Sam went through, amazed and saw someone else appear through the barrier than the child's parents.
"Hello," he said nervously "I'm Sam what's your name?"
"I'm Michael," said the child. "The train should come in 3 minutes...So which house do you want to be in?"
"I don't really know much about the houses," said Sam.
"You better hope your not in Slytherin," said Michael. "They have a bad reputation of turning bad. You probably don't want to be in Hufflepuff. It's kind of the laughing stock of the school"
As they waited for the train Sam created conversation; hoping that Michael wouldn't notice his nervousness of the possibility that he'd be in Slytherin or Hufflepuff. He Chatted to a guy called Matthew Alberto . Finally, after what seemed like hours the train finally came.
Sam found an empty compartment and sat in. Two minutes later a boy came in
"Can I sit with you?" asked the child.
"Sure," said Sam. "What's your name? Mine's Sam."
"Hi Sam," said the boy. "I'm Wil. So...what house do you want to be in?"
"I don't mind," he said. "As long as I'm not in Slytherin or Hufflepuff."
"I want to be in Gryffindor," said Wil. "Although I'll probably be in Slytherin." Will frowned. "My dad was in Wampus which is like American Slytherin."
"But you seem to nice to be In Slytherin!" Said Sam
"It's my ancestors they have almost all been in Slytherin," said Will dully
Suddenly their private conversation was cut short.
"Hi," said a familiar voice. "Can I sit here? Everywhere else is full." Sam looked up. It was Michael.
"Sure," said Sam.
They sat quietly for a second until Wil started creating conversation.
"So," he talked slowly. Sam and Michael assumed he was making up the words as he went along. "Which Quidditch team do you support? I don't mind the Chudley Cannons myself"
"I kind of like the Montrose Magpies," said Michael. "I don't really have a favourite."
"What's Quidditch?" questioned Sam.
Wil and Michael stopped and stared at him, gobsmacked.
"You don't know what Quidditch is?" screamed Michael. "I think you look like a seeker. Anyway, it's really simple. There are seven people on each team. One keeper; three chasers; two beaters and one seeker. On the field there are three hoops at each end. The chasers have to get the quaffle, a ball, into the hoops which will reward their team ten points for each successful shot. The keeper has to block them. The beaters have to whack to balls called Bludgers away from their team. And most importantly the seeker looks for the Golden Snitch; a small golden ball with wings. Once the snitch is caught the game ends and rewards the successful team one-hundred and fifty points. I'm going to try out for Chaser."
"I thought first years weren't allowed to join the Quidditch team," said Will."
"Well you can get in if you do really well in the first flying lesson"
Soon the train stopped. They could tell from each other's faces that they were all filled with excitement and nervousness.
As the trio stepped off the train they stopped in awe. They stared at the magnificent castle that was Hogwarts.
"It's amazing!" they all said together.
A few kids got of the train and laughed at them. Then what seemed to be the leader pushed William over.
"I wouldn't hang out with these guys," he said to Sam. "Old nerd and four eyes. Come with us."
"I'd prefer to be with intelligent people than with you jerks," said Sam wittingly.
The leader pounced at Sam ready to knock him out. His other two friends held him back.
"Come on Jake!" they said. "He's not worth getting in trouble for on our first day."
Jake and his friends slowly walked away.
"Chicken!" yelled Sam. Jake shuddered with rage but didn't pounce. Sam expected his friends to be calming him down. "Are you alright?" he said to Wil and Mike as he helped them get up.
"Yeah," replied Wil. "We're fine."
They got in small boats and rowed up to the Hogwarts castle. When they got to land they were greeted by Professor McGonagall.
"Hello first years," she said. "Follow me to be sorted."
All of the first years buzzed with excitement. The line was as loud as a circus. McGonagall shushed them as she opened the doors to the Great Hall. All the children were already at their allocated house tables and clapped as they walked in. All the first years lined up in alphabetical order. A few names were called and then: "Michael De Eliseo!"
Michael face went extremely red. Is pale white skin outlined the nervousness in his cheeks. He sat down on a chair in the centre of the room and the Sorting Hat was placed on his head.
"Ooh!" the Sorting Hat said. "Another De Eliseo in the castle! You want to be in Gryffindor with your brother, perfectly normal. But you have a great future in Slytherin. Your cunning and your rage can sometimes get the best of you."
'Please don't be Slytherin! Please don't be Slytherin!' thought Michael.
"Well ok," the sorting hat had come to a conclusion. "Gryffindor!"
Soon, after lots of other names was : "Samuel West!"
Sam walked up. Unlike Michael Sam was good at hiding his tenseness. He sat on the chair; butterflies in his stomach but no physical evidence of his nervousness.
"Ah," said the Sorting Hat. "Another West." Sam felt happy and confused. His father had gone to Hogwarts! What was he in? Was he in Slytherin. All these thoughts ran through Sam's head. "Your father was a great Gryffindor. Around the time of Harry Potter. But you're different to your father. You have parts of him in you but mainly your mother; cunning and sometimes a bit Sneaky but extremely nice you're mother chose Gryffindor hmm let's see Sylthe- wait you show more of your father then I thought ,Shall you follow your mother's path or your father's path. You are cunning but have room for greatness." After a while the Sorting Hat made a decision. "Gryffindor!"
Almost straight after: "William Fitzroy!"
William walked up. He wasn't nervous. He wanted to be in Gryffindor but he knew that if he was in Slytherin his father would be proud and if he was in Ravenclaw his mother would be proud. He just hoped to dear God that he wasn't in Hufflepuff. The Sorting Hat gasped in disbelief as it was put on Wil's head.
"Another one! We haven't had one of these in seventy two years! Slyth- Wait. You show intelligence. More intelligence than your ancestors. You could be a great Ravenclaw but then again you show bravery and goodness like your more recent ancestors. I think maybe." There was a long pause. "Gryffindor!"
Everybody cheered; even the Slytherins. The Slytherins felt a strange sensation; like they knowed him. Even Jake clapped.
Chapter 6: First Impressions"Ok," said the Gryffindor prefect, Christian . "The password is aperi sesame." They walked up to the portrait. "Say it with me now kids."
"Aperi sesame ." The portrait swung open. Michael went straight up to the four poster bed but Sam and Wil stayed in the dormitory for a bit and played chess. Sam unpacked and went to sleep but Wil fell asleep while packing. His head drooped into his suitcase and it slammed shut.
Sam appeared in a grey room; completely empty except for a patch container and a strange person. Sam walked up to the container and opened it releasing a giant cobra. It hissed.
"Teach me Parseltongue oh great Salazar Slytherin," commanded Sam. What the hell was he saying. Why was he saying it? What was happening? The cobra continued to hiss until Sam woke up; drenched with sweat.
Sam and Michael woke up really early, only to find that Wil was already up; studying timetables and reading textbooks.
"Shit Why are you up so much earlier?" questioned Michael sounding exactly like he had the night before.
"Aren't you guys excited?" asked Wil with part confusion.
"Yeah," said Sam. "But breakfast isn't for another hour and our first subject isn't for another three hours and forty five minutes."
Michael looked at the timetable; not having time to study it the night before.
9:45AM-12:00PM (Potions)
1-15PM-2:15PM (Charms)
Only two subjects but Potions was really long. Hopefully it wouldn't be too boring.
It was 9:45AM and Sam, Will and Michael were lost. Where were the dungeons? How would Professor Slughorn punish them. Time wasn't going any slower and they weren't getting any closer to the dungeons. Thankfully, a Hufflepuff walked by.
"Excuse me," called Sam. "Do you mind taking me and my friends to the Potions class?"
"As a matter of fact I don't," the man replied kindly. "Follow me."
After a bit of walking they reached the classroom.
"Thanks," said Sam as they walked in.
They sneaked into their seats as Professor Slughorn wrote something on the board.
"Ah Mr West and company," he said in a stern voice. "You finally decided to come"
"So After reading your books I have decided to test you on your background knowledge
What potion is the best forcing the drinker to tell the truth?"
"Veritaserum!" yelled Wil.
"Correct Mr Fitzroy," said Professor Slughorn. "Five points to Gryffindor!
2. What is the most powerful love potion in the wizarding world?"
"Amortentia!" yelled Wil.
"Correct Mr Fitzroy," repeated Slughorn. "Ten points to Gryffindor!"
3. The Draught of Living Death has what effect on the drinker?"
"They sleep so heavily that they appear to be dead!" yelled Wil.
"Correct again Mr Fitzroy," said Slughorn sounding shocked. "Ten points to Gryffindor!" Wil could hear Jake cursing under his breath.
"4. Drinking Polyjuice Potion gives the drinker what effect?"
"To take on another's appearance!" yelled Wil.
"Correct Mr Fitzroy," said Slughorn. "I better stop the quiz here. We don't want to earn Gryffindor too many points." Jake snorted angrily. Wil heard it and stared back at him in disgust. "Alright class," started Professor Slughorn. "For this first half of the year we will be learning the Cure for Boils. Now, to get a head start, can anyone name the ingredients for this potion?"
"Dried Nettles, six snake fangs, four horned slugs, two porcupine quills or pungous onions, flobberworm mucus, ginger root and shrake spines!" yelled Wil.
"Correct Mr Fitzroy," said Slughorn in disbelief. "T-ten points to Gryffindor!"
"William! William! William!" the Gryffindors cheered as they carried him down the hall.
Wil felt so happy. He had earned thirty five points and the Gryffindors loved him for it. He left the crowd and started walking back to his dormitory when he bumped into Jake.
"Nice job," Jake complemented sarcastically. "Nerd!"
As the words left his mouth he punched Wil in the stomach and ran away. Wil bent down, ready to cry, when Michael and Sam came. He straightened up and told his friends what happened.
"That's it!" Michael yelled and ran to Jake. "Prepare to be punished!"
Michael jumped on top of Jake and started to strangle him. Professor Slughorn was drawn to the sounds of Jake's struggles for breath.
"Stop this right now!" demanded Slughorn.
Michael ignored the professor and continued to strangle.
Glacius asensio!" yelled Wil.
A jet of Ice spurted out of Wil's wand and knocked Michael off.
"Five points from Gryffindor!" yelled Slughorn. "Five points from Slytherin! And detention to both of you!"
Everybody stared at Jake and Michael angrily and headed towards the Great Hall for lunch.
"Michael!" yelled Wil. "Sam!"
It was History of Magic and Sam and Michael were face down on their desks sleeping. Because of Wil's loud tone Professor Cuthbert Binns looked over and saw the two sleeping boys.
"Rennervate!" he yelled and a flash of red light burst from his wand. Once the colour had disappeared Michael and Sam woke up to the glaring eyes of Binns. "Ten points from Gryffindor!" he yelled.
Sam was thankfully able to stay up while they listened to Binns talk about Emeric the Evil but he had to keep on poking Michael in the face with his wand to keep him awake.
"Wingardium leviosa!" yelled the class, trying to raise their feathers.
Only three are successful. Jake, Sam and Wil. Sam Raised his feather able to control it fine , Jake flied it into Michael's face and Wil carries it straight to the roof.
"Congratulations you three," congratulated Professor Flitwick. "Especially to Wil. You already have a guaranteed O."
"Thank you sir!" thanked Wil.
"Teacher's pet," mumbled Jake.
"That's it!" yelled Wil. He climbs over the desk and points his wand at Jake. "Obscuro!" yelled Wil.
A blind fold appeared over Jake's eyes and Wil punches him in the stomach.
"Detention!" yelled Professor Flitwick. "And five points from Gryffindor!"
"Finally," said Michael. "Some real magic!"
"Oh yeah," said Sam, realising what Michael was talking about. "It's Defense Against The Dark Arts Time!"
The trio arrived just as Professor Neely Dane begun talking.
"Hello first years," welcomed Dane. "Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher Professor Dane. Now for the first third of this year we will be focusing on mastering the Curse of the Bogies. After that we will learn the Knockback Jinx and finally we will learn how to treat werewolf bites. Now first, grab the caged reducio-ed Swedish Short-Snout.
"Detention Already," Laughed Sam"Good luck," he Said hoping his friends would be okay.
Michael grunted in response and Wil gave Sam a look that said, We'll be alright.
Michael and Wil walked down to the Great Hall where Argus Filch was waiting for them.
"Hello first year brats," welcomed Filch. "Mr Fitzroy; you're coming with me to sort something out at the boathouse. Mr Savage and Mr De Eliseo; Slughorn requested you." Jake and Michael stood there. "So go!" pushed Filch. Jake and Michael ran to the Potions classroom in the dungeon and Wil followed the caretaker. Once they reached the underground harbour Filch explained the situation.
"Bunch of Doxy swarming in 'ere," he told. "Take care of 'em."
Wil rolled his eyes and reached deep in his mind on how to take care of them.
"Flipendo!" he yelled several times. All the Doxy fell on the floor. "Sweep 'em up Filch," said Wil with a high tone of arrogance in his voice.
Wil walked out of the boathouse and back to the dormitory.
"Michael," started Slughorn. "You'll be getting:
Dried nettles
6 snake fangs
4 horned slugs
And 2 porcupine quills.
Jake; you'll be getting:
2 valerian sprigs
And 4 mistletoe berries."
"No fair," complained Michael. "How come he gets less?"
"Because I'll be escorting you," told Slughorn. "Jake; signal us when you've found all the ingredients or in trouble." Jake muttered to himself and walked away. "Alright Michael; let's go get some-" Slughorn stopped and saw a flare being shot up in the sky. "Already?" he said in a surprised and annoyed voice as Jake might have either gotten all the ingredients or gotten himself in trouble. They ran over to the spot where the flares came from. Jake was there, knocked out over a tree with a centaur standing over his body. "Sorry," apologized Slughorn as he waved the centaur off. "Wingardium leviosa!" Jake levitated and followed Slughorn. "Detention over!"
It was their first Thursday at Hogwarts and the day Michael and Sam had both been looking forward to the most. Today at 3:15PM they would have their first flying lesson. They also had Charms at 9:45AM, Herbology at 11:00AM, Transfiguration at 1:15PM and Defense Against the Dark Arts at 2:30PM.
"Up!" said the class.
It was finally Flying Lesson. The class was attempting to raise their broomsticks into their hands. Only Sam, Michael, Jake, Hannah Domenico and Bella McIsland were able to raise their brooms. All the rest of the class were able to make their brooms twitch but Wil couldn't get his to move at all.
"Mount your broomsticks!" said Madam Hooch. Everybody mounted their brooms. "Now I just want you to hover slowly above the ground." Everybody elevated except Wil but Sam zoomed off. "Mr West!"
Michael followed after him, pulling Wil along, knowing that he wouldn't be able to fly.
Eventually they landed and Madam Hooch spoke to them. "Nice flying boys but that doesn't excuse your actions. Five points from Gryffindor. I also suggest you try out for the Gryffindor Quidditch team."
"No doubt about it miss," said Michael.
"I guess I'll give it a shot," said Sam.
And with that the flying lesson was over.
It was the Friday Michael had been training for his whole life and the Friday Sam had been excited about for a week. It was the four hour long Gryffindor Quidditch tryouts.
"Please come and watch us Wil," begged Sam.
He really wanted his new friend to see his skills.
"But I want to read The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection," complained Wil.
"Bring it with you!" yelled Michael as he dragged Wil along.
"Woo hoo!" screamed Wil.
When he originally came he was reluctant but watching the skills of the players made him become more enthusiastic. They were better than the Falmouth Falcons last year. It was awesome how they worked so well as a team even though some were new. After the four hours were complete Wil wished it would continue. Sam and Michael flew down to Peter De Eliseo like everyone else.
"Good work everybody," said Peter. "Great flying. Now I'll will read out the Gryffindor Quidditch team of 2000.
Outside Chaser #1: my brother, Michael De Eliseo
Michael breathed a silent sigh of relief
Outside Chaser #2: Campbell Funston
Open Side Beater: George Frederickson
Blind Side Beater: Jack Power
Keeper: Cecilia Johnson
And Seeker: Samuel West.
Sorry to everyone else who tried out. Better luck next year."
Wil ran down to the field.
"Great job guys!" congratulated Wil. "You were awesome!"