Chapter 10: Let the Sorting Begin!

With a loud creak, the door swung open and behind it a tall black-haired witch stood there. Phoenix couldn't help but shiver more, for this woman was not someone she wanted to cross.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall." Said Hagrid.

'This woman is a Professor? I thought she was the greeter!' Phoenix thought.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."

Phoenix followed Harry, Ron, and Hermione as Professor McGonagall opened the door wider and walked inside followed by the students. Phoenix looked around the hall as the others did the same. 'This is more impressive than Magic School!' She heard voices, hundreds of them, as they came closer to a doorway they passed. 'Is the rest of the school already here?' As Phoenix bumped into Neville, she realized they all stopped in a small empty chamber.

"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 in your houses."

'Houses? Is that what Hermione was blabbering about on the train? She said so much.'

"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, while any rule breaking will lose house points."

'Okay Now what does she mean by house points? Do we get anything for having so much?'

"At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor."

'Okay, I spoke too soon. Maybe if I was patient, I would have known.'

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

'In front of the entire school! Wouldn't it be better to be sorted in private? I mean, what if something happened, and you didn't want anybody else to see it?'

"I shall return when we are ready for you." Said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."

Phoenix continued to look at her surroundings as everyone around her shuffled. Professor McGonagall left, which made the dread of waiting worse.

"Ron, how do they sort us into houses?" Phoenix heard Harry ask.

"Some test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking."

'A test? What kind of test? I don't know any of these people's type of magic! Heck, I don't even know how to use a wand! '

"I wonder which spell I would need to use." Hermione whispered as she looked at Phoenix with fright.

"I'm sure there are other ways to be sorted besides a test." Phoenix told Hermione, hoping it would ease not only Hermione's nerves but her own.

A small scream was heard behind them. Everyone turned around and gasped. Well, besides Phoenix being accustomed in seeing dead people. Twenty ghosts came streaming through the wall. They seemed not to have noticed the first years even being there.

'You mean to tell me that none of them have ever seen ghosts?' Phoenix shook her head in disbelief. 'They would have something to be afraid of if they see a demon!'

"Move along now. The Sorting Ceremony's about to start." Professor McGonagall returned as one by one the ghosts floated away. Phoenix couldn't help but wave at a couple floating by.

"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me."

Phoenix got behind Ron as Hermione got behind her. Now the butterflies fluttered faster. The double doors to the Great Hall opened, and in they went. The other students sat on four long tables, each having hundreds of candles floating over it. Looking forward, Phoenix saw another table where older witches and wizards were sitting.

'They must be the teachers. At Magic School, the teachers eat in their own break rooms.'

They came up to the front of the hall and formed a line. The hundreds of eyes looking directly at them made the first years even more nervous. Phoenix glanced up, not noticing what was above her and trying to ignore the eyes.

'Is there no ceiling in this room? Or is this just a cool painting?'

Hermione noticing, Phoenix was looking at the ceiling and also trying to ignore the people, leaned over and whispered

"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside."

'Bewitched? Now that is something. In fact, it almost reminds me of a Gothic cathedral mom took me to. Hmm, I wonder if that ceiling is bewitched?'

"I read about it in…"

"Let me guess Hogwarts A History?" Phoenix said starting to get a little tired.

"Well, yes."

They stopped talking as soon as they heard a small clunk. Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool in front of them. On the top of the stool, she placed a pointed wizard's hat. The hat was all patched up and extremely dirty.

"What are we supposed to do with that?" Phoenix leaned over asking Hermione.

"I don't know." She said.

They both stopped as they heard the hat twitch a little. Then a mouth opened by a rip near the brim, and it sang.

"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,

They're 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,

Were those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk 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!"

'We got to put that ugly hat on!' Phoenix couldn't believe it as the entire hall burst into applause. 'I think a test would be better than that filthy thing. Good thing Katie is not here. I think she would have walked out.'

Just then 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. Professor McGonagall unrolled the parchment and began. "Abbott, Hannah!"

Phoenix watched as the blonde pigtail girl came out from behind her, put on the enormous hat, and sat down. Phoenix couldn't help but wonder what they are waiting for until the mouth of the hat opened up and yelled.

"Hufflepuff!"

'Okay, so you put the hat on, and you get sorted. Well, that is not as bad as I thought. I wonder though, how does this hat know where to put people?'

Another girl went to Hufflepuff, followed by two new Ravenclaws. A girl named Lavender Brown was next. Phoenix watched eagerly, trying to figure the magic behind the hat. Lavender became the first new Gryffindor. Then two more people went until.

"Granger, Hermione!"

Hermione took one look at Phoenix who gave her a reassuring and good-luck smile, ran to the stool, and jammed the hat on her head.

"Gryffindor!"

Phoenix gave a loud cheer as Hermione ran to the Gryffindor table. Ron groaned as she went by.

"Hey!" Phoenix whispered.

"Sorry! It's just she is so annoying!" said Ron, whining.

"She is not annoying Ron! You can be annoying with your whining!"

While Phoenix and Ron were arguing, Neville went up to the stool.

"Gryffindor!" yelled the hat.

Phoenix and Ron became quiet when they heard Professor McGonagall yell out Malfoy's name.

'Oh, I hope he gets Slytherin!'

In perfect timing, it sorted Draco into Slytherin.

"Matthews, Phoenix!"

When Phoenix heard her name, her face went white. Ron gave her a courageous smile, as did Harry. She walked to the hat, gave an enormous sigh, sat down, and put it on.

'Well, this is it! It is my turn!'

The hat opened his mouth….