Arrival
The boys looked around at each other, all looking nervous now that they had arrived. They exited the train along with everyone else, pushing and shoving onto the tiny platform. The night air was cold and damp. A lamp came swinging over all their heads accompanied by a deep voice calling,
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?" it was Hagrid, who's huge size made him easily visible. "C'mon, follow me—any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!" the group of first years huddle together trying to keep up to Hagrid's long strides. Hagrid led them down a steep, narrow path. Nobody said a word.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called out, "Jus' round this bend here."
A loud 'Oooooh!' came from the crowd as the path opened up. Across a lake, atop a high mountain was a huge castle. Its many windows, along turrets and towers sparkled in the night sky.
At the edge of the lake, a fleet of small boats sat waiting.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid told them. Harry, Draco, and Ron all climbed into one boat joined by a boy none of them knew. Hermione and the toadless boy were both in the boat to the left. Hagrid had one to himself.
"Everyone in?" Hagrid boomed. "Right then—FORWARD!"
All the boats started moving at once, gliding across the placid lake. Everyone watched as the castle drew closer, towering above them. At the opposite edge of the lake loomed the cliff on which the castle stood.
"Heads down!" Hagrid yelled as they reached the cliff. A curtain of ivy covered the cliff face; behind it was a dark tunnel and a harbour where the boats stopped. Everyone climbed out.
"Oy, you there. Is this your toad?" Hagrid called out grabbing the toad out of another boat and handing it to the boy.
"Trevor!" the boy cried happily.
"A toad?" Draco muttered. "Who cares about some toad, its cold out here."
"Yeah, really," Ron agreed.
Everyone followed Hagrid's lamp as he led them upwards and outside just alongside the castle. They ascended a flight of stairs to the huge oak front doors.
"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?" he turned and knocked on the door. It swung open at once revealing a black-haired, stern looking witch.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid said.
"Thank you. I will take them from here," the profesor said gravely.
The doors opened wider letting the group into the entrance hall. It was huge, lined with torches, the ceiling lost in shadows, across from the doors a splendid marble staircase led to the upper floors. The Professor led the group into a small room off the hall. She welcomed the first years to Hogwarts, then told them the sorting ceremony will begin in a few minutes and to please wait. She left.
"How exactly do they sort us into houses?" Harry asked Ron.
"Some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking."
"Is that the same one who told you how to turn your rat yellow?" Draco asked.
"No, that was George."
Draco snorted. "You must be really gullible…. Even though gullible isn't in the dictionary."
"It isn't?" Ron asked in mock astonishment. Draco burst out laughing.
All of a sudden, several people behind them screamed. They spun around quickly seeing about twenty ghosts walk through the back wall. The ghosts seemed to be arguing, hardly seeing the first years. A little fat friar was arguing to give someone another chance while a ghost with a ruff and tights argued against it. The ghosts drifted the length of the room and disappeared through the far wall, much to the relief of the first years.
A sharp voice called out, "Move along now, in a line please, the Sorting Ceremony is about to begin," It was professor McGonagall. "Now, please follow me."
The first years got into a line and followed the professor into the Great Hall. Four long tables ran the length of the room, laden with gold plates and goblets with thousands of candles floating above them. The rest of the students sat around the tables watching the first years walk toward the teachers' table at the opposite end. Professor McGonagall led the first years to stand facing the crowd. She placed a stool in front of them, an old and tattered wizard's hat on top of it. Everyone stared at the hat. For a few moments nothing happened, then the hat opened a rip near the brim and began to sing. It sang quite well – for a hat. When it was finished the hall busts into applause. The hat bowed to each table then was still again.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward holding a long scroll, "When I call your name sit on the stool and your house will be called out"
