The night was crisp and clear. I'd always liked the smell of the outdoors; the distinct scent of the earth after rain. Once we reached the shore, Hagrid led us up to the door, rapping sharply on it three times. It was opened immediately, and in the doorway stood none other than Professor McGonagall. Hermione and I shared a delighted look. I looked to Harry and Ron, but they just appeared afraid. I supposed I didn't blame them — she was an intimidating woman.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid introduced us.

"Thank you Hagrid," she replied. "I will take them from here."

We crowded in as Professor McGonagall began to speak, mostly repeating what she had told me when she'd come to my house. I thought it likely that she visited Hermione too.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

Ron tried to wipe the spot off of his nose again, but to no avail. Neville straightened out his cloak and Harry aimlessly tried to get his hair to cooperate. I took out my ponytail and put it back in in case there had been a lot of flyaways. It was impossible not to have any with my hair, but I liked to keep them as minimal as possible.

"I shall return when we are ready for you," said the Professor. "Please wait quietly."

I still wasn't sure whether I wanted to be in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, but I supposed that in the end it was up to the Hat. It was likely Harry and Ron would be Gryffindor, and that's where Hermione wanted to be as well. I knew I would miss them in Ravenclaw, and could feel myself leaning toward Gryffindor with each passing second, weighing the pros and cons as fast as I could with the little information I had.

Suddenly, I heard screams from behind me. I whipped around to see what the ruckus was about. Twenty or so translucent beings — ghosts, I assumed — had appeared through the back wall. I stared at them for a very long time. I wondered how ghosts came to be. Was every wizard who died a ghost? Was it a choice? I listened to what they were saying. They seemed to be arguing over something.

"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance—" one began. He looked like a rather pudgy monk.

"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves?" Said one wearing tights. "He gives us all a bad name and, he's not really even a ghost— I say, what are you all doing here?" He seemed to have noticed us. Nobody wanted to answer him, as we were all just sort of standing there in shock.

"New students!" The monk cried excitedly. "About to be Sorted, I suppose!"

Some of us nodded mutely. The monk grinned. "Hope to see you in Hufflepuff! My old house, you know!"

"Move along now," I was shaken out my daze when I heard that McGonagall was back. It was slightly relieving. "The ceremony's about to start!"

The ghosts left back where they had come from. I shivered, though I'd never been scared of ghosts before — mostly because I'd presumed that they weren't real.

"Now form a line," said McGonagall. Harry and I shared a look. I fell into line behind him and Ron, with Hermione behind me. "Follow me." Professor McGonagall continued. She lead us out of the chamber and into what I would later know as the Great Hall.

I looked around in wonder, trying to soak in every detail. It was lit by thousands upon thousands of candles that were magically floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students sat, waiting. I looked up at the ceiling, and noticed with awe that it was enchanted to look like the night sky. At the top of the hall was another table where the teachers sat. Professor McGonagall lead us up there, so that we came to a stop in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind us.

I looked back down and watched Professor McGonagall bring out a stool. The Great Hall began to hush slightly, and then even more so when she brought out a dingy old black hat.

"That must be the Sorting Hat," I mused to myself. Harry and Ron both looked at me.

"What?" They exclaimed in unison.

"Didn't anyone tell you?" I looked at them, puzzled. "You just have to try it on. It will sort you into whatever house it sees best fit."

Ron dragged a hand down his face, smearing the spot on his nose further.

"I'll kill Fred and George. They were going on about wrestling a troll."

I would have laughed, but I noticed the Hat begin to twitch. The brim opened, and amazingly it began to sing. When it had finished, everyone burst into cheers and applause. It bowed to each table and then became inanimate again. I simply observed in gobsmacked silence. There was a lot I'd have to get used to.

The first person called up was "Abbot, Hannah!" Who was ultimately made Hufflepuff. I wondered briefly if it was a coincident that she had my mum's maiden name.

Then there was "Bones, Susan." I watched the Sorting in silence, all of us quite nervous. There were a few instances where I reconsidered Ravenclaw, but I ultimately made up my mind when I saw that Hermione had been put into Gryffindor. It's a good thing I had, too, because I was called next.

"Holmes, Lila."

I made my way to the stool in what I hoped was a confident sort of walk. I sat down gracefully and the Hat was placed onto my head.

"The ambition of Slytherin is strong in you," was the first thing it told me, much to my surprise. I blinked, and it seemed to sense my confusion. "You are right to feel puzzled. While your charm and cunning could get you great places, I don't see you agreeing with their traditions. You've manipulated people before, but you don't do it often," the hat muttered. "And you have no desire for power, but instead a desire to be recognized."

I bit my lip nervously, fighting the urge to start playing with the end of my skirt. I ran my own thumb over my knuckles in slow, soothing circles, feeling every eye on me. This seemed to be taking longer than the other students who were Sorted. What if the Hat didn't know where to put me? Would I just sit here forever? Would they tell me to go home?

Surely not, Lila. I thought. Get a hold of yourself.

"Ravenclaw does seem to be the place for you — a thirst for knowledge, wisdom, and an endless supply of wit. Cool-headed, perceptive, and very clever, so I suppose it should be—"

"Wait!" I whispered out loud. The Hat paused.

"Yes?" It asked me, though it's voice appeared in my head.

"I don't mean to question your judgment," I spoke to it with my thoughts. "There are people in Gryffindor who I've taken a liking to," I looked at Hermione, who was watching anxiously from the Gryffindor table "I've never had friends before, and frankly, being around so many people just like myself sounds like it could be tiring."

"Well," the Hat began, seeming to consider this. "You do know what you want. Yes, yes, I'm seeing it now. You make quick decisions, and you do have quite some nerve. Enough nerve to do things that others will not. That thirst for glory and righteousness is in your blood. So yes, I will say—"

"GRYFFINDOR!" The Hat shouted.

I breathed a sigh of relief and waved to Ron and Harry as I made my way over to sit next to Hermione at the Gryffindor table.

"It almost put me in Ravenclaw," I told her, choosing not to share the part about Slytherin. She laughed. "Me too!"

I watched as that intriguing (though distasteful) Malfoy boy sauntered up to the Hat and was Sorted immediately into Slytherin. It made me realize how long it took for the Hat to decide about me.

When Harry was called to be Sorted, the Hall grew incredibly hushed. I had almost forgotten he was famous. Harry and the Hat also seemed to be having a very in depth conversation we couldn't hear, but eventually, he too was proclaimed;

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Our entire table stood and burst into screams and cheers and applause. Ron's brother, Percy the Prefect, stood and shook Harry's hand excitedly when he came down. The twins were dancing around. I gave him a pat on the back as he sat across from me and Hermione. He looked quite overwhelmed. After a few more names, Ron was also proclaimed a Gryffindor and Harry and I stood and cheered for him, as did Ron's brothers. After the last person was sorted (Zabini, Blaise — Slytherin), Professor Dumbledore stood. He looked just the same as he did on the Chocolate Frog card. He had opened his arms, seeming very excited to see us all.

"Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"

He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered. I clapped hesitantly. Harry and I shared a look

"Is he a bit — mad?" he asked Percy the Prefect.

"Mad?" Percy tutted. "He's a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes. Potatoes, Harry?"

I was surprised to see that food as far as the eye could see had appeared at the table. I'd personally never had much of an appetite but I definitely did right then. I looked at it all excitedly, suddenly very hungry. I piled my plate with potatoes and meats and some salad (Ron gave me a look). I ate like I'd been starved, my stomach growing more and more upset with me by the second. Soon, I was helping myself to another plate. The Gryffindor ghost had appeared behind Harry, watching him eat his food.

"That does look good," the ghost said sadly.

"Can't you— ?" Harry began, but the ghost shook his head.

"I haven't eaten for nearly five hundred years," he sighed. "I don't need to, of course, but one does miss it. I don't think I've introduced myself? Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower."

"I know who you are!" Ron exclaimed with a mouth full of potatoes (Hermione covered her face). "My brothers told me about you— you're Nearly Headless Nick!"

"I would prefer you to call me Sir Nicholas de Mimsy—" he tried to say, but a boy named Seamus Finnigan interrupted him.

"Nearly Headless? How can you be nearly headless?"

Sir Nicolas appeared to be extremely upset by this, and so he huffed "like this" and grabbed his ear and pulled. The entirety of his head swung off of his neck, only attached by a small sliver of skin. Someone had apparently botched his beheading.     

"So— new Gryffindors! I hope you're going to help us win the house championship this year?" He looked around hopefully. "Gryffindors have never gone so long without winning. Slytherins have got the cup six years in a row! The Bloody Baron, the Slytherin ghost, is becoming almost unbearable."

We looked over to where the Slytherin table was. The Bloody Baron was what I pictured ghosts to look like before I knew they existed, and he was sitting beside Malfoy.

Soon, I had wished I had saved more room. Desserts replaced the food from before. There was everything anyone could have wanted. I helped myself to some rice pudding, tarts, and some pie. I wanted to try some of the coconut milk ice cream, but I felt that if I were to eat anymore I might burst, so I held off for a while longer. We began to talk about our families.

I talked about my dad and how we lived together. After I finished and Seamus picked up about his parents I was feeling strangely homesick. I knew the feeling would come eventually but I had just gotten here. I wondered how my dad was doing, and it truly sunk in that I wouldn't see him until the holidays. I decided I'd owl him either tonight or tomorrow morning. Maybe I should give Willow a chance to settle in.

At last, finally the desserts disappeared. I wasn't distraught; I assumed that there would be more feasts in the future. Dumbledore rose again, and there was a hush in the Great Hall.

"Just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you: First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."

He seemed to be looking at the Weasley twins as he said this.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

Harry laughed, and I would have to, but I had to make sure that I'd heard him right. He must have been joking.

"He's not serious?" Harry asked Percy.

"Must be," said Percy, frowning quizzically. "It's odd, because he usually gives us a reason why we're not allowed to go somewhere — the forest's full of dangerous beasts, everyone knows that. I do think he might have told us prefects, at least."

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" Dumbledore exclaimed. Based on the expression on the other professor's faces, they weren't too keen on this idea. The headmaster flicked his wand and out of the end flew a long golden ribbon, spelling out the lyrics. He told us to choose a tune, and I wondered if there even was one.

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot, just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot."

I shared a puzzled look with Hermione and we all watched as the Weasley twins finished last, Percy appearing humiliated. Dumbledore dismissed us to our dormitories, so we followed Percy all of the way through several hidden passageways behind frames and bookshelves into a corridor, where we were met by a pair of floating walking sticks. Curious indeed.

"Peeves," Percy whispered to us. "The resident poltergeist."

Hermione and I shared another look. I wondered what the difference was between a poltergeist and a ghost.

"Peeves, show yourself!" Percy ordered, but he was met by the sound of a raspberry being blown.

"Do you want me to go to the Bloody Baron?" Percy threatened.

There was a popping noise, and a little impish looking man was floating, holding the walking sticks and sitting on air with his legs crossed.

"Oooooo!" he exclaimed. "Ickle Firsties! What fun!"

"Go away, Peeves, or the Baron'll hear about this, I mean it!" Percy said, more strongly this time.

Peeves the Poltergeist stuck out his tongue and disappeared. We could hear him making a dramatic exit by shaking up all of the armor.

"You want to watch out for Peeves," said Percy, starting to move forward again. "The Bloody Baron's the only one who can control him, he won't even listen to us prefects. Here we are."

We were at a painting with a lady dressed in pink silks. She asked us for a password and my soul nearly left my body. I didn't know that paintings could talk too.

"Caput Draconis," said Percy. She swung open. Percy led us all inside, directed us to the boys and girls dormitories, and then told us to get some rest for tomorrow. Hermione and I bunked next to each other.

"This is going to be fun, isn't it?" She said excitedly. I nodded, quite sleepily. I decided to braid my hair so it would be a little bit neater tomorrow, and tied a singular, long plait down my back. I didn't think I'd be able to sleep tonight, but as soon as I hit the bed I was out. I supposed I'd write my father tomorrow morning.