There was one thing Danny was sure about, Hogwarts founders certainly knew, how to make first impression. Seriously, when you approach the castle on a boat, you can't help but be amazed at the sight. It was huge, with high towers, rising above ground. Yes, Phantom lived in a clocktower from another dimension, but this castle felt different. With his eyes glued to the Hogwarts, Danny didn't notice, how boats arrived to some kind of docks.

Phantom never liked stairs, and now he needed to go through this suffering. And after some time Danny was standing in front of giant oak doors, when stern looking woman in green robes arrived.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rulebreaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

Danny just stood there, having nothing better to do. He picked Cujo from the ground and started petting his friend. Suddenly, some first year girl asked question.

"Excuse me, Mr, why are you here?" Danny smiled.

"It's my first time here, just like you. I'm just going to start from fifth year"

"Is this a puppy?", "He is so cute!", "Can I pet him?",  kids started to ask questions non stop.

"Look, Cujo, someone is popular," said Phantom, earning happy bark from puppy.

"What can I say? I like attention," Cujo responded.

"How do you think we will be sorted?" Someone asked.

"My brother said there will be a dragon!" Danny laughed at that.

"Really? I haven't fought with one since the last time no one invited Dora on a dance!" Soon-to-be students had stars in their eyes.

"Move along now," said a sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."

Professor McGonagall had returned.

"Now, form a line," she told the first years, "and follow me."

The Great Hall was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the students up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Danny looked upward and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. Everyone saw an old torn hat, lying on the stool.

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 common 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 fighting

And the clash of friend on friend

And at last there came c 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 I must fulfil my duty

And must quarter every 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.

Danny put the singing hat in his own top 10 of weirdest things. Not on the first place, thugh, he has seen weirder. With a last frowning look that swept the loud house tables, Professor McGonagall lowered her eyes to her long piece of parchment.

"We are going to start from exchange student. Daniel Work"

With that Danny went over to the stool and sat on it. Professor placed the hat on his head. It was quiet for some time, before the Hat said.

"Mr. Work, may I ask, where have you learned such strong Occlumency shields?" Everyone was shocked by this information.

"My Dad teached me"

"Can you please low them, so I can sort you?" Phantom did as was told.

"Merlin!" Hat shouted. It was the first time anyone saw the Hat shocked. And it was disturbing to say the least.

'I apologize, ' Danny heard the voice in his head, 'Ministry demanded from Headmaster and me to tell about you out loud. Don't worry, your secrets are safe with me'

"You are very peculiar person, Mr. Work," said Hat, "I have never seen such mind as yours before. You fit perfectly in every of four houses. All the traits are present in you"

"You are brave, incredibly so. You went against people, who were much stronger than you, without a second of doubt. Your chivalry ideals are something to be proud about. Even if you think that chivalry is dead," the Hat chuckled quietly at his 'dead' pun," You always stood for what you believe in, no matter against who and has gone through a lot. Yes, Griffindor will do well for you"

"There are Hufflepuff traits. You are loyal to the people you care about, however, people need to work to gain your trust. But you have a very forgiving nature, you are willing to give everyone a second chance, since you were gifted with one yourself. And it helped certain people to step on a right path, such as Dorathea. Hufflepuffs will welcome you with open hands"

"Now for the Ravenclaw. Very bright person, you are. You have learned four years of magic in two months, even if you used an unusual method and had a very unusual teacher. And back home, you are known for your witty character and creativity. But you learn only what you want to, not what you need to"

"And finally Slytherin. You are cunning, since that's what helped you to defeat your enemies. You strongly believe, that the ends justify all the means. There are pages in your life you aren't very proud of, but everything you have done was for the better good of people around you. You also did whatever you need to survive, be it lying, manipulating or disobeying rules. Ambitious you are, that is undoubtful"

'It's really hard to make a decision,' said Hat telepathically, 'But I think I know, where to put you. As you can guess, the houses are against each other, which is unacceptable in such times. YOU, Mr. Phantom can be the one to unite the students, so you better be..."

"SLYTHERIN!" The Hat shouted.

Minerva took it off from Danny's head and he went over to his table. With a corner of his eye, Phantom glanced at his friends at the Griffindor table. Hermione and Harry looked at him sadly, while Ron narrowed his eyes. That was expected, Danny saw, what opinion the trio had about Slytherins. He will need to talk with them later.

Phantom saw that the only free seat was near Malfoy's company. Danny cursed his luck, but kept neutral look on his face, sitting at the table. Everyone around didn't pay attention to the rest of the sorting, eyeing the mysterious student. Not only he kept the Hat out, but whatever it saw, it must be something scary. Then Draco broke the silence.

"I want to apologize for my rude behavior before, I shouldn't have insulted your friends," everyone blinked at his nice tone. Phantom chuckled.

"You heard the Hat, I have a thing for second chances," he said. He might not like this guy, but better not to antagonize his housemates. Then Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet.

"To our newcomers," said Dumbledore in a ringing voice, his arms stretched wide and a beaming smile on his lips, "welcome! To our old hands, welcome back! There is a time for speech-making, but this is not it. Tuck in!"

There was an appreciative laugh and an outbreak of applause as Dumbledore sat down neatly and threw his long beard over his shoulder so as to keep it out of the way of his plate, for food had appeared out of nowhere, so that the five long tables were groaning under joints and pies and dishes of vegetables, bread and sauces and flagons of pumpkin juice.

Across Danny, Draco's bodyguards weren't eating, they were devouring the food. Phantom tried not to look at them and continued to eat delicious dinner. He put a little of everything on his plate and was looking curiosly at the orange drink.

"What is that?" Danny asked Draco. He raised an eyebrow.

"That? This is pumpkin juice, haven't you seen it before?"

"No, I prefer something else," Phantom took out a black flask and poured red drink into his glass. Glowberry wine, juice for ghosts, knockdown alcohol for humans. For Danny it's alcohol only in big portions. It tasted a bit like cherry, though.

"Who wants some?" He said after taking a sip. Malfoy noticed slight smirk on his face. His henchmen, however, did not.

"Oh, I'd like to!" They said in unison. Danny poured the wine into the duo's glasses.

They drank the whole stuff in one blow. Grave mistake. Crabbe and Goyle dropped their heads on the table, unconscious. Everyone's eyes widened.

"Looks like it's pretty strong for them," Phantom said, taking another sip,"does anyone know a spell to wake them up?"

-Latttteeer-

It was almost the end of dinner, when Danny' ghost sense went off. People around noticed the blue mist, coming out of his mouth.

"What is that?" Draco asked.

"Ghosts," was Phantom's blunt answer. Second later they appeared. Danny felt that their power was very small. Clockwork told Danny about them. Existing in the Human world, they didn't have contact with ectoplasm, that's why only fellow ghosts can touch them. Poltergeists are different story. They replaced ectoplasm with human's emotions. So, none of them heard about the Ghost Zone and about Phantom. It was a surprise for Danny, when ghosts floated to him.

"Good evening, young man," said Sir Nicholas, "how do you like Hogwarts so far?"

"It's very nice. But why such interest in my opinion?"

"You are the first exchange student in this school, so of course we are interested!" Answered Fat Friar.

When all the students had finished eating and the noise level in the Hall was starting to creep upwards again, Dumbledore got to his feet once more. Talking ceased immediately as all turned to face the Headmaster.

"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices," said Dumbledore. "First-years ought to know that the Forest in the grounds is out-of-bounds to students, and a few of our older students ought to know by now, too."

He then told about Mr. Filch's list of rules, hanging on his door. Janitor with an office, that's new. Also Dumbledore explained replacements in the staff.

"Tryouts for the house Quidditch teams will take place on the..."

Headmaster was interrupted by loud 'Hem, hem'. The source of this sound was a woman. She was squat, with short, curly, mouse-brown hair in which she had placed a horrible pink Alice band that matched the fluffy pink cardigan she wore over her robes. Her face reminded Danny about toad.

"Thank you, Headmaster," Professor Umbridge simpered, "for those kind words of welcome"

Her voice was high-pitched, breathy and little-girlish.

"Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say!" She smiled, revealing very pointed teeth. "And to see such happy little faces looking up at me!"

Danny glanced around. None of the faces he could see looked happy. On the contrary, they all looked rather taken-aback at being addressed as though they were five years old.

"I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!"

Somehow, Danny doubted that.

-Lattterrr-

Students started to go to their dorms. There was a problem, though. Crabbe and Goyle were still unconscious, so Phantom levitated them to their dorms with Wingardium leviosa. Slytherin dorms were based in dungeons.

It was dark, cold, with green color everywhere. For Danny it was very homey. Placing henchmen on the sofa, he went to bed, Cujo following behind.