The Sorting and Welcoming

Neville and Harry quickly got out of the train and went over to Hagrid.

"Harry! Neville! Look ho'w much you've gro'wn!"

Harry and Neville pushed their way to the front and grinned at the Half- Giant. Hagrid had never really liked Hayden, because… well he didn't know. Not liking Hayden had made Hagrid #1 in their books.

"Hey Hagrid! We have missed you! Have you seen Hedwig? She flew off yesterday."

"Oh yer, she's in me home. Smart o'wl that one." Hagrid beamed. They had to start moving after that. The other kids had started looking at Harry and Neville in bafflement for being so friendly with Hagrid. They made their way to the boats and Harry and Neville were followed in by two boys called Seamus and Dean. After quick introductions they the boats started moving and before long they got their first view of Hogwarts. There was a round of 'ooh's' and 'aah's' for the kids who hadn't seen it before. Harry just grinned whilst Hayden looked around boredly. Hayden was sitting with red haired kid with freckles that Harry guessed was a Weasley, brown bushy haired girl and Susan Bones who looked extremely uncomfortable. When they finally got to the front door it was opent by the Headmistress who scanned over their faces quickly before it rested on one. Harry winked at her and he was awarded with a small smile of amusement that no one else noticed. They walked into the main entrance hall before she stopped them.

"First-Years. You will be welcomed into the Great Hall shortly. You will be sorted into one of the four houses; Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin. But before that you need to wait. You may take that time to make your selves look more… presentable." She said her eyes resting on a girl that was wearing an outrageously pin hair clip. With that she walked inside with a sense of authority. Everyone started speaking at once about how they were going to be sorted. The bushy haired girl was excitedly whispering spells she'd learnt under her breath. Harry and Neville just rolled their eyes but talked amongst themselves.

"So what house do you want to be in Harry?"

"I honestly don't care. I could end up in Slytherin. I don't mind. I just hope it's not Gryffindor"

"I would agree with you, but my gran's all proud about me being in Gryffindor so I'm not sure."

"Well, what happens, will happen."

Before any further conversation could be encouraged the doors opened and McGonagall came back.

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"Follow me" she said briskly and the nervous bunch of kids followed her. You could hear the girl talking to anyone who would listen about how much she'd read about Hogwarts in 'Hogwarts: A History'. Harry shook his sadly at the thought about having to deal with her for the next 7 years. Before he could dwell on the thought the sorting hat started singing.

"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!"

The Hall burst into applause at the end of the song. Then the Headmistress stared the Sorting

'Abbot, Hannah'

Hannah walked nervously up to the stool and sat down and put the sorting hat on her head. After about five minutes it shouted "HUFFLEPUFF!". The Hufflepuff table burst into applause and Hannah quickly ran and sat down happily. The sorting went on for a while till it was the bushy-haired girl's turn. She ran to the stool and put the hat on eagerly, much to the amusement of some of the professors. After about a minute the hat decided "GRYFFINDOR!". Harry was surprised but quickly got over that when it was Neville's turn. It took about 20 seconds but the hat decided "GRYFFINDOR!". Harry applauded loudly for his best friend but was consumed with nerves when they called out his name. He could hear whisperings going on around him and he looked at the staff table to see his favourite teachers (Professors Flitwick, Snape) smiling encouragingly at him. He walked up to the stool and put the hat on.

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Harry Potter. Or should I say Harry James Potter Greymoen Evans Peverell Hogwarts Lupin Black? The hat chuckled.

Just hurry up Goswind.

Ok, ok. Hmm. You would do well in Ravenclaw, a great thirst for knowledge but you are cunning and sneaky as well. You are increasingly loyal to your friends, Hufflepuff would not be so bad either. This is just as hard as I thought it would be.

Last time I tried you on, you said Egwatstatic. But that's not a house.

Yes, yes I know. Your bravery in keeping things a secret is admirable but there is not one house that I cannot put you in. You belong into Egwatstatic.

What is Egwatstatic?

The combination of all the Houses. Shame the House was closed, it had the most brilliant witches and wizards in it.

Why was it closed? When?

Why, back in the time of the founders. The children of the four houses would get jealous of the fact there were children that were equally smart, brave, cunning and loyal. The jealousy and hared got so much the founders had to remove the House. Shame though it was, there weren't many people in that house, and it was relatively easy to sort kids into the other four houses. But every once in a while we get a kid that belongs to Egwatstatic, and it becomes increasingly hard to place them in a house. And you, by far, are the hardest I have to do. But we are drifting off topic here. So what house to put you… oh well.

"EGWATSTATIC!"

What?! Just put me in a random house! Please any!

Harry…

Just do it!

Ok, ok.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

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The Hall had gone deathly quiet when the Hat had shouted "EGWATSTATIC", what house was that? Then it had shouted Gryffindor. Even the Teachers Table was shocked, and that's what shocked the kids even more.

Dumbledore was rare to surprise. Pranks and such never rarely surprised him. No-one had ever seen the Headmaster look shocked as he did when the Hat shouted that name. When it called out Gryffindor, he still hadn't felt as shocked. He made a promise to himself that he would keep a closer eye on the Potter twin. No-one could ruin his perfect plans.

A Harry walked over to the Gryffindor table with every eye one him, the Gryffindor table slowly burst into applause; starting with Neville and what looked like the Weasley twins. Harry sat beside him.

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"What happened Harry?" Neville whispered under his breath.

"I have no idea. I begged the Hat to put me in a real house you know." Harry whispered back. Harry looked at the hat, now sorting Hayden. Just as he was sorted into Gryffindor and the house bursting into applause Harry said "But did it really have to put me in Gryffindor? I would have bloody loved to even go to Slytherin!"

Neville looked Sympathetically at him before turning his attention back on the sorting. Harry could see his brother and his parents shooting him snooping and shocked looks. He ignored them whilst everyone around him kept asking him the same question; What happened? What's Egwatstatic? Harry just shrugged off their enquiries and started eating, ignoring Hermione Granger who was incessantly asking him questions. When he refused to answer, she huffed and ignored him for the entire meal. Shooting glares at him time to time but Harry was more than happy to ignore her. When the meal finished, Dumbledore got up to give his usual speech. Harry listened attentively but was very suspicious when Dumbledore mentioned death on the 3rd floor corridor. Almost as if asking students to go there. When Dumbledore dismissed them, Harry stayed behind and reassured Neville he knew the way to Gryffindor tower. When Neville finally left, Harry walked up to the Staff Table and to the surprise of James and Lily, went towards Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, Snape and Sprout. Dumbledore also looked surprised at the familiarity, but looked away when Hayden walked up to his parents.

"Hi Professors." Harry said grinning at them.

"Told you he would be in Gryffindor. Now pass up the money." Said Severus smugly to Filius. Filius huffed and rolled his eyes.

"No, the Hat said Egwatstatic first. So no, you didn't win the bet." Said Filius now smirking.

"You were betting on my house? Auntie Minnie I'm disappointed in you!" Harry said strictly but it was given away by the grin on his face. Aunt Minnie rolled her eyes.

"Haha" she said dryly. She then turned serious. "But seriously what is Egwatstatic?"

"Apparently, it's the combination of all the houses. Godwin told me. He said it was removed because kids got jealous of the kids that were smart, brave, loyal and cunning." Harry replied.

Minnie frowned and Snape, Flitwick and Sprout looked at him in awe.

"So, the hat said you belong in all the four houses? It couldn't just choose one?" asked Pomona.

"According to the hat"

"I thought Egwatstatic was just a made-up story. Well, we did know you were something special." Said Flitwick, and Snape ruffled his hair.

"Uncle Sev! Don't ruin it!" they all laughed before McGonagall shooed him off. It was past curfew. James and Lily frowned as they saw all the four heads of Houses get up and walk with out of the Great Hall. Why hadn't Harry come to them? After all, they were his parents. And why was he so friendly with his teachers?

"The Passwords 'Caput Draconis', get to bed." Aunt Minnie told him. "And Don't forget I'm Professor McGonagall in class. And I want your best work young man. I know you are above first year, I'll try to keep you busy." With one last hug with his 4 aunts and uncles, he went to bed.

A/N So… how is it? Let me Know! Please Review