CHAPTER TWO: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Hello children, glad you could join us." Greg said, giving us a cheeky grin, as we entered the carriage. "You're just in time to hear all about Paul's ambitions for being made head boy next year! Aren't you lucky?"
"Leave him alone." Francine said, shaking her head. "At least he has some ambition!"
I smiled too, and Jenny and I sat down. It was always entertaining when the Weasley clan got together! I'd never had the opportunity to be disappointed that both my parents had small families because the Weasleys had always made us Potters feel part of the family!
"I have got ambition. I want to open a joke shop. Dad, and Uncle Fred were always going to open a joke shop, but they both made the old mistake- falling in love and getting married." Greg said, with a dramatic sigh.
"Well you're lucky there since no female on this earth would ever want to marry you!" Francine replied loftily.
"Hey, do any of you know who the Malfoy's are?" I asked, remembering my mental note.
Francine and Greg exchanged a look, and even Paul looked up from his reading.
"Why do you want to know?" Francine asked.
"When we were waiting for the train they arrived, and Dad, Aunt Hermoine and Uncle Ron seemed to really hate them!" I explained. "Dad warned me to keep away from them but he wouldn't say why!"
"The Malfoys are pretty rich, rumor has it that Draco managed to virtually triple his family's money in no time, but that could be just hearsay. They've always been connected with the dark wizards, especially Voldemort, but they deny that of course-at least to people who are not dark wizards!" Francine explained.
"The Ministry has been keeping a close eye on the Malfoys for years- especially after your Dad defeated Voldemort for the second time!" Paul spoke up. "I think they are concerned that they might do something. They're into muggle-baiting, and think they're superior not only because of their money, but because of their pure bloodlines!"
"Interesting." I said, thinking that this explained why Dad didn't want me to associate with Alforth.
"They're simply bad." Greg finished. "Alforth's bound to be put in Slytherin."
"Mum told me all about the houses at Hogwarts, and I read about them in 'Hogwarts: A History'. Let's see..Gryffindoor's are brave, nervy and daring. Hufflepuff's are loyal, hardworking and just. Ravenclaw's are smart, witty and into learning. And Slytherin's are cunning and will do just about anything to get what they want!" Jenny said.
I rolled my eyes, and noticed Greg doing the same thing. "A mini-Paul!" He declared with a sigh.
Francine glared at him. "You could do with being a little more like Jenny or Paul!" She said. "I heard what marks you got and you're lucky they're letting you go into fourth year this year!"
Greg had the good grace to look slightly ashamed. "Yeah....well...." He muttered. Then he changed the subject. "And you two know that there isn't a witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin don't you?"
"Yeah, my parents told me that." I said. "I started worrying that maybe I might be put in Slytherin, and Dad told me that he had the same worries when he was starting!" I didn't tell them that Dad had also confessed to me that the sorting hat had seriously debating putting him in Slytherin. What was it Dad said the hat said? "You could be great you know, it's all in your head" or something like that?
"You don't have to worry about that. Your Dad was in Gryffindoor, his Dad was also, you're bound to be put in there with all us!" Greg assured me.
"I wouldn't mind being put in Ravenclaw- they value brains there." Jenny said. I could tell she was still a little offended by Greg's comment before. I'll admit the girl annoys me sometimes with her know-all ways, but I didn't think she was anywhere near as annoying as Paul was!
Greg snorted, but Francine smiled at her. "Well we'll just have to wait and see won't we? But the chances are that you'll be in Gryffindoor with us!"
It was about then that a lady appeared with a food trolley, and we all bought some things to eat.
"I swear I got a vomit flavored one of these a few years back." Francine said tucking into her Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
"Dad wont touch the things since he said he got a bogey flavored one once!" Greg said, happily munching on his Cauldron Cake.
I chewed on my Licorice Wand thoughtfully. "How much longer is it till we arrive?" I asked.
"Awhile." Greg replied. "And then the first years travel to the castle a different way to the rest of us. It's sort of like an initiation ceremony of sorts.." And he grinned wickedly.
Jenny and I glanced at each other. "Initiation?" She asked weakly. "Does it hurt?"
"Oh dreadfully. But then its over and you never have to do it again, so it doesn't matter!" Greg replied, waving his hand dissmisevly.
"Oh for heavens sake Greg!" Francine said, throwing him a dirty look. "Don't listen to him you two. It's nothing like that! He's just trying to scare you!"
"Does it involve magic then?" Jenny asked. "I've already learnt the Alohomora charm!" She looked quite proud of herself.
"No, its nothing like that. It's sort of a ritual, a tradition." Francine replied. "Don't worry about anything!"
It was awhile before we arrived at Hogwarts, and we all bundled out of the train, putting our robes on first.
"I need first years over here!" A man was calling. "First years please come this way!" He was fairly tall and well built, and he didn't look like a professor to me!
"Who's that?" I asked Greg.
"It's Herman, the groundskeeper." Greg replied. "Hogwarts seems to have a tradition of hiring huge groundskeepers. Did you ever hear your Dad talk about Hagrid?"
"Yeah!" I replied. "They actually write to each other occasionally. Hagrid and Maxine have three sons now-and Hagrid told Dad they get bigger each day, and when Dad read that bit out to us Mum said that was a worry!"
"FIRST YEARS! COME ON!" Herman yelled, and Jenny and I joined the rest of first years, all feeling a little nervous at being singled out from the crowd. I noticed Alforth standing nearby, with another boy, who managed to look mean, stupid, and ugly all at the same time. They were whispering about something, and Alforth sniggered.
Herman led us down a steep, narrow path, which suddenly opened out onto a huge lake. On the other side, perched atop a mountain, was the Hogwarts Castle Beside me I heard Jenny draw in her breath with excitement, and I had to admit, even I had a tremor of excitement running through me! On the lake were a few boats and we all jumped into them. Alforth and his friend were in the one next to Jenny and I, and I heard him telling his friend that they would surely be in Slytherin. "Both our fathers were in there so we will be no problem. Father said it would be very important!" Over the lake the boats glided, and through an opening in the cliff, down a dark tunnel and into a harbor, where we all climbed out.
"Wait here." Herman said, and he disappeared.
"Did you see how big he was?" One girl asked another.
"He must have giant in him." The other girl replied. "I don't know why they'd let someone with giant in them teach here. I know they came over to our side during the troubles with Voldemort years ago, but I don't trust them one bit!"
"Narrow minded bigots." Muttered Jenny beside me.
A tall, black haired witch came out then, and surveyed us all thoughtfully. "Hello first years, and welcome to Hogwarts. I'm Professor McGonagall, the headmistress here at Hogwarts, as well as the transfiguration teacher. The start of term banquet is about to begin, but before you sit down and eat you will need to be sorted into your houses. Follow me."
As we walked she told us how we could earn points, and lose points, for our house, and that at the end of the year the house with the most points won the house cup! We entered the Great Hall. It was lit by candles floating in mid air. Four long tables were crowded by the students-I spotted the Weasleys. At the top of the hall was a long table where the teachers were sitting. On a stool sat an old, battered hat. The hat twitched, and a rip near the brim opened wide, like a mouth as the hat began to sing of how it was the cleverest hat, and then the houses.
One by one we were called up, and sorted into houses.
"Malfoy, Alforth." The headmistress called.
Alforth swaggered forward, seeming to think the whole exercise was merely a waste of time. The hat was silent for a long time and then it called out his fate: "GRYFFINDOOR!" The entire hall was silent.
Alforth's face went red with shock. "Professor there must be a mistake. I should be in Slytherin." He complained.
The headmistress seemed shocked herself. She struggled to find the words and then said curtly "Malfoy, go sit down and join your house."
Alforth went angrily and sat down at the Gryffindoor table, who were all in shock still. It occurred to me that many people in the Wizarding world might have known about the Malfoys and how they were a bad family, connected with Dark wizards. If the Weasleys had known, then it was entirely conceivable other people did too!
"Potter, Samuel." The headmistress called.
The hat was put on my head. "Ahh, the son of the famous Harry Potter." It said. "I had some trouble sorting your father back when he arrived here.."
I crossed my fingers, praying that it wouldn't put me in Slytherin.
"Yes, this is difficult too..where to put you?" The hat asked.
"GRYFFINDOOR!" It announced to the school, and everyone clapped, especially those in Gryffindoor. I sat down near a very sour looking Alforth.
Francine leant across to congratulate me. "It was expected, but it's still good." She told me, and then she glanced at Alforth. "Although the sorting hat was not without it's surprises tonight!"
"Weasley, Jennifer." The headmistress called.
As soon as the hat touched her head it called "GRYFFINDOOR!"
She came over to join us, beaming happily. And then the feast began!
"Hello children, glad you could join us." Greg said, giving us a cheeky grin, as we entered the carriage. "You're just in time to hear all about Paul's ambitions for being made head boy next year! Aren't you lucky?"
"Leave him alone." Francine said, shaking her head. "At least he has some ambition!"
I smiled too, and Jenny and I sat down. It was always entertaining when the Weasley clan got together! I'd never had the opportunity to be disappointed that both my parents had small families because the Weasleys had always made us Potters feel part of the family!
"I have got ambition. I want to open a joke shop. Dad, and Uncle Fred were always going to open a joke shop, but they both made the old mistake- falling in love and getting married." Greg said, with a dramatic sigh.
"Well you're lucky there since no female on this earth would ever want to marry you!" Francine replied loftily.
"Hey, do any of you know who the Malfoy's are?" I asked, remembering my mental note.
Francine and Greg exchanged a look, and even Paul looked up from his reading.
"Why do you want to know?" Francine asked.
"When we were waiting for the train they arrived, and Dad, Aunt Hermoine and Uncle Ron seemed to really hate them!" I explained. "Dad warned me to keep away from them but he wouldn't say why!"
"The Malfoys are pretty rich, rumor has it that Draco managed to virtually triple his family's money in no time, but that could be just hearsay. They've always been connected with the dark wizards, especially Voldemort, but they deny that of course-at least to people who are not dark wizards!" Francine explained.
"The Ministry has been keeping a close eye on the Malfoys for years- especially after your Dad defeated Voldemort for the second time!" Paul spoke up. "I think they are concerned that they might do something. They're into muggle-baiting, and think they're superior not only because of their money, but because of their pure bloodlines!"
"Interesting." I said, thinking that this explained why Dad didn't want me to associate with Alforth.
"They're simply bad." Greg finished. "Alforth's bound to be put in Slytherin."
"Mum told me all about the houses at Hogwarts, and I read about them in 'Hogwarts: A History'. Let's see..Gryffindoor's are brave, nervy and daring. Hufflepuff's are loyal, hardworking and just. Ravenclaw's are smart, witty and into learning. And Slytherin's are cunning and will do just about anything to get what they want!" Jenny said.
I rolled my eyes, and noticed Greg doing the same thing. "A mini-Paul!" He declared with a sigh.
Francine glared at him. "You could do with being a little more like Jenny or Paul!" She said. "I heard what marks you got and you're lucky they're letting you go into fourth year this year!"
Greg had the good grace to look slightly ashamed. "Yeah....well...." He muttered. Then he changed the subject. "And you two know that there isn't a witch or wizard who went bad who wasn't in Slytherin don't you?"
"Yeah, my parents told me that." I said. "I started worrying that maybe I might be put in Slytherin, and Dad told me that he had the same worries when he was starting!" I didn't tell them that Dad had also confessed to me that the sorting hat had seriously debating putting him in Slytherin. What was it Dad said the hat said? "You could be great you know, it's all in your head" or something like that?
"You don't have to worry about that. Your Dad was in Gryffindoor, his Dad was also, you're bound to be put in there with all us!" Greg assured me.
"I wouldn't mind being put in Ravenclaw- they value brains there." Jenny said. I could tell she was still a little offended by Greg's comment before. I'll admit the girl annoys me sometimes with her know-all ways, but I didn't think she was anywhere near as annoying as Paul was!
Greg snorted, but Francine smiled at her. "Well we'll just have to wait and see won't we? But the chances are that you'll be in Gryffindoor with us!"
It was about then that a lady appeared with a food trolley, and we all bought some things to eat.
"I swear I got a vomit flavored one of these a few years back." Francine said tucking into her Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans.
"Dad wont touch the things since he said he got a bogey flavored one once!" Greg said, happily munching on his Cauldron Cake.
I chewed on my Licorice Wand thoughtfully. "How much longer is it till we arrive?" I asked.
"Awhile." Greg replied. "And then the first years travel to the castle a different way to the rest of us. It's sort of like an initiation ceremony of sorts.." And he grinned wickedly.
Jenny and I glanced at each other. "Initiation?" She asked weakly. "Does it hurt?"
"Oh dreadfully. But then its over and you never have to do it again, so it doesn't matter!" Greg replied, waving his hand dissmisevly.
"Oh for heavens sake Greg!" Francine said, throwing him a dirty look. "Don't listen to him you two. It's nothing like that! He's just trying to scare you!"
"Does it involve magic then?" Jenny asked. "I've already learnt the Alohomora charm!" She looked quite proud of herself.
"No, its nothing like that. It's sort of a ritual, a tradition." Francine replied. "Don't worry about anything!"
It was awhile before we arrived at Hogwarts, and we all bundled out of the train, putting our robes on first.
"I need first years over here!" A man was calling. "First years please come this way!" He was fairly tall and well built, and he didn't look like a professor to me!
"Who's that?" I asked Greg.
"It's Herman, the groundskeeper." Greg replied. "Hogwarts seems to have a tradition of hiring huge groundskeepers. Did you ever hear your Dad talk about Hagrid?"
"Yeah!" I replied. "They actually write to each other occasionally. Hagrid and Maxine have three sons now-and Hagrid told Dad they get bigger each day, and when Dad read that bit out to us Mum said that was a worry!"
"FIRST YEARS! COME ON!" Herman yelled, and Jenny and I joined the rest of first years, all feeling a little nervous at being singled out from the crowd. I noticed Alforth standing nearby, with another boy, who managed to look mean, stupid, and ugly all at the same time. They were whispering about something, and Alforth sniggered.
Herman led us down a steep, narrow path, which suddenly opened out onto a huge lake. On the other side, perched atop a mountain, was the Hogwarts Castle Beside me I heard Jenny draw in her breath with excitement, and I had to admit, even I had a tremor of excitement running through me! On the lake were a few boats and we all jumped into them. Alforth and his friend were in the one next to Jenny and I, and I heard him telling his friend that they would surely be in Slytherin. "Both our fathers were in there so we will be no problem. Father said it would be very important!" Over the lake the boats glided, and through an opening in the cliff, down a dark tunnel and into a harbor, where we all climbed out.
"Wait here." Herman said, and he disappeared.
"Did you see how big he was?" One girl asked another.
"He must have giant in him." The other girl replied. "I don't know why they'd let someone with giant in them teach here. I know they came over to our side during the troubles with Voldemort years ago, but I don't trust them one bit!"
"Narrow minded bigots." Muttered Jenny beside me.
A tall, black haired witch came out then, and surveyed us all thoughtfully. "Hello first years, and welcome to Hogwarts. I'm Professor McGonagall, the headmistress here at Hogwarts, as well as the transfiguration teacher. The start of term banquet is about to begin, but before you sit down and eat you will need to be sorted into your houses. Follow me."
As we walked she told us how we could earn points, and lose points, for our house, and that at the end of the year the house with the most points won the house cup! We entered the Great Hall. It was lit by candles floating in mid air. Four long tables were crowded by the students-I spotted the Weasleys. At the top of the hall was a long table where the teachers were sitting. On a stool sat an old, battered hat. The hat twitched, and a rip near the brim opened wide, like a mouth as the hat began to sing of how it was the cleverest hat, and then the houses.
One by one we were called up, and sorted into houses.
"Malfoy, Alforth." The headmistress called.
Alforth swaggered forward, seeming to think the whole exercise was merely a waste of time. The hat was silent for a long time and then it called out his fate: "GRYFFINDOOR!" The entire hall was silent.
Alforth's face went red with shock. "Professor there must be a mistake. I should be in Slytherin." He complained.
The headmistress seemed shocked herself. She struggled to find the words and then said curtly "Malfoy, go sit down and join your house."
Alforth went angrily and sat down at the Gryffindoor table, who were all in shock still. It occurred to me that many people in the Wizarding world might have known about the Malfoys and how they were a bad family, connected with Dark wizards. If the Weasleys had known, then it was entirely conceivable other people did too!
"Potter, Samuel." The headmistress called.
The hat was put on my head. "Ahh, the son of the famous Harry Potter." It said. "I had some trouble sorting your father back when he arrived here.."
I crossed my fingers, praying that it wouldn't put me in Slytherin.
"Yes, this is difficult too..where to put you?" The hat asked.
"GRYFFINDOOR!" It announced to the school, and everyone clapped, especially those in Gryffindoor. I sat down near a very sour looking Alforth.
Francine leant across to congratulate me. "It was expected, but it's still good." She told me, and then she glanced at Alforth. "Although the sorting hat was not without it's surprises tonight!"
"Weasley, Jennifer." The headmistress called.
As soon as the hat touched her head it called "GRYFFINDOOR!"
She came over to join us, beaming happily. And then the feast began!
