Chapter 3
“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...." McGonagall began, explaining more about the houses and the house systems. Until she finally said, “I shall return when we are ready for you,” and left the room.
The room was filled with children chatting until the sound of screams erupted in the room.
Dan turned to see what caused it, and saw about twenty ghosts. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years. They seemed to be arguing.
“New students!” said one of the ghosts, finally acknowledging them and stopping the argument. This ghost was the Fat Friar, or so he heard. “About to be sorted, I suppose?”
A few people, nodded mutely. Dan on the other hand, just smiled and nodded.
“Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!” The Friar added. “My old house, you know.”
Laughs could be heard from next to the brown haired boy.
The boy, or Dan, turned to see who it was from. It was Draco and his buddies, who Dan had been talking to until the ghosts had appeared.
Dan had opened his mouth, about to say something when he got cut off by a sharp voice saying:
“Move along now,” the voice said "The Sorting Ceremony’s about to start.”
He turned to see who it was, only to see Professor McGonagall had returned.
“Now, form a line,” She told the first years, “and follow me.”
And they did.
As they made their way through the huge double doors, Dan looked around in awe.
Professor McGonagall led the first years up to the stage where an old brown hat, or the Sorting Hat, sat on a stool. After a bit of walking, they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them.
The first years just stood there, trying to avoid all the staring eyes. While Dan turned his attention from the older students to the hat and noticed something. The hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth — and the hat began to sing.
'The Sorting Hat song' Dan thought, smiling to himself. But that didn't last because just moments after the song finished, the whole Hall erupted in applause.
From that moment on Dan silenced everything out, just letting his mind wander. Until he heard his name being called out, he looked about and realized it was from Professor McGonagall. It was his turn.
Confidently, Dan made his way towards the hat and sat over on the stool. McGonagall stood behind him, and placed the hat on his head.
"Ah, yes. Another Howell. Always great to have you." The Hat began, "I know exactly where to put you........ Slytherin!!"
Applause broke out from the Slytherin table as he made his way to it and sat down
Time passed by slowly from that moment on.
Until a familiar name was called out, "Chris Kendall".
Chris hesitantly made his way towards the stage and sat down on the stool.
Professor McGonagall placed the hat on his head, after about three minutes, the hat had not said a thing. Which confused everyone, even the teachers.
That lasted for another two minutes until the hat finally spoke:
"Hufflepuff"
The whole room went dead quiet, Chris, who had just gotten up from his seat, stood in shock.
Finally, after a good five minutes, Chris gathered enough courage to walk over to the Hufflepuff table. He could feel everyones eyes on him.
So he just sat down.
The ceremony continued, as nothing had happened, from that point on. Until it finally reached 'L'.
"Phil Lester" McGonagall called out.
Phil, like Chris, made his towards the stage hesitantly. But not without a helpful shove from Pj, who was the only one from the four friends, to not be sorted yet alongside Phil.
Phil took a seat on the stool and McGonagall put the hat on his head, "Ah yes. Very interesting" the hat said.
"What's interesting?" Phil asked, but got no response except the sudden exclamation from the hat, "Hufflepuff" the hat called out.
The Hufflepuff table cheered as he got up from the stool and made his way towards it. He sat next to Chris, who had just motioned for him to take the seat next to him.
Just minutes later, they heard another familiar name being called out, "Pj Liguori"
Upon hearing his name being called out, Pj made his way towards the stool and sat on it. And just moments after McGonagall put the sorting hat on his head the hat began to speak.
A few words could be heard, like "smart", "creative", "kind", "adventurous", and much more. But they were not as important as what came next.
"Ravenclaw"
The Ravenclaw table cheered as he made his way towards it, smile on his face.
After the last first years were sorted, Dumbledore spoke; “Welcome,” he said. “Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
“Thank you!” And he sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered.
Dan chuckled, until he heard someone call out his name.
He looked to see who it was, it was Draco, who without Dan noticing took the seat next to him after being sorted.
"Mhm?" Dan asked, still not fully paying attention but not wanting to be rude.
"Are you going to eat? Or not?" Draco asked and Dan realized the tables were now lined with food.
"Sure, why not?" Dan chuckled, one last time and began filling his plate with food. He was starved.