11 Sorting Ceremony
As the train stopped, Oz got off with the rest of the students. In the distance he could see a big man waving towards the first years, ushering them a certain way.
'Rubeus Hagrid, I've always liked him. A bit too devoted to Dumbledore but its understandable with how much he has given him'.
Oz walked with the rest of the first years to the boats, getting on the boat they sailed towards the castle. Oz sat on a boat with the boy who had broken the window on the train ride.
The boy looking excited finally talked to Oz midway through the boat trip.
"Hey there, again thanks for the help on the train friend! my names Craig, Craig Taplin. I need to know, how is it you have two wands! were you picked by both? my mother always told me that was extremely rare!"
Oz smiled at Craig, this boy obviously had been bottling up all the question during the train ride.
"I was picked by both wands yes, Ollivander told me its extremely rare as well, but not unheard of. Its kind of exhausting having to manage two but I accept them all the same".
Craig gave a nod of understanding to Oz's answers.
"I see! But, wont having two wands on you make you stand out?"
Craig had actually hit quite close to home with this comment. Oz had thought for a while, while in Diagon alley, about whether he should hide the fact or not. He was close to just keeping one hidden in his pouch and one out to use however when he attempted with either wand to put it away, the wands ego would protest, like it was claiming unfairness at Oz only using and keeping one or the other out. After this protest, Oz felt like it'd be wrong to hide one and use the other. People underestimate a wands ego, Oz's wands are connected to each other and him. If Oz were to only keep one out, the other may not even want to work.
"I'm not bothered about whether I stand out or not honestly. Two wands on a wizard isn't exactly unheard of, so im sure such a thing will not make me stand out for long".
Craig seemed to be satisfied enough with Oz's answers. Looking down at the wands attached to Oz's waist Craig giggled to himself and went to add another comment, but at that moment the mist on the water cleared revealing Hogwarts before all of them.
All the students around were looking up at the castle enamoured with it while Oz felt slightly emotional. It took him 6 years of lonesome work preparing for this day and now it finally had arrived.
After the boat ride nobody spoke a whisper. They travelled up into the castle, through the halls towards the doors to the great hall. Oz had incredible anticipation of what's to come, Seeing the castle for real really hit home that he was truly in this world to stay.
Some of the kids seemed to already be referring to Oz as 'The Dual Wielder' behind his back, but he didn't mind, He never had a plan to hide himself in Hogwarts to the extent of playing a background character, where would the fun be in that? This was a life he wanted to make the most of, not recluse himself.
Finally the first years arrived at the door to the Great Hall.
.
"Good Evening first years, today you will be sorted into your houses. Soon you shall walk into the great hall of Hogwarts and undergo the sorting ceremony and after being sorted into your houses join the tables which your house is situated on".
A lot of the students around seemed incredibly nervous about what house they'd be in. Some families after all place utmost importance on a child's house, for instance, imagine a child from a family of Slytherins ending up in Gryffindor. Such a thing would leave the child ostracized.
Professor Mcgonagall then opened the door to the great hall, showering the first years with light as they opened wide.
"Please all of you follow me".
All the first years then followed Mcgonagall through the great hall, looking around at the incredible sight. Oz was feeling a cavalcade of emotions but overall expectation and excitement reigned supreme.
Oz then looked up at the teachers table spotting Dumbledore, noting the incredible sparkle in his eyes. For a second it felt like they locked eyes, but it could be Oz's imagination.
'If I had to judge, he must be above the next core level im trying to break into, maybe even into the very late stages of that core level. I'd expect nothing less from such a legendary figure'.
looking at the rest of the teachers, Oz surmised they had all broken into the second core stage. Snape and Mcgonagall probably being at the later stages of the second stage.
'Hogwarts certainly know how to pick their teachers. Some may seem quirky and odd but they all have the power to back themselves'.
Some wizards stay in the first level all their lives, so for Hogwarts to have all their magical teachers be in the second core level was certainly impressive.
While lingering on these thoughts, the sorting ceremony began. Each student started going up to the sorting hat and got sorted into their respective houses.
Eventually Craig was called up, the boy whom Oz had a chat with and sat with on the boat as well as the train. Judging from his personality, Oz had him pinned as a Hufflepuff. The actual result however was different.
{GRYFFINDOR!}
The Gryffindor table cheered for their newest companion.
Oz help a slight surprise on his face at the result, but when thinking on the subject, he'd only just met the guy so its not like he knows everything about him.
After a few more students it was time for Oz to step up.
.
Oz walked up in front of all the students towards the sorting hat. He could hear slight murmurs, probably remarking about his wands. He then sat down quietly onto the seat awaiting the hat to be placed on his head.
'I understand enough to know each house has its pros and cons. Gryffindor's are brave yet foolish, Hufflepuff's outgoing yet somewhat harsh on themselves, Raven claw's smart yet too focused on studies and Slytherins cunning and clever yet too focused on bloodline and family. Out of all of the houses, I think mines got to be Ravenclaw, Especially after the sheer amount ive studied before coming to school. It also goes hand in hand with my ability of 'Perfect Memory' an ability fitting of a house that covets knowledge'.
Oz sat with a slight grin on his face, feeling as if he had everything thought through and under control. The hat was then placed on his head and started speaking.
{Interesting, you seem to understand the pros and cons of each house. Your magic within you is also perfectly balanced between light and dark, I guess having two wands isn't just for show ey? You will be certainly difficult to choose for...}.
The sorting hat then stopped its talking to focus and think, keeping Oz in deep anticipation.
{Okay I've decided your house}.
Oz looked out at the audience of students and teachers prepared to be sorted. Finally the sorting hat declared,
{SLYTHERIN!}.
.
.
'...huh?'.
