"Firs' years!" With a quick goodbye to Regulus and his friends, Kitty followed the deep voice until she ended up at the feet of a giant man, who looked to be in his thirties.

"You a firs' year?" The man asked Kitty, who quickly nodded. "Alright, you can go ahead an' get in one of 'em boats."

Kitty nodded quickly and walked over to the nearest boat, where she sat on the narrow bench. "Firs' years!" A group of three walked over towards her. One was being pushed in a wheelchair.

"Hey, mind if we sit here?" The girl at the front of the group asked.

It was Sirena. Shaking her head, Kitty turned away as they sat down. She didn't think they realized it was her.

She still felt sort of bad about how she had become cold with them earlier, but she knew she shouldn't be feeling guilty. After all, they were only half-bloods and mudbloods, and she was a pureblood. She deserved better.

Another person, a skinny boy with lots of reddish hair, quickly climbed onto the boat and sat behind Kitty, right before the tall man yelled "Alrigh', we're 'bout to go, so yous better hold tigh' to the sides of the boats."

The occupants of the boat remained silent as all of the vessels slipped into the water and started moving towards the glittering lights of the castle. They were perfectly synchronized; the tall man's boat was in the front, and the rest of the boats formed a triangle behind him.

"My name's Rubeus Hagrid." The man announced, turning back towards the first-years. "I'm keeper of the keys an' groundskeeper here at Hogwarts. I came here too, when I was yer age."

"What house?" A girl with an upturned nose yelled from the middle of the group of boats.

"In Gryffindor, I was. Bes' house there is- though I s'pose ever one says that. Watch for the giant squid, now."

A few first years who had been trailing their hands in the water pulled them out quickly, a worried look on their faces.

With no one talking, the boats seemed to take years to reach the bank. Mr. Hagrid helped them out of the boats and they formed a pack surrounding him as they waited for everyone to leave the boats.

Once everyone was out, Hagrid gave a happy whistle and announced "Follow me, now." He led them up a steep slope, where they passed a tree Hagrid called the whomping willow, and finally reached the top to see the grounds were illuminated.

"Wow," Kitty whispered to herself. Hagrid grinned, as if he had been part of the surprise. They were surrounded by creatures that looked like fireflies, only they were doing cartwheels in the air and writing words like "Welcome!" and "Hogwarts." 

Whistling again, Hagrid led them inside what Kitty assumed was the entrance hall, where they were treated by a severe-looking witch.

"Greetings." She said. She looked to be around forty, with dark brown hair and worried eyebrows. "Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am Professor Minerva McGonagall, Transfiguration Professor. Soon, you will be led into the Great Hall. The Sorting Hat will be placed on your head and you will be Sorted into a House. The four Houses are Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. Each is a renowned House; it is an honor to join any one of them. If you excel, you will be awarded House points. If you break the rules, House points will be taken. At the end of the year, the House with the most points will be awarded the House Cup. I know you will bring great things to your Houses and to Hogwarts. The Sorting will now begin."

Professor McGonagall pushed open the door and gestured for the first years to form a line. Kitty was second to last. Nervously, she followed the rest of the students into the hall. She glanced at the Slytherin table, where Regulus nodded at her and Violetta smiled. Another girl, an older girl, also smiled. It was her cousin, Narcissa Black.

The youngest of her cousins, Narcissa was in her seventh year. The prophecy given to her family could also happen to Narcissa's family- it could happen to any of the Blacks. Like in Kitty's family, the middle child, Andromeda, had already turned away from the House of Black.

If the prophecy did come true, it was only a matter of chance if Narcissa or Kitty would be the one to complete it.

Swallowing nervously, Kitty turned her attention to the front, where Professor McGonagall was holding a list and an old hat.

"You will be called in reverse alphabetical order. First-"

"Excuse me." The hat complained. "But I didn't sing yet." McGonagall rolled her eyes.

"Oh fine, go ahead."

"Thank you." The hat opened its (mouth?) and began to sing.

Indeed, I may look like an old rag

But I'm better then what you'll see,

Because no other fancy hat

Is any wiser than me.

Oh, those fancy hats may be sleek,

The nicest hat you saw,

But I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I'm wiser than them all.

I can look into your mind

And judge from what I see,

When you put me on, I can tell

In which house you should be.

Perhaps you belong in Gryffindor,

If you have a strong heart,

for Gryffindors are daring

Even at long journey's start;

Or maybe you're in Hufflepuff,

Whose students are quite fair,

They'll stick with you through thick and thin,

For Hufflepuffs do care;

Could be that you're a Ravenclaw,

If you prefer to exercise your brain,

Yes Ravenclaws are witty

From birth to need of cane;

You might be a Slytherin,

Where the cunning people stay,

These students put a trick

In everything they say.

Now I'll judge your mind, but don't be scared!

Though my mouth may be just a flap

I'm ten times smarter then what I appear,

For I'm a Thinking Cap!

There was lackluster applause, but the hat beamed as if it had just won an award. "Alright, go ahead now."

Professor McGonagall rolled her eyes. "Yemi Yasef?"

A girl with black braids and dramatic kohl-lined eyes stepped forward and sat on the stool.

"Hmm." Kitty was just close enough to hear the hat talking to itself. "Intelligent, yes. Very kind, loyal. Shall it be Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, hmm."

"Hat, haven't we told you to think in your head?" McGonagall said, annoyed. The hat ignored her.

"Intelligence seems to be your dominant trait... But you value those other traits more. Better be... Hufflepuff!"

The table closest to Kitty cheered.

"Now, Emmett Smithson." The thin boy who had sat behind Kitty on the boats came to sit on the stool.

The hat had only been placed on his head when it yelled "Ravenclaw!" The table to the right clapped as he went to take his seat.

"Sirena Palms." Kitty froze up slightly as Sirena carefully put the brake down on Rowen's wheelchair and sat on the stool. "Intelligent, cunning, brave... My, my." Sirena sat on the stool for almost a minute before the hat said: "not Ravenclaw, no." Another minute passed before the hat smiled and declared "Gryffindor!"

Sirena grinned, handing the hat to McGonagall and hopping off the stool as Gryffindor House cheered louder than any of the other houses.

Kitty rolled her eyes.

The rest of the sorting was a bit of a blur, with the memorable ones being Kate Fis, who sat there for almost six minutes before the hat placed her in Ravenclaw, and Ellis James, a Slytherin whom the hat announced had stolen Rosie Ginyetta's (Gryffindor) Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans on the train, but only because he had a crush on her.

A beet-red Ellis (who was really rather attractive) left the stool to whistles and catcalls.

"Jack DiGievo," McGonagall called. It was almost Kitty's turn. There were only three more first years waiting to be sorted.

The hat deliberated for a while between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, but like Yemi Yasef, Jack was placed in Hufflepuff.

"Amy Cooper?" Within a minute, Amy was quickly placed in Slytherin and McGonagall was descending the steps to place the hat on Rowen's head.

"Another Hufflepuff, no doubt." The hat said, right as it was placed on Rowen's head. Sirena quickly appeared from the Gryffindor table and loyally pushed Rowen towards the Hufflepuffs, but Kitty could see that she was upset.

"Kitty Black."

Kitty nervously walked up the stairs. She could hear the whispers.

"Another Black?"

"She's going to be a Slytherin for sure."

Kitty swallowed as the hat was placed on her head.

Another Black, ah.

Kitty gulped nervously. Are you talking in my head?

Yes. Is that a problem?

No. No problem.

Good, good. Probably not a Ravenclaw; you're fairly intelligent but there's not enough creativity there, not enough curiosity. You have more practicality than curiosity, which is often a Hufflepuff trait. Of course, it's only one factor, plenty of Hufflepuffs are creative or curious-

Can you just put me in Slytherin already?

The hat pretended it didn't hear her.

Very loyal, especially to your family. Even to your brother, whom your mother had cast aside. Caring too, you felt very bad on the train, didn't you? Well, I've made my decision.

Slytherin?

"Hufflepuff!" The hat announced.