CH 6
Harry - James - Potter - Harry - James - Potter
Harry's first impression of someplace new, was large and it bellowed, "First years this way, follow me."
The Boy-Who-Lived changes his glasses for the lightest pair of his darkened lenses and then followed the giant of a man down to the docks with his fellow first years. 'At least it's the tail end of summer,' he thought. 'Otherwise we'd be freezing crossing this body of water.'
"First years, follow me," the large man said. "I'm Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Key and Grounds of Hogwarts, now jus' call me Hagrid." He waved them towards a row of boats and said, "Four to a boat, quickly now."
Harry and Neville got in one of them. They were surprised when Draco joined them with another boy of the blonde's acquaintance. "This is Nott and we're coming with you," he told them. "Come on Nott, Crabbe and Goyle are taking another boat."
Neville looked at Harry who just shrugged at the fact that they now had the company of a boy that didn't seem all that pleasant. The fourth was a mystery, but then again they didn't care, since they literally and figuratively were 'in the same boat', as first year students coming to Hogwarts.
Harry was pleased to hear the same gasps of wonder that he was making, from his boating companions. The school was there in all its glory with candle light floating from the darkened silhouetted shape. It wasn't a normal block building structure, but an honest to goodness castle.
'Let the adventures begin,' Harry thought, nearly giggling at the prospect of going to school in a castle. It was an exciting sensation. His magical senses having been in use for a long while now, opened up and welcomed him to something entirely new. 'Oh gods,' his thoughts continued as they stepped through the large doors and were guided to a waiting room of sorts. 'Please don't let me be overwhelmed.'
He took a deep breath to centre himself and then he heard the hissing of Midnight, who promised to stay hidden until his new Housemates could be properly introduced. His Master had given him that advice and a letter for his Head of House, whoever that might be.
"I'm the Deputy Headmistress and Professor of Transfigurations," the tall stern, but kind looking woman said. "My name is Minerva McGonagall. Welcome to Hogwarts. Soon you will pass these doors and be sorted into your Houses for this new school year. They are Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Slytherin. These Houses will be your homes for the next seven years of school. You'll earn House points for good behaviour and lose points for bad." She looked behind her and said, "Excuse me for a moment."
As soon as she left, some of the students were milling about and one loud voice said, "Is it true? Is Harry Potter really here?" This came from the red-headed boy that had been helping to look for Neville's toad. "I'll never believe that, no one found him on the train."
Harry just turned away to look at the wall. His eyes were seeing things that he'd been trained to see and therefore he was not one of the ones surprised when the ghosts appeared in front of them, arguing. "Well," he said as they drifted away. "That's expected in a castle this old I guess."
"They do seem all right," Neville said nervously, as Professor McGonagall came back.
"Follow me," she said, leading the down the centre of four long tables to a stage area, near where the other Professors and the Headmaster were seated looking at them benevolently. There was an old floppy hat that sang a song of unity and House explanation and then the Professor said, "When I call out your names, I will place this hat on your head and it will sort you."
Names were called in order alphabetically and so Harry watched as Neville was placed in Gryffindor, just as his grandmother and great-uncle had wanted. The Boy-Who-Lived gave him a 'thumbs up' for getting what he wanted. The names were getting down to 'P' and he wondered just what he was going to have to put up with when his was called.
"Potter, Harry," Professor McGonagall said, surprised that she'd hadn't noticed which of the first years he was. He walked up to the hat and stared at it for a moment before sitting down on the stool.
"Ah Mr. Potter," the hat said. "There are many high expectations of you this year. Now let's see where should I put you?" The hat paused and said, "You're going to have to lower your shields for me."
"No thanks," Harry said. "Put me in Hufflepuff please."
"But your parents..." The hat began and was interrupted.
"I'm not my parents," Harry said. "From what I know about all of the Houses here, I know that I'd do well in Hufflepuff and no other place. Please sort me there or I'll go home."
"But..." The hat had started to say and then it received the same stubborn sense that the boy's mother had. "Very well," it said in his mind before yelling out, "HUFFLEPUFF."
"Thank you," Harry said to the device as it taken off his head. He walked over to a sea of yellow and black, choosing to sit near a couple of the other first years. He was back-to-back with the Slytherin House, where Draco had been sorted.
"Happy with that are you Potter," the blond asked in a sneering tone.
"Of course," Harry told him, happily. "It was my choice." He turned back to listen to the rest of the sorting which finished with Weasley, Ron being sorted into Gryffindor.
The Headmaster was confused by the sorting of the Boy-Who-Lived and so were many of the others, although Pamona Sprout was pleased that she received someone famous and rare for her House. The old man gave his beginning of the year speech along with several warnings.
The students were pleasantly surprised by the meal just popping up like that, especially the first years who'd never see anything like that before. It wasn't long before they were full and had to endure the worst representation of a school song or anthem.
"That's awful," Harry said covering his ears to protect them from the cacophony of noise. One of the older Hufflepuffs said that it was normal and all were grateful that they only had to sing it once a year.
Prefects stood up and began to guide the new students to their common rooms and the location of their Houses. "Hufflepuffs, this way," a sixth year prefect said. "Come on now, keep up, you'll have time to explore the school tomorrow when you head down for breakfast and classes."
Soon all Hufflepuffs were in their common rooms waiting for the Head of House to 'Welcome' them for the new school year. She arrived without much delay and said, "Welcome everyone. Welcome to Hufflepuff House you first years."
She paused and then said, "This is Hufflepuff House and now I know many of you have heard rumours that we're known as 'Duffers' and that this House accepts all those that the others reject. Let me just make this clear, we are not 'Duffers'. We are not a House that only accepts those that can't get into any other at this school. You all have a right to be here and a right to be respected for it. We work hard, that's true, but know this fact, children... Everyone contains the same qualities as every other person and when you get out into the real world, well let's just say that no one outside the United Kingdom's Magical Community will care what House you were in here at Hogwarts."
"So my expectations for all of you are the same, work hard and learn who you want to become during your time here at Hogwarts. My office hours are posted on the board by the door. Our prefects have been well chosen and feel free to approach any of them for assistance. If you feel that you cannot consult with a prefect, you are always welcome to come to me at anytime. I will not have any of you overburdened for any reason. This House has a weekly meeting every Saturday morning from nine to noon, barring Quidditch days. It is a time where we discuss anything you want, including requesting any help for classes, planning individual tutoring and the formation of different school clubs."
"Now do any of you have any questions before you head off to bed," she said.
Harry put up his hand and said, "I have a letter for you Professor. We can discuss it after everyone's dismissed."
"Very well," she nodded and then took a couple more questions before finally saying, "Save some for Saturday children. Many of your questions may be answered by just attending classes."
"One last one," Harry asked.
"Yes," Professor Sprout said.
"Will we be able to get a temporary map of the school to find our classes," he asked. "I'd hate to get lost and lose points this soon in the school year."
"Well done," she said. She'd been hoping that one of her firsties would ask. "Of course you may," she smiled at one of the prefects. "Mr. Jarvis, please hand out maps to the first years before they turn in tonight. Mr. Potter, follow me please." She lead him three doors down and said, "This is my office, now why would you have a letter for me?"
"It's not addressed to anyone specifically," Harry said. "I'm supposed to hand it to my Head of House, which happens to be you Professor." He took out the small letter that his Master had provided for his Professor and then he sat down to wait as she read the contents. She looked up at him and then looked surprised when he nodded.
"He told me what he was going to write," Harry said, fidgeting a bit. "I was hoping that there was a place nearby that I could use for my morning training."
"What exactly, does you're morning training consist of," she asked out of curiosity. "How early do you get up to do them?"
"I get up at about five-thirty or six," Harry said. "It's mostly stretching and muscle training like squats, presses and sit-ups. I do like to run, but I only do it for half an hour in the mornings. I run for about an hour after the evening meals in order to clear my mind and that's what gives me the chance to focus on my studies."
"Now about your familiars," Professor Sprout said. "The Heads of House were all informed that you have two, but not what they were. Now I'm not going to insult you or your Master by asking that they be spelled to not cause harm to students, but I'm hoping that you have something in place."
"Professor McGonagall never asked me what they were," Harry said. "She replied by telling me what the School's Charter said related to familiar and recommended that I pick up a copy of it. They are spelled to be more non-aggressive, but they will not tolerate any outright attacks to me. Only one is actively awake at the moment, the other's in hibernation for a couple more years."
"Are they with you," she asked.
"Yes ma'am," Harry said. "Would you like to see them and meet Midnight?" She nodded her head, so he opened his robe, reach into the right hand pocket and pulled out a fair sized sack. "The Dreamer is in here," he said and then pulled out the Reverie Boa. The snake wasn't long, only about two feet in length with dark grey and purple diamonds outlined in a white colour. It was very pretty to look at. "He's in hibernation."
She looked shocked, but nodded and smiled as she watched the snake curl around the boy's arm. It was seeking warmth and then it was put away. It was when he pulled out the other that she gasped. She wasn't familiar with the pretty one, but she definitely had an idea about the longer of the two. "Is that," she asked, looking at the hooded snake. "It can't be!"
"Professor," Harry said, "This is Midnight, a young Basilisk that I got in Brazil."
"Dear Merlin," she gasped. "Is it safe to be around the other children?"
"Of course," Harry said look at her and then noticing her fear he sighed. "My Master recommended that Midnight get used to being hooded in company. His venom is just as poisonous as The Dreamer's, but his gaze will only stun someone that's intent on hurting me or anyone I care about. He controls the hood, but has promised not to act against anyone."
"He's going to get big," Professor Sprout said. "How will you ever be able to take care of him?"
"He's not going to grow longer than four feet," Harry told her. "We've stunted his growth on purpose and he knows why."
"He knows," she said. "How does he know?"
"I can talk to him," Harry said. "I'm a Parselmouth or Snake-Speaker if you prefer."
"I'm surprised that you weren't sorted into Slytherin," Pamona said.
"Why," he asked. "Just because their House symbol is that of a snake and I can talk to them, doesn't mean that I'd fit with them."
"Too true," she agreed. "Well, it looks like you'll have to introduce them tomorrow and you may need to have a room of your own if your fellow first years are not comfortable with them around. But we shall wait and see."
"Thank you ma'am," Harry said picking up Midnight and draping the snake around his shoulders.
"It's late enough," she said. "Come, I'll show you to your dorm room." She then led him to a room that had three curtained beds. "I'll discuss your training requirements with the other members of the staff to see if they have any ideas of which room you can use. For tomorrow, just get ready for the day and head to the Great Hall for breakfast. We'll be handing out your schedules then."
"Thank you Professor," Harry said, as she shut the door. He was wide awake at the moment, but quickly changed, crawled into bed and slept soundly until morning.
Harry - James - Potter - Harry - James - Potter
The following day saw a rare sight at the Hufflepuff table. One of the new first years was already being ostracized for being different. Around his shoulders was a living reptilian collar and the others were whispering fiercely wondering what Harry Potter had done.
The stares were driving him nuts, so he stood up and said loud enough for many students and teachers to hear him, "I have a snake familiar and my dorm-mates attacked it without just cause because of unreasoned fear. They are currently in the infirmary at the moment being treated for bruised egos and poison. My familiar is a magical familiar and will attack if he or I am ever threatened, which he was just this morning. You've now been properly warned of the consequences of trying to attack him or me."
He sat back down, endured the stares and ate his breakfast quietly. "Good one Potter," Draco said. "You should have let the hat sort you into Slytherin."
"Malfoy, I didn't want to be a Slytherin," Harry told him. "I chose to be a Hufflepuff because I liked what the House stood for."
"That sounds like past tense to me," Draco said.
"Fear is such a stupid thing," Harry grumped. "Midnight wouldn't have attacked, if he hadn't been attacked first."
Hannah Abbot joined him and asked, "Is it true that your snake killed them?"
Harry snorted and explained, "He's still a baby. His venom just makes things uncomfortable. Only one of them was bit and he developed a rash, the other two were tail whipped in..." He blushed and then continued with, "Ah-hem, an awkward place."
"Oh," she said with a blush, thinking of what would be awkward for a boy. "Well that's good. What were they doing?"
"I was in the shower, but when I came back they were poking him with their wands," Harry said. "I told them to leave him alone, but by then Midnight was angry at them and defended himself quite admirably."
By this time some of the other Hufflepuffs had joined him and asked to see the snake. Midnight was hooded and that's when someone asked, "Why the hood?"
"You don't want to be stunned, do you," Harry asked. "His gaze will stun you." Everyone turned to look at him and then the snake.
"Poor Midnight," Professor Sprout cooed. "He must have been very annoyed to attack the other boys. I would be too, if I hadn't been doing anything."
"He wasn't," Harry said. "He was just crawling into the warm spot I left behind, when I got up to take a shower. I came back later and found that my bedding was on the floor, with them poking him harshly."
She shook her head and said, "House meeting after last class of the day. Now here are your schedules, so don't be late to class."
"Thank you," Harry and the other first years said. "First class, History of Magic, followed by Defense Against the Dark Arts and then this afternoon double potions, that doesn't sound too bad." The others nodded and they all left to collect their books for their first day of school.
Harry - James - Potter - Harry - James - Potter
TBC…