Grim Grinning Ghosts

Chapter 5: Another Friend and a Sorting Hat

"....and the Quaffle can pass through one of three hoops on either side to earn ten points a goal..."

"...and it's the job of the Keeper to prevent the Chasers from scoring..."

"...don't forget the Beaters, who have bats to hit away those Bludgers..."

"...and then there's the Seeker, they have to catch the Snitch..."

"...150 points and the game ends after that..."

Listening to Draco and Ron explain Quiddich was like watching a tennis math. The two were completely in sync with each other as they passionately described their favorite sport. Neville, who wasn't allowed to play but understood the rules, was explaining some of the wizarding terms to Hermione, who was listening, enraptured. Harrison had heard the word 'sport' and tuned out while Harold was hanging onto Weasley and Malfoy's every word.

Crabbe and Goyle were in a heated argument on what is considered a fair trade for Vincent's Morgana Le Faye card, with Gregory insisting that yes, and Gringotts and a Babayaga card was an equal trade. The Morgana figure in the card was smirking proudly at the fact that her owner thought she was still more valuable then those other two cards, while Gringotts had left his picture out of sheer boredom and Babayaga was angrily frothing because how dare that boy think she wasn't as important as that smirking broad. Eventually Goyle threw in a Dumbledore card and they made the trade.

At some point conversation deviated to that of Hogwarts Houses. After another round of animated explaining, Harold's eyes dilating because of all the mental stimuli, each House was described with as little bias as was possible for Malfoy and Weasley. They all were rather set with what house they wanted to go into - Ron and Neville wanted Gryffindor, Hermione was sure that she would be a Ravenclaw, and Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle were adamant on Slytherin. When Harrison and Harold were asked, Harold shrugged before Harrison spoke up.

"Well, I don't think it really matters where I end up. I'll still be going to the same school as you lot, still going to be, ah, living under the same roof. Though for the record, my personality is closer to the textbook examples of a Ravenclaw or Slytherin, and Harold could either be placed in Gryffindor or Hufflepuff, knowing him. I have no idea how we are to be sorted, however..."

"Fred and George said we'd have to fight a troll..." Ron replied.

"I hope that's not it..." Neville groaned, putting his head in his hands, "I don't think that I'll be able to duel another wizard, never mind a troll..."

"Maybe they were just joking?" Draco offered nervously, alas his father never told him how he was to be sorted either.

"It wouldn't be the first time... They tell the truth half the time so I can't tell when they're pulling my leg. Even some of the crazy stories turned out to be true..."

"Well," Hermione sniffed, "I highly doubt a school would endanger children like that on the first day, it's a prestigious school!"

"It could be a hat..." Crabbe offered.

"And you pull your House out of it or something..." added Goyle.

"That...makes...sense..." Harold replied, and the rest of the students nodded in confirmation, hoping that was the case.

A disembodied voice then emanated from somewhere above them.

"We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."

"Well, we'll see soon enough." muttered Harrison.

"I'll go to the toilets to change then, I'll be back in a moment." stated Hermione, gathering her uniform and leaving the compartment.