Authors Note: I do not own Harry Potter. Hello readers! I am so glad that you have all been reading and liking this story. I won't be putting up a chapter for about two weeks. (I'm going on vacation) But I love it when you guys comment so please do. Sorry but I am not one much for authors notes because personally I just want to read the chapter but I thought I would at least say hi. Enjoy!
As they entered the castle 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," said Hagrid.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." She led them across the flagged stone floor and into a small, empty chamber of the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering around rather nervously. There was a little bubble of space around Harry and Draco, as if Draco was contagious.
"Welcome to Hogwarts." said Professor McGonagall. "The first start of term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your Hogwarts Houses. The sorting is a very important ceremony because while you are here, your house will be 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 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 waiting." She left the chamber.
Harry swallowed. "How exactly do they sort us into Houses?" he asked Draco. Draco was about to answer when Ron spoke up a few feet away.
"It's a test. My brother said it would hurt a lot," he said smugly. Draco didn't know what he had to be single about. The idiots brother had pulled one over on him. Harry turned to Draco with wide questioning eyes. Draco shook his head and told Harry about the sorting hat while Ron tried to convince the others that they had to fight a troll or something.
Professor McGonagall returned. "Now form a line and follow me," she told them. Harry got into line behind the girl with bushy hair...Hermione, while Draco got into line behind him.
They exited the chamber and entered through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall. It was the most beautiful place Harry had seen by far. There were four long tables covered with glittering gold plates and filled with students. At the end of the Hall a high table stood, filled with the teachers Harry presumed. As they walked towards the large table hundreds of faces stared at them in the pale flickering light. Uncomfortable with the stares Harry looked up to see the ceiling was black and twinkling with millions of stars.
"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I have the same thing in my room" Draco whispered to Harry. It was hard to believe that there was a ceiling at all, and that the great hall simply didn't open up to the heavens.
Harry looked down as Professor McGonagall silently pulled a four-legged stool in front of the first years. Atop the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat that was so frayed and dirty Harry laughed at the thought of what Aunt Petunia would do if she found it in her house. The whole hall watched the hat until it opened a flap and started to sing-
"I used to sit atop a head
But then I was given a use
To sort the children coming in
But that's before the founders broke their truce
Only once you'll don me
And in that little time
I'll find the house you should be in
And do it all in rhyme
You could go into Hufflepuff
And learn about hard work
In Hufflepuff you'll learn of fun
And loyalty is a perk
Perhaps you'll be a Slytherin
If your ambitions are big and grand
Though many see them slipper than sleight of hand
The wise shall be in Ravenclaw
Were your judged by the contents of your mind
Beware to not just live by facts
There the knowledge seekers will find their kind
You may belong in Gryffindor
Were the brave live and stay
Though they can be foolish
They are daring everyday
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 am a thinking cap!"
The whole Hall burst out in applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became still again. Harry heard Ron mumble something about his brother and trolls.
Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put the hat on and sit on the stool to be sorted" she announced. She started calling out names and the students walked up, sat on the stool as the sorting hat was placed on their heads and after a moment it would shout out a house. Several people were sorted before there was a name Harry recognized.
"Granger, Hermione!" Hermione almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head.
"Ravenclaw!" shouted the hat. Hermione walked over to Ravenclaw table a small smile on her face. Not long after Hermione was sorted Draco's name was called.
Without any hesitation Draco wheeled himself up next to the stool. Harry admired his fearlessness as Professor McGonagall placed that hat on Draco's head. The entire Hall waited in anticipation. Everyone that had grown up in the wizarding world knew of Draco Malfoy. Draco's sorting seemed to be taking an incredibly long while but eventually the hat shouted out a House.
"Hufflepuff!"
The entire Great Hall was silent for a moment with shock and even Harry was a little surprised. Draco wheeled himself to Hufflepuff table and the Hufflepuffs cheered for their new housemate.
It wasn't long after Draco was sorted until his name was called.
"Potter, Harry!"
As Harry stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like hissing fires all over the Great Hall.
"Potter, did she say?"
"The Harry Potter?"
The last thing Harry saw before the Hat dropped over his eyes was the Great Hall full of people craning to get a good look at him and Draco smiling at him encouragingly. Next second he was looking at the black inside of a hat. He waited. "Hmm" said 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 nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting...So where shall I put you?" Harry gripped the edges of the stool and thought, I want to be friends with Draco. "Draco, eh. Being his friend will be hard. Well, if you're sure...better be SLYTHERIN!"
Harry heard the hat shout the last word to the whole Hall. He took the hat off and walked shakily towards the Slytherin table. He was so nervous that he didn't notice Slytherin table were the only ones cheering for him. He sat down next to the first years, He saw Draco smiling at him from across the Hall.
Draco's POV:
McGonagall returned and led the first years into the Great Hall. Draco's mind was filled with what house the sorting hat would put him in. He saw Harry gapping at the ceiling and smiled. "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I have the same thing in my room," he told Harry. They all gathered around the sorting hat and it sang its song.
Draco was lost in thought until McGonagall called his name. Draco wheeled himself up to the stool and waited next to it. He saw the entire Hall looking at him in anticipation before the Hat was placed on his head.
"Ohh, another Malfoy...but wait, ahh, I see you can't be in that house, how unfortunate… well Mr. Malfoy, you will have some trying times ahead. Best to have many loyal to you. Better be HUFFLEPUFF!"
Draco wheeled himself to Hufflepuff table and sat at the end of it because he was not about to transfer himself onto the bench. Yes, this house would be good. Hufflepuffs were loyal and often underestimated. And the dark lord often didn't pay them any mind. Draco watched the rest of the sorting and was the only person not surprised that Harry was sorted into Slytherin.