Edward Black

Riding the boats to Hogwarts is perhaps one of the most peculiar ways I have ever traveled. Of course, it is nothing compared to the Floo Network, but it is still pretty weird.

We are supposed to go four to a boat but Hagrid, the school gatekeeper, had to make an exception because they were one boat short. So the three of us ended up with Hermione, who kept trying to talk about school, and Cecile, who was actually talking with her as opposed to ignoring her like we were.

I stay as close to the middle as I can, even though the tight space of it threatens to suffocate me. The lake seems so vast and dark that it frightens me but we all make it to the other side of the lake without me freaking out.

When we finally catch a good glimpse of Hogwarts, Harry and Hermione gasp. Them not being raised with Muggles means that they've never fully seen the beauty of the castle. Ron and I would come sometimes when the twins got in so much trouble that they would call Mr and Mrs Weasley to Hogwarts right away.

However, I could come here thousands of times and still be blown away when I see our school and soon to be new home. The castle is beautiful with it's turrets and statues. I can even see the Quiditch pitch from here, Ron and I are going to try out for the teams next year when we're old enough.

Hagrid knocks on Hogwart's main entrance door and they open to reveal Professor McGonagall. I've seen her loads of times, her being the Gryffindor head of house, she is always the one disciplining the twins.

Professor McGonagall talks about the Sorting and the four Houses and all I can think about is how much I hope Ron and I get sorted into Gryffindor. Harry will probably be in Gryffindor, he is the Boy Who Lived after all. I hope those three boys from the train aren't in our house, they were so mean.

Once all the first years are left alone waiting for Professor McGonagall to lead us in, everyone starts to talk.

I shift nervously from foot to foot as I listen to Harry and Ron talk about the sorting.

"How exactly do they sort us into our Houses?" Harry seems really nervous.

"Some type of test I think," Ron frowns, "Fred said it hurts but I think he was just joking."

Poor Harry's face grows even more scared. I remember when Fred told us about the sorting, he said it was something excruciating, but he wouldn't say what it was.

Nearby, Hermione and Cecile are talking about classes.

"I really do hope we start Charms right away."

I smile, Hermione seems really sweet. Cecile seems pretty nice too, just a little quiet.

Ron leans over to whisper to me and Harry, "I hope those two girls," he gestures at Hermione and Cecile, "Don't get sorted into Gryffindor as well."

Harry agrees but I shrug, "They aren't that bad."

I'm spared from having to hear Ron's reply by the arrival of the Hogwarts ghosts.

Harry and I jump back in shock, so do many others.

About twenty ghosts stream into the corridor, all talking and laughing with each other. Some seem to notice the large group of nervous children staring at them and start talking to us.

"New students!" said a plump one who looked like a friar, "About to be sorted, I guess?"

Most of us, including myself nodded mutely, not knowing what to see.

"I hope I'll see you in Hufflepuff," the Friar continued, "It was my old house."

I hear some chuckles and turn around to see the three boys from the train laughing.

"Who would ever want to be in Hufflepuff," the leader, Draco Malfoy, says in a stage whisper, "A loser, that's who."

I stiffen, wondering how the ghosts will react to such a blatant comment. The Friar tenses but floats by without another word. The other ghosts are quick to follow.

Professor McGonagall reappears, "Move along everyone. The Sorting is about to start."

Cecile Grindelwald

By the end of that hat's song, my jaw has dropped fully. Seriously? All we have to do is put on a hat?

All the other first years, especially Ron and Harry, had been going on and on about some torturous thing, and all we have to do is put on a hat?

I'm standing squished between all the other first years, I can almost feel their fear radiating onto me. I talk quietly with Hermione (I don't want to make Professor McGonagall mad, she seems very strict) who seems disappointed that she won't be using any of the spells she had learned. I'm secretly glad, maybe I can keep my last name a secret for a little while longer.

"When I call your name," Professor McGonagall starts, "You will put on this hat and sit on the stool to be sorted into your house."

Well, I think, there goes my idea.

"Hannah Abbot."

I bite my lip anxiously, in a few minutes, the whole school will know who I really am. And there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.

Edward Black

I watch nervously as Professor McGonagall places the sorting hat on Hannah Abbot's head.

For a moment there is silence, then the sorting hat shouts out, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Hannah grins as she walks over to the Hufflepuff table, a spring in her step. I'm smiling too, until I realize that I'm next.

My hands get sweaty and I can feel my breathing speed up. Ron squeezes my hand and gives me a reassuring smile.

"Edward Black."

I take a deep breath before I walk up to the stool. I can feel my hands tremble and put them on my lap, hoping no one notices. How can I be a Gryffindor if I can't even be confident while being sorted?

"Well, hello there", comes a voice from inside my head. I jump and the voice laughs, "Timid one aren't you?"

I frown as I think, "Are you inside my head?"

"Yes, I am. I'm the sorting hat. Don't worry, I'm just trying to see where I should place you."

"Oh," I think, "Where do you think I belong?"

"Hmm, let's see..."

I shift in the stool.

"You're very kind," the hat starts, "But no, you are rather shy as well. You would not do good in Hufflepuff. I see not much ambition, you are not very cunning either. Slytherin would only damage your bravery."

"Bravery?" I'm surprised, of course, I want to be in Gryffindor but surely I'm not that brave.

"Ah, yes. You've gone through a lot. You would do anything for those you love, your loyalty is exceptional."

I feel a wave of happiness and hope, "So, you're going to put me in Gryffindor?"

I can almost feel the sorting hat smile, "Indeed I will."

A grin stretches across my face as the sorting hat shouts out to the Great Hall and everyone in it, "GRYFFINDOR!"

The hat is lifted from my head and I can see everyone clapping for me. Ron gives me a big thumbs up while Fred and George cheer. I walk over to the Gryffindor table, I can't believe that I got sorted into my dream house. I hope I can live up to the expectations.

Cecile Grindelwald

I rock back and forth on my toes as I listen to my new classmates getting sorted. Hermione seems nervous as well. She keeps whispering to herself.

"Cecile," she says, tapping my hand.

"Yeah."

"Do you think we'll be in the same house?"

I bite my lip, both of our names are only a couple of names away. I should just tell her know.

"Hermione, I'm not going to be in Gryffindor."

I can actually see her deflate, "But, why not? How do you know for sure? Maybe we can both be in Ravenclaw."

I take a deep breath, "My last name is Grindelwald. I'm a Slytherin by default."

She frowns and I immediately know for sure that she knows who Grindelwald is. "Your last name shouldn't define you."

I smile sadly but I know her kind words don't change anything, "Thanks but it does. At least in my family."

She squeezes my hand as her name is called, "No matter what, I promise we will still be friends."

Hermione runs to the stage excitedly and jams the hat on her head. The hat waits for a couple of moments before shouting, "GRYFFINDOR!"

My stomach sinks and I hear Ron groan. I shoot him a glare, why does he have to be so annoying? I almost feel bad for Hermione, who will have to deal with him probably on a daily basis.

"Cecile Grindelwald."

The whispers start almost immediately.

"Grindelwald?"

"Did she just say Gindelwald?"

"I thought he was an evil wizard!"

"How could Dumbledore let her come to Hogwarts.?"

"I'll bet that she's evil, just like her grandfather."

I wince at the horribly rude remarks but force myself to hold my head up high as walk to the front of the school. Hermione gives me a big smile from the Gryffindor table.

"Good luck," she mouths.

I sit on the stool and Professor McGonagall places the hat on top of my head.

"Hmmm," a voice says in my head, "You're an interesting one."

I frown, I didn't realize that the sorting hat would talk into my head. "How am I an interesting one?"

"You want to be in Slytherin, you want to please your family, yet you don't..."

I'm struck by how true this is, "I don't want to be in Slytherin but I know that that is where I belong. I have all the traits, I just don't want to be with everyone in that house. Besides, I made a friend, my first real one, and how can we stay friends if we aren't in the same house?"

I can almost hear the hat sigh, "You can be friends even if you aren't in the same house."

"I guess. I know I belong in Slytherin."

"Are you sure?"

I think of being somewhere else, in Gryffindor, with Hermione and Edward, who seems really nice. But then I think of my parents and how Slytherin means so much to them. "I'm sure."

"Alright then," says the hat. Then it shouts out to the Great Hall, "SLYTHERIN!"

I get off the stool, knowing I made the right choice. I can make my family proud. Yet, as I watch Hermione and Edward smile at each other and listen to the whispers of the students, I'm not so sure.

I followed my head, now I can only hope that I made the right choice.