DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN DANNY PHANTOM OR HARRY POTTER.
The man raised his gigantic fist and knocked three times on the door. The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald This is probably not a person you want to get mad.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall" the tall man said.
"Thank you Hagrid. I will take it from here". Ah, so that was the name of the tall man. She pulled it open the rest of the way and the other students and I walked in. The entrance was so big you could fit all of our house in it, minus the OPS center. Actually no, including the OPS center. There were stone walls with actual torches. The ceiling was super high and there was a huge staircase. They followed Professor Mcgonagall to a spot next to a huge door. I could hear hundreds of voices in the room next to us.
"Welcome to Hogwarts" Professor McGonagall said, "The start of term banquet will begin short, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you must be sorted into your houses. The sorting is very important because, while you are here, you house will be somewhat like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house dormitory "Does she really need to tell us all this? I mean almost all of us already know that and the ones who don't will figure it out pretty fast. She told us all about the different houses. She was starting to sound like , my 5th grade teacher.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all clean yourselves up while you are waiting". Her gaze was on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose. I see Harry nervously flatten his hair. I'm the only one not nervous out of the four of us. I've seen glares much worse than this, I can handle the gaze of a strict teacher!
"I shall return when we are ready for you," she said, "Please wait quietly". She walked into the hall.
"How exactly do they sort us into houses?" Harry asked.
"My sister said something about a hat, but I don't remember much about it." I admit. When I looked around, everyone seemed nervous. I rolled my eyes. What would they make first years, who aren't supposed to know any magic, do? Time rolled on, slowly. She would have to come soon, right? Then about 20 ghosts- wait no these must be the spirits Jazz was talking about- came through the wall.
"What the-?" Harry asked and then gasped. I seem to be the only calm one. I have a feeling Hermione will ask me about this later. I'll tell her since I come from Amity Park, I see ghosts every day. They were arguing.
"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance-" said a short fat monk.
"My dear Friar" I guess that was his name "haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us a bad name you know, he's not really even a ghost- I say, what are you doing here?" A ghost wearing a ruff and tights noticed us. His eyes scanned the crowd until he saw me. He looked like he was about to say something so I shook my head frantically. He nodded. Then the Friar said "New students! About to be sorted, I suppose?" A few people nodded.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff! My old house you know."
"Move along now" said I voice. I turn to see Professor McGonagall. "The Sorting Ceremony about to start." Now, form a line and follow me". We formed a line where I was behind Harry and in front of Hermione. Neville was behind Hermione and Ron in front of Harry. We walked inside. It was beautiful. It was lit with candles and there were four tables with plates and goblets on them. At the front there was another long table where all the teaches sat. Professor McGonagall led us up there and then we formed a line so that we were facing the other students. Jazz waved at me from the Ravenclaw table and I smiled back. I noticed Harry look up at the ceiling and I did too. It was amazing. No more having to fly up to the roof of the OPS center to see stars, I could just look up.
Hermione turned to me and whispered "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History." I just nod back, smiling. Then Professor McGonagall put a stool down with a hat on top of it. I wonder what we do with the hat? Everyone was staring at the hat, almost expectantly. It was quiet for a few seconds, but then the hat twitched. A rip on the bottom of the hat opened like a moth and it began 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 you bowlers black,
You top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in you head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
I hold back a snort. My mental barriers and pretty strong. I don't think the hat could get through that. I'll test it when I try it on.
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 you real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve 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!"
The whole hall burst into applause The hat bowed to each table and then all the noise calmed down.
"So we've just got to try on a hat! I'll kill Fred, he was going on about wresting a troll" I hear Ron whispered to Harry. Putting on a hat seems easy, but I just hope it doesn't reveal my secret. Then Professor McGonagall stepped forward hold a long roll of paper.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted. Abbott, Hannah!" A girl with blond pigtails stumbled out of line and put on the hat, which went right over her eyes. A second and then "HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat yelled. She went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table and the Fat Friar waved to her.
"Bones, Susan"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted again.
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!" She went to sit down at the Ravenclaw table, right next to Jazz.
Mandy Brocklehurst was a Ravenclaw, but Lavender Brown was the first new Gryffindor. She went to sit at the table on the far left that was cheering like crazy. Millicent Bulstrode then became a Slytherin. After a while, there was a Farbert, Grace and then I heard he name I had been waiting for: Fenton, Daniel. I walked up and put the hat on. It went over my eyes.
If you could lower your mental barriers, , I could sort you sometime this century.
"Sorry" I thought and lowered my barriers.
Ah, a halfa. I've never seen one of you before. You would do good in Hufflepuff, you're very loyal to the ones you care about.
Imagine what Vlad would do if he found out I was sorted into a house whose mascot was a badger. He's never let it go.
Although, you would do well in Gryffindor. Very brave, a lot of nerve, definitely. And you are one of the more reckless students I've sorted. Very well then….
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat yelled. I wasn't really paying attention to the rest of the students until I heard "Granger, Hermione". She was also sorted into Gryffindor and sat next to me. Weird, I thought for sure she would be in Ravenclaw. When she sat down she asked me "How come when the ghosts-" " Spirits" I corrected. " Spirits came in, you were the only one not freaking out?"
"I live in Amity Park, where there are ghosts almost every day. They don't really freak me out anymore" That and the facts that I am one, and that I fight them every day.
"Oh. Well, are you're muggleborn right?" she asks. I don't really see why this matters, but I answer anyway.
"Yes. I don't really get why people care about this stuff though. I mean, it doesn't affect you ability to do magic, right?"
"I know! It's ridiculous how some families like the Malfoys think that they're better than everyone just because they're 'pureblood'" Hermione agrees, using air quotes.
"Anyway, what do you think will be your favorite class? I know mine will be Astronomy. I've always wanted to be an astronaut!" I start to feel a little sad, remembering my dream and how I'll never be able to achieve it. At least I got to go to space that one time with Technus!
"My favorite class will probably be charms. It seems really cool to learn spells!"
"Yeah, it will be really cool! I'm really excited. I've been waiting for two years" The it got really quiet. I see Harry walk up to the hat and put it on. It's silent for about two minutes until the hat yells "GRYFFINDOR!". The cheers at our table were so loud I had to cover my ears. I hear the twins who helped us yell " We got Potter! We got Potter!" as Harry comes and sits across from Hermione.
The ghost with the tights from before came and gave Harry a pat on the arm, then turned to me.
"It's an honor to meet you, Danny P-" He started, but I interrupted him.
"Fenton. Danny Fenton." Hermione, Harry and Ron were talking to each other, so I decided to have a conversation with the ghost.
"I thought the rumors of you coming here were false. But here you are!"
"Here I am" Then I lean in to whisper to him " Can you tell everyone else I'm trying to keep my secret please?" He nods.
Then I hear Professor Dumbledore say " Welcome! Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber!Oddment!Tweak! Thank you!" He sat down. Everyone clapped and cheered. This guy seems pretty great.
"Is he- a bit mad?" Harry asked a tall boy.
" Mad? He's a genius! Best wizard in the world! But yes, he is a bit mad. Potatoes, Harry?"
"He didn't seem mad." I told Harry.
"What? Oh, you're from America, right. You would say he's crazy" Oh, right.
"Oh, I still need to get used to that." Then I started eating. There was so much food! I hadn't eaten this much food, considering most of ours is contaminated. Actually, since the accident, the eco contaminated food gave me a lot of energy. I sneak some of it to eat sometimes. There were all kind of foods. Roast beef, chicken, pork chops, lamb chops and a lot more.
"That does look good" said the spirit. I never did learn his name.
"Can't you-?" Harry asked.
"I haven't eaten in nearly five hundred years. I don't need to, of course, but one does miss it. I don't think I've introduced myself? Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor tower."
"I know who you are!" Ron suddenly said. " My brothers told me all about you! You're Nearly Headless Nick!"
"I would prefer you to call me Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-" the spirit began, but then he was interrupted by Hermione.
"Nearly Headless? How can you be nearly headless?"
"Hermione no-" I tried to warn her, but it was too late. Sir Nicholas looked really annoyed.
"Like this" he said and then tugged at his ear. His head swung off his shoulders and his head came off, hanging from a piece of skin. That is really disturbing. It looked as if he was killed in a beheading gone wrong. He seemed pleased with the looks on their faces and then he put his head back on his head. He coughed and said "So- new Gryffindors! I hope you're going to help us win the House Championship. Gryffindors have never gone so long without winning. Slytherins have got the House Cup six years in a row! The Bloody Baron's becoming almost unbearable- he's the Slytherin ghost." At the Slytherin table, there was a ghost with silver blood on his robes.
"How did he get covered in blood?" a boy asked.
"I've never really asked," Sir Nicholas responded. With good reason too. It's very rude to ask a ghost how they died. Everyone was eating as much as they could, and soon all the plates were empty. A second later dessert appeared. Ice cream, apple pies, eclairs, doughnuts, strawberries, and much more. I don't think I can physically eat any more. As everyone started eating dessert and the talk turned to their families.
"I'm half-and-half" said a boy who's name I learned is Seamus. " Me dad's a Muggle. Mum didn't tell him until after they were married. Bit of a nasty shock for him" Everyone laughed.
"What about you, Neville?" Ron asked and Neville told us his great story.
"Well, my gran brought me up and she's a witch. But the family thought I was all Muggle for ages. My Great Uncle Algie kept trying to catch me off guard and force some magic out of me-he pushed me off the end of Blackpool pier once, nearly drowned- but nothing happened until I was eight. Great Uncle Algie came round for dinner, and he was hanging me out of an upstairs window when my Great Auntie Enid offered him a meringue and he accidentally let go. Bit I bounced- all the way the garden and into the road. They were all really pleased, Gran was crying she was so happy. And you should have seen their faces when I got in here-they thought I might not be magic enough to come, you see. Great Uncle Algie was so pleased he bought me my toad." So that's why he loved that toad so much. I heard Percy and Hermione talking about classes and decided to join in.
"What's your favorite class Percy?"
"I really like Transfiguration the most. It's a very interesting subject." We continued talking about the different classes and what they were like until I hear an " Ouch!" I turn around to see Harry with his hand on his head.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"N-Nothing" I knew he was lying, but I decide to let it slide this time.
"Who's that teacher talking to Professor Quirrell?" Harry asked Percy. Who's Professor Quirrell? I'll ask later.
"Oh, you know Quirrell already, do you? No wonder he's looking so nervous, that's Professor Snape. He teaches Potions, but he doesn't want to-everyone knows he wants to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts. Knows an awful lot about it." I glance at Snape and watch as Harry stares at him for a while. Then, all the desserts disappear and Professor Dumbledore got up.
"Just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start of term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." He looked at the Weasley twins". I have been asked by , the caretaker, to remind you that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone playing for their House should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to anyone who does not wish to die a very painful death." I hear Harry laugh, among a few others.
"He's not serious?" Harry asked me.
"I think he is. Why else would he tell us that?" I wonder what's up there.
"It's odd, because he usually gives us a reason not to go somewhere. Forest's full of dangerous beasts, everyone knows that. I do think he would have told the prefects, at least."
"Yeah, that is weird"
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" Dumbledore yelled. He flicked his wand and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, flew above the tables, and twisted itself into words.
"Everyone pick your favorite tune, and off we go!" The whole school sung:
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald,
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot."
Everyone finished at a different time. At the end, the Weasley twins were left singing a very slow funeral march. I laughed and they grinned at me. When they finished, everyone started clapping.
"Ah, music," Dumbledore said, wiping his eyes. " A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!" The Gryffindors followed Percy through the crowds, out The Great Hall and up a marble staircase. Everyone was exhausted and couldn't wait to get in bed. We were walking for a while until we saw a bundle of walking sticks floating. I'm assuming that is Peeves. Percy took a step forward and the walking stick were getting thrown at him.
"Peeves" Perc whispered to us."A poltergeist" Then he said louder "Peeves- show yourself". A loud sound like the air coming out a a balloon answered.
"Do you want me to get the Bloody Baron?" There was a pop, and a short man with dark eyes and a wide mouth appeared, floating cross-legged in the air, holding the walking sticks.
"Ooooooh!" He said, sounding a little like Amorpho. "Ickle Firsties! What fun!" Should I help? No, no need to put my secret at risk when Percy can handle this. He swooped at us and we all ducked. He scanned us all and, for the second time this night, a ghost's gaze settled on me. I glare at him, forcing my eyes to start glowing green. His eyes widen in fear- I think in fear at least- and he vanished, dropping the walking sticks on Neville. I walk over to him.
"Are you okay Neville?" I ask and put my hand out to help him up.
"Yeah, thanks Danny". He said, rubbing his head as he got up.
"You want to watch out for Peeves," Percy said. "The Bloody Baron's the only one who can control him, he won't' even listen to us prefects. Here we are." Goodness, he really does remind us he's a prefect a lot. There was a very fat lady in a pink dress. Oh yeah, and she's in a painting. Where was the House? Then she spoke "Password?" Ah, okay so the door is the painting.
"Caput Draconis" Percy said and the painting swung open to reveal a cozy looking room with armchairs and a fireplace. Percy directed the girls through one door to their bedroom and the boys to another. All their stuff was already there, on a bed. I plopped down on the bed with my stuff on it and let Casper out. I sat on my bed and said to him " Welcome to the Phantom family. Or should I say phamily" Casper walked over to the wall and banged his head on it. I laugh at Casper I get up and Casper flies up to my shoulder. I walk over to where Harry and Ron are. Harry's already asleep and Ron's trying to get Scabbers off his sheets.
"Need some help?" I ask him.
"Yes please" I grab Scanner's head a open his mouth to get him off, then hand him to Ron.
"Thanks Mate"
"No problem" I look at Harry. "I'm a bit worried for him. Everyone's going to want to talk to him. He's going to get mobbed the moment he leaves the common room."
Ron sighs " I know, we'll just have to help him. It's not like we can make him not famous. Nice owl. What's his name?"
"Casper the Friendly Owl" I say.
"Sticking with the ghost theme?"
"Yep!"
"Right. Okay, well I'm tired, see you tomorrow"
"Night Ron" I respond then I walk back to my bed and close the curtains.
"You like the cold, right?" I ask Casper. "Well watch this" Then I use my ice powers to make a cube of ice. After that, I encase my hands in ice and pet Casper. I do this until he is asleep. Then I move him back into his cage, with the door open. I lay down and slowly drift off to sleep.
So yeah, I decided to make Casper smart because, I think that wizarding world owls should be more intelligent than regular owls. I mean, how else do they know where to go? Sorry this one isn't as long as the last one, this will probably be the normal length for chapters. Hope you enjoyed!