Chapter 2: Hogwarts Here We come!
Kryssie and Juliet pushed the trolleys, loaded with their steamer trunks and pet cages, through Kings Cross station. They were heading towards the barrier between platforms nine and ten. They got there just in time to see Ron lining up to run through the barrier. "Ron!" Kryssie called and he turned, smiling when he saw her.
"Kryssie! Julie!" He called back only to be pushed towards the barrier by Molly Weasley.
"You'll have time to talk on the train dears!" Molly said in a hurried manner, trying to push all three of the first years towards the barrier. "Now hurry up or you all will never find seats!"
They laughed and one by one rushed though the barrier. On the other side they all gathered beside the train, and Juliet got her accustomed kiss on both cheeks from Fred and George, and Molly gave both girls kisses on top of their heads. Fred and George ran their stuff onto the train, then came back when their mom called for them. Kryssie was chatting with Ginny, telling her she'd write about the feast right away, and that finally made her smile.
"Ron, you've got something on your nose." Molly suddenly said, Ron tried to jerk out of the way, but she grabbed him and began rubbing the end of his nose with her handkerchief.
"Mum — geroff" He wriggled free.
"Aaah, has ickle Ronnie got somefink on his nosie?" Fred teased, causing Juliet to snicker.
"Shut up," said Ron with an annoyed glare at his brother.
"Where's Percy?" Molly asked, looking around the platform.
"He's right there Molly," Camila said, pointing down the length of the train.
Percy came striding into sight. He had already changed into his Hogwarts robes, sporting his red and gold Gryffindor Prefect badge on his chest.
"Can't stay long, Mother," he said. "I'm up front, the prefects have got two compartments to themselves —"
"Oh, are you a prefect, Percy?" Fred asked, with an air of great surprise. "You should have said something, we had no idea."
"Hang on, I think I remember him saying something about it," George said.
"Once —" (Juliet)
"Or twice —" (George)
"A minute —" (Fred)
"All summer —" (Juliet)
"Oh, shut up," Percy grumbled, then turned and gave Kryssie a wave and a smile.
"How come Percy gets new robes, anyway?" asked George
"Because he's a prefect," Molly said fondly. "All right dear, well, have a good term — send me an owl when you get there." She kissed Percy on the cheek and he left. Then she turned to the twins.
"Now, you two, this year, you behave yourselves. If I get one more owl telling me you've, you've blown up a toilet or-"
"Blown up a toilet? We've never blown up a toilet," Fred interjected.
"Great idea though. Thanks Mum," George said with a grin.
"Yay! Toilet explosions!" Juliet cheered.
"It's not funny! And look after Ron!" Molly yelled at her sons.
"Don't worry, ickle Ronniekins is safe with us," George said, in his mocking tone.
"Shut up," said Ron again, scratching his nose, that was still pink where his mother had rubbed it.
"Hey, Mum, guess what? Guess who we just met on the train?" Fred said, remembering.
"You know that black-haired boy who was near us in the station? Know who he is?" George exclaimed
"Who?" Molly asked, tilting her head.
"Harry Potter!" Both twins chorused.
Kryssie and Juliet looked at each other with blinking stares, as Ginny's face turned a light pink and started jumping in her spot. "Oh, Mum, can I go on the train and see him?! Mum, oh please!" Ginny asked taking her mother's hand.
"You've already seen him, Ginny, and the poor boy isn't something you goggle at in a zoo," Molly scolded. "Is he really, Fred? How do you know?"
"Asked him." Fred said with a grin.
"Saw his scar." George continued.
"It's really there—" Fred explained
"Like lightning!" exclaimed both of them together.
"Poor dear, no wonder he was alone, I wondered. He was ever so polite when he asked how to get onto the platform," Molly said with a sigh.
"Never mind that, do you think he remembers what You-Know-Who looks like?" Fred said with an excited smirk.
Molly suddenly became very stern. "I forbid you to ask him, Fred! No, don't you dare! As though he needs reminding of that on his first day at school!"
"All right, keep your hair on." Fred said and soon a whistle sounded.
"Hurry up!" Molly called, said, and the three boys clambered onto the train. Kryssie and Juliet each grabbed another hug from both Camila and Molly, then dragged their trunks and pets onto the train. All five students leaned out of the window for last good-byes, and Ginny began to cry.
"Don't cry, Ginny, we'll send you loads of owls." Fred called to his sister, trying to keep her calm.
"And Kryssie and I will send them too!" Juliet cheered from between the twins.
"We'll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat!" George chorus after him.
"George!" Molly yelled, with a warning tone
"Only joking, Mum!" He quickly said, sending a wink towards his sister who giggled.
"We'll see you at Christmas Mama!" Kryssie said with a bright smile. Juliet nodded in agreement. The train began to move. Kryssie and Juliet waved to the adults, and Ginny on the platform. As they pulled away, Kryssie turned to go find a compartment with two free seats. The next thing she knew, Juliet was gone, but she heard hysterical laughing from a compartment a few back. She figured Fred and George had pulled her into the compartment to plan wild pranks for the year.
Kryssie walked on, and saw the trolley lady with a blonde haired boy. Kryssie blinked and walked over, thinking she might as well get some snacks before finally finding a seat. The boy was just starting to list what he wanted, while the witch waved her wand, everything he listed hovering, and landing in a paper bag. Kryssie smiled a warm hello to the trolley witch and browsed. The boy looked up.
"Hello," Kryssie said when she saw him looking at her.
"Hi," he said back. He looked back at the cart and told the trolley lady to add a few more chocolate frogs to the bag.
"My names Krystian and you are?" She said, starting a conversation.
"Draco..." He said after he looked like he contemplated whether to answer her.
"Nice to meet you," She said with a smile.
Draco looked up suddenly and blinked. "Nice to meet me?" Draco asked. Kryssie just nodded and smiled.
"Why? Is it not supposed to be nice meeting someone?" Kryssie asked as the trolley witch accepted money from Draco.
"I suppose not.." Draco whispered and took his bag of snacks from the trolley witch, and stuck around while Kryssie informed the trolley lady of what she wanted.
"One bottle of butterbeer and one bottle of pumpkin juice, about twenty chocolate frogs, one cauldron cake, one pumpkin pastry, two packs of droobles, one extra large box of Bertie Botts, and two licorice wands please," Kryssie said with a smile then looked back at Draco.
"You know, you are one weird girl..." he muttered. "Whats your surname?" Draco asked rather rudely.
"I hardly think that's any of your business really," Kryssie said with a reprising tone.
Draco looked taken back, most likely having not been spoken to like that before. "I-I see.." He said and turned to head back to his compartment. "Mine is Malfoy, for.. future reference"
Krystian rolled her eyes and handed the money to the trolley witch who moved on. "Anderson." She said softly, before grabbing the handle of her trunk, and getting ready to go find a seat.
"Nice too meet you as well.. Anderson" Draco said softly and walked off. Kryssie turned around and stared after him, then smiled and turned back around to go find somewhere to sit. She walked passed a compartment full of laughter, only to be almost run over by Juliet and the Weasley twins as they raced out to greet her.
"Need a place to sit Krys?" Fred asked. She nodded and he smiled. "George, get her trunk, I got Julie's, lets go find an empty compartment for these two lovely ladies," Fred instructed, and they followed through. Kryssie ended up just carrying Damentia's cage, and Juliet carrying Artemis's carrier.
They walked until Fred and George popped their head into a compartment. "Hey, Ron!" they chorused together. "Listen, we've got two friends here who need a place to sit. You don't mind do ya boys?" Fred continued alone.
"S'alright with me, what 'bout you?" Ron agreed, then asked the black haired boy beside him, who nodded in acceptance.
"Good, I don't think these girls would have been too happy if you said no," George snickered and they both put the trunks on the over head racks then moved aside for Kryssie and Juliet to enter. "We will see you girls later," they said together and left.
"Julie, Kryssie!" Ron said with a smile, holding his mongrel of a rat.
"Heya Ron," Juliet said, sitting down.
Kryssie sat down as well, and looked at the other boy. "I don't believe we've met..." She said. Ron laughed.
"Oh, sorry. I'm Harry Potter," he said, holding his hand out. Kryssie and Juliet stared.
"Bloody hell, are you really?" Juliet asked. Kryssie smacked her shoulder. "Ow.."
"That is my twin sister Juliet Jacobs. I'm Krystian Anderson. Really nice to meet you Harry!" Kryssie said, all in one breath.
"N-Nice to meet you too.. how is it you know Ron?" he asked, looking between the three.
"We grew up with them, our parents were friends in school," Juliet explained. "They're like the brothers we didn't know we wanted." The girl's laughed at this.
"I think we'll get along just fine," Harry said with a smile. Kryssie shook her head, and Harry looked at her weird. "Are you saying we won't get along?" He asked.
"What? No! That's not what I'm saying!" Kryssie said hurriedly. "You see.. I'm a seer, I can prophesize the future, but sometimes I get these... feelings... It is kind of hard to explain... But I don't have to hope we'll get along. I just feel like this is right," she explained. Harry just blinked, then nodded slowly like he understood.
The group spent the next while chatting and eating snacks. Harry looked at Kryssie and then held out a pumpkin pastry. "Would you like one? I saw Juliet eat the one you had in your bag so.."
"No thanks Harry. You see, I'm allergic to pumpkin. I can be around it and smell it, but I can't eat it, or I'll have a reaction," Kryssie said in a soft voice.
"Oh! I'm sorry I didn't know.." Harry apologized.
"Its quite alright Harry." Kryssie smiled then turned to watch the countryside now flying past the window, as it became wilder. Juliet was looking at her new Chocolate Frog cards, when there was a knock on the door of their compartment and they all looked over to see Neville standing in the door way, and he was in tears.
"Sorry," he said, "but have you seen a toad at all?" When they shook their heads, he wailed, "I've lost him! He keeps getting away from me!"
"He'll turn up," Harry said, this made Kryssie and Julie smile, seeing their new friend, be nice to their old friend.
"Yes," said the boy miserably. "Well, if you see him…" He left with a sullen face. Kryssie felt bad for her childhood friend, she turned back towards Ron when he spoke up.
"Don't know why he's so bothered," he said. "If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it as quick as I could. Mind you, I brought Scabbers, so I can't talk." The rat was still snoozing on Ron's lap. "He might have died and you wouldn't know the difference," said Ron in disgust. "I tried to turn him yellow yesterday to make him more interesting, but the spell didn't work. I'll show you guys, look…" He rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out his very battered wand. Kryssie and Juliet had seen it so many times the past few weeks, that they knew exactly what he was going to say about it. "Unicorn hair's nearly poking out..." They watched him raise his wand, just before the compartment door slid open again. Neville was back, but this time he had a girl with him. She was already wearing what looked like brand new Hogwarts robes.
"Has anyone here seen a toad? This boy, Neville has lost one," she said. She looked at the four of them, and Kryssie smiled at her. There was something about this girl that she liked.
"We've already told him we haven't seen it," said Ron, but the girl wasn't listening, she was looking at the wand in his hand.
"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it, then." She sat down. Ron looked taken aback.
"Er... all right..." He cleared his throat. "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow." He waved his wand, but nothing happened. Scabbers stayed gray and fast asleep.
"Are you sure that's a real spell?" said the girl. "Well, it's not very good, is it?" At this Ron, Juliet, Harry and Kryssie all exchanged looks, that meant something along the lines of 'That was rude...'
The girl spoke up again, "I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard — I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough — I'm Hermione Granger, by the way, and you all are?" Hermione said all this very fast.
Harry looked at Ron, and was relieved to see by his stunned face that he hadn't learned all the course books by heart either. "I'm Ron Weasley," Ron muttered.
"Juliet Jacobs," Julie said with a slight nod, while sneaking one of Kryssie's chocolate frogs out of her bag.
"Krystian Anderson," Kryssie said with a pleasant smile to Hermione, who returned it, albeit a little shyly, the she turned to Harry.
"Harry Potter," he said, when he spoke at last.
"Are you really?" said Hermione. "I know all about you, of course — I got a few extra books, for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."
"I am?" Harry asked, looking quite dazed.
"Goodness, didn't you know, I'd have found out everything I could if it was me," said Hermione. "Do any of you know what house you'll be in? I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad… Anyway, we'd better go and look for Neville's toad. You two had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon." And she left, dragging poor Neville along with her.
"Whatever house I'm in, I hope she's not in it," Ron said with an annoyed glare after her.
"I beg to differ Ron," Kryssie said with a bright smile. "If I can trust my instincts, I feel great promise from her," she said then looked calmly back out the window, not seeing Ron roll his eyes.
He groaned a few seconds later and threw his wand back into his trunk. "Stupid spell, George gave it to me, bet he knew it was a dud."
"Of course George knew it was a dud!" Juliet burst out with laughter.
"Honestly Ron.. when are you going to learn not to trust Fred and George?" Kryssie asked, rolling her eyes. Ron sent a sour look at the twins.
"What house are your brothers in?" asked Harry. Juliet perked up, and answered before Ron could.
"They're in Gryffindor!" she exclaimed with a wide grin. "That's where I'm aspiring to be placed as well~!"
"Me too," Kryssie said with a smile. "It's the house our parents were in."
"My Mum and Dad were in Gryffindor too," Ron interjected. "I don't know what they'll say if I'm not. I don't suppose Ravenclaw would be too bad, but imagine if they put me in Slytherin."
"That's the house Vol-, I mean, You-Know-Who was in?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," said Ron. He flopped back into his seat, looking depressed.
"You know, I think the ends of Scabbers' whiskers are a bit lighter," said Harry, trying to take Ron's mind off houses. Juliet and Kryssie laughed at this comment, then Harry decided to change the subject. "So what do your oldest brothers do now that they've left Hogwarts?" Harry asked
"Charlie's in Romania studying dragons, and Bill's in Africa doing something for Gringotts," said Ron.
Juliet sprung up in her seat, looking at both boys. "Speaking of Gringotts! Did you hear? It's been all over the Daily Prophet, but I don't suppose you get that with the Muggles... Someone tried to rob a high security vault!"
Harry stared. "Really? What happened to them?" He asked, looking around at the other three.
"Nothing, that's why it's such big news. They haven't been caught. My dad says it must've been a powerful Dark wizard to get round Gringotts, but they don't think they took anything, that's what's odd. 'Course, everyone gets scared when something like this happens in case You-Know-Who's behind it." Everyone was quiet for a few minutes after that. "What's your Quidditch team?" Ron asked suddenly earning weird looks from both Juliet and Kryssie.
"Er... I don't know any." Harry confessed.
"What!" Ron looked dumbfounded. "Oh, you wait, it's the best game in the world!" And he was off, explaining everything he knew, describing famous games he'd been to with his brothers and the twins, the broomstick he'd like to get if he had the money, and the games he had played in the backyard with Kryssie, Juliet, Fred, George and Ginny, on their families old brooms. He was just taking Harry through the finer points of the game, when the compartment door slid open yet again, but it wasn't Neville, or Hermione this time, but the boys and Juliet suddenly wished it was.
Three boys entered, and one of then was Draco. Kryssie almost waved to him, but he was looking at Harry with a lot of interest, so she leaned back in her seat. "Is it true?" he said. "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?"
"Yes," said Harry. He was looking at the other boys. Kryssie and Juliet looked at them too. Both of them were thickset and looked extremely mean. Standing on either side of Draco, they looked like bodyguards.
"Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle," Draco announced carelessly, noticing where they were all looking. "And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." Ron gave a slight cough, which Juliet knew was hiding a snicker. Draco looked at him. "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."
Kryssie and Juliet both glared at him for that comment. He turned back to Harry. "You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there." He held out his hand to shake Harry's, but Harry didn't take it.
"I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks," he said coolly. Kryssie and Juliet smiled widely.
Draco Malfoy didn't go red, but a pink tinge appeared in his pale cheeks. "I'd be careful if I were you, Potter," he said slowly. "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 riffraff like the Weasleys and that Hagrid, and it'll rub off on you."
Harry, Juliet, Kryssie and Ron all stood up. "You dare talk about my friends like that?" Kryssie said with a slight growl to her voice.
Draco suddenly realized she was there. "Your friends with that Weasley lot, Anderson?" He said in a slightly surprised tone.
"Of course I am! I grew up with them!" She called to his face. He looked a little stunned, as did Harry, Ron, and especially Juliet, who was confused as to why, and how, her sister knew Draco flippin' Malfoy.
"You rather degrade yourself with Weasley filth, then be friends with proper wizards like myself?" He said, questioning her.
"Of course I would! You are nothing but a foul git who wouldn't know true loyalty if it bit you in the arse!" Kryssie exclaimed.
Draco looked taken back by her comment. Then he glared down his noes at her. "Blood traitor," he sneered.
It was like a bomb went off, Ron took a brave step towards Draco. "Say that again," Ron said, getting in Draco's face, his own face going as red as his hair with anger.
"Oh, you're going to fight us, are you?" Malfoy sneered, not noticing the shocked look on Kryssie's face, and the look of outrage on Juliet's.
"Unless you get out now," said Harry. Juliet moved to his side to back him up.
"But we don't feel like leaving, do we, boys? We've eaten all our food and you still seem to have some." Goyle reached toward the Chocolate Frogs next to Ron. Ron lept forward, but before he'd so much as touched Goyle, Goyle let out a horrible yell. Scabbers the rat was hanging off his finger, sharp little teeth sunk deep into Goyle's knuckle. Kryssie and Juliet broke out into uncontrollable laughter, as Crabbe and Malfoy backed away when Goyle started to swing Scabbers round and round, howling, and when Scabbers finally flew off and hit the window, all three of them disappeared at once. Perhaps they thought there were more rats lurking among the sweets, or perhaps they'd heard footsteps, because a second later, Hermione had come running in.
"What has been going on?" she said, looking at the sweets all over the floor and Ron picking up Scabbers by his tail.
"I think he's been knocked out," Ron said to Harry. He looked closer at Scabbers. "No, I don't believe it! He's gone back to sleep!" And so he had, Ron quickly changed the subject, and rounded on both Krystian and Harry. "You've both met Malfoy before?"
Harry went first, and explained about a meeting in Diagon Alley. Then Kryssie told them about how she met him at the trolley over an hour ago.
Ron nodded then sat down to cool off. "I've heard of his family," he said darkly. "They were some of the first to come back to our side after You-Know-Who disappeared. Said they'd been bewitched. My dad doesn't believe it. He says Malfoy's father didn't need an excuse to go over to the Dark Side." He turned to Hermione. "Can we help you with something?"
"You'd better hurry up and put your robes on, I've just been up to the front to ask the conductor, and he says we're nearly there. You haven't been fighting, have you? You'll be in trouble before we even get there!" She rushed on. Kryssie giggled and Juliet rolled her eyes.
"Scabbers has been fighting, not us," said Ron, scowling at her. "Would you mind leaving while we change?"
"All right, I only came in here because people outside are behaving very childishly, racing up and down the corridors," said Hermione in a sniffy voice. "And you've got dirt on your nose, by the way, did you know?" She informed him, then strode out of the compartment. Kryssie and Juliet grabbed their robes, and went to the door.
"We'll see you guys on the Hogsmaede platform, alright?" Juliet said, and the boys nodded. The girls walked down the hall and found the train lavatories, and slipped inside to change. Both stepped out at the same moment, in time to hear a voice echo through the train:
"We have reached Hogsmaede station. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
Kryssie and Juliet smiled widely and jumped off the train at the nearest door, and looked around to find their friends.
Earlier on the train...
A boy with black hair was sitting in a compartment, staring out the window, while the other three occupants were sneering, and talking amongst themselves, ignoring him. Then one of the boys, with strikingly pale blond hair, said something that annoyed him.
"I can't believe how many mudbloods they let in," he complained.
The black haired boy stood. "Excuse me, but did you just say mudblood?" He asked, a tone of annoyance and a little anger, lacing his voice.
"What is it to you if I did? What, are you one?" The blond accused, smirking.
"No," the black haired boy said, but then crossed his arms. "I just happen to think that word is cruel, and codswallop."
"Prove your not a mudblood then, what's your surname?" The dark haired goon to the blond's left asked, grinning.
"My name is Ryder Weild. I'm pure blood, but I don't see why my blood purity should even matter." Ryder stated, and the three boys stood.
"Weild?" The blond said with a sneer.
"What of it blondie?" Ryder sneered right back.
"Nothing, just now I know why you don't care. Your father's sister ran off and married a mudblood." He grinned and then the three left.
Ryder glared after them, but decided against going after them, he'd get them back at Hogwarts. He then turned and tried to get his trunk down.
"Need a hand?" someone asked. Ryder turned and saw two identical boys, with red hair.
"Yeah, moving compartments. The guys in this one are complete prats." he replied, and the boys lifted his trunk down.
"Yeah, we saw them earlier." The other twin said. He then held out his hand. "George Weasley."
"And I'm Fred," the first twin said with a grin that screamed mischief maker.
Ryder grinned back and shook George's hand. "Ryder Weild."
"Now Ryder, I hope you have a plan to get that git back for making fun of your family," Fred said with a grin.
"Of course I do," Ryder grinned right back. "Prat's not going to know what hit him!"
Both the Weasley twins grinned wider. "Ryder, this is the start," Fred started
"Of a beautiful friendship!" George ended.
"I think so too." Ryder replied, grinning as the twins helped him drag his trunk, can his cat Orion, to their compartment to plan the revenge prank on the blond boy.
Kryssie and Juliet met up with Neville first, then Hermione. Kryssie saw Draco out of the corner of her eye, and turned to glare at him. Then they heard a booming voice over the crowed.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?" The voice said, and the group rushed towards the speaker, to see a tall man with unruly black hair, holding a lantern, with a big grey dog at his side. They saw Harry and Ron standing right in front of him, and they rushed over and smiled at each other. Harry introduced them to the man, named Rubeus Hagrid, who then called out to the crowd again.
"C'mon, follow me — any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!" Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them, and nobody spoke much. Neville, sniffed once or twice, still not having been able to find his toad. "Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."
There was a loud "Oooooh!" As the narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. Kryssie and Juliet smiled widely and were both a little jumpy, as they stared at the castle.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Harry and Ron were followed into their boat by Neville and a black haired boy Juliet recognized as Ryder, the boy they met in Ollivander's. While Kryssie, Juliet and Hermione took another boat, joined by a girl that introduced herself as Pansy Parkinson. "Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then — Forward!"
The fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the smooth as glass lake. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood. On the boat ride, Kryssie had the unwanted pleasure of sitting next to Pansy. She had a bad feeling about this girl the moment she said hello to them. The girl's hair was cut short, and her robes were fit a little snug to her body. She wouldn't stop talking to Kryssie about how her whole family had been in Slytherin, and how she wanted nothing more then to get to know Draco Malfoy. Kryssie was already starting to hate the girl before that comment. But after it, the hatred was solidified.
"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid suddenly, as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles. "Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" said Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.
"Trevor!" cried Neville blissfully, holding out his hands. Kryssie pat him on the back and Juliet smiled at him. Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, oak front door.
"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?" Neville nodded then Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door. The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Kryssie knew who she had to be, from her mother's stories about school.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid, and confirmed Kryssie's guess.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here," she said, and pulled the door wide. The entrance hall was so big you could have fit the whole of the train inside it. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors. They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Harry whispered to the twins, that he could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right — the rest of the school must already be here — but Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room." Kryssie looked at Juliet with a smile that she returned. McGonagall continued.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose. Out of the corner of Kryssie's eye, she saw Harry quickly try to flatten his hair. "I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly." With that she left the chamber.
"How exactly do they sort us into houses?" Harry asked Ron in a hushed tone
"Some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking," Ron said just as quietly. No one was talking much except Hermione Granger, who was whispering very fast about all the spells she'd learned and wondering which one she'd need.
A few minutes after she left, several people behind Juliet and Kryssie screamed.
"What the?" they heard Harry gasp. 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.
Nobody answered. "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 odd as they followed with Harry and Ron behind them, and they walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the other teachers were sitting.
Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Kryssie and Juliet took deep breaths, and looked at the sky, and it was as their mom described, indeed enchanted. They heard Hermione whisper, "Its bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History."
A few moments later, Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the line of first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. All the first years watched the hat with fascination. Kryssie and Juliet were smiling widely. Their mother had told them exactly what to expect, but they didn't want to ruin the surprise for the others. All the other first years jumped when the hat twitched and a rip near the brim opened wide, like the hat had a mouth then the students all jumped again, when 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.
"So we've just got to try on the hat!" Ron whispered to Harry. Kryssie and Juliet looked at him. "I'll kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling a troll." With that Kryssie and Juliet snickered, then snapped to attention as Professor McGonagall stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!"
A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, "HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat. The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table.
"Bennett, Narica!" Kryssie blinked, knowing her name should have been next on the list. Anderson came before Bennett. She looked watched the girl run up to get sorted, she had mid back dusty blond hair, and dark grey eyes. She had a sort of I'm better then you look on her face. The hat took a second, then yelled "SLYTHERIN!" and the girl jumped down, walking off.
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVEN CLAW!"
The table second from the left clapped this time; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them.
"Brocklehurst, Mandy" went to Ravenclaw too, and "Brown, Lavender" became a Gryffindor, and the table on the far left exploded with cheers; Juliet could see the twin brothers catcalling.
"Bulstrode, Millicent" then became a Slytherin.
"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Finnigan, Seamus," the sandy-haired boy next to Harry in the line, sat on the stool for almost a whole minute before the hat declared him a Gryffindor.
"Granger, Hermione!"
Kryssie and Juliet cheered for the girl, as she almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head. "GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat. Ron groaned, and Kryssie smacked his shoulder for it.
They went through the list it seemed very quickly, which worried Kryssie and Juliet, who's named seemed to be non-existent on the list. Soon Professor McGonagall called "Longbottom, Neville!" and he fell over on his way to the stool. The hat took a long time to decide with Neville, it made Kryssie feel even more nervous than before, for her friend.
When it finally shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" Neville ran off towards the table with a face holding much relief, still wearing the hat, and had to jog back amid gales of laughter to give it to "MacDougal, Morag."
A few more people later and Professor McGonagall called out "Malfoy, Draco!"
Malfoy swaggered forward when his name was called and got his wish at once: the hat had barely touched his head when it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!"
Malfoy went to join his friends Crabbe and Goyle, looking pleased with himself.
There weren't many people left now. "Moon"…, "Nott"… , "Parkinson"… , then another pair of twin girls, "Patil" and "Patil"… , then "Perks, Sally-Anne"…
"Phillips, Marcella!"
A girl with short, light brown hair shyly walked up to the hat. A second after it was put on her head, it yelled; "GRYFFINDOR!" she jumped off, then McGonagall spoke again;
"Potter, Harry!"
As Harry stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall. Kryssie and Juliet tried to ignore them, but it was hard to drone out all the whispers.
"Potter, did she say?"
"The Harry Potter?"
The twins waited with bated breath, for what seemed like forever, before the hat yelled out "GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry took off the hat and walked shakily toward the Gryffindor table. He looked so relieved to have been chosen for Gryffindor. Percy got up and shook his hand vigorously, while the Weasley twins yelled, "We got Potter! We got Potter!" Harry sat down opposite the ghost in the ruff, ghost patted his arm, and Harry visibly shivered.
"Thomas, Dean," a black boy even taller than Ron, joined Harry at the Gryffindor table a minute later.
"Turpin, Lisa," became a Ravenclaw and then it was Ron's turn. He was pale green by now.
Kryssie and Juliet wished him luck as he walked up to the hat, looking like he was going to be sick, and mere seconds after the hat hit his head, it shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry and the other Weasleys clapped loudly with the rest of Gryffindor as Ron collapsed into the chair next to him.
"Well done, Ron, excellent," said Percy Weasley pompously across Harry.
"Weild, Ryder!" McGonagall called out, and he rushed up, waving to Juliet and Kryssie as he sat down with a triumphant smirk, and the hat was just sat on his head, then automatically yelled out "GRYFFINDOR!" He walked to the table keeping his smirk and sat down.
"Zabini, Blaise," was made a Slytherin. Then there were only Kryssie and Juliet left.
They looked at each other worried, until Professor McGonagall called out "Anderson, Krystian!" Kryssie smiled and walked up to the stool and took a seat, letting McGonagall place the hat on her head.
Kryssie heard a soft voice enter her head. 'Ah, finally, I've been waiting for you Ms. Anderson. I know exactly where your going.' Kryssie blinked and before she could question it, the hat yelled out "GRYFFINDOR!" Kryssie hopped off the stool and rushed over to her sister, hugged her, and made her way to sit beside Hermione. Everyone looked up at Juliet, as she waited for Professor McGonagall to call her name.
"Jacobs, Juliet," she finally said, as she rolled up her parchment. Juliet walked up feeling a little insecure, though she didn't show it. The hat was put on her head, and all was silent. Juliet thought something was wrong before she heard a small voice say "Right then" in her head before it yelled out what she had hope would have been Gryffindor...
"SLYTHERIN!"