She led the first years through two large wooden doors. They entered the great hall, which had four long wooden tables and many candles floating in mid air. They walked between two of the tables. All of them stared in awe at the ceiling that looked like the night's sky.
"It's not real, the ceiling, it's just bewitched to look like the night's sky. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History." Lucy looked behind her and found that the speaker was Hermonie Granger, The girl she had met on the train. They reached the front of the great hall and stood as a stool with a very old hat was brought up in front of them. To their surprise the hat ripped at the seam and 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 top 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 steady mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk 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 whole hall burst in to applause. Then Professor McGonagall stepped up to the stool. "When I call your name you will come up here I will place the sorting hat on your head, you will be sorted and take your place at the respective house table. Lets begin, Abbot, Hannah"
A very scared girl stepped up to the stool. Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head. It went passed her eyes. After a few moments the hat spoke
"Hufflepuff!"
The Hufflepuff table burst in to applause. Hannah ran over and took a seat at the table.
"Bones, Susan"
Well maybe this won't be so bad after all. Lucy thought to herself. A few more students went up. A boy named Terry Boot became the first Ravenclaw, and Lavender Brown became a Gryffindor.
"Granger, Hermonie"
Hermonie passed by Lucy and she swore she was talking to herself. The hat was placed on her head, it seemed to take a little longer than the other but it soon spoke
"Gryffindor!"
It just occurred to Lucy, what would happen if she wasn't placed into a house? Would she just have to sit forever and wait? What would her dad and grandpa say?
"Lupin, Lucille" Ron tapped her on the shoulder. She jolted back in to reality and staggered forward. Albus Dumbledore sat up straighter in his chair and watched his granddaughter as she sat down on the chair and the sorting hat was placed on her head and fell over her eyes. "Ohh.Dumbledore's little granddaughter.Where to put you.I see lots of intelligents.and great loyalty.I can see lots of courage in you heart.Yes I see now.you are very daring, brave and so much more.so you'd better be a.GRYFFINDOR!" The hat was pulled off her head and she could see the Gryffindor table cheering loudly for her. She ran over and took a seat next to Hermonie Granger. As she sat down she looked up at the staff table and saw the proud look on her grandfather's face. She smiled and he smiled at her. Then she brought her attention back to the sorting. "Malfoy, Draco" He took his seat on the stool and Professor McGonagall started to place the hat on his head but before it touched him it screamed out. "Slytherin!"
He caught Lucy's eye and gave her a smile as he sat down. She rolled her eyes and wached as more students were sorted. Two twin girls Padma and Parviti Patail became a Ravenclaw and a Gryffindor, and a girl with a pug face became a Slytherin.
"Potter, Harry"
The whole hall broke into a whisper. "The..Harry Potter!?!?!" Lucy gave him a reassuring smile just before the hat went over his eyes. It was on his head for what seemed like forever but it finally spoke
"Gryffindor!" The whole table went crazy! Everyone was on their feet and clapping. Harry ran over and took the seat opposite of Lucy. They watched as the students dwelled down and soon there were only two students left and one of them was..
"Weasley, Ronald."
Ron staggered up to stool with a look of pure terror on his face, the hat was on for a few seconds when it screamed.
"Gryffindor!"
Ron breathed a sigh of relief and took the seat next to Harry, opposite Hermonie.