In Between The Lines

Chapter Four

Hermione's POV:

"Welcome to Hogwarts," ProfessorMcGonagall said after leading us into a small, empty chamber off the hall. When passing a large door in the hallway I could hear hundreds of voices being muffled by the door, all of them excited and booming, as if they were beckoning the lot of us back to meet them all. "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 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 as much as you can while you're waiting." Professor McGonagall's eyes lingered on Neville next to me for a second longer, whose cloak was fastened under his left ear, then to Ron Weasley who still had dirt on his nose even though I told him about it earlier. I hid a smirk when he scowled as Professor McGonagall turned away. "I shall return when we are ready for you, please wait quietly."

In front of me, Harry and Ron discussed what the Sorting Ceremony consisted of, Ron claiming it was a type of test. My nerves doubled as I began to worry about not passing my first test because I wasn't raised by other witches and wizards like most of my classmates. Slytherins must be solely purebloods because they all passed the test. I made my way to where I spotted Draco's blonde head, whispering about all the spells I've learned on my way there, wondering which one I'll need.

"You've finally found us then," Draco drawled when I reached him and stood next to him after one of his chubby friends moved for me. He had another boy with him now, a tan boy with black hair that glanced at me but continued to look around him and didn't seem to pay attention to Draco and I.

"Well, it was your own fault you didn't think to head to the front of the train when I did. Honestly, I'm sure the view of the castle was much better from where I was considering there weren't any boats or students blocking my view." I retorted to his rude comment, fixing him with a glare for being mean to me.

He raised an eyebrow at me, frowning deeply, but before he could reply or attempt to scold me, I gasped and a few people around me scream. Draco whipped around and positioned himself in front of me before realizing what was going on. About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall, gloating through the air talking to one another, not paying the frightened first years a glance, it seemed like they were too busy arguing. They were pearly-white and slightly transparent, matching all descriptions of ghosts I was given as a child.

"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance-"

"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? he gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost - I say, what are you all doing here?" The ghost speaking to a rather fat ghost turned to look at all of us, he was wearing a ruff and tights.

"New students!" the Fat Friar exclaimed, smiling around at all of us. Draco moved to my side and rolled his eyes, he had told me he couldn't wait for next year when he wouldn't be referred to as an ickle first year. I would probably understand his point of view on that matter, if my nerves weren't so high at the moment. "About to be sorted, I suppose?" I nodded to the ghost like several others did. "Hope to see you in Hufflepuff! My old House, you know." Draco snickered next to me, his tan friend joining him in their unspoken joke about Hufflepuffs.