Author's notes: Well, it's time to find out where everyone will get sorted. This is my longest chapter so far, I believe, and this is due to what the content of the chapter is. To find out, well, let's begin, and you will...

Chapter 4: The Sorting Ceremony

Harry was soon woken from his slumber when the Hogwarts Express blew its horn to say that it had stopped at Hogwarts Station. Harry picked Shade up and placed him in his cage before getting up off of the bench. Harry grabbed his trunk, Hedwig's cage, and Shade's cage and exited the train. After dropping off his trunk and familiars with the people who would take them up to the castle for the students, he made his way to a tall man who was calling for first years to follow him to the boats. He followed the man, who introduced himself as the gamekeeper; Rubeus Hagrid, with the rest of the first year students and got on one of the boats with two other students that he didn't know. As the boats were cast off, he got his first glimpse of Hogwarts castle. While everyone was staring at it with awe, he merely nodded his head in appreciation for its architecture, not showing much expressive emotions. It didn't take long for the boats to reach the entrance to the castle and Hagrid led them inside before giving them directions on where to go to reach the Great Hall before he walked off, probably to tend to his duties.

Harry followed the rest of the students as they made their way to the Great Hall. Just before they entered, however, they were stopped by an old woman.

"Welcome to Hogwarts! I am Professor McGonagall, and I am the Deputy Headmistress and Transfiguration professor here at Hogwarts. Now, in a few moments, you will pass through these doors to be sorted into your houses and join your classmates. The houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Now, once you are sorted, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs and achievements will earn you house points, but if you break any rules, you will lose points. Whichever house has the most points by the end of the year will win the House Cup. The Sorting Ceremony will begin momentarily..." McGonagall said before going through the doors to the Great Hall, probably to receive permission from the Headmaster to let the first year students in.

Just then, Harry noticed a blond-haired boy with two chubby boys, who reminded him distinctly of Dudley, walked up to him with smirks on their faces. They seemed to radiate pompousness from the way they carried themselves, and Harry didn't like those sort of people. Those sort of people were bullies and thought that they had authority that they didn't deserve.

"So it's true then? What they were saying on the train? Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts..." the blond-haired boy said, causing the rest of the students to begin staring at Harry in awe as well as whisper to each other. The boy then continued with, "This is Crabbe and Goyle (gesturing to the chubby boys), and I'm Malfoy...Draco Malfoy..." Malfoy said. Harry chuckled slightly as his introduction reminded him of how James Bond always introduced himself.

"What?! Do you think my name's funny, do you?! " Malfoy demanded angrily.

"No, I was merely finding the way you introduced yourself funny. It was reminiscent of how James Bond introduces himself in the films," Harry stated, wondering why Malfoy seemed to get so riled up over a trivial matter like a simple chuckle.

"What's 'James Bond'? Are you trying to insult me?! Is he some kind of funny man?!" Malfoy demanded again, shocking Harry at his lack of knowledge.

"James Bond is the main character in a series of spy films. He's a good spy actually, and does his job very seriously. It's brilliant acting. Haven't you gone to a cinema to see it? My 'relatives' went as soon as they were released. They didn't take me, but I found ways to get there eventually," Harry explained.

"Why would I go to a filthy muggle cinema?! I'd be surrounded by them! You don't want to be making friends or talking to the wrong sort! Surely you of all people should understand that, right?! If not, then I can help you there..." Malfoy exclaimed, before holding out a hand for Harry to shake.

At Malfoy's rant, Harry grew increasingly more angry at the obviously prejudiced boy. While he didn't like the Dursleys, he knew that not all muggles would be like them, which is why he was happy to learn that his maternal grandparents were very nice people and treated Lily no different from when they found out that she was magical compared to before, yet they were muggles. It was then that he realised that he had heard the name Malfoy before. He had heard people talking about the father in the Leaky Cauldron. Mr. Lucius Malfoy was a supporter of Voldemort and claimed to have been under the Imperius curse (the controlling curse and one of the Unforgivable curses) while serving Voldemort, so he was cleared of all charges. Those people, as do others apparently, believed that Lucius had bribed the Minister of Magic into clearing him of all charges when he in fact was a willing servant. This only fuelled Harry's anger at the nerve of the son of a man who supported the murderer of his parents, trying to befriend him! How sick can someone be?!

"You're Lucius Malfoy's son, aren't you?" Harry asked, and at Malfoy's nod, he continued with, "I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself then thanks."

Malfoy and many other students who heard Harry's comment were stunned by his dismissal of Malfoy's friendship. He then leaned forward and whispered this into Malfoy's ear:

"I would never be friends with the son of a man who supported the murderer of my parents. You're sick, do you know that? I warn you...Do NOT cross me again, or I will personally give you the same punishment that I will give your father's master, if he ever returned, and any other supporters of him. Do I make myself clear?"

Malfoy merely snarled and stormed off. However, Harry grinned in satisfaction when he saw the hint of fear in Malfoy's face as he whispered his threat. Just then, McGonagall reappeared and led the first year students into the Great Hall before stopping them in front of a stool where a hat was placed. McGonagall then pulled out a roll of parchment before addressing the first years again.

"Now, when I call you name, you will come forth, sit on the stool, then I will place the Sorting Hat on you head, who will then sort you into your houses," McGonagall explained before the Sorting Hat began to sing about the different houses. After the song, she began to read off the list.

Harry didn't really pay much attention to who got sorted before him except for specific people. Hermione was somehow sorted into Gryffindor. He didn't understand that as she seemed to be the Ravenclaw type, judging by the Sorting Hat's song, being a bookworm and all that. Malfoy was quickly sorted into Slytherin. Again, he couldn't understand how as Malfoy didn't possess any of the cunning nor ambition to be in Slytherin judging by how he's seen Malfoy act. A boy named Neville Longbottom, the toad owner, was sorted into Gryffindor, albeit the obvious nervousness he expressed, and it seemed to be difficult for the Hat, judging by how long it took to sort the boy. Soon, he heard his name being called...

"Potter, Harry!" McGonagall announced, looking at him with a kind smile.

Harry merely sighed and walked forward. He scowled as the whispers and predictions began.

"He's so brave as he defeated You-Know-Who! He's got to be in Gryffindor!" one person exclaimed.

"I bet he's super smart! He'll be in Ravenclaw for sure!" another person predicted.

"He'll be really loyal I bet as he's such a good guy! He'll be a Hufflepuff!" stated another.

"He must have some talent and ambition to get to where he is now! He's got to be in Slytherin!" said another.

Harry ignored them all and carried on until he got to the stool. As he looked at the staff table, he noticed that Dumbledore leaned forward and seemed to be paying increasingly more attention to him. The Headmaster seemed to have a twinkle in his eyes, but Harry also noticed that there was darkness held in those eyes, darkness that made him feel that whatever he said or did would be the correct decision, no matter how bad the side effects on people would be. Harry made a mental note to keep a close, sceptical eye on Dumbledore, especially when he felt a mental probe in his mind when he caught the gaze of the old man. He was glad that he took every precaution to protect his mind, and therefore privacy, by buying and reading books on things like Occlumency and Legilimency from Flourish and Blotts as he reckoned that the Headmaster wasn't happy when he pushed the old man's mental probe back. He sat on the stool and let McGonagall place the Sorting Hat on his head.

'Mr. Potter, it's a pleasure to finally meet you at last. Now then, let's see here...Difficult, very difficult...You have plenty of courage, I see, a sharp, intelligent mind, oh yes...and you have a thirst to prove yourself. Cunning and ambition seems to rule your mind...But where to put you?' the Sorting Hat mentally said, examining Harry's personality.

'What house has the Headmaster desired me to be in? He seems awfully interested in where I'm sorted, doesn't he?' Harry mentally asked, hoping to get some more information on the Headmaster.

'Well, Albus seemed sure that you would be a good Gryffindor as that was his house. Albus has...changed somewhat since You-Know-Who first appeared on the scene, and he's become slightly arrogant in terms of believing that his decisions are always for the 'Greater Good'. I would be careful around him if I were you, Mr. Potter. I don't know what he's up to, but it involved getting you on his side...' the Hat mentally answered.

'Well, considering my own plan. To keep an eye on the Headmaster, I think that by luring him into a false sense of security would be the best way to start. So, I would like you to place me into Gryffindor, if you wouldn't mind?' Harry mentally said, smirking slightly.

'Hmm, a Gryffindor with Slytherin traits? This is almost unheard of, but will be most interesting to see how everyone reacts. Very well, Mr. Potter, I will abide by your wishes...' the Hat mentally agreed, also with a smirk.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the Hat announced aloud, causing the Gryffindor students to cheer loudly, McGonagall to smile widely, and Dumbledore to grin while he clapped. Harry also noticed the old man's grin also reached his eyes as he could see the Headmaster's eyes light up as his brain began to execute the next phase of his plan.

As Harry walked towards the Gryffindor table, he spotted Ron staring at him with wide eyes. Ron's eyes also reflected fear, especially when he subtly looked at Dumbledore. Harry noticed this and raised an eyebrow in suspicion of Ron's possible involvement in Dumbledore's plan. Harry also smirked when he saw Hermione's face as he sat down at the table. She was completely flabbergasted, as was the rest of the Gryffindor students as he obviously wasn't as emotional about being sorted as they thought he would, due to his complete dismissal of them as they tried to shake his hand, cheer for him, talk to him elatedly, or basically just try to befriend the 'Boy-Who-Lived'. After all of the first year students had been sorted, including Ron being sorted into Gryffindor (Harry assumed that his parentage probably was the only reason for his house placement as he saw that the elder Weasley boys were also in Gryffindor), and before Harry was about to tell everyone to shut up, Dumbledore stood up to address the students.

"Welcome first years to Hogwarts. I am the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Now before the feast begins, I have a few start of term notices I must announce. As usual, the Forbidden Forest is strictly forbidden to be entered by all students. Also, out caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you that the third floor corridor is out of bounds to anyone who does not wish to die a painful death. Thank you...Now, let the feast...begin!" Dumbledore announced as the food magically appeared on the tables.

Harry started to eat with the rest of the students, but he almost lost his appetite when Ron came over to him and tried to talk to him with a mouth full of food.

"Hey, why didn't you say that you were Harry Potter on the train?" Ron asked, or at least that was the translation of what the food-filled gob was saying.

"Because I don't want people to treat me differently to others as I'm not the 'heroic celebrity' that I'm portrayed as in books," Harry answered, annoyed with Ron. He didn't want to take to the ignorant and insulting idiot, so he hoped that the boy had enough sense to hear the tone of his voice and leave.

"But you are different to us! We wouldn't have been able to defeat You-Know-Who, especially as a 1-year-old! You haven't been in the magical world long, have you? I can give you some advice and tips about what to do if you want, you know?" Ron exclaimed, completely ignoring Harry's annoyed tone.

"My mother and father died to protect me from a mass murderer! And his name is Voldemort, not 'You-Know Who' or 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named'! Who the hell fears a name! He's meant to be dead, isn't he?! What's he going to do, come up from the grave and kill everyone who says his name?! In fact, 'Lord Voldemort' is probably also another name that he made for himself! I reckon his real name is something else entirely, but he just decided to change it to make himself sound important and scary! He's a psychopath, and there's nothing to be gained by being scared of a name! Plus, I wouldn't let you teach me anything if you handed me everything in the world! Who would want to be taught anything by a boy who cowardly insults his own sister behind her back?! Plus, before you knew who I was, you were angry that I actually could see your true self and defended Ginny instead of conforming to your views! So, here's some advice; leave me alone if you know what's good for you!" Harry growled, effectively silencing the now frightened red-haired boy who got up and walked over to his brothers who started whispering to him about something that Harry couldn't hear, but knew to be about him if their constant 'subtle-but-noticeable' looks towards him were anything to go by. He decided to search for answers later, but right now, he needed to recharge and get some energy as he was hungry from the long train journey to Hogwarts, so he went back to eating his food. Yes, everyone was definitely shocked by this entirely unconventional, and very different, Harry Potter.