The Hogwarts express made its way through the falling dusk. Even the older students, sixth and seventh years, felt a spark of excitement as the train began to slow in the approach to the station. The atmosphere in Harry's compartment was quite different.
"Ha! Take that!" Ron cried as he won yet another game of exploding snap. Daphne handed her stack of every flavoured beans with a sour expression and Harry dug out a chocolate frog to give. The seats were strewn with sweet wrappers and discarded layers, and the remnants of many games of wizarding chess and gobstones. All in all, a rather fun introduction to his peers, Harry thought. Daphne glanced at her watch, and gasped.
"Is that the time already?! Quick, get into your robes!" She rushed out to get changed in the loos and slammed the door shut. Ron rolled her eyes.
"She's right weird isn't she?" Harry gave a noise of affirmation as he began to pull his robes on.
Harry and Ron stumbled out onto the platform and put their trunks down in the section labelled 'TRUNKS'. "Why don't we take them up ourselves?" Harry asked Ron, this was not addressed in Hogwarts: A history. Ron shrugged.
"Dunno mate, never really thought about it. Where do you think we go kow?" he asked looking around. Harry, annoyed, opened his mouth to respond how am I supposed to know when a loud voice cut through the hubble.
"Firs' years, firs' years, follow me!" A large figure towered over the platform, motioning the smaller students to the far end of the platform. Ron and Harry shared a glance before slowly making their way down the bustling platform. A beaming face peered at from under a tangled beard, and Harry felt oddly safe next to the imposing figure. "Name's Rubeus Hagrid, I'm the keeper of the keys here at Hogwarts. You lot can call me Hagrid" The man introduced himself with a gentle smile. Several of the gathered first years smiled nervously back and muttered a greeting. Ron leaned over to Harry.
"He's friends with my parents, I think. Makes really bad food but he's harmless." Harry took in the information with a nod, and followed the man off the platform.
Harry and Ron managed to get into a boat relatively quickly, and found themselves with two other boys – a dark skinned, scowling boy and a mousey haired, excitable boy who introduced himself as Ernie MacMillan. As soon as he had sat down Harry's rings had started to hum with energy, and he felt himself speaking without realising it. Here we go again…
"May Magic Bless our first meet, Ally Heir Removed Macmillan." Harry said formally and held his hand out to shake. Ernie look bemused as he shook Harry's hand, Ron looked put out and the fourth boy looked… annoyed. Annoyed and bored.
"um.. right yes, May Magic bless our first meet… ah ally Line Heir Potter" Ernie stumbled through, taken off guard. As soon as their hands shook Harry turned to face the other boy.
"May Magic bless our first meet, Ally Heir Zabini." Harry said once again, his mind racing. He hadn't wanted to reveal all of his titles at once, but his magic seemed to be forcing him to introduce himself to all his allies. What if someone figures out I'm the last of the Pendragons? Why didn't I have to do this to Ron? Isn't his family a pureblood family? Harry thought quickly as he held his arm out. The Zabini heir gave Harry a measured look before taking his hand.
"May Magic bless our first meet… my Ally." Zabini said before dropping Harry's hand and turning to face out of the boat. The other three stared at him as the boats began to move.
"Guess everyone finally got on… oh, would you mind calling me Harry?" Harry asked the other two heirs, and relaxed as they both agreed. A few moments later, Ernie tried to speak but Zabini sushed him. Nonpulssed, Ernie opened his mouth, angrily this time, but Harry gave him a look. Ernie turned to see what was causing such a reaction and saw for the first time –
Hogwarts, a simultaneous imposing and mighty crater in the Scottish highlands. Tall towers that spiralled into the night, softly illuminated by orange glows at random points in the broken and uneven wall. The lake itself wrapped around the base of the castle, with a forest acting as a coat for the back of the castle. Numerous ridges and bridges were scattered throughout, making the castle seem huge in the inky night. To the unobservant eye, it would seem that Hogwarts was fixed being, but to Harry the walls seemed to pulse with magical energy, a heartbeat only just picking up. He could see a faint shimmer that surrounded the entire castle, a beautiful coat to keep the students safe. At once he felt a great rush of love for a castle he had never seen before, had only just learnt about, and knew in a secret part of his heart he would never grow to hate or to be bored with this place. It would become his home.
All too soon for Harry's liking, the boats pulled into a bay under the castle. The man named Hagrid lead them to a small waiting room where (I count about) 25 students they waited for something to happen. Less than a few seconds passed before a tall, pinched woman strode in. Despite her clear old age, she gave an aura of not one you wanted to mess with. This did not go unnoticed, and almost everyone stood a little straighter. A slight smile played on the woman's lips as she introduced herself.
"Good evening, boys and girls. My name is Professor McGonagall, and I am the Deputy Headmistress, Head of Gryffindor house and Transifguration teacher. In a few moments, you will all be taken into the Great Hall to be sorted into a house that best suits you. The method of sorting is best left a secret, and we ask you partake in the tradition of not telling younger siblings of the method – I am sure some of you here know what I mean." Ron nodded slightly, as did a few other grinning faces. "You after being sorted sit at the correct table for feasts and other distinguished events. The tables are as such: Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. Your house will become your family. Do well, and you earn points for your house, likewise if you misbehave you lose points. A house cup is awarded at the end of each year to the house with the highest number of points; do try to be in the winning house." She gave the students a few minutes to digest all the information. "Now, I will be back shortly to take you to be sorted. In the meantime, please try to organise yourselves." With a pointed look at the soot left on Ron's nose and the messiness of Harry's hair before sweeping out of the room. Almost at once, the room broke into excited chatter.
"Did you see? That was the famous McGonagall that scared my dad so much-"
"Oh no I will never remember which order the tables were in what was it again Slytherin, Hufflepuff-"
"As if Slytherin would be next to Hufflepuf don't be silly-"
"Does my hair look ok? I think I'm going to re-do it."
"No no you look lovely, my names Lavender by the way-"
Little conversations sprung up around the room, as Daphne made her way over to the other two. "So," she asked "nervous?" Ron, clearly nervous, shook his head.
"Nah, I'm not nervous," he said with a pale face. "why would I be nervous? I mean, it'sjustthatFredandGeorgesaidwehavetofighttrollsHarryIdon'twanttofightatroll- " Harry grinned and nudged Ron's shoulder.
"Calm down, I'm sure it won't be that bad!" Harry tried to comfort Ron but seemed to be having no luck. "Look, they won't make any first year fight a troll come'on…" Harry trailed off when he realised that Daphne had suddenly gone very tense beside him. "Daphne are you ok?" he asked concerned before realising someone else wanted his attention. His rings became to vibrate again, but it felt different this time. Whereas before, when all the rings hummed in harmony with his magic, now it felt as though they themselves were making him talk to this person against their will. It must be bad, Harry thought warily, if the unconscious rings are being forced to force me to do something against their conscious.
"May Magic bless this meet, Heir Malfoy." Harry said formally, but bowed his head instead of offering his hand. The blond boy raised his eyebrows and looked at Harry appraisingly, but eventually bowed his head in return.
"May Magic bless this meet… Potter." The Malfoy heir turned and walked to the other side of the small room without further word. Daphne's face morphed into shock and turned to Harry, amidst the mutters that sprung up around the room about what had just occurred. Even if they couldn't see the shimmers of magic like Harry could, they could still feel the way the atmosphere changed as the two exchanged words.
"I can't believe he did that!" she whispered with her arms crossed. Harry looked at her amusedly. "Don't look at me like that, I knew he wouldn't play nice but I assumed he would still remain polite." She fumed to herself and Harry rolled his eyes. Honestly. Jeremy warned me there would be a great deal of 'politicing' and ridiculousness, but I haven't even been here an hour… Harry thought sadly to himself. He had wanted to start off on a better foot, but what's passed is passed, now onwards to the future.
It was at this point McGonagall strode back into the room. She lifted an eyebrow at the clear mood change, and glanced knowingly at Harry (how does she know it's my fault? She doesn't even know me!) before beckoning the children to follow her.
As they entered the Great Hall, all thoughts went straight out of Harry's head as he and the other first years took in the splendour of the massive room. 4 long benches filled the main room, with a shorter but no less impressive bench was placed on a platform and held the teachers. The walls were adorned with different banners from the houses, with torches placed intermediately between them. But what really took centre stage was the ceiling. It seemed to be charmed to show the sky, with small candles floating haphazardly to create the effect of dining outside. One could almost believe it were the real sky, as if there were no roof but the hall really did open to the heavens. Harry half wanted to believe that, as many of his peers did if he went by their awed chatter, but he could see the tell-tale slight shimmer of magic that encased the ceiling. Wait, since when could I see magic? Harry thought, breaking out of his daze. He shook his head slightly. Not important right now. The first years were positioned in front of a stool, which had a tattered old hat on. Harry suppressed a smirk. It looked like a novelty item worn on Halloween, and was just as shocked as everyone when the top of the hat lifted from the brim and began to sing.
'Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap'
The Great Hall burst into applause, and Ron started to laugh. "A hat?! We just have to try on a hat! I'm going to kill Fred and George!" he said gleefully to Harry as the noise settled down. McGonagall stepped forward and began to call names.
Slowly, the line began to dwindle. Some names took longer to be decided on (one Hermione Granger took 4 minutes to be put in Gryffindor and a timid looking Neville Longbottom took 6 minutes to be put in Gryffindor) and some names where sorted instantly (notably Ernie Macmillan for Hufflepuff and Draco Malfoy for Slytherin), but eventually it came down to –
"Harry Potter!" as Harry walked to the stool he heard mutters arise in the crowd.
"Did she say-"
"She did didn't she"
"I thought he was going to start next year?"
"He looks like he should-"
"Is it really him?"
Harry took a deep breath, and pulled the hat over his head.
HELLO. Said a voice from seemingly no-where.
Hello. Harry responded. What should I call you?
YOU CAN CALL ME ALISTAIR, IF YOU WISH.
Thank you, Alistair. Which house would you put me in?
LET'S SEE, SHALL WE… WELL. LOYAL TO A FAULT, BUT ONLY WHEN YOU WANT TO BE, AH A THRIST FOR KNOWLEDGE, GOOD… BUT ONLY FOR THING YOU CARE ABOUT. INTERESTING. WILLING TO MANIPULATE INTO GETTING YOUR WAY, BUT WOULD RATHER NOT. A CUNNING MIND, OVERALL. WELL, IT SEEMS OBVIOUS TO ME, BUT WHICH WOULD YOU LIKE? The hat asked, seemingly curious.
I would like Gryffindor, if you don't mind. Harry responded politely. The hat fell silent.
REALLY? WELL THEN. IN THAT CASE, IT BETTER BE -
A cliffhanger because although I had planned to add more, it would make the chapter ridiculously long so I've split it into two.
Hope you enjoyed, review if you want or don't live your best life.
As always any grammar mistakes are mine, and the sorting hat song is obvs not mine.
Happy holidays! xox ^-^