The door swung open at once. A tall, black haired witch in emerald green robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Harry's first thought was this was not someone to cross.
The firs' years Professor McGonagall the man said.
Thank you Hagrid i will take them for here.
She pulled the door wide the entrance wall was so big you have fit the hole of the Dursleys' house in it. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was charmed to look like the sky outside, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.
They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Harry could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right — the rest of the school must already be there — but Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together then they usually would have done, peering about nervously.
Welcome to Hogwarts said Professor McGonagall. The start of term banquet will begin shortly but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your House will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend free time in your House common room.
The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your House points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House cup, a great honor. I gope each of you will be a credit to whichever House becomes yours.
The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as as much as you can while waiting.
Her eyes lingered on Neville's cloak, which was flattened under his left ear and on Weasley's smudged nose.
I shall return when we are ready for you said Professor McGonagall. Please wait quietly. She left the chamber.
Several people behind Harry screamed.
What the —?
The people around Harry gasped. About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk: Forgive and forget, i say, we ought to give him a second chance—
My Dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deseves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really a even ghost— i say, what are you all doing here?
A ghost wearing ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first years. Nobody answered.
New Students! Said the Fat Friar smiling around them.
About to Sorted, i suppose?
A few people nodded mutely.
Hope to see you in hufflepuff? Said the Friar. My old House you know.
Move along now said a sharp voice. The Sorting Ceremony's about to start.
Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall.
Now form a line, Professor McGonagall told the first years, and follow me.
Harry got into line behind Draco with crabbe behind him, and they walked out of the chamber, back across the hall and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.
Harry had never even imagined such a splendid place. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in a flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Mainly to avoid all the staring eyes, Harry looked upward and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn't simply open on to the heavens.
Harry quickly looked down again as Professor McGonagall silently placed a four legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. His horse faced giraffe neck of a aunt wouldn't have let it in the house.
Everyone was staring at the hat. For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth — and the hat began to sing:
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 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 applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.
Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
When i call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted she said. Harry halfway tuned out her calling the names until he heard:
Potter,Harry!
As Harry stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall.
Potter, did she say?
The Harry Potter?
The last thing Harry saw before the hat drooped over his eyes was the hall full of people craning to get a good look at him. Next second he was looking at the black inside of the hat. He waited.
Hmm a small voice in his ear. Difficult. Very Difficult. Plenty of courage, i see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, oh my goodness, yes — and a thirst to prove yourself as the best, now that's interesting. . . So where shall i put you? Slytherin will definitely help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that— no?
To be continued. . . . .
Which House is Harry going to end up in? Is it Gryffindor with Ron or Slytherin with Draco?
