The Sorting Hat

The door swung open immediately and McGonagall stood there. Unlike when he first met her, Arthur saw a very stern expression on her face, making her look as though she wasn't someone to cross.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid said.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." She replied, pulling the door wide. The Entrance Hall was so large that it could fit all of the Dentleys' house easily. All of the stone walls were lit with flaming torches a lot like the ones at Gringotts. The ceiling was also too high to make out anything and there was a truly magnificent marble staircase that faced the students which led to the upper floors.

All of the first years followed McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. As they did, Arthur heard the droning of hundreds of voices coming from the doorway to the right, no doubt all the other students being on the other side, though McGonagall took them all to a small empty chamber off the hall.

They all crowded in, much closer together than they usually would, all starting to become nervous.

"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 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 honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours." McGonagall explained to everyone, her last sentence ending with her looking directly at Arthur, who gulped, now feeling a different set of expectations on his shoulders.

"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." She then finished off, her eyes lingering for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear. Arthur started flattening his hair slightly, feeling nervous, knowing that this would take place in front of the whole school.

"I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly." She then said before leaving the chamber.

"Any ideas how they'll sort us into houses?" Arthur asked David.

"Not really. No one in my family told me." He admitted. This did little to settle Arthur's nerves. He decided to look around the chamber and see how the other first years were. Everyone else looked terrified, hardly saying anything. He and Chrys made eye contact and she showed that she was nervous. Arthur then noticed the purple eyed boy and he seemed to be eager, much to Arthur's surprise. Did he know something everyone else didn't?

To try and calm his nerves, he focused on the door.

But then several first years screamed, making him jump a foot in the air, feeling like he jumped out of his skin. He turned and gasped upon seeing what was the cause of them all screaming.

There were around twenty ghosts that streamed through the back wall. All of them were pearly white and slightly transparent, gliding across the room talking to each other, barely glancing at any of the first years.

The ghosts also seemed to be arguing, one that looked like a fat monk in particular was really vocal.

"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance-"

"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost- I say, what are you all doing here?" said a ghost that wore a ruff and tights that had finally noticed the first years. None of them answered back.

"New students! About to be sorted, I suppose?" The Fat Friar said, smiling at all of them. A few of the students nodded mutely.

"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff! My old house, you know." The Friar then said.

"Move along now. The Sorting Ceremony's about to start." McGonagall said with a sharp voice, having just returned. And one by one, all of the ghosts floated off, through the opposite wall.

"Now form a line and follow me." She then told the first years.

Arthur's legs worked on their own as he ended up behind a boy with sandy hair with David behind him.

They all then walked out of the chamber, across the hall and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.

Arthur found himself thinking how magical and splendid the large, grand hall was. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that all floated in mid air over four long tables that all the students sat in. Along the tables were glittering golden plates and goblets. At the other end of the hall was another long table in which the teachers sat. McGonagall continued leading the first years up there and then came to a halt in a line facing all the other students, the teachers behind them. All the hundreds of faces stared at them, looking like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight.

The ghosts shone misty silver here and there among the various students. Arthur decided to look up, seeing a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. He believed that the ceiling's bewitched to resemble the sky outside. It was truly amazing to him, as it looked as though the Great Hall opened onto the heavens.

However, he quickly looked back down just as McGonagall silently placed a four legged stool in front of the first years. Then on top of the stool, she placed an ancient pointed wizard's hat that was patched, frayed and extremely dirty.

Everyone in the Hall stared at the hat for a few silent seconds until the hat twitched and then a rip near the brim opened wide, resembling a mouth. Then Arthur was shocked upon hearing the hat starting 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 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 entire Hall erupted into applause when the hat finished the song. It then bowed to all four tables before becoming still once more.

"Of all things, I didn't suspect a hat." David whispered to Arthur.

Arthur himself now felt his nervousness grow again, knowing he'd be in front of everyone when he'll put the hat on.

McGonagall stepped forward, now holding a long roll of parchment.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted." She said before rolling out the parchment.

"Abbot, Hannah!" She called out.

A pink faced girl that had blonde pigtails stumbled out of the line, sat on the stool and put the hat on, which fell over her eyes. A moment went by before the hat shouted.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

The table farthest to Arthur's left clapped and cheered as Hannah went and sat at the Hufflepuff table, where the Fat Friar waved merrily at her.

"Bones, Susan!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat shouted once more and Susan would go to sit next to Hannah.

"Boot, Terry!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

The table directly on Arthur's right clapped this time, with several Ravenclaws standing to shake Terry's hand as he joined.

'Brocklehurst, Mandy' also went to Ravenclaw. The first to be sorted into Gryffindor was 'Brown, Lavender', the table directly to Arthur's left exploding in cheers.

'Bulstrode, Milicent' would be the first Slytherin, heading to the table farthest right. Arthur looked and felt that the Slytherins were an unpleasant looking lot.

"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

He also noticed how sometimes, the hat shouted at once and other times it took a while to decide. 'Finnigan, Seamus', the sandy haired boy was on the stool for a whole minute before being sorted into Gryffindor.

When Neville Longbottom was called, he fell over to the stool. The hat took a long while deciding over Neville. Eventually, it sorted him into Gryffindor, which caused him to run off, still wearing it. He had to jog back amid the laughter to give it to 'MacDougal, Morag'. Arthur started feeling more and more bad for Neville.

When it was Draco's turn to be sorted, he swaggered forward and the hat just barely touched him when it screamed "SLYTHERIN!".

He went off to join Crabbe and Goyle, looking really pleased with himself.

"McGonagall, Michael!"

Wait, McGonagall had a son? Arthur looked and saw the purple eyed boy make his way to the stool. When he put the hat on, he sat there for a few minutes until….

"GRYFFINDOR!"

He took the hat off and made his way to the Gryffindor table, who all cheered for him. His mother made a proud smile for a split second as well.

"Merlon, David!" Arthur turned to his new friend, giving him a nod of encouragement. He made it to the stool and put the hat on. It was only on for a few seconds before…,

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Said table cheered, David's siblings standing up and cheering louder than the rest of the table.

There weren't that many first years left to sort.

There was 'Moon', 'Nott', 'Parkinson' and the 'Patil' twins until at last….

"Pendergast, Arthur!"

As he stepped forward to the stool, the Great Hall broke out into whispers to the point that it hissing rang throughout.

The last thing he saw before the hat covered his eyes was people craning to get a look at him. Then he saw nothing but black inside the hat.

"Hmm." A small voice said by his ear. He knew it was the hat.

"Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, a smart mind, I see. Oh, goodness, raw talent as well. And a thirst to prove yourself, interesting…. So where to put you?" The hat pondered. All of this made Arthur grip the stool tightly.

"If you so much as put me in Slytherin, I'll rip you to shreds." He thought, desperately hoping he didn't get sorted into Slytherin.

"Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that. No? Well, if you're sure, better be… GRYFFINDOR!"

The hat shouted that last word to the Great Hall. He took it off and made his way to the Gryffindor table, feeling a bit dazed with relief. He also noticed that he got the loudest cheer possible yet.

David and Sam, his older brother shook his hands and embraced him as the twins cheered "We got Pendergast!". He sat next to David and opposite Michael, who smiled at him. For some reason, that smile made Arthur feel goosebumps on the back of his neck. Then the ghost in the ruff from earlier patted his shoulder, making him feel like he was plunged into a tub of ice cold water.

Arthur was now able to properly see the High Table. At the end to his right sat Hagrid, who gave him a thumbs up when they made eye contact. Arthur grinned before he looked to the centre of the High Table, where Albus Dumbledore sat in a large gold chair.

He was able to recognise him from the photo on the Chocolate Frog card. His silver hair shined just as much as the ghosts did. Arthur then spotted Quirrell, who looked odd with a large purple turban.

There were four first years left to be sorted. 'Perks, Sally-Anne', 'Ranger, Chrysanthemum', who got sorted into Gryffindor, 'Thomas, Dean' and finally 'Zabini, Blaise', a black boy who was sorted into Slytherin.

McGonagall rolled up the scroll in her hands and took the Sorting Hat away.

Arthur looked down at his plate, wondering how they'll get food.

Dumbledore then got to his feet, beaming at the students with his arms opened wide as though nothing would please him more than seeing them all there.

"Welcome! 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!" He said loud enough for everyone to hear.

He sat back down as everyone clapped and cheered. Arthur, though, was questioning whether or not to do the same or to laugh.

"Does he tend to be like that?" He asked Sam with uncertainty.

"Yeah, but he's a genius! The greatest wizard of all time can get away with being mad. Want some chips, Arthur?"

His jaw dropped upon seeing that all the dishes in front of him are now filled with food. He has never seen so many things to eat all in one table.

He grabbed steak, bacon, chips, ketchup, roast kitchen and roast potatoes. He noticed there were also mint humbugs, though he didn't get those because he didn't like them.

He was well fed of course but he just wanted to eat as much as possible, both out of hunger and to just try foods he never had before, mainly steak.

"That does look good." The ghost in the ruff said with sadness as Arthur finished a bite out of the delicious steak.

"You can't eat?" He asked, feeling bad for him and all the other ghosts.

"I haven't eaten for nearly five hundred years. I don't need to, of course, but one does miss it. I don't think I've introduced myself? Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower." The ghost properly introduced himself with a bow.

"I know you. My brothers called you Nearly Headless Nick!" David noted, much to the ghost's dismay.

"I would prefer Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-" The ghost began stiffly but was rudely cut off by Seamus Finnigan.

"Nearly Headless? How can you be nearly headless?"

Sir Nicholas looked so miffed, seeing that this isn't going the way he wanted it to.

"Like this." He said irritably, seizing his left ear and pulling his head. It swung off his neck and landed onto his shoulder as though it were on a hinge. It was clear someone tried to behead him but didn't do a good job at it. Being rather pleased with everyone's stunned faces, Nearly Headless Nick flipped his head back onto his neck and coughed.

"So, new Gryffindors! I hope you're going to help us win the House Championship this year? Gryffindor have never gone so long without winning. Slytherin have got the cup six years in a row! The Bloody Baron's becoming almost unbearable, he's the Slytherin ghost." Nick explained. Arthur and the others looked over the Slytherin table and saw a truly horrible ghost sitting there. He had blank staring eyes, a gaunt face and had robes that were stained with silver blood. He sat next to Draco, who clearly wasn't pleased by this, much to Arthur's enjoyment and pleasure.

"How did he get covered in blood?" Seamus asked with interest.

"I've never asked." Nick said delicately. Arthur noticed how the Bloody Baron, for a second, looked over at the ghost at the Ravenclaw table with a look of sorrow. He wondered what that meant.

Eventually, when everyone ate as much as they could, what was left of the food faded from the plates, leaving them as clean as they were before. Then a moment later, pudding appeared. Arthur was amazed seeing blocks of ice cream in every flavour possible, apple pies, treacle tarts, chocolate eclairs and even jam doughnuts, trifle, jelly and rice pudding, which Arthur went for instantly.

As he grabbed a slice of treacle tart, the conversations now went to each of the families of the first years.

"I'm half and half. Me dad's a Muggle. Mam didn't tell him she was a witch 'til after they were married. Bit of a nasty shock for him." Seamus said, which made others, including Arthur, laugh.

"And you, Mike?" David asked the young McGonagall.

"It's just me and mum. I've never known who my birth father is because my mum only wanted to raise a child. My dad's the reason for my eyes." He explained, gesturing to said eyes.

"Hmm…. Neville?" David said.

"Well, my gran brought me up and she's a witch. But my family thought I was all Muggle for ages. My great uncle Algie kept trying to catch me off my guard and force some magic out of me. He pushed me off the end of Blackpool pier once, I nearly drowned, but nothing happened until I was eight. Great uncle Algie came round for tea and he was hanging me out of an upstairs window by the ankles when my great auntie Enid offered him a meringue and he accidentally let go. But I bounced all the way down the garden and into the road. They were all really pleased. Gran was crying, she was so happy. And you should have seen their faces when I got in here, they thought I might not be magic enough to come, you see. Great uncle Algie was so pleased he bought me a toad." Neville explained his family. Arthur was a bit shocked with how questionable his family can be.

Arthur looked over to Chrys, who was talking with Sam about the lessons they'll have. He didn't pay attention to what they were saying though because he turned to look at the High Table. Hagrid was drinking a lot from his goblet. McGonagall was in the middle of talking to Dumbledore. His attention then turned to Quirrell, who was talking to a teacher that had greasy black hair, a crooked nose and sallow skin. Then suddenly, the greasy haired teacher looked past Quirrell and right into Arthur's eyes. At that moment, he felt a very sharp and hot pain from his scar on his forehead. He hissed in pain, clapping his hand on his forehead.

"What's wrong?" Sam asked, hearing his hiss.

"Nothing." Arthur lied. The pain went away as quickly as it had come. Arthur also had that feeling from the look the teacher gave him that he didn't like Arthur, if not despised him.

"Sam, who's that talking to Professor Quirrell?" He decided to ask the Prefect, who looked over to said teacher.

"Jeez, no wonder he looks so nervous. That's Professor Snape. He's both Head of Slytherin House and Potions Professor. However, he's always been after Quirrell's job of Defense Against the Dark Arts for years. He knows an awful lot about the Dark Arts." Sam explained, letting his hatred for Snape be evident in his voice.

At last, all the puddings disappeared too and then Dumbledore once more got to his feet, making the entire Hall fall silent.

"Ahem… just a few words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start of term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." Dumbledore started off, his twinkling eyes flashing in the direction to the Merlon twins.

"I have also been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death." Dumbledore spoke.

Arthur was stunned by the last part about the third floor. He wasn't sure if he was joking or not. In fact, a few people in the Hall actually laughed, indeed thinking Dumbledore was joking.

"Is he being serious?" He ended up asking Sam, wanting confirmation.

"He must be. It's odd, because he normally gives reasons for why we're not allowed to go somewhere, the forest being full of dangerous creatures, which everyone knows. He didn't even tell us Prefects." Sam frowned.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song." Dumbledore then cried out. Arthur saw that the various teachers' smiles were fixed.

Dumbledore would give his wand a flick and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, rising high above the tables and twisting snake-like into words.

"Everyone pick their favourite tune and off we go!" He then said before the school all bellowed:

Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

Just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot.

Of course, everyone finished the song at different times. The last ones to finish were the Merlon twins, who sang to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore would conduct their last few lines with his wand, and once finished, he was one of those that clapped the loudest. He then wiped his eyes.

"Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!" He said.

Sam led all the Gryffindor first years through the chattering crowds out of the Great Hall and up the marble staircase. Arthur's legs started feeling sore and heavy, mainly because he was full from all that food he ate.

Despite feeling sleepy, he was able to see that all the people in the portraits along the various corridors were sentient, whispering and pointing as they passed. He also noticed how Sam led them twice through doorways that were hidden behind sliding panels and hanging tapestries.

They ended up climbing more staircases, which was tiring, making everyone yawn and drag their feet. Eventually, they came to a sudden stop.

Arthur was able to peek and see a bundle of walking sticks floating mid air ahead of them. Sam took a step towards them which resulted in them throwing themselves at him.

"Peeves! Show yourself, right now!" He shouted.

The response he got was a loud, rude noise, sounding a lot like air being let out of a balloon.

"I'll get the Bloody Baron and you don't want that, do you?!" Sam shouted again, which caused a pop to ring in the air and then a little man with wicked dark eyes and a wide mouth appeared before them all, floating with his legs crossed in the air, holding the walking sticks.

"Oooooooh! Ickle firsties! What fun!" Peeves remarked with an evil cackle that had Arthur worried slightly.

Peeves then swooped at them and they all ducked.

"Leave, Peeves! Or the Baron will hear of this, I swear!" Sam barked. Peeves stuck his tongue at him before he vanished, dropping the walking sticks on Neville's head. They all then heard him zooming off, rattling armour as he passed.

"It's best you lot watch out for Peeves. He's a poltergeist and the Bloody Baron's the only one that has any control over him. He doesn't even listen to Prefects. Anyway, we're here." Sam informed all the first years.

Upon reaching the very end of the corridor, they saw a portrait that had a very fat lady in a pink, silk dress hanging on the wall.

"Password?" She asked.

"Caput Draconis." Sam replied. The portrait then swung forward, revealing a round hole in the wall. All of them scrambled through, Neville needing a leg up, and ended up in the Gryffindor common room, a large and round cosy room full of armchairs and a couch that sat in front of a fireplace.

Sam directed all the girls through one door to their dormitory and the boys through another. After reaching the top of a spiral staircase, obviously being in one of the many towers, they finally found their beds.

There were six four poster beds that hung with deep red velvet curtains. Also, their trunks were already brought up. At the centre is a stove and between the beds were windows and bedside tables, which had ties and scarfs in the Gryffindor colours, as well as appropriate trousers and white button up shirts.

With all six boys feeling so tired, they all pulled on their pyjamas and fell into their beds.

Arthur found himself between both David on his left and Mike on his right. After saying good night to David, Arthur got under the blankets and looked to see Mike look at him, say good night to him and doze off to sleep.

Arthur took a short while to fall asleep and when he did, he ended up having an odd dream. He was wearing Quirrell's turban, which talked to him, telling him that he must be in Slytherin house, that it was his destiny. But when he said he'd never be in Slytherin, the turban got heavier and heavier. He tried pulling it off but it tightened around his head painfully. Then Draco showed up, laughing at him as he struggled. He then turned into Snape, whose laugh was high and cold, then a burst of green light formed, waking Arthur up, soaked in sweat and physically shaking.

He rolled over to face the window and fell asleep once more, hoping he didn't have that dream again.

Well... that purple eyed boy is Minerva's son, Mike. Like I said, he'll have a role to play later in the series and act as a supporting character.

I'm also aware that in the books and films, the boys' dormitory have five beds but since Mike is there too, there has to be six beds.

I forgot to mention that Arthur's wand resembles Gandalf's staff from the Hobbit trilogy, the one he had before it was destroyed by Sauron.