It was the most breathtaking room I had ever seen. Floating candles hovered above us, the ceiling a mist of blue and grey clouds. Four tables lined the hall for each of the four houses, full of students watching us, and a fifth table was at the front of the hall for the teachers.

We were asked to stop by Professor McGonagall as she spoke to the whole school.

"Welcome, all of you, to another year at Hogwarts. As you know, at the start of every year, First Years will join the school, and will get sorted into the houses." She addressed them. "We shall begin." She unrolled a scroll, and as she did, the whole group of First Years took a breath in and stood tense. She called out the first name from the list. 'Florence Robinson?"

Florence skipped up to her, and sat down lightly in a wooden stool. An old leather hat was placed on her head. The Sorting Hat.

"AH!" The hat exclaimed. We all jumped, apart from Florence, who was humming to herself, looking up at the hat with a smile. "Florence.. I know where you'll fit right in! HUFFLEPUFF!" Florence smiled, and the Hufflepuff table cheered for her as she sat down on their table.

"Jake Burlow?"

A tall boy, with spectacles and brown hair made his way through the crowd. He sheepishly sat down on the stool.

"This is an easy one.. RAVENCLAW!" The hat shouted, and the Ravenclaw table clapped for him. He gave a small side-smirk, and strode over to the table lined with blue.

Another few First Years were called up to the stool. The group was getting smaller and smaller, and I knew my turn to go up would soon come.

McGonagall looked on her scroll. "Jasmine Miller?"

A tall, thin, smug little girl walked up to the stool. She sat down, and her eyes flickered towards me. Her eyes we a dark, emerald green and they examined me closely. I didn't like the look of her, and as the hat put her in Slytherin, I decided not to get too friendly with her.

"Tiffany Clay?" McGonagall called out.

Tiffany looked at me and walked up towards the stool, and sat down, her hands fidgeting in her lap. She looked rather nervous being at the front of hundreds of people, and jumped frightfully and squealed when the hat started to speak.

When the hat sorted her into Ravenclaw, I wanted so badly to be sorted into that House too. I didn't want to be on my own without anyone that I knew.

McGonagall looked at her list of remaining names and peered over the top of it. Her gaze met mine and I knew whose turn it was next. Mine.

"Hannah Barnes?"

I jumped at my name and walked up towards her. I looked at her and she gave me a nod towards the stool. I turned around and sat down on it slowly, watching everyone's eyes watching me. I sat upright stiffly, uncomfortable with the hundreds of pairs of eyes staring at me. The Sorting Hat was placed on my head, and I shut my eyes tightly, wishing to be in Ravenclaw.

"Aha! So.. you want to be in Ravenclaw, do you?" The Hat said.

Please put me in Ravenclaw, please put me in Ravenclaw..

"Surely you'd much prefer to be in Gryffindor? You'd become a champion, a strong, willing competitor!"

Ravenclaw, not Gryffindor! Ravenclaw!

"Well, if you're sure.."

Please.. please put me in Ravenclaw..

The hat took a deep breath before announcing it's choice.

"RAVENCLAW!"

I opened my eyes and exhaled a big sigh of relief, a massive grin spreading on my face. I jumped up from the stool and ran over to the Ravenclaw table that were cheering and applauding loudly, and where Tiffany was waiting for me. She jumped up and hugged me tight.

"I'm so happy you're with me! I thought I was going to be on my own and you guys would be in another house.. I'm so happy!"

I hugged her back tighter, pleased to have a friend with me. I sat down next to her, and opposite the boy who got sorted earlier. I turned to watch the other First Years get sorted. First it was Abi, who was sorted into Hufflepuff with Florence, then Tilly, who was also sorted into Ravenclaw. As she came running over to us, we stood up and greeted her happily. She sat with us and watched as several others nervously took to the stool.

A tall boy was next, his hair was sandy-brown, and he looked rather nervous when he took his place on the stool at the front of the stool. He was placed in Ravenclaw with us, and as we applauded him, he sat down next to the boy opposite me, his eyes flickering to me for a second. I didn't manage to catch his name when Professor McGonagall called it out.

Another couple of boys were sorted after him; a couple went into Gryffindor, one in Slytherin, and another in Hufflepuff. The last remaining First Years were sorted, and the hall fell silent once it was over. Professor McGonagall began to speak once again.

"Now it is time for the feast." She said, and with a slight movement of her hands, a whole table of meat, potatoes, fish, vegetables and everything you could think of appeared in front of us. We sat there, awed by this magnificent spread of food, whilst the older students smiled at us and served food onto their plates. We piled our plates high of everything we could get, and started to eat.