AA Chapter 07

It was the last day home the next morning they would be heading to kings cross station and off to Hogwarts. Her father had asked to have the house to themselves. She sat at the dinner table waiting for her father. "Dad?" she asked as he walked down the stairs with a package in his hand as he sat down the package resting between them.

"What I hold here," he rested his hands on the package. "Inside is an odd item, that has been passed down from generations. Normally to first born sons," he chuckled at that comment. He slides the package across to her.

Holly gingerly opened up the package revealing a cloak one that was way too big as she spread it out to get a better look at it. It seemed to her to have a dark red with hints of black near the edges with a glossy sheen to it.

"Put it on," her father offered as Holly frowned at the size but did so only to see nothing.

"My bodies gone," she realized glancing between her body and her dad who seemed rather amused.

"Yep it's an invisibility cloak, it cannot be summoned and never once needed repairs it is the most valuable I team in the Potter family and it is now yours," James smiled as he suddenly was rushed into a hug. "Take great care with it and treat it with the utmost respect, also use it to get some free food," he winked.

The night was filled with a good meal and lots of stories and secrets he talked about passageways and shortcuts he left out a few of the dangerous ones as well as those that would help her out of the castle but James was always willing to answer any questions to help his daughter navigate the insanity that was Hogwarts castle.

"So I know you and mom were in Gryffindor what about the other houses," Holly asked as she glanced at the folded cloak resting near her.

"Oh yeah the sorting I was wondered about that, well you know a lot about the Lions I suppose knowing about the others wouldn't hurt. Hufflepuff, are hardworking, loyal, keen to please. I like to think they play to fair very rule oriented, and very conservative don't like change much. Ravenclaw is filled with the brainy people," he waved off. "Often times filled with your genuine or wanna be's or worse people who think they are. That last group is a pain. Then Slytherin they are cunning and ambiguous they share one major weakness with raven claw is they attract people those who want to be cunning and ambitious not just those who are; however they have a second issue which is what idiot would go to a house known for being cunning any cunning person would avoid it, go to Hufflepuff and surround yourself with loyal people, not other ambitious people," James laughed.

"They all seem okay," she hesitated,

"There is more to it some families have long lines take potters almost always Gryffindor. But Sirius his family was filled with Slytherins, but he is a lion cause he chose to be, the hat takes what you want into account. But I wouldn't recommend Slytherin," he admired her father going stern.

"Why, do you not like that house?" Holly asked although her old man didn't seem to have as many nice things to say as the other houses.

"Each house has its downsides lions are called soft-hearted fools, the Eagles all talk no action, and the Badgers being sheep-like. A lot of families that have kids in your upcoming year, will not be easy to deal with," he admitted he pulled at his collar.

"Why?" Holly asked but later regretted it, James with a bowed head explaining a lot of things the relationships the war he fought in as well as the old blood dealings.

"...Mind you the blood the dumbest thing to base skill off your friend Hermione showed that. But these kids will and convincing them otherwise wouldn't be easy, so if you want to enjoy school I would knock that house out no matter what the hat says," he breathed taking a cup of water.

"Hat?" She asked as James waved,

"I think that's enough time for bed you got an adventure ahead of you," he said getting up.

Sleep didn't come easily storied of sports and pranks. Despite getting what felt like no sleep she still ended up finding her Dad asleep.

"Up Ian up," he mumbled and Sirius was even worse since he looked like he had gotten less sleep.

"I wouldn't worry about it any way I asked Remus to have your supplies up at the station," James started

"What about Hedwig?" She panicked only for the bird to shoot. "Can she fly along the bike?"

"I don't see why not," her dad shrugged as he slides a rather foul looking drink to Sirius.

"Thanks, Prongs," Sirius grumbled,

"What is wrong Sirius?" She asked as her uncle glanced up.

"Bad breakup," and he grabbed the drink downing it. "Nasty," he admitted, smacking his lips as James passed him a plate with a few sausages, eggs, and bacon. "Prongs you are the best," he smiled as he dug into his meal.

Was silent which was odd as her father kept my going checking the time always be my antsy. "Well, then we should get going, got your ticket? He asked as she held it up.

The bike revved up the motor purring as Sirius popped away going to meet them up at Kings Cross, Hedwig and Garius flew above as her father strung the familiar spells and they were off.

"Are you okay?" He asked over the engine before casting another spell to let them talk easier.

"Yeah, nervous this is really exciting," She smiled but her father just nodded, "are you, okay dad?" She asked.

"I am going to miss you," he admitted she glanced back at him in surprise as he set the bike down and make sure nobody could see the canceled the spells roaring into the parking lot. Sirius and Lupin were waiting with a cart filled with her supplies as they headed into the busy station.

After a brief explanation about the platform nine and three-quarters. She was looking at the Hogwarts Express.

"Wow," she said as Sirius started putting her supplies on the train. She suddenly felt her stomach fellow out, realizing it wouldn't be till Christmas thanks she would get to see her dad again.

"James!" Someone shouted as her father about jumped out of his skin and then she started to notice everyone noticing them.

"Frank!" James greeted back. Holly looked up at the friendly man, his rather pleasant face sporting a few scars, he's hair was short and his hairline seemed to be receding. He was sporting some scarlet robes as her two uncles came over to the man. "Alice," James smiled as who Holly guessed was the man's wife. "I see you grew your hair out," James commented as the round-faced Wwitch pushed a few strands away as Holly noticed a few gray strands hidden away.

"You must be Holly pleasure to meet you," Frank belt down to her eye level and school her hand,"our son Neville will be joining you do me a favor and keep an eye on him." He winked,

"Dad," Neville protested when Holly noticed a string of red heads spear on the platform. "Arthur, Molly! Come on over I need to introduce you to a couple of chaps that saved my life," he stated as the two red headed parents blinked at the sudden attention.

"Would love to, after we get the kids sorted," he called back as the whistle blew warning everyone about the time.

Holly glanced back at Neville who looked rather pudgy with a round face that reminded her of his mom. He seemed less interested as he wrestled with a rather large toad that seemed to want to escape. " I am going to get on board and see if I can find Hermione," she announced as she headed off only for her collar to suddenly get snagged.

"What no hug?" Her dad joked.

"Dad," she half resisted as everyone seemed to find either their own kids or something interesting to look at.

The hug held for a moment when suddenly it was over and soon found herself on the train waving as her dad got farther away.

"So, you want to find a compartment?" Neville asked her.

"Sure I want to find my friend Hermione, her parents probably got her here early, Holly by the way nice to meet you," she amended.

"Neville," he answered awkwardly, Holly moved around checking compartments when she found an empty room with her stuff already loaded in. Hedwig rests up near her trunk Neville put trunk up he struggled a bit as Holly took out her wand and with the words levitated it up just in time to see the toad hopping out into the hall.

"Toad," she called out as Neville grabbed at him.

"Trevor," he flopped grabbing the toad before it got too far. "Thanks," he smiled when a red head moved into view.

"Can I sit with you? Everywhere else is taken," he half mumbled. Holly glanced over at Neville before shrugging. "Sure,"

"Right," he brightened "Names Ron, Ron Weasley," he introduced as he put his trunk up with less difficulty.

"Right this is Neville Longbottom, and I am Holly Potter, a pleasure to meet you," she introduced, offering her hand.

"Really, do have the?" He asked his hand going to his own forehead.

Neville glanced upward towards her forehead as well before she gave an amused smirk and pursued her hair back to show the lighting bolt scar.

"Wicked," Ron awed as he sat down.

"Anything of the trolley?" Asked a voice as they spotted a witch with a cart of sweets.

"No thanks, I am all set," Ron grimaced as Holly pulled out some gallons,

"Let's see what we can get," she smiled and much to her delight more than enough for everyone to sample a bit of everything as Hermione finally found them in the middle of a conversation over the cannons.

"There you are," she said stopping the conversion.

"Hey Hermione, this is Ron and Neville," Holly introduced.

"Hello," Ron said with his mouthful, Neville paused before giving a clearer greeting.

"I already had a compartment picked out," she informed giving Ron a slight frown.

"Good I can change there till then have a Frog," Holly smiled as she tossed her friend a chocolate frog.

"Watch out we already lost one out the window," Neville warned jabbing a thumb up at the window. Hermione sighed as Holly realized she was already in her school robes.

"Couldn't wait?" Holly lightly teased, but her friendly jab was met with a frown as Holly wondered what was wrong. "Look I am going to get my robes, you guys should as well," Holly smiled as she got up to grab her supplies pausing to frown at the skirt. Throwing it together she followed Hermione out and shut the door beheld them.

Hermione silently leads the way as Holly tried to figure out what had Hermione so annoyed. She entered the compartment and got into her school robes.

"You okay?" Holly asked,

"Why didn't you find me?" She frowned,

"Uncle Remus put my stuff in that compartment," Holly admitted, besides Neville needed some company, he's the son of a friend of my dad. And then Ron showed up and I got really interested in the conversation and it slipped my mind, sorry about that," Holly explained. Hermione sighed, not able to stay too mad at her friend when a knock hit the door it was about to slide open but Holly who wasn't finished dressing snapped it shut as a boy's voice hissed at his pinched fingers.

"Getting dressed didn't your mom tell ya to wait for a response," Holly shout as the shadow moved on. "Rude," she frowned "Don't these things come with locks?" She mused as she pulled on her robe.

"So what card did you get?" Holly asked,

"Card? I didn't open it," Hermione admitted, Holly paused grabbing a card out of her jean pants. Holding up the card she got,

"I figured you would love em, they have historical witches and wizards with little bits of who they were and what they did." Holly handed her the card with the image of Dumbledore reappearing in his spot.

"Nice," Hermione commented as Holly opened the door, to see if the coast was clear.

"Come on Ron's going to town on those sweets and I didn't get to try those beans," Holly whipped her head around before striding back to her compartment.

The rest of the ride went amicably, whatever bug that was bothering Hermione seemed to have subsided but Ron seemed a bit less chatty with Hermione around. The subject of family got brought up and before long the mention of an attempted break in a Gringotts, Which leads into Neville talking about his parents both being Aurors. Hermione brought up being Muggle-born and neither boy seemed to care which Holly appreciated. Everything else went well, they ran into Hagrid who's impressive size left Ron gaping a bit, a nice boat ride in the view of Hogwarts light up at night. They found themselves before Professor McGonigal who explained the houses,

"So it's true, Holly Potter has come to Hogwarts," the blonde boy announced eyeing her. Holly wasn't really sure how to respond as the blonde boy approached her. "This is Crabbe and Goyle," he pointed two rather thick set and mean looking. "Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," he introduced. Ron gave a slight cough as Holly noticed the slight snigger.

"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all Weasley's have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford," he turned back to Holly who could only blink at the attack on a boy he barely knew.

"Ouch," Holly commented, "Look her Mr. Malfoy," she stood up to her full height as Malfoy back of as the other two boys didn't know how to handle the situation. "I don't take kindly to people picking on my friend, you want to be my friend, you don't mess with 'em we clear? Cause I didn't take it before I went to Hogwarts and I am not starting now," she gave Malfoy a hard look who sniffed glaring back at her.

"I would be careful, you should be politer else you are going to go the same way as your mother," He sniffed, as Holly saw red, and Malfoy wasn't allowed to finish as she decked him in the eye dropping him.

"Take your own advice," Holly said over the shock of the crowd.

"Tackle em, pull his ears and twist his noisy," Cried a joyful voice as Crabbe and Goyle helped Draco onto his feet. She spun around to see a ghost, he didn't look like a human.

"Peeves," cried a voice as a rather bloodstained ghost as the squat floating creature raced away in panic as a rather plump looking monk floated in. The Monk went on all about his house but Holly was watching Malfoy who seemed to know had a healthy fear of her, as he started to see the beginnings of a black eye.

"Move along," said a stern voice as McGonigal had returned, "The sorting ceremony is going to begin. Now form a line and follow me, Malfoy what happened to your eye?" she paused looking at the boy, but he refused to answer.

Holly rolled her eyes but her thoughts were brought back to the school as they walked in seeing all the candles floating above as well as stars, with the architecture, seemed to blend the edges into the sky outside.

"It's enchanted to look like the sky outside," Hermione whispered to her. "Read about it in a Hogwarts a history." Holly glanced up wondering how it handled rain or less impressive weather. Her attention was brought to the sorting hat a rough looking at that sat on a stool, Holly glanced at the different tables, spotting a few red heads which she figured were Ron's brothers. She wasn't to surprise when Hermione went to Gryffindor, and Malfoy went to Slytherin he seemed to be less proud as he seemed to have his eye her but Holly frowned glancing away from him. Names were listed of as everyone cheered properly for their house.

"Holly, Potter," Her name was listed off, as she headed forward with long purposeful strides sitting down as the hat was dropped over her eyes.

"Difficult, Very Difficult, Plenty of courage, not a bad brain, loyal very proud of that fact," whispered the hat, "Talent and a thirst to prove yourself a deep "So where to put you,"

"Not Slytherin," She thought calmly,

"Not Slytherin, you could be great in Slytherin, it would help you on your way to greatness," The hat seemed to tempt her but she rolled her eyes. "Okay better be Gryffindor!" he announced the last word out loud as the house she would be part of as they celebrated, "We got Potter!" reached her ears, as she allowed herself a soft smile, before sitting down next to Hermione, Ron soon followed and with Neville already there at well it seemed she was recreating her Father's circle of friends with the addition on of one more in Neville. The Irony wasn't lost on her as Lupin in Hermione and the similarities with Ron and Sirius while not as great there were a few similarities, she decided to expand her friend circle. That realization the made her think, while everyone watched the ceremony wrapped up she caught something as she spun realizing the Headmaster was speaking.

"...Tweak!" he announced as Holly wondered about the bearded man her father spoke highly of the man. Suddenly appeared on the empty plates in front of her and soon she realized Hermione was talking with the house ghost Sir Nicholas when someone asked how someone could be nearly headless. She ate her fill as she glanced over at the teachers, glancing over at another red head with a P. "Excuse me, but can you point out Professor Snape?" she asked,

"Yeah, that one," he pointed at a rather sour looking man around her dad's age with black greasy hair and a crooked nose.

"Thank you, um," she paused,

"Ah Percy Weasley I see you already know my youngest brother," he gestured at Ron who was helping himself to the meal. "Rumor has it you decked Malfoy, don't go doing that or else we will lose house points," He chided as Holly grinned nervously,

"I only promise to do my best not to get caught, besides my uncle always called the house cup the suck-up-cup,"

"Sounds like our kind of bloke," one of the twins said as Percy sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. Thankfully Hermione started talking about classes with Percy as she seemed to have found a kindred spirit in the older Weasley brother. She glanced back over at Professor Snape when she noticed another teacher with a turban on his head who seemed very jittery. She felt her prickle in her scar not sure what cause of it was, she gave it a slight rub and went back to his meal to fill her belly as much as her head.

After the meal, everything was wrapped up with a few announcements and a rather shocking warning about the third-floor corridor. She found her room, she shared one with Hermione, Parvati, and Lavander Brown. She got everything situated and using a book and a little light on her bed she started to write to her dad about her first day at Hogwarts as well as her sorting, and she left out her concerns worried she might be too much like her dad. she finished it up she needed to find the Owlry and Hedwig to send it out tomorrow after classes.