บท 9: The-Sorting-Hat.
With the loud taps of Hagrid's large hand beneath the huge door, it finally opened and a tall witch with black hair and dark green robes appeared.
He had a very stern face, and Harry's first thought was that such a person was not someone to be bothered with.
- First year students, Professor Minerva Mcgonagall. - Hagrid introduced.
- Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take care of them from now on. - She said, throwing open the door. The hall was so big that the entire Dursley house could fit inside.
The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like those at Gringotts, and the ceiling was too high to see. One by one, they climbed the imposing marble staircase in front of them that led to the upper floors.
They followed Professor McGonagall across the stone-tiled floor. Harry could hear the murmur of hundreds of voices coming from a door to the right, indicating that the rest of the school must already be assembled.
But Professor Minerva led the first-year students to an empty room off the hall. They huddled together a little tighter than usual, looking around nervously.
Except Harry, who was trying to decipher the teacher's look at him. It was as if there was a mixture of surprise and simplicity. However, he couldn't quite understand them due to the serious frown she had on her face.
- Welcome to Hogwarts! - Said Professor Minerva. - The opening banquet of the school year will begin shortly, but before you sit at the tables, you will be sorted into houses.
- The selection is a very important ceremony, because while you are here, your house will be a kind of family at Hogwarts. - She said, looking at each student. - You will attend classes with the rest of the students in your house, sleep in the house dormitory and spend your free time in the Common Room or socializing on the grounds of this estimable castle.
- The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. - She dictated everything categorically. - Each house has its own honorable history and each has produced extraordinary witches and wizards who have revolutionized our society around the world.
- While you are at Hogwarts, your successes will earn your house points, while your failures will cause it to lose. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will receive the House Cup, a great honor that you may not fully understand at the moment, but which will make a big difference in your professional resumes in the future when you graduate.
- I hope that each of you will be a source of pride for the house you belong to. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in the presence of the entire school. - She said as she listened to the euphoria in the common room. - I suggest you get dressed as best you can while you wait. - Finally, she said, her gaze falling for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was buckled under his left ear, and on Ron's dirty nose.
- I will return when we are ready to receive you. - Said Professor Minerva. - Please wait in silence. - Having said that, she left the room with Harry feeling relieved that she did not complain about his Katana.
He knew he would have problems if they didn't allow him to keep it with him, a problem that would come, because he would never abandon one of his protections. If wizards can carry magic wands, he had every right to carry a katana, which he had learned to always use with the back of it, and only in cases of extreme necessity opt for its cutting edge.
No one talked much except Hermione, who was whispering very quickly all the spells she had learned, without knowing what she would need to show.
Harry, who had begun to feel strange about something around him, turned around in extreme calm and faced the wall, much to the curiosity of the others, since he was the tallest there, the attention always fell on him.
At that point, it was finally possible to hear a cry of fright from the little boy with the irregular cloak, to the surprise of Potter who had supported him so he wouldn't fall when he bumped into himself, and who had never thought he would see something so strange.
Around him, about twenty entities similar to ghosts from the movies passed through the back wall.
Pearly white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room chatting amongst themselves, barely seeing the first-year students. They seemed to be discussing each other's trivialities.
- I'm telling you, it's a sign... I felt the same before I died. - Said a rather fat ghost with apparent robes aimed at the usual fashion of monks.
- My dear Frei, I feel the same way... - The ghost had replied in a cordial tone that must have been from his time. - But I think it's an exaggeration to say that death itself would visit Hogwarts. - He continued like this, noticing all the presence of future first-year students.
- Geez, what are these kids doing here? - A ghost, who wore a starched ruff and socks, suddenly noticed the first-year students. In particular Potter, who had smiled slightly at Neville's clumsy style, had bumped into him, and so adjusted his cloak, which until then had been in disarray.
- New students! - Said the Fat Frei as he smiled at them. - Are you waiting to be selected, I imagine? - He asked, with some boys nodding in agreement.
- I hope to see you in Hufflepuff! - Said the Frei. - My old house, you know?
The same would continue, however, an energetic voice once again appeared in the corridor:
- Let's get going now! The Sorting Ceremony is about to begin. - Professor Minerva returned and one by one the ghosts flew out through the opposite wall. - Now line up and follow me. - The teacher's voice continued in authority, with all the students moving back as they lined up, leaving only Harry in front.
Feeling not at all comfortable, Harry tried to breathe calmly, where he soon took his place next to the teacher, just a little behind her.
She looked at him curiously, but smiled when she saw that Neville's cloak had been fixed, however, she soon began to walk where everyone crossed the hall and the double doors that led to the Great Hall.
Harry had never imagined such a different and splendid place. It was lit by thousands of candles floating in the air above four long tables, where the other students were already seated. The tables were set with golden plates and glasses. At the other end of the hall was another long table where the teachers sat. Professor McGonagall led the first-years there so that they stood in a row in front of the others, with the teachers at their backs.
The hundreds of faces that stared at them looked like dim lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Mingled here and there with the students, the ghosts shone like silver shrouded in mist.
Seeing magic everywhere, Harry looked up as he saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars, with hundreds of floating candles illuminating the entire hall.
- It must be a lot of work to light all this up. - Harry muttered to himself, where the teacher in front of him had let out a little laugh, which had made him raise his eyebrows for not realizing he had said it out loud, with her soon returning to her authoritative features.
Where he soon heard Hermione whisper to a red-haired girl:
- It's enchanted to look like the sky outside. I read it at Hogwarts, a story. - The girl said the same thing Harry had thought from reading the book that morning.
It was hard to believe that there was a ceiling there and that the Great Hall didn't simply open up into infinity.
Only then did Harry lower his gaze when Professor Minerva silently pointed her wand and made a four-legged stool appear in front of the first-year students. On top of the stool she placed a pointy wizard's hat. The hat was patched, frayed and appeared to be quite old, but it gave it a classic and important touch.
At the same time that this was happening, Harry had felt a twinge in his forehead for the second time that day. Where he had once again found the same man in the turban, only this time at the staff table.
Such a table where everyone there showed surprise and curiosity at what they saw in Harry.
An old man with a long beard was the main one staring at Harry with his bright blue eyes, and for some reason, there was noticeable surprise in his gaze, like when something you tried to do didn't work properly and you were sure it would work, he had only been notified by letters a few days ago, where due to Hagrid's explanation, he had thought the boy was just a little older than the standard eleven-year-old boy, not a complete youthful-looking child going into adulthood.
A man in dark clothes and strange oily hair, stared at Harry mysteriously, Harry didn't understand what he wanted by looking at him that way. Only then did Potter rest his left hand on the base of his sheathed katana while sharpening his eyes, already noticing that he was not welcome to anyone here.
Noticing that everyone in the room was now looking at the hat, he looked too. For a few seconds there was complete silence. Then the hat moved. A slit near the brim opened like a mouth and the hat began to sing:
Oh, you may find me unattractive,
but don't judge me by my appearance
I'll swallow myself if they can find it
A smarter hat than daddy here.
You can keep your bowler hats very black,
their tall top hats of shiny satin
because I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I'll give any other hat ten to zero.
There is nothing hidden in your head
that the Sorting Hat cannot see,
so just put it in my head and I'll say it
which Hogwarts house they should be in.
Who knows, maybe your home is Gryffindor,
home where indomitable hearts dwell.
Boldness, cold blood and nobility
makes Gryffindor students stand out from the rest;
Who knows, maybe you'll live in Hufflepuff,
where its inhabitants are fair and loyal
patient, sincere, unafraid of pain;
Or is it the wise old Ravenclaw,
The home of those who have an alert mind,
where men of great spirit and knowledge
they will always find companions who are their equals;
Or maybe Slytherin will be your house
And there you will make your true friends, difficult, yes, but true.
Students of great cunning who use any means
to achieve the ends they had previously aimed for.
Come on, try me! You shall not be afraid!
Don't even get in trouble! You'll be in good hands!
(Even though hats have no feet or hands)
because I'm the only one, I'm a Thinking Hat!
Mimir: The-Sorting-Hat.
The whole hall burst into applause when the hat finished singing. He bowed to each of the four tables and then became very quiet again.
Minerva had looked strangely at the hat for a very short time at the end of her speech.
- Then we just need to try on the hat. - Ron whispered to Harry. - I'm going to kill Fred, he kept talking about fighting a troll. - Harry, who had been listening to everything, soon turned to the seat where the twins were sitting, where they were both laughing sarcastically at their younger brother's reaction.
At least trying on a hat was much better than having to do a spell, because until now he didn't know any and would need to review the books he had bought to learn at least some basic ones.
With that, amidst total silence from everyone, Professor Minerva then stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
- When I call your names, you will put on your hat and sit on the stool for the selection. - Minerva said in a serious tone.
" Hannah Abbot! " A pink-faced girl with blond pigtails stumbled out of the line, put on her hat, which sank right down over her eyes, and sat down.
A momentary pause occurred with her vision covered... for everyone to hear:
"HUFFLEUPUFFF!" the hat announced. The table to the right cheered and clapped as Anne sat down at the Hufflepuff table.
- "So this is Martha's sister?" - Harry thought to himself after remembering the beautiful receptionist from the Leaky Cauldron. At the same moment he thought this, Harry saw the ghost of the plump Friar waving happily at her.
- Susan Bones! - Minerva dictated again with another girl coming up the short stairs. This one being a redhead who until then had been whispering to Hermione behind him.
- HUFFLEUPHE! - the hat announced again, and Susan hurried out and sat down next to Hannah.
- Terence Boot! - A little boy with short brown hair had been called.
- RAVENCLAW! - The hat announced again. This time it was the second table on the left that applauded, several Ravenclaws standing up to shake his hand as he joined them.
Mandy Brocklehurst had been sorted into Ravenclaw too, but Lavender Brown had been the first to be sorted into Gryffindor, and the table on the far left erupted in cheers. Harry saw Ron's twin brothers whistle excitedly.
Millicent Bulstrode became a Slytherin. Perhaps it was Harry's imagination, but after everything he had heard about Slytherin, he thought they were not an unpleasant-looking lot, but rather a conservative group who sought to look out for themselves, since the other three houses seemed to be prejudiced against them.
At that point, the list of students began to be described with several and several, leaving few new students standing there. Which made Potter increasingly exposed, to the doubt of many, and surprise of others.
Sometimes, Harry noticed, the hat would announce the name of the house straight away, but other times it would take a while to decide.
Seamus Finnigan , the straw-haired boy next to Harry in the queue, sat on the stool for almost a minute before the hat announced that he was going to Gryffindor.
With that, only five students remained side by side. Draco Malfoy , Hermione Granger , Ron Weasley , Neville Longbottom , and finally Harry Potter , who was in the middle of these four under the main target of curious looks from the teachers, who had not seen Potter react to almost anything since he entered the common room, but it was remarkable how he absorbed every piece of information, every person, entity and movement around him, as if he saw something beyond what everyone else saw and knew very well how to stand without showing interest.
- Hermione Granger! - Hermione ran to the stool and put the hat on eagerly. - GRYFFINDOR! - The hat announced loudly to Ron's disappointed groan.
When Neville Longbottom, the boy who Harry was already becoming his protégé, was called, he almost fell on his way to the stool, but Harry was quick to catch him on the first step, and quietly advise him to do the same, with a slight ruffle of his straight hair. Something that caused giggles in the female audience of teachers further ahead, who seemed to remember the same scene with two old students.
The hat took a long time to decide Neville.
As soon as he finally announced "GRYFFINDOR", Neville ran off with the hat on his head, and had to return amidst an avalanche of laughter to hand it over to the professor and deputy headmistress of Hogwarts.
Any child would be extremely embarrassed by such a gaffe in the middle of the crowd, but looking at Harry in shame, and seeing the seriousness in Potter's gaze and the blink of one of his eyes, motivated him to maintain his composure and go towards his house, which welcomed him with open arms when two red-haired twins lifted him by the arms in some victory, or whatever was going on in their minds.
Malfoy waddled forward as his name was called, and his wish was granted instantly. The hat had barely touched his head when he announced, "I'm sorry."
- SLYTHERIN! - The hat announced under a smug laugh from the boy who had stared at Ron with sharp eyes in challenge, but who had finally stopped his gaze on Harry for a few seconds in search of something, perhaps approval? But for what reason did he stop at Harry?
Only he and his recent acquaintance Ron were left. Harry didn't know which house he wanted to be in, but whichever one he chose, he would do his best in it and abandon everything normal that had been thrown at him by his relatives.
The youngest redhead he had met so far had been called, where within seconds he was chosen for Gryffindor under a proud smile from him who sent another sharp look to Malfoy, making Harry roll his eyes at this childish dispute, but he tried not to judge, because they really were children there, and he was the different one.
Then, seeing that he was the last one there, the teacher promptly said:
- Harry Potter... - Minerva called him with a seriousness he had never seen before, however, as he approached the bench she was sitting next to amidst the general hubbub of the hall, he could see a smile on her face.
She didn't know what he meant. However, her gaze was as if she saw in him someone she had known very well in the past.
When Harry volunteered to sit on the stool in front of all the house tables, he could see the commotion he was causing, whistles, and an unparalleled euphoria that made him wonder at everything and sharpen his gaze, even leaving his seriousness for what he saw hidden in the shadows, he was distracted by all this happening just by calling his name.
- Potter, is that what she said?
- Harry Potter?
- But, wasn't he supposed to be eleven?
- So the stories in the tales were real?
These were the questions that were being asked freely among the tables, and in the end he only saw the red-haired twins sending him a thumbs up before having his vision blocked by the hat that had been placed on his head.
- Difficult… - That was what Harry had heard first coming from the hat. - Very difficult. - The hat's voice, unlike the times when it had whispered things to the wearer, this time spoke clearly to everyone in the common room. And Harry was not at all enjoying the attention he should have been receiving, when everyone else had been sorted quickly and without any speech.
- Quite a bit of courage, I see. Not a bad mind. There's talent, there's, my goodness, a reasonable thirst for proof and enough grit to push the boundaries. Now that's interesting... So where am I going to put it? - The hat recited as it moved its wearer's head to the region of each table there.
- But what an interesting thing... so there are two of them. - Again the hat said as if it read all of Potter's memories.
- A child who was forced to become an adult... I see bravery like a lion in you... courage prevails in your being along with your Katana that has become an extension of your body. - Having said both, the Weasley twins whistled in euphoria.
- He is determined and independent, values hard work and strives far from outside eyes to obtain what he wants through his own merit... Loyal and fair with those allies... even if scarce... I liked that. - The hat said as euphoria increased at the Hufflepuff table due to his skills there.
- But, it's not just that! Hm... - Again the hat said, making Dumbledore settle into his golden throne as he stared strangely at the Sorting Hat's words.
- A welcoming mind towards all animals and plants, intelligent in intellect and actions, shrewd in trusting those who deserve it, and always seeking to be one step ahead of everyone so as not to be deceived and manipulated. - The hat said as he saw Harry's memories returning to Diagon Alley and clearing up his doubts about everything. - Besides... good-natured with new friends, but who never forgets a mistake. - Finally the hat said with the buzz increasing at the Ravenclaw table.
- That's incredible! So that's why the changes. - The hat stated as he felt in his being a spark of dark energy predominant from Potter's forehead, which had spread throughout his body since he was a baby.
Dumbledore, who was listening to everything, really wanted to find out what the hat saw in Potter's mind, but there was nothing he could do, because the hat would never reveal anything to anyone about what its hidden and wise words referred to.
- Besides! He is cunning and ambitious, he works and strives with a huge desire to obtain a better future for himself, not caring if his body suffers the worst of pain in the process to obtain his results. - The hat said with murmurs now coming from Slytherin under the concern of the school headmaster. - A shame that you have to secretly sacrifice yourself to get this... - Finally, the hat said, giving a low wave at its tip, as if understanding some trauma that occurred to Potter.
At that moment, Harry had placed his left hand under the safe part of his sheathed Katana. An act he did every time he felt fear or apprehension of something from his past being exposed and mainly a form of warning, he would cut this hat in half if there was even a hint of exposing anything from his past.
Seeing the hat's difficulty in choosing, Minerva found it strange that Potter had aptitudes for all houses. This had never been seen, not even in Dumbledore, who had been very famous in his time of studies.
- But which house should I put you in?
- He has the bravery of old Godric Gryffindor ...
Helga Hufflepuff 's loyalty ...
- The insightful dear Rowena Ravenclaw ...
Salazar Slytherin 's ambition .
- Well... if you have nothing against any of the houses... I'm proud to say so! - The hat informed under the attention of all the students in the same.
- You are Divergent. - Finally, the hat informed under raised eyebrows from the Hogwarts headmaster, astonishment from the teachers, and doubt from the general public of students.
At that, the hat finally became inert, with Harry immediately taking it off as he stood up, and placing it on the bench under Minerva's impressed gaze.
- What do I do? - Harry asked, not understanding what a divergent was.
- You choose which house you want to stay in... We'll talk later. - The vice-principal told him, where Harry stared at each table, seeing the red-haired twins make a funny gesture with their arms that they would welcome him there in the middle of a crowd of strangers. - Very well... you can go. - Finally, she said to Harry as she went down the stairs, only to go towards Gryffindor to a general applause from the table.
Percy, the prefect, stood up and shook his hand vigorously, while the Weasley twins shouted several times, "We win, Potter!"
Harry sat down opposite the ghost in the ruffled collar he had seen before the ceremony. The ghost patted him on the arm, giving Harry a great chilling sensation as though he had just been doused in ice-cold water.
The director looked at him strangely.
Whatever the director would do, or whatever Minerva would explain to him later, he hoped it would all work out.
He never thought that being suited to all houses could cause such a stir among the teachers.
Professor Minerva, who had been standing in the same place while staring at the roll of parchment, could soon notice the inscriptions of each student with their house written down. Potter's was "Divergent" with an initial acronym for each of the school's four houses.
And in itself, his uniform tie, which was supposed to have the color of one of the houses, had each of the colors of the four houses.
Albus Dumbledore had stood up. He was beaming at the students, his arms wide open, as if nothing in the world could have pleased him more than to see them all gathered together.
To finally say:
- Welcome! - Said the bearded old man. - Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we start our feast, I'd like to say a few words. Goofy! Crybaby! Mouthy! Pinchy! Thank you. - And he sat down. Everyone clapped and cheered. Harry didn't know if the old man was crazy or just a clown.
- Is he... a little crazy? - He asked Percy uncertainly.
- Crazy? - Percy said unconcernedly. - He's a genius! The best wizard in the world! But he's a little crazy, yes.
- Potatoes, Harry? - Fred said to his right, only now making Potter surprised by so much food appearing out of nowhere. The plates in front of him, which had been empty and dusty until then, were now full of food.
He had never seen so many things on one table: roast beef, roast chicken, pork and lamb chops, meat pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and, for some strange reason, peppermint candies.
With that, he had finally filled his plate with the twins starting conversations with him. About trivial things, be it about his recent acquaintance on the train, or the katana that they insisted on wanting to play a prank on someone using.
- This looks great, - said the ruffled-collared ghost, watching sadly as Harry cut into the roast beef.
- Can't you? - Harry asked him.
- I haven't eaten in almost five hundred years. - The ghost explained. - I don't need it, of course, but the person misses it.
- But even magic can't solve that? I mean, if ghosts can exist, if spells can create illusions of a sky on the roof, or make an eleven-year-old look eighteen... I think it wouldn't be so absurd to think that a spell could make real food be turned into ghost food. - Harry explained under the ghost's astonished look.
- You're absolutely right... You know, I think that in all these years, whether I'm alive or dead, I've never thought of something like this and I've never seen anyone give us such an idea. We'll talk more about this sometime. - The ghost responded excitedly. - I don't think I've introduced myself yet, have I? Gentleman Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower.
- I know who you are! - Ron said, butting in. - My brothers told me about you. You're Nearly Headless Nick.
- I prefer you to call me Knight Nicholas de Mimsy... - The ghost began very formally, but Seamus Finnigan interrupted him.
- Almost Headless? How can someone be almost headless?
Sir Nicholas looked extremely annoyed, as if this little conversation was not going the way he wanted.
- Like that! - He said irritably. And he grabbed his left ear and pulled. His whole head swiveled off his neck and fell over his shoulder as if it were held on a hinge. It was obvious that someone had tried to decapitate him, but had not done the job properly.
Pleased with the boys' looks of astonishment, Nearly Headless Nick pushed his head back into his neck, coughed, and said,
- So, new Gryffindors! I hope you can help us win the house championship this year! Gryffindor has never gone so long without winning the cup.
- Slytherin has been winning for the last six years! The Bloody Baron is getting almost unbearable. He's Slytherin's ghost.
Harry glanced at the Slytherin table where Sir Nicholas was pointing, and saw a hideous ghost sitting there, glassy-eyed, with a very thin face and robes stained with some silvery liquid.
- How did he get covered in blood? - Seamus asked, very interested. Not noticing the calculating look on the supposed liquid that was blood.
- I never asked. - Nearly Headless Nick replied politely. - Anyway... if you're interested in seeing magic involving ghosts in the future, look for me... It will be an honor to help you with anything. - Finally, the ghost said to Harry and walked away from the table.
After everyone had eaten all they could, the leftovers disappeared from the plates, leaving them as clean as they had been in the beginning.
Soon after came the desserts. Lots of ice cream in every flavor imaginable, apple pies, caramel tarts, chocolate éclairs, fried doughnuts with jelly, fruit cakes with wine sauce, strawberries, jellies, rice pudding...
Seeing that some students were talking to others outside the hall and returning at meal time.
Harry had also gotten up with Percy's permission to walk only as far as the corridor outside.
He had just helped himself to a little pie as he chewed it while walking from the common room towards the doors.
Fred and George were talking animatedly, taking several notes in order to find out what the divergent title on the table was. Then Potter stopped in the corridor outside the hall, in front of a large open window that gave a view of a huge lake on that full moon night.
He sighed deeply as he sat leaning against the window and contemplated the view of the lake. He missed drinking something that he would be drinking at this moment and would make him not see what no one else could, however, that he no longer thought was possible because he was at school.
At least that was until a presence interrupted him:
- May I? - Minerva, who was there until then, asked as she sat leaning against the window next to him.
- Sure. - Harry replied as he gave her space.
- What are you thinking so much, Mr. Potter? - Minerva asked, trying to study the boy's face, which until then had been a mystery and a surprise. Where strangely she felt insecure with this face present in someone who, for her, should deserve the greatest happiness and joy in the world.
- What's this Divergent thing... why wasn't I chosen to go home like the others? - Harry said as she smiled for a short while. She could tell that he didn't like being the center of attention.
- Divergents are rare titles given to special people! There has never been any mention of a Divergent existing... despite the title being created after the first house prefects were chosen.
- A Divergent's ability is not only to be placed in a house, but also to have free access to the others, whether with teachers, moving through dormitories, and in classes and private rooms. All of their points obtained are calculated for each house. Apart from the main function of being instructed to command the prefects of the four houses in order to unite them.
- But these are all just functions here within the school. The true nature of a Divergent, and the combination of the four aptitudes of the ancient Kings and Queens who created this castle.
- Gryffindor bravery , which makes your courageous acts for the sake of allies, before yourself. Be brave, bold, or chivalrous to everyone.
- The loyalty of Hufflepuff , who values their hard work, their patient mind to think before acting, their loyalty to allies, and their thirst for justice for those wronged.
- Ravenclaw's perceptiveness makes him one of the most intelligent at Hogwarts... Not because he has little or a lot of knowledge in the current time, but because he always seeks to improve himself. Being intelligent, perceptive and good-humored is part of the Ravenclaw blood.
- Finally... The ambition and cunning of Slytherin , which makes him someone with an enormous desire for power. They use any methods to achieve their goals. But before you get it wrong, it's not just stepping over others that makes a Slytherin get where he wants... because that's a very distorted view of what it really means to be a Slytherin, but rather, in rare cases, letting others step over you so that your wish is obtained. People who can even sacrifice themselves for the sake of their goals, and who are not afraid to undo toxic friendships, much less hide their own pride.
- Whether it's to save someone or for your own good...
- A Divergent is formed by the union of all these psychological aptitudes in a single being... and that being is you. - Finally, the vice-principal of Hogwarts stopped explaining what she knew. Under a deep sigh from the Potter boy who already looked like a man and his gaze showed tiredness.
- That's a lot... How can I be in four houses, when I don't even know about the magical world yet... I think they're putting a lot of hope in me, when I'm not all that. - Harry said looking at the lake, leaving Minerva extremely captivated by his emerald eyes that, from dull green, seemed to light up into pure, shining emerald.
- Don't say that, dear... The Sorting Hat is never wrong, and if you have been chosen as a Divergent, it means that great things are about to happen. - The elderly woman said as a grandmother would say to her grandson. - And you may not have been chosen specifically for my house as I so desired, however, I will be here to guide and advise you whenever you want to visit me and talk.
Smiling at her advice, Harry finally said after another sigh:
- It looks like I'll have to read all the books I bought... - Harry said excitedly as he remembered the large collection he had bought in addition to what was required in the enrollment letter.
Seeing that he was a little more excited, the woman finally dictated:
- Try hard in your classes and upcoming assignments... As your teacher, Head of Gryffindor and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, I feel it is my duty to help you with this.
- If everything goes well, after the end of year festivities, I will bring a tool that will help you with all these future obligations; - Minerva said, standing up while leaving Harry confused as to which tool she was talking about. - But for now, seek new friends, work hard and don't slack off on your studies... I will always be watching you, Mr. Potter, and if I am really going to help you, I want to see a complete commitment to what I assign you. - Finally, she said, walking to the common room where she had entered.
Harry remained for a few more long minutes staring at the beautiful view of the lake outside the castle and that starry sky that he had never been able to see in No-Maj society. Only then did he get up and enter the main hall.
All of this was still under general attention, but it mattered little to him now... He was already getting used to ignoring it, just as he ignored the hidden aberrations of his vision, where he had finally reached his seat at the table.
As he sat down, he could hear the conversation going on at the table:
- I'm half and half. - Said Seamus. - Dad is a fool. Mom didn't tell him she was a witch until after they were married. He had a horrible shock, because it seems it was during his honeymoon, but I didn't quite understand. - He said making the older students laugh along with the supposed scene that must have occurred.
- And you, Neville? - Ron asked.
- Well, my grandmother raised me and she is a witch, but the family thought for years that I was completely Muggle. My grandfather was always trying to catch me off guard and force me to resort to magic. He pushed me over the edge of a pier once, I almost drowned. - The boy said under Harry's surprised look. - But nothing happened until I was eight. My grandfather came to have tea with us and had me hanging by my heels out of a second-floor window, when my grandmother offered him a meringue and he accidentally dropped me. - Longbottom continued to say, where Harry noticed that the boy's life was as difficult as his own.
- But I floated down to the garden and the road. Everyone was really pleased. My grandmother cried with joy. And you should have seen their faces when I got into Hogwarts. They thought I wasn't magical enough to get in, you know. - Neville had told them everything, where at no point had he told his parents, and the boy's slightly heavy look made Harry already have a certain idea.
On the other side of Harry, Percy and Hermione were talking animatedly about their classes, making several notes on parchment:
- I hope they start soon, there's so much for us to learn, I'm very interested in Transfiguration, you know, transforming one thing into another, of course, they say it's very difficult, you start little by little, matches into needles and little things like that. - She said with Percy advising her in response, in a way motivating her to continue with such a thought.
Harry, who was beginning to feel tired from the busy day and the great discoveries he had had, looked back at the main table.
Hagrid took a long sip from his cup. Professor Minerva was talking to Headmaster Dumbledore. Professor Quirrell, wearing that turban, was talking to a dark-haired teacher who reminded him more of vampire fiction.
It happened very suddenly. The hook-nosed professor's gaze passed over Quirrell's turban and fixed itself on Harry's eyes, and a sharp, hot pang ran across Harry's forehead.
- Hm! - Harry put his hand to his forehead.
- What's wrong? - Percy asked.
- N-nothing. - Potter said as the pain went away as quickly as it had come, and again he could see a look of disappointment and even analytical as if something had failed, however, this on the face of the greasy-haired professor.
Harder still was shaking off the feeling Harry had under the professor's gaze. A feeling that he didn't like Harry at all.
However, the other one with the turban didn't seem like a flower either... He was acting like a fool, and a good person..., however, Harry had learned never to trust anyone he didn't know, and his instincts told him to keep his distance from that one.
- Who are those two teachers? - Harry asked Percy as he stared at both adults.
- The one in the dark robes is Professor Severus Snape . He teaches basic Potions to first- to fourth-year students, and advanced Potions to fifth- to seventh-year students, but it's not what he wanted. Everyone knows he's coveting Quirrell 's job , who is the professor next to him.
- Apparently, Quirrell got the Defense Against the Dark Arts job two years ago by pure luck, much to Snape's anger. - Harry watched the professor for some time, but Snape did not look in his direction again.
And so, finally, the desserts disappeared too, and Headmaster Dumbledore stood up once more. The hall fell silent:
- Hmm... Just a few more words now that we've eaten and drunk.
- I have some beginning-of-term notices for you. First-year students should note that it is forbidden to walk in the forest on the estate, hence the name, the forbidden forest. And some of our older students would do well to remember this prohibition that I mention every year and you insist on disputing me. - Dumbledore's sparkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins, who smiled in defiance at the idea of prohibitions.
" Mr. Filch , the caretaker, has asked me to remind everyone that they are not to perform magic in the corridor during class breaks, in order to avoid being late for classes or causing accidents. We have training rooms, duelling rooms, rest rooms, leisure rooms, and everything else you can ask your Heads of House for."
- Quidditch tryouts will be held during the second week of classes so that teams can organize themselves and create their rosters. Anyone interested in joining their house team should contact Professor Hooch or the Quidditch captains of their respective houses.
- And finally, it is necessary to warn that, this year, the corridor on the third floor on the right side is forbidden to all who do not wish to die a very painful death. - The headmaster said with a challenging look at everyone, and Harry tried to understand if he was really looking for these children to seek out that floor, because challenging a child's courage and ego is the same as summoning the devil in the middle of the church.
- He's not serious? - He whispered to Percy.
- It must be. - Percy replied, frowning at Dumbledore. - It's strange because, in general, he always tells us the reason why we are forbidden from going somewhere, but things always work out, so it could be some intention magic, I mean... if someone really intends to go to the third floor, seeks to look for him, magic might be able to prevent that with our stairs diverting them or warning spells.
- And now, before we go to bed, let's sing the school anthem! - Dumbledore exclaimed, cutting off Harry's reasoning about everything he had heard about intention and warning spells.
Harry noticed that the other teachers' smiles had turned yellow.
Dumbledore gave a small wave of his wand as if he were trying to shoo a fly away from the tip and a long golden ribbon appeared in the air, which fluttered towards the top of the tables and coiled like a snake forming words, which looked more like the subtitles of a film.
- And here we go!
And the school chanted in loud, soft voices:
Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we are old and bald
Want young men with scraped legs,
We have our heads in need
Of interesting ideas.
For they are hollow and full of air,
Dead flies and lint.
Teach us what is worthwhile.
Do your best, we will do the rest,
We will study until our brains fall apart.
Everyone finished the song at different times. And finally, only the Weasley twins were left, dancing excitedly to their own choreography. Dumbledore directed the last verses with his wand, and when they finished, he was one of those who applauded the loudest.
Harry looked around with a look that he had really ended up in a place of crazy people, from a distance he could see that Draco seemed completely blushing with embarrassment and at least they could agree on something, such music was ridiculous, so ridiculous that they both laughed together as they looked at each other's faces, and somehow they started to like the anthem.
- Ah, music. - Dumbledore said, drying his eyes. - A magic that transcends all we bring here! And now, time for bed, children. Come on! - Finally, the old man spoke in order to everyone as if his social battery was addicted and suddenly came to an end.
[ ... ]
The new Gryffindors followed Percy through the chattering groups, out of the Great Hall, and up the marble staircase. Harry's legs felt like lead again, but only because he was so tired and full.
He was too tired even to be surprised that the people in the portraits along the corridors murmured and pointed as they passed, or that twice Percy had led them through doorways hidden behind sliding panels and hanging tapestries.
They climbed several more stairs, yawning and dragging their feet, and Harry began to wonder how much further they had to go when suddenly they stopped.
A bundle of canes floated in the air in front of them, and when Percy took a step towards them, they began attacking him.
- Peeves. - Percy whispered to the first years. - A poltergeist. - He said as Harry saw the entity emerge among the students, under Potter's fixed gaze.
It was a little man with dark, evil eyes, his mouth wide open as he floated with his legs crossed:
- Oooooooooh! - He said with an evil laugh. - Freshmen! How funny! - And he suddenly dove towards them. Everyone ducked, leaving only Harry who imagined nothing bad would happen because he was a ghost.
At that, he finally stopped in front of Potter, who this time felt the cane he had used earlier to play, touching his arm.
Harry didn't want to seem arrogant, but he had always learned that against an animal stronger than you, you shouldn't show fear.
Picking up one of the canes on the floor under the Poltergeist's gaze, he soon handed it over to the entity, who looked at him confused.
Only then could he take another turn under Potter, and finally disappear floors below after taking the offered cane.
- I can't believe it! You scared away one of the most uncontrolled ghosts in the castle, what do you mean!? - Percy dictated as Harry approached him.
- It's the same with animals. They attack if you show fear, but they keep to themselves if you don't show anything... at least in some cases, and apparently, giving or returning something you like works on both animals and Poltergeists. - Harry explained with Percy walking beside him, taking them to the dormitories.
- You guys be careful with Peeves. - Percy recommended, when they resumed their walk. - The Bloody Baron is the only one who can control him, and Harry was the first one I know to have done so, he doesn't inspire trust in the monitors and much less in the Hogwarts staff, so it's best that you avoid contact with him.
- Finally, we're here. - The monitor said at the end of the corridor, there was a portrait of a very fat woman dressed in pink.
- Password? - She asked.
- Smaug: The-Dragon-Of-Dragons. - Percy replied and the portrait leaned forward, revealing a round hole in the wall.
They all squeezed through the hole. Neville needed a wedge. And they found themselves in the Gryffindor common room, a round room filled with plush armchairs.
Percy showed the girls the door to his dorm and the boys the door to theirs.
At the top of a spiral staircase, it was quite obvious that they were in one of the towers.
So they finally found their beds, five beds with dark red velvet curtains.
The suitcases had already been brought in. Too tired to talk much, they put on their pajamas and fell into bed.
Except Harry, who was just coming out of a short, relaxing, hot shower wearing only a pair of black shorts.
His chest showed several scars, whether on his back, chest, and even a thin one that went from his neck to the other side of his arm.
Then he heard:
- First class food, wasn't it? - Ron commented to Harry, to which the younger redhead stared at Harry's chest and back, and with a look he made it clear that he wouldn't go into the subject of the scars. - Get lost, Scabbers! He's chewing on my sheets. - The boy said, lying down and apparently drowsy, only for him to finally fall asleep without receiving any answers from Harry.
After his bath, Harry had completely lost sleep, and he soon remembered the Muggle-made suitcase. He took it from his blazer, where he had thrown it under the bed, which within minutes had returned to its natural size.
This made it easy for him to learn how to feed each animal in that world inside the suitcase, and finally to give affection to his phoenix and owl, who showed a great need for having been separated from their owner, even if it had been just a few hours.
Harry knew he had a lot to discover about this world, that there were many untrustworthy people, that there were many animals to gain loyalty, and finally... many obligations to learn about spells, potions, transfigurations, and the other subjects taught at Hogwarts.
He slept with these thoughts while stroking his owl and baby phoenix, his bed was right by the window of the high tower, giving him a beautiful view of the starry sky and the extensive lake surrounding the castle.
Fyexbolt had also fallen asleep in her lap, and Hedwig's studied them one last time, realizing that for now her cub was safe, so that only then could they both have their first full day in the magical world.
And with that I bring the eighth chapter of Changed Prophecy to an end.
I hope you all are enjoying it, and don't forget to comment.
Many of these changes to Harry are due to Voldemort's magic located in his scar.
In short, the dark magic in the scar spread from the forehead to the entire body, causing this bodily enhancement. Many things will be explained in the future, as the dark energy did not spread just to give Harry a mature appearance, but rather as something with more secrets and potential to be explored in the future.
But for now, the Divergent title only gives access to the four houses for Harry to make more friends, and learn even more from others.
I really hope everyone is really enjoying it, see you later guys XD
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