Thanks to everyone at DLP who suggested edits and provide the soundest of sounding boards. Feel free to drop a review if you enjoy it. Or if you hate it.
Chapter 2: A new home
The baton portkey deposited him on the uneven ground of Rookhope's mountainside yard and he stumbled, rolling a few yards through the tall grass before coming to a stop.
He just about managed to get to his feet when Hagrid grabbed him by the arm and hurried him down the hill, through the broken weed-strewn stonework of the yard to the kitchen door at the rear of the house. Once inside, Hagrid reached into one of the many pockets of his brown oversized coat and took out a black spinning top covered in tiny symbols.
"Hagrid, we have to go back!" He protested.
"We can't," Hagrid said quietly as he stared the table, coiled as if he expected the device to strike out at him.
"What about Remus and Hestia?"
"There's nothin' to be done, besides, Aurors are there now," He grunted, still staring at it before relaxing slightly and stepping back.
Harry glanced down at the lifeless spinning top. "What is it?" He asked quietly.
"Sneakoscope. Let's yer know when there's people who mean no good about. Blasted thing must have been goin' mad in the alley but I had 'er stuffed down me pocket."
Harry sat down at the table and realised he was shaking. He could still see Remus crumpling to the ground, Hestia's mangled leg and hear the screams coming from the bookshop.
"Those were the people Professor Dumbledore warned me about weren't they?" He asked.
Hagrd sighed and ran a hand through his beard.
"Aye, that they were. Death Eaters they call themselves. They're a bad lot, Harry. The worst o' the worst. Bloomin' cowards the lot o' them and that's the nicest I'll say."
"Will Remus and Hestia be alright?" He asked tentatively.
Hagrid looked pained at the question and Harry's heart sank.
"Remus is dead, isn't he?"
"Tha' rotten mongrel hit him with bad magic Harry. The type o' magic there's no comin' back from," said Hagrid, suddenly looking very tired.
It wasn't fair, Harry thought to himself. He'd only just been getting to know Remus. He was his father's best friend and had told him more about his parents in his few months at Rookhope than the Dursleys had in his entire life.
Now he was gone, just like his parents. All of them had died protecting him. Unbidden tears started to form at the corner of his eyes.
"Voldemort's gone. Why do they keep coming after me? Can't they just leave me alone?"
Hagrid winced at the name slightly but put a hand on his back reassuringly. "When you got rid of You-Know-Who there was a lot o' people right grateful to ya. The Order won't let them near."
"If they knew when I was in the alley what makes you think they won't come here?'
"If Professor Dumbledore reckons yer safe here then yer safe as houses. There's no better wizard out there."
"How nice of you to say, Hagrid."
Harry looked over his shoulder at the doorway where the Headmaster stood clad in green robes with a large furry cloak that looked decidedly out of place in the summer weather.
"While Hagrid may exaggerate my abilities a tad, I'm more than sure of the strength of Rookhope's defences. Anyone hoping to cause trouble here will be met with quite a few imaginatively nasty surprises."
Harry felt a little more secure at that and as the old Headmaster conjured a plush armchair for himself he turned slightly on his chair to address him. "Were you at the alley, Sir?" He asked, eager for news.
"Indeed, Harry. By quite a fortunate happenstance Mr. Fortescue has several ways to contact me in an emergency such as this. Unfortunately, I arrived much too late." His face darkened for a moment and Harry was sure he was thinking about Remus.
"He's really gone then?"
"I'm afraid so, Harry. He will be sorely missed," Dumbledore said, bowing his head slightly.
Hagrid placed a cup of tea on the table in front of him and maneuvered himself around to give one to the Headmaster. Harry hadn't even noticed him boiling the kettle.
"What about Hestia?" He asked, half afraid of the answer.
"Hestia took a nasty curse to the leg. It will be some time before she is fully healed but for now, she is in no danger."
"The people in the bookshop?"
At this, the Headmaster's mood darkened noticeably and for a moment it seemed as if a shadow passed through the room.
"Doyle, it seems, has developed a fondness for fire. He used a spell which created cursed fire that is almost impossible to put out. I managed to extinguish the flames but the people inside were lost to us."
"Those people died because the Death Eaters wanted me," Harry said, a hollowness to his voice. "If I hadn't been there they would have gotten about their day."
"Now see here, I'll 'ave none 'er tha' talk. Those people were rotten to the core before you were even a thought." Hagrid interrupted.
"Hagrid is right, Harry. These people followed Voldemort willingly for years with an almost religious fervour. You're not responsible for the actions of mad men. Think of how many lives would have been lost over the years had Voldemort not been undone the night he attacked you."
He didn't know what to say to that so he brought the cup of hot tea to his lips. Wrapping his head around how many people's lives had been spared was too difficult to comprehend while he could still hear the screams from Flourish and Blott's.
His thoughts must have been easily read as the Headmaster sat forward and caught Harry with an intense look.
"It does not do to dwell on that which we cannot change, Harry. We can only look to ourselves and forward, to a tomorrow where we can make a difference. Remus will be greatly missed as the truest of friends and a great wizard. Mourn him, yes... But do not dishonour his sacrifice by allowing yourself to become lost in the process."
The old wizard's were filled with warmth and for a moment Harry felt a little less lost.
They sat in silence until the sun threw long shadows across the yard and they were all thoroughly sick of tea.
The Headmaster announced that he had to leave and Hagrid escorted him to the floo in the sitting room, leaving Harry to wonder just what this wizarding world had in store for him.
It had almost been a month since the attack at Diagon Alley and in the morning, Harry would be travelling to London to catch the train to Hogwarts. He had reasoned he was probably closer to Scotland than London at Rookhope but Hestia had just smiled and told him the Hogwarts Express was tradition.
She had been released from St. Mungo's a few days after the attack. Her leg had been badly wounded by the curse and she had explained to him that the dark nature of the magic prevented the normally stellar staff of the hospital from healing it fully. As a result she walked with a pronounced limp and a cane that looked decidedly out of place on such a young witch.
Partly as a result she'd taken to staying in the house with him more often than not. With Remus gone he supposed she'd been assigned to babysit him until he left for Hogwarts but he didn't mind, she had been good company. She didn't talk down to Harry, and though she had taken Remus' death hard she always had a smile for him.
Remus' funeral was a small affair outside Nottingham that Harry hadn't been allowed to attend. Instead, Hestia had stayed with him and they held their own little vigil at Rookhope. It was that evening after dinner when the older witch had indulged in a few glasses of wine that Harry found her sitting in front of the drawing room fireplace staring thoughtfully at nothing.
He sat opposite her and she gave him a small smile.
"Thinking about Remus?" Harry guessed.
"Caught me. We've known each other for nearly ten years. He was a good friend," she said softly.
"I wish I'd known him longer. Since I've been here he's told me so much about my parents it almost feels like I knew them too."
Hestia shifted on her seat, stretching her leg slightly with a wince.
"Your parents were good people. A few years above me in Hogwarts so I didn't really know them but they were very well respected."
"How did you meet Remus?" Harry asked.
"I was in my seventh year when Voldemort fell. You can't imagine the celebrations or the sheer joy of the time. It was like the whole world let out a breath we didn't know we were holding. It was all over." For a moment a look of contentment crossed her face as she was awash with memory.
"Then the Longbottoms were killed."
"The Longbottoms?" Harry asked.
"Friends of your parents, actually. A married couple, both aurors and members of the Order. They opposed Voldemort at every step. They were heroes."
"The Death Eaters got them?"
"Them and others. Many of Voldemort's supporters were caught and thrown in Azkaban after his fall but those that escaped carried on in his name. Not as boldly mind you but it was bad enough that the country started to feel grim again. I was an intern for the committee of experimental charms when the Order approached me. Remus told me about the Order, that they were continuing the fight against the Death Eaters. I joined up straight away."
Harry didn't know what to say. People had told him about Voldemort, how evil he was, what he'd done but the Death Eaters were rarely mentioned around him.
Hestia absently rubbed a finger around the lip of her glass bringing a soft noise from it, lost in memories.
"I'm glad you did," Harry decided on saying. "If you weren't there I might have died along with Remus."
That brought a small smile to her face and he silently congratulated himself on his tact.
"Shouldn't you be in bed by now?" She asked with a teasing smile. "Big day tomorrow."
"Can't sleep. I've heard so much about Hogwarts since I came here I think I'm too excited."
"That's normal, I couldn't sleep the night before either."
"What house were you in?" Harry asked. He'd wondered about what house he would be in ever since Remus had told him of his parents adventures in Gryffindor.
"I was and remain a proud Ravenclaw. It's the best house you know," she said with a wink.
Harry laughed. "Funny, Remus said the same about Gryffindor."
"Well everyone has a certain bias towards their own house. Where do you think you'll go?"
"I don't know, he wouldn't tell me how it's decided." Harry replied, "I certainly asked him enough but he was stubborn about it.
Hestia smiled. "It's an old tradition to keep it secret from the firsties. Don't worry, all the houses are good in their own right, there's no perfect answer."
Harry nodded, deciding not to worry about it any longer. What would be would be, he resolved.
He and Hestia talked for a while longer, she shared memories of times with Remus, even vaguely alluding to a time where the Order had sent the two of them on a mission to the continent. She shied away from offering him any specifics about that one, no matter how much he wheedled.
Eventually, the fire had very nearly burned itself out and the shadows crept in obscuring the bookcases and wall hangings of the drawing room.
Hestia got to her feet gingerly, her leg obviously causing her discomfort and yawned, reaching up into the air.
"Time for bed I think, Harry, or you'll sleep the entire journey to Hogwarts."
He grudgingly got to his feet privately doubting he'd ever get to sleep and said goodnight.
When he made his way to his room, got changed and climbed into bed, he fell asleep almost instantly.
He rose early the next morning and collected his trunk, dragging it down the three flights of criss crossing stairs to the hall adjoining the kitchen.
He'd packed everything he'd needed the day before in a feeble attempt to pass the time, so he was ready to depart at a moment's notice. He pushed his trunk against the wall beside the door and went through the arching corridor into the kitchen.
Hestia sat at the table with a cup of tea and a copy of the Daily Prophet. She was wearing official looking robes of deep blue that were a stark contrast to her usually slightly more eccentric garb.
"Morning Hestia," he said in a cheery tone.
"Morning Harry," she said with a smile. She waved her wand over her shoulder and a plate of sausages and bacon leapt onto a frying pan and started sizzling instantly. Another flick of her wand set a knife to buttering a stack of bread. He'd seen the trick many mornings before but he couldn't help think how handy it could have been at the Dursleys. He caught himself wondering how they were. He liked to imagine his aunt would have a heart attack if she saw the animated breakfast.
He took a seat opposite her at the table and poured himself a cup of tea.
"What's with the robes?" he asked after a sip.
"Oh these old things?" She asked, dramatically gesturing to her outfit. "You're heading to Hogwarts so rather than rattling around here playing the Headmaster's housekeeper I'm due to go back to work."
"Oh, great. Are you excited?"
"Well I've been on a sort of leave for the last year so it'll definitely be strange to go back but yes I suppose I am. Though experimental charms isn't half as exciting a career as it sounds."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "I think it sounds like great fun."
The older witch sighed. "It's mostly busywork day to day but... It has it's charms," she said with an exaggerated wink.
Harry pulled a face and she laughed, waving her wand and depositing a stack of bacon and sausage sandwiches in front of him. They looked delicious and he tucked in with fervour.
When he was half done two packages landed on the table in front of him with a soft thud along with a small cake with a candle.
Harry looked up questioningly at Hestia who was leaning on the table with her elbows looking at him expectantly.
"What's all this for?"
"Well Remus and I had planned a little party for your birthday but then... Well it just didn't seem like there was a right time in the last while so... Happy birthday!"
Harry grinned and opened the first present. The wrapping came apart easily and inside was a beautiful wooden frame with a moving picture inside. He recognised his parents immediately. They were sitting on a couch laughing while a much younger looking Remus played on the floor with a baby with a shock of black hair. The four of them looked so happy that Harry felt his throat heat up.
"No going getting upset now because you'll set me off and Remus would want to make you happy, not sad." Hestia scolded, though Harry was sure he could already see her eyes glisten a little.
He found a smile for her and the tightening in his throat eased slightly. "I just wish I could thank him."
"He would have just said something witty to ease the tension, the old bore. Now, for the pièce de resistance!" She exclaimed with a flair.
Harry smiled and set the picture down beside his plate before reaching for the next present. It was wrapped far tighter and he eventually resorted to tearing the paper which seemed to please Hestia.
Inside was a leather bound journal and as Harry flicked through it he found that almost every page was filled with spells and diagrams.
"It's just a little something that might give you a leg up. These are all of the charms you'll find in your Hogwarts curriculum as well as a few others. I've written some tips and tricks as well as some of my own observations," she said with a hint of pride.
Harry didn't quite know what to say, not having a great deal of experience in the situation. He settled on a heartfelt thank you that brought a smile to Hestia's eyes.
"This'll be a huge help, I've kind of been worried that I wouldn't be any good at magic."
She laughed slightly, "I don't think you need to worry about that Harry. You'll be great," she said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
They talked about the book for a few minutes and shared some of the small cake. Hestia apologized that it wasn't bigger but claimed she'd never been much of a baker. Harry assured her that it was brilliant.
Not long after a small crack of apparition sounded in the hallway and Kingsley walked through into the kitchen.
Harry had only met the auror once at Rookhope but he would never forget the day he showed up at Harry's school to save him from the Death Eater with the mutton chops.
"Good morning Kingsley." Hestia smiled.
"Good morning Hestia, Mr. Potter." he replied in a deep voice. I hope all is well?"
Harry said good morning and hopped up off his seat and went to stow away his presents in his trunk while the adults made small talk.
When he wheeled it in behind him Hestia was putting on her outer cloak of deep navy.
"All set, Harry?"
"I think so."
"Robes, books, ingredients, quills, parchment, ink, all of that?"
Harry resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Yes, I must have packed and unpacked half a dozen times."
"Good, then we're all set!"
Kingsley stepped forward and pulled a large wooden spoon out of his cloak. "Dumbledore's charmed this to activate with a specific phrase. When you're ready to depart simply say, 'Chudley.'"
Hestia chuckled but whatever was funny went over Harry's head so he just smiled and grabbed the spoon.
"I'll see you two at the Platform," he said before popping out of view.
Hestia made sure Harry had a good hold of his trunk, grabbed the spoon and muttered the password. Harry felt the sensation of a hook behind his navel and suddenly they were awash in a spinning vortex of air and colour.
The ride was rougher than Harry's last trip to Diagon alley and at one stage it felt as if he were being bounced around like a rubber ball in a tube. When he landed he did so flat on his back on cold tiles. He looked up blearily to find Hestia in a similarly shaken state, though she'd managed to keep to her feet.
He clambered up and looked around warily. He was on what was probably the biggest train platform he'd ever seen. It seemed to stretch for a mile and in the distance was a truly massive scarlet red steam engine with a large crowd of people gathered around it.
"Was it meant to be that jumpy?" He asked Hestia who was smoothing down her robes and looked none too happy.
"People can't usually Portkey onto the platform. My best guess is that Dumbledore pulled a fast one on the anti-portkey charms and they put up a fight."
Harry still felt rather green, "Couldn't we have just come the normal way?"
"No, the Death Eaters are sure to know that you're starting Hogwarts today. We reasoned they would have someone disguised on the muggle side to keep an eye out for you."
Unbidden, the image of Flourish and Blott's in flames flashed through his mind and he was suddenly thankful of the Headmaster's foresight.
They started off on the long walk to the train which suddenly wasn't a long walk at all, after only a few seconds they were at the rear carriage. Harry blinked in surprise but decided not to question it as it hadn't seemed to phase Hestia and his attention was quickly taken by the huge steam engine before him.
The Hogwarts Express was magnificent. It looked well over a hundred years old in style but brand new with shining paint and polished brass trimmings. Steam billowed from the chimney and little clouds rolled over the platform from the undercarriage.
To his left there was a gigantic elaborately wrought arch with a frightening realistic mosaic that depicted London. Tiles clicked and crawled over themselves, sporadically changing and depicting different scenes from the city. Every now and then students and families would burst through it as if it were no more than an illusion.
"That's the entrance from King's Cross station in muggle London. That's where we'd come through under normal circumstances." Hestia informed him.
Harry marveled at the sight as more and more students came rushing through the arch in groups of various sizes, luggage and parents in tow. Older kids who laughed and met with friends on the platform, some hugging, others clapping each other on the back or wrestling and younger kids who looked around in amazement or trepidation. The air was filled with a cacophony of hooting owls, purring cats and croaking toads.
Further along the platform saw Kingsley standing inconspicuously in the distance, to all appearances looking like a bored wizard reading the paper.
"Are there many of the Order here?" Harry asked with a slight frown. "Kingsley isn't going to sit with me on the train is he?"
Hestia smiled as she came to a stop beside a pair of carriage doors. "There are a few here and there, just in case. Don't worry, once you get on the train you won't be seeing any more of us until Christmas."
Harry nodded and stepped out of the way as a pair of red headed twins ran past boisterously and practically threw themselves into the train. He looked at the doors with a mixture of anxiety and excitement. The train gave a loud shrill whistle, a reminder that it was time to board.
Hestia leaned down and enveloped him in a tight hug. He was surprised but hugged her back, if a little awkwardly.
"You be good now. Try to avoid getting detention, study hard and Christmas will be here before you know it. Don't be afraid to write once in a while, especially if you get sorted into Ravenclaw!"
Harry was surprised to find that Hestia looked a little emotional saying goodbye. "I will, I promise," he said as he heaved his trunk up and stepped on board. "See you at Christmas!"
The older witch smiled and waved goodbye as Harry turned and made his way down the carriage.
There were a lot of compartments already taken, filled with senior students sprawled confidently across cushioned benches or practically sitting atop one another as they crammed as many of their friends as they could into one.
It took him a little while and he passed a few students who seemed to stare at him oddly but he managed to find an empty compartment. Once inside he had to stand on the bench and haul his trunk up to the rack above the seats before remembering to take out a book for the journey and having to repeat the process.
Once settled he set the copy of Wizards and Witches Through the Ages down on the table and took to staring out at the platform, watching people saying hello to friends and goodbye to families and the way they rushed to get on to the train. He made a game of trying to spot members of the Order that he knew.
There was a tall, thin wizard that looked like a classic villain from a black and white movie wearing a top hat and looking imperiously over the platform. He'd met him once at Rookhope and despite his frosty exterior Harry found him to be a lively fellow.
Harry recognised the stern looking witch with gold grey hair who was waving goodbye to a student who looked his age and the barrel chested wizard with the plaited red beard Hagrid drank and laughed with one memorable evening months ago.
Eventually the shrill whistle sounded again and the train roared to life. They started to pull out of the station at a snail's pace and students hung out of the windows waving goodbye to their families. Harry imagined himself doing that, waving out to a pair of proudly beaming parents, maybe even a little brother or sister who'd be jealous that he was heading off to Hogwarts but he pushed those thoughts out of his head and pledged to enjoy his first journey on the Hogwarts Express.
He enjoyed watching the scenery slowly move by as they chugged out of the station, pulling very close to sleek silver muggle trains and seeing the passengers inside who didn't seem to notice the massive red steam engine travelling beside them.
They crawled steadily through the city and the outskirts of muggle London started to slowly blend into a mixture of smaller towns and fields cut through with a huge motorway at points. As they travelled deeper into the countryside he sat back and opened his book. It was a page turner but Harry didn't really believe it was meant for a younger audience. The index listed the likes of Merlin, the Four Founders and other benevolent wizards throughout history but didn't shirk on the nasty side, it was when he was reading about the Greek wizard tyrant Phalamus and his graphically unspeakable crimes with a certain amount of disgust that his compartment door slid open and a tall dark haired student stuck his head in. When his eyes fixed on Harry they widened and he pulled his head back out quickly before shouting, "Lads, I think I've found him."
Someone shouted back at him at which point the boy returned his head. "You're Harry Potter, aren't you?" He asked.
At Harry's weak nod the boy grinned and shouted back, "Yeah I asked him, it's Potter!"
The older boy was quickly joined by more jostling bodies and Harry suddenly felt very much like he was in a zoo being stared at by buffoons. He shrank in on himself slightly.
"Alastair Monroe," one of the boys introduced himself as he slid through the throng and sat opposite Harry.
"Harry potter, nice to meet you," he offered lamely.
"Brian Stack," a smaller blonde haired boy greeted with a smile.
Lots of names spilled forward in the next few seconds leaving Harry with no option but to wave, smile and say, "Nice to meet you all!"
Alaistair leaned forward conspiratorially, "Word in the Prophet is you were there when the Death Eaters attacked Diagon Alley."
Harry started to feel uncomfortable, it was no secret that he was in the alley that day and a few days after the attack the Daily Prophet had run a piece entitled, "'Boy-who-lived' Target of Death Eater Carnage" that had Hestia scowling. Resigned to the line of question he replied. "I was getting my Hogwarts supplies and they attacked out of nowhere, I don't know a whole lot about it to be honest."
"Oh come off it, Potter. Witnesses say they saw you blast one of them when the aurors came." Stack said, excitedly. "You must be pretty handy with a wand already."
Harry shrugged noncommittally, knowing that wasn't actually what happened but unwilling to share the embarrassment of his failed attempt to stop them. Thankfully he was saved by a stern voice coming from the hallway.
"Come on, leave the first year alone and back to your compartments," said a cross looking redheaded boy.
"Bugger off and mind your own business, Weasley," Alasitair snapped.
Weasley drew himself up and pointed to a silver badge on his chest. "This is my business, Monroe and it'll be points from all of you if you don't leave the boy alone and get out of my sight sharpish."
The crowd grumbled but dispersed away from Harry's compartment. Before he left, Alaistair turned and extended his hand. "Welcome to Hogwarts. Don't let His Pompousness scare you off if you ever want a chat." Harry shook his hand and the older student nodded approvingly before shooting Weasley a face and walking off.
The redhead glared after him before turning his attention back to Harry and extending his own hand. "Percy Weasley, fifth year prefect. It's part of my role this year to look out for the new students and you were looking a bit overwhelmed."
Harry shook his hand and smiled gratefully. "Thanks for that, they didn't seem all that bad, just a little much.'
"Yes well how about we find you a compartment with some other first years? My own brother is starting Hogwarts this year, I'm sure he wouldn't mind."
Harry felt uneasy about imposing himself on someone else and honestly, while he couldn't wait to meet people and try to make friends it was pretty uncool to meet someone on a playdate organised by someone with authority. He had no doubt Percy's brother would be fairly put out by it.
"Thanks Percy, I'll go find him in a bit, I just want to finish this chapter. What's his name?"
The prefect nodded, looking satisfied. "Ron Weasley, he looks a bit like me, tall for his age with red hair."
With that he gave Harry a nod and departed, closing the compartment door behind him. He was relieved but reasoned Percy was probably right and after finishing the story of Phalamus he was true to his word and stowed away his book to venture out into the corridor.
There were compartments on both sides of the train yet the hallway was comfortable enough to fit three abreast and he figured there must be some magic at work. He chanced looking through a few compartment windows and found most were full with older students so he moved on to the next carriage and came across a matronly woman with a cart plastered in colours and selling all sorts of sweets and drinks. His stomach grumbled and it seemed a long time since breakfast at Rookhope so he fished into his pocket and took out his purse before approaching the trolley.
The woman was just moving on from a compartment when she looked at him. "Oh, hello dear. What would you like?" She asked brightly.
Occasionally Remus or various members of the Order would bring wizard sweets when they came to Rookhope and Harry had developed a love for chocolate frogs, fizzing whizbees and surprisngly (once he'd gotten over his initial disgust) cockroach clusters. He ordered a handful of each and she handed them over in a bag with his change.
Feeling pleased with himself he turned around, forgetting finding other first years and pledging to eat the entire bag while reading his book. He was so distracted that he walked headlong into another boy who clearly hadn't been paying attention either.
"Sorry about that, wasn't watching where I was going," he said amicably.
"No problem," the boy said before pausing as he looked up. Harry saw his eyes flick to his forehead and felt a flush of embarrassment as the boy paled slightly which was unfortunate, he thought, as the boy couldn't afford to be lose any more colour.
"You're Harry Potter!" He exclaimed.
"Yeah, people keep saying that." He replied dryly.
"Sorry, I suppose that gets annoying, it's just that growing up I was always told that you should be in my year at Hogwarts but nobody really knew for sure. I'm Terry Boot," he said.
"You excited to get to Hogwarts?" Harry asked, not really knowing what else to say.
"Yeah I can't wait, it feels like I've been waiting forever. Imagine all the magic we're going to learn," he said enthusiastically.
Despite their rough start Harry felt himself grinning, knowing how Terry felt.
"I grew up with muggles, I didn't even know magic was real until last year so it's still kind of unbelievable."
"Muggles? You're the Boy-who-lived!" He exclaimed.
Harry couldn't help feeling embarrassed. "They thought I'd be safer if nobody knew where I was."
"Makes sense. If the Death Eaters ever found out where you were... I mean, just look at the Malfoys." The boy shuddered.
Harry didn't know who the Malfoys were so a moment of silence followed before Terry brightened up. "Hey, fancy joining us in our compartment for a bit? My friends would love to meet you. I mean, you're probably sitting with people but you could pop in?"
"I'm not sitting with anyone actually, I'd love to."
Together the two boys went to Harry's compartment and picked up his trunk before moving down the train. They stopped at the next carriage and when Terry entered a compartment Harry followed him in. Inside were two kids, a boy with dark brown curly hair and glassed and a small girl with red hair who looked up with a bright smile.
"Kevin, Susan, this is Harry he's going to sit with us for the rest of the trip." Terry said and Harry didn't miss a subtle hint of smugness.
"Harry Potter?" Kevin asked excitedly, "Come in, nice to meet you!"
Harry smiled and stowed his trunk above with Terry's help before sitting down beside the curly haired boy opposite Susan and Terry.
"Thanks, nice to meet you guys." He said as he settled in.
"This is weird, my aunt used to read me your bedtime stories." Susan said, shaking her hair slightly. "I thought you'd be taller."
Harry was a little miffed at that but Susan seemed to realise what she'd just said and flushed red. "I just meant..."
"That I'm not the dashing hero type?" Harry said, sounding hurt. Kevin and Terry were stifling their laughter as Susan went even redder.
Harry smiled. "It's okay, I don't feel anything like a hero. A friend of my parents thought it would be very funny to show me those books last year so I can tell you I haven't been away for years saving children from monsters, just with relatives."
"Oh of course, I haven't believed those stories for years!"
Kevin sniggered. "She says that but I wouldn't be surprised if she has one of them in her trunk."
"I say we open it up and have a look," Terry said, thoughtfully. "For Harry's sake."
Susan produced a long slender strip of pale wood and pointed it at Terry. "I know plenty of hexes, Boot."
"I don't care, Harry would save me." Terry said confidently and they all laughed.
"Oh, we were showing off our wands earlier, what's yours, Harry?" Kevin asked.
Harry produced his wand and lay it on the table. "Eleven inches, Holly with a pheonix feather. Did you all go to Ollivander? He was a bit weird."
Susan showed hers, "Spruce and dragon heartstring. He said I have to be careful with it and not to let it get away with too much. He did sound a bit mad."
Kevin and Terry had wands of Walnut and Pheonix feather and Dogwood with unicorn hair respectively. Kevin looked particularly proud of his and claimed Ollivander was the greatest wand make ever to live.
After that little show and tell Harry brought out his bag of treats and shared them around much to everyone's delight. They laughed and told stories about growing up. Susan and Terry seemed to know each other very well while both of them knew Kevin only vaguely.
By the time the announcement came for them to change into school robes, Harry felt like he'd known them for ages. Susan excused herself and the boys got changed together. When she returned they were all dressed in the plain black robes of unsorted Hogwarts students.
It was only a short while later when the train started slowing down. The scenery outside had turned to forestry without Harry noticing and steam started to billow up by the windows. The train came to a shuddering halt accompanied by a piercing whistle and that signaled the exodus of students. The four first years gathered their things and secured their trunks before making for the exits.
"Firs' years, Firs' years over 'ere" came a familiar bellowing and Harry spotted Hagrid a ways down the platform standing almost twice the height of the tallest seventh years holding a large lantern to cast away the gathering night. They made their way over to him while the rest of the students walked towards the opposite direction up a gently sloping path lit with clouds of fireflies.
"Hello Hagrid!" Harry said cheerfully.
"Ah Harry, I was keepin' an eye out for yer as it happens. How was the train?"
"Brilliant, this is Terry, Kevin and Susan." He said, gesturing to his new friends.
"Hullo to all," Hagrid beamed. Rather than a cheerful hello, the three other first years gave quiet greetings and looked quite wary.
Harry supposed he was used to Hagrid but remembered being quite intimidated the first time he'd met the groundskeeper too.
Hagrid did a quick headcount and set off down a trail through the trees where after a few minutes walking they found themselves at a wooden dock on the edge of a lake.
"Come on now, four to a boat! That's it now." Hagrid was helping a large boy clutching a toad and a curly haired girl into a boat and moved around the dock to help others who were wary of the water.
Harry and his friends chose the one nearest to them and managed to get in with no trouble. When all the first years were settle, as if on queue, the small fleet of boats took off as one and started sailing smoothly across the surface. There was no sound but excited whispering and the ripple of the lake against the hulls and the moon was almost full, giving the lake an eerie glow.
Eventually they rounded a cliff face and even the excited whispers were silenced by a collective hushed gasp.
Before them, perched atop a small cliff was Hogwarts. The castle was enormous, so big that Harry couldn't count all of the towers and he was sure he wasn't seeing even half of them as the castle's design left it sprawled across cliff and chasm. Warm light beamed from every window and from a distance it looked as if the castle were struck with a thousand burning pinpricks. The only exception was a massive structure with huge stained glass windows that poured multi-hued light onto the lake below. As they drew closer he could make out more details. Huge gargoyles that seemed to be patrolling the rooftops and bridges that stretched from one tower to another, some made from unyielding stone and others swaying in the breeze.
"It's brilliant," Harry said, awestruck.
"Mum described it, but not like this." Kevin said, clearly feeling the same.
Terry and Susan didn't even say anything but their eyes were filled with light and wonder.
As they drew closer the castle looked over them, at once intimidating and protective and they moored in a large boathouse. Gingerly, the crowd of first years disembarked and Hagrid led them almost in single file up a narrow twisting underground staircase in the cliff face.
At the the top was an old wooden door with Iron fittings that looked perfectly at home in a castle. Hagrid opened it and had to duck to maneuver his bulk through. The first years followed and were led to a large entrance hall with metal doors that looked twenty foot tall. Of an equal height were four elegant hourglasses, the top half of each filled with a different coloured gemstone.
A rather stern looking witch with Raven black hair and robes trimmed with tartan approached them.
"The firs' years, Professor," Hagrid said.
"Thank you Hagrid, I'll take them from here."
Hagrid gave Harry a quick smile and walked off leaving the old witch to study them carefully. "Welcome to Hogwarts," she began.
"In a few minutes time the welcoming feast will begin. Before you join the rest of the school at large you will be sorted into your respective houses. This is an extremely important moment as your house will define your Hogwarts career in many ways. You will sleep in your house dormitories, go to classes with your housemates, win and lose points for your house through academic merit and misbehavior. Your house will be your home within Hogwarts and the bonds of friendship you find within may last your whole life."
Harry could see that a few students felt as he did, profoundly nervous while others, though not many, seemed much more at ease.
"The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has produced outstanding witches and wizards who have changed our world. At the end of each year we award the house cup to whichever house has won the most points over the course of the year. Each of you should strive to help your house win this honour."
"Make yourselves presentable. The eyes of the school are on you." She said, casting a look around. Harry suddenly felt very aware of his appearance and wished he had a comb.
When she was satisfied Professor McGonagall turned on her heels and walked towards the doors of the great hall. Though massive, they opened before her silently. The first years entered the hall and lined behind her silently. Hundreds of faces turned to look at them as they walked in but Harry barely noticed the scrutiny, amazed as he was by the hall. It seemed vast. Candles floated through the air everywhere but gathered en masse above four long tables of students through which floated what seemed to be actual ghosts. Above the scene huge wooden rafters stretched up into empty sky and the moon shone down through the clouds at him.
For a brief moment, Harry caught himself wondering what they would do if it started to rain. Occasionally, he found he still had to remind himself about magic.
At the end of the hall sat before the staff table was a shabby looking hat perched on a three legged stool. It looked very unimpressive in comparison to everything else, and then the rim tore open and it started singing.
Once he got over his initial shock he listened closely. It sang of the four houses and their founders, of Hogwarts and it's students. It sang of bravery, wit, loyalty and cunning and when it was finished the hall erupted in applause.
When the ovation died down Professor McGonagall stepped forward and unfurled a scroll.
"Abbot, Hannah." She intoned and a small girl with blonde pigtails walked forward nervously. She sat on the stool and pulled the hat over her head. A moment or two passed and the brim tore open to shout "HUFFLEPUFF!"
The Hufflepuff table broke out in applause and beckoned to her. She smiled and ran down to take her place at the table.
"Bones, Susan."
Harry's friend went forward excitedly and after a moment the hat again shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Susan ran down to join Hannah where a ghost seemed to be welcoming her.
Terry was next and after a moment's consideration the hat shouted, "Ravenclaw!"
Mandy Brocklehurst joined him a minute later and Millicent bulstrode went to Slytherin.
As it came closer down the list Harry started to sweat slightly, nerves getting to him.
Seamus Finnegan, Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom all went to Gryffindor while Morag MacDougal and Draco Malfoy went to Slytherin. It went on until the McGonagall called, "Potter, Harry" and suddenly the whole hall seemed to turn and break out in whispers. Harry groaned inwardly a little as he walked forward. He could feel the eyes burning into him and he dropped the hat over his head as quickly as he could.
There was a moment's silence and then there was a voice in his head.
"Difficult, very difficult. Plenty of courage, talent, intelligent to be sure and a certain thirst to prove yourself. Oh you're a tough one Mr. Potter. So where should I put you?"
He'd already made friends in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff and he knew his parents had been in Gryffindor so he thought he really wouldn't mind them.
"Ah yes, you've already made friends that have gone elsewhere. The first one is always easiest, more of a blank slate. No, I think you'll be one that will forge your own path and the best place for that is SLYTHERIN!" The hat roared the last word to the hall and the table to Harry's left burst into applause. He quickly removed the hat and made his way to his new house table slightly relieved that it was over.
On his way there he caught Terry's eye who gave him a thumbs up and he grinned back. He caught sight of Alaistair Monroe beckoning him over and he sat down to a few claps on the back and some handshakes from older students who had gotten up just to welcome him. He dimly registered that he might have gotten the most enthusiastic reception yet.
The last to be sorted was "Zabini, Blaise" and he joined Harry in Slytherin, sitting a few spaces down from him.
The hall quieted slightly and Harry looked up the staff table to see the Headmaster standing with arms outstretched. It was strange, Harry had met the man several times and felt he was on very good terms with him but he hadn't noticed the old wizard at all before then.
"Welcome, welcome to Hogwarts." He spoke. Silence covered the great hall like a blanket.
"Before we feast I should like us to observe a few moments silence for a young girl who was to sit with us all tonight but never got the chance," he said gravely.
"Lisa Turpin was due to be sorted tonight but was killed in the senseless attack on Diagon Alley. She could have been the most steadfast Gryffindor, the most intelligent Ravenclaw, the most dilligent Hufflepuff or the greatest Slytherin. Tonight, we should all feel her loss equally. To Lisa!" He finished, raising his goblet. The whole hall raised their cups and were silent for a moment.
"And now, we feast!" Dumbledore said, clapping his hands together. In front of him the bare table was suddenly groaning under the weight of food. Beef, lamb, turkey, chicken and all sorts of other dishes were surrounded by every side dish imaginable and dozens of golden pitchers filled with drinks. The feast looked sumptuous but Harry found himself unable to enjoy even the sight of it knowing that he was likely the reason Lisa Turpin wasn't enjoying her own meal.
The image of Flourish and Blott's exploding in flame flashed through his head and suddenly all of the food smelled burnt and the clanking of tablewear was replaced with terrified screams. His stomach flipped and he resigned himself to not eating dinner.
Instead he looked up at the staff table. The Headmaster was deep in conversation with Professor McGonagall while Hagrid was happily gorging himself on a leg of something that looked a lot larger than chicken.
One of the teachers seemed to be trying to engage another in conversation but the black robed professor with long limp hair was steadfastly ignoring him.
Nobody bothered him with small talk and he was quietly relieved for it. He was sure he'd get to know his housemates better later on but he knew he wouldn't be very charming in the mood he was in. As time wore on and the feast shifted from dinner to desert and the rumble of talking rose to a higher level of laughter and conversation.
Eventually the tables cleared themselves and the students looked to the head table expectantly.
"A few more words before we all head off to bed," Dumbledore said, his voice carrying across the hall easily. "First year students should know that the Forbidden forest is exactly that. Forbidden. The older students may take that as a reminder.
Quidditch trials will be open to students of second year and above on the third week of term.
The first Hogsmaede weekend will be announced the week preceding the visit so make sure you have your permission slips signed by oh, let's say, November.
Finally, the third floor corridor on the right hand side is expressly out of bounds this year to all those who do not wish to die an extremely painful death."
A weak, nervous laughter filled the hall but soon died when the Headmaster didn't smile.
"And with that," he clapped his hands together, "Off to bed with you all!"
The hall was filled with the sound of benches scraping against the flagstones and students started filling out of the hall.
A tall redheaded student with a silver and green prefects badge walked down the aisle between the tables. "First years please gather around."
Harry made his way towards him and the other first year Slytherins converged. There were quite a few of them. Some like Bulstrode and Zabini he recognised from the sorting ceremony and others from ascending to the entrance hall from the boathouse like the boy with the white blonde hair.
Once he had done a quick headcount the prefect nodded. "This way."
They followed as a group, Harry stepping into stride with the rest of them. As they left the great hall he felt a tap on his shoulder and turned halfstep to see a boy with curly black hair.
"Hello, I'm Theodore."
"Hi, I'm Harry,"
Theodore rolled his eyes, "Well obviously, everyone knows Harry Potter."
Harry bristled slightly, "Actually I don't know all that many people."
"Doesn't matter. People know you," he said slowly as if explaining it to a child.
"Good for them." Harry was really starting to get annoyed at the other boy now.
"You're being really charming, Theodore," said a girl with long blonde hair who was just behind them.
"Shut up Daphne, I'm just trying to get to know him." He snapped.
"Unfortunately Theodore is terrible at making friends," came a voice from his left. It was the pale blonde haired boy Harry had seen earlier. "Draco Malfoy," he introduced himself extending his hand as they walked.
Harry nodded and shook his hand.
"Draco, you've barely talked to anyone in years how would you know about making friends?" Nott said in disbelief.
"He's doing better than you," Daphne sang mockingly from behind them.
Theodore huffed and Harry had to stifle a smile. They continued following the prefect through dark corridors and Harry noticed they were descending slowly and then rapidly. The halls started to darken and in several places there was no light at all as the gaps between the wall sconces grew.
The dungeons seemed to be an endless dark maze but after countless twists and turns they stopped at a dead end.
Their guide turned to them. "This is the entrance to Slytherin dungeon. The password is 'Sanguine.'"
As he spoke a stone door suddenly appeared in the wall and slid open. He marched through and the first years followed him through a short passage. At the end was a very long sunken room. They descended the steps down to it and marveled. The room sank in segments with four distinct levels each with a large area of floor space scattered with tables and leather couches in green that was so dark it bordered on black. In the centre of the room at the lowest level were four of these couches, larger than any of the others facing each other with a circular table between them.
Bright green spheres hung in the air lighting the room in a bright but slightly eerie glow and there were several huge windows that were pitch black.. Harry thought he saw the shadow of something huge and monstrous move in the darkness but reasoned it could well be his imagination.
The common room was filled with students who quieted as they entered. Their guide stopped and turned to them.
"Welcome, Slytherins." He said loudly and most of the common room answered, repeating the welcome.
"My name is Simund Macquarrie. I'm a sixth year prefect. The boys' dormitory is to the left of the common room at the lowest level, the girls dormitory the same on the right. For the first week either myself or another prefect will escort you to and from the common room. After that you'll be on your own so learn fast and if in doubt, head up. Slytherin House has a long and proud history. We currently hold the house cup. Don't be stupid and embarrass the house and don't lose us points."
Harry and the first years all nodded determinedly.
"Well?" Simund asked, "Didn't you hear the Headmaster? Off to bed."
Theodore started to say something in protest but a sharp glare shut him up and he turned to the descending staircase along with the rest of them.
When the boys reached their dorm they spread out and each found their beds thanks to their respective trunks left neatly at the foot of their four posters.
They exchanged names and handshakes as they changed for bed. Vincent Crabbe was a large, awkward looking boy without much to say, Blaise Zabini was similarly quiet but he seemed more enthusiastic than Vincent at least. Draco Malfoy espoused how excited he was to finally be at Hogwarts and how he was going to personally ensure Slytherin won the house cup again. Theodore seemed put out by Draco's enthusiasm but agreed that he was excited for classes to start.
For his part, Harry tried to avoid talking too much, half afraid he'd say something stupid. He got the feeling that they were all from magical families and it would be just his luck to make a fool of himself on the very first night.
Eventually tiredness overcame them and they each retired to their bed. Harry drifted off to sleep with his wand under his pillow on a wave of excitement and expectation.