Louanne Delacour

The Sorting Hat

September 1st, 1993

We arrived at the station about a mile away from the castle itself. I started packing my things up and slung my bag over my shoulder. Hermione and I were just waiting for the boys to get back from changing into their robes.

"Took you guys long enough," I said as the door slid open, revealing both Ron and Harry. Lupin didn't return after talking with the driver. We decided to let most of the crowd go by before we walked into the corridor of the compartment. As I hopped down the steps of the train compartment behind Harry, I heard a gruff voice sound across from us down the path.

"Firs' years over 'ere. All firs' years follow me." I tapped Harry on the shoulder. Him, Hermione and Ron looked in the direction I gestured to, and the sound of the voice.

"Who's that Harry?"

"Oh, well that's Hagrid. He's great," Harry put it simply. "I supposed you'd go with him for the sorting ceremony. You haven't been sorted and technically this is your first year so..." I slowly forward a few steps before looking back. They all gave me encouraging nods.

So I gathered all my confidence and walked over to the giant bearded man, clutching my bag strap tightly. "Hagrid? That's you right?" I asked as politely as possible. He confirmed and asked my name. I held out my hand. "Louanne Delacour. I'm in my third year. Well, actually, I'm an exchange student..."

He nodded and shook my hand. "Oh yes. Been waitin' fer ya. Go ahead an' take a seat in one of the boats right over 'ere and we'll ride 'em to the other side of the lake for the ceremony," he said, putting his hand on my shoulder and pointing over to the small boats filled with 11 year-olds. "Don't get many exchange students 'round 'ere these days." I thanked him and hopped into a boat.

The ride across the lake was cold, and I can't say nobody fell off. I did my best to not make myself known to many of the younger kids. Being singled out isn't exactly my favorite. Most of the students were mumbling about all the dangerous ways they could be sorted and personally, I didn't believe any of the stories they were tossing about. I also noticed a few kids were getting scared by these stories and tried to calm them down.

One girl next to me looked like she was about ready to swim back to shore and hop on the train to London. I put my hand on her shoulder. "It won't be that bad, I promise." She looked at me with a mixture of confusion and worry. "I was sorted my second year in America and just had to stand in front of some statues. It's nothing to worry about." This seemed to calm her down until we got to shore, when everybody's nerves acted up again.

The group of first years and I were all escorted into a large room with 4 tables. I immediately recognized them as the four houses. After a small speech - that, let's be real, nobody was listening to - a tattered and torn hat was brought out before us. It had a rip for a mouth and sang a song, surprising most of us.

"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 back, 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;