Sorting

With Hogwarts just ahead, everyone had already forgotten the unpleasantness from earlier. Guided by Hagrid, the first years arrived at a landing by the lake.

"Everyone, into the boats! Remember, no more than four to a boat," Hagrid called over his shoulder.

Anduin, Charles, and Vivian climbed into the same boat, joined by another girl.

"Hey, I'm Orianna. Nice to meet you," said the girl sharing their boat.

"Hi, I'm Vivian. This is Anduin, and this is Charles. We ladies can sit back and let the gentlemen do the rowing," the cheeky Vivian said, greeting Orianna first and assigning the two boys their task without consulting them.

Anduin and Charles exchanged a speechless glance, then silently began rowing without another word.

But Anduin soon realized that the boat seemed to be enchanted. It followed its route without needing much rowing.

"I heard only the first years have to row their boats to the school. Supposedly, it's so the new students can retrace the path the four Founders took back then. And the four people in each boat represent the four Founders." Gossip-loving Vivian launched into another rumor she'd heard God knew where. Anduin listened as he watched Hogwarts draw closer.

He wondered what the Founders had felt as they approached the castle. Whatever it was, everyone in the boat was excited now.

"Everyone off the boats! Follow me." Carrying a lantern, Hagrid led the way. Once the new students had disembarked, they arrived at Hogwarts's first building, the boathouse.

Beyond the boathouse was a long, winding staircase that climbed up along the cliff. Everyone struggled up the steps, and at last they reached the top. The enormous castle rising above the cliff was Hogwarts.

At the top of the cliff, the new students followed Hagrid to Hogwarts's Entrance Hall. Inside, a middle-aged witch in dark green robes waited on the steps. It was Professor McGonagall.

Professor McGonagall saw the newly enrolled Underage Wizards, and she also spotted Anduin among them. She even lowered her head and glared at him. His "illustrious" deeds must have already reached her ears.

"Professor McGonagall, I'll leave these little ones in your hands." With that, Hagrid turned and left.

"Thank you, Hagrid. Sorry for the trouble." After exchanging a few polite words with Hagrid, Professor McGonagall turned to the group. "Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term feast is about to begin, but first you'll take part in the Sorting Ceremony. I'll be leading you into the Great Hall shortly..."

Professor McGonagall then explained a long list of things to keep in mind. After listening for a while, Anduin realized there were two main topics: sorting and the House Cup. Once they were sorted, they should behave well. Good behavior earned points, bad behavior lost them, and the points would determine which house won the House Cup, and so on.

Professor McGonagall efficiently finished her explanation. She glanced at the excited young wizards, smiled with satisfaction, and told them to wait a little while before leaving.

The new students waiting on the steps were all nervous and excited. They were nervous because they didn't know how the sorting worked and worried they might not pass the Sorting Ceremony. They were excited because they wanted to get into their houses and start earning points. They looked ready to lay down their lives for their houses at any moment.

Anduin rolled his eyes. What did a bunch of brats know about house pride? It wasn't a brawl where whichever side won got the prize. Once the school year really began, they'd probably learn that House Points weren't easy to earn. And with a bunch of unruly kids, not losing points would be an accomplishment in itself.

"Anduin, are you nervous? We're about to be sorted, and I don't even know how they do it. What if there's a test? I spent the whole summer playing and don't know anything." Vivian was clearly very nervous, and couldn't wait to pass that nervousness on to Anduin.

Anduin found her amusing. Hadn't she spent the whole summer gossiping about people instead of playing? Still, he quietly reassured her.

Before long, Professor McGonagall returned and led everyone toward the Great Hall. They arrived at the entrance between the Entrance Hall and the Great Hall. Four enormous hourglasses stood on either side of the doorway, with a Lion, an Eagle, a Badger, and a snake carved beneath them. All four hourglasses were empty for now. It seemed they were used to keep track of each house's points.

Professor McGonagall pushed open the doors and led everyone into the Great Hall.

The Great Hall at Hogwarts was enormous, with a ridiculously high ceiling. Perhaps it was because of magic, but the top was nowhere in sight. Countless candles floated overhead, bathing the whole hall in brilliant light.

Four astonishingly long tables stood inside, with a large number of older students already seated at them, watching the newcomers. In front of the tables stood a chair, and on it rested a battered hat.

As everyone entered, the hat was already singing its opening song in a hopelessly off-key tune. By the time they reached the chair, the old hat still hadn't finished. It continued to wail with obvious relish.

To Anduin, it sounded more like howling. It was so awful that even Awful's own mother would have called it awful.

At last, amid the applause, the Sorting Hat finished its song. Professor McGonagall then took a piece of parchment and walked over to the chair. "The Sorting Ceremony will now begin. When your name is called, come forward and sit on the chair."

"Orianna Hinckley." The girl who had sailed with Anduin and the others was the first to be called. Orianna climbed onto the chair, somewhat apprehensive, and Professor McGonagall gently lowered the Sorting Hat onto her head.

"Ravenclaw!" After hesitating for a few seconds, the Sorting Hat called out her house.

Orianna walked over to the Ravenclaw table, where her new housemates cheered and applauded.

The Sorting Ceremony then proceeded in an orderly fashion. Vivian was sorted into Slytherin, just as she'd predicted. Although she wasn't Pure-blood, her family had traditionally belonged to Slytherin.

Charles was sorted into Gryffindor, more or less as Anduin had expected. Sampur Travers was sorted into Slytherin, too. Anduin silently mourned for Vivian. Having someone like him as a classmate couldn't be easy.

So that was all there was to sorting? Anduin was still scoffing to himself when Professor McGonagall called the next name: "Anduin Wilson."