Fight For a New Life

Disclaimer: I am not making any money. J.K. Rowling owns all the characters, settings and seemingly this entire wizarding world. I merely twist their fates. If I should include any original characters, those alone are mine.

Chapter 4: Part I: All that is familiar, and all that is not (4/?)

The sounds from the Great Hall were loud and boisterous. First years awaiting their turn to be sorted into the different houses waited with bated breath on the staircase waiting for McGonagall to bring them forward. Apprehension clearly painted on their round little faces. McGonagall’s arrival did little to erase this emotion. The Deputy Headmistress’s stern look as firmly in place as ever, how could these young minds know the kind heart and sharp mind that sat just behind those spectacles. Of course, had they known they would have felt at ease.
Hermione observed the first years in a way that she had been unable to when boarding the train, her quick analytical mind taking in their awed demeanor and anxious fidgeting. She even went as far as to wager a guess as to which houses they might be sorted into. McGonagall placed the sorting hat on the stool, whether anyone would admit it or not the sorting hats’ song was always highly anticipated. Hermione reflected on her thoughts about the hat while she too waited patiently.

The sorting hat is a mystery all its’ own. No one was ever expectant or prepared for what words might fall from the dusty rip that served as the hats’ mouth. It had spouted prophecies the last year and she wondered at the probable warning for this year. You could never argue the brilliance of this inanimate object, the fact being that it was almost as alive as anyone of the humans that it had ever sat atop the head of. Maybe even more so she thought ruefully looking at some of the less than par students assorted throughout the houses.

The hat did begin to speak but the change caused silence immediately. The voice that was one so loud and confident seemed low and raspy. It took Hermione a minute to realize what the hat was saying…

“They bring me to this stool each year,

where first years put me atop their head.

First I sing a song for you,

Spouting praises for the dead.

To Ravenclaw the bright and diligent minds,

To Hufflepuff goes the loyal and true.

Good Gryffindor gets the courageous lot,

While in Slytherin cunning tactics see them through.

Each year I have divided you,

I’ve warned you of your plight.

I’ve asked that you let old rivalries die,

Quit bickering and unite.

Not a word has been heeded,

This hat knows right from wrong.

Here’s the catch now little ones,

Listen closely to this song.

I’ve gazed inside all your heads,

Your doubts and dreams surrendered to my glance.

Weakness, strength, good and evil,

All there if given half a chance.

For years I have divided and quartered you,

I’ve seen the error of my ways.

No longer will I commit this crime,

To the end of my days.

This hat has spoken,

No argument you can implore.

This hat gives up its’ task,

I quit… I’m done… No More!

And with that the hat fell silent. The hall fell silent. The expression “could hear a pin drop” sprang to Hermione’s mind, and then more horrifying still “silent as the grave.” This was indeed grave. The hat had resigned its’ post. Foreboding and ominous didn’t even begin to cover the eerie feeling that descended upon all of Hogwarts. McGonagall’s face dropped its’ stony composure and was a mask of bewilderment. Dumbledore sat with his fingers in a steeple before him. His face was very grave indeed. In fact there was no twinkle behind his half moon spectacles. Snape looked as if he was ready to blow a gasket. After all how could one show outright house favoritism when there would be no new additions to his favored house. The rest of the staff looked bewildered and were staring at Dumbledore expectantly. Surely the great wizard would put the hat to rights.


A/N: there is more to this chapter, I just wanted to get something out there. Plus this was a good cut off point before the madness ensues :D Check in later for Part II of this chapter.
Reviewer Responses:

Lucilla Darkate: I like him snarky and arrogant also :D I am trying to keep them in character as much as possible as I set up the framework for the subsequent chapters.

Southern Cross: I too know how hard it is to look at Ginny knowing that she is doomed to die, but I didn’t want the idea that the light triumphs without casualty inside anyone’s head. The reality is that war takes life, and I imagine there will be more deaths that you will see first hand in my fic. I have tried to keep them in character, thanks for the encouragement :D

CelticSass: Glad you like the dialogue. I was a little unsure of it when I first posted it. Don’t worry, Ron’s temper is far from gone. It just takes a little more to provoke it. I always thought Draco went out of his way to trade barbs with Hermione :D Thanks for your support. It means the world to me!

Karmen: Glad you felt the characters emotions. I tried to make them bold, but sometimes it is difficult to capture the essence of the moment as it were. Hope you continue reading! :D