Spike, Sally, Twilight, Vinyl ,Octavia and Hermione exited the train. They saw a huge figure almost twice as tall as the people they have met and five times as wide. His black hair and bushy beard were wild and untamed. He called out “Firs’ years! Firs’ years over here!” Once everyone was accounted for, he called “No more’n four to a boat!”

Spike frowned “That means one of us has to be one another boat.”

Hermione put a hand on Twilight’s withers “I’ll take care of Twilight, we can talk about books together.”

Octavia nodded “That would be wise.”

Everyone boarded their boats, Spike saw Twilight and Hermione joined by Ron and another nervous looking boy. The fleet of small boats glided across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Hagrid yelled as they approached “Heads down!” Everyone except the ponies had to duck their heads to avoid hitting the roof of a dark tunnel hidden by a curtain of ivy.

They arrived at an underground harbour and climbed onto rock and pebbles.After the very large man provided a toad to their fellow first year, all the first years clambered up a passageway They then walked up a flight of stone steps before arriving at a massive oak door.
The very large man knocked three times on the door.

The doors swung open, Professor McGonagall descended down the stairs. The very large man said “The firs’-years, Professor McGonagall.”

Professor McGonagall responded “Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here.” She pulled the doors open revealing a massive entrance hallway larger than the one in Canterlot. They followed the Professor along the flagged stone floor, they could hear voices from a doorway to their right. Professor McGonagall shoved the first years into a small empty chamber off the hall.

They crowded in, standing way too closely together save for Spike and his friends who felt others staring at them. Professor McGonagall said “Welcome to Hogwarts.” She began to explain that the Sorting Ceremony would distribute them into different houses, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Spike, Sally, Octavia, Vinyl and Twilight thought this was very odd. It’s as if they wanted their students to hate each other.

Professor McGonagall said “I will return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly.”

Spike raised his eyebrow as Twilight gasped “Ghosts are real!”

The ghosts that floated into the room immediately took notice of them but before they could get too intrusive. Professor McGonagall returned, causing the ghosts to float away. She commanded the first years “Now, form a line and follow me.” They all formed a line, Spike ended up behind Draco Malfoy much to his annoyance.

They walked out the chamber back across the hall through the double doors into the great halls, countless candles floated above the table that were covered in food and where the older students were sitting. Soon they all ended up facing the other students with the staff behind them. Professor McGonagall put a four legged stool in front of them, she then placed an extremely dirty, frayed and patched pointy wizard’s hat. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth and then the three organic ponies covered their ears while a pair of earmuffs materialised on Sally.

Spike on the other hand was growing in size as he held his ears, he felt his head hit something when the sound stopped. Everyone was staring at him in shock, Spike gently picked up the hat with the tip of his two claws “Stop singing, my ears are very sensitive to sound.” He then placed the hat down.

After returning to a more acceptable size, an elderly wizard with silver hair stepped forward “While that was quite a display, we should return to the sorting.”

Out of Spike’s friends, Sally was up first. The Sorting Hat spoke to her “A synthetic being fueled by logic, you belong nowhere other than, RAVENCLAW!” Sally matched over to the Ravenclaw table

Twilight was the next, she raised an eyebrow at the sorting “Hat, how do you work? Can I take a look at you?”

The Sorting Hat responded “No” before appearing to chuckle at her pout “One seeking knowledge such as you belong in, RAVENCLAW!” Twilight teleported next to Sally.

Next was Vinyl, The Sorting Hat responded “You are very brazen and eager for trouble. You belong in Gryffindor!” Vinyl bounced ecstatically over to the table.

Octavia was the next member of their friend group, The Sorting Hat frowned “You are curious and calm. I think you belong in…”

Octavia frowned “I would prefer to be in Gryffindor, Vinyl can be dangerous when she gets a fun idea.”

The Sorting Hat shrugged “Everyone in Gryffindor does dangerous stuff, they are the daring types. Are you sure about this?” Octavia nodded, the hat responded with far less enthusiasm “Gryffindor.” She trotted off slowly.

Spike was the last of his group, the Sorting Hat seemed nervous. As soon as the hat was put on his head. The Sorting Hat shouted “GRYFFINDOR!” Spike saw as he headed to the table that the hat shivered.

After a few more people were sorted, the elderly wizard from earlier stepped forward “Welcome. Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts. Before we begin our Banquet, I would like a few words and here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddiment! Tweak!”

Spike looked at Octavia and Vinyl with confusion, they held similar looks. Twilight and Sally had similar looks on their faces, they raised an eyebrow as food materialised into existence on the plates. Spike started putting food on his plate, wondering how classes were going to start.

Author's Note

This is a bit rushed but I wanted to get this out.