"First years, first years this way!" called Hagrid as the students got off the train at the station in Hogsmade.
"Come on Harry, Ron, Neville, Ginny, this way!" called Hermione. "Come on, the big man is calling us!"
"That's Hagrid, Hermione." Harry smiled.
"What?" Hermione looked confused, "Oh you mean, he's Hagrid." She pointed onward to Hagrid who was still calling all the first years.
"Yes Hermione, he's the Keeper of the Keys and Grounds here at Hogwarts." Harry grinned and waved to Hagrid, who had just looked in their direction.
"'Arry!" Hagrid called. "Good ta be seeing ya! Better hurry along now! Who's this ya've got with ya?"
"This is Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Neville." Harry called back and headed toward him, his friends falling in behind.
"Ah Weasley's!" Hagrid looked as Ginny and Ron. He furrowed his brow. "But there should just be one of ya now, not two!"
Ginny smiled shyly at Hagrid. "I got my letter early. No one knows why."
Harry couldn't keep a grin off his face, "I think its brilliant!" Harry nudged Ron.
"Oh, so do I." Ron mumbled. Not looking up.
"Well I think it's wonderful." Hermione smiled, "Ginny and I have much in common and she's so superb."
Neville looked unsure. "I really wouldn't know, don't know her that well."
"Well, never mind, sure ya'll be great!" Hagrid smiled. "Come on now, onto the boat. Got ter get up ter the castle for the sorting ceremony."
Ron looked ready to puke. "We don't have to, er, fight a troll do we?" he asked, looking terrified.
"A troll? 'Course not!" Hagrid laughed. " Who 'ver told ya that nonsense! Bet it was the twins, weren't it?"
Ron turned beat red. "Bloody hell! I'm gonna kill Fred and George!" he looked up at Hagrid, " Wait, how do you know the twins?" The five got into a boat.
"Know 'em? 'Verybody know 'em!" Hagrid smirked. "They're a legend they 're!"
"Oh…" Ron blushed again.
Hagrid looked at the five in the boat, "Now wait a sec, only four ter a boat! Didn't I say that?"
Harry looked around, "Um, I don't think so."
"Well never mind, just no funny business. Gots that 'Arry?" Hagrid looked at them sternly.
"Yes, Hagrid." Harry tucked his legs against himself.
"That goes fer the rest of ya, too!" Hagrid said firmly.
"Yes, sir," they chorused.
"Alright, now on with ya." The boats began to move. Hagrid climbed into another and started off.
They headed down the lake toward the castle. It was incredible. Harry had never seen anything like, except maybe the Hogwarts Express.
"Amazing, huh?" whispered Ginny. Harry turned his face towards her only to realize she was so close. Ginny had leaned into him to whisper and Harry hadn't realized.
"Yes it is." He breathed. Ginny smiled shyly.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, everyone!" called Hagrid above the wind. They were just passing under an arch. They came up to the docks and everyone piled out. "Come on this way."
They walked up the steps to a main door. Hagrid knocked three times. The door opened to revel a stern looking woman in green robes and a pointy hat. "Professor McGonagall." Hagrid nodded. "Here are the first years."
"Thank you Hagrid, I will take it from here." The stern woman said. She pulled the door open wide and motioned for the first years to follow her. Hagrid stepped back to allow them to pass. They followed the professor into the building and up a staircase and into a small room off the main corridor. The whole building was stone and was so large it could have fit all houses in London in it. "Welcome to Hogwarts, everyone," Professor McGonagall looked sternly around at everyone. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly. First you will be sorted into your respected houses. This ceremony is very important because whichever house you are sorted into will be like your extended family while you are here at Hogwarts. You will eat, sleep and spend time with your respected housemates. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has remarkable history, which I am sure you will be interested in learning about. While you are here you will have many triumphs and failures. Do not worry considerably about it. However, any rule breaking will not be permitted. House points are awarded and taken away for many of the things you do. So be wary." The professor looked around at everyone. "Wait here, I will be back when we are ready for you," she looked very stern, "Quietly if you please. Also it would be smart to straighten yourselves up after the long journey." She turned with one last look at the first years and walked out.
Everyone started to whisper. Hermione looked at her four new friends, "What house do you think you will be in?" she asked her friends. " I hope I am in Gryffindor, it sounds the best. But Ravenclaw might not be so bad. Not with everything I heard about it. However, Gryffindor still sounds the finest."
Ron shrugged; "Probably be in Gryffindor since all my brothers have been," then he thought of something, "Oh no what if I end up in Slytherin!" he looked utterly horrified. "What would my parents think then? It's bad enough that I'm the odd one out but, oh no!" he groaned.
"It'll be ok Ron," Ginny said reassuringly. She patted him on the back.
"It's all right, Ron, really." Harry murmured though he felt nervous too.
"Don't worry, I bet I'm in Hufflepuff! What could be worse." Neville muttered.
"Oh don't be too sure, Neville." Hermione looked at him. "Slytherin could probably be worse. I would rather be in Hufflepuff then Slytherin. You-Know-who was in Slytherin." She whispered.
Everyone but Harry shivered. Hermione looked at Neville again. "By the way did you find your toad yet?"
Neville grinned, "Yeah, Hagrid found him!" he pulled Trevor out of his pocket. The toad squirmed to get away.
"Don't take him out," Hermione cried, "he'll get away again!"
Neville shoved him back into his pocket. Just then Professor McGonagall walked back in. "The ceremony is ready to begin." She beckoned for everyone to follow her. "Please form two lines. Yes, that's it. Come on now."
They all walked back out into the main corridor and through huge doors that went all the way up to the ceiling. There they entered what could only be the Great Hall. There were four tables all lined up along the room and a large one at the head of the room. The ceiling had candles hanging in midair and it looked like the night sky.
Hermione whispered behind them. "I read that the ceiling is bewitched to look like the night sky." She looked up in awe.
At the front of the room, near the large table at the front, was a stool with an old looking hat on it. The first years all came to a halt and all of the talking in the Great Hall stopped.
Just then the hat did something amazing. It opened its mouth and started to sing.
"Oh, you my not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge in what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat them 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!"
(Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, J.K Rowling,
Chapter 7, pg. 118, American version)
The whole room burst into applause. Harry was in shock. A talking hat! Wow! Ron looked stunned. "A hat?" he cried out. "I'll kill Fred and George for this! I will!"
Hermione smirked. "You already said that earlier, Ron."
"Yes well I absolutely mean it!" he growled. Ginny let out a giggle.
"You always say you mean it Ron!" she smiled.
McGonagall picked up a scroll and the room fell silent again. "When I call out your name please take the hat, put it on your head and sit down on the stool. This is how you will be sorted. "Abbot, Hannah." She was sorted into Hufflepuff.
McGonagall went down the list and when she got to "Granger, Hermione," Hermione stepped forward bravely.
Hermione put the hat on and sat on the stool. "Ah yes, Granger. Muggle born," the hat said into Hermione's ear. "Yes much potential, but where is your other half?"
"My other half?" Hermione asked confused. (Please keep in mind that I got this bit from an author on SIYE called Sovran. You should read his story Meaning of One, Part One, Philosophers Stone. It isn't complete yet though.)
"Yes, Yes, a Ronald Weasley?" the hat said.
"What, Ron!" Hermione asked incredulously.
"Yes, well it hardly matters now, does it? Is he here?" the hat asked.
"Well yes he is, but how is he my other half? I don't understand." Hermione was very confused and she did not like being confused.
"Yes well, Granger, there is no how! It just is. Some things cannot be explained! Now bring him up here." The hat commanded.
"Um, Professor McGonagall?" Hermione addressed herself to the professor who was standing next to her.
"What it is it Miss Granger?" McGonagall asked.
"The, um, hat," "Gortox" the hat interrupted, "yes, um the hat, Gortox," Hermione whispered, "Well he seems to think that I am missing my other half." Hermione looked worried. "He says that he cannot sort me until my other half is here too."
McGonagall looked shocked and confused. "What is the meaning of this? Granger are you playing some joke?" she looked very upset.
"Minerva!" the hat, Gortox, addressed McGonagall, "Miss Granger is not playing games! Now I cannot sort her unless you get him up here!" He all but shouted.
"And who must be here?" McGonagall asked still looking rather confused.
"Ronald Weasley," whispered Hermione.
"Hmm, just a moment," McGonagall looked out at the first years.
Just then the headmaster, Dumbledoor, came forward, "Minerva, what is the delay?" he asked calmly.
"It seems Miss Granger is missing her other half, a Mr. Ronald Weasley." She said unsure.
"Well, bring him up here," he said looking a bit baffled.
"Mr. Ronald Weasley? Will you please come up here?" she called out to the crowd.
The whispers started. Everyone was wondering what they needed Ron Weasley for.
Ron looked at Harry perplexed. Harry shrugged. Ron climbed up the steps. He looked at the professors. "Yes? I didn't do anything, did I?" he looked mortified as if that was why he was being called up here. I hope I didn't get into trouble, he thought, Mum and Dad will be so upset.
McGonagall looked sternly at him, "Not if you know why Miss Granger seems to be missing her other half?"
"Uh?" Ron looked bewildered.
"I didn't think so." McGonagall motioned to the stool, " If you could please sit here on the stool with Miss Granger, then we can get on with the sorting ceremony."
Ron looked at Hermione, "Um, ok…" he sat down and the hat stretched to fit both of there heads. "What happened?" he whispered to Hermione.
"I don't know, but the hat said I was missing my other half." Hermione asked, upset.
"Your other half? And I am the other half?" Ron asked really, really confused.
"Quite right Mr. Weasley! Ah this is much better, I now have the whole of the both of you! Be a sham if I didn't." the hat laughed. "Now let's see, hmmm, yes. Looks good. Lots of information. A Ravenclaw and a Hufflepuff. Hmmm, yes very good, Miss Granger, very smart. Ronald, yes, quite interesting, and bit unsure of yourself, but with Granger's help that will be over come. I see why the Fate's have deemed you together. Yes, well Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, hmmm, better be…GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted for everyone to hear.
Everyone was still in a daze about what had happened. Apparently this sort of thing never happened.
Dumbledoor looked at Hermione and Ron, "Would you care to explain what exactly happened, Miss Granger?"
"Well, sir I don't rightly know, and neither does Ron." Hermione looked shocked that she actually knew that. She looked at Ron and he smiled. She felt something wash through her, and so did Ron. He frowned, as if he had felt it too.
Dumbledoor noticed the exchange, but decided to address it later, "Well, we will discuss this afterward in my office." The both looked horrified. Dumbledoor chuckled, "Don't worry you're not in trouble."
Ron and Hermione sighed in relief. They went to take their seats at their respected table.
The people in the Hall seemed to come out of the stupor and started to clap as Hermione and Ron sat down. Fred and George looked at Ron.
"What in blazes happened? And why were you sorted with a girl?" they laughed as they looked at Hermione.
"Oh bugger off." Ron grumbled. Hermione seemed a bit annoyed. Don't worry Ron, she said to him in her head.
I won't, Ron said back. Hermione's eyes widened. Ron stopped staring at the table and looked up. He looked at her hard and, and Did we just…? He thought.
Um I think so…Hermione looked at Ron, who was starting to smile.
I have a girl in my head, he laughed.
Hermione grinned; I have a boy in mine!
By the time they realized what was happening Harry was being called up to the front. "Potter, Harry." McGonagall yelled. The whole room went quiet again and then the buzzing started.
"Did she just say Harry Potter?" someone whispered.
Harry made his way up to the stool. He was still baffled by what had happened with Ron and Hermione and was not prepared to go up there. Ginny smiled at him and gave him a push. Neville just looked nervous. Harry pulled the hat on and sat down.
"Potter! Nice to finally meet you!" the hat shouted into his ear. "Tsk tsk tsk, you and Miss Granger seem to have problems today. Where is your other half Mr. Potter?"
"My other half? Wait, this is what happened with Hermione? She was missing her other half, and Ron was it?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Yes, Yes, quite right, now get Miss Weasley up here, can't sort you without your other half. What is it with these Weasley's tonight? Always seem to be the missing half!" the hat grumbled. "Well on with it!"
"Um Professor McGonagall?" Harry asked.
"Potter," she looked at him, "Let me guess, Gortox says you're missing your other half?" She had gotten enough surprises before, but this would be too much if Potter said that he was.
"Well, yes, professor, he, um, says that. Ginny Weasley." Harry bit his lip.
"Oh dear," McGonagall sighed. She looked at the Headmaster, who sighed and nodded. "Ginerva Weasley, could you please come up here."
Ginny looked perturbed. She made her way up to the front while everyone in the Great Hall started whispering again. Ron and Hermione looked at each other. You don't suppose…Hermione left the thought unsaid.
I don't know, Ron looked up at Harry and Ginny. It would seem so, Ron said to Hermione.
"Please take a seat back to back with Mr. Potter." McGonagall said.
"What is happening?" Ginny asked Harry quietly.
"It seems you're my other half, Ginny," he whispered. "The same thing happened with Ron and Hermione."
Ginny looked perplexed. Ginny pulled the hat off of Harry and set it on her head and his at the same time. "Ah yes about time, your other half! Now let me see. Yes, this is much better, Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley. Yes very good, a Slytherin and a Hufflepuff, hmmm, yes, interesting combination. And I thought the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw was interesting. Hmmm, lots of power you both have. Brave, courage, loyal, a bit shy. Yes, yes quite nice indeed. The Fate's have done well again, I see. Slytherin and Hufflepuff, well better be GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted.
Harry and Ginny got up and placed the hat on the stool. They walked to their respected table while the whole Hall cheered. They weren't all as shocked since it happened early but there was no doubt that this would be talked about for some time.
McGonagall looked at the pair. "You will both join Ron and Hermione in the Headmaster's office after the ceremony."
"Yes, Professor," they both said.
Ginny and Harry sat down next to Ron and Hermione. They looked at them and smiled knowingly. Hermione looked at them and leaned closer to whisper in their ears. "I think you'll find that you can talk to each other with out speaking." Hermione smiled.
"What?" Ginny asked. Hmm, sounds interesting, huh Ginny, Harry thought to Ginny, trying out what Hermione said. Ginny looked at Harry. She smiled wide at the thought.
All the things we could conceal, even from Ron and Hermione! Ginny giggled inside Harry's head.
Yeah, but they can conceal too, Harry murmured.
True, but still, Ginny smiled careful to make it an in head smile. This is very amazing.
Yes it is., Harry laughed silently.
The rest of the sorting went on without a hitch. Neville ended up with them in Gryffindor, which made them even happier. Soon the feast had started and plates of food appeared before them on plates. Everyone was a buzz with what had happened and began to eat. Harry and Ginny both picked up different foods and started to eat, only to spit them out again when they tasted them. Ewe gross, exclaimed Harry.
Um, Harry? I think we need to eat the same foods, Ginny grimaced, it seems we share taste buds.
Ohhh, good heavens I hope we don't share too much more, Harry grumbled, because eating would become too much work.
Ginny agreed with a murmur as she looked over at Ron and Hermione, who were going thru the same thing. It seems to happen to Ron and Hermione too.
Harry nodded when they looked over at them. All four grimaced.
Too soon the feast was over and it was time for the four of them to go up to the headmasters office. They said goodbye to Ron's brothers and Neville who looked upset that he was to be left alone. They all slowly made their way up to his office.
Ok done for now with this chapter! Next one is going to be what happens with Dumbledoor. Again this idea I got from Sovran on SIYE, but it was changed a bit! So ya! Hope you like plz R&R CodeRomance