Hogwarts Castle was the mightiest structure Teddy have ever laid eyes on. Resting on the edge of a beautiful cliff, it seemed to sink and blend into the rocks beneath it, as if it were moulded out of the very stones themselves. In a way, it reminded Teddy of the Sagrada Familia, for various parts of the turrets and towers shooting into the air shone now with a gleam of novelty and freshness, like a portrait with a new coat of paint.

Dating back to the 10th Century, some parts of the castle were newer than Teddy. This didn't just apply to the stones and cement. New sub-buildings had been added along the expanded walls under Professor McGonagall's instruction, matching the original architecture. This was all Teddy had time to take in before the castle disappeared from view and they pulled into Hogsmeade station.

"Firs' years this way!" called a booming voice belonging to the largest man Teddy had ever seen. His tangled black and silver hair flowed from his head and his chin unevenly and starkly contrasted his worn out beige outfit. Teddy guessed that the man was approaching his eighties at the very least, hinted at also by his slow plodding along in a direction he'd travelled for decades. The first-years looked uneasy trotting behind him, but also both eager to reach their destination and relieved that their guide was easy to follow in a crowd.

The guide, who introduced himself as Rubeus Hagrid, escorted the first-years to the edge of a gigantic lake where dozens of boats were waiting for them. Hagrid mounted his own one and waited for everybody else to join.

'Are we supposed to row ourselves there?' snapped an indignant girl across the crowd. Hagrid chuckled a little at this remark.

'No, no! Yer jus' ride 'em,' he clarified with a smile. Sure enough, once everybody was secure in their own boats, they all took off in unison, cruising neatly along the Black Lake.

Once again, Hogwarts came into view, again over a cliff bordering it with the water of the very lake they were all sailing across. Teddy ducked down and brushed the water gently with the tips of his fingers. His first feeling of what Harry described as his first true home. His first sensation of Hogwarts.

'Careful,' warned a boy in the boat next to him. 'I heard there's a giant squid in there that loves little kids like us.'

Teddy jolted his hand straight back, toppling over into the boat and splashing the girl from the train in the process.

'Now, now!' called Hagrid from afar. 'That is simply not true… the squid is a lovely creature. Wouldn' 'urt a fly."

Somehow, this wasn't the slightest bit reassuring.

'You got water in my hair!" exclaimed the girl, trying to wring out the back of it.

'Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!' gulped Teddy. 'The colour won't wash out, will it?'

'No, muggle dye doesn't come out like that,' she sighed. This seemingly calmed her down a little bit. 'You know what, we're on a lake, fresh water shouldn't be too harmful."

That's when she was smacked straight into a cover of ivy, scraping her hair into a knotty mess. The girl froze open-mouthed, her hands shaking but otherwise remained completely stationary trying to muster a sound of disgust, a sound which just turned into a few heavy breaths when Teddy reassuringly placed his hands on her shoulders.

As a Metamorphmagus, this was one of the distresses he never experienced, but as he looked at her face, bleached as it was with anguish, all he could do was smile. And luckily the girl smiled back.

The Not Alone Buddies climbed out of the boats with the girl still trying to sort out her hair and Teddy plaiting it so the damage was less noticeable. From her wrist she produced a hairband and wrapped it thrice around the tip of the plait. Teddy was impressed that it didn't snap after being stretched like that as well as appreciating that twice wouldn't have been near enough.

'Someone really needs to change that design' he thought.

And thus, concluded the boat ride. Hagrid got out first and helped a few of the students out who either couldn't manage on their own or were stuck in the back. Not long after that they all made their way past the candlelight hallways filled with dented and occasionally missing armoured pieces and talking paintings which freaked out the muggle-born children who had not bought a copy of the Daily Prophet on the train.

Hagrid drew the group to a stop outside the Great Hall, which Teddy knew to be the waiting place for the Sorting ceremony. Aware as he was, he understood the necessity for this to be explained.

'Alright, yer all just wait 'ere until we get the sign ter go in. Once that 'appens, yer'll be called in alphabetical order ter get sorted. Yer'll sit down at the end of the 'all an will 'ave the Sorting 'At placed on yer. It'll tell yer what 'ouse yer belong ter. Any questions?'

Several hands raised in the air and were ceremoniously ignored due to the raucous ovation lifted on the other side of the doors. It appeared that Headmitress, Professor Minerva McGonnagall had just finished her opening speech.

All the student jumped as the – in some cases unfamiliar – sound of static reared it's unpleasant head.

'Professor Hagrid, we're ready for skrrrr beep please proceed reee has begun clunk'

It appeared that no courteous explanation would be given for this. Hagrid opened the doors and lead the students in, ignoring their confused glances back to the amplifier they had just spotted. Onwards they plodded, the dozens of unfamiliar faces becoming the most dauting experience thus far. The girl from the train self-consciously brushed her hair in a desperate attempt to ameliorate her aesthetic.

It was inevitable for Teddy to scout for familiar faces, identifying Oberon Clarke on the Slytherin prefect table and the bullies for the train neighbouring his collective. Nobody else rang a bell to him so his attention went from Clarke to the enchanted ceiling reflecting to starry night above them to the old hat resembling a Halloween costume that had been left in a box for several centuries. This object drew more of the group's attention when without warning it cleared its voice and began to sing.

It was in such a bygone age

That even I don't recall

When I became a learners' sage

And brought judgement to them all.

I'd say you're in the safest hands

If hands I e'er possessed.

You end up suiting your demands

For my judgement is best.

I've come into some foul critique

For analysing youth

When every person is unique

It's said to be uncouth.

I can assure my method's pure

And meant for growth and change.

In people there is so much more

That my own sorting range.

But as for now, there's Hufflepuff

The closest group you'll find.

You'll fit in well, more than enough

Of you have the maker's mind.

Another option's Gryffindor

For the brave above the rest.

Adventure for you lies in store

If I judge it is best.

Perhaps you'll be in Slytherin

Stand by your friends and self.

No ambition is kept within

For fame or change of wealth.

Last, but not least, is Ravenclaw

Who hold mind in high zest.

The search for knowledge you'll adore

And I'll agree it's best.

So, come up now and have no fear,

This castle is your home.

No matter what, you'll love it here.

With joy these halls you'll roam.

I'll set you up within the hour

On your personal quest.

Just trust in me, trust in my power

For my judgement is best.

Another ovation lifted up across the Great Hall. Teddy zoned out after the song described Gryffindor, for he knew that was the place for him. Ever since he set foot in Hogsmeade station, he was completely confident in every aspect of the experience. His nerves had almost completely vanished when McGonnagall began to list the students to be sorted.