Branching the Academy

Just as they were about to enter Hogwarts, everyone forgot the earlier unpleasantness, and under Hagrid's guidance, the first-year students arrived at a dock by the lake.

"Everyone into the boats, and remember, no more than four per boat," Hagrid shouted back at the new students.

Anduin, Charles, and Vivian got into the same boat, and another girl joined them.

"Hey, I'm Orianna, nice to meet you," the girl sharing their boat greeted.

"Hi, I'm Vivian, this is Anduin and Charles. We ladies can just sit back and let the two gentlemen handle the rowing," the glib Vivian said, greeting Orianna first and assigning the work to the two men without consulting them.

Anduin and Charles exchanged a wordless look, said nothing, and silently began to row.

But Anduin quickly noticed that the boat seemed enchanted; it barely needed any rowing to follow its course.

"I heard only first-year students row into the school. They say it's to let new students retrace the path of the four founders. Four people per boat also represent the four founders," the gossipy Vivian started sharing rumors she'd picked up from who knows where. Anduin listened as he watched Hogwarts draw closer.

He wondered what the founders felt as they approached the castle back then, but right now, everyone on the boat was excited.

"All new students, disembark and follow me," Hagrid said, holding a lantern as he led the way. The new students got off the boats and arrived at Hogwarts' first building, the boathouse.

After passing through the boathouse, there was a winding, lengthy staircase climbing up the cliff. The students struggled up the steps, and when they finally reached the top, the massive castle towering on the cliff was Hogwarts.

At the top, the group of new students followed Hagrid to the Entrance Hall. Inside, on the steps, a middle-aged witch in a deep green wizard robe was waiting for them—Professor McGonagall.

Professor McGonagall saw the underage wizards arriving, and also spotted Anduin in the crowd. She gave him a pointed glare; his 'glorious' deeds had apparently reached her ears.

"Professor McGonagall, these little ones are all yours," Hagrid said before turning to leave.

"Thank you, Hagrid, much obliged," Professor McGonagall exchanged pleasantries with him, then turned to the group. "Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term feast is about to begin, but before that, you will undergo the Sorting Ceremony. I will lead you into the Great Hall shortly..."

Professor McGonagall then explained a host of rules to the new students on the steps. Anduin listened for a while and found it boiled down to two things: the Sorting and the House Cup. After being sorted, they needed to behave well; good behavior earned points, bad behavior lost them, and it all affected the House Cup, blah blah blah.

Professor McGonagall efficiently wrapped up her instructions, glanced at the excited young wizards, gave a pleased smile, told them to wait a moment, and then left.

The new students waiting on the steps were both nervous and excited—nervous about how the Sorting worked, afraid they might fail it, and excited to quickly join their house and earn points. They looked ready to sacrifice themselves for their house at any moment.

Anduin rolled his eyes. A bunch of little brats who knew nothing about a sense of honor. It wasn't a brawl where whoever won came out on top. Once school actually started, they'd learn house points weren't so easy to earn. And with a bunch of wild kids running around, it'd be a miracle if they didn't lose points for their house.

"Anduin, are you nervous? The Sorting's almost here. I wonder how it works. It's not a test, is it? I spent the whole summer playing and don't know anything," Vivian said, clearly very anxious, and eager to pass that anxiety on to Anduin.

Anduin found her amusing. You spent the whole summer playing? More like gossiping about others. But he quietly reassured her.

Soon, Professor McGonagall returned and led them to the Great Hall. They arrived at the door between the Entrance Hall and the hall. On either side of the door stood four giant hourglasses, each carved below with a lion, an eagle, a badger, and a snake. All the hourglasses were empty at the bottom, so these four must track each house's points.

Professor McGonagall pushed open the doors and led them into the Great Hall.

Hogwarts' Great Hall was incredibly wide and absurdly tall. Whether magic was involved or not, Anduin couldn't see the ceiling. Countless candles floated above, lighting the entire hall brilliantly.

Inside were four long tables of exaggerated length, already filled with older students sizing them up. In front of the tables sat a single chair with a battered old hat on it.

As they entered, the hat was already singing an opening song in a tone-deaf tune. By the time they reached the chair, the old hat still hadn't finished, wailing on as if reluctant to stop.

To Anduin's ears, it was practically howling. It was like ugliness's mother opening the door for ugliness—ugly to the core.

Finally, the Sorting Hat ended its performance to applause. Professor McGonagall picked up a parchment and walked to the chair. "The Sorting Ceremony will now begin. When your name is called, come forward and sit on the chair."

"Orianna Hinckley." The girl who had ridden with Anduin and the others was the first chosen. Orianna sat on the chair with some trepidation, and Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat gently on her head.

"Ravenclaw!" the hat called out after a few seconds of hesitation.

Orianna walked to the Ravenclaw table, where cheers and applause greeted her.

The Sorting Ceremony proceeded smoothly. Vivian was sorted into Slytherin, as she had predicted. Though she wasn't pure-blood, her family tradition was Slytherin.

Charles was sorted into Gryffindor, much as Anduin had expected. And Sampur Travers was also sorted into Slytherin. Anduin silently mourned for Vivian; being classmates with someone like that wouldn't be easy.

So this was how trivial the Sorting was? Anduin was still grumbling to himself when Professor McGonagall called his name from the stage. "Anduin Wilson."