McGonagall had come back and told us to get in a line soon after an incident with a few ghosts. We walked towards the Great Hall and I gasped. It was marvelous. Thousands of candles hovered above four long tables, and golden plates and goblets adorned the top of them. Students all turned to look at us as we passed, making me queasy. We were lead up to the front and a stool stood before us. McGonagall stood beside it and placed an old wizards hat on it. It was old, withered and dusty. Then suddenly, it twitched and the brim of it opened, as if it had a mouth...and began 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 top hats sleek and tall,

For I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat And I can sort 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 the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal,

Those patients Hufflepuffs are true And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in 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 don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

Giggling, I clapped along with the others. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became still. Slowly McGonagall stepped forward, holding a long piece of parchment.

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

She was fat, with a pink rounded face and pigtails. The hat slid over her eyes and the hall fell silent, waiting for an answer.

"She's fat." Lydia muttered.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat shouted.

The table on the right cheered as Pudgy went over to sit down.

"Bones, Susan!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!" The hat shouted again.

I closed my eyes for a while. I knew my name was going to be said soon, because Crabbe was already called and sorted into Slytherin. I must've missed when she called my name the first time because Draco nudged me, making me open my eyes.

"Crypton, Vanice!"

The hall fell quiet, again. Nervously, I shuffled up to the stool and sat in it. The hat went over my eyes, and the last thing I saw was Lydia giving me a thumbs up, next to Draco who was giving me an encouraging smile.

"Well, well, well. Another Crypton. I remember sorting your Father and your Mother." The hat said inside my head. "But you...you are rather tricky. Many different traits."

"Like what?" I asked in my mind, with a shaky tone.

"You are clever, very intelligent. A good Ravenclaw mind. Yet, you have a heart...even though it's not open to everyone. Hufflepuff would accept you. And you are brave. Not afraid of speaking out. Gryffindor would be proud to have you in his house. But what really catches my attention is your ambition, your thirst to do whatever it takes to prove yourself. You want to be in Slytherin above all."

"I'm all that?" I asked in doubt.

The hat chuckled, making it move on top of my head.

"Most people don't know what they are until they try me on. But I can see that you already have pictured yourself where you want to be, and it is the best choice. The path you are taking will lead you to greatness." The hat told me, then I felt it opening his mouth and it shouted to the room-

"SLYTHERIN!"

A large applause came from the table on the right at the end of the hall. Standing up, I walked over, and an empty space was waiting for me beside Crabbe. I sat down gave him a smile before looking back to watch the sorting.

"Goyle, Gregory!"

As we watched Goyle put on the hat, Crabbe leaned closer to my ear.

"Yours took longer than usual." He whispered.

"How long?" I whispered back.

" 'Bout three minutes." He answered, shrugging his shoulders.

"SLYTHERIN!" The hat suddenly cried, and Goyle walked over, grinning and sitting on Crabbe's left.

"Hey mate, glad you made it." Crabbe told him, slapping his back.

"Granger, Hermione!"

Immediately, I stopped chuckling and turned my head to see the bushy haired, buck-toothed girl. The hat slid over her eyes and a moment of silence passed.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Good riddance." I mumbled.

"Malfoy, Draco!"

Instantly, I craned my neck to see him get on the stool, but the hat had barely touched his head when it cried out.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Clapping and cheering, we made a space for him between Crabbe and I.

"At least yours was short." I told him once the clapping had died down.

He chuckled, but we immediately became quiet when McGonagall called out the next name.

"Potter, Harry!"

A mumble of words and whispers floated amongst the room, and as the boy with untidy hair stepped up, the lightning scar he had was barely visible once be put the hat on.

"Not Slytherin, not Slytherin..." I silently prayed, crossing my fingers under the table.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

A boom of cheers erupted from the table on the opposite end of us, and two identical red haired boys where yelling out: "We got Potter, we got Potter!"

"Red hair, worn down robes, more children than they can afford...must be the Weasley's." Draco said, making Crabbe and Goyle snicker.

"Serpance, Lydia!"

"I can't see." I hissed, angry that a second year's head had blocked my view.

"There isn't a doubt that she'll be in Slytherin. After all, she's my cousin." Draco told me.

No sooner than he had told me, the hat bellowed out to the Hall:

"SLYTHERIN!"

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

Helloooo fellow Potterheads! I just want to thank the new follows and favorites I have gotten, and I am pleased to announce that the Salazar Five have all been sorted! *Claps Madly*

•Q for the Chapter...

- Name your favorite character in Harry Potter and why!

I hope to see you all next chapter, R&R, F&F and Never Tickle A Sleeping Dragon!