Good heavens. Poor kid is probably cursed eight ways from Oathday. Maybe she's been sent here to help Dumbledore with a ritual or something.

"Then--I should be in Slytherin, the Sorting Hat knew I had Slytherin's power--"

Nope, wrong, incorrect. Having a fucked up sorcerer bloodline doesn't obligate you to do anything except inasmuch as everyone ought to make the most of their own talents. She doesn't know what Slytherin is but it does Not sound like a high-priority Good or Lawful project.

"And yet the Sorting Hat put you in Gryffindor. You know why it made that decision."

"It wasn't the Hat's idea . . . I asked for anything except Slytherin . . ."

"Yes. And that, Harry, is exactly what matters most. It is our choices, not our abilities, that determine who we really are."

Samora likes this archmage. She can see why he's friends with a phoenix.

"And if you want more proof that you are a true Gryffindor--observe."  Dumbledore takes the ruby-studded sword from its place on McGonagall's desk and shows Harry the name engraved on the blade: Godric Gryffindor.

"Woah."

"If I end up having enough downtime on this planet, would you like swordsmanship lessons? You seem to be living the sort of life where it won't hurt, assuming you have time for it alongside the magic. I began studying the blade when I was about your age, and I'm no great talent at it but I know enough to get you started."

Is that an option? Is that a thing that can happen? Does he want that?

"You know, I think that would be an excellent idea. Though perhaps with a blunter and less expensive sword, for the moment. Just take one from any of the suits of armor in the corridors; they generally don't fight back."

Probably the part of that he's kidding about is the part where the armor might fight back, but she should be on hand for the sword-getting just in case.

"But now, Harry, I believe you have some friends to celebrate with. Oh, and take two hundred points for Gryffindor, and tell mister Weasley I've given him two hundred as well."

Harry offskis. "I'll find you tomorrow for sword lessons? If you're still here?" He asks Samora on the way out.

"Definitely!" Is she expected to leave as well or is it time to find out what was in that letter?

Second thing!

"Thank you for your patience, Samora. It's time you were filled in on some context. You have arrived rather in the middle of things, and unless I am badly mistaken you will only get more so for some time. What are your current major points of confusion?"

Samora starts counting points off on her fingers. "What was in your letter if it's anything I should know about, what the full extent of my 'obvious quest' is, what's going on with Potter and Voldemort and in particular whether I can help with Potter's curse situation, what are Slytherin and Gryffindor. Also are the arcane mages here the kind who're born with it or the kind who learn it from books or some of each, my truespeech is being unclear."

"Your last question is the easiest: we are born with innate magical abilities and gain skill in using them through study and practice. Intelligence, diligence, accident of birth, and force of will all have their parts to play in mastering wizardry. And those are, approximately, the four virtues most prized by the four Founders of Hogwarts: Godric Gryffindor valued courage and determination, Rowena Ravenclaw, wit and curiosity, Helga Hufflepuff, diligence and loyalty, and Salazar Slytherin, cunning and a powerful lineage. Students arriving at Hogwarts are Sorted into a house by the Sorting Hat, which chooses based on the virtues they desire to cultivate. But perhaps the process will be more intuitive if you try on the Hat yourself. He is the expert, after all."

Samora looks at the ancient, raggedy, yet somehow dignified Hat on the desk. "So I just put it--him--on?"

"Just so."

Alright. Hat goes on head.

Well, hello there. It's been a while since I've met someone for the first time as an adult. And that headband! I haven't seen anything like it since Rowena's day. Anyway, are you here to be Sorted, or something else?

Hello! I'm told you can explain how the Houses work and it seems like the sort of thing I should know if I'm going to help solve problems here.

Well, you've certainly come to the right place. A lot of people will tell you that Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin are the brave house, the smart house, the nice house, and the evil house, or some such nonsense. But what the houses are, originally, is groups of students who were tutored by one of the four Founders and aspired to be like them, and they were people, human complicated people with strengths and weaknesses and priorities and philosophies that can't be summed up in a word apiece. I knew them, you see, when they were alive, and I have remembered them for a thousand years while they turned into dust and legends.