The Fox In A Snake Pit!

Get Sorted! ~Edited Aug, 2025

"You there! Is this yer toad?" Hagrid asked as he checked the boats while people were climbing out of them. 

Jade and Draco exchanged looks, rolling their eyes at Neville's reaction to getting his toad back. "If it were mine," she muttered to herself, "I would deliberately lose it so I wouldn't have to touch it." She had never quite understood the fascination with toads. 

Draco had come up quietly behind her and couldn't help but snicker at her comment. 

Nearby, Daphne had also heard the comment and chuckled silently in response. 

Meanwhile, Pansy — who had approached Daphne — leaned in and whispered, her voice barely above a whisper, "Have you told Draco yet?" 

Daphne shot her a sharp look before replying, "Not yet. It's not exactly something to casually mention during the boat ride." The two girls continued to speak softly as they all followed Hagrid, the groundskeeper, who was guiding them toward the entrance of Hogwarts. 

~

The door swung open, unveiling a tall witch with black hair wearing an emerald-green robe. Her stern expression reflected her commanding presence. Hagrid stood at the threshold and spoke to her, "The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall." 

Acknowledging his assistance, she responded, "Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." With a graceful motion, she widened the door and welcomed the first-year students to come in. 

As they walked in, they were amazed by the grandeur of the entrance hall. Jade believed it was so enormous that the entirety of the Greens' house could probably comfortably fit within, with more than enough space left over. The stone walls glowed with the warm light of torches, which cast flickering shadows across the timeworn surface. The torchlight wavered over the rough stones, creating an otherworldly atmosphere within the chamber. 

The ceiling towered high above them, cloaked in darkness. Its true shape was beyond their sight due to its immense height. In the center of the room, a splendid marble staircase with elegant curves and intricate carvings stood, a tribute to the craftsmanship of the past. The staircase, positioned towards the group, invited them to ascend to the upper levels, promising wonders and secrets waiting to be unveiled. 

Professor McGonagall led the group over the cold, solid stone floor. With each step, the chamber echoed, resonating with their anticipation. 

As they moved ahead, Jade heard the distant murmur of voices coming from a room on the right. The subtle buzz of conversation suggested lively activity beyond, stirring her curiosity. As their footsteps bounced off the walls, she felt a mix of being overwhelmed and thrilled to delve into this grand, enigmatic castle. She assumed the rest of the school must already be there, eagerly awaiting the new students' arrival. 

However, Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small empty chamber on the other side of the hall. They all crowded in, much closer together than they would usually do, peering about nervously. 

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall with a small smile. "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 meaningful ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be like your family at 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 Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and produces outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn house points, while rule-breaking will lose them. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, which is a prestigious honor. Each of you should be credited to the house of your choice. 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 waiting." Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose.