All too soon they arrived at Hogwarts. This time a smiling Miss Macmillan led them to the boats. The four easily slipped into the same boat. Miss Macmillan led them across the lake in her own wooden, rickety boat, the one lantern in her hand lighting up the way. The lake was vast and black. Everything was dark. Then they turned a corner past some trees and the castle appeared directly above them. Gasps were heard. Hadrian smiled as he saw Hermione and Neville's stunned faces. Ron only looked bored, and he was grating on Harry's nerves. The boats docked in a cave where a staircase was at the end, the walls were natural cave but had torches every few steps. Shivering, the mass of first years followed Miss Macmillan up the slippery steps. At the top, they passed through a large wooden door, as tall as three men, and wide enough for more. Hadrian's mouth dropped open when he realized this was only a side door—the main one was huge. They were now in an entrance hall that could easily fit all the Dursley's house.

A stern witch introduced herself as Minerva McGonagall. She gave an explianation of the four houses, which Hadrian mostly tuned out.

"Trevor!" Neville suddenly shouted. A fat toad was sitting on one of the stone steps leading to the main door. Snickers were heard as he bent to pick up the toad.

Harry shook his head internally. That boy was going to be a bully magnet.

The ghosts made an appearance. Hadrian had forgotten about them. Surprisingly, they each studied him closely. This was attention he could do without "Not now." Hadrian said to them in spiritspeak, the language of the necromancers. It was an inherited language, just like Parseltongue, and would allow him to speak to any spirit, dead or alive, within his radius. Currently, it was only a couple of meters. But their eyes widened and they obligingly continued on their way into the great hall without looking at him again.

Then the doors opened to reveal a splendid great hall. Candles floating gave the hall a great cheery mood, four house tables had never looked so clean and organized. There was more green, vines and tasteful ivy decorating the interior of the bare stone walls, and a breathtakingly black-and-white-starred night sky. Four tables were incredibly neat, the dishes arranged perfectly and the tablecloth without a crease. Harry entered with the other first years.

A hat was brought to the center of the great hall. It opened its mouth and broke out into song.

"Now you might not think I'm pretty,

But I have some stories to tell,

And they sure are witty,

Stories that ring true as a bell.

Brave Gryffindor chose Ravenclaw,

A woman wise beyond her years,

And Ravenclaw knew Hufflepuff,

Who loved ambitious Slytherin.

Together courage, knowledge,

Set out to do the task

Combined with persistence and ambition,

And created a school that would always last.

Without any of them it would not have been done.

Brave Gryffindor and ambitious Slytherin led the way,

Only made possible by Ravenclaw's knowledge,

And the persistence and loyalty of Hufflepuff.

Maybe you'll belong in Slytherin,

Where dwell the ambitious and great,

Perhaps in Hufflepuff,

You'll find your match in hard work and grace.

Then brave Gryffindor likes those with courage,

And will follow their code of honor,

And wise Ravenclaw liked those who treasured knowledge

Above all, not like any other.

Now they say Slytherin valued blood purity:

He wished for nothing of the kind.

For everyone to know magic culture was what he wanted,

And his heir accomplished that in time.

Now with the proper resolution

Of the founder's bitter quarrel:

Let us rejoice in this time of peace,

And may purity be a thing of ol'.

Talent is what is important,

So is purity of heart.

The qualities that each founder valued,

Is what truly sets people apart.

If you wish to judge someone,

Do not by what you see,

Talk and get to know them,

Inside is what is key.

That is why this sorting

Is so important

We can all remember to value

Characteristics of importance.

So put myself on!

I will decide.

Which of the great founders characteristics you best embody

And place you where you belong based on what's inside!

There was a great beat of silence but then applause rang through the hall. Hadrian was a bit shocked. Judging by the teachers' expressions, this not the usual content of the hat's song. The line about slytherin's heir accomplishing stuff—that was about Tom. He growled at himself for still responding so strongly to the thought of Tom. So absorbed in his thoughts, Hadrian only noticed the sorting when Hermione started shaking so hard she had to clench her fists. He had completely missed the first few sortings.