Latest Blues - The Great Hall - 09/01

[Deleted]

Gryffindor Table

"Macmillan, Timothy!"

Timmy shouldered past his new classmates in his haste to get to the raised platform and have the legendary hat of Godric Gryffindor himself put on his head. This was an important moment that had taken its sweet time coming to him, and he didn't know quite what to expect, which excited him to no end. The Macmillan family was a diverse one - Father from Gryffindor, Mother from Ravenclaw, a grandmother from Slytherin, Maggie in Hufflepuff. She's not quite recovered from that blow, he thought with a short laugh as the Hat was placed on his head.

Something amusing already, Mr. Macmillan? Many fine witches and wizards have belonged to Hufflepuff House.

Hold on, easy there, I'm sure they have. It's just - my sister told me that I shouldn't be upset wherever you decide to put me, but I can't imagine myself in that one. Think I'd put everybody off. But she did say that everyone's crazy here anyway, so I guess I'll just have to figure it out.

And what do you think about that?

I mean, I'm not worried, if that's what you're hinting at. That's life, isn't it? Right from the start? You don't choose your family, where you're born, what you're like. You're just thrown into a story that's already moving, and find your way from there.

Head on into the challenge of life, I see. Better be...

"GRYFFINDOR!"

With the applause and bangs on the table and general revelry coming from his new fellows, Timmy already felt at home. A grin split his face even before the Hat was off his head, and he stood proud, pumping his arms to amp up the noise until he was shooed away by the witch who took the Hat back. Having picked out Maggie at the table of Hufflepuffs earlier, he found her face and sent her a wave before bounding off of the dais and to his table. Shite luck Mags, guess you're the only badger in the family. He scooted through the thin space between tables until finding a pocket of other first year Gryffindors, and sat beside one of his new roommates. A redheaded girl was lamenting her imminent doom, and he let out a loud laugh from across the table. "Oi - stick with us and you'll be all right. We're Gryffindors, don't you know what that means? We can do anything!"

[Hestia Jones]

Hestia Jones had been waiting for this day for ages now, and yet now that it was here it seemed to have come quicker than she would have liked. Had it really been hours ago that they’d gone to the train station? She’d been having so much fun since they’d run into the Savages on the platform that time was simply flying by! It had been perfect, riding the train to Hogwarts with Ana. She supposed she was lucky that her best friend in the world was starting school at the same time as her, but as they walked into the Great Hall hand in hand, Hestia was worried. What if they were separated into different houses? She knew that she would make friends in her new house, but she couldn’t imagine not getting to spend every night with Ana.

She had other friends here already, that much she needed to remember. James Potter and Rufus Fudge were in Gryffindor if she was remembering correctly. While Hestia doubted she’d be placed in the house of the proud lion, at least she would have friends in it. “I can’t believe we can’t try out for Quiddich until third year,” she lamented to Ana quietly, giving her best friend’s hand a squeeze as they came to a stop in the front of the vast hall. There was a hat sitting on a stool in front of them - the Sorting Hat! Oh, how could it be that they were already starting to be sorted? The first girl up was in Gryffindor, followed by a boy to the same house. Before she knew it, her own name was being called! She felt frozen to the spot, but her feet were moving her forward anyway. The hat was soon sliding down over her eyes.

Hestia Jones is it?

Yes Mr. Sorting Hat, that’s me.

You’ve got a kind heart, don’t you?

Well I’ve always been taught to be kind, it’s much better than being cruel.

I know exactly where to put you

“HUFFLEPUFF!”

As quickly as the hat had sunk over her eyes it was being pulled off, and Hestia hopped off the stool to join Hufflepuff. She sank down next to a boy who had been sorted earlier, giving him a grin before she turned to watch the rest of the sorting. Ana would be near the end of the group, and Hestia didn’t want to miss her closest friend being sorted!

[Doc Dearborn]

Hufflepuff Table

I know, I know. Hir yw pob ymaros.*

But Doc had been waiting for this day to come since last November. And now he was here, in a hall as great as its name would suggest, and he could feel the buzz of magic and energy around him, and yet - he was still waiting with the lot.

Back then, his birthday had ccme - eleven, nothing too consequential there, or at least he'd thought - and his home was visited by partygoers and the old man in the colorful robes now sitting behind a long table with the professors. He'd arrived - He...Dumbledore, yes, right. - to alert Mam and Dad and Doc to Doc's acceptance into this school. And, y'know, to let them all know that he was a wizard.

Unfortunately, not having convinced his parents to allow him to purchase a wand until right before he went off to school, these in-between months passed at a slug's pace.

What was the point of knowing he had magic if he had no way to use it? And to have to keep it a secret from everyone in his life except for his immediate family? How unfair was that?!

But it would all be worth it. Because now, now he was somewhere he could belong. He hadn't fit with the other kids at his primary, and ever since he'd learned why, well, his parents had only gotten more calls home than usual for his "disturbing the peace" by breaking into song or "failing to reach his potential" by half-assing assignments. His toothy grin wasn't enough to persuade them of his innocence, and Doc felt that they were as relieved as he was to be leaving that world behind for the better part of the year. It would be better here. It would.

The small boy was shaken from thought as he caught his name being called, and the woman sounded like it wasn't the first time she'd said it, what with that slightly annoyed lilt to it. His hand flew into the air to signal he'd heard, and he climbed the stairs, and he sat on a chair with his toes reaching for the floor, and a floppy hat was put over his head...

Well now, Caradoc Dearborn. First in your family, how shall we begin your legacy?

First off, relax, it's just me, Doc. And do we have to think of legacy already? I've only just gotten here, that hardly seems fair, there's no need to rush.

I see. It's not legacy you care for. What are you interested in developing over your time here?

Is it bad to say I haven't really thought about it? I mean, I just figure I'm finally somewhere I can fit in and be happy. I don't much see the point in having expectations beyond that.

No, no, that is fine, Mr. Dearborn. I have just the home for you to help you on your way...

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Encouraged and grinning, unashamed, Doc emerged from the hat to find a table cheering him towards it. He loped towards it and sat by a boy he'd seen in the crowd of first years earlier. "Wicked, all this, isn't it? You're new too, aren't you? I say we band together," he said, hearty with unearned confidence. It wasn't too long before the first new girl Hufflepuff was Sorted, and Doc whistled between his fingers with the other congratulators. She was grinning as she sat with him and his new roommate, and her attention was quickly back to the hat and the waiting students. He exchanged a look with Eddie before lightly poking her shoulder. "Hiya! Are you watching for someone?"

*all waiting is long [welsh proverb]

[Eddie Brown]

Well, there was at least one thing good about being a Brown: he didn't have to wait long with the other anxious, new students to take his turn under the sorting hat. Silently he sent up a prayer request to his mother, that she help him get into the right house for him and that she be proud of him even if he didn't, as he walked up and took his seat on the stool occupied by so many others before him. Even mum. he told himself and that helped bring him some peace. He smiled. Then the room, the long tables his dad had always told him about for the four houses and the people occupying them, all disappeared. He felt alone now but soon found out he was anything but.

Edmund Brown.

...Yes?

Okay, so he was totally freaking out right now. No-one had mentioned that this old thing talked. He realized now that it was something both of his parents had glossed over. They had only said that the Hat would sort him, that the Hat knew where he truly belonged. It was definitely something he would tell his sisters before it was their turns at Hogwarts so they weren't shocked like he was. Even though it was actually pretty cool, best not to surprise them, what if they were scared?

Care a lot about them do you?

They're my sisters!

It wasn't really an answer but the Hat seemed to think it was because it chuckled and then said aloud.

HUFFLEPUFF!

That had gone quicker than he thought it would but none the less, an earsplitting grin broke across the young boys face and a warm feeling spread out from his chest. The Professor that had escorted them in pulled the hat from his head and Eddie smiled up at her, blinking owlishly. He wasn't sure but he thought he saw her mouth twitch just a bit. She probably hadn't, but it made him feel light anyway to have imagined it and he practically floated over to the badger's table, landing on a warm welcome.

Soon enough, his new friend Doc was also being sorted into Hufflepuff and Eddie cheered as loud as he could. He had met Doc on the train ride over and they had been fast friends. Now they were roommates and really, what could be better? He clapped the other boy on the back as they sat together and nodded his head vigorously. "Wouldn't have it any other way mate, already working on our secret handshake." As they sat and waited for the feast, more people were sorted, even one into their house and when she joined them, Eddie shook her hand, pleased to have another housemate. Doc took notice as well and the young boy tacted on to his roommate's question. "Whoever it is, I'm sure they will be joining you soon."

[Anastasia Savage]

Dieu, sometimes having a last name that listed so far down the alphabet was frustrating. She had been attending group events, camps, trips, etc. her whole life, therefore her whole life had been spent waiting. Waiting and separated from Hestia Jones, her best friend, who obviously never got to stand with her when they were arranged alphabetically, and also got called far ahead of her when they were called up this way. Sometimes it wasn't so bad, but right now, as she stood alone and waited to be sorted...well, it sucked. She wished she had said more to her long-time friend, or anything at all really.  She was so seized up with a mix of anxiety and expectation that she hadn't been able to say a word. Lucky for her, Hes had already been called and sent into Hufflepuff, the hard part was over for her. Ana was over the moon for Hestia, but she was more anxious to get her own sorting underway.

She really wanted to go with Hes to Hufflepuff but she was also eager to see where the hat thought she belonged. If it was not with her best friend then she would handle that as best she could. It would be hard but it wouldn't be the end of the world, they were still at Hogwarts together, they would see each other all the time. She would be proud to enter any of the Houses really. Her parents assured her that it wouldn't matter one way or the other. Her father had had a long discussion with her about each house and it's merits and reassured her that he would be proud regardless of her House so long as she was making the most of herself. Her mother didn't understand the 'houses' thing anyway so didn't care at all, she had simply wished her only daughter good fortune and instructed her lovingly to be the greatest she could be no matter what. Thinking of them now made her smile because she so loved her parents with her whole heart.

Then it was her name being called and Ana smiled brighter, holding her head high as she moved quickly to the stool. See, it hadn't been so bad after all. She had been so caught up in her musings that the time had passed quickly and now the hat was slipping onto her head and the voice she had been anticipating spoke into her mind.

Anastasia.

Bonjour!

I see a brave, tender heart in you young Savage.

Merci monsieur Hat.

Gryffindor would do you well, it would nurture your strong will and sense of duty. You could go far there and make your family proud.

My family loves me, they are already proud. Besides, I could go far anywhere, that part is up to me. Right? It won't matter what house I'm in.

...

...so its Gryffindor?

No.

But you said...

HUFFLEPUFF!

The quick change sent Ana reeling; the Hat had never even mentioned Huffflepuff! But indeed, that's what it had said and as she removed the old thing and placed it back on the stool for the next student she let herself believe it. She was if Hufflepuff, with Hestia! Ana rushed over to her friend, hugging her tightly and fighting back tears over how happy she was. Later she would replay her conversation with the Hat and think on it further, see how it had come to this conclusion but right now, she was just ecstatic. "Can you believe it, Hes? Roommates! I can't think of a better outcome. The next seven years are going to be the best of our lives! Even if we do have to wait three years for Quidditch." Laughing and taking her seat, Ana accepted her warm welcome with more enthusiasm that she usually showed, overjoyed at the prospect of such a perfect time at Hogwarts with Hes by her side. It was then that she felt a tear escape and roll down her cheek and she hastily dashed it away in embarrassment. She didn't want to be that first year, the one that cried. So, she tried focusing on something else, like the two boys sitting across from her. "Enchanté! Please, call me Ana."

[Benji Fenwick]

Benjamin Fenwick!

Barely resisting the urge to yell Present! at the sound of his name, Benji glanced nervously around him at the other first years waiting to be sorted, knowing that they would have to wait a little longer while he took his turn. Making his way up to the raised dais that held the sorting hat and all of the professors, he gulped, what if they all hated him and he failed on his first day? His gaze traveled over all the heads to the Gryffindor table to catch his sister's eye as he sat on the stool. She smiled encouragingly at him and just before the hat fell over his eyes she put two fingers to her lips and whistled loudly. Benji smiled as the darkness overtook him and the den of noise in the hall dulled.

Another Fenwick then. You lot are either one or the other it seems. Your heart tells you Gryffindor I know but your mind...it is stronger, isn't it? Yes, we both know it is. Well, better be-

Wait!

RAVENCLAW!

Benji sagged on the stool, blinking as he removed the Hat and shooting it a stunning look before placing it back on the stool. He wasn't upset by the Hats decision, he had just thought he would get a chance to say something. But it hardly mattered, he had made it into a prestigious house, prided on their intellect and Benji was just excited the Hat thought he was smart. The new Ravenclaw smiled as he made his way to his new house table, Nina shouting and hooting the loudest from among the Gryffindor's as he went. He gave her an invigorated wave as he took his seat, shaking hands with the people nearest him. Then the sorting went on and his moment was over but he grinned anyway, completely overjoyed he had made it into Ravenclaw. He just couldn't wait to tell mum, she was going to be ecstatic!

He cheered loudly whenever someone was sorted into his house and welcomed them all this a shake of his hand and a half-shouted introduction. Soon he was surrounded by people, his new housemates, and all of the other first years sorted tonight and the sorting was over. Benji thought to himself that it hadn't taken nearly as long as he had anticipated but he was glad it was over and he moved on, eager to start the year off right. He nodded to the girls who were chatting about being roommates and he smiled, turning to the boy who would be his roommate. "Arnold right? Peasegood? I'm Benji. I'm really chuffed to be in Ravenclaw even if they do need a bit of a laugh. I think I might be just the guy to help them out with that."

[Deleted]

It was so quiet here.

There wasn't a sound at all, the whole Hall was hushed as she sat beneath the Hat.

Tears welled up in her eyes and she tried very hard not to fidget. This had been exactly what she had been afraid of. Well, among other things. Not being sorted at all was high on the list, but so was not getting into Ravenclaw -even though her mother had always predicted Hufflepuff for her, and had assured her that that was acceptable-, sicking up in front of everyone was also a present fear and it felt likely to happen with all of her nerves. Sylvia took a deep breath. You can do this. It's only feels like you've been sitting here an eternity. Patience. She told herself, echoing her longtime dance instructors most commonly used word. She wanted the Hat to get it right, if it was taking a while that had to mean it was considering seriously, she couldn't fault it for that.

RAVENCLAW!

Sylvia sucked in a shocked breath, jumping a little in her seat. She clutched one hand to the edge of the stool and one to her heart and let out a nervous chuckle. She had done it. Ravenclaw. A few tears did spilled over then and she stood, the noise of the hall piercing the silence of her sorting at last. She had one hand on the brim of the ancient relic when it spoke into her mind again.

Appreciate your mind, but don't ever lose your spirit.

Never.

Then she took the Hat off and sat it down, nearly running to her brother, who waited for her at the end of Ravenclaw table. "Max!" she shouted, throwing her arms around him. He picked her up and swung her around once before leading her over to meet everyone else, mostly his friends she didn't already know. Then she was being pushed into a seat across from the other two students already sorted into her new house.

"Hello." she said with a wave, glancing to her brother for conversational support, but he was back to watching the sorting so she did as well and soon she was surrounded by more people in her year. It's all happening so fast! she thought suddenly. Sylvia felt like she had spent hours under the Hat, but since taking it off time had seemed to speed up double time, the sorting was almost over! Glancing around to the ones already sitting with her, Sylvie noted two girls of pretty blonde hair across from her and two boys of dark hair next to her. She turned to the girls, catching a bit of their conversation. "We'll all be roommates," she said with a friendly smile. "I'm Sylvia by the way, Sylvia Davies."

[Regulus Black]

"Black, Regulus!"

There was too much pressure riding on so few moments.

Regulus knew what he had to do. He had to be sorted into Slytherin, no matter what. Mother knew she was not discreet, and at this time last year he'd been given lecture after lecture about how to bring pride to the Black name. There were many ways to do it, but even more ways to bring dishonor. And it all started here. On a public stage. With his brother on one side of the audience, and his cousin on the other.

He knew that nothing would make Sirius happier than for them to share a House at Hogwarts. And if things were simpler, that's what Regulus would want too. If they didn't have to think about what their parents wanted, if they could just be themselves, he could sit at the rowdy table with the rest of the lions and have a grand old time. Because if Sirius could be a Gryffindor, he could be too.

But even if the Hat suggested it, Regulus knew he'd have to convince it otherwise. He wasn't as brave as Sirius was, to stand up to their family - so maybe he didn't belong with the Gryffindors after all. And it wouldn't be all bad, no - Narcissa had never been anything but kind to him, so he already had a friend within Slytherin, and certainly he'd make more. And it wasn't like if they were in different Houses, even rival ones, that he and Sirius were in different schools altogether. They'd have mealtimes, and after hours, and weekends to play and laugh and forget. 

Disappoint his brother, or disappoint everyone else in their family?

I'm sorry, Sirius. But we'll be okay. This is better than you being here and me being at home, though - isn't it?

The young boy straightened his spine and his shoulders, head high as he stepped up to the stool, although he soon felt silly as, like those before him, he was all but hidden within the enormous wizarding Hat.

Well now, I see it doesn't so much matter what I say, does it? You have a mind that's made up, Mr. Black.

I know my place, sir. It's my responsibility to protect the legacy of my family.

Responsibility? If you belonged to any other family, I'd question the logic of that. But I've seen through enough of you to know you believe it, and you're as hardheaded as the rest. If that path is truly what you wish...

It is.

    And - we Blacks are strong, sir, not hardheaded. It's not a crime to do your best by your family.

The best of luck be with you then, boy, to prove that that is so...

"SLYTHERIN!"