Chapter 1: A Sorting (2019)

The crowd was beginning to gather at Platform 9 ¾. September had come quickly for some, but others felt that the day for departure to Hogwarts would never arrive. One of those who had thought that the calendar dates moved slower than a frozen flobberworm walked towards the platform, his parents and little sisters in tow. Hieronymus Boyd, eleven, was looking forward to finally being able to go to Hogwarts. After all, he'd been to the school for all of his life as his father taught Muggle Studies and was the Head of Hufflepuff house, but he'd never really been there. Now it was his turn, no more waiting through Muggle primary school anymore.

"Mum, can I go find Hugo?"

Melody Boyd looked down at her son. His curly blonde hair and glasses reminded her how much he looked like his father, especially the pictures her mother-in-law showed her of when Hank was young. "Yes, but don't forget to come back before you get on the train."

He shot off through the crowd, weaving through people and almost knocking into a trolley before disappearing out of sight.

"Can I go with him, Mum?"

Melody shook her head at her oldest daughter. "Just stay with me, Virginia. He'll be back soon."

The dark-haired little girl didn't like the answer. "But I want to go see if Lucy's here. Molly's going to Hogwarts now so I know Lucy will be here to see her big sister get on the train. Please, Mum?"

"If Gin gets to go so do we." The small blonde girl holding Hank Boyd's hand looked up at her father.

"Yeah." The response was immediate from the strawberry-blonde girl holding Hank's other hand.

"Girls, do as your mother says." Hank looked at his daughters, watching the older one plead with her eyes to her mum while the twins looked ready to argue. "Minnie, Mione, there's too much going on right now. Just stay with us."

The twins left their father and huddled together just out of conversation range, their heads together in close conversation, trying to devise a plan that would let them leave with their big sister. Eventually a plan had been formulated as the Mione stepped up to her father.

"Dad, if you let us go with Gin we'll hold hands and be careful. An' we'll find Roxy and tell you what kind of stuff Uncle George has planned for this year."

Of course it was Mione who was the spokesman, Hank thought as he looked at his twins, both giving him the best puppy dog eye looks they could muster. He glanced over at his wife. "Mel, I think we know half of the people here. A few minutes?"

Melody rolled her eyes at her husband. The girls had him completely wrapped around their little fingers. "I suppose."

As his daughters began to leave Hank stopped them. "Ok, here's the rules. Hermione, Minerva, you hold Virginia's hands. If I don't see you back here in about ten minutes you'll be in big trouble. Got it?" All three of his daughters nodded emphatically, and then ran off.

"Are you ready for this, Hank? Having your son at school?"

Hank looked down at his wife, shrugged and smiled. "I guess. It'll be different, for sure, but that'll depend on where he's sorted for the most part. I'll see him occasionally, but he'll be involved with his new friends and school. I don't think he'll be taking Muggle Studies, I mean, after all he's been in the Muggle and Wizarding worlds all his life. Besides, he needs to be on his own, do his own thing."

"I suppose, but you will look out for him, won't you?"

"Mel, he'll need to make his own way. Can't give him preferential treatment. He'll probably have a hard enough time in the beginning as he's the son of a professor." Hank looked over at his wife and watched her play with a strand of her hair. He knew what that meant. "What is it that's really bothering you, Mel?"

She stopped twirling her hair in her hand and looked at her husband. "What house do you think he'll be sorted into? He knows so many kids in Gryffindor, and that would help him out, but…"

"You want him to be in Hufflepuff, like you. I know, but that would present some of its own problems, since I'm Head of House. Just let things happen, like Harry and Ginny did. That's worked out ok, hasn't it?"

Melody laughed. "Speaking of, here come the Potters now."

She waved to Ginny Potter, who reciprocated. A beaming Lily was at the head of the procession, and Albus, James and Harry followed behind trying to manage broomsticks and owls. Eventually the Potters stopped beside the Boyds and after the usual greetings Melody looked down to Lily.

"So, ready for your first year?"

Lily nodded her head emphatically. "Oh yes. I can't wait!"

Harry looked over to his sons, who were fidgeting. "Why don't you boys go find your friends? You can come back before the train leaves." James ran off immediately, and Albus walked off slowly through the crowd.

"Where are Hieronymus and the girls? Ginny looked to Melody.

Melody looked over to Hank, who smiled nervously. "Well, HR went to find Hugo, and somebody thought it was a good idea to let the girls go and see if they could find Roxy."

Hank laughed quietly. "They'll be fine, Mel. You know Harry's got security as tight as a drum around here."

Hank looked to Harry, who nodded. He was pretty sure that if the Head of the Auror Department was in attendance, security would be out in full force although invisible to the untrained eye. The comment about security did make Hank think, though, as The Prophet had been full of what many were considering a prelude to another war. Before he could think any more about that Hank saw his daughters at the far end of the station on their way back.

"See, Mel? They listened."

Hieronymus Robert Boyd, HR to most of his family and friends, sat in a compartment with his best friend Hugo. He'd been waiting for this day all of his life, and it was finally here; he was going to Hogwarts. Even the fact that he could do a little magic wasn't comforting for HR, though, as he was worried that he wouldn't be able to do the magic required in classes. Mum was a really good witch, but Dad? Dad could barely do any magic at all and could never do anything on purpose. Mum had been mad, but happy, when he turned Gin's hair purple one day when he was seven. She said it was proof that he was a wizard, and that he was going to go to Hogwarts. Dad had been really happy and had taken him out for a special treat, just the two of them. Gin hadn't been as happy as her parents, to say the least.

Hugo looked over to his friend who seemed to be staring through the wall. "Hey, are you asleep?"

"Nope, just thinking."

"Still worried you won't be able to do any magic?"

HR looked at his best friend. Hugo was a Weasley, one of the giant families of red-haired people that considered HR, his Mum, Dad and sisters as part of their family. Hugo was one of only two people that HR had told about his fear that he'd be like his Dad when it came to magic.

"Yeah."

"Don't worry; your Mum's a cracking witch. You'll be fine, mate."

Before HR could respond the door opened and the head of Albus Potter poked through. "Got room for two more?"

Hugo looked up at his cousin. "Sure."

Albus and Lily walked into the compartment, and Lily sat by Hugo. Immediately she began peppering Hugo with questions about what House he thought he'd be sorted into and all manner of things. Albus sat next to HR and took out a book.

"Thought you might like this, HR. Found it at Grimmauld in the library the other day." Albus handed HR a very old, large leather-bound book that smelled as if it hadn't been opened in years.

HR read the title aloud. "The Mystical World of Wandlore. Thanks, Al!"

After his visit to Ollivander's for his wand, HR had been obsessed with wands. He remembered his Dad telling him about when he got his wand, and how that had meant that his father wasn't a Muggle. HR had never been as nervous in his life when he went to Ollivander's; he hadn't slept the night before. On the second try he found a wand, surprising everyone including Mr. Ollivander. But instead of paying and leaving immediately, as most do, HR asked Ollivander a lot of questions until his parents had to pull him out of the shop. He'd told Al about his fascination with wands at the annual barbeque that the Potters have before school, but he'd never expected this. Now he had a book on wands.

"You're reading before we even get to school?" Hugo looked disgusted. "You're going to be in Ravenclaw with Rosie, I know it."

Lily shook her head. "Well, so what if he is? Ravenclaw's a nice house."

She looked over to HR and then he smiled quickly looked at his book. Lily always made him feel slightly nervous. When they were little it wasn't a big deal, but now? Ever since she'd been in the papers and magazines it made him feel weird. Mum had even put her in Witch Weekly once, something about girls' fashion for pre-teen witches. He'd kept that issue stuck behind his books on Quidditch.

Hugo threw a paper wad over at Lily. "Well, I'm going to be in Gryffindor like my Mum, Dad and just about everyone else besides my stupid sister."

Al shook his head at Hugo. "Doesn't always work like that, does it?"

HR glanced up at Al. Another one of the famous Potters, but Al never acted like it was anything out of the ordinary. It was a surprise to everyone when Al was sorted into Hufflepuff, but Al seemed very happy there. Al would come over sometimes to HR's house and talked about Hufflepuff things with his Mum and Dad, but mostly he came over to raid his Dad's music and books. His Mum and Dad were even Albus' godparents, and though he didn't have a brother, let alone a big brother, sometimes HR liked to pretend that Al was his brother. After all, he and HR talked about things that he couldn't talk to his little sisters about. They talked about everything. Well, almost everything.

"I don't care which House I'm in. I'm just happy to finally get to go to Hogwarts." Lily looked over to her brother, who just nodded.

"Oh not again." They all looked to Hugo as he thumbed towards the door. "Lils, your fans are here."

Outside the window of the compartment doors stood a group of girls looking at Lily and waving paper and magazines. One dark-headed girl was elbowing her way to the front when Al stood up and walked over to the door.

"Girls, just go back to your compartments. She's not that big of a deal, trust me."

"Hey!" Lily looked to her older brother with a feigned look of shock.

"You aren't, Lils." Hugo smiled at her. "We all know how you can belch."

The dark-headed girl had finally made it to the front. "Well, if I can't have Lily's autograph can I have yours, Albus?"

"Me? Why would you want my autograph?"

"Because you're Harry and Ginny Potter's son!" She held out the paper to him.

"Trust me, it's nothing special. Clear off." Al shut the door, closed the shades and sat back down next to HR. "I don't know what they see in Lily, do you HR?"

HR paused, then shook his head and concentrated heavily on his new book.

HR and Hugo walked together into the Great Hall while Lily was still surrounded by first year girls, who had crowded around her the moment they stepped off the train. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity Headmaster Titus stood up, quieted the students and talked about the Sorting Hat. HR thought the Headmaster was very different than all of the times he had seen him before; usually it was at his house or in his Dad's office, and Titus always seemed to find a Chocolate Frog for him. That reminded HR that he needed to ask Hugo if he wanted to trade, as he had a lot of Sirius Blacks and he needed Hugo's Uncle Fred.

Hugo prodded HR in the arm. "Mate, wake up, it's your turn."

HR looked up to see his Godfather Neville holding the Sorting Hat, and then reminded himself to call him Professor Longbottom while at school.

"Hieronymus Boyd?" Headmaster Titus stood up at the podium and looked at him.

HR snuck a quick look at his Dad at the Professor's table, and after his Dad gave him a small nod he walked over to the stool. Professor Longbottom placed the hat over his head and it instantly became dark.

"Well, what do we have here? A son of one of our Professors and the son of a Hufflepuff. Hmm…let me see. No, Slytherin is not for you. Ravenclaw, maybe…mind's there, but that doesn't seem like the right House. Gryffindor, then? Possibly…but I think I'd better make it…"

HR waited and held his breath while the Sorting Hat said "HUFFLEPUFF" in a loud voice.

When the Sorting Hat was lifted HR looked up to his Dad, who smiled. With a feeling of complete relief HR ran over to join Al and his new housemates. He sat next to Al, who clapped him on the back.

"Never had a doubt, HR. Never had a doubt."

HR watched as Hugo, Lily and Molly Weasley were all sorted into Gryffindor. It was going to be hard having Hugo as a best friend now that he was in a different house, but now he really had Al as a big brother of sorts. After the feast he followed all of the other first year students to the Hogwarts kitchens, the route to the Hufflepuff common room and his new dormitory.

HR didn't really pay close attention because he already knew where the kitchen was; his Dad used to bring him down there all the time to talk to the house elves. He'd known Nonky and Neeker all of his life, especially as Nonky sometimes helped out at his house. When Virginia was still a baby he decided he was going to run away because he wanted a brother instead of a sister, and it was the Hogwarts kitchen that was his destination. He'd told his parents he was running away and was going to live with the house elves until he could go to Hogwarts. Dad had let him pack a little bag and Mum had given him some food and they let him walk out the door. He'd gotten lost and was almost ready to cry when Uncle Ron picked him up and took him home. When he was older he found out that his Mum had Floo'd Aunt Hermione and had Uncle Ron watch him.

HR was remembering his trips to the kitchens he almost didn't notice that the group of first year students was moving, and he was the last one to enter the Common room. He'd missed the instructions from the Prefect, so he followed some of the new Hufflepuff boys he'd seen sorted earlier that evening, dreading the next part. HR had really liked having his own room and this was the first time he was going to have to share a bedroom, something that had made him more nervous than the boat ride with Hagrid.

Eventually HR found himself in his new room with three other boys. They were busy talking amongst themselves when he walked in and found his trunk, so he started unpacking some of the things he would need right away.

"You don't have to go to class right now, you know." A brown-haired boy looked at him with something of a smile.

HR turned around to see the three boys looking at him. It was then he remembered Al's advice to above all get on friendly terms with your roommates, because if you didn't things would be hard. HR put his glasses down on the nightstand and sat on his bed. "Sorry, not sure what to do, exactly."

The boy who had addressed him earlier took the lead. "I'm Finn. Finn Waters. That's Parker Campbell." He pointed to the very tall boy with close-cropped brown hair, then over to a slightly chubby boy with black hair. "An' that's Jimmy Phillips. You're Professor Muggle's son, right?"

"Yeah, I'm HR."

"HR?" Jimmy was lying on his bed on his stomach, looking at his new roommate. "What's HR stand for?"

"Hieronymus Robert. I'm named after my Granddad who died in the war."

The tall boy, Parker. laughed. "I can see why you stick with HR. That's a mouthful."

"So, HR, what's your story?" Finn looked over at him. "You know everything about this school then? I saw you talking to some house elves when we were in the kitchens. An' we already know about your Dad, he's a little famous and all, as he's Professor Muggle." He paused for a minute. "Hey, you know the Potters, don't you?"

Parker let out a small whistle. "Can you introduce me to Lily Potter? She's cute."

"Hmmm…maybe." HR looked down and didn't meet Parker's eyes.

"And you know the Weasleys too, right?" Jimmy looked over at him. "You know George? My cousin works for him."

HR nodded. "Yeah, I know George and the Weasleys. See them all the time. Well, when I'm not in America over summers and stuff."

"America. Cool." Finn sat back on his bed. "Hey, you guys collect Chocolate Frog cards?"

Soon the boys sat on the floor in a circle, their Chocolate Frog cards in hand.

"Ok, HR, I'll give you two Sirius Blacks and a Minerva McGonagall."

HR looked over at Finn and shook his head. "I've got a ton of his. I don't need McGonagall, besides my sister was named after her. Minnie's annoying and McGonagall's portrait in my Dad's office at home talks to me all the time, especially about homework. I don't need any reminders. What else ya got?'

Finn shuffled through his cards. "Harry Potter, but everybody's got his. I swear I get one every other time. Hold on." After sorting a bit he pulled one out. "I've got this one; don't really know who she is. Lavender something."

"That's my aunt."

All the boys looked at HR.

Jimmy shook his head. "No way."

"Yeah," HR adjusted his glasses, "she's married to my Uncle Nate, Dad's brother. They live in Washington, D.C. She works for the AAB, the American Aurors now. She's my godmother."

Parker took the card from Finn's hand and began reading the back. "Merlin's pants, she got bit by a werewolf?"

"Yeah, at the Battle of Hogwarts. She's fine now, but she eats her meat kinda raw." HR looked over at his new friends, feeling somewhat better now. He didn't feel like the odd one out at all. "Anyone got a Fred Weasley?"

Later that night HR laid in bed and looked at the ceiling, thinking about his day. He'd made three new friends, finally got a Fred Weasley card and had been sorted into Hufflepuff like he'd wanted. Al would be around for him and would be able to help out. The only thing that hadn't gone as he hoped was that all of his other friends, especially Hugo, were now in the Gryffindor tower. Everything had gone pretty well, all things considered. He hadn't been teased about his Dad being Professor Muggle…and then HR remembered that he'd promised to write his Mum and let her know what house he'd been sorted into, but he'd forgotten.

HR leaned over and put on his glasses, then took out his wand. He still loved to look at it, twelve inches long, oak with a hippogriff feather core. It sat in his hand for a long time before he decided to try it.

"Lumos."

A very faint light shone from the tip of the wand, and he sat it down on his nightstand and hastily scribbled a note to his mother.

Mum,

I'm in Hufflepuff! Dad looked happy and Al told me he never had a doubt. My roommates are Finn Waters, Parker Campbell and Jimmy Phillips. Jimmy said that Dad used to teach his cousin Poesy. I think it's the same Poesy who works with Uncle George.

Hugo, Molly and Lily are all in Gryffindor. Lily had a bunch of girls try to get her autograph on the train but Al made them go away. Guess what? I finally got a Fred Weasley card. I also got one of Aunt Lavender. I didn't know those were out yet.

Tell my stupid sisters hello and not to touch anything in my room.

HR