-What do you mean by houses?" Naruto whispered to Ron. "Is it like different classes or something?" Ron shook his head.

"The houses are more like...," Ron seemed to struggle to explain.

"The reason for the four houses is that the founders of the school were four individuals with different opinions about teaching and society," Hermione, who was nearby, had overheard the question and answered it, causing Ron to wrinkle his nose.

When the grand doors were opened, Naruto had to blink a few times to get used to the light emanating from the Great Hall.

"Wow!" Naruto practically hopped in place, looking at the extensive rows of tables with candles and floating candles, creating the illusion of a starry night sky, despite the ceiling still being there. Hermione mentioned it was a spell, and when she looked around, she saw various people, but her gaze landed in the middle, where she saw Dumbledore. Her eyes widened, and she smiled at him, and the elderly wizard gave her a nod.

When they stopped in front of a bench with a pointed hat, the woman who had guided them to the front spoke again. "Now, before we begin, Mr. Dumbledore would like to say a few words." Dumbledore stood up.

"Before we start, I would like to give you some warnings," Naruto's gaze locked onto an adult who had what looked like a purple towel on his head. The man gave her a nervous smile before turning his head, unable to meet Naruto's stare. She simply shrugged and turned her attention back to Dumbledore. "Newcomers should know that students are not allowed to enter the Forbidden Forest under any circumstances."

"Is it like the Forbidden Forest I heard about in Konoha?" Naruto thought, and then she shivered, recalling seeing someone in the hospital... without a limb. A boy next to her was talking about what had happened in the Forbidden Forest.

"And our caretaker, Mr. Filch," Dumbledore pointed with his hand toward the door. Naruto couldn't see clearly because of the taller kids in front of her. Making a pout, she turned her gaze back to Dumbledore. The elderly wizard had to hide a smile when he saw her pouting. "He wanted me to remind you that the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

Naruto looked at Harry and then at Ron. They both returned her confused look, bewildered by the director's words.

The woman had some sheets in her hand and reviewed them before speaking again. "When I call your name, you will come forward, sit on the stool, and I will put the Sorting Hat on your head. You will then learn which house you belong to."

Naruto fidgeted on her feet, but a tug on her robe stopped her. When she turned around, she saw the pale blonde boy approaching her with a frown. "How did you know my name?" He whispered.

Naruto wanted to ignore him, especially when Hermione passed by, and the Sorting Hat began to speak, surprising her. Hermione was then sorted into Gryffindor, and the people applauded. Naruto just followed suit, but when the boy tugged at her robe again, she sighed. "I heard someone say it. I wasn't even sure it was yours," she whispered as other kids were called, including two who caught her attention. One was Justin, and when their eyes met, Naruto gave him a smile, which he returned, and a girl who ended up in the same house as him, Hufflepuff.

When Ron was sorted into Gryffindor, Naruto was getting impatient, waiting for her turn. When Draco Malfoy was called, he almost instantly ended up in Slytherin.

"Naruto Uzumaki," Naruto jumped when her name was called. Taking a deep breath, she approached and sat on the stool.

"Let's see what we have here," Naruto squealed when she felt the Sorting Hat move on her head. "This choice is very simple, you have a strong character... courage, perhaps... I think I'll put you in Gryffindor!" The Gryffindor table applauded, and when they removed the hat from her head, Naruto sighed. She still didn't quite understand the house thing, but she was grateful to be with Ron and hoped Harry would join her.

As she walked towards the table, she noticed the twins giving her a brilliant smile. "Whiskers!" both of them chimed, and Naruto was getting used to the nickname.

She returned their smiles, and when Ron gave her a similar one, she said, "Gryffindor!" When all the Gryffindor table cheered and clapped louder, Naruto turned her head when she saw who the hat had sorted, and her smile grew.

"Harry!" Naruto exclaimed as he walked over with a happy expression. People extended their hands to greet him, all seeming very excited to have him here.

When the sound of a glass being tapped caught Naruto's attention, she stopped chatting enthusiastically with the new Weasley she had just met, Percy, and other kids. "Your attention, please," Naruto turned her head again to look at the front.

Dumbledore had stood up, making Naruto wonder what would happen next. "Let the feast begin," Dumbledore said.

Naruto raised an eyebrow; were they going to bring food dish by dish? But suddenly, a vast array of food appeared on all the tables. Naruto went into a trance as the kids had already started eating.

"Aren't you eating, Naruto?" Percy asked as Naruto looked at the cutlery, not knowing what to do. She was used to eating with chopsticks and didn't know many different foods.

She snapped out of her stupor with a nod and picked up a piece of chicken, bringing it to her mouth. Naruto felt like she was in heaven; this was too good.

She started slow, but the more delicious the food, the more Naruto tried to stuff her mouth.

"So, Seamus, your mother is a witch, and your father is a Muggle, does that make you a half-blood?" Seamus swallowed before answering Naruto, who didn't have the decency to do so.

"Basically, but for many wizards, being a half-blood is more like having one of your parents be a pure-blood wizard or another species, and the same on the other side. That makes you a half-blood. I actually thought you were one, Naruto," Seamus replied without sounding rude.

"I'm not," Naruto answered honestly.

"Wipe your mouth," when Hermione spoke, Naruto looked at her. She was sitting in front of her. "Your entire mouth is covered in sauce." Naruto ran her thumb over her upper lip, realizing it was true. She grabbed a napkin and wiped her mouth vigorously. Hermione sighed and whispered, "You'll damage your skin." But she didn't say anything else.

Questions from some kids, which Naruto had already answered for Harry and Ron, like "where are you from?" and similar questions, came her way. Naruto didn't need to hear the surprised exclamation; she felt it, as if she were six years old again and a ghost was in the closet. Naruto bristled, and she could barely lift her head without her stomach turning.

"What's up with Sir Nicholas? How were his holidays?" Harry gave Naruto a worried look when she lowered her head and trembled a little. He had

been quite scared too when all the ghosts suddenly appeared, but Naruto's fear seemed greater.

"Mmm, I see someone here doesn't seem too happy with my presence," Nearly Headless Nick said, but he didn't approach Naruto; he kept his distance. "I see you're quite sensitive. People must have scared you with a lot of ghosts when you were little, right?" Naruto didn't answer but lifted her head slightly, still avoiding looking at the ghost. "You'll see, it's not so bad." That was all he said before leaving.

When that ghost walked away, Naruto stretched and sighed. "Nearly Headless Nick isn't so bad, Whiskers," Fred told Naruto, taking a sip of his drink.

"When you get used to it," George finished, comforting his brother. Percy also gave her a reassuring look.

"What! What are you talking about? I'm not scared!" Naruto replied, raising her head. However, when a ghost passed behind Hermione, she turned her head and looked at the twins.

Thanks for read!