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ay along to the very end and took the seat that ought to have been Hagrid's。 That meant the first…years must have crossed the lake and reached the castle； and sure enough； a few seconds later； the doors from the Entrance Hall opened。 A long line of scared…looking first…years entered； led by Professor McGonagall； who was carrying a stool on which sat an ancient wizard's hat； heavily patched and darned with a wide rip near the frayed brim。
The buzz of talk in the Great Hall faded away。 The first…years lined up in front of the staff table facing the rest of the students； and Professor McGonagall placed the stool carefully in front of them； then stood back。
The first…years' faces glowed palely in the candlelight。 A small boy right in the middle of the row looked as though he was trembling。 Harry recalled； fleetingly； how terrified he had felt when he had stood there； waiting for the unknown test that would determine to which house he belonged。
The whole school waited with bated breath。 Then the rip near the hat's brim opened wide like a mouth and the Sorting Hat burst into song：
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 mon 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 some day 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 duelling and with jighting
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
As 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 / must fulfil my duty
And must quarter everv 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。
The Hat became motionless once more； applause broke out； though it was punctured； for the first time in Harry's memory； with muttering and whispers。 All across the Great Hall students were exchanging remarks with their neighbours； and Harry； clapping along with everyone else； knew exactly what they were talking about。
'Branched out a bit this year； hasn't it？' said Ron； his eyebrows raised。
Too right it has；' said Harry。
The Sorting Hat usually confined itself to describing the different qualities looked for by each of the four Hogwarts houses and its own role in Sorting them。 Harry could not remember it ever trying to give the school advice before。
'I wonder if it's ever given warnings before？' said Hermione； sounding slightly anxious。
'Yes； indeed；' said Nearly Headless Nick knowledgeably； leaning across Neville towards her （Neville winced； it was very unfortable to have a ghost lean through you）。 The Hat feels itself honour…bound to give the school due warning whenever it feels …
But Professor McGonagall； who was waiting to read out the list of first…years' names； was giving the whispering students the sort of look that scorches。 Nearly Headless Nick placed a see…through finger to his lips and sat primly upright again as the muttering came to an abrupt end。 With a last frowning look that swept the four house tables； Professor McGonagall lowered her eyes to her long piece of parchment and called out the first name。
'Abercrombie； Euan。'
The terrified…looking boy Harry had noticed earlier stumbled forwards and put the Hat on his head； it was only prevented from falling right down to his shoulders by his very prominent ears。 The Hat considered for a moment； then the rip near the brim opened again and shouted：
'Gryffindor！'
Harry clapped loudly with the rest of Gryffindor house as Euan Abercrombie staggered to their table and sat down； looking as though he would like very much to sink through the floor and never be looked at again。
Slowly； the long line of first…years thinned。 In the pauses between the names and the Sorting Hat's decisions； Harry could hear Rons stomach rumbling loudly。 Finally； 'Zeller； Rose' was Sorted into Hufflepuff； and Professor McGonagall picked up the Hat and stool and marched them away as Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet。
Whatever his recent bitter feelings had been towards his Headmaster； Harry was somehow soothed to see Dumbledore standing before them all。 Between the absence of Hagrid and the presence of those dragonish horses； he had felt that his return to Hogwarts； so long anticipated； was full of unexpected surprises； like jarring notes in a familiar song。 But this； at least； was how it was supposed to be： their Headmaster rising to greet them all before the start…of…term feast。
To our newers；' said Du