Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any related characters. They belong to J. K. Rowling. Any quotes from Harry Potter books don't belong to me either. As usual, no profit is meant to be made by this story.

Similarities with other fanfiction stories are not intended

4. The Sorting

The boat fleet landed on the shore wherefrom an outdoor staircase lead to the oaken front doors of Hogwarts. Hagrid lead them up the stairs and towards the opened doors. When the first students entered they came running out again only seconds later, soaking wet. From the inside, a giggling voice could be heard.

"Little firsties, so sweet they are. Isn't it funny when they get wet."

Then, another voice could be heard, this one sounding very severe.

"Enough, Peeves. Leave them in peace or I'll get the bloody baron."

This made an impression as the giggling voice vanished, not after several water balloons could be heard as they burst.

"Now, Hagrid, won't you lead the first years in?"

"You're right. Now, enter the castle, it should be save now."

Hearing these words, the first years entered the castle where a severe looking woman was awaiting them. Harry thought at once that this woman wasn't someone who should be annoyed.

"Good evening, first years. My name is Minerva McGonagall. In a few minutes, you will walk through this door and join your classmates. However, you must first be sorted into houses. There are four of them: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. For good achievements your house will receive points, if you break the rules points will be taken away. The house which has the most points at the end of the year will receive the House Cup. During your stay in Hogwarts, your House is your family. Now, we have to go."

With these words, she opened the door to the Great Hall and led the students inside. They were walking between the House tables towards the teacher's table where a stool with an ancient looking hat on it stood. As soon as all of them stood in front of the table, the brim of the hat opened like some kind of mouth and it started to sing:

(Right. Now, I have no idea of what kind of song I should be writing. Therefore, I won't write one yet but might add one later)

As soon as the hat had finished his song, Professor McGonagall started to read their names from a list she was carrying. Each student put on the hat and a few moments later, his house was shouted. This went on and on till Minerva called:

"Harry Potter."

Harry went forward and put the hat on. Suddenly, he heard voices in his head.

"What have we here? I see the knowledge in you. You're sure that you belong here. It looks for me as if you already know an awful lot."

"You must be wrong. I only discovered that I could do magic a month ago."

"So it is, you say? Well then, let's see where we could put you. You are brave, a Gryffindor, you are loyal, a Hufflepuff, you are cunning, a Slytherin and you are eager to learn, a Ravenclaw. Now where shall we put you in?"

"As long as it is not Slytherin, I'm fine."

"Not Slytherin, you say? This is a pity; you could do great in Slytherin. But if it's your wish, then better be GRYFFINDOR."

The last word was shouted out loud and the second table to the left started cheering out loud. When Harry sat down beside his classmates, the sorting continued. Harry was glad that Ron became a Gryffindor as well and Neville and Hermione, the two he had met in the boat, where also sorted in Gryffindor. Malfoy was sorted in Slytherin which didn't surprise Harry. For all he had heard, Slytherin house would be the perfect place for Draco.

Once the sorting had finished, the headmaster stood up:

"Dear students of new and old, I welcome you back to yet another year at our marvellous school. As usual, I have a couple of announcements to make before the feast begins. Fist years please note, and I'd like to remind some of our older students that the forbidden forest is, as the name says, forbidden. Also, the corridor on the right side of the third floor is out of bound for all those who don't wish to suffer a terrible death. And now, tuck in."

Having said these words, the tables were suddenly filled with a variety of dishes. The next hour all Harry was thinking on was eating. However, once he looked on the staff table, he felt a sudden pain through his scar which vanished a few seconds later. He saw that one teacher, the one with unusual greasy hair was looking directly in his eyes. He turned towards Fred, the twin-brother of George and brother of Ron.

"Fred, that teacher over there with the greasy hair, who is that?"

"That's professor Snape, head of Slytherin house. Better get out of his way, he loves to bully the students of other houses and to favour Slytherin."

"I'll keep that in mind."

The feast continued with dessert till, about half an hour later when everyone was finished, the dishes vanished and the prefects stood up to lead the students towards the dormitories. However, as soon as he was leaving the table, Professor McGonagall came over to him telling:

"Come with me, Potter, we have to talk. Follow me to my office."

Harry, after having wished a short good bye to Ron and his brothers, followed her. When they entered, Harry saw that they were already awaited by Professor Snape and Draco Malfoy. Once she had settled behind her desk, McGonagall addressed Harry:

"So, Mr. Potter, do you know why you're here?"

"I think you want to talk about Malfoy's attack on me on the train?"

"Attack? I don't understand. But I think it will be best if you tell us your story as we already heard the one of Mr. Malfoy."

"Well, I was sitting in a compartment together with my friend Ron when Draco came in and started to insult Ron. I told him that he was not welcome here and that he should leave. However, as soon as I had turned my back, I was hit by a spell. However, the spell was deflected by my shield and I casted and Expelliarmus spell on Mr. Malfoy. I then kept his wand to prevent him from making any other stupid things."

This was the moment when Professor Snape decided to intervene.

"But Minerva, it is obvious that this boy is lying. A shield spell? That is in the fifth year curriculum while Expelliarmus is in the one of the second year. There's no way that he's able to cast this spell. I think Mr. Malfoys story much more believable that Mr. Potter was attacking him from behind while he was leaving their compartment."

"Well, Severus, there is a simple way to see if Harry casted these spells or not. Harry, would you hand me over your wand?"

"Here it is, Professor, and here you have Malfoy's as well. If you check his, I'm sure you will find it quite interesting."

Once she had the wands, she first casted a priores incantati spell on it. First, there appeared the word expelliarmus and a red beam of light could be seen, then the word protego while a golden shield appeared.

"As you see, Severus, his wand casted this two spells and I doubt that anyone else would have used this wand lately. Now let's check Mr. Malfoy's wand."

When she casted "priores incantati" once more, the words "morbus molestus" appeared.

"Well, Mr. Malfoy, how do you explain that your wand was used to cast a dark arts spell? You know that this spell is quite powerful and could have done severe damage to Mister Potter? Therefore, Slytherin will loose twenty points and you will receive a detention. You may have your wand back now."

"Professor Snape, in future, I wouldn't judge before I know all the facts. You may leave now."

Having heard this, Snape decided that it was best not to argue and left the office together with Malfoy. When Malfoy stood in the door, he muttered something that sounded like "my father".

"And tell your father that I will not allow students to attack other students."

Once they had left, Harry saw how the expression on the professor's face turned from anger into the one of concern.

"Well, Mr. Potter, I'm glad that you're not hurt. This spell is quite powerful and could have hurt you severely. Your shield must be very strong to keep such a spell away. Could you tell me how you managed to do a fifth year spell?"

"I actually can't explain it. I just knew that moment that I needed something to protect me and then I could cast the spell. Same for Expelliarmus."

"Well then, Mr. Potter, I think that you're a rather interesting student. You may leave now. Oh, by the way, 10 points for Gryffindor for your honesty.

Harry was walking towards the door when McGonagall talked to him once more.

"I forgot, it's your first day here. I guess I should bring you to the common room. I think you don't know the way."

"That won't be a problem. I'll make it."

"If you think so. If you encounter anyone on the way, tell them I allowed you to be outside. Good night, Mr. Potter."

"Good night, Professor."

With these words, Harry left the office and headed towards the common room. Even if it was his first day in the castle, he knew exactly where to go. However, he didn't wonder about that as he still was too absorbed with what just had happened. He had just received house points and Slytherin got points deducted. That was just great. While thinking about this, he had arrived at the Fat Lady, the portrait marking the entrance to Gryffindor common room, where he was greeted by Percy who was one of the prefects therefore he knew the password.

"Hy Harry. Where have you been? We didn't see you so Ron asked me if I could wait here and tell you the password."

"I had to see Professor McGonagall. Now, what's the password?"

"It's leo fortis."

Together, they entered the common room where they were greeted by the other Weasleys who all told Harry to tell them of what happened. They were delighted when they heard that they got points and that Slytherin got points deducted and that Malfoy got a detention on his first day in school. They were also impressed how Harry managed to block the spell and asked him how he had done that. Harry however told them that he didn't know. They chatted for a little more; Fred and George who seemed to be the chief pranksters of the school plotting for a prank they could play on the Slytherins while Percy did his best not to hear them till Harry decided to call it a night and headed to his dormitory together with Ron. Amazed, but also tired by what all happened on this day, he slept quickly as he had to be fresh the next morning when lessons started.

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This is it, chapter 4. Hope you like it. Next chapter will be up soon.

Thanks to Chelskat and Honour-Harrington1982 for reviewing chapter 3