Disclaimers: See Chapter 1 for more info.

Guest Reviews

LOTCR: Yeah, with Frodo, he was questioning me as I was writing this yesterday. I think I've knocked some sense into him, but still – Frodo eyes me suspiciously – I'll just move on and say thank you for reviewing. No, just him. It's fine. You can read my story at anytime. I don't mind one bit. Well, I'm probably going to leave credit for you in the disclaimers from now on, because this was your initial idea and it sparked this story. Yeah, I don't know how it happened, but now I'm back in the writing mood and my writing is excelling, which is excellent. Yes! I'm glad I got Frodo right. I must know him a lot better than I thought. I'm glad I made someone's day. And you're welcome. Thanks for the cake. *digs in to a slice very happily, knowing she did her part well so far*

I know I haven't written any notes on this story yet, but I will say this is an important chapter and is one of my favorite scenes in the Harry Potter universe. It's important because Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin – yes, Sam, Merry, and Pippin are in here already due to their physical descriptions, even if they weren't in this story much – get sorted into their houses. Now, I did some hard research and figuring out each hobbit's personalities, qualities and choices (I did not take this on a whim) before making the final decision of where our four hobbits will be sorted into.

Also, I should point out that because Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin are all eleven years old in this story, they don't really know one another since they haven't met and Sam, Merry, and Pippin aren't born yet in Middle-earth at this time, but Sam's birth in the Shire is going to show up somewhere in this story. So, in a way, it's like we get to see how these four hobbits' friendships first formed, just under different circumstances.

After the giant, who Frodo learned from this witch, whose name was Professor McGonagall, was Hagrid, passed Frodo and the other first year students to who would be their teacher, Professor McGonagall led them down a stone floor. Frodo could hear hundreds of voices from a doorway on his right, which only gave him the conclusion that the rest of the students were there, the returning students to be precise. However, Professor McGonagall led the first years into a small, empty chamber hall where they crowded together. Although Frodo wanted to stand on his toes in order to see Professor McGonagall, he figured he should just stay put so he could hear the entire speech.

But one almost golden-haired hobbit boy, who was a bit shorter than Frodo, leapt into the air a few times. This caused a spur of giggles and soft chuckles amongst the first years. When Professor McGonagall spoke, she directed her gaze to the golden-haired hobbit boy first:

"Now, you will all get your chance to hear me speak… NO MORE LEAPING INTO THE AIR OR I SHALL PUNISH YOU BEFORE THE SORTING CEREMONY BEGINS!" called Professor McGonagall in a stern voice. This got the golden-haired hobbit boy's attention; he stopped leaping and shrunk in the crowd. Once there was silence, and Frodo's gaze fell on Professor McGonagall – he could see her at least through an opening in the crowd, she started her speech:

"Thank you. Welcome to Hogwarts." She looked pleased to see her new students, in spite of the anxious golden-haired hobbit boy. "Now before the start-of-term feast begins, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. While you are here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points, and any rule-breaking will cost you points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup.

"The Sorting Ceremony will begin momentarily. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up beforehand." Then Professor McGonagall disappeared.

The brown-haired hobbit boy between Frodo and the golden-haired hobbit boy – both hobbits Frodo had seen at Madam Malkin's shop, but had slipped his mind due to everything happening at this moment – whispered in Frodo's ear. He was a few inches taller than Frodo. "You excited?" This got Frodo's attention, but not enough for him to say anything. The brown-haired hobbit boy introduced himself, "I'm Merry Brandybuck."

"I'm Frodo Baggins," said Frodo, whispering back. He and Merry said nothing afterwards to one another, but neither were many of the first years, except Hermione Granger who was whispering rapidly amongst her peers.

Out of nowhere, ghosts flew above the first years' heads. Frodo was surprised and startled to see the ghosts. He had heard of wights in the Shire, but he never expected to come face-to-face with what his parents called ghosts. While some of the ghosts were friendly, Frodo was frightened of them. One ghost asked the first years about the sorting and, after a muted nod from some of the students, the ghost – called the Fat Friar – hoped to see them sorted into his house, Hufflepuff.

Professor McGonagall's voice broke the first years' startled behaviors. The students followed her instructions and formed a line, before following her out of the chamber, back across the entrance hall, and then past a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.

Frodo looked in wonder at the sight of the hall. Looking up, he saw thousands of lit candles floating mid-air; above the candles, very high above, was a starry-lit night sky. It wasn't until Hermione whispered about it being an enchantment that Frodo nearly thought there was no ceiling to begin with. Sitting in four long tables were students, all staring at the first years. At the end of the hall was a table for the staff. Professor McGonagall stopped the first years here, where they were in a line facing the students and the teachers behind them. This time, Frodo was up front and it made him feel uncomfortable. The last thing he needed was several pairs of eyes staring straight at him.

Frodo watched Professor McGonagall as she set up a stool and put a dirty, worn hat on top. At first, Frodo thought the hat was an inanimate object, nothing special; then, in another instant, the hat sang a song about the four houses and how unique they were. He was unsure about Gryffindor, figuring it didn't match him at all; Hufflepuff seemed a friendly bunch, somewhere he might fit into; then there was Ravenclaw, with all their wisdom and intelligence. He was unsure, but he was choosing between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw more than Gryffindor and especially Slytherin.

Now came the sorting. Professor McGonagall started on the students that were Men, causing Frodo to guess his group, Hobbits, would be next. Frodo felt relief knowing he was not the first selected. In a way, Frodo wasn't surprised when the ginger-haired boy named Ron Weasley was sorted into Gryffindor. He looked on at the Gryffindor table at the far left and saw the ginger-haired siblings. He was surprised and perhaps relieved to see Hermione put into Gryffindor. Maybe if he was lucky, he could be in a different house, away from Hermione.

Then it was Harry Potter's turn. Frodo saw the black-haired boy with glasses approach the Sorting Hat and sit on the stool. He listened as the Sorting Hat decided where to put Harry, but before it chose Slytherin, Harry pleaded with the hat not to choose that house and the hat chose Gryffindor instead. After this tense decision, Frodo watched as the rest of the students of the Race of Men were sorted into their houses.

With this part of the ceremony finished, Professor McGonagall said, as she moved down her scroll, "And now for the hobbits." She read the first name on her list. The hobbit that was selected, a girl, ended up in Gryffindor. She read down the list for a short time until… "Baggins, Frodo."

There was whispers and chatters from the students that were Muggle-born of Men. Frodo wondered what they were chattering about. Finding his way over to the stool, Frodo sat down before Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on his head. She stepped back as the Sorting Hat's small voice spoke in his ear:

"Hmm… interesting. There's loyalty, bravery, wit and charm about you. You cover three houses no doubt. Two? Yes, two more than the third. Yes, an even passing I think. No? You definitely fit into one." Then the voice grew louder, for all to hear, "RAVENCLAW!"

There was a thunderous applause from the table second from the left. After Professor McGonagall took off the hat, Frodo made his way to the table where the Ravenclaws were. He hardly knew he was running and almost tripped over his own feet, smacking his hands on the table. Recovering, Frodo shook a few hands, feeling more welcome by the second. He'd never been so popular until this moment.

A few Ravenclaw students chanted, "We got Baggins! We got Baggins!" as if throwing it back at the Weasley twins, who had chanted earlier about Harry Potter being in their house, which was Gryffindor.

Frodo sat down on the bench, looking over his silver wear: they were gold, as was the plate and goblet. Other students' plates, goblets, and silver wear were also gold. As further relief washed over him, and a momentary thought on the barrier he had passed through – he hadn't really took much thought in it, thinking it was a great way to travel quickly from place to place… his giddiness often got the better of him – Frodo watched the rest of the sorting ceremony.

The B's continued, reaching "Bolger, Fredegar" who was placed in Gryffindor. Then it was Merry's turn. Frodo watched and listened as there was a pause, and then "GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor table cheered as Merry joined them. Frodo was frustrated. None of the people he met were in his house. No, he mustn't panic. Maybe if he was lucky, someone he knew would be in his house as well.

The list continued. The sandy-haired hobbit boy was next and Frodo now learned his name. He perked up upon hearing "Gamgee, Samwise", his gut telling him he should meet this hobbit. However, Sam ended up in Hufflepuff. Okay, Frodo could take a sigh of relief. Hufflepuff wasn't so bad. The list continued for a while, reaching towards the bottom at long last.

"Sackville-Baggins, Lotho"; as soon as Frodo heard this name, his insides told him this was bad. How on earth did Lotho end up at Hogwarts? He heard from Bilbo, his cousin, about the Sackville-Baggins and their fierce efforts to take away Bilbo's house from him. The last thing he wanted to see was one of their offspring in Hogwarts. Lo, and behold! Not to Frodo's surprise, Lotho ended up in Slytherin. There was much cheering from Slytherin table, but a look of disdain on Frodo's face. He wasn't the only hobbit that showed disdain towards Lotho.

Before heading to the table, Lotho made several standing ovations and bows. "Thank you, thank you! I am special!"

Professor McGonagall quickly stopped this snooty display. "Yes, Mr. Sackville-Baggins. Please take your seat before you ruin everything."

Lotho grunted, stuck his head up in the air to show his proudness, and joined the Slytherin table.

After Lotho was dismissed, Professor McGonagall called next, "Took, Peregrin." And just like that, Pippin was sorted into Gryffindor. Applause came once more from the Gryffindor table. They must have felt so pleased, yet Frodo's thoughts were already annoyed at the Gryffindors, but more so at the Slytherins because they now had Lotho. With Pippin being the last hobbit, Professor McGonagall moved the hat and the stool against a wall, before joining the staff at their designated table.

The Headmaster said a few words and food appeared on all the plates and dishes. Frodo had never seen so much food, and what were right in front of him were all his favorite main course dishes, and plenty of meat to go around. As Frodo ate a large chicken leg, the ghost with the long flowing dress glided over to him.

"I hope that's good," said the ghost, who Frodo learned from another student was the Grey Lady.

Frodo nodded eagerly. "It is good. Don't you eat?"

The Grey Lady shook her head. "No, unfortunately. I haven't eaten in a few hundred years." She changed the subject on him, "I hope Ravenclaw wins the house cup this year. Only I worry over Slytherin winning again." She had a look of disdain on her face, worse than Frodo's, in his mind. She stared at Frodo, making him uncomfortable even as she said, "You're Frodo Baggins. I hope you live. It would be a shame if you suddenly lost." She glided off to another student.

Frodo was confused. As he shook, a thought crept up on him. What did the Grey Lady mean by that? She wasn't the most pleasant sort towards him. It was as if she knew him, before he had a chance to tell her about himself. What did she mean by lost? He wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. Frodo shook his head, letting the thought pass.

When everyone had their fill, the dishes cleared. A moment passed before the desserts appeared. Once again, the dishes had Frodo's favorites, including strawberries with cream. Frodo took a big helping of the strawberries with cream and dug in like a little child. He was glad he had enough room for dessert. This was his helping and he would enjoy every minute he had with his dessert. An afterthought passed his mind: why wasn't anyone talking to him? He looked around for a moment, but saw everyone was deep in conversation. However, his mind was too focused on food at the moment to notice anything else. By the time he finished, Frodo looked up at the staff section as the Headmaster spoke to the assembly.

"The First Years please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that no magic is to be used between the classes in the corridors. Quidditch tryouts will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, for this year, the third-floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death," said the Headmaster.

Frodo looked confused. Was this what the Grey Lady warned him about? It must have been. As it happened, everyone sang at different times the school songs that were their favorites. Then it was time to go to bed. At that, Frodo followed the Ravenclaw first years and their prefect, Robert Hilliard, through the chattering crowds. They made it out of the Great Hall in due time.

The idea for Frodo liking strawberries with cream actually came from burningSunset's fanfic Wild Child.