Chapter 4
"I'll talk to Minnie about it. If she hears about the abuse those filthy Muggles have put you through, even the light person she pretends to be would refuse to let you go back... How does Harry McGonagall sound?" I asked.
"Great! But your dad tried to kill me so why--"
"He heard of a Prophecy that said you'd destroy him. I think Dumbles made it up so my dad would go after you. A mother's love for her child is a very powerful thing. When your mother refused to let my dad kill you, he killed her. Her sacrifice involved Olde Magick. Causing my dad's Killing Curse to bounce off of you back to him. Leaving you with that scar and me without a dad."
"Sorry, Cassie."
"It's not your fault. You literally did nothing." Ron knocked on the door and we let him in.
"Hey, Ron. You came to sit with us?" I asked.
"Yeah. If that's okay."
"'Course it is. But Draco and maybe Crabbe and Goyle will be coming here too."
"Okay." He faced Harry. "Hi. I'm Ron. Ron Weasley."
"I'm Harry. Harry Potter." Ron's jaw dropped.
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Cool... What House do you'se want to be in?" Ron asked as he sat down next to Harry who was opposite me.
"Slytherin," Draco said as he came in with two other boys. He sat down next to me with one of the boys next to him and the other boy next to Ron.
"Same," the boy next to Draco said.
"Yeah," the boy next to Ron said.
"Hi. I'm Ron Weasley."
"I'm Cassiopeia Riddle-Black but I go by Cassie. Most people know me as Hermione McGonagall and Mia, though." Draco saw Harry's scar.
"So it's true then? What they're saying up and down the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts. This is Crabbe," he gestured to the boy next to him before doing the same to the other boy. "And Goyle. And I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy."
"So you're the Draco Cassie's been talking about? Cool," Harry said. "And, Ron? After talking to Cassie for a while, I'm hoping for the same House as Cassie and, if that's Slytherin, then Slytherin. Anything but Gryffindor."
"Slytherin is the House I was hoping for," I said when Ron looked confused about why Harry had singled out Slytherin House. "But I wouldn't mind any House."
"I want any House but Gryffindor. All of my siblings have something that sets them apart. Fred and George are twins and pranksters, Percy's Prefect and will probably be Head Boy, Charlie was Quidditch Captain and a Prefect and Bill was Head Boy. Anything I do, they've already done. Other than Ginny, who is the only girl to be born in the Weasley family in generations. Therefore, being Sorted into a House that isn't Gryffindor, I'd be the first Weasley to be Sorted into a different House."
...
After Minnie gave her usual Sorting speech, the names started to be called out. Blaise went to Slytherin, Robin Xavier went to Gryffindor, Caster Xander went to Hufflepuff (his identical twin brother, Devlin, went to Gryffindor) and Tyson Yackel went to Ravenclaw. Now, it's Ron's turn. "Ronald Weasley," Minnie called and Ron made his way up to her before sitting on the stool. Minnie placed the hat on his head. After about fifty seconds, the hat called out Ron's House.
"Slytherin!" Everyone was shocked apart from me and my friends. We clapped loudly and then others started joining in. I could tell Fred, George and Percy were upset their brother wasn't going to be in their House but they still loudly clapped for him. Some more names were called out before it was Harry's turn.
"Harry Potter." Everyone went silent for a second at Minnie's words before they started whispering about Harry.
"He'll definitely be a Gryffindor," someone at the Gryffindor table next to me whispered.
"Both of his parents were and his dad's dad was too," the girl next to him whispered. Harry walked over to Minnie and sat down on the stool. She placed the Sorting Hat on his head. About five seconds later, the hat yelled out Harry's House.
"Slytherin!" Once again, everyone but me and my friends were silent as my friends and I started to loudly clap.
"The Sorting Hat's been messed with!" A Gryffindor yelled.
"Potter should be in our House!" Another Gryffindor yelled.
"Potter doesn't belong in Slytherin!" A Ravenclaw yelled.
"He's a Gryffindor!" A Hufflepuff yelled.
"We don't want him!" A Slytherin yelled out before being silenced by Mark. Mark gestured for Harry to sit next to him. He already had Ron on his other side with Luke next to Ron. Harry walked over and sat between Mark and Luce. Brax was opposite Luke, Fen was opposite Mark and Ric was opposite Luce with a spare space next to both Luce and Ric. Just as I'd asked them to, they had saved spaces for me and Draco and any friends we'd made on the train.
"Pansy Parkinson," Minnie called. Pansy went to Slytherin. After Pansy, Jacqueline Pandale went to Ravenclaw, Theo went to Slytherin and two Mudbloods went to Hufflepuff.
"Hermione McGonagall." I walked up to the stool and sat down. Mom put the Sorting Hat on my head.
"Hmm, difficult, very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see... A brilliant mind... There's talent, oh, yes... But where to put you? Hufflepuff would be good for you. You're great at socialising with others and being part of a team. Hufflepuff's all about friendship and loyalty. However, you already have plenty of friends and loyalty is valuable in the other Houses too... Gryffindor is good for that courageous side of yours, however, most Gryffindors are very brash and are ruled by their emotions and you are not... Ravenclaw would be good for pushing your intelligence to its limits but I don't believe it'd be enough of a challenge for you... Slytherin... You are its heir and have many friends in Slytherin. They will help you ensure you reach your full potential. You could be great, you know. It's all here in your head. And Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that. No... I think I have my answer."
"Finally," I whispered.
"Better be... Slytherin!" All the Professors (apart from Dumbles), everyone at the Slytherin table and my friends all clapped really loudly and started cheering (naturally, Fred and George were the loudest). I walked over to the Slytherin table and sat opposite Harry and between Fen and Ric.
"Congratulations on getting into the best House," Mark said and I chuckled.
"Thanks."
"I was worried for a second there," Brax said. "You were a Hatstall. Seven minutes and thirty-nine seconds. You beat your mom's record by two minutes and nine seconds. You set a new record! You're now the longest Hatstall in Hogwarts history!"
"What Houses was it stuck on?" Luke asked.
"All of them. First, it went to Hufflepuff, then Gryffindor, then Ravenclaw before choosing Slytherin."
"Draco Malfoy," mom called. Draco was Sorted into Slytherin before the hat could even properly touch his head. After Draco, Ernie Macmillan went to Hufflepuff and a few others were Sorted into their Houses. The only notable ones were Crabbe, Goyle, Millicent Bulstrode, Tracey Davis and Daphne Greengrass who were all Sorted into Slytherin and Hannah Abbott who went to Hufflepuff.
...
"You asked to see me, mom?" It feels weird calling my mom 'Professor' during class. I almost slipped up a few times. We'd agreed before that when it was just me and her or us and my friends, I could call her mom or Minnie but not when there were others around. Draco, Ron and Harry were waiting for me at the back of the classroom.
"Yes," she said before pulling me into a hug. "I'm so proud of you."
"But I'm not a Gryffindor." I pouted at her.
"I know. But, don't forget, your dad and your father were Slytherins. All of your friends are Slytherins. And, Severus will not stop boasting at dinner last night to me, Filius and Pomona about how he has you in his house. He wasn't too happy about having a Potter after everything with Lily so you'll have to talk to him after Potions. Make sure he'll see Harry for himself and not James. Okay?"
"Yes, mom. Oh, and, I have to talk to you about Harry. Can Harry and I come and see you after classes today?"
"Of course. You should get to Potions."
"Bye, mom."
"Bye."
...
I looked around the classroom. All four Houses shared Potions. It seems Slytherin has the most students this year. Five Slytherin girls and seven boys. Gryffindor has three boys and three girls. I know for a fact one of those boys (Dean Thomas I think his name is?) and one of those girls (was her name Sally-Anne? Or something like that anyway) were Mudbloods. The others were Half-blood (other than Neville Longbottom). There are six Ravenclaw girls and five Ravenclaw boys (I think Lily Moon is the only Mudblood there). I know the girls (other than Lily) are all Half-blood and I think Terry Boot and Oliver Rivers are the only Purebloods. In Hufflepuff, there are four girls and five boys (I think Justin Finch-Fletchley is the only Mudblood and Wayne Hopkins is the only Half-blood). The door burst open and Uncle Sev came in.
"There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select few that possess the predisposition..." He gave me and Draco approving looks. "I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper in death..." He gave Harry a look. "Mr Potter, our new celebrity. Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of Asphodel to an infusion of Wormwood?" Harry shook his head and I raised my hand. Uncle Sev gave me a look. "Miss McGonagall, answer the question."
"The Draught of the Living Death, Sir."
"Five points to Slytherin. Mr Potter, let's try again. Where, Mr Potter, would you look if I asked you to find me a Bezoar?"
"The store cupboards or the stomach of a goat, Sir," Harry said. Uncle Sev looked surprised but hid it well.
"Five points to Slytherin. Let's see if that's not the only thing you picked up in your textbook. What is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?"
"They're the same plant, Sir." Uncle Sev nodded to him slightly. It seems Harry is changing Uncle Sev's views all on his own.
"Five more points to Slytherin and five points to whoever can tell me the other name it goes by." Only three people put their hands up: Draco, me and, surprisingly, Longbottom. "Mr Malfoy."
"Aconite, Sir."
"Five points to Slytherin."
...
"Well, this has been fun so far," I said to Harry during our first flying lesson. Harry, Draco and I are the only ones who got our brooms up first try. Blaise and Daphne took two tries, Ron, Pansy and Theo took three tries, Tracey and Millie took four tries and Crabbe and Goyle took six tries. I had to get the Gryffindors to stop laughing at them so I pointed out that Neville was on his eighth try and still hadn't managed it. That had them glaring at me but they shut up fast.
"Yeah. I can't believe Longbottom had to pick up his broom," Harry snickered.
"I can't believe he's stupid enough to have no control over his- Duck!" We all flung ourselves out of the way of Longbottom's out-of-control broom. "Broom. Broom is what I was going to say."
"Where is he going?" Draco asked.
"It looks like- If he falls from there, do you think his fat arse'll save him?"