Eleven year old Harry Potter walked into Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Hagrid had left the nervous boy alone with a promise to meet him at Ollivander's. The young wizard walked aimlessly around the store, looking at the racks of miscellaneous robes of different styles. In the corner of the shop was a little old woman was busy measuring a blond haired boy Harry's age.
Harry ran his fingers down the sleeve of a forest green dress cloak that caught the boy's eye. The cloak was lined with a black silk-like fabric that was so soft that Harry would rub his face all over it. Down the front, the cloak had little silver fastenings in the shape of dragons.
"Another Hogwarts Student?" The witch asked, looking away from the other boy for a moment.
Harry jumped out of his thoughts as he dropped the sleeve he was holding faster than as if it were on fire. He looked around the shop nervously, only finding the only contents of the store were the witch and the boy. Being the only worker in the shop, Harry assumed the older witch was the one, Madam Malkin.
"Yes ma'am," Harry answered as he took a seat on one of the old looking stools by the window.
"Ow," the blond boy hissed, "Pay attention, you jabbed me!"
Madam Malkin shook her head before going back to her work on pinning the boy's trouser leg. With a wave of her wand the trousers sewed themselves and lengthened to properly fit the boy. "You're done," the witch almost growled at the boy, before she stood up and went to gather more supplies for her next client.
The blond boy glared at the retreating witch before he hopped off the little wooden stool he was being measured on with grace. "So, you're going to Hogwarts too? Are you in first year?" He asked as he flattened the few wrinkles in his white school button up shirt.
Harry watched at Madam Malkin returned with an arm full of supplies.
Harry nodded slowly, "Yes I am. Are you a first year too?"
"You're next, hop up," the witch motioned Harry over, completely ignoring the conversation that was being shared between the two youngsters.
Harry did as told and clumsily made his was over the stool, almost tripping over the thing in the process. The moment Harry stepped onto the old stool it groaned under his weight.
"Yes," The blond boy spoke happily, "By the way are you a pureblood, half-blood, or muggleborn?"
Harry's face contorted with confusion as he thought for a moment, "I'm not sure, I mean, my parents were magical, but they died when I was only a baby," He replied as Madam Malkin positioned his arms so she could measure the boy's scraggly limbs.
It didn't take long before Madam Malkin was waving Harry off the stool with a simple one hour summons to retrieve his finish school robes. The busy witch moved on to a bushy haired girl, who just entered the store.
"Oh," the boy tilted his head in thought before extending his hand out towards Harry, "Well, I'm Draco Malfoy."
Harry easily accepted the other boy's offered hand, "I'm Harry," He introduced himself, "Harry Potter."
Draco's eyes widened for a moment, "Really?" He asked only to get a confused nod from Harry. "I know a lot about you," he said as the two boys walked out of the little robes shop, "My father told me all about what you did to defeat the Dark Lord. I mean, he wasn't too happy about it."
"Oh," Harry mumbled, unsure of why the boy's, who he just met, father knew things about him.
"Well I have to get going Harry, but I have to tell you before I go," Draco said as he stopped walking. He spotted his father and cousin coming towards the pair, "I want us to be friends, but my father," He motioned to the approaching blond man, "He supports the Dark Lord, so it's expected that I act a certain way, and if I don't… let's just not let him know. So I'm warning you for my future behavior at Hogwarts."
"Don't worry Draco, I understand how family can be," Harry gave the other boy a small wave in goodbye.
He watched as Draco approached the man with the same bleached coloured hair as him. The elder Malfoy grasped the back of a younger, dark haired girl's robes as he practically shoved the girl down the crowded street. With a shake of his head, Harry headed towards the building. hagrid previously pointed out as Ollivander's wand shop.
The moment Harry stepped into the dusty wand store a man with wild greying Harry came rolling towards the door on a wheeled ladder.
"Ah, Mr. Potter," The crazy looking man, who Harry assumed was Ollivander, said with a even crazier looking smile, "I wondered when you I would see you here." The man zoned out for a moment. "I remember, like it was yesterday, that I sold the wands to your parents," he said hopping off the ladder, and pulling out a wand box. He handed the wand to Harry and bidded the boy to give it a wave, when multiple rows of wands came flying from their shelves, Ollivander swiped the wand from Harry's hands. "No, no, definitely not," he grumbled to himself as he grabbed another wand for Harry to try.
This one destroyed the flower pot that sat on Ollivander's cluttered counter.
"No," the old man grabbed the wand back before he moved deep down one of the isles. "Hmm, curious, very curious."
Harry raised an eyebrow at the strange man, "What's curious, sir?" He asked as Ollivander joined him again.
Ollivander handed Harry another wand, "Here, try this."
This time when Harry went to give the wooden stick a wave, he momentarily glowed gold and silver.
-HP-
The rest of Harry's trip to the magical market seemed uneventful compared to the crazy wand salesman droning on about how Harry's new wand had a brother that belonged to Voldemort, and receiving a snow white owl from Hagrid. The rest of his summer seemed even duller. The young wizard spent the rest of the days leading up to September first practically trapped in his new room, which was previously Dudley's second bedroom. Between the few chores he did, and the time he spent watching Hedwig circle his room, Harry had a lot of time to read and study all of his school books.
Harry was even able to convince his whale of an uncle to drop him off at Kings Cross Station, the only downfall was that the eleven year old boy arrived two hours early, and had no idea where to go. With the extra time he had, Harry decided to explore the large station, in hopes of finding a witch or wizard who could direct him to his destination. It didn't take too long before Harry heard the voice of the bushy haired girl Madam Malkin helped right after him in Diagon Alley.
"Come on mom, come on dad," The girl pleaded excitedly as she raced ahead of the couple pushing the fully loaded trolley.
"Relax Hermione, we have almost two hours before the train is due to leave," Hermione's mother called after the overly excited little girl.
Harry pushed his trolley over towards the little family. "Um, excuse me," He said clearing his throat nervously.
"Yes?" Hermione's father asked with a gentle smile that put Harry's nerves at rest.
Almost to rest. "Would you, um, happen to, um, know how to, um…," Harry trapped off as he scratched the back of his neck.
"Platform 9 and ¾?" Hermione asked a little too loudly, "I do! Professor McGonagall told me to just run through the barrier between platforms 9 and 10."
"Oh," Harry laughed nervously to himself.
"Here watch me," Hermione said placing a quick kiss on her parents cheeks with a farewell, before taking control of her trolley, and racing towards said barrier. "I'll see you at Christmas," she yelled over her shoulder just as she disappeared, out of sight.
Harry gave a small wave to Hermione's parent before quickly following the girl. The pain that he'd expected to receive when hitting the brick column never came, but the magnificent sight of a scarlet train engine was what met him instead. It was like a dream to the young boy.
The platform was nearly empty par a few wizarding families that arrived early.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Hermione asked with an awestruck smile. She let out a satisfactory sigh as she began pushing her trolley towards the duo of older students that were helping load the train.
"Most definitely," Harry agreed. He shook his head to break out of his thoughts, and raced to catch up with an over enthusiastic Hermione.
With the help of, what the two first years learned were prefects, Harry and Hermione settled in one of many empty compartments with their belongings safety stashed with them.
Hermione let out a sigh as she settled into the plush compartment bench. "Have you read your texts yet?" She asked, pulling her, clearly already well used, Hogwarts: a History from her messenger bag.
"Yeah, I have read every single one of them. The charms one and the one you have there, I read a couple times," Harry answered. He reached up to where they stashed his trunk for one of his books, "What about you?"
Hermione gasped in shock, "I thought I'd be the only one."
"I like reading, especially about magic," Harry said with a smile as he settled onto the seat across from Hermione.
"Seriously?" Hermione asked in disbelief.
"Of course," He assured her before opening his copy of a History of Magic.
The two new friends sat silently reading, only occasionally looking over the top of their books at one another as if to make sure the other was really there.
That was until a red headed boy, with dirt on his nose and second hand clothes, loudly barged his way in. His eyes scanned the compartment before landing on the messy haired boy that was too busy reading to look up. "Do you mind if I sit? Everywhere else is full." He asked.
Harry met Hermione's eye for a moment before shrugging, and going back to his book, "I don't see why not," he answered, "just keep it down."
After that Hermione's and Harry's eyes never left they respective texts.
"I'm Ron, Ron Weasley," The boy once again ruined the perfect silence in an attempt to get Harry's attention, "And you are?"
"I'm Harry, and that's Hermione," Harry quickly introduced them in a grumble, "Now please, be quiet. We are trying to read, if you don't mind."
It only took ten seconds for the peace to cease. This time it wasn't the rude redhead, but rather a witch opening the compartment door to offer the students something off the Honeydukes trolley of candy.
"No thanks, I'm all set," Ron mumbled sadly as he held up a paper bag of smashed sandwiches.
Harry put his book down as he reached into his pocket to fish out the few wizarding coins he brought with him from his vaults, "Would you like anything, Hermione?"
Ron's eyes lit up at the sight of the pile of galleons in Harry's hand.
"I don't want you spending your money on me, Harry," Hermione politely declined causing the dark haired boy to smile at his new friend. She set down her book, and her stomach growled.
"I want to," Harry offered again with a small laugh, "If you're hungry, you should eat something, besides I don't have a shortage of money."
"Yeah, sod off," Ron hissed to the shock of Harry and Hermione, "Let the boy buy some candy."
Shaking his head in disgust, Harry stood up, and held out the galleons to the waiting woman, "I'll take the lot, please. Or as much as this will get me," he said with a nervous half-smile.
"That more than enough, my dear," the witch said with a bright smile, "For the whole lot it's only 5 galleons."
Harry traded the five gold coins for the mountain of sugary wizarding sweets, "Take what you want," he announced, depositing the sweets on the bench beside Hermione, and when Ron went to take a chocolate frog, Harry added, "Hermione."
A devilish scowl spread across Ron's reddening features as his greedy hand snapped to his side. He let out a low growl as he watched the boy, who was meant to be his friend, happily eat candy beside a mudblood bookworm.
Ron was about to speak again when a young girl with dark brown, almost black hair and bright blue eyes peaked her head in. It was the same girl Harry had seen with Draco's father in Diagon Alley.
"Has anyone seen a toad by any chance?" the girl asked with a casual tilt of her head. Her eyes met Hermione's, causing the other girl to blush, and the new girl to smirk.
"No, I'm sorry," Harry replied politely.
The girls shoulders sagged and the smirk fell from her face, "Okay, thank you anyways. But if you do happen to see one, can you look for me or his owner, a first year boy named Neville Longbottom. Poor guy, hasn't even gotten to school yet and he already lost his toad, so I'd like to get it back to him as soon as possible."
"Okay," Hermione said, offering the girl a small smile which in turn brought one to her face.
"Would you like some candy for your search?" Harry offered, "We have more than what we can eat."
"Um," She scratched the back of her neck in thought, "You know what? Yes please, I can always do with another pumpkin pasty in my life. Thanks."
"No problem, take what you want," Harry said motioning to the numerous sweets.
"I'm Cassie by the way, Cassie Lestrange. And you are?"
"I'm Hermione, and this is Harry," Hermione introduced them this time. Her smile dropped from her face when she introduced the redhead, "And that, that is Ron."
"You've got to be kidding me!" Ron exploded with a sharp jump from his seat.
Cassie's eyes widened, and she stiffened at the boy's outburst.
"You offered this spawn of a deatheater some of your candy, but refused to give me some?!" Ron exclaimed; his hair was beginning to match his face. "I'm meant to be your best mate!" He continued.
"I-I-I-," Cassie sputtered. She backed up a few steps to get away from Ron, "I'm sorry. I'll just go."
Harry reached out and gently grabbed the girl's wrist before she could bolt away from the compartment. "Please don't go because of him," He spoke softly to the spooked girl, he let go of Cassie's wrist before he turned to face Ron. "I'm not your 'best mate', I don't even like you! You have been nothing but rude to Hermione since you got here, and now you lash out at Cassie because I offered her candy instead of you! They have done nothing wrong, so if anyone is leaving, it'll be you," Harry hissed.
Cassie gasped as her eyes shifted between Harry, whose fist were clenched at his side; Ron, who looked confused beyond belief; and Hermione, who was looking at her with pleading eyes, as if asking her to stay.
Ron grumbled something incoherent under his breath before pushing his way out of the compartment, nearly knocking Cassie to the ground in the process.
"Um, thank you Harry for standing up for me, no one has done that for me before," Cassie graciously said with a small smile. "Thank you, both of you, but I should probably get back to searching for Neville's toad. The thing won't find itself."
"No problem, the prat had it coming," Harry said with his hand held out for a handshake, "See you at Hogwarts?"
Cassie gave his hand a gentle shake, "See you at Hogwarts," She said. She shot Hermione a smile, "bye Hermione."
"Bye," Hermione practically whispered, Cassie was already gone and wouldn't have heard her reply anyways.
-HP-
For a magical train ride to a magical school, the trip was a long one, but eventually the Hogwarts Express safely pulled into Hogsmeade station. Harry and Hermione quickly put their books away in Hermione's messenger bag, and left the train. Both hoped that they didn't run into a certain troublesome redhead along the way. The two new friends thought the boy to be rude, immature, and impulsive; they both agreed that they'd rather face a mountain troll from their books then deal with him.
A loud booming voice, calling for all first years, drew Harry and Hermione's attention.
Harry knew that voice from anywhere. It belonged one, Rubeus Hagrid, the keeper of keys at Hogwarts. Upon seeing the half-giant, Harry yelled his name, and pulled Hermione towards the man.
"'Ello 'Arry," Hagrid greeted him with a smile. He lowered the lantern in his hand as his attention lowered to the two first years in front of him.
"Hagrid, I'd like you to meet my new friend, Hermione," Harry wore a face-splitting grin as he introduced his first ever friend to the man who introduced him to the wizarding world.
"Why 'ello 'Ermione; it's nice to meet yer," Hagrid said, "Come on, follow me firs' years!"
Hagrid led the large group of first years down a slippery, muddy pathway to the lake; to where a group of enchanted boats waited for the first years to use to travel to Hogwarts for the very first time.
"No more than four to a boat," Hagrid announced as he began to help some of the more nervous kids into the boats.
Ron was about to jump into Harry and Hermione's boat, but Cassie and a quiet boy just barely beat him to it.
"Hey," Cassie greeted as she settled beside Hermione, and Neville beside Harry.
"Thanks for saving us from having to sit with him," Harry said with a nod towards the fuming Weasley.
"No problem, it was either you guys or my cousin and his band of idiots," Cassie said.
"Draco right?" Harry asked.
Cassie hummed in confirmation as the boat lurched forward.
Hermione's eyes widened and she launched herself onto Cassie's arm like a koala.
"It's okay," Cassie whispered to Hermione, "I won't let you fall."
"We'll be seein' 'Ogwarts in a few," Hagrid announced and just moments later the castle came into view and took the breath away of every single one of the approaching first years. They all remained awestruck until Hagrid spoke again, officially knocking them out of the castle induced trance, "Watch your 'eads now." His voice boomed as the boats entered an underground cavern in which the docks were.
Hagrid made sure every student was once again safely on land, before he led the group of preteens to a set of giant wooden doors.
A hollow croak echoed throughout the stone cavern followed by a small gasp escaping Neville's mouth.
"Oi, you there? Is this your toad?" Hagrid asked as he held the little slimy creature in his large mitt.
Neville stepped forward after being prompted by Cassie, "Uh, yes sir," he said. A nervous smile spread across his pinkened cheeks when Hagrid placed the toad in his hands, "Thank you sir."
Cassie leaned over to Hermione, who was still attached to the girls arm, "I need to get the poor guy a terrarium for Christmas so he doesn't loose Trevor again," she whispered before moving to tap Neville on the shoulder. "I knew you'd find him Neville; you just needed some faith."
Neville nodded, "Thanks Cassie," he said with a grateful smile.
"Wait 'ere," Hagrid instructed. He went, knocked on the door, and waited until an older woman, who Hermione recognized immediately as Professor McGonagall, opens the door. "Here you are Professor, the firs' years," Hagrid said with pride.
"Thank you Hagrid," The Scotswoman said with an elegant, yet shallow bow of her head. She swiftly turned to the group of children, and with a wave of her hand, she instructed them to follow her inside.
The group of students followed their new professor through the castle to a larger set of doors than the ones they entered from.
Professor McGonagall stood in front of the large mass of her new students with her chin high and eyes scanning the crowd. Her eyes fell on Harry and Cassie momentarily before her legendary speech began.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, 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 like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend your free time in your house common room.
"The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history, and each had produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points, while any rule-breaking 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 whole school. I suggest you smarten yourselves up as much as possible while you are waiting. I shall return when we are ready for you." The professor spun on her heel, and entered through a small opening in the large doors.
The moment the doors shut, chatter erupted amongst the first years.
Out of the corner of her eye, Cassie noticed her cousin approaching with his two goonies in tow. She slipped her arm from Hermione's grasp, and whispered to the girl, "I'll be back."
Draco gave Cassie a small nod when the girl joined him. "It seems that we have Harry Potter among us," Draco sneered at Harry.
"So it seems," Cassie said in confirmation. She favoured her right foot, crossed her arms over her chest, and smirked a smirk that rivaled the one on her cousin's face.
It took Harry and Hermione aback to see the flip in personality in the Lestrange girl. Especially Hermione, who previously clung to the girl's arm as if her life depended on it.
"This is Crabbe, Goyle, and you've met my cousin, Cassie Lestrange," Draco motioned to each person as he introduced them, "I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."
Ron, who continued to follow Harry around like a lost puppy, snickered at Draco's name.
"You think my name is funny, do you?" Draco hissed, "Red hair, freckles, and hand-me-down down robes…, you must be a Weasley. My father told me about you. Too many children than they can afford." Draco scoffed at the boy before turning to Harry, "You'll soon find out that some wizarding families are much better than others. I can help you there," Draco held out his pale hand, which Harry took with a smile.
Harry puffed out his chest, "I can always use more friends," he said.
"You can't be bloody serious!" Ron once again exploded. He was about to erupt in a full-blown rant, but was halted when Professor McGonagall cleared her throat behind him.
"We're ready for you now," McGonagall said with an eyebrow raised at the confrontation within the students, "Form a line and follow me." McGonagall said nothing more as she led the nervous group into the Great Hall filled with people.
The first years were once again awestruck as various oohs and ahs came from their lips. Their eyes trained on the mesmerizing ceiling, and floating candles above.
Hermione once again thank latched herself onto Cassie's arm, "It's bewitched to look like the sky," she whispered, "I read about it in Hogwarts: a History."
Ron mimicked Hermione, only to gain a sharp jab in the side, and an even sharper glare from Cassie.
Cassie shook her head at Ron, then leaned over to Hermione, "Me too," she whispered back with a smile.
When the group finally got to the front of the Great Hall, McGonagall placed a wobbly, three-legged stool by the headmasters pedestal with a old worn hat on top. Front and center.
The seem on the rim of the hat tore open to create a mouth, and it began to sing:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap then all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you,
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell brave of heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet wise old Ravenclaw,
If you are a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So out me on! Don't be afraid!
And you won't get in a flap!
You're safe in my hands (though I have none)
For I'm a thinking cap!"
The whole class erupted in a round-of-applause as the crudely sung song came to an close.
McGonagall cleared her throat to regain everyone's attention. "When I call your name, you will put on the sorting hat, and sit on the stool to be sorted," McGonagall instructed. "Abbott, Hannah!"
A timid girl slowly made her way to the stool.
The ceremony continued on smoothly, even when McGonagall called out Hermione's name.
Hermione stiffened her hold on Cassie's arm.
"It's alright, love, you've got this," Cassie whispered to her as she slowly peeling the bushy haired girl off her arm.
Hermione whispered some of the spells from her spell book as she walked to the stool. She took a deep breath, and gracefully sat on the stool. When McGonagall placed the hat on her head, Hermione could feel it come to life.
"You have a brilliant mind, Miss Granger," the hat spoke to her, "And fiercely loyal too."
Hermione's cheeks went rosy under the hat's praise, "thank you, sir," she said.
"But for the destiny that awaits you," The hat began again, "I must put you in… Gryffindor!"
With a smile, Hermione hopped off the stool, so enthusiastically that the old stool almost knocked over, and practically ran to Gryffindor table.
After a few more names, McGonagall arrived at the name of one, Cassie Lestrange.
Under the judging gaze of the entirety of Hogwarts' student body, Cassie slowly approached, and sat on the stool. Cassie took in a deep breath when she felt the hat land on her head, and she braves herself for her fate.
"Interesting, very interesting," the hat mumbled in thought.
"Why hello, Mr. Patrick," Cassie thought to the hat.
"You are a special little one, aren't you? No one has remembered my name in a really long time, thank you. But where to put you…?" Patrick trailed off, "You are a difficult one to sort, but you want to be in Slytherin so your mother will be happy."
Cassie scowled.
"Fret not my darling. As I was saying, you also want to be placed where you will fit in most, where you belong," Patrick rambled in thought, "You are so very brave, immensely smart, vastly loyal, and brilliantly cunning. You would do so well in all of them, but in order for your destiny to come to pass you'll be… Gryffindor!"
Cassie's smile didn't reach her eyes as she briskly made her way to the empty spot beside Hermione at Gryffindor table.
More named were called including Neville, who was sorted in Gryffindor; Draco, joined the Slytherins; and "Potter, Harry!"
A pin drop could be heard as everyone simultaneously went silent.
Patrick, once again, came to life, "hmm," he mused, "Very difficult, very difficult, hmm. Just like your godsister."
"My godsister? What does that mean?" Harry wondered, as his brain went wild to try and make sense of the comment.
Patrick chuckled, "You'll soon find out, my boy, now where to put you? Oh I know," the hat decided, "Gryffindor!"
Harry grinned from ear to ear as he went and joined his friends at the table of scarlet and gold. His cheeks reddened under the attention and cheers of his new housemates.
After a few more students, Ron was called to be sorted. Patrick wasn't even on the boy's head two seconds before it shouted the house of the snakes.
The whole hall was as silent as they were before Harry's sorting as every eye watched as the youngest Weasley son stood frozen.
"Mr. Weasley," McGonagall said, she cleared her throat to break the boy from his shocked state. "Please join your table now."
The headmaster stood sharp with a scowl on his typically cheerful features. "There must be some sort of mistake," Dumbledore's voice boomed throughout the hall, "He can't be in Slytherin house; he must be re-sorted immediately."
"Now, now, Headmaster, you know very well that that isn't allowed," McGonagall spoke sternly, "Now Mr. Weasley, to your table."
Ron looked to Dumbledore with pleading eyes, but when the headmaster didn't come to her rescue, he dragged his feet over to Slytherin table.
-HP-