A stern - looking woman greeted us.

"The firs' years, Professor Mcgonagall." Hagrid says, stepping aside.

"Thank you, Hagrid." She says sharply. "I'll take them from here."

The doors magically opened wider, and I looked in awe at the vast entrance hall. Torches lit the room up on either side, and I stood, amazed. Mcgonagall started walking, everyone following her. Still rooted to the spot, I stood there until someone poked me, and I stumbled, backwards. Someone catches me, and I look to see who it is. When I do, I leap out of their grasp.

"Careful," Draco says, smirking. "You don't want to hurt yourself."

He walks away. I snort, feeling ashamed that he was the one that caught me. And yet...why were there butterflies in my stomach?

Being forced to move with the rest of the crowd, I catch up to Harry and Ron.

The professor led us to a small empty chamber. It was cramped, and I didn't know why, but I found myself next to Draco. I sneered at him and he sneered right back.

"Malfoy." I whispered jeeringly, shoving him with my elbow.

"Carter." He taunts back, elbowing me back.

For some unknown reason, this felt more playful than mean.

"Welcome to Hogwarts." Professor Mcgonagall begins. "The start of term banquet will be starting momentarily. But before you sit down, you will be sorted into your houses. The sorting is a very important ceremony, because while you are at Hogwarts, your house will be like your family. You will have classes with your housemates, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free-time in your house common room. The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has a individual, noble history. Each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. At Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, whilst any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will be given the house cup, a great honor. Whatever house you go to, I hope you will be a credit to it. The sorting will take place in a few moments, with the rest of the school. I suggest that you all smarten yourselves up while you're waiting."

She looked at everyone, as if silently criticizing them.

"I shall return when we are ready for you all." She adds. "Please wait here quietly."

Then she left the room.

"How exactly do they sort us into houses?" Harry asks, obviously nervous.

"Some sort of test, I think. Fred says it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking." Ron says ponderously.

Harry's face fell.

"Your brother's lying to you." I say matter-of-factly. Both boys look at me.

"My parents told me all about the sorting. It isn't a test, you just have to put on a hat and it shouts out what house you'll be in." I say, then my face reddens, because I realize that almost everyone in the room had turned to listen. They were all looking relieved at this.

Then, all of a sudden, Everyone gasped at once. Several ghosts had flown through the wall.

"Cool." I said, amazed at them all.

I heard some of them talking. It was quite interesting.

"Forgive and forget, I say!" Said a fat little monk. "We ought to give him a second chance!"

Then another ghost with ruffled tights spoke. "My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves enough chances? He gives all of us a bad name and you know he's not really even a ghost. I say, what are all of you doing here?"

He had noticed us, and was now frowning slightly. It was silent.

"Oh, new students!" The Friar said. "I suppose you're about to be sorted. I hope to see you in Hufflepuff! My old house, you know!"

I heard Draco snicker.

"Move along, now," Said the familiar voice of Professor Mcgonagall. "The sorting ceremony is about to start."

The ghosts all floated away, some students watching them go.

"Form a line now!" The professor said, and we all shuffled into an awkward line. "Follow me!"

We followed her to a pair of double doors and into the Great Hall.

If the castle and the ghosts weren't enough, then this was. The Great Hall was huge, and when I looked up, there were stars instead of a ceiling. Thousands of candles lit the place, floating over four long tables. Silverware, plates, and goblets were on the four tables, and there was another table at the front with all the teachers. We were led up to a platform near the staff table, and stood facing all the students at the four other tables.

I looked at each table's students, and noticed different characteristics were distinguished at each one. The far left table, with a silver and green banner with a snake on it, all looked mean and tough. The middle left table, a bronze and blue banner with an eagle on it, looked focused and determined. The middle right table, a gold and scarlet banner with a lion on it, were looking brave and excited. The far right table, with a yellow and black banner with a badger on it, looked ready for anything and a little over-dramatic.

I saw the twin brothers, grinning at the new students, and I couldn't help but smile a little too. I looked over again at the Slytherin table, then glanced at Draco. He sneered at me. I stuck my tongue out at him.

I turned my attention back to the professor, who had placed a stool on the floor. She also put a hat on the stool. I watched, fascinated, as the hat seemed to come to life. It opened the brim like a mouth and it started to sing.

Oh, you may not think I'm pretty

But don't judge on what you see

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me

You can keep your bowlers black

Your top hats sleek and tall

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see

So try me on, and I will tell you

Where you ought to be

You might belong in Gryffindor

Where dwell the brave at heart

Their daring nerve and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart

You might belong in Hufflepuff

Where they are just and loyal

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil

Or, yet in wise old Ravenclaw

If you've a ready mind

Where those of wit and learning

Will always find their kind

Or, perhaps, in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends

Those cunning folk use any means

To acheive their ends

So, put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands! (though I have none)

For I'm a thinking cap!

Applause followed this tune, although I didn't hear any from Draco. After making four bows, one to each table, it grew lifeless again.

I waited in line nervously fiddling with the clasp on my silver bracelet, the one my sister gave to me right before she disappeared. She had been in Gryffindor,

and now I wondered what house I would be in.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat, and sit on the stool to be sorted." Mcgonagall said, holding a very long roll of parchment. "Abbot, Hannah!"

A girl with blond hair and pigtails came up and put on the hat. It didn't fit her, it slid down past her eyes, but she still sat down. After a moment of tense silence, the hat called out, "Hufflepuff!"

The far right table burst into applause as she ran to join her new housemates.

"Bones, Susan!"

"Hufflepuff!" the hat said once again. More applause.

"Boot, Terry!"

"Ravenclaw!"

"Brocklehurst, Mandy!"

"Ravenclaw!"

"Brown, Lavender!"

"Gryffindor!"

"Bulstrode, Milicent!"

"Slytherin!"

"Carter, Max!"

My brother walked up, shoving the hat on and sitting down. After just a few moments, the hat said, "Gryffindor!". I wasn't surprised.

"Carter, Melody!" She called out at last. Oh boy. This was it.

I calmly walked up, feeling more nervous than I showed. I placed the hat on, and because of my ponytail, it didn't fall down. I sat down, waiting for the voice to call out a house. But it didn't. Instead, I heard a voice in my head, talking to me.

"Nervous, are you? Yes, you're very difficult to decide. You have a lot of brains, but your bravery is greater. Ambitious, too. Never wanting to fail. You're not as different as your brother than you think. Well, I think it'll be SLYTHERIN!"

I saw my brother looking utterly shocked. He stared at me as I took off the hat and walked calmly to the Slytherin table. My heart pounded as I sat down, away from others. I was completely shocked. My brother and I were in houses that hated each other. and the friends I had made on the train didn't seem like Slytherins.

I rested my head on the table, now miserable, tuning out all of the people getting sorted. I didn't even notice when Malfoy sat next to me, until he said, "Are you alright?"

I looked up, startled. I shrugged. "Not really."