Getting off the train was very overwhelming; Harry hadn't realised just how many witches and wizards were on the train or even the platform. It didn't feel like the train was overly large, but then again, he supposes that with magic, anything is possible. However, his mind is very much on the distant family he could have out there; would they like him? Would they want to know him? Hagrid, the lovely man who came and told him about being a wizard and took him to get his stuff, says to the first years that they will be getting into the boats and that it's four to a boat, so with him, Hermione, and Neville in one, they had space for another, in which a sandy-haired boy sat, and then he hears Hagrid shout "FORWARD!" Harry checks that Neville still has Trevor, as he can only imagine how upset he'd be if he lost Hedwig, and he ducks when Hagrid tells them to at the edge of a cliff, and suddenly, they're all in awe at the beauty of Hogwarts, the place they will call home for the next 10 months. They come to a stop, and Harry gets off first so that he can help Hermione and the other two boys off the boat without anyone slipping. Hagrid knocks three times on the entrance doors, and a tall witch with long black hair wearing emerald robes opens them. She looks like someone you wouldn't want to cross, and Harry hopes he never does. She does, however, look like she might be old enough to have been here when his parents were students, so that's at least one other person he can ask about them.

They were taken to some sort of room where they could hear other people even though they couldn't see them; there looked to be around 40 students, but Harry couldn't be sure exactly how many. They were all lined up, and the witch asked them to tidy themselves up, and her eyes landed on Harry before she noticed his hair and rolled them. He had tried to sort it before getting off the train, but it never settled down and always looked like it could do with a good comb through it. She then continues to tell them about the houses, but he, Hermione, and Neville had spoken about the house they wanted to be in, and they had agreed, but with Hermione going first, unless she went into Ravenclaw, which they called the smart house, the boys would try and join her. Neville said he wanted Gryffindor as that's the house his mum and dad were in, and then mentioned to Harry that his parents had also been Gryffindors, which Harry already knew thanks to Hagrid. Harry was just happy to be here in the first place, and if he ends up in the same house as his parents, well, that's just a bonus. The teacher left them for a second to go see if the rest of the school was settled down and ready for what she called the sorting when the boy from the robe shop stepped out of line and stopped in front of Harry. However, before he could even speak to the other boy, he got the fright of his life when four ghosts came through the wall talking about someone called Peeves being given a second chance.

"We never got to finish our conversation the last time we met. I am Heir Draco Lucius Malfoy of the Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy. I am also the heir presumptive of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Black." He holds his hand out for Harry to shake, and Harry, not knowing all the customs, looks at Neville to see what he should do. Neville gives a small nod to say to go ahead and shake the kid's hand. "Nice to meet you, Heir Malfoy. I am Heir Harry James Potter of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter. This here to my left is Heir Neville Francis Longbottom of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Longbottom, and this here to my right is Miss Hermione Granger, a first-generation witch. It's a pleasure to meet you. I would like to discuss something with you another time, if that would be alright." Heir Malfoy nods his head, but Harry does notice that he turned his nose up at Harry calling Hermione a first-generation witch and went and stood back with his friends, just in time as the teacher came and led them into the room where everyone else is.

Harry sees four tables all aligned, and then at the top of them is a table with what looks to be just the teachers, although Hagrid is there too, so maybe it is the staff table. In the middle, he sees an elderly wizard wearing bright purple robes sitting in a golden chair, who he knows is Albus Dumbledore from the cool little card he got out of his chocolate frog. He smiles brightly as he looks at the first years, and he can just tell that he's a proud headmaster. Looking at the table, he sees many members of staff, namely the one he recognises from The Leaky Cauldron with the turban on a Professor Quirrell; next to him is a hook-nosed teacher with jet black hair wearing black robes; and next to him is a short, plump woman who seems to have something on her nose. On the other side of Headmaster Dumbledore, he sees an empty space, which must mean it is for the teacher who came to collect him and the other first years, a short man who looks like he might suffer from dwarfism, and Hagrid is sitting right at the end. In front of the empty seat but closer to the student tables, Harry sees a four-legged stool with a pointy hat that wouldn't look out of place mixed in with Harry's non-magical clothes. Just as he was thinking that it needed to be sewn up, a large slit opened, and he started singing:

"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'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat.

And I can cap 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 patient 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!"

Harry was gobsmacked; the damn thing could talk, like really talk, and not just talk; apparently it could sing too. He's relieved that he only has to put the hat on, especially as he had heard a red-headed boy say something about a troll, but he's a bit worried - what if the hat said he didn't belong in any of those? He doesn't feel very brave; in fact, he's scared witless; he's not very wise; and although he likes learning, he's had to dumb himself down for so long that he isn't sure just how smart he actually is. He isn't sure what that just means, but he definitely isn't unafraid, so that one's out, and he's not very cunning. Maybe this is all a mistake; he should save himself the embarrassment and just walk out and get back on the train, but his legs won't move. Headmaster Dumbledore nods his head and says, "When you're ready, Professor McGonagall," and Harry realises that Hagrid called her that too, and now he knows at least three members of staff's names other than Hagrid's. She steps forward holding a scroll and says, "When I call your name, you will sit on the stool, and I will put the hat on your head." She starts with Abbot Hannah, who joins Hufflepuff, and it feels like Harry blinks, and suddenly the professor is calling Granger Hermione. Harry sees Hermione take a deep breath in and slowly release it before she steps forward; it feels like it takes forever, and Harry hears whispers of the word "hatstall," whatever that is, before the slit opens, and he hears "GRYFFINDOR," and Harry is so relieved because now he can at least try to get into the same house as her; more people went, and then it was Longbottom Neville's turn. He also took a long time, but when the hat yet again called GRYFFINDOR, the boy looked so relieved and went and sat next to Hermione. Harry was even more nervous now; what if he was the only one not in the same house? Would they still be friends with him? Would they want to study with him? Would he see them outside mealtimes? Harry was spiralling so much that he almost missed the call of Potter Hadrian; however, he didn't miss the whispers of his name going around, mostly them saying, "Hadrian, don't you mean Harry?" like they couldn't understand that Harry is the nickname for Hadrian, and now he definitely knows Hagrid wasn't lying about everyone knowing his name. He walks up to the seat, and he looks over at the Gryffindor table towards his friends, hoping he will be joining them soon. Then he's looking at the inside of the hat; he didn't expect it to speak to him.

"Hmm, difficult, very difficult. Plenty of courage (which Harry disagreed with), not a bad mind either (why thank you very much), lots of talent, my goodness, you have talent (I'll trust you on that one), oh, and there's a thirst to prove yourself (have to prove I belong), but where should I put you?" Harry nervously moves his hands to his lap and thinks, "I want to be with my friends in Gryffindor, please." The voice comes back with, "Are you sure? You could be great in Slytherin; it's all in your head," and Harry can't help but think he just wants to be with his friends. The next thing he hears isn't inside his head; it's out loud, and it's a call of "GRYFFINDOR," and he's never felt so relieved as he thanks the hat. He quickly walks to sit on the other side of Hermione while the table cheers and sings "We Got Potter" next to a different red-headed boy with a badge on his robes that says 'PREFECT'. Well, at least he knows one of the prefects in case he needs help. The rest of the sorting goes by quickly after that, and he notices that Gryffindor has 5 boys but 4 girls, and he wonders if all the other houses were even split like that. Dumbledore starts the feast, and Harry is sure he's never seen so much food in his life. He eats so much that it actually makes him feel sick, but he's found his absolute favourite pudding in treacle tart, and he hopes it's not just a feast pudding. As they are eating, a ghost appears through their table, and Harry notices it's one of the ghosts they saw earlier. The food disappears, and Dumbledore gives notices, including that the forbidden forest is forbidden, and Harry can't help but feel that's self-explanatory, but the prefect looks down at two other red-headed boys and rolls his eyes, so Harry can only assume that they've tried to enter it. He then says that the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds, which is fine, but then he says about not dying a painful death, and well, if that doesn't scare Harry, they sing the school song, which everyone sings to a different tune, before he dismisses them to their dorms.

They follow the prefect, who introduces himself as Percy Weasley, and the red-headed boy in Harry's year goes bright red, and Harry remembers his name is Weasley too. Percy is telling them some of the important rules, like making sure you turn up to all classes on time, making sure you pre-read your schoolbooks, as you never know when a teacher might ask you questions, and that each month on the first, the house has house meetings with Professor McGonagall, who is their head of house. He recommends that they be down in the common room for 7:30 a.m. so that one of the prefects could guide them back to the great hall for breakfast, and that it will happen for one week before they are left to attend breakfast on their own. He explains that their common room is guarded by a portrait called the "fat lady" (Harry thinks this is very rude and is determined to try and get her name) and that they must give her the password, which, if you get it wrong, she won't open even if she recognises you. He explains that the password changes once per term, so it won't be that hard to forget. He lets them in to the common room where the rest of the house is seated, with the cushions all laid out for the first years to sit on at the front of the group. When Harry looks at the height of the group, it seems they are sitting in year order, with the youngest being at the front. Harry sits next to Neville and Hermione again, and they wait for their head of house to enter and begin their first ever house meeting.

It doesn't take long, and Professor McGonagall looks at the bunch with a smile. She doesn't look so mean here, but she still looks like you don't want to get her angry. She introduces herself as their head of house, the transfiguration professor, as well as the deputy headmistress. She then has the group introduce themselves, starting in the 7th year all the way down to the little first years, and they all look at Harry in awe, but she soon puts a stop to that. She lays the rules down: no first year is to be left unattended for the first week; a prefect is to guide them to all classes and to meals; on Saturday, the 7th year prefects will be showing them around the castle; however, she explains that her office is two portraits down from the portrait of Lolanthe Peverell (wait, Harry thinks he knows that name; he's sure he does), which is what everyone else calls the fat lady. She explains her office open times, and she assures people that before classes start tomorrow, a prefect will be taking them all to the owlery so that everyone can send a letter home. She explains the rules of the common room, which are simple: don't be too loud; be respectful at all times; if you see someone struggling, help them; if you want quiet time, you have a dorm room; and don't get into arguments. She explains that she will be meeting with everyone during this first week to ensure they are settling in well and to do their start-of-school health checks. These health checks are mandatory, and no, you aren't getting out of them even if you're in your 7th year. She tells them it's past curfew, which Harry thinks makes total sense because Percy was telling them the two different curfew times on the way to the common room: 8 p.m. to be in the common room, and first years have a bedtime curfew of 9 p.m., and he was sure it was already 8 p.m. when they got to the common room anyway. He nods his head to Hermione, who is following the female 5th year prefect Kasey Jones, while Harry and the rest of the boys are following Percy, who explains that while the girls are able to get into the boys' rooms, the boys are unable to get into the girls' rooms as the stairs turn into a slide. Harry doesn't think this is very fair; girls shouldn't be allowed in the boys' dorm either. He bids them goodnight outside their dorm room, and Harry barely even remembers getting his pyjamas on, let alone that he wanted to write some letters before he's fast asleep.