Hermione Granger and the Sorcerers Stone.

The arrival and sorting ceremony

   It wasn't long before I saw the peak of a tower crawling over a mountain. As we emerged the mountain, the tower expanded, revealing a giant castle!
   I'm not sure how to describe it. It was huge! We were approaching quickly, and the closer we got, the faster the butterflies in my stomach fluttered.
   We arrived as a huge man approached us. He had a long tangled beard that reached down to his stomach. Her towered over all the students.
   He introduced himself as Hagrid and said he would be the gamekeeper at Hogwarts. He made me feel warm and protected, probably because of his big and friendly appearance. He reminded me of a cuddly bear.
   "To the boats!" His boisterous voice yelled out.
   There were long row boats  aligned along the side of a lake. The black lake. I read about it. Harry and Ron, my two new "friends" got in the front of the first row boat. I got in behind them and beside Neville who still hadn't found his toad. Poor boy.
   We edged closer to Hogwarts, the giant castle. I had seen it in pictures but in person, now that's a sight. Ron kept babbling about how big it was. As small a boy he is, it must look as big as earth.
   We left the boats in rows, like the way we got them and approached long double doors. Hagrid held them opened as the students entered. For a moment, I felt too casual, in such a formal place. I had felt I had been invited for tea with the Queen of England, but it was better. I felt wonder. I felt mystery. I felt... an adventure was about to begin.
   It seemed wrong to have all our dirty shoes walking up stairs of bright red carpet, but no spots were left. Magic! I knew that. I read about it.
We were almost to the top of the stairs when an elder lady with a coal black witch hat and dark robe appeared in front of us.
"Welcome to Hogwarts." She spoke in a soft, soothing tone. "My name is Professor Mcgonagall. Now, in a few moments, you will join your other classmates. But before that, you will be sorted into your houses. There are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. While your here, your house will be your family. Good behavior can award points to your house, just as bad behavior can take it away. The house cup will be awarded to the house with the most points at the end of the year."
Just then, a toad burst through the crowd. A nerdy voice yelled out "Trevor!" And none other than Neville Longbottom jumped to Mcgonagall's feet to catch it. When he saw the teacher, he blushed. "Sorry." He said. And got back into the crowd. Mcgonagall continued.
"The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily." She left.
I pushed my way through the crowd to get to Ron and Harry. When I did, Ron eyed me. I pretended that wasn't what I was doing. I didn't want to seem desperate.
"So, its true." Said a snotty voice from behind. "What they were saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts?" The crowd revealed a boy. A small boy, but he had an evil smirk on his face. Like he was planning something. "This is Crabbe" he pointed to a fat and short boy. "Goyle" he motioned to a taller boy, who was still pretty fat. "And I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."
Ron giggled. Draco was rude, but his name was not to be laughed over, especially is he was a Malfoy.
"Oh. You think my name's funny do you?" Malfoy scolded. "No need to ask yours. Red hair. Hand me down robe. You must be a Weasley." He turned his focus to Harry. "We'll soon find out some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. Don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there." He stretched out his hand to Harry.
I wanted to scream out, DONT DO IT HARRY!! Who would that leave Ron with? Me? I can't deal with Ron on my own. I can barely deal with him with with Harry. Draco would outcast me too. He was a full blood. I was a muggle blood. The Malfoy's didn't believe our kind should be at Hogwarts.
   Harry looked at Ron's weary eyes. And back at Draco's devilish smile. Harry didn't move. He just spoke. "I think I can tell who the wrong sorts are myself thank you." Draco turned and left. Emotionless.
   Not befriending a Malfoy is the smartest decision you'll ever make. Those stuck up pure bloods will turn you into monsters. And if you don't accept it, they will become one. Harry better watch his back. Sleep with one eye open. Always be on guard.
   "We're ready for you." Said Mcgonagall as she opened to big double doors. We entered a huge room with four long tables in columns. I guessed it was one for each house. At the front there was another smaller table with adults at it. It was for the staff. But most everyone was paying attention to the ceiling.
   Beautifully bright candles not hanging, but floating around just under a portrait that looked to be the night sky. I turned to the person beside. It wasn't Harry nor Ron. Just a random girl who was admiring the view too.
   "It's not real, the ceiling. It's just bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it in Hogwarts: a history." The girl didn't listen. She kept staring. Ron rolled his eyes. I ignored that.
   After passing the house tables, we were stopped about ten feet from the staff table. Professor Mcgonagall spoke. "Now, when I call your name, the sorting hat will be placed on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses."
There was a black, witches hat in front of us on a stool. It was like Mcgonagall's, but more old and wrinkled. Mcgonagall unrolled an scroll of fresh parchment. I loved its strong smell. She looked at the names on the list.
    "Hermione Granger." The Professor called. I couldn't believe it! I was the first name on the list! I walked to the stool as Mcgonagall picked up the hat by the tip.
   "Okay. Okay. Relax." I whispered to myself. I heard a rude comment from Ron but I ignored that. My legs were like jello. What if I screwed this up? What if I was placed in Slytherin? That's the house that has the most people who turn bad in the end.
   I sat on the stool and the Professor placed the hat on me. Instantly something happened. Something I did not expect. But when it did happen I realized I knew it was going to. I had read about it. The hat talked.
   It's voice, old and scratchy. It talked in a low voice but everyone heard. It wasn't talking to the crowd. Half to me and half to itself. The hat was very queer.
   "Ah, right then...hmm...right. Okay, GRYFFINDOR!" The hat yelled. The sorting hat was taken off my head. I skipped to the Gryffindor table. A huge smile printed on my face. A sat and watched the others.
   Neville got Gryffindor too. He sat down beside me and smiled big to show his uneven teeth. I giggled. When it was Malfoy's turn he got Slytherin before the hat sat on his head. Ron also got Gryffindor. Like his three older brothers: Fred and George, two twins, and Percy, who seemed oldest but he said he had a brother that was already graduated. Ron sat across from me. He didn't want to sit beside me. Ron didn't like me.
   I remembered the face of the girl that got Hufflepuff. That was the girl I told about the ceiling. Well, being in Hufflepuff, that fact won't help her much.
   Harry was next. The hat took such a long while with him. They were having a conversation. A long one. Harry was getting to choose his house! The hat was letting him.    
   "GRYFFINDOR!" The hat yelled finally. Harry dashed to our table and seated himself beside Ron.
   Once everyone else was sorted Mcgonagall called for attention. Then the headmaster, Dumbledore, spoke. "Let the feast, begin!" Then another magical thing happened. The food was on the table! It wasn't there to second ago but, it was either there, or Ron was eating air.
   The food was fresh too. Like it had just came out of the oven. It was hot, and juicy, and delicious. Ron licked his plate clean, like he hadn't eaten in a million years. Well, with seven kids and two adults in one family, meals are scarce. He had got seconds, and thirds, and I think he snuck in some fourths.
   After the feast, Percy lead us to the Gryffindor common room. He gave us a strict warning to watch out when traveling from class to class. He said the staircases liked to move. Just then, I saw a flight of stairs move from one location to another. The students marveled at it. Percy also mentioned that the staircases could take you to the third-floor, which was strictly forbidden from the words of Professor Dumbledore himself.
   When we got to the common room, Percy showed us where the girls dorm was. Harry and Ron went to the boys dorm. I unpacked my suitcase and put clothes in draws for weekends. During class, we would have to wear our robes. Already waiting for me was a pair of glasses Gryffindor-red winter scarfs and gloves. My roommates were Lavender Brown and Parvarti Patil, who's twin was in Ravenclaw, and some other girls who I could never catch the name.
   I sat on my cot and thought. What an adventure I would have here. Friends with the mysterious Harry, and the especially strange Ron. Would they be impressed by my intelligence. Will Ron hate me forever?