Rigel had to admit, the great hall was much more than just large, it was magnificent.
That gigantic place, with 4 tables lined up vertically in the center and another one at the far end of the room horizontally, clearly the Professors' table, above them, lit candles floated, but they were clearly more decorative than anything else.
The sky above them was what truly illuminated them, clearly a projection of the starry sky outside, even the bright moon was visible.
"It's enchanted to look like the sky outside. I read in Hogwarts: A History." Rigel heard a girl whisper, it was low, but still loud enough for most of them to hear. He knew it must be Hermione, he hadn't recognized her until then. He turned his head to take a closer look at the girl.
Looking at her, Rigel realized she resembled the one in the film, her hair full of volume, her front teeth long like a rabbit's, her nervous face trying to hide her fear. Rigel looked away and saw Ron and Harry. Ron looked very much like the twins, the same hair, the same freckles, but a smaller and slightly chubbier version, clearly still retaining some baby fat.
Harry, on the other hand, also looked like the one in the film, although his eyes were deep green, very beautiful, if Rigel had to say so. Rigel looked away, he only glanced quickly, and the children were too nervous to pay attention.
When they arrived in front of the auditorium, the group was already clearly confused, there, only an old, worn hat remained on a wooden stool.
McGonagall already knew what was going to happen, so she took a few steps to the side, and just as expected, the hat moved.
Unlike in the movie, the hat didn't just use its folds as a face, instead, there were actual features opening up in the hat, forming its eyes and mouth.
And then he sang.
"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hat is sleek and tall.
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwells the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart,
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil,
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
They will always find their kind,
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their goals.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
When the music ended, amidst applause from the four houses and the confused looks of the first-year students, some joining in the applause, albeit a little bewildered, the hat bowed to the four tables, one from each house.
"Is that all? Wearing a hat?" Draco seemed offended, but inside he was relieved, thinking about the stories he'd heard. He really didn't want to fight a giant or a troll, but he didn't let it show. "How boring. I thought we'd have to fight dragons, in that case, you'd see how powerful I am."
Rigel was really getting tired of that braggart, luckily, he wasn't planning on going to Slytherin, although he had to admit that Draco was the final straw, he didn't want to spend seven years listening to that guy brag.
The next moment, McGonagall stepped forward, picking up the hat in one hand, with a list already in the other. "When I call your name, you will step forward and sit on the stool."
The group shifted restlessly, nervous, hoping their names wouldn't be called first.
"Abbott. Hannah." McGonagall called.
A girl with rosy cheeks and blonde pigtails stumbled out of the line, put on the hat, which sank straight into her eyes, and sat down. They both remained quiet for a moment, Rigel realized that the conversation with the hat was purely mental, not like in the film where it talked all the time.
— HUFFLEPUFF! — the Sorting Hat announced loudly.
The table to the right clapped loudly, and Hannah, excited, quickly ran over there.
"Black... Rigel." McGonagall continued, taking a moment to pronounce Rigel's name.
Yes, Rigel expected this, her list was in alphabetical order by last name, so it's no surprise that Rigel was one of the first.
The students didn't seem much different with the call, although some Slytherin students recognized Rigel and some of the Professors acted a little strangely, thankfully no student was actually looking at them.
Snape frowned.
Dumbledore adjusted his posture.
McGonagall pretended to be normal after her slight pause following the mention of Rigel's last name.
Quirrell reacted the most, his expression showing evident pain for a moment, before his gaze changed completely, becoming serious and threatening, staring at Rigel with a persistent look. It lasted only a few seconds before Quirrell returned, now paler and more trembling than usual.
Quirrell was confused, very confused as to why the Dark Lord was so interested in Rigel, but at that moment, during that brief moment, Harry wasn't having fun, feeling his scar aching quite a bit, he put his hand to his forehead and frowned, letting out a brief murmur of pain.
Snape stopped looking at Rigel and focused his eyes on Harry, frowning, worried, but it was at that moment that Harry raised his head, with Snape's gaze meeting his, Harry saw only a frown from Snape looking directly at him.
Thus began the misunderstanding that would last for years.
Rigel, on the other hand, did not linger. Walking forward with a measured posture, he sat down on the stool while the hat slipped down over his head, covering his eyes.
Outside, the adventure book opened again, but Rigel couldn't see anything.