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Chapter 4 - Chapter 4:A talking hat

The Great Hall stretched before them like a cathedral bathed in candlelight, the floating flames flickering like fireflies suspended in reverence. Above, the enchanted ceiling mirrored the heavens—a sky brushed with moonlight and drifting clouds, uncannily reminiscent of the open night Illuna once saw in Petra, a place carved from red stone and memory.

A warm wind blew through the great hall the warmth stirred the long house banners overhead, making them ripple softly as if exhaling along with the castle itself, banishing the cold from their robes and beginning colour back to their faces. Illuna smiled appreciating the subtle kindness. All the while noting a subtle scent of food, thigh none was in sight.

All eyes fell on the clusters of first-years. Some older students watched with warm amusement, others with narrowed, critical stares. A low murmur filled the hall—excitement, hushed bets, stomachs growling faintly in anticipation of the feast.

The thousands of eyes made Illuna slightly anxious her arms crossed but her stance remained loose, for the first time she missed her cats midnights presence. Let's hope she behaves within under the care of the house-elf's.

"I shall call your name, you shall come forth, and I will place the sorting hat upon your head, and you'll be sorted into your houses! " Professor McGonagall announced, unfurling a parchment that glowed faintly at the edges. "now then… Abbott, Hannah! "she called out

The student stumbled forward tripping over herself. Luckily she made it to the teacher in the front and the sorting hat was lowered upon her head. The Hat's voice boomed louder than Illuna expected—raspy and theatrical, like an actor who'd seen too many battles

"HUFFLEPUFF !"

"Boot. Terry!!" the next first year was called

"RAVENCLAW! "

James looked over at his black haired friend with a smirk "I bet I won't even stay under the hat a second before it calls Gryffindor," James said, grinning.

His friend responded with a grin of his own "then I'll get sorted even faster then that" he accepts James's challenge.

Illuna looked confused, this didn't really seem like a challenge of skill, why would they make it?

Looking around Illuna could see her fellow first years, some were trembling, excitement or fear she didn't know, others looked expectant. But James, he had the biggest grin on his face, as if his house was already decided.

His long haired friend on the other hand seemed rather anxious, but at least he was determined.

"Black Sirius! " The name was familiar, she looked up and James's friend walked up. Wait he can't be Sirius Black why would the black and potter family be so close?

She watched him stride to the hat with equal hesitantly and boldness. He sat down, as the sorting hat touched his messy hair, it went silent and pondered, abruptly it shook with barely restrained laughter for a few seconds before shouting "GRYFFINDOR"

Illuna was stunned, she never expected a black would go to Gryffindor , and from the looks on the Slytherin their table, neither did they.

Illuna was broken our of her inner thoughts heard a familiar name echoed~

"Evens. Lily! "her name echoing though the hall

Illuna glanced at her friend, only to see Severus instead, he pointed towards the front, Lily was already halfway there. Perhaps it was her courage, or maybe it was her anxiety that made her walk that fast. Lily's fists clenched like she was bracing for a fight.

Illuna attempted to cheer her on with a soft "go" that Severus, standing right next to her could barely hear.

The hat went over her eyes, covering her view of the grand hall. It stayed on for several painstaking minutes, that seemed to contain Lily's frustration as her mouth went into a scowl several times.

Soon it yelled "GRYFFINDOR"

Lily basically stomped her way to the Gryffindor table, her face still slightly red from anger, but after hearing the cheers from her table she blushed in embarrassment about her attitude, what did it matter if she wasn't sorted with Sev, they would still be friends.

Illuna looked at Severus after seeing Lily, he seemed to take this news quite a bit worse then Lily herself did though he hid It well.

Illuna reached out to hold his shoulder but stopped herself, and just resorted to saying "she'll still talk to you, you know."

He responded, quietly, too quietly for her liking "you don't know that"

Illuna remained quite, she was never good at comforting so she resorted to patting him on the back.

After a what felt like a small amount of time, Illuna heard her name. She was somewhat relieved, suspense was no ones friend.

"HEART. ILLUNA" Illuna began walking towards the hat, but on her way she couldn't help but hear some people talk around her

"Another Heart? The alchemy Hearts?"

"Shame about her father…"

Illuna lips pursed as she heard what they said, her fists clenching despite her effort to keep her emotions in check, it stung more then she thought it would. She wasn't the only one that heard the murmur's. Soon some murmurs began circulating, but it stopped after a stern word from professor McGonagall.

Illuna sat in the old chair in the front, it's legs creaking under her weight hall, all eyes were on her as the hat was lowered onto her head, making her feel anxious at all the attention. The pressure of so many stares lifted, replaced by the musty, enclosing stillness beneath the leathery sorting hat.

The hat's brim brushed her ears as it settled on her head. Its leather was cracked and warm, smelling of dust, aged parchment, and something faintly herbal—like dried thyme in a forgotten cupboard. A slight pressure settled around her temples, as if someone was sifting gently through her memories.

"I can't be that old" she heard it comment in her head

"are you not basically as old as Hogwarts itself?" she sent a question too it.

"well aren't you rude, I'll have you know I'm at least a few decades younger then Hogwarts"

"what's a few decades to a century" the hat seemed appalled, but quickly sprang back.

"well then let's no waste more time and dig deeper into what you are"

It hummed "hmm, ambitious, trying to explore the world, but not out of hunger for power"

Illuna stayed silent

It thought some more "brave enough to face all obstacles"

She nodded along, you will

It smiled "as kind as Hufflepuff herself, she would adore you, despite your sharp tongue"

Illuna blushed a bit and tried to remain stoic.

Finally he smirked "all of this born out of curiosity for he world"

"RAVENCLAW!!" she didn't expect otherwise but the hats thought process was still refreshing.

She walked to her table as they cheered, which she was slightly grateful for, a far cry from the whispers and rumour's she was expecting . She sat down and glanced over at her remaining friend that has yet to be sorted, no doubt he would argue just as great if not fierce with the sorting hat then Lily did.

The next person who caught her attention would be James potter, even if she hadn't met him on the train she would have still noticed, he carried

himself with a natural charisma that few had.

He sat on the creaky chair and just as promised the hat barely touched his head before yelling out "Gryffindor!"

The red house clapped from him as he strode towards black, Lily seemed a little annoyed but Illuna would guess she was rather more worried about what might happen to Severus in the sorting.

After a bit time, Severus name was called, he walked up to the front with false arrogance his posture perfect and eyes cold.

The hat, just like Lily, seemed to have an argument with Severus, probably him trying to be with Lily. But unexpectedly he relented much faster, and let the hat decide his fate.

"SLYTHERIN!" it yelled and Illuna nodded, not surprised.

Severus made to his table where they clapped for him.

Now sitting here, Illuna could tell how some students were bored, and slightly irritated, everyone was hungry and waiting for the sorting to end to eat.

And soon it did with the last first year being called up :

"Argentina. Zeal! "

With him quickly being sorted into Hufflepuff.

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