As soon as she said that the hat was going to look through my memories I knew it would end badly. The way I see it, it could end as any mixture of the two ways. Either I get a flashback and everyone thinks I'm crazy, or the hat is traumatized for life.

We walked through the Great Hall with a bunch of little people at our sides. I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't this. The big area was, for lack of a better word, magical. Everyone seemed to be staring at me and Will as we had to slow our pace to stay in line with the 11 year-olds. 

Then the unexpected happened. Professor Mcgonogal put a old hat onto a stool in the front of the room, and you know what it did? It started singing.

Now, believe me when I said I had thought I have saw everything, and at this point I shouldn't even be surprised that the hat could sing.

"In times of old when I was new
And Hogwarts barely started
The founders of our noble school
Thought never to be parted:

"United by a common goal,
They had the selfsame yearning,
To make the world's best magic school
And pass along their learning.

"Together we will build and teach!"
The four good friends decided
And never did they dream that they
Might someday be divided,

"For were there such friends anywhere
As Slytherin and Gryffindor?
Unless it was the second pair
Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?

"So how could it have gone so wrong?
How could such friendships fail?
Why, I was there and so can tell
The whole sad, sorry tale.

"Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those
Whose ancestry is purest."
Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose
Intelligence is surest."
Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those
With brave deeds to their name,"
Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot,
And treat them just the same."

"These differences caused little strife
When first they came to light,
For each of the four founders had
A House in which they might
Take only those they wanted, so,
For instance,

"Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning, just like him,
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor.
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest,
And taught them all she knew,

"Thus the Houses and their founders
Retained friendships firm and true.
So Hogwarts worked in harmony
For several happy years,

"But then discord crept among us
Feeding on our faults and fears.
The Houses that, like pillars four,
Had once held up our school,

"Now turned upon each other and,
Divided, sought to rule.
And for a while it seemed the school
Must meet an early end,

"What with dueling and with fighting
And the clash of friend on friend
And at last there came a morning
When old Slytherin departed

"And though the fighting then died out
He left us quite downhearted.
And never since the founders four
Were whittled down to three

"Have the Houses been united
And they once were meant to be.
And now the Sorting Hat is here
And you all know the score:

"I sort you into Houses
Because that is what I'm for,
But this year I'll go further,
Listen closely to my song:

"Though condemned I am to split you
Still I worry that it's wrong,
Though I must fulfill my duty
And must quarter every year

"Still I wonder whether sorting
May not bring the end I fear.
Oh, know the perils, read the signs,
The warning history shows,

"For our Hogwarts is in danger
From external, deadly foes
And we must unite inside her
Or we'll crumble from within.

"I have told you, I have warned you...
Let the Sorting now begin."

I honestly never knew a hat could be so depressing. Each person walked up to the stage as their name was called, getting the hat put onto their head. After it was on there for a second it would shout out a house and they would sit down at the clapping table.

"Now, as you may have noticed there are two older boys waiting to be sorted. Welcome our exchange students form Hecate's school of magic." Everyone clapped and then Mcgonogal called our names.

"Di Angelo, Nico"

I sat down on the rickety stool and the surprisingly light hat was put onto my head.

Hello.

I almost jumped in shock when I heard the voice in my head before realizing what it was.

Now, where to put you. In your character I sense eminence bravery and cunningness. I believe you either belong in Slytherin or Ravenclaw. But, alas, it is not enough to sort you. I am going to need you to put down your mental barriers so I can see your memories.

Trust me, you don't want to see them.

They are needed to sort you Mr. Di Angelo.

Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you.

I let down my mental blocks and let the memories flow. A single tear left my eye as I relived my life.

Bianca's death.

Being manipulated by a ghost.

All of the monsters I fought.

The Goddess of pain saying she couldn't make me feel more pain because I already had too much.

Tartarus. Where I was alone,a and as a child of Hades, saw it for everything it is.

The hat yelled in terror, like he was watching some kind of messed up horror movie. In a way, he was.

"Slytherin." The hat yelled, then sighed in relief as I was taken off of his head.

I sort of stood there until a table in all green started clapping and I knew that was where I was supposed to go. I walked to the table as the awkward clapping ended and sat down in the back.

The professor cleared her throat and spoke clearly, "Solace, William."

The hat took about two seconds before screaming, "Hufflepuff."

A bright yellow table cheered at their newcomer, and as he sat down Will gave me a sympathetic look. I attempted to give him a reassuring smile, but by his expression I knew I had failed.

The blond idiot from the train, Malfoy sat next to me as Dumbledore gave his speech. "Maybe I was wrong about you Di Angelo, I wonder what you did to get a reaction like that. If you want to be a Death Eater, you know where to find me."

"Fuck off," I said simply, trying to pay attention. Malfoy sneered and left me, while his friend, Blaise, sat next to me.

"I'm sorry for him, he never knows when to stop. I'm Blaise Zambini, pleasure to meet you." He stuck his hand out politely and I shook it.

"Nico," I decided to reply shortly.

"Do you mind if I ask? What did get that reaction out of the Sorting Hat?" He asked me curiosly.

"It's kinda personal," I awkwardly pulled at the required tie that was turned green and sliver prior to the sorting.

"That's fine, I get it. I'm saying this because you seem like a decent dude, wanna be friends?" He smiled at me.

"Yeah, sure," I simply said back, proud I had already make a friend.

Then something bad happened, there was so many of them. The last thing I expected at dinner was to have dozens of ghosts appear out of nowhere. When they noticed me a mixture of "My lord" and "My king" were heard as they bowed down to me. I would normally be happy that they followed protocol, but not now.

I could feel all eyes on me as this happened and with a wave of my hand they were gone, transported out side of the hall. Blaise looked at me questioningly and I gave him a look that said I could not tell.

After dinner we were ushered into the common room, and I loved it. It felt homey, reminding me of the Underworld. Blaise showed me to the dorms, and I stared in awe. The room was stunning, with a glass wall at the side where there was what looked to be a fish tank.

"Our common room is in the dungeons, right next to the like. Each dorm has a little viewing area of it." I claimed the bed closest to the water, it reminding me of camp, as he told me everything. Percy would love this.

After the whole, 'You're not my type' thing we kind of became more like cousins. He was always in my business, making fun of me and constantly cracking 'I thought I wasn't your type' jokes. He was so annoying, like family should be.

I was ushered with questions as soon as I was alone, but I ignored them. I layed on the soft bed, falling asleep almost instantly welcoming nightmares. This was going to be a long year if I couldn't sleep with Will.