Harry and the blond girl, Luna, continued to chat for the whole night. Harry found Luna to be the one thing he missed at home, craziness. His parents, while obviously funny and kind, were relatively sane people. His brother was just completely insane, but in a more frightening way. This girl said things so far-fetched it wasn't completely excluded that she was hallucinating most of the time. And just when he had classed her as a totally crazy person, she would give him a absolutely stunning reflection on a quite difficult subject. She was then bluntly honest and didn't stop to pander to the others' feeling. When another first year tried to come into the booth with a snarky smile, a mischievous look in his eyes, she told him clearly that smirking like that just made it look like he was constipated. And when he left angrily, she just commented offhandedly on the vicious viruses coursing through the ranks of the bad persons. Harry had almost died of laughter, stopping only after several minutes of breathless howling.

The day had begun to fall down, the dusk settling over the country when the train made its arrival in Hogsmeade, the wizarding village next to Hogwarts. They had changed into their Hogwarts robes and packed the rest of their stuff when the prefect had come to tell them.

Both were looking in the giant window. The train made it to a stop at the train station. Harry turned to look at his blond-haired friend

"So, we're finally there. Nervous?" he asked, a small grin on his face. "Not really no. It isn't like it the Assembly of the National Search of the Crumple-Horned Snorkack." She replied calmly, her face serene like always.

Harry grinned "Are you even nervous about anything in your life?" Luna shrugged, "Not really, no" He shook his head, chuckling again.

He stood up, leaving his trunk and his owl in the cabin, and got off the train. Luna followed him, humming a light tune, almost skipping next to him. A small smile on his lips, he continued further down the station to where the first year were grouped around an extremely tall and strong man. It was obviously the gate-keeper, Hagrid. He was his parents' friend, and had befriended quickly his brother last year. He had heard a lot of tales about the kind-hearted half-giant when he was a kid.

He and Luna made their way into the small crowd of children. They quickly got off toward the giant lake they could see from here, separating Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. Hagrid was chatting loudly with an excited small boy with a camera in the front.

He felt like he was forgetting something as he walked away from the train. It wasn't his trunk or his owl; they were supposed to be left there. He couldn't remember what it was. Did his parents tell him he needed to do something when he arrived? He didn't remember so, but he hadn't paid much attention, having been searching Ginny at the time. It finally clicked in his head as a punch connected with his left shoulder sending him staggering a couple of steps to his right. He whirled around and saw the fiery mane of his best friend, an angry scowl on her young face. He felt increasingly nervous; she had quite the temper. "H-Hey there Ginny, how was your train ride?"

She huffed and clenched her fist, looking increasingly menacing. "I was obligated to sit all alone with our brothers and listen to them talk for long hours about nothing. I hope you have a good reason to have left me all alone in there." Harry was really beginning to panic, he had a good alibi for the first 2 hours, but after that, he had really just forgot to search her on the train preferring talking to Luna about everything and anything.

"Yes, he was with me talking about wrackspurt and Crumple-Horned Snorkacks," said the dreamy tone of Luna. Ginny looked at the girl for a second, her anger forgotten for the sheer shock of the things Luna had just said. That gave him a slight opening to explain his misadventures of that morning.

"It wasn't what you think, I got pushed around a bit by a second year Slytherin boy and I had to deal with an attempt to glean point from my mother by an other Slytherin girl" he quickly explained

Ginny calmed herself considerably after that, preferring to swear revenge on the slimy snake that attacked her best friend. Harry couldn't believe he had gotten out of it unharmed. He gave Luna an odd look, reconsidering again his assessment of his friend. He was either lucky and she didn't have a clue about anything she did, or she was extremely bright and could assess human personalities quickly enough to react to them accordingly.

They continued to walk down the small path leading to the lake. On the shore, boats were accosted obviously waiting for them. He had heard of it from his parents, so he quickly got into a boat with Ginny and Luna, joined by a small group of the other first years. The group was completely silent when they kicked off the shore towards the giant castle in the distance. Harry could see everyone, excluding Luna, was anxious about finally entering the wizarding world and the sorting ceremony.

Deciding to break the tension in the air, he asked loudly to Luna which house she wanted to go.

She merely blinked at him before answering lightly "Ravenclaw". Ginny scoffed at that, declaring loudly about wanting to be a Gryffindor. The other kids began to join in as well, proclaiming their houses of choice to be the best one out there.

Harry contended to watch, smiling until a snarky young boy exclaimed loudly, "And you Potter, you'll probably be in Gryffindor like all your no-good family!" Every conversation quieted down, all looking into Harry's direction and the smirking boy.

It was painfully obvious to Harry what this was. Like the boy who had come into the compartment, they wanted a piece of The 'Boy-Who-Lived' brother. Trying to get a name for themselves before even entering the school halls. The most infuriating was that it was working. He wanted to do something rash, which he never wanted to do. His hand was itching to take the wand and try out the spells he had read about in his books on the insolent boy. But he wasn't his brother. He wasn't another reckless Potter, prompt to use his wand. He was Harry Potter, the one that didn't antagonize half the school on the first day.

However, Ginny did not have the same reservations. She already had her wand raised toward the smirking boy, a jinx on the tip of her tongue. Her face was completely impassible, like the calm before the storm. The boy drew his own wand, raising it on Ginny, his smirk enlarging. He obviously had enough confidence in his abilities to try and fight on the first day. He was probably trained like a lot of the other pureblood families.

Luna's dreamy tone cut through the tension building on the small boat, still advancing steadily toward the quickly approaching castle. "I believe it would be pretty stupid to attack a professor's son and his best friend on the first day. You would get a high number of points knocked down. That person would probably be hated by his future house"

The boy stopped smirking and appeared torn between actually hexing Ginny or his social life for the upcoming seven years. He slowly dropped his arm back down, glaring at the group openly. The chatter resumed, a bit more controlled than previsously. Ginny was smiling triumphantly at everyone, her wand still in her hand as if to prevent a last minute attack.

Harry was again forced to reassess Luna. She had just shown incredible situational abilities. She had disengaged the conflict like it was nothing. She would probably do great in Ravenclaw.

The boat finally reached the shore, and they all got on the ground, some loosing their dinner to the seasickness. They fell into silence again, everyone too much occupied fretting over the different possibilities to talk between each other. Well, except Luna, who was humming a fast song while playing with her hair, her mind obviously on more important subjects.

They reached the giant wooden door that led to the Great Hall. Hagrid told them to wait there until a teacher went to get them. No one really talked, preferring musing in their corner.

Again, Luna was obviously outside the norm as she clearly declared to Harry, "I, for one, think you'll be great in Gryffindor" and then proceed to return to her invisible world, leaving a gaping Harry standing there.

He has just put her into the intelligent and observing people he knew, and she went and predicted him, an alleged bookworm, into Gryffindor. Him, the guy without any desire of trouble and dreams of living the life of a researcher. He sighed, putting her into the undetermined file for the countless time that day. He was beginning to think he should just class her as being unique and finish it with that.

While he was musing about his friend, an old witch appeared from around the corner, her face in a proud mask. Harry knew who she was, after all, Minerva McGonagall was one of his parents' friends and often saw her outside the school.

She beckoned the group of first year to follow her through the giant doors that opened up for them to pass. They entered the Hall in a thundering applause from the older students. Harry glanced around the Hall, mesmerized by the ceiling reflecting a clear sky and the stars. The older students were arranged into four tables, each with their own house. The staff members were at the table, looking at them proudly. His mother had a bright smile on her face clapping enthusiastically. His grandfather figure, Dumbledore was watching him with his twinkling eyes. He saw Hagrid at the table cheering again. Next to him was a man he heard countless stories about, Severus Snape. That man was universally hated by the man in the Potter household. They never spoke about it or Lily would jump on them like a lioness with self-righteous honor. They were old friends after all.

Luna was watching everything with small curiosity, where Ginny was completely blown away by the sheer size of the Hall. She hadn't quite believed her family when they told her the magnitude of Hogwarts.

The small group of first year quickly huddled up to the front, where a small stool was put on a platform. On the stool sat the legendary Sorting Hat, rumored to have been owned by Godric Gryffindor himself. The group stopped in front of the platform, staring at the Hat.

Professor McGonagall stepped in front of the group and opened her parchment up. On it was written each new student's name. She began to name them in alphabetical order. The first girl, a certain Ambrose Mary, sat on the stool as the teacher put the Hat on her head. For a few second, her eyes concentrated on something, narrowing at it. Finally the Hat loudly declared, "Ravenclaw!" The girl smiled brightly and ran towards her new house to have a seat at the ravens' table.

Harry quickly lost interest. He was scanning the room, looking for his brother. He saw him between Neville and Ron chatting at his table without a care.

"Luna Lovegood"

Harry turned to the front to see his new friend sit down on the stool. The Hat was then put on her head. However, she didn't appear to be otherwise more concentrated or absent than normal like the others. She simply sat there for half a minute, still whistling without care, before the Hat announced loudly, his voice dripping with confusion, "RAVENCLAW" She hopped down and skipped toward her house, earning a few odd looks from them. Harry and Ginny looked at each other and grinned, clearly looking in their new friend's head had confused the millennium old Hat.

They watched their friend present herself to her new house and laughed silently at the reaction the group of pragmatics were giving her.

"Harry Potter!"

Whispers began among the students, everyone looking at him now. They were obviously ignorant to the fact that the Boy-Who-Lived had a brother. Harry huffed in annoyance and advanced with surety to the stool and sat down. He watched the room and saw his brother giving him a thumbs-up, grinning like a maniac at him. He smiled warmly. The view of his brother being there for him was reassuring, and gave him courage. McGonagall put the Hat on his head.

Harry flinched when he heard a low voice coming from the Hat, inside his head. "Interesting… Way more potential than your brother, I see… You certainly have the Ravenclaw brains." Harry swelled up in happiness, believing he would finally go to Ravenclaw. "Don't get ahead of yourself boy." Said the Hat "You also have the big heart of the badger. Your cunning is on the level of old Salazar himself. And you have more of Gryffindor's qualities than many others."

Harry felt mortified. He could possibly go to Gryffindor, or even worse, Slytherin. He began to plead to the Hat to go to Ravenclaw. 'Please, don't make me go there, just put me into Ravenclaw'

'I find your prejudices aberrant. The values of each house are not grossly resumed like you think. You should be put just like the Malfoy kid with his superiority complex. Ravenclaw isn't the House of the intelligence, it's the one of the knowledge. Gryffindor isn't for the reckless, it's for the valiant. Slytherin isn't for the Dark wizard, it's for the ambitious individuals. Hufflepuff isn't the house of the no-talent, it's the one of the loyalty and friendship. You should not be so quick to judge as you possess all of those qualities. However, the house that can help you the most will definitely be…'

"GRYFFINDOR" bellowed the Hat aloud. Harry's eyes snapped open at the thundering applause coming from the Lion's table. His first coherent thought was a simple 'God damned Luna'.

He felt his stomach reversing on itself, as the way to Ravenclaw was barred by a hat. He stood up and walked toward the roaring table. His brother quickly clapped his shoulder and installed him in front of him, next to a bushy haired girl who he assumed was Hermione. He looked at the Ravenclaw table and saw Luna nodding to him before going back to her imaginary world.

Yep, categorizing her was a total headache. He left her in the unknown position, it was fitting he thought.

His brother looked at him with a bright smile, "I knew it! Even you, our little resident genius, you can't escape the awesomeness of our house!" He smiled thinly at his brother, feeling a bit better to be with him at least. The Hat had said he could have been in Slytherin. He shivered at the thought. Gryffindor was way better than the House of the snakes.

He nodded politely to Ron and pumped a fist with Neville. He quickly presented himself to the rest of the closer students. They greeted him nicely. He turned around as another boy was sorted into Slytherin, a sly smile on his face.

Ginny was called by the Transfiguration teacher to the front. Harry grinned as he saw her fidgeting, clearly anxious to be in Gryffindor as well. As soon as the Hat touched her hair, he placed her in Gryffindor with a last shout.

She made her way under the applause of the table, cheering their last recruit. Ginny being the last student, McGonagall drew her wand and levitated the stool out of the room, the Hat firmly in her hands.

The Headmaster stood up, claiming the immediate attention of the students. His blue piercing eyes swept the Hall twinkling. Harry was sure the man locked eyes with him for a second longer than normal. Dumbledore coughed in his hand before speaking "To all the new students, welcome to Hogwarts! To all the others, welcome back. There is a time for speeches and, fortunately, that time isn't upon us yet."

He snapped his fingers and suddenly a real feast appeared on the table. He sat back down, and it appeared to be the signal to eat as each student lunged toward the food, trying to get the best parts for them.

Harry looked at the Ravenclaw table, longing to be a part of their house. He envied Luna so much. The jealousy was beginning to pit in his stomach, destroying his hunger. He didn't realize he was scowling until he felt a small nudge on his arm. He turned and saw Ginny looking at him with a questioning look. He could see in her eyes, she was completely overjoyed about being a Gryffindor with him. He gave her a weak smile.

Ginny narrowed her eyes at him, scowling fiercely. She had obviously connected the dots, and thought that he didn't really want to be with her in the same house. Harry gulped, knowing he was in for a chewing out.

He was saved by his brother as he began to interrogate him about the train ride.

"Well, it was pretty okay, I got pushed around a bit by Malfoy, but I met Luna so it's all good." He added quickly seeing fury mounting in his brother's eyes. The boy turned sharply his head straight at the blond boy, glaring at him. Neville began to mutter insults under his breath as Ron's knuckles were white from the tight grip he had on his cup. It was impressive that the cup hadn't yet begun to show a sign of pressure from the force he was putting into it. Even Hermione was a bit grim. He knew from his brother's stories that Hermione didn't hate easily. But she had a rather intense dislike of the heir of the Malfoy line.

Ginny squeezed his shoulder, letting him know she would be there the next time.

"Don't worry kid, we'll get the blond bastard good for you" his brother's smile was downright vindictive, Neville and Ron were wearing matching grins. Hermione just frowned before concentrating on her food. She obviously didn't support them, but wasn't going to stop them either.

They all finished eating, chatting carelessly. Ginny was still a bit cold toward Harry, letting him know they had a long discussion waiting for them soon.

Finally, Dumbledore stood up again and cleaned the table in a flick of a wrist.

"I'll try to be brief with the announcements. First of all, the Forbidden forest didn't lose its name or meaning during the summer; it's still forbidden of all access. No magic in the corridors is allowed at all,"

Philip leaned toward his brother "It is if you don't get caught," he whispered, earning a few chuckles from his brother, and a glare from Hermione.

Dumbledore continued, unaware of any comments, "Mr. Filch has once again asked me to tell you that the list of prohibited items is going to be posed on his board outside his office. And we happened to have placed a detection charm on it, preventing it from being modified again."

Harry was pretty sure he finished his sentences by looking directly at the Weasley twins who were trying to look innocent but failing miserably.

"Due to the regretful passing of our Defense teacher last year, we have a new teacher to present to you. We were lucky to be able to join him between two contracts late last year. He agreed to come and teach here. I pray you to welcome Mr. Acker to the school and to make him feel welcome."

Harry heard Hermione gasp loudly when the name of the teacher had been revealed. He looked at her with all of the others, waiting for an explication. She blushed a bit at all the sudden attention, muttering a faint excuse.

Ron simply rolled his eyes "Are you going to say it or make us squirm?"

She gave the brash boy an annoyed look, but complied nonetheless. "Alexander Acker is one of the most famous Dark Wizard hunters in the whole world. It's said that he only lost one fight ever, again Gellert Grindelwald in the forties."

Harry's eyes widened "Isn't that the man Dumbledore defeated when he was young?"

Hermione nodded frantically "Grindelwald is supposed to be the strongest dark wizard since Morgana"

Everyone looked at each other, a little stunned by the news that they were going to be taught by one of the strongest wizard-hunter of his time.

They all looked back at the front as a small man stepped forward. His face had a distinguished look, pride and honor shining through his hard eyes. He didn't smile or utter a sound. He just stared at the mass of students, evaluating them in his mind, classing them. It was extremely obvious the man was powerful as he had the same aura of power Dumbledore possessed.

After a little while he simply sat back down in his chair. Whispering started to take up when the Headmaster called for the prefects to lead the students back to their dorms. He got up and followed Percy, Ginny's brother, to the Gryffindor tower, pondering on the headmaster's word.

Dumbledore had clearly said the last teacher had died last year and suspiciously made it sound like it had happened at school. He remembered the thing Luna had said about his brother killing a teacher affected by wrackspurt. He shook the idea out of his head. Luna didn't know his brother after all.

As they entered the common room, Harry bid Ginny a good night and climbed into his dormitory. He entered the dorm and saw he was the first one arrived. He directly went to his bunk and crashed into the bed, letting out a sigh of pure tiredness. The day had been exhausting for him. As he changed into his nightclothes he thought about all the time Luna had been right about a person and decided to search the next day in the library about wrackspurt.

A/N : Hope you enjoyed the chapter, we're finally at Hogwarts and the beginning of the first arc. Next chapter should come in the next week or so.

Don't forget to review if you have any comments/questions/helpful advice about the story.

Frecto