Hello folks I'm back with another chapter and I hope you won't find any typos or missspellings because this time I spent a lot more effort into proof-reading and I have also begun to proof-read the previously uploaded chapters just to fix any mistakes I might find so it should be easier for you to read.

Oh and someone didn't like that I posted the sorting hat's song in the previous chapter because it was pointless and I had missed a few lines. I will just say this, true that was maybe pointless but I did it to fill some space and I did not sit with 'Philosopher's Stone' in my lap and typed the entire song on my computer, I found the song on the net and was not aware that a few lines were missing, I'm sorry if it annoyed any of you. That's it.

I have gotten a few more questions and I'll do my best to answer them.

Why didn't Harry recognize Professor McGonagall? Yes I am aware that she taught the marauders back then and that they gave her a hard time but James hasn't told Harry every detail about his school days and even if he did mention McGonagall there is a chance that Harry forgot about her and he did not meet her ever before his first day at school.

Why is Peter Pettigrew alive and why is he a rat? For pretty much the same reasons as in the canon, that's all I can say, I can't give you any more spoilers.

Now on with the story and I finally got to the sorting, about time wouldn't you say? Have fun reading.

February 3rd, 2011


Chapter Six – The Sorting

The entire great hall burst into applause when the hat had finished its song.

"So we're just going to put on the hat?" Ron said. "I am going to kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling a troll".

Neville shivered at Ron's last sentence. Harry didn't like the idea of wrestling a troll either. He wondered why he had never asked his father or godfather, or anyone for that matter, how new students got sorted, it would have been good to know, then all his previous nerves would have been unnecessary.

Professor McGonagall now stepped forward, holding a roll of parchment. "When I call your name you will put on the hat and sit on this stool to be sorted," she said.

That didn't sound so bad in Harry's ears but he did wish that it wouldn't have to be in front of the entire school.

"Abbott, Hannah!"

A girl with blonde pigtails and a pink face that was slightly round stepped forward, sat down on the stool and placed the sorting hat on her head.

There was a moment's pause before the hat yelled "HUFFLEPUFF".

The table on the right, the Hufflepuff table, cheered and clapped as Hannah took off the hat and ran over to join her new housemates.

"Bones, Susan!"

A girl with wavy red hair stepped forward. Her hair was a little lighter than that of the Weasleys and her eyes were blue instead of brown, Harry noticed.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted almost immediately and Susan happily ran over to the Hufflepuff table that was once again cheering and clapping as she sat down next to Hannah Abbott.

"Boot, Terry!"

A dark-haired boy stepped forward. He seemed a bit more confident and less nervous than the Hufflepuff girls had been.

"RAVENCLAW!" the hat shouted almost immediately and the table next to the Hufflepuffs cheered and clapped as Terry walked over to join them with a rather pleased smile on his face.

"Brocklehurst, Mandy!" McGonagall called.

A slim girl with a long face and sleek blonde hair, almost as pale as Malfoy's, stepped forth and placed the hat on her head.

"RAVENCLAW!" the hat shouted again and once again the Ravenclaws clapped and cheered and she went to sit next to Terry.

"Brown, Lavender".

Another blonde girl with waves in her hair that was currently arranged in pigtails like Hannah's walked up to the stool and placed the hat on her head.

It took about thirty seconds before the hat had made its decision and yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The table on the other side of the Ravenclaw table cheered and Harry thought he saw some of Ron's brothers among them.

The first new Slytherin became Bulstrode, Millicent. The last table exploded with cheers as Millicent went to sit with them.

Finch-Fletchley, Justin, a tall boy with dirty blonde hair, became a Hufflepuff and Finnegan, Seamus became a Gryffindor after sitting on the stool for almost a whole minute.

"Granger, Hermione!"

Harry crossed his fingers in his pocket. He hoped that she would be in Gryffindor like the rest of them, hopefully. He wanted himself, her, Ron and Neville to be good friends, how was that going to work out if they were sorted to different houses? Perhaps none of them would end up in the same place, though it seemed unlikely that any of them would become a Slytherin but the possibility was there at least.

Harry caught a glance at Hermione's nervous face before the hat was placed on her head and covered half of her face.

It took about twenty seconds Harry would say, before the hat decided. "GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry saw Hermione's wide smile as she took the hat off her head. Harry and Ron exchanged smiles as Hermione happily ran over to join the other Gryffindors.

"Longbottom, Neville".

Again Harry crossed his fingers and sent his best friend an encouraging smile before he walked up to put on the hat.

After about ten seconds the hat decided on Gryffindor and Neville joyously threw off the hat and went to sit next to Hermione at the Gryffindor table.

"McMillan, Ernie!"

A boy with dark blonde hair went up to the stool and it did not take long before the hat had decided to place him in Hufflepuff.

To nobody's surprise Malfoy was placed in Slytherin, in fact the hat barely touched his head before it had made its decision.

Nott, Theodore went to Slytherin, as did Parkinson, Pansy.

"Patil, Padma!"

An Indian looking girl with black hair arranged in two long braids stepped forth to try on the hat.

"RAVENCLAW!" the sorting hat yelled after about half a minute.

"Patil, Parvati!"

A girl practically identical to Padma walked up to the hat. Harry thought that she must have been her twin sister and was almost certain that the hat would immediately shout 'Ravenclaw,' but to his big surprise, and to that of many others it appeared, the hat yelled, "GRYFFINDOR".

Parvati Patil walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down.

Perks, Sally-Anne, a blonde girl with her nose and cheeks covered in freckles became a Ravenclaw and then McGonagall called a name that got everybody's attention.

"Potter, Harry!"

Harry heard people start to whisper around him. "Did she say Potter?" "As in Harry Potter?" "Wonder what house he'll be in".

Harry suppressed a sigh. He really wished that people would stop paying him so much attention. What should they care what house he was sorted into? He was just a boy like others, the only difference being that he had a scar shaped like a bolt of lightning on his forehead. So what if he had supposedly defeated the most dark wizard of their time. What proof was there that he was the one responsible for Voldemort's downfall anyway? It could have been something that was wrong with his wand that made the killing curse backfire or he had just been so weak even before he went to kill the entire Potter family. He was just a baby back then. And it had been almost ten years now. One would think that people would have lost interest by now. Well apparently not.

The last thing Harry saw before the hat covered his eyes was that people were craning to get a good look at him.

"Hm," said a voice. "Difficult, very difficult. Plenty of courage I see, and not a bad mind either. Talent, lots of talent, oh yes. Your thirst to prove yourself will make you able to achieve great things, no doubt. So where should I place you?"

"Not Slytherin," Harry thought.

"Not Slytherin you say," the hat said. "The Slytherin house could be your key to achieve power".

"Not Slytherin," Harry repeated in his mind.

"Are you sure?" the hat said. "The Slytherin house can help you to greatness. But no? If you are sure then it better be… GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry heard that the last word was shouted out so the entire great hall could hear it.

He heard roars, whistles and cheers as he took off the hat and went to sit across from Neville and Hermione. Harry heard two of Ron's brothers who stood up and clapped yelling "WE GOT POTTER! WE GOT POTTER!"

"We did it," Hermione exclaimed with pure joy. "We all got sorted to Gryffindor. I have no doubt Ron will come here too and then we can all be together".

Neville just nodded.

Harry smiled. Hermione was right. It would be great to have classes with all his friends, new and old.

There were only four left to be sorted.

"Thomas, Dean".

A tall, black boy sat down on the stool and took the hat. "GRYFFINDOR!"

Dean Thomas walked over and joined Harry and the other Gryffindors.

Turpin, Lisa, a pretty brunette became a Ravenclaw and finally it was Ron's turn to be sorted. Harry crossed his fingers under the table.

The hat had barely touched Ron's head before it announced, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry clapped loudly and watched with a smile as Ron ran over to join him. He looked like somebody had just lifted a great burden from his shoulders.

Someone called Zabini, Blaise was placed in Slytherin and then Harry saw McGonagall roll up her scroll and look at a man that was now standing next to her. From what Harry could see he was not a pretty sight. She seemed to be giving him some instructions because moments later he took the stool and the hat and made his way towards the double doors while McGonagall herself went to sit at the high table with the rest of the staff. Harry wondered why he didn't just use magic but wasn't interested enough to bother to think of any possible reasons.

"Well done Ron," said the oldest of the present Weasley brothers, Harry assumed was Percy as he clapped his youngest brother and the back. "Mom and dad will be very proud".

Ron nodded, slightly embarrassed.

"Yeah Ron," one of his other brothers said, "We thought you might end up in Slytherin, for a moment we were really worried but man we are relieved, right George?"

Now Harry noticed that two of the Weasley boys were twins. Harry wondered if the other boy was Fred.

"Oh shut up," said Ron, annoyed.

Harry wondered if he should tell them that he almost got placed in Slytherin but chose not to in the end. Firstly he wasn't sure if it really mattered and secondly anyone could overhear him talking, he had no doubt that somebody would be interested in him enough to listen. Not that he enjoyed that fact; he felt quite the opposite way.

Instead he just looked down at his empty plate. He was starving. He had eaten lots of sweets on the train but that felt like ages ago now and sweets could never replace real home-cooked food that he knew the house elves down in the kitchen were preparing for them at the moment.

Harry looked at the high table and noticed that Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster whom he had met on occasions, had risen from his chair. He beamed at the students like nothing could have made him happier than to see them all there.

"I would just like to say welcome to Hogwarts, new students," said Dumbledore. "And to the old ones, welcome back".

Harry thought he heard Ron snort.

Then he clapped in his hands once and said, "Let the feast begin," before he sat back down.

"Wow," Hermione exclaimed as the dishes that had moments ago been empty were now filled with all kinds of foods. Harry had been told about this so the food's sudden arrival did not surprise him at all. Ron looked like he was about to start drooling and didn't hesitate one second before he piled his plate with chicken, chips and stake. Harry wondered if it was even possible for Ron to be hungrier than him since he had eaten far more sweets than he, Neville or Hermione. But Harry copied his act anyway.

The food was delicious, Harry was sure that he had never in his entire life tasted anything better. Now he understood why his father had visited the kitchen so often. He had a feeling he would soon pay the kitchen a visit too.

"That does look good," a voice said from behind him.

Harry gave a jump and turned his head to see who was talking.

The pearl white ghost of a man looked at the food sadly.

Harry had completely forgotten that there would be ghosts at Hogwarts as well.

"Can't you…" "No," the ghost replied, knowing what he was going to ask. "No I haven't eaten anything for almost five hundred years".

Harry's eyes grew wide. He imagined himself as a ghost at Hogwarts, always watching the students eat their supper, never able to taste any of the goods on the table.

"I have no need for food of course," the ghost continued, "but I do miss it".

Harry nodded, he could understand that.

"I don't think I've introduced myself. Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service," the ghost said. "I am resident ghost at Gryffindor tower".

"I know who you are," Ron said eagerly. "My brothers have told me about you. You are Nearly Headless Nick".

"I would prefer Sir Nicholas If you don't mind," the ghost said, irritated.

But now Hermione looked at him curiously. "Nearly headless? How can you be nearly headless?"

"Like this," said Nick, now even more irritated and seized his left ear and pulled so that his head fell off his neck and landed on his shoulder. But his head was still attached to his body. Seemed like someone had tried to behead him and had not succeeded completely.

Hermione turned her head away in disgust, wishing she hadn't asked.

"Hello Sir Nicholas," Percy said politely when Nick had put his head back in place. "Had a good summer?"

"Terrible," Nick answered. "Once again the headless knights have turned down my request to join them on their hunt". And with that said the ghost floated away.

"Why can't he join those knights?" Harry asked.

"Well you see the knights are all headless ghosts, they won't accept Sir Nicholas because he is not headless enough. I don't know how many times they have turned him down now, but he keeps trying".

"Oh that poor guy," Ron said sarcastically "I mean honestly couldn't they have done their job right when they beheaded him? Now look at him, he's only nearly headless".

Harry and Neville snorted. But Percy looked at his youngest brother sternly. "This is not amusing Ron, it is Sir Nicholas's greatest wish," he said.

"Oh come on," said Ron, "He's dead, if I were a ghost my greatest wish would be to find peace".

Percy had no comment to that, he just looked thoughtful.

Harry turned his head to look at the staff at the high table. The teachers were all enjoying their meals except for a pair of men near the end of the table. They looked to be engaged in an upsetting conversation but they did not speak loud enough for him to hear or any of the other teachers for that matter it appeared.

One of the wizards was wearing a turban; Harry could not see his face. The other man had long black hair, eyes that appeared to be dark and a nose that looked like an eagle's beak. From the tales Harry had heard from his father he guessed that this man was Severus Snape, the potions master of the school, his father's old classmate and enemy. But the man with the turban was completely unknown to him.

"Hey Percy," Harry said. "Who is that teacher talking to Professor Snape?"

"So you know Snape already, huh?" Percy said, "that is Professor Quirrel. He just returned to the school about two years ago after being on leave. Something happened to him while he was away, something that scared him, no terrified him, the poor guy, now he's afraid of his own subject. He teaches defense against the dark arts this year, he used to teach muggle studies".

"Why did he change subject?" Harry asked in wonder.

"They say the position as defense against the dark arts teacher is jinxed, nobody dares to take it for more than a year, perhaps Dumbledore couldn't get anyone else for the job this year, I honestly don't know, Snape has wanted the job for years, but I wouldn't give myself a headache trying to figure it out if I were you".

Harry nodded.

"Can I have your attention please!"

Harry looked at Dumbledore who had risen from his chair again.

"Before you enjoy the dessert that will be put on the table in a moment I have something to say".

The headmaster gazed around in the hall as if to make sure every one of the students was listening, which would not be necessary, as the entire hall had turned their attention towards him.

"First a warning to the new students. You are not allowed to enter the forbidden forest, for the sake of your own safety do follow that rule," Dumbledore said.

Harry thought that naming the forest 'The Forbidden Forest' should be clear enough and couldn't help but smile for that reason.

"Also, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that performing magic in the corridors between classes is not allowed".

The headmaster held a short pause.

"And his year, the 3rd floor corridor to the right is forbidden for all who do not wish to suffer a most painful death".


Thought it would be fun if this chapter ended like it did. And it was getting rather long anyway.

I didn't change any of the houses for anybody because I see no point and why would their personalities change? There is no way that either of the main characters would fit into any other house than their given one.

Also I promise that the next chapter will be the last one describing September 1st it has gone on for a long time don't you think?

I hope that you liked this chapter and that you remember to tell me what you think about it.