Harry's Uncle

Ravenclaw!!

The first years formed a line, Harry behind a boy with sandy hair who had a tall black boy in front of him, Neville was behind him and gripping the back of his robes, Hermione was behind Neville, and Ron was behind her. Professor McGonagall then led them out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall. Harry had heard all about Hogwarts and the beautiful Great Hall by his uncle, and he was not disappointed. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. According to his uncle, closest to the doors from the Entrance Hall is Slytherin, then Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and next to the far wall, Gryffindor. The tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Looking up at the ceiling, he saw that it was a velvety black sky dotted with stars. Harry remembered his uncle mentioning that it was bewitched to look like the sky outside. He looked back down to see Professor McGonagall silently placing a four-legged stool in front of them. On top of the stool she placed a pointed wizard's hat. So that's the Sorting Hat, huh? The hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. Everyone in the hall stared at the hat. For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth - and the hat began 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 is 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!"

The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again. Harry's lips twitched downwards into a frown for a fraction of a second before returning to his calm smile. "Harry was right, we just have to try on a hat." Hermione sighed in relief. "I'm gonna kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling a troll." Ron growled lowly, though he was relieved as well. Neville still looked anxious, however. Harry gripped his hand. "Don't worry, Neville. You'll do great, I know it." Neville nodded, taking a few deep breaths to calm himself. Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. Then, she began calling out names. Sometimes, Harry noticed, the hat shouted out the House at once, but at others it took a little while to decide. "Finnigan, Seamus," the sandy-haired boy next to Harry in line, sat on the stool for almost a whole minute before the hat declared him a Gryffindor. "Granger, Hermione!" Hermione looked over at Harry with nervous excitement. He smiled at her and nodded his head. She almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head. "Gryffindor!" shouted the hat. Ron, Neville, and Harry clapped for her.

"Longbottom, Neville!" Neville gripped Harry's hand hard, slightly trembling. Harry squeezed his hand lightly. "No matter what House you're in, we'll still be friends, I promise." Neville nodded before he slowly made his way to the hat on shaky legs. The hat took a long time to decide with him. Finally, it shouted "Gryffindor!" causing Neville to jump. He shot Harry a smile before making his way towards Hermione. She grinned as he sat next to her. "Malfoy, Draco!" A blond boy with a pale, pointed face swaggered forward. The hat had barely touched his head when it screamed, "Slytherin!" He went towards the table donned in green, looking pleased with himself. Finally, Professor McGonagall called out "Potter, Harry!" As Harry stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall. "Potter, did she say?" "The Harry Potter?" The last thing Harry saw before the hat dropped over his eyes was the hall full of people craning to get a good look at him. Next second he was looking at the black inside the hat. He waited.