The Needed Hogwarts Sorting Chapter
The boats bobbed gently on the dark, glassy water as Hagrid ushered the first years aboard, his lantern casting flickering golden light over the group. Ursa hesitated before climbing into one of the boats, feeling the sticky remnants of pumpkin pastry matting her hair. Around her, the other students were in similar states of disarray, their robes smeared with jelly, chocolate, and crumbs.
“C’mon, four to a boat,” Hagrid called cheerfully. “No magic allowed yet, so ye’ll just have to make do with the mess!”
'Lovely,' Draco muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm as it echoed in her head. 'We’re all setting such a dignified first impression.'
Ursa shot him a sharp look across the boat. 'You’re fine', she thought back. 'You still look like a Malfoy, even if you smell like one of Aunt Walburga’s biscuits.'
Draco arched an eyebrow at her, but his disdain quickly found a new target: Hagrid.
'Do you think he’s ever seen a razor?' Draco’s mental tone was rich with derision as he studied the half-giant’s wild beard and tattered coat.
Ursa sighed. “He seems nice,” she whispered, her eyes trailing to Hagrid, who was expertly steering his boat. “Stop being such a snob.”
“I’m not a snob,” Draco huffed. “It’s called having standards. Mother taught us—”
“Mother also told us to behave,” she shot back. “Keep it up, and I’ll tell her you were rude to someone on the first day.”
Draco didn’t reply, but she felt his indignation simmering.
Still, her irritation melted as the boats turned a corner, and the towering silhouette of Hogwarts appeared, its spires cutting against the starry sky and windows glowing warmly. A collective gasp rippled through the boats, and even Draco’s complaints faded into silence.
“Whoa,” a voice murmured beside her, and Ursa glanced over to see Harry Potter, his round glasses catching the light. For a moment, the sheer wonder in his expression reminded her of what it felt like to see something truly magical for the first time.
---
Inside the castle, the first years huddled in the entrance hall, their food-stained robes drawing amused looks from the older students passing by. Ursa ran a hand through her hair, grimacing at the sticky tangle of pumpkin pastry she’d failed to remove.
“This is ridiculous,” Draco muttered under his breath. “We look like clowns.”
'Speak for yourself,' Ursa replied in her head. 'I look like a slightly disheveled aristocrat.'
Draco smirked faintly, but his attention shifted as Professor McGonagall entered the hall, her stern gaze sweeping over the group. “Welcome to Hogwarts,” she began crisply. “In a few moments, you will enter the Great Hall and be sorted into your houses. Your house will be your family while you are here...”
Ursa tuned out the rest of the speech, her attention caught by the distant sound of laughter and clinking cutlery echoing from the Great Hall. She felt Draco nudge her mind.
'Are you nervous?'
'No,' she replied immediately, though her pulse was racing.
'Liar,' Draco teased, his amusement warm and brotherly.
Before she could respond, McGonagall led them into the Great Hall. Ursa’s breath caught as she took in the floating candles, the enchanted ceiling reflecting the night sky, and the four long tables filled with older students.
“They’re all staring at us,” Draco noted.
Ursa nudged him. 'Smile. Malfoys don’t cower.'
---
The Sorting began, and Ursa shifted impatiently as McGonagall read the names in alphabetical order.
“Bailey, Emmaleigha!”
The black-haired girl from earlier skipped up to the stool, her enthusiasm earning a few chuckles from the older students. The Sorting Hat had barely touched her head when it shouted, “Hufflepuff!”
Draco groaned audibly, drawing a sharp look from McGonagall. “Figures,” he muttered, his voice laced with disdain.
'Behave', Ursa warned him silently, though she fought back a grin at his expression.
“Potter, Harry!”
The hall fell silent as Harry stepped forward. The Sorting Hat seemed to deliberate for a long moment before finally shouting, “Gryffindor!” The Gryffindor table erupted into cheers, and Ursa felt a pang of envy at how warmly he was welcomed.
“Malfoy, Draco!”
Draco straightened his robes and strode to the stool with the confidence of someone who had rehearsed this moment in his head a dozen times. The hat barely grazed his hair before declaring, “Slytherin!” Draco smirked and headed to the green-and-silver table, his gait practically a strut.
“Malfoy, Ursa!”
Ursa’s heart thudded as she stepped forward, the hall suddenly feeling much larger. The Sorting Hat was placed on her head, and she froze as a voice echoed in her mind.
“Well, well,” the hat said, its tone curious and amused. “You’re an unusual one, aren’t you? I see you’ve lived another life before. Fascinating… but I must sort the person you’ve become in this one.”
Ursa’s hands gripped the edge of the stool. 'I don’t suppose I get a say in this?'
The hat chuckled. “You could try, but I already see where you belong. You’re fiercely loyal to your family, which makes Hufflepuff a tempting choice… but no, you’re far too sneaky about it. Always working behind the scenes, pulling strings. That’s not Hufflepuff behavior.”
Ursa held her breath.
“It’s Slytherin for you,” the hat declared.
The Slytherin table erupted in applause as she slid off the stool, her legs shaky but her head held high. Draco was already waiting for her, a satisfied smirk on his face.
“Told you we’d both be in Slytherin,” he said smugly.
“Don’t get used to being right,” Ursa replied, but she couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips as she joined him at the table.