Chapter 6 The Sorting Hat

When they got off the train a large man, who Camillo thought to be at least part giant, was calling for all first years. Camillo, Temira, Eleanora, Hermoine, and Katrina ran up to the front of the line. 'Hello there' said the large man 'my name is Hagrid. I'm the game keeper.' He had a large smile and big bushy wild black hair. But seemed friendly enough. 'Hello Hagrid, I'm Camillo Black. I seemed to remember hearing your name before. Do you perhaps no my father, Sirius Black?' 'Blimey! You're Sirius Black's daughter? Pleased to finHally meet you! Me and yer father go way back. Well best be off don't want to be late for the sorting ceremony.'
They walked down to a large black lake and across from it Camillo could see a huge castle that she thought to be Hogwarts. It looked very warm and welcoming, to her relief. There were a fleet of small boats docked on the side of the lake. 'No more'n four to a boat!' said Hagrid.
Camillo, Eleanora, Katrina, and to Camillo's great relief Hermoine. 'Everyone in?' shouted Hagrid who had a boat all to himself 'Right then- FORWARD!' The boats started gliding across the lake which was like liquid glass. Nobody was speaking, everyone was staring up at the castle.
As the boats glided towards the cliff on which the school stood Hagrid shouted so everyone could hear 'Heads down!' As they glided into a long tunnel which seemed to go right underneath the school until finally they docked at an underground harbour.
They walked up a tunnel cut into the sone which lead them right up in the shadow of the school. They walked up a flight of stone steps until they were right in front of a huge oak door. Hagrid knocked on it three times.
The door swung open at once. A tall witch with black hair and a stern face stared at the first years. 'Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here.' she said. She opened the door wide and lead them across a long hall with a very high ceiling. The stern lady lead them into a chamber off the hall.
'Hello first years. My name is proffeseur 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 weill 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 Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Slytherin. Each house has it's 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 decrease your points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honour.
'The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you smarten yourselves up while you wait.' When she left the room there was an excited burst of whispers. What were they going to have to do? Was what was on everybodies mind.
At the front of the room in front of the door's was the two boys she had seen at Diagon Alley getting their robes. But the mood had seemed to change between them. Camillo could just make out a few words of their coversation. 'Weasley....red hair....poor....friends...me....Potter.' Could she have heard him right? By the sound of it, or rather lack of, she guessed she had heard right. Everybody was staring at the black haired boy. Harry Potter.
Harry Potter was the boy who defeated Voldemort. Voldemort did try to kill him but some how, nobody really knows how Voldemort died. Gone forever, or so most believe.
Camillo did not have time to ponder what it would mean to have Harry in her classes because McGonagall had returned and told them it was time to be sorted. They stepped through the doors and gave a gasp of excitment. They had walked into a huge long room. There were four tables, Camillo guessed for the four houses, the ceiling was enchanted to resemble the sky above it, and there was another long table in the front of the four other tables behind which sat many old witches and wizards. She recognized the one in the middle as Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts. She also recognized a wizard with long black greasy hair as Temira's father, the potion master.
In front of this table stood McGonagall and in front of her was an old raggedy pointed hat. To all the first years dismay the hat began to sing!

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 hat sleek and tall
For I'm the Hogwarts sorting hat
And I can cap them all
In 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 faithful Hufflepuffs are true
Are unafraid of toil
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw
If you've a ready mind
Where those of wit and learning
Always find their kind
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends
Those cunning flok 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 am the thinking cap!

McGonagall spoke 'When I call your name you will sit on the stool and I will place the sorting hat on your head. When it calls out your house please sit down with your class mates. Abbot, Hannah!' She placed the hat on her head and the hat shouted 'HUFFLEPUFF!' This went on for quite a while until she called out Black, Camillo!
McGonagall placed the sorting hat on her head. The rim had barely touched her head when it shouted 'RAVENCLAW!' The middle table in the hall errupted with cheering. Camillo walked over to sit at the table and watched her friends being sorted. 'Castor, Katrina!' 'RAVENCLAW!' Katrina ran to sit down with Camillo looking slightly red. Almost the colour of her hair. 'Gallaway, Eleanora!' 'RAVENCLAW!' As Eleanora ran to sit down at the Ravenclaw table she tripped on her shoe laces. Turning even redder than Katrina. 'Granger, Hermoine!' 'GRYFFINDOR!' 'Malfoy, Draco!' Just as Camillo the hat was barely placed on his head when it shouted 'SLYTHERIN!' 'Potter, Harry!' The whole hall fell silent. Obvously they knew who he was. The hat was placed on his head and seemed to take an abnormally long time. But it finally shouted 'GRYFFINDOR!' 'Snape, Temira!' The greasy haired teacher payed much attention to this sorting. 'SLYTHERIN!' The greasy haired teacher applauded proudly. 'Weasley, Ronald!' A tall boy with bright red hair stepped up to the stool and sat down 'GRYFFINDOR!'
Everybody had been sorted. It sucked that all her friends were spread out into different houses but she still had Eleanora and Katrina in her house. Dumbledore sood up and said ' Welcome! Before we begin the start of term banquet I would like to say a few words and they are Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!'
All of the sudden a large amount of food appeared in front of them and on their plates. Everybody was quite hungry and dug right in. They were just finishing up when Dumbledore raised his hand as if to speak again 'Ahem-just a few words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start of term announcmetents to make.
'First years should note that the forest is strictly out of bounds to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember this as well.
'I have also been asked, by Filch the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.
'Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.'
'And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third floor, coorridor is strictly out of bounds to anyone who does not wish to die a very painful death.'
'And now before we go to bed if all students will assist me in singing the Hogwarts school anthem.' He flicked his wand as if he were a conductor and everyone chimed in.

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

Camillo, Eleanora, and Katrina sang with so much enthusiasim that everyone was staring at them by the end. Camillo could have sworn she saw Dumbledore wink at them. 'Thank you everyone. Now prefects, please lead your houses to their dormitories and tell them the pass word. I hope everyone gets a good sleep...it is going to be a looooong year.' were Dumbledores last words of the night.