A Ceremony and a Talking Hat
Tommy and Tubbo spent the rest of their train ride discussing nothing and everything, joking together, and just really hitting it off. It was hard to explain it, but once they got talking, they just kind of.. clicked.
Unfortunately, it was short lived as the pair were forced to separate. Despite his resistance, Tommy ended up amongst the first years to head up to the school and prepare for the sorting ceremony.
He'd contemplated which house he'd prefer to be in. He absolutely didn't want to be in Ravenclaw because he wasn't about to be lumped in with WiLBuR and TecHnoBLaDE; he wasn't about to join the nerds. Hufflepuff was out of the question because he didn't want anyone thinking he was soft or something- he was Tommyinnit, strong and charismatic! Slytherin sounded sick, some pretty awesome wizards out there had been Slytherins in the past. Gryffindor wouldn't be his first choice, it felt kind of generic, plus people there were often known to be rather prideful, and god knows Tommy's just a humble man. On the other hand, Tubbo was a Gryffindor, as he'd told him on the train. It would be nice to be in a house with a friend- or well, someone Tommy already knew.
Tommy was jogged out of his thoughts when the first years around him all collectively came to a sudden halt. They were all crowded into a small, cold 'room'- if you could even call it that. Stone walls climbed high above their heads, littered with a few candles to light the area. What bullshit. Techno told him the candles just floated in midair. Oh, he's going to get it the next time Tommy sees him.
Ahead of the group were steps up to some sort of platform, where one of the staff who had been leading them stood, giving a speech. Behind her was a long table and several chairs and one impressive one in the middle. Tommy squirmed through some first years to take a look at who the teacher was talking to. His stomach dropped when he layed his eyes upon a large hall with what was probably hundreds of students all watching the speaker. Boy, was he glad not to be in their position.
And so, as if the universe had heard his thoughts,(or mayhaps it was karma for not listening to anything that was being said) some girl from the group of first years was called up to the front. She tensed suddenly, but stayed together enough to climb the stairs. To her misfortune, however, her foot caught on to the edge of the last step and she stumbled over, just barely keeping upright. Tommy internally winced, especially upon hearing the crowd ahead murmur and snicker. The poor girl's face turned a bright red, impossibly so, Tommy could've sworn she was _glowing_ red. The teacher hushed the students, and the girl continued, trying to act like nothing happened, though she noticeably upped her pace.
In the center of the stage, a small, splintered seat was waiting with a classic pointed wizard's hat atop. It liked pretty normal, aside from being more worn out than most. The teacher dtood behind the chair and lifted the hat so the girl could sit down. The hat was then placed on the girl's head, but it was a size too big and nearly slipped down over her eyes. She sat still for a moment, her eyes darting around the suddenly silent students.
What happened next nearly gave Tommy an aneurysm. _The hat fucking moved._ It unfolded into a straighter position, as if it were adjusting to sit up. Creases appeared form a face of sorts: a mouth and two eyes- apparently hats didn't care much for noses.
Tommy had been told stories of a sentient hat that could read minds and shit, but he'd thought it was all hyperbole or being made up to mess with him. Tommy stood in stunned silence as the hat tittered on for a moment, before yelling hoarsely, "SSSLYTHERIN!"
The students erupted in cheers and whistles, especially the table at the furthest end, which Tommy presumed had to be Slytherin's. The teacher took the hat by the tip and ushered the girl off the stage and towards the Slytherin table where she took a seat, awkwardly, at the end.
Another kid was called up; a small boy with auburn hair and chattering teeth. In fact, his entire body was visibly trembling. You couldn't blame him. Admittedly, Tommy felt a little jittery himself. He walked up the stairs very cautiously, after that last display, and held his hands chest, bunched up, almost like paws. Once he sat on the chair, you could see just how tense he was, shoulders almost reaching his ears and both feet tapping rapidly. He squeezed his eyes shut when the hat was placed on his head, again, not fitting the first year kids' small heads. It didn't make a lot of sense considering most of the first years would be equally tiny and therefore an equally miniscule hat would be in order. Then he remembered he, an older and therefore bigger kid, was there. And then he remembered that thIS HAT WAS LITERALLY FUCKING ALIVE. How many talking hats that read people's personalities do you tend to come across. So, in conclusion, take what you can get when it comes to living hats, there's no room to be picky.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat seemed to exaggerate the 'f' sounds and make them a lot breathier and harsher than necessary. The boy quickly took the hat from his head, and abandoned it on the chair once more, scampering away to the Hufflepuff table before most people had started to react. They all cheered nonetheless and Tommy could've sworn he saw the boy smiling bashfully as older students at his table patted him on the back, practically screamed their welcomes down the table, ect.
The routine quickly became a bore to Tommy who took far more interest in playing with that little string of dead skin that had split from the edge of his nail.
Though, he was quickly dragged back to reality when he heard his name echo throughout the hall. His stomach dropped through the floor, but he made his way up to the stage anyway. He heard the teacher briefly explaining how he was a second year, but Tommy was far too distracted looking out over the sea of students. He even picked out his brothers, Wilbur and Techno, who were waving subtly to him. Tommy responded with a glare in their direction, which quickly dissipated as Tommy was drawn to what was hovering above all four tables, lighting up the entire room. Candles. Holy shit. Tommy will never doubt Technoblade's words ever again. It was probably a simple incantation for levitating items, but it was still magical to see, so many and yet not a single one lacking a fierce flame.
Tommy took his place on the chair, and felt a weight on his scalp. The room was dead silent for a minute that felt like hours. Every set of eyes in the room were on him, waiting expectantly. Was Tommy supposed to be doing something? He really should've payed more attention earlier.
All of a sudden, Tommy heard a voice hum in his head, and he nearly jumped out of his seat. "Hm, hm, hmm.."
_Oh. It's the hat,_ Tommy noted. _Freaky._
Then the hat went silent again. Goddamit. Tommy really wanted to escape from everyone's eyeline soon.
"GRYFFINDOR!" It bellowed, potentially rupturing the ears of the boy beneath it.
Finally, Tommy could leave, and so he scurried off towards the table furthest left, with red and gold banners and the loudest students. He glazed over the people there, not recognising anyone, except for maybe a few first years whom he'd just been with. That was, until he noticed a boy with brunette locks that nearly covered his eyes, who was standing on the tips of his toes and motioning for Tommy to come his direction. Tommy hastily made his way to Tubbo who had managed to make space for Tommy by shoving the people to his right further down the table and thus squishing them together. The taller gladly took the space made for him. "We're in the same house!" Tubbo stated the obvious. "Hell yeah, man!" Tommy matched his enthusiasm. It was quite a relief to him to be with a familiar face.
Neither got the chance to talk much more as the hall quieted down for the ceremony to progress. They cheered along together as students continued to be sorted into houses. By the end of it all, everyone seemed pretty exhausted, despite spending majority of the day sitting, and were glad to find that they would be heading to their dormitories for the evening.