As soon as their feet touvhed the platform, they were surrounded by noise and energy from all sides. One person trod on Harry's foot, another knocked into Dudley.
"First years this way!" Came a shout, a giant man the boys instantly recognised as Hagrid shouted. "Hello Harry, Dudley." He added, as he continued his shout to attrac all first years. He instructed them all to climb into boat, no more than four to a single boat. Three boys and Hermione clambered into one boat. The boats moved forward slowly.
"Ooh, Crabbe, Don't look around, I smell a blood traitor, a half-blood and two mudbloods."
"Who are you?" Harry called over.
"Draco Malfoy, Heir to the Malfoy estate."
"Harry Potter, primary heir to the ancient and most noble house of Potter." Harry shouted back.
"Well, I wouldn't associate with that filth if I were you, Potter." Draco shouted. Before you could say anything, two non-verbal, wandless spells were sent at their boat, and Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle and a girl they would get to know as Pansy, fell into the lake. Once they righted the boats, they were drenched and humiliated. Hogwarts was now in sight, and they all felt a shiver run down their spine at the sight of it- it was marvelous in every sense of the word.
They filed into the entrance hall and waited. Professor McGonagall came out and gave them a speech about all of the houses, before leading them into a grand hall, bigger than any room Harry had ever seen.
McGonagall placed a stool in front of the school, directly in front of the heads chair. She instructed the children to come out when she called their names to be sorted.
"Susan Bones"
"HUFFLEPUFF"
and so on, until...
"Dudley Dursley-Potter?"
Dudley walked up, shaking a little, he glancced at Harry, who gave him a small thumbs up.
"Hmmm, good mind their. A thirst to prove yourself... I would say Slytherin, but they would not like your blood. You are very loyal to your brother, but other people, we'll see. Griffindor would not suit you... I feel... RAVENCLAW!"
Harry clapped as his brother went and took a seat at the Ravenclaw table.
"Hermione Granger?"
"RAVENCLAW"
The list went on, sorting many more children until...
"Harry Potter?"
"Well, another Potter, not twins, I see. Adopted brothers. Once again, fearlessly loyal to your brother, and to others, Hufflepuff would be good for you in that respect. Slytherin would help you achieve a lot of power?"
"Please, let me be with Dudley, He's my brother, I need to be with him." Harry pleaded inside his head.
"Well, in that case, I believe you, too, bought a wand at eight to learn magic... I believe the best fit for you must be... RAVENCLAW"
Harry sighed in relief and ran to his brother, only just remembering to return the hat.
He watched the other sortings with interest, waiting for:
"Ronald Weasley?" Harry watched as the redhead slowly walked towards to chair, shaking as he did so. And after a minute:
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Ron shook as he walked over, Harry noticed all of his brothers were shaking their heads at Ron, who put his head in his hands. Three or four students hugged him, one of which he remembered to be 'Neville Longbottom.'
Dumbledore spoke a few words, then the feast began. Harry and Dudley ate quickly, chatting to Hermione as they did so. Harry noticed another girl watching them- well, watching Dudley. He shrugged to himself, then got on with eating.
Once dessert had finished, they all listened to Dumbledore, as he explained al of the rules, including a warning about the third floor corridor, Harry zoned out, and was brought back to reality when everybody stood to sing the school song.
As the song finished, everybody was excused to go to their common rooms. Harry and Dudle followed their prefect to their common room, which was, naturally, blue. They were told where their dorms were, so they bade Hermione goodnight and went to bed.