Fred and George Weasley climbed the castle steps and entered the Great Hall with Angelina, Alicia, and Lee. They found their seats at the Gryffindor table and Fred noticed George surreptitiously scan the Great Hall for the girl from the train. Fred smirked knowingly and leaned in to speak to him discreetly.

"Angelina and Alicia said she's new, didn't they? She's probably going to be sorted with the first years."

George turned the slightest shade of pink as he examined his empty goblet and said, "She's kind of pretty, isn't she?"

Fred contemplated this idly. George might be right, but Fred felt he himself was not one to be taken in by looks alone. "Yeah, I suppose," he answered carefully. "I mean, if that's what you're into... You know," he grinned, "pretty."

As the last of the returning students settled in, the doors of the Great Hall opened again and Professor McGonagall strode in leading a long line of first years and, at the very end, the girl from the train. She attracted a fair amount of attention as she proceeded along the staff table and turned to face the House tables. She looked largely unconcerned, however, and seemed transfixed by the enchanted ceiling. Fred followed her eyes and watched lightning flash above the Hall magnificently.

"Welcome!"

Fred had been so absorbed with this, he had not noticed that the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, had stood and was now addressing them.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have three pre-sorting introductions to make! I am pleased to welcome Miss Rosemary Rook, a fifth year exchange student from the United States who will be spending the remainder of her school years with us at Hogwarts!"

He indicated Rosemary Rook rather needlessly, as the students had easily identified the fifteen-year-old student in the lineup. Rosemary waved politely as the Hall applauded, then returned her attention to the cumulonimbus.

"I would also like to welcome Professor Lupin, who has kindly consented to fill the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Fred applauded fervently, along with a handful of Gryffindors (and Rosemary) who had encountered the professor on the train ride. Everywhere else, a smattering of lukewarm applause met this announcement. The noise died out and Dumbledore continued, "As to our second staff appointment... Well, I'm sorry to tell you that Professor Kettleburn, our Care of Magical Creatures teacher, retired at the end of last year in order to enjoy more time with his remaining limbs. However, I am delighted to say that his place will be filled by none other than Rubeus Hagrid, who has agreed to take on this teaching job in addition to his gamekeeping duties."

Dumbledore smiled warmly at Hagrid, who was blushing deeply but looked quite pleased with himself. Fred and George cheered loudly. Once the tumult at the Gryffindor table had tapered off, George made an offhand remark, "You think he'll have a harder time of keeping us out of the forest now?"

"One way to find out, isn't there?"

Not without a few dirty looks in the twins' direction, the caretaker, Argus Filch, placed a three-legged stool between the staff table and the House tables. He then placed a ragged old wizard's hat on top of that. He shuffled out of the way and, at last, Rosemary tore her eyes away from the ceiling to gaze warily at the hat.

Rosemary jumped nervously as a rip above the rim of the hat opened as if to take a deep breath and then burst into song. Fred and George both chuckled and watched as she regained her composure.

I may not have a proper name

Or a body you can hold

No claim to fame or great acclaim

No, I'm not much to behold

But don't let appearance fool you

I'm quite essential here, you'll find

While the teachers are here to school you

I'm here to look inside your mind

Based on what I find there

Your future home will be assigned

Fear not, for I never err

You will be with your kind

If you are intrepid

Or possess boldness of heart

You'll find that you are headed

For Gryffindor, to start

If you are a loyal friend

Hard-working, just, and true

The House that I would recommend

Hufflepuff for you!

But what of those with acumen,

Precocity, acuity, and wit

If you know what I am saying, then

With the Ravenclaws you'll sit

But perhaps you value cunning,

And are known for your ambition

Then you will find becoming

The House known as Slytherin

There will be no retraction

You can count on me

One-hundred percent satisfaction

Is what I guarantee!

The hat finished its song with many flourishes then returned to its previous state of quietude. Rosemary gaped at it. Whether her expression was of fear or awe, Fred could not say.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and said in a distinct, authoritative voice, "I will read out your names in alphabetical order. When your name is called, you will sit on the stool and place the hat on your head to be sorted. When your House is determined, you will sit at your designated House table."

"Ali, Inara!"

A thin girl with olive skin and bright eyes walked stiffly to the stool and carefully placed the hat over her head as she sat. It fell almost past her nose and she wrung her hands nervously as the hat silently deliberated.

"RAVENCLAW!"

Inara smiled with relief before she tugged the hat off and replaced it to hurry off toward the cheering Ravenclaws. She quickly found her place among them as the next name was called.

Fred started to zone out as the sorting progressed. He automatically cheered his fellow Gryffindors as they were sorted, but did not really start paying attention again until after "Robins, Demelza" had been sorted and seated among them.

"Rook, Rosemary!"

Rosemary's shoes squeaked across the floor as she shuffled over to the stool and settled herself comfortably. She unceremoniously dropped the hat on her head, and though she was much bigger than the first years, it still fell over her eyes so that only a button nose and a toothy smile could be seen of her face.

Rosemary sat there for several minutes, beyond the average sorting time. If she was worried by this, however, it did not show. Her foot kicked a little, and a little squeak accompanied its movement as she patiently awaited the hat's verdict. Fred exchanged a look with George and wondered if George had his fingers crossed under the table.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Yes!" George exclaimed excitedly as they hailed the new arrival. The twins tried to catch her eye as she sat down, but she simply made for the closest seat available, in between Neville Longbottom and their sister, Ginny Weasley.

Gradually the sorting came to an end. At last, a boy named Frank Whittle was sorted into Hufflepuff and, following a very grave announcement regarding the dementors that Fred all but ignored completely, Dumbledore invited the Hall to begin their glorious feast.