The Sorting Hat

"Those of first year, please go with Professor McGonagall!" A bearded man pointed at the tall witch with the emerald tunic and black hair. Before Percy could walk to where the woman stood, he heard Kristiann's voice wishing him luck.

"I hope you get Ravenclaw!" He said loudly before he disappeared into a different hallway. He smiled and looked and down to his black dressing shoes. He dug his hand into his pocket and wrapped his fingers around the polished wooden material colored in black.

Percy Jackson was nervous, he had been informed about the Sorting hat and how it was impossible for a person to hide thoughts from it. The house he definitively wanted to be at was Gryffindor, the house for the brave and daring. Hufflepuff was his second option since he was a hard worker and was somewhat honest. Ravenclaw could have been his last choice since he didn't consider himself smart enough for them. He gulped when he thought about Slytherin. To him, obtaining a place in there wouldn't be as nice as the others…mostly because he had heard that only those who were willing to betray were that house's target.

"Welcome to Hogwarts." The woman began, "The start-of-term feast will begin in a few moments but first, you all will be chosen for one of the houses. While you stay at Hogwarts your achievements will earn your house points while any infraction will result of a small to a severe deduction. The house with the most points by the end of the year, will receive a reward.

"As most of you know, the houses are: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Keep in mind that the house you get chosen for will be like your family. You will have classes with the house you got chosen for, sleep in the dormitories of your houses and spend some time in your house's lounge.

"The ceremony will begin in a few minutes in front of the entire school. I recommend that while you are waiting, you get ready."

McGonagall turned and walked out of the room. Percy tried hard to keep himself from laughing out of pure happiness. Hogwarts was now officially part of the best things that had happened to him.

The first surprise the school had for him was its appearance. He would have never thought that it looked like a castle from the medieval times. It was so amazingly beautiful. The second surprise was the inside, with candles lighting up the place and intense halls creating confusing paths.

Before he could think about anything else, McGonagall had returned. "Please form a straight line." She said loud enough for everyone to hear. Percy waited for everyone to get into places so that he could stay in the back. They walked out of the room and moved to the front of two large doors.

When they entered, Percy found the third surprise this school had set for him. The place was illuminated by thousands of candles that floated in the air above for long tables. In the tables there were covered plates and golden cups. The walking continued until they stopped at the end of the dining room. There was a table in which the teachers sat and he thought it was weird that he didn't see Kristiann. McGonagall told them to form a row in which their eyes met the other students and their backs faced the teachers. He then noticed the ceiling that reflected the image of the dark night.

The tall and strict looking woman placed a four legged stool in front of the new kids. On top of it she put a dirty and pointy wizard hat. He stared at it for a moment and saw how the thing started to move and formed a mouth. It started singing. Percy didn't really pay attention to the song since he was still trying to figure out why Kristiann wasn't sitting with the other teachers. The guy was the only reason of why he wasn't melting out of pure embarrassment.

When the song was over, Professor McGonagall made her way to the front.

Before she could say anything, the two large doors opened. At first nothing was heard but then a large roar echoed though the room making the students scream in terror. Percy's green eyes widened when he saw a gigantic fire figure in the shape of a dragon enter. It slid its large body through the space between the two middle tables. As it moved closer to the table of teachers, the shape changed and the size decreased. The thing had gone from a large monster to a walking man with some of the glow remaining on him. He grinned, revealing his perfect teeth to the people that looked at him in shock. Kristiann Hawthorne made the students burst in applause and cheering.

With a smile, he passed by Percy and the boy whispered, "A bit too much don't you think?"

"I had to make an entrance," Kristiann patted Percy's back before taking a seat next to a female teacher that looked at him in adoration.

McGonagall cleared her throat and everybody silenced. "When I call your name please come forward and put on the hat so that it may choose your house."

"Andrews, Mark!" A boy with messy caramel colored hair walked forward, sat on the chair, and put on the hat. It stayed quiet before it yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!" A table on the left cheered for their new member.

"Barnes, Cecylia!"

The hat yells a second after it was on her head, "RAVENCLAW!" The second table on the left applauded as the little girl hurried to sit on first available seat she found.

"Bazar, Drew!" This guy seemed to be on the same situation as Percy because he looked a bit older than any other of the first and second year students. The teen with light brown hair and visible freckles put the hat on. With him it took five minutes before it yelled, "SLYTHERIN!"

"Collins, Sarah!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Crewson, Caleb!

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Danvers, Wendy!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Darling, Meaghan!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"East, Rogue"

"SLYTHERIN!"

The names went on: Tyler Forman on Gryffindor, James Foxx on Hufflepuff, Kyle Graham on Ravenclaw, Jessica Grammer of Hufflepuff, Arianna Hemingway on Gryffindor, Kenneth Holt of Slytherin, Stephanie Ion on Ravenclaw…

"Jackson, Percy!"

The callout of his name took him by surprise. He hoped that many other names came before him. Slowly, he walked towards the chair and once he sat he took the hat and placed it on his head. The nerves were already claiming his body and he started to hope for Gryffindor.

Please, put me on Gryffindor.

Another tough one. A second year, I assume. You're in the same situation as the first boy chosen for Slytherin except that he is in the fourth.

Please, put me on Gryffindor; I wouldn't mind Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff just don't put me in Slytherin. Percy thought harder about this time.

Why not Slytherin? Your blood makes you one of them. They would lead you to a great path, just like Ravenclaw. I could put you in Hufflepuff due to your nobility and working skills and Gryffindor could suit you since you're full of bravery…I have made my choice…

Percy smiled, ready to be claimed as a lion for Gryffindor when the hat yells that name he wants to hear.

"SLYTHERIN!"
His eyes quickly open. No, the hat had to be wrong. Percy did not belong to Slytherin.

Shocked, he takes off the talking hat and places it on the stool. Silence had overtaken the room the moment the hat shouted Slytherin for Percy Jackson. He looks around and walks to table with the people that had green and silver ties. After he sits next to a girl with blonde hair, the clapping and cheering burst from the table because they had the 'Lightning Thief'. "We have Jackson!" The table yells to Gryffindor.

"You got the good table after all." Percy's gaze moved from the golden plate in front of him to a blond boy that sat a few chairs away.

"Yeah." He sighed and went back to look at nothing.

"Why don't you come sit with us?"

"Um, in a little bit." His eyes looked back to the front in which he saw other people getting into different tables.

The last name was called, "Weasley, Ginny!" A girl with bright red hair walks to the front and she sits on the chair, placing the hat on her head. It took ten seconds before yelling, "GRYFFINDOR!" She walks to the table of the red and gold lions.

After the clapping was over, a tall old man with long silver hair and beard stood. He wore a blue tunic that reached the floor. His blue eyes were hidden by a pair of half-moon glasses. According to Kristiann, that man was Albus Dumbledore. "Welcome!" He said, "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts. Before we begin, I would like to introduce our new Defense against the Dark Arts professor and the new head of the Ravenclaw house…you may all know him as the Seeker from the Puddlemere United," Love sighs came from a lot of girls in all of the tables, "Everyone, this is Mister Kristiann Hawthorne."

Kristiann stood up and gave a small wave and dashing smile, the entire table of Ravenclaw stood up and clapped louder for him. He sat down and continued to have a conversation with a black haired man.

When he looked back to his plate, it was filled with food. Mashed potatoes with gravy, two turkey legs, a small section of vegetables, and a thick slice of buttered bread. Percy took his plate and his apple juice filled cup to stand up and look for the blond boy whose father saved him.

Draco stopped talking when he noticed the thirteen year old boy sitting next to him. "Hi." He said with a weak smile, "You don't mind me sitting here, do you?"

"I don't mind," A girl with short black hair leaned closer to Percy. "I'm Pansy Parkinson."

"Percy Jackson."

"I know, I'm a big fan of what you did."

"So, now that you got into Slytherin, do you plan to hang out with me?" Draco asked.

Hesitating, Percy nodded, "Sure." He was more than sure he was going to regret that.