"Firs' Years. Firs' years over here!" a male voice boomed. "How you are doing, Harry?"
"Good, Hagrid," Harry replied.
All the first years followed Hagrid down a winding, steep, narrow path to the dock where a fleet of small boats were waiting.
"No more than four to a boat!" he called over his shoulder.
Hermione sat with Dean Thomas, Blaise Zabini, and Parvati Patil.
"All righ', everyone on board?" Hagrid asked. "Then, FORWARD!"
The boats glided forwards toward the imposing castle on the cliff on the glassy-looking lake.
"Heads down!" he warned as they approached an ivy-covered cliff leading to an underground passage.
Once they arrived at the underground pier, they disembarked and clambered their way to the castle.
He knocked with his fist three times.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," he said.
"Thank you, Hagrid," she said. "That will be all."
She led them to a small antechamber.
After leading them through the history and the description of the four Houses and Hogwarts, she advised them to smarten themselves.
A little while passed and Professor McGonagall arrived to take them to the Great Hall to be Sorted into their Houses.
She opened her scroll and began reading names out loud.
"Abbot, Hannah" (HUFFLEPUFF!)
"Baddock, Malcolm" was the first SLYTHERIN!
"Brown, Lavender" (GRYFFINDOR!)
"Bulstrode, Millicent" (SLYTHERIN!)
"Chang, Cho" (RAVENCLAW!)
"Crabbe, Vincent" (SLYTHERIN!)
"Davis, Tracey" (SLYTHERIN!)
Next came Euan...Finch-Fetchley...Goyle...Greengrass.
Finally "Granger, Hermione" came up.
"Relax. Just relax," she said to herself as she glided onto the steps.
Ah, Hermione Granger. The Sorting Hat said. You have the bravery of Gryffindor, the cleverness of Ravenclaw and the cunningness of Slytherin. I think you will do well in Slytherin and help Harry there. SLYTHERIN!
Hermione ran off to join the other Slytherins.
"Lovegood...Macmillan...Moon...Nott...Patil and Patil"
"Potter, Harry!" (GRYFFINDOR!)
"The Harry Potter? Harry Potter? The Boy Who Lived?" were heard around the Great Hall.
"Quarles...Rune...Stebbins...Thomas...Weasley"
Finally, the Hat ended with "Zabini, Blaise!" (SLYTHERIN!)