Slytherin Raised by Wolfstar: Harry Potter and the Philosopher Stone

Chapter six: The Sorting Hat

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.'

'Thank you Hagrid. I will take them from here.'

She pulled the door wide. The Entrance Hall was so big you could have fitted the whole of Harry's home and the Dursley's house in it. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was to high to make out, and s magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.

They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Harry 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. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously. Susan Bones made her way to stand next to Harry.

'Welcome to Hogwarts.'

Professor McGonagall spoke in a faded Scottish accent that was very stern.

'The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your house. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because while you are here, your houses 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 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. Harry nervously tried to flatten his hair to no avail.

'I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly.'

She left the chamber. Harry swallowed.

Three boys approached Harry, Susan, and Ron. Harry recognised the middle boy, and boy to the right at once. The middle boy was the pale boy from Madam Malkin's robe shop, who Sirius had said was named Draco Malfoy. The boy to the right was the bully from the train. Although Harry didn't recognize the boy to the left, he seemed just as unpleasant. Draco was looking at Harry with a lot more interest than he'd shown back in Diagon Alley.

'Is it true? They were saying it all down the train. Are you Harry Potter. It's you, is it?'

'Yes.'

The boys were standing on either side of the pale boy, they looked like bodyguards.

'Oh, this is Crabbe, and this is Goyle. And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy.'

Ron gave a slight cough, which might have been hiding a snigger. Draco looked at him.

'Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and hand-me-downs because they have more children than they can afford.'

Harry stepped in front of Ron before he made any mistakes.

'I know who you are Malfoy, my father told me everything about your mother.'