Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any associated stories
AN: Here we go people, we're finally starting the first year at Hogwarts
Chapter 6
Hagrid continued to lead the students up to a set of doors. Standing in front of the doors was an older witch in a green robe and a sort of floppy pointed hat. "The first years professor McGonagall, all present and accounted for." said Hagrid. "Thank you Hagrid, that will be all." said McGonagall. Hagrid nodded, and left the students with McGonagall, as he headed into the great hall. McGonagall then turned to the students and surveyed them, she found Emily Potter easy enough. Then McGonagall's eyes landed on a boy with unruly black hair and vivid green eyes.
Her eyes widened, realizing it was Harry Potter, the same boy that Aurors and Professors alike had searched for. McGonagall knew he would show due to his reply to the Hogwarts letter, but it was still a shock seeing him here. Harry also looked more fit and slightly taller than the rest of the first years with a confidence that comes with real world experience. 'What could this boy have been through to make him so confident?' thought McGonagall.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, in a few moments you will pass through these doors and join your classmates, but before that however, you must be sorted into your houses, these houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, while you're here, your house will be like your family, your triumphs will earn you points, while any rule breaking, you will lose points, at the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, now I suggest you smarten yourselves up, I will be back for you momentarily." said McGonagal as she went through the door.
As the students were busy straightening their ties, or smoothing out any wrinkles on their uniforms, an obnoxious voice spoke up. "So, does anyone know if the rumor of the second Potter being sighted in Diagon Alley had any truth, because if it does, I hope he'll be smart and make friends with the RIGHT sort, unlike the Girl-Who-Lived, who decided to hang around with Blood Traitors and Half-Bloods." said Draco. Emily looked at Draco with rage in her eyes, how dare Malfoy insult her friends. She was about to lay into Malfoy, before another voice spoke up.
"So blondie, what other relations are your parents to each other, cousins, siblings, I can never tell when it comes to bigoted pure-blood idiots." said Harry, no longer able to resist being a smart ass. 'Well, I did promise Steve I would hold off until I got to Hogwarts, this is as close as I'm gonna get.' thought Harry. Draco's face turned red as he sputtered. "HOW DARE YOU! I am a pureblood of the highest society and a descendant of the proud Black family, I will not be insulted by what is likely the half-blood son of a mud…." said Draco before he was interrupted by a fierce look in Harry's eyes, which immediately shut Draco up.
"You finish that word and the only thing about you that will be related to the Black's is your eye." said Harry. McGonagall finally came back into the room, and noticed the tension. However McGonagal had a job to do. "We're ready for you now." said McGonagall. She then turned and led the students into the great hall. Upon entering, Harry noticed the enchanted ceiling, which looked like the night sky. Harry also heard Hermione, who was a few people in front of him, explaining the ceiling to a student beside her.
McGonagall grabbed a stool and an old hat, setting it in front of the staff table. The hat suddenly came to life and sang a small welcoming song about the houses. After the song had finished, McGonagall took out a scroll and urolled, then started reading off the names of students waiting to be sorted. "Abbott, Hannah." called McGonagall. Hannah nervously walked up and sat on the stool, the professor placing the hat on her head. After a few seconds, the hat suddenly shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!". Hannah got off the stool once the hat was removed, and headed to her new house table.
Susan was called up next and was also sorted into Hufflepuff. The sorting continued, with some students going to Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, when Malfoy was called up. The hat was barely touching Malfoy's head when the hat sorted him into Slytherin. After the patil twins were sorted, it was soon time. "Potter, Emily." called McGonagall. Emily nervously walked to the stool. She caught a brief glimpse of her parents at the staff table, who smiled encouragingly at her. Composing herself, Emily sat on the stool as the hat was placed on her head.
'Hmm, you're an interesting one Ms. Potter, you have plenty of courage, are cunning and intelligent, but what's this, you wish to reconnect with your brother, and make your family whole again…. Well, that demonstrates loyalty to family, however, I get the feeling that you would prefer your parents house, so, better be…. Gryffindor!" the hat said in Emily's head, shouting the name of the house. The Gryffindor table went into uproarious applause, excited that they got the Girl-Who-Lived.
McGonagall then looked to the next name, and knew this was going to be big, many had heard rumors of Harry, and now those rumors, would be confirmed. "Potter, Harry." said McGonagall. That single name, caused the entire hall to go silent. James and Lily were looking to the remaining student, as was Dumbledore, however, Dumbledore's reason was to see how dark Harry would be. Harry, deciding that he had delayed long enough, made his way up to the sorting hat, causing gasps and whispers to start throughout the hall.
Harry sat on the stool as the hat was placed on his head and he lowered his mental shield. 'Well, Mr. Potter, it seems you have had an interesting 5 years, any of the founders would kill to have you in their house, some of your feats have definitely qualified you for Gryffindor, but I can see your logic in not going to three of the four house, you want to be underestimated, seen as intelligent, yet not overly so, this plan of yours is definitely worthy of Slytherin.' the hat said in Harry's mind.
'Exactly, which is why I can't go to Slytherin, that would make my cunning mind to obvious, whereas intelligence, masks cunning.' Harry thought back to the hat. 'You will go far, Mr. Potter, I hope you enjoy your time in….' the hat began, finishing with a loud "RAVENCLAW!". The applause was slightly more calm this time around as Harry made his way to the Ravenclaw table. James and Lily were slightly shocked that Harry wasn't a Gryffindor, but it was understandable, they didn't raise him, and wherever he was living now, must've taught him a lot.
Harry sat at the Ravenclaw table as the sorting continued. Harry didn't really pay attention to the sorting until Ron Weasley went up. Ron's face looked like he was arguing with the hat, and after about 2 minutes, Ron was sorted into Gryffindor. 'Great, now I'll have to watch the blonde putz AND the read-head.' thought Harry. As the last student, Blaise Zabini, was sorted into Slytherin, Dumbledor stood to address the students. "To all first years, welcome to Hogwarts and to our returning students, welcome back, just a few words before we begin, and those are, Nitwit, Blubber, Oddment, Tweak, thank you." said Dumbledore as he sat back down.
Harry thought that was a little weird, but he didn't have time to think about it as food appeared on each table. As the students were digging in, James and Lily were watching Harry. "James, I know we agreed that we would wait to talk to Harry, but seeing him here, I don't know if I can wait." said Lily. "I understand Lil's, I really do, but if we rush, we could lose him permanently." said James. Lily, though reluctant, nodded, though she was also impressed with James, he had never been this serious before.
One other professor was watching the Potter twins. This professor wore all black and his hair was greasy black, and he had a permanent scowl on his face. All-in-all, he looked like a guy who could use both a woman in his life, and needed major surgery to get that stick removed from his ass. 'Geez, I've seen No-maj soldiers who looked like they smiled more than that guy.' thought Harry.
As the feast wound down, Dumbledore once again stood to address the students. "Now that we are all fed and watered, I have a few start of term notices I wish to announce, first years should note, that the Forbidden Forest is just that, forbidden, and a few of our older students would do well to remember that." said Dumbledore, looking at the Gryffindor table. Harry looked and saw twin red-heads high fiving each other. "Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you, that this year, the 3rd floor corridor on the right hand side, is out of bounds, to anyone who does not wish to die a most painful death…. Right, off ya trot." said Dumbledore.
Harry followed a Ravenclaw prefect named Penelope Clearwater, to Ravenclaw Tower with the other first years. Once they arrived, the Penelope turned to the group. "Okay, this is the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room, to enter, you will have to answer a riddle." said Penelope, knocking on the eagle shaped door knocker. The eagle's eyes opened and it spoke. "A baker had a brother, who lived in spain…. Yet the brother had no brother, so now think hard, explain." said the eagle. "Ok, would anyone care to try and answer?" asked Penelope.
When none of the other first year Raven's answered, Harry stepped forward. "I'll try, the answer is…." said Harry.
AN: I know this is a weird place for a cliffhanger, but I'm working on my second fanfiction while I write this, so bare with me, please review, and if you think you know the answer to the riddle, place your answer in your review