Chapter 4: Come As You Are
Harry Looked up and saw a familiar black mane rising above the sea of students flooding off the train.
"Hey Hermione, want to meet a real-life BFG?"
Hermione looked over and nodded.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" A voice boomed.
Harry lead Hermione to the biggest man she had ever seen. Standing almost three meters tall, Hermione was taken aback and a little frightened until the giant noticed Harry and knelt down.
"There ya are 'Arry! I was worried all day. Realized I never told ya how to access th' platform. Who is this wit ya?"
"This is Hermione," Harry introduced his friend. "She actually helped me board the train."
"Well good ter meet ya 'Ermione!" Hagrid beamed at her. "Thanks for 'elpin' 'Arry here. Come an' have tea once you get settled woul' ya?"
Harry nodded and Hermione seemed intrigued as Hagrid leveled himself to his full height.
"Tha' all of ya?" He asked the crowd of terrified youngsters. "My name's Hagrid, keeper of th' keys and gamekeeper here at 'ogwarts. I'll be taking you to th' castle now. Stick close, don't want anyone wanderin' off now."
As a pack, the first years followed the gentle giant down the path toward a black lake where a host of dinghies sat.
"No more than four ter a boat," Hagrid warned. "Don't want to have to pull anyone outta th' water today.
Harry boarded a boat before turning to help Hermione in. Once she sat and was comfortable, Harry noticed two girls looking at the boats
"Need a hand?" Harry offered, extending his. One-by-one they took his hand to move into the boat.
"Thank you," the blonde said with indifference. Though she hid it well, Harry could see a touch a fear gracing her features. Her brunette friend offered a reserved smile and a nod as Harry sat next to Hermione.
"Everyone set?" Hagrid asked. "FORWARD!"
At this the small flotilla moved away from the banks.
"Ye'll get yer firs' look at th' castle now," Hagrid said as they rounded the corner.
There, across the lake, stood the castle. Every light on, shining like a beacon to wayward travelers. The turrets stretching their way toward the cloudless, starry sky, looking like a Van Gogh painting come to life. Harry marveled at the sight, the castle reflected on the black water, the stars shining above, the smells of the forest around permeated the air.
As Harry absorbed the scene, he thought of what lay ahead.
"So what house do you think you'll be in," Hermione asked back on the train.
"I don't know. I would like to think I'm brave enough for Gryffindor but you never know until your situation calls for it. School was always interesting and I learned quickly so Ravenclaw makes sense there. I've never really had friends before so I don't think I've developed the traits for a true Hufflepuff and Slytherin? I don't think I'm nearly ambitious enough. How about you?"
"Ravenclaw is for the bookish so I suppose that's where I'll be headed. Same issues for me with Hufflepuff and Slytherin typically houses purebloods that, if Draco were anything to go off of, wouldn't be healthy for me. I'm not really brave so I doubt I'm a Gryff."
"Oh I don't know," Harry replied. "It took real bravery to walk up to a stranger in a train station and offer to help them."
"You're one to talk, Mr. Draco-Apologize-to-this-person-I-just met. There's nothing more brave than standing up for someone else."
"Guess that settles it. Either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. Let's make a promise: no matter which house we're in, we stay friends."
"That's an easy promise to make."
Harry was brought out of his thoughts as the boats pushed through a waterfall of moss and docked at a boathouse below the castle. One-by-one the youngsters filed out of the boats, the dock creaking with the sudden weight thrust upon it as Hagrid raised his gigantic fist and knocked on the door three times.
The door creaked open, bringing images of a haunted mansion. In the doorway stood a tall, severe looking woman.
"Th' firs' years Professor McGonagall," Hagrid turned them over to her and then moved past.
"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," McGonagall said, surveying the group. "My name is Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor house. In a moment I will lead you to the Great Hall. There you will be sorted into one of four houses formed by the school's founders. They are Godric Gryffindor's Lions, Helga Hufflepuff's Badgers, Rowena Ravenclaw's Eagles and Salazar Slytherin's snakes. While here, your house will be like your family. Any accolades will earn you house points while any rulebreaking will lose them. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will have the closing feast thrown in their honor. Each house has its own noble history and you will be tasked with adding to throughout your seven years here. Now, follow me."
With military precision, she performed an about-face and marched the youngsters up toward the Great Hall, stopping them just outside the doors.
"Form up and wait here," She said. "We will enter in just a few moments."
As she walked off the check something, screams rang out around the group. Harry turned, trying to decide whether fight or flight was the better option as an army of ghosts flew overhead.
"Ahh first years!" A ghost wearing ruffs observed. "Welcome to Hogwarts!"
"Hope to see you down in the Sett," another ghost, who looked remarkably like Friar Tuck, said. "Always glad to have more Badgers."
As the ghosts moved on, Harry's ears picked up another conversation happening.
"There's no way the Boy-Who-Lived shook your hand," A redheaded boy said.
"Just because the Weasleys are too poor to teach proper manners, doesn't mean Potter has to be," a voice, which Harry quickly identified as Draco, said.
"No way. He's been training with Dumbledore since he was a baby! There's no way he'd shake the hand of filthy snake," the redhead, Weasley apparently, said.
"I don't know what you've heard," Harry cut in, as the first years opened up a space so that Harry now had a clear line of sight to both boys. "But I have not been training since I was little. I'm not sure where that story originated but I can tell you, it didn't come from me. And as for shaking his hand, (Harry gestured to Draco) yes I shook it. It would be rude to reject the hand that was offered, no matter how rude (Harry's gaze turned to glare at Draco) they were being at the time."
Any response to this was stalled as the door opened and McGonagall ushered them in.
They're going to have to find a better name. This hall is better than Great, Harry thought as he looked at the thousands of candles suspended over the four tables, the night's sky shining above.
"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History, " Hermione said beside him. Harry could see other kids roll their eyes but he just smiled. He cast his eyes down to the head table where Albus Dumbledore stood, looking just like his chocolate frog card. In front of him sat a very old hat on what looked like an even older stool. Once the first years started filing in, a tear near the brim opened up and the hat spoke.
"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 folk 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!"
(Taken from the first book)
"You have to put on a hat?" Came Weasley's incredulous voice. "Fred and George told me I had to fight a troll!"
"Remind me to congratulate them on a well-constructed prank," Harry whispered to Hermione who giggled. Harry was thankful for Hermione's memorization of Hogwarts: A History as there was a full section on the sorting and the hat in particular.
McGonagall then unrolled a roll of parchment and began to read names.
"Abbott, Hannah." A blonde girl in pigtails walked forward and sat on the stool as McGonagall lowered the hat over her eyes.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
The table to Harry's right applauded and Harry noticed the black tie Hannah wore turn to Hufflepuff black and gold.
"Bones, Susan"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Boot, Terry"
"RAVENCLAW!" His tie changed to blue and bronze
Applause rang from the table to his left.
"Brown, Lavender"
"GRYFFINDOR!" The girl squealed with joy as her tie turned Crimson and Gold.
The table to the right of Hufflepuff clapped the loudest with whoops and shouts in celebration of their newest housemate.
"Bulstrode, Millicent"
"SLYTHERIN!"
The final table clapped, though it was by far the most reserved, worthy of a golf course. Bulstrode sank into an open spot on the bench, now wearing the green and silver tie of her house.
On the sorting went and Harry lost track of who went where until McGonagall called out "Davis, Tracey" as Harry recognized the brunette from the boat ride.
"SLYTHERIN!" The hat said. Harry politely clapped and gave her a small smile as she made her way to the table of green. Goyle joined Crabbe who was sorted into Slytherin earlier and before long "Granger, Hermione" was called.
Harry gave Hermione a warm smile as she nervously walked up to sit on the stool. McGonagall lowered the hat. Up to this point, every sorting had been quick but for Hermione it took a minute before shouting out
"GRYFFINDOR!" Hermione's tie changed to her house colors as she hopped off the stool to join Lavender and the rest of the Lions
After Hermione was Tracey's blonde friend, Daphne Greengrass, apparently. Looking like royalty, Daphne glided up to the stool and had McGonagall lower it over her ice-blue eyes.
"SLYTHERIN!" The hat rang out after a minute's deliberation.
Daphne regally slipped off the stool and moved to sit down next to Tracey. The Harry let his attention slip as he looked around the hall, drinking in every sight and smell that he could. He looked back and saw Neville putting the hat on.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Neville was so excited, he ran off before McGonagall was able to take the hat off, leading to general laughter as he walked back to hand the hat back. Malfoy was quickly sorted in to Slytherin, as if the hat was afraid to touch Malfoy's head. On things went. "Parkinson, Pansy" joined Malfoy as a Snake while a set of twins, Padma and Parvati Patil, joined the Eagles and Lions, respectively, until it was time for…
"Potter, Harry"
"Really?"
"The Boy-Who-Lived?"
"He's here!"
Harry couldn't help but hear the comments from the hall as he walked toward the hat. The last thing he saw was a hall of people craning their necks to get a proper look at him.
Hmm… what do we have here? Harry heard a voice in his head. Oh yes, there's potential here. A good mind, yes. A strong sense of loyalty, I can see that and, what's this? A thirst to prove yourself as more than your legacy but still to honor your family? Ravenclaw would not help you with this but Slytherin could allow you to achieve everything you want."
"Do I get a say in this?" Harry thought.
"Oh, another one who talks back," the Hat said. "It gets really boring talking to myself, you know? Yes you have a say."
"I think I'd like Gryffindor. I know I have a friend there and I'm told that was the house my parents were in. I feel that's where I belong."
"Only a Lion would negotiate with a hat about their destination. Yes, my boy, you certainly belong in
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry was almost blown backward off the stool by the ovation that followed the hat's pronouncement. He felt magic at his neck and looked down to see his tie in his house colors, like all the rest.
"We got Potter! We got Potter" Harry spied a pair of redheads, possibly related to Weasley, chanting. After an uncomfortable moment of back slaps and hand shakes, Harry sat down in the spot Hermione saved for him, Neville sitting across from him as the sorting wound up.
"Turpin, Lisa" went to Ravenclaw and "Thomas, Dean" was the next Lion to be sorted. He sat next to a pale boy Harry thought was named Seamus. Harry learned Weasley's first name was Ron as he was sorted with his brothers into the Lions den and "Zabini, Blaise" was placed in Slytherin to conclude the sorting.
McGonagall pulled up the stool and moved the hat to the chamber behind the staff table as Dumbledore stood up.
"Welcome to all of our newest students. May you all be credit to your house. Before we start the feast, I have a few announcements."
Ron groaned and his stomach rumbled.
"Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"
At the last word, the platters filled with more food than Harry had seen in his life. Braised beef; fresh, steamed vegetables; roast chicken, duck, and turkey as far as the eye could see. Quicker than Harry with the frog earlier, Ron reached in for a pair of chicken wings, taking a bite out of each, eating like he thought it would vanish as quick as it came.
For the next while, the only sounds in the hall were the clinking of silverware and goblets. During the desert course, Harry took another look around the hall, this time up at the staff table. He saw McGonagall next to Dumbledore and a small man with salt-and-pepper hair and a goatee next to her. On the other side, he spied a portly witch leaning in to join the conversation between the headmaster and his deputy. Beyond her was a purple turban Harry recognized as Professor Quirrell, talking to a sallow-looking man with a hooked nose, clad in black robes. The man turned from Quirrell and looked Harry in the eyes.
"Ow!" Harry's hand shot to his forehead as his scar burned.
"You okay?" Hermione caught the motion, concern in her eyes.
"Yes, just a headache," Harry shrugged it off. Hermione's eyes narrowed but she let it go for now. Harry looked to the boy next to her and saw the boy's prefect badge.
"Excuse me?" Harry caught his attention and the boy looked over. "Who are the teachers up there? I know Hagrid and met Professor Quirrell in Diagon but I don't know the rest."
"Oh you know Professor Quirrell? That's Professor Snape that he's talking to. He's the Potions Master but rumor is he wants the Defense job. The small man next to Professor McGonagall is Professor Flitwick. He's the Charms teacher and the Head of Ravenclaw. On the other side, next to Dumbledore is Professor Sprout who teaches Herbology and is Head of Hufflepuff. And further beyond Professor Snape is..."
Percy continued down the line, introducing the teachers but Harry's attention remained with Snape. He had seen that look many times, it was the one Petunia saved specifically for him.
I'm Percy Weasley, by the way," He finally introduced himself. "That there is Fred and George, my younger brothers, though do not ask me which is which, and you have probably already met Ron."
"How many of you are there?" Hermione asked as kindly as possible.
"Seven in all. Two of my brothers have graduated and one more, my sister, will start next year."
Harry nodded along as Dumbledore stood once again.
"Now that we are all fed and watered, welcome all of our first years and a welcome back to the rest of our students. First years, please note that the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students and a few of our older students ought to be reminded of that as well," his eyes scanned to the Gryffindor table. "A few announcements before the beds that I'm sure are calling your names. First, our Caretaker Mr. Filch has informed me yet again that Fanged Frisbees, Dungbombs and the other Zonko's products are forbidden within the castle. The list of banned items is on the door to his office on the first floor if you need it. Second, students are reminded that magic is forbidden in the corridors between classes. Last, the third floor corridor on the right-hand side is off-limits to all who do not wish to die a most painful death. Now, bed awaits. Pip pip!"
Dumbledore stepped off the dais as the students pondered whether he was serious or not, some even going so far as to plan how to investigate.
"First years, this way," Percy stood with a petite blond girl and beckoned the group to gather around. "I am Percy Weasley and this is Chelsea Thomason. We are the fifth year prefects. Follow us and we will lead you to your dormitories in Gryffindor tower. Remember the way so you can make it back down to breakfast tomorrow."
Harry and Hermione trudged with heavy legs up staircase after staircase until they stopped before a painting of a rotund lady in an opera outfit.
"This is the Fat Lady," Chelsea explained. "She guards the entry to Gryffindor tower."
"Fortuna Major," Percy called out. The Fat Lady nodded and swung forward, revealing a doorway into what looked like a cozy sitting room. Percy faced the first years again once they filed in. "This is the Gryffindor common room where you can relax and study. Girl's dormitories are up and to the left, boys to the right. Find the door with your year, your trunks have already been moved there. Breakfast tomorrow goes from 7 to 8:30 with classes starting at 9. Curfew is at 10 and if you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask any of the prefects."
The first years all split up, some heading to explore the common room, others straight up to their dorms. Harry turned to Hermione.
"Okay we should be down here in the common room at seven to give us plenty of time find our way to breakfast," Hermione declared. "Does that work for you?"
"Sounds good" Harry said.
Hermione didn't move and after a moment's deliberation, stepped forward to wrap Harry into a bone-crushing hug.
"Thank you for being my friend."
"It's nice to have a friend," Harry replied as he awkwardly patted her back. So that's what a hug feels like, huh?
He stepped back, smiled at her and bade her good night before venturing up the stairs. He found the sign that read "first years." Inside he found five four-poster beds arrayed in a circle with an opening for the doorway. A window looked out onto the forest. Harry watched a gigantic willow tree swaying in the breeze for a minute before turning making his way to the bed closest to the window. He reached out a hand to examine the bed and when he made contact, his trunk appeared at the foot. At that, Neville entered and claimed the bed next to Harry.
That night, as he lay in the biggest, most comfortable bed he'd ever been in, Harry smiled.
"I'm home," he said and promptly rolled over into a deep sleep.
Next Chapter: First week of Classes
A/N: Thank you for all the follows, favorites and comments.
In response to Sazert: I don't intend for there to be any romance before third year at the earliest. Harry just thought the sound was cute, not necessarily that she was. I need to build their friendship properly and allow them to grow together so they don't fall apart and that will take time.