Chapter 15
Chapter 15
“Welcome to Hogwarts.”
After taking charge of the first-years from Hagrid, Professor McGonagall–immaculate in dark green robes, her hair gathered into a neat bun–led them into a modest chamber with a very high ceiling.
“The start-of-term feast will begin shortly. Before you enter the Great Hall and take your seats, you will be Sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony, for while you are here, your House will be your home.”
“You will attend lessons with your housemates, sleep in the same dormitories, and spend the seven years until graduation together.”
Professor McGonagall surveyed the room. The children stood as quiet as a flock of chicks.
Suer silently awarded her full marks. Professor McGonagall’s command of a room: MAX.
She continued.
“Hogwarts has four Houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. Each possesses its own distinguished history, and each has produced many outstanding witches and wizards.”
“During your time here, good work will earn points for your House and help it compete for the House Cup at the end of the year. Winning it is a great honor.”
Her expression grew more severe.
“But if you break the rules–any of the rules–your House will lose points. Remember that.”
Every student, Suer included, nodded like a row of pecking chicks. A few looked ready to thump their chests and swear they would never violate a single school rule.
Satisfied by their expressions, Professor McGonagall nodded.
“Before the ceremony, I suggest you all make yourselves presentable. I shall return in a few minutes.”
As she left, Suer noticed her glance briefly toward Harry’s position.
In one corner, Hermione pulled Suer over and made him inspect her robes.
The first-years suddenly cried out in alarm. Hermione had turned Suer toward the wall, so he could not see what had happened.
Neville came over as well. After finishing with Suer, Hermione untied Neville’s cloak and fastened it properly. He had somehow knotted it beneath his left ear.
“Now, form a single line!” Professor McGonagall called sharply upon returning. “The Sorting ceremony is about to begin. Follow me.”
The children’s faces tightened. Suer could hear Hermione’s breathing grow heavier in front of him. Neville was so nervous that he began moving the same arm and leg together.
“Relax, Neville,” Suer whispered near his ear.
He truly feared Neville would trip over his own feet. That would be quite a spectacle.
The Great Hall was far larger than it had appeared in the films. Four banners hung beside four long tables, embroidered respectively with a serpent, a maned lion, a badger, and an eagle in flight.
Countless candles floated overhead, illuminating the hall and making the golden plates and goblets on the tables glitter.
Professor McGonagall arranged the first-years before the staff table, facing hundreds of older Hogwarts students. A tall stool stood between the new arrivals and the rest of the school.
Now that she was here, Hermione seemed less nervous.
“*Hogwarts: A History* says the ceiling is enchanted,” she whispered to Suer. “It looks the same as the sky outside.”
Professor McGonagall collected a dusty gray hat and a roll of parchment from the dais, then placed the hat beside the stool.
Everyone stared at it.
The hall fell silent.
The hat twitched. A broad slit opened across it–and it began to sing.
“You may not think me pretty,
But never judge a hat by looks.
If you can find a fairer one,
Then I shall gladly eat myself!
…
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where courage hides within the heart.
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where folk are honest, brave, and true.
If you possess a clever mind,
Then wise Ravenclaw may welcome you.
Or perhaps you’ll dwell in Slytherin,
And there make friends sincere and loyal.
Come, put me on! You need not fear!
There is no cause for dread!
Within my hands you’ll come to no harm,
For I am a thinking, magical hat!”
When the song ended, thunderous applause filled the hall. Like a gentleman, the hat straightened itself and bowed toward each of the four tables.
Truthfully, it had not sounded particularly good. Suer rubbed one ear.
“It seems we only have to put on the hat.” Hermione released a breath and whispered, “Someone told me we would have to fight a troll.”
Suer smiled without answering and gestured toward the front.
Professor McGonagall had unrolled the parchment.
“When I call your name, you will come forward, place the hat on your head, and sit upon the stool to be Sorted.”
“Hannah Abbott!”
A rosy-cheeked girl with two plaits stumbled out of the line, pulled on the hat, and sat. Its brim dropped neatly over her eyes.
“HUFFLEPUFF!” the hat shouted.
One table applauded in welcome. Hannah blushed and hurried over.
“Susan Bones!”
Suer’s attention sharpened.
So this was the other Bones.
“HUFFLEPUFF!”
Susan quickly sat beside Hannah.
For some reason, Professor McGonagall paused before reading the next name.
“Suer Bones!”
Remembering his conversation with Mr. Ellison that night, Suer sighed softly and left the line. Professor McGonagall watched him approach with a smile.
“Put on the hat. Personally, I very much hope you come to Gryffindor,” she whispered before he lowered it over his head.
Suer gave a small nod and put it on.
“Oh, another Bones,” said a voice inside his mind.
“Actually, I have another surname, Mr. Hat. I’d prefer it if you called me Suer Ellison. The Ellisons have raised me since I was a baby.”
“Oh, my apologies,” the hat replied politely.
“No harm done, Mr. Hat. Your song was wonderful,” Suer flattered it, entirely against his true opinion.
“Ha-ha! I think so too. I spent an entire year preparing it.”
The brim quivered with delight.
“Ahem.” Professor McGonagall coughed softly.
“Yes, yes. Back to work.” The hat turned its attention to Suer. “Let me see… Exceptional talent. You seem unlike any Bones I have known. Ravenclaw might suit you, yet you possess remarkable courage as well. And you are clearly shrewd. Gryffindor and Slytherin would both fit.”
“A difficult choice. Very difficult. Do you have any preference?”
“Any House is fine, Mr. Hat, though I would like a comfortable common room where I can lie on a sofa and read. Delicious food nearby would make it even better.”
“Oh, that is very Hufflepuff,” said the hat. “Hufflepuff has the finest common room of all four Houses, and it is beside the kitchens. In that case…”
“HUFFLEPUFF!”
The Hufflepuff table erupted in applause. Suer removed the hat and walked smiling toward the House where he would spend the next seven years.
Beside golden-haired Hannah, Susan watched him curiously.
“Sit here, Suer.” Cedric, whom he had met on the platform, waved him over.
Suer took the seat beside him.
A pearly white ghost rose through the centre of the table and smiled.
“Hufflepuff welcomes you,” he said.
“That’s the Fat Friar,” Cedric whispered. “He’s our House ghost.”
Suer studied the smiling spirit with fascination. In either of his lives, this was the first ghost he had ever seen.
“Thank you, Brother Friar.”
The Fat Friar removed his hat and bowed.
The Sorting continued.
Terry Boot went to Ravenclaw. Lavender Brown became the first Gryffindor. Justin Finch-Fletchley joined Hufflepuff, and Suer applauded with everyone else.
Sometimes the Sorting Hat decided quickly; sometimes it required more thought. Of course, it might simply have been chatting with the children and avoiding work. The instinct to slack off knew no species.
Hermione was Sorted into Gryffindor. Suer keenly sensed that she seemed… less than pleased.
Several more names followed.
Then Professor McGonagall called,
“Harry Potter!”
A buzz immediately swept across all four tables. Several students near Suer whispered about whether this was *the* Harry Potter.
The Sorting Hat did not take long.
“GRYFFINDOR!”
The Gryffindor table exploded into cheers. Two red-haired boys beat silver spoons against their golden plates and shouted,
“We got Potter! We got Potter!”
Ron Weasley naturally went to Gryffindor as well. The next two students were placed in Ravenclaw and Slytherin.
At last, the Sorting ended.
Suer exhaled and looked down at the empty plate before him.
On the train, he had eaten only a few biscuits and pieces of bread made by Mrs. Ellison, along with some Diagon Alley sweets extorted from Angel. He was starving.
“Welcome, welcome, to another new year at Hogwarts.”
Headmaster Dumbledore rose from the gleaming golden chair at the centre of the staff table and smiled.
“You all appear to be hungry, so before the feast begins, I should like to say a few words.”
“And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!”