“So where is Mr. Celebrity? I’ve been looking forward to meeting him officially.” Sagittarius said with a grin while looking at the other two. “At the moment he’s preemptively getting changed, he should be back any second I’m guessing.” Orion replied with a book in hand. Aurora and Sagittarius both raise an eyebrow at him, “Preemptively? Really, what do you have, a dictionary on hand you’ve been studying?” Speaking of the devil himself, Sagittarius turns around to see a black-haired male adorned in freshly affixed robes, about as tall as him with glasses, and the ever-so-famous lightning bolt scar adorned to his forehead.
Quietly stepping into the room, Harry Potter bumps his shoulder teasingly into Sagittarius’. “Heir LeFay, I presume? Honour to finally meet you face to face without all the potential formality of writing letters.” Harry says with the tilt of his head in a pseudo bow. Sagittarius bows in return with a smile, “Well met, Lord Potter. It’s a likewise honour to be acquainted with someone such as yourself.” They both share a laugh at the unnecessary banter, while Aurora and Orion look back and forth between them both as a tennis match.
They both sat down across from the twins and began to engage in mindless chatter, talking about the curriculum and what house they wished to get into, Sagittarius and Aurora having definite picks of either Gryffindor or Slytherin for themselves. Harry and Orion didn’t particularly care where they were sorted. Their talking was paused when a slight knocking noise was heard at the door, Harry stood up and opened it tensely, almost like he was expecting something bad to happen. Sagittarius noticed.
“Hello, Lord Potter, may I come in?” Draco Malfoy’s voice was heard from the corridor, Harry takes a look at the others in the compartment before nodding and allowing him to come in, Draco turns back and says something to his bodyguards before entering. He smiles when he sees Aurora and Orion who both tensely smile back before he looks at Sagittarius and raises an eyebrow. “Well, do I get to know who this mystery person is now? Apparently, you’re influential enough to be seen with these families without repercussions.” Draco says, not friendly but not hostile either. Sagittarius nods at him and says, “Yes I suppose you may know, I am the Heir to the LeFay family, a family that is direct descendants to Morgan LeFay herself.” He says with confidence and immediately and only a slightly guilty feeling, blinks hard, and focuses on Draco’s reaction.
Draco at first registers shock, and disbelief before looking at everyone else for confirmation, at their nods and Aurora’s smug look he instead adopts a mask of calm and poise. “Well then, I would like to formally apologise for my attitude when we first met, had I known who you were I would have acted much more appropriately and with the proper respect that you deserved.” Sagittarius takes note with his Legilimency that he is sincere but also incredibly nervous, not at anyone in this given room. But perhaps for repercussions from someone else for the faux pass he made at an influential family. “Possibly his father, I’ve heard he can be quite strict from Lord Black, maybe at the castle this will be an opportunity to rectify his behaviour.” Sagittarius thinks to himself while outwardly putting on a smile. “Think nothing of it, Heir Malfoy, you wouldn’t have done something like that if you had known.” Draco nods and stands up quickly, “Pleasure seeing all of you and I hope that we can be allies in the future.” He holds a hand to Harry first who shakes it firmly, then Sagittarius who nods and shakes it back just as firmly. Draco takes his leave and walks out of the apartment.
The air immediately seems to clear and Harry calms down and puts his wand away. Sagittarius raises an eyebrow at that. “I didn’t even notice you pulled it out, how much have you practised before even arriving here?” Harry takes a moment to shake the tenseness out of his shoulders before replying. “I’ve had a couple of tutors over the past couple of years to help with theory, as well as incantations and motions. Sirius was incredibly thorough in my being prepared.” Harry shrugs, Aurora and Orion almost look a bit sad before that emotion is gone in the blink of an eye. Sagittarius notices but tries to ignore it in favour of asking Harry about what house he would prefer. “My parents were both in Gryffindor so that’s definitely an option.” Harry says in reply before a knock appears on the door again, He sighs and before he can stand up it opens to a bushy-haired girl with a few books on hand and an overall dishevelled appearance who asks very quickly. “Have any of you seen a toad? Neville is looking for it.” Harry looks confused at the rapid-fire pace before he replies. “No, but you could probably ask one of the prefects to summon it for you instead of searching all around for it.” She nods twice before she notices the scar on his head. “Oh my god, you’re Harry Potter! I’ve read all about you in your biographies and The Dark Lords of the Ages! I’m Hermione Granger.” Harry’s smile suddenly gets slightly more tense and fake. “Yes I am, but if you don’t mind I’d like to be left alone for a while and mentally prepare for whatever happens at Hogwarts.” She nods again and waves at him and everyone else in the compartment before leaving quickly with a blonde slightly hunched over the boy who seems to almost stand up slightly straighter when seeing exactly who is in the compartment. Before he walks off as well. Harry sighs, closes the door. “Hopefully no more interruptions, speaking of everyone should probably get changed soon just in case.” Everyone else nods, Aurora steps out of the room while everyone changes, and then everyone steps out when she does.
Sagittarius looks up as the train starts to slow down and the announcement goes off that the train will stop in 10 minutes. Everyone gathers their things and heads off the train. A voice booms out. “Firs’ years, firs’ years over here!” a ginormous man with a scraggly beard waves his hands and directs the first years over to the boats, He seems to give an extra wave and nod to Harry who does the same back. “Could just be another fan, but they seem to know each other. Harry wasn’t tense or anything this time so most likely something else.” Sagittarius clocks mentally, the four of them pile into a boat across the lake, a squid comes out at one point and almost seems to wave at everyone before sinking down once again.
Once that surreal experience ends, everyone successfully makes it onto the shore of the castle, some drier than others but here all the same. A tall older woman in green robes takes a headcount of everyone before casting a few spells, clothes get dryer and people become warmer. “The firs’ years Professor McGonagall,” said Hagrid. “Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here.” She pulled the doors open and led everyone through the entrance of a massive hall with incredible architecture, stone walls aligned with torches, and the ceiling too high to even comprehend.
As they are being led through the halls and up the marble staircases, Sagittarius turns to his group and quietly says. “I can see why we weren’t allowed to visit or see pictures. This place is amazing.” All three of them nod back with equally amazing looks. The first years are led into a smaller room outside of the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall turns to everyone, “Welcome to Hogwarts, the start of term banquet will begin shortly, before you take your seats you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony, while you are here you will have classes, sleep in the same dormitory, and spend free time in the House common room. The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history. While you are here you will earn house points by triumphs and breaking rules will result in house point loss. At the end of the year, the House with the most points will win the House Cup. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house you are sorted into. Please follow me.” Her commanding and stern voice could cowl even the most sarcastic of people, it had everyone on edge and hanging on to every one of her words.
As she turned and led everyone into the great hall, four tables aligned with different colours from right to left with a clear path carved into the floor patterns leading up to a large table full of older people, and Albus Dumbledore himself at the head. A four-legged stool with a hat sat on it, the first years all lined up and ready, the hat opened and began to sing, to the first year’s shock.
“Oh, you may not think I’m pretty,
But don’t judge on what you see,
I’ll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats are sleek and tall,
For I’m the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There’s nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can’t see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you’ve a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You’ll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don’t be afraid!
And don’t get in a flap!
You’re in safe hands (though I have none)
For I’m a Thinking Cap!”
The whole Great Hall burst into applause after the song finished, Professor McGonagall walked forward with a roll of parchment. “When I call your name, you will put the hat on and sit on the stool to be sorted,” she said. “Abbott Hannah!” Who quickly went to Hufflepuff, then. “Black Aurora!” She stepped forward even with the slight mutters and whispers, two minutes went by before “SLYTHERIN!” She smiles, gets off the stool and takes her seat at the furthest one of the far left table, Sagittarius, Orion, and Harry all clap along with the green and silver table. “Black Orion!” Calm, as can be Orion steps forward, appears to be almost having a genial conversation with the hat before it yells out. “RAVENCLAW!” Blue and bronze cheers in response, with Aurora, Sagittarius, and Harry clapping along too.
Quite a few names went by a couple going to Gryffindor, others going to Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. The bushy-haired girl that was talking while McGonagall led everyone through the castle made it into Ravenclaw. Finally, “LeFay Sagittarius!” With an almost imperceptible gulp and his heart pounding, Sagittarius steps forward and the hat goes over his eyes.
“Well then, interesting to meet you, Heir LeFay, so what will it be hmm? Slytherin like Morgan herself. Or do you choose to embrace your rebellion and courage? Tradition or being who you are. Either way, both houses will help you along your journey. Neither is bad for you, ambitious and cunning as you are, as long as you don’t lose sight of who you are along the way. The choice is yours.” The hat whispers in Sagittarius’ mind, as he grapples with what feels right, “I choose to be me, in whatever facet that may be. If rebellion is what accomplishes my goals, so be it.” Sagittarius mentally prepares himself as his heart calms, almost a sense of peace filling them. It feels like the hat almost smiles for a moment, proud of Sagittarius. “GRYFFINDOR!”
The table on the far right with gold and red colours bursts into applause, Harry gives him a thumbs up and a smile, Sagittarius takes a moment as he steps down to say hello and shake hands with some of his housemates, Draco Malfoy goes next and the hat immediately shouts. “SLYTHERIN!” Smugly he steps off and goes to the Slytherin table sitting next to his bodyguards. Names get rattled off again and again before the man of the hour gets called. “Potter Harry!” Full of confidence and grace, Harry walks forward with measured steps as everyone waits with bated breath. The hat goes on his head. One minute turns into two, then three, then five. Harry’s eyes seem to narrow while closed he slightly tilts his head and smiles. Sagittarius notices it’s not a nice smile, it looks more like the smile of the Cheshire cat before it got the canary. “GRYFFINDOR!” The sorting hat shouts, over all the applause is the only person that notices Harry’s smug smile, the Professor with the turbans glowing angry look, and the Professor with the dark robes and greasy hairs annoyed/unsurprised look. Is Sagittarius, before the looks vanish from everyone’s face and Harry sits down next to Sagittarius. “That was a fun conversation, don’t think the hat has ever been threatened before. But first time for everything, I’ll make sure to tell you later.” Harry says when Sagittarius raises an eyebrow at his flippant words.
He shrugs, Dumbledore stands up and begins to speak. “Welcome!” He said. “Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit, Blubber, Oddment, Tweak, Thank you!” He sits back down. Everyone claps and cheers, Sagittarius turns to Harry, “Is he mad or a genius?” Harry replies, “Why not both my friend, but mad is definitely the word I would use.” He seems to have an almost annoyed glint in his eyes when he says this Sagittarius notices. After everyone has their fill.
Professor Dumbledore stands again and the hall falls silent, “Ahem, I have a few start of term notices to give out. First years note that the Forbidden Forest is in fact forbidden and should not enter, older students should do well to remember this fact too. Magic should not be used in between corridors, Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested may try out for their respective house. Finally, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a painful death. Everyone is dismissed!”
Sagittarius takes note that Harry’s face gets even more annoyed at that last declaration, and so does the Professor with the greasy hair and hooked nose. Everyone stands up and begins to file out of the hall with their respective houses. Finally making it to Gryffindor tower, everyone files in and chooses their roommates. Surprisingly only two boys per room this year instead of the normal five, according to the prefect that was recently changed upon request of the Headmaster in all houses.
“Mind doing me the honour of being my roommate Lord Potter?” Sagittarius says sarcastically with a genuine smile adorned to his face. Harry rolls his eyes and does a graceful yet equally sarcastic bow back, “Why, of course, Heir LeFay it would be my pleasure.” They both walk into a room together and set up their things. “So Potter, what did the hat tell you? You seemed smug when walking off for a second.” Sagittarius says while putting his things away.
Harry raises an eyebrow, “Perceptive aren’t you, I’ll watch out for that, also just Harry is fine. But basically, it told me to go into Slytherin or Ravenclaw and I told it, ‘I have secrets to keep and either of those houses will pry till they figure it out, so Gryffindor or I fire every spell I know up this hat.’ Apparently, that counted as rebellion and bravery so he stopped arguing about it and let me win.” Harry looks so smug saying this and Sagittarius can imagine why, he immediately broke and started laughing, soon enough Harry did as well. Once they caught their breath and finished putting things away they both laid down in their beds. “First day starts tomorrow, time to show out and be the best I can be. Also, get Harry to talk about those secrets of his” Sagittarius says to himself before falling asleep.