Year 1
Chapter 1
From Houses to Home
Harry James Potter of number four Privet Drive was currently sitting on his bed, reading several books with the enthusiasm of someone who had been introduced with the concept of the written word for the very first time. He had of course, being an eleven year old boy, read books before but those that were currently covering his sheets were like nothing he could have even imagined a week ago. He put down the thick volume he had just been reading with the title 'A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration' and picked up another one, 'A History of Magic'.
He opened a random page and began skimming through, looking for something, while occasionally stifling a yawn. He was exhausted. He had just spent the day travelling to London, with the biggest man he had ever seen (too big to be allowed, Harry had thought briefly), buying uniforms, books and everything else that he needed to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The giant man was named Rubeus Hagrid, a professor at the school, and arrived exactly at midnight to a miserable little hut in the middle of the ocean where Harry's adoptive family had tried escaping to. That was when Harry Potter found out that he was a wizard. His uncle, who up until this point had kept his mouth firmly shut, seemed then to find his courage and stood up to Hagrid (stood up to around his waist), and started shouting that Harry Potter would never go and learn 'magic tricks'. Hagrid just glared at him for a moment before removing a cricket bat shaped (and sized) wand from one of his many pockets and unceremoniously turned Mr Vernon Dursley into a pig.
"Burdock?" Harry muttered, while eyeing the corner of his room, where a beautiful snowy owl was sleeping in her cage. Harry shook his head, no definitely not.
After turning the pig back to Harry's uncle, Hagrid muttered a half-hearted apology and shooed the Dursleys into the other room. They talked while enjoying some sausages Hagrid had brought and cooked, before settling down for the night, they needed to wake up early to go to London tomorrow.
Harry had been quite terrified of the huge man on their way to London, as had been most of the people who had been unfortunate enough to pass them by. It wasn't just his sheer size or the vast quantities of untamed hair that terrified them, if that was all there was Harry was sure it would have just intrigued him, given all that he learnt last night. It was a huge scar that started from his forehead and crossed his nose and mouth all the way to his chin that gave him such a savage look, enough to scare a dear old lady into running for her life at the sight of him. However, by the time they reached their first tube station Harry found out that he had absolutely nothing to be scared of, he was the very definition of a gentle giant.
Harry spent the journey on the tube relentlessly questioning Hagrid about the wizarding world. Amongst other things, he learnt the truth about his parents' death, the word 'Muggle' and how the giant had gotten the hideous scar on his face.
He didn't mean to ask, but the question slipped out and he was just about to apologise when Hagrid beard shifted into what he realised was a huge grin.
"Oh this," he was clearly eager to talk about it, "got this from an ol' dragon I raised from a babe."
Harry was rather alarmed to find that dragons existed, but before he could get any more questions out, he was forced to listen to Hagrid reminiscing about his old favourite pet until they reached their destination. He had apparently managed to get special permission to try and raise a dragon near the school a few years ago, but was forced to send him away to Romania when he grew a little too big to handle. The scar had been a nasty parting gift.
Harry jerked awake. He wiped a bit of drool off his face and picked up the book he dropped. He just felt he needed to do this one thing before he went to sleep.
"Elfric? No, that doesn't sound right either." Harry murmured to himself, shifting his body on the bed.
London had been... well, he could only describe it as magical. Diagon Alley was where wizards and witches from all over Britain, and even some from abroad, came to do their shopping. Books, cauldrons, goblins, broomsticks and everything in between, Harry tried to take in everything at once while Hagrid gently tried to hurry him along, first towards the wizarding bank Gringotts. They managed to get everything without much trouble, apart from meeting a blond haired boy while shopping for robes, who Harry thought was quite rude and the occasional passer by that seemed to want to thank Harry for his deeds as a baby.
The shopping trip ended when Hagrid bought him a birthday present, the lovely snowy owl and finally what Harry had been looking forward to the most, a magic wand (eleven and a half inch, cypress with unicorn hair). They then returned to four Privet Drive, where Hagrid 'convinced' the Dursleys to treat Harry better and drive him to King's Cross on the first of September. They nodded dumbly and gave Harry a wide berth, while to carried all his new belongings into the spare room. Dudley had not complained once that the room he used to keep his toys in was going to be used by Harry, he merely whimpered and scuttled away when Harry glanced at him. In fact, the Dursleys wouldn't speak a single word to him, they seemed to be as scared of Harry as much as they had been of Hagrid, since they didn't know what he could do now that he found out his true heritage. He didn't mind though, he went up to his room and eagerly started delving into his new acquisitions.
It was already past midnight and Harry definitely needed to get some sleep, but what kept him awake wasn't just his desire to look through and find out everything he could about this new world he was about to join. He was terrified that if he went to sleep now, he would wake up in the cupboard under the stairs, and everything that happened the last few days would turn out to be a wonderful and horrible dream. He finally managed to convince himself, that is he could find a name for his best ever birthday present, it would prove everything that happened was real, as long as he had his owl, everything would be fine. To be completely honest, he didn't really like birds that much, but he soon found out magical pets were so much more than just animals. They were useful and smart, even able to understand their owners and respond to their words. It also helped that the snowy owl was absolutely gorgeous, she had easily been the best looking owl in the shop.
"Hedwig..." Harry whispered, to which the dozing owl opened one eye and hooted sleepily. Harry smiled, "Hedwig it is then."
He closed the book and dropped it, and the others he'd been reading, onto the floor as quietly as possible. He placed his glasses on a table by his side, rolled over and finally went to sleep.
Harry's aunt, uncle and cousin didn't change their attitude towards him the next few weeks, which was how he imagined they would treat a rabid badger living in their home. They were all avoiding him and still hadn't spoken a word to him since his birthday. Harry was also keen on keeping his distance since the look his uncle gave him every time they were in the same room suggested he was seconds away from physically grabbing and throwing him out the door, warnings from giant dragon tamers be damned.
He tried to sneak in some food to his room every morning before the Dursleys were awake and apart from necessary bodily functions, stayed inside his room. On the final day of August, he decided he needed to remind his uncle of his 'promise' to Hagrid to take him to the station.
"Um... Uncle Vernon?" Harry coughed nervously, as Vernon Dursley jumped up from the sofa and faced him, fist raised in defence, but still not saying anything. "You promi- You said you would drive me to London tomorrow? To the station?"
His uncle's face went pale, red, purple then pale again and Harry could imagine what thoughts were going through his head. There was silence for almost a minute, then his uncle spoke to him for the first time in over four weeks.
"King's Cross?" Harry nodded quickly. "And I wont see you until next summer? Fine, I'll take you, but that... that... that 'man' better not show his face around here ever again!"
Harry left his uncle before he could change his mind. He had already packed most of his stuff days earlier, but nervously started taking everything out of his trunk and repacking everything that evening. He forced down a slice of bread with a bit of ham, even though he didn't feed very hungry, then gave Hedwig some owl treats before checking his alarm clock and climbing into bed. It took him almost three hours before he finally fell asleep. The moment his alarm rang, he jumped up and started to make sure he had everything ready.
He packed everything into his uncle's car and the made their way once again in complete silence. Petunia had seen them off but she also hadn't said a word to Harry, she just looked at her husband with teary eyes, as if this would be the last time she would ever see him. Dudley had flat out refused to leave his room until Harry was gone. When they finally reached King's Cross, his uncle waited silently in his seat without turning the engine off, while Harry found a trolley and pulled his luggage onto it. When he had everything loaded, he turned to say goodbye to his uncle, but Vernon Dursley was already stepping on the accelerator and left before Harry could open his mouth.
Harry was honestly just glad his uncle didn't leave as soon as he got out of the car, without giving him a chance to get his stuff out, so he didn't really mind this bit of rudeness and quickly made his way through the crowd into the station. He jumped slightly when a group of flocking pigeons decided it would be a great idea to fly over him and cause him to nearly crash his trolley. People were starting to stare at him, or rather at Hedwig, who squawked at him for losing control. He was nearing the place where he thought his platform should be and his heart started beating faster. He really wished he looked more closely at his ticket before saying goodbye to Hagrid on his birthday, so he could have asked him how on earth he was supposed to find a platform nine and three-quarters.
His attempts to ask one of the people working at the station for help had failed rather quickly and he started to really panic as there was only ten minutes until the train would leave. Harry considered shouting out load, asking if anyone knew how to get on the train to Hogwarts, but thankfully he heard something that instantly removed the panicked thought from his head. Harry had heard the word 'Muggles'. He turned his head too quickly, he felt a sharp pain in his neck, but he ignored it and started following a family, a plump lady leading a group of four boys and one girl, all with flaming red hair. They also had an owl.
He stayed close behind listening for any clues on how to enter the platform, but only managed to find out some of their names, Ginny, Percy, Fred and George. He kept his eyes open in case he missed anything, but as soon as the fourth red-head, one of twins apparently, seemed to vanish into thin air, he cleared his throat nervously and walked up to the remaining boy and his mother.
"Excuse me, I'm really sorry, I don't... Could you tell me how to get onto the platform?" Harry had rushed the words out so quickly he was about to repeat himself.
"Oh. Of course dear. First time at Hogwarts? Ron's new too." she smiled at him kindly and nodded towards her son, who was slightly taller than Harry, freckled and was looking at him curiously.
"Alright dear, you just need to..." Harry looked at the barrier between the ninth and tenth platform she was indicating. It looked very solid. She gave him an encouraging smile and nodded at him to go through. He gritted his teeth, closed his eyes and ran towards the barrier. When he opened them again, he was on platform nine and three quarters, staring at the Hogwarts Express.
He quickly moved through the crowd, the train would be leaving soon, and found an empty compartment near the end of the train. He was struggling to lift his luggage onto the train when one of the red headed twins came over.
"Need some help?" Harry nodded, and the boy called his brother over and the three of them managed to move his trunk onto the compartment. He then pushed the empty trolley towards the end of the platform away from the train and turned back to Harry just as he was wiping sweat from his brows.
"Hey is that..?" his twin followed his gaze and both their eyes were locked onto Harry's forehead, staring at his scar.
"Blimey..."
"Are you?"
"Harry Potter?" They asked together.
"Oh. Yes I am." Harry blushed slightly, he had hoped that people at his school wouldn't treat him the same way as the people who he met at Diagon Alley, wanting to shake his hand and thank him for something he couldn't even remember doing.
"George? Fred? Are you there?" their mother's voice came from the platform.
Harry gave a silent thanks to the kindly witch and sat down on one of the seats as the twins left to say goodbye to their family. He could tell they were a very nice family and meant absolutely no harm when they asked, but he wasn't used to getting this much attention, he wasn't really used to getting any attention at all, most people tended to ignore him. The red haired children and their mother had gathered on the platform close enough for Harry to overhear them, which was unfortunate since the topic of conversation soon moved onto the black haired boy with the scar on his forehead.
Harry slouched down his seat so any stray glances towards his compartment would only reveal his messy hair and not a red cheeked 'boy who lived'. He was glad he did this when he heard the little girl (Ginny was it?) asking to come onto the train to see him, he was sure the question would be accompanied by an eager attempt to locate him through the windows. He was once again thankful to their mother when she sternly forbade all her children ask him anything of the fateful day he received his scar.
There was a long whistle and the family quickly said their goodbyes and reassurance to the youngest sibling that they would send loads of owls from school. Harry straightened his back and saw the witch waving at her sons and the little girl crying and laughing while trying to run after the accelerating train. He had a sad smile on his face as he felt a strong pang of jealousy as he remembered his own trip to the station, this was what families were supposed to be like.
He tried to banish these thoughts just as the door opened and the youngest red haired boy came in and asked if he could sit in the compartment. Harry nodded his head and the boy sat across from him, briefly looking towards Harry's forehead, before turning to the window, remembering his mother's words. There was an awkward silence. Harry wanted nothing more than to open his mouth and start talking to the boy sitting opposite him, he honestly found the first wizarding family he'd seen as fascinating as they found him.
Even at school, he had never been close to anyone his age, his cousin Dudley wouldn't allow it, and he had no idea how you went around 'making friends'. He found this situation as terrifying, if not more, as his first encounter with the giant scarred professor. His heart started beating faster as he was working up the courage just to introduce himself, when the doors opened again making Harry jump slightly in his seat.
The twins were back, and Harry was slightly annoyed with them for about a second, until they introduced themselves with such ease.
"This is Fred."
"And he's George." they said, pointing at each other.
"This is our brother Ron." they both pointed at Ron. "Weasley. Fred, George and Ron Weasley."
They turned to their brother and mentioned someone named Lee Jordan with a giant tarantula (Harry thought Ron went a little pale at this information), and said goodbye.
"You're Harry Potter? THE Harry Potter?" Ron blurted out.
"Yeah I am." Harry pulled his hair back, showing his scar. Talking seemed a lot easier now. "I don't remember much about it though."
"Nothing at all?" Ron asked, having completely forgotten his mother's words.
"Nothing. Well, I think I remember a lot of green light, but I'm not too sure if that actually happened. I was only a baby after all." Harry offered.
Ron blushed slightly at this, his mother's warning suddenly in his head, and quickly muttered an apology then turned again facing out the window. Harry winced, he was just trying to be honest and hadn't intended this reaction. He quickly tried to get the conversation going again.
"You're family," he rushed the words out, "are they all wizards?"
"Er, yes I think so." Harry found out that the Weasley family was even bigger than he saw at the station. There were two more brothers, who had already graduated from Hogwarts, as well as several aunts and uncles. Ron then asked Harry about his own family, he had somehow known he went to live with Muggles. Harry reluctantly told him about the Dursleys, he didn't want his new friend to feel sorry for him, but he wanted to be as honest as possible.
Around noon a witch pushing a cart loaded with food opened their doors and asked if they wanted anything to eat. Harry had skipped breakfast and for the first time in his life had enough money to spend on whatever he wanted to, so he went up to the cart and bought all the things he had never tried before. This ended up being a little bit of everything and he put down his purchases on an empty seat, eager to tear into his first magical treat.
Ron blushed and said he had some sandwiches from home, and at first refused Harry's offer to share his stash, but soon the growing boy's desire for sweets overcame everything else and he ripped open a pack labelled 'Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans'.
"When they say every flavour, they mean every flavour." Ron explained, and the two boys spent the next few minutes trying out as many as they could.
They then turned to the Chocolate Frogs and Ron explained the collectable cards inside each one. "I need Agrippa or Ptolemy, check who you got."
After offering Hedwig a bit of cake, which she sniffed and refused, Harry opened a package and was startled when something brown jumped out, but managed to catch it.
"Nice catch Harry!" Ron exclaimed, through a mouthful of chocolate.
Harry looked at it closely, while it was trying to squirm away from his grip. It looked very much like a frog. He hesitated for only a moment, having watched Ron stuff down his fourth already, and popped it into his mouth. It instantly stopped moving and just melted in his mouth, leaving a deep, sweet, chocolaty taste on his tongue. He briefly wondered if magic somehow made everything taste better. At Ron's insistence he looked in the packet again and pulled out a card.
"Albus Dumbledore." Harry read out loud. He looked at the picture of a very old wizard with long silver hair and beard and sharp blue eyes underneath half-moon glasses. He nearly dropped the card when the figure moved to the side of the card and disappeared. "It moved!"
"Of course he moved, he's not going to stand there all day is he?" Ron answered "I've already got him, you should start collecting as well Harry."
Without taking his eyes off the card, Harry explained to Ron that people in Muggle photos did not move at all, ("Really? Weird.") and watched Dumbledore appear again and give him a half smile and a nod. He turned the card to read the back.
Albus Dumbledore
Currently head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation of the British Ministry of Magic. Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore was instrumental in the formation of the European Ministry, the most influential magical government to date. He is also credited with several magical inventions including the Nullificare Charm, allowing those with uncontrollable unintentional magic to be safely integrated within magical society.
"He used to teach at Hogwarts, you know." Ron said pointing at the card Harry was holding. "Dad doesn't know what to think of him."
"Does your dad know him?" Harry asked curiously.
"Yeah, well, they bump into each other now and then, my dad works for the Ministry as well." Ron explained. "Dumbledore's definitely a great wizard, but well... Never mind, I really shouldn't talk about it, it could get dad in trouble."
"Oh." Harry was curious but didn't pursue the subject. He and Ron opened some more Chocolate Frogs, adding more cards into Harry's new collection, then moved onto the Pumpkin Pasties, Licorice Wands, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum and Cauldron Cakes. It was worth every Sickle and Knut, not just for the taste, but for providing something two hungry boys could bond over.
They leaned back on their seats, quite full, and were talking about Quidditch or more accurately Ron was talking excitedly while Harry was listening, trying not to get Bludgers and Quaffles mixed up. Harry noticed something moving outside the compartment window and looked up, his eyes meeting a girl about his age, with lots of brown bushy hair and large front teeth. She stared at him for a moment, then with a look of someone about to charge into battle, opened the door. Ron stopped talking and looked at her as well.
At the sight of two boys looking directly at her she seemed to lose her drive and almost seemed ready to walk back out before she opened her mouth.
"C... Can I sit here?" she whispered, eyes pointing towards the floor. Harry instantly saw what she was trying to do, since Harry had been working up the courage to do exactly the same thing just a few hours ago when he first met Ron. She, like him, didn't really know how to make friends. Harry blushed slightly, the girls at his old school only talked at him, usually to make fun of his clothes and call him names, he had never actually talked to a girl his age.
"Sure." Harry rummaged through his mostly eaten pile of sweets and found one still unopened. "Chocolate Frog?"
"Thanks." the girl blushed as she took the chocolate and sat down on Ron's side closer to the door. "I'm Hermione Granger."
"I'm Ron Weasley." Ron said.
"Harry Potter." as he said his name, Hermione's eyes widened and she started talking very quickly about several books in which Harry was apparently mentioned. She then moved onto the books that they required for the first year lessons, several of which Harry had actually skimmed through in August, but he couldn't remember reading most of what Hermione was talking about. By the dazed look on Ron's face, he had no idea what she was talking about either.
"Erm.. So any idea what house you'll be in?" Harry said, trying to change the subject.
"I hope I'm in Gryffindor." Ron said sounding slightly worried. "My whole family was sorted into Gryffindor, mum, dad, all my brothers. Don't know what they'll say if I got sorted somewhere else."
"Gryffindor does sound the best." Hermione said thoughtfully. "But I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad."
"How are the houses actually different?" Harry asked.
"Gryffindors are supposed to be brave and chivalrous, but I'm not really sure. Never really thought anything my family did sounded particularly brave and if anyone called Fred and George chivalrous, mum would die laughing." Ron said.
"Well there must be something, a lot of famous wizards seem to be in Gryffindor." Hermione remarked. "As for the other houses Harry, Ravenclaws are supposed to be smart and creative, Slytherins cunning and ambitious and Hufflepuffs loyal and hard working."
Harry thought about what she said and wondered what described him the most. He didn't think himself that smart, especially not after listening to Hermione reciting whole pages of their text book from memory, and he wasn't that ambitious either, right now he just wanted to make friends and try and fit in with everyone. Gryffindor did sound nice, but what did it mean for an eleven year old boy to be brave? He had no idea if he was brave or not, not unless you counted running towards a solid looking wall to catch a train. He supposed he could be hard working when he need to be, when his aunt and uncle used to set him chores, they expected it to be done perfectly and would not take any excuses. As for loyalty, there was never anyone close enough to him that he felt deserved his loyalty, his foster family the least deserving of all.
His thoughts then jumped to parents and wondering what house they were sorted into. He turned to ask Hermione, she seemed to know more about his past that he did, but couldn't actually get the words out of his mouth.
"They were in Gryffindor," the said quietly, understanding his look. "Your parents were both in Gryffindor."
"Thanks Hermione." Harry mumbled. If his parents had been in Gryffindor, he hoped he would be as well. He stayed quiet, trying to remember everything and anything Hagrid had told him about his parents a few weeks ago. Harry eventually broke from his thoughts and noticed a sombre silence in the carriage, both Ron and Hermione were avoiding looking at him, trying to read his mood.
"Sorry," Harry quickly said. "I'm okay. It just never occurred to me that I would be going to the same school as they did."
"I'm sure you'll be in Gryffindor." Ron tried to lift the mood. "It doesn't really matter anyway, all the houses have good points, well... apart from Slytherin."
Hermione frowned. "Ron! You shouldn't say that! Slytherin has a lot of bad reputation, but it's all nonsense. I've also read it's a lot better now that-"
Harry didn't hear what made Slytherin better because at that moment the compartment door opened and three boys entered. Two boys who reminded Harry of his rather large cousin and the pale blond boy he had met while getting fitted for robes, standing at the front, looking like the leader.
"They're saying Harry Potter's sitting in this compartment," he said looking at Harry. "So it's you, is it?"
"Yes." Harry remembered his first encounter with the boy in Diagon Alley, they had talked for only a few minutes, but that was enough for Harry to decide that he wasn't the sort of person he wanted to be friends with.
"My name is Draco Malfoy." he announced, straightening his back. "This is Crabbe and Goyle."
Ron gave a snort of laughter he tried to hide with a cough, but Malfoy wasn't fooled by this. "Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford."
Ron blushed and was about to say something but Hermione got up from her seat first.
"That's an incredibly rude thing to say to someone you've only just met." Harry was surprised but happy, she had been so shy only moments ago but she was already standing up for Ron.
The Malfoy boy turned to her and sneered. "I have no idea who you are and that means you're not anybody worth knowing. Thankfully, that means I wont have reason to look at your stupi-"
"What do you want?" Harry interrupted.
"Hmph." he faced Harry again. "There are some wizarding families better than others Potter, families that are worth having as friends."
"I think I can decide for myself who I want as a friend." Harry replied shortly. "If that's all you wanted, goodbye."
The pale boy's cheeks reddened slightly and his eyes narrowed, "Have it your way then Potter, enjoy surrounding yourself with riffraff like these two."
Before he left he tried to reach for some of the food, but drew his hand back sharply when Hedwig flew down onto the pile and clicked her beak at him. He gave an angry glare at the three of them and left with his two friends/bodyguards behind him.
The two boys spent a good five minutes trying to calm down an angry Hermione, Ron even seemed to forget the insult Malfoy threw towards his family, Hermione had been angry enough for the three of them.
"I heard my dad talking about the Malfoys once." Ron said. "Dark wizards apparently, and very anti-Muggle, but rich and that's why that git thinks he can get away with anything."
A disembodied voice echoed in the train, telling them they would be arriving in Hogwarts soon and that their luggage would be taken to the school separately. The two boys quickly started changing into their school robes, while a blushing Hermione, who had already changed earlier, waited outside the compartment. It was already dark outside, but Harry could make out a tiny platform and a lot of mountain and forest in the distance. He stepped off the train with Ron and Hermione and was wondering where to go when he heard someone.
"First years over here! Come on!" a man wearing comfortable robes was was holding his wand in the air, which was giving off a bright light. The smallest students leaving the train were nervously gathering around him. "Is that everyone? All right, first years follow me!"
As the wizard led them down a steep path, they got a better look at him. Harry thought that, despite the wand giving off the light, he didn't really look like a wizard, he looked more like a rugby player or some other athlete. He wasn't huge but his bare arms that showed outside his robes were thick and muscled, Harry could tell this was someone who could look after himself, wand or no wand. He led them down to a great dark lake with little boats docked near the shore. He instructed them to get on the boats ("No more than four per boat!") so Harry, Ron and Hermione found an empty boat and sat down. They were soon joined by a round-faced boy clutching a toad, who sat down without saying a word.
Ron was too busy looking towards the castle as the boats soundlessly started to glide across the lake. Hermione seemed to have gained a little courage having talked to Harry and Ron in the train, and so introduced herself to the boy with the toad.
"Hi, I'm Hermione Granger." she said confidently. She waited a moment but when no one else spoke she continued. "This is Harry Potter and Ron Weasley."
Ron quickly said hi and looked back towards the cliff they were approaching, Harry managed to resist a few seconds longer. The boy's eyes widened in recognition at Harry's name and after a moment just said quietly. "Neville Longbottom."
Neville then turned his attention, like Ron, across the lake. Harry and Hermione looked at each other a moment and shrugged, then fell silent as the boats entered an opening in the cliff and glided through a dark tunnel. They eventually reached a small harbour, where they got off and started climbing upwards until they finally reached the castle. The wizard leading them looked over his wards once then gave three sharp taps on the castle door.
The doors swung open revealing a grand stone hall with high ceilings and a magnificent marble staircase, all lit up with burning torches. A stern-faced witch with emerald green robes was standing there waiting for them, Harry gulped reflexively.
"The first years Professor McGonagall." the wizard that had brought them here bowed his head slightly to the witch.
"Thank you Remus." the witch replied.
At her words some of the children around Harry, including Ron, gave a gasp and some, like Malfoy, even took a step backwards. Remus ignored the reaction and after giving the professor another small bow, left them and moved deeper into the castle. Harry, Hermione and a few others were confused by this but was prevented from asking anything when Professor McGonagall silenced them a sharp glare, she definitely wasn't someone you wanted to cross.
"Welcome to Hogwarts." she said in a crisp Scottish accent while leading them in the same direction Remus had taken. Harry and the others listened carefully as she explained the sorting of houses and the start of term banquet. She told them to smarten up and left them in a small empty chamber, telling them she would be back shortly. As soon as she left nervous whispering broke out amongst them, mostly discussing how the sorting was supposed to work and what houses they wanted to be in. Harry had another question he wanted to ask Ron.
"Hey Ron, why did everyone seem so surprised at that man who brought us here?" Harry asked quietly, Hermione had also heard him and was waiting for an answer.
"My brothers told me about him." Ron whispered dramatically. "He's a werewolf!"
Hermione gave a small gasp, but Harry still had no idea what the big deal was. "Is that bad? Being a werewo-"
His question was suddenly cut off as several people screamed behind him. He turned around thinking this Remus had returned but was shocked when several pale and transparent looking people glided through the walls and towards them. The ghosts looked over them with interest and jovially wished them luck with the sorting. The doors opened again.
"Form a line." Professor McGonagall said. "Follow me."
Harry was starting to get nervous as they followed her, he had no idea what being sorted would be like. They eventually reached the Great Hall.
The whole room was lit with thousands of candles and there didn't seem to be a ceiling. The room was already filled with students, seated in four long wooden tables, with golden cups and plates already laid upon them. At the top of the hall, slightly raised above the others, was another table with several older wizards and witches. The first years stood there waiting and watched Professor McGonagall bring out a tattered wizard's hat on top of a four-legged stool. The hum of conversation in the hall seem to die out and everyone seemed to be looking at the hat.
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty..." the hat sang aloud for several minutes.
When the song finished the whole hall burst into applause. Harry, Ron and Hermione also joined in, relieved that all they would have to do is put on the hat. Professor McGonagall then pulled out a long roll of parchment and started reading their names off the list. Harry listened to both Hermione and Neville get sorted into Gryffindor and Draco Malfoy into Slytherin. When his name was called whispered murmurs broke out amongst the students. Harry tried to ignore them, but his face was red by the time he walked out and put on the hat.
"Hmm," said a voice in his head. "difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either and you most definitely want to prove yourself. Ha! I shouldn't say this but you wouldn't do too bad in a certain other school either."
Hermione had tried to say earlier that Slytherin wasn't all that bad, but she'd been sorted into Gryffindor and he was positive he wouldn't want to spend any more time than necessary with Draco Malfoy. He repeated 'Not Slytherin' over and over again in his mind.
"Not Slytherin, eh? Hmm... Strange, very strange. Something about your... Well, if you're sure..." the hat seemed to take in a deep breath. "Better be GRYFFINDOR!"
There was a huge cheer from the Gryffindor table as Harry made his way towards his new house mates. He was still shaking slightly as he was congratulated by the entire table with hand shakes and pats on the back. As Harry sat next to Hermione, the table settled down to watch the rest of the sorting. There was another loud cheer when Ron was sorted into Gryffindor, Harry, Hermione and Ron's brothers cheering the loudest. Eventually, all the first years were sorted and Professor McGonagall took the hat back out of the hall. Ron was chatting with the twins and Hermione was already discussing school work with Percy Weasley, who was a prefect. Harry half listened to the conversations around him but was looking at the staff table.
Hagrid was there, waving at Harry, and so was Remus the werewolf. There were various witches and wizards all looking over the new arrivals and softly speaking to each other. There was one wizard that definitely caught Harry's eye over the others. He looked like what Harry imagined when he heard the word 'wizard', long grey hair, bushy beard and long purple and brown robes. He was the oldest looking person Harry had even seen, but there was a powerful unseen force behind his presence. Harry turned to Percy, who seemed a good source of knowledge about this school, and asked him who that old professor was.
"Oh that? That's Professor Dumbledore." Percy told him.
"No he isn't." Harry said looking confused. There might have been a certain resemblance to the wizard he had read about on the Chocolate Frog card, but even at this distance he was sure that it wasn't the same person.
"I beg you pardon?" Percy said indignantly. "I think I would know a professor who has been teaching me for the last four years."
"I got his card from a Chocolate Frog today, Dumbledore I mean." Harry rummaged his pockets to look for the card and showed it to Percy. "Look, Dumbledore. I'm sure it's not the same person."
Percy looked at the card and gave Harry a slightly condescending smile.
"That," he said pointing at the card Harry was holding. "is Albus Dumbledore, who works for the Ministry. The Professor is Aberforth Dumbledore, they're brothers."
"Oh," Harry had been right about the resmeblance.
"Yes, he used to be an Auror. Someone who apprehends dark wizards and witches." Percy explained when he saw Harry's blank face. "The headmaster hired him to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts when he retired."
"He's not the Headmaster?" Harry would have bet all the Galleons in his Gringotts vault that the ancient wizard was the Headmaster.
"No, that's the Headmaster sitting next to him." Percy pointed at a wizard with black hair, with a few strands of grey showing and wearing dark green robes with a line of gold looping randomly throughout the fabric. He was looking around the Hall at the new and old students with a smile. He leaned forward and said a few words to Professor Dumbledore before standing up, raising his hands for silence. As the talking slowly died away, Percy whispered to Harry, "It's Riddle. Professor Tom Riddle."