So... After a long talk about various things and a lot of photo shoots later (Harry had a camera...), the 7 finally set their foot into Hogwarts after a short boat trip, for which James was a little nervous but didn't let it show.

"How do you expect we get sorted?" Lily asked out of the blue. "I heard that we had to fight a troll" said Harry, thinking of the time Fred and George tried to trick them into believing it. "Na... I believe we need to take up a quiz." said Sirius, as they walked towards the Great Hall, lead by Hagrid.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid as they reached the castle. "Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." a younger looking Minnie replied and asked the students to stand behind her in a line.

She pulled the door wide. The entrance hall was big with stone walls that were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.

They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Harry could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right, just like he had experienced the last time he was a first year. Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.

"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."

'More like this house point system inculcates rivalry between houses rather than a friendly competition and to unite the place' Harry thought. "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."

Most of the people started feeling self conscious and tried to straighten their robes and dust it off. "I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly." she said and left the chamber.

'The same old Minnie. Her speech never changes it seems. The exact one that was given to us too after all. The only fact is that she is more young and les stressed.' Harry mused when he suddenly heard some whispers, only to find the ghosts lurking around, earning scared and awed looks from the students.

About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was saying: "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." Harry watched it all, these just bringing back up some old memories.

Severus shook him out of his stupor. Harry turned to him and asked "What did you ask?" "I never asked or say anything to you Harry. Seems like Teddy is a little upset from all the noise" Severus replied and Harry quickly looked down to find Teddy about to cry. He immediately started to coo at the baby, silently pulling out some chocolate from his robes and giving it to Teddy to suck at it.

"What is a baby doing here?" asked one of the ghosts. "Well... this baby is here because... I'm his only living relative and all our other relatives were killed? And also that he only knows me around here and is uncomfortable with anyone else." Harry said defensively.

"Chill mate! It was just a curious question." the ghost said. Most of the students started whispering about how the baby was "soo cute" and "why had the baby come to Hogwarts", which Harry bluntly ignored.

"Hey guys... I want to say something. We all are to promise that no matter what house we are in, we stay together as friends. Is that a deal?" asked James, stretching his hand out. Harry immediately held out his hand, with the others slowly joining in. "To our first year as friends" they all said.

"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."

Everyone quickly formed a line, the 7 sticking together the whole time, not wanting to be separated for now. Everyone looked around in awe the moment Professor McGonagall opened the door. To Harry, it brought back nostalgic memories of the place, before and after the war. It was just like it was before the war.

It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. The tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting.

Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver.

Harry heard many whispers commenting on the ceiling which was enchanted to show the sky. Someone from the back whispered, "Its bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History."

It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn't simply open on to the heavens. "That looks like the real sky though" said Lily, enchanted by the looks of the hall. All of them nodded, marvelled at the sight before them.

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. 'The Sorting Hat' Harry thought fondly. 'Must ask his name this time around' he thought.

"Why is that hat here?", "Looks too old and worn out to use" many whispered. Many others stared at it intensely. 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 Hufflepuffis 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.

"So we've just got to try on the hat!" Peter whispered to Harry. "And you said that we had to fight a troll?" he asked Harry accusingly. "Hey! I just said what I had heard. It was not like I knew there was a hat and said about trolls as a joke!" Harry protested.

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. "Andrews, Michael!" "HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.

The table on the right cheered and clapped as Michael went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. Harry saw the ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at her. As the names were listed, Harry started to feel more nervous by the second.

'Will the hat reveal my secrets? Will I be discovered?' and all other thoughts were running in his mind. He was startled out of his thoughts when the professor called out "Black Sirius!" Whispers were going around, with Harry discreetly noticing Narcissa and Andromeda Black were having their eyes glued on Sirius. Harry knew he was going to be in Gryffindor but was still anticipating.

"Ah! you are one of a kind... A long time since one of your kind has come here" the hat said.

"What are you talking about? Surely you have sorted many wizards and Blacks? What's special about me?" Sirius thought confused.

"So you don't know. Never mind I said that. Now I can see that you have a difficult path ahead of you of course. Can you please take that block out of that part of your mind please? I need to look through all you memories" the hat said.

"Sorry hat but no can do Mr. Hat. I would rather keep it a secret." Sirius replied.

" Alright. You are a little smart but not enough to be in Ravenclaw... Loyal to your friends... but being a badger is not in your blood as you are very cunning and reckless and not very patient. So Hufflepuff is out."

"Just don't put me in Slytherin please! I am not sure I will be able to handle it" Sirius thought.

"Wait a second please. So... ambitious and cunning, just like a Slytherin I believe. But at the same time... you are brave and reckless like a Gryffindor. Now... you wish for a family though and will do anything for your friends. So you will be in..."

"GRYFFINDOR" the hat shouted after a good 3 minutes and Sirius almost let out a joyful cry at this and quickly went to the Gryffindor table. The hall was stunned in silence before they slowly started clapping at the new arrival. The Blacks who were at school were a little shocked. Never in history had a Black gone to Gryffindor and that was broken today.

After a few more names were called out, Minnie called out "Lily Evans" who nervously went up to the hat and put it on. Without any thoughts, it shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" and Lily went on to join Sirius.

Harry tuned out again and instead focused on calming Teddy down as he was getting agitated at all the looks and whispers. The next time he looked up, it was time for Remus to get sorted.

"Another one of your kind I see and also a werewolf... that is an interesting combination. I don't get both the kinds any more" mused the hat.

"And what do you mean by that I am a unique one? And please don't reveal that I am a werewolf to anyone!" Remus begged.

"You don't need to worry about that my boy. Your secrets are safe with me. Now I see that you are not that ambitious or cunning... that means Slytherin is out of question. You also seem to be loyal but insecurities and other factors strike out the possibility of Hufflepuff. And that leaves us with Ravenclaw and Gryffindor..."

"Just put me in whatever house you see is fit for me" said Remus, wishing to be with his friends though.

"You do look like a bookworm and a rule follower, ready to learn anything, but you are also very reckless and brave, I can see that the way you are with the wolf. And you do have a hard path in front of you. I think you will be better in..."

"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat and Remus joined Sirius at the table after a 3 minute conversation with the hat. Everyone politely clapped for him and the sorting continued, Harry getting more nervous by the minute, calming himself down to calm his godson down occasionally.

And finally his name was called out. "Parker Harry" Minerva called out and he slowly stepped up to the hat and put it on, anticipating the worst but relieved that there were no whispers this time around about "The Boy Who Lived" and all the nonsense.

"Hmm..." the hat said in his head. "Seems like I have already sorted you to be a lion before" said the hat in amusement. "And another one of your kind, just like those two"

"Well... You did sort me once already but my mission demands me to go through this again. What is this another kind you are talking about? And may I ask your name? I am not going to call you the sorting hat." Harry said

"Well, my name is Nobody actually. No one has every asked my name before. You are actually the first one to ask for it. About the another kind... you will come to know of it later. Now may you please let the barriers down so that I can sort you?" Nobody asked.

"Of course Nobody" said Harry and let his lowered his shields.

"Well lets see. You are smarter than you are given credit for and could very well be sorted into Ravenclaw. But since you are not book smart or interested much in learning, Ravenclaw is out." the hat said.

"Knew that from long back. And I guess Hufflepuff is also out?" Harry asked.

"Yes actually. Even though you are loyal, your Slytherin and Gryffindor qualities overpower it and therefore Hufflepuff is out." the hat said.

"That leaves me in the position I was in when I was first sorted" thought Harry.

"Very cunning and ambitious with the thirst to prove yourself. You will do very well in Slytherin Harry Potter. But at the same time, you have proved time and again that you are courageous and reckless as a Gryffindor like you have proved..." said the hat.

"Please do put me in Gryffindor as it is the only way this mission will move forward for now. And please do not tell anyone of me being a time traveller please! Especially the Headmaster! It will totally disrupt my mission." Harry said desperately.

"Very well Mr. Potter or should I say Parker? I will not say anything about this to anyone unless you tell me to. It is about time someone puts Albus in his place as he is going overboard these days."

"Thank you Nobody. I'm sure you won't mind if I call you for a small chat later." Harry said.

"Happy to help Harry. You do have a very difficult path ahead of you. Be careful with what you do Harry. I look forward in talking with you. After all, a hat must travel around for a while. It gets boring to be able to talk with someone only once a year after all. Now you shall be in..."

"GRYFFINDOR" the hat shouted, as everyone stared in shock as he was by far the only one who took this long to be sorted. Ignoring the looks given his way, he settled down in the Gryffindor table.

After all his friends were sorted, James and Peter in Gryffindor and Severus in Slytherin like before, not before telling them that they had a hard journey ahead and to make the right choices, Harry started to look around, judging all the changes. The Hall looked just the same as every year. He then looked at the staff.

Albus was as usual in the center of the high table with teachers on both is sides. Harry discreetly glared at Dumbledore, which no one noticed and then turned to the rest of the staff. Transfiguration was still taught by Minerva McGonagall, Herbology by Pomona Sprout, Horace Slughorn for Potions, Filius Flitwick for Charms, Binns the ghost for History of Magic, Charity Burbage for Muggle studies, Septima Vector for Arithmancy, Professor Kettleburn for Care of Magical Creatures, Hagrid as the Grounds Keeper, Filch was still the Caretaker.

There were also a few teachers that Harry didn't recognise: The ones that taught Ancient Runes, Divination and DADA and a whole lot of other unknown subjects. These thoughts were cut off when Dumbledore announced the commencement of the feast.

After the feast was completed and a long chat with Sir Nicolas, Dumbledore stood up for the yearly feast. "As everyone are to their full, a couple of announcements before you go to your dorms. Firstly, the forbidden forest is well... forbidden and secondly, your DADA teacher for the year will be Mr. Varulv Kentavros Race or Professor Race. Welcome to a new year to Hogwarts student. Now off you go" said Dumbledore.

As everyone dispersed, the first years were made to follow the Perfects, who explained everything in detail and offered to help them for the first few days in going around (unlike a certain perfect) and showed them the first year boys dorm which was shared by the Marauders and Harry and Teddy.

After Harry tucked Teddy in, he went to the common room, which loomed the same, read a book for sometime there and went to join his friends in the dorm to chat before going to sleep. 'Tomorrow is going to be a long day' thought Harry as he drifted into a deep sleep.

A/N: And that was chapter 11 readers! Hope you likedit. All comments and criticism accepted. Thank you for your support! The next chapter is about the first day at Hogwarts.

Thank you all for reading!

Rasi10 signing out

Published on 6 August 2018 (00:00 Again!)