Chapter Four: Welcome to Hogwarts, Harry.

Date: September 1, 2011

After an awe-inspiring ride across the Black Lake, the trio and company raced each other up the long staircase that led to the entrance hall, where Harry's Aunt Minnie was waiting for them. When Minnie saw Harry, she looked at him and winked. He raised an eyebrow, and winked back at her. It was all Minnie could do to not giggle or snicker out of nerves.

After Minnie's cursory "Your House is Like your Family" speech, a visit by the ghosts, and a threat from Draco Malfoy, Minnie led the first years into the Great Hall. Wide eyes, followed by dropping jaws, accompanied the faces of the first years as they laid eyes upon the magnificent hall. Harry had seen the Great Hall, when he had accompanied his Aunt and Uncle to the school on week-long trips, but never before a feast. There were four long tables, each one for a different house, and an elegant table in the front for the staff. On a golden throne sat Albus Dumbledore, perched in the cushion in all his twinkly-eyed "glory." Next to him was an empty chair, which was obviously Minerva's chair. To Aunt Minerva's left sat Filius, on his usual pile of books, and next to Filly sat a strange teacher Harry didn't know, who wore a large purple turban.

On the other side of Dumbles, there was a hook-nosed teacher with greasy ebony colored hair and midnight black robes. For some reason, Harry could tell that that teacher did not like him… at all.

Aunt Minnie and Uncle Filius had refused to tell him, Hermione, and Susan how they were Sorted, no matter how much they nagged them about it. Harry had even threatened to not allow Filius access to the books from the Ravenclaw vault he had retrieved when he had went to Gringotts unless he told him. Sadly he did not comply, much to Harry and company's chagrin. Now, Harry found out how they were sorted: The Sorting hat.

The Sorting Hat was an old, tattered thing that would have Hermione's Aunt Anika fainting out of horror. She would not allow it to be set in the house, which gave Harry an idea. A wicked grin spread on his face, and he rubbed his hands conspiratorially. Hermione looked at him questioningly, and seemed to guess what he was thinking.

"No, you cannot bring the Hat into Aunt Anika's house next time we go over. While I don't like her -more like I hate her- it would give her more of a vendetta against your family than she already has because you won't date my dear old cousin Flora when you get older." Hermione whispered quietly to him. He nodded, though still knew he would carry out the plan somehow. Harry jumped as the hat opened it's brim wide and began to sing:

Oh, you may not think me 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'll tell you

Where you ought to be!

(Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's/Philosopher's Stone)

After the first stanza, the Hat gave everyone a bit of information by describing the traits each house possessed. Harry, Hermione, and Susan looked at each other, and mouthed "Ravenclaw." Then, the Hat said a few things to shock them. It mentioned something about the Heirs of Hogwarts, which had the whole school whispering amongst themselves as they mindlessly . Hermione, Susan, and Harry smirked at each other. They had accompanied him to Gringotts when he claimed the Headship of Houses Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Potter, Washington, and Black. It was discovered that, after they took an Inheritance Test, Hermione was the Heiress of Slytherin and Susan was the Heir of Hufflepuff. (A/N: This will be explained later.)

"Abbott, Hannah!"

Susan watched in great interest as one of her best friends went up to be Sorted. The sorting took about three minutes, with the hat finally calling out "HUFFLEPUFF!" In a disgruntled voice. It sounded like Hannah had argued with the hat.

The A's went by, and finally McGonagall called, "Bones, Susan!"

Susan stepped up to the Hat, and sat on the stool while McGonagall lowered it onto her head.

"Ah… very difficult. Plenty of cunning I see, yes, you would do well in Sly-"

"HELL NO!" Susan shouted in her mind.

"Um, well then… i guess the only proper place for you is… RAVENCLAW!"

Susan, shocked, swept off the hat from her head and made her way over to the Ravenclaw table. She then passed the Hat off to the next person and dutifully waited for her friends to be sorted

Meanwhile, thoughts of a similar notion were running through the head of one Terry Boot, who was next to be sorted. When McGonagall called the name and the hat was lowered onto his head, he was immediately put into "RAVENCLAW!"
The B's went by, with Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw gaining many new members. Mandy Brocklehurst, Millicent Bulstrode, Anthony Goldstein, Michael Corner, Stephen Cornfoot, and Tracey Davis all joined Susan at the Ravenclaw table. Lavender Brown, Kevin Entwhistle, and Seamus Finnigan proudly joined the Gryffindor table, with Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe being the first new Slytherins. And finally…

"Flitwick, Harold."

Whispers fluttered across the Hall as Harry's name was announced.

"Is he related to Professor Flitwick?"

"He sure doesn't look like him."

"I bet he's in Ravenclaw!"

Harry glared at everyone as the hat was lowered onto his head, and jumped as a little voice spoke into his ear:

"What's this? Harry Potter in disguise! I have never seen anything like it!"

"You do promise you won't tell anyone, especially Albus freaking Dumbledore, would you?

"Um, hello, why in God's name would I do that? I was charmed by the Founders to not share anything about anyone's sorting, even to the Headmaster. But anyway, back on topic. Difficult, very difficult. Plenty of courage I see, a prodigy's mind, and not to mention a bucket load of cunning."

"Not Slytherin, not Slytherin,"

"Are you sure? You could be great you know. It's all here, in your head. And Slytherin could help you on your way to greatness, there's no doubt about that, no!"

"Not Slytherin! nOT SLYTHERIN!" Harry continued to shout in his head over the hat.

"Oh well, not Slytherin eh? In that case, you would do well in Gryffindor. After all, your ancestor George Washington was in there when he came."

"Yeah, I forgot about that… can you please put me and my friends in Ravenclaw, as well as any potential buddies? It would really make my day. I know my aunt wants me in Gryffindor, but Ravenclaw would be best for my plans for the future."

"Oh, fine then! I will put you in… RAVENCLAW!"

The last word was shouted out into the Hall, and a great cheer erupted from the Ravens. Harry glanced quickly at Aunt Minnie and winked conspiratorially, mouthing "It's all part of the plan." After Harry made his way to the Ravenclaw table, he paid attention as Minnie said the next name.

"Granger, Hermione."

The Hat was barely lowered onto her head before it called out, "RAVENCLAW!"

Hermione took off the hat and literally skipped over to the table, sliding in next to Susan, with Harry in between the two girls.

The four houses gained more students. Su Li, Daphne Greengrass, and Morag MacDougal became Ravenclaws, with Wayne Hopkins and Megan Jones becoming new members of Hufflepuff House. Longbottom became a Gryffindor, and then Malfoy's name was called. Surprisingly, Malfoy's face adorned a smug look as he was sorted into Gryffindor.

The hall was dead silent. A Malfoy in Gryffindor? Impossible. Did their hearing need to be checked? Not to mention, the smug look he held on his head was particularly discontenting. After a ten second silence, Fred and George Weasley led the round of applause for Malfoy.

When everyone quieted down again, the sorting continued. The second surprise of that night happened when Harry Potter's name was not called. Everyone was sure he would be starting that year. The third surprise of that night occurred when one Ronald Bilius Weasley got sorted into Slytherin. Finally, the feast began.

Harold introduced himself to all his fellow first years.

"Hello, I'm Harry Flitwick. This is Hermione Granger and Susan Bones beside me. And you are…?"

"Millicent Bulstrode. Pleasure to meet you."

"Well met, Millicent. Say, can you tell me a little about yourself?"

"Well, I come from the House of Bulstrode, which, as I'm sure you know, is a very old House. My parents expect me to be in Slytherin, but they usually don't want anything to do with me, so I decided to defy them by being in Ravenclaw. In my free time, I like to read, play Quidditch, and study history. What about you? What are your interests? What is your home life like?"

"I live at home with my parents Eugene and Scarlett Flitwick, over in NYC in America. I went to muggle school for a while, which is where I met Hermione here, because she was in my orchestra class, and have always known I was a wizard. My favorite activities include playing music, singing, reading, and drawing."

All the first years went around, and said a little bit about themselves. Finally, the feast ended, and after Dumbles gave a little speech, it was time to go up to bed.

They followed the prefects Roger Davis and Penelope Clearwater up the many flights of stairs to reach Ravenclaw tower. The gaggle of first years halted when they came upon a door with a bronze eagle knocker. They were let in after Roger answered the riddle, and were allowed to go up to bed after he gave a little speech.

Harry curled up on his bed after changing, and sighed contentedly.

Hogwarts was well on the path to becoming his second home.

END OF CHAPTER