A man more than twice my size cried out in a loud voice: 'First years over here!' This had to be Hagrid, the keeper of keys and grounds of Hogwarts. Charlie and I followed him to the boats. Together with two other boys we sat down in a boat, to sail across the lake. It was a moment never to be forgotten. Arriving at the bathhouse we walked up the wide stairs to the castle. As we stood before the closed doors of the Great Hall, a witch in green robes and top hat took over from Hagrid. Professor McGonagall listed the wards and let us into the hall. Never before had I seen so many people in a room. My gaze was quickly drawn to the open ceiling, where hundreds of stars glittered in the sky. But when the sorting hat started to sing, my stress rose anyway. Although I didn't tell Charlie, I did have a preference for a house. Apparently the hat, I've heard of rumours, can read minds. My name came second. That's what happens when it starts with a B. Hesitantly, I stepped forward. Professor McGonagall put the hat, which was much too big, on my head. Very quickly I started thinking: "Please Slytherin, not Hufflepuff, I'd rather be kicked out of school." I was so desperate I forced myself to think, "At least there aren't any mudbloods in Slytherin." I didn't mean that last one, of course. But I knew my chances were slim, because everyone always says that Slytherin only takes pure bloods. However, if you ask me that's all bullshit. What about Snape and he who must not be named? Finally the hat yelled: 'Slytherin!'
I breathed a sigh of relief, but from the outside I showed no relief. My eyes met Charlie's as I walked to my house table. Weasley was in the back of the alphabet, as expected Charlie ended up in Gryffindor. During the feast, the subject blood came up on the table. 'What kind of blood do you have?' asked one of the boys. Most of them answered pure. When it was my turn, I lied easily: 'Pure too.' When everyone was stuffed we were escorted to our rooms. The day was done. So far my time in Hogwarts had been fantastic.