Invisible: the Philosopher's Stone

SIX

HARRY POTTER AND THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE
chapter seven

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H E R   W A Y

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"This is what I mean. Now I'm sure..."

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The door swings open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stands there. She has a very stern face and Lily knows that this is not someone to cross. She seems even worse than Aunt Petunia.

"The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid says.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." She pulls the door wide.

The Entrance Hall is so big you could have fit the whole of the Dursleys' house in it. The stone walls are lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling is too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them leads to the upper floors.

They follow Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Lily hears the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right - the rest of the school must already be there. Professor McGonagall shows them into a small empty chamber off the hall. They crowd in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.

Lily's breathing picks up as she begins to sweat. She hates crammed spaces.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall says.

"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.

"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 honour. 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 linger for a moment on Neville's cloak, which is fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose.

Harry and Lily nervously try to flatten their hair.

"I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly," Professor McGonagall says and leaves the chamber.

No more than a second later, the light-haired boy they met in Madam Malkin's shop appears.

"It's true then, what they're saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts."

Everyone starts whispering and Lily sighs, trying to stay calm. It isn't a big deal, they'll get over it sooner or later.

"This is Crabbe and Goyle. And I'm Malfoy... Draco Malfoy."

Speak of dramatic. Ron sniggers at his name.

"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask yours. Red hair, and a hand-me-down robe? You must be a Weasley," he says eyeing Ron up and down with a disgusted look on his face.