CH 43

Cygnus hung around and was still with Harry when he was given the all-clear to return to Hogwarts. As the nurse had threatened, he discovered his potion regimen had been sent through to Madam Pomfrey on his behalf.

With his trunk shrunken and in his pocket, and back to wearing the standard Hogwarts uniform, Harry and Cygnus stepped out of the fireplace at The Three Broomsticks. Harry immediately fell on his butt again. He'd forgotten what Isabel had taught him.

Grumbling, he clambered to his feet and stood there while Cygnus, laughing, cleared him of soot.

Together, they then took the short walk to the main doors of Hogwarts.

As they approached, Harry became a little more agitated each step closer.

Stopping just outside the doors, Cygnus grabbed Harry by the shoulders and spun him to face him. "Relax!" he said. "You did nothing wrong. Let them think what they want to think. It'll all blow over before you know it."

Harry just sighed and nodded. With a deep, calming breath, he squared his shoulders, gave the man a nod and turned back to the castle. The pair of them then walked into the Great Hall just as the evening meal was being served. As they stepped through the doors, all conversation stopped and everyone stared at Harry. Some of those sitting at the closest tables of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw even shied away from him a little. Harry had the almost irrepressible urge to make a sudden move towards some of them and shout, 'Boo!' But, restrained himself.

As they passed the whispers start up behind them. Both ignored them as they walked towards the Head Table, who were watching as they came.

When they reached a spot just shy of the step up onto the raised platform on which sat the table, they stopped.

Dumbledore said, "Ah, Harry, my boy! It's good to see you've returned to us, at last!" Harry waited a few moments before turning to Cygnus and said, "Do you see that, Lord Greengrass? You don't even rate an acknowledgement!"

Cygnus turned back with a wry look and said in a droll voice, "I noticed."

"Oh, and welcome to you, too, of course, Cygnus," said Dumbledore, obviously recognising the faux pas. "I'm just most pleased with seeing Harry returned to us hearty and hale! Please forgive the slight."

Cygnus just returned a slight nod in acknowledgement; clearly unimpressed.

"Now, Harry," continued Dumbledore. "If you'd like to take table at Gryffindor and enjoy the evening repast with us we'll have you sorted after the meal."

"Actually, Headmaster, I'd prefer to be sorted before the meal, just as my year mates were on Sunday night," replied Harry, loud enough for his voice to carry to the first years sitting at table. "After all, it wouldn't be right for me to sit with the Gryffindors for my first meal here if I end up sorted into, say, Slytherin?"

"Mister Potter," said Professor McGonagall, apparently scandalised. "Potter children have been sorted into Gryffindor for centuries."

"Then let us see if I manage to break that tradition before I take seat," replied Harry. "After all, the four founders imbued the Hat with the task you seem to be attempting to circumvent for a reason."

"Surely, Headmaster," interrupted Cygnus before the Professor could splutter a response. "You're not trying to influence where Mister Potter will be placed, are you?" "No, no; certainly not!" he stuttered. "I'll have the Hat and stool brought here immediately."

Dumbledore looked away for just a moment and the Hat appeared immediately in front of Harry on a stool as Professor McGonagall rose from her seat and walked around to it.

While they were waiting the Hat said, "Ah! This is a surprise. A new student to sort. I dare say Mister Potter has returned."

As Professor McGonagall lifted the Hat off the seat of the stool Harry moved forward to sit, and Cygnus moved off a little to one side.

As he was moving into place, Harry brought forth his dreams and desires to meet friends and work hard at becoming a good wizard. Everything dealing with cunning, guile, and bravery he shunted right back and locked deeply away. He allowed his intelligence to remain just below the surface.

As the hat fell on his head to his ears, he felt the presence of the Hat drift into the surface thoughts of his mind.

'Ah!' said the Hat. 'You are Mister Potter. That was quite the performance you put on during the sorting feast a few days ago.'

'Friends! Hardwork!' thought Harry.

'Now, now; Mister Potter,' chided the Hat. 'You cannot influence me that way.'

'Hufflepuff!' thought Harry.

The hut burrowed deeper. 'Ahhhh - I see you figured out how I sort the students,' snarked the Hat. 'That's very clever of you. However, many have gone before you who tried to do the same. That's a Ravenclaw trait, you know.' 'I want to make LOTS of friends. I'm very LOYAL to all my friends and family.'

'A very cunning trick to try and hide your traits. It doesn't work, you know. I can always find the truth.' smirked the Hat. 'You would do well in Slytherin, you know!'

'I'll smother Malfoy with his own pillow in his sleep, if you do that! The guy would have me irritated with him enough to do it within the first month' snarked back Harry. 'And what the bloody hell were you thinking putting that blonde ponce in Slytherin, anyway. The guy behaves like such an idiot Gryffindor I expect to see him sprouting a mane! No, Hufflepuff's the House for me.'

'Hmmm - Not Gryffindor, either; even though that's where the Headmaster wants you sorted,' mused the Hat. 'What - the goat naffer wants me in the House of the cannon fodder? The House of - oooh look, it's a dragon! I think I'll just charge the thing with this here sword! Nothing can go wrong, right? Too bloody stupid to be sorted into a better House, that lot.'

The Hat mentally chuckled before Harry could 'feel' it rummage some more, 'Yes, you do want to make friends, you definitelyknow the meaning of hard work, but you currently lack loyalty. And you don't need to work hard when it comes to your studies, do you?'

'Yes, I am! And, yes, I can!' screamed Harry.

'No, your dominant defining trait is your eidetic memory and your ability to wield it,' said the Hat, more seriously. 'Plus, you have wit to spare. Therefore, your House better be...' "RAVENCLAW!" As he felt the Hat removed from his head, Harry heard the Hat say, 'Good luck, Mister Potter!'

Turning to Cygnus he smirked and winked. Cygnus grinned back, slowly shaking his head.

He then called out, "Just so you're aware of it, my Lord; the Hat just informed me the Headmaster attempted to influence it to sort me into Gryffindor."

"Did he, just?" asked Cygnus back, glaring at Dumbledore. "Attempting to subvert the sorting process, Albus?"

.

.

.

🧿Visit my site at tiendup for more advanced content...🧿

🧿Read the complete novel in PDF, available at my Store!…🧿

https://fictiontopia.tiendup.com/