TBH, Ron will still be a bit of a jerk, but Ginny will be able to rein him in, particularly with regard to his tendency to be jealous

The adopted siblings soon got a little bored and settled down for a nap, leaning into each other. Eventually, the Hogwarts Express pulled into the station. Ginny almost did not want to wake them up and interrupt the adorable scene.

However, she fought the urge and woke them and everyone filed out of the train. On the platform, a huge burly man with ratty long hair and a long straggly beard hollered out, "First years! First years this way! Hello everyone, I'm Hagrid, the Keeper of the keys at Hogwarts!"

Harry trembled at the sight of the gigantic man and Penny squeezed his hand comfortingly. She whispered, "It's okay Harry, I'm right here. Nothing will happen to you."

On his other side, Ginny whispered, "Hagrid's pretty harmless. Our brothers say that he's really sweet and would never hurt a fly."

Upon hearing that, Harry relaxed a bit. The giant led everyone to several rowboats and they clambered in, four per boat. Penny and Harry took one boat with Ron and Ginny. Harry seemed to slowly warm up to the red-haired boy, though he kept him at an arm's length.

Over on another boat, Rowan and John waved. They were with a girl wearing a hijab, who was probably of Middle-Eastern descent. Their fourth companion was a chubby boy who could not keep a hold of his restless toad.

Everyone rowed in relative silence until Hagrid broke it at the head of the small fleet. He called out, "Alright, kids! You'll get your first sight of Hogwarts in a sec! Just round this bend here!"

True to his word, the fleet rounded the bend and several jaws dropped when they saw the sheer majesty of the castle. Penny's breath hitched, "It's gorgeous!"

Hagrid turned and beamed, "Isn't it? One of the finest schools in the world, if I do say so myself!"

The boats soon turned to a small arch with ivy draped across the yawning entry. Hagrid grinned, "Not long now! I suggest you all duck!"

Everyone dutifully dodged the ivy and before long, they reached a makeshift dock. The chubby boy's toad made a break for it, but Hagrid managed to catch it before it escaped. He smiled at the boy, "Hey lad! I suggest you keep an eye on the pesky bugger. I ain't going to be around to catch him all the time."

The group tramped across the ground before they reached the castle doors. Hagrid raised a meaty fist and sent a few loud raps on the gigantic doors. A moment later, it opened to reveal an old wizened woman in forest green robes and a black pointed hat.

Hagrid nodded at the woman, "The first years, Professor McGonagall!"

She smiled, "Thank you, Hagrid, I shall take over from here."

McGonagall plucked a lit torch from a nearby brazier and beckoned everyone to follow her. As she walked, McGonagall said, "Welcome to Hogwarts, 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 hour dormitory and spend free time in your 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."

She continued, "While you are here at Hogwarts, any triumphs will earn your house, points. Any rule breaking will lose you some house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honour. 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."

Upon hearing that, Harry paled a little and his breathing quickened. His sister quickly noticed and reached for her trusty potion belt. On Harry's other side, Parvati took his hand and rubbed his knuckles as they walked. When they stopped at a set of doors, Penny quickly administered the Calming Draught and it worked almost immediately. Harry's breath slowed to a normal pace and she patted his back comfortingly.

Then, she looked inside the potion bottle's mouth and gave a small frown. She muttered, "Shoot… we're going to have to brew some more. We're almost out."

Unfortunately, she did not have time to dwell on it as the doors opened. Professor McGonagall shepherded everyone inside the hall as everyone in the room turned to stare at them. Despite the Calming Draught, Harry still felt a little self-conscious.

While all that was happening, everyone else gazed at the ceiling in wonder, as they saw a starry sky above them. Hermione immediately began rambling random facts. The only thing anybody could make out was, "It's not a real sky, it's just enchanted, I read about it in Hogwarts: A History."

Ron was starting to get a little annoyed with the bookworm. Somewhere near her, a blonde boy in a wheelchair quipped, "Wow… And I thought I was a motor mouth. Though, to be honest, I can simply chatter about percentages and Quidditch and strategy and-"

A freckled girl with black hair and blue highlights clamped a hand over his mouth, "Murph… You're doing it again"

"Sorry Skye" he murmured sheepishly.

Meanwhile, McGonagall approached a stool with a pointed hat on it. Suddenly, the hat burst into song, startling everyone. When it finished, there was a round of polite applause, before the wizened witch unfurled a scroll that unrolled down to her feet.

She cleared her throat and called out, "ABBOTT, HANNAH!"

The pudgy blonde with pigtails walked up to the stool. McGonagall placed the hat on her head, and after a few moments, it hollered, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Hannah took off the hat and walked to the table with the yellow and black robed students.

"ALI, BADEEA"

"RAVENCLAW"

"AMARI, ORION"

"RAVENCLAW"

"BONES, SUSAN"

"HUFFLEPUFF"

"BOOT, TERRY"

"RAVENCLAW"

"BROCKLEHURST, MANDY"

"RAVENCLAW"

"BROWN, LAVENDER"

"GRYFFINDOR"

"BULSTRODE, MILLICENT"

"SLYTHERIN"

Soon, Diego Caplan went to Hufflepuff, while a terrified Ben Copper landed in Gryffindor. Malfoy sneered, "A coward in the supposed House of the Brave… Oh the irony."

Several Gryffindors in earshot, gave him dirty looks. One fifth-year had to be physically restrained from hexing the cocky blonde.

Meanwhile, Michael Corner went to Ravenclaw. One of Malfoy's gorillas, identified as Vincent Crabbe, landed in Slytherin, along with Tracey Davis. Faye Dunbar joined Lavender and Ben in Gryffindor. Then, a dark-skinned boy strutted up to the Sorting Hat, as if he was a model. Before long, the now-identified Andre Egwu joined Ravenclaw.

Seamus Finnigan went to Gryffindor, while Justin Finch-Fletchley went to Hufflepuff and Anthony Goldstein became a Ravenclaw. The other Malfoy gorilla, Gregory Goyle, joined Crabbe in Slytherin.

"GRANGER, HERMIONE!"

After a few moments, the hat screamed out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Then, a blonde straight-haired girl with what could be described as a resting b*tch face walked up to the hat. A few seconds later, Daphne Greengrass headed to the Slytherin table.

At last, "HAYWOOD, PENNY!"

Penny squeezed her brother's hand. She pecked his cheek and whispered, "No matter which houses we're in, I'll always love you."

It took a few moments but, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Megan Jones joined her, while Barnaby Lee went to Slytherin. Sue Li became a new Ravenclaw, while Chiara Lobosca went to Hufflepuff.

After a drink of water, McGonagall called out, "LONGBOTTOM, NEVILLE!"

The chubby walked up, clear nervousness on his face.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Malfoy struggled to not burst out laughing, "Seriously? Two cowards in Gryffindor? This is too rich!"

This time, the entire Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables were glaring murderously. The fifth-year could be heard growling, "Come on Percy! Just one hex!"

While all this was going on, Tulip Karasu and Rowan Khanna went to Ravenclaw. Jae Kim became the newest Gryffindor, and Ernie Macmillan went to Hufflepuff.

When Malfoy's name was called up, he sauntered over to the stool. The hat barely touched his head when it hollered, "SLYTHERIN!"

Murphy McNully rolled up in his wheelchair and the hat sent him off to Gryffindor. Before he wheeled away, Professor Dumbledore waved his wand. In response, a blank space opened up next to Jae Kim, wide enough for McNully's wheelchair to fit in.

Ismelda Murk went next and joined Slytherin. Then, McGonagall called out, "PARKINS, SKYE!"

There was an audible gasp and the whispers began, "THE Skye Parkins! As in daughter of Ethan Parkins?!"

After a few moments of deliberation, the hat screamed out, "RAVENCLAW!"

At that, the entire blue table burst into cheers, "THE QUIDDITCH CUP IS OURS! THE QUIDDITCH CUP IS OURS!"

However, a Sonorus from Professor Flitwick interrupted them, "Ahem… As much as I am excited to see a Quidditch prodigy in Ravenclaw, you do realize that Miss Parkins is a First-Year student and does not have her own broom yet?"

There was dead silence, before the other three tables exploded in laughter. Once everyone calmed down, McGonagall continued, with Pansy Parkinson going to Slytherin. Padma Patil went to Ravenclaw, while Parvati went to Gryffindor.

Then… "POTTER, HARRY"

Another audible gasp, and Harry nervously approached the hat. When McGonagall placed it over his head, the hat spoke, 'Hmm… very difficult… You see, Mr. Potter, you have the most potential of all. Clever as a Ravenclaw, Loyal as a Hufflepuff, However, two things stand out the most, your ambition and your courage. No child can go through what you did in eight years, without being driven insane. Yet, you are still here and have the courage to move on. Furthermore, you have the ambition and cunningness to achieve your goals, you'd make a fine Slytherin.'

Harry thought back, 'I spoke to a new friend, Katie. She said that there's nothing wrong with Slytherin. That being said, I don't think I can stand being around Malfoy for the next seven years.'

'Ahh yes… Ms Bell is a wise one. However, I do see your point. In that case, enjoy your stay in…' "GRYFFINDOR!", the hat shouted the last word.

The red table cheered, "WE GOT POTTER! WE GOT POTTER!"

Harry took off the hat and moved to the Gryffindor table. Meanwhile, Penny caught Hermione and Parvati's eyes and they all nodded at each other. The message was clear, 'Look after Harry for me!'

McGonagall called out, "SILVERTONGUE, JOHN!"

Yet another gasp, and someone could be heard muttering, "He better not be like his brother."

The hat hollered, "RAVENCLAW!"

After him, Zacharias Smith went to Hufflepuff, Merula Snyde joined Slytherin, to Pansy Parkinson's chagrin. Dean Thomas joined Gryffindor, with Lisa Turpin in Ravenclaw. Liz Tuttle joined Slytherin, and Ron Weasley headed to Gryffindor, unsurprisingly. When Ginny's turn came, some were a bit bemused when she started giggling before the hat sorted her into Gryffindor, before she slid in next to Harry and Parvati.

He and Ron turned to her questioningly. She snickered, "The hat said, 'Yet another Weasley? I sincerely hope you're the last one.'"

The Sorting ceremony finally ended with Talbott Winger in Ravenclaw and Blaise Zabini in Slytherin.