Yes, I am feeling the guilt. I promised myself that I would update one of my stories by this week. Wow, I forgot how much I missed writing this.

Thank you to all those who reviewed, especially to the people who gave suggestions of Ferb's house.

jakeroo_123: Good point.

sweet_lil_sunshine: Thank you for sticking with this story despite its inconsistent updates. Hopefully they will come about more often.

Guest: Once Ferb settles in Hogwarts, a subplot will develop back in Danville. And, I assure you, Isabella will be part of it.

digigirl02: Thank you for your imput-wow, that sounds like one of those machines that answer when you do a poll. But, seriously, thanks.

Nico_Cheesed_iPizza_diAngelo: Well, Doofenshmirtz with be at Hogwarts as well as Perry. Vanessa will probably show up to see her father, but I won't give any more information on the matter. The way I see it, there will be three separate stories that all tie up. One of Ferb and his adventures in Hogwarts, one of Perry and Doof, and third taking place back in Danville.

Mimi-loves-ilamas: Agreed!

Okay, I lied. Perry and Doofenshmirtz are not in this chapter, but I intend to put them in the next one.

"Hi, Ferb! Do you remember me? I'm Dennis Creevey! I sat next to you during the Triwizard Cup! I'm so excited, aren't you? This is going to be great! I can't even imagine! What House do you think you will be in? I'm hoping for Gryffindor. That's where my brother is. I had a lot of sweets on the train, so now I'm REALLY hyper! Do you ever get that way? On a sugar high, I mean? Oh, god, I can't stay still. Well, I guess I should say, 'oh, Merlin.' That's what they say here, Merlin. Did you know that?"

Ferb said the safe thing: nothing. Instead he just blinked and hoped that this boy would shut up.

"Firs' years this way!" called a voice. Ferb turned to face a man who must have stood at least eight feet tall. His eyes widened slightly in mild surprise, but he had seen far more shocking things before.

Apparently, Creevey hadn't. "Blimey, that guy's HUGE!" the man looked at him and Dennis blushed. "It's not a bad thing. I think it's cool. You must have no trouble seeing the picture during films, huh? Oh wait, wizard. Sorry. Er . . . well, you know, just any crowds, I guess."

The man gave a small grunt and rolled his eyes. He didn't look offend, just a bit annoyed. "Are ya by any chance related to tha' Colin boy?"

Dennis beamed. "Yes, he's my brother. Is he, like, famous here?"

" . . . Ya could say tha'."

Infamous, perhaps, Ferb thought.

"Come on," Dennis said excitedly, grabbing Ferb by the arm. "Let's get on the boats! I want that one!" Before Ferb was able to protest, Creevey dragged him over to a small boat on the far left. Unfortunately for them, someone else was already there."

"Gerroff!" he said when they tried to get inside."This is my boat, you hear?"

"That's not fair!" Dennis protested. "There's plenty of room!"

Ferb, not wanting to create any trouble, backed away slowly, dragging the still protesting Creevey along with him.

"You can join me!" called a voice. A small boy waved to the pair from another boat. He had curly, strawberry-blond hair and blue blue eyes that seemed to sparkle with life. As they climbed in, he introduced himself. "I'm Nigel Wespurt. Halfblood. Who're you?"

"Dennis Creevey and this is Ferb Fletcher. He doesn't talk much." Ferb shrugged, but true to his nature, said nothing.

"What House are you hoping for?" asked Nigel.

"I'm hoping for Gryffindor. That's where my brother is. He's best friends with Harry Potter."

Nigel's eyes widened, clearly impressed. "Wow," he said. "Do you think he could introduce me?"

The two boys began to chat wildly, while Ferb's mind shifted to other matters. Once again, he found himself wondering if he had made the right choice by coming to the school. It would certainly be a different experience from what he was used to. Yet again, growing up with Phineas, different situations were embraced. Ferb thought of his brother. Where was he now? Probably talking with Grandad, confused out of his mind without anyone to translate his cockney accent for him, he thought. The corners of Ferb's mouth turned up ever so slightly at that thought.

SPLASH.

Something moved in the water that caught Ferb's eye. A large suction-cupped arm was visible near the surface of the water. It belonged to a mollusk of some sort, most likely a squid or an octopus. A squid in a lake? How unusual, he thought. It was almost ironic that after everything he had been through, Ferb found it surprising that there was a biologically misplaced animal.

"Hey, what are you looking at?" asked Dennis, trying to follow Ferb's eyes (this was difficult considering that they were pointed in two different directions.) "Oh my Merlin! Hey, Nigel, come look at this!" he called, motioning excitedly.

Wespurt crawled ove to their side of the boat, causing it to tilt from the uneven weight. If Dennis or Nigel took any notice of this, they did not show it.

"Is that a Giant Squid?"

Creevey stood up and leaned over the edge to get a better look. The boat rocked dramatically.

Ferb almost opened his mouth to tell the other boy off, but decided against it. They wouldn't listen anyway, so why waste words?

The giant seemed to take note of what the boys were doing at this point. "Oi!" he called. "I wouldn't do tha' if I wer ya!"

Just as expected, neither paid him any attention. "I see it!" Dennis cried. The boat was at roughly a seventy-degree angle at this point. Creevey lost his footing and suddenly was in the water.

A few of the children laughed, but soon it became apparent that the boy was not coming up. Soon the children's faces turned to ones of horror. Only one person who still looked amused, and coincidentally, it was the same boy who had refused to share his boat with Creevey and Ferb before.

The giant looked as he was ready to dive in, but Ferb didn't think he would be able to get to Creevey fast enough. It had been nearly thirty seconds now. If suffocation didn't get to him, hypothermia almost certainly would. Or the squid. Ferb shuddered, recalling an incident from earlier that summer in which he and his friends were nearly crushed to death by a Giant Squid. Had Buford not loved that goldfish so much . . .

It was then a split second decision was made. Ferb did not think through his actions as he kneeled over the side of the boat.

Nigel looked surprised. "Hey, what are you-?" Ferb dived in.

The water was cold and dark. He was unable to see a thing. He silently thanked god (or Merlin, whatever) that he had remembered his underwater flashlight. Pulling it out and switching it on, Ferb was able to make out the boy a few feet away, slowly sinking.

Hang on, Dennis, he thought, surging forward. He stopped. Something had found Creevey first: the Giant Squid was eying the boy. Ferb began to panic until he realized that the animal appeared to be looking in interest rather than aggression. He calmed down a bit and swam towards Dennis, grabbing him by the arm and going up. But their progress was slow and he wasn't sure they would make it in time. His robes were weighing them down.

Ferb's lungs were on fire. He needed to BREATHE. Must . . . keep going . . .

He pushed further and further, seeming to grow weaker with each stroke. Suddenly, the surface didn't look so close anymore. Ferb lost a grip on his flashlight and it fell out of his hand, but he was too tired to care. How deep was this lake?

Something rubbery touched him. It seemed to slowly pushing him upward . . . it couldn't be . . . ?

The two boys popped up on the surface, both gasping for air. Ferb looked down; sure enough, he was just able to make out the shape of the giant squid descending into the deep.

"I'm fine, I swear. I don't need to see the nurse. I just need a towel. I'm okay. See, look at me? Good as ever. I want to get sorted. I want to se my brother! He's here, isn't he? I have to tell him that I'm okay."

At some point the adults gave up on trying to get the boy to the hospital wing and, assuming that Ferb felt the same way, just gave the two of them towels. Nigel bounced up and down excitedly, repeatedly recounting their tale from his point of new and how cool it was. As usual, Ferb said nothing in response.

As the walked into the Great Hall with the other first years, many of the older kids turned to stare at them. They were all wet from the rain, but only he and Dennis wore towels over their robes. One boy who looked only a few years older with a mop of curly brown hair waved to them excitedly. It didn't take a genius to realize that it was Dennis's brother.

"Hi, Colin! I fell in the lake!" by the way Dennis exclaimed those words, one would think it was the greatest thing that had ever happened to him.

The children were told to stand in front of a stool. When a hat was place upon it, a few of them began whispering to each other about what it was for.

The hat did not look very special. It was old and falling apart, made up of more patches than what was probably the original cloth. The article mud thane had some significance, otherwise why would it be there? But the more Ferb looked at it, the more perplexed he became. Until, that it, the hat burst into song:

"A thousand years or more ago
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of renown,
Whose names are still well known:

Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.

They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,
They hatched a daring plan
To educate young sorcerers
Thus Hogwarts School began.

Now each of these four founders
Formed their own house, for each
Did value different virtues
In the ones they had to teach.

By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;

For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition.

While still alive they did divide
Their favorites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When they were dead and gone?

Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!

Now slip me snug about your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind
And tell where you belong!"

"Well," Ferb said when it was done. "That was unexpected."

This comment earned a couple of laughs from the kid, although the faculty looked less amused.

The woman who had introduced herself as Professor McGonagall, began to call out the names of students in alphabetical order.

"Ackerly, Stewart," was the first name called.

A tall, thin boy who stood behind Ferb let out a low whimper as he began to make his way up to the stool. He was twitching nervously in a way that reminded Ferb of Isabella's dog, Pinky.

The sorting hat covered all of Stewart's head and stayed there for several seconds before shouting out, "RAVENCLAW!" The entire room applauded and Ackerly nearly fainted on the spot. He had to be escorted to his seat by a prefect.

The next name to be called was Malcolm Baddock. Baddock was a boy of small stature. His wavy black hair fell into his eyes and he appeared nearly as nervous as Ackerly, although a bit more collected. Slowly, he made his way over to the stool and sat down. The hat stayed for nearly thirty seconds before shouting, "SLYTHERIN!"

Unlike Ackerly, only one table at the far end applauded Baddock's sorting. A few of the children from different tables even hissed as he walked by.

Brooks was next. After him came the Cs. Dennis was almost immediately sorted into Gryffindor where he gladly joined his brother. There was only one D, Emma Dobbs, who was sorted into Ravenclaw. Ferb did not pay much attention to the Es and was surprised by how quickly the time had gone by when his own name was called.

Ferb sat on the stool and felt the sorting hat placed upon his head, just as it had with the others.

Interesting, the hat said. Very interesting.

Wait, the hat said? That couldn't be right! But sure enough, it was. Ferb heard the object thought-cackle in his head.

Very good, Mr. Fletcher. I rarely get first-years quite so observant. Now, where to place you? Although cunning and clever, I do not think you're a Slytherin. You are loyal and hardworking, which would make Hufflepuff an excellent candidate, but there is something about you that makes me think you would do better somewhere else. Ravenclaw might work. You certainly possess knowledge well beyond your years. I would say that you might even give Rowena herself a run for her money. Then again, perhaps Gryffindor would be more suitable. That is certainly where your brother would be placed.

It was then Ferb thought something that surprised even him. Then I don't want to be there. I'm not Phineas.

Well, then. Better be . . .

"RAVENCLAW!"

I would like to than everyone who put up with my long break between updates. I intend to do so sooner this time around.

Please review and tell me what you think.