The Legendary Hat Stall Of '91
Everything up until this point, in Holly’s at least, book had been strange. The people. The currency. The places. The pets… all of it, strange. But then the sun went down, the moon and the stars came out, and Holly began to feel the Magick.
When they stepped off the train the older students went down a wide, beaten path, while Hagrid held up a lantern and gathered all the first years to him. His smile was as bright as Holly remembered, like the stars above them. “Firs’ years! Firs’ years over here! All right there, yeh two?,” he called, beaming even brighter when he spotted Holly and Harry among the crowd. “C’mon, follow me - any more firs’ years? Mind yer step, now! Firs’ years follow me!” Hagrid led them down a steep, narrow, muddy path. “Yeh’ll get yer firs’ sight o’ Hogwarts in a sec,” He told them after they had been stumbling down the path for a while. “Jus’ round this bend here.”
The narrow path opened to a lake that looked like it was melting into the night sky. But, across it was a great castle, high up on a mountain. It looked as much a part of the night sky as the lake below it, with the way the lights in its windows danced and twinkled. “Oooooh!” said the crowd, Holly along with them, as they marveled at the sight.
There were boats lined up along the water's edge. They weren’t very large, or fancy. But, Hgrid pointed to them and called “no more ‘an four to a boat!”
Harry and Ron seemed to find the same boat as Hermione and a boy clutching a toad that Holly guessed was Nevile. He looked back at her, worried, but she wasn’t bothered. She waved him off and hurried over to the boat Tracy had found instead. They were joined by a very, very tall girl with long blond hair tied up high on her head and steely blue eyes, and a girl of a similar complexion to Tracy but with straightened hair and a mean look to her. She seemed to size them up and down, then decided to introduce herself. “I’m Pansy Parkinson. This is Daphne Greengrass. You’re the Potter girl, aren’t you? Well, you should stick with us. You need the right kind of friends. Weren't you raised by muggles?” she turned her nose up at the thought. “Disgusting.”
To be fair, the Dursleys were never very pleasant, but Holly didn’t think that was actually what Pansy meant. And besides, plenty of muggles were better than the Dursleys. Like Mrs. Figg across the way, or her grade two teacher, Ms. Colton, who always baked the class treats.
Holly scowled. “As if,” she muttered.
Tracy said at the same time, “and weren't you raised by pigs?” In an equally disdainful tone as Pansy.
“No,” Pansy said, snapping her attention to Tracy. Pansy looked at her like she was gum on the bottom of her shoe.
Tracy shrugged. “Oh,” she said, blandly, “could've fooled me with a snout like that.” Holly snickered, and Daphne eyed Pansy’s nose before reaching up and touching her own delicate nose as if reassuring herself that she at least, did not look like a swine.
Pansy narrowed her eyes at Tracy, opening her mouth to respond, but was cut off by Hagrid calling, “everyone in? Right then - FORWARD!”
They all stopped and looked as the boats began to float across the glossy lake, unaided by any ores or engines. It was too captivating a sight to ignore, so that was where the conversation - if you could call it that, died.
They drifted along for a while, a little ways ahead of the other boats, before nearing a cliff below the castle. “Heads down!” Hagrid called, as they crept closer to the ivy covered cliff. The four of them ducked and sailed right through the ivy, not into rock, but into a narrow tunnel. They were carried along it for a time, passing under the castle itself, before the water ended onto an underground dock.
Tracy and Holly left their boat as quickly as they could and scurried over to Harry and Ron, absolutely eager to get far away from Pansy. “Are you okay? I saw you looking upset…” Harry asked, quietly.
Holly scoffed. “Upset? No. Just stuck in a boat with a pig is all.”
Tracy let out a loud, rather bizarre sounding laugh. “And a loud one, at that!” she added, seemingly delighted that Holly had adopted her insult.
“Someone brought a pig? That's bloody disgusting!” said Ron, sending the girls into another round of laughter.
“Oy,” shouted Hagrid, not so far from them. “You there, is this your toad?”
“Trevor!” cried neville. Harry and Ron both rolled their eyes at that, making Holly and Tracy laugh even harder.
Hagrid gathered them and lead them through a small, rocky passageway and up a stone staircase, depositing them in front of a massive wooden door. “Everyone here?” you there, still got yer toad?” Hagrid checked, before knocking.
The opened to an entryway so large, Holly wondered just how many houses could fit inside it. Apparently, Harry was thinking the same thing, because he leaned in and whispered, “our whole house could fit in there!”
Holly just nodded.
“The firs’ years, Professor McGonagall,” Hagrid said, drawing Holly’s attention back down to the tall, stern looking woman who had opened the door.
“Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here.” She led them through the hall, drawing them nearer and nearer every step, to a cacophony of voices that must have been every other student in the school. And the teachers. But, before they could join them, Professor McGonagal brought them to a cramped little room just off to the side. “Welcome to Hogwarts. 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 own 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 honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
“The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarted yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting.” Holly felt suddenly very aware of her tangled hair and creased robes - a result of not knowing how best to pack them. She dusted herself off as best she could, and hoped it would be enough.
“I will return when we are ready for you,” said Professor McGonagall. “Please wait quietly.” and then she was gone and the first years were all left alone in the little room.
“So it’s true then,” said a somewhat familiar voice. Everybody turned to see the pale, silver-haired boy from Madam Malkin's. “The Potter twins have come to hogwarts.” he looked meaner here. He’d looked mean there, too, but here it was worse. Holly hadn’t really minded him when he was alone but now he had goons. Like actual goons. They were first years too, of course, and about as smart looking as a doorknob, but still. “This is Crabb, and Goyle. And I’m malfoy. Draco Malfoy.”
Ron snickered.
The pale boy, Draco, sneered at him. “Think my name is funny, do you? No need to ask for yours - red hair, and a hand-me-down robe… you must be a weasley.” Draco said it like it was poison, then turned his attention back to Holly and Harry. “You’ll soon find out some wizarding families are better than others. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there,” Draco concluded, holding out his hand to shake.
Harry said, “I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks.” and looked at Draco’s hand like it was month-old moldy cheese.
Draco cut his glance over to Holly, who turned to Tracy and said, “look, another pig! This place is starting to smell like a barn!”
Before anyone could react though, Professor McGonagall returned. “We’re ready for you.” she said. “Form a line please, and follow me.”
They were led from their little waiting room, out into the vast entry hall, and then to a second set of very large doors. They opened to the most spectacular place Holly had ever seen! The Great Hall had a starry night sky and floating candles and four great long tables with students, each table seemingly a different color group, and at the far end, there was a dais with one more great table, this one, with adults. In front of that, there was a stool with a very, very old witches hat on it.
“It’s bewitched to look like the night sky,” Hermione whispered from somewhere behind Holly. “I read about it in Hogwarts: A History.”
Then, strangely, the hat began to sing.
“Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!”
The whole hall erupted in applause.
More whispering.
Professor McGonagall stepped up “When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted,” she said. “Abbott, Hannah!”
A girl with blond pigtails stumbled out of line and up to the stool. She put on the hat, which paused only a moment before calling out “Hufflepuff!” one of the tables began to cheer loudly, and Hannah darted over to them, disappearing into a crowd of yellow and black robes.
“Bones, Susan.” called Professor McGonagall.
Another girl went up, and again the hat called “Hufflepuff!”
The names went on, some going to Ravenclaw, some to Slytherin, and some to Gryffindor. Holly tuned out until she heard the professor call out, “Davis, Tracy.”
Tracy waved Holly goodbye and headed up to the dais. She sat on the stool and fit the hat over her head, and closed her eyes. The hat did not take long before it called out, “Slytherin!” Holly watched as the green-robed students welcomed her new friend among them.
More names slid by. Hermione went to Gryffindor after nearly four minutes of thought on the hats part. Daphne to Slytherin, Neville to Gryffindor, having stalled the hat for a minute or two himself, and lastly, Draco went to Slytherin. Finally, they had reached the P’s.
“Parkinson, Pansy.” said Mcgonagall.
Holly couldn’t resist snorting like a pig as Pansy passed her. Pansy ignored her, walked to the stool on the dais, sat, and placed the old hat on her stupid pig face. She smiled serenely, as though she knew already that the hat was about to call out “Slytherin!”
It was as if every unpleasant person that Holly had come across was sat at that table. But so was Tracy. And Tracy seemed pretty cool to Holly. Surely, she wasn’t evil, was she? Holly couldn’t help but glance over at her, sticking mostly to herself among the green-robes, and pointedly ignoring Pansy’s sneering. No, decided Holly, there was absolutely no way Tracy was evil.
Next were another pair of twins, the Patil sisters. One went to Gryffindor, and the other to Ravenclaw. And after, a girl called Sally-Anne (what a stupid name, Holly thought).
And then it was Harry’s turn.
He stopped very briefly beside Holly, taking her hand and squeezing it. “I’ll see you soon,” he promised, and then went along up to the dais. He sat rather nervously on the stool and placed the hat on his head with shaking hands. The hat began to murmur, but it did not call out. Harry murmured along with it, as though arguing or, possibly, begging.
The hall went quiet, everyone watching, waiting. For several minutes, it was as though everyone was holding their breath in anticipation. And then the hat said, “well, if you’re sure, better be… Gryffindor!”
The red-dressed table erupted in cheers and applause, eagerly welcoming Harry among their numbers. As he sat, he made eye-contact with Holly, but quickly the other students blocked him from view and she was left alone.
“Potter, Holly.” said Professor McGonagall.
Holly felt like her hands were so sweaty she could wring them out and fill the Great Lake. Even so, she lifted her head up high and went to the dais. She did not shake or wince or tremble as she sat and set the hat onto her own head. Nor, did she dare look at either her brother or her new friend. Instead, she closed her eyes and waited.
“Another tricky one,” the hat said, “a sharp mind, yes, and a thirst for knowledge… hmm and courage, too… ambition, I see…” the hat deliberated.
Holly found herself thinking, What's that got to do with anything?
“Ah, but everything is connected, my dear. Tell me more about what's on your mind. Perhaps it reveals something about the house that best suits you.” Said the hat, patiently.
Holly opened her eyes, looking now, between Harry, surrounded by red-headed boys who smiled and spoke kindly to him. Harry whom she had never been apart from. Not truely, anyway. Harry who was all she had ever had… and Tracy. Holly had never had a friend before, ust her brother. But Tracy seemed like the type of person she’d like to have as a friend…
The Sorting Hat hummed. “I see,” it said, thoughtfully. “This is a predicament of loyalty! I can see your mind swirling, torn between the familiar bond with your brother and the budding friendship you’ve found. Don't fret Miss Potter, for Hogwarts houses value both! Gryffindor, for instance, cherishes bravery and standing by those you care about... and there’s Hufflepuff, of course, known for loyalty and hard work… they would understand the pull of family there...
Holly Thought about that. Gryffindor was the house Harry was in. That definitely seemed the simplest… especially since she didn’t know anyone in Hufflepuff. Nevermind the way her gaze kept wandering towards that far table in green… Sticking with Harry seemed the simplest indeed!
“But remember, my dear, your own qualities are what truly matter.” Said The Sorting Hat, kindly. “Do you yearn for adventure and standing up for what's right? Perhaps Gryffindor would be a fit then… hm… no? Or Ravenclaw, with their thirst for knowledge, would be a good fit. I promise you that!”
What did she want? She didn’t know. How could she? She knew next to nothing about this world… She glanced once more at the Slytherin table. Not at Tracy this time. The hat was right, this decision had to come from her. She looked at the older students, proud and strong. Not in the way the Gryffindors were. No, these witches and wizards clothed in green looked… actually, Holly didn’t have the word for it, but the hat understood.
“Ah, I see your eyes drawn to the emerald table. Slytherin, eh? A house known for its ambition, cunning, and resourcefulness.” it paused for a moment, and Holly felt eager and antsy, waiting for it to continue. She had always been rather clever, maybe even cunning, and certainly she was resourceful! This sounded a far better match already than nose-in-other-peoples-business Gryffindor, or loyalty-is-everything Hufflepuff… Ravenclaw did still sound interesting though… “There's much to be said for Slytherin. They value greatness, yes, but also a certain finesse in achieving it. They are loyal to those they consider worthy, and their determination is unmatched.” continued the hat, giving itself a soft tap in thought as it went on, “But tell me, what truly draws you to the green and silver? Is it the thirst for knowledge and power, or perhaps a more subtle desire – a sense of belonging, a place where your sharp mind and ambition will be valued?”
Holly felt her heart quicken at the question. Both, she thought, Both sounded good!
But, out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Draco Malfoy, and suddenly the comments he and Pansy Parkinson had made regarding ‘the right type of friends’ came flooding back into her mind.
“Remember, my dear, Slytherin is not just about blood or lineage (though some might boast otherwise). It's about the choices you make. Do you crave a challenge, a chance to prove yourself? Are you willing to work hard and strategize to achieve your goals?” The hat said, patiently, seeming to pull her reservations fully out of her head. Nothing could possibly sound a better fit. Not even Pig-face one and two could detract from the allure of Slytherin House now. “Alright then,” said the hat, sounding somewhat pleased. “Slytherin!”