Chapter 14 : Enter! The sorting

September 1. 1990

Antares POV

We stood in the middle of the hall. On my left were Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs and on my right Ravenclaws and Slytherins. I looked ahead of me and saw the sorting hat

The sorting hat looked really old and rumpled. I wonder if they clean it. The hat opened it's mouth, now that was something weird, I wonder, can the hat eat or drink? from where did Harry pulled out the Gryffindor's sword? is there some kind of pocket dimension?, and started to sing.

"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 folks 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!"

When the hat finished it's song there was a polite clapping. McGonagall waited a bit and then said

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted."

She started with some girl that wasn't mentioned in the movies or books and went on. The only names I recognised were Katie Bell, Cho Chang and Marietta Edgecombe.

"Malfoy Antares"

I heard my name called and went to put the hat on.

'Now, what do we have here?'

'You aren't exactly the bravest fellow are you?'

'No, I'm certainly not'

'Loyal only to yourself'

'Who else would I be loyal to?'

'You are very ambitious'

'You don't say. I have a war to survive you know?'

'You search for knowledge and are fond of solitude'

'I'm not a people person'

'Now, where to put you?'

'Ravenclaw please'

'Hmmm, Gryffindor wouldn't do'

'I said Ravenclaw please'

'Hufflepuff won't do either'

'I. Said. Ravenclaw'

'Hmm, Ravenclaw or Slytherin, that's a very tough choice'

'No it isn't. If you bothered to listen then you would know I want Ravenclaw!'

'Are you certain?'

'Oh Merlin, yes I fricking am!'

"Hmm, than you would do well in... RAVENCLAW!"

There was a polite clapping as I went, cursing the hat all the way for delaying inevitable, to the table. The sorting continued and when it ended Dumbledore stood up, said some mumbojumbo and then the feast started.

Once everyone was done eating he stood up again.

"Ahern -- just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you

First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils.

I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.

Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch."

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song! Everyone pick their favorite tune and off we go!"

The teachers didn't look happy and I was about to find why.

When the song ended I must have looked like a terrified deer caught in highlights.

'That, that was awful! That will leave mental scars. I'm traumatized!'

New goal, find some spell that will make me go deaf for a minute. Because if I have to listen to this for another five or six years then I won't live long enough to even think about surviving the war.

On our way to the Ravenclaw tower the prefects told us everything we needed to know. The most important probably was that are expected to not let our grades fall below EE. I don't know why, but I don't want to find out what will happen if I do.

My lazy bum isn't happy.

When we made it to the entrance to common room

I noticed the knocker with an eagle on it.

"It's a tradition that first years answer the first riddle of the year" told us one of the prefects.

"What is so fragile that saying its name breaks it?"

asked the eagle.

That's an easy one, silence. But it's not like I will be the one to say it. Let the kids fry their brains.

After three minutes one girl finally gotten it.

"Is, is it silence?" she said timidly.

Like on command the door opened and we were greeted with the sight of our common room.

The Ravenclaw common room is decorated with blue and bronze colours. In the back there are two staircases one two boys and the second to girls dormitories. Under the stairs is a miniature library full of books. The prefects gave us welcoming speech and then we were ushered to our rooms.

Thankfully, everyone in Ravenclaw have their own rooms. My room was at the end of the passage.

The room itself is spacious. There is king sized bed with blue coloured sheet. A study table and a little personal library in the corner.

I was pretty tired but before I could sleep I had to write a letter to my parents and unpack my belongings.

Dear mother and father,

I'd like to inform you that I was sorted to the Noble house of Ravenclaw. I'm saddened that I couldn't uphold our family tradition. Please, tell Draco that I'm sorry that I couldn't be with him in Slytherin.

Best regards

Your son, Antares Malfoy.

'Ugh, I hate writing like that' I thought as I gave my later to Abeona.

Later when I had everything unpacked I could finally sleep.