Aries had been trying to compose himself ever since encountering Hagrid. Of all the things he had expected from Hogwarts, Hagrid was so far the only thing that had defied every one of his expectations.
To say he was nervous about the Sorting would be an understatement. His parents had followed in the tradition of telling him nothing of the ceremony and what it involved. No matter what research he had tried, he hadn't been able to get hold of something that would warn him of what was to be expected.
The dark-haired boy's comment (Potter boy? Aries had heard whispers...) didn't help matters at all.
Before he could reply, the professor was shushing the Potter boy (which didn't seem to phase him -- the smug smirk stayed in place) and commanding them to follow in two rows. Aries allowed his gaze to stray upward past the floating candles and to the ceiling up above. The stars were clearly visible through the ceiling save for a few that were obscured by a cloud.
The amount of power needed for a spell on that scale was mind boggling to him.
While he had been watching the ceiling, their little procession had been brought up short at the front of the hall.
In the perfect position, he noticed, for over a hundred students to stare at him. He felt his mouth run dry.
Directly behind him, he could hear the Potter boy muttering more about the Sorting and what he'd heard about the strict requirements for getting into one of the four houses. He almost wanted to turn around and sock the boy for setting his nerves on edge, but the professor who had led them out was now placing a stool down. And... placing a burnt and battered hat on top of it?
There was a bewildering song as the hat sprang to life, and then came the names.
One after another his fellow first years stepped hesitantly forward to have their go at sitting on the stool and having the hat shout out one of the four houses.
"Ravenclaw!" "Hufflepuff!"
Almost too soon the professor read out, "Greengrass, Aries," and it was his turn.
As the brim of the hat fell down over his eyes, Aries stiffened, waiting for it to shout out a house name. Instead he felt an uncomfortable sensation in the back of his mind as a voice started up.
"Nervous, are you?" asked the voice. "You wouldn't be the first... now let me see. Ah, this won't be hard. Shrewd, are you? Have some ambition, too, I see. Expect a lot, as well. About as characteristic as you can get for..."
"SLYTHERIN!"
Aries nearly fell off his chair as the sorting hat shouted out loud. Instead, bewildered and out of sorts, he managed to get it from his head and stumble toward the table that had just burst into applause.