Disclaimer: I took some quotes right out of the book from here on... enjoy!

The first years waited out in the entrance hall nervously.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The houses are..."

But Draco inturrupted her, whispering so only Lily could hear, "Yeah, yeah, we already know all this! Lily, d'you know who that is?"

"Yes, of course. That's Professor McGonagal." She shrugged. Draco looked a little put down.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot you've been here before."

Lily stifled a laugh.

"A couple of times, yeah."

"Well, are you ready to get into Slytherin?"

Lily's grin grew; along with Draco's.

"Yeah. It's going to be great."

Only, inside, Lily wasn't so sure. Of course, her father was head of Slytherin house, so really she'd have to be in Slytherin... right?

"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."

She left.

Draco spoke up suddenly, "You know Lily, I'm positive I'll get into Slytherin. I have to. My whole family was in Slytherin. So I'll get in. Yes. I'll get in."

Lily noticed that he seemed to almost be reassuring himself as much as her.

"I'm sure you will, Draco."

Draco gasped. He turned it into a cough at the last minute.

"Look! It's the ghosts!"

Indeed, 20 or so of the school's ghosts rushed through the wall.

They were talking to each other.

Lily beamed at them. Draco looked like he was trying very hard not to look frightened.

"Look here, Lily. Nothing to be scared of. They're just ghosts. Can't hurt you. My dad told me all about them. That stupid fat one there is Hufflepuff's ghost the Fat Friar."

"I know the Fat Friar. He's very nice."

Draco snorted.

"Nice? May be, but no one cares about that."

Lily scowled.

"I do," she said defiantly.

"Well some people do then," Draco added hastily, "But not many. You're just too good Lily. You know that?"

Lily smiled thinly.

"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall said. She'd reentered the chamber whilst Lily and Draco chatted.

"...and follow me."

Lily was nervous. Though she'd been in the Great Hall before, she'd never been Sorted before.

I'll get into Slytherin. She told herself. There's no need for me to consider the other houses... it'd just be a disappointment.

The Great Hall looked the same as always. The bewitched ceiling that Lily so loved was up there... welcoming her as it always did. She smiled up at it and felt a little bit more realaxed.

And then the Sorting Hat started to sing.

It was a song about the houses of Hogwarts. Everyone applauded as soon as it finished.

Draco was deathly silent.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!"

A girl with blonde pigtails fell out of the line. She put on the hat. It slipped all the way over her eyes. A moment of silence and then...

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.

The Hufflepuff table exploded in cheers and applause.

"Bones, Susan!"

Susan was sorted into Hufflepuff too. Then Terry boot was put in Ravenclaw. Then Mandy Brocklehurst joined him. After that Lavender Brown was Sorted into Gryffindor. Then Millicent Bulstrode became a Slytherin.
Hmmm. Lily thought. A roommate of mine. She doesn't look very nice.

Just then Justin Finch-Fletchley became a Hufflepuff.

"What a stupid name," Draco whispered scornfully.

Lily shrugged; not paying him any mind.

Eventually, Draco's name was called.

He staggered forward; trying to look all high-and-mighty. The hat barely touched his head before he was Sorted into Slytherin. He looked immensly pleased with himself. Lily was happy for him.

Yes! She thought. At least Draco's in my house.

Then, latter, Harry Potter's name was called.

Lily studied him intently.

It was the Harry Potter!

Her thoughts were echoed in whispers across the hall.

"Potter, did she say?"

"The Harry Potter?"

The sorting hat was placed on his head. A little bit later and...

"Gryffindor!" The sorting hat shouted.

Lily sighed inwardly. She had hoped to be in the same house as Harry Potter. He was a subject of absolute fascination to her. How had he done it? How had he escaped the dark lord?

Lily laughed when two identical redheads on the Gryffindor table started shouting, "We got Potter! We got Potter!"

There were only four more people to be sorted.

Despite knowing where she was going to end up, her stomach was in knots when she sat on the stool.

"Hmmm," Said the sorting hat in her ear.

"You're relatively easy to place. Smart, yes. Plenty of talent... hmmm. I do think it'll have to be..."

He paused.

What? Lily thought. Where?

"GRYFFINDOR!"

What?

Author's Note: Please review!!!