I stared in awe out of the train window at the castle. It was enormous! I smiled, all my years of waiting were so worth it.

The train halted to a stop, and I stood, following Harry and Ron out of our compartment.

As we stepped out of the train, I looked up again at the magnificent castle, all of the windows illuminating it's beauty.

"Firs' years!" A large, hairy man yelled, waving his hand in the air.

Harry smiled, "Hagrid!"

We reached the giant man, and he smiled warmly at Harry, "How's it been?"

"Okay, thanks."

"Go get on a boat, and it'll take yer to the castle."

I followed the rest of the first years to the boats, and climbed into one. Harry, Ron, and a black haired, freckly plump boy got on behind me.

"Did you ever find your toad, Neville?" Harry asked the boy politely.

"No." The boy murmured in disappointment.

I looked over, and saw Draco talking with Blaise, Theo, and some blonde, skinny girl.

I looked back to Harry and Ron.

We finally reached the castle, and Hagrid helped us all out of our boats.

I trudged behind the rest of the first years, wishing they would speed up.

We finally were inside the castle. I looked around in wonder. My eyes landed on a stern, severe looking woman.

"I got the firs' years, Professor McGonagall."

"Thank you, Hagrid. I can take them from here." She said.

Hagrid walked away, and I looked back to Professor McGonagall.

"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.

"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're waiting."

She strode off.

"How do you think they sort us into the houses?" Harry asked.

"Fred said some sort of test. Supposed to be painful. But I don't think that's what it is." I replied.

Harry went pale, and glanced nervously around. I gave him a comforting smile, "Trust me, I wouldn't listen anything Fred or George says. They aren't serious about much."

He nodded, "Thanks. But what if it is a test? I don't know any magic."

I shook my head, "Harry, no one here does. If we did, why would we be here? Be calm, be rational. I doubt it's a test on magic, it's probably a test of our personality and character. So they know which house we will fit in best with."

Harry nodded, "You're right. Thank you, Ginny."

"Anytime, Harry." I said with a smile.

McGonagall came striding towards us, "We're ready for you. Come along now."

We followed her through a pair of huge doors, and I looked around, at all the people, the enchanted ceiling, the teachers. In front of the teachers table, was a stool, with a worn looking hat on it. I jumped when it started talking.

"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 Hufflepuffs 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!"

I hardly payed attention through the sorting, my nerves running wild. What if I didn't get Gryffindor? Mum and Dad would be so disappointed.

I snapped out of my thoughts when McGonagall called out, "Malfoy, Draco!"

I looked up, and saw Draco sitting on the stool. The hat barely touched his head before it called out, "SLYTHERIN!"

The Slytherin table erupted into cheers.

More kids got sorted before another familiar name was called, "Nott, Theodore!"

Theo walked up to the stool, and sat. The hat sat on his head for about five seconds before yelling, "SLYTHERIN!"

The Slytherin table cheered.

I went back into my daze for a while, until-

"Potter, Harry!"

Murmurs filled the room. I gave him an encouraging smile, he returned it, and walked up to the hat. He sat, and the hat rested on his head for a few minutes before calling out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

There was an uproar from the Gryffindor table, and a few cheers from the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables.

It seemed like hours until McGonagall finally said, "Weasley, Giverna!"

I heard a whoop from the Gryffindor table. I let a small smile slip onto my face, it was Fred or George. I walked up to the stool as confidently as I could, and took a seat.

Hmm. Another Weasley, eh? I should already know where to put you... but I sense something else... you don't belong in Gryffindor.

What? I questioned, but I spoke no words.

It's like I said, in Slytherin you'll make your real friends. It seems you already have. It would be a shame to tear you away from them.

No, please. My family... they would be devastated.

If they truly care about you, it won't matter what house your in, will it?

Before I could respond, the hat called out, "SLYTHERIN!"

I sat there for a second. The whole hall was silent in confusion.

McGonagall took off the hat and gave me an uncertain look, "Erm, to your table, Ms. Weasley."

I got up, and skulked over to the Slytherin table. I caught Draco's eye, and he slid down, nodding at the empty space beside him.

I slid down next to him.

"Nice to have you, Weasley." Draco said, giving me a small smile.

I looked at the table, feeling defeated and alone.

"Weasley, Ron!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

I threw myself onto my new bed, wanting to sob. But I couldn't. Not with my dormitorymates(?) in the room. I closed my eyes for a long minute, before sitting up.

I grabbed my transfiguration book out of my trunk, and got off my bed. I nearly ran into a girl. I cursed myself before apologizing.

I looked at her, and noticed she was the blonde girl who was on the boat with Draco.

"I'm so sorry." I apologized.

"It's fine, I didn't see you either. Daphne, Daphne Greengrass." She said with a smile.

I smiled back, "Ginny Weasley."

She giggled, "Oh, I know. You're the talk of the house. I'm sure your disappointed? About the sorting, I mean."

I shrugged, "A little. My parents won't be pleased."

She smiled, "I'm sure. How about I show you how great Slytherin can be? I don't really know much girls here and I could use a girl friend."

My smile grew, "That would be great. So, I saw you on the boat with Draco, Blaise, and Theo. How do you know them?"

"Oh, we've all been friends since we were little. Our parents knew each other well, and we always had dinner partys. How do you know them? I noticed Draco made you a seat at dinner."

"We met about a month ago. I ran into him in a shop and we talked for a while. I also saw him on the train, and sat with him. That's when I met Blaise and Theo. Blaise was polite, but Theo seemed to think I was a piece of garbage."

She nodded, "He does act like an arse, but once you get to know him he's really sweet, and caring. Wouldn't hurt a fly. Also very hilarious. All of them are."

I nodded, "You seem to think highly of them."

She shrugged, "I care about them."

A girl tapped my on the shoulder, and I looked at her, "There's someone waiting for you outside the Common Room." She told me.

I nodded, I looked back to Daphne, "Excuse me."

I tossed my book onto my bed, and went downstairs. I walked to the door, and swung in open. I stepped out of the common room before closing it shut behind me.

I was met with four red faces, and Harry.

"Hullo." I greeted.

"'Hullo?' 'Hullo?' Ginny, what the hell happened?!" Fred or George yelled.

I put my hands on my hips, "Do you think I know what happened? It's a bloody mess, do you think I could've stopped it? The stupid hat didn't give me a choice! So before you lot come barging down to my dormitories, screaming at me, maybe be a bit sane for once in your life and think about how I got stuck here. Put together, you have four brain cells, try using them sometime! Not you Harry."

He nodded.

"Hey, Ginny." I turned, and saw Draco standing outside the closed portrait hole.

"You want to join us for a game of exploding snap? Daph doesn't believe how bad you slaughtered us on the train."

I winced.

"On the train?! So that's where you disappeared to! I thought you were with Luna!" Ron hissed.

"You daft dimbo! Luna isn't even at Hogwarts this year!" I huffed.

"I'll bet you planned this!" Percy accused.

Draco scoffed, "What do you have to bet, Weasley? Your last Knut?"

Ron lunged at Draco, but Draco was faster, "Petrificus Totalus!" He yelled, his wand pointed at Ron.

Ron went rigid, and fell backwards, hitting the ground with a thud.

"Ron!" Percy and Harry exclaimed, falling to his side.

"What is going on here!?" A voice boomed. Fast footsteps approached, and then a greasy looking man in black robes came striding around the corner.

"Professor, they've been harassing her. I came out to make sure she was fine, when that one came at me, I put him in a full body bind, sir." Draco said quickly.

The Professor looked at me, "Is this true?"

I nodded.

He looked back to my brothers and Harry, "5 points from Gryffindor."

Fred frowned, "But, Professor Snape-"

"Each. Now I suggest you start dragging him back to your dormitories, before I make it ten." He hissed. Fred grabbed one of Ron's arms, and George took the other. Percy and Harry took his feet, and started walking away.

"Thank you, sir." Draco thanked.

He grunted, "Get back inside."

Draco turned and walked to the portrait, "Pureblood." He said.

The door swung open, and I followed him into the Common Room. The door closed behind us.

"So, still up for that game of Exploding Snap?" Draco asked.