Getting Sorted
"Ethan Adrian!"
The entire hall was quiet, and now only Ethan remained.
He walked forward with a nonchalant look on his face, placed the hat on his head, and sat on the stool, ready for his sorting.
Although he knew the Unforgivable Curses and had even used the Killing Curse to take lives—something that should have landed him in Azkaban—the Sorting Hat did not sort based on memories or deeds. Instead, it considered the values of the four founders and assigned students to the house that suited them best.
In the process, the hat could sense some of a wizard's thoughts and virtues, but that was the extent of it. Ethan had undergone special training in this regard: a technique called thought transference, a fundamental skill of Occlumency.
"You possess magic far beyond your peers, an exceptional talent for dark arts, ambition, and a hunger for power. You are truly a good prospect. Salazar would be pleased to see you in Slytherin. But there is something curious about your ambition, though it still aligns with Slytherin's values," said the Sorting Hat.
"I'm neither pure-blood nor half-blood. Can I still be placed in Slytherin?" Ethan asked, somewhat intrigued.
"Of course," the hat replied. "The true Slytherins of the past valued ambition, cunning, honor, and survival above all else. Unfortunately, over the centuries, the image of Slytherin has been distorted. It's become known as a haven for pure-bloods with little beyond ambition to their name, but in truth, the house's ideals were much broader than that."
The Sorting Hat spoke with a hint of regret, aware of how misunderstood the house had become. Yet, it was powerless to change that perception.
"Slytherin today attracts those with ambition but lacks the nuance and depth it once had," the hat continued. "It has become a house defined by bloodlines rather than merit."
The voice in Ethan's mind grew more reflective. "Actually, Azkaban might be more suited to you. Dumbledore often said it was a breeding ground for dark wizards and a cradle of dark magic. You would undoubtedly thrive there. Unfortunately, Azkaban isn't part of Hogwarts."
"Azkaban is a prison!" Ethan responded, exasperated.
"What's wrong with a prison? I once conversed with a professor who returned to Hogwarts after a stint in Azkaban. He told me that the people there were immensely talented and engaging. I'm certain you'd fit in just fine," the Sorting Hat replied with a hint of stubbornness, refusing to back down from its assertion.
"Still, Azkaban isn't Hogwarts," Ethan replied, deciding not to pursue the topic further.
"So, which house should I be placed in?" Ethan asked.
"Don't rush me!" the hat huffed. "Sorting is important and can't be taken lightly!"
"Fine. Take your time," Ethan relented.
The hat continued its analysis. "You also have courage and a sense of adventure. Gryffindor could suit you as well, though you lack the knightly spirit the house traditionally values. But these days, no one fits perfectly."
"Ravenclaw might also be a good match. You are clever, wise, and possess a deep thirst for knowledge."
"Boy, if you have a preference, speak up!" the Sorting Hat nagged.
"What about Hufflepuff?" Ethan asked, amused by the hat's deliberations.
"Hufflepuff? Integrity, loyalty, hard work, honesty—do you possess any of these traits? Placing you there would be a disaster for the house! No, absolutely not!" the Sorting Hat rejected the idea outright.
"Ravenclaw!" the Sorting Hat suddenly announced.
Before Ethan could react, the hat added, "Your ambition will thrive in Ravenclaw. And if aesthetics matter to you, it's the house with the most beautiful witches."
Warm applause erupted from the Ravenclaw table. Ethan's arrival had clearly excited them.
Sorting had taken longer than usual, something known as a "Hat Stall," a rare occurrence that usually indicated the student was extraordinary. The last such event involved Professor McGonagall, now Hogwarts' Deputy Headmistress.
Ethan joined the Ravenclaw table and greeted the upperclassmen. True to the hat's words, Ravenclaw had many girls, and several were quite attractive. "The Sorting Hat never lies," Ethan thought with a smirk.
As he sat down, the Sorting Ceremony officially concluded. Professor McGonagall put away the Sorting Hat and stool before taking her place beside Dumbledore.
Now, it was Dumbledore's turn to speak.
With a broad smile, the headmaster looked out at the gathered students and spread his arms wide. "Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you."
"Thank you!" Dumbledore sat down as applause and cheers erupted throughout the hall.
It was unclear whether they were cheering for Dumbledore or for the upcoming feast.
Tonight's dinner was the most lavish of the year. Roast beef, chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, steaks, boiled and baked potatoes, fried potatoes, Yorkshire puddings—the tables were filled with every imaginable dish.
Even the pickiest eater would find something to enjoy. As for Ethan, he was impressed by the quality of the food.
After finishing his meal, Ethan struck up a conversation with the senior sitting beside him. "Senior Penelope, what was Dumbledore talking about with 'Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!!'? What does that mean?"
Penelope Clearwater, a Ravenclaw prefect with brown hair, blue eyes, and a charming smile, thought for a moment. "Those are the stereotypes each house holds about the others.
Nitwit is an idiot, the worst thing you can call a intellectual Ravenclaw.
Blubber is fat/excess, the worst thing you can call a proud and vain Gryffindor.
Oddment is a weirdo/outsider. The worst thing you can call a cliquey Slytherin.
Tweak means to fix or change. A familiar criticism to eccentric Hufflepuffs.
"
Penelope explained her interpretation of Dumbledore's playful words with a smile.
In Ethan's eyes, Penelope was a good senior: intelligent, capable, and strikingly beautiful. Compared to girls like Hermione or Cassandra, Penelope's maturity and poise made her even more appealing.
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[In the original book, there is only information that Penelope is one year younger than Percy, but they can be in the same grade. Harry is almost one year younger than Hermione. The twins are in the same grade as Cedric, but the twins are not old enough to participate in the Triwizard Tournament. ]
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