A/N: OK, we're back with our regularly scheduled programming. I want you all to get back to the story quickly so I'll save the big commentary for the end.

~Chapter 10~

Ron led the first years down a steep narrow path, which opened at the edge of the great black lake. Across the lake Franklin could see Hogwarts sitting high atop a mountain, its many turrets and glittering windows clearly visible even at a distance. Directly in front of them was a row of boats.

"Everyone here?" Ron asked bringing Franklin's gaze back to him. "No more than four to a boat." The first years started climbing into the boats full of excited nervousness. Franklin climbed into a boat with three other boys. When everyone was finally aboard a boat Ron called out, "Forward," and the little boats started making their way toward the castle.

Franklin could hardly contain his excitement. He looked over the side of the boat. The water looked like glass. He leaned over father to get a better look. "Watch it there!" one of the boys called out grabbing Franklin before he could tumble over. As he was being pulled back into the boat he wondered if this was how his brother, Dennis, had fallen in on his first night.

"Thanks," Franklin said sitting firmly in his seat.

"No problem," the other boy said sitting back in his own seat. "I'm Andrew Abbott and these are my brothers Daniel and Richard," he said pointing to the boy on his side and then to the one sitting next to Franklin.

Franklin noticed for the first time that the boys in his boat were triplets. They all had identical brown eyes and blonde hair. Daniel wore glasses and Richard parted his hair down the middle as opposed to on the side like his brothers did, Franklin was grateful for that because that was probably the only way he was going to be able to tell them apart.

"How do you do," Franklin said extending his arm out to each boy individually, "I'm Franklin Creevey. You guys sure are lucky to have each other here."

"You're an only child then?" Richard asked.

Franklin laughed, "Far from it, I have two older brothers and an older sister. My sister Emily is in her fourth year here, but I meant that you're lucky to have each other right now. I'm so nervous and I don't know anyone."

"Now you know us," Daniel said smiling at him. "Don't worry, you'll be fine."

"Do you guys have any siblings here?" Franklin asked.

"Nope," Andrew answered, "we're all first timers here but our parents were both students here."

"So you're purebloods? My parents are both Muggles. My older brothers were the first to be accepted in our family."

"At least you have an idea of what to expect," Richard interjected, "we have no idea what's going to happen. The only thing we know is that we want Gryffindor, that's the house our parents were in."

"That's the house I want too!" Franklin said happily. "All my siblings made that house. I can't wait until the sorting ceremony is over! This is going to be great!" As the castle came closer into view Franklins apprehension dissipated a little.

They continued in silence all staring at the looming castle in awe. Ron called out for them to bend down as they passed through some hanging ivy into an underground chamber inside the castle walls. The boats reached a deck one by one and the students all climbed out. When everyone was out Ron lead them out of the underground harbor, across the lawns, and up the stairs to the front door.

Ron knocked loudly three times and took a step back. Almost instantly the door was opened and Hermione stood on the other side. Ron threw her a brief smile, which she returned. He walked up to stand next to her, "This is Professor Granger. She will bring you all into the hall to be sorted. I will see you all inside. Professor," Ron said in a way that made Hermione's insides warm.

She composed herself and turned to the anxious faces of the first years. She wondered briefly if she had looked like these kids on her first day. "Welcome to Hogwarts. Please follow me," she said turning and heading into the castle. The students entered looking around trying to take in as much as they could before following Hermione into a small room just outside of the Great Hall.

When the last student entered Hermione started again, "In just a few minutes I will bring you all into the hall to be sorted. As some of you may or may not know there are four houses to be sorted into, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. You will learn more and more about your individual houses during your years here and believe me there is plenty to learn. Your houses will be your family while you are here. Your accomplishments will earn you points and rule breaking will cause you to loose points. At the end of term the house with most points will have the honor of winning the House Cup. Your fellow house members can fill you in further about the Cup. Now please wait here. I will be back for you in just a few minutes." Hermione left out of a door on the side of the room.

The first years stared at the door after here. Not knowing what to do. How long would they be made to wait there? They didn't wait long before Hermione came back into the room. "All right, it's time." Franklin's heart started thumping. He made his way forward with Andrew, Daniel, and Richard. They followed Hermione toward the front of the hall past the four long banquet tables, which already had the other students sitting at them.

The students stopped short of the teacher's table. Hermione walked off to the side of the table where she picked up a small four-legged stool and a hat and brought them back to the center of the hall. She placed the old tattered hat on top of the stool and stepped away. The students stared at the hat, which sat motionless. The hat started twitching and a moment later a rip formed near the brim of the hat like a wide mouth.

I'd like to welcome one and all

It is a very special date

For it's inside this great hall

You've come to seal your fate

Though I may not be much to look at

And I may not be much to see

Put on this Sorting Hat

And I'll tell you where you aught to be.

Not everyone will understand why,

The reason is for me to know

But step right up and don't be shy

And into one of the four houses you'll go.

If you're looking for true friends

Gryffindor house is a must

They'll stick with you until the end

For they are the brave and just.

Or perhaps they are not your kind

You'd rather have the patient and loyal

So come and meet the like of mind

In Hufflepuff you find those unafraid of toil.

There is of course another choice

If you are full of knowledge and wit,

Those in Ravenclaw are also wise

It is at their table you should sit.

Slytherin is not far behind

There is no end they cannot meet

No matter what's the situation they may find

There is nothing that's got them beat.

I'm the Hogwarts Thinking Cap

There's nothing you should fear,

Your brain to me is like a map

You've only to come near.

As usual the Great Hall erupted in applause as the hat finished its song. Ron leaned over to Harry and shaking his head said, "That hat's really got to find something better to do with its time."

When the clapping finished Hermione stepped back up to the hat. "When I call your name please step forward, sit on the stool, and place the hat on your head to be sorted. Abbott, Andrew," she called out looking at her list.

"Good luck, mate," his brothers said to him as he went up.

Andrew sat on the stool and placed the hat on his head. A few moments later the hat called aloud, "GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor table started clapping wildly as Andrew made his way over to the table.

"Abbott, Daniel," Hermione called. Each of the Abbott brothers made it into Gryffindor and Franklin hoped that he'd be able to join his new friends there too. As Hermione worked through the A's and into the B's, Franklin's nervousness picked up again. What if he wasn't good enough to be in Gryffindor? "Bauman, Julia." What if he didn't make the same house as his siblings? "HUFFLEPUFF!" "Beckman, Marcus." "SLYTHERIN!" What if he was by some strange twist of fate put into Slytherin? Oh God, she was already in the C's. "Clarke, Robin." Franklin's breath came faster as she worked her way through the C's. "RAVENCLAW!" And before Franklin knew it, "Creevey, Franklin."

Harry and Ron stiffened slightly at the head table, "Impossible," Harry whispered.

"Another one?" Ron added.

Franklin was oblivious to the movements of his two new teachers. He looked toward his sister at the Gryffindor table. She gave him an encouraging smile and he started forward. He sat on the stool and locked eyes with his sister before the hat slipped over his eyes.

"So nervous little one," the hat whispered in his ear. "There's no need for worry though," the hat said to him before saying loudly, "GRYFFINDOR!" Hermione pulled the hat off of an elated Franklin and he ran down to sit next to his sister at the Gryffindor table.

"All right Franklin!" Richard said shaking his hand. Franklin finally let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Now he could finally enjoy the rest of the ceremony.

After Harriet Zuckerman was sorted into Slytherin and the clapping subsided, Hermione took the stool off to the side again and took her seat next to Ron. McGonagall stood up in front of the great hall. "Welcome new students and those returning as well. Eat up," she said as the plates in front of the students magically filled with food.

This was still Ron's favorite part of being at Hogwarts and as soon as the food appeared Ron greedily tucked into his food. He spoke to Harry in between bites, "So another Creevey. Think he'll be as impressed with your celebrity as his brothers were?"

"I don't even want to think about that," Harry said taking a sip of his pumpkin juice. "Hopefully, Collin talked me up enough that I'm no longer a novelty."

Ron snorted, "Yeah, like that would make a big difference."

When the dinner was finished McGonagall cleared the plates and called for attention. The hall quieted down and McGonagall started. "I just have a few start of term notices for everyone. The forest on the school grounds is forbidden and off limits to everyone. Mr. Filch has also asked me to remind all students that the use of magic between classes and in the halls is unacceptable. He has also posted his new list of items that will be confiscated on sight, so please take some time to check it out. Quidditch tryouts will be held in the second week. Anyone interested in trying out can get more information from the team captains or from Professors Ron Weasley and Harry Potter."

When she said the two names the hall once again broke out in conversation. McGonagall raised her arms and once again asked for quiet. "This does bring us to our next topic of conversation." She waited until she had total quiet before starting again. "I'm sure that you've all noticed that your regular teachers are not here this year. The people you see before you have filled your regular instructors positions. Starting at the left we have Professor Patil teaching Diviniation, then Professor Longbottom with Herbology, Professor Chang will teach History of Magic, Professor Weasley with Charms," she pointed to Draco who was sitting on her other side, "Professor Malfoy teaches Potions, Professor Potter will teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, the other Professor Weasley has Care of Magical Creatures, and finally Professor Granger will teach Transfiguration. You will give each of them the same consideration and respect as any other teacher you have ever had."

The students just sat there staring at their new teachers. Most of them were sitting looking at Harry. Everyone knew what he had done to rid them of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named but most never thought they'd actually meet him. Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat. McGonagall continued, "In addition the heads of house will be Professor Granger with Ravenclaw, Professor Ron Weasley with Hufflepuff, Professor Potter with Gryffindor, and Professor Malfoy with Slytherin," she finished though she wasn't sure anyone had heard her.

When the Gryffindors heard that Harry was their head of house they started cheering louder than they had before. "Did you hear that?" Franklin was saying to Emily, "Harry Potter is our head of house!"

McGonagall waited for the hall to quiet down again. "Tomorrow at breakfast you will receive your schedules for your classes. Now it is time for you all to head off to your rooms. Your possessions should already have arrived. Prefects, please lead the students to their common rooms."

The prefects stood up and were followed by the other students on the way out of the Great Hall. Franklin chatted merrily with his sister the whole time. "Harry Potter! Wait until I tell Collin and Dennis! Won't they be excited?"

"I'm sure they will be," Emily answered as they reached the door.

"Shouldn't he come with a muzzle?"

Emily, Coop, and Tyler turned around to glare at the voice's owner. Franklin poked his head between them trying to get a glimpse of who had spoken.

Bryce Davis stood in front of them laughing at his own joke. He ran his fingers trough his hair to get his raven locks out of his face. "Bugger off Bryce," Emily told him through clenched teeth.

"Manners, manners, Creevey," he said taking a step toward her, "don't want to be uncivilized in front of your brother."

"Who are you?" Franklin said stepping forward trying to sound braver than he felt. He didn't know who this person was, but he certainly didn't like anyone talking to his sister that way! Bryce turned his piercing blue eyes on Franklin making him cower back. Bryce looked back up smirking.

Coop took a step forward, "That's enough Davis. Don't want me to have to teach you another lesson do you? Not that it would bother me mind you," he said reaching for his wand and pulling back his sleeves, "it's just that there are so many Slytherins around watching."

Bryce glanced at Coop through narrowed eyes then turned on his heel and walked off.

"He never gives you the pleasure anymore does he?" Tyler asked laughing.

Cooper put his wand away again; "You'd think he didn't enjoy it when I sent him flying into the lake. Pity though, I rather thought he could have used a refreshing dip."

"Better luck next time," Tyler said patting him on the back.

Emily gave her friends an exasperated look and directed her brother out of the hall before he started asking his million questions. They followed the prefects up the stairs and toward the Gryffindor common room. They were given the new password, "dragonroot," and entered the common room.

Their prefect, Douglas Butterworth, led them into the center. "This is the Gryffindor common room. Boys dormitories upstairs and down on the left, girls, the same on the right. If you guys have any questions please feel free to ask either myself or Jaime Locke," he said nodding his head to the other prefect beside him. "We highly suggest that you head up to sleep early, especially the first years, so that you'll be well rested for your first day tomorrow. Your belongings are already in your rooms. We'll see you all tomorrow. Good night."

The Gryffindors slowly thinned out of the common room all heading upstairs to their beds. It had been a long day and tomorrow was their first day of class. Emily wished her brother and friends a good night and headed up stairs to her own bed. She didn't know why but she felt unusually tired. Probably wiped out from her brothers energy. Well, it wasn't over yet. She probably still had another week of his excitement as he found out new things about his new school. She sighed as she changed for bed and fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

A/N: Wow! This was super long! So what do you all think of the Creevey siblings being here? Mr. and Mrs. Weasley weren't the only ones reproducing like rabbits! Since we've had Collin and then Dennis I figured that if they had more children they'd just keep on going down the alphabet! What do you all think of them? Let me know, I just thought they needed some people to cause a little mayhem ala the Weasley twins. Thanks for reading and review if you have time!!!