The Potter Family : Year 1

Chapter 8(The Sorting)

Harry, Ron, Jasmine and Hermione crossed the Black Lake in a boat and were now waiting in the Entrance Hall. Then a woman wearing green robes and her black hair in a tight bun came in and smiled at  Jasmine. Jasmine returned the smile.

" 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 your 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." 

Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose. Harry nervously tried to flatten his hair. "I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."

 She left the chamber. Harry swallowed. 

"How exactly do they sort us into houses?" He asked Ron.

 "Some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking."

 Harry's heart gave a horrible jolt. A test? In front of the whole school? But he didn't know any magic yet, that is, except for what Jasmine tried to teach him, – what on earth would he have to do? He hadn't expected something like this the moment they arrived. He looked around anxiously and saw that everyone else, except Jasmine,  looked terrified too. No one was talking much except Hermione Granger, who was whispering very fast about all the spells she'd learnt and wondering which one she'd need. Harry tried hard not to listen to her. He'd never been more nervous, never, not even when he'd had to take a school report home to the Dursleys saying that he'd somehow turned his teacher's wig blue. He kept his eyes fixed on the door. Any second now, Professor McGonagall would come back and lead him to his doom.

"Harry, don't listen to Ron. It's nothing. There's this talking hat which sorts you into the houses based on your most prominent characteristics or your beliefs and values," Jasmine said, easing the rising panic and tension that suddenly rose in Harry.

Then something happened which made him jump about a foot in the air – several people behind him screamed. "What the –? " He gasped. So did the people around him. About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to each other and hardly glancing at the first-years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was saying, "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance – "  

"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost – I say, what are you all doing here? 'A ghost wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first-years. 

Nobody answered.

 "New students ! " said the Fat Friar, smiling around at them. "About to be sorted, I suppose? " 

A few people nodded mutely. 

"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff ! " said the Friar. "My old house, you know. "