Chapter Text
Now, you’ve heard my story. How I became the Sorting Hat. You’ve heard many things about me. How I sang songs, sorted children over many, many years. And how I sometimes followed their wishes, and in some cases did not. How I always decided the way it should have been done in the first place. That’s because I still have magic. In the beginning, I thought it was all gone but I know better now. I am still magical, but only in a soft way. Like I wanted it to be. In a way that could never hurt anyone and could only do good in the world. And so it turned out to be. I helped young souls to find their own way. In some way, every little soul I sorted went on to do good to the world. I’ve been here for so long now. It’s time to hand things over. So, let’s see how she decides. Luna will have to choose between a seemingly boring life with family and children, and for a life with purpose, destiny and magic. Full of happiness and luck, colours, personalities, stories ... And songs of course. I believe, I already know her answer, but let’s hear her out.
‘A letter, from Professor McGonagall, curious.’ Luna takes the letter from the Hogwarts owl and strokes it. ‘Thanks for delivering, and watch out for the Nargles on your way back, will you?’ The bird takes off once again.
‘Dear Miss Lovegood,
I’ve got a special kind of invitation for you. The Sorting Hat asked me to meet you again. I’ve never heard it ask for a student before. And the paintings of our beloved heads of the past haven’t either. I must admit to my own curiosity and therefore invite you to Hogwarts at your earliest convenience.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress of Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’
Shrugging, Luna walks over to her fireplace and throws a hand full of flew powder on the firewood. Green flames erupt out of it and Luna steps into the fire. ‘Hogwarts’, she says softly and is whisked away.
‘Hello, Professor McGonagall.’
‘Oh, Hello, Miss Lovegood. Thanks for coming so quickly.’ Professor McGonagall gets up to greet Luna properly.
‘Please, sit down. I’ll fetch the Sorting Hat. Would you have an idea what it wants? Did you ask it for a meeting on a later day when you were sorted?’
‘No, I didn’t and I don’t. I guess will find out.’ Taking the Sorting Hat from Professor McGonagall’s hands, Luna puts me on.
‘Hello, Luna.’
‘Hello, Miss or Mister Sorting Hat. What’s the matter today?’
‘Oh, you’re diving right in, aren’t you?’, I chuckle. Luna doesn’t reply, instead waiting patiently for what I’m about to tell her. I start to talk about what happened to Melody Malfoi in her childhood, at school and about the transfiguration to being a hat. Luna and Professor McGonagall listen all the while. And it takes a while to tell my story, doesn’t it?
‘And now we’re here. Why, you ask me? Because my task is done now, and it’s time to hand things over, Luna. That’s why you’re here. The moment you put me on at your sorting, I knew we would meet again. On this day. Because you see the things in the world that others don’t. This quality is rare. And it’s needed at Hogwarts. I’ve been here to unite Hogwarts, to keep it one. Now a time of peace is ahead of us. We already have unity, now, we need open-mindedness for new things to come. And that’s you’re thing, not mine. Will you carry on for me now?’
‘Oh, that’s curious. I always saw something more in you. Of course I will carry on your legacy. But can I be something else than a hat? I think that a shoe is better. A shoe deciding your path in life. Wouldn’t that be metaphorical? Maybe even with a Nargle on it ...’
And like that, it happened. For many years to come, students will be putting on a strange shoe to decide their house in school. And I? I will be a part of history. I’ll even be remembered now that my story is told. Because magic always has a greater plan for us. Even when sometimes, that means pain and slaughter in the first place. Everything will turn out well in the end. I had a wonderful time as the Sorting Hat. I would never have wished for another life. And so, I say goodbye.