Oh, hey, btw, her wand is my profile avatar! Forgot to mention that last chapter! Whoops, I'm tired. I'll tell everyone what its made of later.
The Hogwarts Express slowed to a stop and as they filed out, they were summoned to follow a large man with a lamp. They were ushered to a lake where boats set on the edge. The large man had his own, but everyone else was forced to share, for to a boat. They approached a very large castle. Hermione shared a boat with Vivian, Seamus, and Susan Bones. Susan held the lamp. The large stone building was breathtaking. With no electricity, the candles made it seem like they had stepped into the past. The towers must have touched the clouds often. Though you would think, Vivian had never actually been to Hogwarts. She went to another boarding school so her father could work there year-round.
The boats came to a stop at the bottom of a long staircase. After a ten minute walk up the stairs, presumably to allow the older students in first, they were lead in to the front and up a grand staircase. She fire lamps and columns gave off an equally eerie and comforting feeling. They went up the final set of stairs and a tall woman wearing a green robe and pointed hat greeted them. Somehow, Vivian just knew she hadn't been sorted into Slytherin. That lead her to question why she was wearing green. Until she spoke.
She smiled briefly at their excited faces. "Welcome to Hogwarts." She clapped and held her hands together. "Now, in a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates." She was Scottish. The Scottish were known for tartan. And it was mainly green. Well, that explained it. "But before you can take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses."
Vivian mentally slapped herself. She forgot to explain Houses to Harry. She had spoken with Hermione about them and their expectations. Hermione wanted anything not Slytherin as they weren't highly accepting of Muggle-borns. Vivian had mentioned she either wanted Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Her father had been a Ravenclaw, but her mother was a Slytherin. Between the two of them, she was just a little genius.
"They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Now, while you're here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule-breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points wins the house cu-"
"Trevor!" Neville yelled. He raced forward, grabbing the toad at the woman's feet.
She looked down at him in disappointment.
"Sorry," he bade. He stood and walked away.
"The Sorting Ceremony will begin momentarily." She left the room, going through the doors to reenter the Grand Hall.
"It's true then, what they're saying on the train." Everyone turned to the boy speaking. His white hair was a dead giveaway at his heritage. "Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts."
Everyone turned to someone, murmuring amongst themselves.
"This is Crabbe and Goyle," he stated, nodding to them when he mentioned them. "And I'm Malfoy." He left where he had propped his arm. He stepped in front of Harry. "Draco Malfoy."
Ron let out a snicker.
Draco turned to him sharply. "Think my name's funny, do you? I've no need to ask yours. Red hair and a hand-me-down robe? You must be a Weasley," he hissed.
Ron looked at him bitterly at how he guessed it on the first time. That and how he hissed the name with distain.
Draco turned back to Harry. "You'll soon fine out some wizarding families are better than others, Potter." He obviously meant his own. "You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort." He glanced at Ron. "I can help you there." And with that, he held out his hand.
Harry just looked at it. He looked at Draco again. "I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks."
Draco looked shocked at being declined. But he didn't have much time to react much more, however, as the lady walked back up behind him, tapping him on the shoulder with a roll of parchment and a scowl. He turned to Harry, gave a light glare, and walked off.
The Professor lost the scowl and her face softened. "We're ready for you now. Follow me." As they paired off, Neville and Seamus, Harry and Ron, Hermione and Vivian, ect, they were guided to the Grand Hall. The doors either opened on their own or the Professor guiding them used wandless magic, Vivian ventured a guess at the latter.
There were candles floating just above the top of the Professor's pointed hat, close to the enchanted sky above them.
"It's not real, the ceiling. It's just bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History."
"Mind if I borrow it?" Vivian whispered. "I haven't read the newest copy."
"Of course!" Hermione exclaimed, happy to have a friend.
The Professor lifted her robes to allow her onto the platform which lead to a stool with a hat atop it. She turned and gestured along the edge of the platform. "Oh, will you wait along here, please. Now, before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few things."
The Headmaster stood. "I have a few start-of-term notices I wish to announce. The first years, please note that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch as asked me to remind you that the third-floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death. Thank you." He sat back down.
The Professor guiding them unrolled her parchment, so caught up in what she did every year, and hesitated, remembering she had to tell them what to do. "When I call your name, you will come forth. I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head," she lifted the hat and held the parchment in one hand, "and you shall be sorted into your houses."
"Hannah Abbott," she called.
The brunette who sat with Hermione and Vivian stepped up to the platform. She sat on the stool. After a moment, the hat yelled, "Hufflepuff!" and the yellow tied table erupted in applause. The naming and applause continued until they came to Hermione who was sorted into Gryffindor.
When Harry was called, everyone got really silent. Harry was one of the longest on the stool before the hat yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor table clapped louder than ever, that day at least.
Draco was an instant Slytherin. The sorting continued for a while.
When there were only 6 first-years left in front of the group, the tension was high.
"Vivian Quirrell."
Though inwardly losing her mind, she confidently walked up to the stool, spun, and sat upon it.
'Ah, Ms. Quirrell. Aren't you a curious mind? Loyal too. You've got a taste for adventure, but you're quite the kind soul, too. The need to prove yourself will make you good friends with Mr. Potter. But you better go to... SLYTHERIN!' he yelled the house aloud.
"Ronald Weasley!" the Professor called.
When the hat was put on the ginger, it exclaimed loudly and the Professor backed away. Quickly it yelled, "Gryffindor!"
Once everyone was sorted, they were given a few moments to get acquainted with their housemates.
The Professor had sat down and tapped her spoon on her goblet. "Your attention, please."
The Headmaster stood and declared, "Let the feast begin."