Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville were sitting in their carriage peacefully. Neville petting his new toad, Hermione reading and Ron and Harry playing chess when the carriage door opened and Cedric Diggory walked in.
"Hey kids" he said
"Hi Cedric" the chorused sounding rather bored
Cedric pulled a shy looking boy into the carriage "this is Justin he's a muggleborn and I thought you lot can help get him settled in"
Harry turned round and grinned "Justin Finch-Fletchly?" he said
"Harry Potter?" a small voice replied
The two boys stared at each other before they asked "you're a wizard?"
"Apparently" Justin whispered "you?"
"Yep, I'm a half-blood" Harry said calmly "you remember Hermione don't you?"
Justin nodded at Hermione "it's been a while Mione" he said quietly
"And this is Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom"
Justin shook their hands. "Nice to meet you"
"So Justin what house do you think you'll be sorted in?" Ron asked
"Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw" Justin mumbled "you?"
"Gryffindor or Ravenclaw" Hermione said
"Gryffindor" Harry said "or Hufflepuff, then I'll be in Ced's house and he'll warn me about something"
"Gryffindor all the way" Ron said "Weasleys are always in Gryffindor"
"Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw" Neville mumbled "my guardians were in Ravenclaw but I'm happy to be in Hufflepuff"
"No Slytherins then?" Justin asked
Everyone snorted "who'd want to be in Slytherin?" Ron asked
"Well weasel I'm sure that's what people think about when they see you. Who'd want to be a Weasley?"
Everyone turned to see a blonde boy with two large boys behind him.
The children rolled their eyes.
"Bugger off Malfoy" Harry said
"Why Potter I'm hurt, I was here to offer a hand of friendship, I mean we are childhood friends"
"Just because we sat next to each other at Ministry events does not mean we're friends, I still remember what you did to Selene"
"The disgusting half-breed?"
"I'd watch your mouth if I was you Malfoy because that's my little sister"
Malfoy rolled his eyes "Potter she is in no way related to you"
"She is my sister, the end, goodbye" Harry said
"God sake Potter next thing I know you'll be angry that I pulled Susan's hair"
"I was when we were younger but now Susan can take care of herself I believe you remember the last summer ball?"
Malfoy winced and rubbed his cheek self-consciously
"Now leave Malfoy" Harry said coldly
The boy did but not without sticking his tongue out at them.
The hat finished it's song and the four friends each had a disgusted look on their face.
"that's it?" Harry said "what about the dragons and damsels in distress?"
"what about the troll?" Ron asked
"Xeno said the hat is possessed by an evil spirit and it brainwashes you" Neville mumbled
Hermione rolled her eyes "obviously dad, Fred and Xeno were pulling your legs"
"I don't think so Mione Xeno had published it in the –
"Black, Hermione"
Hermione ran up to the stool and jammed the hat on her head eagerly.
Ah Miss Black so nice to make your acquaintance.
Hello Mr sorting hat
Yes so polite, unlike your father. Now where to put you...hmm…you'd suite Ravenclaw like your mother however you might end up just a bookworm and you're destined for so much more…I know where to put you…I'll put you in…
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry, Ron and Neville clapped loudly and watched Hermione run to the Gryffindor table and being hugged by the Weasley twins.
The list went on till…
"Longbottom, Neville"
Neville was shivering a lot, he was rather cold and nervous and he wasn't sure where he belonged.
Ah…oh dear, you poor boy a lost orphan. You have lost a lot of people in your life and you live with your cousin's husband.
Yes sir
You want to be in Ravenclaw like your cousin yet you think you are better suited in Hufflepuff. Slytherin would kill you…I know where to put you it's the perfect place and they would grow to love you…
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Neville was shocked….Gryffindor? the hat thought he was actually worthy of Gryffindor. He allowed the teacher to pull the hat off of his head and he walked calmly to the table.
The list continued and then….
"Potter, Harry"
People began to whisper and try and get a look at him. Harry hated that… he found the floor rather interesting actually
Hello Mr Potter
Hello Mr Hat
No then where to put you.
Gryffindor or Hufflepuff please
Oh and why those two?
Well I'm not really suited for Ravenclaw and Padfoot told me that dark wizards get sorted into Slytherin.
But in Slytherin you could do great things
But I could do great things in Hufflepuff or Gryffindor. To be honest sir as much as I like to prove myself as a good wizard I'm not really cunning.
Okay then it'll better be…
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry ignored the cheering, the clapping and the twins doing a silly dance. It didn't matter, he was in Gryffindor with his sister and he's family is going to be proud of him.
They sat there together talking to some of the other students, Harry was staring at the teachers he saw professor McGonagall give him a small smile and then he looked at professor Quirell and Snape and his scar burned.
That's odd… he's met Snape before, once when he was seven. They were visiting Hogwarts for something and he bumped into him. He's scar never burned so it must have been Quirell.
Dumbledore made his speech he added that the third floor corridor was forbidden. Harry remembered what Luna said and made a mental note to not go near the corridor.
Authors note: and that's chapter one