The Hogwarts Express stopped abruptly at Hogsmeade Station and made one final high-pitched whistle. Hugo and Lily excitedly plastered themselves to the window staring out at into the night eager to finally get to Hogwarts.
"Come on" called Rose to the pair, almost having to pry them away from the window as if they were limpets clinging to rocks at the beach.
The pair then followed Rose out of the train and looked around at all the students in their robes, Hugo could hear Lily let out an excited squeal which luckily no'one but him heard over the chattering of everyone else around them.
"Firs' Years over 'ere" boomed a large man holding a lantern at the end of the platform.
The man stood tall eclipsing even the tallest man Hugo had known in height. The man had a rather large body and his face was obscured by a great-big bushy beard that at one point was fully black but by now was mostly recognized this man at once from the stories his dad had told him about his time at Hogwarts. Rubeus Hagrid beckoned for all the First Years to step forward and in their excitement Lily and Hugo bolted like a shot until they were standing right in front of him.
"You two must be Lily and Hugo" Hagrid said softly to them "Yer the spit o' yer parents so ye are". Lily blushed slightly, already she had met someone at Hogwarts who recognized her because of her famous parents.
Hugo wasn't nearly as fazed as he had gotten used to seeing his parents on Chocolate Frog Cards or in The Daily Prophet or even from people whispering and suddenly pointing at his family whenever they went out.
"This way First Years" Hagrid boomed again before taking off towards The Black Lake with a trail of young wizards following him.
"'Ere we are" Hagrid cried "Four to a boat" pointing to a small armada of rowboats moored at the edge of the lake. Hugo and Lily boarded a boat with a set of twins they had known for years and whose names had even came up on the train.
"Hello Hugo, Hello Lily" chanted Lorcan and Lysander Scamander in unison.
"Hello" beamed Lily
"Hi" said Hugo in a friendly manner.
Hugo liked the twins but there was something about them that was different. The twins definetly took after their mother Luna but Lorcan seemed to follow less in her footsteps than Lysander.
"Are you two excited about Hogwarts" chatted Lily
Lorcan made a face and said "Yes and no...Yes because we finally get to explore the castle..."
"And no..." his brother continued "...because we hear the place is crawling with Nargles."
"Oh yes" Hugo thought to himself "They definitely take after their mother.
The boats steered through the night across the lake until Hogwarts castle eventually came into view, its large towers silhouetted against the backdrop of the night sky and little slits of light from the various windows shedding light on the black water. When the boats moored safely at the boathouse the students once more followed Hagrid into the castle until they were halted at the doors of the Great Hall. A round-faced wizard with short blonde hair stood waiting for them, like with Hagrid, Hugo recognized the wizard as one of his parents close friends.
"Hello and welcome to Hogwarts" greeted Neville warmly." In a few minutes you shall be sorted into your house by The Sorting Hat which are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin respectively".
The doors opened and Hugo suddenly felt nervous when he saw all the other students staring intently at the First Years and he could see his sister sitting next to his cousins looking at them proudly. The First Years shuffled forward until they reached the top of the room where Proffessor Longbottom stood holding a battered old hat in one hand a thick roll of parchment in the other.
"Aiken, Fiona" he called and a short girl with mousy hair stepped forward and placed The Sorting Hat on her head. After about a minute of silence The Sorting Hat cried "Hufflepuff" and a thunder of applause was heard from the Hufflepuff table. As the girl stepped down and joined her new house Hugo noticed that her hair colour changed to match her house colours.
"Cool" Hugo thought to himself "A Metamorphmagus, just like Teddy Lupin".
The Sorting Ceremony went on and when Lily was called Hugo waited anxiously recalling the countless discusions they had whittled their time away with about which house they'd be sorted into.
"Gryffindor" cried the hat and Hugo noticed that James was standing up clapping and cheering like his life depended on it with the rest of Gryffindor house.
Lorcan and Lysander went up a few minutes later with Lorcan being sorted into Hufflepuff after his father and Lysander was sorted into Ravenclaw after his mother. Eventually Hugo was left alone at the top of The Great Hall and was last to be called.
"Weasley, Hugo" called Proffessor Longbottom,
Hugo sat down on the chair and The Sorting Hat was placed on his head, the nerves that Hugo had when he first entered the hall were eclipsed by the feelings he had now.
"I've already sorted eleven of your cousins already" came a clear voice which seemd to come from inside his head.
"Gryffindor" came an even louder voice as The Sorting Hat placed him into his new house.
Hugo felt relieved and quickly set himself down next to his cousin Lily who gave him a big hug and Albus and james shook his hand. Suddenly the headmaster of the school, a tiny man with a white beard and wearing green robes stood up to address the crowd.
"Welcome back to another years at Hogwarts" smiled Proffessor Flitwick "and to you First Years welcome for the first time"
Applause filled the room once more as Proffessor flitwick began the school song and finished abruptly with "Let the feat begin".Suddenly a plethora of different kinds of food appeared on the table and Hugo wolfed down as much as he could similiar to his father in that retrospect. Eventually when the feast ended Proffessor Flitwick spoke again and said "Prefects will now show First Years to their dormitories.
"This way for Gryffindor" cried a Prefect whom Hugo found oddly familiar looking. The Prefect was a young black boy with a long thin neck and had short black hair, Hugo thought and thought how he'd known that face but couldn't put his finger upon it.
Eventually the group of First Years reached the portrait of The Fat Lady who let out a shriek of "Password"
"Carpe Diem" the Prefect responded and the portrait opened to reveal the Gryffindor Common Room.
The Common Room was a circular room with a large fireplace and several armchairs, a bulletin board stood next to the entrance and the portraits of several distinguished Gryffindors hung from the walls. "Boys dormitories are through this left door here and up the stairs" said the Prefect pointing to two doors side by side, "The girls' are on through the right and up the stairs".
Before leaving the prefect turned to the group and said "your luggage has already been unpacked and stored in your rooms".
"I'm going to enjoy it here" Hugo thought to himself as he quickly climbed the stairs to his dormitory.
AN-First off I must apologize as I accidently uploaded the first chapter again as the second chapter so to compensate I will release the third chapter earlier than I normally would. Other than that I hope that you guys are enjoying my story and let me know otherwise so I can remdy whatever is wrong with it.
