The New Age of Magic

Disclaimer: See prologue

Chapter 9

Several hours had passed before they finally reached Hogwarts. I had finished my book a couple hours ago and had been practicing some of the less noticeable abilities I had. Once we arrived at Hogsmeade Station ('Is there anything named normally in this world', I wondered), we were instructed to dress in our robes and leave our belongings on the train to be brought up separately.

"Who decided that the official uniform needed a freaking night gown", I muttered to myself after putting on what I considered a dress. I absolutely loathed these things. I had gotten used to being able to wear jeans and shirts in the normal world. I doubt many others from the normal world care though. They would be too distracted by the new experience of things. I am sure they will grow to dislike them later on in life though.

Leaving the train all the older students started walking towards what looked like carriages. All the first-years were being herded towards a giant of a man. That is not an exaggeration either. He literally towered over the older students as well. It was kind of intimidating to be honest. If he fell over he would probably crush several students by accident. Although looking at him gave me the impression he wouldn't hurt anyone. He had a smile on his face that showed through his large bushy beard. He was speaking in a booming voice calling all the first-years to him but somehow, he managed to shout and sound calming at the same time.

"Everyone gather 'round. Is this everyone? Yes? Good! Let me introduce myself to all of you! My name is Rubeus Hagrid, Groundskeeper of Hogwarts! My job right now is to make sure we get to the castle safely and show you a nice first look of the castle", Hagrid said in his booming voice. He looked excited and seemed to enjoy this job. At the mention of the castle he got our attention since we could barely see the top of it from here. He started walking towards a lake motioning for us to follow him. Upon arriving at the lake, I saw a collection of boats waiting for us. "Four to a boat, please. We don't want anyone to fall in and have to be fished out", Hagrid instructed.

Soon everyone was in a boat. The people I was in the boat with looked like they were too nervous to speak. Instead of trying to talk to them I decided to just look around at the surroundings.

"Everyone in a boat? Forward", he exclaimed. The boats lurched forward without anything pulling them. I guess it was an enchantment in the boats that responded to certain voice commands. We went around a corner and that's when saw our first good look of Hogwarts. Everyone was completely enraptured by the sight of the majestic castle.

While the sight was incredible, I had something else holding my attention. I have gotten used to sensing magic and have gotten use to sensing what I thought were large amounts of magic. Hogwarts blew everything I had sensed before out of the water. I thought that during the crafting of my focus there was a large amount of magic, but it was a puddle compared to the ocean I was sensing that was Hogwarts. It felt like every part of Hogwarts was saturated with more magic than most magical people held in their body. I guess centuries of magical users practicing magic in the castle had left a large impact on the castle.

After seeing the castle, it took us only a couple of minutes to reach the landing area. Once everyone was out of the boats, Hagrid guided everyone towards what looked like the entrance to Hogwarts. He banged on the door and they swung open to reveal Professor McGonagall. She looked over everyone and exchanged a few words with Hagrid before leading us inside. Hagrid had gone in a separate direction from the rest of us. McGonagall took us to small room past a set of large doors where we could hear large amounts of people speaking. Once we were all in the room, McGonagall called for our attention.

"In just a little bit you shall all be sorted into one of the four houses here at Hogwarts. The house you end up in shall be your family for the next seven years. The houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. They are great noble houses and I hope you all enjoy the house you end up in. I will be back to collect you in a few minutes for the sorting. I would make sure to clean up as much as you can before then", she explained to us all.

Everyone took that time to talk amongst each other. Many students coming from magical families seemed to have known each other before coming here. The students from the normal world were looking around in fascination of everything and talking excitedly to each other. This all stopped when people started screaming from the back gathering everyone's attention.

Ghosts, literal ghosts, were coming through the wall. They had frightened the students closest to them. They seemed deep in conversation with each other and didn't even seem to notice us. They were talking about someone named Peeves. Before the students could question the ghosts, McGonagall reappeared and told them to leave. She instructed us to follow her into the Great Hall.

Nothing will help you get over stage fright like being walked into a giant chamber filled with hundreds of students who are all staring at you in silence. The floating candles and the ceiling imitating the sky helped get rid of some of the nervousness at least. At the front of the hall sat a table filled lined with the professors. I hadn't been able to find much information on the professors here. For some reason there is very little information that can be found about what goes on here. It is a bit unusual, but I guess someone with Dumbledore's famous reputation can get a little bit of secrecy for his school.

My thoughts were interrupted by McGonagall bringing out a stool and an old hat. She set the hat on the stool and looked like she was waiting for something. Suddenly the hat started speaking. Well singing more than speaking, but same thing. (I am not putting in the song or a bunch of other things, because it is pointless since I am going based off the assumption anyone reading this has read the books.)

After it finished his song, McGonagall unfurled a sheet of parchment and began to call out names. The Sorting Hat lived up to its name and sorted the students into a house that their traits matched. I paid attention to a couple that caught my interest. Hermione ended up in Ravenclaw which suited her personality from what I knew of her. The next person to catch my attention was a girl named Daphne Greengrass. She was around my height, with blue eyes and black hair with what looked like white streaks occasionally. While the hair was unusual that wasn't what caught my attention.

There was something about her magic that seemed different than the others around me. It felt free but controlled, less restricted like most wizards I have met. I need to see about finding out more about her when I get a chance. She walked up to the stool with a steady measured pace, with an expressionless look on her face. A minute had passed after the hat was placed on her head before it sorted her into Slytherin.

"Harry Potter", McGonagall called out. Sighing, I made my way to the hat. Better get this over with. The house system seems fine, but I just don't care much about it. Once the hat was placed on my head I felt something go right through my mental barriers I set up while I was training my telepathy. I may not have had much success, but I had at least set up some basic barriers in case of someone else having the skill. The moment I felt something go through them, I concentrated on finding whatever it was.

Before I could realize what was happening I was out of the Great Hall and in the middle of a lightning storm. Looking around I was really confused on how I got here and why I was here.

"What an impressive mindscape, Mr. Potter. It isn't often I find new students with skills in magic like you have", a voice spoke from around me. It sounded like it was constantly changing. Looking in front of me I saw a glowing person standing there looking around. Glowing person is a simple term for it though. It was constantly changing size and shape to the point I couldn't tell what it was. It didn't take me long to figure out who it was using the information I had.

"The Sorting Hat. I wasn't aware that you had a conscious. So, what can I do to help you", I asked.

"I don't need you to do anything to help. I already know all I need to sort you."

"Better keep all the information you find here to yourself hat", I warned.

The Sorting Hat laughed at my warning. "Do not worry, Mr. Potter. I am unable to share what I know even if I wanted to. Although you wouldn't be able to hurt me at your current level even if you tried. Now onto sorting you. You could fit into many of the houses, but you are not completely suited to them. Gryffindor would be good due to your confidence, but you don't have the selfless morality of Gryffindors so that's out. You would do well in Hufflepuff, but you do not trust easily and that will not help in that house. Ravenclaw would do well with someone of your intellect joining, although you may not do well with bookworms considering your opinion on them. Slytherin would be a useful way to gain powerful allies and accomplish your goals, but your strength and unwillingness to follow others may cause you to have some problems with their politics in that house."

"Well, while being a pretty basic analysis you're not wrong about my character."

"Before I sort you, do you have any preferences on which house you go?"

"Not really. You have probably realized I don't care much for houses. I don't even know how long I will be here so in the long run the house I end up in will be minor to me."

The Sorting Hat chuckled at my response. Suddenly I felt myself get launched out of the mindscape and back to the Great Hall. "If that's your answer then I will sort you in the house to help you the most. SLYTHERIN!"

Author's Note: Well I may not be happy with some parts of this chapter, but I am glad it is done. Seriously do not like this part of the stories. Also had to basically split it into two to submit it. It always seems like it is easier to start a fanfic during the school years. A lot less world building to do there. Now as far as the companions goes. Ron will be Neville's friend instead of Harry's. They will probably interact at some point, but I will be honest Ron has never been a favorite character of mine. Hermione, while a bit more bearable, is only a little better than Ron to me. I gave her a bit of time to be shown. Just enough to introduce her, but also enough to show that Harry doesn't care much for her as is. I may change that later depending on how the story develops. Currently I plan on having Daphne being Harry's ally and friend. She will have use of her magic like Harry, if you couldn't tell from the obvious hints I put. She is an easy character to develop since the books never focused on her and so many fanfics have already built her a reputation I intend to use. I plan to have Harry leave after the events of second year probably. After leaving he will travel looking for others like him and gathering his own group. I do need help on OCs and his own nemesis. So, any suggestions would be helpful. No matter when I have Harry leave though he will return for the Tournament, but not as a participant. Well any suggestions you have for this story will be helpful and I will try to have one more chapter out before the year. Again, apologies for this chapter and any issues with it.