Chapter 6: Sorting Hat

Disclaimer – The world of Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling and various publishers. I make no claim to ownership; I'm just playing in her sandbox

A/N- Thank you to all that took the time to review. I enjoyed reading your comments.

Tonks2010, lonewarrior310, starboy454, TOWTWUKER, ILikeComps, and jprice410; you are all right the girl that Rose saw on the train was indeed Daphne Greengrass. However starboy454 she is not going to have any sexual or romantic relations with Harry. But we will be seeing more of her. Don't get discouraged she will have a lover.

NIX'S WARDEN; Rose is not bi she is a lesbian. However she does have sexual feelings for Harry. Harry is the only male she feels that way towards. And before people say it's impossible it is possible for people who are gay to have relationships with the opposite sex. Just like how some straight people have had relationships with the same sex. Just stating this for the record. Glad you liked the Game of Thrones reference loved the books and the TV show. That line is the coolest line ever written in my humble opinion.

The Dark Dragen; I am glad you liked it and I added Tonks early because I love the character.

Guest; thank you for your review. I admit I may have rushed the conversations a tad. As for Harry trusting Tonks so quickly when did it state he trusted her? The harry in my story is not an idiot and would find trying to hide information as unnecessary as what he told Tonks a waste of time. I mean it's not really a secret. Dumbledore knows already. How could he not so it's really not a secret. As for them being runaways they really didn't run away. They sort of just left. They were done there. I hope I cleared up this issue.

A/N1- I added in the last chapter a portion of it from Rose's point of view. Let me know if you liked it and want me to add that in again. If so whose point of view would you like? If not I will stick to just Harry's.

Harry exited the train with his sister by his side and Nymphadora Tonks on his other. His first male friend Ron Weasley brought up the rear. Harry watched as the students disembarked; the older students making their way to carriages that were being drawn by what appeared to be skeletal horses, while the kids Harry's age started to mill around looking for somewhere to go. Harry started to wonder where he was suppose to go when he heard a voice he remembered shouting over the noise.

"Firs' Years! Firs' years over" Hagrid stood feet over the tallest student and was waving them over.

"Hi Hagrid you doing all right?" Rose greeted when she heard him calling.

"Yep. Follow me."

The first years stumbled along after Hagrid. Harry and Rose drew on their magic to steady themselves and guide their steps. It would not do to look foolish. Image was important after all. Next to Harry Tonks tripped over a rock and nearly fell on her face. Before she could Harry reached out and stopped her decent. After putting the clumsy Metamorphmagi back on her feet he wrapped his arm around her slender waist to steady her as they continued to walk. With his ability to see in the dark Harry could see the blush rise on her face. But Tonks never made a move to remove his arm, nor complain about it. They walked for the next little while on the dark unsteady path.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

The sight was awe inspiring. All the first years came to a stop to gawk at the sight. Harry could hear the many gasps of astonishment, his own among them. The large castle with its many towers and turrets loomed before them. Lights could be seen flickering in its windows.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore.

Harry and Rose joined Tonks and Ron at one of the boats. Ron jumped into the boat first. Harry offered his hand to Tonks to help her in.

"Why thank you kind sir." Tonks joked in a mock aristocratic accent as she took the offered hand.

Rose took the offered hand with the same treatment, both girls giggling. The boats drifted forward at a command from Hagrid. They were taken to a dark tunnel that led to an underground harbour beneath Hogwarts.

"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" said Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.

"TREVOR!" cried Neville as the chubby, round-faced boy stumbled forward to grab his previously lost pet. Many of the other students snickered at the chubby boy, even Rose giggled a little. Harry was one of the few not too laugh at the blonde boy; instead he had a very predatory grin on his face. Harry could feel the power this boy possessed; he could also feel his insecurities, his self-doubt, and worthlessness. Harry knew if he could help him change to realize his actual worth he would gain a very powerful and incredibly loyal ally.

Hagrid led the first years up to the giant oak front doors. He knocked on the doors with one of his dust bin sized hands. The front doors swung open to reveal a tall, black haired woman in emerald robes. Her hair was tied back into a tight bun which extenuated her sever look. She looked down her square spectacles at the new students.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."

Harry looked around at the entrance hall. Opposite him was a wide marble staircase that led up to the upper floors. To his right through another set of double doors he could hear the chattering of the rest of the Hogwarts student body. Professor McGonagall led them to a room off the entrance hall.

"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 for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose. Harry nervously tried to flatten his hair. "I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly." She left the chamber.

Harry waited with the other firs years for McGonagall's return. He could hear Hermione reciting all the spells from their textbooks. Ron worrying about some troll his brothers told him he would have to wrestle. Tonks looked nervous her previously bright pink hair now a mousy brown. Longbottom was growing increasingly paler with each passing minute.

Harry heard a scream to his right, but felt no danger warning come from his magic. He lazily looked over to see ghosts passing through the wall.

"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance - -"

"My dear Friar, 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?"A ghost wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first years. Nobody answered.

"New students!" said the Fat Friar, smiling around at them. "About to be Sorted, I suppose?" A few people nodded mutely. "Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said the Friar. "My old house, you know."

"Move along now," said a sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start." Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall. "Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me."

The first years followed Professor McGonagall into the Great Hall. They entered into a large hall with exceptionally high walls. At the front of the hall was what Harry assumed was the staff table given the fact at its centre was a throne like chair in the centre where Albus Dumbledore sat. Professor McGonagall led them between four long tables filled with the other Hogwarts students. Harry looked up at the ceiling that was covered with floating candles and above that the ceiling looked like the night sky.

He heard Hermione whisper, "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History."

Harry quickly looked down again as Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty.

For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth - and the hat began 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!"

The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again. Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!"

A blonde girl with her hair in pigtails stepped forward. Her pink face looked exceeding nervous before the sorting hat came down to cover it. It wasn't long before the hat shouted,

"Hufflepuff!"

The table to the far right erupted into applause for their new edition. The hall quitted down when Professor McGonagall called out the next name;

"Bones, Susan!"

A girl Harry remembered was walking with Hannah walked up to the pedestal. Her long red hair and slightly round face was covered up by the hat. Harry had to admit she was pretty and would be very beautiful when she was older. The fact tat she was developing earlier than the other girls did not hurt either. A moment later she was joining her friend in Hufflepuff.

"Boot, Terry!"

Came next and was the first sorted into Ravenclaw. The table second from the left burst into applause this time.

"Brocklehurst, Mandy!" Also went to Ravenclaw.

"Brown, Lavender."

Harry could feel the emotions rolling off of his sister. He knew she was crushing on this beautiful blonde girl. He couldn't resist himself.

'She is very pretty isn't she?' he sent to Rose.

'Yes.' She replied in a dreamy voice. Before realizing what she said and blushing.

Harry laughed to himself. 'You remember the plan right? Which house to be sorted into?'

'Yes Harry. I got it.'

'I didn't want your crush on Lavender to make you forget.'

Rose very maturely stuck her tongue out at her brother before returning her attention back to the sorting as Lavender became the first Gryffindor. The table farthest to the left burst into applause this time.

"Bulstrode, Millicent!" a giant and ugly girl became the first Slytherin.

"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!" became another Hufflepuff.

"Granger, Hermione!" Hermione almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head.

"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat.

A short time later Neville Longbottom was called up for his turn. Harry was particularly interested to see where this boy would end up. It took a while for him to be sorted but eventually Neville joined the Gryffindors. Harry was pleased with this it meant his soon to be ally was brave. Just needed the right push and Harry would provide this push.

"Malfoy, Draco!"

Malfoy swaggered up to the hat and McGonagall placed it on his head. It took a while for the hat to make a decision. When it finally shouted its answer it was as everyone expected Malfoy joined Slytherin house.

Finally the time came. Harry heard his name being called by Professor McGonagall. As he made his way to the pedestal he could hear the students whispering around. He paid them no attention just walked forward with confidence and self assurance. As he sat the sorting hat was placed over his head, he locked eyes with his sister. He did not break contact until his eyes were covered.

"Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, A my goodness, yes - and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting... So where shall I put you?"

"Hufflepuff. Please."

"Hmmm interesting. I see you have a plan very well. I am always up for a good show. HUFFLEPUFF!"

The entire Great Hall was silent. No one believed it the boy-who-lived was a duffer. How could it be? Harry removed the hat and handed it back to the shocked professor beside him. The Hufflepuffs recovered quickly and began cheering for the newest and most famous edition. Harry walked over and was greeted by his new house mates.

So far all was going according to plan he wanted to be in Hufflepuff. Now all tat needed to happen was for Rose to join him. In no time Rose joined him and much to his surprise and pleasure so did Tonks. As Tonks sat down she threw her arm around Harry's shoulder. Harry noticed as she was growing more comfortable around him she became more and more flirty. Well as flirty as an eleven year old is. So she friendlier than others and when she grew older would become flirty. He found Tonks to be fun-loving, nice flirty and easy going.

"So looks like we won't be separated." Tonks joked as she sat down.

"I'm glad I was worried." Harry shot back.

They were interrupted from going any further when the last student, a pretty Italian girl named Blaise Zabini, went to Slytherin. Harry looked around and found Ron with his brothers in Gryffindor. Harry brought his attention to the front of the hall where Dumbledore took up his position in front of a podium with an owl facing the students. When Dumbledore took his position behind the podium the owl unfurled its wings and when Dumbledore spoke amplified his voice.

"Welcome," he said. "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 sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered.

"Odd old man isn't he?" Harry asked the table at large. Many at the table chuckled at that.

"Yes he is a bit…odd. But very brilliant none the less." Replied an older boy down the table. He was tall and Harry could tell he was an extremely handsome boy with his chiselled features. His grey eyes taking in the younger boy but interestingly enough did not linger on his scar like many others. "My name is Cedric Diggory, welcome to Hufflepuff."

"Thanks. I'm Harry, this is Rose and Tonks."

And so began the round of introductions. Harry met many Huffelpuffs that were in his year like the redhead Susan Bones and her friend Hannah Abbott. The cheerful and friendly, if a little naïve, Justin Finch-Fletchley. A girl named Megan Jones who loved potions and was related to the famous Gwenog Jones. And many others.

The feast passed quickly with learning who many people were. When the last dish was cleared of food Dumbledore stood up to give his final speech.

"Ahern - just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. 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." Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins."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. 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. And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"

An older student stood up from the table and asked the Hufflepuff first years to follow him. Harry, Rose, Tonks and the rest of the first years followed as the boy led them to their new living quarters. The exited the Great Hall and made their way across the Entrance Hall to a door that led down to the basements. They passed a portrait of a bowl of fruit on their way. They came to a stop at a nook to the right of the portrait a ways down where a stack of barrels were located.

"Now to reveal the entrance you have to tap the barrel two from the bottom, middle of the second row, in the rhythm of Helga Hufflepuff. If you get it wrong vinegar will be poured on top of you and you will be barred entrance." The Hufflepuff prefect explained. He demonstrated the proper way to open the entrance and ushered them inside.

HARRY entered into a round room with a low ceiling. It was warm and earthy with lots of yellow hangings and burnished copper. He could see overstuffed, yellow and black sofas and arm chairs. There were circular windows that he could just see some of the Hogwarts grounds through. There was a large honey coloured wooden mantelpiece with carvings of badgers. Above the mantle piece was a picture of what he assumed was Helga Hufflepuff. Who else would have a picture in such a prominent position in the Hufflepuff common room?

"Through those circular doors over there you will find your dormitories." The boy pointed to fourteen perfectly circular doors to his right. "Starting on the far left will be the seventh year boys dormitories and beside it the seventh year girls. Beside that the sixth year boys and so on and so forth. Off to bed all of you. Good night and welcome to Hufflepuff."

Harry walked over to the first year boys dormitories with his sister and Tonks. He stopped and turned to face them.

"Goodnight Harry." Rose told her brother with tears in her eyes as she hugged him good night. Harry planted a kiss on her cheek. This would be the first night they slept alone in their entire lives. "I love you."

"Love you too Princess." Harry whispered in her ear.

"Goodnight Nym." Harry pulled the unresisting girl into a hug and kissed her cheek before releasing her.

"Night Harry. Ill take care of her." Tonks tried to reassure the twins.

"Thanks Nym."

Harry parted ways with them and followed the tunnel to his dorms. He entered the dorm and found a bed with a patchwork quilt lying on top. There was a copper lamp on his bedside table and copper bed warmers hung on the wall. He pulled the quilt down and got into bed after removing his clothes.

'You sure about this Harry?' He could hear the worry in her voice.

'Yes we need to learn what they can teach us.'

'What about Hufflepuff? Most people think that we are a bunch of useless hard workers.

'Yes but they know we are loyal. If we were sorted into Gryffindor we would not be able to make any allies out of the Slytherins. If we were in Slytherin almost three quarters of the school would be against us from the start. Maybe some Ravenclaws could be convinced to listen to us but that's it. In Ravenclaw people will think we are stuck up and way to smart to talk to them. That will drive people away. Less so than being in Slytherin but still. In Hufflepuff all houses will be fine with befriending us. Plus it's easier to prove you are worth something than prove your trustworthy. We all ready have that proved by being in this house.'

'It makes sense.' Rose reluctantly agreed.

'Goodnight I love you and let me worry about this. You worry about having fun.'

'Fine.' She giggled. 'Love you too.'

Harry closed his eyes and fell asleep after his first evening in Hogwarts castle.

A/N2: I choose to end it hear instead of my original plans of adding in the first day. The reason for this was that I have exams this week and won't be able to update this week. So I decided to get out what I can, it is still a medium sized chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.