Harry Potter and Claire Smith's Adventures: Book One

Sorting Surprises

Chapter 3: Sorting Surprises

The group of first years entered the Great Hall, gapping at the ceiling. The ceiling resembled the nighttime sky. There were also candles floating in midair.

"It's enchanted to look like that. I read all about it in Hogwarts A History." Hermione said as they stared in awe at the enchanted ceiling.

Up ahead, Harry spotted an old dusty hat sitting on top of a wooden stool. That must be the hat Claire was talking about. Harry thought to himself. Suddenly, much to Harry's surprise, the hat began to talk.

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

You can keep your bowlers black

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them

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

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!

The hat finished and the whole hall burst into applause.

"So, we've just got to try on the hat!" Ron whispered to Harry and Claire. "I'll kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling a troll."

Claire tried not to laugh, but Ron saw the look on her face and said, "You knew, didn't you?"

"What ever are you talking about, Ronald?" Claire asked innocently covering up her smile of amusement.

Ron glared at Claire as she rolled her eyes at him. Harry's nerves had dissipated as he watched amused at his two friends bickering. Just as Ron was about to reply to Claire's comment, Professor McGonagall began to call out names.

"Abbott, Hannah!" A girl with blonde pigtails had the hat placed on her head.

"Hufflepuff!" The hat shouted.