 Bathes in Maple Syrup | Dancing Lobster | Mrs. Charlie Weasley | Seneca's Beard | That's So Fetch
Rajan's eyes were glued to the enchanted ceiling overhead. The deep navy sky shimmered with stars, faintly glowing through wisps of shifting clouds. He'd heard plenty about the enchanted ceiling from Lavanya and Priyanka, of course, but seeing it in person? That was something else entirely. Their descriptions of it, though rather detailed, clearly hadn't done it justice.
With his surname being far into the alphabet, he had much time to entertain himself with his own thoughts. Who enchanted the ceiling to be that way? he asked himself as he continued to stare up at the ceiling with a craned neck. Do the stars change for different seasons? What if there's a storm? Does it— Are those candles charmed to avoid dripping wax?
"Patil, Rajan!"
The call of his name snapped him out of his thoughts. He stood frozen for a moment before he was given an encouraging nudge. Slowly, he made his way to the stool, his black curls bouncing slightly with each step. He could feel hundreds of eyes on him, and his ears burned with the attention.
The Sorting Hat was placed on his head, and almost immediately, he heard a voice in his ear.
"Well, well, what have we here? Another Patil, eh? Let's see what this mind of yours has to offer... A strong sense of fairness and a desire to help others. You'd do well in Hufflepuff... Hmm... Slytherin wouldn't be unkind to someone like you either... Your ambition, determination, resourcefulness—yes, yes, I see that too."
Rajan's shoulders relaxed slightly. He had been so worried about this moment, but somehow the hat's voice was oddly comforting. Even so, the gears in his mind were turning the more the hat spoke about him. Whoa! How is it possible for you to know so much about me? How does that work? Is it Legilimency? No, wait, don't answer that. Or do! Actually, how is it—
"But no, I see it clearly now. You want to learn, to explore, to grow. Quite a clever one, aren't you? And curious. Oh, such curiosity! Always asking questions, always seeking to understand the why and how. You have a thirst for knowledge that rivals the best of them. You belong in..."
The pause felt like a lifetime. Rajan held his breath.
"RAVENCLAW!"
The table housing those adorned in blue-and-bronze erupted in applause and cheers. Relief mingled with pride as Rajan removed the Sorting Hat and slid off the stool. A grin tugged at the corner of his lips as he made his way to the Ravenclaw table.
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