Chapter 170: The Song (1/2)
”He's not there,” said Harry as Chris, Ginny, Colin, Neville, Hermione and Ron sat down on the Gryffindor table at Great Hall.
”He can't have left,” said Ron, sounding slightly anxious scanning the staff table as well for Hagrid.
”Of course he hasn't,” said Harry firmly.
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”You don't think he's . . . hurt, or anything, do you?” said Hermione uneasily.
”Of course not. Relax Hermione.” Chris said. ”I think, he's not back yet. You know — from his mission — the thing he was doing over the summer for Dumbledore.”
”Yeah . . . yeah, that'll be it,” said Ron, sounding reassured.
”Who's that?” Hermione pointed at the staff table.
Chris finally turned to check the staff table. Professor Dumbledore was sitting in his high-backed golden chair at the centre of the long staff table, wearing deep-purple robes scattered with silvery stars and a matching hat. Dumbledore's head was inclined toward the woman sitting next to him, who was talking into his ear. She was rather squat with a broad, flabby face, as little neck, and a very wide, slack mouth. Her eyes were large, round, and slightly bulging, with short, curly, mouse-brown hair in which she had placed a horrible pink Alice band that matched the fluffy pink cardigan she wore over her robes.
”It's that Umbridge woman!” Harry said suddenly.
”Who?” Hermione and Ginny spat together, looking terrified.
”Who?” Chris asked quietly, eyes still fixed at woman and Dumbledore.
”She was at my hearing, she works for Fudge!” Harry replied looking surprised.
”Are you ok, Hermione?” Ron asked.
Chris looked at Hermione and saw her pale face. Ginny was looking angry.
”You alright, Hermione?” Chris said firmly and Hermione looked up at her. Chris gave Hermione a warning look and Hermione controlled herself.
”Yea... I'm fine... Just hungry.” Hermione said with a small voice.
”Me too,” Ginny said glaring at Chris.
Harry and Ron looked at each other but before they could ask anything the doors from the entrance hall opened. A long line of scared-looking first years entered, led by Professor McGonagall, who was carrying a stool on which sat an ancient wizard's hat, heavily patched and darned with a wide rip near the frayed brim.
Every year the sorting hat had sung different songs but Chris never paid any attention to it, not even when she was one of the first years.
So this year her plan was the same, however this year the song intrigued her.
The rip near the hat's brim opened wide like a mouth and the Sorting Hat burst into song:
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.
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