'Form a line please!'

The first-years did as they were told, lining up behind Professor Longbottom. Michael ended up in-between Scorpius and Al. Rose was near the front of the line. She'd already made friends with two other girls.

They left the chamber behind, walking back into the Entrance Hall and then -

Michael's jaw dropped.

The Great Hall was immense. It was easily the biggest room he'd ever seem, and it was full of people. Michael's primary school had only had a hundred pupils. There was at least five times that many at Hogwarts. The students were sitting at four long tables, and the teachers at another table at the front where they could see all the students. It was towards this table that they were walking, and in front of this table, on a low school, was a wizard's hat.

Once they were lined up in front of the High Table, Michael noticed that all the older students and most of the first years were staring at the Hat, so he stared too.

And then, suddenly, the Hat began to sing:

'Yet another year has come
Where I do have to choose
Which house you will reside in.
So sit here while I muse!

Will you be in Gryffindor
With friends oh so bold?
Maybe if you're brave, this is
How my choice will unfold!

Perhaps you'll be in Ravenclaw
With those who care for brains,
If I see you smart enough
Seven years there you'll remain.

Another choice is Hufflepuff
With friends on which you rely
If I see the trust in you
You'll wear a yellow tie!

Or maybe you'll be in Slytherin
With student very cunning,
If I see that talent in you,
From other houses you'll be running.

No matter what choice I do make,
There's something you must know.
These houses must work together
If we're all to grow.

So take a seat and try me on,
I promise I don't bite!
I'm sure you'll like your seven years
And find our school just right!'*

Everyone clapped and cheered, and the Hat bowed to each of the tables. Michael looked at them a bit closer and noticed a large population of red-heads at one of the tables. That was the table Al was staring at, so Michael guessed that was the Gryffindor table. A glance too his other side showed Scorpius shooting terrified glances at the far-right table. That must be the Slytherins.

Professor Longbottom had started reading out names.

'Aimsworth, Claire!'

'RAVENCLAW!' Shouted the Hat.

Michael suddenly felt sick. What if he wasn't put in a house? He'd thought maybe Hufflepuff, but now he didn't feel confidant even about that house. Would he be sent home?

'Domanix, Thomas!'

'GRYFFINDOR!'

'Edgebeam, Russel!'

'SLYTHERIN!'

What if he was sorted into Slytherin?

'Garrow, Michael!'

He'd never been so scared in his life. He stumbled over to the stool and sat down. The Professor put the Hat on his head, and all he could see was its inside.

'Well hello there, you look like a bit of a challenge.'

Michael nearly had a heart attack. It was talking to him!

'Well now, you should have expected that. You'll see far stranger things in your time here.' The Hat chuckled. 'Now, I'm fairly sure you're a GRYFFINDOR!'

All the Gryffindors clapped and cheered as Michael sat down with them. Al's brother James thumped him on the back and an older girl shook his hand. Swallowing his relief, Michael turned back to the front.

Scorpius watched Michael sit down, a knot of despair growing in his stomach. His first real friend his age, and they'd be stuck in different houses.

'Ipper, May!'

'HUFFLEPUFF!'

Scorpius swallowed. He was going to be a Slytherin. He was going to be a Slytherin and there was nothing he could do about it.

'Hitchens, Peter!'

'RAVENCLAW!'

And then...

'Malfoy, Scorpius!'

Scorpius could feel himself shaking as he approached the stool. As the hat slipped over his eyes, he could see the other Slytherin first years shuffling up to make room for him.

'Why, you're an interesting one, aren't you?' Which house should you be in, I wonder?'

Scorpius could hear his heart hammering in his throat as he thought desperately: Not Slytherin, please not Slytherin.

'Really? It'd be good for you, you know.'

I don't want to end up like my dad, realised Scorpius suddenly. I don't want what happened to him to happen to me.

'You're a wise one aren't you? You'd better be a GRYFFINDOR!'

There was a shocked silence as Scorpius took off the Hat. Then suddenly the Gryffindor table erupted. Scorpius flopped down next to Michael, slightly stunned. He could see Rose and Al applauding with the rest, and he could feel himself grinning. Now that was something to write home about.

Gryffindor? Scorpius Malfoy, a Gryffindor? Before Al could work out what that could possibly mean for him, his time had come.

'Potter, Albus!' The Hall filled with whispers as the other students examined this new Potter.

Al was ready to beg, to plead, anything not to be a Slytherin. But the Hat had barely touched his head when it cried:

'GRYFFINDOR!'

He gave the Hat back to Neville (Professor Longbottom!) and hurried over to the table. All of his red-head cousins were standing up as they whooped and yelled their approval. Al couldn't stop grinning. James had been wrong.

Rose bit her lip as the line diminished. What if it put her in Ravenclaw? A Ravenclaw Weasley, she'd never live it down.

And suddenly, she was the only one left.

'Weasley, Rose!'

She sat down and the Hat fell over her eyes. She waited.

'Ah, yes. Rose Weasley. I remember sorting your mother.'

Don't sort me because of my parents, thought Rose. Please, she added as an afterthought. Mum always said it was important to be polite.

'Why, of course not. I never do that! You'll join GRYFFINDOR!'

*I'm not a good enough poet to write the Sorting Hat's song, I found it here, all credit to the writer. t5552-sorting-hat-s-orignial-song