Author's Note: I'm sorry this took so long, time flew by faster than I though it would, haha, sorry.

Anyway, here is the chapter, I hope you enjoy, and don't forget to send me your thoughts!

The door was opened immediately by someone Danny actually recognized, Professor McGonagall. Danny relaxed and smiled at her. It was good to see her again. She had been the one to first tell him of the wizarding world.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said the giant man.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here," she said, pulling the door open wide enough for the students to enter.

Danny glanced at the man. So his name was Hagrid? Good to finally know.

Danny gaped at the huge entrance hall as he walked in. The stone walls were alight with torches, the ceiling was far too high to see, and a huge marble staircase across from them led to some of the upper floors.

Professor McGonagall led them past a doorway (through which Danny could hear hundreds of voices and had assumed that that was where they were supposed to go, until passing it) and into a small, empty chamber that they all crowded into, standing a little closer than would usually be comfortable.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall, "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something 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 common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." Her eyes lingered on a few students.

"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall, "Please wait quietly." Then she left.

Except for a few whispers exchanged here and there, most of the students obeyed her request. Danny was suddenly very nervous. While it was true Amilia had discussed what she knew of the sorting ceremony, she had admitted that she didn't know very much. Apparently, when she had asked her dad about it, he had laughed and told her that it would just have to remain a surprise. Amilia hadn't found it nearly as amusing. From what Danny could gather from the crowd of students, not many other people knew what was in store for them either.

Danny jumped when several people around him screamed. He turned around and gasped at the sight before him. About twenty or so ghosts had just phased through the back wall. They were completely white, and a little transparent. They glided across the room, talking amongst themselves and barely even glancing at the students.

Danny eyed them nervously. What did they want? Were the ghosts planning on hurting the students? He reached into his robes and gripped his wand. He decided to listen in on their argument. Maybe then he could deduce their intentions.

A ghost that looked like a fat little monk was saying: "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance–"

"My dear Friar," a ghost wearing a ruff and tights cut him off, "haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost - I say, what are you all doing here?" he said, finally noticing the first years. Danny gripped his wand tighter.

Nobody answered.

"New students!" said the Friar, smiling around at them. "About to be Sorted, I suppose?"

A few people nodded mutely.

"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" The Friar continued, "My old house, you know."

"Move along now," said a sharp voice. Danny looked up to see that Professor McGonagall had finally come back. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."

As the ghosts started to float away through the opposite wall, Danny slowly relaxed his grip on his wand.

"Now, form a line," said Professor McGonagall, "and follow me."

Danny and the others formed a line. Amilia was in front of him, and Ed was behind him. Danny assumed that Ginna had to be behind Ed. The first-years walked out of the room, back across the corridor, and finally entered the double doors leading into the Great Hall.

Once again, Danny found himself gaping at his surroundings. The Great Hall was lit by thousands, upon thousands of candles that were floating in midair above four long tables, where the rest of the students were already sitting. The tables were filled with shining golden goblets and plates. At the end of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up to the teachers table so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. Hundreds of faces were staring at them. Danny gripped his wand again at the sight of some ghosts dotted here and there among the students, but as he noticed that no one was running, screaming, or trying to fight them, he slowly released his wand again.

Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. She then placed a pointed wizard's hat that was patched, frayed, and dirty upon the stool.

A silence filled the room as everyone stared at the hat. Then it twitched and a rip near the brim opened like a mouth, and the hat 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 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!"

When it was done, the whole hall burst into applause. The hat bowed to each of the four tables and then became still. Danny didn't know which house he would end up in. He felt that he was a bit of everything and at the same time that he was none of them.

Professor McGonagall stepped forward and lifted a roll of parchment. "When I call your name," she began, "you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted." She paused, then called out, "Abbott, Hannah!"

A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of the line, and she pulled the hat onto her head as she sat down. After another brief pause . . .

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted, and the table on the right burst into applause as Hannah went and sat down at the Hufflepuff table. The Friar waved merrily at her.

"Bones, Susan!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan raced off to sit next to Hannah.

A few more people were sorted, some into Hufflepuff, some into Ravenclaw, a few into Gryffindor. As Danny glanced at the people sorted into Slytherin, he realized that they all seemed a lot like the popular kids back in Amity. Danny finally understood what Ed had meant on the train about not wanting to broadcast that he was Muggle-born.

"Cairaway, Virginia!"

Danny blinked in surprise as Ginna broke from the line to walk towards the hat. He noticed Amilia was smirking in triumph. As the hat lowered onto Ginna's head, Danny noticed a nervous frown appear on her face. After a moment the hat called out:

"SLYTHERIN!"

Amilia and Ed stiffened.

Danny stared at Ginna as she got up. She didn't even look at them as she walked to her table and sat down amongst the cheering Slytherins.

"Cuthbert, Amilia!"

Amilia jumped slightly, and walked towards the hat. She glanced at Ginna, who didn't make eye contact, and nervously put the hat on.

A few moments later:

"RAVENCLAW!"

Looking relieved and not just a little bit proud, Amilia removed the hat and walked toward her house table.

Danny kept staring at Ginna. He felt sure that the hat must have made some kind of mistake. Sure, he hadn't spent much time with Ginna, and she had barely said a word about herself. But even so, she didn't seem like the sort of people usually in Slytherin. Even now, although she wouldn't look in his direction, Danny could see the annoyed and even disgusted looks she shot the other Slytherins. She sat as far on the edge of the table as she could, and did not start a conversation with anyone.

"Fenton, Daniel!"

Danny started at hearing his name. He broke away from the line and walked apprehensively towards the hat. The closer he got to it, the more he realized how nervous he was with everyone staring silently at him. By the time the hat was placed on his head, his mouth had gone quite dry.

"Hmm, interesting life you have here, eh, Danny?" said the hat, making Danny jump slightly.

"You tend to stand up for your people, don't you? Though it is your friends who give you a reason to stand up for others. Yes, you have strong loyalty. And quite a bit of courage. Hmm, interesting. Where shall I put you?"

"Wherever's best, I suppose," whispered Danny.

"Hmm, yes. You would make a terrific Hufflepuff, but I have a feeling you should be elsewhere. Hmm, let's make it . . ."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Stunned, Danny pulled off the hat. He made his way to the cheering Gryffindor table and numbly sat down.

Gryffindor? How had he made it into Gryffindor? Danny didn't think he was brave and courageous enough to warrant being in Gryffindor. What did the hat see that Danny couldn't?

Danny was dimly aware of a few more people being sorted, he noticed that the bushy-haired girl who had come to his cabin on the train was sorted into Gryffindor along with him. Apparently, her name was Hermione Granger.

Danny jerked to attention when another name was called out.

"Knight, Edward!"

Ed walked briskly towards the hat and pulled it on as he sat down.

He took a little longer than a few of the other students. Every now and then the hat would look like it was about to say something, only to change its mind. After several minutes it let out a disgruntled, "GRYFFINDOR!" and Danny cheered along with the rest of his house as Ed walked over and sat down next to him.

Ed was grinning at him with an unmistakable air of triumph.

"What took so long?" Danny asked, half teasing, half genuinely curious.

Ed shrugged, "Couldn't decide where to put me," he gave Danny a smirk, "Guess I'm a hard guy to figure out."

Danny laughed.

Neville Longbottom, the boy who had collected his frog from the boats, tripped on his way to the stool. Just as with Ed, the hat took a long while with Neville. Finally, it shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" and Neville started to run off still wearing it, and so had to jog back to give it to "MacDougal, Morag," many of the students laughing in his midst. Danny, known for being clumsy himself, felt bad for the kid and did not laugh along with the others.

Danny raised his eyebrow slightly when a boy named Draco Malfoy was sorted. The hat had just seemed to brush his hair before it screamed "SLYTHERIN!" making Danny briefly wonder about Draco's moral state.

A few more names were called out. Danny started to zone out until another name was called. A name that threw the hall first into silence, and then a great murmur.

The name, of course, was Harry Potter.

The boy in question looked extremely nervous as he approached the hat. Danny could hear the little whispers that floated around the great hall.

"Potter, did she say?"

"The Harry Potter?"

People craned their necks and shifted as close as they could to get a better look at the boy as the hat fell onto his head.

Danny leaned over to Ed and whispered, "What's going on?"

Ed stared at him for a moment, then sighed as he shook his head, "I keep forgetting you're Muggle-born." He nodded towards Harry, "Harry Potter saved the wizarding world ten or so years ago."

Danny furrowed his brow. "Saved the wizarding world? Ten years ago? Wouldn't that mean he was like, one? How could he save the world as a baby?"

Ed glanced around, "You-Know-Who tried to hit him with a killing curse, but it bounced off of him and hit You-Know-Who instead!"

Danny grew more confused, "How can I-Know-Who, if I have no idea who you're talking about?"

Ed opened his mouth to reply just as the hat called out: "GRYFFINDOR!"

A deafening roar of applause filled the great hall as Harry Potter walked shakily toward their table. A red-haired boy got up and shook Harry's hand vigorously, while a set of twins shouted, "We got Potter! We got Potter!"

"I'll explain later," whispered Ed.

Danny nodded and watched as Harry sat opposite the ghost in the ruff Danny had seen earlier. He saw the ghost pat Harry's arm and Danny's fingers twitched at the shocked look on Harry's face.

A few more people were sorted, including a "Weasley, Ronald" who was sorted into Gryffindor. Danny noted that Harry seemed relieved as Ronald sat next to him.

"Well done, Ron, excellent," Danny heard the boy who had shaken Harry's hand earlier say to Ronald - Ron.

A "Zabini, Blaise," was made a Slytherin, and Professor McGonagall rolled up her scroll and took the Sorting Hat away.

An old man rose from his seat at the head table, drawing everyone's attention. From how quickly the room quieted, Danny assumed this must be the headmaster. Amilia had mentioned him. Albus Dumbledore?

"Welcome," he said, beaming at his students with arms spread wide, "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 said as he sat back down. Everyone clapped and cheered. Danny raised an eyebrow but didn't question it. Stranger things have been said courtesy of his dad, Jack.

Danny was distracted from everything else by the great assortment of foods that suddenly appeared on the table in front of him. He thought there must be almost every kind of food there. And as the smells hit him, his mouth began to water. He piled his plate with so much food that the plate itself seemed non-existent. He noticed Ed raise an eyebrow at him, but Danny just grinned and began to eat.

He paused upon hearing the ghost across from Harry speak.

"That does look good," said the ghost.

Harry looked up from cutting his steak, "Can't you–?"

Danny stared at him, of course he couldn't. He was a ghost, ghosts can't eat.

"I haven't eaten for nearly five hundred years," said the ghost, confirming to Danny what his parents had taught him. "I don't need to, of course," he continued, "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."

Danny groaned internally. He would have to live with a ghost? He realized with a start that he would have to live with several ghosts. What was he going to do? What if a ghost attacked someone?

"I know who you are!" said Ron suddenly, "My brothers told me about you – you're Nearly Headless Nick!"

"I would prefer you to call me Sir Nicholas de Mimsy–" began the ghost stiffly, but a boy with sandy hair cut him off.

"Nearly Headless? How can you be nearly headless?"

Danny gripped his wand again at the look on the ghost's face. He didn't really know if magic worked on ghosts, and it was true Danny didn't know many spells yet, but still, maybe he could do something–

"Like this," said the ghost irritably. He grabbed his left ear and pulled, causing most of his head to swing off his neck and fall onto his shoulder. Danny winced, someone had tried to behead the ghost, but they had clearly not done a very good job. No wonder Sir Nicholas (since Danny thought it was best to call the ghost by the name that he wished), had come back as a ghost.

Sir Nicholas looked pleased with the horrified and stunned looks on the students' faces. He flipped his head back onto his neck, coughed, and said, "So – new Gryffindors! I hope you're going to help us win the house championship this year? Gryffindors have never gone so long without winning. Slytherins have got the cup six years in a row! The Bloody Baron's becoming almost unbearable – he's the Slytherin ghost."

Danny looked at the Slytherin table and saw the ghost Sir Nicholas was talking about. Danny winced again at the blood covering the ghost's robes, even if it was all faded silver, that didn't make it look too much better.

"How did he get covered in blood?" asked the sandy-haired boy. Danny found himself glaring at the boy. It was true that all Danny knew of ghosts was from what his parents had taught him, but even the most clueless of people should know better than to bring up the death of a ghost.

"I've never asked," said Sir Nicholas in a delicate voice.

Danny finally turned back to his food and ate. It was a little cold now, but no less enjoyable.

After everyone had had their fill, the food vanished from the plates to be replaced a moment later with a massive assortment of desserts.

Danny helped himself to some ice-cream and pie. The talk around the table turned to their families, and Danny found himself growing uncomfortable. The sandy-haired boy was a half-blood. It sounded like Neville was from an all wizarding family. Ed and a few others started talking about their lives, but Danny didn't chip in. As he surveyed the ghosts and the way they interacted with the students and teachers, Danny felt more and more unsure that they were actually evil. And if they weren't evil, and wizards actually liked them . . . well, he doubted that being known as the son of ghost hunters was any better than being known as a Muggle-born.

Danny was spared from having to enter any conversations when the desserts disappeared from the tables and Headmaster Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall became silent.

"Ahem – just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you," he said, "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." Headmaster Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flickered to the direction of the red-headed twins by Harry.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors," he continued, "Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams 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 everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

Danny laughed, but he cut himself short as he noticed that he was one of the few people who did.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" said Headmaster Dumbledore with enthusiasm. Danny noticed that the other teachers' smiles became rather forced.

The Headmaster flicked his wand and caused to appear what Danny guessed to be subtitles to the song they were expected to sing. However, Danny decided to ignore the song and focus instead about what the Headmaster had been saying about the third-floor hallway. Why was it off limits? Why would anyone die if they went there? What was in there?

Danny didn't pay much attention to the school song, it was something about learning, he was too lost in thought about that corridor. His mind also started to shift to what Ed had been talking about with Harry and someone Danny should know.

He snapped to attention when clapping filled the hall, although it was mainly from Headmaster Dumbledore, who was wiping his eyes.

"Ah, music, a magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"

The Gryffindors stood and followed the boy who had shaken Harry's hand earlier out of the hall and up a marble staircase. What was he again? Amilia had talked a bit about the school and its history, that's how he knew about Headmaster Dumbledore, but what was the person the Gryffindors were following? Danny snapped his fingers as he remembered. A prefect.

Danny did a double take at the portraits hanging on the walls when he noticed they were moving. Then he rolled his eyes at himself. Really, nothing should surprise him too much at this point. Magic made anything possible.

After a few more staircases they stopped suddenly, and Danny stared at the bundle of walking sticks floating ahead of them. As their Prefect moved forward, the walking sticks started to throw themselves at him.

"Peeves," their Prefect whispered to the first years, "A poltergeist." Danny reached for his wand again as the Prefect raised his voice, "Peeves – show yourself."

A loud raspberry was heard.

"Do you want me to get the Bloody Baron?"

Danny glanced at the Prefect. Why would he get a ghost to deal with another ghost?

There was a pop, and a little man with wicked, dark eyes and a wide mouth appeared. He floated cross-legged and was holding the walking sticks.

"Ooooooooh!" he said, with an evil cackle that made Danny grip his wand tighter. "Ickle Firsties! What fun!" He swooped suddenly at them and they all ducked, Danny pulled out his wand. He didn't care if magic was allowed in the hallways or not.

"Go away, Peeves," barked their Prefect, "or the Baron'll hear about this, I mean it!"

Peeves stuck his tongue out and vanished, dropping the walking sticks on Neville's head. He zoomed away, and the students could hear armor rattling as he flew passed.

"You want to watch out for Peeves," said the Prefect, walking again, "The Bloody Baron's the only one who can control him, he won't even listen to us prefects. Here we are."

At the end of the hallway a portrait of a fat woman in a pink silk dress hung on the wall. Danny put his wand away when he saw Ed staring at it questioningly. "I'll tell you later," Danny said quickly, making Ed shrug.

"Password?" said the portrait.

"Caput Draconis," said their Prefect.

The portrait swung forward to reveal a round hole in the wall, they climbed through it and found themselves in the Gryffindor common room. It was quite cozy, a warm fire crackled in the fireplace and squashy armchairs sat throughout the round room.

The Prefect directed the girls through one door and the boys through another up to their dormitory rooms. At the top of the spiral staircase, they found their beds, which were five by four posters, hung with deep red velvet curtains. Their trunks had already been brought up.

Before Ed could walk away, Danny grabbed his arm. "Aren't you going to tell me about You-Know-Who?" whispered Danny.

Ed looked at him in disbelief. "Danny, are you kidding? It must be, like, one in the morning. Aren't you tired?"

Danny sighed and crossed his arms, "Yeah, I guess. But, still, it sounds important."

Ed sighed as well and ran a hand through his hair, "It's nothing that I can't tell you tomorrow, okay Danny?"

"Fine, first thing in the morning."

Ed rolled his eyes and yawned, "Sure, deal. Can I go to bed now?"

Danny sighed again, "Yeah."

Ed nodded and went to bed.

Danny suddenly realized how tired he was and crashed into his bed, falling asleep instantly.