The boats stopped at the edge of the lake and everyone got off. A lady was standing by the edge of the water dressed in emerald green robes and a large pointed hat. "That's my grandma Professor McGonagall. She teaches Transfiguration!" Rose explained.
They headed to the castle. The doors opened up for them to go inside. As soon as AJ's foot roughed the hard stone floor of the castle a headache flared up in her head. She placed one hand on her head and the other on Harry's shoulder. "Are you okay?" Harry whispered.
"Yeah, my head just hurts." They continued on until they got to a big doorway. "Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "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 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.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose 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 whichever house becomes yours.
"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. I shall return when we are ready for you," she continued. "Please wait quietly." She walked in through the big doors.
"So, the great Harry Potter and his pretty little sister are now at Hogwarts." A sneering blonde haired boy stood in front of AJ leaning over to put his face into hers. "How about a date, Audrey? I know you want to." She put her face even closer to his to make it look like they were about to kiss.
"How about you go back to your little friends and not insult people who can easily wipe the grin off your face and place it up something it shouldn't go into." AJ threatened. Ooh's came from the other first years as the boy stood up strait and back into the crowd.
"Please form a line and follow me." Professor McGonagall instructed. AJ lifted a fist to Harry and he responded by hitting his fist against hers.
They waked into a hall to see four long tables. Above were manny candles floating in the air and above that was the night sky. At the front of the room sitting on a stool was a shabby beat up hat pointed at, much like Professor McGonagall's hat. Suddenly the hat moved triggering gasps from the first years. A tear in the hat opened up and the hat sung,
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 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!
A thounderous applause rang through the room. Professor McGonogall stepped froward carrying a long scroll. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted." She announced. "First Abbot, Hannah!" A blond haired girl stepped up and sat on the stool. The hat was placed on her head, covering her eyes. "HUFFLEPUFF!" Called the hat. One of the four long tables cheered.
"Boones, Susan!" The hat sat on her head for less than a second before it yelled, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Brocklehurst, Mandy!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Brown, Lavender!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Bulstrode, Milicent!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Finnigan, Seamus!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Goyl, Gregory!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Granger, Hermione!" A girl with bushy, brown hair bounced up to the stool. The hat sat on her head for a little while before yelling, "GRYFFINDOR!" A few more names were called before, "Malfoy, Draco!" The same boy that AJ had threatened earlier walked over and sat on the stool. Before it even touched his head the had quickly shouted out, "SLYTHERIN!"
"Ah. McGonagall, Rose!" A smile crept onto her face with her granddaughter's sorting. She sat there for a while before, "GRYFFINDOR!" She went and sat across from the Weasley twins. A few people AJ tuned out. That is, until, "Potter, Audrey!" Fear overcame her as she walked up to the hat.
Professor McGonagall placed it on her head. The normally slouched shot strait up right. "Headmaster!" The hat called. Whispers ran through the hall. The man that was obviously The Headmaster came up. The hat whispered something that only he could hear. "Miss Potter, I will have your house Prefect escort you and your Brother to my office after the banquet." The Headmaster told her. "Please continue the sorting."
"A unique witch you are girl. You and your brother defeated the most evil wizard in the wizarding world. Witches and wizards today still fear his name. Alas that is beside the point. Now where to put you. You are eager to learn, a Ravenclaw quality. You are clever and sly, could you be a Slytherin? No, no, maybe Hufflepuff, you are very loyal to your brother. But there is a lot of bravery, a great Gryffindor quality. Hmm I think it should be... GRYFFINDOR!" Screams and cheers rang from the Gryffindor table. "We got Potter! We got Potter!" Fred and George chanted. She ran over and sat next to Rose.
"Potter, Harry!" Professor called. Silence swept over the hall. After a while the hat shouted out, "GRYFFINDOR!" Harry ran over and hugged AJ before sitting between Rose and AJ. A little bit later Professor McGonagall called "Smith, Julia!" A girl with all Amber hair walked up and sat down on the stool. A moment later the had yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!" She came over and sat next to Rose.
The last person they really payed attention to was Ron. The hat was on his head for a very short time before it sorted him into- "GRYFFINDOR!" -as well.
Soon the sorting was over and Dumbledore stood up to say something.
"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" The platters before them were now filled with food. AJ's eyes went wide. She had never seen this much food before.
"Well are you eat or what?" Fred asked. A smirk grew on her face. "I bet I can eat more than you can." She said.
"Are you kidding? No one can top the Weasley apatite." There was a small silence between the two.
"Your on."