Hello, my friends! I bring chapter! (Ha, like most of you care sniff) Oh well! I write for myself!

Chapter three: Crossing the Lake

Barry and Don jumped off the train, down onto gravel. It was a warm night with a full moon lighting their path. Somewhere ahead a call came,

"Firs' years! Firs' years!"

Following the voice the boys found an extremely tall man, with wild hair and beard and twinkling black eyes.

"Now, follow me!" he said when all the first years had gathered round.

The man led them down a narrow twisting path until they came to the edge of a large lake, sparkling in the moon light. A row of little boats lined the shoreline, bobbing slightly.

"Okay, four to a boa'! No pushing now..."

Barry got into a boat with Don, Mione and Nicholas, while everyone tried to stay clear of the boat with Lemo, Andy and Emo. Mostly because Andy and Lemo were singing loudly (and rather poorly I might add) 'A Mad Tea Party' from the muggle film 'Alice in Wonderland', Emo who was quite obviously used to this, was looking up at the star streaked sky, while the girl, who ended up having to share their boat watched them with a look of terror on her face.

"Bonkers," Don said gently easing himself down onto a boat seat.

"What?"

"Those two," Don said indicating to Andy and Lemo.

"They were having a tea party in the air on the train," Nicholas said.

"Well, their definitely unusual…"

The journey across the lake was a calm one, with the boats directing themselves. Within moments they were able to see the breath-taking view of the castle, light up by hundreds of lights. Everyone was transfixed by how pretty the castle was, until a splash broke the silence. Barry didn't even need to turn around to see who had fallen in; he heard the now familiar hysterical laughter of Andy and Lemo.

"Shit!"

"You evil bitches! We're going to The Sorting! We can't go in there looking like we've been in a one cloud thunderstorm!"

Andy and Lemo laughed harder and started to sing 'Why does it always rain on me?', when suddenly Andy went quiet,

"Something just grabbed me!"

"What!" Emo was now in a nervous panic, the girl muttered "Oh fuck" and even Lemo went pale, then all three girls started shrieking. Andy cracked up again.

"You son of a-"

"You bullshitter!"

"I don't think I'm a bullshitter, 'cause I swear you guys looked like you just shit your pants…"

"Oka', Oka'. I thin' tha' enough you three..." The tall man said, lifting them each out of the water and back into their boat. "You 'ill haf to dry yerself, for The Sortin'. Get one ov the teac'ers to do it for ya..."

"Thanks Hagrid, I can take them from here," said a stern looking witch, talking to the tall man.

"No prob'em Profess'r," Hagrid replied before walking on ahead, through to the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall turned to face the first years,

"Now students, you are about to be - what happened to you four?"

Lemo, Emo, Andy and the girl all exchanged guilty looks, all too scared to reply.

"Well...?"

"We fell in..." Andy replied bravely.

"Not to worry Miss! Moine was jus about to dry us off! Weren't you Mione?" Mione, who looked startled at the mention of her name, shuffled forward. Quickly she muttered a drying spell and stepped back, flushing a wild shade of pink.

"Well done, Miss Ranger!" Professor McGonagall said giving Mione a rare smile, "Now where was I? Oh yes, you are all about to be sorted, try and cleans yourself up a bit." Then she turned on her heel and walked through the doors to the Great Hall.

Barry attempted to pat down his hair, as Don scrubbed his face. Andy, Barry noticed was trying to comb her hair with her wand. The first years waited in a disturbing silence, which suddenly was broken by singing - yet again, "Travelling in a fried out combie...don dun, on a hippie trail head full of zombie! Met a strange- HOLY FUCKING HELL!" Lemo's and Andy's singing suddenly broke off, and they clung together and screamed. Three ghosts just floated through a nearby wall, they seemed to be arguing about something-or someone.

"My dead friend, Head-Nearly-Falling-Off-Neck Nick, I believe we have given Peas enough chances...Oh! What do we have here?" The ghost that had been speaking was rather plump and wore old fashioned clothes with ruffles.

"I do believe these are the new first years, Friar!" said Head-Nearly-Falling-Off-Neck Nick, who was also dressed in old colourless clothes.

"Jolly good! Waiting to be sorted I suppose? Hope your in Hufflepuff! My old house you know! I'm Friar Tuck and these are my fellow ghosts; Head-Nearly-Falling-Off-Neck Nick of Gryfindor and darling Dead Dianna of Ravenclaw!"

"I thought there were four houses?" Lemo asked, slowly getting over the shock of ghosts. When she said this however the Friar ignored her and floated through the opposite wall.

"Hey! I asked a question!" Lemo exclaimed in protest.

"Oi! Ghosty get your see through arse back here!" Andy called.

"Rude..." said the girl who had come across in the boat with Lemo, Emo and Andy.

"I'll say! Opps! Sorry what's your name?"

"Brooke."

Just then Professor McGonagall came back,

"We're ready for you..."