Trouble Times Two (A Harry Potter fan fiction)

The Singing Hat

As soon as the train came to a full stop, there was a stampede of people, running off of the train. Grace opened the compartment door, and grabbed Harry and Ron's wrists. "C'mon guys! I want to get off this train!" They quickly made it off the train, and were met by Hagrid.

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" He was yelling, holding up a glowing lamp. Grcae shivered. It was colder out here than, in the train. "Grace, Harry, I see yeh found each other."

Grace and Harry grinned at Hagrid then at each other.

Ron stared up at Hagrid wih wide eyes. "Wow. He's bloody tall!" Ron whispered.

Once all the first years had made heir way over to Hagrid, he led them down a steep and narrow path. They walked untill they came to the edge of a great black lake.

"Wow." Grace breathed.

Perched ontop of a very tall mountain, was a glittering castle, with sparkling windows against the starry sky.

"No more'n five to a boat!" Hagrid called.

Grace, Harry and Ron climbed into one of the old wooden boats, and Hermione and Neville climbed in after them. "It's amazing!" Grace grinned looking up at Hogwarts.

Harry just nodded.

"FORWARD!" shouted Hagrid. Suddenly the boats started moving.

"Wow." Grace laughed clutching the edge of the boat. Everyone stared out across the smooth lake, taking everything in. They went through a dark tunnel underneath the castle. When they reached an underground harbor, they all climbed out of their boats and onto rocks. Grace was the last one out of her boat, when something slimy climbed onto her leg. She jumped up, and then bent down to take a closer look at it. "Neville," she said picking it up. "I think I found your toad."

"Trevor!" Neville happily took Trevor out of Grace's hands, and held him close.

They all started walking up onto smooth, perfectly green grass, that was a little damp. They walked up a flight of stone steps, and they all gathered around a huge, tall, oak door.

"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad? This here's the front door. Main entrance." And with that Hagrid raised his gigantic fist, and knocked on the castle door three times. As soon as Hagrid lowered his fist, the front door swung open.

There, stood a tall witch dressed in emerald green robes. She had black hair done up in a tight knot in the back of her head, and she had a stern, but gentle face.

"All righ', firs' years, this here is Proffesor McGonagall. She's the Head of Gryffindor, and Transfiguration Professor."

"Thank you Hagrid, I will take it from here." Professor McGonagall said looking at all of them. She then turned and walked down the entrance hall, which, it too, was huge. The walls were made of stone, and on them were lit torches. Professor McGonagall led them down the stone floor, and Grace could hear voices, which she guessed were the rest of the students. There was a doorway to their right where all the voices were coming from, but Professor McGonagall showed them into an empty chamber off to the side of the door.

They all walked in, and all squished together, much closer than Grace liked. She looked around nervously. She was as close to the exit of the chamber as she could get. She would not let her claustraphobia get the best of her. She took a few deep breaths and tried to distract herself. She looked around nervously, untill her eyes found Professor McGonagall. From a quick glance at her, it looked like Professor McGonagall's stern face had softened into a smile, but when Grace looked back it was gone.

"Welcome to Hogwarts." said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats at the tables in the Great Hall, you must be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony, because, while you are here at Hogwarts, your House will be like your family. You will go to your classes withh your House, eat at a table with your House, sleep in your House Dormitory, and you will spend your free time in the House common room.