AN: Honestly, you people have manners that are too good! If you have nothing nice to say, say it anyway! No flames please, but constructive criticism is nice.

Also: I'd like to thank BlueCoke Owl. This story would never get edited without you!

But enough chitchat! On to the story!

Disclaimer: horsegurl16 does not own Harry Potter

It took a long time to get to Hogwarts. I was sure that I'd been on that train for a month, but Ginny insisted that it had only been a few hours. So maybe a month was pushing it. So what? Three hours without video games was exactly the same thing as a month. Ginny just didn't have the right perspective on things. As nice as she was, Ron's sister didn't know how to have fun.

As we got off the train, I suddenly caught sight of the biggest man I had ever seen.

"Firs' years this way! Firs' years!" he was calling. Since no one seemed alarmed – aside from the first years, of course – I assumed this was supposed to happen. I followed Ginny as she weaved through the crowd towards the voice. She paused so I could catch up, then whispered in my ear.

"That's Hagrid," she hissed, pulling me forward. The man – Hagrid – was standing beside a huge lake. There were little boats docked all along the shore. Ginny climbed into the nearest one, and motioned for me to do the same. As I pulled myself in beside her, I noticed all the other children doing it too. Everyone was paired up except Hagrid. He took a whole boat to himself.

"Right then. Off we go," he announced. The boats suddenly glided forward by themselves. To my surprise, the ride was as smooth as glass, despite the slightly choppy water. We turned around a bend, and that's when we saw Hogwarts. As we approached the castle (It left Ginny speechless, but it looked like a castle from one of my video games, so I wasn't exactly surprised), Hagrid began to tell us what to expect there.

"You'll be sorted, of course," he was saying. "There are four houses. Gryffindor for the brave, Hufflepuff for the hardworking, Ravenclaw for the intelligent, and Slytherin for the cunning." I couldn't help but notice the hint of distaste in his voice when he said "Slytherin". I had heard things about the houses, of course, from Hermione, but never anything about Slytherin. Come to think of it, those descriptions seemed a bit off. Hermione was 100% Ravenclaw, but she was in Gryffindor. It made no sense. I wondered where I was headed… none of them seemed right. I was definitely not Hufflepuff. I avoided work at all costs. But Ravenclaw was a negative as well. Me? Smart? Yeah right… I knew I wouldn't get into Gryffindor, so that meant… Slytherin. I mentally face-palmed. I hadn't heard much about Slytherin, but what little I knew was all bad. I'd heard that Slytherin had turned out more dark witches and wizards than any other house. I really didn't want to go to Slytherin, but if that was where I belonged, I probably didn't have a choice.

"Emma! Emma? Are you still there?" Ginny was calling. I shook myself and realized that we had reached the other side of the lake, the one closer to Hogwarts. I climbed out of the boat and followed Hagrid and the others up to the castle. When we reached the gates and entered, I looked around. Though it looked like a video game castle from the outside, it looked more medieval on the inside. I was a bit disconcerted to suddenly find myself in the Renaissance era, with suits of armor to boot. However, I regained my composure as we walked into a large room. Hermione had called it "The Great Hall". We were herded to the front of the room, where we were told to wait. An ancient man with a long, white beard, stood up. He was front and center, and all of the students fell silent when he rose. The man – who I assumed was the headmaster – smiled warmly.

"Welcome, welcome, to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" he said. He talked quietly, yet we could all hear him perfectly. "I am sure you will all have a wonderful term. Now, let us begin the Sorting!"

As people were sorted, I sort of zoned off. They seemed to be calling us in alphabetical order to put on the hat, which was resting on a stool. As "Creevy, Collin" was put into Gryffindor, I began to wonder what house I would be in. Gryffindor didn't seem too bad, although I was pretty sure Slytherin was just made for me. Not that I wanted to go there, it's just that I fit the description for Slytherin. Suddenly, I was called out of my thoughts by a sharp voice.

"Granger, Emily"

I slowly got up and walked to the stool in a trance, ready to get Sorted.

It was dark inside the hat. It nearly swallowed my whole head. I was just starting to think that they could have made the hat a bit smaller when I heard a voice inside of my head.

"Well considering I was made for Godric Gryffindor, who was an adult, it really is not that surprising. When he gave me to the school, he didn't really think of shrinking me. But that's not really important. I can still get my job done, unless, of course, certain first years won't stop bugging me with their pointless questions!"

I gaped under the hat, grateful that no one could see my face. Was the Sorting hat talking!?

"Yes, I'm talking. But we need to get down to business. Where to put you… Ahh yes, you're a tricky one. So many secrets, so many who won't tell. If only you knew. Slytherin would fit, yes, but Gryffindor would be the better choice. Your sister is in Gryffindor, but you would never decide based on that, no, you wouldn't. If only you could make amends."

I was very confused, but I didn't let on. I just sat there, wanting to get this ordeal over with.

"Ah, yes, of course. I've been rambling on, haven't I? Well, I don't like to be rushed, it makes my decisions much less accurate. But it that case, I better say…"

In a much louder voice, that apparently went out to the whole hall, the hat burst out, "Gryffindor!"