"First years over here" boomed a voice. That must be Hagrid, the gamekeeper, thought Percy, remembering Bill and Charlie's stories. The first years got into boats and crossed the lake, getting their first glimpse of Hogwarts. They followed Hagrid into the castle, where they were greeted by a tall grey-haired witch, carrying an old hat.
"I'm Professor McGonagall, deputy headmistress. Before you take your places in the Great Hall, you must be sorted into your houses. The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. "
Professor McGonagall placed the hat on a stool and it began to sing:
Long time back, many years ago,
The four greatest wizards of the day,
Gifted youth they gathered from all over the land,
So they could pass on their skills in their own special way.
Each one chose the students who,
Embodied those qualities they desired.
Courage, Ambition, Wisdom or Justice,
These virtues the Hogwarts houses inspired.
As the years went by our founders four,
Brought into being, that which you see,
To look into your heart and mind and know,
Not what you are, but what you would be.
If courage you rate above all else,
And you long to dwell with the brave at heart.
If you want to be known for your daring deeds,
Then GRYFFINDOR's where you should start .
Is ambition your greatest driving force,
Does pride rule your heart, are you cunning in mind,
Would you do anthing to reach the top of the tree,
Then SLYTHERIN can help you, your way to find.
If a love of learning fills your dreams,
If, heart and soul, you yearn for knowledge anew
If those you would follow are the learned and wise,
Then RAVENCLAW is the place for you.
If your goals you'd reach through working hard
If you long to be kind, loving and just,
If friendship is all that matters to you,
Well, patient HUFFLEPUFF values loyalty and trust.
"When I call your name, come forward and try on the hat" said Professor McGonagall.
" Arkwright, Ruth"
A plump, blonde girl stepped forward. After a few seconds the hat cried out "HUFFLEPUFF". Ruth took off the hat and joined the Hufflepuff table.
"Balfour, Thomas", GRYFFINDOR
"Clearwater, Penelope" , RAVENCLAW
Percy waited as the names were called in alphabetical order, still wondering if it was possible to be sorted away from his brothers.
"Davies, Steven', GRYFFINDOR
" Fenwick, Fenella", RAVENCLAW
"Flint, Marcus", SLYTHERIN
"Fraser, Mary-Anne", GRYFFINDOR
"Goyle, Amyas", SLYTHERIN
The line of waiting first years got shorter. Some of them took longer to sort than others.
"Prentice, Leona", GRYFFINDOR
"Pucey, Adrian", SLYTHERIN
"Quigley, Genevieve", GRYFFINDOR
The next students were a pair of fraternal twins, a boy and a girl. Percy gave a gasp of surprise as they were sorted into different houses. Rackstraw, Isolde went into Slytherin, while Rackstraw, Tristan became a Ravenclaw.
"Silverman, Eve", SLYTHERIN
"Smith, Cordelia", HUFFLEPUFF
At last only three students remained, Percy, Oliver Wood and a tall girl with black hair and green eyes.
" Weasley, Percival" called Professor Mcgonagall.
Percy stepped up to the stool and put on the hat.
"Another WEASLEY", came a voice inside his head. "I see ambition and courage in equal measure. You've a fine mind as well. Where shall I put you? What do you want?
"I want to be my own person. I'm not smart or athletic or funny like my brothers, and I don't want to just be the ordinary Weasley."
"You could do well in Slytherin, you know"
"I don't think I want to be that different "
"I suppose Ravenclaw is possible but there really is just one place for you, GRYFFINDOR "
Percy sighed and went to join his brothers.
" What took so long? " Bill asked as Percy sat down. The sorting continued. Oliver Wood was also sorted into Gryffindor, while Veronica Yaxley went into Slytherin.
Professor Dumbledore, instantly recognisable to all students from magical families, got to his feet.
"Welcome to another school year. Just a few brief announcements before we begin out Start of Term feast. New students should be aware that magic is not allowed in the corridors and The Forbidden Forest is out of bounds to all students. I'd also like to introduce the acclaimed vampire slayer, Professor Otto Havelock, who will be taking over the post of Defence against the Dark Arts teacher." A tall thin wizard, with grey hair stood up.
" Another one " exclaimed some of the older students.
"What happened to the last one? " one of the new Gryffindors, a small mousey haired girl, asked.
"Don't know" said Charlie. "We usually get a new one every year. It's said that the job is cursed, but no one knows why. "
"Mum and dad had the same teacher, for their first three years, but I never heard of anyone since then lasting more than a year" added Bill.
At that point plates of food appeared and the feast began. The first years began to talk about themselves. The mousey haired girl, Mary-Anne Fraser and Steven Davies, a black boy from Wales, were Muggleborn. Leona Prentice was a half-blood whose muggle mother had died when she was three. Thomas Balfour and Genevieve Quigley came from magical families.
After the feast, the first years were led by their house prefects to their dormitories. Thee new Gryffindors followed Charlie up several staircases until they came to a portrait of a very fat woman, dressed in pink.
"Password?", she asked.
"Blackbird", replied Charlie.
The portrait swung open. Charlie turned to the first years. "Alright, listen up, you will need to remember the password, as without it you will not be allowed entry and will have to wait for someone else to let you in. Passwords change every Sunday at midnight. Make sure you get the new password from a prefect on Saturday."
"Is it ok if to write it down", asked Steven Davies, "I know I'll forget it otherwise"
"Just make sure you don't let anyone see it. Now here are your belts and hatbands in our house colour. Professor McGonagall will give your timetables after breakfast tomorrow. First year dormitories are on the top floor, boys up the left staircase, girls up the right. Lights out in one hour.