Surprisingly Harry's Aunt and Uncle agreed to drop him off at the train station. They had mostly refused to interact with Harry the rest of the summer. Harry didn't mind, and even Dudley followed Aunt Petunia's stern warning to stay away from Harry. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia seemed eager to get rid of him. So when September first came and Uncle Vernon drove Harry to the train station, Harry wasn't super surprised that Uncle Vernon drove off at high speeds as soon as Harry unloaded his trunk from the car.
Harry got a cart and wheeled his trunk through the station. He stopped in front of platforms nine and ten. He stared in confusion, and then pulled out his ticket. It clearly stated on his ticket that the Hogwarts express would leave at 11:00 at platform nine and three-quarters. He thought about asking the station guard that walked past him where the platform was, but the man was red-faced and had started yelling at a group of people loitering around.
In a panic, Harry looked at his ticket and then looked around. There! Coming toward the wall between the two platforms was a short girl with dark skin and loads of curls swirling around her. She was dressed in Hogwarts robes already and ignoring the people staring at her strangely.
"Excuse me!" Harry called to her.
She looked over at him and smiled. She had big front teeth and looked very friendly. She eyed the big gilded ticket in his hand.
"Hello. Are you boarding on platform nine and three-quarters too?" she said happily, bouncing a little.
"Yeah, do you know how to? I don't see a sign anywhere, and Professor McGonagall didn't tell me anything specific."
"Oh yeah. I had to ask!" said the girl talking fast. "I think with her being a witch it just didn't occur to her that entering a magical platform would be weird for a muggle-born. I mean, she must have lived with magic her whole life, right? Anyway, she said to walk through the wall between platforms nine and ten. And she said if we were nervous to go at a running pace. Running at a brick wall is a bit unnerving for me, I don't know about you. But I suppose I will just have to get used to things like this, you know, being a witch and all. I'm Hermione Granger by the way. What's your name?"
"Um, I'm Harry Potter," Harry said, blinking slowly.
"Are you really? I've read all about you of course. I got some books for background reading, so I could be prepared for the wizarding world. I'm sorry about your parents. But I'm sure they would be glad that you are getting your education!"
"Oh, yeah, I guess," said Harry, then wanting to change the subject he said, "Do you think we can go together at the wall? On the count of three?"
"Of course!" said Hermione, looking a little relieved. She looked around to make sure no one was watching. "Ready? One… Two… Three!"
They raced toward the wall together at top speed. She turned out to be almost as fast as Harry and they almost reached the wall at the same time. They emerged on the other side panting and looking around in amazement. Steam billowed around a scarlet steam engine, and loads of people stood in the fog. Cats meowed and owls hooted. There was laughter, excited voices, and calls of good-bye. Harry turned toward Hermione and said,
"Do you want to come with me? A boy that I met in Diagon Alley said he'd save a seat for me in one of the carriages. You're welcome to come too!"
"Sure, that would be great! Let's go find him." Hermione marched toward the train, seeming to forget that she didn't know what Theo looked like. Harry trotted after her, pushing his trunk.
They boarded and made their way down the train checking the windows of every compartment. Finally, they reached what must have nearly been the end. Harry looked in the window to see Theo sitting alone with his head down in a book. They opened up the compartment door and Theo looked up, startled. Clearly, he had been deep into his book and was not expecting an interruption. Harry was nervous at first that he wasn't welcome, but it was clear that Theo was glad to see him. He gave him that small, not-mean smirk and closed his book.
"Hello Harry, I wasn't sure if you were going to join me," Theo said.
"Well I said I would, didn't I?" said Harry. "Theo, you don't mind if Hermione joins us? I said she could."
"No, of course not," said Theo. He stood and helped them put their luggage in the rack above them. Then they all sat down, Harry and Theo across from Hermione. "So Hermione, what's your last name?"
"Granger, why?" said Hermione, tilting her head to study Theo.
"No reason," said Theo, shrugging. "I was just wondering if you were muggle-born."
"Why should it matter?" asked Hermione, her eyes narrowing. "You're not one of the wizards I read about, are you? The ones that are so predigest about blood."
"Well, my father is," said Theo. "And most of his friends are. But my mother taught me that magic is magic, no matter who casts it. I just wanted to know so I could prepare to defend you in advance."
"Defend me from who?" asked Hermione, less offended now, and now just curious.
"Well my father does business with Lucius Malfoy, and they were always trying to get me and his son to be friends," said Theo scowling. "Draco is very spoiled. I don't think he's ever been told no. That's just an example though. There are many people who fear muggleborns."
"Oh." Said Hermione. "Just so you know I can defend myself. But backup never hurt anyone I suppose."
"So do you know what house you want to be in Hermione?" Asked Theo.
"I don't know yet. Obviously I can't be in Slytherin right, being a muggle-born and all. They haven't had a muggle-born in that house for about a century. And to be honest I don't think I'm nice enough to be a Hufflepuff. Ravenclaw doesn't sound too bad. I certainly think I'm clever enough. And Gryffindor just sounds so brutish, you know? I don't think I'd fit in. What about you Theo? And you, Harry?"
Theo blinked several times, startled at the stream of words that had come out of Hermione's mouth. Harry had expected an answer like this. She seemed to want to know everything, and was the type of person to consider everything from every angle. And this rush of words seemed normal for her. Theo shook off his shock.
"I have to be in Slytherin." Said Theo.
"What do you mean you have to be in Slytherin?" Asked Hermione. "I don't know how we are sorted, but I assumed that it wasn't our choice."
"My father will disown me if I'm not in Slytherin. There hasn't been Nott that hasn't been in Slytherin for as long as our family has gone to hogwarts." Said Theo. "Surely the sorting ceremony will take that into account."
"I don't think that's how it works." Said Hermione. "What about you Harry?"
"I really don't know. To be honest I don't feel smart, loyal, ambitious, or brave." Said Harry. "I bet I'm just a Hufflepuff."
"No, you'll be in Gryffindor like your parents, and Hermione will be in Ravenclaw with all the eager academics," said Theo. "And I'll be stuck in Slytherin with a bunch of stuffy purebloods."
"We need to make a pact," said Hermione bossily. "Even if we are all in different houses, we need to stay friends. Allies are important in any situation."
"I know you can't be in Slytherin, but that sounds like something my dad would say," said Theo, cracking a smile. "And I like that idea, Hermione. I hope all muggleborns are this smart. I've never really met any before you."
Hermione beamed at him, proud to represent her people in the best way possible. It was clear she was glad to be recognized for being smart.
There was a rattle outside the compartment and a rosy-cheek witch opened the door. She was pushing a cart full of sweets, and fizzy drinks.
"Anything from the cart, dears?" she asked.
"I'll pay for snacks guys," said Theo. "What do you guys want?"
"I've never been allowed candy," said Hermione. "Much less wizard candy."
Harry just shrugged. He didn't exactly know what candies he liked. He never got many sweets. And he assumed wizarding candy was a lot different from muggle Mars Bars.
"Okay, we will have a little bit of everything!" said Theo. "So you guys can try everything!"
"That'll be thirteen sickles dear." said the witch, handing over the snacks.
"Thank you, Miss," said Theo. "I hope you enjoy the rest of the train ride."
The witch smiled adoringly at his manners and continued pushing the cart down the moving train. Theo walked back into the compartment and dumped the treats onto the seat next to Harry.
"Everyone, help yourself," said Theo.
Both Harry and Hermione hesitated, though for different reasons.
"My parents would be so mad if they knew I was eating sweets," said Hermione. "I'm not sure I should. They are dentists, you know, and teeth hygiene is very important to them."
"What's a dentist?" asked Theo.
"They take care of and heal damage to teeth," said Hermione proudly. "They have one of the best practices in London."
"They aren't here Hermione," said Theo, smirking. "What they don't know won't hurt them."
"Fine." Huffed Hermione. "What do you recommend?"
"I think you'd like the chocolate frogs." Said Theo still smirking. "Learning and chocolate, a great combination."
"How is eating a frog shaped chocolate educational?" Asked Hermione.
"You'll see." Said Theo handing them each one.
Harry fumbled with the wrapper for a minute then opened it up. The frog hopped onto the seat next to him with a croak, and then sat there still. Harry met Hermione's equally startled eyes. She clearly hadn't been expecting a chocolate to move like that either.
"Oh yeah," said Theo. As he bit the head off of a frog clutched tightly in his hand. "You want to make sure the frogs don't escape."
Harry ate the chocolate and was about to toss the box aside when Theo told him to wait.
"There's a famous witch or wizard card in that box," he said. "They'll be interesting to you, as you haven't learned a ton about the history of the wizarding world."
"Ooo, let me see Harry!" said Hermione excitedly.
Harry pulled out a card labeled 'Albus Dumbledore'. It had a tiny portrait of a man with long silver hair and an equally long silver beard. He wore bright purple robes and half-moon glasses. The man smiled in a grandfatherly way, and as Harry watched he winked.
"Woah, he moved! So this is our headmaster?" Harry asked Theo. He handed the card to Hermione who flipped it over and read the back out loud.
"'Albus Dumbledore, currently the headmaster of Hogwarts. Considered by many to be one of the greatest wizards of modern times. Dumbledore is perhaps most famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragons' blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner Nicholas Flamel.'" Hermione looked up from the card with wide eyes. "Did he do all that?"
"And more," replied Theo smiling at Hermione's enthusiasm. "People say he favors the Gryffindors though."
Hermione frowned, expressing her disapproval.
"He shouldn't do that if he is the headmaster!" said Hermione. "It's not fair!"
Theo quirked a wry smile.
"I think you'll learn pretty soon that life is not fair, Hermione."
Harry had to agree with that statement. If life was fair he wouldn't have learned about magic only a few weeks ago. He wouldn't have been at the mercy of his cousin and uncle for years. If life was fair he would have been raised in a magical home with his parents. Hermione seemed to be a person who grew up with two loving parents that told her she could be anything. It was hard not to envy her.
The train ride passed with Hermione grilling Theo about facts of the wizarding world. Harry listened too, less eager than Hermione, but still knowing the information might be useful. The three of them shared the sweets Theo bought. Fanciful things like Cauldron Cakes, Pumpkin Pasties, and Bertie Botts Every Flavor Bean. They really meant every flavor too, so Harry had to be careful that he didn't bite into one that was too terrible. The sun slowly passed across the sky, breaking through the light cloud cover. Hermione had slowed down her questions when they were interrupted by the compartment door sliding open and a drawling voice.
"There you are Theo, I was looking for you." said a boy in the doorway of their compartment. He was pale with a pointed chin and had blonde hair slicked back. "All of us have a compartment. You should come join us."
Two boys stood behind him like sentinels. One was shorter than the other, and one had a bowl cut while the other had a buzz cut. But other than that they were both thick and muscular, with squinted eyes, and square jaws.
"No thanks Draco, I'm okay here," said Theo gesturing to Harry and Hermione. "I'm in good company."
"Who are they?"
Draco finally shifted his attention to the others in the carriage. He eyed them with judgment in his eyes. Theo shifted uncomfortably like he didn't want to introduce them. Harry didn't take offense. If this was the Draco Malfoy Theo had mentioned he sounded like a spoiled, predigest brat. Hermione however seemed to take offense and stood up to offer her hand for Malfoy to shake.
"Hello, I'm Hermione Granger. It's nice to meet you all," she said smiling. "What are your names?"
"I'm Draco Malfoy. This is Crabb and this is Goyle." said the boy, looking around at everyone like he expected a reaction to his name. The introduction of Crabb and Goyle was clearly an afterthought. When nothing happened he turned his gaze back to Hermione and narrowed his eyes. "Granger? As in Hector Dagworth-Granger? I wasn't aware that family had a child in our generation."
"No, I'm not a pureblood," said Hermione. "I'm muggle-born."
Draco smirked a mean little smile and looked at Theo, who shifted uncomfortably once more.
"Does your father know who you are associating with, Theo?" he said. "I'm sure he wouldn't approve."
"None of your business Malfoy," said Theo cooly.
Malfoy turned his attention to Harry, and narrowed his eyes.
"You're not a muggle-born too are you?" he asked, sneering. The boys behind him tried their best at sneering to, but compared to Malfoy's clearly well-practiced sneer it wasn't as good.
"Not that it matters, but no, I'm not," said Harry just as cooley as Theo. "My parents were a witch and a wizard, for your information."
"What's your name anyway?" Malfoy asked, stepping further into the compartment. The two boys followed him like a shadow.
"Harry, Harry Potter," said Harry, a little shyly.
Draco looked Harry up and down with narrowed eyes, as if doubting Harry. Then Malfoy eyed his lightning scar, hidden by his bangs. Draco then looked to Theo, smirking once again.
"I'm impressed Theo. Here I thought you were slumming it with muggleborns, yet you really are kissing up to The Harry Potter. Good work."
"I don't think that's very nice." Said Hermione bossily. "We were having a lovely time before you interrupted us. If you could leave now, we'd greatly appreciate it."
"You can't tell me what to do." Said Malfoy sneering at Hermione. "Harry, Theo come on and join us in our compartment. Bring the rest of your food, and leave this muggle-born alone."
Harry stared at Draco in confusion. Has he never had a friendship before? Even though Harry met Hermione for the first time today just like Malfoy, he already felt more loyal to her than Malfoy. The pale boy clearly didn't know how to get people to like him. However, Crabbe and Goyle looked like they might pick a fight if Harry didn't follow Draco's every whim. Luckily, Theo had the guts that Harry didn't have.
"No thanks Malfoy. I obviously can't speak for Harry, but I think we're good here with Hermione. Unless you want to invite her?"
Hermione beamed at Theo. Malfoy just gaped at them, as if he couldn't believe they'd rather be with a muggleborn than him. He shook his head in bewilderment, and turned motioning for Crabbe and Goyle to follow him.
"Whatever Nott. I'll guess I'll see you at the sorting ceremony."
The boys left the compartment, and Hermione let out a laugh. Harry joined in, letting out a chuckle. Theo looked at them in confusion.
"What's so funny?" He asked.
"Well I don't know about Harry," said Hermione. "But I've never had any friends to stand up for me. It's really nice. Only my parents ever cared that much."
"My family wasn't exactly supportive. And my cousin made sure I had no friends." Said Harry smiling shyly at Hermione. "I'm also relieved we didn't have to fight them. Crabbe and Goyle looked like boulders!"
"Crabbe and Goyle were ordered to follow Malfoy around and obey him by their parents, I'm sure of it." Said Theo. He looked a little uncomfortable with the gratitude he was receiving. "Crabbe and Goyle Sr. do everything for Draco's father."
"Well at least it didn't come to a fist fight." Said Hermione. "We might have gotten in trouble even before we got to school."
"We should probably get changed into our robes, Harry." Said Theo. "I feel the train slowing down."
Hermione waited outside while Harry and Theo changed. They didn't have to do the same for her as she had already changed into her school robes. The train slowly slowed and finally came to a stop. The sun was sinking behind the mountains, making the clouds red and gold in the light. They unloaded off the train and onto the platform. The train station was in a cozy village with sloped roof buildings, one after another.
"First-years to me! First-years!" Called a huge lumbering man holding a lantern.
He wore a brown moleskin overcoat and his face was hidden behind a scraggly brown beard. A swarm of kids already surrounded him looking up in wonder. Harry glanced at Theo and Hermione, eager for one of them to take the lead. Hermione stuck her chin up proudly at the invitation and started to march, pulling both Harry and Theo along.
The giant man seemed satisfied with the number of kids surrounding him and turned leading them by lantern light down a path, away from the train station. The path was rocky and tricky to walk on.
"You'll get yer first glance of Hogwarts soon!" said the man in the brown coat.
They turned a corner and a huge castle stretched out in front of them. Made out of stone with tall, spiraling towers, the castle was overwhelming. It was all reflected in a glassy lake. Hermione didn't seem to be phased like the rest of them and hurried ahead to catch up with the man.
"Hello, I'm Hermione Granger. What is your name sir?" she said to him.
The man looked a little startled at the bold introduction but chuckled at the same time. A booming sound that seemed to echo in his chest.
"I'm Hagrid. Just Hagrid, no need for the sir. I'm gamekeeper and Keeper o' the Keys 'ere at Hogwarts." Harris puffed out his massive chest with pride at the introduction.
"It's nice to meet you, sir," said Hermione. Either it was so ingrained into her to use sir or she just disregarded Hagrid's comment, Harry couldn't tell. "How are we going to get to Hogwarts?"
"Well, you'll see," said Hagrid with a shifty grin. "Part o' the magic of Hogwarts is the surprises."
"Oh," said Hermione. "I don't much like surprises. But I bet it'll be worth it, right sir?"
They had reached the edge of the lake. Along the shore, there were several small boats each with a lite lantern swinging from them. Enough to fit all of them if they shared. Everyone waited on Hagrid to tell them to board though. Nobody was brave enough to be first.
"Yes, it will be!" said Hagrid with a grin. "My time at Hogwarts was limited. But it was probably the best time of my life."
He looked around at all of the first-years hesitating on the edge of the lake.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" Said Hagrid slapping a pudgy kid on the back and making him fall to his knees. "Pick your boat and climb in!"
Hermione walked back over to Theo and Harry and pulled them toward a boat. The three of them hopped in along with a red-headed boy who grinned at them.
"Hello! I'm Ron Weasley!" he said.
"You have dirt on your nose," said Hermione.
"Everyone in?" asked Hagrid. Then he roared "Forward!"
The boats smoothly started to glide across the water. Hermione and Harry were just as amazed by the boats as they were by the castle slowly growing in the distance. Ron and Theo were amazed by the castle more than the boats. They acted like self-steering boats were ordinary. Hermione sat at the front of the boat transfixed by the sight of the castle, her hands gripping the rim of the boat until her knuckles turned white. Harry sat behind her next to Theo, and Ron sat in the back.
"Woah, magic is so cool," breathed Harry.
"I know right," replied Theo.
The two boys shared a grin. Hermione looked over her shoulder and beamed at them. Harry felt his heartbeat at a happy pace. Slow and steady, as if he were finally home. Not with his blood relatives, but with this shy boy Theo, and this girl Hermione who was just as new to the magic world as him.
"So who are you guys?" asked Ron.
"I'm Hermione Granger," said Hermione. "This is Theo Nott, and that's Harry Potter."
"Blimey, your Harry Potter?" Said Ron, his eyes clearly widening in the lantern light. "You defeated You-Know-Who! Do you remember it?"
Harry was too startled to say anything, so he was glad Hermione beat him to the punch.
"Don't be dense," said Hermione. "He was only a baby. And it's insensitive to bring all that up, did you know?"
"Who are you, my mother?" Ron muttered.
The rest of the boat trip passed in silence. Or at least near silence. Every time Ron tried to speak Hermione hushed him. They made it to the rocky cliffs of the castle and passed through a hidden entrance covered with ivy. Hagrid in the lead boat was so tall he got tangled in the long vines, but the rest of them just had to bend to avoid the dark green leaves. The boats docked on a slippery, solid rock and everyone clambered out, some more gracefully than others. Hagrid checked each of the boats. After he checked the last one he held up a slimy green amphibian.
"Anyone missin' a toad?" asked Hagrid.
"Trevor!" cried the pudgy boy from before. He grabbed the toad from Hagrid and pulled him up to his face amid singers from the crowd of kids. "There you are!"
"Alrighty then," said Hagrid. He crossed to the far rock wall and knocked on it three times. There was a pause; then a door appeared and swung open revealing Professor McGonagall in a tall black pointed hat, and fancy emerald green robes. She looked around at them all with narrowed eyes. Harry got the feeling she was making sure her first impression was ominous to them all.
"Is this all of them Hagrid?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes Professor," said Hagrid. "All accounted fer. And none of em' fell in the lake!"
"Thank you Hagrid, I will take it from here," said Professor McGonagall. "Follow me, children. I'll lead you to a room to smarter yourselves up for the sorting."
Her eyes trailed over them, noticing the dirt on Ron's nose and the pudgy boy's dirty knees even in the dark. Then she turned and marched up the staircase that was behind the door. It led to an entrance hall with a grand marble staircase opposite double doors. The Professor led them all to a room off behind a door tucked away in a corner. It had a few dusty desks and a chalkboard upfront. Tall narrow windows looked over the dark grounds of the castle.
Once they were all clustered in the room together, Professor McGonagall spoke.
"The test to determine which Hogwarts house you should be in will take place in the great hall, once all the older students are seated." said the Professor. "Take this time to prepare yourself in whatever way you can, as this test will determine your future."
At that she turned and left the room. The kids around Harry started murmuring to one another, fearfully quiet. Harry started to feel a little nervous as well. Meeting Hermione and talking to Theo on the train had successfully distracted him up until this point, but now he had a million thoughts going through his head. What if he didn't end up in the same house as Theo? What if he didn't end up in the same house as Theo or Hermione? What if he was separated from them and didn't like anybody in his house?
"Does anybody know what the test will be?" asked Hermione, voicing another one of his fears. This unknown test sounded ominous.
"My brother said something about wrestling trolls." Said Weasley.
"That's moronic." Said Theo.
"What do you know, Nott?"
Weasley spat Theo's last name like a curse. Harry frowned at him.
"What's your problem with Theo?" He asked. It hadn't seemed like the two knew each other before today.
"I have a problem with all Notts." said Weasley. "Everyone knows their dark."
"Do you even know Theo?" Asked Hermione.
"Well, no." The red-head said, flushing.
"Then I wouldn't judge him if I were you." Said Hermione. "And wipe that dirt off on your nose. You're about to be in front of the entire school."
Ron opened his mouth but before he could speak, Professor McGonagall returned.
"Come on all of you." She said ushering them out the door and into the entrance hall.