✔ fifth video;

[mapmaker]

[ He's so startled by the hat landing on his head that he switches to video midway through attempting to send a message. Instead of panicking though, he simply smiles. ]

I think you'll find you've already done me. Quite a while ago, in fact. [ The hat ignores him but Remus doesn't seem to mind, just sits still at his desk - covered in paper and books and so many quills - until it makes it's decision. GRYFFINDOR! ]

Well good, I didn't want to go through a crisis of identity. You can be on your way now, people to sort and all. [ His smile widens when the hat flies off his head and back out of his window before realising the feed is running. ] Ah! Hullo, sorry. [ Clearing his throat. ] I imagine Ginny's been on hand to answer questions, but if any of you'd like to talk about the Sorting Hat then I am also available.

[ He can't just become a recluse now, can he? ]

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[velveteenwolf]

Okay, I'll bite.

[Guess who else has been sorted.]

So, uh, what's a Gryffindor, and should I be concerned? Is it contagious?

[mapmaker]

Oh, is that where the Sorting Hat placed you?

[ Remus runs in the same circles as Peter and they've talked before. He doubts he's done very much to get in with him though - maybe this will be a boost of friendship. ] Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!

[ He beams because this is something normal to him, something natural. ] Our school is divided into four houses. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin. The hat looks into your ... well, your head and decides what characterises you the best. Gryffindor's are brave and chivalrous and almost kind to each other. But we can be impetuous too. That might not be obvious from me but it is a trait. My friends would make it fairly obvious.

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[hexuality]

[And from the living room, there's a roar of: GRYFFINDOR! Because of course this flat is full of lions and the Hat sailed out of his window and right into another.

Ginny's laughter soon follows.]

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[mapmaker]

[ He pads out of his bedroom/study - because even without school he still likes to learn, finds Ginny with a smile on his face. ]

So we don't have to change the colour scheme of things?

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[hexuality]

[Her hair is a little mussed from the Hat and it's already bounced its way out the window to go Sort someone else. She's grinning, sitting on the arm of the sofa.]

I would have moved out from the shame.

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[mapmaker]

I imagine my lot would have found a way to burst through the walls of this place just to give me grief about it.

[ He's beaming though, fond for a moment because it's certainly done something to abate his homesickness. Taking the arm chair, Remus tucks his feet underneath him and rubs lightly at his nose. ] I wonder what it's doing here.

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[hexuality]

I don't know. [She looks thoughtful, pushing her hand through her hair and fingers tangling with the ends.] It's nice to see a piece of home, in a way. And to talk about it.

[She chuckles.]

It's always been so normal to us, but everyone seems to be a bit confused. Or bothered. The Hat's the most harmless thing in the castle.

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[luxuryflower]

[She doesn't recognise him. No, she has in fact no idea that he's the boy she spoke to the previous weekend.]

My question may be simple, but it has taken a hold of me quite efficiently and refuses to let go.

[velveteenwolf]

I guess. Though, I'm really not brave. Just in case you get the wrong idea, here. Impetuous though...

[There's an impish sort of grin here, a waggle of eyebrows that hints that he probably would have fit right in with Remus' friends if he'd ever had the opportunity.]

So, uh... That thing is from your world?

[mapmaker]

Sometimes the hat knows more about us than we do ourselves. [ He offers a small smile and then he laughs because yes, Peter, you do remind him of the other Marauders. ]

It is. Every first year that goes to Hogwarts has to be sorted. That's how we organise ourselves. There's a bit of house rivalry but that won't happen here. [ Little do you know, Lupin. ]

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[mapmaker]

Is it talking to you?

[ He only has vague recollections, magic and Derek being nice and the woods. He doesn't place her either but she does seem familiar. ] Um, in your mind?

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[mapmaker]

[ At least it's not the scarf of sexual preference !!! ]

Imagine if they had to deal with Herbology. Or the ghosts. Or the Whomping Willow. [ He grins and it's without the shadow of sadness he sometimes carries. ]

There are a lot of Hufflepuffs around. It's actually rather nice.

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[hexuality]

[HOGWARTS' BEST KEPT SECRET! apart from the hidden swimming pool]

Hufflepuff might be the most noble of the Houses. [And she doesn't mean it as a joke, either.] I miss it too, Remus. All of it. The sunset from the Astronomy Tower... and the food, Merlin's beard, I miss our feasts.

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[mapmaker]

I know. [ He does. He misses classes and the sound of three other boys in the dormitory and the mischief they could get up to. ]

It'll be Christmas next month. There's nothing more beautiful than the castle when it snows.

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[luxuryflower]

In the clearest of terms. And it has ascribed me a... name already. My question is where from this name stems?

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[hexuality]

All lit up, yeah. [She sounds soft, wistful.] And Hagrid brings in all the trees to the Great Hall and Professor Flitwick enchants all the corridors, the suits of armour...

D'you think we could make the flat look a little like Hogwarts this year?

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[anunluckypenny]

So this hat's from your world?

[vengefully]

You're familiar with it?

[trenchknives]

Yeah, so, uh... what's a Gryffindor? 'cause that's what it yelled at me.

[velveteenwolf]

Hmm. So, uh, rivalry?

[Oh, there's trouble in those blue eyes. Capital T, as the phrase goes.]

So, really, there's only two questions here: who exactly is our rivalry with, and are you any good at pranks?

[His smile is almost innocent. Almost. He's been in need of a distraction, something fun, and what's the point in being a gypsy if he can't pull a few tricks?]

[mapmaker]

[ Remus laughs and it's genuine and full and amused. ] You could say that. Let's just assume mischief is very much in my nature.

[ Even if he looks like a tiny miniature professor and also folds his socks. ] All right, Gryffindor and Slytherin are the two most competitive houses. They're also pretty close to each other, trait wise. I think that's where most of the antagonism comes from. That and Quidditch. My friend, Sirius, will stop at nothing to wind every single Slytherin up. [ Of course, Sirius has his reasons. ]

[mapmaker]

Brilliant. Gryffindor is a house in my school. Named after Godric Gryffindor. Our crest is a lion, so you can probably understand why we're meant to be the bravest and loudest house.

[ He's really enjoying this, explaining his home life to people. ]

[mapmaker]

It's from my school. Back home.

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[mapmaker]

Yes. From our school. It sits on the first years' heads, usually, and sorts them into houses that they'll be in until they graduate.

I'm surprised to see it here, but it won't harm you.

[trenchknives]

Hey, brave 'n noble like a lion? 'n loud? I'll take it. Sounds like the perfect place for me.

[Was 'cocky' part of that description, too? Because if so, it really is perfect.]

I gotta ask, though, why's it, y'know, decidin' where we belong?