Chapter 2: Platform 9 ¾
Before long, the appointed day arrived, and Ernie, along with his newly filled school trunk, and accompanied by his parents, stepped through the barrier at King's Cross Station and onto Platform 9 ¾. As accustomed as he was to the Wizarding World, the hustle and bustle of hundreds of magical people and their familiars, as well as the gleaming, red steam engine that stood waiting to carry him off to school, was impressive.
"You'll be off in a few minutes," his father said, "best haul your trunk up and find a compartment." Ernie nodded.
"Will you stay until we leave?" he asked.
"We'll be here to wave you off!" his mother said cheerfully, although she looked a little bit like she might cry. Ernie hugged her quickly, hugged his father and said,
"Goodbye then. See you at Christmas!"
"'Bye dear, we love you very much, we'll miss you terribly." His mother said, yes, there were definitely tears in her eyes.
"I love you, too!" Ernie called over his shoulder as he rushed to the train. He was going to miss his parents, but he didn't want a scene on the platform. He lifted his trunk up into the train with some help from a porter and dragged it off in search of a compartment. He saw many students who looked older, some wearing muggle clothing, some already in their Hogwarts robes, like he was. He suddenly felt unsure of himself. He didn't want to walk into an already occupied car and sit down. He was looking for Neville, but didn't see the boy anywhere. Finally, he reached a car near the end of the train where only one person sat, a small boy, not in robes, who was looking out the window.
"Hello," Ernie said, "Do you mind if I sit here? I'm Ernie Macmillan, first year."
The boy turned to him and stood, holding out his hand to be shook. His brown hair was neatly combed and his muggle clothes were well-fitted and tidy. The boy reminded Ernie of photos he'd seen of the English royal family. "Justin Finch-Fletchly, first year, pleased to meet you Macmillan."
"Call me Ernie, please," Ernie said, "though using surnames will probably be pretty standard for most of the students at school, and for the teachers."
The boy nodded slightly, "Very well, in that case, call me Justin. Are you from a wizarding family? I'm not, we were so surprised when my letter came. I was supposed to go to Eton," he said. Ernie had some idea that Eton was a famous school for wealthy muggles, so he arranged his face into an appropriately impressed expression.
"My family is a wizarding family, yes, but I went to primary school with muggles, I mean non-magical people, and some of our neighbors were non-magical, too." Ernie sat down by the window. "There are my parents, there, by the newsstand," he waved to them as the Hogwarts Express gave a whistle and shuddered forward. The train slid out of the station and his parents waving forms became part of the indistinct crowd on the platform. Ernie sat back and looked around the train compartment. "This is the first time I've been on a train," he said to Justin, "I think the journey is several hours. It's sort of funny, because I'm from Scotland. My family lives thirty minutes from Hogwarts. I just wanted to come on the train with all the other first years."
Justin nodded, "I understand that, wanting to blend in. I suppose you already know all sorts of things about magic, do you?"
Ernie looked at him, trying to decide how to answer, "Well, yes, but I've never used a wand until this summer, when I got my own. I've read a fair amount, and seen quite a lot of magic performed." Justin was looking rather crestfallen. "Don't worry, though! There are always muggle-borns at Hogwarts, I mean wizards who come from non-magical families. You'll catch on fast."
"I understand that there are four houses, is that right? And we are divided between them once we arrive?" Justin asked.
"Yes, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin. My family usually go to Hufflepuff-" Ernie stopped talking as the compartment door slid open. Three boys stood there, all wearing their robes. One of them, with slicked back blonde hair, said over his shoulder to the others, "This one's full," and then, "Is that you, Macmillan? Found a muggle to talk to?"
Ernie frowned. He hadn't seen Draco Malfoy for years, but this was certainly him. "There's no need to be rude, Malfoy. This is Justin Finch-Fletchly. He's a first year, like us, going to a school for Wizards." Justin stood up, as if to shake Malfoy's hand. Ernie waved him back into his seat. "Move on, Malfoy, there are other compartments."
Malfoy sneered, "Too true. Let's go boys, this compartment is for muggles and Hufflepuffs."
Justin had a shocked look on his face. Ernie waited until the compartment door was closed completely and then said, "Malfoys usually go to Slytherin. Oddly, he and I are related. Let's see… Malfoy's mother's great aunt Melania was a Macmillan, but I don't know how I'm related to Melania. I've got her wand, though."
"I thought everyone was fitted with a unique wand?" Justin said with concern, "are inherited wands typical?"
"Unfortunately, yes, in some families. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy with my wand, but it's generally better, I think, to be fitted for a unique, never-used wand. The old families will hold onto their traditions, and that includes marrying their relatives, though we are getting better about that." Justin laughed out loud at that and looked a little more comfortable.
After a moment, Justin asked, "People keep saying muggle. Is it an insult?"
"It's our word for non-magical people. It isn't exactly an insult, but as you heard, it can be deployed as one. My parents and I try to remember to say non-magical instead because muggle can feel like a bit of a slur. It's easy to forget, though, because you hear it all the time. It's fully inaccurate to call a person like you a muggle, though. You might be called muggleborn. There are other words that are even less polite." Ernie really hadn't planned to educate a muggle born about wizard blood prejudice on the way to Hogwarts. Perhaps it would have been better after all to have arrived at school in the Ford. "Listen," he said, "don't worry. It's sort of typical for Slytherins, and old families, to hang on to blood prejudice. It won't be a problem in the other houses, particularly Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. Ravenclaw is a bit more mixed that way, but all they care about is academics, so if you excel in courses, you'll be accepted by the Ravenclaws."
"That's really what I wanted to ask you about!" Justin said eagerly. "I'm very curious about the houses."
"They each have their good qualities," Ernie said. "Slytherin is often seen as the house of dark wizards, mostly because many of them were on the wrong side of the last war, back in the '70s," Ernie said, "but if you are interested in politics or business, it's a great house to be sorted into because of all the connections you'll make. For instance, Malfoy's father is very wealthy and powerful, politically." Justin nodded along, as if this made sense to him. Not wanting to give him the wrong idea, since he had the look of a person who might be interested in politics, Ernie decided to add, "on the other hand, the last war was partially about eliminating muggles and muggleborns from the population and that's er- that's the side most of the Slytherins were on, so that's not great. Gryffindor is really prestigious for the same reason that Slytherin is sometimes viewed as dark—most of the war heroes from the last war were Gryffindors. There was a sort of resistance cell that grew out of that house and the current headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, was himself a Gryffindor. Gryffindors are known as brave and chivalrous. Some are. They also view muggleborn acceptance and muggle protection as a political position, so you'd be welcome there. It does have a bit of a reputation as a party house, though."
Justin was hanging on his every word. Ernie continued, "Ravenclaw, like I said, focuses on academics. It's a good house and like with Slytherin, you can make a lot of good connections there, particularly if you want to go into more research and magical development fields. There are lots of private potions labs that work to develop new medicines and what not. There are charms research firms. Lots of healers started out in Ravenclaw. It's very competitive and I think sometimes the students sorted there can be unkind, though you'll find that everywhere, I'm sure. And then there's Hufflepuff, where I'll likely go."
"And it's the best of all, I suppose?" Justin said with an encouraging smile.
"Well, to be honest, it has the reputation for being the weakest. Hufflepuffs are seen as future support staff by the other houses. Lots of people think that those sorted into Hufflepuff weren't good enough to get into any of the other three. Not ambitious enough for Slytherin, not smart enough for Ravenclaw, not courageous enough for Gryffindor. In my opinion that's unfair. If anything, I think Hufflepuff is the house of acceptance. I believe that a bit less conformity is required there than in the other houses. I think Hufflepuffs might have more freedom to follow whichever path they choose. With that said, famous Hufflepuffs are few and far between. It isn't prestigious, but I wouldn't really want to be sorted anywhere else."
With that, the compartment door slid open again, this time to reveal Neville Longbottom and a bushy haired girl wearing Hogwarts robes.
"Hello," the girl said in rather bossy tones, "have you seen a toad? This boy has lost his."
"Hiya Neville," Ernie said, "We haven't seen any toads, sorry." Neville just shrugged and looked nervously at the girl next to him, "I'm sure he'll turn up, he's your familiar after all. Want to join us? This is Justin Finch-Fletchly, he's a first year, too."
"Pleased to meet you," Neville said, "Neville Longbottom."
"Pleased to meet you, Neville," Justin said.
"I'm Hermione Granger. I'm a first year, too. And you are-?" she said to Ernie.
"Ernie Macmillan," he said.
"Pleased to meet you. Shouldn't you be in your robes?" she said to Justin. Justin shrugged and looked to Ernie.
"We won't be there for another few hours. Once we get to Hogsmeade he can pull them on."
Hermione squeezed past Neville and sat on the edge of the seat by Justin. "Which houses do you want to be sorted into, then? Neville's already told me that he's to go to Gryffindor. I've read about all the houses. I hope I get Gryffindor. It seems that's where all the most successful wizards started out!"
She looked so eager and earnest that Ernie didn't have the heart to disagree with her. "I suppose…" he said noncommittally.
"Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad, I do enjoy studying. Slytherin sounds a nightmare, and I don't know much of anything about Hufflepuff. It doesn't seem like many high achievers come out of that house."
Neville and Justin were both looking nervously at Ernie. Ernie smiled and tried to sound casual as he said, "most of my family have been in Hufflepuff, though it is true that none of us are famous for much. My father owns a bookshop and my mother is a magical creature healer. I guess my most famous relative is my great, great, aunt Eustacia. She was a successful painter."
"Oh dear, I meant no offense. I'm muggleborn, my parents are dentists," Hermione said, as if to explain herself.
"No offense taken. In fact, Justin and I were just talking about the houses when the two of you arrived. I expect to go to Hufflepuff. I guess Justin isn't sure," Ernie said, and they all turned to look at Justin.
"I'm… muggleborn, too," he said, "I suppose, based on what I've heard, that Slytherin isn't much of an option for me. I don't know if I'd be welcomed there," Hermione and Neville nodded in agreement. "I guess I'll just wait and see. Is there some test? A ritual? How do they decide?"
Neville and Ernie looked at one another. It was a sort of tradition that first years weren't to know how the sorting worked. Older siblings and family members were discouraged from telling first years about it. In Ernie's opinion, this was a tradition that could be dumped along with inherited wands and consanguineous marriage. It really just disadvantaged muggleborns and caused undue stress on people whose families either couldn't or wouldn't tell them. Ernie shrugged.
"It's sort of meant to be a secret, or maybe a surprise, but there is this magical hat, it's really old, they say it belonged to Godric Gryffindor, but that seems unlikely. Anyway, tonight, at the Welcome feast, we'll each be called to the front and they'll put it on our heads. It looks inside our heads and then… it sorts us."
Justin and Hermione were looking at Ernie with matching expressions of incredulity.
"A magic hat…" Hermione said, at the same time that Justin said, "It looks inside our heads…"
"Yes," Ernie said, "Well, I've never seen it done, but so it's been described to me. I have heard that you can often reason with it. So if for instance it is certain you should go to Slytherin but you'd really like to be in Hufflepuff, I'm told your choice is strongly influential."
Hermione considered that. "So in the end, the students sort themselves."
Ernie shrugged, "Maybe. In old families, it seems that house affiliation follows down the line. It could be tradition. It could be genetic. I don't know. Try asking the hat, I guess."
Justin said, "That's a lot of pressure. Now I feel like I should have an idea where I want to go ahead of time."
"We have two hours," Hermione said, "Would you like to borrow Hogwarts, a history? It has detailed descriptions of all the houses. Maybe that would help you choose?"
"Ah, that's allright. Thanks anyway," Justin said.
"I'd better look for Trevor," Neville said, "Oh, hey Ernie, I met Harry Potter, he's in our year." Ernie's eyebrows shot up.
"What's he like?" he asked.
"Nice," Neville said, "He's got the scar and everything."
"Wow. I guess I hadn't thought about him being in our year. That'll be interesting. Wonder which house he'll go to," Ernie said.
"Gotta be Gryffindor, right?" Neville said, as Hermione followed him out of the compartment. "See you later, Ernie!"
The compartment slid shut again. "Not to be rude, but I'm glad Grangers get sorted before Macmillans. If she ends up in Hufflepuff maybe I'll shoot for Ravenclaw," Ernie said.
"She was pretty intense. Means well, though," Justin said. "It's alphabetic order then? That means I'll be near the front. Too bad, that. I agree it would be nice to see who goes to which house before I make up my mind."
They were quiet for a time. The snack trolley rolled by and Ernie helped Justin to pick out some wizarding snacks and pay the witch pushing the trolley. As they ate their chocolate frogs, Justin exclaimed, "hey! I got Harry Potter!" he was holding up a chocolate frog card. "Born 1980, defeated the dark lord to end the last wizarding world on October 31, 1981," he read from the back of the card. "Goodness. How did he manage that?"
Ernie just shrugged. "No one really knows. His scar is supposed to be a souvenir of the encounter. Some say he who must not be named isn't really dead, or he faked his death, or he switched places with Harry Potter to hide from the authorities and just pretended to be a little kid all these years. Some say that there is something especially powerful about Harry, either he's a really exceptional good wizard, or maybe a dark wizard and the crossing of their powers ended he who must not be named."
"Er- why must he not be named?"
"Yeah… I guess we can probably name him now. There used to be a taboo on his name, I'm not sure of the details. Most of the adults who lived through that time still don't like to say it. He was called Voldemort and he was the leader of the pure blood separatists. Basically, they began as a terrorist group that killed muggles and muggleborns and ultimately, they came really close to taking over magical Britain. Until Harry. No one knows what happened, though, because the only other people there were his parents, and Voldemort killed them."
"Jeez," Justin said.
Ernie just nodded. How could he have forgotten that Harry Potter would be at school with him? In the excitement of preparing himself for Hogwarts, perhaps it had just slipped his mind. A famous dark wizard fighter who was his own age. It would be interesting to see what he was like. If Neville thought him nice, that was a good sign.
The train windows were growing dark. They'd near the castle soon. "You'd probably better get changed now," Ernie said to Justin. "I can see the lights of Hogsmeade ahead."