."

"Abbott, Hannah!"

A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. A moment's pause—

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted.

"Black, Regulas!"

The hall burst into whispers. "Black!" — "The mass murderer?"

Ignoring, Regulas kept a casual face and sat on the chair.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Bones, Susan!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah.

"Boot, Terry!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Brocklehurst, Mandy"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Brown, Lavender!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Bulstrode, Millicent"

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Finnigan, Seamus,"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Granger, Hermione!"

Hermione almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Hale, Samuel!"

As Sam took a deep breath he looked towards Mia who gave him a reassuring smile. He stepped forward and sat on the stool. Mia noticed he was in a conflict with the hat.

"Better be, GRYFFINDOR!"

Sighing, Sam went towards the table with a sad smile. Everyone burst into applause, though it seemed to him Mia's was the loudest.

"Longbottom, Neville!"

The hat took a long time to decide with Neville. When it finally shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

"MacDougal, Morag!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Malfoy, Draco!"

Malfoy swaggered forward when his name was called and got his wish at once: the hat had barely touched his head when it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!"

"Malfoy, Leo!"

It took a while to decide, as the hat finally shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

A few from the Gryffindor table clapped, however, Leo did not seem happy.

"Moon, Erik!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Nott, Theodore!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

There weren't many people left now. "Parkinson"..., then a pair of twin girls, "Patil" and "Patil"..., then "Parker, Jack" ..., then "Perks, Sally-Anne"...,  and then, at last—

"Potter, Euphemia!"

As Euphemia went forward, she heard whispers, "Potter?" "Potter, did she say?"

As the whispers started getting louder, Mia sat on the stool and closed her eyes. The hat was placed as Mia heard a voice in her ear,

"Another potter, eh? I know exactly where to put you. GRYFFINDOR!"

Euphemia wanted to let out a scream of happiness as she heard the Gryffindors cheer for her. She took off her hat, winked at Harry and darted towards the Gryffindor table.

The Gryffindor's were overjoyed. "We got Potter! We got Potter!"

"Potter, Harry!"

Pause—

They all looked towards him, as he sat on the stool.

One minute had passed.

"Better be— GRYFFINDOR!"

The Weasley twins yelled, "We got the Potter twins! We got the Potter twins!"

As Harry sat down next to Mia and grinned widely.

"I'm so happy! We are in the same house! I reckoned you be in Slytherin you know, the snake,"

Laughing it off Harry finally relaxed. Many shook his hands and patted his back.

Now there were only a few people left to be sorted. "Thomas, Dean!"

"Turpin, Lisa!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Weasley, Ronald!"

All the redheads leaned forward,

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Walter, Eddie"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Albus Dumbledore rose to his feet and beamed at everyone.

"Welcome to a new year of Hogwarts! Before we begin the banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are Nitwit! Oddment! Tweak!"

Euphemia clapped loudly, though confused. Dumbledore was odd, not in a bad way. Euphemia didn't dwell on it much longer, as the gold and silver plates were filled with food.

The smell of beef made Euphemia's stomach ache in hunger. She served herself a piece, along with mashed potatoes. She took a single bite of the roast and moaned in delight. This was certainly the best food she had ever had.

"Welcome to Hogwarts,"
   "Ickle firsties!"

Two redheads happily greeted.

"I'm Fred,"
   "And I'm George!"

The two sat next to Ronald, and put their arms around his shoulder, "this is our dear baby brother, Ron," Fred cooed,
   "Please don't break his heart ladies."

Huffing, Ron shoved them off and glared at Regulas who chuckled.

"Shut it!" With that, he shoved another piece of chicken in his mouth.

Edward and Lee had somehow joined their conversation and sat near Harry and her.

She turned towards Harry, (who was busy overhearing Granger and a senior), and tapped his arm. Their eyes went towards the ghost.

"I haven't eaten in five hundred years!" Euphemia heard, "I don't need to of course, but one does miss it. I don't think I've introduced myself? Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower."

"I know who you are!" Ron said while stuffing chicken in his mouth. "You're Nearly Headless Nick! Charlie told me about you!"

"I would prefer you to call me Sir Nicholas de Mimsy— " the ghost began stiffly, but sandy-haired Seamus Finnigan interrupted.

"Nearly Headless? How can you be nearly headless?"

Sir Nicholas looked extremely miffed as if their little chat wasn't going at all the way he wanted.

"Like this," he said irritably. He seized his left ear and pulled. His whole head swung off his neck and fell onto his shoulder as if it was on a hinge. Someone had obviously tried to behead him, but not done it properly.

Scrunching her nose, she looked away.

"Shut it, Edward!" Euphemia heard, "You've already lost us ten points and the term has not even begun!"

Edward scoffed, "it's your fault, Amara. If you hadn't snitched on me— "

"Professor McGonagall was right behind you!"

"Hey, Gon Gon loves me," said Edward, "I'm her favourite."

Amara rolled her eyes and focused back on eating.

Edward noticed Euphemia looking towards them and smirked.

"Hey, it's you!"

Euphemia's eyes consciously widened. "Yes?"

"Could you lend us your dung bombs tonight please?"

"Why?"

"Because— " Edward paused as Euphemia looked expectedly.

"Because what?"

"Just because,"

Amara huffed in annoyance, "stop torturing the poor girl Harrington! It's not even her first day!"

"You're so dramatic!"

"Yes, well you're infuriating!"

Lee sighed and slumped on the table. He glanced at Euphemia, "you'll get used to it. I sure as hell have not."

He noticed Euphemia's plate empty and added more food in a pile. "You firsties really don't know how to eat at a feast, do you? Go on then, finish your veggies!"

Huffing, she started eating. The food was good. She didn't know who cooked it but it felt as if it was magic.

As the rest of the feast went by, she got to know more about the school and the people. Turns out, the Weasley twins had four more brothers, including Ron and a little sister Ginny Weasley.

Euphemia also learnt about Edward and Amara's feud. They had been fighting non-stop ever since their first year.

Mostly every student either talked about academics or Quidditch. Oh, or gossip. How could she even forget? Near her sat Lavender Brown who already knew that the first year Ravenclaw barfed in the lake. Well, it wasn't really gossip.

Soon dinner was turned into dessert. Once again Euphemia was amazed. Hundreds of different types of food and Euphemia had a hard time choosing what to eat. Finally, she decided to go for the brownies.

As Euphemia took a small bite of the brownie, her eyes widened in confusion. Why did these brownies taste more different? She felt as if she was in heaven

"Oh, God! This is heaven! So— so good!" Euphemia mumbled in between bites. "Harry, you have to eat these brownies!"

Euphemia understood why everyone said Hogwarts was their home. They found a family in their respective houses.

As the food started disappearing, She quickly took a few brownies and wrapped them in a paper napkin for later.

After the tables cleared, Dumbledore rose to his feet again.

The hall fell silent and he said, "Just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. I hope every single student remembers that."

His eyes lingered towards the Gryffindor table.

Continuing his speech, Dumbledore stated, "I have also been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

Euphemia snorted. Hogwarts is safe. How could someone just die a painful death?

"He's not serious right?" Euphemia asked randomly.

"Must be," Percy stated.

"Nah, Dumbledore isn't ever really serious. One of the good professors, I reckon!" Edward murmured.

"It's odd because he usually gives us a reason why we're not allowed to go somewhere — the forest's full of dangerous beasts, everyone knows that. I do think he might have told us, prefects, at least" Percy stated, as the others eye-rolled.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" Dumbledore added. As Euphemia looked towards the teacher's table, she noticed that their smiles were rather fixed.

Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike, into words.

"Everyone pick their favourite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!"

And the school bellowed:

Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot.

Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, Fred and George were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest.

"Ah, music! A magic beyond all we do here! Now, time for bedtime. Off you trot! Pip, Pip!"

The Gryffindor first years followed Percy Weasley through the clattering crowds and up to the marble staircase.

Euphemia was tired and too sleepy to notice the paintings and portraits moving.

The Gryffindor first years followed Percy through the chattering crowds and climbed a few more stairs. A bundle of walking sticks was floating in midair ahead of them, and as Percy took a step toward them they started throwing themselves at him. Euphemia who was half asleep walking fell awake.

"Peeves," Percy whispered to the first years. "A poltergeist." He raised his voice, "Peeves — show yourself."

A loud, rude sound, like the air being let out of a balloon, answered. "Do you want me to go to the Bloody Baron?"

There was a pop, and a little man with wicked, dark eyes and a wide mouth appeared, floating cross-legged in the air, clutching the walking sticks.

"Oooooooh!" he said, with an evil cackle. "Ickle Firsties! What fun!" He swooped suddenly at them. They all ducked.

"Go away, Peeves or the Baron'll hear about this, I mean it!" barked Percy.

Peeves cackled loudly.

"Peeves! I mean it!" Percy glared.

He stuck out his tongue and vanished, dropping the walking sticks on Neville's head. They heard him zooming away, rattling coats of armour as he passed.

"You want to watch out for Peeves," said Percy, as they set off again. "The Bloody Baron's the only one who can control him, he won't even listen to us prefects. Here we are."

At the very end of the corridor hung a portrait of a very fat woman in a pink silk dress.

"Password?" she said.

"Caput Draconis," said Percy, and the portrait swung forward to reveal a round hole in the wall.

Everything went blur from that moment forward. Euphemia, half-conscious, bid her friends and brother goodnight and went to her dorm, where she found her trunk. She took the bed, right near the window and changed into her pyjamas, landing straight to her bunker. Placing her locket onto the side table, she slowly closed her eyes, drifting to sleep.

She felt as if she was home.

────────── notes──────────

i can't believe they all are in gryffindor. fuck my plot lmao. i honestly wanted sam in hufflepuff and regulas in slytherin, but everything is so much easier this way and I really don't want to complicate anything right now.

don't worry, more characters might be introduced over the books <33

i genuinely think harry's trauma with the dursleys was not explained well in the movies. i will be bringing more of harry's pov. bubs deserves the world.

completely unrelated, but, i think i have the omicron. i'll have to get it checked, but i'm pretty sure i do. haven't been well and i kinda have the symptoms. 

anyways, I do hope you like this chapter. your comments and votes are appreciated <33

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