A/N: First off, I'm horrible at rhyming, therefore the pretty awful Sorting Hat song. Second of all, yes the Justin mentioned is Justin Finch-Fletchly. I know some people think that Justin is ugly, but it has never said it in the books. It just says he has curly hair and that's it. That's it as far as my little rant :) Enjoy!

P.S. Megan, I have no idea who I'm pairing you up with yet, but he will be at least a year ahead of us because of later stories :-D That's all I'm saying.

The Sorting Hat

The large man took us down a path near a forest. You couldn't see much past the first row trees.

"That must be the Forbidden Forest," Ginger whispered in my ear.

"We're almos' to the shore. You'll get your firs' view of Hogwarts here in a sec," the giant said.

"The shore?" asked Megan. Ginger and I both shrugged. We turned the corner and that's when we saw the castle.

I was speechless. Many of the students around me made an indescribable sound. You could tell the castle was very old, but yet it was in good condition. Many turrets and towers protruded from odd places around the building, but it still looked magnificent and grand.

"Isn' it beautiful?" the large man asked no one in particular. "Now, no more than four to a boat!"

I took my attention from the castle just long enough to see there were quite a few small boats lining the shore. I got into a boat with Ginger, Megan, and Luna.

"Go!" said the giant. Suddenly, the boats moved without paddles or even a motor. Many people around me squeaked as they made their way across the lake. Luna, who was next to Megan, looked over the side of the boat. She dipped her hand in the cool water, and idly began to play with it. Megan looked at her as though she was mental.

"Watch your heads!" said the man, pointing to a cave in which ivy hung down. Everyone ducked and the ivy brushed the top of our heads. When we raised them, we were in a small harbor-like area. The small boats rowed themselves to the dock and stopped. We all got out and waited for the man to lead the way. He lead us up a set of stone steps that lead to large wooden French doors. He knocked three times on the door and Professor McGonagall opened the door.

"Here are the firs' years," the giant said, pointing to the group behind him.

"Thank you, Hagrid," she replied. She then quieted her voice, "Have you seen Mr. Potter?"

"No. I didn' see them on my way here with the firs' years."

"I have Professor Snape looking over the grounds in case they show up. Thank you, Hagrid."

Hagrid nodded and McGonagall pulled the door open wider. We stepped inside and were now entranced at how large the entrance hall was. There was noise coming from a large room in front of us, but McGonagall held a door open to a small room in which everyone could barely fit into.

Once everyone was inside the small room, Professor McGonagall squeezed in. She straightened her hat and said, "Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term feast will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. Your houses will be like your family while you are here at Hogwarts. You will have classes with each other, sleep in the same dormitory, and spend free time or study time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. Each house has it's own history and each house has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While at Hogwarts, your success will earn you house points while breaking rules will lose you house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I will be back in a few minutes to collect you. Please wait here quietly," she finished, walking out the door.

"Do you know how we are sorted?" I asked Megan.

"My cousin wouldn't tell me, told me that it would be a surprise. She assured me though that is isn't painful."

"Well that's a good thing."

After a few moments of waiting, a few people gasped. Behind me, there were a few ghosts who had just floated through the wall. There was a man with a ruffled collar and a hat with a rather large feather in it, a lady who wore a large lace dress, and a large man who looked like a friar.

The large man looked down and gasped. "Look, Nick. It's new students!"

"Hello," Nick with the ruffled collar said. "I am the Gryffindor ghost."

"I am the Ravenclaw ghost, the Grey Lady," said the woman in a very misty voice.

"And I am the Hufflepuff ghost, the Fat Friar," said the jolly looking man.

"The Fat Friar?" I asked. "Isn't that a bit…well, insulting?"

"You would think, but I've gotten quite used to it over the years. If you are in my house, you can call me Fraley. I believe you would

make a good Hufflepuff. Then again that's up to the Sorting," he smiled, patting me gently on the shoulder with his ghostly hand. When his hand touched my shoulder it felt like I had jumped into a lake of ice water.

"The Sorting Ceremony's about to start," said a voice from the door. We all turned to see Professor McGonagall standing in the doorway. The Fat Friar gave me a smile and floated through the wall. "Now," McGonagall continued, "form a line and follow me."

I swallowed and got in line behind Megan. Ginger, who was behind me, whispered, "Good luck."

"You too."

We walked back out into the entrance hall and to the double doors that I had seen earlier. McGonagall pushed the doors open and

about a thousand faces looked at us. I felt red rising in my cheeks. I hated being in front of people. I tried to keep my head down a bit and ignore them, but I didn't do that for long as Ginger whispered in my ear, "Look up!"

I looked up and almost stopped the line. There were candles floating in the air, but above them was a large ceiling that looked like the outside. You could see every star, cloud, and even the moon. I tried to look and walk, but failed and ended up bringing my attention back to the hall. There were four long tables, each for a house I supposed. On each table there were golden plates and goblets that were shining. At the end of the tables, closer to the front, were empty spots where I supposed we would go to be with our new house. I decided that staring straight ahead would be safe, and when I did, I saw all the adults that I assumed were our new professors. In the middle, Professor Dumbledore sat in a large chair that looked sort of like a throne. He smiled down on the new students with a grandfatherly smile. We lined up in front of the school with our backs to the teachers and McGonagall brought out a stool. Upon it, she laid a frayed and old looking wizard's hat. She stepped back, as if the hat was going to explode at any moment and suddenly, a rip formed in the brim of the hat and it started to sing:

Welcome to Hogwarts School

For another year

You won't find a hat as cool

As me, so don't you fear!

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where the brave and strong reside.

Or maybe in Slytherin,

Where the cunning and sly go to hide.

Or in Hufflepuff,

Where the loyal and true go to confide.

Or lastly in Ravenclaw,

Where the clever and intelligent go to be tried.

Now try me on and I will tell

Which house you will be in

It will be painless and if

I am wrong, I'll throw myself into a bin!

After the final word, everyone in the hall cheered. After the clapping and cheering died down, McGonagall stepped forward with a piece of parchment.

"Ackers, Jennifer!"

A small girl with reddish blond hair stepped forward. She was trembling from head to toe. She nervously sat down and put the hat on.

"RAVENCLAW!" shouted the hat. The girl took the hat off and ran to the table on the left that was clapping loudly.

"Anderson, Tyler!"

A hefty boy stepped forward and put the hat on.

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Boddington, Dana!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

This time the house on the far left stood up to clap loudly.

"Brotherton, Drea!"

I stepped forward. I was very aware of my feet. They felt ten times bigger than normal. I picked the hat up, sat down, and placed it on my head. The hat fell over my eyes, and I was left staring into the hat.

"Ahh…lets see where I should put you," came a voice in my ear.

"Who is that?" I asked, thinking I was starting to hear voices.

"I am the Sorting Hat. I'm trying to figure out which house to place you in."

"Well, I think I'm fit for Hufflepuff."

"Yes, I believe you are right. You are a powerful witch, but sort of lazy when it comes to using your powers."

"Gee, thanks," I thought sarcastically.

"I see you are very loyal to your friends also. Very good Hufflepuff qualities indeed. That is why I am placing you in…HUFFLEPUFF!"

The table on the right burst out clapping and I took the hat off and sat down next to the curly haired boy I saw on the platform.

"Hi, welcome to Hufflepuff," he smiled.

"Thanks," I replied.

"Christ, Ginger!"

I held my hands under the table and had my fingers crossed. The hat took a long time with her before shouting, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

She took the hat off, and ran toward our table. She sat across from me smiling.

"What took so long?" I asked.

"Oh," she said breathlessly, "he just said it was difficult to place me." She then turned her attention to the front where, "Handstrom, Victor," was being sorted. He became the first Slytherin.

"Lovegood, Luna!"

The blond haired girl from the train came up and sat down on the stool. She perched the hat on her head, crossed her legs, and rested her chin on her hand, as if this was an everyday occurrence for her. The hat, after a moment, shouted, "RAVENCLAW!"

Luna took the hat off, placed it on the stool and walked to the Ravenclaw table. She took her time getting there.

"Malcolms, Marvin," became a Gryffindor, as did "Newton, Margene." Finally, Megan came up to the hat. I sat with my fingers crossed

under the table. As soon as the hat touched Megan's head, it called out "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Ginger and I stood up with the rest of the table and clapped loudly. Megan came and sat down next to me.

"That was quick," I said.

"Well, my whole family's been in Hufflepuff, so I knew I'd end up there," she smiled.

The Sorting went on, and there were only two people left. Ginny and a tall black haired boy.

"Weasley, Ginny!"

Ginny stepped forward, her head held high. She placed the hat on her head and it shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor table clapped loudly, but her red-haired brothers clapped the loudest.

Finally, "Xanderson, Xavier" was sorted into Ravenclaw.

Then Dumbledore stood up. Everyone was quiet, waiting for what he was about to say.

"Welcome to Hogwarts! I was going to make some announcements, but I've heard that there is to be a magnificent feast tonight. I have been smelling it all day long and wish to dig in. Enjoy!"

Suddenly, as if from no where, food appeared on the table in front of us. I sat there for a moment in shock looking at the food. Everyone around us was digging into the food, and I thought I might as well do the same. After filling my plate with some roast chicken, I glanced up at the table and I saw McGonagall talking to Dumbledore. Dumbledore nodded his head and got up, as did McGonagall. They left the hall through a door near the teachers' table.

"Wonder where they are going," I said.

Ginger shrugged. "I have no idea."

"Green beans?" asked the curly haired boy next to me.

"Yes, thanks," I replied, taking the bowl from him.

"I'm Justin," he said, smiling at me.

"I'm Drea."

"Nice to meet you," he said, starting to eat his food.

Ginger started to laugh, but quickly turned it into a cough. I glared at her and she plastered a look of innocence on her face. I rolled my eyes and started to eat.

After the main course was done, the plates were spotless again. But not for long. Soon the tables were filled with trifle, ice creams, spotted dick, and other sweet desserts. After filling ourselves to the brim, Dumbledore stood up. I hadn't even noticed him come back.

"I would like to make a few announcements before I send you off to bed. For those who wish to see a list of banned items, you may go to Mr. Filch's office, located in the dungeons. There have been some new additions to the list for those who pay close attention to the list." He smiled. "As always, the Forbidden Forest is, well, forbidden. As many of our other students can attest to." At this, the red haired twins threw their arms in the air. A few who noticed them laughed. "Now, I believe it's time for bed. Good night."

"Hufflepuff first years this way!" said an older student.

We got up and followed him. I could barely walk I was so stuffed. We followed him through to the entrance hall and he took us down a flight of stairs. We walked down the corridor at the bottom, past a large picture of a bowl of fruit. Finally, he stopped in front of a tapestry of a wizard who was reading a book.

"Password?" His voice was squeaky.

"You will need a password to get into the common room. It will be changed sometimes, and if it will be changed, there will be a notice in the common room bulletin board. Now, the password is right now is Bubotuber," said the boy. The wizard on the tapestry nodded and the tapestry slid back. There was an opening and a set of stairs going down. We walked down the stairs, which was lit by torches on the wall. We got to the bottom to be faced with a large common room. The furniture was all black with yellow tassles hanging off the bottom. The walls were a mixture of black and yellow and resembled a bumblebee. There was a fire in the fireplace and a portrait of a woman above it. Under the picture, the plaque said it was Helga Hufflepuff, founder of Hufflepuff house.

"Now, girls dormitories are up these stairs." He pointed to the right set of stairs. "Boys, yours is over here." He pointed to the left. "Your belongings are already there. If you have an owl, it will be in the owlery. If you have a cat or other animal, it will be in your room. Now, I suggest you all go to bed."

He walked up the staircase and out of sight.

A voice from behind me made me jump.

"Good night," said Justin, smiling a bit.

"Good night," I replied, following Ginger and Megan, who were laughing. "Shut up."

We went up to our room which was at the very top. We opened the door to see two other girls getting into bed. The beds, which were in a circle, were draped with yellow hangings. The bedspreads were of black velvet and at the ends of the beds there were our trunks. Mudge had found her way onto Ginger's pillow and Megan also had a cat, who was at the bottom of the bed.

"This is Vivian," she said, changing into her pajamas. "She's a bit full of herself, but other than that she's nice."

I laughed a bit, as I changed into a t-shirt and pajama pants. I laid down on my bed and the second my head hit the pillow, I was out.