The Black Outcast

Sorting Hat

"Move along now," Minnie said. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."
One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall.
"Now, form a line." Minnie told the first years, "and follow me."

Sighing, (M/N) got into a line, with Neville behind him, and a bushy haired witch, who he bumped into, was in front of him. They walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.

(M/N) always knew Hogwarts was lovely, but he never imagined such a strange and splendid place. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting, These Tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Minnie led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Mainly to avoid all the staring eyes, (M/N) looked up and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. He heard Hermione whisper, "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History"

It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn't simply open to the heavens.

(M/N) quickly looked down again as Minnie silently placed a four-legged stool in front of first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and fried and extremely dirty. Her dad's cousin wouldn't miss a beat to smack him with it.
'

Finally, but I wonder what house I'm going to be in,' (M/N) thought wildly, that seemed the sort of thing---noticing that everyone In the hall was now staring at the hat, he 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:

"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.
You can keep your shoulders 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,
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks 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 four tables and then became quite still again.

"You were right (M/N)." Neville whispered to him, making (M/N) nod.
The hat seemed to be asking rather a lot; (M/N) didn't a single hell about what house he's going to be in. Just as long as it's good and fun.

Minnie 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 blond pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right over her eyes, and sat down. A moment's pause----