The train slowly pulled to a stop in the station with an ear shattering screech. Percy glared at Jethro as if it was the brunette's fault. Jethro merely flashed a smirk and the duo began to make their way off the train and towards the lake. A large, hulking figure had hid hand raised, holding a lantern, screaming 'first years' loudly. Percy and Jethro exchanged looks and both looked away immediately. They clambered into a boat with a pair of girls who giggled at them. Jethro and Percy exchanged looks again as the boats began making their way across the water. Jethro stared out across the water blankly. He really wasn't looking forward to re-doing his schooling at Hogwarts. He would excel and people would be suspicious. Whatever. His eyes skimmed the water as it rippled with the boat's movements. Absently, he reached out and trailed a couple of fingers in the water, still staring straight ahead.

To anyone else, it would look like he was kind of scared of this wizard thing. This, however, was not the case. His mind was reeling and anyone who knew him would be able to hear the gears turning and whizzing. His mind was conjuring up everything he learned from his years at Hogwarts, his years at Beauxbatons, and his years at Durmstrang. Alright. He could do this. Something in his mind was practically thrown forward. Did he risk standing out? Surely Dumbles would know it was him… Surely… Shit. Inner turmoil flickered across the young face that was Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Percy didn't pay him any mind. He was too busy staring at the gigantic castle that was Hogwarts for the first time. His grip on Gibbs' arm tightened.

"Look, look Leroy!!" he whispered in subdued awe of the giant building. Jethro grimaced but nodded.

"I see, Weaselette, I see." Percy sent him a playful scowl before going back to focusing on the castle.

Percy clung even harder to Jethro's arm. Gibbs grimaced –he was losing all feeling in that particular limb.

"Wotcher heads," the hulking figure advised. Gibbs yanked Percy's head down. He did it exactly on time as well; they passed through a very low stone wall that caused many students to duck. Gibbs, out of the fifty-some first years, was the first to recover. He was now peering around the cave that was only lit by gas lamps. Moss and vines crawled up the walls of the little cavern and it had a musty, earthy scent to it. Gibbs was standing, dragging Percy with him and was on the 'dock' before the boats had even come to a stop.

Percy gaped. "How…"

"In time, Weaselette… In time, when I know you…" Percy shrugged, figuring Jethro would tell him in time.

The hulking man spoke as soon as everyone was safely out of the boats. "Well, when I ge' ta shore, we'll be goin' up to getcha into school," he boomed as he made his way along the boats. He jumped to the stone dock with a thud that rattled the cavern and even Gibbs' eyes widened and he clutched onto Percy's arm with his numbed one. The man made his way to the front of the group. "A'right, this way kiddies!" he boomed.

Some of the eleven year olds grumbled but everyone followed the giant man. Stairs. The man was already half-way up them as were some of the students who practically sprinted along with him. Most of the children just stared. Percy was one of them. Jethro was trying his damnedest to get away so he could beat the giant to the top. He hissed and, much too nearly everyone's shock, scooped Percy into his arms and sprinted up the stairs. Jethro leapt to the top stair seconds before the giant man made it –Hagrid, maybe? - and grinned cockily at him. The giant just let out a thunder of booming laughter as Gibbs set Percy down like one would do a bride after crossing the threshold. Slowly, students began the ascent of the stairs. The ones at the top were either panting or watching their apprehensiveness with vast amusement. It took about a half hour to get everyone up the stairs. Hagrid chuckled heartily.

"Alrighty, le's go!" he boomed and turned around and walked down the hall of stone. Gibbs huffed and scooped Percy up again and followed after the hulking man. Percy was lolling back, his head hanging off of Gibbs' arm and he looked dead, excepted for the fact that he was staring at a hulking door that approached with bright eyes.

"Look, look Leroy!"

Gibbs would've liked to slam his face into something hard. He couldn't, however, and instead opted for continuing to the door. The giant pounded on the door thrice when everyone was behind him. The door opened slowly with an ear shattering creak. "Here they are, Professor McGonagall," spoke the giant. The woman nodded.

"Thank you, Hagrid." AH! So Jethro's memory served right! Hagrid nodded and made his way around the group, going back the way they came. "Follow me please and… Please put that boy down. I'm sure he can walk on his own!" she sounded exasperated.

"No Ma'am," spoke the dark haired girl that rode the boat with them. "He hasn't let go of his arm once, so he was forced to carry him." The teacher gave her this look. "Sorry Ma'am, but I don't know their names." The woman glared but motioned for the children to follow her. Most gasped, Percy included. The hall they had just entered was very, very large and sparkling with cheer. There was a set of double doors made of mahogany, but that wasn't where they were led. They were led to a little chamber off of the larger on.

Once everyone was inside and settled, the woman spoke. "I am Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Welcome to Hogwarts. In a moment you shall pass through these doors and join your classmates. Once through these doors, your life shall be changing. You will be sorted into your houses and start your magical learning. The houses are as follows: Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, and Slytherin." The students began muttering amongst each other. "While here, your house shall act as your family. Any rule breaking loses you points but good behaviour and being a good student earns you points. Now, come." She exited the little chamber with everyone following. Percy wriggled until Jethro set him down and all of them followed after McGonagall when she pushed the doors open. The hall inside silenced as she led them up to the front of the room. a stool and a hat were the main attraction. Everyone stared at the hat. Then, a rip at the bottom opened and it began to sing.

Jethro tuned the song out, as he heard a version of it long ago during his years at Hogwarts. All the other students seemed utterly fascinated by the singing hat. Hazel eyes skimmed the crowds. No one worth noting, no one who may come in handy in years to come. He flinched when the hat screamed loudly. A loud shriek of pain. He looked over at it. Where its eyes were-were bright orange flames. Students and teachers alike gasped while Jethro just stared into its eyes. He raised a brow and the flames died. McGonagall swallowed nervously and unrolled a scroll.

"Air, Rose," she called. A nervous-looking red haired girl made her way to the stool. She sat on it and before the hat touched her head, it screamed 'HUFFLEPUFF!'

"Alexander, Luke?" A brunette boy made his way up to the stool. The hat was placed on his head and, after about thirty seconds of debating, it screamed 'GRYFFINDOR!'

"Allen, Thomas?" A blond boy that looked like his ego needed knocked a few pegs boldly marched up to the stool. 'GRYFFINDOR!'

And so on, and so forth. "Gibbs, Jethro?" McGonagall called. Percy reluctantly let go and Gibbs flexed his arm as he made his way up to the stool just as confidently. She placed the hat on his head and he inhaled the musty scent.

'Leroy, m'boy!'

Hat…

'Deaged, were you?'

Quite obviously, you ratty thing.

'Now, now. No need to be rude. Now let's see…' With that, the hat began to probe his mind; searching for what house he should be in. 'SLYTHERIN!'

Gibbs took the hat off and walked slowly to the Slytherin table, sighing as the feeling slowly returned to his arm. He watched blankly as everyone got sorted until it gradually whittled down to only Percy and an Italian looking kid.

"Weasley, Percy!"

With that, Percy made his way up to the stool. When the hat plopped on his head, the world literally nearly changed. 'SLYTHERIN!' it yelled. Silence filled the hall. Never had a Weasley or a Prewett been tossed to the snakes. Except this one. Percy was pale but he accepted his fate, going to sit by Jethro. The last boy, Blaire Zabini, was tossed to the snakes as well. McGonagall took the hat and stool from the room and the Headmaster stood up, his arms out to embrace the school.

"Now I know you are all famished, so just a few words: Flubber, Limelight, Yorkie, Bot!" With that, he sat down and food appeared on the plates before them. Percy released Jethro's arm and began eating.

Okay, people. It has come to my attention that people don't like how I'm running this story, even though it's MY story. So, I was faced with two choices: Handing the story over to someone or rewriting it. Handing it over would be a nasty blow to my pride, but if there's someone who writes brilliantly, I'm willing. So, if you want the story, PM me or review saying you're willing to do it.

I'm going to wait for one week before I either hand it over or start rewriting it. So, if you want to rewrite it, PM me or review and if, by April 11th, someone wants it, I'm giving up the story. But if no one wants it, I'll start the rewriting process.

LOVE

IaaAngel