The Bravest Snake

CHAPTER 2

Harry shivered in the cold night air as soon as he got off the train. His wizard robes provided little warmth, so he huddled close to Draco. Contrary to what Hagrid had told him about the Malfoy's, Draco had a rather amiable disposition. Stereotypes were almost never right.

''Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?'' Hagrid called from across the crowd of students. Harry went with the other first years to Hagrid, the extremely tall man leading them on a slippery, narrow path. Harry nearly tripped on a protruding root and clung to an amused Draco and an equally clumsy Ron.

''Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec, jus' round this bend here,'' Hagrid yelled over his shoulder as they came across a wide lake, with Hogwarts perched on a mountain on the other side. It looked like a castle from a fantasy book.

The first years were helped into boats, which sailed on their own through the glassy lake. Harry was in a boat with Draco, Ron, and a round faced, brown haired, scared looking boy that Ron pointed out to him as Neville Longbottom. Nobody really talked throughout the whole boat ride. It was peaceful, looking up at the stars and the serene castle they would now call their home.

They walked up to the castle on a flight of stone steps and Hagrid knocked three times on the huge oak double doors. They opened, creaking ominously. It looked like a scene from a horror movie.

A tall, black haired witch with a stern face and emerald green robes stood in the doorway. ''The firs' years, Professor McGonagall,'' Hagrid said.

''Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here.'' the Professor said as she pulled the door open wide and led the first years inside.The entrance hall was gigantic, the walls were lit with flaming torches, and marble staircases went to the numerous upper floors.

Voices could be heard from inside the castle as Professor McGonagall directed them to a small chamber off to the side. Harry figured the rest of the school must have already arrived. 

''Welcome to Hogwarts. The start of term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats, 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.''

Harry hoped he got a good House, one full of nice people that could be his friends. Looking at all the first years, he saw they all had similar worries. Professor McGonagall continued with her speech, and Harry paid attention.

''The four Houses are 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 you 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 while you are waiting.''

Harry tried to flatten his naturally messy hair, but to no avail. Draco seemed to be doing the opposite to his neatly slicked back hair. ''I wonder how they sort us into Houses,'' Harry said to Ron. Ron shrugged nervously, looking like he was going to throw up. If he had heard anything about the Sorting, it couldn't be good. Draco was fidgeting apprehensively with his fancy silver watch, Neville pet his slimy toad named Trevor, and a bushy brown haired girl was muttering various spells under her breath, to which Draco was concentrating on.

There was a commotion from the crowd of first years beyond him. Harry looked behind himself and saw something that nearly made him jump a foot in the air. About twenty ghosts had just passed through the back wall. They were a translucent pearly white and payed no attention to the first years gawking at them.