'I just hope I'm not in Hufflepuff,' the chubby boy said morosely. 'My Gran says that Hufflepuff is for misfits.'
'Well, there has to be some place for the simple people to go, you know, people who aren't brave or clever or ambitious,' the girl said. She was beginning to get on Harry's nerves, and he didn't even know her name yet.
'There's nothing wrong with Hufflepuffs,' he snapped. 'My Granny was a Hufflepuff, and she's one of the best people in the whole world.'
'She really is,' Draco agreed. 'She's kind to everyone, generous, always cheerful. Great cook, too. Our cousin Dora was a Hufflepuff as well, and she's pretty cool.'
'So if you do wind up in Hufflepuff,' Harry told the chubby boy adamantly, 'wear it with pride, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.' He glared at the bushy-haired girl.
'Like I said,' she said in an exasperated tone, 'it's good for there to be a House where all the simple people can go.'
Harry raised an eyebrow. 'As opposed to all the prissy swots with their heads up their arses?'
The girl huffed, but fell silent.
'I'm Neville Longbottom,' said the chubby boy. 'This is Hermione Granger.'
The girl harrumphed loudly.
'Longbottom?' Draco mused. 'Any relation to Harfang Longbottom?'
'He was my great-grandfather,' Neville replied.
'So you're a cousin too!' Harry exclaimed. 'I'm Aries Black, and this is my cousin Draco Malfoy.'
'Aries B-black?' Neville stammered. 'Aren't you Sirius Black's son?'
'That's right, and proud of it,' Harry said defiantly.
'I read about him,' Hermione Granger said. 'I heard he was a major follower of You-Know-Who, but got out of prison on a technicality.'
'If she doesn't shut up, I swear to Merlin I'm going to Cruciate her to within an inch of her life,' Harry growled to Draco.
'Can you really do the Cruciatus Curse?' the girl went on. 'I thought it was illegal. I read all about it in The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts.'
Harry's hand crept towards his wand, and Draco decided to intervene. 'So, Granger, eh? Any relation to the Dagworth-Grangers?'
'I'm Muggleborn,' Hermione said brightly. Harry and Draco both groaned.
'Figures,' Harry mumbled.
'What's that supposed to mean?' the girl demanded.
'It's means you really oughtn't to barge into someone else's world and start spouting off on things you don't understand,' Draco said in a superior tone. 'Books are one thing, real life is something else.'
'Probieren geht über Studieren,' Harry added.
'Precisely,' Draco agreed.
'What does that mean?' Hermione asked.
'Go look it up in your books,' Draco said dismissively.
'Or, better yet, go home and leave us alone,' Harry muttered.
They crossed the rest of the lake in a chilly silence.
.....
Hogwarts Castle was simply incredible. Harry and Draco found themselves staring at the Gothic stonework, portraits, suits of armour and tapestries as much as anyone. Truth be told, they felt a bit foolish, gawking at ghosts like any Muggleborn. But even though the two boys had been raised in the wizarding world, Hogwarts seemed to be constantly bursting with surprises, to a level that simply was not the case at Windermere Court or Malfoy Manor.
Professor McGonagall guided the first-years into the toasty warmth of the Great Hall.
'Look at that, Aries,' Draco said in awe, pointing out the enchanted ceiling. 'I wonder how they managed that.'
'It's a very powerful Proscenium Charm,' Hermione Granger said from over his shoulder. 'I read about it in Hogwarts, A History.'
Harry and Draco shared a dark look, but managed to refrain from making a scene in the Great Hall. McGonagall brought out a very battered old hat and set it on a stool. The hat promptly launched into song.
'That's a clever trick,' Harry whispered to Draco. 'The Vitalitas Charm, do you think?'
Draco nodded. 'That, or maybe a really advanced Ventriloquus.'
'Hush,' Granger hissed. 'We're not supposed to be talking.'
The boys turned around and gave her a vicious glare. She seemed unperturbed.
At length the Sorting Hat finished its song and Professor McGonagall began to call out the names of the new students. Harry was glad that his name came early in the alphabet. Right after 'Abbott, Hannah' was Sorted into Hufflepuff, McGonagall called out, 'Black, Aries.'
Dark muttering erupted as Harry sauntered forward casually, but he was expecting it by now. It was really more annoying than anything else, and Harry decided the best course of action was to ignore it. He strolled over to the stool and plopped the Hat over his head.
'Oh, very interesting,' the Hat muttered. 'Aries Black, is it? Or is it Harry Potter?'
Harry panicked. You can't tell anyone! It's a secret. They'll send me back to live with the filthy Muggles.
'Don't worry, Mr Potter,' the Hat replied smugly. 'Your secret's safe with me. I am unable to reveal anything I learn from a student's head. My task is simply to Sort you.'
Harry breathed a sigh of relief.
'Now, where shall I put you? You're quite bright, but for you learning is simply a means to an end. You take little delight in knowledge for its own sake. I think we can safely rule out Ravenclaw.'
No surprise there, Harry chuckled.
'Don't sell yourself short, Mr Potter,' the Hat admonished. 'You would do well just about anywhere.'
Of course I would, Harry replied cheekily. I'm Aries Sirius Black.
'And with that, I think we've ruled out Hufflepuff,' the Hat sighed. 'They're salt-of-the-earth sort of people, humble and hardworking.'
And very dull.
The Hat laughed. 'You didn't seem to feel that way on the boat.'
Oh, there's nothing wrong with being dull. Sometimes you want nothing more than a bit of dullness. It's comforting, like hot buttered toast. But I think I'd like a bit of glamour, myself.
'You've thought this out,' the Hat said, impressed.
Well, my dad has. We've talked about it a bit.
'I see. That leaves Gryffindor and Slytherin. You could be great, you know. It's all right here in your head. Slytherin would certainly help you on the path to greatness.'
Hmm, Harry thought. I don't really know if I want to be great. I know Aunt Cassie's expecting me to be the next Dark Lord and all, but, honestly, I'm great enough as it is. I've got a family that cares about me, enough gold to last me several lifetimes and my dad's good looks. What more does one need?
'Interesting, Mr Potter,' the Hat replied. 'If you don't want greatness, what do you want?'
Harry grinned. I just want to have a good time.
The Hat chuckled. 'In that case, Mr Potter, I think I know just the House for you.' The Hat shouted out for all the Hall to hear: 'GRYFFINDOR!'
There was a stunned silence, and then scattered applause broke out. Harry took off the Hat and handed it to McGonagall with a flourish before strolling over to the Gryffindor table and taking a seat. The Weasleys twins were heartily applauding him and moved over so he could sit next to them.
'Well done,' said Fred.
'We can't say we're surprised,' George added.
'At least this way we'll have an opportunity to work more closely together,' suggested Fred.
Harry smirked. 'We'll have to see about that.'
The Sorting continued. Harry groaned when Hermione Granger was Sorted into Gryffindor, but the Muggleborn girl looked very pleased. Neville Longbottom was Sorted into Hufflepuff after all, and Harry pointedly gave him a standing ovation. Neville flashed Harry a grin as he made his way to his table, walking with a bit more confidence than he had before. Shortly afterwards came Draco's turn to be Sorted. The Hat seemed to take a very long time. Harry began to worry, and, from the look on his cousin's face, he thought Draco was worried too. That couldn't be good.
Harry couldn't risk being separated from his cousin. He raised his wand very discreetly and aimed it at the Hat, being careful not to hit Draco.
'Imperio,' he whispered in Parseltongue.
Almost immediately, the Hat shouted 'GRYFFINDOR!' in a good strong voice.
There was silence at first, just as when Harry had been Sorted, but Harry stood up on his bench and starting clapping and whooping at the top of his lungs. Fred and George soon joined in, followed by most of the other Gryffindors, along with Neville at the Hufflepuff table. Daphne Greengrass at the Slytherin table started applauding, as well as Pansy Parkinson, who was still waiting in line to be Sorted. In due time, the Hall was roaring in applause for Draco Malfoy, who grinned as he swept off the Hat and gave a little bow before running off to the Gryffindor table.
.....
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