Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Harry Potter is the property of J.K Rowling, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.

Rachel POV

I have never in all my life seen such a building as Hogwarts. At first I had thought that its huge size was due to the fact that I was sitting in a small boat and thousands of metres away, but as we got closer I began to realize that it was just a big as I had thought. The castle is something right out of a dream. Tall towers with pointed roofs and candles light up every small window. It sits on a rocky cliff and looks down on the lake. There is something regal about the castle like a king sitting on a throne.

Right now we are going through the process of touring the inside of Hogwarts before the Sorting Ceremony. I'm at the back of the pack of students who are exchanging excited whispers. I see my cousin Lily in front of me speaking to one of the red headed kids I remember seeing on the train. Everyone is talking about house they want to be in and I don't have any idea where I will end up going. I just hope a house will take me.

The prefect that is leading us around name is Kimberly. She reminds me of the girls back at school who are sweet to your face but love to stab you in the back when you aren't around. She's so friendly and bubbly and evil, it makes me sick inside. Although I don't have much of a preference for what house I'm put in, my only wish is that I'm not in her's.

We are then lead to a big set of heavy wooden doors. Waiting for us is a tall, dark haired man.

"Welcome to Hogwarts" he says brightly " I am Professor Longbottom Deputy Headmaster. I do hope you have enjoyed the tour, but now it's time for the sorting ceremony. This ceremony is arguably one of the most important things that will happen during your time at Hogwarts it determines who you will live with and where you will live for the next seven years. The house are Gryffindor for the brave, Slytherin for the cunning, Hufflepuff for the loyal and hard working and Ravenclaw for the intelligent and wise. Now that it seems that we are all here let us enter the Great Hall and let the sorting begin!"

The great big doors then open to reveal a massive room with high ceilings and long wooden tables. The light in the room comes not only from the magnificent floating candles, but also from the ceiling that is a magical night sky with almost real stars shining down. The hall is filled with students wearing the same ridiculous hat I am. Thank goodness because I was beginning to feel a bit stupid wearing mine.

In the centre of the room their is a lone stool with an old tattered hat sitting on top of it. It is extremely dirty and I could tell by the dust coming off of it that it was very, very old. My confusion is clear by the look on my face so the girl standing next to me explains.

"That's the Sorting Hat" she whispers.

"And what exactly does it do?"

"I sorts you into your house. You just put in on your head and wait till it screams out what house your in. It can view your thoughts and it's never wrong."

I look over to the hat again. Well, I think to myself they certainly have a very different way of doing things here.

Professor Longbottom is standing beside the hat with a scroll out in front of him. He looks behind him at an old woman in green robes and gives a nod. She stands and the Hall is silent.

" A new year, is always an exciting one here at Hogwarts School." she begins,"A new year to learn as much as we can and to make new friends and grow closer to the ones we already have. For the First Year students that are new, my name is Professor McGonagall Headmistress of this school. Without out further ado, let the sorting begin!"

Professor Longbottom then begins to read names off the scroll.

"Adam Avery"

"SLYTHERIN!" shouted the hat after only a few seconds.

"Hillary Creevey"

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat exclaimed.

Okay, I think to myself this isn't hard at all. I know I'm going to be next.

"Rachel Dursley" reads Professor Longbottom.

I slowly walk up to stage with my hands clenched at sides. Everyone's eyes are on me. I go up to where Professor Longbottom is standing and sit on the stool. He smiles at me and I give a small smile back as he places the hat on my head. The thing that shocks me the most is the hat's voice inside my head. It's much too loud and invasive in my thoughts.

"So Rachel" hisses the hat,"where shall we put you? By the looks of it you're pretty clever…. but not suited to Ravenclaw. Hardworking but not cunning so I guess Slytherin is out. I see your a great friend….. very loyal and trustworthy and you like to have some fun. Hmmmmmm better be HUFFLEPUFF!"

I sigh escapes my lips and I hand the hat back to Professor Longbottom and make my way to the Hufflepuff table. Much to my displeasure I'm greeted by perfect prefect Kimberley. The sorting goes on with people being put into their respective houses but I'm distracted by people at the other tables. I look over to the Gryffindor table and see my two cousins James and Albus. Their blonde friend that was rude to me on the train is there as well sitting with them. I then try and locate the other girl they were sitting with with the red hair. I see her over at the Ravenclaw table eagerly awaiting the sorting of her brother, the red haired boy I remembered seeing in the compartment. But first it's my cousin Lily's turn to be sorted. She walks up to the stage and the hat is placed on her head. Unlike others the hat sits on her head for a long time without saying a word. Finally after a couple of minutes the hat yells out it's verdict.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Everyone in the hall goes silent. Beside me Kimberley is whispering.

"But this isn't possible. All of the Potter's go into Gryffindor. I wonder if she's evil and that's why she got sorted into the worst house."

After telling Kimberley to shut up people then realise the silence is awkward and begin to clap. I watch Lily move toward the Slytherin table who all look slightly confused. She looks back to where her brothers are sitting at the Gryffindor table. When I go to look at James and Albus again their expression are different. James is totally shocked with his mouth hanging open and Albus although less shocked he is certainly surprised by the recent events.

Then it is time for the red haired boy to be sorted.

"Hugo Weasley"

As soon as the hat touches his head it shouts

"GRYFFINDOR!"

And with that the sorting is over.

Authors Note: Sorry the update took such a long time! I hope you like this new chapter! Thank you to everyone who reviewed, followed and favourited! I have a question for you guys: Do you like the different POV? If you do what characters do you want me to write POV for? Please leave your responses in the review section! Constructive criticism is welcome!