Explanations: Train to Hogwarts

(McGonagall's Perspective)

Soon I would have no other choice but to tell him. We had been home a couple of days after we had went to Diagon Alley, when I decided to sit Harry down and tell him about his history. "Harry," I began, "there's something I need to tell you."

"What is it Mini?"

"Well you remember when I told you how your parents died right?" After he nodded I said, "well that wasn't all to the story."

"You already told me about Dumbledore wanting to leave me at the Dursleys."

"That's not it. When Voldemort went to kill your parents, he also tried to kill you. For some reason, the spell that was meant to kill you, bounced back and hit him. Ever since then, you have been known as the boy-who-lived in the wizard world."

Harry blinked a few times, "is that why you placed that glamour on my head, so people wouldn't know it was me and bother us?"

I nodded, I wasn't completely sure how he would take it. Harry smiled, "thank you for telling me Mini." I was surprised at how well he was taking it, "you're fine with this?" "Yes Mini, better it from you than someone I don't know."

I wrapped Harry in a hug, I was so glad he wasn't mad at me for not telling him sooner. Harry said, "did you think I would be mad Mini? I know you don't tell me things I don't need to know." Where had Harry gotten such a calm reasoning from? I know it wasn't from me.

We talked about the various things he was curious about, namely whose money was in the vault he withdrew from. After an hour, Harry went off to enjoy the last of his summer and I went to prepare for the coming year.

(Harry's Perspective)

"She told you has she?"

I saw Sal, who always took care of Mini, standing off to the side. Sal was the eldest house elf and had served for a very long time. "Yes she did." Nothing more needed to be said, Yen had let it slip about a year ago. I never told Mini I knew, I thought there was a reason she hadn't told me before now. Quickly walking over to the potion supplies, I began the potion quiz in the back of the book.

I had been working on potions ever since we had returned from Diagon Alley. I had been very fortunate that the potions I worked on didn't have very bad properties if they were botched. I went from barely being able to make a potion if I wasn't closely paying attention, to being able to read ahead and prepare ingredients as I needed them.

The final days before Hogwarts found all of us in somber moods. Yen and Yang, who had just had a child, were upset because their 'child' wasn't going to be with them anymore. Sal had enjoyed having people to work under for more than a few months, Mini was afraid. Of what I didn't know, but I did know it was something about me.

Mini had told me once that no one ever thought of her as raising a child, she was too focused on her work. No one, except Dumbledore, knew she had raised me.

The Day we were to leave for Hogwarts, Mini took me to the station. As we reached the area outside the platform, Mini said, "I'll see at Hogwarts Harry. Try not to get into trouble before you get there, ok?" I nodded. Suddenly I gave her a hug, I wasn't sure why exactly, and we never really expressed emotions this way.

"I love you Mini."

She knelt down, "I know Harry. I love you to. Now you need to get on the train."

Shortly after she said that, the Grangers walked up. As Mr. and Mrs. Granger said goodbye to Hermione, the two of us stepped through to Platform 9 and ¾. We found a place where everyone else wasn't. As the time grew nearer to depart, we heard a conversation outside our window.

"Don't worry Gin, we'll send you a toilet seat."

"Fred!"

"I'm not Fred, he's Fred, come on mum, can't you tell us apart?"

The train started soon afterwards. We were sitting in comfortable silence until the door opened. "Can I sit here? Every where else is full." Nodding, he took a seat across from me. "My name's Ron. Ron Weasley."

"I'm Hermione Granger, This is Harry."

Ron looked at me, "you have a last name?"

"Potter," I replied.

His eyes flickered to my brow. "Good one, you had me going .You don't have the scar."

I took out my handkerchief and removed the cover up we used to hid my scar. "You happy now?" Ron's eyes widened, "That's where you-know-who tried to kill you."

"Thank you for stating the obvious. If you're curious, no I don't remember anything about it."

I heard Ron mutter, "must be nice to be famous." I let out a laugh. Ron looked at me guiltily, realizing that he had been caught. Ron, deciding to change topics, "what house do you think you will be in?"

"Well I'll most likely be in Ravenclaw," Hermione said. They both looked at me, though Hermione knew my answer.

"I'll be in Gryffindor, no matter what."

Ron seemed taken aback, "how can you be sure, you don't even know how they sort people."

I smirked, "yes I do. I also have it on good information that there are ways to ensure you get into the house you want."

Ron's expression was one of curiosity, "how do you know that?"

"My Aunt Mini told me."

We spent most of the ride talking about classes and what we expected. The food trolley came by, Ron mumbled something about bringing his lunch, Hermione said she wasn't hungry, so I decided to buy an assortment of everything. After that, we spent most of the time enjoying the snacks we had.

After the announcement that we were twenty minutes from the end, we had another visitor.

"I heard Harry Potter was here." The boy in the door was a rather pale, with white blond hair and gray eyes. He had two henchmen behind him.

"Really," I replied looking around, "nope sorry don't see him."

Hermione sat still, giving away nothing. Ron on the other hand, obviously had no developed sense of sarcasm, "What are you talking about, your Harry Potter."

The boy in the door cracked a smile, "interesting sense of humor you have there Potter." "I'm Draco Malfoy."

Ron snickered when Draco said his name. Draco glared at him, "think my name is funny do you? No need to ask what your name is. Red hair and a hand-me-down robe, you can only be a Weasley."

He turned to me and held out his hand, "you'll find that some wizard families are better than others. I can help you."

I just looked at him. For a long while no one said anything. I knew the name Malfoy, this boy's father was a death eater in the last war. Mini told me never to hold the actions of one person against another. "I neither accept or refuse. I will remember your offer." Malfoy seemed comforted that I hadn't rejected him out right. He nodded his understanding and left.

Ron looked at me incredulously, "you can't be serious. Do you know who the Malfoy's are?"

Giving Ron a level stare I replied, "yes I do. I was taught never to judge a person on the actions they themselves haven't done yet."

Ron nodded some what dazed. Hermione excused herself to change into her school robes while Ron and I did the same.

We arrived at Hogsmeade station and were told to leave our trunks on the train. Over all the excited talking I heard, "Fir' y'ers! All Fir' y'ers over here!"

We made our way over to Hagrid who was calling. Ron and Hermione stared at him while I said, "how are you Hagrid?"

"Good there Harry, Good." He continued to call all first years to him. Once he gathered us up, he told us to get into the boats that were lined along the shore. Hermione, Ron and I got in the boat with a boy named Neville Longbottom. We made our way across the lake and were given our first view of Hogwarts. There were many people who gave off sounds of amazement.

Once we arrived at the grounds, Hagrid checked to make sure everyone had everything. Once he had assured that, He knocked on the door.

When the doors opened, I saw Mini/Professor McGonagall standing there saying, "welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." She escorted us to a small room and said, "wait here. You will soon be sorted into your houses. I will return when you are to enter."

Hermione tugged on my sleeve, "Harry, how do you ensure which house you get into," She asked quietly.

"When we are sorted, they place a hat that does the actual sorting. It looks into your mind and tries to judge how you fit in its definition of each house. The trick is to keep the house you want in your mind and keep arguing with it until it agrees."

Hermione looked at me, "are you sure that you'll be in Gryffindor?"

"Yes, even if I have to argue with it all night."

We didn't get to say much more as Professor McGonagall came to escort us in. I got my first look around and realized that I was a little nervous, though I wasn't as bad as some. Mini placed the sorting hat on a stool, and it sang:

Oh you may not think me 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 folks 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!

Everyone clapped at the end, the hat bowed to each of the house tables. Mini began reading off name's and I zoned out while I waited.

"Granger, Hermione" caused me to look up again. I saw Hermione glance at me before the hat blocked her sight. I wanted Hermione to get into Gryffindor, at least then I would have a friend who wouldn't judge me. A couple minutes later, "Gryffindor" rang out as Hermione ran over to the table that was clapping.

The name kept on moving. "Malfoy, Draco" was sorted into Slytherin. Soon it was my turn.

"Potter, Harry."

There were murmurs around the room. I noticed Hermione giving me a puzzled looked before the hat blocked my view.

'Well now, let's,' it began.

'Gryffindor,' I thought at it.

'What? Oh well, I suppose you can go, but don't you want to know where you stand in comparison to the other houses?'

'Not particularly. I know where my friends are.'

Well, then. I see you've made up your mind.' "Gryffindor" rang in my ears. Lifting the hat gently, I placed it back on the stool. Walking over to the Gryffindor table, I found myself seated between two identical red heads.

The only other person I noted was that Ron was placed in Gryffindor. Once the sorting was complete, Dumbledore said some nonsense and the feast got underway. As we began eating, the red head on my right said, "so your Harry Potter."

"Pleasure meeting you," said the other.

I'm Fred."

I'm George."

Or is he Forge?"

"And I'm Gred?"

"Either way, were the Weasley twins," they chorused together.

"Ignore them, it only encourages them. By the way I'm Percy Weasley," said the red head sitting next to Hermione.

Dinner was enjoyable, I meet a lot of the other Gryffindors. After the feast was finished, Dumbledore stood again. "I have a few start of term announcements. First, as always, the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students. Some of us should pay better head to this." He looked pointedly at Fred and George. "Secondly, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that there is to be no magic used in the halls. Finally, the third floor corridor on the left side is off-limits to anyone who does not wish a painful death." A few people laughed at this.

"Now that business is out of the way, time for the school song." Most of the teachers smiles became fixed at this point.

Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something, please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot.

Once Fred and George finished, they sang it to the tune of a funeral dirge, Dumbledore dismissed us to our common rooms.

Hermione came up beside me, questions clearly written on her face. "Tomorrow Hermione," I said quickly, "let's talk about it tomorrow." She nodded and quickly went to bed.

As I lay in bed, I realized that I missed having Mini tell me goodnight. With that thought on my mind, I fell asleep.


A/n: Thank you for the reviews. Next lessons with Mini and Snape.