Hi guys, hope you enjoy this 4257 word long chapter! If only I could write this much for school!
And im sorry about the long wait.
Chapter 4
Greg was laying on his bed staring at the ceiling. It was about two in the morning and Greg was struggling to fall asleep. All his Hogwarts books had been read a thousand times and it was annoying to have all this magical knowledge in his head, yet be unable to use it because of the stupid magical age law.
Snape had gone through a strict set of rules explaining why he wasn't allowed to use magic outside of school.
Then how am I supposed to practice?
Greg rolled over onto his side and looked over to his desk where his calendar sat.
Tomorrow and I'm eleven, Greg thought excitably. He knew his parents had a party planned for him which only made him angry.
Who the hell are they going to invite apart from annoying uncles? Greg wondered. He then looked at a later date on his calendar.
September 1st. Greg smiled and filled his thoughts of all the spells he was going to learn and how some of them were going towards getting his father back for some pretty rotten childhood memories.
Greg was sitting at the head of his kitchen table. Around him, his family was singing happy birthday to him. His uncle and aunt were standing besides the table singing happily to him.
His mother looked genuinely happy for once and had even hand baked the cake that was ablaze with eleven neat candles. Of course she had asked him what flavour he would have liked the cake to be, but John had of course demanded lemon.
So lemon cake was on the dessert menu, even though Greg hated it more than any other kind of cake. But of course for his mother's sake he would eat it.
While everyone was singing John House stood in the corner of the kitchen drinking a beer, looking very disinterested.
After his family were done singing, his mother turned to him and said excitedly, "Blow out the candles and make a wish!"
Greg turned to the lemon cake, noting that the candles were beginning to drip wax onto the surface.
"Hurry up you idiot, you're ruining the cake," growled his father.
Greg looked at his father with pure hatred and then looked at his cake.
I wish that I somehow, I would never have to come back to this hellhole.
Greg took a deep breath and blew out the candles.
After about the tenth repacking of his trunk, Greg let out a deep sigh and decided that he had packed everything he would ever need for Hogwarts.
It wasn't like he had much to pack, his room was pretty bare to begin with and after taking down some books from his shelf and all the clothes from his dresser, Greg's room now looked more like a guest room then any child's room.
Tomorrow was September 1st and Greg was finally going to Hogwarts.
Greg was starting to feel extremely nervous now, and he hated that feeling. He also hated that it had taken eleven years for him to find out why he was always called a freak.
After the feeling of awe and wonder that was Diagon Alley had worn off, Greg had begun to question why no one had told him sooner about this other world. Greg was angry that he had eleven years to catch up on and was eager to start learning as much about wizarding culture as possible.
He had read almost all of his Hogwarts books, but they had slowly started to bore him and Greg decided to learn from a more hands on experience when he got to Hogwarts.
There was a sharp knock at his door.
"Lights out," ordered his father. Greg quickly switched his desk light off and climbed into bed.
We're not a bloody military base! Greg thought sourly.
Greg rolled over onto his stomach and tried not to think too much. He knew he needed sleep because tomorrow was probably going to be very draining but a thousand questions kept streaming through his head.
Will the other kids tease me for being American?
Why did that man at the pub seem to know who I was?
Aren't there American wizarding schools and if there are, why aren't I going to them?
But the biggest question Greg needed answered quickly was, how the bloody hell am I supposed to get to Hogwarts?
Greg tossed and turned before sleep finally gave in and overtook him.
After waking up early and showering, Greg felt extremely awake and nervous. There had been no letters explaining what he was supposed to do and Greg couldn't help but feel like he had been forgotten.
Greg had no idea how he was going to explain to his parents that no one had turned up for him.
He had pulled his trunk down the stairs around 7:00 and it hadn't been touched since, it was now 10:00 and Greg was near a mental break down.
How could they have forgotten him! Sure he was just some kid in America, but wouldn't that mean something to somebody?
Greg could almost imagine Snape laughing with other teachers at the thought of him going to Hogwarts. It was all a joke, no one wanted Gregory House at Hogwarts, he was just too out of place for such a school.
These thoughts kept rushing through Greg's head before a loud knock at the door made Greg jump into action. Not thinking twice, Greg scampered to the front door, ripping it open.
A short man wearing wizard robes stood out front Greg's door step and stared at him. Greg stared too, before the man broke the silence.
"Ahem, are you Gregory House?" the man asked in an annoying high pitched voice.
Greg nodded. "Well then my name is Mr Simis your travelling guide and we are running very late."
Greg only nodded again. Mr Simis sighed and went to step through the door before Greg suddenly stepped in front of it.
"No!" Said Greg quickly thinking of his parents in the living room.
"Mr House we are running late we need to portkey to Kings Cross in the next two minutes or we will miss the portkey. I need to shrink your travelling things so we can transport them safely."
Greg eyes quickly snapped to his trunk and he let the small man pass. "Ok, ok. But you have to be quick"
Greg then ran to the living room. John looked up from his morning paper to his son.
"Whats that noise? Who is at the front door?"
Greg smiled, "The taxi driver, I have to leave right now. I'm just here to say goodbye".
Greg's mother sat up from her chair and hugged her son tightly. Before she let go she whispered, "Be safe" into Greg's ear and then let her son go. John House just glared at his son before standing up to tower over him.
"If I hear you embarrassed this family at all I will bring you home and show you what a real military school is about."
John House didn't move from his standing position and it was Greg who broke the intense eye contact between the two.
"Don't worry Dad you won't hear a thing from anyone at all." Greg then ran out of the living room back to the front door.
Mr Simis was holding what appeared to be a broken photo frame, "QUICKLY BOY touch the frame!"
Greg ran towards the frame and touched it, holding on to it tightly before disappearing.
Chaos was one simple word to describe Kings Cross station. Greg was desperately trying to fight his way through the sea of busy people who were all trying to catch their own train. Greg at this point loathed his small body and it didn't help that he was trying to maneuver a large trolley carrying all his belongings including his Hogwarts trunk, which weighed almost as much as Greg himself.
The chaos didn't help the fact that Greg didn't have the slightest clue where he was suppose to be going.
After arriving behind a dumpster out front of Kings Cross, Mr Simis had enlarged Greg's trunk with his wand and then suddenly disappeared with a pop, leaving Greg alone.
No matter how many platforms he looked at, Greg could not find Platform 9¾. He was about to give up and asked the information desk for help, but before he did he heard the destinct noise of an owl hooting.
Greg whipped his trolley in the direction of this noise, fighting violently through the crowd. People stared and grunted at the him but that didn't stop Greg.
Greg finally saw where the owl hooting was coming from. A boy of about Greg's age was leaning against a wall with an identical looking trolley and trunk, the only difference being the initials on the trunk which read O.A.
An owl was in a cage by the boy's leg, still hooting quite loudly.
The boy looked ordinary enough to Greg. He had light brown hair that was cut shortly but not so short it looked silly, the boy was of normal height and looked about two inches taller than Greg.
He was staring at a nearby wall very oddly. His head would tilt from one angle to another as though he was trying to see the wall differently. After a few seconds of staring at the boy, Greg pushed his trolley towards him. He let out a low cough to try to grabs the boy's attention.
"A hello works just as well," said the boy whilst not removing his eyes from the wall.
Greg didn't let that comment shock him. "I guess it would have, let me try again," said Greg,
"Hello."
The boy turned away from the wall and smiled at Greg. "Hi, I'm Owen."
Greg smiled back, noting his heavy British accent.
"I'm Greg."
Owen looked at Greg's trolley and smirked, "You're here to find out how to get to the platform aren't you?" asked Owen.
Greg rolled his eyes, "Is it that obvious?"
Owen laughed and stood up from the wall. "Well that's okay cause I know how to get there!" said Owen.
Greg didn't hide his relief, grinning happily.
"Yeah my parents dumped me here an hour ago. My dad is an Auror so he is always busy and my mum has to look after my younger brother Richard," said Owen.
"I didn't want to look like a loser turning up super early so I've been hanging around, but I think now should be alright to go in," Owen finished.
Greg frowned "How do we get in?"
"It's easy," said Owen grinning excitedly, "you see that wall?"
Owen stretched out his arm and pointed at the wall he had been staring at.
"You just run through it."
Greg found this hard to believe and gave Owen an 'are you crazy?' look. Owen just smiled madly.
"Ok don't believe me? Watch this!"
Owen then tightly gripped his trolley and twisted it so it was in front of the wall. He then turned to Greg and shouted, "See ya on the other side!"
Owen then charged at the wall. Greg just stared dumbly as the boy easily passed through the wall.
He snapped himself out of it and grabbed his own trolley tightly; turning towards the wall, trying to brace himself.
Its magic, you're a wizard, you can do this! Greg forced himself to think. Greg pushed himself into a fast run with his trolley. For a small moment he almost jumped out of the way but half a second later Greg suddenly had appeared on the other side of the wall.
A large bright red old English looking train was before him and at the head of the train the words Hogwarts Express were written clearly.
Greg took a moment to take it all in. Around him families with sons and daughters were saying long goodbyes, and children were loading bags and trunks onto the train.
Nearest to Greg was a large family that had fiery red hair. There was a plump woman who Greg guessed to be the mother, hugging her children like they were never going to return.
Greg thought for a moment of what it would be like to belong to a loving family like that, but quickly pushed the emotion away. He could almost hear his father calling him weak.
Owen suddenly appeared at his side and Greg almost jumped. He was a little annoyed that the boy hadn't announced himself.
"I was wondering if you wanted to share a compartment with me," Owen asked quietly.
Greg didn't really know what to say. Kids never chose to spend time with him. Greg hadn't really planned on making any friends at Hogwarts simply because he didn't have friends at home but now Owen appeared to want to make that connection.
Greg slowly nodded his head. Owen smiled brightly at Greg.
"Here, let me help you get your trunk on the train," said Owen.
Five minutes later both boys had loaded all their things onto the train and were sitting comfortably in a compartment near the back of the train.
Owen and Greg didn't talk much as they waited for the train to start. At exactly 11:30 the train geared into action.
"Are you muggleborn?" asked Owen curiously.
"Yeah..." answered Greg.
"Oh cool, what it was like being raise by muggles?" Owen asked, sitting up in his seat inquisitively.
Greg just shrugged. He didn't really feel like going into how his home life worked.
Owen looked a little discouraged. "Well I'm a half-blood; that means my mum is a muggle and my Dad is a wizard."
"Oh I guess thats better than being Muggleborn," said Greg.
"Not really," said Owen, "some people think it's just as bad but they're just stupid pure bloods."
Greg was only just getting the hang of the idea of 'wizarding blood' so he didn't bother to ask what pureblood meant.
After awhile both boys moved into a casual conversation in which Owen explained all the things Greg would need know to keep up with wizarding culture, like quidditch and wizard chess and other fun things like wizard candy.
At that point of the conversation a lady with a food trolley stopped by their compartment and Greg realised that he hadn't eaten since waking up early in the morning. Greg was slightly grateful to Snape who had given him the change from Diagon Alley because he knew his Father would be against any money going to Greg that he hadn't earned.
After pigging out on sweets and collecting 5 chocolate frog cards (one including Albus Dumbledoor which Owen explained to be their soon to be Headmaster) two identical boys with red hair and freckles barged into their compartment, slamming the door hard behind them.
"Sorry mates," said one.
"Some mean lookin slyitherin-" said the other one.
"Is after us," finished the first one.
"What did you do?" asked Owen.
"Well we did play a rather funny joke on him," said the first one with amusement.
"-but hey, that's a story for another day," said the other boy.
"Who are you?" asked Greg, "and stop talking like that! It's very hard to understand"
Greg was starting to get a headache from having to move his eyes from boy to boy.
"Ok sorry, I'm Fred Weasley," said Fred.
"And I'm George Weasley," said George.
Owen stood up and held up his hand which both boys shook.
"I'm Owen Andrews."
"Pleasure to meet you Owen," said both twins at the same time.
"And I'm Greg House," said Greg, not moving to stand or shake hands. Both Twins just smiled and took a seat, one next to Owen and one next to Greg.
"So what school house do you two think you will be in?" asked Fred.
Owen just shrugged looking sad. Greg looked at the twins, confused.
"Oh sorry mate, I forget to ask if anyone's muggleborn," said Fred, "Hogwarts has four houses that students get sorted into."
"Me and Fred are already in Gryffindor," said George proudly. Fred smiled but continued explain the houses.
"And then there's Hufflepuff, which is a pretty average place to go."
George picked up and pumpkin pasty and took a large bite.
"I'll end up there," said Owen moodily.
George chose to ignore that and carried on.
"And of cause theirs Slytherin which only the really cunning, sneaky kids get into," said George.
"All of them can't be sneaky," said Greg bitterly. Fred looked a little shocked but nodded, "Yeah you're right, not all of them but most of them are, Gryffindor and Slytherin have been fighting for centuries."
"There's one more house, Mr House" said George mockingly.
"What is it?" Greg growled.
"Ravenclaw, only smarty-pants get in there."
The twins then stood up abruptly and smiled at Greg and Owen.
"We'll be seeing you around hopefully," said both twins. Then they quickly slid out of the compartment without another word.
"Weird blokes," said Owen. "Yeah," Greg agreed.
Later on Greg and Owen changed into their robes under the order of a prefect.
After that Greg noticed the train was beggining to slow. "Hey Owen, I think we're here," Greg said while looking out the window and seeing a dark sky.
Gee it got dark quick, thought Greg.
The boys then made their way out of the train onto a platform which was filled with other students.
"FIRS' YEARS THIS WAY!" bellowed a loud voice. Greg turned towards it and saw a large man which Owen whispered into his ear was a half giant named Hagrid. Greg along with all the other first years followed the man out of the train station to a area full of bushes and slippery muddy paths.
Greg had already fallen over twice and was beggining to wonder why they all couldn't just porkey to Hogwarts or something. After the long slippery trip they arrived at the lake.
"Three to a boat," ordered Hagrid happily, "Oh and hold on, I don't fancy fishing anyone out of the lake today!"
Greg and Owen climbed onto a boat with another boy called Jackson.
Greg was pulling his school robe around himself to try and beat the cold when Owen nudged him sharply in the ribs.
"Look up!" Owen sputtered out. Greg did, and his eyes almost completely left his head at what he saw. A magnificent vast castle was across the lake; the whole castle looked very old but appeared to be made of never ending towers and windows.
After the short but freezing trip across the lake, Greg could no longer see the top of the castle but after a short walk from the boat he was standing out front of the castle doors with Owen beside him.
Hargid banged three times on the door and it was quickly swung open. A very old, tall, stern looking witch stood on the inside.
"Thank you Hargrid, I shall take them now," she said. All the students poured into a large entrance area.
"My name is Professor McGonagall, and welcome to Hogwarts".
McGonagall then led all the students up a flight of stairs which led to two very large doors.
"Through these doors is the Great Hall which you are going to enter, and then be sorted into your Houses," said McGonagall sharply.
McGonagall then droned on about Houses which Greg completely missed, on account of seeing a man float through a nearby wall and then wave at him.
Suddenly the doors opened and McGonagall led them into a large hall with four long tables that had hundreds of students seated. The hall was lit with candles that were floating above, and at the very end of the hall on a raised stage another long table which seated teachers.
Also on the stage was a stool with a musty looking wizard's hat.
Greg was very aware of every students face following him as he walked through the hall.
"Please form a line," said McGonagall in a stern voice.
Greg and all the other students did so and soon the entire first year was in a straight line.
"Ahem, when I call your name you will walk up and the sorting hat will be placed on your head," McGonagall said then indicated to the hat.
"Adamson, Lucy..."
A small girl with a dark complexion slowly walked up the stairs to the stool, with fear evident on her face. McGonagall placed the hat on her head, and seconds later the hat came alive and shouted out "GRYIFFINDOR!"
The entire hall burst out clapping but most of the noise came from a table nearest the right of the hall, which Greg guessed was Gryffindor.
The sorting continued with children being placed in different houses. A boy who had black hair and a sly looking face with the name Cyrus Kent was sorted into Slyitherin, making him the first slyitherin of the year.
"House, Gregory!" was shouted and Greg nearly shouted back yes sir! Back but managed to stop himself.
Owen pushed him forward and Greg slowly walked up the small steps to the stool. McGonagall gave him look similar to the look that Snape had given him when they first met but Greg saw nothing else as McGonagall had dropped the old hat onto his head.
"Hmmm..." a voice said in Greg's head.
"You're an interesting one; you have plenty of nerve that suits you for Gryffindor, but you're cunning enough for Slytherin".
The voice was starting to freak Greg out a little. He gripped the seat tightly.
"Hmm, but I can also see that you have a ravenous thirst for knowledge, and you are clearly witty in your own right".
"Just choose," Greg thought madly.
"Well... I'm sure you would so well with others like yourself for a change, so it'd better be RAVENCLAW!"
Greg let out a large sigh of relief. McGonagall raised the hat off his head, and Greg walked towards the table that was clapping for him the most but not before giving Owen a wink. Owen was still standing quite nervously, alone now.
A few names later and Owen was finally called. Greg sat on the edge of his seat as did all the other first year sorted Ravenclaws.
"RAVENCLAW!" shouted the hat; Greg started clapping like the rest of his house, and as Owen made his way to the table Greg made room for him.
"Thank Christ that's over," breathed out Owen. Greg only nodded and turned towards some of the other new Ravenclaws.
The sorting finally came to an end, and at the middle of the teachers table an old man with a long white beard stood up.
"Who's that?" Greg asked a Ravenclaw prefect.
"That's Albus Dumbledore," the Prefect answered. Suddenly Greg recalled the chocolate frog collectors card from earlier; this was the Headmaster.
"Welcome, welcome, to another magical year at Hogwarts, I'm sure you are all as hungry as me, so with no further words, dig in!"
Plates full of steaming food all of a sudden appeared in front of Greg. At home Greg was always properly fed but the foods he got at home were not as amazing and exotic as the ones before him. Roast beef, pork chops and lamb chops, bacon and sausages, boiled potatos, peas, carrots, and oddly enough mint flavored hamburgers.
Greg didn't think twice, he started loading his plate with something of everything. People started chatting about what subjects they liked and Greg started to understand what Ravenclaw was all about.
After dessert the left over plates of food faded away. Dumbledore then stood once more.
"Now that we are all well fed I would like to remind older students and educate younger ones about some Hogwarts rules."
Greg let out a loud groan, and a Prefect quickly shushed him.
"No students are allowed near the forest, and our caretaker Mr. Filtch has asked me to make it clear that no magic be made outside in corridors! Now off to bed and sweet dreams," Dumbledore then waved his hand towards the large doors.
The oldest Prefect who introduced himself to be Edward Purrell stood up from his seat and ordered all the new Ravenclaws to follow him to their dorms.
Greg and Owen followed Purrell out of the Great Hall among all the other students. They came to a flight of spiral stairs that they begun climbing. After what seemed like ages Greg reached the top of the stairs to the front of an archway.
"This is the entrance to the Ravenclaw common room; to enter you must answer a riddle," said Purrell. The Prefect then promptly answered the riddle and led the students inside.
Greg was amazed at the insides of the common room. The room wasn't exactly large but it had levels of floors which contain rows of book shelves. the first level had a large burning fireplace across the room and near the edges there were two doors.
"Boys to your left, girls to your right," Purell indicated to each.
Greg and the rest of the boys walked straight to the left door.
Greg walked into a large square room that had four poster beds draped in blue and bronze colouring. Greg quickly headed towards the bed nearest the window. His trunk was stood neatly by the end of his bed, and Greg didn't even remember putting on his pyjamas before falling into bed and into sleep instantly.
Well that was brutal to write. Whenever I read a Harry Potter fanfic I normally hate reading the sorting because let's face it, the whole thing has been done to death, so I hope it wasn't too unbearable!
I guess it's clear that House is a year older then Harry, but that doesn't mean we won't be seeing him soon! *wink*
I hope Eveyone is ok with Ravenclaw. I just think thats where a child House would go.
