Where We Belong

Chapter 3 - The Sorting

The doors swung open without a sound, and a big, white-bearded man stood in the doorway. He was smiling.

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

"Thank you. I'll take them from here." They walked through a huge hall, with an impossibly high ceiling, torches, and marble staircases presumably leading to the rest of the castle.

A loud drone of voices came from a doorway to their right, but Professor North led them to a small, empty chamber instead. They stood close together, and looked around nervously.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," North boomed, "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 dormitories, and spend free time in your House common room."

"This guy likes the word 'House'," Rook whispered. Jack laughed, but tried his best to keep it quiet.

North didn't seem to notice. "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 them. At the end of the year, the House with the most points wins the House cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will become a credit to whichever House becomes yours. The sorting ceremony will take place in five minutes in front of the rest of the school. I'll be back when we're ready for you. Please wait quietly." He turned and left the chamber.

Rapunzel had managed to slowly move over to the boy she'd seen on the train. She tapped him on the shoulder. "Hi!"

"Um... Hi," he said.

"I'm Rapunzel. I saw you on the train, and there was nobody sitting with you. I wanted to make sure you hadn't been lonely. Cause you could've sat with us, you know, if you had been."

"I'm Jack," he said smiling, "And I was okay. Rook sat with me."

"Hello," the dark haired girl said. She didn't even have to try and not be quiet or shy around this girl, she was just too friendly for that. "I like your hair!"

"Really? Thanks!"

"How long is it? When it's not braided, I mean."

"About 50 feet..."

"Woah...!" She smiled a little. "I bet it's hard to brush."

"You have no idea!" Rapunzel said with a chuckle. All three of them burst into laughter.

"Which House do you think you'll be in?"

"Maybe...-"

Just then, several misty, pearly figures entered the room from the back wall, scaring several people.

"What the-?!" Rapunzel heard Merida yell.

About twenty ghosts had soared into the chamber. They were arguing amongst themselves and didn't seem to see the first years. A fat little friar ghost said, "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance -"