Chapter Five
"Hogwarts Express"
Before they knew it, they had arrived at Kings Cross Station, and were pushing their trolleys toward platform nine and three quarters. The twins pushed their way onto the platform first, then Ginny and Hermione, and last Ron and Harry. They had their trunks and animals loaded onto the train and stepped aboard to find an empty compartment. Fred and George had found their friend Lee Jordan and they went to sit with Alicia and Katie from the Quidditch team. So, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny had their own compartment all to themselves. Harry and Hermione had their noses stuck in their copies of The Ordinary Wizarding Levels: Good Luck, Suckers and Ron looked at them with disgust. He looked over at Ginny who was reading Hogwarts, A History. "Pardon me if I don't join in on your reading party," Ron said with his nose wrinkled. "Hermione, you're really rubbing off on these two, look at Ginny! You two are the only students who ever even opened Hogwarts, A History!" Hermione scowled at Ron looking as though she were about to let him have it. Harry just sat in silence, not wanting to get on the bad side of either of them. "Well, Ronald Weasley, perhaps if you paid more attention to your studies, you wouldn't feel the pressure that your mum puts on you to be more like Percy and Bill." Hermione closed her book, crossed her leg and crossed her arms over her book as she scowled out the window. "What are you saying, Hermione, that I'm a great stupid prat? Is that it? I don't have my nose constantly in a book so I must be brainless, is that right? Well, sorry for living!" he crossed his arms and glared out the window. Harry and Ginny glanced sideways at each other. "Hey, I-," Harry stopped short when he saw the looks he was receiving from Ron and Hermione. Fine, Harry thought, if they want to be babies about everything, let them, and he buried his nose back into the book. He went on reading for what seemed like hours. When the lunch cart came around, Harry bought them four pumpkin juices and went back to his book. When it began to get dark outside Hermione and Ginny went to change into their school robes, and while they were gone, Ron and Harry did the same. They had just started a chess game when Ginny and Hermione came back into the compartment and sat down. Ron looked up at them and then glanced back down at the chessboard. After a second or two, his eyes bulged and he stared at Hermione with his mouth gaping open. "What is that thing on your robes?" asked Ron in an accusing tone. "Well, if you must know, it is my Prefect's badge." She sat back in her seat and looked away from the three as if she were ashamed. "Hermione, why didn't you tell us? Congratulations!" Harry said after he closed his book and looked over at Hermione. Ron didn't seem like he wanted to congratulate Hermione but he did. Harry was intrigued. "So, who is the Gryffindor fifth year Prefect boy?" he asked. "Dean Thomas. And I didn't want to tell you, because I was afraid you would react like that!" she pointed at Ron who's ears turned red and Ginny continued to scowl at him. "Sometimes I wonder how I got you for a brother," she said disgustedly. Ron turned and stuck his tongue out at her. She just rolled her eyes and shook her head. Harry sniggered and Ron looked like he did after his mom had gotten through with him the other day in the kitchen. Harry did feel kind of sorry for Ron, though he would never tell him that. Ron's family didn't have any gold, he was always wearing hand-me-down robes, his first wand was a hand-me-down, his first pet was a hand-me-down, and all the books he used were second hand and used. Whenever Harry would buy him anything, he could see the resentment in Ron's eyes. Harry tried not to feel hurt by that, he just tried to accept it, as that is just how Ron is.
The Hogwarts' Express pulled into the Hogsmeade Station. The four of them got off the train and made their way up to where the horseless carriages would take them up to the castle. On their way, they waved to their friend Hagrid who was rounding up the first years, as was the tradition, all the first years made their way to the castle by crossing the large lake in several small self-maneuvering boats. Harry looked around before he got into the carriage to see if he could see Cho Chang. Cho Chang was a very pretty sixth year that Harry had wanted to go to the Yule Ball with last year but she had already promised to go with Cedric. Harry didn't know how he would feel about seeing her this year, as he still felt guilty about Cedric's death, but he still got that funny feeling in his stomach when he thought of her. The four of them rode silently up to the castle and stumbled out of the carriage. They walked up the stony steps into the Entrance Hall and through the great doors into the Great Hall, they walked along the wall and took seats at the Gryffindor table. In a little while, Professor McGonagall came walking in with the stool and sorting hat, she set them down in front of the staff table. Then as Hagrid made his way to the staff table and sat down, there were about a hundred first years making their way down the center of the Great Hall. Everyone stayed silent as the sorting hat sang its new song for the year. When it finished, everyone clapped politely. Professor McGonagall stood next to the stool and scrolled open a piece of parchment. She began to read off the names of the first year students to come forward and get sorted. "Amery, JoAnn," a small girl with mousy brown hair and freckles stumbled up to the stool and climbed up into her seat. McGonagall placed the hat on her head and in a second the hat shouted out "RAVENCLAW!" The list went on for a few minutes, and Ron muttered to Harry how he was starved and wished that the sorting were over with. "Hawkes, William," a tall lanky boy with dark hair in a buzz cut walked forward and sat on the stool with a scowl on his face. "Two guesses which house that kid's in," said Ron whose stomach was growling. In a moment the hat shouted out "SLYTHERIN!" and Ron jabbed Harry in the ribs with his elbow with a smug look on his face. "Lawson, Maxwell," a chubby kid with a chipped toothy grin walked up and sat down on the stool. "HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat. The Hufflepuff table cheered as he went to their table and sat down. "Malfoy, Patrick," a tiny silvery-blonde haired boy slipped out of the crowd and headed toward the stool. His name definitely caught Harry, Ron, and Hermione by surprise and they were now very much interested in the sorting. This kid looked like Draco, except he looked timid, even afraid, but they were almost certain that Draco didn't have a younger brother. He looked over at Draco as he sat down on the stool. Harry looked over at Malfoy to see his expression, it was nothing short of a scowl, and he seemed to be glaring at the little boy on the stool. Harry didn't understand, but his thoughts were cut short as-"GRYFFINDOR!" The entire Gryffindor table was in shock that a Malfoy was now in their house. The little boy looked as though he was going to cry for the lack of applause when he approached the table. He sat down next to another new Gryffindor named Susan Baker. The rest of the sorting went by in a flash as Ron, Hermione, and Harry were stunned by the new comer. "I have a few notices before we begin the feast," said Dumbledore as he stood up, "First, I'd like to introduce our new Defense against the dark arts teacher," he said as he motioned to his left. A woman who Harry recognized as Mrs. Figg stood up. "Her name is Professor Arabella Figg and I trust she will be a wonderful new addition to Hogwarts. Secondly, as always, all students are to keep away from the Forbidden Forest, that is why we call it forbidden," his blue eyes sparkled over his half moon spectacles. "Mr. Filch asks that there will be no more conjured snow storms in the hallways to prevent exams," he looked amusedly at the twins who grinned. "And finally, I have great trust in our Care of Magical Creatures Teacher. However, I suspect that some of you do not appreciate the knowledge that he is here to give you," Dumbledore said as he looked at Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. "So please do not give him any grief, as I have given him instructions to hand out detentions as he deems fit, so let us all contemplate shoveling manure by moonlight before causing any trouble." Dumbledore said practically smiling at the Slytherin table. "Having said all that, let's eat." And with that the golden plates and platters filled with food and they all ate heartily. As Hermione and Dean led the Gryffindor first years up to the common room, Professor McGonagall swept across the Great Hall and caught up with Harry.
"I want you to put this parchment up in the common room, Potter. Good night." And she swept away toward the transfiguration classroom. Harry pulled it open and read it. It said:
Gryffindor Quidditch try outs
This Saturday at the Quidditch pitch At exactly twelve noon Players will be judged by the Gryffindor team captain and Professor McGonagall Please be well rested and ready to fly Good luck
As Harry and Ron made their way up the marble staircase to Gryffindor tower, they talked excitedly about the Quidditch tryouts and who the new captain would be. They muttered the new password at the fat lady, 'Quaffle', and they entered the common room. Hermione was sprawled in a squishy chair looking harassed. "What happened to you?" Harry asked as he and Ron arrived. Harry took his wand out and hung the tryout sheet on the inside of the porthole. "Those bloody first years, all they do is ask questions, they are so curious, I finally got tired of answering all of their questions and told them to read it in Hogwarts, A History!" Ron and Harry laughed and after a minute Hermione laughed with them. At last they were home.
"Hogwarts Express"
Before they knew it, they had arrived at Kings Cross Station, and were pushing their trolleys toward platform nine and three quarters. The twins pushed their way onto the platform first, then Ginny and Hermione, and last Ron and Harry. They had their trunks and animals loaded onto the train and stepped aboard to find an empty compartment. Fred and George had found their friend Lee Jordan and they went to sit with Alicia and Katie from the Quidditch team. So, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny had their own compartment all to themselves. Harry and Hermione had their noses stuck in their copies of The Ordinary Wizarding Levels: Good Luck, Suckers and Ron looked at them with disgust. He looked over at Ginny who was reading Hogwarts, A History. "Pardon me if I don't join in on your reading party," Ron said with his nose wrinkled. "Hermione, you're really rubbing off on these two, look at Ginny! You two are the only students who ever even opened Hogwarts, A History!" Hermione scowled at Ron looking as though she were about to let him have it. Harry just sat in silence, not wanting to get on the bad side of either of them. "Well, Ronald Weasley, perhaps if you paid more attention to your studies, you wouldn't feel the pressure that your mum puts on you to be more like Percy and Bill." Hermione closed her book, crossed her leg and crossed her arms over her book as she scowled out the window. "What are you saying, Hermione, that I'm a great stupid prat? Is that it? I don't have my nose constantly in a book so I must be brainless, is that right? Well, sorry for living!" he crossed his arms and glared out the window. Harry and Ginny glanced sideways at each other. "Hey, I-," Harry stopped short when he saw the looks he was receiving from Ron and Hermione. Fine, Harry thought, if they want to be babies about everything, let them, and he buried his nose back into the book. He went on reading for what seemed like hours. When the lunch cart came around, Harry bought them four pumpkin juices and went back to his book. When it began to get dark outside Hermione and Ginny went to change into their school robes, and while they were gone, Ron and Harry did the same. They had just started a chess game when Ginny and Hermione came back into the compartment and sat down. Ron looked up at them and then glanced back down at the chessboard. After a second or two, his eyes bulged and he stared at Hermione with his mouth gaping open. "What is that thing on your robes?" asked Ron in an accusing tone. "Well, if you must know, it is my Prefect's badge." She sat back in her seat and looked away from the three as if she were ashamed. "Hermione, why didn't you tell us? Congratulations!" Harry said after he closed his book and looked over at Hermione. Ron didn't seem like he wanted to congratulate Hermione but he did. Harry was intrigued. "So, who is the Gryffindor fifth year Prefect boy?" he asked. "Dean Thomas. And I didn't want to tell you, because I was afraid you would react like that!" she pointed at Ron who's ears turned red and Ginny continued to scowl at him. "Sometimes I wonder how I got you for a brother," she said disgustedly. Ron turned and stuck his tongue out at her. She just rolled her eyes and shook her head. Harry sniggered and Ron looked like he did after his mom had gotten through with him the other day in the kitchen. Harry did feel kind of sorry for Ron, though he would never tell him that. Ron's family didn't have any gold, he was always wearing hand-me-down robes, his first wand was a hand-me-down, his first pet was a hand-me-down, and all the books he used were second hand and used. Whenever Harry would buy him anything, he could see the resentment in Ron's eyes. Harry tried not to feel hurt by that, he just tried to accept it, as that is just how Ron is.
The Hogwarts' Express pulled into the Hogsmeade Station. The four of them got off the train and made their way up to where the horseless carriages would take them up to the castle. On their way, they waved to their friend Hagrid who was rounding up the first years, as was the tradition, all the first years made their way to the castle by crossing the large lake in several small self-maneuvering boats. Harry looked around before he got into the carriage to see if he could see Cho Chang. Cho Chang was a very pretty sixth year that Harry had wanted to go to the Yule Ball with last year but she had already promised to go with Cedric. Harry didn't know how he would feel about seeing her this year, as he still felt guilty about Cedric's death, but he still got that funny feeling in his stomach when he thought of her. The four of them rode silently up to the castle and stumbled out of the carriage. They walked up the stony steps into the Entrance Hall and through the great doors into the Great Hall, they walked along the wall and took seats at the Gryffindor table. In a little while, Professor McGonagall came walking in with the stool and sorting hat, she set them down in front of the staff table. Then as Hagrid made his way to the staff table and sat down, there were about a hundred first years making their way down the center of the Great Hall. Everyone stayed silent as the sorting hat sang its new song for the year. When it finished, everyone clapped politely. Professor McGonagall stood next to the stool and scrolled open a piece of parchment. She began to read off the names of the first year students to come forward and get sorted. "Amery, JoAnn," a small girl with mousy brown hair and freckles stumbled up to the stool and climbed up into her seat. McGonagall placed the hat on her head and in a second the hat shouted out "RAVENCLAW!" The list went on for a few minutes, and Ron muttered to Harry how he was starved and wished that the sorting were over with. "Hawkes, William," a tall lanky boy with dark hair in a buzz cut walked forward and sat on the stool with a scowl on his face. "Two guesses which house that kid's in," said Ron whose stomach was growling. In a moment the hat shouted out "SLYTHERIN!" and Ron jabbed Harry in the ribs with his elbow with a smug look on his face. "Lawson, Maxwell," a chubby kid with a chipped toothy grin walked up and sat down on the stool. "HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat. The Hufflepuff table cheered as he went to their table and sat down. "Malfoy, Patrick," a tiny silvery-blonde haired boy slipped out of the crowd and headed toward the stool. His name definitely caught Harry, Ron, and Hermione by surprise and they were now very much interested in the sorting. This kid looked like Draco, except he looked timid, even afraid, but they were almost certain that Draco didn't have a younger brother. He looked over at Draco as he sat down on the stool. Harry looked over at Malfoy to see his expression, it was nothing short of a scowl, and he seemed to be glaring at the little boy on the stool. Harry didn't understand, but his thoughts were cut short as-"GRYFFINDOR!" The entire Gryffindor table was in shock that a Malfoy was now in their house. The little boy looked as though he was going to cry for the lack of applause when he approached the table. He sat down next to another new Gryffindor named Susan Baker. The rest of the sorting went by in a flash as Ron, Hermione, and Harry were stunned by the new comer. "I have a few notices before we begin the feast," said Dumbledore as he stood up, "First, I'd like to introduce our new Defense against the dark arts teacher," he said as he motioned to his left. A woman who Harry recognized as Mrs. Figg stood up. "Her name is Professor Arabella Figg and I trust she will be a wonderful new addition to Hogwarts. Secondly, as always, all students are to keep away from the Forbidden Forest, that is why we call it forbidden," his blue eyes sparkled over his half moon spectacles. "Mr. Filch asks that there will be no more conjured snow storms in the hallways to prevent exams," he looked amusedly at the twins who grinned. "And finally, I have great trust in our Care of Magical Creatures Teacher. However, I suspect that some of you do not appreciate the knowledge that he is here to give you," Dumbledore said as he looked at Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. "So please do not give him any grief, as I have given him instructions to hand out detentions as he deems fit, so let us all contemplate shoveling manure by moonlight before causing any trouble." Dumbledore said practically smiling at the Slytherin table. "Having said all that, let's eat." And with that the golden plates and platters filled with food and they all ate heartily. As Hermione and Dean led the Gryffindor first years up to the common room, Professor McGonagall swept across the Great Hall and caught up with Harry.
"I want you to put this parchment up in the common room, Potter. Good night." And she swept away toward the transfiguration classroom. Harry pulled it open and read it. It said:
Gryffindor Quidditch try outs
This Saturday at the Quidditch pitch At exactly twelve noon Players will be judged by the Gryffindor team captain and Professor McGonagall Please be well rested and ready to fly Good luck
As Harry and Ron made their way up the marble staircase to Gryffindor tower, they talked excitedly about the Quidditch tryouts and who the new captain would be. They muttered the new password at the fat lady, 'Quaffle', and they entered the common room. Hermione was sprawled in a squishy chair looking harassed. "What happened to you?" Harry asked as he and Ron arrived. Harry took his wand out and hung the tryout sheet on the inside of the porthole. "Those bloody first years, all they do is ask questions, they are so curious, I finally got tired of answering all of their questions and told them to read it in Hogwarts, A History!" Ron and Harry laughed and after a minute Hermione laughed with them. At last they were home.