The Alpha of Slytherin.

The Sorting Hat.

"Who would like to read now?" Bill asked after the break.

"I would like to," offered Charlie taking the book that his brother handed to him. "Chapter 7: The Sorting Hat."

The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Llewellyn's first thought was that this was not someone to cross.

McGonagall smiled slightly at the fact that her Godson had got that impression. Though his younger brother by an hour (AN: I feel sorry for Lily going through that pain to find out Harry has been a knobber to Llewellyn.), kept dragging him into his adventures, Harry does not realise that Llewellyn has his own struggles and insecurities. She was the first person Llewellyn confided in his sexuality other than Regulus his godfather.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."

She pulled the door wide. The entrance hall was so big you could have fit the whole of the Dursleys' house in it. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.

"It is truly magnificent." Regulus said in awe, reminiscing the first time he saw it.

Everyone nodded in agreement with the younger Black.

They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Llewellyn could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right -- the rest of the school must already be here -- but Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "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."

"Do you give the same speech every year, Minnie?" James asked.

"Well, there is no point in changing it and it has the same effect every time." The witch responded.

Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose. Harry nervously tried to flatten his hair. Llewellyn rolled his eyes and sorted out Harry's hair himself.

That is why he used hair gel a lot. His friends, especially Dylan laughed at him whilst he rolled his eyes fondly.

"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."

She left the chamber. Harry swallowed.

"How exactly do they sort us into houses?" he asked Ron.

"Some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking."