Harry Potter: Instant Kill

"That will be enough, Mr Malfoy." McGonagall chastised as she returned to the entrance hall where we all waited. "They are ready for your sorting now so follow me." She lead us through a side hallway before opening a door into the great hall, all of us were left in awe as we took in the large hall, the glittering floating candles and the ceiling that was the night sky.

"It's not actually the open sky, it is just charmed to look like it. I read that in a Hogwarts history." Hermione's voice rang out from behind me. I wasn't paying attention to her or the ceiling but the large number of students and teachers, almost three times the amount described in the books. I suddenly realised that my grandmother told me before that she had invested quite a lot of galleons into Hogwarts, this must have been an effect of the increase in school funds.

My musings were cut short when McGonagall placed an old-style stool in front of us and then placed the sorting hat on top of it. The sorting hat seemed to have been cleaned recently as well judging by the soft velvety look and fresh clean patches. The hat sat there for a moment before twitching and opening its wide mouth to start to sing;

"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 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 folk 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!"

During its song, my eyes swept across the students picking out many familiar and pseudo-familiar faces in the crowd. I say pseudo-familiar faces since I have never actually met the Weasley twins but I could confidently say that the two redheads whispering to each other were them without a doubt. After looking at the sea of student faces I turned towards the hat once again just in time to hear an iconic name which everyone remembers but cannot put a face to it. "Abbot Hannah" Came McGonagall's voice causing the young girl mentioned to squeak in fright before moving towards the stool for her sorting.

The hat was barely on her light brown hair before it called out "Hufflepuff." This shout caused the table with the Badger coat of arms on it to erupt in cheers at having the first new arrival. The hall eventually quieted and McGonagall's voice rang out once more " Bodewig Erik."

I advanced towards the stool with all the grace and poise my grandmother and Arcturus taught me, I saw various students murmuring quietly about me. I sat on the stool and the hat was placed on my head, the hat only took a few moments before shouting "Slytherin." The response I got was much more subdued than what Hannah received however it was a more socially acceptable welcome from the more politically aligned students.

The next few names were as they were in canon including but not limited to Susan Bones, Lavender Brown, Micheal Corner and Vincent Crabbe. I had grown bored with the sorting at this point and decided to pay attention to the professor's table, I saw the classical faces of Dumbledore, Flitwick, Sprout and Snape as well as the other teachers from the original works but there were quite a few other teachers who each had their unique looks. There was one person who stuck out the most however when I looked at the teachers, one I expected to not see and that was Quirrell with his distinctive twitch and purple turban.

I had to tear my eyes away from the skittish man as McGonagall called Daphne's name, we both knew there was no chance that she would go anywhere except in Slytherin but I would show my support anyway. I also showed how happy I was when she was sorted into Slytherin by clapping and planting a small kiss on her cheek when she sat down beside me.

The sorting continued normally with minimal pauses until we reached "Potter Grace." This particular shout from McGonagall caused whispers to spread across the hall like cracks spreading across glass or lightning across the sky. The poor girl's nervousness only increased as the whispers did and she looked ready to faint when she took a seat on the stool. The whole hall seemed like it held its collective breaths as the hat was placed on her head, one moment passed followed by a whole minute. It wasn't till the 5th minute that the hat made its decision, "Tricky one but I think you should be in Slytherin."

Silence permeated the hall as the hat was removed from her head and she started walking towards our table. I noticed how she shook with fear or nerves so I stood up and started to clap for her welcome, this seemed to wake the rest of the hall as my table gave the potter girl its warmest and loudest standing welcome while the rest of the hall sat dazed. Even the announcement of "Potter Harry" had little effect on the dazed students and it wasn't until Harry was sorted into Gryffindor that the hall came back to their senses.

I had moved across to open a seat for the Potter girl giving her a small smile as a welcome. "Thank you." Her small voice sounded next to me as she shrunk from the stunned gazes of the other tables. Daphne replied before I could, "Do not worry about it, the masses will get over it as soon as the food is brought out. Welcome to Slytherin, I hope you enjoy your time here. My name is Daphne and this is my fiancé, Erik, if you need help with anything you can ask us and we would be glad to help."

The rest of the sorting passed in subdued murmurs, it had lost a lot of its energy due to Grace's sorting. Draco of course did not like this since he felt that he did not get the attention or welcome he deserved, this led him to glare a Grace from along the table. "Don't pay too much attention to the daddy's boy glaring at you since that would be exactly what he wants. He thinks the world revolves around his father and should do so for him too." I say having noticed Grace's uncomfortableness at being glared at but she seemed to relax slightly at my words.