thehi made him jump about a foot in the
air -- several people behind him screamed.
”what the --?”
he gasped. so did the people around him. about twenty ghosts
had just streamed through the back early-white and slightly
trahey glided across the room talkiher and
hardly glang at the first years. they seemed t. what
looked like a fat little monk was saying: ”five a,
i say, we ought to give him a sece --”
”my dear friar, havent we givehe ces he
deserves? he gives us all a bad name and you know, hes not really
even a ghost -- i say, what are you all doing here?”
a gh a ruff and tights had suddehe
first years.
nobody answered.
”s!” said the fat friar, smiling around at
them. ”about to be sorted, i suppose?”
a few people ely.
”hope to see you in hufflepuff!” said the friar. ”my old house,
you know.”
”move along no voice. ”the s ys
about to start.”
prall had returned. ohe ghosts
floated away through the opposite wall.
”norall told the first years,
”and follow me.”
feeling oddly as though his legs had turo lead, harry got
into line behind a boy with sandy hair, with ron behind him, and
they walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through
a pair of double doors i hall.
harry had never even imagined suge and splendid
place. it was lit by thousands and thousands of dles that
were floating in midair tables, where the rest of
the studeiables were laid with glittering
golden plates ahe top of the hall was an
table where the teachers were sitting. prall led
the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line
fag the other stu