Fan Fiction ❯ Harry Potter and the Oracle of Bedlam ❯ The Sorting Begins ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter three

The sorting begins

All higher students had gathered around their own respected tables, as the feast was about to start. Harry and Ron took their seats as Hermione took the one in front of them. As everyone has finally settled down, Dumbledore stood from his chair and went forth to give his welcome speech. "Welcome, welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I would like to give a warm reception for the new first years to a gleeful year here in Hogwarts, and so as for the old students who have returned in fine fettle this year. Now, without more further ado, let the sorting-begin!" all first years went first and precise means, there had been ten new Gryffindor students, seven Ravenclaws, fourteen Hufflepuffs and nine Slytherins. Soon after, the two so-called "transferees" stood before the students as murmurs and grumbles started to spread on the hall.

Ron kept his eyes glued over to the new 7th year students, mostly over to Abby whom have been sending each student a wary gaze, "Look Harry, there they are." He elbowed Harry's side as he on the other hand turned to glance over in response. Harry himself couldn't help not to stare over to the new female schoolmate. Hermione rolled her eyes and shook her head slightly, forgetting this sight and went to concentrate over to where the two stood.

"May I present, the two new transferees from Salem's Witches Institute. Mr. Connor Thompson and Ms. Abigail Marie Jones." As Dumbledore proceeded, the whole hall became silent in surprise, mostly because Connor's hard features smote the female population and so as the male population who found it really hard not to check out Abigail's appearance. "Ahem! Well, I believe we should start sorting these two to their houses. Mr. Thompson, you may go first." Dumbledore made a sway of his hand towards the direction of the sorting hat.

Connor went to take the hat on and sat down on the stool. He looked up to his head, completely curious of this magical yet horrible looking thing may do. "Hmm… a vampire heir, I suppose." The sorting hat mumbled only for Connor to hear.

His brows furrowed and looked back over to the hat, "How did you know that?" he asked back, not really expecting a talking hat to read his thoughts.

"I know everything, boy. Nothing you can hide from me." the hat started to laugh and continued with his task, "Well, you might belong in Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart, their daring, nerve and chivalry set Gryffindors apart…"

I guess I do belong to that house. He thought proudly, seeing that some of the traits were completely similar to him. Although the sorting hat defied this and started to recommend another house, "Or perhaps in Slytherin, you'll make your real friends, those cunning folk use any means, to achieve their ends."

No! "No. I like the first one, place me there." Connor didn't like the definition of the house, especially when his eyes went to cast over to the Slytherin's table. True he was cunning, but he was not pure evil.

"Tsk, tsk," the Sorting hat said, "Slytherin!"

Everyone on the Slytherin table cheered, mostly Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode's gang of four. Devastated as he may, Connor groaned and placed back the sorting hat on the stool. He knew magical things could never be trusted. With a sigh, he joined his new "house-mates" and sat exactly next to the person he wished he had never met.

"Well Connor, is it?" a blonde gray-eyed student said next to him, a smug smirk plastered on his face, "You should be thankful for being sorted here. This is the best house among all."

I bet. Connor forced a small smile and nodded. "And you are?"

"Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." He offered a hand and Connor took and shook it with his. "As you may notice, my family name must have been popular-even in overseas. The name Malfoy had been one of the prominent Pure-blooded families around the Wizarding word."

Well, aren't we too conceited here? He again forced a smile and nodded even though he had no idea of what he was talking about, "Yeah, I guess so."

Nice attitude. He will do. Draco nodded to himself, completely deciding to befriend this new student in replacement of Crabbe and Goyle. Well at least he's no dim-witted twit unlike those two. He was quite relieved to find someone who can battle wits with him. "Well, Thompson… I believe I haven't heard of that name before anywhere. Did you come from a pureblooded family as well?" he so hope he was. It would be total wreckage in his image if he would befriend a mudblood.

Connor was still very confused of what this guy was talking about although he did nodded just to satisfy this Draco Malfoy guy's curiosity. "Yeah, I came from a pureblooded family too…" Nice lie, I guess. He was hoping that he may just stop neither questioning nor talking to him as much as possible.

Great as it may get, Draco did not push any further questions about where he came from. Although the other Slytherins sitting close to him introduced themselves as well and started throwing dangerous questions towards him. "So, Connor." Graham Pritchard started, "Why transfer here? I've heard that Salem's a very highly acclaimed school too. Surely you haven't flunked your grades now, do you?"

"Um…" make a lie! Connor shifted his gaze over something, just to keep away from their inquisitive eyes, "My father moved to Wales to do some-work… in the-" What was that again? Remember what Abby told you! "Ministry." Yes, that's the word!

"Oh, so your father works for the Ministry?" it was Malcolm Baddock's turn to ask.

"Yeah."

Blaise Zabini narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms on his chest, "On what exactly department are we talking about here, Thompson?" he did not like this new student at all. He could feel something was wrong, and definitely the stench was coming out from this Connor guy. More specifically that he added himself into his list of rivals on the female population's attention. For Merlin's sakes! Draco Malfoy was knackering enough to beat, what more if Connor Thompson adds up to the whole Hotties group?? It could have been much better if it's the girl whom has been sorted in this house. At least it wouldn't be that too hard to lure her out.

Connor was getting confused of what to say. "In the-um-" but before he could make up anymore further explanations, everyone's attention was drawn back towards the front as it was Abby's turn to be sorted to her house.

"Gryffindor!" the sorting hat announced and promptly, Abby stood out from the stool and went towards her table. She gave Connor a sympathetic shrug of her shoulders since it would have been easier to be housemates with him. At least they will be able to help each other in resolving out the inquisitiveness of these students.

As she walked along, she saw a bushy haired girl waving over to her, signaling for her to sit on the empty sit beside her. Abby gave a small smile and went to her direction.

"Hello, Ms. Jones. My name's Hermione Granger," Hermione held out her hand and Abby kindly took it.

"Oh, Abby would do just fine." Abby shook hands with her, finding it quite lucky to meet such a warm welcoming person on her first day.

Hermione too liked this girl's aura. Somewhat she found her quite charming and clever, "I'll be touring you and that Slytherin guy around the school's ground."

Soon both took their seats and continued with their chat, "Yeah, Prof. McGonagall told us about it." And then Abby's eyes went wide and gasped, "You might be the new Head girl, huh?"

"Yes, I'm the new-"

"Ahem!"

Both girls looked over to the two boys giving Hermione odd looks. Hermione furrowed her brows and when Ron started to move his head from him to Abby's direction, she completely got what he exactly mean. "Oh! By the way, I would like to introduce my friends. This is Ron Weasley,"

"Hello." Ron gave a nod as Abby smiled back in acknowledgement.

"And this is Harry Potter."

Abby's smile broke into a frown and her eyes wide as saucers as she heard Hermione spoken that name. She looked over to the boy named Harry Potter like she had never seen a human life form before. "You're Harry Potter??"

Harry stiffened in the girl's reaction and nodded with a smile, "Yes. I am Harry Potter." He was quite expecting this reaction from her. It had always been the same reaction he had been receiving for the past six years.

"I can't believe it." Abby breathlessly mumbled, still completely awed in strange aspects.

"Ha! That's what everyone says. It's not new to Harry anymore." Ron scoffed. He was quite disappointed that Harry has to get this kind of effect to every girl they meet. But what exactly can he do. He is the boy-who-lived anyway.

"Ron!" Hermione shook her head and turned over to Abby, "Don't mind him."

Abby tried to soothe down the shock that came over her. She can't believe it! The very same name haunting her dreams was sitting here in front of her in the flesh! What are the odds of that? "I'm sorry. I was just sort of surprised and all."

Harry dismissed it with a sway of his hand and shook his head, "None taken. I too was surprised that my name's well-known too overseas."

"Well, I think they're also aware of Voldemort too, y'know." Ron added.

"Voldie who?" Abby asked in curiosity. She never heard such name before.

It was Hermione's turn to widen her eyes, "You never heard of you-know-who before?"

You-know-who?? What are these people talking about? "No." she firmly answered and by this made the trio stare at her suspiciously.

"Then, you have no idea of Harry's title the-boy-who-lived?" Ron asked since that's the particular reason he believed why she reacted so surprised a few minutes ago.

"No, I have no idea."

"Then what's with the surprised look?" Hermione questioned. She too was starting to have doubts with Abby's behavior.

Oh no! They're starting to have doubts about me. I have to make up something to cover this up. "Well, I've just heard about his name being mentioned by a friend of mine." Yes, use Willow!

"A friend of yours?" Harry raised a brow on this.

"Yes. She used to study here… she told me tons and tons about-" she paused and started to think something that may describe him in other ways, "about how wonderful you play in-" What was that sport Willow told me again?? "Quidditch! Yes, you play well in Quidditch, right Harry?"

"Oh," it dawned to Harry that he was quite grateful enough to know that he's popular in other ways rather than being the boy with a scar in the head. "Well, I do think so… I guess…" he doesn't want to get too conceited or anything, but he couldn't help not to get flattered about this compliment.

Ron nodded, "Whoa… I guess that explains everything."

Hermione shook her head. She was still having doubts but Dumbledore's voice rang and disturbed her thoughts away.

"I would like to announce, the new Head boy and Head girl of this year." Dumbledore smiled and followed, "For head boy, it's no other than, Draco Malfoy from Slytherin!"

Draco stood with a smug smirk with arrogance spread all over his face. The other students was devastated and wanted to `boo' the new Head boy, but Malfoy was lucky enough to receive a loud applause and cheers from his housemates.

"I still can't believe that git gets to be Head boy!" Ron grumbled, totally disgusted at how egotistical Malfoy had looked when his name was called.

Hermione gave him an exasperated look and said, "Get over it! There's nothing else you could do to strip him away from his position."

"She's right, Ron. He may have gotten that position because of his father's influence, but seventy five percent of that came from his brain." Harry interjected since he found it quite useless to whine on his rival's accomplishments. Malfoy may had been a total git for six years, but no one could deny that he's the second best next to Hermione among all intelligent students. Not to mention he's Prof. Snape's most favorite student on his house.

Ron looked back and forth over to his two friends, "Honestly guys, are you still my friends or do you happen to have joined Malfoy's joyous fan-club of undying arrogance?" Harry shrugged his shoulders as Hermione gave him her signature roll of the eyes.

"And as for the new Head girl. No doubt it's Hermione Granger from Gryffindor!"

It was Hermione's turn to stand up and show off. Students from Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff rejoiced and gave her a warm applause. The Slytherin's on the other hand grumbled insults and gave her a nasty glare.

"Well I guess you are all hungry! Let the feast, begin!" and with a sway of Dumbledore's hands, a row of delicious food appeared before their eyes.

Of course Connor and Abby wasn't expecting this and looked startled. Ron on the other hand forgets all about his gripes about the Head boy and started munching on the food. Abby watched him in mix emotions of shock and disgust. She had never seen a person eating this so fast. Hermione just shook her head and sighed. Some things will never ever change.

***

"Where are they, Willow??" Angel almost made the redheaded witch's ears bleed from the loud yell coming towards her. "They're supposed to do that mission!"

"I know Angel, I know! That's why I-I ga-gave them the port key!" Willow was nervously playing on her fingers, terribly terrified when she learned that both Connor and Abby didn't make it to Mongolia. "With it they can travel to the place they desire in just one click of fingers."

Cordelia crossed her arms against her chest and narrowed her eyes over to the witch, "You lend them that thing? How could you do that? You know well that it's not safe to use magical stuff without consenting the Council first. Is Guiles aware of this?"

Willow gave a guilty shook of the head, "But I thought it could help them. It not particularly dangerous of anything. It's just a port key! You used it once Cordy, didn't you?"

"Yes I did, but that's a different story, Willow." Cordelia sighed and approached Willow who had been trembling awfully on her seat. "Connor and Abby didn't made it to Mongolia. That stupid Shaman confirmed that when we tried to locate him ourselves. Now, where could those two be if they're not in Mongolia?"

"I don't know!" Willow cried, "I told Abby the exact directions of how to use it. I have no idea of what has gotten wrong."

Angel plopped down to the couch next to hers and groaned in total frustration, "We have to find those two." He used his fingers to massage the vein throbbing on his temples. "Buffy will be so mad if she ever hears about this."

"But how are we going to find them, Angel?" Cordelia shifted her weight over to her other leg, "Tell me exactly your plan of solving this problem."

"Fine! I don't exactly know what to do but if it will be possible for you two to formulate a plan and help me, that would be wonderful." He stood up and grabbed his coat and was about to step outside the room.

"Where are you going?" Cordelia asked.

"Outside. I'll try if I can find my son's scent." And with that, Angel left leaving the two nervous women behind.

Cordelia took Angel's couch and sat back, looking over to Willow in a serious manner. "Are you sure you told Abby how to use the port key?"

"Yeah. I've mentioned it before. I know Abby has a vast memory, she couldn't be forgetting everything I said that easily."

"Hmm… what if she did?"

"Excuse me?"

"What if Abby forgot your instructions and led them to another dimension?" Cordelia started to rub her chin, a sign that her brain was starting to operate.

"Just what had happened to you before? Y'know… when you played with the port key and I had to follow you to that dimension to save your ass?" Willow raised a fine eyebrow.

Cordelia rolled her eyes, completely loathing when Willow starts to bring up that subject, "Yes. The same point I'm going at, so don't rub it in." she sarcastically replied.

Willow's eyes went wide and a small gasp escaped her throat, "Do you think they have gone to the Wizarding world?"

Panic and worry started to fill Cordelia's mind, "It's possible. I mean, if ever they forgot to think the place they wanted to be, there's no other place they'll end up other than the Wizarding world."

Willow gasped again, "Oh my God! We have to find those two!"

"But how? You said that's the only port key you have around."

With a determined look, Willow firmly said, "We'll have to see Guiles."

***

A cold gust of air filled the whole room as the hooded figure took slow steps towards the huge window. A shivering dirty man was standing behind him, his hair scruffy and nails filled with muck.

"What have you brought me, Wormtail?" the voice from the hooded figure came out like a hiss of an angry snake.

"A-a-a news si-sir!" Wormtail stuttered, disliking the tone his master had used.

The hooded figure turned around and walked towards his nervous but loyal minion. "Pray tell what news you have brought me."

Wormtail shivered more as he felt his snake-like eyes bore onto him. Even though his face was dark from the shadows of the cloth, he could tell that his master was staring at him. "Th-the seer sir! The seer is here."

"What?"

"The seer has been found. The seer is staying somewhere around the lands." Wormtail continued.

"Somewhere? Somewhere?!" his voice was frightening, it made the animagus rat coil for protection. "I don't need an incredulous information you bastard rodent! I need accurate ones! Do not dare to mention somewhere in front of my face!"

"Fo-forgive me, my lord!" Wormtail quivered and cried. He did try his best to gather this simple information and thought it would somewhat please him. But he had thought wrong. Instead of receiving any compliment, all he gets was his hisses and fear-provoking roars.

Voldemort scoffed and walked towards the window again, staring off into the dead land this building was standing at. "Finally! After long years of waiting… the seer finally decided to emerge into my presence." A cruel smile tugged into his lips and he started to make a cruel laugh. Wormtail thought that his laugh a sign of his calmness and he too started to laugh with his lord in unison.

Voldemort noticed this and quickly dismissed his laugh. He turned swiftly back to the laughing rat, "Why are you just standing there, you freak?! Go find the seer!"

"Oh yes, mi lord! I will find the seer! I will find the seer if it's the last thing I do!" Wormtail bowed before him and then scurried on his feet and ran off into the dark shadows of moonlight.

TBC