Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Harry Potter Characters or anything else from the books. I do own the plot and the new characters.
Author's Notes: This is an alternate universe fiction. There will be angst, action/adventure, drama, humor, and romance(eventually). This story is rated R so I don't get myself into any trouble with what I write. Thanks to those unsung heroes who proof read this story. This story will contain child abuse, violence, possible *slash*, suicidal characters, torture, murder, and right now I do not know what else.
( ) indicates a characters thoughts.
Help! My beta/proofreaders are busy. I hope there are not many mistakes.
Anyone willing to do some proofreading can e-mail me. Thanks.
CHAPTER 4: The Train Ride And The Sorting Hat
"I can't believe the two of you hoodwinked Harry and Draco into investing their money in that ridicules joke shop, you two have been going on about since starting Hogwarts," Mrs. Weasley reprimanded Fred and George as she led her charges through the crowded train station.
"Mum! Roger said the initial tests on the Triple T's have been successful," Fred moaned.
"Harry offered us the money Mum. We didn't ask for it," George added.
"Taking advantage of Harry's generosity after he bought you new school robes and Ron a new wand!" Molly continued.
"I wanted to get those things for everyone. I'm glad I could get presents for you. You gave me a place I feel safe. Please don't be mad at Fred and George. They were just trying to help me," Harry whimpered.
"I'm sorry, Harry. I'm just upset that they spend so much time on those jokes. Instead of on things like what they made to help you take your potions."
"But if they hadn't been making joke items they never would have discovered how to make the Triple T's," Harry countered.
"Okay, okay. I'll let it go. I do not, however, want to receive any letters about pranks you've pulled. I do not want to get a letter from the Headmaster telling me that you released a swarm of bees in the Slytherin Common Room."
"Haven't done that, but it's a great idea. Thanks Mum. Now we just need to figure out where to get the bees."
"George!"
""I'm not George, I'm Fred."
"Oh, no. We're not starting that again. Now we've got everything on the trolleys. Bill, you take Draco and his trolley and I'll help Harry with his. Now, let's get through the barrier and get all of you on the train."
The Weasleys', Draco, and Harry went through the barrier. Harry gasped as he saw the huge scarlet steam engine sitting at the front of a line of red coach cars.
Bill, George, and Fred helped Harry and Draco load their trunks on the train.
"Fred, George, I want you to watch out for your brother, Harry, and Draco. Make sure Harry eats on the train and not just stuff off the cart. Harry, make sure you drink your potion at one o'clock. You don't want to get sick,"
"Yes, ma'am." Harry smiled.
"Draco, remember to keep those bandages over your eyes and have someone change them every day. You don't want anything to happen to your eyes," Molly said, hugging Draco.
"I'll remember," Draco replied, returning the hug.
"Here, Harry, Draco this car's nearly empty!" Fred called from near the end of the train.
They made their way over to the twins, who loaded their trunks and owls for them.
"Thanks," the boys said as Fred and George helped them onto the train. Ron followed carrying a large shopping bag.
George led them to a compartment with a single small boy sitting in the corner of one of the seats. He had sandy brown hair and was wrapped in a forest green comforter. His feet were tucked under him and his shoes were laying on the floor. A pillow was stuffed behind his head.
"Are these seats taken?" George asked.
"No," the boy replied, turning to see who spoke.
"Do you mind if my brother and two of our friends join you?" George could see the boy was holding a stuffed bear similar to the ones Harry and Draco had.
"No, I don't mind."
"Thanks, I'm George Weasley and my twin is Fred. Our little brother is Ron. Then we have Draco Malfoy, who's having trouble with his eyes and last but not least is Harry," George said as Harry, Ron, and Draco sat down on the empty bench.
Ron had taken the seat next to the window, across from Cody. Draco sat in the middle of the bench and Harry sat by the door. The train's whistle blew and they started to move.
"I'm Cody Daniels. What's you surname Harry?"
Harry looked around before he saw George nodding his head as Fred looked up and down the corridor.
"Potter," Harry whispered.
"Nice to meet all of you. I'm sorry, I won't be very good company. I'm not feeling too well."
"That's alright, Harry and I aren't doing very well either," Draco added.
"Will you guys be okay for a while?" George asked.
"We want to talk to Lee Jordan and a couple of our other friends. If you need anything, send Ron to find us," Fred said.
"We'll check back with you every once in awhile," George added.
"We'll be fine," Harry answered as he rubbed his thin arms.
"You're cold again, aren't you, Harry?" Fred asked.
Harry nodded as George pulled a blanket from the shopping bag and wrapped it around the shivering boy's shoulders. Following Cody's example, Harry kicked off his trainers and tucked his feet under him.
"Mum sent some tea in case you got cold Harry," Fred said as he took a jug and several cups from the bag.
"Would you like some, Cody?" George asked, holding the cup while Fred poured.
"Yes, please."
When they had given all four younger boys their tea, Fred and George headed down the center of the train to find their friends. The boys talked about everything from Quidditch to brooms as the train left London and headed north.
"Is that bear from The Golden Toy Box's Menagerie?" Ron asked as a girl with bushy brown hair stuck her head into the compartment.
"Yes," Cody replied.
"Have any of you seen a toad?" the girl asked as she entered.
"No," Ron replied.
"I'm Hermione Granger and you are?"
Ron, Draco, and Cody introduced themselves. Harry sat quietly trying to be ignored.
"And you are?" Hermione asked, looking at Harry.
"Harry Potter."
"Are you really?"
"He is," Draco and Ron replied in unison.
"Well, I've read all about you. I found your story in three books."
"You did?"
"Probably Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century," Cody interjected.
Hermione turned and stared at the bear in Cody's arms.
"Did you say that your bear came from The Menagerie. I thought that the ministry banned trade with Avalon."
"You can still trade with Avalon with special permission," Cody replied.
"I did some reading on Avalon and those stuffed animals from The Menagerie are expensive. The cheapest ones cost over a thousand galleons. A bear that size would cost at least 7,000 galleons, without any charms being placed on it. Does your bear have any charms?" Hermione rattled.
Fred and George stuck their heads into the compartment.
"Everything alright in here?" Fred asked.
"We're just talking about Cody's bear," Hermione said before anyone else could say anything.
"Well, Harry, it's time for you to take your potion and eat something. We're just ahead of the food cart," George said, pulling a vial and a piece of candy from his robes and handing both to Harry.
Harry ate the candy and then drank the potion. He was handing the vial back to George when the lady with the cart arrived. A boy with dark blonde hair and silver eyes was standing on the other side of the cart.
"Would you like anything, dears?" the lady asked.
The boys ransacked the cart and Harry insisted on paying for everything. Cody introduced everyone to his cousin Kenny Anderson, the boy who had arrived with the cart, as they sat down to lunch. Hermione left in a huff at the sight of the boys gorging themselves. Cody snickered.
"What's so funny, Cody?" Kenny asked, brushing his hair out of his eyes.
"Granger's a motor mouth. She was driving me crazy," Cody replied, biting into a Cauldron Cake.
"No kidding, she was spouting information about everything. And her voice just gave me a headache," Draco added, chewing on a Licorice Wand.
"At least you didn't have to see her pooffy hair and big teeth," Cody replied.
Fred and George left to sit with their friends, leaving the compartment to the first year boys. During the remainder of the train ride, the boys talked about everything and quickly became friends.
Their conversation was only interrupted once at about three o'clock. Three boys, two of them large with blank expressions, appeared in the doorway. The third boy was thin and shorter than the other two, but looked more intelligent.
"I heard that Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy were in this compartment. It looks like Pansy was right," the boy sneered and ran his hand through his black hair.
"Well, cousin Draco, Uncle Lucius is going to be pleased to know that you made it to Hogwarts. But the company you are keeping, leaves a lot to be desired.
Sharing a compartment with a dirt poor Weasel, a baby with a blankie and a teddy bear, chicken boy, and Potter, who's now a human toothpick, how despicable," the boy replied.
"Oh shut up, Hindes! Get out of here! We don't want you in here," Kenny growled.
"Oh, I thought I recognized that whiney squeak. How are you, Davey?" Draco said in a sickeningly sweet voice.
"Is someone starting trouble, Ron?" George asked as he, Fred, Percy, and several other older students appeared in the hallway.
"I was just talking to my cousin," David Hindes said as he and his two gorillas slunk away.
"Who were the two goons with Hindes?" Ron asked.
"Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe," Percy answered. "They arrived at Kings Cross Station at the same time and have been roaming the train together."
"I know Crabbe and Goyle. Lucius was going to pay them to protect me during my school years. They're a couple of morons, but they're big and know how to fight," Draco said.
"Well we're getting close to the Hogsmeade Station. You need to change into your robes," Percy added before heading back toward the front of the train.
"George and I will stay and help you. Mum told us to make sure we don't leave you guys until you're with a teacher. Percy said that the three of you and Cody are supposed to go up to the castle together," Fred said, getting Draco's robes out for him.
"Our uncle told me not to let Cody out of my sight after we get off the train. So I'll be with them all the way to the castle," Kenny added, pulling his robes on over his head before looking out at the darkening sky.
"There's only room for four in each of the transports," George said, helping Harry into his robes.
"There'll be plenty of room. Harry and Cody are small enough to share the center bench with Draco. Their transport is large than the rest," Kenny replied.
Once everyone was in their robes, George took Harry's hand and Fred took Draco's. Cody led everyone out with Kenny at his side. Ron brought up the rear.
"Where is everyone?" Ron asked as he noticed that the platform was empty except for a huge, bearded man at one end.
"Harry, Draco! How 're ye?" Hagrid called as George and Fred led the four first years across the platform.
"We're okay," Draco answered.
"And how ye doin', Cody?"
"A little cold and I have a headache," Cody replied.
"Well, just wrap yer blanket around ye and we'll get ye settled for the trip to the castle."
"Where is everyone?" Ron repeated.
"They're staying on the train until we get these three settled. Professor Dumbledore didn't want the three of you trying to cross a crowded platform in the dark," Fred said as the group made their way to a dock lined with small boats.
"Harry, here's you next potion. I'm giving it to you so you'll have it no matter what house you get put in. Take it before you eat," George said, putting a vial into one of the pockets of Harry's robes.
"Thanks," Harry replied.
Fred and George helped the younger boys into a boat before heading back to the train with Hagrid. Harry and Cody sat on the center bench with Draco between them. Ron sat in the bow of the boat and Kenny took the rear seat.
With in a few minutes the boys heard Hagrid calling the first years toward the boats. It was not long before the rest of their classmates joined them in the boats. The view of the castle was spectacular. Oohs and ahs could be heard from all of the boats, along with shouted comments as new friends called to each other.
Draco hung his head and buried his face in his hands as he listened to Ron calling out what he saw. Harry and Cody both draped their arms across Draco's shoulders and felt him shaking.
"Ron, you stupid git, shut up!" Kenny called from the rear of the boat.
Ron turned and clamped his hands over his mouth. His face glowing red in the light from the quarter moon.
"I'm sorry Draco. I wasn't thinking," Ron moaned.
"Hey, Draco. Don't worry about it. I bet I can get my uncle to bring us out on the lake when there's a full moon," Kenny said, trying to comfort everyone.
Draco nodded as Hagrid told everyone to duck as the approached the base of the cliff Hogwarts sat upon. The boats floated along a dark passage way before coming to a beach of small smooth stones. House elves caught the small boats and pulled them out of the water.
Draco, Harry, and Cory were they first ones out of their boat. Kenny and Ron quickly joined them. Hagrid made it a point to stand between them and the rest of the first years.
Neville's toad, Trevor, was discovered hiding in one of the boats and returned to him. The students were led across a damp field to the castle's main entrance.
Hagrid knocked and Professor McGonagall opened the door. They exchanged greetings and the professor ushered the children into the entrance hall.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. In a few minutes I will lead you into the Great Hall for The Sorting Ceremony. During the ceremony each of you will sorted into one of the four Houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has produced many fine wizards and witches throughout their noble histories.
While you are here, your house will be your family and your home. There are dormitories, showers, bathrooms, and a common room within each house's section of the castle. You are not to share the location of your house or the passwords to enter with anyone from another house.
Throughout the school year your successes and achievements will earn you points for you house. Misbehavior and breaking rules will result in points being taken away. The house with the most points at the end of the year is awarded the House Cup.
The start-of-term banquet will began after the Sorting is complete. You have a few minutes to straighten yourselves out before the ceremony starts. I will be back shortly," the professor said before leaving the first years to fix their hair and robes.
The students were brushing at the robes and running fingers through their hair when a line of silver people floated through the wall. They were discussing someone called Peeves and what should be done about him.
"New students, about to be sorted. How marvelous," a fat bald man in brown robes exclaimed, placing his hand on the shoulder of a thin man in tights and a ruff.
Cody shivered and backed into Ron and Kenny.
"Friar, Sir Nicholas, didn't the Headmaster ask you to avoid this hallway this evening?" Kenny asked, wrapping his arms around his smaller cousin.
"Oh, quite right. So, sorry," the friar said as he led the ghost through another wall.
"What was all that about?" Draco whispered.
"The ghosts came through the wall. Cody's not thrilled with them. They've made contact with him a few times and it's been horrible for him. We try to keep them away from each other," Kenny replied.
"Why?" Ron asked.
"I'll explain later. Here comes Professor McGonagall." Kenny brushed the hair out of Cody's eyes.
"Follow me please," McGonagall commanded.
The students were led into the Great Hall and between four long tables crowded with students and set with golden plates and goblets. Harry saw George and Fred standing behind the table near the left wall, waving at him. The table on his immediate left was packed with students that had an air of stuffiness to them. He saw a black bird on one student's robes. On his right was a table of students who did not seem to have anything in common. They all appeared different and he noticed four legged animals on several robes. The last table, near the far right wall contained a mass of sour faced students. They were sneering at the new arrivals.
The teachers's table was set on a raised platform at the far end of the room.
Thousands of candles were float over the tables. Harry looked up and was rewarded with a perfect image of the sky outside. He groaned as he heard Granger telling Longbottom that the ceiling was enchanted to show the sky above.
They reached the end of the student tables. Everyone turn to watch Professor McGonagall who was standing next to a stool with an old tattered hat on it. The Hall fell silent as a rip opened above the brim of the hat.
AN: INSERT SORTING HAT SONG HERE
Will be put up when someone gets me one.
I'm lousy at songs and poetry.
The Sorting Hat finished and the hall exploded with applause.
"When I call your name, come up and sit on the stool. Place the hat on your head and you will be sorted into your house," McGonagall said as she unrolled a scroll of parchment.
"This should be interesting. I've got eleven cousins to be sorted," Cody snickered.
Abbott, Hannah was greeted by cheers as she went to the Hufflepuff table.
"Anderson, Brian!"
"The first of my cousins," Cody said, beaming as his cousin sat on the stool and the hat fell over his eyes.
"AH HA! An Avalonian student! My, my, it has been a long time. Now where shall I place you. I see you are a cunning little fox in more ways than one," the hat whispered into Brian's ear.
"SLYTHERIN!" the hat called out.
Brian removed the hat and head toward the cheering Slytherin table.
"Anderson, Daniel!"
"Another cousin," Cody snickered as Daniel sat down and donned the hat.
"What another Avalonian Anderson? Very interesting. This should be a very eventful year. I see you love languages and reading. I know where you will do very well," the hat told Daniel before shouting, "RAVENCLAW!" to the hall.
The Ravenclaw students exploded as Daniel joined them.
"Anderson, Eric!" McGonagall called.
"Another cousin?" Draco, Harry, and Ron asked in unison.
"Yep," Cody laughed.
Eric put the hat on and was pleasantly surprised.
"Welcome young man. I see that there are more Avalonians to sort and you will stand by them all. Which means you belong in...Hufflepuff!" the last was shouted to the hall.
The Hufflepuffs enthusiastically greeted their new house mate.
"Anderson, Kenneth!"
Kenny walked up to the stool, sat down, and put the hat on.
"Well, you are going to be easy to place. There is no doubt about your courage, after you ran out into that blizzard to find your cousin," the Sorting Hat commented before shouting Gryffindor.
Fred and George pounded Kenny on his back as he joined the Gryffindor table to loud cheers.
The Sorting Hat went through the next group of students quickly.
Baldwin, Janet - Gryffindor
Bones, Susan - Hufflepuff
Boot, Terry - Ravenclaw
Boxten, Melissa - Slytherin
Brocklehurst, Mandy - Ravenclaw
Brown, Lavender - Gryffindor
Bulstrode, Millicent - Slytherin
Carter, Anna - Gryffindor
Corner, Michael - Hufflepuff
Crowfoot, Stephen - Ravenclaw
Crabbe, Vincent - Slytherin
"Daniels, Cody!"
Cody stumbled as he started toward the stool. He handed his blanket to Ron as he passed him. Lifting the hat, he sat down, and put it on.
"Oh, bother. How many of you are there?" The Sorting Hat asked.
"Twelve all together," Cody thought to the hat.
"Oh, my! I'm not even half way down with you little rascals. It is nice to have you here, though. I hope you enjoy yourselves and don't get into too much trouble. Now where to put you. Well, you'll have family in any house you go to. But I see, you do not like studying, even though you love to read. You also don't like to work, but will do more than your fair share if need be. Then there is your devious mind, quick and sharp, that you fear as much as you prize. And courage you do not lack, having faced many things in your past. Ah, but now I see what you will need the most. Warmth and friendship, will help you through the years. So I'll send you to ----" the hat whispered in Cody's mind.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"Thank you," Cody said, taking off the hat and setting it on the stool.
Ron wrapped the comforter around Cody's shoulders as the boy headed for his house table. Kenny stood up and helped him into his seat as the Gryffindors celebrated another student joining their ranks.
Davenport, Tracie - Ravenclaw
Davis, Tracy - Slytherin
Douglas, Thomas - Ravenclaw
Entwhistle, Kevin - Ravenclaw
Fawcett, Sarah - Ravenclaw
Finch-Fletchley, Justin - Hufflepuff
Finnigan, Seamus - Gryffindor
Goldstein, Anthony - Hufflepuff
Goyle, Gregory - Slytherin
Granger, Hermione - Gryffindor
The cheer from the Gryffindor table drowned out Cody's groan.
Greingrass, Cloe - Slytherin
Hancock, Crystal - Hufflepuff
Hindes, David - Slytherin
Hopkins, Wayne - Hufflepuff
Jones, Megan - Hufflepuff
Lands, Louise - Gryffindor
Li, Su - Ravenclaw
Longbottom, Neville - Gryffindor
MacDougal, Morag - Ravenclaw
MacTaggert, Sidney - Ravenclaw
"Malfoy, Draco!"
Ron took Draco's hand and led him up to the stool. He held the hat while Draco sat down. Taking the hat from his friend, Draco put it on.
"Ah, another interesting individual. You are clever and stand by your friends. You have a desire to prove yourself and the courage to overcome any obstacles that stand in your way. I think the best place for you will be,"
"SLYTHERIN!" The Sorting Hat shouted to the hall.
Brian Anderson was out of his seat and met Draco and Ron as they head for the Slytherin table.
"Draco, I'm Cody's cousin Brian. I'll take you to our table and you can sit next to me."
"Thanks," Draco said, letting Brian take his hand and lead him to the table.
Brian looked up at the teachers' table and saw both the Headmaster and his uncle smiling at him. He sat down with Draco as Professor McGonagall called the next student.
"Matthews, Christopher!"
"Another one of our cousins," Brian told Draco as Christopher put the hat on.
"Well, where to put you. You stand by your friends through everything, so it will have to be,"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
With that declaration, Chris returned The Sorting Hat to the stool and joined his cousin Eric to a chorus of cheers from the other Hufflepuffs.
McMillan, Ernie - Hufflepuff
"More cousins coming," Brian whispered to Draco who smiled.
"Michaels, Andrew!"
"What more of you?" The Sorting Hat asked Andrew as he put the hat on.
"Well, you're over half done with us now. I'd like to go into Gryffindor with Cody, if it's possible."
"I do not see a problem with that. I was going to send you there in the first place."
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat announced to the expectant students.
The Gryffindors cheered as Andrew joined them, brushing his shoulder length sandy blonde hair out of his green eyes.
"This should be interesting, the quads are being sorted now," Brian told Draco.
"Are they identical?" Draco asked.
"Yes, and they hope to get into different houses. I'll explain later."
"Michaels, Nicholas!"
A boy an exact copy of Andrew walked up to the stool and sat the hat on his head.
"Hello, ah a second Michaels. I know where to put you," the hat began.
"Ravenclaw would be nice," Nicholas interrupted.
"Oh, you would do well there as would any of your brothers. However, I see what you and your brothers have planned. Each of you would do well in any of the houses. I will, however, place you where your greatest strength lies."
"Oh, no," Nicholas moaned.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Nicholas removed the hat and joined his brother at the Gryffindor table. Both boys buried their faces in their hands as the others at the table cheered.
"Michaels, Randall!"
The third of the Michaels quadruplets stepped up and donned The Sorting Hat.
"Will you please not put me in Gryffindor," Randall begged both the hat could say anything.
"I am afraid you will be following your brothers. You will cause more than enough trouble with the four of you being in Gryffindor. I am not going to be responsible for what you would do if you were not all placed in the same house."
"Aw come on. Don't you have a sense of humor?"
"Yes, but the four of you in separate houses is not humorous. It is down right dangerous."
"GRYFFINDOR!" The Sorting Hat bellowed before Randall could say anything else.
Randall returned the hat to the stool and, his head hanging, walked over to his brothers where he was greeted by the other Gryffindors.
"Michaels, Richard!"
Richard turned and walked toward the Gryffindor table.
"Mr. Michaels, where do you think you are going?" Professor McGonagall called.
"To my house table," Richard replied.
"You must be sorted first."
"Me and the hat know I'm going into Gryffindor, so what's the point," Richard replied as he looked up to see the scowl on the professor's face.
He let his eyes drift to the teachers' told where Dumbledore and his uncle were smiling at him. His uncle pointed at the hat and Richard got the point.
Putting the hat on his head, he scowled at Professor McGonagall.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindors cheered as Richard returned the hat to the stool and ambled over to his brothers.
"Well, there goes that plan," Brian whispered to Draco.
"What plan?" Draco asked.
"The Quads were trying to get into each of the four houses. They had some plans to drive everyone up the walls. We'll talk later. Professor McGonagall is about to call the next first year up."
"Okay," Draco replied.
Mitchell, Heather - Gryffindor
Moon, Tabatha - Hufflepuff
Nott, Gloria - Slytherin
Parkinson, Pansy - Slytherin
Patil, Padma - Ravenclaw
Patil, Parvati - Gryffindor
Perks, Sally-Ann - Hufflepuff
"Potter, Harry!" McGonagall bellowed.
"Potter?" someone hissed.
"Did she say, Potter?"
"THE Harry Potter!"
Harry took a shaky step forward as the whispers continued. He stumbled on his third step and Ron, who had been shadowing him, gently grabbed his arm and steadied his friend.
Ron helped him to the stool and handed him the hat. He stepped away as Harry, fear in his eyes, donned the hat.
"Oh, my. Another student that will be hard to place. Very intelligent, though you have not used your mind to its fullest. Talent yet to be tapped, also. Very courageous with a need to prove yourself. Very intriguing. Now where do I put you?"
"Not Slytherin ...not Slytherin," Harry murmured.
"You have a friend in Slytherin and there you will find help to guide you on your way to greatness."
"Not Slytherin, please not Slytherin. I feel sorry Draco's there, but I'll still be his friend."
"Well, you would do well in Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. However, I think that you would best be suited to," There was a pause before The Sorting Hat shouted to the hall, " - Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor table exploded filling the hall with a thundering roar as Harry took the hat off. He stood up and smiled as Fred and George hurried over to help him to the table. The twins sat him down between them.
Reynolds, Karen - Slytherin
Ritter, Carmen - Ravenclaw
"Roberts, Anthony!"
Anthony made his way up to the stool and put the hat on as he sat down.
"Hum, this year seems to be filled with students that are difficult to place. Now where to place you. Oh, you are a little scamp aren't you? Well, that tells me where to place you."
"SLYTHERIN!" The Sorting Hat bellowed.
Anthony joined his cousin and Draco at the Slytherin table to a respectable round of cheers.
Silvers, Wendy - Hufflepuff
"Stevens, Joshua!"
Joshua took his turn on the stool, under The Sorting Hat.
"Finally, the last of you."
"Hey, that's not very nice," Joshua told the hat.
"Oh, so sorry. My apologies. No offense meant. This has been a very long ceremony and many of your fellow students, mainly your cousins, have proven hard to place."
"You're forgiven. Can we hurry this up? I'm very hungry and so are some of the other students."
"I'll try. Now which house to place you in. I think I know,"
"RAVENCLAW!" The Sorting Hat shouted.
Joshua was greeted with cheers and slaps on the back as he joined his cousin Daniel at the Ravenclaw table.
Thomas, Dean - Gryffindor
Thomas, Gavin - Slytherin
"Weasley, Ronald!"
Ron gulped and walked up to the stool. He sat down and put on the hat.
"What? Another Weasley. Finally someone easy to place."
Ron cringed and turned red at the hat's words.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Ron joined Harry and his brothers at the Gryffindor table to the cheers of his new house mates. Fred slid over to allow Ron to sit next to Harry.
Zabini, Blaise - Slytherin
The last new student took his seat to cheers from the entire hall.
Dumbledore stood up and smiled.
"Welcome to our new students and welcome back to our returning students. I have a few words to say before our feast begins. Gilded. Glitter. Honeysuckle. Strawberry. Thank you."
Everyone clapped and cheered as the headmaster sat down.
"Don't forget your potion," George said as he started loading his plate.
"Thanks," Harry replied, pulling the vial from his robes and swallowing the contents. He grimaced and took a swig of his pumpkin juice.
Harry reached for a platter of roast beef. His sleeve slid up, revealing his
dangerously thin arm. He almost dropped the platter when several Gryffindors gasped.
"I've got it, Harry," George said, catching the platter and holding it.
"Thanks."
"What happened to you?" Seamus asked as half the table stared at Harry.
Harry pulled his arms in and bowed his head.
"I'll take care of it Harry," George said as he put several pieces of meat on Harry's plate.
"Harry's been sick. He hasn't been able to eat until a couple of days ago. He's lost a lot of weight and he would appreciate it, if we don't press the matter." George continued to fill Harry's plate. Harry put his hand up when George brought a bowl of peas over.
"No thank you," Harry moaned, a scowl forming on his face.
"What, you don't like peas?" Andrew asked, sensing that Harry would rather not eat than eat peas as George set the bowl down.
"I can't stand peas. My aunt made a ham for New Years and the company they were expecting never showed up so she made buckets of pea soup. It wasn't very good. My relatives didn't eat any of it after the first bowl, but I had to eat it until it was gone. They fed it to me at lunch every day. I didn't finish it off until Valentine's Day," Harry groaned.
Everyone at the table looked disgusted as George moved the peas further away from Harry.
Harry dug into his food. His friends were loading their plates a second time when he stopped eating, food still left on his plate.
"Cody, what happened to your. . .what you had on the train? Did you lose it?" Ron asked, tearing into a chicken leg.
"I can't lose it. It's in my pocket."
"Whatcha mean you can't lose it?"
"Well, if I drop it, it just reappears in my hands," Cody replied.
"Hey, Harry, you can't be finished yet. You've barely eaten anything," Dean said, watching as Harry dropped his fork on his plate.
Harry rubbed his eyes and covered his face with his hands.
"Leave Harry be, Dean. He can's eat a lot at once. He can get a snack later if he gets hungry," Fred said, stuffing a fork full of gravy soaked mashed potatoes into his mouth.
When the feasting was over and the leftover food had vanished, the Headmaster stood up.
"Now, that we have filled your stomachs, I have a few announcements. First years and other students should remember that the Forbidden Forest is off limits. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to remind you that magic is not to be used in the corridors between classes. The third floor corridor on the right is off limits, to all who do not wish die an agonizing and slow death. Quidditch tryouts will be held in two weeks. See Madam Hooch, if you wish to play for your house team."
"We have joining us this year, Logan Anderson. Though he will not be teaching, he has the authority to deduct and award points and give detention. Please address him as Professor Anderson," the Headmaster announced.
Professor Anderson was sitting on the far right. He was wearing sapphire blue robes and his blonde hair fell past his shoulders.
"Three of our first years have health conditions that restrict their activities. They are Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter, and Cody Daniels. Any student that is discovered willfully interfering with or harassing these students will have 100 points taken and receive a weeks worth of detentions," Dumbledore finished.
Before heading for their dormitories, the students sang the school song.
Percy Weasley called the first year Gryffindors to him and George and Fred accompanied Harry. Cody was surrounded by his cousins as the first years followed Percy to the Gryffindor Tower.
The boys were led into their dormitory, two dorm rooms connected by a small sitting area with bookshelves and a fireplace. One room contained five four poster beds and the other had six. A scale sat on the floor next to the archway connecting the first dorm room to the sitting room. Fred and George accompanied the first years into their rooms.
"Okay Harry. We need to weigh you," George said.
"Do you have to? Can't it wait until morning?" Harry moaned before he yawned.
"Sorry, Harry. We have to weigh you every night before you go to bed and every morning or Mum will kills us," Fred replied.
Harry stepped toward the scale only to be stopped by George's hand on his shoulder.
"Sorry, Harry. You need to take your clothes off. We need an accurate weight on you, so we know how much you're gaining," George said.
"Everything?"
"Nay, you can leave your boxers on. Besides, the guys'll see you in the showers eventually," Fred replied.
Harry sighed in relief as the twins helped him out of his clothes. There were gasps from the other boys at the sight of Harry's emaciated body.
"Hey, you've gained a quarter kilo since yesterday. That's great Harry," George exclaimed.
"Harry, do you want your . . ."
"NO!" Harry cried as he saw Fred getting his pajamas out of his trunk.
"Harry, it'll help you sleep," Fred countered
"Do you want to wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to go back to sleep?" Ron asked.
"At your house, yes. Here I don't want it. I don't want everyone to know everything."
"Everyone will find out if you have a nightmare. If we tell them now, it'll make everything easier," George said, rubbing Harry's shoulders.
"We'll do all the talking, Harry," Fred added.
Harry buried his head in George's robes and nodded.
"Sit down guys, this is going to take awhile," George said as the door opened and Percy walked in.
"What are all of you doing still up? George, Fred you shouldn't be in here," Percy bellowed.
Harry jumped and nearly toppled to the floor. Fred and George grabbed his shoulders and steadied him.
"We're getting Harry settled.-"
"like Mum told us to.-"
"So unless-"
"you want to-"
"be the one-"
"to tell Mum-"
"that we didn't-"
"help Harry-"
"GO AWAY!" the twins finished together.
Percy's face contorted in panic as he hurried out of the room. Laughter exploded from Ron and the twins as the door closed.
"Come on everyone, have a seat and we'll explain everything," Fred said as he and George helped Harry into his pajamas.
Fred and George related everything that had happened to Harry since July 31.
"So that's why Uncle Logan sent those two bears to Bill." Kenny interrupted.
"Your Uncle Logan is Bill's friend from Egypt?" Ron asked.
"How'd you meet?" Fred added.
"Yes. Short version. The twelve of us were checking out some of the tombs. We got lost and wound up at the tomb Bill was working at. We had run out of water and Bill gave us some before taking us back to our uncle," Kenny answered.
"So, Harry's been sleeping with a teddy bear?" Seamus snickered.
Cody, sitting next to Seamus punched him in the arm.
"What was that for?" Seamus scowled, rubbing his arm.
"I sleep with a teddy bear, too. If you pick on Harry, you pick on me and my eleven cousins won't like that," Cody growled.
Seamus looked around the room. Nine faces were scowling at him, Harry's was hidden in George's robes.
"Harry's been having nightmare about everything that's happened. The teddy bear has been charmed to keep the nightmares away. So if you guys give Harry any grief over the bear, I'm sure that he won't mind not taking the bear to bed one night. Then you guys can get woke up in the middle of the night to Harry's terrified screams," Ron shot back, a haunted look crossing his face as tears welled up in his eyes.
"Okay, okay. Sorry, I didn't know it was that bad," Seamus replied, bowing his head.
"Well, we can take this up later and answer any more questions you have. But, it's late and you guys need to get to bed," Fred said as he and George helped Harry into his bed.
**********
All of Slytherin House was crowded into their common room. The prefects had herded everyone into the room as soon as they had come in.
Professor Snape burst through the entrance and scowled at all of his students.
"I know what slobs you can be. I will not tolerate it this year. We have a student who is unable to avoid your mess, so there will be no mess. Is that clear!" Professor Snape snarled.
"YES SIR!" the students bellowed.
"Good. Misters Malfoy, Anderson, and Roberts, you will be sharing a dorm room. If I find anything on the floor, detentions will be handed out. That goes for everyone else. The furniture is to remain where it is also. Anyone moving a piece will receive a detention. If the house elves tell me they have found something on the floor, detentions will be handed out. If Mr. Malfoy ends up in the hospital wing because he fell over or tripped on something detentions will be handed out. HAVE I MADE MYSELF CLEAR!" Professor Snape growled.
"YES SIR!"
"Get to bed!" Snape spun around and stormed from the room.