When Draco hopped off the train, he was immediately swept into the crowd of students disembarking and milling all over the platform. Over the heads of the crowd, Draco could see that oaf Hagrid waving his gigantic, meaty hands.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" he was shouting, using his hands to steered the frightened eleven-year-olds out of the older kids' way. Quickly glancing over his shoulder to make sure that his friends were still there, Draco pushed and elbowed his way through the throng, fighting his way to Hagrid. Once every first year had joined them, and all the other students were long gone, Hagrid patted his long moleskin cloak and set out at a brisk pace.
"You'll want ta keep up and stay together!" Hagrid shouted over the excited chattering of the kids. With a good-mannered chuckle, Hagrid turned his back and strode into a dark wood.
"They want us to go in there?" Draco scoffed, his eyebrows crinkling with concern. "Father always said that Hogwarts had some unusual traditions, but I never imagined it this bad!" Despite his objections, when the rest of the kids started to leave them, Draco followed, his lackeys close behind. Soon, it became pitch black and the only noise that could be heard were a few nighttime insects buzzing and some idiot kid whimpering in front of them. The path that lay before them was narrow and slick, and Crabbe slipped more than twice, causing Draco and Goyle to laugh. A couple minutes later Draco could hear water lapping against a shore, and then the whole crowd of kids stopped as Hagrid turned to face them. Draco could see better now, his eyes had adjusted to the dark and the moon was now shining through cracks in the trees.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid said "jus' round this bend here." He moved over to the side and the kids all crowded around, gasping and crowing. Draco nodded to Crabbe and Goyle, who started pushing kids over to the side so that a path was made for Draco to move through. As cynical as Draco was about Hogwarts, even he couldn't be helped when he got his first look. Whistling softly, Draco stood, wide-eyed, taking it all in. They were standing on the edge of a black lake, which glittered when the light from the castle shone on it. The castle was impossibly huge, with more towers and spirals than Draco could possibly count. There were gargoyles and lions carved into the sides of the castle, and they were actually moving and roaring. There was merriment and laughter coming from the windows, and silver ghosts were zooming in and out of the walls. Hagrid coughed and everyone turned to look at the giant.
"No more'n four to a boat!" he said, nodding to the cluster of boats that were floating next to the edge of the lake. Using Goyle as a sort of steamroller, Draco pushed through the kids towards the enchanted boats. He clambered into the one closest to the edge of the lake and scooted to the end, making room for three more. Goyle fell in next, tilting the boat as he regained his balance. Crabbe was putting his foot in when Draco cleared his throat.
"I'm not sure I want you in the boat with us, Crabbe. We already have a lot of weight with Goyle, I'm not sure it could support you as well." He said, smirking at Crabbe. A shrill laugh sounded from behind him, and a mean-looking girl with dark brown hair appeared next to Crabbe. She pushed past Crabbe and hopped in the boat with ease. Crabbe grunted and stepped in after her, making the boat violently shift. The girl scooted around Goyle and extended her hand to Draco.
"Pansy Parkinson." She announced as Draco took her hand. "And you're Draco Malfoy, right? My father has told me all about your family." Draco raised his eyebrows and smiled, showing all his teeth. He loved being the center of attention because people knew that his family was old and powerful. And being filthy rich didn't hurt, either. Pansy must love to talk, Draco thought during the boat ride across the lake. He was taking in the view from the lake, and noticing the way the water rippled as if something lived under its depths. Pansy's words washed over him until he heard "… Harry Potter," Sitting up straight and letting his listening become sharper, Draco cut Pansy off.
"What about Harry Potter?"
"Well, I just thought it was interesting that he shows up after all these years and I was wondering what house he'd be in. I hope he's in Slytherin, but I doubt it, considering it was him that killed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and-" Pansy said, babbling on until Draco gave her a smart look.
"Didn't your parents ever teach you anything?" he drawled, "the Dark Lord would've succeeded in taking control if not for stupid Potter." Pansy's eyes grew as she listened to Draco talk so openly.
"But don't go spouting off what I tell you, who knows what idiots are listening, and I don't want father to get in trouble." Draco said, turning away from Pansy. She was drinking in every word he said, and a dreamy look of admiration filled her face.
"Heads down!" Hagrid yelled from one of the back boats and Draco ducked his head as the boats sailed under a curtain of ivy. The boats drifted into a wide tunnel that was situated under the castle itself and it wasn't long until Draco's boat thudded against a pebbly bottom, dragging their boat to a stop. Gathering up the ends of his robes, Draco slid out onto a wet cobbled ground. A couple moments later, all of the kids were following Hagrid deeper into the tunnel. Draco was telling a joke at Hagrid's expense when the group came to a stop at a huge, oak door. Pansy was sniggering at Draco's joke, but the sound of Hagrid's massive hands pounding on the door three times drowned it out.
The door swung open and a tall, black-haired, severe looking witch stepped from the inside, her emerald-green robes swiping at the ground.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid, and Draco clucked his tongue loudly. McGonagall had a reputation that, so far, lived up to the reality. If he was going to have any fun at Hogwarts, he was going to need to steer clear of her. McGonagall was pulling the door open wide and was walking into what must have been the great hall, for it was huge and lit with flaming torches all down the walls. Draco looked up and couldn't even see the ceiling, it was so far up. Before the kids was a magnificent marble staircase, with smaller ones branching off and lead to thousands of rooms. Draco even saw one staircase that lead to nowhere. McGonagall walked at a brisk pace across the flagged stone floor, past a door that was erupting with noise, and into a small classroom off the hall. They were packed in like sardines, once McGonagall closed the door, and Draco could feel Crabbe breathing heavily on the back of is neck. Across the room, he could see Potter, who was looking around nervously, and that Hermione girl who was babbling to some poor girl who had gotten stuck next to her. Draco rolled his eyes Ravenclaw for sure, he thought.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "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 something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your 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 rest of the school. I suggest you all smarted yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. I will return when we are ready for you, Please wait quietly.'" She looked around at the students critically, as if she were disappointed with the new faces, and she turned sharply on her heel when she was done speaking. The kids started to loudly talk as soon as the door closed behind her, and speculations about the Sorting flew around the room. Pansy looked at Draco, nervously talking.
"My older sister told me they make you do all sorts of magic in front of the whole school to see where you belong." She said loudly, her voice becoming shrill. Draco's heart quickened at the idea. His father had never told him what the Sorting Ceremony would hold, and the idea of performing magic in front of all the older kids was beginning to panic him. Suddenly, a terrified shriek exploded in the tiny room, and everyone turned to see about twenty ghosts glide through the back wall. The ghosts were translucent and a creamy white, almost like a fog. They were talking amongst themselves, gliding right over the heads of the first years. Draco's eyes lit up as he saw them fill the room. A fat ghost was talking to the front of the room, laughing jovially with a stiff-looking ghost with ruffles and frills all down his clothes.
'Move along now,' said a sharp voice. 'The Sorting Ceremony's about to start.' Professor McGonagall had returned. The ghosts waved goodbye at the kids and drifted into the left wall, presumably to the Great Hall's dining quarters. After that last ghost had left, McGonagall barked out a few more directions and strode off, each kid falling in a single line behind her. The line moved to the wide double doors they had passed earlier, and, with a heavy push, McGonagall swung them open. As Draco made his way into the room, he could see that the hall was lit by thousands of candles all floating in midair. They hovered over four incredibly long tables, where older kids were sitting according by house. Draco strained to see the table decorated with green and silver garland and a tablecloth that had silver snakes sewn into it, enchanted so that the snakes were slithering up and down the cloth. They were the only table that didn't cheer or clap as the new kids shuffled by. On each table there were goblets and plates, all glittering gold and ruby-encrusted. At the front of the hall was a shorter table that was occupied by the staff. The staff clapped politely as McGonagall ushered them to the front of the hall. Glancing up at the candles, Draco saw that the ceiling was a cloudless, starry sky. As much as Draco hated to admit it, he was impressed with the castle and its enchantments that he had seen so far. Draco could feel the eyes of all the kids and teachers, so he was glad when McGonagall placed a stool in front of the group. Sitting on the stool was a decrepit, ragged hat. It was torn and dirty, and its appearance flickered. Sometimes it was a baseball hat, other times a fedora, but if you looked hard enough, it remained its dirty self. Maybe they had to transfigure it into a rabbit or something, Draco thought, his palms getting slick with worry. Everyone was silent and staring at the hat. It was just starting to get too quiet when a large split appeared at the brim of the hat, and it began to sing. Draco ignored most of the song, until the hat mentioned Slytherin when his ears perked up. When the hat finished, the whole hall burst into applause and whistling, and Draco let out a puff of air.
"We only have to try on the hat, so you guys can stop crying," he whispered to Crabbe and Goyle, who looked as relieved as Draco felt. McGonagall walked back up to the stool and took the hat in one hand.
'When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted,' she said. Draco watched intently as the first girl called walked up and put on the hat. After a few beats of the heart, the hat shouted
"HUFFLEPUFF!" and the girl bounced over to the Hufflepuff table, where her fellow housemates cheered. The next kids flew by in a blur, with only one beefy girl being sorted into Slytherin other than Crabbe and Goyle. Finally, it was Malfoy's turn.
"Malfoy, Draco," McGonagall called from her list. Draco loosened his muscles and swaggered forward, looking Potter directly in eye as he made his way to the stool. He didn't even need to plead for Slytherin, his father told him Slytherin blood was in his veins. No way he would be anything else. He settled himself on the stool and he felt the hat brush his hair as it shouted out
"SLYTHERIN!"
Draco might've been a little too excited about his sorting, but he swore that the hat whispered "what else?"
Draco sauntered over to the Slytherin table, where Crabbe and Goyle sat, waiting for him, amongst the cheering Slytherin. He was clapped on the back, and, as he sat down, Draco watched as his basic black Hogwarts robe and tie fluttered before turning green-and-silver. Pansy Parkinson was sorted into Slytherin as well, and she high-fived Draco when she sat down. A few names later, a hush fell over the students as McGonagall called out,
"Potter, Harry!"
People immediately began whispering and jumping up to get a good look at the boy wonder. Kids were literally climbing over each other to see him, when the hat fell over Potter's eyes. The students waited with baited breath as seconds ticked by. Finally, the hat shouted,
"GRYFFINDOR!"
And the hall erupted into noise. The Gryffindors were yelling and celebrating, while the Slytherins started hissing their dissent. Draco could see Potter's head bobbing amongst the other Gryffindors, blushing as people clapped him on the back and cheered. It took a long time for the commotion to die down, and people were still excitedly whispering when there was a clap from the staff table. A wizened old man was making his way to the front of the table, his long cloak of crimson and black rippling with every step. He had a long, silvery beard, tucked into his cord-like belt. He was wearing half-moon spectacles and a pointed wizard's hat of black, with tiny white stars zipping through. The Chocolate Frog card didn't do the man justice, Draco thought, watching as Albus Dumbledore clapped his hands once more. There was an immediate hush over the students.
"Welcome!" he said, "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin a banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" Draco's mouth hung open as Dumbledore sat down again.
"And I thought my father was exaggerating when he told me how big of a crackpot Dumbledore is!" he said, laughing to the older kid next to him.
"A crackpot he certainly is, but don't let that fool you for a second. He's sharper than a knife, and has the magic to match it." The kid said, regarding Draco with a curious glance. He opened his mouth as if to say more, but must have thought better of it, because he shut his mouth and started filling his plate with food. Draco had been so focused on Dumbledore that he hadn't even noticed that the food had magically appeared on the platters before him. A mountainous assortment of everything from potatoes to lamb stew was in front of Draco, and he found himself overwhelmed with his choices. He looked at Crabbe and Goyle and shrugged, grabbing the nearest platter and shoveling food onto his own plate. After he had sufficiently stuffed his face, Draco started to assess the other first years at his table. He talked with Crabbe and Goyle with his new housemate Pansy, and he met Millicent Bulstrode and Theodore Nott. They all seemed like well enough chaps. Draco was starting to compare family trees with Nott when a silvery mist wafted through the rib-eye plate. The first years' faces paled when the mist completely formed and took the shape of a ghost. The ghost was dressed in Renaissance-period clothing that was stained with silvery blood. His face was gaunt and chiseled and his expression was grim. The older kid next to Draco inclined his head respectfully.
"Hello, Barron," he said, "Had a peaceful holiday?" The Barron blinked somberly and sighed.
"As peacefully as one dead can be." Turning to face the new kids, the Barron looked the new Slytherins up and down.
"I hope this group is stronger than they look. Slytherin house is becoming more integrated and diverse than it was in its glory days." He said, his voice scraping like a thousand nails on a chalkboard. "I am the ghost of Slytherin house. I hope you hold your house to its standard perfection and prove that we are the best and purest house." The Barron leaned against Draco, who immediately felt as though he was being grabbed at with a hundred clammy hands. Shivering, he looked at Nott who had started to talk.
"Aren't you the Bloody Barron? My brother said that you died a gruesome death and…" he trailed off, noticing the glare the Barron was giving him. The whole Slytherin table had died down, overhearing Nott insensitively speak to the Barron. The Barron seemed to grow five feet with anger as he towered over Nott. Everyone took a collective breath. Just then, a loud whistling pierced the air as a ghost came whizzing down from the ceiling.
"ICKLE FIRSTIES!" the ghost shouted, dive-bombing students and cackling loudly. The Barron turned his attention from Nott to the ghost, who was dumping a gravy boat on a girl's head.
"PEEEEEEVES" the Barron boomed, sending the offending ghost to a halt. With a terrified glance, the ghost, Peeves, bowed and started stammering apologizes. Glaring at Nott once more, the Barron glided away to the Hufflepuff table, where Peeves was.
"I'll deal with you, later, young man." He promised, fading out of sight with Peeves. Soon after, the feast vanished and dessert appeared, quickly erasing the sticky situation with the Barron from everyone's mind. Draco was feeling full and sleepy, a small smile on his face. Then, Dumbledore gave another clap and attention was back on the headmaster.
"Ahem-just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have just a few start-of-term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well. I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors." Draco snorted at the notice.
"What kind of magic school doesn't let its students use magic?" he whispered to Crabbe, who grunted.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch." Draco's head whipped up at the Quidditch announcement. He loved Quidditch, and was pretty fair at it. He hoped to make the house team, even if first years generally weren't allowed.
"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death." Draco gave a questioning look to Goyle, who shrugged. What kind of school is this, he thought, his eyebrows crinkling in befuddlement.
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" Everyone at the Slytherin table gave a collective groan as Dumbledore flicked his wand. A long golden ribbon poured out of the tip, which twisted into words high above the student's heads.
"Everyone pick their favorite tune," Dumbledore smiled, "and off we go!" What followed was a hodgepodge mess of tunes and words, clashing together like some sort of horrible medley. Draco chose the Bulgarian Quidditch team's anthem as his tune and he sang gaily with his fellow schoolmates. He was laughing at the end and the whole hall applauded when the last straggler's voices fell.
"Ah, music," Dumbledore said, his eyes glittering, "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!" Draco was becoming aware of how exhausted he was as he fell in step behind the Slytherin Prefect, Gemma Farley. The first years followed Gemma out of the Dining Hall and into the corridor, where they walked down a flight of steps that lead them farther away from the commotion of the other houses. As Gemma guided them through the twisting paths, she turned to speak to them, almost like a tour guide.
"So, welcome to Slytherin. You may have heard a few not-so-nice rumors about our house, but most of them are lies told by the other three houses. Sure, we Slytherins tend to be a bit dark, but there's a lot of respect that come with that. Traditionally, our students are purebloods, but there are plenty of Serpents here with a muggle parent, so don't believe that we are an elitist group in that social way. I'm sure one of the interesting facts you didn't hear was that Merlin himself was a Slytherin. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be linked to Merlin than some washed up old Gryffindor." Gemma came to a stop and turned to fully face the group.
"Being a Slytherin is more than lineage and having a wild side- it's also about looking after your own. Now that you've been sorted, take a good look around because these are now your brothers and sisters. Always have their backs. Being a Slytherin makes you an elite. Do you know what is most prized in a Slytherin? The potential for greatness. All Slytherins have that special something that marks them for great things, in every sense of the meaning. If you have any doubts about your brother and sisters, keep it to yourself. They were put here for a reason, same as you." Gemma's curly blonde hair bounced as she talked, punctuating every word. The group silently looked at one another, and then Gemma set off at her quick pace, causing everyone to scramble to catch up with her. Draco reflected on what Gemma had said about the potential for greatness. He was regarding Crabbe and Goyle who didn't look like they could be great when Gemma flew down a last staircase and came to a stop next to a cement wall.
"A few final things, I saw that you all met the Bloody Baron. Stay on his good side and don't ask how he got his bloodstains." She threw a fixed stare at Nott, who blushed. "The password to the common room changes every fortnight, so pay attention to the notice board. Never let any outsider know out password or our location. I think that about covers it." Draco was starting to feel the chill from where he was standing. We must be very far underground, probably in the dungeons, he thought, rubbing his cold hands together. Gemma pivoted towards the wall and put her wand's tip to the surface, making an invisible S.
"Purus Sanguis," she said, and she jumped back quickly, startling the kids behind her. The cement wall shuddered and pulled to the side, making loud scraping noises as it came to a stop. Behind the wall was a polished maple door, with a metal serpent on the top. There were two huge brass knockers with smaller serpents on them, and as Gemma pulled one, a serpent hissed at her. She swung the door open wide and pushed the kids into a dim room, closing the door behind her.
Draco found himself in a large, poorly lit common room, which was covered with green tapestries. There was a huge black, metal fireplace on the back wall, which had a silver fire crackling and the serpent engraved on either side. Next to the fireplace were two black armchairs, with green throw pillows and blankets. There were multiple wiry couches that stood along a far wall, adjacent to a few marble tables. The ceiling was rough-hewn stone, transforming the room in a cavernous feel. But the most impressive display by far was the wall made completely of windows, with a view so spectacular, it took Draco's breath away. The common room was completely submerged under the black lake the first years had crossed to get to the castle. Underwater ferns and lilies grew around the windows, making the view seem framed, and the kids shuffled over for a closer look. A collective gasp sprang from every first year's throat as a giant squid passed by. Gemma laughed as Crabbe fell backwards from surprise. Boys were directed through a narrow corridor of to the right, girls to the left. Draco led the boys through the little hall until they reached a heptagon, shaped room, with a door on each side. Each door had a number, 1-7, and the names of the boys sharing the room. Their room was room one, which was situated closest to the hall. Draco opened the door, and the boys piled in, finding that their belongings had already been taken up and placed in their own areas. Each section of the dormitory had a black desk, a wardrobe, a leather trunk, a four-poster bed made with green and silver drapes, and a nightstand. The walls were decorated with murals depicting numerous adventures, and there were five port-hole-like windows looking out into the lake. After each boy had changed into their nightclothes, they looked at each other for introductions.
"I'm Draco Malfoy, and this is Crabbe and Goyle." Draco said, indicating that the two behind him were Crabbe and Goyle.
"You've already met me," said Nott, nodding at both of Draco's comrades.
"I'm Blaise Zabini." Said the last boy, who had dark brown skin and alarming green eyes. The boys all exchanged pleasantries and fell into bed, too tired to do much of anything else. Draco smiled to himself as he drifted off, excited for the new year to start.
