The Green Lion
Zoro was a very proud Gryffindor. His bravery and nerve were unquestionable. So was his loyalty. However, he couldn’t help having recurrent thoughts when he was with his friends. He always wondered what might have happened if the Hat had placed him in a different house.
He remembered very vividly the day he received his letter at his guardian’s house. He had been waiting for it since he was seven, when his magical abilities were too big for his small muggle village and he had to move to his guardian’s house. The man, a skilled wizard, had seen the potential of the green-haired boy and had explained to him the magical world and the need to keep it a secret. His daughter was a promising witch who was in her second year at Hogwarts. She used to play with Zoro. Both of them dreamt of becoming the best duellers. She also taught him how to play Quidditch. The girl had been a beater at Gryffindor’s team, an unusual position for a girl, and despite the reluctance of her schoolmates at first, she proved to be the best beater the house had had in a very long time. However, tragedy struck when the teen died because of an accident during her fourth year. Zoro promised then he would achieve his dreams for both of them.
His guardian used to laugh when he remembered how Zoro had wanted to get two wands in Ollivanders, claiming that he would be more powerful. Later, he would learn that power and strength had little to do with that. Nevertheless, he managed to slip two bats in his trunk to practice his characteristic Quidditch moves.
Zoro’s first journey in the Hogwarts Express was the beginning of what promised to be seven years full of excitement. He shared the compartment with two of his neighbors, Johnny and Yosaku, who were excitedly discussing which house would they be sorted in. Zoro was very sure of where he wanted to be. He had heard so many stories from Kuina that Gryffindor was his option number one. His two friends weren’t that sure and soon Zoro got bored and tried to nap. To his disgrace, an annoying group of students were loudly talking outside their compartment.
“What’s going on out there?”, said Zoro, annoyed.
Yosaku looked through the door’s window.
“A student is conjuring some sort of fire… UOOH!”
A burst of flames burned on the other side of the door. A boy with freckles and black hair appeared after it.
“Sorry! New wand!”
The rest of the journey was much more relaxed compared to that. When they arrived and Zoro saw the castle for the first time, he could feel Goosebumps on his skin. A huge man with metal arms and blue hair welcomed them with a smile.
“Welcome, little bros and sista… To Hogwarts, the super school of witchcraft and wizardry”, he said with a funny pose. “I’m Franky, the gamekeeper. Now, follow me… And if you see some giant monster on the lake, enjoy!”
The students followed the man to a group of tiny boats.
“Go on!”, Franky said. “They are safe! I did them myself”.
A tall blonde boy with a curly brow offered his seat to some girls, a strange smile on his face. Somehow, his expression annoyed Zoro.
When they reached the castle, a slim young woman with long black hair and blue eyes was waiting for them, a calm smile on her face. At the sight of her, Franky combed his hair and put on his brightest smile.
“Goodnight, professor Robin, you look splendid tonight”, said Franky as he winked. “I brought the gang safely for the ceremony”.
“Thank you, Franky”, answered Robin politely. “Goodnight, students, I’m professor Robin, I’ll be your teacher of History of Magic and Ancient Runes. Now, if you follow me to the Great Hall, please”.
The nervous students followed the woman through the gates and entered the stunning Entrance Hall.
“Behind those doors is the Great Hall, where you will be sorted into one of the four houses of the school…”
Zoro looked behind the woman, excitement growing inside him. Finally, he was there… Professor Robin continued explaining the rules of the houses, but he was hardly listening.
“Now, if you follow me…”, said Robin as the doors opened.
The first year entered the crowded room. The whole school looked at them, but Zoro only had eyes for the Hat in front of them.
“I’ll call you by your name to be sorted”, informed Robin. “Portgas D. Ace”.
The fire boy sat on the stool and Robin put the Sorting Hat on his head. After a moment of silence, the hat shouted “GRYFFINDOR!”.
Cheers and claps sounded as the new member joined his housemates. Zoro noticed how the boy greeted a blond student from the next table, who was wearing a hat and a pair of goggles on in.
“Boa Hancock”
A girl with long black hair approached Robin. Zoro saw how the blond boy had his face all flushed and was making weird noises. Zoro snorted.
“What’s your problem?” said the blonde, who had changed his expression in a second and was looking annoyed at Zoro.
“Slytherin”, said the Hat. The girl walked proudly to her table. Zoro didn’t have time to answer the boy when Robin said:
“Sanji Cook”. The blonde looked at Zoro with narrowed eyes one last time before sitting in the stool. The Hat took a moment and shouted “Gryffindor!”
“Shit”, said Zoro as Sanji joined the Gryffindor table.
“Do you know him, Aniki?”, asked Johnny.
“No, but he looks insufferable”.
“Isn’t he the nephew of that famous potion maker?”, said Yosaku.
Zoro shrugged his shoulders.
The ceremony continued without further incidents, except for a couple of students who stayed for several minutes under the Hat before deciding their luck. Finally, Robin said:
“Roronoa Zoro”.
Zoro sat slowly on the stool. A determined thought in his mind. The Hat had only brushed his hair when it said: “Gryffindor!!”
A broad smile on his face, he joined his mates. He was so happy that he didn’t care that he had to share house with that annoying boy that (he didn’t know it yet) would become his (sort of) friend. This was the beginning of everything.