The boat ride had been truly magical. Harry had snuck onto the boat with his four friends invisibly so that no one could tell there were more than four to a boat. They reached a huge oak door. Professor Hagrid lifted his massive arm and knocked thrice on the door.
The door swung open at once. A tall black-haired witch in bottle-green robes stood there with a stern look on her face. Harry knew at once that this must be Minnie. Harry thought she looked like someone not to cross, but his dad had told him that Minnie loved the marauders.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonnagall," Hagrid said.
"Thank you, Professor Hagrid. I will take them from here."
She pulled the door open to reveal an entrance hall. It was so big that Harry imagined his house would fit in it! Flaming torches lit the stone walls and the ceiling was too high to make out. In front of them stood a proud and magnificent marble staircase that led to the floors above.
Harry could hear the voices of everyone else through a door and he couldn't wait to go in but Minnie led them all to a side chamber. They crowded in, standing much closer to each other than they usually would have done. They peered around nervously. Minnie gave a massive speech about Hogwarts that Harry and Ron paid no attention to. Instead, the two boys had a thumb war.
"One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war!" the boys hissed together. Harry won. The two boys didn't notice Minnie come back to take them in. It was lucky that Hermione was there to nudge them.
"Boys!" she teased. Ron's ears went red and Harry smirked.
The students all walked into the Great Hall where their fates would be decided. Harry felt oddly as if his legs had turned to lead as he walked in. He was scared he wouldn't be in Gryfindor and disappoint his parents. He had nothing against the other houses, of course, but he felt he should be a Gryfindor.
Harry watched like every other student, as the sorting hat sung it's song explaining each house. Harry supposed he'd be okay in every house, they all seemed fine but he still wanted Gryfindor.
"Malfoy, Draco!" Minnie called. Draco swaggered up to the stool and Harry mentally facepalmed. He was making a right fool out of himself. The hat had barely touched Draco's head when it yelled Slytherin. Harry smiled sadly. He'd wanted to be in the same house as Draco but he desperately wanted Gryfindor.
"Potter, Harry!" was called at some point and Harry numbly made his way up there. The hat was placed on his head.
"Hmm," said a small voice in Harry's ear. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, oh my goodness, yes- and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting... So where shall I put you?"
Harry gripped the edge of the stool and desperately thought, "Gryfindor! I belong in Gryfindor!"
"Gryfindor, eh?" said the small voice. "Not Slytherin? You could be great you know, it's all here, in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that-no? Well, anyway- "

AUTHOR'S NOTE- SO I'M UNSURE AS TO WHETHER TO SORT THEM INTO THE HOUSES THEY SHOULD BE IN (HERMIONE-RAVENCLAW; HARRY-SLYTHERIN; RON-HUFFLEPUFF) OR TO JUST DO GRYFINDOR LIKE IN THE BOOKS. ANY THOUGHTS, PLEASE OWL ME OR POST ON MY WALL.