Chapter 4 – In which there is a train ride and a sorting

Willow stepped aboard the Hogwarts Express and began looking for a compartment to sit in. As she walked past all the full compartments she thought about her summer. It had been an enjoyable summer in her opinion. Willow and Xander had had lots of fun looking through all her schoolbooks and trying out spells with her wand. They had also done some reminiscing. They remembered some of the strange things that had happened around Willow. This one time at Summer Camp when Willow had gotten really angry at Xander she had somehow accidentally turned his hair pink. She hadn't gotten in trouble because no one could prove it was her but they both knew it had been Willow. All those peculiar things that had happened around Willow when she was upset were now explained. It was because she was a witch.

Xander thought it was great. When Xander saw Willow doing magic he thought it was "very cool". He had told Willow that she had to send him some magical pranks that he could use to joke people at school when he went back to boring old Sunnydale Elementary. Xander particularly wanted to try them out on one Cordelia Chase. Of course Willow had agreed to get Xander pranks to use on Cordelia. After all Xander and Willow had a We Hate Cordelia Club of which Xander was treasurer.

Willow had arrived at the airport and taken her plane to Heathrow Airport in London. She had been a bit frightened since it was her first time on a plane by herself. But she was more scared when she got to London. Willow had to catch a taxi all by herself to King's Cross Station. It was a good thing that Sheila had given Willow a bit of muggle money before she left. Willow got there at 10:45. She only had 15 minutes to get on the platform. Willow found Platforms 9 and 10 but couldn't see a Platform 9¾. She began to freak out until she remembered what that boy Draco had told her in Diagon Alley. She just had to walk through the barrier. Willow had done just that expecting the whole time to just walk into a brick wall. But when Willow hadn't hit anything she had opened her eyes to find a bustling platform filled with students and a scarlet train that had Hogwarts Express on the side. And now she was walking down the corridor looking for somewhere she could sit.

Willow went into a compartment that she thought was empty and found two girls sitting there. They looked up when she walked in. One of the girls had bushy brown hair and the other had straight brown hair. The first girl spoke up first. "Hi there! I'm Hermione Granger," she said in a distinctly English accent, "Would you like to sit with us?"

"Yes please. I couldn't find any empty compartments," Willow replied, "I'm Willow Rosenberg."

The second girl smiled and said, "Samantha Shirley. I'm from Sydney." Willow sat down.

For a few seconds it was quiet then all three said at the same time, "I love your accents!" They all broke down giggling.

When they had calmed down enough to talk, they told each other about themselves. Willow found out that Hermione was also a muggle-born and was also a big reader. She too had read all of their schoolbooks plus others like Hogwarts: A History. Hermione hadn't really had any friends before. At her primary school everyone had shunned her because she enjoyed reading. Samantha on the other hand was also like Willow being another of the exchange students. However Samantha was a pureblooded witch but she knew all about muggles since her parents had made her go to a muggle primary school. They had thought it would be good for her, which it had been. Samantha had had a muggle best friend who she told about her witchcraft years ago.

They also talked about their families. Willow and Hermione, both being an only child, wanted to know what it was like growing up with two brothers and being the middle child. Her older brother didn't go to Hogwarts though. He went to the Australian Institute for Magic. Her whole family was proud of her for getting into Hogwarts. Coming from a wizarding family Sam (as everyone except her family called her) knew exactly how good a school Hogwarts was.

Not long after that a round-faced boy came into the compartment. "Excuse me but have you seen a toad? I've lost him." He looked like he was on the verge of tears.

"No sorry we haven't," said Hermione. She looked to Willow and Sam then said, "But we'll help you look for it if you want?" Willow and Sam agreed.

"Yes please, that is if you don't mind."

"We don't mind at all," said Willow, "I'm Willow and this is Sam and Hermione." She pointed to them respectively.

"Neville Longbottom."

They left the compartment, Hermione going with Neville one way and Willow and Sam going the other.

Willow and Sam went a bit of the way down the train and poked their heads into a compartment. Sitting in there was Draco and some boys who could have passed as goons.

"Hey Draco!" said Willow brightly.

The guys looked up from the discussion they were having. "Hey Willow," he replied. The other boys nudged him. Draco rolled his eyes and said, "This is Crabbe and Goyle."

"Hi. Oh this is Samantha Shirley. Sam this is Draco Malfoy. We met in Diagon Alley."

"Hey Sam," said Draco, "Can I call you Sam?"

"Yeah, everybody does. Well except my family. They always call me Samantha. Well my brothers don't but the rest of the family does."

"Nice accent."

"Thanks."

"Australian?"

"Yep. I'm from good old Sydney, New South Wales."

"Are you muggle-born like Willow?"

"No I'm a pureblooded witch."

"Anyway guys, we were wondering if you had seen a toad?" said Willow, "A boy named Neville lost one."

"Sorry Willow," said Draco, "None have come in here."

"Okay thanks Draco. We'll see you when we get to Hogwarts. Oh and I made another friend as well that you should meet."

"Cool, can't wait to meet her. See you two later then."

"Bye guys," Sam and Willow said this at the same time and it made them start laughing again. They left and continued looking for Neville's toad. Unfortunately they had no luck so they went to see the driver to find out when they would be arriving at Hogwarts where they met up with Hermione. The three returned to their compartment and resumed talking. After awhile Sam brought out her Exploding Snap deck and showed Willow and Hermione. That's how they spent the rest of the train ride. By the time they got off the train at Hogsmeade all three had slightly singed hair.

It was dark outside and getting cold. Willow, Sam and Hermione pulled their cloaks tight around them and then saw a lamp bobbing over the heads of students and heard a voice calling, "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?" A large man appeared and Willow recognized him as the man she had seen outside of Madam Malkin's in Diagon Alley. "C'mon follow me – any more firs' years? Mind your step, now! Firs' years follow me!" They followed the man down a steep narrow path that seemed darker than when they were on the platform. "Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," called the man over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

There was a loud chorus of "Oooooh!"

The first years were now standing at the edge of a black lake. On the other side on the top of a high mountain was a huge castle. "No more'n four to a boat!" The man called while pointing to small boats that were sitting in the water by the shore. Willow, Hermione and Sam hopped into a boat and were joined by Draco. "Everyone in?" shouted the man, "Right then – FORWARD!" The boats began gliding across the water towards the castle.

"Wow," whispered Willow in an awed voice.

"My Dad never told me how gorgeous it was," said Sam whose father had gone to Hogwarts. About half way across the lake Draco got bored of looking at the castle. He turned to Willow and said,

"So Will, is this the other friend you were telling me about?" He nodded at Hermione.

"Yeah. I'll introduce you. Oi Hermi!" Hermione turned around. "Hermione this is Draco Malfoy, we met in Diagon Alley. Draco this is my friend Hermione Granger, she's a muggle-born like me."

"Hi," said Hermione holding out her hand.

Draco smiled and shook her hand, "Hey. Nice to meet you Hermione."

"My, my, so polite," Hermione said with mock surprise.

"Heads down!" the giant man called as the boats reached the cliff. They came to some kind of underground harbour and all the first years got out of their boats. "Oi! You there! Is this your toad?" Giant-guy, as Willow had dubbed him, asked as Neville got out of his boat.

"Trevor!" said Neville delightedly. Everyone walked up the stone stairs and arrived at the huge oak front doors.

"Everyone here? You there still got your toad?" Giant-guy asked. Neville nodded and "Giant-guy" knocked three times on the doors. The doors opened and the first years crowded into the warm Entrance Hall to be greeted by a stern looking witch.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Giant-guy.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here," replied Professor McGonagall.

'Ah Hagrid, so that's his name,' thought Willow as the first years followed Professor McGonagall into a small empty room off the hall. When they were all in there Professor McGonagall began speaking.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said, "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like you family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." Willow saw her eyes rest on Neville and some red headed kid she hadn't met while on the train. Then McGonagall continued, "I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly." With that Professor McGonagall left and everyone began talking quietly to their friends.

"Sam did your Dad tell you how we're Sorted?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah. I don't know why people are starting to freak out. I mean all we have to do is try on an old hat and it will tell us where we're meant to be," Sam answered.

"Well that's simple," said Willow then everyone around her started screaming, "What the?" Willow saw about twenty ghosts come through a wall. "Cool," she said, "There are ghosts."

"Really?" said Sam, "That is just so cool. Marc said that there aren't any ghosts at the Oz Institute for Magic. I've always wanted to see a ghost."

Professor McGonagall returned and said, "Now form a line and follow me."

Willow, Sam and Hermione got in the line near Draco. They walked into the Great Hall and the girls looked up. "I'm so glad that the ceiling is bewitched," said Willow, "Now we get to look at the stars while eating dinner each night. And in winter we'll get to see the snow falling."

"Oh! I just realized that I'll get to see a white Christmas," said Sam, "I've always wanted a white Christmas since it doesn't snow in Sydney."

The first years walked to the front of the hall gazing around in awe and then saw McGonagall place a dirty old hat on a stool in front of them. Then the hat started singing, startling most of the first years.

Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!

The hall burst into applause, Willow clapping hard with everyone else. When it was quiet Professor McGonagall stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will on the stool to be sorted," she said, "Abbott, Hannah!"

A girl with pigtails walked up to the stool, put on the hat and waited for a moment. Then the hat shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

After a few more people had gone up and had been sorted, Willow began to get impatient. She wanted to know what house she and her friends would be in. Willow turned to Sam since her father had gone to Hogwarts and asked, "Hey Sam, what house was your Dad in?"

"Ravenclaw," she replied, "I think I want to be in either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw." Then they heard McGonagall call out the name "Granger, Hermione!"

Hermione practically ran up to the stool and stuck the hat on her head. Almost immediately the hat called out "GRYFFINDOR!"

Hermione skipped to the table making all the noise and sat down grinning. She crossed her fingers hoping her new friends would be with her in Gryffindor.

Willow's feet were hurting from standing up. She felt as if she were about to fall asleep on her feet when she heard a name she recognized. "Madison, Amy!"

Willow saw a blonde girl walk up to the stool and then realized that she knew her. The two had gone to Sunnydale Elementary together. Amy put on the hat but it had barely touched her head before it shouted out "SLYTHERIN!"

And then, "Malfoy, Draco!" Draco walked up to the stool and sat down. The hat was only on his head for a second before it yelled out "SLYTHERIN!" Willow, Sam and Hermione were all confused and were all thinking the same thing, that Draco was way too nice to be an evil Slytherin git.

After that Willow stopped paying attention. She didn't even notice when the name "Potter, Harry" was called out and the whole hall began whispering. Willow didn't pay any attention to what was going on around her until her own name was called. Willow walked up to the stool a little nervously but no one could tell. She put on the hat and jumped slightly when a voice started whispering in her ear. "Miss Rosenberg you have plenty of courage and bravery. My word yes, you're overflowing with bravery. And from what I can see you're going to need it in the future. Something to do with a werewolf. Well there's only one place to put you. GRYFFINDOR!"

Willow walked over to the Gryffindor table grinning like a Cheshire cat and sat down next to Hermione, who was clapping until her hands hurt and whistling at Willow. Willow laughed and said, "Look Sam's up now." The Sorting Hat seemed to be having problems with Sam. She had already been sitting there for a minute. "Where to put you?" the hat whispered in Sam's ear, "You could go into Ravenclaw, you have the brains that always do well in Ravenclaw. But you don't like to work. You're also extremely ambitious and would so well in Slytherin. But somehow I don't think that would quite work. Hmm... that only leaves GRYFFINDOR!"

"YES!" Sam yelled and ran over to the table and hugged Willow and Hermione. There weren't many people left. After "Zabini, Blaise" had been made a Slytherin, McGonagall rolled up her scroll and took the Sorting Hat away.

Albus Dumbledore stood up and began to speak, "Welcome! Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"

"Hey he's cool," said Sam as the plates filled up with food, "He's crazy like I am."

"Sam shut up and eat," replied Willow.

As the three girls were stuffing their faces with food, a ghost came over and sat next to Hermione. "Hi there," she said, "I'm Hermione Granger. Who are you?"

"My name is Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington. I'm the resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower," the ghost answered.

Then a red-headed kid piped up and said, "I know who you are! My brothers told me about you – you're Nearly Headless Nick!"

"I would prefer you to call me Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-"

A sandy haired kid then said, "Nearly headless? How can you be nearly headless?"

"Like this," Nick replied and pulled his head to the side and showed them his severed neck. Everyone around them exclaimed, "Ewww!" But Willow, Hermione and Sam said at the same time in the same awed tone of voice, "Coool!"

Everyone continued eating till they were full then the food magically disappeared the same way it appeared. Dumbledore stood up and the hall fell silent. "Ahem – just a few more words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start of term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well. I have also been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death. And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!"

Dumbledore gave his wand a flick and gold ribbon flew out and twisted itself into words. "Everyone pick their favourite tune," he said, "and off we go!"

Willow, Sam and Hermione started singing to the tune "Ain't no mountain high enough".

Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead bits flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

Just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot.

When they finished, the girls began cracking up with laughter from the way they had sang the song. When everyone had finally finished singing Dumbledore said, "Ah music. A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"

The Gryffindor first years followed their prefect out of the Great Hall and began walking towards Gryffindor Tower. They began working their way up many staircases but soon came an abrupt halt when they saw a bunch of walking sticks hanging in mid-air.

"Peeves," the prefect told the first years, "A poltergeist." He raised his voice and said, "Peeves – show yourself! Do you want me to go to the Bloody Baron?" There was a pop and a small man appeared holding the walking sticks.

"Oooooooooooh ickle firsties! What fun," he said. He swooped at them. The first years ducked except for the three girls who stood up straight and grinned. They were going to like it here. They continued down the corridor and came to a painting of a fat lady in a pink dress.

"Password?" she asked.

"Caput Draconis," replied the prefect. Everyone went through and went up to the dorms. Willow, Sam and Hermione all scrambled into bed without even realizing that there were another two girls in their dorm room.