(Chapter 9 edited 12/30/06)

September 1, 1987.

I really had begun to feel the pressure from me ma and da when Hogwarts was concerned. They had such lofty goals for me to achieve for my first year alone. I was scared that I would make a mockery of them. I knew that everyone (Especially the muggleborns) know very little about Hogwarts and the Sorting, but my parents were being especially tight lipped.

I didn't really know anyone that had already gone. I had one friend. He was sorted last year. He was put into Slytherin. He was a nice guy and is making do there. He wished he wasn't there but I told him I would be his friend no matter where we both ended up and that really brightened his day.

My parents left me at Kings Cross without much of a hello, goodbye, or behave Oliver. It was weird. It was almost as if they were frightened to be there. As soon as they put my stuff on the train and other kids began boarding they were gone.

So I looked for my friend on the train and couldn't find him. I sat alone for a while on the train. I sat with a girl who introduced herself as Penelope. She was a lot smarter than me from what I got out of my first impression of her, but she was nice. I have always been a quiet and shy person and we soon became good friends. We made a deal we would be friends until the end no matter which houses we were sorted into.

Before we knew it we were at Hogsmeade's station. We soon departed from the train (in our robes) and got into the first boat with the very tall man along with a red headed boy with glasses and a blonde girl. We got very wet on the ride, but my new friend Penelope charmed our clothes dry when no one else was looking.

"When did you learn that?" I asked her.

"I read it in one of the books. I was so excited to come here. I am the first witch in my family!"

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"Fire's in Gryffindor" that was what was on Marcus Flint's mind. HE knew that his friend was too simple minded (but in a nice way) to be put into the den of snakes. Oliver was too trusting and naïve for his own good. He pegged Oliver as a Gryffindor or possibly a Hufflepuff, but knew he would never be with him. Being friends would be hard with the house rivalry, but he would try.

McGonagall called, "Wood, Oliver"

I was the final person to be sorted… I looked around my peers, and then saw him. My best friend Marcus was over at the Slytherin table. Maybe I would be there. I sat down and put on the hat.

Meanwhile at the Ravenclaw, Penelope Clearwater was hoping her new friend Oliver would be sorted with her. She knew he was not a bookworm by far, but knew he was very curious by nature. She was glad to know that the blonde girl from the boat was in Slytherin and the snobby red haired boy was in Gryffindor.

"I hope he's a Ravenclaw or a Hufflepuff at least. I really don't hope he gets stuck with one of those two!" Penelope thought from the Ravenclaw table, but knew very well deep down that things would not happen her way.

She had met a few nice people that were also in her house, but soon grew tired of them. Deep down she had to act friendly with them—they would be living together and sharing classes together for the next few years.

Oliver put on the hat with high hopes. He had a good chance of being with one of his friends. He had a seventy five chance of being with someone he knew. He met a boy after Penelope was sorted into Ravenclaw that seemed very nice. As luck would have it, he was soon sorted into Hufflepuff. So now Oliver was doing everything to remain out of Gryffindor.

'I hope I don't get stuck with that red headed snobby boy. He is more Slytherin than Marcus' Oliver thought to himself as he donned the hat.

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"Godric's heir has arrived. And wielding the power of fire I might add."

'Huh? Heir? Fire? Yes I am a fire elemental. What do you mean I am an heir?

"Fair as Helga, wise as Rowena, and as cunning as Salazar…"

'That's nice and all but what does that have to do with anything… I want to be with Marcus or Penelope!

"Ravenclaw is defiantly out of the picture. Young Miss Clearwater will be a good friend to you indeed. No my boy, there are bigger things in store for you. Brave, courageous, dedicated, and loyal. Hufflepuff… no…"

'Where am I going? Too bad I won't be with Marcus. We haven't talked in ages. Penelope was the first girl that understood me!'

"You are definitely a GRYFFINDOR!"

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I walked over to the table and then looked back at Marcus. He had a crestfallen expression on his face, but knew it was for the best. Penelope however looked like she was going to cry. I wasn't sure if it was because I was stuck with the red hair boy from the boat or because we weren't in the same house.

I tried to make the best of it right away. The Hufflepuff boy was nothing like Penelope or Marcus, but I knew in time he would become a good friend. Now I was stuck with the kid from the boat and a few other boys. The Gryffindors don't seem too bad except for him. I managed to strike up a conversation about quidditch with his two older brother, who came over not too long later to congratulate their brother (and offer their condolences for me and the other three lads for having to share a dorm with their brother).

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Author's Note

I personally enjoyed this sorting the most. It was the simplest to do! I felt it was the easiest to reviews and lengthening from the mere approx 200 words it started with! I made it to about 1000 words. I know its short, but I felt like I should save myself for Cedric and Katie in particular. My wrist is hurting too. I felt like Percy and Penelope are a horrible couple and that she should be Oliver's friend as I don't know anyone else from their year. I did make up a few unnamed people who will be eventually identified (the blonde girl from the boat, the Hufflepuff boy, and the other Gryffindor boys from their year).

Have a happy and safe new year!

Review responsibly!

-Keeper