An active, character-driven Hogwarts experience set in the early 2000s. Unique items, plots, and features. Non-canon; this isn't Harry Potter's story, it's ours.
After finishing the gardening, Alice went near the tall statue holding a roll of parchment. The gossip about the sorting hat wanting to talk about sorting song is not a secret. She was excited for a speaking sorting at during the sorting ceremony, but now the hat wants to discuss the song. It would be really fun.
This is the first time she is going to meet the headmaster. She doesn't know much about him, according to gossips he became headmaster this year only, nothing else she knew. She could just hope he is nice.
She notice a door near the status, maybe this is the door, she is looking for. She knock on the door slowly and waited for a reply to come.
Last Edit: Jan 3, 2022 23:34:17 GMT 10 by Lena: Fixed: formatting error
He was quite surprised anyone had knocked on his door on Christmas Eve, though not everyone celebrated such and he knew some took the spare time to be productive. He hoped that was the case, and not that Peeves had done something absurd for the fourth time today.
Rickard was sat at his desk, though no paperwork was in sight. He had a book beside him, and a goblet of pink drink, enjoying some semi-productive time off himself. He didn't mind the company though, glancing up to see who'd knocked on his door -- and awaiting an explanation for the visit.
Alice peeked inside a little to see the headmaster sitting calmly at his desk. She walked inside further where he could also see her.
He was looking very relaxed although she wasn't sure if it is because of Christmas or he always remain like this.
"Headmaster, I have heard that you need some volunteers to help arrange the books. I came to volunteer for that if still required", then her voice decrease a little, "Because I don't have anything else to do on Christmas Eve"
'Very well,' Rickard said. He indicated to a wall that was entirely bookshelves, though were mostly bare. Some wooden crates sat off to the side, filled with books.
'Decorating charms. The crates may seem never-ending,' he explained, retrieving his reading book with the intention of resuming it. 'Arrange them alphabetically, by author. You can work for as short or long as you wish, and leave of your own accord.'
The wall was rather tucked away at the other end of the office, providing Alice with the privacy to work without interrupting Rickard or being overheard. Somewhere around the middle, out of reach but able to be easily conversed with, was the Sorting Hat. It was still and quiet, yet the folds of its "eyes" and "mouth" fidgeted enough to let the Gryffindor know it was aware of her presence.
Alice's eyes were a little dilated. She has seen so many books at the same place for the first time in her life. Although Headmaster did say it is a decoration charm but still how can somebody handle seating near so many books around.
She slowly walk towards the wall and felt a gaze on her. She turn her face in the direction to find the hat there. She remembered the hat from her starting ceremony.
"Hello, You remember me? You sorted me into my house", She said casually. Talking to a hat would be the last thing to do for normal people. But since she got her Hogwarts letter, nothing remain normal in her life.
'Yes, I remember you, Alice Jane,' the hat answered. 'I remember each and every student I've sorted here at Hogwarts.'
It went quiet again, watching her casually. It was a simple enough question, with no need to elaborate, yet she retained its attention -- almost as if it was waiting for more questions, or simply engaged in the conversation.
Alice sat down and picked some books to sort them but still, she could feel hat's gaze fixed on her. It was making her uncomfortable.
"Hey hat, Can I call you just hat or what would you like to be called? You said during the sorting ceremony that you are thousands of years old. It is true, then exactly when you are born? I mean created?"
Just then she remembered something else also, "At that time, you also said something about stories remain untold. Which stories are they?"
'I have no preference,' the hat said, regarding what it ought to be called. It was surprised to be asked though, and gave the Gryffindor an intrigued look.
'I am a thousand years old. Plucked from Godric Gryffindor's head himself,' the hat answered. 'It was he who enchanted me, to ensure their legacy may continue on even if they didn't. Yes... I've sorted so many.'
It paused, considering its own long history. Normally it required more, but today it felt rather chatty. Perhaps it was the approach of mealtime that prompted it? Or perhaps something about the way Alice looked, or asked, made it furthermore contemplative.
'I've also seen many Headmasters and Headmistresses come and go, with each their own styles and ambitions,' the hat glanced at the room. It was so different from Dumbledore's office, yet Alice wouldn't know about that -- being a first year. 'Change, I am used to. Even if this is the first I've been moved to an entirely different office.'
It raised and "eyebrow" at her next questions. 'The founders shared many stories during and of their time at Hogwarts, yet a great many more were never told -- intended for those worthy of such,' it said. 'I suppose they thought it wouldn't take a thousand years to understand.'
The hat's tone changed, as if trying to impart a message to Alice that wasn't revealed in its words. 'Some of those stories remain in the magic of the castle, in the secret tunnels and hidden rooms, yet also in you. In their legacies. The founders may be dead and gone, yet in you a part of their existence lives on. That legacy is more powerful and special than you know.'
It went quiet for a moment. Long enough that Alice would either feel the seconds dragging on or may be tempted to sort some books just to pass the time.
'I cannot simply impart these stories. The founders had as many secrets as they did knowledge of magic. They needed far longer time than they were given to impart it all to their students. Perhaps they left enough behind,' the hat said.
Another quiet moment passed.
'Many Headmasters have certainly tried to devise the meaning and uncover the secret knowledge or magic of their founders but...no, they never did find the founding artefacts.' It was still rather contemplative, yet something about its tone sounded important.
Alice was casually talking to the hat doing the sorting work also.
"Entirely different office? Is the current headmaster very different from all the previous ones?"
She was sorting books but when the hat's tone changed, she had to stop. Secret tunnels, hidden rooms and you. That was the weird one.
The hat went silent and Alice was just processing all this. The castle is huge so maybe it could have some secret rooms but what about legacy. Does that mean decedent of founders but she is not a decedent of anybody or could she be. She doesn't know anything about her mother except that she was a witch. Could she be a decedent of someone important. Or is there any other meaning of what the hat said?
When the hat speak again, now she had a reply, "Maybe it was not supposed to be found by them, that's why they failed"
She turned to look directly at the hat, "What are those founding artefacts? What they are capable to do? And where can one find them?"
She couldn't determine the exact reason, but the hat didn't answer after that. It remained still and quiet, as if it were any ordinary hat sitting on a bare shelf.
It clearly heard her, though either chose not to reveal anything else or perhaps it was not meant to be the source of further information. Wherever the truth and task lay ahead, it was up to Alice to figure it out if she wished to discover more.
Meanwhile, Rickard turned another page of his book -- showing no signs of having heard the conversation or if he noticed Alice was occupied with something other than arranging books of Decorating Charms.
Alice was confused with the hat's sudden silence. How could he leave her in this cliffhanger. He or it whatever.
She looked towards professor Rickard considering that maybe the professor had seen them that's why he stopped but that wasn't the case.
She finished the books near her and put all of them back on shelves.
"Thanks for telling me about these artefacts?", She said and went near to Professor Rickard. "Professor, I have sorted some of the books, but it's going to be dark soon. So, I should go"
Thanking him, she silently walks out of the room.
Last Edit: Jan 5, 2022 0:04:16 GMT 10 by Alice Jane
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