Harry Potter and the Vampire Slayer
Sorting Ceremony
Chapter Six
by: Miss Witch
Rated PG
Summary: Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know what's going on by now.
Disclaimer: I know nothing, I own nothing. Blah, blah, blah. Don't sue!
Spoilers: This takes place before Season 4 of Buffy, and after -Goblet of Fire
Distribution: If I've given permission before, I'm giving it now. All others, just ask.
Feedback: Pretty please. With sugar on top.
Author's note: Many, many, many thanks to Trinity Last for her brilliant sorting song!! I didn't write it and take no credit for it.
Silence fell over the Great Hall as the battered hat sat motionless on the stool. Buffy couldn't understand what the big deal was, although, she wasn't thrilled with the idea of putting the dirty, patched thing on her head.
Suddenly, near the brim of the hat, a rip that looked frighteningly like a mouth appeared. It opened wide, and began to sing:
"Oh, I'm not pretty, clean or straight
I'm tattered, old, burned and torn
But no other hat in the land
Can mold the future born
Dunce hats claim the power too,
But I much better know
For students pass through this Great Hall
And destiny I show
What you think I clearly see
What you feel I hear
So place me a-top the youngling's head
Home is very near
Your home might be in Gryffindor
Nesting place of brave and strong
Where daring, chivalry and nerve
Shall never steer you wrong
Your home might be in Hufflepuff
Where nest the loyal and just
Where truth and patience are the key
And hard work equals trust
Or home could be in Ravenclaw
The keen of mind and bright
Will meet those for whom to learn
Is always worth the fight
Or, it could be Slytherin
Where to home you're called
Bright and cunning wins the race
And brings you up tall
So fear me not, but put me on.
It's just easy as that
The truth told, from the mouth of old...
The Hogwarts Sorting Hat!"
Buffy, along with the rest of the first years, gawked in amazement as applause thundered through the hall. [The hat just sang.] Buffy thought in astonishment. [The. Hat. Just. Sang.] Her gaze flew up to Giles, who smiled reassuringly at her.
Professor McGonagall reappeared holding a roll of parchment.
"When your name is called, you will sit and put the hat on." she told the first years, as she unrolled the parchment. "The hat will announce your House, and you will go sit at that table."
Buffy looked nervously at Willow, who was quite pale. Buffy was pretty sure she was wondering the same thing as she was. Whether or not this was the last time they were together for the rest of the year.
"Abbey, Madeline."
A young red headed girl walked nervously to the stool. She sat down and put on the hat. After a moment, the hat cried out
"RAVENCLAW!"
The table to Buffy's right burst out cheering. Clearly relieved, Holly walked over and sat among them.
Professor McGonagall read through the list, calling students forward as the hat determined their Houses. There wasn't any set length of time that the hat had to be worn as far as Buffy could determine. Sometimes it took a few minutes before a House was called, sometimes it was almost instantaneous.
"Harris, Alexander."
Nervously, Xander stepped forward, feeling a little foolish about sitting on the small stool. It was built for smaller bodies than his. He slipped the hat onto his head.
"Well, well, well." said a voice in his ear, causing Xander to jump a bit. "Isn't this interesting."
[What? What's interesting?] Xander thought in a panic.
"Quite a bit older than my usual choices." the voice said again. "Hmm, a good mind when you put it to use, quite brave as well. Now, where to put you?"
[Somewhere that will make Giles proud.] Xander thought desperately.
"Ah, loyalty and a wish to please. Excellent. You'd best be off to… GRYFFINDOR!" The hat yelled out the final word. Taking off the hat, Xander replaced it on the stool with a sigh of relief.
The Gryffindor table was cheering loudly, the Weasley twins banging on the table. Clapping, Buffy watched Xander walk over to the table and get pounded on the back with congratulations.
Professor McGonagall called several more students up, including "Leonard, Christopher" who went to Hufflepuff, "Malin, Helen" another Ravenclaw and "Nimis, Kimberly" a rather haughty looking girl who joined the Slytherin table. Finally, the professor reached:
"Osborne, Daniel"
Oz walked very calmly up to the stool, sat down and set the sorting hat on his head.
"Interesting." said the voice in his ear.
[A talking hat.] Oz thought. [Obviously a thinking cap.]
"Quite a mind. Quite a history. Simple enough. GRYFFINDOR!" the hat called out, causing more cheering from the Gryffindors. Oz smiled reassuringly at the girls as he walked past them to the table.
More names, more Houses, until:
"Rosenburg, Willow"
Willow made the teeniest "eep" as her name was called. Slowly, she walked to the stool, sat down, and taking a deep breath, placed the hat on her head. It slid down a bit, covering her eyes.
"Ah, yet another one." the hat said. "And aren't you the inventive one? Where to put you." the hat murmured. Willow closed her eyes.
[I want to go with Oz and Xander.] Willow thought, scrunching her eyes closed tight.
"Gryffindor?" the hat asked. "Are you sure? You might be better off in Slytherin." it told her.
[Absolutely not Slytherin.] Willow thought with force, thinking of Draco Malfoy.
"All right, then it's GRYFFINDOR!"
Relieved, Willow hopped up from the stool and practically ran to the table. Buffy felt unbelievably alone now.
Up at the high table, Giles watched as each of the teenagers took their turn putting on the hat. As a teacher, he knew he was supposed to be impartial about what house each new student was sorted into. But Xander, Oz and Willow were his, and it filled him with pride that they were sorted into Gryffindor. Professor McGonagall was reading through the last part of the alphabet, and Giles leaned forward as she read:
"Summers, Buffy"
The entire hall grew silent as Buffy moved toward the stool. Giles could hear whispers of "The Slayer" as she moved forward. It had taken about 30 seconds for the news that the Vampire Slayer was at Hogwarts to travel throughout the school once everyone had filed into the Great Hall. Especially since Draco Malfoy and his cronies had appeared like they'd been in a war. The bloody nose of one of the boys had sported had definitely been Buffy's handiwork. There was no doubt in Giles' mind that there would be hell to pay for that.
Buffy sat on the stool nervously. [I wish I could see Giles] she thought, holding the hat tightly in her hands. Taking a deep breath, Buffy looked up at the Gryffindor table where Xander, Willow and Oz were all watching intently. Xander held up his hands, showing his crossed fingers. Willow was chewing on her lip nervously, and Oz nodded in solidarity. Buffy also noticed that every single Weasley was leaning forward, Harry also had his fingers crossed for her, and Hermione was wringing her hands nervously.
Closing her eyes, Buffy stuck the hat on her head. For a moment, the silence of the hall echoed in her ears.
"I've been expecting you." a voice murmured in her ear. Buffy flinched away from the sound.
[Who are you?] she thought.
"Me? Why I'm the Sorting Hat." came the reply. "You're friends have very loud thoughts where you're concerned. Quite impressive the amount of loyalty you've inspired."
[We're friends.] Buffy thought defensively. [We take care of each other.]
"Yes. Yes you do." The hat was silent for a moment. "Yes, it's quite obvious where you belong, no question about it. Loyalty, bravery, sheer nerve. Simple enough. You, too, will be in…
GRYFFINDOR!!"
The roar that filled the Great Hall was deafening. Stunned, Buffy took the hat off her head as she stood. The Gryffindors were standing, cheering and shouting. Fred and George were high fiving everyone as if they had arranged Buffy's sorting themselves. Even the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables were cheering loudly.
The only table not clapping was the Slytherin table, it's occupants looking sullen and angry. Draco Malfoy sat, arms crossed, looking rather put out. He hadn't expected the Slayer to be sorted into Slytherin, she didn't have what it took. But it irritated him that she was in Gryffindor, with Potter and the Muggle loving Weasley's.
Buffy looked around at all the applauding people in amazement. She felt a little like she did at the prom. Unused to all this attention, Buffy turned and looked over her shoulder at Giles.
Giles clapped so hard that his hands hurt. His Buffy. Sorted into Gryffindor. He hadn't been this proud since she'd been award the Class Protector award. Giles grinned as Buffy looked over her shoulder at him. He stopped clapping long enough to give her a thumbs up. "Well done." Giles mouthed at her. Buffy smiled at him, letting out a breath of relief.
Turning back, she placed the hat back onto the stool, gave Professor McGonagall a bright smile and skipped over to the Gryffindor table. Xander, Willow, and even Oz converged on her, hugging her tightly. They were soon surrounded by the other Gryffindors offering their congratulations.
After a few more minutes, the applause died down and Buffy was able to take a seat at the table. People still leaned over to shake her hand and pat her on the back. The Weasley twins had stood up and joined by their friend, Lee Jordan, were shouting "We got the Slayer!"
"Misters Weasley and Jordan" Professor McGonagall said sharply, peering at them over her glasses. "If you would kindly return to your seats, we could finish with the Sorting." The trio sat, grinning widely as Professor McGonagall finished calling the names of the remaining first years.
"I can't believe we're all together." Willow whispered to Buffy. Buffy nodded, looking over her head at the Giles. Giles beamed at her. Buffy's heart stuttered for a moment, and her breath caught in her chest.
He was watching her, his green eyes shining with pride and a smile lighting up his face. With a bolt of lightening, Buffy suddenly understood. Giles had been in Gryffindor. Giles had been in Gryffindor, and now she, and the whole gang, had been placed in his former house. Buffy was overwhelmed with emotion and she looked away as tears filled her eyes. This was probably the closest thing Giles would have to having his own children sorted.
The hall grew silent as Professor Dumbledore stood. He raised his arms.
"Let the feasting begin." he announced.
With his words, plates of food magically appeared on the table. Buffy was too hungry to be surprised. Besides, after a talking hat, this hardly warranted the bat of an eye. She and the rest of the gang dug in to the food piled before them.
Buffy fielded questions throughout dinner about being the Slayer, which she answered around mouthfuls of food. She'd been so nervous that day, she'd hardly eaten anything. Seamus Finnegan, an Irish boy who was a fifth year, was asking Xander about his favorite quidditch team. Buffy shook her head as Xander admitted that he didn't know what quidditch was. [Silly boy.] she thought, shaking her head as Seamus launched into a complicated explanation of the sport. [Should've known better.]
Finally, after desserts had been consumed and the dishes cleared just as magically as they'd been filled, Dumbledore stood. Silence immediately over the Great Hall, and everyone looked at him expectantly.
"Welcome back, one and all." he greeted, casting a warm smile at the students. "I have several beginning of the year announcements before you can toddle off to your warm beds."
"Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to inform you that the list of forbidden items inside the castle has grown to include Weasley's Fake Wands and Ton-Tongue Toffees." he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement at the twins. All heads swiveled to look at Fred and George. Instead of looking disappointed that their creations were on the forbidden list, they actually looked quite proud.
"We'll have to work on the Canary Creams to get them on for next year." George whispered to Fred.
"It is my distinct pleasure to announce that the Inter-House Quidditch Cup will be taking place once again this year." Dumbledore's announcement was met with a rousing cheer. Hermione quickly explained to the gang that it'd been canceled last year for a tournament. Dumbledore held up his hands for silence.
"Finally, ladies and gentleman, I would like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Giles. Professor Giles has spent many years in the field as a Watcher to an active Slayer." Dumbledore gestured to Giles, who stood a little self-consciously to the thundering applause that filled the room, the loudest coming from the Gryffindor table. Xander put his fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly. Giles gave him a grin before sitting down. When the applause had died down enough, Dumbledore spoke again.
"Many of you may have noticed that there were several older students sorted this year. They are special exchange students that Professor Giles has brought with him, including his Slayer." Dumbledore motioned for the gang to stand, which they did reluctantly. [Embarrassing much?] Buffy thought, a smile plastered on her face. She nodded at the room at large before sitting again.
"These four young people will be engaged in special classes and I'm sure will be helping Professor Giles with his class as they have all been fighting dark forces for several years now." Dumbledore said with great pride.
"And since I'm sure that you're all eager to start off the new year, so it's off to bed with you so that everyone's rested and alert for tomorrow."