Chapter Three: The Sorting

The first years followed Hagrid accross the lake in the boats. Harry, Draco, Pansy, and Blaise shared a boat. Hagrid didn't say one word to Harry, for which he was grateful. All the way there, Draco and Harry laughed while Blaise tryed to stop Pansy from jumping Draco. After they finished the ride, Hagrid led them up stone steps that led to the front door. There, they were greeted by Professor McGonagall.

"First years, follow me." she commanded, turning and leading them into a room. When they got there, she turned to face them. "Welcome to Hogwarts. Soon, we will enter the Great Hall. There, you will be sorted into one of four houses. The houses are Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin. Each house has a history, and each house has produced wonderful witches and wizards.

"Your houses here are like your family. You have classes with those in your house, you will sleep in one of your houses dormitories, eat at your house table, and spend free time in your house common room.

"What you do here has effects on your house points. For triumphs, you will gain points. Any rulebreaking loses points. At the end of the year, house ponits will be added and compared with those of the other houses. The house with the most points gets the house cup.

"Now, then. Let us go into the Great Hall so you can be sorted, shall we?" And she strode into the room, the first years following behind her.

In the room, there were four long tables. On a pedstal of sorts sat a smaller table. In front of that table stood a stool with a hat on it. Everyone stared at the hat, so the first years did too. It opened a rip that it used as a mouth and started to sing. (A/N: This is the song from the first book. I am giving credit to the author, not me, okay? On with the story!)

"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 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!


There was silence for a moment, then applause sounded throughout the hall. Draco turned to Harry and smiled.

"This should be quite simple. I do hope that you are in Slytherin with me," he whispered.

"I hope so too," Harry whispered back. Professor McGonagall walked over to the Sorting Hat. She picked up a scroll that was sitting next to it.

"When I call your name, come here and try on the hat!" she called out. She read the first name off. "Abbott, Hannah!" It continued, each person going and sitting at their table after they were sorted. Crabbe and Goyle were both sorted into Slytherin. Suddenly, Draco's name was called. "Malfoy, Draco!" Professor McGonagall called out.

He walked calmly towards the front of the room. Sitting down, the hat barely touched his head before yelling, "Slytherin!" Draco walked off, smiling at Harry as he passed him. Harry smiled weakly back.

Pansy became a Slytherin as well. A while after that, his own name was called. The hall suddenly had whispers going through it.

"Harry Potter?" someone whispered. "The Harry Potter?"

Harry walked up to the Sorting Hat and put it on his head. They conversed for a while, before the hat finally made its decision. "Slytherin!" it yelled. The hall became nearly silent. Only Draco, Pansy, and Blaise clapped.