Lionheart (A Harry Potter Fanfic)

Chapter 6: Hogwarts Musical

Chapter 6: Hogwarts Musical

Siri found a friend on the train, a fellow by the name of James Potter. The two are already thick as thieves. Least he has someone to bond with. I had to settle for making awkward small-talk with a couple of Muggleborn girls and their greasy-haired friend. The train cannot get to Hogwarts fast enough.

**

The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Leo's first thought was that this was not someone to cross. Which only made him want to do it all the more.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."

She pulled the door wide. The entrance hall was so big that Leo felt the creator must be compensating for something. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.

They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Leo could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right — the rest of the school must already be here — but Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, Leo standing off to the side whilst everyone else stood rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "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."

I sense many lost points in my house's future. Leo gave a wicked grin.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

Her eyes lingered for a moment on the round-faced boy's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose. Leo gave her a wink when her eyes landed on him, his grin widening at her stern expression.

"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."

She left the chamber. Leo moved from his position on the wall and approached Ron and Harry.

"How exactly do they sort us into houses?" Harry was asking Ron.

"Some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking."

"Oh, he told you about the test too?" Leo suppressed a mischievous smile as he kept a straight face. "They put you in a metal chair and light a fire under it. However long you last determines what house you get into. That's why Gryffindors have burned bums – they sit the longest. Heard it's called 'the hot seat'."