CHAPTER 1: Hogwarts

It was a brisk morning in Ireland. The sun hadn't even risen when Matt was harshly awoken.

"What? I'm trying to sleep." He groaned.

"It's almost time to go." Said a familiar voice. It was that of his mother. Alicia Janson.

"Already? I just went to sleep." He turned in his bed to the opposite direction of his mother and tried to go back to sleep.

"Hurry up now or you'll be late!" He groaned and got up to the bathroom while his mother went downstairs and made him something to eat. He was 15 with dark black hair that has exceptionally long bangs. He showered quickly and got dressed. Downstairs he went into the living room where his trunk and owl cage were. His owl, Boris, was inside the cage, sleeping, just back from a night's hunt. Onto the couch Matt sat and waited for his mother's call, which came rather soon from the kitchen. By now the sun had risen and was shining on the lands. Into the kitchen he walked to find a bowl of cereal and some toast on the table waiting for him. He ate in a board matter. When he was done it was back upstairs to brush his teeth and back into the living room where his parents were waiting. His father, Michel Janson, was holding a small jar with a lime green powder. Matt looked almost the exact same as his father if it wasn't for the fact that he had his mothers pale blue eyes. Michel took a hand fool of powder and sprinkled it over himself and Matt's luggage. Then pushed the trunk into the lit fireplace with some aid from his family and yelled "Platform 9 and ¾!" going into through the flames himself. Matt's mother then did the same only without any luggage except her purse, and finally Matt. He coughed as some charcoal went into his throat but succeeded in saying "Platform 9 ¾!" He was spinning, all he could se was a blur of what seemed to be chimneys. Suddenly it stopped. He was in another chimney through which he could see a platform that had a scarlet steam engine chugging black smoke. The platform was full of other young witches and wizards just like him, all waiting to go back to Hogwarts. Noises of animals could be heard everywhere. Mostly that of screeching owls all excited to get going just as there owners were. Matt got out of the chimney and found his parents. They had already loaded his trunk into a compartment on the train.

His mother slipped her arms around him in a brief hug, and took a
handkerchief out of her pocket, scrubbing at a smudge on his cheek. "Mum!"
Matt spluttered awkwardly, swatting at her. She grinned and flattened his
hair so that it didn't look half as messy.
"Keep your grades up, son." said his father, ruffling his hair fondly. Matt
grinned as his mother looked indignantly at his hair. Then the two turned
and disappeared into the crowd. Matt walked around looking for his girlfriend, Kathlene Burnell. He found her talking with some of their friends. A short girl, with messy brown hair usually swept into a tight bun at the back of her head. Brown freckles dotted her cheeks and the bridge of her nose and a pair of oval glasses rested on her nose. He surprised her and they greeted each other. A group of kids then walked over. Shoron Halliwell, Selena Night, Octavian Matheson, and Patricia Halliwell. All of them were 2nd years, 12 years old except for Patricia whom was going for her 1st time to Hogwarts and was 11. Shoron had jet black hair and dark brown eyes. Selena had curly brown hair and light brown eyes as well. Patricia was the same only she always had her hair back in a ponytail. Octavian, a dark skinned red haired boy with brilliant green eyes. They all had a daemon. Shorons was a wolf, Selenas a cat, Ontarians a dog, and Patty's an owl.

"Hello Matt, Kat." Said Shoron.

"Hello Shoron, Selena, and the rest of you." Replied Matt. They were all in Gryffindor except for Kat, whom was in Hufflepuff.

"How have you been?" Asked Kat sleepily.

"Fine." Said Patricia. A whistle then rang. It meant the train was about to leave, so they said their goodbyes and got on board. Kat and Matt had a compartment to themselves at the front while Shoron, Selena, Octavian, and Patty had one in the back.

"I con't wait to get back to Hogwarts." Said Selena, while looking out the window.

"I bet you can wait for potions." Said Octavian.

"Eh…I was hoping Snape died." Said Selena.

"Who wasn't?" Added Shoron.

"Not any of the students. That's for sure." Selena said. Time passed and soon the witch with the food trolley came along.

"Can I offer you anything to eat?" She offered. They all bought something and ate tiredly since they were still sleepy. More time passed and now the sun was setting. They were all trading chocolate frog cards but bordley. Every now and then one of them yawned of their daemon changed. Eventually they changed back into the forms they had been on the platform. Finally the train stopped at hogsmeade station. It was hard for them to move in the hustle and bustle of the crowd.

"1st years over 'ere" ere" Shouted a familiar voice. It was their friend, Hagrid. He gave a slight wave at them and they waved back as they walked to the place where the carriages were waiting. Into the nearest one they hoped in and rode happily up to Hogwarts castle. The great oak front doors were open to let the students in, but it was just as hard as it was to get off the train. Eventually everyone got inside and into the great hall except for the 1st years. The hall was full with the buzz of anxious students. Shoron glanced from his conversation at the teachers' table at the potions master, Severus Snape. His greasy black hair and piercing eyes, enough to make anyone hate him. As he turned Shoron quickly went back to the conversation. Snape looked suspiciously at him and then turned to talk to Prof.Vector, the arithmancy teacher. Again Shoron looked along the teachers table and saw a young lady. She had blonde hair and pale blue eyes wearing robes of rhododendron. She must be the new dark arts teacher, he thought. He looked down his table, the Gryffidor table, and spotted Matt talking with some friends. Then at Kat at the Hufflepuff table also with friends.

"Shoron? Shoron?! Wake up! The Sorting ceremony's starting!" Selena urged.

"Wha-?" He didn't finish because she had put her hand to his mouth since silence had fallen on the hall. Professor McGonagall was walking in with a 3-legged stool and setting down in the middle of the hall. On top of it she placed the aged sorting hat and it began to sing:

"A thousand years or more ago,

When I was newly sewn,

There lived four wizards or renown,

Whose names are still well known:

Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,

Fair Ravenclaw ,from glen,

Sweet Hufflepuff ,from Valley broad,

Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.

They made a school,

A learning tool,

Thus Hogwarts School began!

They separated their students to their delights

But what to do when they were dead and gone?

They made me to do it right!

You might belong to Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, brave, and chivalry,

Set Gryffindors apart!

For Hufflepuff, hard workers,

Were worthy of admission,

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

And power hungry Slytherin,

Loved those of great ambition.

There's nothing hidden in your head,

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on,

And I'll tell you where you ought to be!" The hall filled with clapping. Then silence again. McGonagall took out a list and read.

"Analiz, Michelle!" A girl with fair brown hair went up to the sorting hat from the line of 1st years that was waiting by McGonagall. She sat on the stool and before she could even out on the hat it had yelled "SLYTHERIN!". She ran over to the Slytherin table after putting the hat back on the stool. McGonagall slowly went down the list.

"Galaphin, John!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Halliwell, Patricia!" Shoron's heart gave a lurch. Patricia Halliwell was his sister. Now it was time for her to be sorted. Shoron and his friends prayed for Gryffindor. After around 30 seconds or so the hat finally yelled "GRYFFINDOR!". She ran over to the Gryffindor table and sat by Shoron and his friends. She was almost his height with curly brown hair that was usually held back in a ponytail and with the same eyes as Shoron. The one this that made her stick out was her crescent moon shaped scar on her forehead that was covered by her bangs. Shoron had one too; only it was a lightning bolt in the same place also covered by his bangs. When the ceremony was finally over and McGonagall had put the stool and hat away, the headmaster, Albus Dumbleodre, got up and said "Another year has finally come! I hope the summer has melted at your brains so that you have room for all the new things you will learn! Now let us eat!" Food sprang up out of nowhere on the tables. Everyone ate merrily until the final crum. "Now that we are full it is time for bed! Rest up for you have classes tomorrow!" Said Dumbledore. Everyone left the hall. Shoron saw Michelle Analiz again but only for a second in the crowd. She had this odd evil grin. He didn't pay much attention to it and just went to his dormitory straight to bed after biding everyone goodnight. That night he slept happily to be away from the home of his magical stepfamily. They didn't feel right even though he did love them. Here he felt at home.