The Mystery of the Philosopher's Stone.

Chapter 7: The Sorting Hat

As Harry and Ron finished their sweet feast, they were interrupted by a girl with bushy brown hair who bustled into their compartment, already wearing her Hogwart's uniform.

"Have you seen a toad? A boy called Neville has lost his toad," she enquired in a bossy manner.

Harry and Ron just shook their heads. Ron had his rat, Scabbers, on his lap, pointing his wand at him.

"Are you doing magic?" she asked.

"Yeah, trying to," Ron replied gruffly.

"Go on then," she countered.

"I'm trying to grow his tail, as it is a bit short and looks odd," Ron explained.

"Entailio!" he shouted, prodding the rat's tail with his wand.

"I think you mean 'Engorgio'" she said, looking down at Ron unimpressed and the rat's tail grew two inches.

"My name's Hermione Granger and you are?" she asked, looking with interest at Harry now.

"I'm Ron Weasley and this is Harry Potter," said Ron in a slightly triumphant manner, with the air of a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat.

"I've read all about you, you're in lots of books," Hermione said excitedly." No time to talk now you need to change into your robes, the train is nearly at the station," Hermione said briskly, as she hurried out of the compartment.

All around them, they could hear people moving about, getting ready to leave the train. It stopped in five minutes with a judder and a release of steam. Harry and Ron collected their belongings and edged down the crowded platform with the other students.

A deep, booming voice called out, "First years over here, first years to me."

The voice belonged to a giant of a man, with a bushy beard, who was waving students towards him. The huge man led the first years towards a big body of water. There were small boats tied at the edge of the water and the man instructed the first years to get into the boats. There was a small hitch in the proceedings when a boy with a round face tried to step into the nearest boat, slipped  and fell headfirst into two feet of water. He emerged dripping and red-faced.

"Is this your toad?" the man asked him, holding out a wriggling green creature.

"Trevor," cried Neville in a relieved voice.

 Neville managed to enter the boat at the second attempt, clutching Trevor tightly in his hand. The boat in which the big man sat moved of  it's own accord across the water, leading the other boats which followed like faithful hounds.  As they crossed the water they could see Hogwart's more clearly, it was a vast castle with many turrets and towers, lights glowing in the many windows.

The boats stopped at a small stone quay, which led to a set of steps going up through a tunnel. At the end of the tunnel there was a wide expanse of grass to cross to reach the looming building. They all hurried along behind the giant man until they reached an impressive set of double doors. He halted and easily pushed both heavy doors open at the same time.

The first years entered a large  entrance hall. They could hear sounds of talking and laughter from close by. A tall, severe-looking woman awaited them at the bottom of a set of wide stairs. The man left them with this lady and walked ahead of them up the stairs.

"Welcome to Hogwart's," the lady said in a clear, strong voice. "My name is Professor McGonagall. 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 Hogwart's. 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 Hogwart's, your triumphs will earn you 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 begin now."