August 17, 1991
"Come on, Hest, we'll be late!" Harry said, running through Potter Manor.
"We will not. You know how late those Weasley boys sleep. It'll be a wonder if Neville and Draco can get you and Ron up in the morning once you've gone to Hogwarts," Hestia said, pushing Harry into a chair and forcing him to eat some toast.
"Aguamenti worked a treat on James and Sirius," Remus suggested, looking up from the Daily Prophet.
"Don't tell them that! They'll use it!" Harry lamented, throwing his head back.
"Who'll use what?" Sirius asked, stumbling to the table.
"Aguamenti," was all Remus had to say to make Sirius shudder.
"You wouldn't. That was a vile, horrid trick every time you did it. Don't torture our poor Prongslet with that," Sirius said, wrapping an arm around Harry's shoulders.
"Prongslet!" Rigel cheered, throwing bits of food in the air.
"That's right, Pup! Prongslet!" Sirius encouraged his son, ruffling his hair.
"You have to eat fast, Pup, so we can go!" Harry encouraged Rigel, shoving food down his throat as fast as he could.
"It's not polite to eat fast," Adhara informed Harry bossily. "You should slow down or you will choke."
"Excellent enunciation, Addie love. And Harry, she is right, slow down," Hestia admonished while smoothing down Adhara's black curls. "I wonder if Narcissa has any of that hair potion. Adhara's curls are getting out of hand."
"I'll have her send some later," Sirius noted, taking the paper from Remus. "Let's see what the Ministry has screwed up today."
"Dirty bastards!" Harry and Rigel cheered, smiles plastered on their faces as Sirius handed them biscuits.
"Really, Siri, you shouldn't encourage this behavior," Hestia said, rolling her eyes and passing Remus a galleon.
"Are you two gambling on my teaching the children bad behavior?" Sirius asked, mock offended.
"Yes we are. And you are making me a killing," Remus informed him with a smile.
"Of course I am," Sirius said with a roll of his eyes.
"Can we go to Diagon Alley now?" Harry asked shoving the rest of his toast in his mouth.
"Ew, Harry," Adhara repeated, turning her nose up.
"Let's go get dressed then we'll be ready to leave," Hestia said, releasing the safety charms on Rigel and Adhara's chairs.
"Aida, be a love and clean this mess up, please," Sirius told the house elf, standing up to follow his wife out.
"Of course, Master Sirius. It would be a pleasure," Aida chirped, snapping her fingers and starting the dishes.
"We would die without out, Aida," Sirius praised, leaving the room.
"Hagrid!" Harry shouted as he entered the Leaky Cauldron.
"Harry!" Hagrid greeted with a smile on his face.
"What did you bring with you?" Harry asked, digging through Hagrid's pockets, looking for his latest wacky pet.
"I didn't bring anything ter Diagon Alley. I'm here ter pick up a package for Professor Dumbledore," Hagrid said, releasing a bat from one of his pockets.
"Where is it? Can I help?" Harry asked, jumping around Hagrid.
"It's in Gringotts. I shouldn'ta said that," Hagrid said.
"I have to go to Gringotts! We could go together! Want to go with us, Hagrid?" Harry asked.
"Actually, Hagrid, if you could take Harry to Gringotts, it would be a big help," Hestia said, hoisting Adhara up her hip.
"Does Harry have 'is key?" Hagrid asked, caving easily to Harry's pleading eyes.
"Harry, your key?" Sirius asked, holding Rigel.
"Right here, in my pocket. Good wizards always have their keys when they go to Diagon Alley," Harry said, remembering long lessons in managing family accounts.
"Alrigh' let's go," Hagrid said, leading Harry away.
"Surely he can't screw this up, can he?" Sirius asked, watching them walk away.
"Professor Quirrell!" Hagrid greeted a pale man on the street. Harry thought he looked a bit paranoid, like Sirius after he came back from Grimauld Place. "Harry, this is your Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for next year."
"C-c-c-can't tell you h-h-h-how please I am t-t-to meet you, P-P-Potter. G-getting all your s-supplies for the y-year? I-I'm here to p-pick up a b-book on vampires, m-myself," Professor Quirrell said, eyes shifting about. "S-see you in c-class, P-Potter. N-not that you'll h-have any use f-for it."
"Well, we best be on our way," Hagrid said, leading Harry away from his professor.
"What was wrong with him?" Harry asked once they were a polite distance away.
"Poor bloke is brilliant when it comes to books, but he went to get some first hand experience. They say he met some vampires while in the Black Forest- not the one you're thinkin' of- and then there was a hag. He's not the same. Scared of students, scared of his subject, even scared of his own shadow," Hagrid said, hanging his head in sorrow. "Now, best be off. Got ter get to Gringotts."
"This is so cool! Thanks for taking me, Hagrid!" Harry said, pulling Hagrid up to Griphook. "I need in my vault please, Griphook."
"Come Master Potter, I trust you have your key?" Griphook asked, extending his hand.
"Sure do, Griphook!" Harry said, handing over his key.
"And I have a letter from Professor Dumbledore. It's about You-Know-What in vault 713," Hagrid said, handing over the letter.
"Very well, we can be on our way," Griphook said, herding them into the cart system of the bank.
"What's in vault 713, Hagrid?" Harry asked mischievously.
"Never yeh mind, Harry. More'n my job's worth ter tell yeh that," Hagrid saidm adjusting his bulk to fit better in the cart. With that, Griphook set off and they sailed away to collect their things from the bank.
The trip was short, what with Harry already more than familiar with his inheritance vault and Hagrid making a short trip into vault 713. Once they arrived back on the surface, Hagrid steered Harry towards Madame Malkins, where they intended to meet Sirius and Hestia.
"Are you here to get your Hogwarts robes too? There's another boy here getting his robes as well," Madame Malkin commented pointing to the other student present.
"Hogwart, too?" the boy asked.
"No, you wanker, I figured Durmstrang was a better fit," Harry deadpanned.
"Shut it. Mother is up the street looking at wands and Hestia is getting the books. Think we can talk Sirius into taking us to look at brooms?" Draco said, laughing at Harry.
"Sure, but getting him to buy them with Moony there will be the challenge," Harry said, beginning to scheme.
"Ah, but Moony is with Hestia, carrying the bags," Draco said, winking.
"Yes! We'll get the brooms for sure!" Harry cheered.
"But first, you're robes," Madame Malkin said disapprovingly.
"Yeah, yeah," they said, rolling their eyes.
"There you two are. Hagrid said he left you in here. We've got all your books and Severus picked up your potions supplies last week before he left for school. All that's left is Ollivanders," Hestia said, walking into Madame Malkins. Adhara was holding her hand and Moony was following carrying a bag of books.
"Yes!" Draco and Harry cheered.
"We'll be meeting Ron there. You lot de-gnomed the garden last week and earned your wands," Hestia said, paying and leading the boys out. "Look, there he is now."
"Harry! Draco!" Ron said, running towards them.
"Ron!" They replied, doing a weird, eleven year old boy secret handshake that looked more like elaborate wiggling and jumping than anything.
"Where's Neville?" Harry asked, looking around.
"He'll meet you at Ollivanders. He's got to get his own wand as well," Hestia said, looking for Molly. "Ron, where's your mum?"
"She's meeting Sirius at Quidditch Quality Supplies. Fred and George earned new brooms last month, or at least that's what Sirius told her," Ron said with a shrug.
"Ah, I remember that. There's Ollivanders and there's Neville. Let's go in shall we?" Hestia said, nodding along.
"Mum, can I get my wand today?" Adhara asked, looking innocently at Hestia.
"No, no wands until you're 11," Hestia said, not even phased.
"That goes for you, too, Marly," Alice said, cutting off Marly's cry for the same.
"How about Marly, Olivia, and Adhara come with Remus and I and we go to Fortescue's for ice cream!" Frank suggested, taking Olivia's hand.
"Yay!" All three girls cheered running off.
"Adhara, stay with Moony, young lady," Hestia warned.
"Of course, Mum," Adhara said, the picture of a pureblood princess.
"Off you go. And in we go," Hestia said, opening the door of Ollivanders.
Harry got the distinct impression that silence was valued in the wand shop. Ollivander greeted the group, commenting on the number of young boys all in at once. He explained in his soft, soothing voice the cores of the wands. As he spoke, several tapes started measuring the boys at the same time.
"That will be quite enough," Ollivander told the tapes, causing them to drop. "Let's start with you, Mr. Longbottom."
"Are-are you sure, Sir," Neville asked, stepping forward. "Grandmum seemed sure I should just use Dad's."
"You're not doing that, Nev," Alice said with a shake of her head, grateful- not for the first time- that Augusta was not raising her son.
"Your mother is absolutely correct. Using another wizard's wand wouldn't yield the correct results," Ollivander informed the group. "Now, let's begin."
Neville went through several wands, causing a variety of reactions. He was giving up hope with Ollivander plopped a 13 inch cherry wood wand in his hand.
"It's got unicorn hair for the core. I hadn't planned on making one from that particular unicorn so soon, but it just came to me last week. I believe it was meant for you," Ollivander explained. Neville gave the wand a wave and felt his magic connect to the wand. Suddenly, a plant in the corner of the room started growing.
"Ah, connected to nature, I see," Ollivander commented. "That'll be your wand, then. Who's next? It looks like you are, young man," Ollivander pointed to Ron.
"Okay, let's do it," Ron said, happy he wasn't using Charlie's wand like his mother had first suggested. He tried three wands before a 14 inch willow was placed in his hand. Again, magic connected to wand and Ron was creating sparks in the air.
"Another unicorn hair core. A different unicorn, mind you, but unicorn hair all the same," Ollivander said with a raise of his brows. "You, Mr. Malfoy, are next."
Draco went through several wands before the 10 inch hawthorn made it into his hand.
"A third unicorn hair. Intriguing. Let's find out if Mr. Potter will make a set," Ollivander said as though this were a very strange day. Harry's wand finding took longer than even Neville's. There was quite a pile of wands before Ollivander said, "Tricky customer, but don't worry. We'll find a match- let's try- yes, why not- holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."
The wand seemed to love Harry, connecting the second it came into contact with his hand, showering red and gold sparks all over.
"Curious, very curious," Ollivander said in a way that caused Hestia and Alice to set up straight in apprehension.
"What's curious?" Hestia asked skeptically.
"I remember every wand I have ever sold. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave one another feather- just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined with this wand when its brother- why, its brother gave you that scar."
Harry swallowed the bad feeling in his gut.
"Remember, Mr. Potter, the wand chooses the wizard. I think we must expect great things from you. After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things- terrible things, yes, but great," Ollivander said.
"That's… a lot of information. Let's- uh- let's go. Thank you so much, Mr. Ollivander," Hestia said as she and Alice paid for the wands. "Let's go get some ice cream."
"You should have seen it, Sirius. The wand is perfect for him," Harry overheard Hestia tell Padfoot later. "I could have just killed him for telling Harry about it, though."
"I still think we should take the wand away from him. Let him use mine for now. It won't hurt me to go get a second wand. Never know when you'll need a spare, especially after the war," Sirius said, contemplating taking Harry's wand. Harry felt fear spark through his body. He didn't want his wand taken away, even if it was tucked inside his shiny new Hogwarts trunk.
"You will do no such thing," Hestia said, grabbing Sirius' arm before he could do anything rash. "Harry already knows and he is coping. You are going to stay here and let him handle this. He is growing up and he has to learn how to handle Voldemort and that night all on his own. He has great friends to help him get through this, yeah?"
"Yeah, I understand. I can't protect him forever," Sirius said, moving in for a kiss. That was when Harry chose to sneak back to bed, feeling better than he had before. Sirius knew that he could handle this, so he would do that just to make Sirius proud.
September 1, 1991
"Why is everyone staring? It's not like I've never left the house before?" Harry asked, pulling his fringe down over his lightning scar.
"Because you are finally starting school. We aren't going to be there to hex people every time they get too close," Sirius said with a frown.
"Yeah, but I know how to hex, too. Don't they think about that?" Harry asked, pouting.
"You aren't allowed to hex when you're not in class, silly," Ginny said, rolling her eyes.
"No, you're not allowed to get caught hexing outside of class," Harry correct, earning himself a laugh from Sirius and Remus and a huff of disapproval from Hestia.
"Don't let your Aunt Minerva catch you saying that. Also, none of you go calling her Aunt Minerva. She's Professor McGonagall while you lot are at school," Hestia reminded the boys, giving them a hard look.
"You boys better find yourselves a compartment before they all get filled up," Narcissa suggested, smoothing Draco's hair.
"Mum, leave it, it's fine," Draco shooed his mother's hand from his head.
"Neville, are you sure you don't want to leave the toad here?" Alice asked, looking skeptically at Trevor.
"No, Grandmum says it'll be good for me to keep him. She'll lecture me if she finds out I lost him," Neville said, looking sick at the thought.
"Just… be sure to keep an eye on it," Alice said, discreetly handing Fred a slip of paper with the spell to transfigure a cage.
"I want to go to Hogwarts, too! It's not fair that I have to wait a whole year!" Ginny said, suddenly missing her brother and his friends before they even left.
"Don't worry, Ginny, we'll send you a toilet seat straight from Hogwarts!" Fred and George said, leaning into each other.
"Yes!" Ginny said, pumping her fist.
"You will do no such thing!" Molly said, smacking the twins on their arms.
"Of course not, Mum," They said, the picture of innocence.
"No wonder Minerva drinks," Molly muttered. "Go on, get on the train, the lot of you."
"Where did Neville go?" Ron asked, hoisting his trunk onto a shelf.
"Don't know. Lost him in the confusion getting on the train," Harry replied, taking out a pack of Exploding Snaps.
"We'd do best just to wait here for him," Draco suggested, setting down and preparing for the long journey.
"Great plan," Harry said, setting up the game. "Hey, Ron, ready to lose that other eyebrow?"
"You wish!"
"Have you seen a toad? A boy named Neville lost his," a bushy haired girl asked, opening their door.
"And he's still looking for it?" Ron asked in disbelief.
"Look, tell Nev to get in here and forget about Trevor. He's better off not trying to take care of him his first year. I swear, it's like Mrs. Longbottom hates him," Draco said, crossing his arms.
"Where is Nev, anyways?" Harry asked, calling attention to himself.
"I know you! You're Harry Potter! I read all about you in Hogwarts: A History!" The bushy haired girl said, coming into the compartment.
"Oh, yeah? What did it say?" Harry sulked, crossing his arms.
"It said you're famous for killing You-Know-Who," the little know-it-all explained.
"Yeah, I didn't do that. My parents did, when they died," Harry said, staring out the window.
"That is so important! Why didn't they put that in the book?" she asked, looking distraught.
"Here an important lesson: books lie, too," Ron said, shoving the girl out of the compartment. "Aunt Hestia did try to warn you, mate," was all he said in way consolation.
"You're Harry Potter," the scrawny looking boy said, staring appreciatively.
"Yeah, if I never hear that again, it'll be too soon," Harry huffed.
"And you're Draco Malfoy," the boy continued.
"Oh, lay off it, Nott. We all know each other. We've all seen each other about during our horrid scion lessons. Stop acting like Harry's a novelty," Draco said with a roll of his eyes.
"I'm just wondering what you're doing in here with the half-blood and the blood traitor, is all," Nott said in mock innocence.
"Don't use language like that, it's an insult to your mother, may she rest in peace," Draco shot back, narrowing his eyes.
"Look, Potter, there are is a hierarchy that must be maintained. You've been raise by the last of the Black family and are the last of the Potter family. You should really consort with a higher caliber of wizard than this lot," Nott said, wanting the social clout of having the chosen one as his best friend.
"Yeah? Here's the thing: I was raised by the last of the Black family, Sirius Black. He was blasted off the tapestry before his mother died, may she burn in hell. He was a Gryffindor and member of the light. So when I say I can judge who's the better wizard, you should know you'll lose. Get out of our compartment before I teach you one of my family's spells," Harry said, narrowing his eyes.
"It's not wise to make enemies before you step foot off the train," Nott said as way of warning.
"Funny, I could say the same to you," Harry returned, shoving him out and slamming the compartment shut.
"Wow, twice already and we're only halfway there," Ron said, impressed. The door was flung open once more. "What the hell do we have to do to get some peace!"
"Keep your shorts on, it's just me. Oh, and Hermione," Neville said, letting the bushy haired girl from earlier in. "She helped me find Trevor."
"What have we ever done to you?" Ron asked the girl hatefully.
"I don't understand, you've done nothing to me," the girl- Hermione- said, confused.
"Then why did you go and find Trevor?" Ron asked.
"She didn't, I did. I told you I can't lose him. Grandmum will know and then she'll lecture me endlessly at Christmas," Neville said defending the girl.
"Anyway, you need to get dressed. I found the conductor and he said we'll be there shortly," Hermione informed them bossily.
"Can you go stand outside, then? Can't get changed in front of you, can we?" Harry asked, gently pushing the girl to the door.
"Fine," She huffed. Then she turned on Ron. "You've got dirt on your nose, do you know that?" she asked before leaving.
"Let's just get changed," Draco said wearily. "I'm ready for this train ride to be over."
The boat ride had each boy jumping up and down when they finally arrived at the steps of Hogwarts. They all kept staring at one another, then laughing when Aunt Minnie came to them in her robes and pointed hat. She cut all of them a look that would have scared any other student, but this only made them laugh harder.
"You really shouldn't laugh at professor," The bushy haired Hermione scolded them once Minerva had walked into the Great Hall. "If you read the school rules in Hogwarts, A History, you would know that every teacher is to be shown respect, they can take and give house points, detention and can also get you expelled if you're not careful enough!"
"How many days worth of detention do you think Aunt Minnie will give us if we call her that?" Harry asked his friends.
"Two," Draco laughed as Harry did an impression of Hermione and her scolding.
"Nah, she would go easy on us, we need a little learning curve." Ron chimed in. "I say a day."
"How about three, for all of you," Minerva told them, her wand out. "The sorting hasn't even begun and you all have detention, except for you Mr. Longbottom and Miss. Granger. I do believe this is a new record." She directed her attention to the rest of the first years. "When you enter these doors, you will be sorted into one of the four houses named after it's founder member. Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin. Once you are sorted, you will be seated with your houses. They are and will become your new family here at Hogwarts. Together, you can gain points towards the House Cups, or you may lose points. Follow me please."
"Sirius and my mum are going to hear about this before we can even write the owl, aren't they?" Draco mumbled as Minnie opened the doors.
"As long as it isn't a howler from my mum," Ron whispered.
They finalled entered the great hall.
The whole hall seemed to be in a trance, waiting for the new students to be sorted. Each of the boys looked from one another, dancing on the balls of their feet until it was finally Neville's turn.
Neville sat quietly, not wanting to disturb the Hat too much.
Quite a mind, quite a mind. Hard work, that's for certain. All that loyalty. But there is the bravery that lies in your heart.
'Oh, Mr. Hat, I'm not that brave,' Neville thought.
Are you sure Mr. Longbottom? Never stood up to your friends? That sister alone is enough to make you brave. You know that don't you?
'I'll be fine with Hufflepuff, I swear.' Neville thought again.
Do I detect disappointment there?
'It's just...my parents were Gryffindors and I want to be one, too,' Neville thought sheepishly.
I see. "Well then, it had better be GRYFFINDOR!"
Neville couldn't believe it. He was a Gryffindor, just like his parents. Taking a deep breath, he validation course through his veins. He didn't realize how worried he was about his house until after the sorting.
"Congratulations, Neville!" Hermione said as he sat next to her.
"That took a really long time, Nev," Fred commented, leaning towards George.
"You'll go down in history as a hatstall now. Over five minutes. What was the problem?" George said, leaning towards Fred. "You delayed supper by a bit. We'll get you for that later."
"You'll do no such thing!" Hermione said crossly.
"Aren't you a little spitfire?" Fred laughed.
"Ginny's the only one who ever tries to stand up to us," George joined in Fred's mirth. "Well, except for Percy, but he doesn't count."
"Hush, Draco's up," Neville said, waving his arm and staring at the hat.
Draco took a deep breath as he walked up to the hat. He looked at Neville, smiling brightly from the Gryffindor table. Ron and Harry were fidgeting as they stood. Draco took the seat, his focus now on Minnie placing the Sorting Hat on his head.
Draco forced himself to sit still as the Scorting Hat spoke in his head.
A Malfoy and a Black. Something is different, however. Yes, very different here. A fear, but a most interesting fear. But who do you belong to? The new Blacks, or the old Blacks. But you're still a strong member of the Malfoy house. Where will your loyalties lie? Perhaps with both, or neither. Your heart has decided, but your head has not. There is only one house where you can listen to them both. "Slytherin!"
Draco looked up from the floor over to Harry, Neville, and Ron, who were all cheering with the loud Slytherin table. Draco got up and walked to the table, and was greeted by other students. Draco smiled softly, trying to find meaning in the Sorting Hat's dilemma.
Finally, when it was Harry's turn, he strode confidently up to the Hat, his head held high. Ah, Harry Potter, I have been wanting a look into your mind. Ah, talent, much talent, and yet, you wish to prove yourself to your family and friends. Where to put you? There is Slytherin, you would do well in Slytherin.
"I want to be a Gryffindor. Like my parents too. I-I need to be like them," Harry pleaded to the hat.
"Very well then! Gryffindor!" The hat bellowed.
Harry strutted to the Gryffindor table, getting high fives from Fred, George, and Neville.
When Ron was finally up, it took the Sorting Hat less than a minute to place him with the rest of his family. After a massive feast, they all parted ways, and into their respective Common Rooms to sleep a dream filled sleep, and to await a new day.
Kat: Drinny or Hinny. An interesting debate! Can I tell them at least one little, little thing?
Gabs: Fremione? Is that the thing? Or Dramione?
Kat: Muahaha! Here's the deal. Root for Drinny, root for Hinny, either way you will be pleased, but only one can win. Heck, root for Harry and Hermione to be together. Point is, we love that you are interested, but please remember, we can't please anyone (I've already had a mental breakdown).
Gabs: Or Dramione. You can root for Dramione. Point is, this is Harry Potter and no one agrees on any ships. If you can't keep an open mind to the fact that a bunch of 11 year olds will date around, go find a new fic. We aren't people pleasers.
Kat: Well, I am, but Gabs and I are doing this because it's a story we wanted to tell. If you like the story and want to ask questions, that's totally fine, but please remember, we are people too, and we do have feelings. Well, maybe not Gabs. She has a black heart... To all of you who commented and got a snippet from the next chapter, we love you! Hope you enjoyed it!
Gabs: You forgot my icy soul and the fact that all flames are handled by me. We own nothing, especially the bits that are from cannon. Reviews are love.
Kat: Yes! Adore us! Oh! We forgot to say we're sorry for missing a post. So here is this chapter a day early! See you Saturday, when we get back on track.
XOXO Gabs and Kat
