Chapter 5: The Sorting Hat

Hogwarts Castle. Wicked.

It was huge. The entire castle was lit. You could see huge towers, flags, massive stone walls.

The castle sat on a cliff from the looks of it. The starry night sky and the moon made it look like a beautiful nighttime picture that Mum had in the Burrow sitting room.

I was surprised nothing flew into Harry and I's mouths, the way they were hanging wide open. I couldn't help but feel like this was indeed a home.

We crossed the dark lake and went through a tunnel that led to a harbor. We got out of the boats and made our way up the stairs, with Hagrid giving Neville his toad. We stood at a huge door and waited.

The door swung open and a tall, witch with green robes stood there. She looked like she didn't take any shit. Both Harry and I gulped.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."

She pulled the door wide. The entrance hall was so big you could have fit the entire Burrow in it. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches, the ceiling was high, and there were stone steps that led up to more than likely where we would sleep.

We followed Professor McGonagall to another set of massive closed doors. She then turned and faced us.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." she said as she glanced over Neville's messed up cloak, my still smudged nose, and Harry's wild hair.

She left the chamber. Harry swallowed.

Harry suddenly looked nervous. I didn't blame him. I was too. And from the looks of those around us (with the exception of Hermione, who didn't seem like she was going to shut up), the majority of us kids were all feeling the same thing.

All of a sudden, ghosts started popping out of nowhere, causing some of the kids to yelp in surprise.

They totally ignored us, as they seemed to be arguing over some other ghost called Peeves. Apparently he wasn't too nice of a fellow. A troublemaker.

Eventually they noticed us and greeted us. It seemed very weird talking to a ghost.

Professor McGonagall had returned and had us form a line. She then told us to follow her. My knees almost gave out as I walked behind Harry into the Great Hall.

The ceiling looked like the sky outside with twinkling stars and clouds. There were tons of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting.

Professor McGonagall led us to where the teacher's table was. The whole school's eyes were on us. I looked over at what I believed to be the table for Gryffindor, as I saw my brothers sitting there. Percy didn't acknowledge me. The twins and their friend, Lee Jordan, gave me a thumbs up.

For some odd reason, Hermione started whispering in my ear. "Its bewitched to look like the sky outside, the ceiling. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History."

Of course she did.

Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool in front of us. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. The hat looked like it seen better days. It was brown, dusty, frayed, and in much need of a repair job.

For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth.

Then, it started 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'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!"

Everyone clapped and the hat bowed...as much as a hat could bow.

"So we've just got to try on the hat!" I whispered to Harry. "I'll kill Fred. He was going on and on about wrestling a troll."

Harry gave me a small grin. I stood and reflected on the hat's song. Well, I knew for sure I wouldn't be a Slytherin. I was nowhere near cunning and persuasive enough to get my way. And though I was smart, I didn't think I had the book sense (nor the want to have the book sense) to be in Ravenclaw. Hufflepuff sounded alright if I didn't get into Gryffindor. I felt that I was a loyal sort. Even more now that I had made a friend to be loyal to.

However, my mind drifted off to my trunk, where Bill's first year cloak was tucked away. Was I brave enough to be a Gryffindor? My biggest fear was spiders, I could never get the nerve to tell on the twins when they would pick with me, and I mostly felt foolish when I stood up for myself. As if no one was paying any attention. Still, I just had to get in there. I wouldn't be a Weasley if I didn't.

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

A little blonde girl with pigtails almost tripped out of line, put on the hat, which almost covered her entire head, and sat down.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.

The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table.

"Susan Bones!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan went and sat next to Hannah.

"Terry Boot!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

The table second from the left clapped this time. Several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them.

Mandy Brocklehurst was also sorted into Ravenclaw. Lavender Brown became the first new Gryffindor. The table my brother a were sitting at roared with cheers and applause. My brothers catcalled and whistled, causing Lavender to blush.

Gits.

Millicent Bulstrode, a girl who was wide and looked as if she had a ferocious attitude, was the first one sorted into Slytherin. In watches as she walked over to the Slytherin table. They didn't look too enthusiastic.

"Justin Finch-Fletchley!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Seamus,Finnigan's sorting took awhile. Seemed that the hat sensed things quickly for some, but a little bit slower for others. Finally, it sorted Seamus into Gryffindor.

"Hermione Granger!"

Hermione seemed like she couldn't get to the hat fast enough. She ran over to the stool, picked up the hat, and jammed it on her head so hard, that if the hat had feelings, it was probably hurt

"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat. I let out a groan. Slytherin all of a sudden looked pretty good.

Neville Longbottom, the boy who kept losing his toad, was called, he fell over on his way to the stool. Everyone laughed, which made him look even more scared. The hat took a long time to decide with him, but eventually, it shouted"GRYFFINDOR." That kind of threw me off. Neville didn't seem the type to be brave at all. How did he end up a Gryffindor?

"Draco Malfoy!"

The pray in all his arrogance walked up to the stool and sat down. The hat barely touched his head when it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!"

Damn. Maybe the hat could smell the stench of foul git and didn't want to go anywhere near his head.

There weren't many people left now. Theodore Nott and Pansy Parkinson were sorted into Slytherin, and then twin girls, Parvati and Padma Patil were separated when the hat sorted Padma into Ravenclaw, and Parvati into Gryffindor.

Finally Harry was called.

Soon, the great hall was filled with whispers. People pointed at him and peeked over others just to gaze at him. I couldn't help but feel sorry for the bloke. He probably felt like one of those animals at that muggle place they call a zoo.

Harry sat down on the stool and placed the hat on his head. The room instantly went completely quiet. Everyone's eyes were on Harry and the hat, including mine.

The hat's mouth twitched as if it was mulling things over. I couldn't help but worry. This wasn't even my sorting and I felt I was going to pass out.

Finally, after what felt like ages, the hat yelled "GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry sighed with relief as the Gryffindor table erupted with joy. The twins chanted "We got Potter! We got Potter!" as Harry walked over as sat across from Hermione. It seemed like all of the table wanted to shake his hand.

There were only three people left to be sorted. Dean Thomas, a black boy even taller than me, sat beside Harry at the Gryffindor table. Lisa Turpin became a Ravenclaw.

"Ronald Weasley!"

My turn.

I felt like I was going to be sick. My hands were shaking, my legs felt like lead, and I thought I was going to pass out.

I sat down and put the hat on my head.

"Another Weasley, I see." said a voice from out of nowhere. I quickly realized that the hat was talking to me.

"Let's see. Hmmmmm...yes...I see. Great mind, fierce loyalty, a drive to prove that you can be just as good if not better than your brothers. You'll do great, young Weasley. I see a lot of potential in you. Such potential as yours belongs in..."

GRYFFINDOR!"the hat shouted.

I let out a breath that I didn't realize I was holding. I took the hat off and handed it to McGonagall as I walked over triumphantly to Harry and my brothers. Harry clapped loudly as I sat down in the chair next to him.

"Well done, Ron. Excellent." said Percy, sounding like a proud peacock.

Last, but not least, a brown skinned boy by the name of Blaise Zabini was sorted into Slytherin. Professor McGonagall rolled up her scroll and took the Sorting Hat away.

Soon, the tables filled with all different kinds of food in large quantities. If I didn't already love this place, I adored it now. Abundance of food appearing out of nowhere? Had I died and went to heaven?

As I looked across the table and saw Hermione's face, that dream went right down the tubes. No heaven. This was certainly real life.

After we ate, the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, made a few announcements, some of which made me wonder why in the world did our parents allow us to come to this school. What did he mean by "die a most painful death." if we went to the third floor corridor? And why was the Forbidden Forest...forbidden?

Once announcements were done and we sang some weird ass song, us first years were told to follow Percy. He led us up the marble staircase and through corridors, where the pictures were whispering amongst themselves.

We claimed stairs for what seemed like forever, and then all of a sudden, Percy stopped.

A bundle of walking sticks was floating in midair ahead of us. As Percy took a step toward them, they started throwing themselves at him.

"Peeves," Percy whispered to us as he rolled his eyes. "A poltergeist." He raised his voice, "Peeves! Show yourself!"

Peeves blew a raspberry loudly at Percy. Harry and I laughed behind our hands.

"Do you want me to go to the Bloody Baron?"

There was a pop, and a floating man with dark eyes and a huge ass mouth appeared, smiling as if the lot of us were that amusing.

"Oooooooh!" he said, with an evil cackle. "Ickle Firsties! What fun!"

He swooped down on us. We ducked to get out of his way. We didn't know what he would do.

"Go away, Peeves, or the Baron'll hear about this, I mean it!" barked Percy.

Peeves stuck out his tongue and vanished, dropping the walking sticks on Neville's head. I went over and helped Neville up off the floor, as he fell trying to duck the sticks.

"You want to watch out for Peeves," said Percy, as we approached a huge portrait of a very fat woman in a place pink silk dress. She looked positively ancient.

"Password?" she asked.

"Caput Draconis." said Percy, and the portrait swung forward to reveal a round hole in the wall. We all went through to and ended up in what Percy called the Gryffindor common room. I immediately felt the nice inviting warmth of the blazing fire. There were armchairs and sofas all around. The walls were painted red, with gold designs and trim all over, and there was even a chessboard in a far corner.

Percy showed us the dorms (girls some on the left, boys to the right) and then had Harry, Dean, Seamus, Neville, and I follow him to the first year boys dorm.

The room was about the size of mine, Ginny's and the twins put together, and there were five four poster beds with velvet red curtains hanging from them. Our trunks had already been brought up and were in front of our beds. We all got into our pajamas, and the other three were quickly off to sleep.

"This place is bloody brilliant." I whispered to Harry. However, my words had fallen on deaf ears, because a few seconds later, I heard soft snoring coming from Harry's bed.

I grinned and laid down on my own soft bed. I had never been on a bed that felt this good, my head resting on the softest pillow I ever had, and the warmth of the thickest blanket I had ever been under caused me to fall into a delightful sleep.