"Dan, Dan, Dan! Wake up! We're here!" An excited voice woke him.

Dan's eyelids fluttered open. He looked at Phil lazily, his blue eyes positively teeming with excitement and anxiety. Phil pulled him up.

"Come on, get up!" Dan grumbled and pulled his luggage down from the overhead compartment.

It seemed like ages ago he put it up here. Was it really time?

Phil grabbed his hand and pulled him along with the rest of the first year crowd. Dan felt happy. That was the first time someone had held his hand that way and not let go. He felt like he had made an acquaintance. This was also the first time he had this feeling. He was inexplicably happy and, surprising himself, found himself running behind his new friend with matching grins on their faces.

Finally, the had arrived at the Great Hall. It was now evening, and the Hall was absolutely extravagant; there were candles that seemed to be in midair, with no lights on except the burning wax. Looking up, Dan saw the roof of the Hall charmed to resemble the night sky, glittering with thousands of stars, planets, and comets. Dan released his grip from Phil for only a second to point out the amazing lights, and Phil stopped completely in his tracks.

"This school is so much more than I thought it would be." Dan stood next to him for a second, and they just stared at the ceiling until a third year pushed them both and called them faggots.

Phil merely smiled and took Dan's hand again, walking with him. All the anxious first years were gathering, waiting to be Sorted.

Dan took a deep breath. He didn't want to be in Slytherin. Phil made Slytherin House sound undesirable.

Dan had enough common sense to not assume that all Slytherins were horrible, but by the look of all of those nasty fifth years, he was rethinking what Phil had said - specifically about them being "evil." He knew Phil was heavily influenced by his family; he had learned in the walk to the grand castle that all his family was wizards who did not tend well to Dark Magic.

Dan fidgeted in his spot while still holding Phil's hand. Phil smiled at him.

All at once, an old woman with a heavy lined face looked down at all of them from the podium.

"Good evening, and welcome, students. I am Professor McGonagall. I am the Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When I call your name, you will step up to the stool and be Sorted into one of four Houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Do understand the House you are Sorted into does not determine what kind of wizard you become."

Her thin, straight lips curved into a line at the pupils. The Hat then sang a song about the Battle of Hogwarts. How brave Gryffindors fought valiantly; kind Hufflepuffs helped one another; how intelligent Ravenclaws used every spell they knew; how cunning Slytherins helped the school. How all the Houses worked together to defeat the most powerful Dark wizard of all time: Lord Voldemort.

Phil gasped when the Hat said the name, but a pretty brunette girl next to him said, "No one is afraid of that name anymore."

Once the Hat had finished its song, Professor McGonagall asked for a moment of silence to remember those who had died in the Battle just a year ago.

Phil whispered to Dan, "This is the first year since the Battle that this school has opened." Dan simply nodded.

Then, the Headmistress began calling names. "Blackery, Emma!" A timid girl with a blonde pixie cut walked up to the podium and sat on the stool. McGonagall placed the Hat on her head and it immediately shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" A roar of approval came from the furthermost table to the right.

"Butler, Marcus!" A tall blonde boy strode up to the stool and the hat had barely touched his hair when it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" He smiled broadly. Dan was astounded anyone would be proud to be in that House. A shout of happiness came the table on the left side of the grand Hall.

This process continued as the Headmistress kept calling out names from a list on long parchment, beckoning the children. "Burr, Tanya!" . . ."Franta, Connor!"

Then, finally, "Howell, Daniel!" Dan released Phil's hand - which had become quite slick with both of their sweat - smiled at his new friend, and walked shyly towards the stool.

The Hat sat upon his head for quite a while, humming and tutting. Then he heard a whisper in his ear. "Shy... clever... powerful. No doubt you're in - SLYTHERIN!" Dan glanced at Phil, who seemed shocked to say the least. Dan quickly got off the stool and walked towards his respective table.

Phil's words bounced around in his head, thinking about how terrible of a person he must be if the Hat had Sorted him so quickly.

"Kendal, Chris!" "GRYFFINDOR!"

Was Phil right about Slytherins being evil?

"Ligouri, PJ!" "RAVENCLAW!"

What if I'm a Dark wizard?

Then, "Lester, Phil!" Phil nearly jumped onto the stool and the Hat sat on his head for at least thirty seconds, when finally, it announced, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Phil looked happy, but Dan could see in his eyes that he was disappointed. No doubt he was the only wizard in his family to be Sorted into Hufflepuff. Dan stood up and waved at Phil, who smiled.

But the smile didn't reach his eyes. Dan wanted to run over, comfort him - did he even know how to comfort? - but he knew he wasn't allowed to stand up until the Sorting and Feast had ended.

So he sat, powerless, watching his only friend cry and act like nothing was wrong.