So, this chapter starts just before the first years come in, and the demigods are just behind them. In between the end of last chapter and now, they've reached the castle, said bye to Harry and Co, met up with McGonagall and the first years and are now outside the Great Hall.

The Sorting

PERCY

The doors to the Great Hall swung open. My jaw dropped. It certainly lived up to its name. The room was enormous by mortal standards, and the ceiling… I could hear Annabeth next to me, murmuring about how it was enchanted to look like the night sky. The hall was lit by thousands of candles that were floating in mid-air above four tables, where the students were seated.

We followed a bunch of first-years into the hall. I noticed that we were much taller than the eleven-year olds, and stuck out like sore thumbs. Shifting uncomfortably, I glanced around. Harry and his friends were seated at one of the tables, and I saw Luna sitting at another one. I looked up at the teacher's table. I did a double-take. There was a toad at the table. A toad wearing pink. I pointed this out to Leo and the Stolls.

"That's offensive to toads," Leo snickered. Travis and Connor both suppressed a giggle.

Professor McGonagall set down the hat and stool she was carrying. The hat looked like an ordinary ancient wizard's hat, albeit heavily patched and with a wide rip near the brim. The noise in the hall faded away, then the rip near the hat's brim opened wide like a mouth and burst into song.

In times of old when I was new And Hogwarts barely started

Okay… A singing hat. Why not? If demigods had mummies that told the future and magic food that healed wounds, why couldn't wizards have singing hats? I wonder if any hat could be enchanted to sing, or just dusty old wizard hats. And how does one enchant a hat to sing? I broke out of my inner musings to catch the last bit of the song.

Oh, know the perils, read the signs, The warning history shows, For our Hogwarts is in danger From external, deadly foes And we must unite inside her Or we'll crumble from within I have told you, I have warned you… Let the Sorting now begin.

And with that gem of a warning, the hat became motionless once more. Applause broke out, but it was punctured with mutters and whispers. Annabeth tapped my shoulder.

"Given the reaction, I'd say that the hat doesn't generally give warnings," she muttered quietly.

"I would say-"

My response was cut off by Professor McGonagall calling out the first name from her list.

I pouted. "Malfoy'll know that my name isn't James when she call it out," I complained.

Leo clapped his hands to his face in mock horror. "Your game is ruined!"

I zoned out for the rest of the names, coming back to reality when Annabeth nudged my shoulder to see 'Zeller, Rose," sorted into Hufflepuff. Dumbledore took to his feet, cutting off any chatter that had started up.

"I am delighted to say," He began, "That Hogwarts is hosting eleven exchange students from the Olympia Institute of Magic in America for the year. Please treat them like any other student, and help them should they need it." With that he sat back down and Professor McGonagall cleared her throat.

A/N Before the story continues, quick note- the sorting isn't going to be in anyone's point of view. I will have the hat talking, but only the person currently being sorted at the time can hear it. I'm just doing this because I don't like it when the POV changes a lot in a single chapter. So until I say so, this isn't first person POV. Okay? Okay.

"Chase, Annabeth."

Annabeth walked confidently up to the stool, and sat down elegantly, only jumping slightly when the hat spoke in her mind.

A demigod, eh. Been a while since I've sorted one of your kind.

'Well, there's quite a few more of us for you to sort today,' she thought back.

Daughter of Athena huh? You're very brave and cunning. Incredibly smart too. Gryffindor and Slytherin would suit you well, but the house for you is "RAVENCLAW!"

Annabeth stood up amidst the cheering and made her way over to the blue and bronze table.

"di Angelo, Nico."

Whispers ran throughout the hall as Nico walked up to the stool.

Another demigod hmm. Well that daughter of Athena did warn me. Son of Hades eh? You'd do well in Slytheri-

"No!" Nico thought at the hat. "I've had enough bad stereotyping because of my father, I don't want to add to that by being sorted into the house that everyone thinks is evil."

Then I'll respect your wishes Nico. Not Ravenclaw, you aren't the type to obtain knowledge for knowledge's sake. You could do with more people who would be nice to you unconditionally, and Hufflepuff could help with that…

"Is that the yellow house?"

Yes

"I'd rather not thanks."

Well in that case, it seems like the house best suited for you is "GRYFFINDOR!"

AS Nico walked to the Gryffindor table, he could have sworn he saw money change hands.

"Grace, Jason."

Jason's gold glasses flashed in the candle-light as he sat down.

Son of Jupiter… So the Romans and the Greeks are finally at peace?

"Yeah."

Hardworking and loyal, you'd suit Hufflepuff. Very brave too. Better be "GRYFFINDOR!"

"Jackson, Perseus."

As his name was called out, Percy inwardly pouted, sad that his game with the blonde ferret wasn't going to work.

I see old Barnacle-Beard broke the oath.

"Technically Zeus broke it too. And I'm not too sure that Dad would be pleased with you calling him Barnacle-Beard"

That he did, that he did. Now back to sorting you. No offense, but Ravenclaw isn't you. You're resourceful to the point of being cunning, but not quite Slytherin. Gryffindor would suit you… what's this? Fatal flaw of loyalty? This makes my job much easier. The house for you has to be "HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Levesque, Hazel."

Daughter of Pluto. Died to stop Alcyoneus, gave up Elysium so your mother didn't have to suffer Punishment. This is an easy one. "HUFFLEPUFF!"

"McLean, Piper."

Whispers rang out from the muggleborns in the room.

Daughter of Aphrodite hmmm, not your average daughter of Aphrodite either. You'd do well in Hufflepuff of Gryffindor… Charmspeak? Well, that'll serve you excellently in "SLYTHERIN!"

"Huh," Ron remarked to Harry as Piper made her way over to the Slytherin table. "I wouldn't've pegged Piper as evil."

This remark earned Ron a smack on the head from Hermione.

"Solace, Will."

By Merlin! How many of you are there?

"After me, four more."

Well then, I'd best get on it. Son of Apollo… Head medic… I must say I'm impressed with your friendship with that Nico di Angelo.

"What do you mean?"

That one's had a dark past. Be glad he chose to let you in. Well, I've blabbered enough, the best house for you is "HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Stoll, Connor."

Son of Hermes, huh?" I'd say that you're almost intelligent enough for Ravenclaw…

"What's that supposed to mean?"

You aren't the type to seek knowledge just for the sake of it. Gryffindor would suit you well, but you are quite devious and cunning, aren't you.

"Most kids of Hermes are."

I guess so, but looking at the things you've achieved, you could definitely cheer up the house of "SLYTHERIN!"

"Stoll, Travis."

You best join your brother in "SLYTHERIN"

"Valdez, Leo."

Ah, so son of Hephaestus. First fire user in a long time… I must say, the Argo II is impressive. Died and came back to life…You'd fit well in Gryffindor or possibly Hufflepuff, but you'll do best in "RAVENCLAW!"

"Zhang, Frank."

Are you the last demigod?

"Um yes?"

Great. I don't need to dig around in your memories as much I have for some of the others, you'd do well in Hufflepuff, but the house for you is "GRYFFINDOR!"

FRANK - we're back to first person POV now

I took a seat next to Jason as Dumbledore rose to his feet.

"To our newcomers," Dumbledore beamed with his arms spread wide, "welcome! To our old hands- welcome back! There is a time for speech-making, but this is not it. Tuck in!"

There was an appreciative laugh and outbreak of applause as Dumbledore sat down neatly and swept his beard over his shoulder. Food had appeared out of no-where, and the long tables were groaning from the weight of it.

Harry and Hermione started a conversation with a nearby ghost whilst Ron stuffed his face. I looked over at Nico, and his expression was calm, but his eyes were swirling with rage, like two bottomless pits straight to the Underworld. He seemed to be doing his level best not to be noticed by the ghost.

After everyone had finished eating, and the noise level in the hall was starting the creep upwards again, Dumbledore took to his feet once again. The buzz of noise stopped as the student body turned to look at the headmaster.

"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices. First years and exchange students ought to know that the Forest in the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, and a few of our older students ought to know by now too. Mr Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four-hundred-and-sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in the corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr Filch's office door. We have had two changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubby-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defence Against the Dark Arts Teacher."

There was a round of fairly unenthusiastic applause. Nico groaned. Care of Magical Creatures and DADA were his worst subjects.

Dumbledore continued, "Try-outs for the house Quidditch team will take place on the-"

He broke off, looking enquiringly at Professor Umbridge.

"Hem, hem"

So I've decided to leave this chapter here. Cause why not? Hope you like it, and the bit in the middle didn't confuse you.

Bye

-Badger