Getting sorted
As students started to rise and leave the train Susan looked to Neville and winked.
"I do hope you are going to escort a lady properly Neville?"
Winking back he offered her his arm and they left the compartment. Harry and Hermione stood for a moment unsure what to do, Hermione taking all the courage that she had threaded her arm through Harrys. he turned With a genuine smile and they followed their friends off the train.
"First years, first years follow me."
8 feet of man carrying a Lantern waded along the platform as he approached the four a smile broke on his face.
"here you are, who is your new friend?"
Neville stepped forward
"Rubeus Hagrid may I introduce the delectable Miss Hermione Granger"
"Oh and Harry and Suzie."
He added For comic effect
"Hermione may I introduce Rubeus Hagrid keeper of the keys and groundskeeper of Hogwarts school"
Hermione performed an over elaborate curtsey and Hagrid a huge bow just to play along with Neville's joke.
The groundskeeper laughed out loud.
All the first years were led down a path onto a dock full of boats. he then informed them
"no more than four in a boat"
Enjoying their private little joke Neville took Susan's hand and helped her into the boat and then stepped in beside her, Harry followed their lead and did the same for Hermione.
The boats moved forward off of the dock and through a carved tunnel in the rock. The tunnel came to an end at a wall of vines that drew apart like a curtain. The boats smoothly slid out onto clear still black water. The boats fell silent as across the lake a beautiful And breath-taking castle made up of jutting turrets and towers lit at nearly every window stood on an outcrop of rock.
The small boats docked and again Neville took Susan's hand and helped her from the boat. Harry did the same for Hermione, This time she interlaced her fingers with his, this was all very new to her and he was an anchor. Unbeknownst to the young lady Harry was just as apprehensive but for a different reason.
After leading the new first years to a large door they were then handed off to a stern looking Scottish witch by the name of Minerva McGonagall. They were informed that they would be going through a sorting process to be grouped into houses and that these houses would be a family, achievements would be rewarded but rule breaking will be punished. They were told to make themselves presentable as possible and she would collect them in a few moments. The professor had barely left the room.
"Ooooh the famous Harry Potter-Black the boy who lived, look he got himself a pet mudblood."
Harrys elbow shot out and struck the boy directly in the diaphragm as he doubled over wheezing Harry bent forward and whispered in his ear.
"Piss off Nott"
"Potter-Black, See me after the feast and you best bring the others."
"Yes professor"
Professor McGonagall had returned while Harry was providing his own form of education to Theodore Nott. Hermione tensed, Harry could feel it in her hand so he quickly looked to her and winked. They were then marched in a line through another door into the great Hall.
"The ceiling is enchanted"
"To look like the outside sky"
Harry finished her sentence for her.
"Let me guess Hogwarts a history"
Neville and Susan groaned in unison, The other two just grinned at them. Their attention drawn to an old hat sitting on a stool. A spit above the rim opened and it began to sing about the attributes of the four houses.
The strict professor stepped forward and unfurled a scroll. Hannah Abbott, A blonde girl hesitantly walked up to the stall and sat. The old hat was placed on her head and slipped down over eyes, moments later the same split opened the word " Hufflepuff" was called.
All the students at one of the long tables jumped up and down and clapped and as the young girl made her way over, the edging of her uniform changed to yellow as did the markings on a her tie.
It didn't take long for it to be Susan's turn.
"Susan Potter-Black"
As Sue walked up to the stool Harry lent towards Hermione. With genuine Trepidation in his voice.
"If this place goes mental next please stay my friend"
There was no time for a response.
" Gryffindor"
Susan strode over to the very boisterous table and took a seat at the front reserved for the first years. She looked over to Harry, Hermione and Neville And smiled.
"Harry Potter-Black"
Harry froze in place he didn't want to move forward he didn't want to step back, the entire hall was looking at him, waiting for him to move. Hermione whispered in his ear.
"Don't think about it, just save me a seat"
He smiled, this gave him the reassurance that all the golden child shit didn't bother her.
"That I can do"
Many whispered comments carried around the silent hall.
"Blood traitor"
"I thought he would be bigger"
"he's cute I suppose"
And many more
He walked up and sat, the hat was promptly placed on his head and slipped over his eyes.
"Mr Potter black. Hmmmm a very keen mind perfect for Ravenclaw, Brave enough for Gryffindor. You could do well in Slytherin"
"Please sir can I be with my sister ?"
"The value you place in your friends is an excellent trait"
Hearing strength, determination and the loyalty in his voice. There was a clear choice.
" Gryffindor"
Harry walked over to the long table and took a seat opposite his sister leaving a space beside him. Susan looked at the obvious space and then to Harry answering her unasked question.
"Just saving her a seat like she asked"
"Obviously how silly of me, you do know she may not be sorted into this house the brain on that girl she's a near certainty for Ravenclaw."
Harry just shrugged, to him there was no doubt.
"Sue how much do you want to bet she tells that hat where she will be going. I hope she joins us, not once has she treated me like anyone but plain Harry. The whole ride you were Sue not Harry Potter-Blacks sister. With the exception of Nev we have both found it hard to make real friends. Who accept us ad the people we are not the story's that follow us"
The sorting continued and people were sorted into all the houses.
Susan replied
"I understand your hope Harry"
Susan longed for a girl to chat and be a girl with.
Then came Hermione's turn, She smiled at Neville and thought about the other two. Being accepted for who she is was a new and fantastic thing. As she left him the last of their four standing and made her way to the stall. Before she sat a small smile crossed her face as she signed to Neville.
The boy chuckled as the hat was lowered onto her head
"Hi hat Gryffindor please, I have some real friends and I don't want to leave them."
"it's my job to pick the best house for you"
"That's why I'm sure you will say Gryffindor"
"Courage of a lion tempered by intelligence you will do great things in Gryffindor"
The last word shouted for all to hear.
She joined Harry and Susan. As she sat next to Harry she gave his hand a quick squeeze under the table, then raised it to high five Sue. They sat waiting for Neville's time. Soon his name was called he strode up sat down, as the hat touched his head it shouted " Gryffindor".
As Neville sat down Harry and Susan asked at the same time
"Did Hermione say something to you in sign language?"
Smiling Neville replied with a nod
"and"
She said
"Don't take too long, you can't leave me with those two"
As he finished his explanation, he and Hermione broke into laughter.
While this was happening two red headed twins leapt in the air and started shouting.
"Two Blacks and a Longbottom we got the lot"
With a glare from their head of house the two young men settled quickly and the sorting continued. There were no real surprises a pair of twins split up between two houses, Malfoy and Nott were both placed directly into Slytherin the hat barely touching either of their heads. The sorting drew to a close With the final boy being placed in the House of the snakes.
The headmaster stood and explained some basic rules. Stay away from the forbidden forest hence the name forbidden, as well as the corridor on the left on the third floor apparently certain death awaited anybody entering there. His last statement was about a list of prohibited items attached to Mr Filch's door.
He then clapped his hands and the tables were full of delicious assortments of food. They all ate with gusto filling their bellies.
When all had finished eating, the headmaster rose to his feet to close the feast and wish all a good night's rest.
As the prefects were calling for first years to follow them professor McGonagall approached
"I believe it's time for our little chat Mr Potter-Black"
Percy the prefect looked on in surprise.
"Have no fear Mr Weasley I will have these four back to the common room in due time, Follow me please"