Sorting Hat’s Dilemma
Isagi had never seen anything as grand as the Hogwarts Express. The scarlet locomotive gleamed in the sunlight as he stood on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, his trunk and owl cage in tow. Around him, witches and wizards bustled with energy, their robes swirling as they said their goodbyes.
“Yoichi, are you sure about this?” his mother asked for the tenth time, smoothing down his hair.
“I’ll be fine, Mom,” Isagi replied, his voice steady despite the nervous butterflies in his stomach.
His father gave him a firm nod. “Keep your head on straight, son. And… don’t trust anyone with shifty eyes.”
With a laugh and a promise to write, Isagi stepped onto the train. The corridors were packed with students jostling for compartments, their voices rising in an excited cacophony.
“Latecomer?”
Isagi turned to see a boy with sharp golden eyes and a mischievous grin. His wild black hairwith dyed blond ends framed his face, and he had an air of chaotic energy.
“Uh, yeah,” Isagi said.
“I’m Bachira Meguru. Need help with that?”
Isagi nodded, and together they wrestled his trunk into the overhead rack.
“You’ve got first-year and latecomers nerves all over your face,” Bachira teased, sliding the compartment door shut.
“Well, yeah. It’s all… new,” Isagi admitted, taking a seat.
“Don’t worry, Hogwarts is fun. Unless you get stuck in a boring house, I heard that from my parents” Bachira said with a wink.
“A boring house?”
“Yeah. Gryffindor is the coolest, obviously, but i heard Slytherin has all the bad people” Bachira said, puffing his chest out.
Isagi chuckled, relaxing slightly as Bachira launched into an animated explanation of the four houses.
---
When the train arrived at Hogsmeade Station, Isagi joined the other first-years in following a massive, bearded man named Hagrid. They crossed the dark, glassy lake in small boats, Hogwarts glowing like a beacon on the other side.
“Welcome to Hogwarts!” Hagrid boomed as they stepped ashore.
Inside the castle, Professor Teieri awaited them. She led them to the Great Hall, where four long tables were filled with students. The ceiling above sparkled with stars, and floating candles cast a warm glow.
“The Sorting Ceremony will determine your house,” Anri explained. “Your house will be your family during your time here at Hogwarts.”
As names were called, students approached the Sorting Hat, which determined their placement.
“Chigiri Hyoma.”
A tall boy with scarlet hair stepped forward. The hat barely touched his head before shouting, “GRYFFINDOR!”
Cheers erupted from the Gryffindor table as Chigiri joined them.
“Bachira Meguru.”
Bachira skipped to the stool, grinning.
“GRYFFINDOR!”
Isagi watched as Bachira joined Chigiri, waving enthusiastically.
“Isagi Yoichi.”
His heart raced as he stepped forward. The hat was lowered onto his head, and a voice whispered in his ear.
“Ah, a curious one. Sharp mind, ambitious heart, but loyal to your core. Hmm… where to put you?”
Isagi swallowed hard. “I don’t know where I belong,” he thought.
“Ambition drives you. You long to stand out, to achieve greatness. Slytherin could help you reach your full potential.”
“OH HECK NAWW” Isagi thought, surprised.
“Yes! Slytherin indeed,” the hat said. “You have the cunning and determination to make your mark.”
After a pause, the hat whispered back “not Slytherin hmm?How about Hufflepuff? But you also value teamwork and has a loyal heart above everything else, Then-”
.
.
.
The hat shouted, “GRYFFINDOR!”
The hall grew quiet for a moment before the Gryffindor table erupted into applause. Relief and excitement washed over Isagi as he removed the hat and made his way to the Gryffindor table. Bachira greeted him with a high five, and Chigiri offered a small nod of approval.But then far away, spotted a familiar silver and green haired boy from the Hufflepuff table staring at him, before winking
“Oh.” Isagi thought in his head, as he deadpanned
---
The Gryffindor common room was lively and welcoming, with a roaring fire and plush armchairs. Isagi found himself laughing and chatting with his housemates as they introduced themselves.
“I knew you would be a Gryffindor! We are always meant to be together!” Bachira said, clinging on to Isagi,
Isagi thought that Bachira meant it in a friendly way, but it seems like Bachira meant it in a different way, but being the oblivious Isagi he is, he patted bachira on the head.
As he climbed into bed that night, Isagi felt a sense of pride. The Sorting Hat had seen something in him, something brave. He didn’t know what challenges lay ahead, but there was one thought buried in his head, what would have happened if he was in Slytherin?