The next two days flew by very quickly for Quinn, in fact in the months to come the two days seemed combined and to take place in maybe just an hour. But at the time, it seemed to be only aweeks until Desaray and she were on their way to King's Cross Station.
"So, how exactly do you get on Platform 9 ¾?" Quinn asked Desaray, while looking at her ticket.
"Well, I'll show you when we get there," Desaray said, and then pointing at the cab driver. "Muggle."
"Oh," said Quinn, wondering if Desaray even knew how to get on the platform.
When the cab arrived at the station the driver unloaded the girls' trunks and owls, which were fortunately sleeping. Quinn paid the driver and started to walk, pushing her cart with the trunk and owl on, towards platforms 9 and 10. Desaray was following closely doing the same thing. When they got there the girls looked at each other.
Suddenly they heard a man's voice, "…packed with muggles, how typical, but I guess it could be worse…"
The two girls looked at each other and looked towards the voice. They spotted a man who looked to be in his mid-30s with blonde overgolden hair, he was tall and skinny,and a young boy with messy light brown hair with slight natural blonde highlights, who appeared about 5'4". Quinn put her hands up to her red hair and pulled it back into a ponytail, feeling self-conscience. The girls walked over to the man and boy.
"Um excuse us," Quinn said quietly, "we're trying to get on the Hogwarts Platform."
"Tu n'est pas intelligente, Quinn," Desaray muttered, glaring at Quinn.
The man chuckled heartily.
"Come on we'll show you, you must be first years."
"I'm William Davis, but call me Liam, I'm a first year at Hogwarts too, always known I was going to be going here, my parents are wizards, it's only natural for me to. Plus my two older sisters and my older brother all went to Hogwarts"
"Hi, I'm Quinn!" Quinn said sweetly, "my parents were muggles, but my aunt and most of her family are Wizards, I grew up in America with my aunt's family."
"Wicked! America what's it like?" Liam asked laughing.
"And I," Desaray said with an air of superiority, "was raised in La France. But my parents are British, so I'm going to a British school instead of Beaubaxtons, which was my first choice. Plus my parents want me to go to Hogwarts, I'd rather not though."
Quinn looked at Desaray; astonished by the fact her new friend could be so shallow.
"Cool, so what's your name?" Liam said not taking Desaray's snobbishness to heart.
"Come on kids, its right here, now just walk into the barrier between platforms nine and ten."
Liam looked at his father and smiled. Then Liam walked straight into the wall,Quinn watched him, expecting him to run into a solid wall but he disappeared into the barrier. Next, Quinn, followed by Desaray, walked through to find themselves and a totally different platform. The platform was packed with excited or nervous students and their anxious parents.
"You really didn't know how to get onto the platform did you?" Quinn whispered to Desaray.
"Shhh," Desaray whispered back.
Quinn, Desaray, and Liam said good-bye to Liam's father and walked on to the train.
"Let's get an empty compartment," Liam suggested.
Desaray walked until she found an empty one.
"Come on this one is empty."
She carried her stuff into the compartment and the other two did them same.
"So, what did you say your name was?" Liam asked curiously.
"I didn't, but I'm Desaray."
The three of them sat and talked about the differences in each of the countries they were raised in, what they hoped to learn at Hogwarts, the adventures the wanted to have while at school, and what house they each wanted to be in. Even though most of the time was spent explaining to Quinn what the other two were talking about.
Suddenly an older girl walked in.
"Hello, I'm a Gryffindor Prefect, Hermione Granger, and I thought you'd like to know we'll be arriving at Hogwarts in a few minutes so you should put your robes on. Leave your things on the train; they will be collected later. When we arrive you should follow the directions that Hagrid will give you. Hope you're in Gryffindor," the girl with bushy brown hair said.
"Whoa, that was...interesting…" Quinn said as she slipped her robes over her school uniform.
Desaray and Liam copied her.
"I thought she acted like a know-it-all," Desaray said.
"Desaray, calm down, you're just being super-sensitive," Quinn said.
"I am so nervous," Liam said, "I heard that you have to cross the lake by yourself and then fight a troll to find out what house you're in."
"Don't be absurd," Desaray said looking quite worried.
"We should have asked the Prefect."
The train lurched to a stop; Quinn, Liam, and Desaray looked at each other.
"Well I guess we have to get off the train now," Quinn said as she was walking out of the compartment.
Liam and Desaray followed her off the train.
"Firs' years o'er here, firs' years!" said a giant of a man.
"Come on that must be Hagrid," Liam said.
The three of them walked over to the giant of a man.
"C'mon, follow me—any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"
All of the first years followed Hagrid down a steep, narrow path. Nobody spoke at all.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called to the first years, "jus' round this bend here."
All of the first years oohed and aahed as the narrow path opened onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other said, windows sparkling in the starry sky was an enormous castle with many turrets and towers.
"Now, no more'n four to a boat," Hagrid said pointing to a fleet of small boats on the shore.
Liam, Quinn, and Desaray got into one boat with another boy, who hadsandy brown hair.
Hagrid shouted, "Everyone in? Right then—FORWARD!"
The fleet of small boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which seemed as smooth as glass. Again, everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle. It towered over the lake as they sailed nearer to the cliff on which it stood.
"Heads down!" Hagrid yelled as the first boats reached the cliff.
They all bent their heads as the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel until they reached an underground harbor, where they all clambered out onto rocks and pebbles. Hagrid started off down a passageway with all the first years hurrying to keep up. They came out onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. Everyone walked up a flight of stone steps and huddled around the huge, oak door.
Hagrid raised a gigantic first and knocked three times on the castle door. The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall."
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here, go to the Great Hall."
She pulled the door open wide, the stone walls were lit with flaming torches, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing everyone led to the upper floors.
The students followed Professor McGonagall across the stone floor, they could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right—the rest of the school must already have been in there—but Professor McGonagall showed them into a small, empty chamber off the hall. Everyone crowded in.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your sets 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 your 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 your house points, while any rule breaking and you will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. 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. I shall return when we are ready for you, please wait quietly."
She left the chamber.
Liam turned to Quinn and Desaray, "that sounded pretty rehearsed didn't it; I bet that's the same speech she gives every year."
"So, I wonder what the Sorting really is," Quinn said nervously.
"Maybe it's some sort of test or spell you have to try," Desaray said hopefully.
Quinn swallowed nervously.
"Move along now, the Sorting Ceremony's about to begin."
Professor McGonagall had returned.
"Now form a line and follow me."
The Great Hall was illuminated by thousands and thousands of candles that were magically floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students where sitting. The tables were laid with flittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in lien facing the other students, with the teachers behind them, hundred of faces were staring at them.
Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged still in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. The hat was patched, frayed, and extremely dirty. For a few seconds there was a complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth—and the hate began to sing:
"Oh I might be the newest sort,
But I've been aged with the greatest care
I'm one of the smartest hats around
I'm just not made for any old hair.
I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
I'm one of the smartest hats you'll know.
There's nothing in your head that
That the Sorting Hat can't find,
Just try me on and I will tell
Where you ought to be.
In Gryffindor, you might belong
Where the brave of heart do dwell,
Daring, nerve, and even chivalry
Do set the Gryffindors apart.
In Hufflepuff, you might belong,
Where just and loyalty reign supreme,
The patient Hufflepuffs are true
And aren't afraid of toil;
Or in wise old Ravenclaws,
If you've a willing mind,
Those of wit and learning
Will always find their kind.
Or perhaps if none of those
That in Slytherin you'll find real friends,
Cunning folk, who use any means to achieve their ends,
Belong here in Slytherin.
So come on now,
And be not afraid
Just try me on
It doesn't hurt a bit!"
The entire hall bust into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.
Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said.
She commenced with names and most seemed to go to either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor, with a fair amount in Slytherin, and a decent amount in Hufflepuff.
"Davis, William."
Liam stepped forward and tried on the hat. It took about a minute before calling out, "GRYFFINDOR."
Quinn whispered to Desaray, "What if we're in different houses?"
"Then we'll live."
The tides turned and most seemed to be going into Slytherin and Hufflepuff now.
"Sparker, Desaray."
Desaray walked forward with an air of confidence. The Sorting Hat quickly yelled, "GRYFFINDOR."
"Oh great, I'm going to be in a house by myself," Quinn thought.
"Stephinson, Quinn."
Quinn walked slowly up to the stool and tried on the hat.
"Hmm, not too hard, not hard at all," she heard a voice inside her head.
"Not Slytherin," she thought.
"No of course not, that's not you at all, but maybe Gryffindor or Ravenclaw," the voice came again.
"Gryffindor, please Gryffindor," she thought.
"Well then, it shall be," the voice yelled, "GRYFFINDOR."
Quinn took the hat off and walked over to Liam and Desaray.
"That wasn't so hard," Quinn said as the rest of the students were getting sorted.
Desaray and Liam nodded in agreement.
After the last student "Ziber, Elizabeth" was sorted "Ravenclaw", Professor McGonagall rolled up her scroll and took the Sorting Hat away.
Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster,had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.
"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: Butterburs! Sweak! Nunimaker! Centnice! Thank you!"
He sat back down again. Everybody clapped and cheered. Suddenly the plates were piled with food.
Quinn, Desaray, and Liam looked at each other, smiled, and became to eat. Everyone ate to their hearts' content. When everyone had finished the food disappeared and was replaced with deserts. When everyone finished with those, everything again disappeared leaving the plates and goblets spotless. Dumbledore rose again. The hall fell silent.
"Just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, 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 the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch and their House's Quidditch team Captains, which are, Gryffindor, Harry Potter, Slytherin, Draco Malfoy, Hufflepuff, Justin Finch-Fletchley, and Ravenclaw, Terry Boot. And now before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore.
Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself into words,
"Everyone pick their favourite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!"
And the school bellowed:
"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
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead 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 everyone had finished everyone applauded.
"Ah, music," Dumbledore said, wiping his eyes, "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
All the students rose.
"Gryffindors follow me this way," said the Prefect from the train, "I'm a Gryffindor Prefect."
All of the Gryffindor first years followed the girl straight to the 7th floor; she paused outside a portrait of a Fat Lady in a Pink Dress.
"This leads to the Gryffindor Common room, right now the password is Mandragora."
The portrait swung open to reveal a large room with couches, chairs, tables, and a fireplace.
"Boys dormitory is up these stairs," the Prefect said pointing up one staircase, "and girls dormitory is up these."
Most of the students went up to their rooms. Liam, Desaray, Quinn, the Prefect, and a few other older students stayed down in the common room.
Liam, Quinn, and Desaray went and said in some armchairs off to the side.
"This has been an interesting day," Quinn said to the other two.
They nodded in agreement.
A ginger-haired girl walked over to them.
"Hi, I'm Ginny Weasley, you're first years right?"
"Yea, so what?" Desaray said.
"Oh nothing, I was just wondering."
"I'm Quinn, Quinn Stephinson."
"You're American!" Ginny said recognizing Quinn's accent, "Why aren't you in an American School?" Then turning to Desaray, "And why aren't you in a French school?
"Because our parents' are British, so we are, I was raised in America by my aunt, and Desaray was raised in France."
Ginny turned to Liam, "so where are you from?"
"No where particular."
"Ok, I just thought maybe all our first years were not raised in Britain."
"So, um, could you show us around, maybe introduce us to some people or something?" Quinn asked politely, "I mean if it isn't too much trouble."
Desaray scoffed, stood up, and walked up to her dormitory.
"What was that all about," Liam asked.
"She's sick of me asking everyone for help."
"Oh," he said trying not to yawn.
"Go to bed Liam, go to bed."
Liam stood up.
"Good night Quinn, good night Ginny."
"Sweet dreams," Quinn said.
Liam walked up to his dormitory.
"I might be able to introduce you to some people, come over here."
Ginny walked to where the rest of the people were, in front of the fireplace. Quinn followed her.
"Everyone this is Quinn, she's a first year."
There were four boys and another girl sitting around the fireplace.
"This is Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, my brother Ron Weasley, Neville Longbottom, and Seamus Finnigan all fifth years. Oh and I'm a fourth year."
"Hi," Quinn said quietly.
Ginny sat in the last chair.
"Pull up a chair," the boy she thought was Ron, he had ginger hair like Ginny, said with a flick of his wand there was a chair between his and the boy she thought was Harry.
Quinn walked over and sat down.
"So, Quinn was it, where are you from?" said the boy she thought was Neville.
"Um, well I was raised in America. Could all of the guys say their names so I'm certain who I who?"
"Sure, I'm Harry," said the black hair boy with glasses on one side of her.
"I'm Ron," said the ginger haired boy.
"I'm Neville."
"I'm Seamus," said the sandy haired boy.
"So why are you coming to Hogwarts if you're American?" asked Neville.
"She didn't say she was American she said she was raised there," said Hermione.
"My parents were British, I never knew them, and I was raised with my three cousins by my aunt. My parents were muggles, my aunt's whole family, until her, where muggles. Everyone thought I was going to be a muggle too, so I grew up knowing nothing about all of this."
"How old are you cousins?" asked Ron.
"Tabitha's 15, my aunt called her a Squib, and something about not doing magic; I'm not sure what that was about. Dres, well he's 11 and he's going to an American wizarding school, and Lyn is 9 she was the only one in the house ever nice to me. In fact my aunt left me a note saying not to bother to come home until end-of-term, and not then if I could find somewhere else to stay, I think she's going to try to get Desaray's parents to take me."
"Wow you have a squib in your family," Seamus said.
"Situation sounds similar to someone else's," Hermione said glancing over to Harry and Ron.
"So you're all alone in a new country?" Ginny asked.
"Well not exactly, me and Desaray had to stay together at the Leaky Cauldron for the last few days, my aunt's back in the States and her parents are back in France. And there's Liam, he seems kinda cool."
"I thought the boy's name you were with was William," Hermione said.
"Well yea, but he's called Liam."
"How can you stand Desaray, the few seconds I talked to her she seemed stuck up."
"She's just handling the new country, all alone thing differently then I am, it's ok she'll get better." Quinn stood up, "thank you for being kind, I wanna talk to you guys and girls again sometime, but I'm still messed up from the time zone thing so I'll think I'll go to bed. Good night."
All of the older students said goodnight to her and she walked upstairs.
She followed the stairs to a door that said "First Years" and walked in she saw her things pilled in front of a bed, she lie down on the bed and immediately fell asleep.
Meanwhile downstairs.
Hermione and Ginny were ganging up on the boys.
"Come on admit it, you find her absolutely intriguing."
"I'll do no such thing and now I'm off to bed," Seamus said getting up and walking towards the boys' dormitory.
"She's interesting, but I know someone else I find more interesting," said Harry, "and that's all I'm going to admit."
Neville turned pink.
"I will admit nothing and you cannot do anything about it,' said Ron.
"C'mon Neville, you know you like her."
Neville mumbled something, nodded his head, stood up and followed Seamus.
"I admitted the truth now I'm off to bed, have fun Ron," Harry said following after Neville.
Ginny and Hermione pulled out there wands.
"Are you sure there's nothing we can do to get you to admit it?"
"How is it any of you twos business what I think of the girl?"
"Because we say so!"
Ron looked around the common room to find it completely empty apart from him and the two girls.
"Bloody hell, there's no way to get out of this is there?"
"Ronald, don't even think about trying to escape just tell us!"
"Fine, she's interesting, for a midget."
"Ron, you're a prefect, don't call them that, and you're just lucky Ginny didn't tell her you were a prefect as well."
Ron took off running after Harry.
Hermione and Ginny looked at each other.
"Nevillelikes her, he admitted it, but I think Ron does to." Ginny said to Hermione.
"Oh of course, that's why he didn't answer."
The two girls started to laugh then went upstairs to their dormitories.