Hello fellow fanfictioners, how was everyone's day? I'm sorry this is coming in so late at night (in my time zone anyway), but at least I got it in on a Friday (for my time zone)! I hope everyone's had a wonderful friday.

Also, this chapter was a horrific 2k+ words, a fact that I don't really like, since I usually try to stay close to 1k, but whatever.

A/N: I don't own Young Justice or Harry Potter.

Professor Lance began to explain the tenets of each House (which was most likely for the benefit of the Muggleborns, since most of the pure- and half-blooded children were already aware of the Houses' reputations) and talked a little about what would happen in a few minutes.

The skittish children were all but jumping off the walls at this point. The anticipation was getting to each of them! Some children were undoubtedly in the same position as Artemis, and some were as blissfully ignorant as one could be.

Just when it seemed like Professor Lance was about to open the doors to the Great Hall, she called out, "Artemis Crock, may I speak to you please?"

Every single one of the burning pairs of eyes that were once fixed with anticipation on the Great Hall doors suddenly swiveled in the way that only judgemental children can, and they all began to stare at Artemis. She felt her face get red and warm, but walked up to Professor Lance, who ushered her to the side, to speak privately.

When she got there, Artemis noticed a few things: the beautiful necklace around her neck that had a charm of a bird on it, Professor Lance's lilting perfume that made her smell like vanilla, and the stern, but not mean look on her face.

Lance took one look at Artemis and immediately told her, "Calm down, sweetie, you're not in trouble." At this, Artemis' heart slowed its rapid pounding, "I simply wanted to let you know that all our staff understands about the article that was sent out in the Prophet the other day. We understand from our own sources, that those pieces of information are untrue, and we've sent out other notices in other newspapers saying to disregard that article. I also understand, however, that children can be cruel and ignorant, so if anyone attempts to harm or abuse you, please know that you can tell your Head of House, when sorted, or any member of the staff your issues."

Artemis could almost feel tears welling at the corners of her eyes. She had to compose herself as she could feel her fears of her teachers failing her dissipating quickly.

Artemis responded to Lance as soon as she could, "Thank you, Professor Lance. That means a lot to me." The woman smiled and ushered Artemis back to the rest of the first-years, and she ran to join her new friends.

They looked at her curiously, but Professor Lance swiftly interrupted any attempt at conversation with her booming voice, "Welcome to Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry! May the sorting commence."

The professor swung open the grand doors, helped on the inside by two wizards. It opened onto probably the most beautiful scene Artemis had seen in her life.

It was a grand dining hall, with a seemingly open roof, and hundreds of floating candles dangling above their heads. The tables that were draped with tablecloths the colors of the respective houses were enormously long. The walk to where the old, raggedy Sorting Hat was seemed an almost impossible distance to make with Artemis' shaking legs. On every side, there was a roar of enthusiastic students trying to predict which students would be placed in their houses. Some pointed at first-years, knowing them from somewhere. Some pointed at Artemis and sneered. The cheering and noises lasted for the entire walk up to the Sorting Hat.

After the students had quieted down considerably, the Sorting Hat began to speak (which startled quite a few Muggleborns) and it spun a tale of the year that was to come. It was a melting pot of good, bad, pleasant, and unpleasant. But Artemis was sure that the one to control her own destiny was definitely not a worn piece of headwear.

Finally it was time for sorting, and the first name called out by Professor Lance was, "Ahm, Kaldur!"

There was an anticipatory silence as Kaldur smoothly walked up to sit on the three-legged stool, and Professor Lance dropped it on his head. The Hat hesitated for a few seconds, then struck up a conversation, which Artemis was not expecting it to do.

"Such brains and thirst for knowledge," the Sorting Hat began, "but also, a knowledge of when to fight for what is right. It is up to the wearer to distinguish between which is more important to them. Do you want to fight for what's moral, or discover what moral is for yourself?"

After a few seconds of Kaldur nodding to himself, the Sorting Hat spoke, "Jolly good then, GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindors erupted in applause and cheers, as Kaldur, grinning, gave the hat back to Lance, and walked over to the Gryffindors, who welcomed him with open, happy arms.

Then, a few more names were called, including a girl with remarkably pink hair named Kori, who was, with much deliberation, sorted into Hufflepuff. She caught Artemis' eye and, perfectly encompassing what she had just been sorted into, gave her a small smile, which Artemis returned.

Finally, it was Artemis' turn. When she heard her name called, her knees turned to jelly. Only sheer willpower propelled her legs forward to the stool. While she walked forward, she could hear a ton of whispers, all talking about her and that damn article. She wanted to yell (at them, at herself, in frustration) but she knew that would make a worse impression.

She could not have been more terrified. This one article of clothing, piece of sown-together, beaten up fabric would determine how she would proceed in life. It would either grant her freedom or lock the cage doors of her father's legacy.

Artemis had had time to think, though, and after hearing everything from everyone, she was able to form an opinion that wasn't informed by biased, malicious opinions.

Slytherin was a no for obvious reasons.

Ravenclaw was an option, considering that she was very skilled at a few spells (most of which were Dark Magic spells)

Professor Lance smiled at Artemis, who shuffled nervously (blood rushing in her ears, heart pounding wildly, sweat beading her neck) into the seat, and put the Sorting Hat on the girl's head.

Immediately, Artemis could hear the Hat's voice. "Ohhh, I know where I want to put you."

Of course, Artemis began to fear the worst. The dumb hat knew how good she was at Dark Magic, it knew that she had trained for years to play the part of the good Slytherin daughter. Artemis began to open her mouth, tears forming in the corners of her eyes, wanting to speak to the animate object who would determine her life.

But alas, the Sorting Hat cut her off before she could say anything, with the word, "GRYFFINDOR!", pouring out of its mouth.

Artemis started smiling like crazy, taking off the Hat and handing it to Lance, who smiled wordlessly at her, and practically skipped to the Gryffindor table. She immediately sat in front of Kaldur and next to this red haired teen who sent her a quick scowl. She ignored him (not letting anyone ruin what she dubbed 'the day she escaped the legacy of her father') and ignored Jade who was glaring daggers at her from the Great Hall.

She watched her House grow in size. She watched a tall, physically imposing, rugby-player looking (but very happy) kid join their ranks named Mal. She was next to (the red haired teenager who she learned was the Roy Harper moved to another seat) a smart red-haired girl named Barbara, seated in a wheelchair, who was very fun to talk to.

Then came Richard Grayson. Barbara seated next to her leaned over and told Artemis, "Dick's my childhood bestie. I couldn't find him on the train to say hi, and I had to get alternate transport across the lake, so I hope he gets sorted into Gryffindor."

Artemis nodded, and responded, "I guess I found him for you, he was in my and Kaldur's train compartment with Wally, Megan, Conner, and Zatanna. He definitely mentioned you."

Barbara blushed, and the two girls focused back on Dick's Sorting.

Dick Grayson, who Artemis learned on the train ride was a very rare magical prodigy who had been accepted a year earlier (so he was ten), looked probably the most confident out of all the first-years. He knew what qualities he valued, and he knew which House they corresponded to.

The boy strode up the stairs confidently and sat on the stool, hands clasped in his lap patiently.

The hat made a face that Artemis could only describe as recognition. It began to speak,

"Richard Grayson, you are exactly as your father was." Dick noticeably faltered, seemingly thinking of his biological dad, who Artemis knew to be a Muggle, "No, the adopted one. You have the lucky chance to be able to see what one House's end result was. Will you stay in his footsteps?

Dick nodded, almost solemnly, but with the hint of a grin on his face, and the Sorting Hat declared him GRYFFINDOR.

He gently handed the Sorting Hat to Professor Lance, and then ran over to the Gryffindor table amid cheers to give Barbara a huge hug. Then, he sat down next to her, and smiled at Artemis who grinned back.

A few more children were sorted. Gordon Gizmo, a short, pudgy boy was sorted into Slytherin. Lucy Jinks, the girl with the pink pigtails who had shoved someone into the lake, was unsurprisingly also sorted into Slytherin.

Then from Artemis' compartment group, there was Conner Kent, who, Artemis had suspected, would have a relatively normal sorting: short and with little words said.

And, to her surprise, the Sorting Hat agreed slightly with her, but then took it in a whole new direction. It rumbled, "This should be an easy choice, but I feel a darkness within. Something that could hurt or help you on your way to heroism. This is your choice, Conner Kent, not mine. But I know which House would help you finetune this darkness the most. "

Conner made an almost disgusted face, clearly rebelling against whatever choice the Sorting Hat had favored, probably Slytherin. Artemis wondered how bad the darkness in him was that the Sorting Hat needed to mention Slytherin to Conner. It continued, "So that's a no… alright then- GRYFFINDOR!"

A few more first-years came in between: Cameron Mahkent, who Artemis was very familiar with, sent her a wink, to which she scowled at; Garfield Logan: a child who, astoundingly, had green skin, which quickly vanished away into a neutral skin tone after he caught everyone staring at him. Megan, kept occupied in the crowd of first-years, seemed obviously delighted to have another Metamorphagi in her year, even if said Metamorphagi was sorted into Hufflepuff.

Next came Megan, who daintily sat down in the seat, crossing her legs as the Sorting Hat gave an almost smile and stated, "How refreshing it is to know that a fighter can value life so much."

Megan smiled happily as the hat bellowed, "GRYFFINDOR!"

At this point, the cries and cheers had dulled a little, as the rest of the Hogwarts students had begun to grow a little tired, but nevertheless, they kept going, screaming and cheering when a student had been placed in their Houses.

Even Artemis marveled at how long she had been able to cheer, with her voice becoming a little more hoarse after each new student was sorted.

To cut it short, the only memorable ones in between Megan and Wally were: Rachel Roth, who had curious gray skin but wasn't a Metamorphagi, who was sorted into Ravenclaw; Victor Stone, who must've been the tallest first-year among all of them, was sorted into Gryffindor. The blond twins that attempted to pelt rubber bands at Professor Lance were Tommy and Tuppence Terror (fitting last name), and they were sorted into Slytherin immediately.

Then, Wally went up. His carefree, joking nature was pretty much gone at this point, and he had his fingers crossed as he went up to the Sorting Hat.

Artemis felt a flutter in her chest (which was very unwelcome) and found herself hoping that Wally would get sorted into Gryffindor. She fended off that thought though, and attempted to convince herself that it was just because she didn't want him to be separated from his friends.

Wally sat himself down and closed his eyes as Professor Lance put the Sorting Hat on Wally's head.

The Hat hmmm'ed and said, "I understand now why you and Richard Grayson are friends. You share the same dilemma. Such a clever, creative mind? Will you squander it? Or could you use it in other pursuits?"

Wally smiled widely and said out loud (which he should've been embarrassed about, in Artemis' opinion because it was pretty weird), "I'll take Gryffindor." "GRYFFINDOR!"

He ran over to Dick, sitting next to him, and giving him a high-five.

After a few more sortings (Twins Joseph and Rose Wilson: Hufflepuff and Slytherin in that order, a blond American named Courtney Whitmore who, according to rumors, had moved with her family to Europe, and then enrolled in Hogwarts: Ravenclaw)

Finally, there was Zatanna, who, as soon as the Sorting Hat touched her head, it roared, "GRYFFINDOR!" and she bounded over to where Artemis was and sat next to her.

The two grinned at each other, and then turned to face the staff table as each of the teachers rose to welcome Giovanni Zatarra, the man fated to defeat the Dark Lord.

Who was also, coincidentally, the Hogwarts headmaster.

Professor Zatarra tapped his throat with his wand and spoke with a distinct Italian accent, "Sonorus."

Then, he boomed, "Good evening ladies and gentlemen! To our returning students: welcome back! To our new first-years, welcome to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! Our motto: Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus!"

Wow, I really don't like this chapter. But, it was one of the most plotty ones, so I had to get it over with. I promise next week will be a lot more entertaining, with a lot more engaging stuff than this chapter.

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Have a great weekend!