The Girl Who Dared

The Sorting Hat

The large doors had swung open. I took notice to a tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes. She had a very stern look on her face and I honestly thought she was very intimidating.

" The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid smiling at the witch.

" 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 whole of the Dursleys house in it. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones from Gringots. The ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase was facing us as we were led to the upper floors. We followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. I looked at my brother to see his eyes were wide with amazement as were everyone else's. Before long though I heard what I suspected was the other students. They were already here, although we were led into an empty chamber off the hall. We all crowded inside standing rather close together. More than my liking. My brother stood beside me as Marley was on my other side. Ron was on Harry's left and I knew this was to close even for me.

" Welcome to Hogwarts," Said Professor McGonagall. " The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but first before you can take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your House will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend free time in your House common room."

" The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. 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." her eyes seemed to linger for a moment. I locked eyes with the older witch as she looked sad for a brief second. I turned to look at my brother as he tried to flatten his untamable hair.

" I shall return when we are ready for you," Said the Professor as she briefly left us in the chamber

" How do they do the sorting? " Harry said to Ron as Ron

" Some sort of test, I think? Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking." I looked at Ron with a dead pan expression. He couldn't believe that toe rag could he?

" A test?" Harry paled as I rolled my eyes.

" If you bothered to read the Founders of Hogwarts like I did you would have learned it was a magical hat." I pinched the bridge of my nose as Harry glared at me. As I was becoming more irritated a bunch of gasps could be heard around the room, as pearly- white and slightly transparent ghosts came threw the wall. I looked at them before blinking a few times. I pushed my glasses up as the one dressed in a ruff and tights had said something about Peeves. He stopped once he saw us kids.

" New students hope to see you in Hufflepuff!, My old house, you know."

Before long Professor McGonagall had returned one by one the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall.

" Now form a line," She said " Follow me." Before long we were in a two lines. Behind me stood Marley. while in front of me was Isabella. We all followed like ducks following their mother. It was an odd feeling but something told me this was just the begging to a fun night. As we entered the Great Hall it was silent, four long tables sat in the Great Hall. There were floating candles and it was just a magnificent sight. Words couldn't describe how the room was. In the front of the room sat another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led us first years up there. When we came to a halt some of the students tripped while other stumbled. I watched as Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool in front of us. On top of said stool sat an old pointed wizard's hat. This hat had definitely seen some better years. I stared at it the hat wondering what it was supposed to be. Was it going to shift into something monstrous. But my thoughts were interrupted when the hat twitched and began to sing.