With.brave.deeds.to.their.name,.
Said.Hufflepuff,.Til.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.Harrys.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.an.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.uncomfortable.to.have.a.ghost.lean.through.you)..The.Hat.feels.itself.honour‐bound.to.give.the.school.due.warning.whenever.il.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..