Chapter 5 - Sorting ceremony (1/2)
As everyone stepped down, they were gathered by Hagrid, a half-giant and half-human who is the gamekeeper and Keeper of Keys and Grounds of Hogwarts. While everyone was surprised to see this half-giant who is 8 and a half feet big and three to five times wider than an average human, Harry greeted him with a smile.
They followed him down to a narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them and nobody spoke much while following him. The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake.
From the shore, they saw the vast castle with many turrets and towers. Regardless of their birth whether they are muggle-born, half-blood or pureblood, everyone was amazed to see the Hogwarts.
Everyone followed Hagrid's orders and sat on the little boats which are sitting in the water by the shore. Neal sat with a few unfamiliar people while Harry, Ron, Hermoine, and Neville sat together.
After a while, they reached the other end. Hagrid along with the students walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.
Hagrid raised his Giant hand and knocked three times on the castle door. As the door opened at once, they saw a tall, black-haired witch in green robes. She spoke, ”Thank you Hagrid. I'll take them from here”.
They followed Professor McGonagall into a small empty chamber and stopped as she turned around. ”Welcome to Hogwarts. The start of the term banquet will begin shortly. Before you join the rest of the students. You need to be sorted into different houses.
Now, your house will be like your family until you graduate and once being sorted, you also have no option to change into a different house later. The four houses are called Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw.
Each house has its own noble history and produced several excellent Wizards and Witches. While you are at Hogwarts, your merits will get your house points and rule-breaking will lose your house points.
The house with most points will win the house cup at the end of each year. I hope each one of you will be a credit to whichever ”House” you are sorted. Now let's go for the sorting ceremony. Wait here until I return”.
After a while, she returned and said, ”follow me”. They entered a huge hall. Neal saw four long tables each one divided evenly where students sat together while chatting with each other. Above them, thousands of candles were lit and floating in the mid-air and the ceiling looked like an open sky.
Then he saw in the front, the familiar old man sat along with other teachers overseeing the hall. Professor McGonagall spoke loudly, ”silence everyone”. As everyone became silent, she said, ”first years, form a line. When I call your name, come forward”.
Then she placed a wizard hat on the four-legged stool. While everyone was wondering what it was, Neal remembered Edward saying that it's a sorting hat which sorts you in a house based on your qualities perceived by it.
Then, all of a sudden, it started to sing a song explaining its function. The whole hall burst into applause as it finished the song. Not because they find it great or something but its just a rule to respect its position.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward while holding a parchment. ”Hanna Abbott”. A girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of the line, put on the hat nervously. A few seconds later, it shouted, ”HUFFLEPUFF”.
Students sitting at the Hufflepuff table burst into applause and welcomed the new member.
”Susan Bones”. The Hat shouted, ”HUFFLEPUFF” again and she sat beside Hanna. One after another, first years getting sorted into different houses and every time Slytherin came up, Neal saw Ron whispering something into Harry's ear and making his face unpleasant.
After Malfoy, Hermoine, Ron are sorted, Professor McGonagall spoke, ”Harry Potter”. The name attracted the attention of the whole hall. The teachers and all the students of the four houses are hoping to get him into their houses.