Paul Robinson was the oldest of his roommates, having turned 11 back in October of the year before. He had been very excited to start his first year at Hogwarts especially when he had found out his half blood cousin Anthony would be joining him. Anthony was the closet to his age of all his relatives including his siblings, he was also his favorite cousin. The two had spent the train ride sitting together along with some other pure blood children Paul knew. Being the friendly boy he was, when he met his roommates for the first time he went straight to asking them if they wanted to be friends. He liked John and Chris, they both seemed pretty chill at first impression. Chris was laid back and didn't mind taking whatever bed as long as he could be near their roommate Clarke. John was cool, he looked a bit like a guy who would wear leather jackets. While John did have a temper, he didn't get angry over the small things. Clarke, now he was a different story, while Paul wanted to like him it was hard to like someone who doesn't even say hi before passing out.

Paul was the first to wake up of the bunch. He made sure to head for the showers right away since he didn't want to not be able to take one, having six siblings taught him that he couldn't dawdle if he wanted a shower. By the time he got out, Clarke was up. The smaller boy was curled in his bed over his covers reading a book. "Hey I'm Paul!" the brown hair boy exclaimed. Clarke looked up from his book frightened from the sudden loud noise.

"Oh hi... I'm Clarke." he replied becoming shy. While he had become quick friends with Chris, he was rather shy around most people.

"So are you a half blood?" Paul questioned knowing this child couldn't be a pure blood since he didn't know him. It took Clarke a minute to remember what the term was referring to.

"I don't have magical parents." he responded softly, he regretted it when Paul's face turned into one of slight disgust and discomfort.

"So you're a muggle born, that sucks. Are your parents nice at least?" Paul asked. He didn't exactly love the idea of sharing a room with a muggleborn but he sucked it up and wiped the discomfort from his face with a smile once he realized it must of shown on his face since Clarke's gaze had become fearful and worried

"I guess so." Clarke replied trying to keep himself from sounding tense. He fidgeted in his seat as Paul had become quiet for a momemt.

"I'm going to wake up the others so they can meet you, we were all disappointed that you had fallen asleep right away." Paul commented. Clarke decided now would be the time to get out of bed to appear polite.

Paul went straight to Anthony to wake him up before shaking John awake. Once both of the others were up he went to introducing Clarke. "This is Clarke, our no longer mysterious roommate." he joked smiling at his own joke.

"I'm Anthony. I like your glasses." Anthony replied shaking his hand enthusiastically. "Are you going to eat breakfast with us?"

"Well.. M-Maybe..?" Clarke mumbled shifting his feet.

"Hey, I'm John. Just don't mess with my cat and we'll get along fine." John said looking over at the black cat who was asleep on his bed. Clarke nodded meekly. At the mention of the cat, Anthony lit up.

"I have a cat too, his name is Milo." he said smiling and grabbing the fat tabby from off his pillow. "Did you bring a pet?"

"No... I need to shower." Clarke responded quietly walking over to his suitcase and grabbing his towel, soap, shampoo, and his robes for school. He hurried over to the boys' showers. When he saw how full they were he left swiftly headed back to the room.

When he had come back, Anthony and John were getting ready to hit the showers. "Hey Clarke, did you not take a shower?" Anthony asked noticing Clarke's hair was completely dry.

"Um no.. too many people." he mumbled scurrying to his suitcase to put his shower things. He went to the dorm's half bathroom to change into his robes and straighten up. While he was changing, the others were struggling to get Chris out of bed, after Clarke came back out they tried to get him to help. He laughed watching Chris pull the blankets over his head in protest to getting up.

"C'mon get up Chris, we will leave you." Paul warned. Chris grumbled and sat up in bed, his brown hair sticking out in odd angles. He went with Anthony and John to the showers. John and Chris finished before Anthony. As they waited for their last roommate to finish getting ready for the day, the boys chatted about their classes and discussed the rumors they knew about teachers, Paul and Chris knowing the most.

Once Anthony was done, the five boys began their journey to the Great Hall for breakfast. As they were leaving the very comfortable red and gold room, they were stopped by a man. This man was tall with short gray hair and a full beard, he wore red robes and had a large white owl perched on his shoulder. "Hello, I am Professor Perkins. I am your house head which basically means I'm in charge of you. Now before you go to breakfast I want to lay out the rules for all the first years." he announced, raising his voice. Any other first years in the Common Room looked up, their attention on the Professor. "Alice, go get any first year girls up who are still sleeping, Vanessa, go find any first years who are in the Great Hall, and Thomas grab any boy first years who are still in their dorms." he ordered three different students who had been hanging around in the Common Room. Ten minutes later, the three students came trotting back in with younger students trailing behind them. "Alright, hello everyone. I am Professor Perkins, your house head which means I'm in charge of you." he repeated now that all his 38 first years were back. "Being in Gryffindor means that the sorting hat looked into your souls and knew you were brave, courageous, and most of all chivalrous. As Gryffindor students you represent our house, what you do reflects all of us. I have seven rules you must follow. Rule number one, bullying is not tolerated, ever. Brave and courageous people stand up for those who are bullied we do not bully ourselves. Rule number two, I don't care what you heard about Slytherin and Gryffindor rivalry, we do not participate. We don't prank or gang up on any Slytherins, be their rivals in your grades prove we are not just the house of chivalrous people but also very smart people. Rule number three, don't skip class, I will know if you do and you will get detention. Rule number four, if you are in trouble find a higher year Gryffindor, they will help you and when you are second years i expect you to help the first years of next year. Rule number five, you are expected to make your beds at the very least, while Hogwarts does have house elves to clean we do not take advantage of them. Rule number six, if one of your classmates or if you know anyone who is in trouble tell me or another teacher. Rule number seven, you guys are family for the next seven years, respect and help each other. Now you may go for breakfast. I will see you all down there soon." he concluded.

After being dismissed the first years dispersed either heading downstairs for breakfast or to their rooms to get ready so they could join their classmates for their first meal of the day. The five boys: John, Paul, Chris, Clarke and Anthony were quick to go to breakfast and once downstairs happily sat down together. This was the start of a friendship, a hopefully strong and long lasting one. Soon almost all the kids had made it downstairs to eat by eight thirty in the morning.