Chapter 4

Author's Note: So even though it's felt like it's been days since I started this fanfiction, it turns out that at the time I'm writing this it's been roughly twenty-four hours. I didn't realize that I had posted three chapters in that short amount of time, and looking back I may have rushed them. With that in mind, I'm going to try and put more time into each chapter, and try to make them more interesting and longer. We'll see how that goes.

Also, I've noticed that while the chapters are being posted, it hasn't actually been "updated." It's still showing up by the publish date, meaning it's buried behind hundreds of fanfictions even though I've updated it twice now. If anyone has any idea on why this is happening, please message me about it. While I still love writing, it's extremely deterring when readers have to go several pages in to find your story.

Anyway, I've been rambling on. Let's get to the story.

Harry couldn't believe his eyes. The Castle was massive, easily hundreds of time larger than the Dursley's home. He was rendered speechless by the sight of it. He noticed that the usually talkative Hermione looked shocked by it too. Ron looked unimpressed, but that was expected from someone as dim as he is. Instead, Harry noticed that he was staring at Hermione's ass. Harry hoped he could get rid of Ron sooner rather than later. This was just getting a little creepy.

As they were approaching the castle, the pale boy Harry had seen before they boarded the train came by. He was with two other boys, presumalbly his friends, that looked about as sharp as the pillows that they were hugging. Harry had no idea why they had pillows with them on the train. He guessed they could try to sleep, but the pale boy didn't seem like the type to let them.

"I heard Harry Potter was on this train. Have any of you seen him?"

Harry gave a look to Hermione and Ron that he thought clearly said to keep their mouths shut, but of course Ron and his IQ of two spoke up.

"Yes! He's right there! Right! There!"

Harry rolled his eyes and decided it wasn't worth it to slap Ron, for now. Instead, he lifted up his bangs and showed Draco his scar. Draco snarled.

"You, of all people, should know better that to make friends with a Weasley." An unexpected voice chimed in after this comment.

"Amen to that, brother." Hermione went red as all eyes turned to her, before both her and Harry busted out laughing. Ron looked furious, but said nothing. He just turned away to look out the window, and ignored the rest of the conversation.

"Oh, so he's not your friend?" Draco looked semi-pleased that that seemed to be the case.

Harry leaned in to whisper, "No, I met his mom outside the train and she kind of forced us to go on the train together. He's dim-witted and not someone I want to associate with. I think Hermione wants to keep him around for joke material, and I can't say I blame her."

Draco wasn't sure why he was whispering, but it was probably wise for him to whisper back. "Well, if that's the case, do you mind if I sit down? I'll leave these two idiots to fend for themselves. I'd rather sit with you guys."

"Go ahead. I'd kick Ron out but I think Hermione is right in that he makes perfect joke material." Harry had an evil grin on his face. In Draco's eyes, Harry was acting more like a Slytherin than Gryffindor, which was surprising since according to his father Harry had two Gryffindor parents.

Harry was feeling better and better about Hogwarts and the train ride had worn on. Sure, there was still the matter of his wand, but he at least had made two friends, at least they seemed to be friends. Maybe this wouldn't be such a bad year after all.

A short time later, and it was time to get off the train. Harry had spent the last few minutes of travel with his new friends, Draco and Hermione. Ron had been pouting, still was, actually, as he had been left out of most of the group discussions. Harry didn't really care what Ron thought, as he wasn't even sure Ron could think.

As they got off, Harry heard the booming voice of Hagrid. "Firs' years over here! Towards the lake!" Harry didn't know why they had to head towards the lake, but he supposed that he probably shouldn't question it. As they rounded the bend to the lake, Harry and some of the other first years noticed what appeared to be boats pulled up on the shore of the lake. Were they going to have to take a boat to the castle? Harry hoped not.

Well, Harry didn't get what he wanted. Hagrid sorted them onto boats, and fortunately Harry, Draco, and Hermione were put into the same one. Unfortunately, a grumbling Ron was also put into their boat. The three groaned, as they had all developed a dislike for the boy and his temper.

Once everyone was on a boat, Hagrid instructed them to start paddling. Well, the sooner they started, the sooner they got there. Harry was one of the first to grab an oar, and they started to paddle towards the castle. Harry wondered how long this was going to take.

Pretty damn long, it turned out. Even though his boat was the first to arrive on the opposite shore, several boats were having trouble, and a few people even fell out. Hagrid forced them to stay and wait for everyone to catch up, even though that took the better part of an hour. Once they all had finally made it, they made their walk up the the massive castle doors. A woman was waiting there who appeared to be in her 50s or early 60s. They had to wait there, too, of course. Apparently nothing in this castle was hurried. Harry was suitably annoyed at this, as he wanted to get sorted into his house. House dictated everything at Hogwarts. Classes, who it was "appropriate" to hang out with, dormitories, etc. It was everything.

Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. He didn't really have a preference, although he would prefer not to be sorted into Ravenclaw, as he didn't thing he was smart enough. He knew parents had both been Gryffindors, and he figured that they wouldn't want him in any other house, but honestly he didn't care. Hufflepuff would be fine, as he could be easily overlooked. He felt that he wasn't hard-working enough to be sorted into Ravenclaw, and felt that he wouldn't live up to the standards expected of one. Harry thought he would do okay in Gryffindor, but he didn't seem himself as particularly bold or brave. He felt he would feel most comfortable in Slytherin, but he also realized that he would most likely be made an outcast in Slytherin. Other houses just didn't accept them. If you became a Slytherin, you were branded as evil and cast out from the Hogwarts society. Comfort just wasn't worth the trouble.

Suddenly, the woman standing at the castle doors began to speak. "Alright! Listen up! You will walk into the Great Hall double file, and you will be sorted! Once sorted, you will take a seat at the table with your house! You will know which one by the one that is cheering the loudest! Now get in line, and stay that way! We will be entering the castle shortly!"

Harry immediately moved to stand by Hermione, which a much annoyed Draco got stuck with Ron.

"H-Harry, what house do you t-think you'll be s-sorted int-to?" Harry noticed that Hermione was starting to stutter, and assumed she was starting to get anxious about where she would end up.

"I dunno Hermione. I hope the same one as you. I may have only met you today, but you seem to be a great person and I'd love to get to know you better." Hermione face brightened as he was speaking.

"You r-really want to be in the same house as me?"

"Yes! I think we'd have a lot of fun over the course of this year."

"Well, I hope we're in the same house too Harry."

The woman who had been at the doors had returned, and she motioned for them to follow her. It was time for the sorting.

She led them through the doors and into a narrow hallway. Shortly after they entered, the narrow hallway opened up into what Harry assumed was the Great Hall. Seeing it, Harry saw where the name came from. The ceiling had to be at least three times as high as in a normal house, and it looked see through. He noticed that Hermione was trying to get his attention. She was mouthing something to him.

"It's only bewitched to look that way. It's not actually the sky. I read it in Hogwarts: A History."

"Wow, that's great Hermione."

As they continued to progress, Harry noticed that many of the older years were staring at him. He realized to late that his bangs had been shifted by the winds outside and his scar was visible. He hastily covered it, but he knew that he had noticed it too late. People were starting to gossip. This wasn't ideal.

One they reached the front of the hall, Harry got a closer look at the front table and noticed that it was for the teachers. He saw that each seat had a name tag on the front, and he saw the only one missing was someone name "Professor McGonagall." He guessed this was the name of the woman who had led them here. She grabbed something from a man, presumably Headmaster Dumbledore, since he had the biggest chair, that appeared to be a scrap of fabric. As she approached the line of first years, Harry noticed that it was actually a hat. Professor McGonagall sat it on a stool that sat in the middle of the area, and a split opened in it. It appeared to be coming alive! He realized that it was the sorting hat, and he was an idiot for not realizing it earlier. While Aunt Petunia didn't tell him about it, he heard Hagrid mention it and Draco had talked about it on the train. Professor McGonagall silenced them, and the hat started to speak.

"Alright. Which one of you first years is first?"

Professor McGonagall pulled out a list, and began reading names off. It eventually reached "Granger, Hermione."

Hermione started to walk up to the stool, stumbling slightly and looking as if she was about to have a heart attack. She sat there for a second, before the hat bellowed out, "Ravenclaw!" She was greeted by many cheering Ravenclaws, and while Harry realized that Ravenclaw wasn't a perfect fit for him, he also desperately wanted to be Ravenclaw now.

Soon, Draco was called up. He was nervous too, but he realized that he probably would be Slytherin, just as all his family. He bowed his head as he walked up, and slumped down on the stool. He didn't sit there long before, to his surprise, the hat also sorted him into Ravenclaw. While the amount of people clapping was noticeably less, one could see an enthusiastic Hermione clapping louder than anyone. For the second time, Harry desperately wanted to be sorted into Ravenclaw.

Harry was finally called up, and the hall quieted to the point where Harry could have heard a pin drop. He sat on the stool, and let the hat be lowered onto his head. To his surprise, he heard a voice speak into his head.

"Hmm...ambitious and cunning like a Slytherin, yet curious and rational like a Ravenclaw. You are an interesting case, Mr. Potter."

"Well, where do you think I belong?"

"Personally, I think you would do great things in Slytherin. Ravenclaw may not be as ignored as Hufflepuff, but you still won't get that head start from being sorted into Slytherin. But I also have found that when working together, the things you can accomplish are even greater. You seem to have already made two friends, and I think it would be best for you three to stick together. You three will go great distances in your lifetime."

"Ravenclaw!"

Author's Note: Well, Harry's a Ravenclaw. I realize that he might have shown qualities in the past that might point to another house, but I also wasn't sure where exactly I was going to put him until I actually had to write it. I also wanted Draco to replace Ron in the Golden Trio, so that's what I did.

Also, it appears from the googling I did that there may possibly be a twenty-four hour updating period where it will actually show up under recently updated, so we'll see if that's the case after I post this chapter.

Well, I hope you guys enjoyed. As always, reviews and tips are always appreciated. If there is something that you would like to speak to me about in private, feel free to PM me. I'll respond as soon as I can.