Granger || Draco Malfoy Fanfic

Chapter 3

The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Harry's first thought was that this was not someone to cross. 

"The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid. "Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here." She pulled the door wide. 

The Entrance Hall was extremely big. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing us led to the upper floors.

We followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. I could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right – the rest of the school must already be here – but Professor McGonagall showed the first-years into a small empty chamber off the hall. We crowded in, standing rather closer together than we would usually have done, peering about nervously. 

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. 

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. 

"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."

Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose.  

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

"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first-years, "and follow me." 

I had never even imagined such a strange and splendid place. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles which were floating in mid-air over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the Hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led us up here and we came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind us. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. I looked upwards and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. Looking at the ceiling, I remembered reading about it. It's bewitched to look like the sky outside, I read about it in Hogwarts: A History. 

It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn't simply open on to the heavens.

Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of us. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. Everyone in the Hall was now staring at the hat so I stared at it too. 

For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth – and the hat began to sing: 

"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 me. 
You can keep your bowlers black, 
Your top hats sleek and tall, 
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat 
And I can cap them all. 
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 be. 
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 folk 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 whole Hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.

Oh thank Goodness, we just have to try on a hat. I thought maybe we would have to give an exam of everything we know about magic.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!" 

A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. 

A moment's pause – "HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.

The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. The ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at her. 

"Bones, Susan!" 

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah. 

"Boot, Terry!" 

"RAVENCLAW!" The table second from the left clapped this time; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them. 

"Brocklehurst, Mandy" went to Ravenclaw too, but "Brown, Lavender" became the first new Gryffindor and the table on the far left exploded with cheers. 

"Bulstrode, Millicent" then became a Slytherin. Perhaps it was my imagination because of Malfoy's desire to be in Slytherin but they looked like an unpleasant lot.

Sometimes, the hat shouted out the house at once, but at others it took a little while to decide. "Finnigan, Seamus", a sandy-haired boy, sat on the stool for almost a whole minute before the hat declared him a Gryffindor.

"Granger, Ariana"

Oh no, oh no, oh no. What if I don't get picked? What if they send me back thinking it was a mistake and that I am not actually a witch? Is it gonna hurt? What if I die? OH MY GOD! NO! I AM TOO YOUNG TO DIE!

I nervously sat down and the hat dropped over my eyes. Suddenly a deep voice started speaking inside my head.

Hmm, interesting. Not a pureblood, but definitely cunning. Not exactly a very kind person, but extremely loyal. There is talent, and filled with bravery. Doesn't lack brains either, highly intelligent as well. Better be –

A/N: Hehehe, well that was kinda evil of me. State your opinions. Which house should Ariana be in?

Hope you guys are liking it :D