Disclaimer: OCs belong to me. Nothing else is mine. Believe me. It's Queen Rowling's
The Hogwarts Express finally came to a stop and Hogsmeade Station quickly filled with students, all dressed in the required Hogwarts robes. The night had come, and a large crescent moon gleamed in the sky, accompanied by millions of stars that were appearing. Older students of Hogwarts chatted to their friends as they walked towards the carriages that were waiting. The first years rustled off the train nervously, making their way over to a large, bearded figure who cheerfully roared for them to follow them. The figure, a huge man name Rubeus Hagrid smiled down at them as he led them down a shady path to the Black Lake. James reluctantly hung back, grabbing Fred as he stopped to retreat to the back of the group.
"What are you doing!" Fred muttered, wringing out of James' grip as they began walking again.
"My dad told me about Hagrid, warned me about his affection for strange creatures and his bone-crushing hugs an-" James said, before being cut off as Hagrid caught up to them. The group had come to the dock placed near the Black Lake, and were each reluctantly placing themselves into rickety boats. Hagrid had gone to the back of the group, making sure every first year got in safety before he himself did.
"'Arry?" Hagrid loudly said, shaking his large head as he took another look at James.
"No, sorry bout' that," Hagrid muttered.
"James Sirius Potter, sir." James held out his hand. Hagrid waved his hand away with a giant hand, then hurled himself at James, pulling him into a bone crushing hug.
"Arry's son 'ay?" Hagrid pulled back, quickly wiping a stray tear.
"M' so proud of 'that boy."Hagrid beamed at James, then coughed. Gesturing for the two boys to get in the last boat, and after checking everyone was safe he clambered into his own. Every boat began to move on their own, some first years gasped and some quickly grabbed the edge. Hagrid's boat quickly made its way up to the front, and every student gasped again as the giant castle that was Hogwarts came into view. James and Fred's boat sailed forward, staying near another boat full of two sneering boys. One was brunette, the other had black hair. The brunette had a uppity expression on his thin face, his nose was sharp and his mouth was set in a grim line. The one with black hair had a thinner face than the other, and his stone blue eyes were rolling at what the other boy was muttering about.
"Did you see that? That giant baboon getting all worked because of that Potter kid. My parents always warned me to stay away from Potters. And Weasley's" the brunette was saying loudly, the black haired boy nodding along.
"Don't trust em' they said. Then started rambling about stupid, smug half-bloods. Pure-blood I am, last of them, there's not many left. Potter's and Weasley's fault my parents said."
"Oi, what you saying!" Fred shouted out.
"What, who are you!" the brunette snapped.
"I'll ask you the same question, didn't any one teach you manners. No one cares about blood status any more Fred said, moving to face the other boat, leaning dangerously off the side.
"Ah, Weasley are you! Should've known" the black haired boy had spoken up, a sneer appearing on his face.
"Name's Ashton. Lance Ashton. He's Edward Davis"
"Fred, get back you'll-" James said to his cousin, leaning forward to pull him back into the boat. He was too late though, as Fred had leaned to far and toppled out of the boat, diving head first into the cold waters of the Black Lake. Many first years yelped as he fell, and James could hear the voice of his other cousin, Louis calling out. He turned to look at him, noticing he was sharing a boat with the boy they had met on the train, Louis met his eyes shrugged. James sighed as he reached out the boat and grabbed Fred's hand and tried to heave him back into the boat. His cousin was easily offended, and even the mention of his name would set him off. James's father always told him he reminded him of his Uncle Ron when they were at Hogwarts.
Ashton and Davis sniggered as Fred was pulled back into boat and started to shiver. Hagrid called out, asking if he was all right. James reassured him, and every first year turned their heads from the commotion back to the front.
"S-s-stup-p-i-i-d-d p-p-p-r-rou-d p-p-ure b-b-loo-d-d-s" Fred said, his teeth chattered wildly.
James simply nodded, nerves suddenly springing in his stomach. His father hadn't warned him about them.
The first years followed Professor Longbottom into the Great Hall, gasping as they entered the magnificent hall for the first time. The ceiling was enchanted to look like the night sky and candles floated in mid air Four long tables were placed in the middle, each clambered with plates and goblets and all the other students sat, some chatting, some staring at the first years, many smiled, and a few sneered menacingly The professor they were followed was round faced and had a wise, brave look in his eye. The Potter and Weasley children had met Longbottom before, and had smiled at him as he came to greet the first years. The first years were led to the front of the hall, were a shabby old hat sat on a stool. The hat opened it's eyes and it's mouth as it begun to sing.
Fred nudged James' arm. He was dry now, as Professor Longbottom had took one look at his dripping robes and pulled out his wand, flicking it at him and drying his robes. Fred pointed at one of the far tables, the Hufflepuff one, where an older blue haired boy was smiling at him encouragingly. James nodded at him, then turned to the front. The boy was teddy Lupin, James' fathers godson, who spent alot of time over at the Potters mansion. James was good friends with him and immediately felt rude for not waving at him, though nerves appeared and took away his guilt.
"Ready Freddie?" he whispered to his red-headed cousin smiling.
"Of course!" Fred chuckled back, slightly hopping up and down with excitement as he waited for the hats song to end. He was looking less nervous than his cousin, and was bursting with anticipation.
James rolled his eyes then gulped, his mind racing as he wondered why the nerves had sprung up. Fred, Louis and James had heard alot about Hogwarts from their families, and heard the stories of the adventures they had inside the castle walls a million times. James was nervous though, and was surprised. As he had always been boasting of how awesome Hogwarts would be for him. Now he wasn't so sure. He looked around, his nerves reducing slightly as he saw the other nervous faces of his peers.
The hats song finally came to a close and the hall applauded though some older students mumbled and groaned, growing tired of the hats excessive need for singing. Professor Longbottom coughed fairly loudly, smiling as the hall grew silent and turned to look at him. he pulled out a yellow scroll, then cleared his throat again as he opened it and began to read out the names of the first years. The eleven year olds were to be placed into the four different houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.
Louis Weasley turned around to face his two cousins behind him, looking just as nervous as James felt.
"Are you nervous?" he asked reluctantly, scared of the answer. James nodded, and after a while, Fred nodded too.
"Yeah, being the son of the famous Harry Potter has gotta' be so nervewracking" a voice sneered, and the boys realised it was Edward Davis.
Davis' name was suddenly called out, and the three cousins watched as he made his way to the front, then smirking as the house, to none of the boys' surprise, placed him in Slytherin. He rushed to their table, joining Lance Ashton, who had already been sorted.
The group of first years slowly thinned, everyone's named being called.
Mary Dalton was put in Ravenclaw. Max Hanson in Gryffindor. Loyd June was in Hufflepuff.
Quincy Charles was placed in Slytherin. Lucas Jefferson was placed in Gryffindor. Elouise May was in Hufflepuff.
James gulped as his name was called. He made his way through the crowd and sat on the stool, closing his eyes as the hat was placed on his head by Longbottom. The hat murmured something about Potter's, than yelled out 'Gryffindor'. James hopped off his seat, making his way towards the Gryffindor table, sitting next to Lucas as he smiled as Louis and Fred was placed in Gryffindor with him.
They made their way to the table, sitting opposite him as they smiled at the other Gyffindors, which were all patting the new first years on the back.
"A Potter and two Weasley's, excellent!" someone on the table said excitedly.