All the first years immediately began following the professor's orders. It wasn't hard not to, with her strict stern peering round every now and then, watching the cowering children like a hawk.

Through we went, stumbling over twists and turns. The deafening noise from the Great Hall could still be heard, making me shudder with eager expectation at what was lurking around the doors.

Finally, the professor (now known as Professor McGonagall), guided us into a small empty chamber. Everyone crowded in, the cramped space adding to the fear and excitement.

"Now, please listen in to what I'm about to say. First of all, I give everyone a huge welcome to Hogwarts," she paused to take a breath, "every year, before the feast begins, we have the Sorting. It is a very important ceremony, and should be treated as such as you will be sharing dorms, your Common Room and classes with your fellow house."

"Every one of you will come up in alphabetical order and try on the Sorting Hat. It will sort you into either one of these four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin." At this, hushed whispers spread around the room.

"I sure hope I don't get put into Slytherin," Ginny whispered into my ear.

"I think Ravenclaw would be a good house," Luna added.

To be honest, I had no idea what house I wanted to be in. I was always one of those kids who just couldn't make a decision, no matter how important the situation.

"Quiet!" a voice yelled.

Everyone fell silent once again as McGonagall continued with her speech.

I immediately perked my ears up in rapt attention at Professor McGonagall, feeling a little ashamed at how easily I had gotten distracted.

After she had finished with her introduction, I found myself trotting with Ginny and Luna once again. However, this time we were heading to the Great Hall.

"Oh my Lord! We'rd actually going to be sorted. Sorted!" I shook Ginny's shoulders as a result of my uncontrolled excitement emerging once again.

Rolling her eyes, Ginny pried my arms away replying, "Seriously, Briar. You're going to be giving Luna and me both a headache soon. Just, just shut up."

I drew my head back slightly. However, not even Ginny and her sour mood could hold me back today.

The bright light of the Great Hall soon came into view with the chattering and squawking of students following. As we walked in, multiple heads turned towards us. I have to say, you don't realise how intimidating it is for the whole school to watch you, until you experience it.

McGonagall then disappeared, presumably to get the Sorting Hat.

I took this time to survey the teachers. As my gaze moved along each and every one of them, I found myself getting more and more nervous. Finally, I locked eyes with the dreaded teacher himself - Snape. 

His black obsidian eyes fell upon my green emerald ones, a flicker of emotion surfacing upon his eyes before he drew his head back.

I shot a quick glance back at him, only to find him staring straight forward again.

I exhaled, brushing a stray piece of blonde hair behind my ear. Shaking my head, I carried on with my observation of the teachers, taking care not to look at the sea of gazes shot my way.

Finally, McGonagall came back, holding a frayed dusty hat in hand.

At this, Dumbledore stood up, his long white beard swaying slightly with the movement. I watched with shining eyes as he gave a huge smile at us and then at the older students.

"Welcome!" his voice echoed.

I watched in awe as he introduced himself and the line of teachers behind him, stopping at a particular teacher.

Looking at the said teacher, my eyes fell over his golden long locks and his jovial face hiding underneath. His bright blue eyes glistened at the attention of the hundreds of students and he gave a quick wave, which made his forget-me-not-blue robes shimmer in the light.

Ginny groaned, "Not him again! Mum's been obsessed with him all summer."

Now that she had mentioned that, I remembered a few stray books that had been lying around my house, all with his face plastered onto the front.

"Now, let us proceed with the Sorting!" Dumbledore clapped, making everyone follow suit as well.

McGonagall stepped forward. "Daniels, Peter."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Perry, Benita."

"Slytherin!"

"Lovegood, Luna."

Luna stepped foreward, in her usual care-free trance. 

"Ravenclaw!"

I clapped with excitement for my friend as she headed to the whooping Ravenclaw table.

The name calling then carried on. It seemed as if it was forever that I was standing there, each second making my posture tremble.

"Stewart, Briar."

I nervously stepped forward, with Ginny giving me a look of reassurance.

I felt the weight of the hat being placed on my head.

'Hmm. There are signs of kindness in your head, young lady. You are definitely intelligent and hardworking as well. But... there is one trait that is the most definite out of them all. Let's see..."

"Gryffindor!"

I placed the hat down carefully, before jumping off and steering towards the Gryffindor table, where nearly everyone was standing up and cheering. I lost count of how many people were patting me on my back and grinned at the chorus of  'welcome's' and 'congratulation's' thrown my way before sitting down at an empty seat.

Truthfully, I was still in shock at everything. Arriving at Hogwarts, meeting my friends, being placed in Gryffindor. I was amazed.

"Weasley, Ginny."

I sat up straight, realising that I had missed nearly everyone's sorting while I was lost in my thoughts.

"Gryffindor!" 

"Yes, Ginny!" I screamed, standing up to greet my now fellow classmate.

Ginny giggled and laughed at our table's over-excitement and craziness. I watched with wonder as two familiar red headed twins grabbed her arms and tickled her, while another tall red head watched in pride. However, there did seem to be an absence of another lanky sibling...

"Ron's not here," Ginny whispered into my ear, making me jump. 

I was right after all.

"Are you sure it's him you're looking for, or someone else?" I teased her, earning myself a punch on my shoulder.

I watched as the all too familiar blush crept onto her pale freckled skin, as it did everytime 'Harry Potter' was mentioned.

"Now that our first-years are welcomed, let us all embark on this wonderful journey of filling our stomach's!"

Suddenly as if on cue, plates of chicken, meats, salads, boiled potatoes and much more sprung up onto the embroidered table cloth.

My mouth watered in delight at the masses of food laid out in front of me. The scent of pies, bacon and warmth flooded throughout me. Back home, we would never have had the time or money to have this sort of food.

Hastily, I quickly took whatever I could reach, not caring about what I was taking. I could see Ginny and everyone else doing the same.

"Mmm, it's so good!" I mumbled, chewing the Yorkshire pudding in ecstasy.

I heard murmurs of agreement follow my exclamation.

As quickly as it had come, the tables were soon replenished with desserts.

The same procedure went on, with me covering my plate with cake, ice cream,  strawberries and who knows what else. At the end, I wasn't quite sure what I hadn't eaten.

"I hope everyone took and ate their fill! Now, off to your dormitories everyone. Lessons do start tomorrow after all."

At this, everyone sprung off of their seats, in the joy of getting a good night's sleep. I was about to as well, before Ginny grabbed my arm.

"Look who's coming," she mumbled.

I tilted my head at the person she was talking about, only to see a pale blonde head darting towards us.

"Great, just great. Just when I thought everything was going fine, he had to come here," I groaned.

Draco sauntered over to us, "Of course you two would be together. Only the two blood traitors would want to hang around with each other," he halted as if waiting for his two bodyguards to react - they didn't. He shoved them both which then made them forceably chuckle in agreement. Draco smiled. "I wonder where your dear brother is, Weasley. Probably up stirring trouble with that good for nothing Potter," he spat out.

"Back off, Malfoy. What did she ever do to you?" I argued.

Draco sneered before replying, "Watch out, Stewart. You have no idea what's happening at Hogwarts this year."

I watched in fear as Draco and his two cronies staggered behind him as he strolled off towards the dungeons.

What did he mean? Was it something bad? Would it affect us? 

Or would it destroy my beloved Hogwarts?