It’s a fool who plays it cool
AJ had never seen so many young witches and wizards in one place before. The mass of students reminded him of a somewhat huge herd of cattle, all filing into the dining room. The first years huddled together around a stern and commanding woman who wore a very tall hat upon her head. Every so often, a student would jump and bob their head over the sea of people, clambering to get a glimpse of the luxuriant dining hall ahead. An air of pure excitement arose within the group. None could focus nor keep their mouths closed, already chittering to their friends about anything and everything, as it all was so new to them.
In a single moment, the students’ scattered attention quickly narrowed upon the woman with the dramatic hat, as she cleared her throat to address them.
“Now before we properly enter the dining hall that you are so anxious to see, I would first like to welcome you to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.”
She paused as if revelling in a familiar and comforting sentiment. The woman before the group was tall, though she did not tower nor loom over them. She stood with near-perfect posture. Her dark hair was tucked neatly under her hat, nicely complementing her green robes. AJ gleaned that she must be a very put-together professor. Her silver glasses framed keen blue eyes that scanned the faces of the children before her as she continued.
“The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room.
The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.”
At this, a previously chatty group of children stood completely silent, eyes wide with anticipation. AJ couldn’t help but wonder what house he’d be a part of. The analytical part of his brain placed him in Ravenclaw, as he thought himself to be quite clever, though the anxious part of his brain placed him in Slytherin. He couldn’t shake the feeling that Slytherin is the house where someone like him belonged. The more he thought about it, the more he supposed that Hufflepuff wouldn’t be a horrible fit. It seemed quite comfortable if anything.
He glanced over at Katy, who was practically vibrating. He figured she’d be in Gryffindor. She seemed the type. Maybe he’d be in Gryffindor too. AJ really hoped that he, Katy, and Maeve could be in the same house together. He hadn’t known them for very long, but they seemed nice. Nicer than most if he was being honest. The three of them had walked shoulder to shoulder up to the castle, and now it was time for them to walk further, into the dining hall.
“Now, I believe they’re ready for you. Go on in and wait for your name to be called.” McGonagall turned on her heel and led the first years through the crowd of bustling students and finally, into the dining hall.
It was a magnificent space, warmed by the light of floating candles suspended over four dining tables that stretched towards the front of the room. Intricate masonry curated the brick walls as they curved upwards and towards the arching ceiling. The vaulted roof was painted to look like the night sky. No, not painted, the sky was actually moving. Stars and constellations twinkled and shifted as the group of first-years trailed behind Professor McGonagall.
AJ scanned the faces of the students who were already at their houses. None of them paid the first years any mind. The housing ceremony happened every year, it couldn’t have been very interesting if you weren’t a part of it. Ambrose wondered if he would feel that apathetic about the whole process when he was in his second year. He didn’t have long to think about it though, as the group had come to a stop near the front of the room.
There stood a rather grand-looking old man. He wore technicolour robes that swept the floor around him and he too, was wearing a very dramatic looking hat, though perhaps it was not quite as tall as McGonagall’s. He looked upon the students, all of them, and greeted them with a kind smile. The man opened his arms and addressed the crowd.
“Welcome students one and all, old and new, to a new year at Hogwarts!” The man’s voice was loud and resonant, though it wasn’t harsh. If anything it was comforting, like a roaring stream, projecting its sound throughout a calm forest.
At his speech, the students clapped and cheered, some even banged their cups against the wood of their tables.
“I’m very glad that you’re all so cheerful,” He said with a smile. “Not only am I glad, but I am also very honoured to serve another year at this exceptional school as your headmaster. For those who do not yet know me, I am Headmaster Dumbledore, and I’m so very pleased to meet these new faces. I hope that you grant me the opportunity to get to know you all.”
Professor Dumbledore glanced at McGonagall, who stood to the side holding a decrepit-looking brown hat that was practically falling apart.
“It’s the sorting hat!” Katy nudged Maeve, whispering a touch too loudly.
“Now we begin. When I call your name, that student will come forward and the sorting hat will be placed upon your head, revealing your house,” The headmaster motioned to the group of first years, who stood electric with excitement and nerves.
“Alright. Starting with Paloma Ashwood, if you’d please step forward.”
A short young witch made her way to the front and stood beside the man. Her breathing was controlled and rhythmic like that was all she was focused on. Professor McGonagall placed the dishevelled old hat on the girl’s head and took a small step backwards.
The entire hall was quiet, everyone’s attention narrowed upon the first sorting of the year. What house would be called? What was taking so long? Was the hat adding suspense on purpose?
“GRYFFINDOR!” The hat bellowed. Thunderous applause rumbled through the hall as the young girl was welcomed into her new family. AJ eyed the empty seats at the head of Gryffindor’s table, imagining himself sitting there with Katy and Maeve.
The group of first years gradually whittled down as more names were called, until eventually…
“Ambrosius Jude Costello.”
That was him, time to decide the course of the rest of his life at the ripe age of eleven. AJ tried to calm himself. He’d be okay with whichever house, I mean maybe not Slytherin but he couldn’t think about that at that moment. His body moved forward without him even moving it, like he was a spirit watching the sorting hat be put on his head from outside his own perspective.
He hadn’t known what to expect, he wasn’t even really sure if he had actually expected anything, but the hat itself talking to him certainty threw him for a loop.
“Let me see…what do we have here?” A voice hummed in his head, making Ambrose shift uncomfortably.
“Well, you’re definitely hardworking, smart enough for Ravenclaw?” AJ didn’t answer.
“Brave enough for Gryffindor perhaps…” The hat continued, “Or maybe… maybe you’re right, and you do belong in Slytherin.”
That caught AJ’s attention.
“No, I don’t think so.” He thought.
“No? Why not Slytherin, surely it’s befitting of your status. A monstrous house for a monstrous wizard…”
“Slytherin isn’t a monstrous house,” AJ responded.
“Is that not what you think?” The hat pressured.
“No. You just want to guilt me into making a decision. That’s your job, hat.”
“Clever boy.” The hat murmured, “RAVENCLAW!” The hat was taken off of his head as Ambrose was met with rowdy cheers. He was relieved, to say the least. Ravenclaw was a good fit, he thought.
He found his way to the Ravenclaw table, taking a seat next to two empty spots, where he’d hoped Katy and Maeve would end up.
Speaking of, Kathrine was up next. AJ had sat through the sortings between himself and Katy. He didn’t want to seem rude or disinterested, but he was anxiously awaiting the sorting of his friends, so he paid little mind to the others. He watched her intently as the hat deliberated, making odd faces and raising its vague burlap eyebrows.
“Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw, please say Ravenclaw.” He muttered under his breath. AJ desperately wanted to have friends at Hogwarts. He had gotten lucky on the train but feared that his luck wouldn’t hold any weight when it came to his Ravenclaw peers.
“GRYFFINDOR!” Katy took the hat off by herself, ecstatic and looking over to her new house. AJ watched as she sat next to a boy with untamed dark black hair, who looked shaken out of his right mind. Ambrosius sunk in his seat, could he even stay friends with someone outside his house? They wouldn’t really have any classes together. Maybe Maeve would be put in Ravenclaw and he’d at least have one friend even if he lost Katy. However, the more he thought about it, the more he predicted Maeve would be sorted into Slytherin. She was a Gaunt, after all.
The more students were sorted, the more AJ resigned himself to a lonely year at Hogwarts. The kids around him already seemed to be close friends with one another, making it hard to insert himself into a pre-existing friend group. He wallowed in his own little world until…
“Maeve Gaunt,” Her name alone got some cheering from the Slytherins.
As she stepped forward, AJ already knew she’d be placed in Slytherin. It only made sense. He’d be alone.