AN: Sorry for missing the last update without a warning, my conferenceholiday proved to be more exhausting that I expected, so I had no energy to post. The next one should go up as usual, meaning tomorrow.
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Harry followed Hagrid further down the path and to a natural harbour with many boats docking it it. "Four to a boat!" Hagrid cried, and Harry got into one with Neville and Ron, Daphne joining them. He looked around at his future classmates boarding, and was amused to note that Hermione, looking very unsure, got into one with Pansy and Millicent. Hopefully Pansy wouldn't say anything too offensive for the duration of the ride, though perhaps that was too much to ask for.
They crossed the lake and climbed to the front door of the castle, and then Harry saw Professor McGonnagal for the first time.
He looked at Neville, while she seemed not to notice him at all. There was certainly no family likeness. "Why doesn't she greet you?" Harry muttered to him as they went inside. "I mean, Hagrid greeted me, and he barely knows me."
Neville shook his head. "She wouldn't do that," he said. "Gran warned me to expect her to treat me just like she would any other student. I think I prefer it that way, really."
They were all marched into a small room, but Harry was only half-listening to what Professor McGonnagal was saying. He prefer to examine his future schoolmates, those he didn't know, now that there was finally enough light to do so. There were two Indian girls, identical twins, standing across from him, and a boy with sand-coloured hair and one very tall black boy next to them. He also noticed one Chinese looking girl further back, standing next to a girl with long blond hair, and behind them was a black-haired boy and a boy that looked Italian or Spanish or something like that.
He was distracted from further observation when a group of ghosts entered the room via a wall, arguing. It took them a moment to notice the first years, and before proper conversation could be started, Professor McGonnagal reappeared and led the students to the Great Hall.
It was a little daunting to be standing in front of all these older people, and Harry was relieved when he heard he would only have to put a hat on his head. Really? This was the secret everyone was guarding so carefully? It seemed a little ridiculous, but he was relieved nevertheless, and he settled down – as much as he could while still standing in front of hundreds of people – to watch the Sorting.
Susan and Hannah both got their desired place in Hufflepuff, and then two first-years Harry didn't know were sorted into Ravenclaw. The blond girl he noticed before was the first to go to Gryffindor, and Harry looked at her with more interest, contemplating his – hopefully – future housemate, one Lavender Brown. Millicent went to Slytherin after a slight hesitation on the Hat's part, and the black-haired boy Harry noticed before joined Ravenclaw ranks. Then it was one unknown boy for Hufflepuff, and Vince went to Slytherin, as well as a girl Harry didn't know who was just after him. Then one more Ravenclaw, and the first Hufflepuff boy – Justin something, the name was, and Harry looked at Ernie to see how he liked his future housemate. The sand-haired boy was called Seamus and went to Gryffindor, and then it was one unknown boy for Ravenclaw and Gregory for Slytherin. After him, it was Hermione Granger's turn.
She sat on that stool for a very long time, but in the end, she was sent to Ravenclaw. Ron next to him seemed to exhale in relief, and Horatio waved at her from his place at his House's table, and she slid in next to him, smiling.
It took almost as long as with Hermione, but Daphne went to Slytherin in the end, and then there were two new Hufflepuffs, and the Chinese girl, headed to Ravenclaw. Neville went to Gryffindor after only a short deliberation on the Hat's part, and Harry smiled at him cheerfully. It was looking good – everyone seemed to be getting what they wanted.
After him, there was an unknown Ravenclaw and then Ernie for Hufflepuff and Draco for Slytherin, followed by Theo and Pansy. The twin girls went one to Ravenclaw and the other to Gryffindor, surprising Harry a good deal – he would have expected them to be in the same house. The one who went to Gryffindor was called Parvati, if he remembered correctly. Perks, Sally-Anne went just before him and was sent to Hufflepuff, and suddenly it was his turn.
People were whispering and staring at him, so he took refuge in the darkness of the hat. "Hmm," said a small voice in his ear. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either, and recently honed quite nicely. There's talent, my goodness, yes — and even some thirst to prove yourself… So where shall I put you?"
"Well, I was thinking I liked Gryffindor best," Harry replied in his thoughts.
"Are you sure?" The Hat asked. "You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that."
Harry mentally shrugged. "I wouldn't mind," he said, "but I'd really rather be in Gryffindor. I just prefer to use their methods when I can."
"Well, if you're sure-" the Hat replied. "Gryffindor!"
Harry took the Hat off and went to join his new table, feeling happy. He sat down next to Neville, opposite the boy he didn't know, Seamus. "Hey," he said. "I'm Harry Potter."
"Yeah, I know," the boy replied, then blushed a little. "Sorry. My name's Seamus. Seamus Finnigan."
Neville introduced himself, too, and they turned their attention back to the Sorting in time to see new girl head to their table. Harry hadn't noticed her before, and they did not catch her name, so Harry resolved to ask later and to pay more attention now, which paid off as the black boy, who was apparently called Dean Thomas, headed to their table too, sitting down next to Seamus.
Then there was one more unknown girl for Ravenclaw, and Ron joined the Gryffindor ranks too, smiling happily and sitting on the other side of Harry. They barely noticed the Italian-looking boy going to Slytherin, because they started to talk immediately – only to be interrupted by Albus Dombledore standing up.
Harry looked at him curiously. He had heard so much about this man, and so many conflicting things! He was curious to see what he was really like.
"Welcome," the Headmaster said. "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!"
Harry stared. That did not match with what he knew about the man at all. He would have to ask his cousin about that.
"Is he a bit bonkers?" Dean asked uncertainly.
"Bonkers?" Percy Weasley, who was sitting nearby, said airily. "He's a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes."
Harry thought that that fitted very well with the devotion of Gryffindors to their hero that Alduin had described to him, and noticing that the food finally appeared, he got busy with putting some on his plate to avoid having to answer to that.
"That does look good," said the ghost in the ruff Harry had already seen in the small room sadly, watching Harry cut up his steak.
Harry nodded sympathetically. "Do you still miss it?" He asked.
"Yes, even after nearly five hundred years. I don't think I've introduced myself? Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower."
"I know who you are!" said Ron suddenly. "My brothers told me about you — you're Nearly Headless Nick!"
Harry couldn't prevent himself from rolling his eyes. "I would prefer you to call me Sir Nicholas de Mimsy —" the ghost began stiffly, but Seamus interrupted.
"Nearly Headless? How can you be nearly headless?"
Sir Nicholas looked irritated, and with a good reason, Harry thought. "Like this," he replied, took hold of his left ear and pulled. His head tried to fall of his neck, but couldn't quite manage, hanging on a small transparent bit of skin. Apparently, his beheading had been mangled. "So — new Gryffindors!" Sir Nicolas said, after putting his head back on. "I hope you're going to help us win the house championship this year! Gryffindors have never gone so long without winning. Slytherins have got the cup six years in a row! The Bloody Baron's becoming almost unbearable — he's the Slytherin ghost."
Harry looked over at the Slytherin table and saw a scary-looking ghost there. Draco was sitting next to him and looking very uncomfortable. Harry winced in sympathy.
"How did he get covered in blood?" asked Seamus with great interest.
"I've never asked," said Nearly Headless Nick delicately.
Harry turned to the first-year girl whose name he didn't know and who was sitting at the other side of Seamus, and said: "I'm Harry Potter, nice to meet you."
She smiled brightly at him. Her entire face, which seemed rather ordinary otherwise, came alive at that. "Oh! Hello," she said. "I'm Sophie Roper. This place is amazing, isn't it?"
"Absolutely!" Harry agreed enthusiastically. "I mean, the stories really don't do it justice, do they?"
"Well, I wouldn't know that – I never heard any stories, because I don't know anyone who went to Hogwarts!"
"Oh, you're from a Muggle family? Then it must be doubly impressive."
"You bet! You're from a family of wizards?"
Ron turned to her, astonished. "You don't know who he is?" He asked.
"Where would she know it from, seeing she is Muggle-born?" Harry asked, rolling his eyes. "Not everyone is like Hermione Granger."
"And thank Merlin for that," Ron added.
Harry turned back to Sophie and said: "My dad was a pureblood-"
"What does that mean?"
"Oh, sorry. It means all of your grandparents were wizards, basically. Anyway, he was a pureblood, but my mum was Muggle-born like you. They are both dead, though, and I was raised first by my mother's sister and her husband, who are Muggles, and then by my cousin and his wife, who are purebloods."
"So you kinda know both worlds...that's cool!"
"I never looked at it like this, but yeah, you're right."
"And what about you?" Sophie turned to the remaining first-years.
"All my family are wizards," Ron replied. "Or, well, I think my mum has a relative who is an accountant, but we never talk about him."
"The same with me," Neville added.
"I'm half and half," Seamus joined the conversation. "Me dad's a Muggle. Mom didn't tell him she was a witch 'til after they were married. Bit of a nasty shock for him."
Everyone else laughed, and Dean said: "I'm like Sophie, no wizards anywhere in the family."
Harry tried to turn to the other two girls, Parvati and Lavender, to ask about them, but they were sitting too far away and so he concentrated on his food and let the conversation flow.
When he was full and his plate was empty, he looked towards the High Table, going over the people who would be his teachers from tomorrow on. So he already knew which was Dumbledore and McGonnagal, and he had met Snape and Hagrid, of course. The short man had to be Flitwick – his cousins had told him a lot about their old head of house. Then there was a number of witches Harry had no idea about, one man with lots of scars, and a man with a turban of all things. The moment Harry concentrated on him, he felt a sharp pain in his scar. "Ouch!" He said, surprised and unable to control himself.
"What is it?" Neville asked worriedly.
"Nothing, my scar just suddenly hurt. It's gone now, though." He shrugged.
"Does that happen often?" Neville questioned with a frown.
"No – this is the first time I can remember it happening, actually," Harry replied, thinking about it.
"That's strange," Neville said. "Curse scars don't just start hurting for no reason at all." His frown deepened. "I wonder...I mean, sometimes it can be sign of some residual dark magic in it coming to life or something, from what my Gran told me. Maybe you should have somebody look at it."
Harry shook his head. "I don't want to make a fuss..."
"Harry...what if it's something dangerous?" Neville seemed really insistent.
"Okay, I'll mention it in a letter to my cousin, I'm sure he'll know what it is. Happy?"
Neville reluctantly nodded. "Do you know who's the teacher in the turban?" Harry changed the topic.
Percy, who heard his question, answered: "That's Professor Quirrell. He will be teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts this year."
Harry wanted to ask more, but at that moment, Dumbledore stood up and the hall went silent. "Ahem — just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered," he said. "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. 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 the 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."
The last sentence was said with as much seriousness and calm as the ones before. Harry exchanged an incredulous look with Neville and Ron. What was this about?
Sophie laughed at Headmaster's statement, but quickly went silent when she notices no one else was doing so. "He is actually serious?" She asked.
"It seemed like it..." Harry said slowly.
"Wow." Sophie paused, and then said with a grin. "This is definitely so much cooler than if I had gone to Manchester High!"
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AN: About Hermione's sorting, I already said so in some of the review responses: I'm firmly of the belief that at this point, she was more of a Ravenclaw than a Gryffindor (though not a "perfect" one – her down-to-earth nature is more of a Hufflepuff quality), and she developed her Gryffindor qualities more strongly in time by her association with them, and Harry.