"Zabini, Blaise."
The student walked up to the stool and sat down. Last on the list, the whole school watched eagerly to see which house would be privileged to the final student.
"She looks like a Slytherin," Hermione whispered as Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on the child's head. "Look at that scowl on her face."
"She? That's a boy. Look at his hair," Ron said.
"What? What about her hair?"
"His hair is too short to be a girl's hair."
"Oh, don't be ridiculous, Ron. Just because her hair's a little shorter than yours and Harry's doesn't mean she's a boy. And anyway, someone's hair length does not decide their gender," Hermione replied matter-of-factly.
"Is she wearing a skirt?" Harry asked. After listening to Hermione and Ron arguing about Blaise's gender, he had to admit he couldn't tell either.
"I can't tell, his robes are covering his legs."
"What was her name again?" Another first year in their house named Neville asked.
"Blaise," Hermione replied.
"Blaise? Well, that doesn't help much, now does it?" Oliver Wood, a fifth year, chimed in.
"SLYTHERIN!"
Blaise jumped off the stool and headed over to the Slytherin table amidst thunderous applause from his/her house mates, sitting down next to a white-blond, pale, rat-faced kid named Draco Malfoy. They exchanged handshakes and began to dig into the platters of food spread out before them.
"I'm telling you he's a boy!" Ron was yelling at Hermione, his face beet-red.
"No, it's a girl. Anyone can see that!" Hermione spat back.
"Like I'm going to listen to you, Little-Miss-Know-It-All."
Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but closed it when she couldn't find the words. She glared at Ron for a moment, then turned back to her plate. Ron let out a huff of triumph and started to dig into to his chicken.
Well, this is going to be an interesting year, Harry thought, smile wide on his face. Very interesting.