Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all characters and places associated with it are the property of J. K. Rowling and Warner Brothers I make no money off this.
Chapter 2- A Train Ride and Sorting
Harry spent the rest of the time he had before Hogwarts studying his course books, McGonagall had also slipped in some more recent history books. Upon reading about what happened the night his parents died he couldn't help but hate his relatives more for lying about his parents. When Harry wasn't studying he was exploring the alley.
Time passed quickly for Harry and soon he found himself at Kings Cross Station pushing his trolley cart as he headed towards the entrance to platform 9 ¾. He was glad that Professor McGonagall had told him how to get onto it when she took him shopping. He'd had Nekhbet fly ahead and it turned out to be a good idea as the station was packed. As he ran onto the platform he was pleased to see that it wasn't too busy since he'd made sure to get there an hour early.
Harry quickly found an empty compartment and getting help from an older student who introduced herself as Penelope Clearwater a Ravenclaw prefect managed to load his trunk into the overhead storage rack. He pulled out a supplementary potions text that he'd bought after not understanding some of the terms used in the required book and read while he waited for people to board the train. He'd just finished the first chapter when there was a knock on the compartment door.
As it opened it revealed a nervous and slightly chubby looking blonde boy. "C-can I sit here?" he asked with a slight stutter as he tried to keep a grip on the wiggling frog in his hands. "Sure" Harry side as he waved a hand to the otherwise empty compartment. He helped the boy get his trunk into the storage rack and they both sat.
"M-my names Neville Longbottom." the boy stuttered out.
"Nice to meet you Neville, I'm Harry Potter" he replied.
Neville's eyes widened, but made no other outward reaction earning points in Harry's eyes for not going all fan-boy on him. "So what's with the toad?" Harry asked as the boy once more had to catch it as it try to leap free. "My u-uncle got him for me w-when I got my letter" he replied blushing "t-they d-didn't think I'd get in" he admitted. Harry smiled kindly as he was struck with and idea and got up opening his trunk and grabbing out a plastic container that held a sandwich.
He opened it and pulled a napkin out to set the sandwich on as he grabbed a bottle of water from his trunk and poured it into the container. Harry set it on the seat "put him in that" he suggested to the boy. Neville did so and sighed as Trevor stayed put "how d-did you know th-that would work?" he asked. "Frogs like warm damp places, I figured he'd settle for one out of two" Harry said with a shrug and a small smile.
The two boys chatted with each other as Harry continued reading the book. They heard the train whistle that signaled the train was about to leave the station and felt it start moving. "And we're off" Harry said in an over the top tone making Neville chuckle. They continued talking for a good hour before a knock sounded on the door. Harry opened it to reveal a trolley being pushed by a kindly looking elderly women "anything off the trolley dears?"
Both boys got some sweets Harry having found some he liked when exploring the alley grabbed a few licorice wands and a blood pop. Neville gave him a weird look, but shrugged 'at least it wasn't a cockroach cluster' he thought as they sat down. They weren't interrupted again until a rude red head burst in without knocking and asking if either of them had seen Harry Potter. Harry informing him that he had not in fact seen anyone by that name all day.
"Why didn't you tell him who you are?" Neville asked once the red head had left. "He was rude and didn't ask if I was Harry just if I'd seen him" Harry said with a smirk. Neville chuckled at that and they went back to talking quietly. The rest of the trip was quiet only interrupted when the trolley lady came back this time with lunch items. Harry got a cup of tea and ate his sandwich while Neville had gotten the same along with a sandwich of his own.
About an hour later an announcement rang out that they'd soon be approaching Hogsmead station. Harry put his robes on while Neville just sat there having already been wearing his. Trevor had fallen asleep so Neville left him on the over head with his trunk knowing he'd be taken to the castle with his things. Before they knew it the train had stopped and they were ushered down a path and into boats by a giant of a man along with the rest of the first years.
The boats made their way slowly across the lake the castle making a beautiful sight all lit up with the night sky behind it. Harry and Neville shared a boat with the red head from before and a bushy haired brunette girl who introduced herself as Hermione. The red head grumbled the whole way across about not having found Harry Potter on the train much to Harry and Neville's amusement.
The giant called out for them to duck as the entered the large boat house as moss hung from the entrance. Harry chuckled as the other three did so while he stayed sitting up as he realized that the moss would only be a bother to someone Hagrid's size. He then lead them up to the imposing castle doors made of thick wood. Hagrid knocked on it hard and it was opened to reveal McGonagall "the students Minerva" the giant said in a thick accent as he moved passed her to enter the hall.
McGonagall ushered the children in and gave a speech about the houses before going in to see if they were ready for them. As soon as the door to the great hall closed everyone except Harry and Neville started talking. Neville because he was nervous and Harry as he comforted his new friend as the other first years started going on about what they were told the sorting would entail.
Then something happened that made him jump about a foot in the air as several people behind him screamed. "What the?"
He gasped. So did the people around him. About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was saying: "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance -"
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost...I say, what are you all doing here?" A ghost wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first years.
"New students!" said the Fat Friar, smiling around at them. "About to be Sorted, I suppose?" A few people nodded mutely. "Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said the Friar. "My old house, you know."
"Move along now," said a sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start." Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall. "Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me."
Feeling oddly as though his legs had turned to lead, Harry got into line behind a boy with sandy hair, with Neville behind him, and they walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.
Harry was awed by the ceiling as it looked like the sky had, he faintly heard Hermione mention it was enchanted to look like the sky outside. As they were lead between the house tables two on each side of the column of first years. McGonagall stopped by a stool topped with a tattered hat and placed in front of a long table which had all the staff seated at it. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth - and the hat began to sing:
"Oh, you may not 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, nerve, 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!"
The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again. Harry heard some grumbling as other students cursed their older siblings for lying to them. "Now when I call your name step forth and sit on the stool" McGonagall said as she unrolled a scroll and began reading names. Harry didn't catch them all, but did note as Neville and Hermione were sorted into Gryffindor.
Harry shifted nervously until "Potter, Harry" McGonagall called out and Harry walked forward. He sat and she placed the hat on his head. 'Interesting mind you have here Mr. Potter' the hat said into his mind as it searched through it. "How so?" Harry whispered quietly as he shifted on the stool as he felt everyone's eyes on him.
'There is a section here I cannot enter' it replied 'but it is not needed and can see plenty here.'
"So where to Mr. Hat?" Harry asked quietly.
'That is indeed the question Mr. Potter' it said with a hum as it continued it's sifting 'you have all the qualities needed for each house, the courage of a Gryffindor with the cunning of a Slytherin, a mind as quick as any Ravenclaws and a work ethic that would put most Hufflepuffs to shame.'
"So where are you going to put me?" Harry asked of it having no preference.
'Hmm...' it said in thought while everyone looked on with baited breath 'ah here we are… yes I know where to put you better be...'
AN: So I put a poll up on my profile to vote for Harry's house, so I'd appreciate it if you'd all go take it. I'll be closing it in a week so get those votes in.