Although Harry thought this girl was a bit loopy…
He was desperate to confirm whether he was hallucinating and pulled Ron over, pointing at the horses.
But the answer was obvious—Ron couldn't see them.
That made Harry seriously consider paying a visit to the school infirmary.
"You're not going crazy or anything. I can see them too."
A dreamy, vague voice sounded—it was Luna, who was resting her hand on the frightening-looking horse.
That didn't exactly ease Harry's concerns, since being the same as the crazy girl wasn't much comfort.
Maybe he really did need to see Madam Pomfrey.
The carriage began to move, the wheels creaking as they rolled over the dirt.
Harry's thoughts drifted back to worrying about Hagrid again.
The trio, along with Ginny and Luna, were all riding in the same carriage.
The bumpy ride made their thoughts drift far away.
Crookshanks was a bit restless. He jumped onto Luna's lap.
His claws scratched at Luna's pocket, as if trying to dig something out.
"Crookshanks!" Hermione quickly moved to scoop the cat back up.
Looking down, she noticed Luna's shoes and apologized, "Crookshanks is a bit too energetic—your shoes?"
Luna didn't seem to mind. She glanced down at her own feet, her voice dreamy and almost melodic, "They were a gift from John. They don't play hide-and-seek anymore."
Luna's words always made people feel like they were chasing smoke. Hermione caught onto the important part—John had given them to her.
Harry and Ron also noticed the shoes, different from anyone else's.
"Cool," Ron blurted out without thinking, mesmerized by the flashy patterns.
"They're beautiful," Luna said. "And they don't try to hide anymore."
"No shoe hides," Hermione countered, while trying harder to keep Crookshanks under control as he continued to squirm.
"It's alright," Luna said in her usual hazy tone. "Your cat's just looking for a Crumple-Horned Snorkack."
"A Crumple-Horned Snorkack?" Harry leaned toward Hermione, clearly hoping she'd explain.
But the know-it-all of the group shook her head—this time, she had no clue.
Puff.
A sound like someone passing gas echoed in the carriage. Everyone instinctively covered their noses—except Luna.
She looked completely unfazed. In fact, a new little creature had appeared, clinging to the cork necklace she wore.
Crookshanks bristled, letting out a warning hiss, drawing the attention of the trio.
"What is that?" Hermione dared to wager that she had scoured every corner of her memory and still couldn't recall a creature like this.
The Crumple-Horned Snorkack clutched Luna's necklace and burrowed into her hair.
Being watched by so many people made it nervous, and it let out that same farting sound again.
Right before their eyes, the Crumple-Horned Snorkack vanished.
"Harry, your shoulder," Ginny said, just as Harry was looking around.
He turned his head to find the Snorkack gripping his robe with its two little claws.
"It likes you," Luna said just as the Snorkack scrambled over to Hermione's shoulder. "Oh, I was wrong. It doesn't like you."
The appearance of the Snorkack gave the whole carriage the feel of a research symposium.
Luna cupped her hands, and with a quiet pfft, the Snorkack appeared once again in her palms.
"What is that?" Ginny asked her best friend.
"A Crumple-Horned Snorkack," Luna said dreamily, her eyes crinkling. "It's very shy."
Ron reached out to touch it, but the Snorkack immediately struck a defensive pose, its two curved horns glinting coldly.
Ron recoiled in fright. "That's not cute at all."
Harry tried to touch it, only to see the Crumple-Horned Snorkack's body tremble slightly.
Puff
The Snorkack disappeared again. Harry looked around but couldn't find it anywhere in the carriage.
…
"John, what's that?"
Daphne blinked, staring at the little creature that had suddenly popped up on John's shoulder.
John smiled and reached out to pat the Snorkack's head.
"Pretty sharp little guy."
The Crumple-Horned Snorkack hopped into John's satchel, and a moment later, nudged out a dragon fruit with its head.
Malfoy leaned in, aimed a finger at the Snorkack's head, and flicked it with a snap.
The Snorkack rolled a few times, then let out a furious mooing noise like a cow at Malfoy.
Malfoy laughed wickedly, looking like he desperately needed a smack.
John was speechless. That guy was definitely holding strong on the Hogwarts "most annoying" list this term.
The carriage stopped in front of the great oak doors. The Crumple-Horned Snorkack sat firmly on Malfoy's head, refusing to come down.
Malfoy was in a panic—he had just gotten that center-part haircut, after all.
"Ow—what are you doing—"
Fortunately, the Crumple-Horned Snorkack didn't linger for long. After another pfft sound, it vanished again.
"It's gone?"
Malfoy cautiously touched his head. The sticky dragon fruit juice left him looking thoroughly disgruntled.
"It went back to its owner."
John snapped his fingers, and a gust of wind swept away the gunk from Malfoy's hair.
They walked through the entrance hall into the Great Hall.
The Great Hall was packed with the long house tables. The enchanted ceiling above was pitch black like the night sky, and candles floated gently in the air above the tables.
John looked up at the staff table. Hagrid was absent due to other matters, and his oversized chair had been replaced with a regular one.
A tall, sultry woman with crimson lips stood there in a flax-colored trench coat, her voluminous curls bouncing as she subconsciously reached for a cigarette—then stopped herself.
Oz Hield.
At another seat sat a short woman in a frilly pink outfit—Dolores Umbridge.
She was seated beside Dumbledore, chatting with him, wearing an expression of superiority and smugness.
Though his position had been temporarily suspended, Dumbledore wouldn't skip a feast like this.
He smiled as he conversed with Umbridge, seemingly unconcerned about having been sidelined.
From across the hall, John's gaze met that of the old man.
It lasted only a moment before John looked away.
Seated at the Slytherin table, Daphne was to John's right.
His left side remained empty—no one sat there.
Malfoy glanced at the vacant spot, his eyes dimming.
Daphne did too, though neither of them said a word.
As more students entered, the table gradually filled up.
The Bloody Baron drifted over, his voice low and solemn, "I heard… If he were sorted at Hogwarts, he would have been a Slytherin."
"Thank you," John replied quietly.
The Bloody Baron gave a small nod and floated away.
After a while, most people had arrived.
Even Harry—who was usually a latecomer to the Sorting Ceremony—was on time this year.
The woman who had replaced Hagrid at Hogsmeade Station entered and walked straight to the seat that had once belonged to Hagrid.
The unlucky first-years, still pale from the journey, were led in by Professor McGonagall, their long line coming to a stop.
Professor McGonagall brought out the Sorting Hat along with the stool, and the hat still looked as shabby and grimy as ever.
Clearly, the Weasley twins' dream of getting it cleaned during their school years had never come true.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, the Sorting Hat began to sing:
♫~In times of old when I was new
And Hogwarts barely started
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted:
United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning,
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach!"
The four good friends decided
And never did they dream that they
Might someday be divided,
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.~♪
At that line, John narrowed his eyes. It seemed like the Sorting Hat was trying to convey something different this year.
Meanwhile, the hat continued:
~♪Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry is purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name."
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot,
And treat them just the same."
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light,
For each of the four founders had
A House in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning, just like him,
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,
And taught them all she knew,
Thus the Houses and their founders
Retained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
For several happy years,
But then discord crept among us
Feeding on our faults and fears.~~♫♪
The Houses that, like pillars four,
Had once held up our school,
Now turned upon each other and,
Divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
Must meet an early end,
What with dueling and with fighting
And the clash of friend on friend
And at last there came a morning
When old Slytherin departed
And though the fighting then died out
He left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
Were whittled down to three
Have the Houses been united
As they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
And you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
Because that is what I'm for,...♫
It sounded like a warning of some sort. The Sorting Hat's voice grew louder as it sang.
It kept highlighting Slytherin's departure and break of friendship, drawing the Slytherin students' attention to its message.
♫~But this year I'll go further,
Listen closely to my song:
Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it's wrong,
Though I must fulfill my duty
And must quarter every year
Still I wonder whether Sorting
May not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within.
I have told you, I have warned you...
Heed it now, or suffer the pain...
Now, let the Sorting begin."~~♪♫
When the song ended, John heard the sharp sound of Malfoy's fist slamming the table.
"What does it mean? Is it saying Slytherin has let Hogwarts down?" Malfoy said darkly. "Or that we're going to split away?"
Daphne didn't look any better. In fact, all the students who had truly paid attention to the lyrics were visibly unsettled.
John glanced at the Sorting Hat. This ancient artifact of alchemy seemed to be hinting at something more.
Was it urging unity?
Referring to Voldemort's return? If that's the point, then it's good—or is it that old Dumbledore's yet another scheme to uplift the chosen one?
John narrowed his eyes, his fingers lightly rubbing his ring.
___________
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