The Philosopher's Stone (A Harry Potter Rewrite)

THE SORTING HAT

"New students!" said the Fat Friar, smiling around at them. "About to be Sorted, I suppose?"

A few people nodded mutely. Ria smiled back.

"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said the Friar. "My old house, you know."

"Move along now," said a sharp voice of McGonagall "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."

One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall. While they were leaving, Ria did a quick survey of each. Two of them caught her eyes. A gaunt, sullen looking man wearing chains and covered in what Ria though was blood, and a young lady with straight waist length hair, and a haughty face. Ria found her beautiful.

"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me."

Professor McGonagall led them out of the chamber and in, through the carved double doors, to the Great Hall.

Two tables long tables were on either side of the door, filled with students, leaving a passage in between which led to another table at the top of the hall where the teachers sat. The whole place was lit by candle that floated in mid air. Ria wondered how they managed to not drip wax.

Professor McGonagall led them up to the front. On her way Ria noticed that the tables were filled with shining gold and silver dishes and goblets. Ria looked up and found a clear starry night sky. She remembered reading about the Great Hall being bewitched to resemble the sky outside. Almost immediately she heard Hermione Granger whisper this information and chuckled.

Once they were in a line at the front of the hall, Professor McGonagall placed a four legged stool in front of them. On it she placed a battered and patched old hat. It reminded Ria of her old clothes.

Silence fell in the hall. Then the hat twitched, a rip on it opened like a mouth and it 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 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,