Chapter Two: The Sorting Hat

The door swung open. A tall witch with dark blue robes and flowing blue hair was standing there, her face, although beautiful, looked rather stern.

"The first years have arrived, Professor Luna."

"Thank you, Whooves. We shall take it from here." Luna nodded and watched as the man walked away, before she opened the door wider, drifting ahead of the first years.

Twilight looked around the grand entrance hall. She was sure it was wide enough to put at least half of the Hogwarts Express inside. The stone walls were lit with torches, and Twilight couldn't see the ceiling no matter how hard she looked and there was an elegant marble staircase that faced them, and it lead to the upper floors.

Twilight looked around at her fellow first years as the followed Professor Luna across the flagged stone floor.

One student had silver hair in a mohawk style, another had evenly trimmed blue-gray hair that covered half of her face, Pinkie was right beside her, acting hyper and excited as usual.

Twilight noticed a gradual escalation of noise, a drone of voices, hundreds of voices, which came from a nearby doorway. The rest of the students must already be in there, but Professor Luna was still leading the crowd ahead, eventually reaching an empty chamber.

The group crowded together, looking around uneasily while Professor Luna simply turned to face them.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, the start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but you will not take your seats in the Great Hall until you have been sorted in your houses," Luna paused to make sure that the students were paying attention before continuing." Sorting is a highly important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be your family within Hogwarts. You will share classes with the rest of you house, sleep in your house dormitories, and spend plenty of time in your house common room."

Twilight wasn't expected such an emphasis on your house being your family. Now she was beginning to wonder if anyone she had met so far would be in the same house as her.

"There are four houses, and they are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. These houses have their own noble histories, and many outstanding wizards have come from them."

Rainbow let out a small snort.

"While at Hogwarts, your good deeds will earn you house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, whichever house has the most points shall be awarded with the house cup. A grand honor. I hope each and every one of you will be a credit to whichever house you become a part of."

"In a few moments, the Sorting Ceremony shall begin and will take place in front of the school. We suggest preparing yourself as well as possible while you wait. We shall return when the ceremony is ready. Be quiet while you wait."

Professor Luna spun around on her heel and left through the doors behind her.

"So how do ya assume they sort us?" Twilight turned to see Apple Jack behind her, trying to smooth down her frizzy hair, as well as readjusting her stetson.

"Zephyr said it was some sort of test." Fluttershy whispered, nervously twirling her long pink hair.

"He also said something about it being very extreme but I doubt that's true." Rainbow walked over, arms crossed, and her hair looking as wild as it did on the train.

Twilight suddenly felt very nervous, and she tried to busy herself by adjusting her robes. Performing a test in front of all those people, and if she failed, they would know her. Possibly taunt her.

"Twilight?" Apple Jack had placed a hand on Twilight's shoulder.

"You nervous?"

Twilight nodded, and Apple Jack chuckled.

"It'll be fine. If only i'd asked Mac how the sortin' went."

Twilight looked around, noticing everyone looked slightly nervous, even Pinkie looked slightly nervous while Rarity was whispering something that sounded like a list of spells or ingredients, and Twilight forced herself to pay attention to something different. She stared at the door. Any second now. Any second now...

Someone let out a terrified scream, and Twilight spun around, seeing something quite surprising. "What on ear-" Apple Jack cut herself off as she saw it as well.

A stream of transparent, pearly white people had come from the back wall, gliding past the first years as if they did not exist. Ghosts. One ghost seemed to be having a disagreement with another, adjusting his monocle as he went before suddenly taking notice of the first years.

"Why, what are you all doing here? Sir, do you know why they're here?"

"Why, Fancy Pants, these are new students! About to be sorted, are you?"

Several students nodded, seeming to have lost their voices the moment the ghosts arrived.

"Move along. The Sorting Ceremony is about to commence." The students turned to see Professor Luna who glared at the ghosts until they had, one by one, left the room. When the ghosts were gone, Professor Luna took a quick look at the first years.

"Form a line and follow us, please." Twilight, feeling like her feet had gone numb, forced herself to get behind Apple Jack while Rainbow got behind her and the line followed Professor Luna out of the chamber, back through the hall, and then through a pair of double doors that opened into the Great Hall. The whole group went silent at the sight before them.

The area was illuminated by hundreds of floating candles that were above four grand tables where all the other students were currently sitting. Golden plates and goblets were spread out over the table, the candle light causing them to glitter warmly.

At the furthest end of the hall from where Twilight stood, was another table, where several adults sat.

Professor Luna led the first years towards it, stopping them right in front of the teachers' table, which was on an elevated part of the ground. The first years turned to face the four tables of students, the teachers simply observing from their table.

The hundreds students were all staring at the new arrivals, the candle light flickering on their faces and Twilight noticed the subtle silver-white of the ghosts among the students.

Twilight felt like her legs would turn to jelly if she kept under the staring eyes, so she looked upwards at the ceiling and was met with a sight of an inky black sky. However, Twilight was sure that it was not the actual sky as not a single cold breeze seemed to enter the room.

"Macintosh told me tha' was bewitched ta' look like the sky." Apple Jack whispered, and Twilight stole a quick glance at her before looking back towards the students. Looking for the familiar blue hair that her brother had, which was difficult as several of the students had that color of hair. None of them had the faces of Shining Armor.

Twilight looked back to her first years. and watched as Professor Luna placed a stool in front of the group, and set a tattered wizard's hat on top of it. Everyone stared at the hat, the entire hall in absolute silence.

Then the hat twitched and a rip widened like a mouth near the brim. Then it began to sing. Twilight couldn't make out most of the first part, but she did begin to understand it after a bit.

"You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where hose of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on, don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap.

For it is I, the Sorting Hat!"

The hat went still once the song ended and everyone applauded the performance, only quieting down once Professor Luna had stepped forward, holding a long stretch of parchment.

"We shall call your names, and you are to sit on the stool and be sorted by the Sorting Hat," Luna paused to look at the list. "Griph, Gilda!"

Gilda had long silver hair, the tips a slight purple color. She sat down quietly, looking rather neutral as Professor Luna set the hat atop her head.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

One table burst into applause as Professor Luna took the hat and Gilda ran to the table, giving high fives to those at the table.

"Lane, Thunder!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The boy shot off, joining in on the high fives being shared at the Gryffindor table.

"Dancer, Moon."

"RAVENCLAW"

Another table burst into applause as their new member slowly walked in their direction.

"Burst, Sun!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

Sun Burst looked much more anxious as he approached his house table than Moon Dancer.

"Lulamoon, Trixie!"

"SLYTHERIN!!"

Rainbow's crude remarks were drowned out by Slytherin's applause as their new member joined them, head held high.

Twilight looked around for her brother once more, only half listening to the names and where the owner of those names went.

A set of twin boys with white streaks in their red hair went to Slytherin... "Derpy Hooves" went to Hufflepuff... A 'Little Strongheart' went to Hufflepuff... Not too many now... A cousin of Apple Jack's went to Gryffindor...

"Dash, Rainbow!"

Rainbow tried to keep a proud look to her as she sat down and Professor Luna placed the Sorting Hat upon her head.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Rainbow pulled off the hat, handed it to Professor Luna, and ran to her table, cheering and high-fiving everyone until she found a seat

"Belle, Rarity."

Rarity stiffly walked over, looking rather nervous as if the hat would bite her if she got too close.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Rarity's eyes widened, and Twilight could see Rainbow was staring at Rarity, before turning and listening to the mutters from Gilda, who was sitting beside her. The two turned and looked like they were glaring at Rarity who had not moved, and was now gripping the stool so hard her knuckles were turning white. Professor Luna took the hat off and gently nudged Rarity in the direction of the Slytherin table.

The Slytherin table seemed happy for the new member and began to applaud her, which made her ease up, if only slightly.

"Pie, Pinkamena!"

Pinkie bounced up to the hat, sitting down with a smile, waving at Rainbow and Rarity.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Pinkie cheered, let Professor Luna take off the hat, and then bounced in the direction of the Hufflepuff Table.

"Pie, Marble."

The girl that approached the hat looked nothing like Pinkie. Her color scheme was gray and she looked like she would like to curl up rather than sit in front of the entire school.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Marble was very quick to run to her sister's side, and Pinkie wrapped her in a hug.

"Jack, Apple!"

Apple Jack looked much more at ease than any of the others, and Twilight could see Fluttershy desperately trying to hide behind her bangs as she and Twilight were one of the last few first years to be sorted.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Shy, Flutter."

Fluttershy stared at the floor as she quickly sat down on the stool, distracting herself with her hair as Professor Luna placed the Sorting Hat on her head. As she sat there with the hat, Fluttershy stopped messing with her hair.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Fluttershy gently took the hat off and handed it to Luna, before running to the Hufflepuff table, Pinkie Pie giving her a hug once she had sat down.

"Sparkle, Twilight!"

At her name, Twilight began to slowly approach the hat, feeling like her insides were squirming. Once she sat down, Professor Luna set the hat on her head, and the hat dropped over her eyes.

"Hmm... Interesting." A voice whispered in her ear. "You are very brave... But you have wit... You are also very eager to be the greatest..... Hmm"

Twilight tried to think of what house she would prefer as the hat continued to mumble.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Twilight was quiet as Professor Luna pulled the hat off her head, and she walked over to the applauding Gryffindor table.

"TWILY!"

Twilight was scooped up in a hug, which was from none other than Shining Armor. After about several long moments of this, he set her down.

"I couldn't see you when I arrived." Shining gestured to a seat across from Apple Jack and her cousin from earlier and sat down next to her.

"Maybe I was just too far back." Shining replied, looking up at the sorting hat and the few who were still waiting to be sorted.

Now, Twilight could see the High Table much better than before. The man who had guided the first years to the castle - Whooves - was sitting near the end of the table.

The woman sitting next to him didn't exactly look like she belonged there. She was wearing a light pink shirt with sleeves that were greatly over sized, and her hair (which was a rosy color with streaks of orange) was full of dreadlocks which were half covered by an orange, floral patterned bandanna.

Next to that woman, sat a tall, thin looking man with short black hair and a white goatee and bushy eyebrows and a long tooth that pressed against his bottom lip.

On the other side of the table sat a woman who was wearing many golden bracelets and bangles (and golden rings that hid her neck) and huge golden ring earrings. Her long hair was streaked black and white, and a zebra hide cloak was pinned to the shoulders of her black robes.

Next to her sat another woman. Her hair was differing shades of light pink, a couple freckles dotted her cheeks and she wore a necklace with three flower charms on top of her dark magenta robes.

The third woman had curled dark brown hair, and she sported large blue ball earrings that matched the color of her eyes. She wore a white Victorian color over her black robes. The seat next to her was empty, but the seat after that (it was much more ornate than the rest of the chairs) sat a very beautiful looking woman.

She had flowing, multi-color hair that drifted down out of Twilight's line of sight and a pointed, gold trimmed, pointed witch hat sat on top of her head. Her robes were white with beautiful golden patterns and small purple gemstones. She knew exactly who this was.

Celestia Celnis, Headmistress of Hogwarts.

"Pommel, Coco." Twilight looked up as a clearly nervous girl sat on the stool

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Rainbow let out a small cheer as the new Hufflepuff walked to her cheering table. During this, Professor Luna rolled up the list and pulled out her wand, giving it a quick wave. The list, stool, and the Sorting Hat vanished. A small sounds of 'ooh' came from the -now sorted- first years. Twilight heard a small growling come from Apple Jack's stomach. She suddenly realized how hungry she herself was.

Celestia stood up, holding out her arms and smiling. Her robe sleeves were wider towards the end, revealing her pale wrists wrapped in golden, jewel studded bracelets.

"Welcome, everyone, to a wonderful new year at Hogwarts! Now before our banquet begins, I have a few words to say: Neightwit! Flank! Odcur! Thank you!"

Twilight stared, slightly confused. That wasn't a spell that Twilight ever read or head of. Celestia nodded her head and sat back down as the school cheered and applauded her.

"Is she mad or-?" Apple Jack went silent as the plates before them piled with food. Twilight gaped at it, while Rainbow and Apple Jack stacked their plates high with things like roast beef and chicken, pork and lamb chops, sausages, bacon, steak, roasted and boiled potatoes, pudding, and stewed vegetables.

Twilight began to take a little bit of everything, the hall being filled with the sound of silverware meeting plates as everyone ate. No one was really talking for the first few minutes of the banquet, as they were too busy stuffing their faces.

"That looks delightful."

Twilight looked up, dropping her fork in surprise as a ghost drifted up through the table. Apple Jack swallowed a bite of roasted potatoes and looked up at the ghost, whom had slicked back hair and a neat little mustache.

"You can-?"

"I haven't eaten for hundreds years, sadly. Very unfortunate. I -of course- don't have to eat but one begins to miss it after a while." The ghost looked slightly sad for a moment, and Twilight could tell that Apple Jack was regretting asking.

"I haven't introduced myself, have I? Apologies. My name is Sir Fancy De Haris Pants, Resident Gryffindor ghost."

"My brother told me 'bout you. You're Fancy Pants, right?"

"I'd prefer Sir Fancy De Harris Pants, thank you." The ghost snapped irritably before clearing his throat and looking at the other first years. "New Gryffindors! I hope you'll help Gryffindor win the house championship this year. I can't recall the last time Gryffindor went so long without winning. Slytherin has had the cup for almost seven years straight! Honestly, Stinkin' Rich has become unbearable."

Twilight noticed Rainbow was glaring at the mentioned table. "Stinkin' Rich is the Slytherin ghost," Shining Armor whispered, turning back to his plate.

After a while, and everyone felt like they could eat nothing more, the plates suddenly were clean of all food remnants, sparkling like they were when the first years first arrived. Twilight's eyes widened as desserts suddenly appeared in place of the food that had previously sat there.

Ice cream in every flavor possible, several different type of pies, treacle tarts, all kinds of jam doughnuts, trifles arranged neatly on a revolving platform, pudding, strawberries.

Apple Jack grabbed a large portion of apple pie, clearly happy to eat something apple related while Rainbow and Gilda tried to see who could eat the most doughnuts.

Twilight took a small bowl of pudding, listening as the conversation around her turned to family and relatives.

"My dad's a wizard, but my mom's a squib, so she was worried me and my brother wouldn't be able to do magic. Boy, did she cry when we got our letters." Thunder Lane was talking to a rather muscular, blonde fifth year who was quietly eating a treacle tart as he listened.

"I was pretty shocked when I got my letter, I have to admit. Turns out my great grandparents weren't muggles and my dad never told me 'cause he thought I wouldn't be able to do magic. My parents are pretty chill about it, though." A third year was saying to Apple Jack's cousin, Braeburn.

Twilight turned her  head, listening to a couple Gryffindors talking about the lessons and what they were looking forward too.

"Transfiguration sounds pretty great. But it sounds pretty hard.."

"It is, but we start out pretty easy. It'll be fine."

Twilight stopped listening, looking over to the teachers. Whooves was talking to the woman who wore the zebra cloak. Meanwhile, Professor Celestia seemed to be having a pleasant conversation with Professor Luna and the tall man with the long tooth.

Of course, Twilight didn't watch long, as the vanishing of the desserts (and the small moan from Rainbow who had crammed one more doughnut than Gilda into her mouth) caught her attention.

Professor Celestia got to her feet and the hall went silent to listen to their headmistress. "Now, there are a few more words I have to say, now that we have all been fed. A few start-of-term notices for you all."

Professor Celestia cleared her throat before continuing.

"For all the first years, please take notice that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all students, and our older students are right to remember that. Mr. Doodle, the caretaker, has requested that I make sure to remind you all should not be using magic in the corridors between classes.

Madam Breeze will be holding Quidditch trials during the second week of the term and that anyone who is interested in playing for their house Quidditch team should contact her."

Rainbow lifted her head from the table at the mention of her favorite sport.

"And at last, it is mandatory I tell you that for this year, the third-floor corridor on the right hand side is restricted to everyone who is not willing to die a most painful death."

Shining Armor looked rather surprised at this information.

"You think he'd tell the prefects why we can't go up there, at the very least." He muttered, although Celestia continued.

"Now that we have gotten all of those announcements done and over-with, off to bed you go!"

The Gryffindor first years followed Shining Armor past the chattering crowds of the other houses, and out of the Great Hall and up the marble staircase. Twilight felt very tired, and from what she could guess, her fellow first years felt the same.

The group passed by dozens of paintings as they walked down the corridors, those inhabiting them waving and giving greetings. Shining guided them past tapestries, up staircases, and past doorways behind sliding panels, constantly checking over his shoulder as if one of the students would drop asleep any moment. Which, seemed rather likely with how slow they walked and how much they were yawning.

The group ended up coming across a rather displeased looking female ghost, with long pale hair.

"More first years, hmm?"

Shining simply guided the group around the ghost, telling her to get lost or go find Fancy Pants, which he ceased doing when the group reached a portrait of a woman with dark gray hair, wearing a pink bowtie and a violin in the background of her painting.

"Password?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at Shining.

"Clumsy Draconequus," said Shining, and the portrait swung forward like a sideways trapdoor, revealing a passageway that was well concealed behind it. Everyone climbed through, finding themselves in a cozy, round room full of comfortable looking red armchairs and gold tassel ended rugs and curtains.

"This is the Gryffindor Common Room," Shining gestured to two doors, directing the girls into one, and boys into the other.

At the top of a spiral staircase, was a collection of four poster beds hung with red velvet curtains which were meant to give a feeling of privacy. Their trunks had already been brought up and were now sat at the end of the beds. Owlicious' cage sat on top of Twilight's trunk, but it was empty.

They must have let him out to get some fresh air.

The others had already started changing into their pajamas by the time Twilight had pulled hers out of the bottom of her trunk. However, she was quick to change and fell onto her bed, where she fell asleep almost instantly.