A/N: My apologies for the formating of the Sorting Hat song. I can't get it to not be double spaced because of the way works.

Characters introduced in this chapter: Real life friend: Brian - Dominic Dwaitwist; Internet friends: Nikora - Elizabeth Turpin, Daphne Greengrass - Daphne McFarlane, pedrobobo - Steven Stouffer, Hermionebrain - Alanna Ponte, Gizymotor - Keri Grey

Singing Hat

Alice stood alongside Ava, crammed into a small room with all the other first years. A black haired witch who had introduced herself as Professor McGonagall had just left the room upon telling the first years that the "Sorting Ceremony" would begin shortly. Now that she had left, the room was a buzz of conversation. Many of the young witches and wizards were talking nervously about what house they might be placed in and quite a few of them were asking if anyone knew what the Sorting Ceremony was or how it worked. In the tight room, Alice couldn't figure out where Eve and Blaine were, but Josef and Joseph were both standing beside her and Ava.

"I wonder what house I'll be in," said Joseph. "My sister's in Hufflepuff and my brother's in Slytherin."

"Oh, so you have older siblings here?" asked Alice. "I'm the oldest. I have a brother two years younger than me."

Joseph nodded. "I'm the youngest," he said.

"Only child," said Ava, indicating herself.

Just then, all talk ceased as the door through which they had entered this room opened, Professor McGonagall standing in the doorway. She was wearing emerald green robes and a pointed hat. "First years, this way," she said, motioning them forward. "Form a line please!" The first years hurried out of the room, pushing into line as they went. Professor McGonagall led them across the hall and then through the double doors into the Great Hall. Four long tables with the older students sitting at them took up much of the space in the room. Golden goblets and plates lay on the tables, currently empty and clean. Candles hung in midair above all of the tables, and looking up at the ceiling, Alice saw that there wasn't one. The night sky, awash with stars, could be clearly seen above their heads.

"Amazing," she heard Josef mutter behind her.

They were led between the two center tables, heading toward the front of the hall. At that end, a fifth table stood before the far wall. Many adults, apparently teachers, were sitting at the table, facing the students.

Professor McGonagall had reached the front of the hall and turned to face the students, instructing the first years to continue walking forward until they formed a line before the staff table. Alice followed the line until it stopped moving and then turned to look at the hall. All of the older students were looking at the first years. Alice felt painfully exposed and wished that she could hide behind one of the people beside her, but she would really only bring more attention to herself if she did something like that.

Professor McGonagall walked to the side of the hall and then returned to the center, carrying two objects. One of them was a stool with four legs which she placed where everyone could see it and the other was an old hat which she placed atop the stool. Then she stood back from the stool. All eyes in the hall were riveted on the old hat. For a moment, Alice didn't think anything was gong to happen, but then an old tear near the brim of the hat opened wide like a mouth and the hat began to sing.

"There was a time when I feared

To sort you into houses four,

But now I see the benefits

Of sorting you once more;

For I have talents wizards don't,

To see into your head and find,

Things about your personality

Your heart and your mind;

I sort you so that all might know

Where your greatest talents lie,

And just hope in all houses you may see

That there you find an ally;

If you need someone of stout heart,

Look no farther than Gryffindor,

For they have heart and bravery

To offer you galore;

If you're looking for a clear head,

Turn then to learned Ravenclaw,

This wise and clever bunch

On vast knowledge can draw;

If you want loyalty on your side,

Search then for Hufflepuff,

They will never turn from a friend

And will keep going when things get tough;

If your venture requires shrewdness,

Add to your group Slytherin,

They might think of things you would not

And can always find a way to win;

So now, with strengths in the open

Think not of how you each are weak,

No witch or wizard is perfect

But each of you is unique;

While it may be true that

Birds of a feather flock together,

And those friends who are like you

Will stick by in harsh weather;

Know too that

Opposites attract,

And it behooves you with other houses

To make a friendship pact;

Now that I have spoken my piece

I must do what I was made to,

Let me into your mind

So that I might sort you;

Just slip me onto your head

And I will see where you fit in,

I haven't made a mistake yet,

So let this sorting begin!"

Thunderous applause greeted the end of the song and Professor McGonagall turned to the first years, a list in her hand. "I will call out your names in alphabetical order," she said. "When I call your name, please come sit on the stool. I will place the Sorting Hat onto your head and you will be sorted. When it calls out your house, please go sit at the appropriate table."

She consulted her list. "Bint, Alice," she said.

Alice felt her stomach sink. I'm first! There aren't any A's? Our class starts with the name Bint? Timidly, Alice stepped out of line and walked up to the stool. Professor McGonagall picked up the hat and Alice sat down. The next thing she knew, the hat was on her head. It was a very big hat and slipped down over her ears and the brim rested on the tip of her nose. She heard a few chuckles behind her, but none of the older students were laughing at her. She truly hoped that the hat looked this big on everyone.

"Lets see here," said a voice in Alice's ear. She recognized the voice as that of the hat, except it wasn't singing anymore. "Very curious," it said. "Not a bad mind, great in fact, though not very much natural talent."

What? thought Alice. Please don't say I'm a squib! I have a wand!

"No, not a squib. Just a different type of witch. Now where should I put you?"

Ravenclaw!

"Why do you say Ravenclaw? What makes you think you belong there?"

Because I'm smart! I do really good in most subjects and I'm good at memorizing facts and stuff. Doesn't that mean I'm brainy?

"Ah, but did those facts come from your mind? No, for you to not be left behind; for you to rise up to the top, you must work and work until you drop. To prove that you are enough, you must be in HUFFLEPUFF!"

The hat screamed out the last word so that everyone could hear. Professor McGonagall quickly pulled the hat off her head and Alice got off the stool. She felt numb. The second table from the right was applauding her happily. A fat, cheery looking ghost was waving at her, a smile on his face. Alice walked over to the table and sat down. A girl beside her clapped her on the back, welcoming her to Hufflepuff. She stared before her, a blank look on her face. She didn't hear the name of the next student, but almost instantly, the Sorting Hat yelled "RAVENCLAW!" Alice turned to look. A first year girl was now joining the Ravenclaws at the next table. Alice couldn't help but feel that she should be right there too, but she wasn't.

"Boeker, Joseph," said Professor McGonagall. Alice watched her new friend walk up and sit on the stool. The Sorting Hat took a long time with him, but finally yelled "HUFFLEPUFF!" Alice smiled. Well, at least she'd be with one of her friends. She joined the Hufflepuffs in clapping as Joseph sat down next to her, a big smile on his face.

"Borboa, Ava Mizar."

Ava sat down, the hat covering her eyes as it had everyone before her. "HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat yelled quickly. Ava practically skipped to the table. Sitting across from Alice, she said, "I'm not in Slytherin! Isn't that the greatest?"

"Seems like there are lots of Hufflepuffs this year," said the girl who had patted Alice on the back earlier. Alice turned to get a better look at her. "I'm Elizabeth by the way," the girl said, holding out her hand. "I'm a second year." Alice shook her hand as the Sorting Hat sorted the first Gryffindor.

Next, "Dwaitwist, Dominic" was sorted into Ravenclaw and then two twin boys became Slytherins. Alice was enjoying the company of her friends so much that she barely paid attention to the other first years being sorted until "Grey, Keri" became the fourth Hufflepuff. The new girl sat down beside Ava and the four first years grinned at each other and laughed with delight as Professor McGonagall proceeded through the H's, J's, and K's, one more Hufflepuff joining them.

"Loligo, Leslie," said Professor McGonagall.

Looking at the girl, Alice recognized her instantly. It was the girl she had met when she was trying on robes, the girl who had asked about her mother's family. The hat had barely touched her head before calling out "SLYTHERIN!"

Alice blinked in surprise as Leslie walked toward the Slytherin table. Despite what house Leslie had just been sorted into, Alice couldn't help but feel that she still liked her and would want to be her friend. She tried to wave at Leslie, but Leslie didn't see and sat down with her back toward the rest of the hall at the Slytherin table.

"McFarlane, Daphne."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Alice found herself clapping automatically as a girl with long, wavy, brown hair joined the Hufflepuff table. Two more first years were sorted into Gryffindor and then another into Ravenclaw before Alice heard Professor McGonagall say "Newcomb, Blaine." Alice noticed Ava quickly cross her fingers and close her eyes. She could barely hear her mumbling "Hufflepuff, Hufflepuff, Hufflepuff."

The Sorting Hat took a long time to decide before saying "RAVENCLAW!" Ava opened her eyes, looking devastated as Blaine joined the Ravenclaw table.

"I'm sorry Ava," said Alice. "I know you two are good friends."

"Well, at least it's not Slytherin," said Ava.

"Orwell, Eve."

Alice turned to watch Eve as she took her turn at being sorted. She smiled as the hat yelled "RAVENCLAW!" Good, she thought. At least someone who wanted to be in Ravenclaw ended up there.

The next girl was sorted into Slytherin and then "Ponte, Alanna" became a Gryffindor. Alice started to lose interest in the sorting as her stomach growled loudly. She stared down at her golden plate, listening to the clapping from the Gryffindor table on the other side of the hall. She began to wonder when she'd have food to put on that plate and she barely looked away from it, even as more first years became Hufflepuffs, though "Stouffer, Steven" got her attention when he accidentally bumped the table on the way to his seat. Finally, only one first year remained to be sorted. Looking to see who it was Alice recognized Josef. He looked very nervous.

"Wynnsgard, Josef."

Josef practically ran to the stool, almost tripping over his robes. As the Sorting Hat was placed on his head, Alice's stomach growled again. Hurry up! I'm hungry! And then the sorting was over. "HUFFLEPUFF!" yelled the Sorting Hat. Josef, looking very relieved, joined his friends at the Hufflepuff table and Professor McGonagall took the stool and Sorting Hat away.

A man at the center of the staff table stood up. He was tall and had a long white beard. His robes were covered in multi-colored stars and a pointed hat which was currently flopped over at an odd angle sat upon his head. Alice recognized him as Professor Dumbledore immediately from the many Dumbledore cards which she owned. "You must all be hungry," he said. "So before we talk, we will eat!" With a wave of his hand, the four house tables began to groan under the weight of a grand feast.

Alice felt as if her eyes were popping out of her head. She had never seen so many good foods in one place before! A large stuffed turkey sat right in front of her, and looking up and down the table, she saw other delights. There were sausages and rolls fresh from the oven, steamed vegetables and fruit salads, chicken and ham, lamb chops and roast beef, mashed potatoes and corn-on-the-cob! The drinks available were also astounding. There were pitchers filled with liquids of every color. In them were fruit juices, ciders, and many different flavors of tea.

Elizabeth giggled at her and the look on her face. "Welcome to Hogwarts!" she said warmly, pouring herself a glass of cider.

"Wow," was all Alice could bring herself to say. She began to load up her plate with as many different things as she could reach. Soon, her mouth was full of mashed potatoes and her plated loaded down with vegetables, turkey, and ham. When she had finished that off, she took a roll and smothered it in butter, watching it melt on the still warm bread.

"You've got to try this!" said Joseph, waving a chicken leg in her face. "The chicken's great!"

"Have you tried this tea?" asked the girl next to Ava (Alice was pretty sure her name was Keri).

"I love Hogwarts!" exclaimed another first year a ways down the table. Alice found herself laughing with delight. She felt the same way.

"Welcome to Hufflepuff!" said a voice above her head. Looking up, she saw a jolly ghost hovering in the air above the table. In fact, two of the candles lighting the table were actually in him though he didn't seem to mind.

"Hello Fat Friar!" said Elizabeth. "He's the Hufflepuff ghost," she told Alice and Joseph.

"Are you really a ghost?" asked Ava. "That's so cool! I'm glad you're our ghost! You look like the happiest ghost in the room!"

The Fat Friar beamed at this praise and told Ava that she would go far with such a keen eye and positive outlook on life. With a hearty laugh, he floated further down the table to greet the other first years.

Ava began to look at the other house tables with interest. "Who are the other house ghosts?" she asked.

Elizabeth set down a roll she'd been tearing apart and pointed toward the Slytherin table. "See that ghost just sitting there? The one not talking to anyone? He's got silvery blood all over him. He's the Bloody Baron, the Slytherin ghost. And then, Ravenclaw here on our other side," Elizabeth turned around and pointed toward the end of the Ravenclaw table, "there's a girl ghost on that side. She'd the Ravenclaw ghost, the Gray Lady. And all the way over there, at the Gryffindor table, you can see that ghost with the big ruffle at his neck, he's Sir Nicholas, but everyone calls him Nearly Headless Nick."

"Neat!" said Ava, looking in turn at each ghost.

The Great Hall steadily filled with more chatter and less eating and then, in a flash, the main meal was gone. In its place there were now desserts. Alice had eaten a lot, but one look at the goodies before her made her realize she couldn't not try some. There were fresh strawberries and whipped cream, various flavors of ice cream, cherry pie, chocolate cake, vanilla pudding, trays of fresh brownies and cookies, and cubes of jello. Alice helped herself to a brownie on top of which she put a scoop of ice cream and some whipped cream and strawberries.

"That looks good," said Keri, watching her from across the table. "I think I'll do that too." She began to create a similar desert on her own plate.

"I'm just going to stick with this vanilla pudding," said Joseph, placing a few scoops on his plate.

"Help yourself," said Keri, "but you're really missing out."

The meal began to wind down as more and more students pushed their plates away from themselves, unable to take another bite. Alice noticed that many of them kept shooting glances up at the staff table.

"It looks like Dumbledore is about to talk," said Ava. Shortly after she said this, the desserts disappeared and Professor Dumbledore stood up.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts!" he called out. "And to the first years, welcome to Hogwarts for the first time! I know that you are all tired from the feast and only want to go to your beds, but I have a few short announcements to make. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, would like me to remind you that a full list of forbidden items may be found in his office. There are five hundred and twenty-two items on that list up to date. He is strongly against students bringing any items purchased at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes to school and would like me to inform you that students caught with anything from that shop, even if the item does not yet appear on his list, will suffer the consequences none the less." Professor Dumbledore smiled after saying this. Alice would have sworn that Dumbledore himself found no offence in Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes merchandise, but she couldn't be too sure.

"And now, without further ado, I would like to introduce to you our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher whom we hope will be with us for many years to come!" The students in the Great Hall began to whisper among themselves as all of their eyes turned toward one of the teachers. Beside a man with very greasy hair there sat a cloaked figure. Of course, Alice had heard all about the cursed teaching position at Hogwarts. For seven years in a row, there had been a different Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and in recent years, no one had remained in the job for more than two or three years. So, it came as no surprise to Alice that a new teacher was being introduced in her first year.

The cloaked teacher reached up his hands to his hood to push it back and finally reveal his unshadowed face to the students.

"May I present Professor Potter," said Professor Dumbledore.

Professor Potter's face was now visible to all of the students. He wore glasses and had green eyes and messy black hair. But most remarkable about his appearance was a lightning shaped scar upon his forehead. Many students had stood up to try and get a better look at his face, but no one was able to see his scar from so far away. Despite the overexcited curiosity of his soon-to-be-pupils, Professor Potter smiled warmly at them all. Alice could tell that this was going to be a wonderful year.