The group kept chatting about this and that, doing their best to forget the incident just earlier. Eventually, the train arrived at the station, and the group got off, all dressed up in their new robes. As they exited, they found a giant, burly man with a big beard calling out for the First Years. Harry stayed with his new friends (at least, he hoped they were) and approached, the four boarding a boat together.
Getting into boats and sailing across the dark lake up to the castle was interesting, especially after a massive tentacle rose up and waved at them (Harry of course waved back. It was only polite, after all). But the most amazing part of the ride over was without a doubt the first glimpse of Hogwarts Castle, the lights coming from its windows illuminating it like a scene from a fantasy book.
Harry's breath hitched as he saw it, and he wasn't alone, with Hermione gasping and in other boats, whispered awe broke out.
When they finally sailed into the grotto and disembarked from the enchanted boats, the new students were led up some stairs to a grand hallway, with impressively large double doors. Their chatter immediately ceased when they spotted a very stern looking elderly witch.
"Firs' years, Professr' McGonagall," their enormous guide said, waving a meaty hand at the children who'd stopped behind him.
"Thank you, Hagrid, that will be all," the professor said, eyeing the students carefully. As the big man lumbered off, she quickly explained they'd be sorted soon, and left, entering the great hall behind her, the doors opening and closing too fast to catch a glimpse of what lay beyond.
"How do you think they'll sort us?" a student wondered aloud.
"My brothers said we have to wrestle trolls," Ron claimed.
"That doesn't seem like a very good test," another student said.
"We obviously have to try and cast a spell to prove we deserve to be here," another voice declared, this one snooty and just as arrogant as Malfoy's, but it came from a different person. Harry wondered if he was one of the people he was supposed to look out for.
Further conversation was put on hold as shrieks rang out amongst the crowd when a bunch of ghosts burst out of the walls and began to fly around through the corridor.
"Whoa!" Harry breathed out, staring in awe at the crowd of transparent silver figures that were phasing through the walls and floating above the student's heads.
"Look! First Years!" a rotund ghost in a friar's outfit exclaimed. "Hello, there! You should definitely consider joining Hufflepuff!"
"Leave them alone," another ghost scolded the first one. "Let them make up their own minds. After all, Gryffindor is clearly the best House!"
The ghosts kept on arguing, even as they floated away out of sight.
"Neat," Harry said. A moment later, the doors swung open, and Professor McGonagall beckoned the students forward.
Harry had thought he'd be all out of gasps after the last few minutes, but the beautiful, transparent ceiling of the great hall managed to draw one more out of him.
"It's enchanted to reflect the night sky," Hermione murmured under her breath. "I read about it in 'Hogwarts: A History."
Harry felt silently impressed that Hermione had actually read through that dense tome already. He'd seen Edward's copy before buying his own, and 'thick' was the only proper way to describe that book.
Then, his attention was drawn to a ratty, old, pointy hat on a stool. Then, to his astonishment, it began to sing. He clapped for it along with the other students in the hall, and Professor McGonagall brandished a scroll in one hand, unrolling it as soon as the applause faded.
"Step forth when you hear your name!" the professor called out. "Abbott, Hannah!"
The names on the list were called out, and people came up to the stool, and put on the hat. It then belted out one of the four Houses, and the robes gained a colorful stripe to match. Green for Slytherin, Blue for Ravenclaw, Yellow for Hufflepuff and Red for Gryffindor.
Hemione was sorted into Gryffindor after a bit, and so was Neville, even if his Sorting took the longest out of anyone else who'd come up so far. Malfoy and his goons all went to Slytherin, though the fact the hat hadn't even sat fully onto the latter's head made Harry wonder how close exactly someone needed to be, and if the hat even needed to be worn.
"Potter, Harry!" Finally, his own name was called, and he walked up, feeling uncomfortable as countless eyes pierced him and a deathly hush fell onto the room.
He stepped up to the stool and let the fall onto his head, the brim cover his eyes and blocking out the rest of the great hall.
"Well, this is an interesting mind you've got," Harry heard within his head, and he tilted his head to the side.
"Hello," he murmured softly.
"Hello, my boy," the hat said. "Such a neatly ordered mind. I see you've practiced Occlumency?"
"Are you reading my mind?" Harry asked, curious. He felt a pang of nervousness at the idea of his Occlumency being so easily seen through, but the Sorting Hat just laughed.
....
Join my P*atreon for 60 premium chapters ahead of the public release.
Link: pa*treon.com/MysticVerse (Remove the *)
Free members also get 2 advanced chapters for free.