Hagrid led them up to the castle. The eleven year olds all peered up at the great turrets with amazed expressions on their faces. The impressive doors to the grand entrance hall opened up in front of them as they stumbled up the front steps to the castle. There was a woman in black robes waiting for them. Her hair was in a tight bun. Harry heard his father whisper to Sirius, "I bet she's never let her hair down!" followed by a gentle "tsk" from directly behind them where Lily was stood with Snape.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, I am Professor McGonagall, deputy headmistress and head of Gryffindor house. In a few moments you will all walk into the Great Hall to be sorted. You will wait patiently until your name is called. When your name is called you will step forward and sit on the stool and put the sorting hat on your head, then you will go and join your new house mates on your house tables. Do you understand?"

"Yes, professor." The eleven year olds chimed together.

"Follow me." Professor McGonagall walked into the Great Hall with the new first years following closely behind her. When they had reached the front of the Great Hall, she quickly stopped and pulled out a scroll of parchment; a list of names.

The hat began to sing its annual song:

Welcome all to Hogwarts School,

Of Witchcraft and Wizardry,

Where everyone is welcome.

If you're brave, daring and chivalrous,

A risk taker, with nerve,

Then you're home will be found in Gryffindor.

If you are ambitious and cunning,

Resourceful to the end,

Then you belong with our Slytherins.

If you're intelligent and witty,

Seeking knowledge,

Then your house is Ravenclaw.

If you're willing to work hard, be patient and kind,

Loyal and fair,

Then you will be accepted by good old Hufflepuff.

Wherever you belong,

At Hogwarts you will certainly find a home.

McGonagall began to call out names in alphabetical order. Harry wasn't really paying attention. He was more interested in seeing the excitement on his parents' faces. Lily was staring at the enchanted ceiling, whilst James was stood towards the back admiring some of the girls sat at the nearest table.

"Avery, Martifius!"

"Slytherin!"

"Black, Sirius!" McGonagall called. Sirius stepped forward nervously. He sat on the stool and pulled the hat onto his head. Harry could see his lips moving silently, "Please not Slytherin"

"Gryffindor," shouted out the hat. The room had a strange quiet. The Slytherins looked angry, whilst the Gryffindors merely looked surprised. Slowly, people began to clap excitedly. The Gryffindors welcomed him to their table; clasping him on the back and congratulating him. Harry watched the Slytherins, several of them were staring at the Gryffindor table. Bellatrix was staring directly at her cousin Sirius, whilst talking to her little sister Narcissa.

"Evans, Lily!" Harry watched as his mother walked forward on trembling legs and sat down on the rickety stool. Professor McGonagall dropped the hat upon her head, and barely a second later had the hat cried, "Gryffindor!" Snape moaned somewhere behind Harry. Harry watched as Lily joined the table of smiling Gryffindors.

"Grennock, Adrian!" A young boy walked forward timidly, and sat on the seat. "Ravenclaw!"

"Longbottom, Frank!" Frank walked up, almost tripping over his own feet. "Gryffindor!"

"I really hope I am in Gryffindor James," Alice said quietly.

"Alice, you are the bravest person I know… well except myself of course." Potter replied, winking at her. He put his arm around her, "don't worry. I'll still be your friend if you're in Slytherin."

"Lupin, Remus!" "Gryffindor!" Harry watched as Lupin walked over to the Gryffindor table, shaking the hands of his new housemates.

Professor McGonagall called "Macdonald, Mary!"

"Gryffindor!" The young girl jumped up; she had long flowing black hair and pretty brown eyes. When she reached the Gryffindor table she sat next to Lily, "Hello, I'm Mary. Looks like we're going to be roommates."

"Hiya, I'm Lily. It's nice to meet you." Lily smiled as she made a new friend.

"Macnair, Walden!"

"Slytherin!"

"Meadowes, Dorcas!"

"Ravenclaw!"

Professor McGonagall called out another name, "McKinnon, Marlene!" Marlene walked up to the stool confidently with a great grin across her face.

"Gryffindor!" shouted the Sorting Hat.

"Mulciber, Levisious!" Mulciber, a strong, bulky boy walked up to the stool and before the hat had even touched the top of his head it cried out, "Slytherin!"

"Pettigrew, Peter!" Pettigrew was a timid, slightly plump boy.

"Gryffindor!"

"You wait Alice, we're both going to be in Gryffindor. I promise." James said as Professor McGonagall called out his name.

"Potter, James!" James walked forward, trying to pretend he wasn't nervous. "Why, Gryffindor, of course!" shouted the hat.

"Prewitt, Alice!"

"Gryffindor!"

"Redford, Lisa!"

"Hufflepuff!"

"Stebbins, Thomas!" A short, quiet boy slowly walked up to the stool. McGonagall placed the hat on his head and it called in a booming voice, "Hufflepuff!"

"Vance, Emmeline!"

"Ravenclaw!"

The sorting was over and Professor McGonagal had removed the sorting hat and stool with a single swipe of her wand. Professor Dumbledore stood to his feet with an exciting twinkling in his eye.

"Well, tuck in!"

After the feast, Dumbledore stood once more. "Welcome to Hogwarts! And for the rest of you, welcome back! I have just a few things I need to say to you before you go to bed. We have a new member of staff, sadly Professor Delper has decided to retire so we have the pleasure of welcoming Professor Kilmont to the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."

Everyone put their hands together for the new teacher briefly before Dumbledore continued, "First years, be aware that the forbidden forest is, yes you've guessed it, forbidden. Anyone who enters it without permission will suffer a very untimely death. Also Filch, the caretaker, would have me remind you that there is a list of prohibited items attached to the door of his office, for any of you meddlesome types it might be worth checking the list before placing your order with Zonkos. I must also, sadly, remind you that at Hogwarts we treat everyone as equals regardless of their blood-status. No matter what news you hear from outside of this castle, I promise you, you are all safe here." He then turned towards the Slytherin table, "I must also say that anyone who is caught doing anything that does not uphold Hogwarts very high standards will be punished and perhaps expelled. Anyway, enough of that. Off to bed. Chop chop."