"First year round up here. Thank you Hagrid." A stern looking woman met them at the front of the castle, "My name is Professor McGonagall." she said, "follow me." then she walked away. All the students scurry away to follow her.
Hagrid grab Neville and give him his (Hagrid) overbig coat. Neville smile sheepishly. Harry smile at Hagrid while Iris give him a little wave, "Go on." Hagrid push them all before going back to the boats.
The first year students gathered around Professor McGonagall, who explain that they will be sorted into 4 different houses, that the houses will be like their family in the school. They will get points if they're doing good in school and got detention if they're doing wrong. The points wil get their houses to win the house cup at the end of the school year. Everyone got excited.
They are lead to the Great Hall. They can see other older students waiting for them in 4 big long tables. In the front of the hall the teachers are seated. Below them, they can see a stool with an old looking hat on top of it.
Professor McGonagall make them wait, telling them to come if their name got called and sit at the stool, wearing the hat to get sorted, "Abbot, Hannah." she said, reading from a scroll.
A little plump girl scurriying to the stool, wearing the hat, sit for a moment before, "Hufflepuff." is echoed in the hall. She put the hat back in the stool then go to the long tables where the students wearing yellow and black crests on their robes. The Hufflepuff cheered.
It continues to ,"Malfoy, Draco." who got sorted into "Slytherin." before the hat even touch his head. "Nott, Theodore." then got sorted for way too long. The hat keep silent, whereas Nott expression falter.
Professor McGonagall have just decide to step in when the hat scream, "Hufflepuff." There is silence that follow. Nott put the hat back in the stool, walk quickly to the Hufflepuff table and tried to dissapeared himself.
Professor McGonagall acted like nothing is unusual, reading the next name, "Potter,Harry."
Harry Potter exchange glances with Iris, he actually surprised that Nott got himself to Hufflepuff. It did not happen before. Harry put the hat on and got greeted, "Back again eh?" the hat said in his head.
"I'm just as confused as before." Harry said to the hat in his head.
"Maybe what you need is another brain to help you find solution to your problem." the hat said, "anyway, I still think that you will do great in Slytherin. All you need is in your head and you will make the old snake proud."
"Not Slytherin." Harry said in his head, "put me in Hufflepuff."
"What?" the hat sound surprised, it sound exasperate, "Gryffindor, I concur. But why Hufflepuff? Not that you don't fit there, it just you are most suited in Slytherin."
"Because a real Slytherin never reveal his own scales." Harry said. He's surprise with his own thought. But it's true. Nobody would ever expect a Hufflepuff to do what he's going to do.
"Good enough," the hat said, then "HUFFLEPUFF" echoed once again.
The Great Hall is in silenced. The old grandfatherly figured on the teachers table look surprise for a moment before he slowly clapped his hands.
Harry put the hat back then walked to the Hufflepuff table accompanied by the Puff applause. He sit beside Nott who's trying and failing to not attract attention on himself. Harry glanced at Iris. The girl wriggled her eyebrows back at him.
A couple names are calling then, "Swan, Iris." People looking at each other, murmuring about the Swan who they thought has vanish from the Magical British.
Iris walked slowly to the stool, put the hat on then sit calmly, "Hello Mr.Hat."
"Well, hello to you too." the hat greeted Iris in her head, "Did I know you?"
"Afraid not. I'm actually here just to accompany Harry with his life mission."
"Ooh, then you want Hufflepuff too?"
"If you please." Iris tried to sweettalked the hat.
"Oh, you're sweet mouth. I thought you could be a nice Slytherin, alas." the hat sounded like it pouted, "Hufflepuff." echoed again.