They pulled up to the castle and even the North American brothers were in awe at it's sheer beauty.

They have traveled the world, but nothing has matched to this.

It was a massive stone building, with towers rising on either end, and a larger one dead center. There was ivy growing up the sides and inside the cracks of the grey colored marble and the door was made of solid bronze.

Being lead through said door, they are walked in along with the students and told to wait in a big room.

Everything was calm and orderly, the mood relaxed and the only sounds to be heard were some idle chitchat and footsteps around the room.

Then came in the ghosts...

"Hello students I'm-" One of the ghosts tried to say, but was cut off by Americas screaming.

"Ahhhhh MATTIE HELP ME!" Alfred screamed, running towards Canada and away from the ghost.

He ran up to his twin's arm, clung to it, and hid behind his brother.

"G-G-GHOST, Mattie help me!"

Mathew rolled his eyes and tried prying his brother off him, to no avail.

"Alfred, please, you making a scene" Mathew whispered looking around and noticing all eyes were on them, well mainly Alfred. Mathew blushed and continued to try to pry the American off him, and muttering "Alfred there is no need to be scared of ghosts".

America (still shaking) let go and tried to look undignified.

"I-I'm not s-scared of ghosts, I-I'm just protecting you."

Then Alfred felt a tap of his shoulder and jumped high enough to touch the chandelier.

"Evasion plan 209 Delta, Strategic retreat!" Alfred screamed, while dragging Mathew, who is being whipped around like a kite behind him by his wrist, and running for the door. When he got to there, he pulled, pushed and kicked in order to open, but it was locked.

"Damn it" he cried

He was about to punch down the door when he felt the same pull again.

Curse you Nantucket.

Like last time he froze, tensed up the relaxed into a pile on the floor.

"Someone get him a chair!" Mathew yelled. This was a day of firsts for him.

Hermione, being the only one not in shock, ran over and grabbed a chair and brought it to Mathew who proceeded to dump his brother on it.

After a minute of silence Alfred finally came back to his senses. While panting managed to wheeze out, "You .Promised. To. Never. Do .That .In .PUBLIC!"

"You were about to break down the door in fear" Canada simply stated, going back to his soft and calm voice.

"I was not scared I was… um… Making a strategic retreat" he said, smiling widely at the end.

Obliviousness is bliss.

Then came the barking laughter that could only belong to one person.

Stupid Snake.

"Ha ha ha. So the shotgun hero is so afraid of ghost he'll go crying to his little brother for help" he snickered.

"Actually I'm older" Mathew politely stated, though everyone ignored him.

"This is priceless! And what is with the whole almost fainting thing? Mathew you have got to teach me to do that." He said staring straight at Mathew.

Canada gulped; he has gotten more attention today than his entire life put together. "W-Why would I t-teach the p-p-person who w-wants to hu-hurt Alfred, to sedate him" he said his confidence growing as the sentence went.

Just to be deflated again.

"B-because" Malfoy said derivatively. "Your 'Cowboy' over there isn't always going to be there to protect you".

He was going to make Mathew cry, Draco decided.

Go after the weaker twin first, and that should break the other.

He took a step closer.

Canada took a step back.

Another step closer.

Another back.

Forward

Back

Forward

Back

Forward

Back against the wall.

Draco was dangerously close to Mathew now and the Canadian was shivering. The room was silent, a pin being dropped would not only be heard but ring out like shot.

Then there was a voice from the back of the room.

"Oi' snake eyes, I'm tawken' to ya'"

Alfred stood up, his New York accent getting stronger as his anger grew.

"Ya' know, I'm good with more than just a revolva', I'm also quite good at baseball, if ya' catch my drift".

"Altha' I found the bat to be more effective when ya' add in a couple screws' n nails, 'm I right".

His glare dead set on Malfoy

"Now scram, skedaddle, vodamouse, for' I change my mind about look'n for mio' bat"

This time Draco stepped away.

But he certainly but not run to the corner of the room and hide behind the other Slytherins like a frightened little girl.

At least in his mind he didn't.

The glare passed and Alfred walked over to Mathew,

"You all right?" Alfred asked.

"Y-yeah I'm fine" Mathew stated.

Before he could say anything else a lady walked in and called for all the first years, and Mathew and Alfred since they needed to be sorted, (Malfoy got a laugh out of that).

The twins walked down the hallway and were lead into a huge room with what looked to be no ceiling and long rows of tables.

There were candles floating above, bathing the otherwise pitch back night in a golden glow.

On the walls were flags of each of the four houses and in the front was a grand stage with many adults, ranging from approximately twenty, to a thousand years old (at least in Alfred's head), all sitting in intricately carved chairs.

At the podium stood an old man with a long white beard and blue cloak.

He addressed the crowd and started speaking.

"Hello to booth old and new students. To those just arriving I am Professor Dumbledore, the schools head master."

"To those who have returned, welcome back for another certainly exciting year." When he said that it was clear that his eyes were locked on Harry. The two had formed quite a bond the previous year, even with the surprising lack of events. The scariest thing consisting of Draco, the trio and a few random third years getting locked up on the roof.

"Since I am sure those poor students in the back are dying to find out their house, so I say let's get to it."

Then another teacher walked up holding a hat?

"Dude, what is that?" Alfred asked.

'Well I guess oblivious is better than murderous' thought Canada, shrugging to his brother.

Everyone was watching with bated breath to see what would happen, and then the strangest thing happened.

It started to sing.

As the hat sang the first note the twins looked at each other, raised an eyebrow and both were thinking 'what the hell wrong with England's schools?'

Then the hat stated to sing.

Oh, you may not think I'm 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 tops 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 will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell brave of heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And you won't get in a flap!
You're safe in my hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap

The crowd burst into applause while the brothers just stood there, looking around.

Then the man with the beard came back up "well without further ado let us get started."

"First Lenore Garfield".

The girl walked up to the stage and sat in the stool. The cap was placed on her head and after a minute it yelled out "Hufflepuff".

The process happened over and over again for about thirty people, although different houses and varying time spent on head.

Then it was the moment of truth for the twins.

"Next is a set of twins, it looks like first up, Mathew Williams."

Mathew slowly drudged onto the stage trying to become invisible and sat in the stool. The cap was placed upon his head and he started to panic. If the hat could read his mind, what if it knew he was a country.

'Yes I do know, but no I will not tell. Your secret is safe with me.'

'Thank you, so much Mr. Hat this means a lot'

'No need to thank me it is not my place to tell, my job is to determine your house. You are kind and loyal, but deep in you, you have endless bravery, you gained through your experience and wars. For example burning down your brothers' capital.

Canada visibly winced from that memory, he still feels guilty for that.

You are a model Hufflepuff but you will not gain from it, you need to unlock your bravery'.

"Gryffindor" the hat shouted.

The room looked stunned that the boy, who had to be rescued from Malfoy twice by his younger brother, was in the house of bravery?

Mathew was standing there just as speechless as the crowd.

The room was silent, until a familiar voice boomed through the room.

"Woo-ho that's my Mattie, I knew my brother was awesome, take that suckers woo-ho" Then America ran onto the stage and captured his brother in one of his famous 'good ole' American' bone crushing hugs.

"Well I guess I don't need to call up Mr. Jones now do I?" Dumbledore smiled behind the brothers.

Then Alfred released brother and pushed him towards the Gryffindor table, with a wink.

Mathew sat down next to Ron, smiling while he did.

Now, was who everyone was waiting for.

"Mr. Alfred F. Jones, please take a seat."

Alfred anxiously sat down, smiling his movie star smile as the hat was placed in his head.

'First off don't worry America your secret is safe with me.'

America let out a sigh of relief.

"This is interesting. You have a lot of the traits of all the houses. Mostly Slytherin and Gryffindor.

Alfred gagged when he heard Slytherin.

'Yes, you have ambition most certainly, and bravery to spare. I truly am stumped. Your revolution for example, you bravely stood up for your beliefs and fought for freedom and justice, but your ambition, drive and cunning (though you refuse to admit it to yourself you are) are what won you that war. Also the cold war in which you stood up against the world superpower and won thanks to smarts and ambition.

"I haven't been this torn since the boy who lives" the hat declared out loud to the audience.

'You have both light and darkness in you. I don't know which house would bring your strengths out the most. I think with Slytherin you could harness your true potential and discover you true intelligence.

The hat the declared "Slyther.."

"WAIT" Alfred called out

'Please Mr. Hat put me with my brother. I could not stand to be away from him.'

'Oh that is what I needed to see, loyalty. That was what I was trying to peg down with you, Mr. America. You left the man who took care of you, all for your own for freedom, but you still help him today. That is why you're here. And you want to protect your brother who, by the way isn't nearly as weak as you think.'

"Okay I have made my decision" the hat exclaimed

It seemed as if the whole auditorium leaned forward to find out the house of the only man to take longer than Harry Potter.

"Gryffindor."

America jumped up and started doing a not at all dorky victory dance, which included twirling around and throwing the hat on the floor.

Then picking it up, gently placing on the stand and apologizing ninety times for throwing it, while it literally cursed at him.

He strutted over to the Gryffindor table and took the seat next to Mathew.

This time it was Mathews turn to give the bone shattering hug.

"Oh I am so proud of you Amer-Alfred"

"Dude, when did you become so strong" said Alfred, turning slightly blue in the face.

"Runs in the family" Canada responded fondly, who finally let go of his brother.

"Come on dudes and dudetts" said Alfred in a California accent "let's chow down".

Half way through everything was going great. The twins hoped maybe the trio had just forgotten what happened on the train, or decided not to ask.

But there hopes were crushed.

"So now that we are here with no distractions, what. Happened. On. The. Train." said Hermione slowly.

"Well, umm you see" Alfred began trying to make up and excuse in his head, when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

An ice cold hand.

"M-M-Mattie"

"Alfred relax, were fine as long as were together." Mathew tried to calm him down.

Alfred was all out shaking now and then he jumped up and yelled "strategic retreat" ran out of the room leaving Mathew to chase after him.

"Best. Use. Of. Ice. Ever." Said Draco standing where Alfred's chair used to be, doubled over and laughing.

Draco turned to his friends behind him and mocked, throwing up his hands like Alfred "Strategic retreat", then re-doubled over.

Then Patti, another Slytherin girl, hugged her arms close to her chest like she was holding a bear and mocked Mathews voice "A-A-Alfred w-wait"

Ron, Hermione and Harry sat there glaring at Malfoy, until he noticed them.

"Hello targets three, four and five. You've been demoted, the twins seem like they would be much more fun to break. I don't know which though. Probably the Yank, yeah the yank..." He trailed off.

"You bloody twit" Ron said jumping up "we almost had him explain what happened on the train, but you had to be an idiot and scare him away."

"It's not my fault he's a crybaby" Draco stated melodramatically, not knowing the irony behind his sentence (Just ask Japan).

"Although it does rather interest me how he was almost a Slytherin, so he must not be as dumb as he looks. And he actually took long than Harry so he must have history." Draco said counting off on his fingers.

"Also what is with all the accents, it's not normal to have so many?"

"Well now we may never know because you had to be a useless wanker and scare him off" Ron cursed.

Draco stood there and smirked looking directly into Weasley's eyes as he spoke

"It doesn't matter what he says, you can guarantee it is lie. I'll just message my dad's people and they will track down every last drop of information, to which I could use to ruin his and his brothers lives".

He stalked away slowly, only pausing for a second to say

"Now please excuse me, I believe I have an owl to send to dear old dad".

"Okay what are we going to do?" Alfred questioned morbidly, for the first time, stopped talking and let his brother speak.

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"Well fist we need some Alibis" Said Canada. "Something to explain the fact I can disappear like a ghost and you have super human strength and shooting skills."

"What about we just avoid the topic of strength, I say that I spent a lot of Time on farms as a kid, so I got good at shooting?" Alfred said.

"I'll just say I was born like this and then drift away I guess" Mathew trialed.

"What about family" Questioned Alfred

"Just say it's complicated and leave it at that" Canada answered. "They legally can't make us talk anyway."

The brothers sighed and stared at the Gryffindor flag hanging on the wall in their room.

"I was almost sorted into Hufflepuff" Mathew whispered, even quieter than usual.

"But the hat said I have bravery deep down inside of me".

"Of course you do, you're my little brother" Alfred said matching Canada's tone.

"Actually I'm older" Mathew tried to interject but was cut off by an even quieter, rushed sentence.

"The hat tried to put me in Slytherin."

"WHAT" yelled Mathew, yes yelled. Not whisper-yelled, a wall shaking yell almost as loud as his brothers.

"I-I" stuttered America,

'Well this is a first' thought Mathew, 'sometimes it's nice being the one not invisible'.

Mathew started to smile until he heard Alfred's sobs.

Mathew ran over and hugged him like he did when they were just little colonies and Alfred was told a ghost story.

"Shh, shh it's alright, it's okay eh, you'll be ok, just tell me what happened eh" Mathew murmured in an awkward attempt at comfort.

You'd think that after a good two hundred years you would figure out how to make someone, let alone your brother, feel better, but despite that between the two he is the more sensitive one, it was still just awkward.

"T-the hat t-told me that I-I had booth bravery, and a cut throat ambition" then his face got even sadder, "H-he brought up the revolution and the cold war, and almost sent me to Slytherin away from you" he cried out at the end, then collapsed on the bed sniffling.

"Maybe I am evil, there was that whole manifest destiny thing" America said rolling onto his side.

"No you're not" Mathew soothingly gestured, "You're just tired, you did have Nantucket pulled three times today". Mathew couldn't help a small smirk towards the end though.

"Okay, good night brother, I love you" Then he drifted to sleep.

"I love you too", said Mathew going crawling into Alfred's bed and snuggling like when they were kids.

"Insolent, hog-feathered, basted nosed, limey" Ron grumbled while walking to the Gryfinder common room. "No good bloody…"

Cutting off Ron mid rant was a wall shaking

"WHAT" reverberating through the hallway.

Then Hermione said "come on I think that was Mathew".

The three raced up to the portrait.

"Ginger foot, ginger foot" yelled the three in unison and the portrait swung open.

They dashed up the stairs, into Ron and Harry's room and hid behind a pillar.

They got their just in time to see Alfred plop down and say "I love you to his brother"

Then they saw Mathew smile, losing his angry aura and sigh "I love you too" and snuggle under the covers with his brother.

After they were sure they were asleep, they snuck out from behind the pillar and looked at the brothers.

"You know, if I liked blondes I would be having a nosebleed right now". Hermione stated, staring blankly.

Harry just cocked his head to the side and said "well Ron, we certainly have some interesting roommates along with Neville this year".

Ron also staring responded "yep"

Hermione left the two to keep gawking and went to the library to do some research on 'Nantucket'.