chapter 7

As the boats glided over the lake, Harry was in stunned at the vuew of the castle on the hill above the lake. Her shining windows were reflected on the water and promised a warm welcome to the new students. He found they were lucky that tonight was a nice, dry night for traversing across the lake. Soon they landed on another pier, where they were told to get out of the boats and walking up some stairs until they were outside the castle itself. Harry automatically drew a comparison between Kear Mohen and Hogwarts, seeing that Hogwarts was certainly twice as big as the castle he called home.

As he mused about everything, he saw that Callie was now in his glasses HUD and tried talking to him. 'Sorry Callie, how can I help you?' he thought with the preferred method, just thinking what he wanted to say, so she could read his brainwaves. She smiled at him via the display, as only he could see her.

"Well, I had a conversation with Cortana, she told me that you are on the way to the Great Hall to be sorted. Oh, and I found the toad Miss Granger asked about. Look," She put a marker in his field of vision, where a green toad was hopping away. Harry walked over and grabbed it. He walked then to the boy he suspected to be Neville Longbottom.

"Excuse me, is this your toad?" Harry holds the toad to the boy, not seeing the pointed look the toad gave him for his capture. The boy was now looking up, a bit shaken from the boat ride. His face was pale, and he looked like he would throw up any moment. But as he saw the toad, his expression did light up.

"Trevor! Finally, you are back. Why do you always try to escape? Don't I take care of you?" The toad just croaked, as if he was disappointed that his escape was not successful. "Thank you very much. Trevor was always a hard case. Who are you by the way?"

"My name is Harry Potter. And I know you're Neville Longbottom, Hermione told me on the train you were looking for a toad." The eyes of the boy were saucers again, now he was stuttering. "N-n-nice to meet you. Yes, she was trying to help me find Trevor." Harry shook his hands, that Neville holds out to him, luckily not the one with the toad.

"So, the rumors are true. The famous Harry Potter is now here in Hogwarts," The blond boy was now walking up to Harry and Neville with his two bodyguards. Callie told Harry that Ron was standing behind him, ready to strike. Harry was looking over his shoulder and shakes his head, letting Ron know to stand down.

"My name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. The boy to my left is Crabbe, the other on is Goyle. You know Potter, there are some Wizarding family's that are better than others. You should choose wisely with whom you will make friends. I could help you finding the right ones." Malfoy held his hand out, grinning and waiting for Harry to shake it.

"Malfoy, I am capable to find my own friends, thank you very much. Perhaps if you change your attitude to your peers, you will see that you are correct, not all friends are good, but everyone deserves a chance to show their colors. And until now, you are too high strung for my taste. So please, leave us alone."

Draco let his hand fall and was looking at Harry with angry eyes. "So, you mean that those of lesser birth are as good when not better than us of noble upbringing?"

At this, Harry almost laughed. "You know, Malfoy, that's the thing. Back in the days of kings and knights, the common folk was the ones with the bigger numbers and the power to usurp their rulers. So, in a sense the 'lesser' as you called them could be much better than you because you must prove that you are better. Now, if you will excuse me." Harry turned back to Neville and Ron, talking with them about the sorting and were they wanted to go, if they could choose.

A few steps down stood Hermione, flabbergasted about what Harry just did. If the books she read were correct, Harry was almost on par with the Malfoy family what prestige was concerned. And he just blew Malfoy in the wind saying that he will try his best to prove that he would be better than him.

"Hello there, first years," Professor McGonagall was coming through the door she just opened. "As you may know, I will escort you into the Great Hall and then you will be sorted into one of our four Houses. These are, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. As long you are here in this school, your house is like your family. Good behavior will gain your house points, bad behavior will lose your house points and likely land you in detention. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will win the House Cup. Now, please follow me in an orderly fashion." She was looking over the students to see if they all understood. As her eyes landed on Harry, she had a miniscule smile on her lips, that only Callie could register and told Harry that she took a picture of that. As he wanted to know why she told him that Cortana and the rest could not believe that she could smile, at all. That had Harry almost laughing on the floor. McGonagall raised a brow up at Harry, which let him control himself better.

They were led through the door int the Great Hall that had Harry speechless. Of course, he knew about the ceiling in the Great Hall. He read about it in Hogwarts, A History. but that did not prevent his shock at seeing it for himself. He heard multiple sounds of wonder. As they walked down the house tables, he heard some students whisper about them, being first years after all would make them a prime target for some pranks. He saw two boys with red hair, as they looked over them and grinning. They looked like twins, but the hair was a sign that they were related to Ron in a way. Maybe Brothers?

As they arrived in front of the staff table, their eyes were now on a small stool with a hat on it. This old hat was looking ancient, crumbled, and patched up it was. Suddenly it began to move and open a slit, as it would be its mouth. Then it began to sing:

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

if you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folks use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

(A/N: Straight copy from the book, first year. As found on wiki/1991_Sorting_Hat_song)

As the hat finished its song, the older students and the staff were applauding as the hat dipped his top left and right. McGonagall was now standing beside the stool with a list of names, reading them down. Beginning alphabetical with "Abbott, Hannah" who was sorted into Hufflepuff, Harry was once again looking around. Callie would tell him when he was called. He watched the staff on their reaction to the new students and most were interested where the first years were sorted. He than saw John, standing behind everyone, watching over the Great Hall in a relaxed position with his hands behind his back. Harry asked himself why he was not sitting down on his chair, then he remembered. He would always make sure that everyone was safe first, before he would sit down and eat himself. That he was not in his armor was a sign that until now, everything was going well.

The next one he listened to being sorted was Hermione. She walked up to the stool to sit down on it, as Professor McGonagall was putting the hat on her head. The brim of the old Hat was now over her eyes, but you could see at her trembling lips that she was nervous. Thinking about it, even in the books it was not described how the Hat would choose which house it would sort you. The song gave a slight description of the houses, but not how he judged them. What did it mean with, there's nothing hidden in your head, the Sorting Hat can't see? As he was thinking about it, Hermione was sorted into Gryffindor, much to the annoyance of Ron, who believed that she was a boring bookworm. For Harry it did not matter much because the houses alone did not make a good or bad person in his opinion. Heck, he read about Wizards and witches who were in Slytherin, and they did many good things for the people, some going even so far as to protect muggles from magical creatures.

After Hermione came Neville who nervously sat down on the stool and letting McGonagall put the hat on his head. This time, the Hat took his sweet time, showing Harry that not every student was so clear cut as it seemed. After what seemed like forever, the hat announced that Neville was a Gryffindor. Neville seemed so happy to be finished with the sorting that he stood up and ran to the Gryffindor table, forgetting that he still had the Hat on. After profusely apologizing to McGonagall for that misstep and handing the hat back, much to the laughter of everyone present, she got to the next on her list.

McDougal, Morag

"RAVENCLAW"

Soon on her list came Malfoy, Draco, who just strutted and sat down. To Harry's amazement the Hat was not even full on Malfoy's head as it announced "SLYTHERIN!"

Much to Malfoy's amusement it seemed. The Slytherins were clapping their hands as he walked over to them. His "friends" Crabbe and Goyle where already at the table and made some space for him to sit. Soon afterwards Harry heard his name.

"Potter, Harry" McGonagall called, looking over to him. Now the whispers he heard were all students speaking of him.

"Potter? She said Potter, right? Is it really him?" As he walked forward, the whispers began to quiet down, all were tense for the results of his sorting. Even Dumbledore, who he knew because of his Chocolate Frog cart, was now leaning forwards on his chair. Harry was now sitting on the stool, a little bit nervous about what would happen now. As the hat was lowered over his head, he caught a glimpse of the Great Hall with all the students staring at him.

"Do not worry, it will soon be over." Harry heard a voice that was not Callie's, so it had to be the hat himself. "You are right, it is me. Now I will see what you have to offer to the different houses, and to which house you will belong the most. But for that, I need to ask you lower your mental defenses, so I can read your memories. Do not worry, I will not harm you. As a security measure, I will allow your AI, Callie, to observe the proceedings. But I must order her to not intervene in the choosing. Is this acceptable?"

"Well, if you insist, you old hat. I'll shut up now. But if I find evidence that you try to hurt him in any way, be assured that my friends will hear about this, and John will come down hard on you." Callie answered, setting her sensors to the right perimeters.

"Oh, believe me, I know what he can do. Now, Harry let me see with what I am working here. I see courage in spades. A loyalty for the people who are important to you. You are quite intelligent too. And cunning in your decisions. So, you would be at home with every house. Well, that complicates things. In my opinion would be Slytherin would bring you far, but maybe it would be better to be in Gryffindor. What do you say?"

"Wait, I can choose? Is this normal?" Harry asked the hat.

The hat chuckled. "No, not really. But today I had someone else who I let choose. I do that when multiple houses are in question. So, which should it be?"

"Well, I would like to train my body more, which house would be supporting that?" Harry thought about it and came to the decision that the house who would let him train would get his vote.

"If you want that, there is only one House who would unconditionally be supportive with that wish. And that is GRYFFINDOR!"

The last word was shouted for everyone to hear. As McGonagall lifted the hat from his head Harry heard loud applauding from the Gryffindor table where they chanted "WE GOT POTTER; WE GOT POTTER" He was now walking down to the table, noticing that his necktie was now red and gold in the colors of Gryffindor. He took his seat between Hermione and Neville and smiled happily that he was now sorted into a house. Soon, even Ron was sitting with them, being the second to last first year before was sorted.

After the sorting, Dumbledore was now standing behind the staff table and lifted his hands. "Hello and welcome to Hogwarts. To the new students, we are glad to have you. To the older students, we are glad you are back. Now I have a few announcements to make before we dine on the fine feast that awaits us. The students will please note that the Forbidden Forest behind the castle is what it is called, forbidden for all students. Some of the older students please remember that. Also, the corridor on the third floor which leads to the right wing is also forbidden, please hold this rule up. Because if not, you would likely die a most gruesome death. Also, our caretaker told me for the umpteenth time to tell you that outside of lessons it is forbidden to cast any kind of magic in the halls. Now, I won't hold you any longer away from the feast. Please enjoy." He sat back down as the dishes before Harry were suddenly filled with food of all kinds. From mashed potatoes over grilled chicken to sausages.

He filled a plate of chicken and potatoes, as he overheard some of his housemates talk about themselves. He did not see any reason to interfere, so he began to eat. He even caught a glance of John, as he sat down and began to eat.

"I got in contact with Cortana. She is happy for us being in Gryffindor, as they are almost all the students in the PE classes John teaches. Don't forget, it is voluntary. But he wants to remind you, if you do not come to his classes, he will train you that much harder in your holidays."

'So, it is almost an order? Tell him they have no reason to bother, I will come to the training. Now, I try to enjoy the food. Could you watch out if someone wants to talk with me? Just in case.' Harry thought as he was eating his dinner.

"Of course, Harry," Callie smiled and got to her task. At least he was ready to socialize, not like John who took a long time until he would engage in a conversation.

Harry did enjoy the food, getting some snippets of the conversation his housemates had. Like whose parents were magical or muggle, what kind of lesson they were most eager to attend or what they should do afterwards before they got to sleep. He heard Ron speaking about playing a round of wizard's chess, letting Harry wonder what the difference was between it at normal chess. He also heard Hermione speaking to the prefect on which class was the most intense to study.

After the main course seems to switch to the desserts, Harry again pulled the sweet treats to him. Never to forget his manners, he was watching the others of someone wanted some of his choices too. Ron was shoveling the food into his mouth, not really chewing as if that would be his last meal. Harry grimaced and was looking away, as he saw Hermione with a similar face looking at Ron. As she saw him, she blushed a bit for being caught. He offered some Eclairs to her, which she thankfully took some and began to sample the food slowly.

"Is there a reason why you eat so slowly?" Harry was afraid to offended her, that she took it only because she was being nice to him.

"Well, my parents are both muggel dentists, so I never had many sweets at home. I still try to cope with the amount of sugar, but it tastes good. I am just a bit afraid of how long I have to clean my teeth afterwards." Hermione giggled, eating now a bit more eager her dessert.

Soon afterwards, the plates were again cleaned by magic and Dumbledore stood back up to speak. "Now that our bellies are filled once more, I wanted to take the moment to remind you that, if you want to play in your House quidditch team, the tryouts will be announced on the notice board in your common room. I also wanted, for the first years at least, introduce you to our special teacher Master Chief John Wulf. He is here to show you some physical exercises which would keep you fit. The very first lesson is obligatory, as to make sure that you at least try it once. Afterwards it is voluntary if you want to continue. His first lesson is this Saturday morning from 9 o'clock in the morning and will last one hour. Afterwards you are free to leave his lesson. Now, Prefects, please take your fellow housemates to your dorm and let the newcomers feel like at home." Percy Weasley, their prefect was calling the first years to him. So, they followed him up the stairs as he warned them that sometimes the stairs change directions, so they should watch out. Soon afterwards they were standing in front of a portrait of an old, fat lady. Percy told them that she was the entrance to the common room, and they needed a password to enter the common room of the dorm. The password was "Caput Draconis", as the portrait swung open and let them in. The older students were already in the common room and lounging on the different seats and sofas by the fire.

"Well, here we are. The boys' dorms are on the right staircase, the girls' the same on the left. Now please go to your dorm, on the door should be your names written on." Harry, Ron and Neville were now going up the stairs with their year mates Seamus and Dean. As they entered the room, they saw five beds with their trunk by the feet. Harry walked over to his trunk and opened it, taking his sleepwear out. Soon they were all lying in the beds and were ready to sleep. Harry smiled. So, his adventure would start tomorrow with his first lesson.