Thank you for reviewing and adding my story to your favorites and alerts. I'm so sorry it took so long to update. I've been having problems with my computer. I found out I may have to get a new one so yeah, that sucks. Anyways, since I haven't updated in a while I made this chapter extra long to make up for it. Enjoy. :)
The train slowed down and came to a stop just as night had fallen. Harry, Ron, and May got off the train in their Hogwarts uniforms and followed the other first years.
"Right then," a deep male voice said loudly so everyone could hear him. "First years this way please! First years, don't be shy. Come on now, hurry up! Hello Harry!"
The man said as Harry, Ron, and May approached him. When Ron and May got a better look at the man, their eyes widened with shock. He was very tall. Way taller than the average man. They actually had to lift their heads almost all the way up just too look at his face. Aside from his great height, he had thick dark brown hair that reached just passed his shoulders and a bushy beard.
"Hi Hagrid," Harry said with a smile on his face.
"Whoa," Ron and May said together still in shock.
"Right then, this way to the boats," Hagrid yelled to the students. "Come on now follow me. Remember no more than four a boat."
Hagrid got into the lead boat and the other first years climbed into boats as well. Harry, Ron, and May shared a boat with another boy and before they knew it, the boats were moving by themselves. It didn't take longer than five minutes before they caught their first glimpse of Hogwarts and it was an incredible sight. It was a large castle over looking the lake from which the first years were riding in boats on. It had many tall pillars and windows that seemed to glow from the torches lighting the inside.
"Wow," Harry said with a smile on his face as he looked up at Hogwarts.
"It's amazing," May said with wide eyes.
"Wicked," Ron said with excitement in his voice.
After the boat ride, Hagrid led the first years up to the castle. He then opened the main door and everyone followed them inside where they found a stern looking witch wearing green dress robes. She had gray hair that was pulled back into a tight bun and a black witch's hat sat on top of her head. She also had blue green eyes and over her eyes she wore a pair of silver glasses. Her name was Professor McGonagall and she was the Transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor House.
"All the first years are here Professor," Hagrid informed.
"Thank you Hagrid," Professor McGonagall said. "I'll take it from here."
Hagrid nodded and he proceeded into the room that Professor McGonagall was near. Once the large wooden double doors closed behind Hagrid, McGonagall turned to the first years.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said with a small smile on her face. "I am Professor McGonagall and I am the Transfiguration teacher at this school. Now in a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Now while you are here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup. Wait here. The sorting will begin momentarily."
With that said, Professor McGonagall pushed open one of the double doors and entered the room. The moment she was gone, a boy with light blonde hair and blue gray eyes spoke.
"It's true then," the boy said causing Harry, Ron, May, and the other first years to look at him. "What they're saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts."
The moment the blonde boy said this, whispers broke out among the first years. He made his way up to Harry with two other kids right behind him.
"This is Crabbe," the boy said as he pointed to the large kid on his right. He had a menacing look on his face which somewhat frightened both Ron and May but Harry seemed unfazed. "And this is Goyle," the boy added to the other large kid on his left. He too was also taller than the boy and mean looking. "And I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy," the blonde boy said.
Ron and May snickered the moment Malfoy told them his name.
"So, you two think my name's funny do you," Malfoy asked as he glared at the two redheads who immediately stopped chuckling. "No need to ask yours. My father told me all about the Weasleys. Red hair, freckles, hand me down robes, and more children than they can afford."
Harry turned to Ron and May and saw their faces turn red with anger.
"You'll soon figure out that some wizarding families are better than others Potter," Malfoy said as he turned back to Harry. "You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there," he finished as he held out a hand to him.
Harry glanced at Ron and May for a second then turned back to Malfoy with an angry look on his face. "I think I can find out the wrong sort for myself thanks," Harry said causing a somewhat shocked look to appear on Malfoy's face.
"I'd be more careful if I were you Potter," Malfoy said with anger in his voice. "Unless you're a bit politer you'll go the same way as your parents. They didn't know what was good for them either. You hang around with scum like the Weasleys, and it'll rub off on you."
Harry, Ron, and May took a step towards Malfoy. All three of them were angrier than they had ever been in their life. All they wanted to do was punch him in the face but they never got the chance to because McGonagall had just come out of the double doors. She walked up to the four and looked down at them sternly, almost as if daring one of them to move. They looked up at McGonagall and immediately calmed down at the look on her face. She didn't even have to yell at them. Just the look she gave was enough to stop the fight that was about to happen.
Once McGonagall got the situation under control, she turned her attention to the first years and spoke. "We're ready for you now. Follow me."
Professor McGonagall opened up the double doors and the first years followed her into the Great Hall. It was a magnificent sight. Four long tables were in the center of the room and students were seated at them excitedly talking amongst themselves about the new year. At the front of the Great Hall, was another long table with older witches and wizards sitting at it. Everyone guessed them to be the Professors that taught there. Above the tables, were candles that seemed to be floating in mid air. But everyone thought that the ceiling was the most magnificent sight in the entire Great Hall. It looked like the night sky outside, which was clear and full of stars.
"Whoa, the ceiling is cool," May said to Harry and Ron. Harry nodded his head in agreement as Ron spoke.
"It looks just like the sky outside," Ron said. "You think it's real?"
As if on cue, Hermione answered almost immediately, like she had been eavesdropping in on their conversation. "It's not real the ceiling. It's just bewitched to make it look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts a History."
Ron just rolled his eyes as he and the others came to a stop at the front of Great Hall where they now noticed a black stool in front of the head table and an old brown hat on top of it. Then all of a sudden, the Great Hall got quiet and the hat broke out into song.
Oh you might think I'm pretty
But don't judge on what you see
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me
You can keep your bowlers black
Your top hats sleek and tall
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be
You might belong in Gryffindor
Where dwell the brave at heart
Their daring, never, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart
You might belong in Hufflepuff
Where they are just and loyal
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw
If you've a ready mind
Where those of wit and learning
Will always find their kind
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends
So put me on don't be afraid
And don't get in a flap
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a thinking cap
After the hat sang its song, the Great Hall erupted with cheering and clapping. Once the noise died down, an old man got to his feet at the high table and gave everyone a warm and welcoming smile. He had long white hair, a long white beard, blue eyes, and over his eyes he wore a pair of half moon spectacles. His name was Albus Dumbledore and he was the headmaster of Hogwarts.
"Before we begin the sorting, I have a few start of term notices I would like to announce," Dumbledore said kindly. "The first years please note, that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden to all students. And a few of our older students should know that by now as well," Dumbledore said as his eyes landed on Fred and George at the Gryffindor table for a few seconds who pretended to look innocent.
Those that noticed gave quiet laughs but the twins didn't seem bothered by it. In fact, they joined in the laughter. Michael Granger, who was also a Gryffindor, glared at the twins for laughing while Professor Dumbledore was talking.
"Shush," Michael said angrily. The twins stopped laughing and before Dumbledore continued he chuckled.
"Also, our caretaker Mr. Filch," Dumbledore continued as he indicated an old mean looking wizard at the back of the Great Hall. He had long shaggy brown hair and brown eyes. He wore filthy looking brown robes and he was holding his pet cat, Mrs. Norris. "Would like me to remind you that the third floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to all who do not wish to die a most painful death. Thank you," Dumbledore said as he sat back down.
"When I call your name you will come forth," Professor McGonagall explained as she walked up to the stool holding a scroll in her hand. "I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses," she finished. She then glanced down at the scroll and called the first name off of the list. "Hermione Granger!"
Hermione's eyes widened with fear when she heard her name called. "Oh no," Hermione said with fear in her voice as she approached the stool. "Okay relax."
"Mental that one," Ron whispered to Harry and May.
The two nodded as they watched Hermione walk up to the stool and sit down. Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on her head and everyone waited patiently for her to be sorted. A few seconds later, the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR" and Hermione rushed over to the cheering table with a smile on her face.
"Draco Malfoy," Professor McGonagall called next.
Malfoy walked up to the stool and sat down. Professor McGonagall barely put the hat on his head before it shouted "SLYTHERIN."
The Slytherins cheered as Malfoy took his seat at the table.
"There's no witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin," Ron told Harry.
"Susan Bones," Professor McGonagall called.
As a frightened looking red haired girl walked up to the stool, Harry looked at the staff table where he saw one of the Professors looking at him. The Professor had black greasy hair that was just above the shoulders and almost black eyes. And to finish off the look, he wore black robes. His name was Professor Snape.
The moment that Harry's eyes met Snape's, Harry yelped in pain as he placed a hand over his scar.
"Harry, are you okay," May asked with concern in her voice.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Harry assured her as he lowered his hand.
"I know," the sorting hat finally said. "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Susan made her way over to the cheering table of Hufflepuffs and Professor McGonagall called the next person. "Ronald Weasley."
Ron looked utterly terrified as he made his way up to the stool. Once he sat down, everyone had to only wait about a minute before the sorting hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!"
Ron gave a sigh of relief as he made his way over to the cheering Gryffindors where his brothers greeted him.
"May Weasley," Professor McGonagall called.
May shared the same terrified expression as her twin as she made her way up to the stool. Once she sat down, Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on her head and she heard a voice in her ear.
"Another Weasley huh," the sorting hat said with a slight chuckle. "But this one seems slightly different than the rest. You seem to have the need to push yourself more than your brothers. Could this be because you're one of the only girls in your family? But your also loyal and even though you don't look it now, you can be brave when you have to be. So, where to put you? Hufflepuff or Gryffindor? Why don't you go and join your brothers in, GRYFFINDOR," the hat finally shouted.
May smiled as she made her way over to the cheering Gryffindors where she was greeted by her brothers. She took a seat next to Ron who gave her a pat on the back.
"Harry Potter," Professor McGonagall called.
Harry stepped forward, and tried his best to ignore the whispers that suddenly broke out amongst the students. When he sat down on the stool, he glanced at Ron and May who gave him encouraging smiles. Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on his head and everyone seemed to have held their breaths hoping that he would be placed in their house. May saw Harry grip the edges of the stool and saw a small look of fear on his face. She wondered what the hat was telling him. She hoped that he wouldn't be sorted into Slytherin, but even if he was, she would still be his friend and she was almost positive that Ron would still be as well.
Just then, the Sorting Hat shouted Gryffindor. The Gryffindor table erupted with cheers and the teachers and Professor Dumbledore clapped loudly as well. Ron and May were on their feet cheering for their friend along with everyone else as he made his way over to them. Ron shook his hand and May gave him a hug. Mike (Hermione's older brother) shook his hand as well and welcomed him into Gryffindor. As Percy Weasley got to his feet and shook Harry's hand, Fred and George were chanting loudly "We got Potter! We got Potter!"
After the cheering died down, McGonagall continued on with the Sorting Ceremony. About fifteen minutes later, it was finally over and as she took the stool and the Sorting Hat away, Professor Dumbledore got to his feet to give a speech.
"Before we begin our lovely feast, I would like to say a few words," Dumbledore told them all with a smile on his face. "And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you."
With that said, Dumbledore sat back down and everyone clapped. Harry turned to Mike and spoke. "Is he, you know, a bit mad?"
"Mad," Mike asked his voice full of shock. "The man is a genius. He's the most powerful wizard in the world. Where would you get the idea that he was mad?"
"Well, when he said those random words," Harry said almost regretting that he even asked that question to begin with.
"Yeah that was kind of random," May agreed.
"Well, okay so it kind of was," Mike said with a nod of his head. "But everything he says is important and has meaning."
"And what exactly was the importance and meaning of that," Fred asked while his twin grinned.
"I'll get back to you on that," Mike said causing them to laugh.
Just then Harry's mouth fell open as the dishes in front of him suddenly filled with food that stretched down the entire table. Ron and May also looked at the feast with wide eyes. Sure their mother liked to cook a lot but never before had they seen this much food. There was fresh fruit and vegetables, roast beef, roast chicken, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, different kinds of pudding, and drinks such as fresh pumpkin juice, orange juice, milk, and water.
Harry, Ron, and May didn't know where to start, so they just piled their plate with a bit of everything and began eating.
"Wow, this food is amazing," Ron said with his mouth full of chicken.
"Sure is," May agreed as she poured herself some orange juice.
Just as Ron was about to grab another chicken leg, the head of a ghost popped up through the table. Ron let out a scream as the Gryffindor's watched their house ghost Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington fly above the table. When he made his appearance, other ghosts entered the Great Hall.
"Sorry lad, didn't mean to startle you," Sir Nicholas apologized to Ron.
"That's okay," Ron said. His eyes then widened when he got a better look at the ghost. "Hey wait a minute, I know you. You're Nearly Headless Nick."
"I prefer Sir Nicholas thank you," Nick told him.
"Nearly headless," Hermione suddenly said causing everyone to turn to her. "How can you be nearly headless?"
"Like this," Nick said as he seized his left ear and pulled. A disgusted look appeared on May's face as she watched his head fall onto his shoulder and saw that it was hanging onto his neck by a hinge. Looking pleased with himself, Nick flipped his head back onto his neck. "So...new Gryffindors," Nick said trying to change the subject. "I hope you're going to help us win the house championship this year? Gryffindors have never gone so long without winning. Slytherins have got the cup six years in a row! The Bloody Baron's becoming almost unbearable."
"I'm sorry, who," May asked.
"He's the Slytherin ghost," Mike explained as he nodded over at the Slytherin table. Harry, Ron, and May looked over and saw a horrible looking ghost sitting there. He had blank staring eyes, a gaunt face, and robes stained with silver blood.
"How did he get covered in blood," Harry asked.
"No one knows, except maybe the Slytherins," Mike said. "I asked Nick if he knew, but he said he never asked and I'm not about to. That's one ghost you don't want to get on the wrong side of and you can see why since he was in Slytherin."
Soon after that, small talk around the Gryffindor students began. A boy named Seamus Finnigan was talking about himself. "I'm half and half. Me dad's a muggle. Mum's a witch. Bit of a nasty shock for him when he found out."
"What about you Neville," Ron asked as he turned to the boy sitting across from him.
"Well, my Gran brought me up and she's a witch," Neville explained. "But the family thought I was all Muggle for ages. I didn't show any signs of magic at all. Sometimes my Great Uncle Algie would try and catch me off guard to get the magic out of me. He even pushed me off Blackpool pier once. I almost drowned."
"That's horrible," May said feeling sorry for him.
"It's okay though," Neville assured her. "He was only trying to help."
"Help by almost drowning you," Mike asked with shock in his voice. "What kind of person does that? You could have been killed."
Neville's face turned red. "No really it's okay. Honest. A part of me wanted something to happen because I didn't want to let them down. And then my wish came true one day. Uncle Algie came over again and was hanging me out of an upstairs window by my ankles. He then accidentally let go when he got distracted and I bounced all the way down the garden and into the road. They were all really pleased. My Gran was crying with happiness and she cried even harder when I got my letter. My family are good people. They just want what's best for me."
After hearing Neville's story, May heard Hermione talking Percy about lessons. Man Hermione could be really annoying when she got into her know-it-all mode.
"I do hope they start right away," Hermione said. "There's so much to learn. I'm particularly interested in Transfiguration, my brother has told me so much about it. He said it's a really good class, one of his favorites. But of course he said that sometimes it can be quite difficult when you're turning something into something else."
"Don't worry, McGonagall will start you off with something small," Percy assured her. "She'll have you turning matches into needles at the beginning. Then once you've mastered that, she'll move the class on to something harder."
May turned to Harry and saw that he was looking at the High Table again. She followed his gaze to Professor Snape. Then May suddenly jumped in shock as Harry yelped in pain and reached a hand up to rub his scar.
"Harry what is it," May asked with concern in her voice. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah...I'm fine," Harry lied as he lowered his hand his eyes never leaving Snape. "Just a headache."
"Maybe you should go to the hospital wing and get something for it," Mike suggested.
"No no really, I'm fine," Harry said rather quickly as he turned to him. Mike raised an eyebrow and Harry quickly changed the subject. "Can I ask you something Mike?"
"Ask away," Mike said.
"Who's that teacher talking to Professor Quirrell," Harry asked.
"Oh, you know Professor Quirrell," Mike said as he glanced up at the High Table. "No wonder he's looking so nervous but then again, he's like that most of the time. Anyway, the person he's talking to is Professor Snape. He teaches Potions, but he doesn't want to. Everyone knows that he's after Quirrell's job which is Defense Against the Dark Arts. Snape knows an awful lot about the Dark Arts, but Dumbledore won't give him the job."
"I see," Harry said as he continued to watch Snape for a while.
About fifteen minutes later, everyone was stuffed and the food disappeared as did the dishes. Professor Dumbledore got to his feet one last time and the Great Hall fell silent.
"And now that we have all been fed by our magnificent feast, I say we sing the school song before we go to bed," Dumbledore said with a smile on his face. He then took out his wand and gave it a little flick. A long golden ribbon flew out of it which rose high above the tables and twisted itself into words. "Everyone pick their favorite tune and off we go," Dumbledore said happily.
With that, the school burst into song.
Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts
Teach us something please
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff
For now their bare and full of air
Dead flies and bits of fluff
So teach us things worth knowing
Bring back what we've forgot
Just do your best, we'll do the rest
And learn until our brains all rot
Everyone finished the song at different times and last to finish the song were the Weasley twins Fred and George. The twins were singing along to a very slow funeral march. Students laughed as they listened to the twins finish the song and when they were done, Dumbledore clapped along with the rest of the students.
"Ah music," Dumbledore said as he gave his wand another flick causing the words to disappear. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
Everyone started piling out of the Great Hall almost at once but the first years had to stay behind and follow the Prefects to their Common Rooms. The first year Gryffindor followed Percy Weasley out of the Great Hall and up the marble staircase of which Percy informed them that they should keep an eye on the stairs since they like to change.
Soon, they came to the seventh floor where a portrait of a large woman wearing a long pink silk dress hung at the very end of the corridor.
"Password," she said.
"Caput Draconis," Percy said. The woman nodded and the portrait swung open revealing a secret passageway behind it. The first years followed Percy through the passageway and they found themselves in the Gryffindor Common Room. It had a warm cozy feel to it. It was decorated in bright red and gold and had several armchairs and a couch in front of a roaring fire, bookshelves full of books, a large noticeboard was off on the right, and to finish off the look, there were wooden tables with matching chairs for doing homework.
After Percy showed the first year girls and boys where their dormitory were he said goodnight and headed off to the boys' dorms. May said goodnight to Ron and Harry and then followed Hermione up to the girls' dormitory. When the two walked in, they saw that their trunks had already been brought up and May quickly rushed over to the bed where hers was. After everyone changed into their pajamas, they soon fell asleep.
Again I'm sorry for the long wait. I'll try to update soon. :)