Chapter 2: Sorting

DISCLAIMER: I don't own a thing.

Harry led Ben and Co. towards the great hall. "Wait out here." Harry said to them. "Why are we even here?" Ben asked the others. "Grandma Verdona asked me if I wanted some training with her to be an Anadite but I still refused. So she told me it was either that or come to Hogwarts to study some magic that even Charmcaster doesn't know. I asked her if I could bring you two along and she agreed wholeheartedly." Gwen informed Ben. "I also remember her having a twinkle in her eye." Gwen added thoughtfully "Who's that old bag?" Kevin asked Gwen. Unfortunately McGonagall overheard and thwacked him. "OW! What was that for?" Kevin asked. "That was for calling me an old bag. And in future Mr. Levin you may call me Professor McGongall." McGonagall reprimanded him.

"Your just in time to be sorted anyway." McGonagall told them all. "All of you are in fifth year am I correct?" She asked them. "Yes ma'am" Ben said. "Okay then wait out here while I inform the students." McGonagall told them. McGonagall walked back into the noisy hall and told everyone to quiet down. "STUDENTS!" Everyone stopped talking almost immediately when she said that. "Just outside the Great Hall are three new exchange students from America. Their names are Ben Tennyson, Gwen Tennyson and Kevin Levin. They are starting at Hogwarts today so make sure you give them a warm welcome." She told everyone. McGonagall walked back out and told them to follow her. She replaced the stool and old frayed hat back where it was when the first years came in. The hat then started to break out in song:

In times of old when I was new
And Hogwarts barely started
The Founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted:
nited by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.
"Together we will build and teach!"
The Four good friends decided
And never did they dream that they
Might someday be divided,
For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?
So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.
Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry is purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name,"
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot,
And treat them just the same."
These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light,
For each of the four founders had
A House in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning, just like him,
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor,
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,
And taught them all she knew,
Thus the Houses and their founders
Retained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
For several happy years,
But the discord crept among us
Feeding on our faults and fears.
The Houses that, like pillars four,
Had once held up our school,
Now turned upon each other and,
Divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
Must meet an early end,
What with dueling and with fighting
And the clash of friend on friend
And at last there came a morning
When old Slytherin departed
And though the fighting then died out
He left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
Were whittled down to three
Have the Houses been united
And they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
And you all know the score:
I sort you into Houses
Because that is what I'm for,
But this year I'll go further,
Listen closely to my song:
Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it's wrong,
Though I must fulfill my duty
And must quarter every year
Still I wonder whether sorting
May not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,
For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within
I have told you, I have warned you..
Let the sorting now begin

"Levin, Kevin!" McGonagall read out.

Kevin walked up and placed the hat on his head. "Ah, Mr. Levin. Where to put you? You have courage and strength not bad qualities, not bad at all. But you have desires that rival that of your cousins. You also had some difficulties as well. Better be…. "GRYFFINDOR!" the Gryffindor house cheered.

"Tennyson, Ben!" McGonagall read.

Ben walked up and placed the hat on his head. "Ah, Mr. Tennyson. Where to put you? You have strength to rival that of Hagrid's, thanks to Humongosaur." "How did he -" Ben thought "I can read your thoughts Mr. Tennyson. Now, back to where you can be put. Better be…." "GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor table cheered as loud as they could. You could hear Fred and George yelling that they have the hero of heroes in their house. Kevin just smiled.

"Tennyson, Gwendolyn!" McGonagall called out for the last time that breakfast.

Gwen walked up and placed the hat on her head. "Ah, Miss. Tennyson. How nice of you to join us. I remember placing your Grandma Verdona at Hogwarts as well. You have smarts, good looks, even bravery. That adds to it. Better be…." "GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor house cheered yet again.

After the feast…..

"Harry can you show them to the Gryffindor common room please?" Dumbledore asked Harry. "Sure." He replied. "Follow me" The gang followed Harry, Ron and Hermione up to the portrait of an exceedingly fat lady. "Password?" The Fat Lady asked. "Ultimatrix DNA" Hermione replied, Ben feeling confused why it would be about him. The Golden Trio led them into the common room. "Gwen, follow me." Hermione told Gwen. The boys just followed Ron and Harry up to their dorms.