Hey, has anyone read the new Alex Rider book, 'Crocodile Tears'? I got it today, it is so awesome! I didn't even know it was out until now...

Oh, and thank you to all the people who wished me a happy birthday, I got one of those new iPod nanos, it's black :P you know the ones with the video cameras. Plus some money and books :)

Max POV

Although in the inside I was practically shi- sorry, wetting myself, my outside was calm, cool, composed. You know, the normal.

I strode into the hall as if I owned the place, my flock in my heels. Up the front I could see a wizard who probably came what, halfway up Hagrid's shins? My point is he was tiny. As a first year scurried over to one of the tables, he carried a stool away, tucking some sort of paper into his pocket.

But I'm forgetting the main thing, am I not? There were four tables set in the hall and those four tables were packed with students. As we followed Professor McGonagall heads turned our way and I spotted many confused frowns. A low buzz of whispering filled the hall and I scowled. They were talking about us. As we passed the kids I heard random snatches of conversation.

'Who are they?'

'They're too old to be first years, that's for sure.'

'Look at that guy! He is so cute! Is my hair nice?' I scowled at that one, though I wasn't sure if they were talking about Fang or Iggy. It didn't matter.

'Look at the little one! She's adorable!'

'I wonder why they're here.'

A man stood up at the front and cleared his throat. Instantly the chatter died away. His silver hair and beard were so long he could probably took them into his belt and he was very tall. Although the man was obviously very old he seemed full of life and energy. His bright blue eyes peered at me over the top of half-moon glasses and made me feel as if he was x-raying me. 'Welcome!' he said to us. 'Everyone, we will have six American exchange students joining us this year! I would like you to meet Miss Maximum Ride, Mr Fang Hart, Mr Iggy King, Miss Nudge Thomson, Mr Gasman Smith and Miss Angel Smith. Maximum, Fang and Iggy will be in 5th grade, and Nudge, Gasman and Angel have been placed in the 1st grade. I would like you to help these students feel at home during their stay here and treat them well. We will now sort them into their houses!'

I was surprised and impressed that he didn't hesitate over any of our names, especially Gazzy's. But wait, sorting? Didn't that mean that the flock might be split up? I wanted to stick together. The titchy little man brought out the stool again but this time there was a hat sitting on top of it. It was a beaten up looking hat, with rips and patches covering the entire thing. Professor McGonagall moved to stand beside it. She looked at us. 'Smith, Angel.' She called.

Angel's POV

I looked up at Max for reassurance. I know that we hadn't been seeing eye-to-eye a lot recently but I still treated her as a mum. She smiled slightly at me. 'Go on sweetie,' she told me. 'It'll be okay.' I heard the thoughts in her head. We better be together, I need to be able to protect her!

I walked shakily over to the stool where McGonagall was waiting and sat down. I like McGonagall, she had a very pure mind. As I lowered myself onto the stool she placed the old hat onto my head. I was wondering what was going to happen when a small voice sounded in my ear. I jumped.

'A winged child, eh?' the voice said. I think it was coming from the Hat. 'Well this is a new one, yes, definitely new.' The Hat fell over the top of my face and went down to about my lip. I could hear thoughts all around me of She is so adorable like that!

'A mind reader too, are you? Well I must put you somewhere... You would do well in all the houses I believe... But, I think you are most fit for... RAVENCLAW!' The Hat shouted the last word to the entire hall. I knew that Ravenclaw was the house for the smart ones, which made me happy. I walked over to where the Ravenclaw table was and sat down between two sixth graders who couldn't stop thinking about how cute I am. Dimly I could hear Max thinking That settles it, I'm in Ravenclaw. I smiled. I think I'm going to like this place.

Gazzy's POV

'Smith, Gazzy.' I heard Prof. McGonagall say. I stumbled forwards, trying to look like I wasn't worried or anything, but truthfully, I was. I didn't know which house I wanted to be in they all sounded really cool! The Hat slipped over my head. 'Another winged kid...' It said, making me jump. Whoa! Magic can make a Hat talk. Awesome! I wanted to make hats talk, stuff blowing giant snot bubbles! 'You're enthusiastic.' The Hat told me. I wondered if it could hear what I was thinking. 'Yes.' It responded. Freaking wicked dude!

Uh, hat? I thought tentatively. Do you think, maybe, I could be with my little sister? I wanted to be with Angel so I could do the big brother act and show that I loved her. 'I'm sorry, but no, you are not right for Ravenclaw.' The Hat said with a small sigh. 'No. I think you'll do well in... HUFFLEPUFF!' The whole hall heard that. One of the tables on the side went crazy. I grinned broadly and walked over to them, sitting with a group of first years who beckoned at me. I think I could grow to like this.

Nudge's POV

'Thomson, Nudge,' McGonagall said.

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, I think I'm hyperventilating. That is the right word, right? Hyperventilating? But what if I don't get chosen? Will I, like, stay here for the rest of the year, or will I, I dunno, go home or something? I don't think I could stand that, I mean when I was at the Day and Night school, I mean, it was great and everything, but I just missed the flock so much, I don't want to be separated from them again. Oh and look, McGonagall's putting the Hat on my head now. You know what, if they got rid of some of the patches and took a bit more care with the resewing, then this hat could be so much cuter, like, it would practically be in fashion! And now –

'You're a chatterbox aren't you?' My thought lines abruptly stopped when I heard the voice in my ear. OMG, it was coming from the Hat! Was this what it was like for Max, with the Voice in her head? It would be pretty annoying to have a voice in your head, wouldn't it, I mean, Max's Voice could hear everything she was thinking which my get embarrassing when she was thinking about Fang, which is probably like, 24/7, and –

'Yes, I know just where to put you. HUFFLEPUFF!'

Before the clapping had even started I'd run over to the Hufflepuff table, grinning madly. I'd been chosen! I mean I always knew that I would be, but you just can't help getting doubts can you? And I really, truly think I might actually fit in here. I was going to school! I'm going to like it here, I know it!

Iggy's POV

When McGonagall called my name I traced the path that the younger three had walked and found a stool in my way, so I sat down. I felt a piece of fabric being put on my head, I guessed a hat. What was up with that? A hat?

'Oooh, a blind bird child, very interesting indeed!' I heard the voice. What the hell? Where was that voice coming from, why did I have a hat on my head? I probably looked like a fool. 'Don't worry.' That voice said to me. 'I am the Hat. I am going to sort you into your house. Relax.' Oh that made sense. A hat was going to put me into a house. 'Hmm, you're difficult.' The hat said, half to me, half to itself. 'I am uncertain where to put you.... but I think you could do well in... GRYFFINDOR!'

As I walked over to where the loudest cheers were, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret. I'd half hope that I'd be in Ravenclaw, because then I'd be with Luna. I like Luna, she interested me greatly. I thought that her little quirks and weirdness were funny and strangely attractive. I couldn't wish that maybe I'd have gotten to know her better. Maybe I still can. With Luna and the flock here, I could like this place.

Fang POV

At the moment, all I knew was that when I was sorted, I wanted to be with Max. I would have preferred to be in the same house as the rest of the flock, but as that obviously couldn't happen, I wanted to be with Max.

McGonagall spoke for the fifth time. 'Hart, Fang.'

Making sure that my face was an emotionless mask as always I walked calmly towards the stool. I noticed that there were a lot of murmurs of interest from the girl population when I stepped forward. Ugh. I really hoped that they would stop trying when they found out that I was taken. Extremely happily taken too. The Hat was placed on my head. Immediately a voice spoke up. 'We have quite a few hybrids tonight.' What? How they hell did this hat know that I'm a hybrid. Oh. I bet it can read minds. Typically. 'Yes you're right.' It told me. I almost shook my head. One mind reader in this school is more than enough thanks. The Hat was talking. 'You are extraordinarily hard to place. You would do extremely well in all of the houses.' Oh great. It couldn't decide where to put me. This is just perfect. I must have spent about two minutes sitting there, looking completely idiotic, with the Hat muttering away at itself about where to put my until finally I thought to it, just put me in Gryffindor. Ig's there.

'Yes...' The Hat whispered. 'I think you do suit Gryffindor well. GRYFFINDOR!' It shouted.

I walked over to where Ig was sitting and gave him a small smile, even though he couldn't see it. As long as Max was here with me, I would like it here.

Max's POV

I was the last one to be called up. I truthfully didn't know where I wanted to be placed. I guess... well I suppose Gryffindor wins marginally, because half my flock are there. And Fang. All I know is that I refuse to be placed in Slytherin. I'd been told some stories about them on the train and they are one nasty house. The others would be OK. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff good. Yeah, I know I'd like Hufflepuff... oh who am I kidding? Everything about Hufflepuff is sappy. Think about it. Huffle. Puff.

I walked over to the stool and placed the Hat on my head itself. I instantly heard a voice say 'Ah, the leader of the bird-kids.' Oh come on. Not another voice. Two is way too much as it is! Speaking of Voices Maximum... Hey! My regular Voice was back, unhappily. Go away Voice. I thought. I can listen to your fortune cookie crap later.

'What's this?' I realised it was the hat speaking. I am Max's voice. I talk to her inside her head.

'Well, I'm going to have to ask you to leave while I do my sorting.'

No, I don't think so.

Now this is just ridiculous. A hat was arguing with a voice inside my head. Go reread that sentence. Tell me you didn't laugh. I dare you.

Voice go away please? I thought. Fine Maximum... For now. Great it was going to be back later. Joy to the world. But it was gone now.

'As I was saying.' The Hat said. 'I know just where to put you, you are the easiest to place among the flock.' I wonder what it would be.

'GRYFFINDOR!' Oh thank god.

I walked over to the Gryffindor table, shaking with relief. As long as I was with Fang and my flock... well it wouldn't be too bad, I s'pose.

Wow, I just read over that chapter and realized how crappy it is. I hope you don't mind that half of the flock are in Gryffindor, but I just couldn't decide where to put Iggy, so I did eenie meenie miny moe and Gryffindor got picked. Also, I reckon that Gazzy would do better in Gryffindor as well, but I didn't want Nudge to be lonely :P Please don't bug me about my choices, my story :)

Hopefully the next few chapters will be... of better quality. In the next one they meet Umbridge and the rest of the Gryffindors. I wanna write Max's description of Umbridge... It's gonna be rude lol