The Sorting of Two Brothers
"Follow me in two lines," said McGonagall as she entered the Great Hall, walking ahead of the children with her firm step and stern gaze.
The moment they crossed the threshold, Harry and Percy stopped for an instant, amazed by the sheer size of the place. Four long tables stretched across the room, packed with students who watched them with curiosity—and, in some cases, pride—at the arrival of the new first-years.
They could immediately notice the differences between each table: the colors of the robes, the crests embroidered on them, even the general atmosphere seemed to reflect distinct personalities. That so-called "house pride" wasn't just a rumor; it felt like a living tradition within the castle.
Percy, however, quickly turned his attention upward. The ceiling was filled with hundreds of floating candles that bathed the hall in a soft, warm light, while above them stretched a starry night sky that looked infinite. Obviously, it was a work of magic.
"I read in the Hogwarts books that the ceiling is enchanted to show the sky outside," said Hermione in a rather proud tone, clearly pleased to share her knowledge first.
"Mmm," Percy murmured distractedly. "Wouldn't it be easier to just remove the ceiling altogether?"
Hermione stared at him, completely taken aback. She didn't answer—not because she lacked an explanation, but because, somehow, replying felt beneath her dignity.
Harry, meanwhile, let his gaze wander over the tables. He could feel the weight of the stares directed at him; many already seemed to know who he was, and it made him far more uncomfortable than he wanted to admit. His attention then moved to the front of the hall, where a fifth, elevated table gathered the teachers. At its center sat the Headmaster, smiling kindly and serenely, watching the students as if he truly was glad to see them all there.
…
POV PERCY:
Wow. I'm really here. A school of magic. Who would've believed it? Well, I guess it's not that strange, considering my mom's an amazing witch and my aunt is some kind of magical monster… although I still don't get why everyone's so afraid of her. Okay, maybe I do. When she pinches my cheeks for teasing her about her age, her fingers feel like metal clamps.
But aside from that, what I'm seeing right now is incredible. I mean, I've already witnessed plenty of crazy magical stuff—Dred, our cousin trapped on that island that only Harry and I can enter; my grumpy goblin teacher; those knights with ridiculously cool armor; and Aunt Mor… well, she's everything but normal.
But this—a singing hat? For the love of gods.
Would religion even get along with wizards? I mean, even I, who barely pay attention in class, remember that bit about witch burnings. Wait… if people find out we're wizards, would they try to burn us? That's… concerning.
Where was I? Oh, right. The song.
It's not as good as I expected. Honestly, I sing better when I'm in the shower. End of report.
…
POV HARRY:
Aaah… Percy's probably thinking nonsense again.
…
"I will now call your names," announced McGonagall solemnly, holding a long parchment in her hands. "When you hear yours, come forward and place the Sorting Hat on your head. It will decide which house you belong to."
At that, several students let out a sigh of relief.
"Great, I really thought we'd have to fight a troll," said Ron, sounding both disappointed and relieved.
Percy chuckled softly; though deep down, he thought it would've been fun to fight one. But Aunt Mor never let them face anything "too dangerous." Only ugly frogs with red pustules on their foreheads, spiky rats, and… well, a few other things he preferred not to recall for the sake of his mental health.
"Anna Abbott," read McGonagall, and the first girl climbed up nervously.
"Hey, Harry, what house do you think we'll get?" asked Percy for the first time, sounding a little worried—maybe afraid they'd be separated.
Harry looked at him and shook his head; he had no idea how this was going to turn out.
"I hope I end up in Gryffindor," Ron said quickly. "I wouldn't want to end up with the snakes," he added, shivering slightly.
As they talked, several students had already been sorted, including Hermione, who had gone to Gryffindor looking quite proud of herself.
"Ronald Weasley," announced McGonagall.
Ron stiffened, took a deep breath, and walked toward the stool with hesitant steps. He sat down and waited while the professor placed the hat on his head.
Harry and Percy watched closely. A few seconds passed that felt like forever, until the hat suddenly shouted:
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table erupted into cheers and applause. Ron's brothers greeted him with wide smiles and immediately ruffled his hair as soon as he sat down.
"Harry Potter," said McGonagall next.
The Great Hall fell silent in an instant. Every student—and even the teachers—turned to look at him.
Percy gave him a teasing smile, offering silent encouragement. Harry took a deep breath and walked to the stool, trying to stay calm. He sat down, and the hat descended gently onto his head.
The moment it touched him, a voice echoed inside his mind:
"Mmm… this is fascinating," murmured the Sorting Hat. "You're one of the few with such a strong connection to all four houses at once. Not impossible, but certainly rare. Each of them resonates within you in perfect balance. Truly fascinating."
The hat paused for a moment before continuing:
"Still, some parts of you flow more freely than others. That fire you keep under control—very Gryffindor. That thirst for knowledge, that desire to grow stronger—but you seek strength for protection, not pride. You care more about your family than yourself. Not many think that way."
There was a brief silence.
"Is there a house you wish to go to?" the hat suddenly asked.
"Huh? I can choose?" Harry replied, confused.
"Everyone can," said the voice softly. "They just don't usually ask. But in your case… it's complicated. We could sit here for hours, so I'll give you a lesson. Choose carefully… because the house you pick will shape the destiny you follow."
The last sentence sounded different; the Hat's voice seemed to change, resonating deeper, older, as if something—or someone—else had spoken through it for a brief moment, only to fade and return control to the Hat itself.
Harry frowned, confused by the words echoing inside his mind. Meanwhile, the rest of the students watched him with anticipation; none of them could hear his conversation with the Hat, but everyone could tell it was taking longer than usual.
Several minutes passed in silence. A faint murmur rippled through the Great Hall, and even Dumbledore lifted his gaze toward Harry, his eyes filled with a strange mix of curiosity, tension… and a hint of nervousness.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the Sorting Hat finally shouted.
The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers.
"We've got Potter!" yelled the Weasley twins, raising their arms beside Ron, who clapped with enthusiasm. The other houses also applauded, though with less excitement.
Harry removed the Hat and stepped down from the stool with a serious expression, though his eyes softened when they met his brother's. He gave Percy a brief nod before heading to his seat, trying to remain calm as the celebration continued around him.
Percy caught that look and his brother's subtle gesture. He wanted nothing more than to run up to him and ask what had happened, but he knew it wasn't the right time.
"Percy Jackson!" called McGonagall.
Percy climbed up with confident steps and sat down, allowing the Sorting Hat to descend onto his head.
"Hmm… you really are like your brother," murmured the voice in his mind. "Though you seem to act before thinking a bit more often."
"Or maybe he's like me, only he thinks too much," replied Percy with a mischievous smile.
The Hat let out a soft chuckle. "Hahaha… that might be true. I see a lot of courage in you, and great determination. Your mother must have raised you well. But it's not just bravery for fighting—it's bravery for protecting those you care about. That kind of courage is special."
The Hat paused for a moment, as if reflecting. "Hufflepuff would be a good choice for you; you'd make many friends there. Gryffindor wouldn't be a bad fit either. Ravenclaw… no, definitely not. And Slytherin…" the tone grew uncertain. "You have a spark of what it takes, though I can't quite grasp that part of you. But… there's no need for me to decide, is there? You already have."
"Obviously," Percy replied with conviction. "I can't be far from my little brother; he gets lonely too easily without me."
The Hat seemed to smile in silence. "Hehehe… then it's settled. Gryffindor will once again gain two very troublesome brothers."
"GRYFFINDOR!" the Hat roared.
The applause returned, louder than before. Percy took off the Hat and stepped down from the stool with a broad smile, walking toward the table of his new house. When he arrived, he sat beside Harry, who greeted him with a genuine smile.
For a moment, the two remained silent, gazing up at the enchanted ceiling that still showed the starry night sky. Harry smiled again, relieved to have his brother by his side; though deep down, a part of him was still thinking about the words the Hat had whispered to him… and the conversation he knew he'd have to share with Percy later.
AUTHOR'S NOTE (a bit long):
I'll be honest. At first, I had planned to send both of them to Hufflepuff; I even wrote an entire timeline of how their storylines would go there. I liked the idea of that house representing unity, humility, and teamwork—it fit perfectly with their upbringing under Sally Jackson.
But at the last moment, I reconsidered. There are stories that can only be told in Gryffindor, and it would've been a waste not to explore them. Changing their fate wasn't a light decision, but it was a necessary one.
In all my previous stories, I always ended up sidelining Ron. Not because I disliked him, but because the circumstances—or the new protagonists—pushed him out of the spotlight. Yet in the books, Ron isn't nearly as bad or as simple as many remember. He's loyal, brave, stubborn, and human. That's why this time, I want to give him something he never got before: redemption.
Gryffindor will be different here. It won't just be the house of reckless bravery, but the house of conscious courage—the kind born from love, empathy, and the will to protect, not merely to fight. With Harry and Percy in it, the house stops being a symbol of pride and becomes one of growth.
The Potter-Jackson brothers will be the prelude to a change within Hogwarts itself. They'll bring not only a new kind of strength but a different understanding of magic and heroism. They'll transform Gryffindor from the inside out, showing that true courage isn't about facing monsters, but about caring for others and staying true to yourself, even when the world falls apart.
So please don't burn me at the stake. Haha.