"Are you cold?" Ethan asked, shivering in the night air as he turned to Hermione, who stood behind him.
She crossed her arms. "I'm not cold."
He saw right through her but said nothing. Instead, he positioned himself against the wind, standing in front of Hermione to shield her from the cool gusts.
At Hagrid's beckoning, the first-year students followed the giant down a steep path to a black lake.
On the hillside across the lake stood a magnificent castle, its spires towering, lit windows twinkling beneath the starry sky.
Hagrid pointed to a cluster of small boats moored on the shore and shouted, "No more than four to a boat!"
The three of them shared a boat.
The boat sliced through the mirror-like surface of the lake and glided toward the castle.
"Duck!" Hagrid shouted as the small boat approached the cliff.
Everyone ducked, passing through the curtain of ivy covering the cliff face to reach the hidden entrance.
"We didn't actually need to duck," Ethan told his two friends once they had passed through. "Only he needs to bow his head." This drew a light laugh from them.
They followed the dark tunnel to what looked like an underground dock, stepping onto a surface paved with gravel and pebbles.
After everyone disembarked, Hagrid found a toad while inspecting the empty boat.
"Neville, your toad!" Hermione shouted.
"Trevor!" Neville was overjoyed, thanking Hagrid profusely.
No one knew where the elusive toad had been hiding, but it had suddenly appeared on the boat.
Carrying lanterns, they made their way through tunnels, across grass, and up steps until they finally reached a huge oak door.
"Everyone, make sure all your fellow passengers are here."
After confirming that no one had been left behind, Hagrid raised his fist, which was as big as a casserole dish, and knocked on the door three tis.
The door opened, revealing Professor McGonagall dressed in a bright green robe.
Her expression was serious. "Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take it from here."
She pulled the door open, revealing stone walls lined with blazing torches.
The ceiling stretched so high it seed to vanish into darkness, and before them rose a grand marble staircase.
Professor McGonagall led them to a small chamber at the far end of the entrance hall. "First of all, welco to Hogwarts. Next, we'll conduct the Sorting Ceremony, which will determine your House, your fellow students, your dormitory, and your companions in the common room for the next seven years."
"The four Houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."
Each House had its own proud history and had produced many outstanding witches and wizards. Excellence in your studies would earn points for your House, while infractions would result in point deductions.
At the end of the year, the House with the highest score would be awarded the House Cup, a trendous honor. "I hope you will all bring glory to your respective Houses."
After explaining the proud history of the four Houses and the rules of the House Cup competition, Professor McGonagall surveyed the assembled students. "The ceremony will begin before the entire school in a few minutes. I suggest you compose yourselves and ensure you look presentable."
She swept from the room, and the young witches and wizards around Ethan burst into excited chatter about the montous Sorting ahead, debating which House they hoped to join.
Hermione was no exception; she chatted nervously with Ethan to keep her own anxiety at bay.
"Ah! Ghosts!" More than twenty translucent figures drifted through the wall, sending a ripple of alarm through the group.
Fortunately, Professor McGonagall reappeared almost imdiately, and the spirits glided through the stone and vanished from sight.
The sight startled Ethan, but he soon found himself wondering how ghosts ca into existence.
"Follow . Single file, if you please."
Ethan fell into step behind Hermione, crossing the entrance hall and passing into the Great Hall.
The four long tables already groaned with students; the vacant places were clearly reserved for the new arrivals.
Thousands of candles floated in the air above the tables, their light dancing on gleaming gold plates and goblets.
At the head of the hall sat another long table, where Dumbledore and the rest of the staff were assembled.
"That's brilliant," Hermione breathed, leaning toward Ethan. "I wonder if they used a Levitation Charm for all those candles."
"I can't imagine how powerful a wizard would need to be to cast that spell over so many flas."
The first-years lined up with their backs to the teachers' table, facing the assembled student body.
Professor McGonagall set a four-legged stool before them and placed an old, patched, filthy, pointed wizard's hat on it.
A broad slit suddenly opened across the brim, and the hat burst into song.
Soon, the song ended, and thunderous applause erupted. Even though Ethan thought the singing was nothing special, he still joined in.
To a round of applause, the Sorting Hat bowed its pointed top to each of the four long tables, completing its performance.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward, holding a roll of parchnt. "Now, those whose nas I call, co forward, put on the hat, and sit on the stool."
"Hannah Abbott!"
At the sound of her na, a little girl with rosy cheeks and two blonde braids stepped nervously out of line and placed the hat on her head.
She sat down, and after a brief pause, the hat shouted, "Hufflepuff!"
The students at the Hufflepuff table cheered and applauded. Hannah took off the hat, placed it on the stool, and went to join them.
As the sorting continued, Ethan figured out which house was at each long table.
Gryffindor occupied the far left table, Ravenclaw the second from the left, Hufflepuff the second from the right, and Slytherin the far right.
Hermione was so nervous she could hardly breathe. "Which house do you think I'll be sorted into?"
"Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, I guess," Ethan said with a shrug. Of course he knew Hermione was one of the Gryffindor trio, but he pretended not to.
"Really?" Hermione looked as though she might be sick.
"Hermione Granger!" Professor McGonagall called, after Justin Finch-Fletchley of Hufflepuff.
"Go for it!" Ethan whispered, encouraging her.
She took a deep breath, hurried to the stool, and put on the hat.
"Gryffindor!" the hat shouted after a long mont.
Hermione gave Ethan a bright smile before walking toward the cheering Gryffindor table.
Neville was called after Hermione, and he was so nervous that he tripped on his way, even forgetting to take off the hat as he ran to the Gryffindor table.
Ethan was both amused and exasperated. Neville was so forgetful.
When it was Harry Potter's turn, the entire room fell silent, and all eyes fixed on him, eager to see where he would be sorted.
It was a long, long ti before the Sorting Hat finally shouted, "Gryffindor!"
There weren't many people left. Ethan looked around. Only four remained.
"Ethan!"
When his na was finally called, his heart hamred in his chest. He stepped forward.
"What's his na? Ethan? What a handso boy!" The teasing whispers from so older girls made Hermione scowl. It felt as though soone was trying to snatch away her beloved toy.
Ethan didn't care. He stepped forward, seized the Sorting Hat he despised, and lowered it onto his head.
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