Child's play

Chapter 4

Hermione stares at the Castle from her seat on the enchanted boat that the Half giant Hagrid led her and the other first years to.

Having been sitting in the boats for little more than half an hour, the other kids have started growing restless. Two of the boats in the back started "singing" songs. Though it ended up turning into a war as to who can sing the loudest, foregoing any actual talent.

Hermione just rolled her eyes at their antics in favor of reading going back to reading. "Hogwarts: A History" to be exact. The other kids not paying attention to her enough to notice that she is indeed reading the book in near darkness, and reading the rather large book faster than any human could read stagnant words, and still retain the information. She secretly shrinks the book and places it in her robe's inner pocket when the boats come to a stop next to the small dock.

Emptying two at a time Hermione follows the rest of the kids up the long stairs to the Castle, keeping quiet while other children chat amicably to one another. She watches as groups already start to form.

That's going to be annoying, I can already tell. Hermione sighs internally.

Pushing her way to the middle near the front she ends up near the boy Nevile. The first years traverse their way through the castle led by Hagrid before he stops at the base of a set of stairs, waiting at the top is Professor McGonagall.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall started. "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 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." She said looking at each of our faces.

"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 rulebreaking 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 continued.

Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose. Hermione saw Harry nervously try to flatten his hair. "I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly." She then left the chamber, the large door closing behind her.

Murmurings broke out among the small group of first years as some of them go about fixing their robes and making everything look perfect. Hermione, already bored of this whole ordeal, moves to the side and leans against the banister, not caring in the least if she looks slightly disheveled. She doesn't, the magic she had cast on her trunk and its contents prevents any and all damage, that includes wrinkles on clothing.

The door reopens and Professor McGonagall strolls back in, the barest hint of a smile on her face. "Alright settle down, we are ready for you now, please form a line, and follow me." She says as she leads the group to and through the great hall.

All eyes turn to the group as they enter, and a gasp rings from the girl to her left. Hermione turns and looks and finds the girl looking up. "It's not real, It's bewitched," She finds herself saying "I read about it in Hogwarts: A History."

When McGonagall reaches the head of the Long room she places a stool in the center of the slightly raised platform, a raggedy old hat perched upon it.