Mirabile Visu [ENG]

"Zelda Hylia of Hyrule."

The applause in the Great Hall died down with one accord. So, the rumors of this summer were true. Teachers and students alike craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the young heiress to the throne of Hyrule taking her place on the stool. Head held high, chin straight and built impeccably, the princess sat gracefully, her long braids following the rhythm of her body. There were no unusual creases on her perfect dresses, whose black highlighted the white of her skin.

Without too much doubt, the Sorting Hat barely brushed against the golden locks before he cried out:

"RAVENCLAW!"

The concerned house hissed its delight, drumming on the table. It was only a formality; it couldn't have been any other way for the one said to be one of the Disir of the Three Goddesses.

The young noblewoman of pure - and, it was said, divine - blood stood up with rare elegance, a delicate smile on her gentle features. The prefects rose in unison to ensure a welcome worthy of her rank, in the best place at the table. They left Zelda no option but to refuse.

Then the voice of Edessa Sakndenberg, newly promoted to Deputy Headmistress, resounded through the Great Hall. She called the next student - a name that was enough to restore total calm:

"Link of Hālgascul-Elyndor."

If, indeed, the Crown Princess was attempting her schooling amongst the other pupils, her father would never have left her unsupervised. The presence of a royal guard could only be mandatory; and some would have thought of an adult occupying the vacant post of Defense against the Dark Arts. Not a weakling of the princess's age!

Another blond, his hair still a mess from when he arrived by air. A confident gait for a bored look. He sat up straight, but a far cry from the princely elegance Zelda had displayed earlier - the latter didn't seem to mind any more than that.

"GRY-" began the Sorting Hat, only to be interrupted in his tracks.
"No."

The joy of the lion's table was contained in a single breath, awaiting the final word of the repartition.

"No?" repeated the Sorting Hat, incredulous at the young boy's toupee.
"No." confirmed the disruptive student without the slightest embarrassment.
"You're not in a position to decide such a thing, young man..." Grumbled the artifact. "I know a student worthy of Godrick-"
"Not interested."

The flames of the candles flickered, some were even blown out; an abrupt change that provoked gasps of general surprise and shouts from the first-year students. At her table, Zelda rolled her eyes. An unroyal act which, fortunately for the image of Hyrule's crown, went unnoticed.

"Hufflepuff would suit me better." asserted Link, calmly, far from his intimidating little act.
"I don't doubt your loyalty, patience or dedication. However-"
"The kitchens are close to the Hufflepuff common room."

Since its creation by the four founders, the Sorting Hat had never heard such an excuse for ending up in one house or the other. Students would beg to stay with their childhood friends, others to end up in the house their parents - or even their entire family - expected, others still to avoid ending up with an older family member. But what about the proximity of the kitchens to the dormitories? What argument was that?

"Your family's heritage-"
"I prefer my own destiny."
"The courage in your soul-"
"Keeps me from burning you right now." purred the insolent student's mind with relish.

The young blond's youthful face remained neutral for the audience. Students glanced at each other, murmuring the new minute added to the one already passed. The low masses wondered too: for in a man's lifetime, who remembered that a Hālgascul-Elyndor could be anything other than a Gryffindor? And a Hatstall?

"Let's be cordial without ending up in flames. I love flames. But I love food even more. Keeping an eye on Her Majesty is no picnic. Not that she's as unpleasant as her father or her great aunt. So Hufflepuff it is."
"That would go against-"
"As you wish."
"GRY-"

Large drops of white wax froze the Sorting Hat's mouth. With a general hiccup, one of the candles fell on the illustrious bewitched accessory - held in-extremis by a levitation spell, the bright flame just millimeters from the ancient fabric.

"Fire gives me great pleasure..." Susurrated the blond boy in a mischievous tone. "I've always found the dance of flames fascinating, their warmth irresistible and the colors so shimmering that I'd like the world to bathe in them..."

Silence.

It took a little longer before the candle was straightened and reassembled with the others by the teachers. The wax stains on the Sorting Hat's mouth disappeared.

"Few people your age can practice magic without a wand. Ravenclaw would be a good place for you… The princess would be safe with you."
"Her Majesty can't stand me." Link grumbled. "Might as well let her have her own secret place."
"You'd fit in with the Slytherins too..."
"The color of the house would indeed be more in keeping with his Grand Farore." admitted the blond boy. "But... I insist. It'll be Hufflepuff. Or a bonfire."

Sigh. The artifact admitted defeat. He wasn't interested in ending up in a pile of ashes. Derogating the founders' spells in this way displeased him just as much, however, he rubbed shoulders with enough young heads to recognize that in going to such actions, this student had his reasons. Kitchens or no kitchens.

- "Very well, then. If you're sure of yourself... HUFFLEPUFF!"

Once the surprise of such a turn of events had passed, Helga's table roared its joy in thunderous applause.

On the stool, before Professor Sakndenberg removed the artifact from his head, Link breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" he said in his mind to the Hat, a grateful smile lighting up his face. "Fire is my worst fear ! That's between us!"

The Sorting Hat was stunned.

The nerve of the young!

Bonus.

Niamh inhaled slowly. With the students spread out and emotions slightly dampened with the two big names of the year, the back-to-school party was going pretty well. A good point. Especially with the royal family meddling in the school's affairs - as if the Ministry of Magic wasn't enough to deal with. Seven years to go wouldn't be much. The headmistress had seen worse.

"Before the feast begins, I'd like us to give a warm welcome to our new Defense Against the Dark Arts' teacher, Ganondorf Dragmire." began Headmistress Fitzgerald.

She let the students applaud the news, giving her young colleague time to rise and greet the audience.

"Professor Dragmire was a student at Uagadou. So, for those who are interested, he is willing to teach magic without a wand. But for now, let's not worry about this new option; let's just enjoy ourselves!"

(It goes without saying that Link enjoyed himself. To the point of forgetting the growing heat in the back of his left hand. How could it be otherwise, with the fried potatoes right in front of him?)