Harry stuck close to Draco as they all were placed into small boats that fit about four people. He was with Draco and the girl, Hermione, that they had met on the train. There was also a boy who was holding a toad in his hands. Harry assumed that it must have been Trevor. Harry couldn't help but get caught up in the fantasies that were circling his mind as he looked upon Hogwarts.
Harry would finally have friends! He already had one in Draco and without Dudley there to sabotage his friendships, he was sure that he would have plenty of people to talk to. It was all his best dreams coming true! Harry was practically jumping excitement and he looked over and flashed a smile at Draco, who's eyes were starry in the light of the castle windows. Draco smiled back at him.
"Isn't this great Harry?" Draco asked, his voice slightly higher pitched. Harry had noticed that Draco did this whenever he was excited about something.
"Yea, I can't wait to meet everyone." Harry responded before the boys went back to silence. The rest of the boat ride, Harry's thoughts were on the opportunities of the upcoming school year.
They reached the other end of the lake and they were met with an elegant lady who had pursed lips and squared glasses. With a curt, "Follow me students." Harry's group followed the lady into the Entrance Hall. The ceiling was so high, Harry couldn't see the individual stones. The ground beneath his feet was made out of a collection of smooth flag stones that made a clacking sound whenever someone took a step. By the walls, there gargoyles and metal armour. The lady, who Harry thought might be one of the teachers, continued to lead them towards a pair of towering wooden doors that had a complex pattern of swirls and symbols. When they reached the doors, they directed them towards a smaller pair of doors of to the side that lead to a small chamber. She then introduced herself,
"Welcome to Hogwarts, The School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. My name is Professor McGonagall. The start-of-term feast will be beginning shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into one of the four houses. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin. Your future house will be like your family at Hogwarts. You will have classes together, sleep together, and spend time with each other."
"Your actions will reflect on your house's points this year. You will earn points for your successes and lose them for rule breaking. At the end of the year, all the house points will be added up and the house with the most points will be awarded with the house cup, which is a great honour."
"The Sorting Ceremony will start in a few moments so I suggest that you… smarten up a bit," she finished off while eyeing Harry's messy hair. Harry reached up and tried to pat it down, already knowing that it wasn't going to work. He had tried many times before to try and tame it but nothing worked. He remembered one time, when he was just starting primary school, Aunt Petunia shaved his whole head, except for his bangs because of a strange lightning bolt scar on his forehead. Thinking of his scar, Hagrid had mentioned something about being a memento of his defeat of Voldemort.
The professor lead them through the doors and into a huge dining hall. It reminded Harry of the canteen at his old school, except for the fact that there was no food lady and that instead of many small groups of tables, there were four long tables that ran the length of the hall, until they reached the teacher's table, which overlooked the students. There were also floating candles and if you looked up, there was a night sky where a roof should have been. It looked so realistic that harry would have thought that they hadn't built a roof if it wasn't for the fact that he had already seen the outside of the castle, which had all the roofs in the right places.
Professor McGonagall stopped when they reached a couple of stairs. She indicated for them to wait there before she stepped up next to a stool of a ratty looking hat placed on it.
"When I call your name, you will come forward, sit on the stool, and place the Sorting Hat onto your head." The Professor explained, right before the hat that was previously inanimate hat opened its mouth and starting singing.
"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 Hufflepuffis 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!"
Once the hat finished its song, the whole hall erupted in claps and Harry quickly followed. McGongall stepped forward with a roll of parchment in her hand. Unrolling it, she called out the first name in a stern and clear voice that echoed down the now quiet hall.
"Abbot, Hannah!"
A flustered girl made her way up the steps and sat on the stool. She was trembling like a leaf as the professor put the hat on top of Hannah's head. After a few seconds, the hat opened its mouth again.
"Hufflepuff!"
One of the tables behind him, the ones who were wearing the yellow badger badges, erupted into applause. The sorting continued and Harry noticed that Hermione had been sorted into Gryffindor.
"Malfoy, Draco!"
The hat touched Draco's head for less than a second before if made its decision.
"Slytherin!"
Smiling, Harry clapped, glad that his friend got the house that he wanted. Feeling nervous the closer the further down the list McGonigall went, Harry was terrified when she called out his name.
"Potter, Harry!"
If the hall was quiet before, it was absolutely silent now and Harry curled his hand up to hide their shaking as he sat on the stool. The hat was placed on his head and the hall was blocked out from his view. Harry listened to the Sorting Hat as he went on about how he would do well in any of the houses.
Harry caught when the Hat said that "Slytherin is your way to greatness."
He didn't think that he could ever achieve greatness, but Slytherin was where Draco was and he would very much like it if they could stay in the same House. Harry didn't even voice this to the Hat before it was calling out,
"Slytherin!"