Chapter Text
2
The sorting hat
Harry and Rain kept to the back of the crowd-at first, Harry had tried to reach Hagrid but Rain had planted her feet when reaching the edge of the group and refused to be moved, so he gave up, preferring not to risk upsetting her more. Hagrid led them through the trees, on a thin twisting path full of roots, pebbles and pot-holes. Harry felt obligated to help Rain along-not only was it dark, she was still dragging her feet and he didn't think she'd have an easy time walking even if she wasn't, what with the periliously looking platforms of her boots.
The path among the trees opened up to a lake shore, and there, in the distance, was a castle. With the backdrop of starry skies and its many lit up windows and turrets it was quite the sight. Its reflection on the water looked like a swarm of fireflies. The students around them all 'oohed' and 'awed', Harry himself let out a breathy: 'Wicked'.
'Rain! Are you seeing this?'
She was indeed. Her eyes flitted this way and that, it seemed she was trying to catch every single detail.
Hagrid herded them onto many small wooden boats, 'No more than four per boat!' Harry and Rain shared theirs with a boy with golden skin and a pale strawberry-blonde girl, they introduced themselves as Blaise Zabini and Susan Bones.
'I'm Harry.' he said. 'This is-' he hesitated. 'Alexander.' Rain looked at them in turn and smiled that awkward smile Harry was starting to see as something uniquely hers-it looked quite strange, he had to admit.
Blaise Zabini raised an eyebrow.
'And Alexander doesn't speak?' he asked, looking pointedly at her.
'Um-not at the moment.' said Harry. Rain kept smiling.
'Hmm.' said Zabini, but didn't push.
'Foward!' bellowed Hagrid, who had a boat to himself.
Their little float started its way to the castle on its own. Halfway there a boy in a close boat fell into the water, Rain leaned in that direction-almost falling out herself- incredibly interested on the proceedings, at least until Hagrid passed by and fished the boy out of the water.
'I hope he's alright.' fretted Susan Bones.
'He was still splashing when he got him out, I don't think he'll be drowning anytime soon.' drawled Zabini.
FInally they approched a curtain of climbing plants, 'Watch yer heads!' warned Hagrid, he was the only one that had to duck. The boats docked themselves and Hagrid encouraged them to get out and onto dry land. Zabini was the first out and he inmediately reached out a hand to help Susan Bones out then did the same for Rain-she wasn't looking at him though, very busy doing something on the floor of the boat.
'Er-Rain, c'mon.' said Harry, embarrased on her behalf. 'Let's get off.'
The boat wobbled beneath their feet as they stood up and got out, the moment they touched ground Rain was off, and since she hadn't let go of his sleeve at any point-dragged Harry behind her.
'Where are we going?' he asked. 'The door is that way.'
Soon, Hermione Granger and the boy that was with her came into view. The boy, Neville, saw them first and with a start hid behind his companion. Then the girl saw them, or more likely, saw Rain and crossed her arms, her mouth a fine line.
'Can I help you?' she asked her.
Rain acted as if she wasn't there, reaching around her with an extended arm in the direction of Neville. The boy paled and leaned away- then looked closely at what he was being offered.
'Trevor!' he crowed, taking a dark green toad from Rain's hand with great gentleness. Harry asked himself where she had gotten that and realized she must have found it in the boat. 'Thank you!' he said, looking at her in wonderment.
But Rain, done with what she had set out to do, had already turned around and was walking towards Hagrid and the huge wooden door he was knocking against. The door opened and revealed a stern looking woman in green robes.
'The firs' years Professor.' Gestured Hagrid.
'Yes, thank you Hagrid. I'll take them from here, follow me!'
They followed the woman up a staircase and then down a corridor, they passed a huge set of doors from wich they could hear voices talking-the rest of the students its seemed. The woman in green led them into a side chamber and they piled in, standing a bit too close to one another in the small space.
'Welcome to Hogwarts!' spoke the woman. 'The start of term feast will start in a minute. But first you must be selected into your houses, while you are here your house will be like your family-they are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Each house has noble and worthwile pursuits. In a moment, I will come get you and the sorting ceremony will begin.' she side-eyed the soaking wet boy from the lake. 'In the meantime, I suggest you make yourselves presentable.' Then she left and went into de next room, the sound of voices becoming louder for the moments she held the door open.
The second she was gone all manner of nervous and excited whispering started up. Harry saw Ron walking towards him, so he stepped closer to Rain and turned his back to him.
'So-uh, what do you think the ceremony it's going to be like? Some sort of test?' Rain just stared at him.
'My brothers told me we had to wrestle a troll.' jumped in Ron. 'Not sure if they were joking.'
'A troll?' asked Harry faintly.
In answer, Rain held up a black metallic piece. It took Harry a second to recognize it for what it was: a switchblade.
'Why do you have that?' Harry looked around nervously, he barely caught Rain passing the closed weapon across her throat in answer. 'Put it away!' he urged.
'Uh, should I be worried?' asked Zabini. He had drifted back to them at some point along with Bones.
'Who are you?' demanded Ron.
'No!' said Harry. 'Nothing to worry about here. Rain, please, put that thing away.' she shrugged but did as told and Harry breathed out in relief.
'So, it's true.' called out a boy loudly. 'Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts.'
A hush fell on the crowd as everyone around them swiveled their heads around trying to catch a glimpse of him. The blond boy from Diagon Alley walked up to them, flanked by two taller boys.
'I'm Draco.' he said, offering his hand. 'Draco Malfoy.' he said it as if it was supposed to mean something to him.
Ron snorted. Draco Malfoy spun around to face him.
'Think my name is funny do you? I don't even have to ask yours. Red hair, a hand-me down robe-you must be a Weasley.'
Ron went red in the face.
'You don't want to keep company with the wrong sort, Potter.' he sneered, giving Rain a nasty look. 'I can help you with that.'
Offended, Harry tugged Rain to step closer to him. He didn't like this boy at all-each time he encountered him he reminded him of Dudley.
'I can tell the wrong sort by myself, thanks.' he spat.
Zabini tried to hide a smile behind his hand. Malfoy's face closed up, he was about to say something back when gasps and exclamations went all around. The people around them were pointing at something above their heads. Twenty or so ghosts had come in and were discussing amongst themselves about a peeve, but they were noticed by one dressed as a friar.
'Oh, hullo there. New students?' he asked. 'I hope to see you in Hufflepuff!'
At that moment the stern Professor came back and bid them to follow her. She took them into an enormous hall lit by thousands of floating candles, the most wondrous feature was the ceiling that faded into the sky outside. Harry heard Hermione Granger explain how she had read in a book that it was enchanted to look like the night sky. They were led in between four long tables full of older students towards the back of the room where an old wizards hat sat atop a stool in front of a fifth table behind wich sat the faculty.
The stern lady took out a roll of parchment and the hall fell silent, she read from it: 'Abbot, Hannah!'
A girl set out from the group and was instructed to sit down on the stool, the professor then placed the ratty old hat on her head, after a second it called out: 'Hufflepuff!' And Hannah Abbot went and sat among a table with cheering students wearing yellow ties.
'So it's not a troll then.' said Harry relieved, Rain nodded seriously beside him.
'Why would a troll be involved?' asked Bones.
'It's nothing.' Harry deflected.
Then-
'Alexander, Rain.'
The students fell silent again but didn't wait long to start whispering and muttering again. No one was coming foward.
'Rain.' Harry whispered urgently to his friend who had stayed in her place and didn't seem in a hurry to go anywhere else. 'You have to go.'
Her brow furrowed and she shook her head.
'It'll be fine Alexander.' drawled Zabini. 'Nothing's going to eat you.'
She didn't look very convinced.
'It's okay, Rain.' said Bones. 'Everything will be okay. It'll be over soon.'
'Come on, go.' insisted Harry giving her a push foward.
Rain looked back at him with a slight pout but conceded and went to the stool-slowly. If Harry thought she was dragging her feet before he stood corrected now. The whispers continued and went up in volume as Rain made an spectacle of herself in her clear reluctance to take part in everything, the Professor lost her patience and with pursed lips called out: 'Some time today, please. Miss Alexander.' It was as is she hadn't spoken, Rain kept her slow advance, arms crossed and a morose look in her eyes. When she finally arrived she didn't sit down, instead she grabbed the hat roughly off the stool and placed it on herself. Then, they waited. Almost a minute had passed-even the stern Professor was starting to look worried- when the hat finally said: 'Slytherin!' Rain threw the hat onto the stool, to which it sniffed 'Rude.', and dragged her feet to the insecurely clapping table of the students wearing green. Nobody cheered this time.
The Professor cleared her throat and carried on. 'Bones, Susan!' she said.
'Wish me luck!' said Bones as she walked to the front.
'Good luck!' said Harry, though he wasn't sure what could be considered a lucky outcome with this.
Either way, Bones went to Hufflepuff after a moment. The next person, a Terry Boot, went to Ravenclaw-and so it went. Names were called out and the students were sorted into their houses in a jiffy. Some honourable mentions were: Hermione Granger, Gryffindor. Neville Longbottom, Gryffindor. Draco Malfoy, Slytherin. And finally- 'Potter, Harry!'
As Harry walked towards the stool he couldn't help but feel self-concious. He was awfully aware of everyone staring at him, pointing and whispering. He was temped to pull a Rain in reverse, to take off runnig and do it everything as fast as he could just to get it over with. When he sat down and the hat was placed over his head, a voice spoke in his head.
'Well, well, well. What do we have here?' it said. 'Hmm, I see, I see-yes. But where to put you I wonder?'
Harry thought of his new friend, off alone in Slytherin, and whished he could join her.
'Slytherin, eh? Very well then.' then outloud for everyone to hear it shouted: 'Slytherin!'
This time the table in green exploded in cheers and applause while the others-specially Gryffindor- boohed, one of the Weasley twins called out for a "resorting". Harry felt embarrased by it all and just picked up the place to sit next to Rain.
'Hi.' he said, she looked at him. 'Told you.' it looked to him like her eyes were brighter.
The ceremony continued, Ron went to Gryffindor to join his family and, at the very end, Zabini joined them in Slytherin.
Then an old man with and incredibly long beard, who Harry recognized as Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster, from his chocolate frog's cards, stood up at the staff table to welcome them back, he warned them about not entering the forbidden forest, reminded them some joke products were banned-he didn't seem overly corncerned with either of these announcements- and ended with warning them to stay away from the third floor corridor, unless they wanted a most painful death-Harry and Zabini exchanged alarmed glances at this while Rain got a gleam in her eyes that Harry didn't like one bit. He promised himself to keep a close eye on her whenever they went near this corridor.
'Finally, I have somewords I'd like to say: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you.' and he sat down.
'Is he alright?' Harry asked Zabini.
'Beats me.' he shrugged. 'Some say he went senile years ago.'
Further conversation was stalled by the apparition of the opening feast-literally. One moment the plates and goblets were empty and in the next they were not. Harry looked around amazed, he had never seen this much food! There were all kinds of dishes all around, and he suddenly realized how hungry he was. Not wasting another moment, he prepared to dig in.