As the two went about their tour, they came across a room with multiple long staircases with oil paintings surrounding it.
"These are the dorm room stairs, you should probably be careful when you go up them because they have a tendency to move around." Ron explained as he looked up the staircases.
As the two students went up the stairs, the people in the paintings began to notice Alex following Ron, then the people in the paintings started to whisper to one another with worried looks on their faces.
"I didn't realize that the paintings could move around and talk to each other." Alex remarked as he noticed the nervous looks on the art pieces.
"Huh that's strange, normally these paintings would greet newcomers." Ron said, perplexed.
"Maybe they're just not used to seeing transfer students." Alex chimed in.
"Yeah, maybe…" Ron replied, still unsure about the situation.
As the two students continued the tour, they came across a large oil painting portrait of an overweight woman wearing a floor-length gown and a tinsel headband.
"Password?" Asked the Fat Lady in the painting.
"Banana fritters." Ron answered.
"Precisely." said the Fat Lady, she then swings forwards to reveal the portrait hole.
In this hole was a cozy room with a massive fireplace with a red sofa that looked like it had seen better days with armchairs next to it. It also had threadbare carpet which was a nice touch to complete this room's red and gold interior with a chandelier hanging from the ceiling to top it all off.
"This is the Gryffindor common room, there is one for each house including this one. The other houses are Hufflepuff, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw." Ron explained as he entered the common room while Alex followed. "The boys' dormitories are upstairs and down to your left, girls' dormitories the same on your right. You'll find all your belongings have already been brought up into your dormitory, if you have any questions feel free to ask away." Ron continued.
As Alex was looking around the room, his nose scrunched up in disgust as he noticed the worn out couch near the fireplace.
"For starters, have you ever thought about getting this couch replaced?" Alex cringed.
"Well despite the couch being a bit old, it's actually quite comfortable." Ron answered in a matter-of-fact tone of voice.
"I'll have to take your word for it then." Alex replied as he walked around the common room, he then sat on an armchair facing Ron. "While we are asking questions, I do have some questions I'd like to ask you." Alex said, crossing his legs. "You mentioned something about figuring out a house that would suit me, yes?" Alex continued.
"Yes I did mention it earlier, why do you ask?" inquired Ron as he stood awkwardly next to the fireplace facing Alex.
"I was just wondering how exactly you're going to find the right house for me?" challenged Alex.
"Well it's not really up to me to decide, that's up for the Sorting Hat to decide which house will fit you." Ron clarified.
"The Sorting Hat?" Alex questioned, confused by Ron's response.
"Do you remember the little brown hat Professor McGonagall put down on a stool when we entered the cafeteria?" Ron asked.
"Yes, I suppose I did catch a glimpse of a little brown hat when meeting one of the professors." Alex acknowledged as he stretched out his arms.
"Well that is the Sorting Hat, it's one of the cleverest enchanted objects in Hogwarts and it is believed that the hat once belonged to one of the four founders of this school." Ron explained.
"And how do you know if this "Sorting Hat" makes the correct choice or not?" Alex asked as he put his hands on his lap.
"Because the Sorting Hat is smart enough to know which student belongs in which house, it's been doing it for centuries." Ron replied.
"Well if the hat is so smart clearly it knows better than you about those "wrong" choices." gibed Alex as a smirk grew on his face revealing a dimple on his right cheek.
Ron's eyebrows furrowed, irked by Alex's comment but continues to keep his composure.
"Any other questions I should know?" Ron asked, growing annoyed at the new transfer student.
"Why yes, are you dating Hermione?" Alex asked, still having that smug little smirk on his face.
"Excuse me?" Ron questioned, perplexed by this particular question.
"Well I assumed you two were going out since you acted so defensive towards Hermione, almost as if you thought that I was going to harm her in some shape or form." Alex guessed.
"When I said you were to ask me questions, I ment school related questions, not questions about my relationship with Hermione." Ron huffed.
"Next time be more specific then." noted Alex.
As the two begin to argue, a brunette student with tired looking eyes walks into the Gryffindor common room. The student notices Alex as he was not wearing anything indicating that he's in the Gryffindor house.
"Hey you can't bring him in here, he's not part of Gryffindor." said the student.
"Oh piss off, can't you see that I'm in the middle of something here!" fumed Ron as he clenched his fists.
"Now, now, now Ron, that is no way to treat a student." spoke Alex as he got out of his armchair with his smirk gone. "Just admit that you made a small mistake." Alex ended, as he walked up to Ron.
Ron looks back at Alex with rage in his eyes, too agitated to calm himself down.
"You know what, That's it! The tour is over!" Ron seethes in white hot anger, he then storms off, leaving the Gryffindor common room in a fit of rage.