All the first-years arrived at the castle, and there stood a tall, black-haired witch wearing black robes. "Minerva, these are the first years that will become the class of 1998," Hagrid introduced. "Thank you, Rubeus, I will take them from here," she replied and took the first years to an empty hallway. Minerva ordered them to line up in an orderly fashion along the wall, which they did, peering about nervously.

"Welcome to Hogwarts! I am Ms. McGonagall, one of the deputy headmistresses. The start of year 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 housemates 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, of which I am the head, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding magical people. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points, while any rule-breaking will lose you house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to your houses. 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," Minerva explained.

Neville fixed his cloak and Ron got the dirt off his nose. Harry nervously flattened her hair. Maud made sure her bunches were extra curly. Enid tended to her buns, and Mildred did the same for her plaits. Hermione just sat confidently, pointing out everyone else's fashion crimes. "I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait here in the meantime," McGonagall said, leaving them in the empty hallway.

"So how do we actually get sorted?" Mildred asked. Before anyone could answer her question, about 20 ghosts phased through the wall behind them. Mildred noticed this and screamed in fright! This caused one particular ghost wearing a ruff and tights to notice all the first years. "I say, what on earth are you doing here?" he asked. No one said a word. "New students!" he cried, "about to be sorted, I suppose?" "Yes!" a voice peeped excitedly. It was Ebony's. Everyone else just nodded mutely. "Hope to see you in my house, Hufflepuff!" he cried, disappearing. And just as he did, a familiar face appeared. This was Ms. McGonagall. "Move along now, the sorting ceremony is about to start!" she said sharply. And so the students went into the Great Hall.

The Great Hall was strange and splendid. It was lit by thousands upon thousands of candles floating in midair above 4 very long tables, where the rest of the students were seated according to their house. There were also placards denoting which house was at which table to guide the first years to the correct place after sorting. These tables had golden plates and goblets to hold food and drinks. At the top of the hall was the 5th table, with all the teachers. McGonagall led all the first years here so that they halted at the top facing the other students. The ceiling almost appeared to be the night sky. Indeed, there was no ceiling at all, which would explain why everyone seemed so cold. McGonagall placed a stool in front of the first years, on top of which was a hat. 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 got 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 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," the Sorting Hat sang.

Everyone clapped politely as the hat finished its song. McGonagall now stepped forward with a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will come forth. I shall put the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses," McGonagall explained. The results were as follows:

GRYFFINDOR: Lavender Brown, Fay Dunbar, Seamus Finnigan, Hermione Granger, Kellah Hallek, Mildred Hubble, Neville Longbottom, Indigo Moon, Parvati Patil, Harry Potter, Dean Thomas, Ronald Weasley

HUFFLEPUFF: Hannah Abbott, Byrony Besomsworth, Susan Bones, Leanne Ennael, Justin Finch Fletchley, Wayne Hopkins, Harriet Goodcharm, Megan Jones, Ernest MacMillan, Gloria Newt, Dawn Raven, Jadu Wali

RAVENCLAW: Terry Boot, Mandy Brockenhurst, Ruby Cherrytree, Michael Corner, Felicity Foxglove, Anthony Goldstein, Sue Li, Padma Patil, Maud Spellbody, Lisa Turpin

SLYTHERIN: Millicent Bulstrode, Vincent Crabbe, Tracey Davis, Gregory Goyle, Daphne Greengrass, Ethel Hallow, Draco Malfoy, Enid Nightshade, Theodore Nott, Drusilla Paddock, Pansy Parkinson, Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way, Blaise Zabini

Mildred happened to fall flat on her face after she was sorted, causing everyone to explode with laughter, and Harry caused a hatstall, meaning it took a while for him to be sorted, but the hat eventually decided on Gryffindor. Unfortunately, it wasn't time to begin eating yet, but everyone was quite hungry. Before anyone could say anything, Albus Dumbledore, whom Harry recognized from the chocolate frog card, stood.

"I am Mr. Dumbledore, the headmaster of this school. Welcome to Hogwarts, and for those of you returning, welcome back. I have a few start of year notices I wish to announce. The forest beyond the grounds is not to be entered. Also, the caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to advise everyone that the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds. Thank you," Dumbledore announced.

This was followed by a rendition of the school song. A band consisting of flutes, clarinets, saxophones, horns, trumpets, trombones, and tubas entered the room, consisting of students in the fourth year and up. They played the school song brilliantly.

A/N It is actually the song from "The Worst Witch" in B-flat major

Link to the school song: open?id=1O5DAge-FBhWRv9c_n32VyGWmpNdMtERH (Song)

open?id=1LrwATJ1slDMFlxs9frjHlffbVdWyoLLr (Sheet Music)

After they played the school song, the feast finally began, and everyone gorged themselves with copious amounts of food. The food was absolutely divine. Many different varieties of large sandwiches, as well as many different varieties of crisps, were served. Of course, you cannot make a meal out of crisps and sandwiches alone, so other items served include scotch eggs, Cornish Pasties, chicken, sausage rolls, battered sausages, fish, chips, bread, and butter. For drinks, every variety of soda was available, though it would seem that Lilt was the favorite. For dessert, Cadbury chocolates and jammie dodgers were provided. It was an amazing feast.

After the feast, everyone went to their common rooms. Percy Weasley, Ron's prefect brother, led the way to the Gryffindor Common Room. "Password?" asked a painting on the wall. It depicted a rather large woman. "Caput Draconis," said Percy, and the door opened immediately. Everyone went to bed straight away. Harry had a rather odd dream that night about turbans, Malfoy, and snakes.