Chapter 2: The Sorting Hat

Author's Note: Sorry it had been a while... Well, not really a while. But I am still here, and hope you are still with me. The first chapter was updated a bit and I think it would be good to re-read if you read it before May 14, 2010. This chapter is pre-betaed.


"Weasleys," they heard a shout across the platform.

The Hogwarts Express just arrived at Hogsmeade station. People packed into cold, night air. A small group of students walked across the crowd toward the edge of the platform to meet the source of voice, Professor McGonagall.

"Hi, Professor," said the twins, a little bit more cheerfully than needed.

Professor McGonagall looked around the group only to notice a boy with raven hair that did not belong to the Weasleys. A second look and she realised that he was none else but the Harry Potter. She decided that he could come along – he was the cause of this anyway – before she led the group to the very first carriage, despite the fact that Hagrid was getting the first years into boats.

They followed her into the carriage. Once they filled in, the carriage started to move towards the gate of Hogwarts.

"I'm Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress," said Professor McGonagall.

She turned to Ginny, regardless of the fact that the children hadn't greeted her yet, and said, "Miss Weasley, am I correct that you have no idea on what was happening? On the train, I mean."

Ginny could only nod.

"Well, then. First, what you did is called 'Accidental Apparation.' It is a kind of sccidental magic," said Professor McGonagall. "Basically, it would and could only happen when any witches or wizards wanted to go somewhere or be with someone desperately."

All the Weasleys except Ginny looked shocked. Harry just seemed confused.

"Yes, that's what really happened," added McGonagall, seeing their facial expression. "Now let's move into more serious issue: Mrs Weasley has owled me that she is taking you back home tomorrow. However, here at Hogwarts, we are able to accept the enrolment of students under the age of eleven, with a special scholarship. There is a test, though, but it only tests that you have enough magical power in your core to be able to do magic properly, but I think you are capable of doing it well enough. If you decided to take this programme, I believe your mother will allow you to."

Ginny just looked at the floor; she seemed lost in herself. It was when Harry elbowed her slightly on her side that she realised she needed to say something.

"What if I d-didn't make it?" asked Ginny in small voice.

"Trust me, you will make it," replied Professor McGonagall confidently as Harry took Ginny's hands into his and squeezed them tightly.

After a short time of thought, Ginny looked up at him, smiled shyly before turning back to McGonagall and said, "I'll take it."

"Very well, Miss Weasley, I shall send your mum an owl telling her about this. Normally students must be registered and tested before August 15 in order to attend this programme, but the exception has been made for you. You are going to have your test tonight, and I'll accompany you to Diagon Alley tomorrow to buy you school stuff," explained Professor McGonagall.

It was then that the carriage stopped in front of Hogwarts's Gate. Professor McGonagall proceeded to walk them into the castle.

"Now, Miss Weasley, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter, the other first years will join you here soon," she said as she led them into the small room beside the Great Hall. "Mr. Weasley and Mr. Weasley, you can go into the Great Hall now, but please keep stories about your sister to yourselves until I make an announcement." She quickly left after that.

They waited in silence for a while before Professor McGonagall took other first years in. After Professor McGonagall finished her speech about each house's family, Hermione immediately went to Ginny to ask her what had happened, but Ginny found the floor too interesting to answer. Hermione looked a bit disappointed and a little angry, while Ginny looked a lot more nervous.

Before too long, Professor McGonagall returned and took them to the hall, waiting to be sorted. After the Sorting Hat finished its song, they lined up and waited for Professor McGonagall to call their name, alphabetically.

"Potter, Harry"

As Harry stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the Great Hall.

"Harry Potter, the Boy who lived?"

"The Harry Potter?"

Last thing Harry Potter saw before the hat dropped over his head and covered his eyes was the hall full of people craning to get a good look at him. After the hat fully covered his head, he waited.

"Hmm," said a small voice in his ear, "Difficult. Very Difficult. Full of courage, I see. Not bad mind either. There's talent, oh my goodness, — yes, and obviously powerful. Full of mystery powers, I expected. Plenty of cleverness, with a nice thirst to prove yourself. Where shall I put you to? You seem to have all requirements of all houses. Oh, yes, there are loves and the re—"

Not Slytherin, not Slytherin, he thought.

"Not Slytherin, eh?" said the voice, "You will be great in Slytherin. It's all here in your head. Slytherin can push you success — no? If you are not going to change your mind, better be with your future – GRYFFINDOR!" The hat shouted the last word loudly so everyone in the great hall could hear.

He took the hat off and walked slowly toward the Gryffindor table. The applause broke out as he stepped down from the stool. He could see a bright and nervous smile of Ginny Weasley shining through the group of unsorted first years.

He sat down beside Percy Weasley, who had cleared spaces for him, and wait for Ginny and Ron to be sorted.

"Weasley, Ronald," called Professor McGonagall.

Harry could feel the confusion rising in his body. His eyes found McGonagall's, who just smiled back at him encouragingly. His eyes then found Ginny and sent the very same smile at her, who gladly smiled back.

As "Zabini, Blaise" made his way toward the Slytherin table, Ginny had been left alone, much to the students' curiosity. From the distance, Harry could see that she looked very pale. She caught his eyes and smiled at him for a moment before turned away quickly.

Professor Dumbledore took that moment to stand up and made an announcement: "All students have been sorted into their right place in this school, with the exception of the girl over here. It is my pleasure to announce that this year, Hogwarts has had accepted one student under the age of eleven."

A shock broke through the hall as the word in Dumbledore's announcement infiltrated through students' brains. Percy looked confused, but the twins just seemed to be pleased with themselves. Ron just kept staring at his golden plate. Harry's eyes found Ginny again. She was just looking at the floor.

"Weasley, Ginevra," said Professor McGonagall, interrupting the whole hall from their previous state into the sorting again.

Ginny just walked to the stool quickly. The hat had dropped onto her head, but after a while, the hat still hadn't shouted anything. Harry was getting nervous. As he was starting to think that something was wrong, the hat shouted "Gryffindor," much to Harry's relief. He clapped his hands along with the rest of the hall. Ginny seemed to get the biggest applause.

Ginny joined him at the table. Now across him were the twins and Ro; to his left was Percy; to his right was Ginny, whose face was still as red as her hair. He decided to ignore it, for now. He chuckled silently as he realised that he was surrounded by Weasleys.

Dumbledore stood up again, but instead of making an announcement as he had done a couple of minutes ago, he opened his arms wide.

"Welcome!" he said "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Let our meal begin before it turns cold! Beep!"

Harry sat in silence as he considered Headmaster's words – there was something in there that made him feel uncomfortable, like being watched. He shrugged, and then began to eat as Percy offered him some potatoes.

The meal would have been quite enjoyable, but he didn't even know what he was eating, mainly because of the redhead girl who sat beside him. He could see that she wasn't really enjoying the meal. He wouldn't either, if he had to have a test to ensure that he could still stay at Hogwarts. He sighed.

Just then, some voices interrupted his thought. "That does look good," said the ghost in the ruff sadly.

"Can't you –?"

"I haven't eaten for nearly five hundred years," said the ghost. "I don't need to, of course, but one does miss it. Have I introduced myself? Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower."

"Nice to meet you, Sir Nicholas," said Harry politely. He didn't have much appetite, but across him Ron was eating furiously.

"I know who you are!" said Ron suddenly after swallowed a rather large amount of food. "You are Nearly Headless Nick!"

"I would prefer you to call me Sir Nicholas at least, since—" the ghost said sadly.

But Harry didn't really care about conversation around him anymore. He just sat there, eating his meal silently. This has already really been a long day, thought Harry. He felt Ginny shift beside him.

Not too long later the meal was finished. The fifth year Prefects – Gryffindor's was Percy Weasley – began to gather the first years as Professor McGonagall rushed to them.

"Miss Weasley, the headmaster requested your presence in his office right now. You too, Mr. Potter," said the elder professor before she turned and walked away, leading Harry and Ginny to a stone gargoyle.

"Lollipop," said McGonagall.

The gargoyle began to move. Professor McGonagall led the preteens up the stair. Once they reached the top, Professor McGonagall knocked the door slightly.

"Come in," Dumbledore's voice came through the door. Professor McGonagall opened the door for Ginny and Harry to come in first before she followed in, only to be shocked at what was in front of her.