The Chosen One [#Wattys2016]

THE SORTING HAT

<Edited>

 The armada of boats moved off together, gliding across the smooth surface of the lake. Everyone stared silently at the enormous, towering castle overhead.

"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff.

The first-years bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the precipice. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached something like an underground harbour, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.

"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" said Hagrid, who was checking the boats after everyone had climbed out.

"Trevor!" cried Neville, holding out his hands. He stuffed the toad unceremoniously into his pocket and followed the students clambering up the passageway after Hagrid. They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.

"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?" Hagrid asked.

Neville nodded his head and mouthed a thank you.

Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door, which opened to reveal a tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes. She had a very stern face and reminded Neville of his grandmother. She was not someone to cross.

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

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

She pulled the door wide open and led them through the stone-walled entrance hall, which was gigantic and lit with flaming torches. Neville's gaze travelled from the magnificent marble staircase facing them to the torches and then finally up to the ceiling, which seemed too high to make out, however much he stretched his neck. As far up as he could see, something seemed to be moving on the upper floors, which Neville realised were the staircases themselves. He bumped into the person in front of him as his eyes moved of their own volition and his feet shuffled with that of the other first-years. He followed everyone through the stone gallery, which hummed with the voice of hundreds of students that sat waiting in whatever lay beyond the doorway to their right.

Professor McGonagall guided them into a small passageway. They crowded in and stood close to each other, waiting for her to address them.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," the Professor said matter-of-factly. "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."

Her eyes lingered onto Neville, who had fastened his cloak on the left side instead of the right. He visibly gulped and nervously corrected the fastenings.