Hey guys! So i finally got back to writing another chapter. I usually try and have a few chapters up each week. It took me a few days to get back onto the computer to write. Btw i DID NOT write the sorting hat song in this chapter. I give all the credit to MagicFireTiger because that person is the one who wrote it. Also go check out the other parts of this three-way story by MagicFireTiger and EmeraldSerpant394. Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Btw i don't own any of J.K. Rowling's original characters.

Chapter 4

The Sorting of the Houses

Jade came back about let's say and hour to an hour and a half later all teary-faced and red. The rest of the trip was almost completely quiet. As soon as the sun started to go down, I decided to go check how long it was going to be until we got there.

As I walked down the hallway, I saw many other people's compartments. Some compartments were fun and joyful, and in others everyone was just doing their own thing. I sighed. My compartment wasn't like that. My compartment had Jade in it. Ugh! She made me so angry! I don't even know why boys like her. I mean, I guess she's pretty and all but, she has a mean and sour attitude.

Ugh! Oh! I saw the head compartment where the conductor is. I slid open the door and stepped inside. "Excuse me, but do you know when we will be there?" I said in my nicest possible voice to the conductor.

"We are almost there, an hour tops."

"Okay. Thank you!" I replied.

"You're welcome!" I heard the conductor say as I left.

I walked out of the head compartment and started walking down the hallway. I reached my compartment in just the matter of minutes.

Once I had arrived back at the compartment, I told the others we were nearly there and that we should probably change into our robes. They agreed. So the boys went out while Jade and I changed. I eyed her with narrowed eyes, still annoyed by what she said to me earlier. I changed quickly and sat down. Once she and I where both done changing we both stepped out into the hallway while the boys changed. Quickly thereafter the boys were finished, and Jade and I stepped back into the compartment.

I heard the train screech to a stop and started to get my things from the luggage rack down. Jade, James, and Freddie went out into the bustle of people and soon I did the same. I inched my way out of the train, and I heard a gruff voice saying, "Firs' years, this way! Firs' years, to the boats!" I inched my way over to where to voice had come from. As soon as I reached the spot, I looked up. A towering man (who I thought was a giant) was above me, shouting to come over to where he was standing.

Finally, we all gathered into the boats to ride to the castle. I climbed into a boat with a blond-haired girl and pretty black-haired girl. I soon learned their names where Johanna Abbot and Kathleen Ashbee.

As I was riding in the boat, I saw the magnificence of Hogwarts. It had turrets, towers, and many lights. It looked amazing. We got out of the boats and headed up to the great double oak doors. Suddenly, they flew open and Professor McGonagall, headmistress of the school, stood in the entrance.

We followed her inside and she explained the rules. We would be sorted into one of the four Houses, Gryffindor, Huffelpuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin. She talked about losing house points and earning them and stuff about our Houses being our family. Then, she finally led us into the Great Hall for our first time ever.

I understood now why it's called the Great Hall. It's magnificent. There are four long tables, one for each house and a head table where all the teachers sit. There are torches that light up the whole room. The ceiling, it looks like the night sky except different because it has candles floating in the air. All of the tables were filled with girls and boys different ages and sizes. All of them were in black robes.

Professor Longbottom came out of a door to the side of the head table, holding a battered three-legged stool and the Sorting Hat on top of it.

Then, the hat opened up its mouth and sang:

"Welcome, welcome, Hogwarts students,

"To year one, two, three, four, or more.

"And a new year full of learning,

"In your Houses, one of four.

"Tonight I shall sort you first years,

"In one of each Hogwarts Houses,

"Which define certain qualities you all have,

"Each of which is a gift,

"Of which you've all been blessed.

"There's Gryffindor, for those of whom,

"Are braver than they seem,

"Ravenclaw, which holds those students,

"Who treasure knowledge and curiosity.

"Then again, you might belong in Hufflepuff,

"Who are loyal and kind until the end,

"Or perhaps you'll join the Slytherins,

"Where the cunning I shall send.

"But wherever you are going,

"Be sure you don't forget!

"Each Hogwarts House is yo-ur friend,

"Honor each other, and then you're a-all set!"

The Great Hall burst into enormous applause.

Then, Professor Longbottom brought out the scroll and start shouting out names.

"Abbott, Johanna!"

A girl nervously pushed past me, muttering to herself, "Remember what Auntie Hannah said, don't panic, you'll do fine. Oh, I'm sure to be in Slytherin!" I looked at her. She looked scared. I was starting to feel that way myself.

She sat down on the stool with a positively frightened expression on her face for I don't know how long, but it was several minutes before the hat finally shouted out, "HUFFLEPUFF!" Johanna's face looked relieved as she stepped down off the stool and into the crowd of cheering Hufflepuffs.

"Ashbee, Kathleen!"

Oh! Kathleen, from my boat, was going. I sure hoped she would be in same house as me.

"RAVENCLAW!"

Awe, I guess that's ok. I'd make other friends. Speaking of friends, where was Amanda? Meh, I'd find her later. Hopefully.

"Boot, Owen!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

A few other kids went and then they called my name.

"Finnigan, Elizabeth!"

I slowly walked up to the stool, my nerves bubbling up inside me.

I climbed onto the stool and the Professor put the hat on me. It seemed to wait a few seconds and then it decided.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

I breathed a sigh of relief.

I stepped into a crowd of cheering Gryffindors. More students were sorted.

"Malfoy, Jade!"

I turned my head. Oh. Jade was going. Hopefully she wasn't in Gryffindor—any House but Gryffindor.

Jade walked up to the stool and sat down. The professor put the hat on her. She sat there for a few minutes and then finally, the hat said,

"Better be SLYTHERIN!"

I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I wouldn't have to sleep in a bed next to hers.

A few more first years went and then James's name was called.

"Potter, James!"

Everyone was watching him. The hat seemed to be thinking.

"Better be . . . GRYFFINDOR!"

Ugh. I'd have to put up with him. Though he's a bit nicer than Jade, so that's good.

The Gryffindors shouted and cheered and stomped their feet. I did the same.

I watched James as he sat down near a seventh year boy, I assumed.

I watched as around twenty other first-years got sorted into their houses, and then Freddie got sorted.

"Weasley, Freddie!"

I watched as Freddie walked up to the stool, sat down, and waited for a few minutes until the Hat finally yelled, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Soon afterwards, all the students had been sorted.

Professor Longbottom took the Hat and the stool out of the room. Then, Professor McGonagall stood up and looked around at us all. Her face was stern like before, but it also held a certain kindness now.

She then said told us about all the rules of the school (after welcoming us, of course), and then we were allowed to eat.

Suddenly, all the shining gold dishes and gold goblets were filled with every food I could have ever dreamed of. I reached all the food I could fit onto my plate and started eating.

There were lots of conversations going on and everyone sounded happy. But Amanda…. Where was Amanda?

After I had eaten my fill of dinner, before me all of the food was suddenly gone and the plates were filled with all the desserts you could imagine. I ate everything that my tummy would allow me to.

Once dessert was finished, we all went up to the Gryffindor common room. The Gryffindor prefects lead us up the moving stairs to a door with a moving fat lady on it.

"Now, remember, the password's 'Albus,' but don't tell anyone else that or they'll be able to get in," said the boy prefect, I think whose name was Gary Thomas.

"Password?" said the fat woman.

"Albus," said Gary Thomas.

The portrait swung open and the Gryffindor common room was revealed. It had a fire on the middle wall and some cushy chairs and couches surrounding it.

The girl prefect led us up to the girls' dormitories. There were two sections, and I was in the first one. I plopped down onto my bed and sighed. Today was a very long day.

I looked over at the other girls. On the right of me there was a black-haired girl named Samantha and a blond-haired girl named Faith. On my left there was—oh! Amanda Wood! Oh, finally I found her. Now I didn't have to go looking for her. There was also a girl red-haired girl named Christine.

I went over to Amanda's bed and tapped on her shoulder. She turned around. "Oh! Hi!"

"Hi!" We hugged. "I couldn't find you on the train or during the sorting!" I said.

"I know!" she replied. "Well, at least we're together now!"

"Yes!"

We ended up staying up until 10 talking, and then we finally decided to go to sleep.

Today had been a long day, I'd found my friend, got sorted, and a number of other things. I sighed. I wondered what tomorrow would be like? I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.