Ever Know | Harry Potter

08: The Sorting

The man knocked three times on the door and the door opened to reveal Professor McGonagall.

Kerria couldn't help but smile at the professor. In a way, she had a bit of fondness for the professor.

"The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall," said the man.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here," said Professor McGonagall, opening the door wider. They walked in, and Kerria looked around. The Entrance Hall's stone walls was lined with torches like the ones at Gringotts. The ceiling was too high to even be spotted and there was magnificent marble staircase that would lead to the floors above. Kerria had to remember not to trip and fall down the staircase.

She was also sure that the hall could've fit Number Four inside.

They followed after Professor McGonagall down the hallway and Kerria heard voices from a doorway that was on her right. Instead of going through the doorway where the rest of the school was obviously at, Professor McGonagall led them through another door into a small empty chamber that was off the hall. They crowded inside and Kerria huddled close to a blonde, who Kerria recognized as Rhiannon and a red-haired girl.

Kerria looked around the chamber and then looked as Professor McGonagall.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said 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 Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time 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 Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your 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 take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." She looked off to the side and then Kerria was sure that the professor looked at her for a moment. Professor McGonagall looked off in a different direction, before looking at the first-years.

"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly." She left the chamber.

"How do we get sorted?" asked the red-haired girl. She started chewing on a lock of her hair.

"My parents told me that we have to explain why we belong at Hogwarts," said Rhiannon.

"We have to try on a hat and it yells which house you belong in," said Kerria. "Amelia told us that."

"Oh," said the red-haired girl, releasing her hair.

"That makes sense," said Rhiannon.

Pearly-white and slightly transparent people walked through the wall. Kerria felt her eyes widened and Rhiannon hid herself behind Kerria's back.

"Ghosts aren't real," Rhiannon whispered. "Ghosts aren't real."

"They seem pretty real to me," whispered the red-haired girl.

The ghosts glided across the room, talking amongst each other about a poltergeist named Peeves, and whether they should give him another chance.