1. Gryffindor is for Heros

"Welcome to Hogwarts," a green clad witch said to them sternly. She bore a sharp look to all of them, not that welcoming, actually.

Crabbe and Goyle stood around Draco. He stood, trying to look more bored than excited. A sudden fear kicked into his stomach as the woman prattled on about the four houses. His hopes seemed to sink. What if he didn't get into Slytherin? No, he pushed those thoughts aside. He had to be confident that he'd get in. Confidence was, above everything else, the key.

He could feel a slight cloud of nervousness around his comrades. He tried to keep his mind stable; instead, he attempted to find the girl from the train. His thoughts kept drifting to her; her brown eyes, and curled smile. He felt himself blushing.

"I shall return when we are ready for you," the professor announced. Draco slicked his hair back.

"Nervous, Malfoy?" Crabbe asked with a dull smile.

"No, it's Draco." Draco smirked at Crabbe who looked puzzled. He knew what he was up for; it would be a breeze. Draco looked around the crowd, everyone seemed terrified. The bushy- haired girl who had emitted light for them on the trail was now rapidly repeating spells she knew under her breath.

Oh, Ravenclaw for sure, Draco thought.

After they had been rudely interrupted by some rather displeasing ghosts, the green-clad professor came back and made them form a line.

A pair of large twin doors opened to reveal the Great Hall. The Great Hall was a misleading name for a room that was vast with several bewitchments Draco had already seen. He was highly disappointed. He gulped, everyone was at their tables... their housed tables. He eyed the Slytherins in envy. They'd already done this, they already knew. He also knew that he was expected to be a Slytherin... The teachers were all sat on a large table in front of the Hall. On a stool rested a worn Wizard's hat. The students whispered and cheered. Draco noticed they were all looking at one person who had just entered. No, it wasn't the Lucius Malfoy's son.

IT WAS THAT INSUFFERABLE POTTER.

When they all filed in, everyone directed their attention to the hat, which sat dormant for a few seconds then, unexpectedly, belted a song. One of the most ridiculous things he had ever seen.

"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!"

The whole Hall burst into clapping. The professors looked mildly amused. Crabbe and Goyle were some of the first housed Slytherins. Draco felt much better after that. After more uninteresting sortings (although the bushy-haired girl had surprisingly gotten Gryffindor), it was finally his turn. He strutted up to the hat, allowing everyone to look at him. Yes, yes, he was a Malfoy. He gave a suave smile and plopped the hat on his head.

"Want Slytherin do you? Yes, I see your desire. And a Malfoy?" a voice whispered into his ear.

Yes, Draco thought.

"SLYTHERIN!" the hat screamed. Draco looked up at the Great Hall with new light. He did belong in Slytherin, he really did. He went to join Crabbe and Goyle who were sitting next to Marcus Flint at the table. They congratulated him and he smiled as he watched a boy named Henry Moon get sorted into Slytherin too. Draco looked at Henry Moon as he joined a few older Slytherins at the table. Henry was a tall boy with sandy-blonde hair and murky eyes. He slouched when he walked, his hair brushing into his eyes. His strides were quick and to the point. Then Nott got Slytherin as well. That was two more for Slytherin, the table with the least amount of people.

"Parkinson," the professor later announced. Draco's ears perked.

The girl he had met on the train emerged from the crowd.

"Parkinson?" Goyle questioned, eyeing the girl. They had obviously been guessing who was going to get which house before Draco had settled down.

"A family of pure-bloods," Nott said. "They're pretty wealthy because of some market they own." He shrugged. "Something to do with magical quills."

That was it, Draco though, Parkinson Wizarding Quills. He watched as she blushed and let the hat set on top of her had. Somewhere in him he hoped–

"SLYTHERIN!" the Sorting Hat yelped. Draco grinned as she got up and joined them. Her soft hair curled around her delicate features.

She joined a very large Slytherin girl at the end of the table.

"Potter, Harry!" Draco's eyes stopped following Parkinson and they glanced back up at that same feeble boy he had met in Madam Malkin's. He sneered, definitely not a Slytherin. He heard people whispering.

"The Harry Potter?" Obviously they hadn't gotten the owl.

Potter put the hat on his head, he looked rather constipated.

"20 Galleons he gets Hufflepuff," Draco sneered to Crabbe who snorted.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat finally shouted. The whole Hall had been on the edge of their seats.

Oh, of course, he's a hero, Draco thought angrily.