The entrance hall was impossibly large and many of the students gasped in astonishment. The four friends whispered to each other excitedly pointing towards various things that caught their eye. Harry started in surprise when she saw that the portraits lining the walls were actually moving. She elbowed Hermione in the side and pointed her finger towards them.

"Amazing!" Hermione breathed, "I wonder what sorts of enchantments they use to make them come alive."

Harry nodded and turned towards Draco and Neville as they entered a small antechamber just off the hall. "Do you guys know how they make the portraits?" she asked them. Both shook their heads and Draco was about to say something when Professor McGonagall began to speak.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses." The Professor paused for effect and then continued on, "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. "

She continued talking about the different houses and the idea behind the house points and the house cup. Harry, who was only listening with one ear thought about what the Professor had said about housemates. She frowned in concentration, Harry realized that she and her friends would most likely not end up in the same houses and she wondered how they would work that out.

Harry returned her attention to what Professor McGonagall was saying in time to hear that the Sorting Ceremony would begin in several minutes. The woman then turned to leave and said, "I will return shortly and we will begin the Sorting, please wait quietly." As she said this she looked pointedly at the red-headed boy and the other children surrounding him.

When the Professor left the children burst out in whispers, "how do you think we'll be sorted?" one asked. The red-head, Ron as he introduced himself to several of the boys, said rather boldly, "my brothers told me we had to fight a troll!" Some of the students gasped.

Draco shook his head and motioned the other three closer. "My father told me that we get sorted by a hat," he said. Neville nodded implying that this was something he had heard as well.

"What are we going to do if we get sorted into different houses?" Hermione asked with concern. "I don't know," Neville said uneasily, "maybe we can find a room or something where we can study together or something?"

Harry nodded in agreement, "that's a good idea Neville! Let's do that tomorrow, since we are starting classes the day after." Neville flushed at the praise and looked at the floor. Draco patted his back and leaned over to whisper something in his ear when a couple students screamed.

Harry and Hermione look up to where the others were pointing and almost jumped in fright. Floating above them were about twenty ghosts. They seemed to be arguing about the presence of another ghost who was apparently a lot of trouble.

Harry was about to say something when Professor McGonagall returned. "The Sorting Ceremony is about to begin, please form a line and follow me," she said sternly.

The Great Hall was an incredibly beautiful room. It had four long tables where students sat and one at the front of the hall for the teachers. The room was lit by thousands of candles floating in mid air above the table. The ceiling was the most amazing part for it looked as though it was open to the sky.

"It's enchanted to look like the sky," Hermione whispered. Harry nodded remembering having read about it in Hogwarts: A History.

Harry noticed how a hush spread across the hall when Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of them. On top of it she placed an old hat. Nothing happened for a few moments until the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth and it 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

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 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 hall burst into applause and the hat bowed to the four tables before it went silent again. Professor McGonagall then stepped forward with a long scroll in her hands. "When I call your names you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to sorted." She paused and then called out the first name, "Abbott, Hannah!"