Chapter 37

Instantly the once quiet hall erupted in muttering once more only to be overshadowed by an insulting voice.

"Got something to hide Potter? Or do you just think you are special and better than the other students?" This scathing remark came from a man at the teacher's table with greasy black hair, a hooked nose, and sallow skin.

This could only be the pathetic Severus Snape. He was responsible for everything that happened in his miserable life but blamed it on everyone else. The fact that he knew of Harry Potter's upbringing, yet still continued to treat the son of the woman he loved like trash spoke of his pettiness. How people liked his character Harry could not understand, the guy was an idiot and relished in bullying children. As morally bankrupt as Harry was, even he didn't find pleasure in emotionally destroying children.

"Yes sir, I do have something to hide, don't you? I have no desire to have my personal information, security precautions or my intimate secrets known by anyone that simply asks a hat for them.

I do not begrudge the other students of their choice to put a mind-reading artifact on their heads, as I'm sure that wizard families have certain protections. They don't have to worry about someone using this hat to find out their life goals, hidden alliances or family magic secrets.

Just imagine if they have seen their fathers do or plan something illegal, or how they protect their Gringotts key. I bet a criminal would love to examine a mind-reading hat that has sat on the head of every child from a Noble House."

There was absolute silence in the hall again as the pureblood student's mouths fell open in horror of the implications of what was just said, even Snape was taken aback. Then there was pandemonium as everyone with something to be ashamed of or hide was demanding the hat be destroyed. A loud bang that sounded like a cannon firing suddenly shocked everyone quiet again, and then a booming voice roared out.

"SILENCE!"

Everyone looked to see that Albus Dumbledore had risen from his large gold chair and had a wand in his hand. His silver hair was shining as brightly as the ghosts flying above the tables and coupled with his ostentatious robes, it made him stand out. The students waited quietly for the Headmaster to speak, surely he would explain why they had to have their memories examined to be sorted into different groups for school.

"Students, this is a time-honoured tradition that has existed since Hogwarts was founded. I can assure you that you have nothing to worry about Mr Potter, the hat remains protected in my office all year long." Dumbledore said with his best venerable sage impression.

"If its all the same sir, I still rather choose Ravenclaw without using a mind-reading hat. I have come here to focus on learning magic since I was kept ignorant of it by someone's design. The other houses have enviable traits, but as I have only just learnt I am a wizard, I fear I must choose knowledge for my chosen house trait." Countered Harry.

"I'm afraid that you must wear the Sorting Hat to be properly sorted into your house, Harry. If not, you may be placed incorrectly and not fit in with your fellow housemates." Dumbles said with a stern edge to his grandfatherly act.

"But sir, how do we know this is the real hat created by the founders?

What about Mr Weasley's warning about artifacts being sentient and having its own personality? There is no reason for a mind-reading hat to tell me what house trait I want to focus on during my time at school. What guarantee do I have that it will not change my personality or modify my memories?" Harry held his ground, making sure to keep repeating 'mind-reading hat' as much as he could.

The dark muttering throughout the hall let him know that his refusal to wear the Sorting Hat was at least not being viewed like he was spitting on wizard traditions. That was the last thing he wanted, to alienate all the purebloods would be a tremendously stupid move to make. He just didn't want to put on a hat that may or may not be responsible for making wizards in Britain retarded. The fact that he was a reincarnator hell-bent on enslaving all wizards and controlling the world also might have had something to do with it...

"Really Mr Potter, you have quite the imagination. The founders would not have created something that would harm its students. Just relax, I assure you the experience is not harmful in any way." Dumbledore continued to coax Harry into putting the hat on, it was slightly suspicious.

If fake Moody could confuse a magical artifact to enter Harry Potter into a dangerous competition that would see his magic stripped if he didn't participate, then what Dumbledore could do with a mind-reading one was terrifying.

"I'm sorry, Headmaster, but my opinion on the matter won't change. I don't mean to be rude or disrespect tradition, but I have been wronged by some unknown person since my parents were murdered. The Ministry has assured me that it was not a follower of the Dark Lord, but have still launched an investigation into the matter. Still, whoever it was that kidnapped me to keep me ignorant of the wizarding world, I rather not make their job of ruining my life any easier by having all my fears and vulnerabilities in their hands thanks to a mind-reading hat.

Besides, the Sorting Hat was created in a time when wizards and muggles were at war. They probably used the hat to screen anyone that meant harm to Hogwarts or its students. Or maybe it was a way to collect more magic techniques, who knows. Either way, it was created a thousand years ago in a much less civilised time, who can know what kind of precautions they deemed acceptable back then. I understand that most of the practices from that era are considered 'Dark' and are no longer acceptable in today's society, well according to a few of the books I read."

As Harry finished giving his refusal, he kept a careful watch on Professor McGonagall for any reaction. He could only see the shock that anyone would feel at hearing Harry Potter was kidnapped, there was nothing else. It seems the reason why Professor McGonagall never checked up on the orphaned child of her friends for ten years was because she didn't remember it. She had been obliviated.

It made sense. Professor McGonagall was troubled when Harry was left with 'the worst kind of muggles' and even questioned Dumbledore on the need for it. The fact that he was just going to dump Harry on the doorstep with a letter also caused her to speak out, but funnily enough, once she met Dumbledore's eyes, she seemed to accept everything he said.

Hagrid was drinking deeply from his goblet, but he looked angry when he slammed it back on the table. Harry quickly checked his surface thoughts, but they were only filled with how James and Lily's child was raised by the Dursleys instead of with a good magical family. There were no thoughts of delivering Harry himself to the doorstep of the muggles he despised or about the Sorting Hat.

It seems Dumbledore had done some damage control already and wiped all memories from the only two people that witnessed his abduction of the heir to a Noble House. He also looked like he was losing his patience, and Harry wondered how much longer he could keep up the kindly grandfather look.

"Mr Potter, I am afraid that it is a school requirement to be sorted with the Sorting Hat. If you are not sorted, then you are not allowed to attend Hogwarts!" Albus went for the ultimatum approach.

Unfortunately, he was not dealing with a boy leaving a terrible home life and using Hogwarts as an escape.

"Oh, that's a shame. Everyone has told me that Hogwarts is the premier magic school in the world, I was really looking forward to studying here. Lucky I kept my trunk in my pocket, sorry for wasting everyone's time." Harry said as he turned around and started walking towards the castle entrance.

He did not actually need to attend Hogwarts, he just wanted access to its library, the Room of Requirements, and to stop Dumbledore from hunting him down. Harry was not a scared and ignorant eleven-year-old boy this time around after all. His public refusal to wear the Sorting Hat was risky. Sure it held a cool sword that he wanted, but he was not going to risk being mind r*ped for absolutely no reason like every other fanfic he read. There was no telling what an ancient artifact with mind-reading powers could do, especially if it was somehow powered by Hogwarts or modified by Dark Lord Dumbledore!

The hall was yet again silent in shock as they watched Harry Potter walk towards the exit. Did they think that Hogwarts was the only school he could attend?

"Now, now, Mr Potter, no need to be hasty. I really don't see what the fuss is about, children have worn the Sorting Hat for a thousand years and have been fine. Won't you please humour us and be sorted like everyone else?" Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore pleaded with Harry Potter when he saw that he was going to walk out the door.

"You know what? Fine. I will wear your old, filthy, mind-reading hat on one condition. Every teacher swears a magical oath on their life and magic, that wearing the hat will not affect me in any way and that it will never disclose anything it learns from my mind. Since you keep assuring me that everything will be fine, I assume you will have no problems with this?"

It was at this moment that Harry felt a mind probe touch the temporary barrier he had built in his mind. He was ninety-nine percent sure that Dumbledore or Snape would attempt to read his mind at some point tonight and had been prepared. Since he obviously could not have them appearing in his mindscape, he used the ineffective method of erecting a barrier around his thoughts instead.

He let out a practised shriek of pain while holding his head exaggeratedly. Harry even dropped to his knees and continued to groan in pain. The hall erupted in a barely controlled uproar as they watched the boy hero kneel on the ground clutching his head. Before any teacher could move to check on him, he shouted out once again.

"Someone just attacked me! It felt like they tried to control my mind!" He yelled out, making sure every student in the hall heard his accusation.