Chapter 25

[A/N:A short chapter but that's all I could manage today.]

.....

As I turned towards the screams, I saw white misty figures appear through the walls. These figures were soon revealed to be ghosts as their figures became clearer.

Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years.

I was intrigued by them as I wanted to know how they existed. None of the books I had read really talked about them and even in the books they held no significant role and were often glossed over.

"My my, new students have arrived yet again." A ghost wearing medieval clothes with a sword impaled through his body muttered.

"Ah yes...about to be Sorted I suppose?" A fat ghost asked.

A few nodded and more ghosts started gathering but before I had a chance to interact with any of them, McGonagall returned.

"Stop bothering the first years, this is the umpteenth time you have done this." she scolded the ghosts and they floated away still arguing amongst themselves.

"Move along now," she said, addressing us. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."

"Now, form a line,and follow me."

We formed a messy line and followed behind her. She led us to two towering doors which opened to reveal the Great Hall.

The Great Hall was gigantic. It was much bigger than it seemed. With rows upon rows of long tables filled with students from second year and above.

Lily was walking right beside me with awe written on her face. I too took in the sight as we walked. Thousands of candles were floating in mid air and I couldn't help but wonder if they melted and if yes, what happened to the wax.

The tables were laid with golden plates and goblets, a bit too gaudy for my tastes but they fit the atmosphere.

At the top of the half was another long table where the teachers were sitting.

I saw familiar faces there but all of them were significantly younger than the ones in my memory. Flitwick, Slughorn, Sprout and almost all the same teachers except the DADA teacher who was different and nobody I recognized.

Of course the one I was keen on seeing was the Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and sure enough he was sitting there. He looked a bit younger now as his hair was mostly black and his beard was not as long.

I could see why he was one of the most powerful wizards in the book. He exuded a different kind of aura than the others.

I looked upwards and saw the illusory night sky dotted with stars. It was an 'enchanting' sight. All the other kids too looked upwards with their jaws agape and eyes wide open. It was quite amusing but my main attention was on the dirty hat that was placed on a stool at the end of the hall.

All students were immediately snapped out of their thoughts when 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,

…........

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

The song was batty and boring,my mind immediately tuned it out….

The hat had a terrible crow-like voice and was singing about the house traits.

Basically it would shout out to the world to hear if you are a loud mouthed idiot, a boring nerd, a lying cheater, or a pushover who will never get anywhere in life.

Professor McGonagall stepped forward after the hat finished and pulled out 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. "Is everything clear?"

After receiving a positive response, she got back to the parchment. She cleared her throat and began, "Aubrey,Bertram"

A boy stepped out and glanced at McGonagall. "Go on...put the hat on your head."

The boy nervously picked the hat and put it on. After a moment of pause..

"HUFFLEPUFF!"shouted the hat.

The next few names were called and they all proceeded as quickly as the first one.

"Black, Sirius" McGonagall called.

More than a few heads turned as Sirius calmly walked upto the hat. He put it on and waited as the hat didn't immediately sort him like the others so far.

"GRYFFINDOR" the hat finally shouted and there was complete silence.

In a shocking turn of events, Sirius Black's Sorting had stunned the entire Hall. There was no warm greeting from the Gryffindor table this time and they just sat there in awkward silence as Sirius made his way towards them.

"Ahem.." McGonagall cleared her throat and continued.

"Black, Narcissa." she shouted and now it was my turn to be stunned.

I watched as a blonde girl with a cold expression on her face walked up to the stool. This changed everything.

The timeline was fucked it seemed and whatever little knowledge I had from this era might have just become useless. I was pretty sure Narcissa was older than Severus and Lily.

She should have been third year or higher by now but yet here she was about to get sorted.

I was still lost in my thoughts when the hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"

The Slytherin table clapped loudly this time, clearly happy that at least one Black had made it.

A few more names were called out with a few notable ones like Amelia Bones, the future Head of Aurors and Aunt of Susan Bones. If I recall correctly, her family were murdered by death eaters leaving only her and her niece as survivors.

She naturally got sorted into Gryffindor.

Finally McGonagall shouted, "Evans, Lily."

My ears perked up at that and I watched as a nervous Lily made her way to the stool. She put the hat on and closed her eyes.

The hat didn't make its decision immediately, which was something I had already expected. It took some time, by far the longest and just when it seemed McGonagall was going to remove the hat, it shouted.

"RAVENCLAW!"

Colour me surprised, I hadn't expected that. I had influenced her a bit but I didn't think it was going to do anything this drastic.

Lily seemed surprised and she made her way to the Ravenclaw table where she was welcomed warmly. She made eye contact with me and I flashed her a smile which she returned.

The sorting proceeded again and two more marauders were sorted. Peter Pettigrew, the kid who lost his rat a while back got sorted into Gryffindor and Remus Lupin also got sorted into Gryffindor.

"Potter, James"

James walked up with a confident smile on his face and the hat shouted Gryffindor as soon as it touched his head.

The Gryffindor table burst into applause as he made his way to them and sat next to Sirius who patted him on the back. They both started talking happily and I noticed how James was looking at the Ravenclaw table.

The sorting went on and finally it was my turn as McGonagall called out,"Prince, Severus."

I blinked and gathered my bearings and made my way towards the stool. Mcgonagall placed the hat on me.

I took a deep breath and straightened my back. I calmly walked towards the stool ignoring all the noise around me.

This was it, the house I got into would determine my path to an extent. I lifted the dirt hat and placed it on my head.

I heard nothing for a while and then suddenly I heard a voice inside my head.