Unsorted [COMPLETED] {Harry Potter - Wizarding World}

chapter 23

"Are you ready to be unsorted?" Hermione's voice echoed in my ear for a few seconds before several students began to cheer. They gestured for me to walk down the middle of the hall and they followed just behind me. As I did so, sparks and lights began to flash around me and I looked down to see the green emblems and linings of my robes disappearing and flashing every house colour. It was incredible.

My jaw had dropped completely by the time I reached the end of the hall where Professor Dumbledore stepped down from his plinth to talk to me.

"Miss Wood, I meant every word I said to you last night. I am terribly sorry that help was not given to you when you asked for it. I hope your wishes and dreams come true." Dumbledore almost whispered it to me. He meant every word and I knew that.

"Thank you for making this possible. And my promise to you, Sir, is that regardless of what the Hat tells me, I will always be happy to be me." I grinned and he couldn't help but hug me.

"I believe the Hat would like to speak with before the sorting. It asked me to tell you that it isn't part of the deliberation, it is just for you." Dumbledore said quietly and I nodded to him, taking Professor McGonagall's hand as she helped me up onto the stool.

I grinned cheesily at Hermione, Ron and Harry who were sat right at the head of the Gryffindor table before a panic flew over me but I closed my eyes. I felt a hand on either of my shoulders and I knew that it was Oliver and Daniel.

McGonagall slowly placed the Sorting Hat upon my head and I kept my eyes shut, taking deep breaths as it began to take its own.

"Kyla Wood," The Sorting Hat spoke to me. I knew. in this moment as every other sound in the hall disappeared, that it was only the Hat and I. A short, sharp feeling of resentment panged through my heart as it said my name but I immediately felt guilty, knowing it could tell everything I was thinking. It chuckled slightly. "It's okay so feel that way. I believe I may have done you a huge disservice to you almost two years ago."

"I don't think it was a huge disservice, you searched me and found something I didn't even know I had in me. You're quite extraordinary." I said honestly, my eyes were still shut but I pictured Godric Gryffindor, Rowena Ravenclaw and Helena Hufflepuff in my mind, sorting through each aspect of me.

"I am not one to ever admit a mistake, I have been doing this for a thousand years, for tens of thousands of students," The Hat continued. "But the second you apprehensively placed me upon your head as you flew from the down in the Chamber, I knew you were somewhere you didn't belong.

"I don't completely believe I was wrong to house you in Slytherin, how you were two years ago. I believed you, if not surrounded by those others I had placed there also, could honestly do very well there. But I don't just see into your mind, upon your head now, your heart and soul were damaged by this decision.

"Don't get me wrong, it is healing. You have found the way to heal it and you will be whole again and I'm sure you know how this will go but, and do not repeat this otherwise I will become rather redundant, do not lock yourself in a box you don't fit in.

"I sat upon your Mother's head many years ago and I sensed something within her made her Slytherin and that something was evil disguised as cunning. With you, it is different. You are brave, cunning and loyal and I hope you can forgive a silly old Hat like me for such a mistake."

"You saved our lives yesterday, with Harry and the sword, I'm sure I can fathom a way to forgive you." I chuckled slightly and the hat grunted a laugh.

"You've got jokes too. Rather hilarious." It was weird. Magic was weird. Here I was sat talking to a Hat, thanking it for saving my life as it apologised to me. I love magic. "It's pretty amazing."

"I keep forgetting you can read my mind." I said quietly.

"Open your eyes, Miss Wood. I would like you to look around you." As the Hat instructed, I opened my eyes and I looked at the eager eyes before me. First, I looked to Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"Harry was concerned that he should be placed in Slytherin but he was so desperate not to be construed as bad, he asked me so. Don't think that makes you dimmer, because you didn't ask. That boy has incredible talent and being with him, around him, will bring you great glory.

"Hermione was nervous but it was completely obvious where she belonged, although smart like Ravenclaw's, she has a bravery deep within her that she is not even aware of yet. She will get you far.

"My first thought with Ron was, my god another Weasley, if I am honest but he will make a true, loyal friend. Immature like the twins, but never dull to be around. Keep them around."

They looked at me confused as I grinned delightedly at them but then I moved to Oliver and Daniel, who's hands I grabbed and pulled around in front of me so I could look at them.

"Oliver, blimey, that boy is Quidditch mad. I had to dive deep to find the personality behind all of that. But even when he sat upon this chair in his first year, he was thinking of you and what it would be like when you arrived. He couldn't wait.

"Daniel, you very much reminded me of him. But when he sat upon the chair, he knew of the Slytherin blood in him. He hoped to be like his father so much, having seen everything he had seen him go through. Daniel protected you and Oliver with a bravery I witness only in the greatest of Wizards.

"Get your dad." The Hat ordered in its less inspiring grumpy voice. I turned around and grabbed my Dad's hand and made him stand in front of me. I smiled uncontrollably as he looked straight back into my eyes.

"Your Father, David Wood, was an arrogant git when he first got here-" I interrupted the hat by accident when I laughed so hard, I bellowed over and almost dropped him. "Calm it. He was, honestly. Absolute toad of a boy. You have to dig deeper for people like him, you have to get past the arrogance and find their soul. David surprised me greatly. His heart was so strong but his soul was almost as unhappy as yours, he had lost family in the war and he was struggling, hiding behind this facade. He was truly brave and you can see how he turned out to prove this.

"He really does regret what he did in the last two years, Kyla. You must forgive him completely otherwise that is two souls will never heal."

"I will." I assured it, grinning to my Dad to tell him he could go back to where he was. I grinned at Hagrid who waved to me before the Hat left my personal ear and began to address the hall. The sound of chatter and happy laughter refilled my ears and I heard Daniel winding up Oliver, making me smile.

"I, the Sorting Hat of Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizarding since the founding, denounce Kyla Wood of her house; Slytherin." The Hat shouted so loudly that I could feel my eardrums vibrating.

The packed tables cheered loudly, banging their goblets on the tables and clapping. I looked to my friends. Hermione looked so nervous, but she smiled back. I couldn't wait to catch up with her properly.

"Minerva, please lift the Sorting Hat from Kyla Wood's head," Dumbledore asked and I felt it lift off my head, a few of my hairs having to fall loose from it. "And now, we are resorting. Call the name."

"WOOD, Kyla." McGonagall beamed at me. I stepped off the stool, span in a circle and sat back down on the stool, granting a few laughs from across the hall. She placed the hat upon my head and I suddenly felt nervous again.

"Hmm, interesting..." What?! "I'm kidding! See, I've got jokes too."

I couldn't help but laugh.

"It's got to be..."