Cara gazed, wide-eyed, at her surroundings. The huge room, the Great Hall, was appropriately named, for it was rich in color and texture. The celing sparkled with stars, just like the night sky. In fact, they looked very real…

Also in the room were four long tables, and detailed banners in four colors. She saw the four houses, Gryffindor, Huffelpuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. At the Gryffindor table, she saw that all the people were… normal- looking, including three red- heads waving at Ron.

"Hello, ickle Ronniekins! Have a nice trip?" said one of them. Poor Ron! Cara thought.

The Ravenclaws looked a bit… snooty, like they thought they were better than the rest of the school. Ron had said this was the house for the exceptionally bright, but she did not want to be with a bunch of snobs for seven years!

The Hufflepuff table looked very sweet and kind, as they smiled at all the first years. It was the house for the kind and gentle, so Cara wasn't surprised. She didn't think it was the house for her, but she would probably make some friends that were in that house.

Finally, she glanced over at the Slytherin table. The house for the sly, indeed! More like the house for the cold-hearted! They sneered at the new students, not welcoming them, even those like Draco, whom she figured was a born Slytherin.

At last they reached the front of the hall. Professor McGonagall set down a worn, shabby hat. Cara wondered, why is it so important? Then, it began to sing.

Oh you may not think me 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 folks 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!

Cara was stunned! A talking hat? And she was going to be put into her house based on what the hat saw inside her head? How very peculiar! Then again, she was at a school to learn magic, so it really should have been expected.

Professor McGonagal began to read the names alphabetically. Cara's last name, White, came right after Ron's, so all she had to do was listen for it.

She was jolted to attention when a rude boy shoved into her, so hard, she began to topple over! Fortunatly, a pale haired boy caught her, and put her upright. He seemed kind, but his eyes were steely grey and cold. He would be put into Slytherin, she was sure.

His name was Draco Malfoy, and sure enough, he was sorted into Slytherin, as the hat berely grazed his platinum hair.

Ron whispered in her ear, "Stay away from him, you can never trust a Malfoy." She figured he knew better than she did, so she nodded, and continued to wait.

When Cara's name was finally called, she was nervous! So many people, all watching her! What if she stumbled? But, no, with surprising grace, she made her way to the stool, and sat down, The hat was placed on her head, and the noises in the hall were drowned out as the hat spoke in her ear.

"Quite bright you are my dear! Passionate and determined too… yes, dear, you doubt me? You are braver than you think." The hat yelled out "Gryffindor!"

Cara stood, and looked for where Harry and Ron were sitting. She located them quickly, and went to sit down.

The rest of the sorting went quickly enough, and soon an elderly man with half-moon spectacles came up to the podium.

"Who's that?" Cara whispered to Ron.

"You've got to be joking! That's Albus Dumbledore, that is!" said Ron.

Professor Dumbledore cleared his throat, and spoke. " I would like to say a few words. Poppycock, lemon-drop, and bogey-bat wing. Thank you, enjoy the feast!"

Cara thought him rather odd, as she dug in to a chicken leg, and mashed potatoes.

"Ron," she asked, "What's so bad about Draco Malfoy? He seemed decent…"

Ron stared at her. "Decent? You call that decent? Malfoys are evil, and cruel, awful to mudbloods, and half bloods, like yourself. They think they're better than everyone else."

"Oh," said Cara. "Harry, will you pass the rolls?"

As dinner concluded, Cara felt very content. The trio followed the rest of the students to their rooms, and were pleased with the common room. They said goodnight as they separated into their rooms, and cara discovered that she would be sharing a room with Parvati, and two other girls named Hermione, and Jenna. They all seemed very kindly, and Cara was sure she would enjoy getting to know them better as the years went on.