Chapter Eleven.

The Sorting Hat.

The oak door swung open revealing a tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes. Her face was very stern and my first thought was this was someone not to cross. Harry gripped onto my hand in nerves, he did this a lot when he was afraid but truthfully I was just glad he was feeling the same as me.

"Follow me." she ordered before turning swiftly.

We all scuttled after her into the Entrance Hall, which was so large you could fit the Dursley's house in it. The stone walls where lit with flaming torches and the ceiling was too high to make out and to our right was a magnificent stone stair-case leading to upper floors. We followed the witch into a small chamber off the hall. We all crowded in, standing rather close together than we all would of usually done. We all could hear the rest of the schools voices chattering away, they all must already be in the Great Hall.

I suddenly feel even sicker, and looking over to Hermione on my right, I was glad to see she was a little paler than beforehand. I nudged her, in an attempt to comfort her but it didn't work and I only scared myself a little more.

The witch who had guided us to the small room, cleared her throat loudly to get our attention and waited until all the first-years to settle down before speaking. "Welcome to Hogwarts, my name is Professor McGonagall and in a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates, but before you take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Now while you're here, your house will be like your family, you have lessons with other members of your house, sleep in the dormitory of your house and spend free time in your house common room." Professor McGonagall explained giving the room a quick glance over, "Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup."

There is chatter amongst the first-years but I remain silently trying to take in what McGonagall had said, so there was a chance Harry and I won't be sorted into the same house? My stomach felt heavy like someone had placed a weight in it.

"The Sorting Ceremony will begin momentarily." Professor McGonagall said, "I suggest you smarten yourselves up and prepare, I will return when we are ready for you." And then she disappeared out of the room leaving everyone to suddenly perk up and speak all at once, Harry and Ron gushed over the houses and Harry and I had no idea, Ron explained that Gryffindor was the best, another first-year interrupted saying that Ravenclaw was the best. Truthfully, I just wanted to be in the same house as Harry, I don't even know what the houses represent.

"What do the houses mean?" I ask Hermione.

She grins widely like she had been waiting for the chance to tell someone, "Well, Gryffindor values bravery, daring, nerve, and chivalry. Hufflepuff values hard work, dedication, patience, loyalty, and fair values intelligence, knowledge, and wit. And Slytherin, values ambition, cunning and resourcefulness." she speaks so quickly it takes ever cell in my brain to accept the information she was practically throwing at me, "I'm probably going to be put in Ravenclaw."

Gryffindor sounded like the most popular house judging by the excited whispers. Ron tells us that his entire family has been in Gryffindor. Thinking about what Hermione said, surely she'll be in Ravenclaw, as they value intelligence and knowledge. I wasn't sure if I fitted in with any of the houses.

I just nod, unknowing what to say. Looking around quickly, I see a number of students sorting out their ties, either tightening them or readjusting. We had been given black ties with the Hogwarts coat of arms on them, Hermione then goes on to explain these are only temporary until we are sorted into our houses. Much like the coat of arms on our cloaks, Milo – not my coat, the boy on the train – had a different badge, one with a raven on it.

Harry turns to smile at me, and for a split moment, the hair that was draped over my face moved and my twins scar was revealed.

"So, it's true then, what they were saying on the train." a voice piped up, the voice was male and confident, everyone turned to look at the speaker who was the boy I had bumped into on the train. He had gentle facial features with natural bleach blonde hair and blue eyes, his teeth were straight and white, "The Potter Twins have come to Hogwarts."

"The Potter Twins!" several voices gasped.

"Grace Potter!" One boy gasped whilst a girl shrieked, "Harry Potter!"

The blonde boy stepped through the crowd which seemed to have partnered, "This is Crabbe and Goyle," he said gesturing to the two large boys who had also been accompanying him on the train, "And I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

Ron let out muffled chuckle, Draco's head snapped quickly in his direction, "You think my name is funny, do you?" He practically spat at Ron, "No need to ask for yours, red hair and a hand-me-down robe, you must be a Weasley."

Ron's face prickled with hurt, I stepped in front almost knocking Draco backwards but Harry gripped a hold of my wrist before I could hit him, cheeky little git. Fighting has never been an issue for me, growing up with Dudley as a cousin you soon learn to defend yourself.

"You'll soon learn that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter." he said, Ron scoffed again making Draco increasingly anger, the blondes eyes then flickered to me, he looked as if he might of smiled if other people weren't around to witness it, "You don't want to be making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you make friends with the right ones." he declared before holding out his hand for my brother to shake.

Harry – like me – just stared at him with our eyes we had been practising for ages, Harry and I had this ability to express how much we didn't care through one simple look, "I think we can figure out the wrong sort for ourselves." Harry said.

Draco's eyes flickered over to me again, I put on a half smile that appeared very sarcastic, "Yeah and we've already figured out the wrong sort." I reply, I'm not sure what emotion flickered through Malfoy's eyes but it was close to hurt.

A long roll of parchment hit Draco on the shoulder, McGonagall gave him a cold look before he moved away rejoining Crabbe and Goyle, "We are ready for you." she announces before turning on her heels once again, Hermione stuck to my side with Ron and Harry in front of us, we were removed from the chamber and back into the Entrance Hall, now all that stood in our way was a set of huge, golden doors which as Professor McGonagall approached, opened revealing the Great Hall.

I was suddenly overwhelmed by what I was seeing, I could imagine – not even in my wildest dreams – something so strange yet splendid. Thousands and thousands of candles lit the Great Hall but they were all floating mid-air. Five long tables, four on the main floor of the hall and one elevated along the far wall for the teachers, each long table was decorated with golden goblets and plates.

Professor McGonagall led all the first-years down the small runway, two tables where placed either side. We approached a small stage area at the front just below the staff table. Every face in the hall had turned to study the fresh meat now entering their school, in order to avoid all the eyes staring, I looked up expecting to be greeted by the pale stone of the Great Hall's ceiling but instead their was a velvet black sky dotted with stars. I heard Hermione whisper, "It's bewitched to look like the night sky, I read about in Hogwarts: A History."

In front of us, was a rickety looking wooden stool. On top of the stool was a pointed, brown leathered hat, patches of it were frayed and extremely dirt. Aunt Petunia wouldn't of allowed it in the house, let alone on mine and Harry's hat, which I assumed is going to happen, either that or we were going to try pull a rabbit out of it.

"Now, when I call your name, you will step forward, take a seat and I will place the hat on your head and you will be seated into your houses." Professor McGonagall explained clearly before releasing the roll of parchment so it fell open.

"All we have to do is try on the hat?!" Ron says with a sign of relief, "I'll kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling a troll."

I smiled weakly, yes trying on the hat is much better than having to do a spell or wrestling a troll, but I wish that we could try on the hat without everyone watching. The hat seemed to be asking rather a lot; I didn't feel brave or quick-witted. If only McGonagall had mentioned their was a house for people who didn't know what or who they really were.

"Demi Jones!" Professor McGonagall called, a tanned girl with wavy brown hair stepped forwards, took a seat on the stool, McGonagall placed the dirty hat on the girls head which falls over her eyes and after a moments pause –

"RAVENCLAW!" the hat shouted.

The table on the right against the wall, cheered and clapped, Demi jumped off the stool with a smile and several of the members stood up to shake the hand of the first new arrival. 'Anthony Skinner' also went to Ravenclaw. But a girl named 'Lavender Brown' became the first new Gryffindor and the table next to Ravenclaw which was the table on the right side of the walkway exploded into with cheers; I could see Fred and George cheering louder than anyone, standing on their feet clapping.

I look around to see that each table had different coloured ties, Ravenclaw had blue and white stripped ties, Gryffindor had maroon and gold, Slytherin had green and silver and by default, the table no one yet has been sorted into yet, Hufflepuff had yellow and black.

"Hermione Granger." Professor McGonagall called.

Suddenly, Hermione looked nervous, she whispered words of encouragement to herself as he walks up the steps to the stool where she hops on, McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on her head. It took a little while as the hat appeared to be talking to her, making a decision. Then it yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Hermione practically sprinted over to the table where everyone was screaming and clapping. Fred and George, once again where on their feet. She shook hands with one of the Weasley brothers. He looked like the eldest. Percy did his mother call him?

Anyway, as soon as the cheers from the Gryffindor table had quietened down, "Draco Malfoy." Professor McGonagall called, the hall went silent as the slick, blonde-haired boy stepped forward and took a seat on the wooden stool, Professor began to place the hat on his head, the Sorting Hat twitches, clearly realising whose head he was about to be placed upon and the surface of the hat had barely touched Draco's head before it yelled –

"SLYTHERIN!"

From the other tables were was a few gasps but the Slytherin table that was the table on the far left, cheered loudly. Ron turned swiftly to Harry and I with a little bit of fear in his eyes. "There's not a witch or wizard who went bad that wasn't in Slytherin." he tells us.

Both Neville and his twin Tracey were both sorted into Gryffindor. And when Ron was called, he went from pale to green very quickly but nonetheless, he found the courage to sit on the stool and seconds later the hat shouts, "GRYFFINDOR!"

There aren't many people left, 'Moon'... 'Nott'... 'Parkinson'... another pair of girl twins named 'Patil'... and 'Diggory'. And now it was just Harry, myself and a dark skinned boy. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat once again to silence the hall.

"Harry Potter." she then announced. Harry turned to look at me, I gave him a smile that I know calms him down, he grips my hand one last time before he walks up the steps to the stool. I could hear hundreds of voices mumbling:

"Potter, did she say!?"

"The Harry Potter?"

"Are they both here?"

I watched as the hat dipped over his ears, my brothers eyes flickered to mine, I turn to look at Ron and Hermione who looked as if they were crossing their fingers. Harry gripped the edge of the stool and my heart lunged, what was happening? Was he okay? Then, as my ears buzz, I hear a loud yell –

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry's face literally lights up with happiness, the cheers from the Gryffindor table were the loudest they had been this evening. The Weasley twins where yelling "We've got Harry" We've got Harry!" Hagrid gave him the thumbs up whilst Percy and other first-years shake the hand of Harry like he was a god. And now it was just me and this other boy.

Harry, Ron and Hermione have all been sorted into the same noble house that everyone seemed to want to be a part of, and I, was no exception seeing how happy the Gryffindor table appeared to be compared to the others – I hadn't seen Harry smile so much in a long time, in fact, never have I seen him smile like this: he is happy.

"Grace Potter." called Professor McGonagall.

The hall went silent again, a few mumbles echoed from the tables behind me and the teachers that sat on the High Table long the back went ridged. Walking up the steps to the stool where the Sorting Hat sits happily humming to itself – himself.

McGonagall removes the hat from the stool allowing me to sit down comfortably, facing the entire student-body of Hogwarts, every pair of eyes is on me, burning varies holes into my body. My hands sweat furiously as the hat is placed on my head, it wiggles down onto the crown of my skull covering my ears and just sat stationary for a while humming happily before eventually, settling down.

"Ah, another Potter, hmm..." it says, I can almost feel the hat smiling, "Not like your brother are you? Brave, yes. Loyal, yes. But you, Miss Potter are also cunning and sly." The entire hall seems to have leaned in to try and hear what the hat was saying, "Now, where to put you..." it continued, "Would you like to be with your brother? Is that wise?" Harry's eyes were super-glued on me, as were Ron and Hermione's. The hat laughs, "You would be great in Gryffindor but I sense, deep down you want to create your own path, be a different person than the stories create..."

The hat was correct, in a sense, I didn't start Hogwarts being a no-one, I was "Grace Potter – The Girl Who Lived". Maybe I wanted to be different than what the stories made up.

"You've got a good mind, talented but cunning as well... hmm, better be – SLYTHERIN!"

A/N: Yes, he's a Gryffindor and she's a Slytherin. Don't hate me, but if you do, remember to review, favourite and follow because things could get real complicated between the twins now they are in houses that hate each other, not to mention Draco being close to Grace ;) REVIEW!