Thanks for everyone's reviews. This fic is coming along pretty well!
Chapter 7: New Students!
The train reached Hogwarts. On the way, Neville's toad had got loose and scared a couple of muggle-born, first years.A prefect had to give him a lecture about keeping up with his pets.
The students stepped off the train. Hagrid was standing near the entrance of the Hogwarts Express calling all first year students. As Harry, Hermonie and Ron exited, they were still looking in the sky. Hoping to catch a glimpse of the plane carrying the new students.
"Do you guys see it?" asked Harry.
"No," answered Ron. "I lost it when it went through a couple of clouds."
"Lost what?"
Everyone looked from the sky to Ron's only sister Ginny.
"The plane with the American students," said Hermonie, and Ginny started to look into the sky also.
"I think we better head on to the carriages," said Hermonie. "We'll probably get a good glimpse as we are heading up to the school."
Everyone agreed and walked to thethestrals carriages holding all non-first year students. As they took their seat, Harry mentioned,
"Imagine how the first years feel. We're used to it. This is a big one year change for them."
The thestrals started to move as Harry finished his fact.
"Well we had a big change," said Ron.
"We had a gigantic three headed guard dog put in our school when we first go here."
"But not everyone outside of the school knew about that," pointed out Hermonie.
"The whole wizard world knows about the students here."
The horses started to climb the hill towards the Hogwarts entrance and the older students soon found themselves looking at a plane hovering a couple of feet in the air. All the students looked at the aircraft as it lowered stairs and soon, American students stepped out of it. Planting their feet on the ground and slowly making a group away from the plane.
After all the students filed out, the plane rose back up its stairs and flew off into the sky. Everyone looked as it flew through the air and slowly went out of vision.
The Hogwarts students recognized Filch, the caretaker, walking towards the students and leading them towards the school. The thestrals had gone out of site at that point and the Hogwarts students could no longer see as the horses parked near the school, letting everyone off.
"What do you reckon they'll be doing with the first years?" asked Ron to his friends.
"The same as always," answered Harry, looking at him with confusion.
"No. I mean the first years from the U.S.A. Do you reckon they'll put them in houses here?"
"They must," answered Hermonie. "It's a magic school tradition. I've read about the other schools. Some have houses, including WSFF."
"What?"
Hermonie sighed.
"That's the name of the school, Ron. Did you forget already?"
"Must have. Why can't they have a simple name like Hogwarts?"
Everyone entered Hogwarts and soon found themselves taking seats in the Great Hall. Harry noticed that there were three more long tables than usual. They were obviously for the other houses.
When everyone took their seats and the first years entered the hall, Albus Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts, took a stand from the staff table and started his usual beginning of the year speech.
"Welcome students. As you may have heard, we are having guests this year from WSFF. I ask that you all treat them with the same respect that you treat each other."
"He expects us to treat them like Malfoy treats us?" whispered Ron, and Harry smiled.
"Now with my pleasure," continued Dumbledore, "Could you pleas give a warm welcome for the students of WSFF."
As the Hogwarts students applauded, the doors of the Great Hall opened and the American, dressed in either Blue, Gray, or Light Green,students walked in.