Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. J. K. Rowling does. I think everyone knows the disclaimer by now but, yeah. Thanks to everyone who is liking this and following. Your thoughts about this story, what you liked and didn't like are all welcome here. Enjoy.

Previous: 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 folks 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!

Everyone began clapping. Professor McGonagall began to call out names and one by one they were sorted. Harry didn't mind where he was sorted to except Slytherin. Finally it was his turn. 'Potter, Harry!'

Harry walked shakily towards the small stool and put the hat on. The students were in shock. Was this emerald-eyed boy Harry Potter, the boy-who-lived? The teachers, however, recognised Harry. The greasy black haired man, Snape, who had tried to bring him to Hogwarts, was staring at him with hate in his eyes. The hat easily slid beneath his eyes. He waited, holding his breath.

"Hmm, let's see what we have then Mr. Potter," said the hat said in his head, startling Harry.

"There's cunning, oh yes, there's cunning." Harry was very terrified.

"Not Slytherin, not Slytherin," he thought desperately.

"Not Slytherin eh?" asked the hat. "You could be great you know. Ah well, not Hufflepuff, not much loyalty, hmm, maybe Gryffindor oh! A thirst for knowledge! Well then, I think I will put you in RAVENCLAW!" The hat shouted out the last word. Relieved he wasn't in Slytherin, he made his way towards the tables. There was a red banner at the very left which had a lion on it and said Gryffindor. The one next next to it had a yellow banner with a badger. It said Hufflepuff. The one on the right had a silver and green banner, which had Slytherin imprinted on it and a snake. The house Harry was sorted in, Ravenclaw, was between Hufflepuff and Slytherins. It had a blue banner and a eagle on it. Everyone began clapping. Snape looked at Harry oddly but Harry shrugged it off and made his way to the Ravenclaw table. Harry chose to sat down next to a blond haired boy at the edge of the table.

"Terry Boot," said the boy. "Know who you are, of course, Harry Potter!"

"Err, hi Terry," said Harry.

"I love Hogwarts, don't you?" Terry said enthusiastically.

"Err, yes I suppose," said Harry awkwardly. Dumbledore cleared his throat.

"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber!" said Dumbledore. The students all laughed. Mouth watering food appeared on the tables and they dived in, discussing other topics. After they were comfortably well fed, Dumbledore made his announcements.

Dumbledore began introducing the teachers. Harry was starting to feel sleepy. He was looking very forward to going to bed.

"And now, " said Dumbledore, who had finished his speech. "Let us celebrate our school's anniversary by singing the Hogwarts song!" Dumbledore flicked his wands and a huge banner appeared, with words etched on it.

Hogwarts, Hogwarts,

Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald,

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling,

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

Just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot.

Harry looked at the Slytherin table and saw two bulky boys singing along dumbly out of tune. Filling with some interesting stuff indeed, Harry mused. The song ended.

"Ahh, music," said Dumbledore, wiping his glasses. "And now, off to bed. Pip pip!" There was a huge scraping noise as hundreds of students got up and made their way to their prefects.

"Over here," yelled a fifth year whose name was Penelope Clearwater. The Ravenclaws all went towards her and they trooped towards the west side of Hogwarts, towards the fifth floor. They reached a door. Instead of a handle there was a door knocker.

"This is your common room," a prefect said. "Here you can lounge and do your work."

"To enter you have to knock and answer a riddle," she said. She rapped on the door with the knocker and a female voice said " You hear me once, you heard me again, and then I die until I am called again."

"Anyone know the riddle first years?" asked Penelope Clearwater. Was this really how to get into Ravenclaw's common room? The riddle was easy. No one raised their hands, except Harry and the bushy haired girl Hermione who was sorted into Ravenclaw. The prefect called on Harry.

"An echo," Harry said.

"Well done!" said another prefect. "Take 5 points Mr. Potter." Hermione looked disappointed at not being called on. They entered the room and Harry felt his jaw drop. They were standing in a circular room with gracefully arched windows and blue silk hanging. The carpet and walls all reflected twinkling stars and their was a magnificent view at the window. Desks, chairs and bookcases were spread out across the room.

"Off to bed then," said a prefect. "Boys that way and girls that way." They directed him to two circular flight of steps. Harry went up the right spiral staircase and found a door marked 'First years'. He opened the door and a luxurious dormitory was laid in front of him. Four poster beds were stretched across the blue walls and hangings were stretched over them. The other boys came in. Harry learned their names. Anthony Goldstein, a blond haired boy and Michael Corner, a curly haired boy. They chatted idly and undressed. Harry fell asleep comfortably on his four poster bed dreaming about amgic amd treacle tart.

So fourth chapter up. Harry will be friends with Hermione, but not Ron. Hermione is in Ravenclaw. In this story Harry will be smarter and not survive on luck. I'm considering putting this up for adoption. If you want to carry this on, please PM me. Thanks. Hopefully see you in the next chapter.