Professor McGonagall places a stool in front of the first-years with little fanfare, and a rather old and silly looking wizard’s hat on top of it. Everyone stares at the Hat as it begins to sing, and I tune it out, having been exposed to far too many of its "songs’ in various works over the years before I ended up here. The hall bursting into applause is my signal to tune back in, and the Professor stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.