"Anyways," Hagrid said. "I think it's abo' time we went to the boats. Firs' years! Firs' years this way!" He led them to the boats, where Ella, Albus, Rachel and Rose shared one. They rode up to the magnificent stone castle that Ella had seen from the train, and pulled to shore. They walked to the castle, and Ella and all the other first years took in the scenery. They marched inside, where a short man in emerald green robes waited for them. "I am professor Flitwick," he said in a squeaky voice. "I am your charms teacher and deputy headmaster. You will come into the great hall on my order. Do you understand?" All the heads nodded, and Ella blushed as a boy behind her sniggered as her frizzy hair bobbed up and down. Professor Flitwick gave them all a stern nod and went through the huge doors. Suddenly, they heard a high-pitched voice laugh. "Ickle firsties again! I love to say hello!" Ella shrieked as a large bucket of water was poured on her red curls. They didn't flatten though, oh no, they poofed out even more, making the ghost floating above their head shriek with laughter. A dozen water balloons flew at the students from above, soaking them. Professor Flitwick came into the room again and yelled, "PEEVES! Don't make me call the Bloody Baron!" Peeves stuck out his tongue and floated away. Ella almost sobbed. Her big moment, the one she had been waiting for all her life, and she was soaking wet. Flitwick sighed and gestured to them. "Well... come on then. Don't be ashamed, he does it to all of the new students..." He led them into the great hall, where countless students were sitting at tables, and gold plates sat, shining like stars. Professor Flitwick carried a stool and what looked like an old sack to the front of the students. He set the sack on the stool, and to Ella's astonishment, the sack began to sing.

Many many years ago

when I was just a hat

four people wanted to build a school

and so they did just that

This school in which you now stand

was nothing but a patch of land

Do you belong in Gryffindor

Where dwell the strong and brave?

Or are you suited to Slytherin

where they rave and slave?

Perhaps you have a home in Hufflepuff

where stay the kind and just?

Or maybe you have a fellowship in Ravenclaw

who you can always trust?

We are different

yet we are the same

and no one should ever

place the blame

apart we are great

but together we will prevail

over any estate!

A few people applauded, but most of the wizards and witches in the great hall murmured among themselves. Ella heard a boy with dark brown hair say to his friend, "That was a strange one." Ella lined up beside her fellow first years as their names were called out.

"Abernathy, Davis!"

Davis walked up to the stool and sat on it. The hat was placed on his head, and the seam opened and yelled, "HUFFLEPUFF!" Davis took off the hat and joined a group of people at the Hufflepuff table. One by one, their names were called.

"Brown, Violet!" "RAVENCLAW!"

"Finnegan, Sean!" "GRYFFINDOR!"

Until finally,

"Johnson, Eleanor!" Shakily, and very aware that she was leaving wet footprints in the hall, she walked forward and sat on the stool. Professor Flitwick had a hard time getting it on her head with her hair poofing out so much, and the other students noticed. A few at the Slytherin table sniggered, and one was shaking with silent laughter. Ella turned bright red, and the hat was finally shoved over her eyes. She heard a voice in her head say, Hmmm, very difficult. Perhaps Hufflepuff? Ravenclaw? What do you think my dear? A lot of students have asked me as of the past nineteen years. What do you think? "I think you should put me in whatever house seems best," She thought. Well if that's the case, then it better be "GRYFFINDOR!" The hat was pulled off of her head and she walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat. The Gryffindor table cheered and clapped, and the next person was called forward. A boy with messy brown hair sat next to her. When she looked back at the ceremony, she felt a tug on her hair and turned. He was looking the other way. She looked back at the ceremony, and once again, felt a tug on her hair. She turned, and saw that he was doing the same. "Do you mind?" She asked, irritated. "Sorry," The boy said, turning back to her. "It's just so fluffy, it's hard not to touch it. I bet if the Ravenclaw table wanted to, they could touch it." Ella giggled, then stuck out her hand. "I'm Ella." The boy shook it. "Sean Finnegan." She smiled and turned back to the ceremony when she heard a familiar name.

"Longbottom, Rachel!"

She saw a man at the staff table grin and swell with pride.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

She turned back to Sean as Rachel sat next to her. "Your last name sound familiar. My mum might have mentioned a Finnegan." He smiled. "My dad is Seamus Finnegan. Sound familiar?" Ella nodded. "Oh yes, that's right. I your dad was the one who was always blowing stuff up." Sean turned red and faced the ceremony again.

"Malfoy, Scorpius!" "SLYTHERIN!"

The blonde, sneering boy hopped off the stool and joined the Slytherin table. Rachel growled. "My dad—Professor Longbottom I mean—said that Scorpion's dad used to tease him a lot."

"Potter, Albus!"

That name caused a lot of murmuring. However, Ella knew that Albus's father was probably the most famous wizard that ever lived, so it wasn't a surprise for her.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

An uproar of cheers erupted from the Gryffindor table, so loud and lasting so long that the next six people's names were drowned out by them. By the time they had quieted down, Rose's name was being called.

"Weasley, Rose!" "GRYFFINDOR!"

Ella couldn't believe it. All of her best friends in the same house—it was amazing. Perfect even. Something was finally going right.