I felt I've waited too long to write this story. Well, I finally got the first part up and ready. Hope you all enjoy this.
Memoirs of a Ravenclaw
Year 1: Welcome to Hogwarts
A young, brown haired, bright eyed boy looked in awe at the magical place called Diagon Alley.
His name is Alan Patterson, an 10 year old boy from Scotland who recently got his acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
He was very excited because first of all, it's his first year; he couldn't wait! And second of all, he hopes to meet the boy wonder, the Boy Who Lived, Harry Potter; there was a rumor floating around that he was going to Hogwarts.
Right now, he's with his mother, Erica, meandering about Diagon Alley to get all the necessary things for first year students.
And off they went: first robes, then books, then a cauldron, and a few other places for books and other things before making his stop at one final place: Ollivander's Wand Shop.
Alan opened the door and the bell above the door rang, signaling a customer. Up rolled an old man on a ladder, halfway up the rungs, looking at the boy who just walked in.
Mr. Ollivander smiled at Alan and his mother. "Ah, Mrs. Patterson. I wondered when I'd be seeing your son in here," he chuckled.
"Oh, you always say that to everyone," she giggled.
"I've been around long enough to remember families and faces." He smiled a smile full of somewhat crooked teeth as he set to work trying to find a wand for the young wizard while his magical tape measure took measurements.
He pulled a box off the shelf and pulled out the wand, gently handing it to Alan. "Okay, boy. Which ever hand you prefer." Alan took the wand, albeit a bit shaky, with his right hand. "Now give it a wave." Alan waved it at the shelves, causing some boxes to fly off. "Not quite." He took the wand back as he set the boxes back on the shelf, but took one box and set it on the counter.
"How about this one?" He handed him a red handled, black colored wand. Again, he gave another wave, but nothing happened. "Well, that isn't working either. Hmm," he said inquisitively. He reached for one more box and opened it. Out came a dark brown wand with a light gray swirl winding up the shaft.
As soon as he gripped the wand, he felt his whole body tingle. "Ah, yes. I think we've found a match. The wand has chosen the wizard." He knew his mother was smiling at the thought of her only son becoming a wizard.
"Oh, I knew this day would come by sooner or later. But look at you. You're all grown up," his mom said, choking on her tears.
"Mum," Alan groaned. Mr. Ollivander grinned as he told the boy about his wand: 12 inches, made of elder wood with a core of unicorn hair. Also, as a gift, his mom bought him a black and white speckled horned owl, which he decided to name Achilles, because he felt this owl was strong and fierce.
Soon, the day came for Alan to begin his days at Hogwarts. If he was excited going to Diagon Alley, then take that times ten. He was psyched for the trip, but he was feeling a little sad about leaving his mom alone with no one but his family dog.
Now the two stood at the wall between 9 and 10. "Mum, what are we doing?"
"We're waiting for an old friend, Alan. I'm sure you'll remember, dear," she answered, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
A few minutes later, a large bustle of voices was heard coming in their direction. Alan and his mom turned around to see a number of redheads hustling towards them.
His mom smiled big and rushed up to meet them. The smaller, plump woman did the same and met his mom with a hug.
"Wait. I remember. The Weasleys," he said, smiling. Next thing he knew, he was swarmed by almost all of the kids.
"Alan! How ya-" Fred started.
"been, scruff muffin?" George finished, roughing up his hair.
"Great, you two. Now let go!" he said, prying their arms off of him. "Where's Ron?" Ron stepped and grabbed Alan in a big hug. "Are you ready for Hogwarts?"
"Ready as I can be," Ron replied.
"Alan," he heard a female say. He felt a strong grip around his ribs. He knew instantly knew that it was Ginny, the youngest of them.
"Hey, Ginny." Alan smiled. Despite being a year younger, Ginny was probably Alan's best friend of all the Weasleys. Sadly, she can't come to Hogwarts 'til next year.
"Alan. You promised to teach me some magic," Ginny said.
Alan laughed at her complaint. "I thought your brothers and me already did that over the summer."
She sighed and didn't let go. Ginny always enjoyed Alan's company. "When you come for Christmas, teach me please."
"I can do that." Alan let go and pat her on the head.
The oldest, Percy, ran through the barrier. "Okay, Fred, you next."
"He's not Fred. I am," one of the twins said.
"Honestly, woman, you call yourself our mother," the other added.
"Oh, sorry." She motioned to come up.
"Only joking. I am Fred." Fred smirked as he ran through with George behind him.
A boy around their age came up. "Excuse me. I was wondering..." He seemed at a loss for words.
"Oh, how to get to the platform. Yes, it's these two's first time as well," Mrs. Weasley said, motioning to Ron and Alan. "All you've got to do, is walk straight at the wall between platforms 9 and 10. Be best to get a bit of a running start." She pushed him up to get ready.
"Good luck," Ginny told him. The boy took her advice and vanished behind the wall. Ron, Alan, and the others followed closely behind.
Alan looked up in childlike wonder with wide eyes and a slack jaw. He snapped out of his trance and continued down the platform.
Mrs. Weasley, his mom, and Ginny hugged Ron and Alan one more time.
"Take care, Alan. Make plenty of friends and write to me often, okay?"
"Can do, mum. I'll miss ya," he said, kissing her cheek and taking his things with him.
"Take care, Alan. Have a good time with Ron," Mrs. Weasley told him.
"I will." He hugged her after she nearly crushed his lungs. Ginny stepped up and hugged him, almost as hard. "Take care, Alan. See ya at Christmas." She let him go and waved as the duo walked on the train. The train lurched forward and started its journey.
The two walked along the train just trying to find a place to sit. "There's nowhere to sit, Ron," Alan complained.
"Well aware of that, Alan. Hey, what about here?" He motioned to a nearby compartment with the boy they saw earlier.
Ron slid the door open and asked, "Can we sit here? Everywhere else is full."
"Oh, sure." The boy motioned to sit and let the two friends sit down across from him.
"Oh, I'm Ron, by the way. Ron Weasley."
"I'm Alan, Alan Patterson."
"I'm Harry, Harry Potter."
Ron and Alan's jaws went slack again. "So does that mean, you have..." Alan started.
"Have what?" Harry asked.
Ron leaned forward. "The scar?" Harry smiled and held back his bangs to reveal the lightning bolt shaped scar. "Wicked."
"So cool," Alan agreed.
The three had talked for a few minutes for a lady came by, pushing a cart full of goodies. "Anything off the trolley, dears?"
"No thanks. I'm good," Ron said, holding up a badly wrapped sandwich.
"I don't have enough," Alan said, showing his empty pockets.
Harry looked at the two, then back to the cart, saying "We'll take the lot!" He pulled out a decent amount of coins. Ron and Alan looked at the money in shock.
A minute later, the three were munching on various candies and pastries from the cart. Alan was munching on a cauldron cake and Ron was snacking on a sugar quill Harry was getting done with a pumpkin tart and picked up a box of beans.
"Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans?" Harry read from the box.
"They do mean every flavor. There's chocolate, peppermint, spinach, liver..." Ron said to Harry.
"Didn't Fred say he once got a booger flavored?" Alan said. He turned to Harry who seemed to lose interest in the candy. "Oops. Sorry."
After meeting a girl named Hermione Granger and being led by a giant to magical boats to see a breathtaking view of Hogwarts, Alan was inside the famed school.
There to meet them was an older woman of at least 60 or so, dressed in green robes and a long, pointy hat on her head. "Here at the firs' years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said, waving a hand over the crowd.
"Thank you, Hagrid." The giant, Hagrid, took his leave and left. "Welcome to Hogwarts. Now, the feast has yet to begin, but first comes the Sorting Ceremony. You will sorted into 1 of 4 houses. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. While..." By this point, Alan had tuned McGonagall out, as a few others did as well.
The doors had opened to reveal the Great Hall. All around him were many, many people sitting at large tables with long benches.
Poor Alan lost track of Harry and Ron in the crowd, but he quickly ran up to the red head. "Sorry, Ron. I got sidetracked 'cause that lady was a snooze." Ron sniggered in response.
McGonagall stood up front and set a ragged looking hat on a stool. The hat came alive and sang a song about sorting the first years into their house.
By this point, Alan was certain that he did NOT want to be in Slytherin. I hope it's anywhere but, he thought as he heard names being called off.
"Hermione Granger," she called. Alan looked up to see the bushy haired girl nervously approach the stool. The hat made a few remarks and then said "GRYFFINDOR!"
People, who he assumed were Gryffindor students, cheered at their newest addition. Alan saw that Fred and George were at that table. He smiled and waved at the twins who waved back.
A few more went by going to Hufflepuff and Gryffindor and one boy that got sent to Slytherin before the hat touched his head.
"Ron Weasley." Alan nudged his friend up to the stool. "Ah! Yes, another Weasley. Just like your brothers. Brave, but brains as well. I know where to put you: GRYFFINDOR!" Ron looked relieved as he approached his brothers at the table.
"Alan Patterson." Now it was his turn to be nervous. His heart was thumping against his ribs as he walked up front. He felt the old hat rest on his bushy head. "Ah, the first Patterson in a long time. I remember your mother and father being up here, too. You've got a ready mind, but wits as well. I know where you should go: RAVENCLAW!"
Alan felt like a weight came off his shoulder, but his heart also sank when he remembered he wasn't with the Weasleys. He looked down to see the Ravenclaw emblem appear on his chest and his tie change from black to blue and gray striped. He took his seat and watched as everyone was sorted.
"Harry Potter." The whole hall went dead silent as Harry made his way up. Everyone started whispering and gossiping. Harry, like Alan, did not want Slytherin as he silently, but still vocally made aware. The hat made his final decision: "GRYFFINDOR!" That table went absolutely crazy.
"We got Potter! We got Potter!" Alan heard the twins chant and yet, despite his let down feeling, he still couldn't help but laugh. I'll probably have time to be with everyone in the morning and between classes.
"Those two. I remember when they got sorted," said a female voice next to him. He turned his head around to see an Asian girl (from what he guessed was a second year). "Even then they were still joking around. I'm Cho Chang," she said, holding a hand out.
"Alan. I'm Alan Patterson," he replied, shaking her hand.
"Welcome to Ravenclaw. The boy next to you is Eric Bailey-"
"Pleased to meet you," the boy said, shaking his hand.
"And this," Cho said, pointing across the table, "is Angela Clark." Alan shook the hands of the upperclassmen. He also introduced himself to some new Ravenclaws, such as Dana Bennett and and Lisa Turpin.
An elderly man dressed in purple robes with long, snow white hair and a beard to match, wearing a pair of half moon glasses on his long nose, stood up. This was Albus Dumbledore.
"Welcome! Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts. Before we begin the banquet I'd like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"
Most of the students laughed and applauded at Dumbledore's intro. Dumbledore then continues to give warnings to first years, such as the third floor being restricted and no magic is to be used between classes.
A few minutes later, a ringing was heard. "May I have your attention?" said McGonagall, being the ringer.
Dumbledore stood back up. "Let the feast...begin." With an extend of his hand, tons of delicious looking food appeared by the bounty across the tables. Roast chicken, roast beef, turkey, potatoes, corn, rolls. You name it, it was there.
Alan took a good portion of each, trying (and somewhat failing) to eat and converse at the same time to know everyone better. "So, what is your blood status?" Eric asked.
Alan swallowed before speaking. "My dad's a wizard. He's an Auror."
"An Auror?" Cho said, a little surprised.
"Yep. He told me about some guy who filled Azkaban named Alastor Moody. And my mum's a witch, and she works as an Obliviator."
"That must get some laughs," Dana said.
"She's told some funny stories." The feast continued until everyone had their fill. They were then dismissed to their rooms for the night. He managed to catch Ron, Harry, and Hermione and tell them good night before leaving the Great Hall.
The Ravenclaw lead everyone up to their tower. "Now pay attention 'cause this is important," she started in her Irish accent, "the only way to get in is to answer a riddle given by the bronze eagle knocker." She pointed to the object in question. "Watch and learn." She turned to face the door.
"What walks on 4 legs in the morning, 2 in the afternoon, and 3 in the evening?"
She turned around. "Do any first years probably have an answer?"
They all thought about it, until Alan spoke up. "It's a human."
A click was heard and the door swung open. "Great job." People around him were congratulating him.
"That was wicked."
"A smart one, 'ere."
"Bright mind."
Alan blushed at all these compliments. He wasn't expecting so many compliments over something so trivial. His mom would normally think a witty riddle everyday for him to figure out.
Everybody walked in through the portal to find their common room adorned in black, gray, and blue. "Okay. Now girls, your rooms are the stairs to the right. Boys, the same, but to the left. Have a good night, everyone." The students dispersed to their respective rooms.
In his room, Alan found his trunk and Achilles sitting on the floor. "Magic is so cool," he chuckled to himself.
He met his roommates: Dan from Ireland, Marcus from Wales, and Amon from Egypt.
They all got acquainted and shared stories of home while snacking on leftover goodies from the train and dinner.
I feel I'm going to enjoy this place, Alan thought. He fell asleep that night, albeit a bit restless at first. He never knew the events that lay ahead for him and everyone at Hogwarts.