Harry saw a familiar face as he stepped off the train. Hagrid was standing there holding a lamp in one hand. Harry waved at him before joining the other first year students. Finally, the twin girls got off the train last and everybody looked to Hagrid expectantly.
"Welcome to Hogsmeade! You lot are in fer a great few years but firs' we've got a special treat just fer the firs' years. Follow me!"
Harry was the first in line followed by Ron and Hermione. Harry walked up beside Hagrid.
"Hello Hagrid, it's good to see you again."
"Hey there, Harry, how was yer train ride?"
"It was great. I met some nice people and got involved in some shenanigans."
"Yer didn' get inta any trouble now did ya?"
"Oh no, unless you consider being trampled by chocolate frogs trouble."
Hagrid snorted.
"If that was how yer firs' train ride was, I have a feeling yer gonna have a fun few years here."
They continued talking as Hagrid led them out of Hogsmeade station and down a trail to the edge of a lake where there were several rowboats. There was a large hill that blocked their sight on the right but Harry could make out the tops of a couple of towers. He could also see that something on the other side of the hill was brightly lit.
Harry helped Hermione into the first boat before climbing in and making room for Ron. Once they were all seated, they felt the boat push itself out into the water where it seemed to wait for the other students to get into their boats.
Once he saw all the students seated and ready, Hagrid got into his own extra large boat and tapped the edge with his umbrella.
"Now y'all best be lookin' forward fer this next part. You'll only ever see Hogwarts for the first time, once."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione leaned forward in their boat, excited about what was coming. But nothing could have prepared them for the sight of the school.
As they rounded the edge of the hill the school came into view and Harry heard himself gasp. A large castle with soaring towers was perched on a hill overlooking the lake. Wide open grass sprawled in front of the school leading down to the water where a single dock jutted out. Harry noticed that a forest seemed to surround the school and lake, disappearing behind the castle and running all the way up to a trail that looked like it led back towards Hogsmeade.
The castle had hundreds of windows, all brightly lit and warm. Harry couldn't explain it but he felt like he was being welcomed home and embraced in loving arms. He hadn't ever felt like that. His relatives hadn't treated him with any love and he sure as hell didn't get that feeling at Brutus'.
The boats slowly crossed the lake and settled around the dock. Hagrid's boat pulled up to the end and he ordered everyone out of the boats and onto the shore. Once they were all gathered, he walked them up the path to the castle doors.
They were massive wooden doors that rose up the wall before tapering to a central point. Hagrid lifted a massive bronze knocker and let it fall to strike the door. A loud boom reverberated around them. A few seconds later, the left door pushed outward and revealed a tall, rather severe looking woman with black hair. She had a pointed hat on that was cocked to the side.
"Good evenin' professor McGonagall," Hagrid said with a slight bow. "I'm here with the firs' years."
"Very good, Hagrid," the professor said, stepping aside. "Please come inside and welcome to Hogwarts University."
The group of teens worked their way inside, marveling at the entry hall to the castle. The ceiling was massive and the walls were covered in paintings, each one full with moving people and animals. There were corridors that lead off deeper into the castle and Harry could see a giant staircase through an archway.
Directly across from the entry was another large set of doors, though these were much smaller than the ones they just entered through. Harry could hear intermittent cheering coming from the other side. Professor McGonagall led them to the doors before turning and addressing them.
"A few pieces of information before we enter the great hall. Inside, you will find five tables. You will sit at the center table for the duration of your first year at Hogwarts University. This is so you can enter the world as a class instead of being split from your peers. The older students are welcome to join you at your table and as you make friends, this will be a common occurrence.
"The other four tables are separated by the Hogwarts Houses. They are Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. The house tables will shuffle every week on Sunday to expose you to the different houses. At the beginning of your second year, you will be sorted into your house where you will remain for the rest of your time at Hogwarts as an undergraduate. Graduate students in their Mastery years are housed in a different area but many still associate freely with the undergraduate studies."
She looked around at the group to ensure they understood. She nodded once before continuing.
"Once again, welcome to Hogwarts University. I'm sure you will all very much enjoy your time here. But do not forget this is a school. Practice discipline and study hard. This is only the beginning.
"Now, I will leave you for now. When the second year sorting ceremony is complete, the doors will open. Quickly take your seats and the headmaster will begin the feast shortly."
She walked away and turned down a corridor. They could still hear some cheering from inside but it was mostly quiet. The first years spoke amongst themselves, barely containing their excitement. Finally, the doors opened and again, the new students were speechless.
The Great Hall was aptly named. The walls seemed to glow a warm gold as they were bathed in the light of thousands of candles floating in the air. Harry's eyes roved up the walls to where they gradually faded to be completely transparent, revealing the stunning night sky of Scotland.
When he finally looked down and noticed the rest of the room, he was just as blown away. At the far side of the room was a raised table running along the wall. The people sitting at it were clearly the instructors. In the center was an ornate chair in which was seated a very old man with long white hair and a long white beard. The man was smiling at the new students as they entered.
Harry looked at the other tables in the room. Five of them ran perpendicular to the head table. The one on the far left was filled with students with the same black robes he wore but they had green trim and a crest with a snake on it. The students seemed somewhat subdued except for where the newest members of the house were gathered, beaming at finally being sorted.
Pretty easy to tell those are the Slytherins, Harry thought.
The next table was filled with a much more jovial group with yellow crests featuring a badger. They were waving at the first years and welcoming them to the school. He could just make out the word Hufflepuff across the bottom of the crest.
Harry turned to the right side of the room. The first table closest to the first years was filled with students wearing a red crest featuring a roaring lion. They were also welcoming the new students, though they also seemed to be evaluating them as well. Harry didn't really know what for. He read Gryffindor on their crest.
Finally on the far right table had the Ravenclaw students with blue crests featuring a raven.
Or maybe it's an eagle? Kinda hard to tell from here.
Those students were clapping politely for the first years, not quite as excitedly as the middle two tables but more than the Slytherins.
Eventually, Harry and Hermione sat on the Hufflepuff side of the center table and Ron and Neville sat across from them on the Gryffindor side. Ron looked annoyed as a pair of redheads at the Gryffindor table started lobbing napkin balls at the back of his head.
Harry looked at Ron unsure of what was happening. He looked up at Harry and shrugged before he spoke.
"My brothers can be a little annoying sometimes."
Harry laughed and waved at the brothers who waved back. He could tell they knew who he was but were doing a good job at hiding their surprise.
The excitement calmed down as the man in the throne stood to address the newest students.
"Welcome, my friends, to Hogwarts University."