I Feel at home at Hogwarts

Chapter 2

When they got off the train Cleo and Lavender directed their first year friends to where Professor Valentina was standing.

"See you in the Great Hall!" Cleo called. Raven and Hailey walked up to professor Valentina who was snapping at another first year that wasn't paying attention.

"First years over here please! Hey, first year! Over here! Alright, is that everyone? Good. This way!" She led them down a small but well trodden path. When they rounded a bend they saw the castle. It was magnificent. Raven counted 9 towers, 29 turrets, and tried to count the windows but lost count at 57.

Soon they reached a small dock that had a fleet of little row boats.

"Four to a boat!" Professor Valentina called as she stepped into the one at the very front. Raven and Hailey got into a boat with two other people. Crossing the lake was magical. The lanterns on the prow of each boat lit up the joy on each child's face as they stared at the castle, Raven imagined that from above the boats must look like fireflies on the water. The stars above the castle were so bright, she had never seen the stars so clearly in the city.

They soon reached the ivy covered cliff that the castle stood upon. Professor Valentina waved her wand and tendrils of ivy pulled to the sides, like the curtains opening for a play. What they revealed was a cave half submerged in water. They followed the tunnel until it slowly rose out of the water creating an underground gravel beach.

"Is anyone missing anything?" professor Valentina asked as she checked the boats. After a chorus of no they were led up a passageway hidden in the rock. Soon they entered a small courtyard. They followed Professor Valentina to the oak doors that led into the castle which swung open before her. The hall they entered was so large that Raven thought you must be able to fit several houses inside it. A pair of great double doors stood opposite the entrance. Raven assumed that they led to the dining hall or a library. In the center of the entrance hall stood another professor. His friendly smile and overall cheerful demeanor was a far cry from professor Velentina's stern and fearsome presence.

"Professor Pine, I leave them with you." Valentina said

"Thank you Professor Valentina." was the man's reply, and she slipped through the doors they were facing revealing that through them was, in fact, the dining hall.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor Dracon. "The start of term banquet will begin shortly, but  before you take your seats you must be sorted into your houses. The four Houses are Ravenclaw, witty and wise; Hufflepuff, kind and loyal; Gryffindor, brave and bold; and Slytherin, cunning and ambitious." Professor Dracon paused for a moment so that the first years could think about what he had said before opening the doors to the dining hall.

There were four long tables filled with students that stood parallel to each other, creating three walkways that allowed you to walk the length of the hall with the one in the center being the widest. At the front of the room on a short daias was a table that faced the room, presumably the staff table. There was a decent sized open space between where the students' tables and the daias stopped. In the center of that space there was a stool with an old battered hat sat atop it. Professor Dracon stopped the first years about two yards away from the stool and moved to the side so that all of them could see the hat easily. After a moment a wide tear like a mouth opened at the brim and the hat began to sing;

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge by what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find,
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see.
So try me on and we will see
Where you ought to be
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid to toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
Where you'll make real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I am a Thinking Cap!"