AN: Sorry this is a bit of a long chapter

But I hope you like it


The door opened to show a tall, black haired witch with a stern face, in emerald green robes.

Right away, Jack said to himself not to get on her had side.

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

"Thank you Hagrid. I will take them from here." she said opening the door a little wider to show the Entrance Hall which many of the people surrounding Jack awed at the size at, but he just shrugged and followed Professor McGonagall to a small empty chamber.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "Now the start-of-term banquet in the Great Hall will begin shortly, but before that you must be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because while you're here, your house will be like your family..."

This bit caught Jack a bit off guard and turned his eyes to the floor blocking out McGonagall's voice for the rest of her speech about where they would sleep and about the points and House Cup.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest your all use that time to smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." she said her eyes scanning over everyone as if picking out inappropriately dressed students.

"I shall return when we are ready for you." said Professor McGonagall "Please wait quietly."

Once the door was shut, a muttering of questions on how exactly the Sorting happened went about them.

Hearing that it maybe some sort of test, Jack went over everything he could, about what he had learnt the past three centuries, and from the books.

Just then several people started screaming making him look around, a fierce look on his face ready to fight.

But was surprised to see about twenty ghosts come through the back wall, all pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to each other.

Looking them over Jack saw one he knew and called out.

"Nick!" he called out getting the ghost in the ruff's attention.

"I say, who may you be?" he said looking confused as a pathway was made to show Jack to the ghost.

"It's me, Jack Frost..." he said smiling "I didn't know you lived here."

"Jack Frost... Jack Frost... Ah yes. I say what have you done to your eyes and hair, my boy?" Nick asked looking Jack over "And why are you here, last I saw you, you were in America."

Everyone ghosts and students were stunned no one understanding how it were possible that these two could know each other.

Jack was about to answer, when Professor McGonagall came back.

"Move along now, the Sorting Ceremony is about to start."

One by one all the ghost left through the opposite wall they came through.

"Right," she said seeing them off then turning to the new students "Now, form a line please, and follow me."

Getting in line with Harry, Ron and everyone else, and together they all walked out of the chamber, back across the hall and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.

Even though Jack had been living at the North Pole for the last few months he was amazed by how strange and wonderful it was in here, with it's night sky ceiling and thousands of floating candles, and four long tables where everyone else was sitting.

Looking around, Jack spotted the Weasley Twins on the table on the far left.

Up top there was another long table holding who could only be all of the teachers, Jack spotting Dumbledore sitting in the middle.

Professor McGonagall led the first-years up through the middle of the room so they came to a halt facing the other students; the teachers behind them, dotted around the room, amongst everyone else were the ghosts.

Looking forwards Jack saw McGonagall setting down a four legged stool, putting an old shabby worn wizards hat.

Seeing everybody was looking at it and the room had gone silent, Jack started staring at it too.

Just then, the hat twitched and a rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth and the hat 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 smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I am 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 foil;

Or yet in wise 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 am a Thinking Cap!'

.

The whole Hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.

"So we've just got to try on the hat!" Ron whispered to Harry. "I'll kill Fred; he was going on about wrestling a troll."

Professor McGonagall now stepped up 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 "Abbot, Hannah!"

A pink faced blonde pig-tailed girl stepped up put on the hat which slid over her eyes and sat down

After a moment's pause...

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

The table to the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to go join them.

And it kept on like that.

Students went up, put the hat which slid over everyone's eyes, some going to Hufflepuff, some to Ravenclaw, more to Gryffindor and others to Slytherin.

As Professor McGonagall was going into the 'G's' Harry whispered something to Jack's.

"Hey Jack they missed you out..."

"It's either because I've got a few other surnames starting with different letters further in the alphabet, or since I'm from America and a last minute entry here, I may be last," Jack found himself whispering back.

"Granger, Hermione!"

The bossy mother brown curly haired figure from the train stepped up and jammed the hat eagerly on her head.

"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat. Ron groaned, making Jack look to him confused.

"I'm 95% sure that's the house I'll be in since everyone in my family were in it."

When Neville Longbottom, the boy who kept losing his toad was called, he fell over on his way to the stool.

The hat took a long time to decide where to place Neville. When it finally shouted "GRYFFENDOR," Neville ran off still wearing it and had to jog back blushing getting rounds of laughter to give it to 'MacDougal, Morag'.

When Malfoy was called up, he practically swaggered forward and got his wish at once: the hat had barely touched his head when it screamed "SLYTHERIN!"

Malfoy took off the hat and went to join his friends Crabbe and Goyle, looking pleased with himself.

There weren't a lot of people left now.

'Moon'... 'Nott'... 'Parkinson'...

'So I'm going to be last then since they missed 'O's' all together...' Jack thought to himself.

After a pair of twins 'Patil' and 'Patil' and 'Perks, Sally-Anne'... At last it was...

"Potter, Harry!"

Harry stepped forward getting all whispers from everybody.

After a bit of silence, the hat finally yelled "GRYFFINDOR!"

Smiling Harry got up looked to Jack who grinned and rubbed his fingers and thumb together saying he was expecting the money.

Rolling his eyes and giving a small nod, Harry went to join the others at the Gryffindor table.

There were only four people left now.

'Turpin, Lisa' became a Ravenclaw.

'Weasley, Ronald,' got to be a Gryffindor.

And 'Zabini, Blaise' went into Slytherin.

"And finally," Professor McGonagall said getting everyone's attention "Frost, Jack."

Jack came forward but before he could put the hat on he was stopped by my McGonagall who looked to Dumbledore, with the rest of the room, who had stood up.

"Mr. Frost, is a boy from a Wizarding School in America, so the Hat will not only place him in the House but also the year. However please keep in mind America start teaching their children how to deal with magic at a much younger age. Thank you."

With that he sat down again and Professor McGonagall let Jack sit down and put the hat on.

'So Jackson Benjamin Overland Frost, at last we meet...' a small voice said in his ear.

'You know me?' Jack asking in his head.

'I do. I know you're also one of many titles,' the hat said as he began listing some 'The Spirit of Winter, The Guardian of Fun, The Prankster Prince, The Frost Child...'

'Ok, ok I get it,' Jack said making the hat stop 'Look all I need is to be put into the same House as Harry Potter. Gryffindor.'

'Gryffindor? Are you sure? You got many talents, Jack Frost. 300 years alone, and yet you stayed good at heart. Patience that's Hufflepuff.

Your pranks need wisdom to set up and cunning to plan, perhaps you belong in Ravenclaw or Slytherin.'

'No. It's has to be Gryffindor.'

'Oh well if you're sure, I suppose you do have a brave heart, sacrificing yourself for your sister. Now, which year should I place you in? It can't be too high...But as you need to be with Potter...'

"GRYFFINDOR, FIRST YEAR!"

Loud cheers came from everyone as Jack got up, took off the hat and went to join Harry and Ron.

"Man you were under that thing forever," Ron said budging up "What did you have a conversation with it or something?"

"Something like that," Jack said turning to Harry "So where's the money Harry, I'm waiting..."

Rolling his eyes Harry reached into his pocket and placed three sickles into Jack's hand.

Soon the hall went silent again as Dumbledore got up again, beaming at the students his arms wide.

"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."

He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered, and in Jack's case laughed.

"Is he – a bit mad?" Harry asked Percy unsure.

"Mad?" said Percy airily "He's a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad yes. Potatoes Harry?"

While Harry was staring at all the food there was trying to decide what to eat first, Jack had already loaded his plate up with all he could get to and tucked in sending a silent wish to Manny that Tooth didn't find out about this.

"That does look good..." the ghost in the ruff said sadly, looking a little jealous at Jack for some reason.

"It is..." Jack said his mouth full getting a light scolding from Percy about table manners.

"Can't you-?" Harry asked unsure.

"I haven't eaten in nearly 400 years," he said "I don't have to of course, but I do miss it."

"Then what's all that rotten food you have at your death-day party for Nicky?" Jack asked smirking a little placing a new potato in his mouth.

"That's a point," Ron said "You haven't said how you know each other."

"Oh right," Jack said swallowing and said to everyone around him who was listening "Everyone, this is Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Poroingtion. I met him ages ago and even though we're a little different from each other, we've been friends ever since."

"Thank you Jack," Nick said "Now please to tell me what exactly are..."

"I know you!" Ron butted in suddenly "My brothers told me about you – you're Nearly Headless Nick!"

"I would prefer if you called me Sir Nicholas de Mimsy –" the ghost began stiffly, but was interrupted by Seamus Finnigian.

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

"Like this..." Nick said irritably tugging on his left ear and making his whole head swing off of his neck and onto his shoulder, as if it was on a hinge.

Looking pleased he had stunned them, Nearly Headless Nick flipped his head back onto his neck and fixed his ruff before continuing with their chat.

"So - new Gryffindors! I hope you're up to helping us win the House Championship this year? Gryffindor have never gone so long without winning. Slytherin have gotten the cup six years in a row! The Bloody Baron's becoming almost unbearable – he's the Slytherin ghost."

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

"I've never asked," Nick said delicately.

"My guess was that he was trying to project someone he loved but the second guy was better at using a sword," Jack said following the Baron's gaze to a young looking lady ghost at the Ravenclaw table, and smirked a little.

Once everyone had enough to eat, the desserts appeared.

Now it was Jacks turn to look around trying hard to choose what to pick.

After a bit he went for one of the ice-cream sundaes covered in chocolate shavings.

As he got tucked in he heard the other boys talking about families and how Neville's great uncle Algie once almost drowned him and then made him fall from a window and bounce all the way across the garden and into the road.

"What about you Jack?" Dean Thomas asked curious.

"Well?" Jack asked scooping some ice - cream into his mouth to give him time to think "My birth family passed away when I was a little kid, so I lived on my own for a bit, but then my new family found me and took me in. North and Aster always argue but they will work together if it's needed, Tina, gets excited about the simplest things, and Sandy doesn't talk but I seem to have the best conversations with him."

"You mean you're... an orphan?" Zoe Cheng, a second year asked quietly eyes wide.

"I suppose you can put it that way," Jack said nodding "But if I had had my family still with me, when I was on my own, I doubt I would have learnt how to defend myself, or get to do enough pranks and tricks to get dubbed the title of 'Prankster Price' by my old school friends."

"If you were Prince who was King?" Fred Weasley asked taking an interest.

"A girl named April," Jack said "Each year on her birthday she tries to do a April Fools Pranking Marathon, got almost everyone in school once, but I was too quick and clever to get hit by her."

At last the desserts too disappeared and Professor Dumbledore got up again, making the Hall fall silent.

"Ahem – just a few more words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give to you.

'First years should note, that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all students. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that too."

Here Jack was sure he saw Dumbledore look over to the Weasley twins.

"I have also been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that there is to be no magic used in the corridors between classes

'Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone who is 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."

Jack looked confused at this bit of news, surely if it were anything that bad, Dumbledore wouldn't go telling everyone about it.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us all sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore smiling, Jack noticing the other teachers start to frown a little.

Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, and a long golden ribbon came out which rose up high and twisted itself into words.

"Everyone pick their favourite tune and off we go!"

After everyone had finished singing (the Weasley Twins needing some help because they chose a very slow funeral march) Dumbledore sent them off to bed.

The Gryffindor first-years followed Percy through the chattering crowds, out of the Great Hall and up the marble staircase.

Even though Jack was used to magic and super-natural things he was still surprised by all the moving and talking portraits along the walls of the corridors.

He did pay attention though when Percy led them through doorways hidden behind sliding panels and hanging tapestries.

After a few more staircases and a few yawns they came to a sudden halt, to see a bunch of walking sticks floating in mid air ahead of them.

Percy stepped towards them, and they all came shooting at him.

"Peeves, a poltergeist" Percy whispered to the first years, before raising his voice "Peeves – show yourself."

But what came was the sound of a air being let out of a balloon, the sound of Jack trying to hide his laughter.

"Do you want me to fetch the Bloody Baron?"

With a pop a little man with wicked dark eyes and a wide mouth appeared, floating cross-legged in the air, clutching the walking sticks.

'He looks like Rumplestiltskin, wonder if they're related...' Jack thought as he saw him, grinning.

"Ooooooh!" he said with an evil cackle "Ickle firsties! What fun!"

Quickly he swooped at them, they all ducked except for Jack who had pulled out his wand and show it at Peeves catching his head in a block of ice, stunning everyone.

"Go away Peeves, or I'll turn you into a Poltergeist-pop," Jack said firmly, but Peeves didn't leave, just crossed his arms and shook his head.

"Alright, then the Baron will hear about this. I mean it!" Percy said coming around from the shock.

Obviously not wanting the Baron to see him like this, Jack thought, Peeves vanished, dropping all the walking sticks on Neville's head.

"You want to watch out for Peeves," Percy said checking everyone was alright "The Bloody Baron's the only one who can control him. He won't even listen to us Prefects."

"Jack that was amazing Parvati said smiling "How did you do that?"

"I have a natural talent when it comes to winter elemental magic," Jack said grinning and putting his wand away.

"But we're not meant to know anything yet, how can you know such advanced magic?" Hermione asked her hair in a bit of a state.

"I'm from America remember Frizz-ball, I started learning magic sooner than you guys did."

"Here we are," Percy's voice said breaking up what could have become a very ugly fight.

At the end of the corridor hung a portrait of a very fat woman in a pink silky dress.

"Password?" she asked.

"Caput Draconis," Percy said, and the portrait swung open to reveal a round hole in the wall. They all scrambled through it and into the Gryffindor common room.

After Percy had directed them to their dormitory and they found their beds Jack saw his stuff at the end of one bed including Archimedes.

Remembering he needed to send that letter to the Guardians, Jack quickly wrote one saying:

Dear Tooth, North, Bunny and Sandy,

I am here at Hogwarts, they food is great (don't worry Tooth I'll brush my teeth every night), and I think I'll like it here.

I'm in Gryffindor, said to be the one for those that are brave, good news – Harry Potter's in this house as well.

Speaking of Harry, I've got another letter here with questions to you about you lot missing him, except Sandy.

Lessons start tomorrow.

Hope you answer me soon.

Jack.

With that he blew on the ink to dry it then getting the letter from the train, he rolled it up with this one, tied it to Archie's leg and sent him out the window.

"What's that all about?" Ron asked seeing Jack do this.

"Just telling my family I'm here," Jack said getting into his pyjamas and into bed "Well goodnight."