Sorting and Common Rooms

"Altair Salvatore."

Hearing his name, Altair took a deep breath and walked forward, he could hear his faint footsteps across the stone floor. He felt the curious stares from the students, but he kept his focus ahead, pushing down his excitement.

He crossed the Great Hall, his eyes drifted toward the professors' table, and there, at the head of it, sat an old man.

Albus Dumbledore.

Someone he wanted to truly surpass.

He knew how powerful this demented old man truly was and the fact he restricted himself to hogwarts slightly infuriated Altair despite how stagnated this world has become and is, gradually becoming more.

However he couldn't blame him.

The man lost all familial connections with a brother, a dead sister, a lover and witnessed two wizarding wars.

Seeming to sense his gaze, Dumbledore looked at the boy walking towards the sorting hat and showed a bright smile at him.

Panicking slightly, he withdrew his gaze to the hat once again.

Altair still wasn't sure what version of Dumbledore this was, but from all the fanfics and novels read. He felt that Dumbledore wasn't an evil person per say.

Manipulative, probably yes.

But not necessarily evil, selfish?, it would remain a mystery for now.

He glanced at Professor McGonagall holding the Sorting Hat and she nodded as he sat down and finally…

A voice sounded in his head, low and thoughtful.

"Hmmm... interesting... very interesting indeed," the Sorting Hat murmured. "Ambition, yes, plenty of it. And something else... something burning. A desire to prove yourself, but not just that. You want to push the boundaries, don't you? To go beyond what others deem possible."

Altair remained silent.

The Sorting had barely begun, and yet it was already digging into his deepest most fucked up or just straight up convuluted thoughts. Damn mind reading hats…

He tried to focus, his emotions steady…

"Quite the clever one too," the hat continued. "You seek power, yes, but knowledge even more so. Not unlike... certain others who have passed through these halls."

"But where to place you?" the hat mused, as if savoring the decision. "Slytherin would appreciate your ambitions, no doubt. But… I can see you are persistent and hardworking, yes.. more than anything else, yet it's llimted to one thing…"

'Magic.' Altair confirmed.

"Yes, perhaps you'll fit well in there…"

It paused for a moment and then…

"Hufflepuff!" the Sorting Hat finally declared aloud.

The Great Hall erupted in applause, though the clapping from the Hufflepuff table was a bit more enthusiastic than others. Altair sat there for a moment, processing it all before he smiled, sat up and went towards the Hufflepuff Table.

At this time another boy made space for him, which he greatly appreciated.

Sitting down. He looked to the boy.

He was quite tall with dark hair and bright grey eyes.

Most of all he was extremely handsome.

Damn so unfair!!

"Welcome to Hufflepuff, I'm Cedric Diggory!" The polite boy, now Cedric, introduced himself enthusiastically.

"Nice to meet you Cedric, I'm Altair Salvatore, though most call me Al." Altair responded respectfully as he looked at the boy.

He looked similar to his actor in the movies but there were slight differences.

Maybe he was still a vampire in the other work next door? Hoho!

Some time past and eventually everyone was sorted.

At the head table, Dumbledore stood up which silenced the great hall as they paid attention to the headmaster. "Welcome, everyone, to another year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore's voice rang out, "I trust you all had a pleasant journey."

He paused as the students murmured their responses. "A few start of term announcements before we begin the feast. Firstly, the Forbidden Forest is off-limits to all students.."

"Our caretaker Mr. Filch would also like to remind you that magic is not permitted in the corridors.."

A few students exchanged nervous glances, and Dumbledore continued, "Now, on a more pleasant note, I would like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Marcus Thorne."

At this, a middle-aged man with a sharp face and a stern demeanor stood up from the staff table. His dark robes and penetrating eyes made him look quite formidable. He gave a nod of acknowledgment to the students before sitting back down.

Altair thought he looked like some kind of modern bloodborne cosplayer but pushed his funny thoughts aside.

"And finally," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles, "Let the feast begin."

Soon the food appeaered on the tables and the students began eating with relish.

Altair also took a moment to introduce himself to a few other Hufflepuffs around him, exchanging polite conversation and getting a feel for his new housemates.

Cedric was very polite and enthusiastic, as he explained quidditch in depth since he still had yet to grasp what was so intriguing with this sport.

His understanding was superficial at best.

But it didn't change his opinion that playing quidditch was err.. kinda stupid?

I mean would you survive if a bludger hit your head instead of yours arms? Hmm, he made a note to check out how many students died from playing quidditch.

Eventually, the food vanished as the headmaster stood up once again.

"Now that we've all had our fill, before you head off to your common rooms, I believe it's time for us to honor a long-standing Hogwarts tradition," Dumbledore said with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "The Hogwarts school song!"

There were a few groans from older students, but most seemed excited. Dumbledore waved his wand, producing a golden ribbon of words that floated in the air. "Everyone, pick your favorite tune and off we go!"

The hall erupted in whay altair considered— a shitshow mix of tunes.

And so they sang as song so discombobulated it made Altair think why the founders made such a horrible song? Honestly hoggy hoggy warts? The fuck!?!

Atleast the Weasley twins were enjoying it by deliberately singing it to a slow, funeral march, the torturous song won't fucking end!!

Dumbledore however, seemed to be genuinely enjoying it!

Altair breathed a sigh of relief once the last note lingered in the air, mostly thanks to the Weasleys dragging it out dramatically, the hall burst into applause, and Dumbledore clapped his hands.

"Well done! Now, it's time for bed. Off you go!"

The students got up on by one and left with their respective houses.

A Hufflepuff prefect stood up from the table, gesturing for the new students to follow him. Altair and the other first years gathered quickly as they followed the prefect out of the Great Hall and through the corridors.

After winding through the castle's lower floors, they finally arrived at the Hufflepuff common room. The entrance was hidden behind a stack of large barrels near the kitchens. The prefect explained the process to enter: tap the barrel in the rhythm of "Helga Hufflepuff" on the lid of the second barrel from the bottom, middle row.

One wrong tap and you'd be doused in vinegar.

Altair made a mental note to never fuck that up.

Inside, the Hufflepuff common room was cozy and warm. It had earthy tones, lots of plants, and soft yellow light flooding the room. There was a round, welcoming feel to it which felt like his own Bag End!

The room had plenty of armchairs and a large fireplace crackling with warmth.

After a brief introduction to the with the other two students sharing the dorm, Altair made his way to his bed, and prepared to go to sleep.

Hheheh magic here i come hohohoh!!! Cough coug—

Chapter end