Sorting

The train had stopped and the trio left with their robes on. They were looking around the other students, not knowing where they were supposed to be going.

"Did they tell us? Because I wasn't listening." Ron had an embarrassed smile.

"No, I would have remembered."

Ron and Harry looked at Quentin. Quentin ignored them and kept looking around, still trying to figure out where they were meant to be headed. Before he could give up they heard a loud booming voice. Both Quentin and Harry smiled.

"Firs' years over 'ere! This way firs' years!"

The three of them ran towards the half-giants voice, Ron looking worried.

"Oh, 'arry an' Quentin, good to see ya."

Harry was about to say something to the large man when Hagrid looked up and towards the large group of new students.

"Let's 'ope that's all of 'em. Firs' years to the boats!"

All the first years that were present followed Hagrid down a path through the woods.

"Quentin, Harry, we should compare wands." Ron looked excited.

Quentin and Harry looked a little confused but agreed to none the less. Harry pulled out his Holly wand, Quentin pulled out his yew wand, and Ron pulled out his brother's ash wand. Quentin didn't really care about looking at the other wands and continued walking while holding his wand out. Harry took a short glance at the others wands, but not knowing the real differences between them didn't look for too long. Ron however, seemed to be trying to analyze both of their wands, gave up, and just shrugged.

"Cool wand Quentin."

"Thanks."

***

After walking a little more they arrived at the boats and were waiting for Hagrid to say something. He looked around the students a little, checking if everyone was there, and said,

"No more'n four to a boat."

The trio got in a boat and were greeted by Hermione after a short while. Then the boats were off, heading towards Hogwarts through the lake. Quentin looked around not only the castle but the edges of the lake and deep within it. He could have sworn he saw some kind of light coming from the deep waters. Suddenly he was grabbed by Hermione who pulled him back. He looked at her confused.

"If you keep leaning over the side like that, the boat is bound to tip." She wasn't looking directly at him however, but out towards Hogwarts.

He decided not to argue with her as there was no point, and she was probably right. She looked at him.

"Do you no how we get sorted into our houses?"

After that, not only did Quentin look at her, but also Harry and Ron. The redhead looked at her proudly and said,

"The houses are Slytherin for the evil, Ravenclaw for the nerds, Hufflepuff for the leftovers, and Gryffindor for the brave and strong."

Quentin thought he sounded pretty biased.

"That's not what I was asking, I know about the houses. I was asking if anyone knew how we got sorted into them." Ron looked a lot less proud and a little upset.

"I'll take that as a no then? I guess we'll know soon anyways."

Quentin, Ron, and Harry looked in the same direction as Hermione as they saw a large archway covered in vines approaching.

"Heads Down!" Hagrid said.

Quentin saw a couple of people put their heads down, including Harry and Ron. He just looked at Hermione and back to Hagrid who was nearly three times the height of any first years. As the boats kept going through the water towards the shore, Quentin couldn't help but be a little excited and nervous.

The boats hit the shore and students started leaving and heading onto land, with a few needing the help of others or Hagrid. Just as they were getting out Hermione almost fell as the boat shifted a little. Quentin grabbed her arm and let go when she was balanced.

The four of them began to follow Hagrid up towards the castle as he began to talk about how great the school was and how wonderful it's headmaster is.

They got to a very large door that more than likely headed to where the other years' students were. Hagrid looked around and walked up to an older looking lady close to the doors.

"Firs' years Professor"

"Thank you Hagrid" The older Professor said smiling at him.

Just as Quentin was going to start talking to Harry a familiar boy walked up to them.

"It's true then, what they're saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts." There were a few gasps as almost everyone looked to either Draco or Harry. He motioned to the two larger boys to his sides.

"This is Crabbe and this is Goyle, and you know me. I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

He walked up to Harry and the rest of them. Ron chuckled. Draco looked at Ron,

"Think my name is funny do you? I don't need to ask you your's, red hair and a hand-me-down robe, you must be a Weasley" Ron looked him in the eyes, angered.

Quentin gently moved Ron out of the way with a hand and looked to Draco,

"Hello Draco, good to see you again." Draco glared.

"You again, you Mudblood." Quentin just smiled lightly.

Draco annoyed looked back to Harry.

"You'll soon find out that some wizarding families are better than others Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort." He looked back to Quentin and then to Ron.

"But aren't we of the same family Draco, I'm your cousin. The only difference between us is our names." Draco looked at him, "And our parents." He smiled.

"And clearly mine are better than yours." Quentin did nothing but surprisingly Harry stepped up.

"Than why would you want to be friends with me, Malfoy, I haven't got any."

Just then, the large wooden doors opened and all of the students were rushed inside the main hall. There were hundreds of students sitting at four extremely long wooden tables. All of the students were wearing robes of varying colors, either red, yellow, blue, or green.

As they were walking up to the front of the hall, Hermione began to talk to him about the floating candles and the ceiling, which seemed to be oped to the cool midnight sky.

"It's not real, the ceiling. It's just bewitched to look light the night sky. I read about it in 'Hogwarts: a History'."

All of the first years walked up to the front of the hall were there was a dusty old wizard hat sitting on a stool. As the first in line began to walk up to the hat the Professor waved them back.

"Will you wait along here please." She motioned the the wooden rise in front of them.

All of the students stood and waited. In a group there were Ron, Harry, Quentin, and Hermione. Then the older lady professor began to talk again,

"Now, before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words."

Seated in the middle of a long table perpendicular to the larger tables in the rest of the room was a very old looking wizard with a long, white beard and even longer, white hair. He began to rise and say,

"I have a few start of term notices I would like to announce. First years please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you that the third floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death." All of the first years wore a strangle and confused expression. "Thank you."

Just as the older wizard, Professor Dumbledore, finished talking and sat back down, the lady professor began again,

"Now when I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses."

Quentin leaned over to Hermione and whispered, "I'm hoping for Ravenclaw."

Just then the professor called out the first name. "Hermione Granger." She looked across the students as Hermione made her way towards the stool and professor. Hermione sat on the stool and the hat was place upon her head by the professor. Then it began to speak to the surprise of all of the first years.

"Hmm... All right.... Hmmm.... All right then.... Ravenclaw!"

Only some of the Ravenclaws cheered as many were busy either reading or not caring. She made her way towards the table.

"Draco Malfoy."

Malfoy made his way up to the stool with a smug look on his face. He sat down, and before the hat could be fully placed on his head it shouted.

"Slytherin!"

There were a large amount more cheers from the house than for Hermione. He made his way over.

"Susan Bones."

A red headed girl made her way up and the hat was placed on her head. Quentin looked over to Harry who had his hand on his forehead while looked towards on of the professors.

"Hufflepuff."

"Ronald Weasley."

Ron made his way up to the stool and sat down, the hat was placed on his head and did something strange.

"HAH!" Ron cowered a little. The hat had scared him.

"Another Weasley. I know just what to do with you. Gryffindor!" Quentin chuckled among the cheers, so much for the house of the brave, he was scared by a hat.

"Harry Potter." Everyone went quiet and looked at Harry, some whispering.

Harry went up to the hat and took a seat on the stool. When the hat started talking, Harry began to beg.

"Please not Slytherin." The hat began to question his wish before shouting his house.

"Gryffindor!" Harry smiled.

"Quentin Keene."

Quentin made his way up to the stool and took a seat. He sat there for a short while before feeling the leather against his head.

"It's a little dusty." Quentin couldn't help but say it.

"Oh am I?"

"Sorry, but it's true. When were you last cleaned?"

"Don't bring my hygiene into this, I'm here to sort you."

"Okay, sorry,"

"Now, where to put you? You have the ambition for Slytherin, bravery for Gryffindor, loyalty for Hufflepuff, and thirst for knowledge for Ravenclaw. I'd say either Slytherin or Ravenclaw... Which to choose?"

"I'd prefer Ravenclaw."

"Very well then... Ravenclaw!" Quentin walked to his table and sat next to Hermione. He listened to the rest of the students being sorted. None really caught his attention. Then, when everyone had be sorted into their respective houses Dumbledore stood again and told them to enjoy the feast.