As Mary and the throng of students shuffled off the train, a friendly voice boomed overhead: "First years! First years over here!"
Returning students greeted the speaker as they shuffled from the platform, while most first years shied away. Mary, on the other hand, was relieved to see the familiar figure welcoming them.
"Whoa, he's huge!" Ron hissed in Mary's ear.
She heard similar murmurs among her peers, and was unfortunately close enough to hear Malfoy and his cronies sneering. Still, Mary did find a small comfort in her peers' surprised reactions. Maybe she wouldn't be so far behind everyone else.
"A'right, then! My name is Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds of Hogwarts. Before we get moving," he opened his hand, "does this little guy belong to anyone here?"
"Trevor!" cried Neville, holding his hands out for the toad.
While Trevor rested comfortably in Hagrid's massive palm, he appeared to be the size of a football in Neville's arms. Mary had never seen such tenderness for a toad, and the wayward Trevor appeared to have an affection for his human.
Tonight was going to be a long series of firsts.
Mary clenched her teeth when she noticed Malfoy snickering something about the touching display. She positioned herself between Neville and the terrible trio, just in case they wanted to cause any further trouble.
"Now," Hagrid called over the crowd, "if you'll follow me this way, you'll get your first look at Hogwarts through this path. It's a bit steep, and there's a slight bend before we get to the lake, so watch your step!"
The pathway was narrow and thickly wooded on either side. Mary followed behind Neville, who hugged Trevor close to his chest. The forest seemed aware of their presence, and all talking fell to excited whispers until they reached the lake.
"My dad's told me about that family," Ron whispered, with a nod in Malfoy's direction. "They were some of the first to come back to our side after You-Know-Who disappeared. Said they'd been bewitched."
"You don't believe them?"
"Nobody does. Dad says they didn't need an excuse to join the Dark Side."
Neville tripped over something and Mary grabbed the back of his robes to steady him. When she let go, she felt Ron release a handful of her robes, and heard him reassure someone behind him that he was okay. The sliding and stumbling continued until they reached the end of the decline, and the path opened to the edge of a great black, lake. Reflected in the water's surface was a castle atop a mountain, its windows twinkling like starlight. Hagrid gave everyone a moment to marvel before directing them to a fleet of small boats lined along the shore. Without pushing his into the water, Hagrid settled into one for himself and instructed, "No more than four to a boat!"
Neville and Hermione followed Mary and Ron into their boat, which was better company than they could have been stuck with. Magical or no, Mary and Ron swapped places before settling, just to make sure the boat stayed balanced.
"Everyone ready?" Hagrid called. "Right then. FORWARD!"
With only the slightest lurch, the boats launched into the water. Everyone watched as they drew nearer to the castle, clouds parting to bathe its many turrets and towers in moonlight. They approached a cliff face trimmed with a curtain of ivy, and several students murmured discomfort in brushing against it. Chuckling, Hagrid raised a pink umbrella and the curtain parted, allowing them to pass into a dark tunnel. It was lined with faintly glowing rocks, which Hermione was quick to explain.
"It's enchanted so that they'll only allow these boats through. I read all about it in Hogwarts: A History."
They arrived at a harbor, which seemed to be directly under the castle. Everyone clambered out and followed Hagrid to a long, stone staircase that wound from the harbor, connected with a path from the Hogwarts grounds, and up to a large oak door.
"Everyone here?" Hagrid called over the crowd. "You there, still got yer toad? All right, then." He raised his fist and knocked three times.
The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Mary's first thought was that this was not someone to cross. Neville seemed to have the same idea, trying to back away, but only managing to press his shoulder into Mary's.
"The first years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank you, Rubeus. I will take them from here."
With a warm smile to the professor and a nod to the students, he took his leave.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," she greeted, motioning them into a spacious antechamber. Four banners hung from the ceiling, draped in pairs on either side of yet another set of chamber doors. Gothic wall sconces held torches that filled the room with light and a bit of warmth.
"In a moment, each of you will be sorted into one of the four Houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin." Professor McGonagall gestured to the four banners. "These houses will be like your home away from home. You will eat, sleep, and study together. You will also compete in academic excellence for points in the House Cup, which will be awarded at the end of the year. Good performance will earn points for your house, while poor performance will subtract."
The professor surveyed the crowd as she paused to let her words sink in. Neville was trembling, and Mary had the urge to comb snarls out of her hair. Instead, she pulled her hat a little tighter around her head and shot a quick look at Ron and Hermione. Both appeared more self-assured than they must be feeling, but Ron's eyes revealed a hint of worry when he returned her glance.
"Please quietly arrange yourselves in a single-file line. I will lead you to the front of the Great Hall, where your peers are waiting to receive you. Take these last moments to smarten yourselves up."
"How do they sort us into houses?" Mary asked Ron in a whisper.
"Fred told me it's some sort of test. He said it's really painful, but I think he was joking."
"You think he was joking?" Hermione hissed.
"Eaves-dropping is rude!" Ron hissed back.
The line snaked around the antechamber and started filing into the Great Hall. Eager students pushed to the front of the line, while the majority fell in where they would. Neville seemed eager to drop to the back of the line, but decided to stay by Mary, Ron, and Hermione near the middle of the procession. Safety in numbers.
Mary felt a well of emotion as she took in the Great Hall. Four long tables seated the student assembly, with a golden set of plates and goblets for every student. The teachers sat at another long table, which ran perpendicular to the student tables. Candelabras adorned centerpieces, and hundreds of candles drifted through the air overhead. These drew Mary's eyes to the ceiling, which was enchanted to look like the night sky. Once again, Mary was relieved that other students were reacting in awe and wonder.
Gasps and squeals alerted Mary to a commotion along the western wall. Ghosts were drifting through and dispersing among the house tables, trailing a chill breeze in their wake. Several wished the newcomers good luck, and Mary could hear a few trying to wrap up a silent conference regarding an absent figure.
"…haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves…" one of them was grumbling to a monk-like ghost.
Professor McGonagall was placing a velvet-topped stool in the middle of the assembly, upon which she set a black and frayed pointed hat. That done, she gave the loitering ghosts a pointed look, which sent them all to their respective places at the long tables. This horrified some of Mary's fellow freshman, but she saw many returning students greet and invite the ghosts to sit with them.
The room fell silent, and the assembly looked expectantly at the hat. Mary glanced between the hat, students, and professors, wondering what should come next. Surely they weren't expected to pull a rabbit out of it, or–
A seam above the brim tore open, and the hat began to sing!
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty, but don't judge by what you see!
I'll eat myself if you can find a smarter hat than me…"
Mary half-listened to the hat's poem about brave Gryffindors, patient Hufflepuffs, wise Ravenclaws, and cunning Slytherins. The houses appeared to be seated by table, and she thought she could guess which table belonged to whom. Gryffindor and Hufflepuff held an energetic lot, while Ravenclaw and Slytherin appeared more subdued. At the teachers' High Table, Mary briefly studied the faces of each professor. Quirrell sat at one end, and to his right sat a sullen looking professor, with sleek, black hair and sallow skin. In that moment, he met her eyes and –
Mary suddenly felt a sharp pain sear across her forehead. It only last a moment, but she clapped a hand over her eyes and stifled a curse. What was that? When she looked up, he was no longer looking at her. She turned her attention back to the hat as it finished its song.
"…So put me on! Don't be afraid! Don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none) for I'm a thinking cap!"
As everyone clapped, Ron swore to Mary, "I'm going to kill Fred! He was going on about how he had to wrestle a troll!"
Mary laughed, pretending that the quickly-fading pain in her head never occurred.
As the applause died down, Professor McGonagall unrolled a spool of parchment. Above the din, she announced, "When I call your name, you will place the hat on your head and sit on the stool to be sorted." Mincing no further words, she called for, "Abbott, Hannah!"
The girl scurried to the front of the room and was seated for mere moments before the hat proclaimed, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
The table cheered and the monastic ghost whirled in delight. Despite gravity having no hold on spectral beings, the outer layer of his robes flung wide, and laughing students jumped up to touch the brim. He greeted Hannah with an outstretched hand, and Mary thought she shivered has her fingertips reached his palm.
"Crabbe, Vincent" and "Goyle, Gregory" were sorted both sorted into Slytherin, although the hat seemed to take a little longer placing them. Neither seemed particularly chivalrous or patient, nor did Mary think they had a mind for scholarly pursuits, so perhaps Slytherin was their best shot. The Sorting Hat's song did say something about "finding your true friends", and she thought of Gemma at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. The Prefect was welcoming first-years to the table, and making sure each was seated near an upperclassman for guidance.
Hermione was next, and Ron groaned when the hat sorted her into Gryffindor.
"I was sure she'd be in Ravenclaw!" he muttered.
"You could be the first Ravenclaw in your family," Mary teased.
"Very funny."
Neville stumbled forward when his name was called, and nearly fell off the stool when he sat down. A titter ran through the assembly, and Neville visibly quivered under the hat. It took a little longer than the previous students, and finally shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" which elicited another cheer from the table. Neville jumped up to flee the scene, still wearing the hat. His face was bright as he returned the hat to its proper place. A new Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw followed.
As though making up for lost time, the hat barely touched Malfoy's head before declaring him for Slytherin.
Ron snorted and said, "Big surprise."
A couple more M's followed, one N, a pair of twins were sorted into different houses, and Mary began to worry about where she'd be sorted. What if she wound up in Slytherin? What if she wasn't chosen at all? She was still lost in her own thoughts as "Perks, Sally-Anne" was sorted into Hufflepuff, and then the dreaded moment arrived.
"Potter, Mary."
The room fell silent and then broke into hushed gossiping.
"Did she say 'Potter'?"
"The Mary Potter?"
Mary tried to ignore the whispers as she walked forward.
"Is it actually her?"
"Does she have the scar?"
She took her own hat off, picked up the sorting hat, sat down, and stared hard at her shoes before pulling it over her head.
"Hmm," murmured a small voice above her head. It sounded as though it were being funneled from inside the hat. "This is difficult. Very difficult. Not a bad mind, and plenty of courage. I also see a thirst to prove yourself, so where shall I put you?"
Mary gripped the edges of the stool and thought, "Not Slytherin! Please don't put me in Slytherin!"
"Not Slytherin?" the hat purred. "You could be great, and Slytherin would help you on your way to greatness! You're sure? All right, then we better put you in: GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table erupted into applause and cheers. A bit shaky, Mary moved to join her new house. Percy jumped up to vigorously shake her hand, and his younger twin brothers chanted, "We got Potter!" A knightly ghost patted her arm as she sat down, making her feel as though it had been plunged into ice water. Percy seated her next to himself, and the sorting continued as multiple Gryffindors introduced themselves.
Mary and the Weasleys fell silent when Ron's turn came. Fred and George were linked at the elbow, and even pompous Percy forgot himself and put a hand on Mary's shoulder. All four rose and cheered when the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"
The entire row shifted as Fred and George seated Ron between themselves, across from Mary. She suspected he'd be annoyed with their overt expressions of brotherly affection on normal occasions, but Ron was so relieved that he let them have their fun. Despite receiving the loudest applause in the sorting, Mary felt very envious of Ron. What must it feel to always be surrounded by so much love and support?
Professor McGonagall rolled up the scroll, collected the Sorting Hat, and motioned for an upperclassman to remove the stool from the front of the hall. That done, Professor Albus Dumbledore stood up, and the bustling assembly stilled. Mary glanced at her reflection in the golden plate and her stomach gave a discontented rumble.
"Welcome!" he warmly greeted. "Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you." With that, he gave a solemn bow and sat back down.
Everyone cheered and laughed, but Mary only followed the applause mechanically.
He must be mad, she thought, studying the old wizard. She asked Percy, who replied, "Most certainly! He's an absolute genius, but I think the most brilliant are a bit mad. Potatoes, Mary?"
The offer startled her out of her speculation. Percy had already spooned a helping for himself and was holding the bowl up to her. The immaculate dishes on the table were now loaded with food, and Mary saw many of her favorites. For the first time in her life, she could eat her fill, and didn't need to worry about her cousin stealing anything he knew she liked.
Mary was nearly finished with her first plate when she realized that she'd been ignoring everyone around her. Percy was engaged in an animated conversation with Hermione regarding the first-year curriculum, while Ron tried to keep up with Lee and the twins in their verbal sparring. Fred (or was it George?) poked Ron in the middle of the forehead, and Mary felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. She stole a quick glance at the High Table and tapped Percy on the shoulder.
"Percy, who is that? The teacher speaking with Professor Quirrell?"
"Oh, you know Professor Quirrell?" asked Percy, looking in the direction she'd indicated.
"I met him in Diagon Alley," she replied. "He stuttered a lot and wouldn't shake my hand."
Percy gave an indulgent chuckle. "Did you read his book? I wouldn't want to shake anyone's hand, either!"
"But who is he sitting next to?"
"That's Professor Snape. He teaches Potions, but everyone knows it's Defense Against the Dark Arts he wants."
"Why doesn't he teach it, then?" Mary asked.
Percy shrugged and started to say something when Professor Dumbledore stood and cleared his throat. "Now that we are all fed and hydrated, I have a few start-of-term notices to give you."
Students hushed each other and the hall fell silent.
"First years should note that the forest surrounding school grounds is forbidden to all pupils, and a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."
Mary noted an exchange of devious smiles between Fred and George, which only deepened with the notice that followed.
"Mr Filch, Hogwarts' chief custodian, has asked me to remind you that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Students caught doing so will serve detention with the cleaning staff, and without magic."
This elicited a round of gasps, and Mary wanted to laugh. Had nobody in this school ever washed dishes without magic?
"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Mary did laugh at this, and she found herself in a minority. Clearing her throat, she asked Percy, "Is he serious?"
"Must be," said Percy, brows drawn together. "It's odd, though. He usually gives us a reason why we're not allowed to go somewhere. The forest's full of dangerous beasts, everyone knows that." He sulkily added, "I do think he might have told us prefects, at least."
"On that joyful note, I bit you all a good night. Prefects and Heads, please lead your peers to the dormitories."
The dishes were instantly cleared from the tables and replaced with clean sets. Mary and her fellow first-year Gryffindors filed behind Percy, who led them through hidden doorways and sliding panels.
"You'll want to take care with the staircases," he warned. "They like to move."
Elaborate tapestries and portraits of famous and ancient mages covered the walls. Many were already asleep, while others waved to the new Gryffindors. Mary peered over the railing to take in the web of walkways, and saw a group of figures cloaked in green making their way towards unknown corridors.
"Who are they?" she asked.
Percy glanced down and said, "Oh, them. Hogwarts Castle is home to researchers from all over. After we graduate, we can stay on to study under them. The color of their cloaks tells you their primary field of study."
"That's why we wear black?" someone asked.
Makes sense, Mary thought, yawning through Percy's reply.
Pulling back one final tapestry, they entered a hallway that ended in a giant portrait of a large witch in a silky, pink dress.
"Password?" she asked.
"Caput Draconis," Percy replied, and the portrait swung forward on a hinge to reveal a round doorway. At last, they had arrived in the Gryffindor common room. The round room was filled with over-stuffed armchairs, couches, floor pillows, and coffee tables.
Mary waved to Ron as he followed the Head Boy to his dorm room, and she followed the Head Girl to hers. They walked a spiral staircase that indicated their rooms were in one of the turrets. Five four-poster beds, hung with velvet curtains, were a welcome sight. Hedwig had found Mary's trunk and perched, waiting to make sure Mary wasn't lost before flying off for a night's hunt. Too full and tired to do much else, the girls pulled on their pajamas and fell into bed.