Reading Maddie Potter and Percy Jackson

Reading Chapter 7: The Sorting Hat

"Sounds amazing," Percy muttered into Maddie's shoulder. Said girl nodded.

Maddie quickly looked down again as Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. Aunt Petunia wouldn't have let it in the house.

The Stolls and Weasley twins all smirked at each other.

"Professor-"

"Absolutely not, Mr. Weasley," McGonagall cut off George. "That hat does not leave the school."

The Stolls and Weasley twins pouted.

Maybe they had to try and get a rabbit out of it,

"It's a muggle/mortal magic trick," Hermione and Annabeth said at the same time. They looked at each other and smiled. Maddie looked at them with a knowing glance.

Maddie thought wildly, that seemed the sort of thing -- noticing that everyone in the hall was now staring at the hat, she stared at it, too. For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth -- and the hat began to sing.

"SING APOLLO!" The Stolls chanted. Apollo smirked and did as told while the demigods and gods all groaned with the wizards looking confused.

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

The wizards then nodded in understand.

But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.

The Stolls and Weasley twins all secretly planned to find a smarter hat.

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 Hufflepuffis 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 whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.
"So we've just got to try on the hat!" Ron whispered to Maddie. "I'll kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling a troll."

"Fred!" Mrs. Weasley scolded her son.

Maddie smiled weakly. Yes, trying on the hat was a lot better than having to do a spell, but she did wish they could have tried it on without everyone watching. The hat seemed to be asking rather alot; Maddie didn't feel brave or quick-witted or any of it at the moment. If only the hat had mentioned a house for people who felt a bit queasy, that would have been the one for her.

"Then wouldn't everyone be in that house?" Lily giggled at her mom.

Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "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 moments pause --
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.
The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. Maddie saw the ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at her.
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah.
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
The table second from the left clapped this time; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them.
" Brocklehurst, Mandy" went to Ravenclaw too, but "Brown, Lavender" became the first new Gryffindor, and the table on the far left exploded with cheers; Maddie could see Ron's twin brothers catcalling.