Sorting

Professor McGonagall eyed the crowd of first years that had assembled in front of her. She always felt that she shared a little of the excitement when she introduced them to Hogwarts.

Of course that excitement was muted by her immense anger, annoyance, and not that she would admit it, a little bit of fear. Never before has the train ride been sabotaged like this. As soon as she heard what happened, her mind flashed back twenty years ago to another group of trouble makers. No, she certainly didn't believe it to be coincidence that a huge prank is pulled on the train the very same year that the sons of two of the Marauders come to Hogwarts.

Her eyes immediately searched them out of the crowd. Her eyes first found a mirror image of James Potter standing by the newest Weasley. He looked to be a bit annoyed at the mention of the dungbomb, and with how he's looking through the crowds it most certainly didn't evolve him, but he's most likely another victim.

McGonagall was just starting to feel hope that her suspicions were wrong, when she saw a young Percy Black looking entirely too innocent. With a heavy sigh, she continued with her introduction, but not without making a mental note to invite him to stay after his first transfiguration class to nip this problem in the bud.

"Know this children," McGonagall sternly said, "We at hogwarts will not tolerate any tomfoolery going on in these hallowed halls. If you are caught behaving such a way here, you will find yourself seeking a new place of education."

She turned and motioned for the children to follow behind her while she began her speech, "Now, the start of term banquet will shortly begin, but before you take your seat in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. This is a very important ceremony, as you house will be like a second family for you these next seven years."

They came to a stop under a wall that was decorated with four separate banners. Percy's eyes were immediately drawn to the gorgeous lion on the red one. McGonagall's voice brought him out of his thoughts, "The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. While you are here your accomplishments will be met with earning House points, while any breaking of the rules will result in losing those points. I hope you each go on to become a credit to you houses."

Percy eyes drifted to his other first years as he tuned out McGonagalls well wishes while she stepped inside for a moment. Looking over he noticed a certain blond menace standing all by his lonesome. A quiet chuckle escaped his lips as he noticed the people not able to get any closer from the stench.

Percy's eyes snapped in front when he heard several screams from the other kids. A couple of ghosts were causing a ruckus, but a name was mentioned that caught Percy's attention, Peeves. His father had mentioned that Peeves not really a ghost but a poltergeist. The thing that's worth mentioning is that Peeves has a knack for pranking anyone and everyone. His father had tried to recruit him multiple times, only for him to be stabbed in the back and taking the blame for whatever Peeves would do. He eventually concluded that it was a lost cause and Peeves is a calamity that you needed to avoid at all costs.

Eventually, McGonnagall had come back and made the ghosts leave. Afterwards she escorted us to the Great Hall. It was a peculiar experience, while the floating candles and enchanted ceiling were a very grand experience, being stared at by the entire school was a bit off-putting for Percy. His eyes quickly found a hat sitting on a wooden stool in the middle of the Hall.

He and the other first years waited a couple minutes for something to happen, before ethe sorting at started singing,

"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,

Those cunning folk 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!"

Percy chuckled at the funny little song and soon enoug, the Sorting began. Percy's nerves were stretched taut, he got the impression from his father's books that wizards develop pre-conceived notions about each other based on their houses. From what he's heard so far, Slytherin is thought to be a House of evil, Gryffindor is a House for idiots, Ravenclaw is a House for nerds, and Hufflepuff is a House for the rest that don't fit in those categories.

The Sorting proceeded alphabetically, moving through the students at a rapid pace. Seeing as his last name was at the beginning of th ealphabet, he didn't have to wait Ling before Professor McGonagall called out, "Black, Perseus"

Loud gasps rung and out and whispers spread around the room. Percy ignored them as he made his way to the hat, he hoped that this wouldn't have happened, but he supposed it was inevitable with how famous, or should he say infamous, the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black is. His family didn't leave a kind legacy, with his cousin Bellatrix and his father being counted as members of the Dark Lord's inner circle.

He knew from how his father berated anything even closely resembling dark was treated with heavy suspicions, and while he may not a hundred percent agree with that view, he knew it gave credit to his working theory of something being off about his trial.

Percy grabbed the ratty and torn hat and slid it on his head with a nervous tremor. Suddenly a voice appeared in his head, 'Hmm. Now this is quite interesting.'

Percy flinched before calming down realizing it was the same voice as the hat. The hat didn't take notice and continued, "While not a bad mind, you focus isn't on books... Nor do you have much dedication and diligence unless its for a cause that interrst you... and while yes there's plenty of courage, I sense a ruthlessness in you that pairs well with your ambition.'

Percy started getting a nasty feeling when the hat continued, 'Yes, you'd do quite well in SLYTHERIN!"

The last part was yelled out for all to hear and the Great Hall once more broke into whispers. The hat was lifted off of his head and Percy looked at in betrayal. He sighed as he allowed Professor McGonnagall to change his colors to the Slytherin Green, and made his way to his new table. Sitting down alone, he could see he was eyed by every other Slytherin at the table. It honestly, reminded him of sharks swarming their prey.

They continued on with the Sorting and no more surprises came up, Harry Potter went to Gryffindor like his parents, Draco was in Slytherin like his. Soon enough an old man stood up in the middle of the Great Hall.

He had a beaming smile as he said, "Welcome, welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin or banquet, I just have a few words to say, and they are:Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you"

Percy gave a great sigh as he contemplated what he was going to do know, when he caught something in the corner of his eye. A thin man, with sallow skin was staring at him with more hatred than he had ever seen before. He leaned over to a boy sitting next to him named Blaise and said, "Who's that?"

Blaise rolled his eyes and said, "You don't even know who our Head of House is, that's Professor Snape. He's famous for being one of the youngest Potion Master in the world!"

Percy rolled the name back and forth in his mind before coming to a conclusion, "I wonder what his problem is with me, I'm sure we've never even met before."

He sighed thinking only his luck would place him in a house where the leader hates you for the next seven years.