DISCLAIMER: I've requested to have my name changed to Rowling, but they've denied it ... again. So still nothing of this belongs to me. Oh well, at least the characters do what I tell them to do.
AN: This chapter is a bit shorter. Don't worry, though. Next one will be nice and long again. Thanks to etj4eagle for the help and the ideas. Please take the time to leave a review!
Chapter 3: Welcome to Hogwarts
The first of September started in a daze. Everyone at the house was scurrying around frantically trying to do some late packing. Ron still had to pack everything, while Percy was the only one who didn't have anything left to do. He had packed five days ago and was waiting impatiently at the doorway and urging everyone on.
Harry threw his last books in his trunk, closed the lid and hurried down for breakfast. He sat down next to Ginny and hurriedly ate some breakfast. Harry had a hard time swallowing. He was incredibly nervous and had barely closed an eye that night. Not only was he once again going to a totally unfamiliar place, but today he was going to be separated from Ginny for a long time.
Look at him,Ginny scoffed mentally, directing Harry's gaze at Percy. She was sitting in the kitchen, glaring daggers at her older brother. He can't wait to be out of here. By the way he acts you would think he's ashamed of being a Weasley!
Aren't you being a little hard on him? Harry returned, adding a few sausages to his plate. You're just a bit upset because you can't go to Hogwarts this year.
So what if I am!
Easy, Ginny,Harry soothed. He was shuffling food in his mouth with Ron-like speed. The year will be over before you know it. But as he said it, he knew it was a weak argument.
I know, but it's still so long, she sighed. You won't be here. I will miss you!
I will miss you too, Ginny. At least we can see each other in our dreams, Harry replied, trying to stay positive. The year would be so hard without her.
Now hurry up. Mum's beginning to go frantic. And so am I, for that matter. I want a long hug from you before you go.
Ok, ok, almost done. He quickly wolfed down the rest of his meal. There, finished, he thought to her and almost ran to his room to get his trunk. When he got back down, Ginny was waiting down the stairs for him, looking very sad. He dropped his trunk and enveloped her in a soothing hug.
"I will be back before you know it," he whispered to her. "I'm going to miss you."
"Hey, little lovebirds!" two voices chorused suddenly from behind them.
"Mum's going crazy. You better –"
"- break it up. You don't want her to catch –"
"- you two in such a … compromising position."
"She already thinks you two are far too … close."
Fred and George were standing in the doorway, both grinning broadly at the two friends.
"Sod off, Gred and Forge," she huffed, without letting go of Harry. "If I want to give my friend a hug, then I can. Especially if I'm not going to see him for the next four months."
"Of course, Ginny. We understand. But –"
"- you know mum. She's a bit –"
"- old-fashioned," they finished both together.
"Yeah, tell me about it," Ginny sighed. "She still thinks boys and girls shouldn't talk to each other until they're married. She gave me the whole speech the other day about 'proper behaviour'."
"Really?" Harry asked and then mentally. You didn't tell me about that.
I was gonna tell you, she replied irritably. Just forgot about it.
Before Harry could enquire further, Molly got in the room. At seeing the two of them hugging each other, she bristled and pulled the two apart.
"Ginevra! What did I tell you two days ago?!" Molly yelled. She was quite a sight to behold when she was angry. She would put her hands in her side and her face would get red. She seemed to grow taller with every word she yelled. It reminded Harry somewhat of his uncle when he was mad, but different at the same time. Molly loved her children, even when she was angry and she never hit her children at all. Even knowing that, she was still scary enough to make Harry take a few steps back and make himself small.
"MUM!" Ginny yelled back. "I was just giving Harry a goodbye hug. I'm not going to see him in four months. It's not like we were snogging."
Molly grew pale and deflated. "You two haven't – didn't – did you?" she stuttered pointing at Harry and Ginny with big eyes.
"No mum, we're just friends. I told you already." Ginny sighed exasperatedly. Besides, we're too young for that. She winked at Harry. Maybe when we're a bit older.
Harry startled out of his cowering and looked at Ginny with big eyes while images flashed before his eyes of the two of them kissing. Oddly, he found himself looking forward at that moment and slowly his expression of shock changed to a silly grin. Looking forward to it, Gin, he sent back, causing Ginny to flush.
Molly continued to look suspicious at the two of them, but chose to remain silent to keep the peace.
"Will you hurry up already?" Percy yelled, entering the room. "We're going to be late."
That got Molly into gear again and she hurried everybody out the door. The light blue Ford Angelica was waiting on the driveway with Arthur standing besides its open boot. Of course the only reason why two adults, six children, and their entire associated luggage were able to fit in it for the trip to Kings Cross was because it had been magically expanded.
They arrived at the train station with just five minutes to spare.
"Hurry up, hurry up," Molly urged them on. "Get through the barrier! Percy! You first!" Without a look back he pushed the trolley with his trunk towards a ticket box between platforms nine and ten. For a moment Harry thought he was going to crash, but the moment he reached the barrier, he disappeared into thin air.
"The doorway is magically concealed," Ginny explained, seeing the confusion on his face. "Just walk to the barrier and you will go through. Come on." She took his hand and pulled him to the barrier before her mum could object. Once they were through, they entered a large, underground platform where a majestic red and black steam train was waiting for the students to board.
Wow, Harry thought. It's huge!
"Amazing, isn't it?" Ginny said, picking up his thoughts. She sighed once more. "I wish I could go with you!"
"Me too, Gin. Me too." He pulled her in a last hug before heading to the train with Ron to find a compartment. They heaved their trunks and their pets in and sat down.
"Be nice boys!" Molly called out to them from on the platform. "Especially you two," she added addressing the twins a couple of compartments away. "I'll see you all at Christmas!"
A whistle sounded and slowly the train began to move. Harry looked out the window and saw Ginny running along with the train with tears in her eyes, waving at him. He waved back enthusiastically and thought to her, Don't worry about it, Gin. I'll be back before you know it.
I know, Harry, she sent back, but I'm still gonna miss you!
See you later! Harry said, as the train rolled out of the station.
"If you're done waving to my sister," Ron huffed, "how about a game of Wizard Chess?"
"Sure mate, why not," he replied.
Ron got the board out and started setting up the pieces. They had an enjoyable morning playing. When the food trolley passed, Harry used his newfound wealth to buy a lot of sweets to share with his friend. They were just about to dig into the large stack of chocolate frogs, Bertie Bott's Every-Flavour Beans, Pumpkin Pasties and Cauldron Cakes, when a bushy-haired girl stuck her head in the door.
"Has anyone of you seen a toad? A boy called Neville lost it. Oh, are those chocolate frogs? I've heard about those. They have a spell on them, but they can only jump once. I think it's a really clever charm. Do you know which house you'll be in? I think I'll be in Ravenclaw, but I really would like to be in Gryffindor. Professor Dumbledore was a Gryffindor, you know. I think it's a fabulous house."
Harry and Ron were trying to absorb the immense amount of information that the girl just unleashed upon the two of them, but it proved difficult. The words came rattling out and Harry couldn't even tell whether she was breathing or not.
At that time, another visitor appeared at the door, flanked by two large, heavy boys. Draco Malfoy was leaning against the doorframe.
"Gryffindor, hah!" he spat. "House of losers, if you ask me!"
"Then be glad nobody asked you," Ron returned immediately. Obviously he hadn't forgotten the encounter in Diagon Alley.
"Weasley! We meet again. Such a shame," Malfoy greeted sarcastically. "And Potter! Still hanging out with the same pathetic crowd I see."
"Malfoy, why don't you and your little friends go harass somebody else. We sure don't enjoy your company," Harry said, trying to stay calm. There was nothing little about his companions, but Harry wasn't going to let himself get intimidated.
"Sure, Potter. I'm leaving. Someone with your taste in friends – or girlfriends for that matter – isn't worth my time!"
Harry had to squash every instinct of his to keep himself from punching the arrogant boy in the face. He took a deep breath and searched for a witty response. "Good thing you know that you're far beneath us. Bye Malfoy!" He reached out and slammed the compartment door closed. Draco howled in pain when his hand got caught between the door and made a hasty retreat, his two cronies trailing behind him.
"Ugh," Ron spat, "I bet he'll be in Slytherin."
"Slytherin?"
"Yeah, the most hated house in Hogwarts. All the bad wizards are in that house. Merlin, I hope I'm not in Slytherin. Any house but Slytherin. My brothers will kill me if I end up there."
"It is not the house of bad wizards," the bushy haired girl said. "It is the house for the ambitious and the cunning. Just because you're in Slytherin, doesn't mean you're evil. It's all in 'Hogwarts, A History'. You're not in a house because you're good or evil, but based on your talents and personality. Ravenclaw is the house of those who work hard and are smart, Gryffindor is the house of those who are brave and righteous and Hufflepuff is for those who are loyal and honest. The houses are named after –"
At this point, Harry tuned her out. She was once again spewing facts and it was a bit much to take. He led his mind wander and thought about Ginny. How much he would give to sit with her on the train today, laughing and joking all the way. This year would be so hard on the both of them. Hopefully they still had their dreams together. It would at least give them some contact. Harry forced his thoughts away from Ginny and focused his attention back on Hermione, hoping to push away his incoming depression.
"– any of you know how they sort you in a house? I hope the test isn't too hard. I've learned all my books by heart of course. Do you think you have to do any spells?"
At this point Harry chose to interrupt. Ron looked overwhelmed and Hermione was getting red in the face. Harry was afraid she would run out of air if he didn't do anything.
"Hey, sorry to interrupt your – speech. What's your name anyway?" he said to the girl.
"Hermione Granger. My parents are Muggles, so it's the first time I'm among magical people. I find it quite exciting. I have –"
"Nice to meet you, Hermione," Harry interrupted again. "My name is Harry Potter. This is my friend, Ron Weasley."
"Are you really Harry Potter?" she asked with big eyes. Then she went back in academic mode. "I know all about you of course. I got a few extra books for background reading and you're mentioned in 'Modern Magical History', 'The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts' and 'Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century'."
"Am I really?" Harry said flabbergasted. He always forgot he was famous in the wizarding world. Nobody at the Burrow treated him that way, so it was easy to forget. He was a bit concerned about how the other kids at Hogwarts would treat him. He was happy just being Harry, so he hoped they wouldn't give him too much attention.
He sighed in relief when Hermione finally left the compartment. He hid his face in his hands and rubbed his eyes tiredly.
"What's wrong?" Ron asked, picking up his mood.
Harry looked up. "Just that everyone thinks they know who I am because they read about me in some book. Imagine that."
"Yeah. I noticed. Annoying girl, that Hermione, isn't she?"
"Nah, she's ok. She's just a bit – overexcited."
At that moment, a metallic voice announced that in five minutes time, the train would be arriving at Hogsmeade.
"We'd better change into our robes, mate," Ron said. He was looking quite pale and Harry was getting nervous too. The speech from Hermione about the test to be sorted had done nothing to ease their nerves.
Five minutes later, the train came to a stop and the two friends got out.
"Firs'-years here! Firs'-years!" a loud voice boomed over the platform. Hagrid was standing there, surrounded by some of the other first-years. They walked to him and said hello. "Oh, hiya, Harry and Ron. This way! Firs'-years! FIRS'-YEARS OVER HERE!" His voice thundered over the platform.
Finally, all the first-years were gathered around Hagrid.
"Follow me to the boats, everyone. Mind yer step now." They followed the huge man down a steep slope to the edge of the lake. A large number of small boats were waiting there for the group. "Four to a boat, please," Hagrid called out.
Harry and Ron got in one of the boats and were soon followed by a plump boy with a large toad clutched in his hands, called Neville, and Hermione. The moment she sat down, she was once again spilling facts about Hogwarts. Harry tried to listen, but found most of it uninteresting. After everyone was seated, the boat started moving on its own towards the other side of the lake.
"Keep your eyes open. You'll see Hogwarts in a few secon's. Jus' round the corner now," Hagrid announced, and indeed, after they rounded a rock, they could see Hogwarts in all its glory, perched high upon the rocks at the edge of the lake. The many turrets and towers gleamed in the moonlight under a clear sky filled with stars. Everyone 'oooohed' and 'aaaahed' and even Hermione was speechless for a few moments. Nobody spoke again until the boats reached the other shore.
The boats floated straight towards the cliffs under the castle. Just as Harry thought they were going to crash, a curtain of ivy parted and showed them a long dark tunnel. They were carried through it until they reached a small underground harbour.
"Everybody outta the boats," Hagrid boomed. His heavy voice shook the cave and some of the stalactites were trembling dangerously. They followed a long twisting stairway up. It was hewn in the rocks and lighted with torches. It gave the whole thing an eerie feel. The stairway ended in a large hallway. Two heavy doors sealed the entrance to the castle.
"Everyone here? You there, keep an eye on yer toad, will ya," Hagrid said to Neville, returning the toad that just got away again. Hagrid turned to the doors, raised one of his enormous hands and knocked hard. The doors swung open immediately. A stern looking witch with black hair tied in a bun stood there. She was wearing emerald green robes. Her eyes were scanning the new students. They were kind and soft but her attitude and posture showed that this was not a woman to cross.
"The firs'-years, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said, swinging his arm out to indicate the large group. In the process he knocked down a suit of armour. He hastily made his retreat into the entrance hall and away from the clattering noise, his face flaming red.
McGonagall sighed but put the stern look back on her face quickly. "Follow me, please," she said to the crowd. She led them through the doors into the large entrance hall of the castle. It was so large the Burrow could have fitted in it several times. Four large hour glasses, filled with coloured marbles hung on the wall. Underneath them were the names of the different houses. Harry wondered what they were for. He followed the others through another set of doors, into a smaller chamber.
"Gather around, everyone!" McGonagall called out. "Welcome to Hogwarts everyone. In a few moments, I will lead you through these doors –," she said, indicating the doors behind her. "– into the Great Hall. The other students are already there." Harry could indeed hear the drone of the hundreds of voices coming from beyond the door. "Before you can join your schoolmates at the tables for the feast, you will be sorted. The Sorting Ceremony is very important, because it will sort you in your house. This house will be like your family for the rest of your time here at Hogwarts. Each house has its own table at the Great Hall and its own dormitory."
She continued explaining a bit about the different houses and the various rules of Hogwarts. Then she left the first-years alone for a few moments. The group was silently and nervously waiting for the sorting. Only Hermione was speaking. She sounded like she was reciting all her books one by one, trying to remember all the spells she could possibly need during the sorting.
After a few minutes, McGonagall returned to the room. "Everyone, follow me please!"
She led the first-years through the door to the Great Hall. All Harry could think about when he saw it, was 'WOW!' The Hall was enormous. There were thousands of candles floating around. Four long tables – probably the house tables – were filled with hundreds of students who were all staring at the new arrivals. The ceiling was so high, Harry couldn't see the top of the hall. In fact, when he concentrated harder on it, he could see stars twinkling in the dark vastness above him.
"The ceiling is charmed to look like the outside sky. I read about it in 'Hogwarts, A History'" Hermione's voice explained to him.
McGonagall led them to the staff table. Dumbledore was sitting on a large golden chair in the middle of that table, while on both sides of him the teachers were smiling at the new students. At least, most of them were.
McGonagall put a four-legged stool in front of the students, with a pointed hat on top. At that moment the room grew silent and everyone looked intently at the hat. Harry wondered what would happen. The hat stirred suddenly. A rip near the brim opened like a mouth and the hat began to sing an inspiring song about the qualities of the four houses. Afterwards, the Hall broke into a loud applause while the hat bowed its tip to each of the four tables. When the sound died down, the hat lay quite still again.
"May I have your attention please," McGonagall called out. "When I call your name, come to the front. You will sit down on the stool and put on the Sorting Hat. The hat will decide in which of the houses you belong. Once you've been sorted, join the table of your house for the feast." She took a long list out of her pocket and the sorting began. "Abbott, Hannah," she called out.
A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails came to the front, trembling nervously. She put on the hat and it sank immediately over her eyes. It was silent for a few moments, before calling out, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
The table on the right cheered loudly and the girl ran over to that table, smiling broadly.
The row of students slowly shrank as more and more students were sorted. Hermione and Neville Longbottom were sorted in Gryffindor too and Malfoy became a Slytherin the moment the hat touched his head.
"Potter, Harry," McGonagall finally called out. The Hall broke out in whispers, no doubt thanks to his celebrity status. He took a deep breath and tried to walk confidently to the front, but he couldn't stop his hands from shaking. He sat down on the stool and McGonagall put the hat on his head. Immediately it sank over his eyes.
"Hmm, this is strange," the hat said softly in his ear. "There is you, but then there is another intertwined with you. Never before have I met two minds at once. Though, only one is here." Harry heard as the hat talked to itself. "Where is this other half of you?" the hat asked, finally addressing Harry.
"My – my other half?" Harry asked nervously.
"Yes, your other half," the hat confirmed. "I feel she's around here somewhere, but I can't seem to find her. May I look a little deeper, Harry? It will feel a bit unpleasant, but I assure you that it will not hurt."
Not knowing what else to do, he agreed. Not long after he felt a presence snooping around in his mind. It felt like fingers were poking at his brain, but like the hat said it didn't hurt. It just tingled a bit.
"Hmm," the hat whispered. "I think I may have found her." The poking continued a few more seconds. Suddenly Harry felt a jolt going through his head and immediately after the fingers retreated. "There we go," the hat said smugly. "Hello, Ginevra!"
What? Who is this? Ginny's confused voice suddenly appeared in his head.
Ginny?Is that you?Harry thought stunned.
Harry? What's going on? How come we can talk to each other now? You're still at Hogwarts, aren't you?"
I'm under the Sorting Hat at the moment, Harry said. The hat said something about my other half and that he couldn't seem to find 'her'. And then he looked deeper and then suddenly I heard you.
"Yes, yes. You two can catch up later," the hat interrupted their conversation impatiently. "There are still a lot of people waiting to be sorted, so we must get on with it. First, a question for Ginevra. Why aren't you here?"
What do you mean? Ginny asked.
"Why aren't you at Hogwarts?" the hat specified.
I'm not supposed to start Hogwarts for another year. I'm too young.
"Really? Then I will see you next year, I'm sure, but I will sort you today anyway," the hat said. "You are two halves of one, so you must be sorted together. No other way. Now, let's see. Where to put the two of you? You are both loyal friends and have an honest soul, so that would put you in Hufflepuff. But then again, you two are hard workers and you don't have a bad mind either, so that would put you in Ravenclaw. You have brave and just hearts, fit to be in Gryffindor, but you have the cunning and the power of a Slytherin. Where to put you? Where to put you?
"I have to admit, I have no preference for any of the houses. You would do well in any of them. This never happened before. You two are quite the exceptional pair, I say. Since I have no opinion of my own, I will give you the choice. What house do you want to be in?"
We can choose? Harry thought stunned. Hmm, Ginny, do you have any preference? Anything but Slytherin is ok with me. I really don't want to be in the same house as Malfoy!
I think I would like to be a Gryffindor, she answered thoughtfully. My whole family has been in there and I'm sure that Ron will too.
Then Gryffindor it is!
The hat took this as a decision and shouted out, "GRYFFINDOR!" The table on the far left broke in to applause, the loudest so far, but Harry didn't hear any of it as he made his way to the table. He was replaying the conversation with the hat in his head.
What did he mean? We are two halves of one?
I think –,Ginny answered hesitating, I think that it means we are destined to be together.
Harry was silent for a moment before replying, a blush creeping on his cheeks. I don't think I would mind that, Gin.
Yeah, me either, she answered softly.
"Weasley, Ron," McGonagall called, successfully breaking the conversation in Harry's head.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Told you! Ginny gloated. A Gryffindor, just like the rest of us.
"Congratulations, Ron," Harry said, when his friend joined him at the table.
"Thanks, Harry," he answered smiling. "Now, where is the food? I'm hungry!"
He's always hungry that one, Ginny sighed, as Harry watched the last of the first-years, 'Zabini, Blaise', get sorted in Slytherin.
Yeah, I noticed. Harry grinned back, earning him a strange look from Hermione. I don't know where he puts it most of the time. He eats more than all your other brothers combined.
At that moment Dumbledore spoke up. "I have only a few words before we begin our excellent feast and here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
"Thank you! Tuck in!"
A vast amount of foods appeared on the tables. Harry never had seen so many types of food together, even at the Burrow. He quickly stacked his plate with all the things he liked.
He tried to make some light conversation with the other first-years at the table. He liked Dean Thomas well enough. He was Muggleborn and crazy about football. Harry had a hard time to keep himself from laughing, when Dean tried to explain the rules of the game to Ron.
Seamus Finnigan was another story completely. He seemed likeable enough but he was extremely loud and extrovert, telling jokes all the time. Harry, and Ginny for that matter, found him a bit much to take. Neville Longbottom seemed a nice boy, even if he was a bit shy. He talked all about his Great Uncle Algie and how he had dropped Neville out of the window to test if he had any magical ability. Neville thought this was normal, but Harry found it kind of cruel. He and Ginny decided to befriend this boy. He looked like he could use a few friends.
Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil were instant friends. They were already huddled together and seemed to be whispering important things to each other and pointing at some of the other students at the tables. Ginny said they were probably gossiping, whatever that meant.
Hermione Granger was caught up in a serious conversation with Percy. Harry remembered what she was like on the train and refrained from entering the conversation. Instead, he busied himself with watching the house ghosts floating around. He overheard Sir Nicholas, the Gryffindor ghost, complaining to the Bloody Baron, the Slytherin ghost about someone called Peeves.
"I mean, that Poltergeist was throwing ink at the students when they came in," he complained. "You really should have another talk with him. He becomes quite uncontrollable." The Bloody Baron only grunted in response.
He tore his eyes away from the white, transparent figures and watched the staff table instead. Dumbledore was in deep conversation with McGonagall. Each time he nodded, his glasses slid down his nose a bit further and Dumbledore had to push them back up. At one time they even slid so far down, that they got tangled in his moustache. It took him two minutes to disentangle them.
Next to McGonagall sat a man with a turban. His eyes continually darted across the room and he seemed to jump at every loud noise in the room. Since there was a lot of noise, this was actually quite often. He was talking to a man with black, greasy hair and a hooked nose. When the man looked in Harry's direction, Harry's scar suddenly gave a jolt of pain. He clutched it in agony, but even before he could touch his head, the pain had faded and Harry wasn't all too sure whether he had imagined it or not. Still, he was startled by the look of loathing on the face of the greasy-haired professor. He turned to Percy.
"Percy, who is that professor sitting next to the one with the turban?" he asked.
"Who? Oh, that's professor Snape. He teaches Potions. You better watch out for that one. He's quite strict."
Fred and George, who had overheard the conversation, immediately piped in.
"Strict? He's bloody cruel to us Gryffindors."
"He's foul, evil, –"
"- prejudiced, loathsome, annoying, greasy-haired, –"
"- Slytherin-favouring, horribly unpleasant, –"
"- nasty, vile, obnoxious, revolting, –"
"- disgusting, ugly, repulsive, nauseating, –"
"- stomach-turning, hideous, insufferable, –"
"- unbearable, nasty, –"
"I've said that already, George!"
"Sorry, Fred. Hmm… I've run out of insults, but it still doesn't seem enough. Do you still know any, dear brother?"
"Sorry, George, that's it."
"Pity. Anyway, we hate him!" they finished together.
"I get it, Fred and George; he's not very nice, then?" Harry summarized grinning. He could hear Ginny laughing at the description too.
"You shouldn't talk about your professor like that," Percy huffed.
"Aaah, lighten up, Perce. Just admit that you don't like the git either. Only the Slytherins do."
Percy glared at the twins, but refrained himself from answering. He just turned away and began a new conversation with a Hermione.
Finally when everyone was stuffed, the desserts had been eaten and the table had cleared itself again, Professor Dumbledore rose to address the students. He was smiling and his eyes were twinkling merrily.
"Welcome everyone for a new year at Hogwarts. Now that our hunger has been relieved, I'm afraid I have to keep you here for a few more moments before we can enjoy our well deserved rest. I have a few start-of-term notices to pass around. First of all, I would like you all to welcome our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Quirrell."
He pointed at the man with the turban, who rose to accept a polite applause. It was weird to see a grown man cowering with every clap that was heard and especially Snape looked disgusted by the new teacher.
"Secondly, I would like to point out to our first-years that the forbidden forest is out of bounds for every student. I would like to remind some of our older students about that too," he said, his eyes darting to the Gryffindor table for a few seconds, no doubt looking for the twins. "Next, Mr. Filch, our caretaker, has asked me to remind you all that magic is forbidden in the corridors and a list of banned items can be reviewed at the door of his office for all who wish to check.
"I would finally like to bring your attention to the fact that the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds for all who do not wish to die a most painful death. That's all I have to say for now. I wish everyone a pleasant stay at Hogwarts and a good night to all!"
A most painful death? He can't be serious, can he? he asked Ginny. I mean, this is a school, right?
No idea, Harry. I think he's just stressing that the corridor is off limits, she answered, but he could hear the uncertainty in her voice.
"First-year Gryffindors! Follow me!" Percy shouted over the noise of the crowd. "First-year Gryffindors!"
The eight new Gryffindors fell in line behind the two fifth year prefects. Percy and his female counterpart led them through several corridors and up several staircases before halting in front of a portrait of a very corpulent woman in a silly pink dress.
"Good evening, young Gryffindors. Welcome to Hogwarts," the portrait spoke in a very high and somewhat annoying voice. Some of the Muggleborn students acted surprised at seeing a portrait move and talk, but Harry had already lived with a wizarding family for almost two months, so he knew that most portraits were charmed to act like their original.
"Caput Draconis," Percy spoke clearly. The portrait swung to the side to reveal a doorway. They passed through it and entered the Gryffindor Common Room. Percy turned around to address the first-years trying to look important, but failing somehow. "This is the Gryffindor Common Room. The girl's dormitories are on your left and the boy's dormitories are on your right. You will find your luggage has already been brought up there. If you have any questions, please address me or any of the other prefects and we will be happy to assist you. Good night." Without waiting any more, Percy turned around and left the first-years on their own in the common room.
Sometimes I can't believe he's related to you, Harry commented. And I definitely can't believe that he's related to the twins.
Yeah, he is a bit serious, isn't he? Ginny answered.
A bit?
Ok, a lot,Ginny conceded.
"Hey, want to check out the dormitory?" Ron asked him.
Harry nodded his agreement and together they ascended the stairs. The room was brilliant. The walls were deep scarlet adorned with golden stripes. Five giant four poster beds occupied the room with their trunks already at the foot of the bed.
"COOL!" Seamus exclaimed and jumped theatrically on his bed. The others followed suit and after only five minutes of chatter everyone prepared to bed. The day had been long and everyone was tired, so it didn't take long for the dormitory to quiet down.
Wow, this was some day, Harry commented to Ginny once everything was silent.
I know.I hate being stuck here alone, though, she replied sadly.
Yeah, I already miss you terribly. But maybe we'll dream together again, Harry answered, trying to stay positive. At least we can feel each other then in some way.
I hope so,she said. Hey, can you hear things at my side anyway?
I don't know. I haven't tried. Is there anything to hear now?
No, not at the time. Let's test it. I'll go say goodnight to mum. See if you can hear her talk.
He concentrated on her end of the link between them and he clearly heard her mother reply.
Yes, I heard, Gin, Harry said happily. This is great!
I know. Now we'll never be alone again! I love this!
Metoo, Gin, Harry replied smiling inwardly. I still miss you, but you somehow feel closer to me this way. Anyway, we should probably go to sleep. Sweet dreams!
If you're in it, I'm sure they will be, she responded cheekily. Good night!