Welcome to Hogwarts
Harry stared at his wand. The curve in the wand made it look like it was a snake that wanted to be a sword. Harry had seen a few wands, and most had a little spring to them but this one was surprisingly firm. It felt like wood but had the strength of bone. The moonlight shone through his window and made the white wood shine as he moved it in and out of the light.
Eventually, he placed it on the table and laid down on his bed with Lyra and Whispers on the one next to him already sleeping.
They had just over a week left before they would be off to Hogwarts.
The only thing they needed to do other than final shopping trips and study was to visit Arcturus Black. They ended up waiting until two days before September 1st.
Arcturus had very respectfully asked Alastor not to come, and he had very respectfully told the man, 'Not a chance in hell.' So with Tristan being assigned different duties as an official auror; Alastor, Jameson, and Kirkland joined them. Kirkland had been the auror who had broken into their door on the first morning. Alastor had given her this assignment as a reward for the report she had given detailing new procedures instead of kicking down doors. Whispers stayed at the pub where some of the fathers with younger children continued to try teaching the young demiguise how to read. He seemed to be able to identify words like pictures but wasn't able to sound them out or figure out individual letters as part of the whole.
Black Manor was hidden on a hill overlooking the Howden Reservoir. The back of the house was on a cliff overlooking the water while the front side had a stone wall about four feet high wrapping around the property and grounds. The front gate had the Black family crest on it and opened as they approached. Around the grounds, numerous hedges had been trimmed into various animals, both regular and magical. As they walked by all the hedge animals, it felt like they were all looking at them. They never saw creatures move but every time they weren't looking toward them, they adjusted their stance to face the group.
When they reached the door, the Black family steward opened the door, he had a small wisp of a mustache and thin eyebrows in narrow lines to match. He stepped outside and closed the door behind him. He turned to Alastor, "Since you ignored Lord Black's request not to come, you will need to wear this patch over your magical eye." He held out a patch.
Alastor didn't take it, just staring at it for ten seconds. He then proceeded to cast what Harry assumed were many different diagnostic spells on the patch before taking it from the man and with a grunt placing it on his head.
The steward added, "I advise not even trying to see through it either. There is a written curse on the inside of it, so if you do manage to see through it, the curse will be the first thing you see and you will lose sight in your real eye." He turned and opened the door to let them in.
Alastor sent a banishing spell at the steward knocking him against the wall by the door, then stunned him, and let him fall on the doorstep as the rest of them walked in. Harry and Lyra looked worried but Kirkland whispered to them that the man would be fine. In the foyer, Arcturus Black sat in a large chair with couches on either side of the table in front of him.
As they approached, he asked, "Where is Brandt?"
"The man had me put on a cursed eyepatch without telling me first, so I knocked him out and left him outside."
The two men exchanged angry looks before Arcturus leaned back and then called out, "Darby!"
Harry and Lyra watched as a tiny person with very large ears and eyes appeared with a pop into the room. It was wearing a black poncho with a black and gold braided rope tied around the center.
Arcturus instructed the little creature, "Please deliver tea and snacks for everyone, do not poison the tea for the man with the eye patch. When you are finished, Brandt is stunned out on the doorstep, deliver him to his room."
Alastor squinted at Arcturus.
"You wanted to come," Arcturus told Alastor. Turning to Lyra, "Thank you for agreeing to see me again. I don't have a lot of time to speak to you, so I'll go over what you need to know. First and foremost, what do you know about your mother's family, the Blacks?"
Lyra scooted a little closer to Harry, "Nothing that wasn't in the newspaper."
"I will go over the basics then and give you family history books to read. Our family is one of the oldest families in the British Isles. There is some disagreement if our origins are originally Scandinavian or Roman but in all likelihood, it is both. Our family has always been strong with magic and it is very important to us. That is why it is so important for you to have magic. A few of the oldest families, like ours, have funded orphanages in Australia for children in our families born without magic for over 300 years. The most recent one has been working for the last 120 years. When non-magical children are born in our family they are sent there. The funding ensures that they are well cared for and have their education completely paid for. They are disinherited after their 11th birthday but watched as their descendants have a larger chance of being magical than other muggles. The steward you met, Brandt, is one such example. Five generations ago, one of his ancestors was a Black witch. Once I die, he will enter into a contracted marriage with a woman who is also from an awakened squib line from a family of purebloods in this country known as The Sacred 28." Jameson and Kirkland looked surprised at this information.
Arcturus took a sip of his tea, then continued, "When you were seen to be without magic, known as a squib, you were supposed to go to that orphanage but your father broke the rules. I would like to test your magic myself. You have shown yourself to be very capable but I want to see if your father is a total idiot or if he just made some kind of honest mistake."
Lyra didn't know what to do. She looked at Harry for support. He nodded and gripped his staff with a tight fist to show he would protect her. Lyra turned back to Arcturus and nodded.
"It's good that you look to Harry for support but you will need to learn self-reliance as well." Arcturus pulled out a glass ball with a gold ring on it. "Do you know what this is Lyra?" Harry recognized it as the thing from the holiday party and Mrs. Figg's house, Lyra made a face like she was trying to remember it but she shook her head.
"This is a Remembrall," Arcturus told them. "It's used to check for influences on your memory. It only works for people who have magic, so it is used as a standard to see if children have inherited their parents' magic. It is also often used at magical locations in muggle areas to screen the people entering. Its primary purpose is to check if the person holding it has forgotten something or has had their memory modified recently."
Arcturus rotated it in his hand so he was touching the glass and a white cloud spread around the orb before turning a shade of pink.
"The shade of red is very light meaning whatever I forgot was very minor or some part of my memory was erased over a year or so ago. The definition of the smoke determines how precise my memory is. Since I am very old, I don't remember everything in perfect clarity, so the smoke is just smoke, without form."
Arcturus used his wand to levitate the orb to Lyra where it hovered in front of her. She reached out for it with hesitation but as soon as she grabbed it, white clouds erupted inside of it as if it was trying to break out. Eventually, the clouds settled into what looked like very distinct flames from a campfire, flickering from the bottom, in pure white.
Arcturus smiled, "So your father is just an idiot. Well, you won't have to worry about him again."
Harry spoke up, "I barely remember holding one of those, twice, years ago. Could I try?"
Arcturus nodded and leaned forward a little, as did the aurors when Harry took the glass orb. When he grasped it, clouds didn't erupt like for Lyra, instead, a tiny white line came from the bottom of the orb and grew leaves and a bud before blooming into a white flower. Once the flower had bloomed, every few seconds, it let off a pulse of light.
When Harry put it down, Kirkland whistled, "That is not something you see every day."
Arcturus looked at Harry with scrutinizing eyes. "Your mind appears to have some kind of controlled protection on it. You might have the talent to be a natural occlumens," he said. "What do you think, Mad-Eye?"
Alastor nodded, "We can have him tested later."
Arcturus changed the subject back again, "Harry, you may have read in the paper but you are also distantly related to our family as well, though not by blood. Your first cousin, twice removed, married my cousin. Confusing, I know but it does mean that you are a distant heir to the Black family. You are currently sixth in line though, out of seven. The most eligible heir is currently Lyra."
Lyra was confused, muttering "But, he's my brother."
Harry gave her a reassuring half-hug, and said, "Yes, and you're my sister."
Jameson politely raised a hand and received a nod from Arcturus. "I was under the impression that the Blacks had always had a patrilineal line of succession, was I wrong?"
"That is true but when I was made aware of Lyra's existence as a magical child and Lucius's marriage to Narcissa was annulled, I changed it to a cognatic line." Alastor laughed for a moment and it turned into a cough. "I am the head of house and unfortunately, I do feel that Draco Malfoy is too much of his father's son at the moment, so I made a backup plan. Since Lyra carries the name Black instead of Malfoy, she can be first in line before Draco. I have some other contingencies in place for if he really does turn out like his father but two places after Draco is Brandt, then Harry is two places down the line from there."
He let all of that sink in for the children.
"All this is important because as potential heirs to the family, I would like to send tutors and come myself to Hogwarts on occasion to see that you know the family history and business in general. This needs to be done because I am dying, and the doctors gave me one month more to live. However, I arranged matters so that I will live for another three years, and then I will die."
The aurors suddenly went on guard, all three gripping their wands. Alastor let out a snarl, "If you're doing what I think you are, I will have you arrested and you can share a cell with Lucius."
Arcturus just chuckled, "You have no jurisdiction for what I do on Black land with family property, and there is no law against what I am doing because no one in their right mind would risk the curse. I've already informed your boss and, like you, she growled and snarled like an angry mutt but gave up when she realized there was nothing she could do."
Lyra looked like someone had just taken away her favorite rubber duck. "You're going to die? If you can live another three years, why not longer?"
"Child," Arcturus said as if he was teaching a very sad lesson, "the method of extending my life comes at quite a few costs. This option has been available to many Blacks before me but I am the first one in nearly 200 years to use it, and that one only used it to extend his life by three months. The last thing I will be teaching you is what the cost is but for the next three years, I am dedicated to making sure the rest of your life is as successful as possible."
Lyra still looked sad, so Harry hugged her again.
"I will send a notice when I've arranged tutors for you," said Arcturus. "There is one more thing I wish to speak with you about. Your mother and brother have expressed interest in seeing you." He gave them a moment to let that sink in, Lyra was shaking her head as he said it. "I've ordered both of them that they are not to approach you until you permit them to. Though in the interest of the family, I am encouraging you to at least meet with your brother. You will be at school with him for the coming year. There is also a great likelihood you will be in Slytherin as well and live within close proximity to each other. Only one Black in the last two generations has not been in Slytherin house."
Lyra continued to shake her head and whispered, "They didn't help me when my father hurt me or sent me away."
"All I'm asking you to do is consider it. Right now, I need to take my medicine. You will head to Hogwarts in two days. Enjoy your time there, they will be the best years of your life." Arcturus rose to leave and Darby popped in with the man's cane to help aid his departure.
The group left the grounds, still creeped out by the hedge animals who were always looking at them. When they got outside of the walls, Alastor took off the eyepatch and burned it to ashes on the ground.
"Kirkland, Jameson. I need you two to take the kids back to the Leaky. I'm heading over to the ministry to speak with Bones and check if she was informed of Arcturus's 'retirement plan' or not." Alastor disapparated with a crack after speaking.
It was somewhat of a testament to both children's development that they only barely flinched when the aurors put their hands on their shoulders to apparate them back to London.
The night before the train to school, the pub was closed to the public for dinner and a planning session with all the aurors that were working Harry and Lyra's security detail. Harry tried to thank each one and Lyra tagged along with him, occasionally speaking to the ones she was more comfortable with. Whispers was enjoying the celebration and playing with all the aurors. With a few of the aurors who had been teaching him to read, he had woven some of his hair into theirs.
When everyone had finished eating, Alastor sobered everyone up with security arrangements for the next day.
"Assignments for tomorrow!" he called out. "Team One is in charge of securing Kings Cross Station at 7 a.m., muggle attire only, no umbrellas as there is no rain scheduled. Team Two at the same time will be securing Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Dress Reds on the platform. There will be members of the accidental magic reversal squad and a few obliviators in muggle attire around the station. If you see them wearing stupid outfits, contact their commanding officer.
"For the kids, Kirkland and Jameson will be their escorts to the platform. Nevitt will meet them on the train. Team Three will provide security for the train itself. Security for the platform and train will hopefully become a regular thing. I will expect detailed reports from everyone on what worked and what didn't. All Hogwarts students should have this level of protection."
Harry and Lyra perked up at the mention of seeing Tristan again.
"I will be on overwatch. With any luck, you will not see or hear from me for the entire day. Keep your heads, do your jobs, and, as always, Constant Vigilance."
"Constant Vigilance!" all the aurors recited back.
"Eat well, sleep well, and do your jobs tomorrow," Alastor said with a serious tone. "When all goes as planned, drinks are on me tomorrow night after Team Three returns to London."
That got a cheer from the aurors.
Harry and Lyra were too anxious to sleep. Whispers also knew something was going on and seemed to mimic their anxiety by pacing around the room and occasionally looking out the window with glowing blue eyes before returning to them.
Their bags were all packed and ready. Harry had added a strap to his shrunken trunk, so he could wear it like a shoulder bag when it was the size of the briefcase. The mango tree in Lyra's trunk had started to blossom faster than expected. Whispers had taken to entering her trunk at random times to play around the mango tree in the small space, climbing the tree over and over. Harry and Lyra had both done the same thing from time to time too. They were certainly homesick for the island but their consternation for Hogwarts was helping cancel it out a bit.
Eventually, the excitement and anxiety turned into exhaustion and they fell asleep.
The morning's pace was executed with military precision.
They had breakfast at 8:30 and had a quick goodbye with Tom at the bar before Whispers had been placed into Lyra's trunk with the mango tree. Kirkland drove Harry and Lyra by car while Jameson followed on a motorcycle to Kings Cross station. They arrived by 9:30. All the aurors they had seen so far had been all business and spared no pleasantries for them. While they were walking through the station, they picked out a few aurors in muggle clothes who they recognized or weren't holding their wands high enough in their sleeves.
There were also a lot of children with their families pulling trunks or pushing them on a trolley, Harry assumed they were also heading to Hogwarts. When they arrived at the barrier between platforms 9 and 10, Jameson stopped them.
"This is the entrance to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. If you walk straight at the wall, you'll pass through to a hidden platform," Jameson instructed them. "We can stand here for a moment and you can watch some other students doing it."
They watched a couple of families just casually stroll through, while a few students ran through with their trolleys like it was a game.
Harry looked a bit scared but Lyra whispered to him, "It's like going into The Giver's cave or the tea shop. Just walk in and don't think about it."
Harry thought about it for a moment before nodding to Kirkland and Jameson. The group of four just walked slowly through the wall. Harry had his eyes shut as he went through but when he felt the wind on his face again, he opened them to see a scarlet steam locomotive along with a perfectly clean train platform and families running around, and children greeting each other. Kirkland moved them away from the entrance as Harry marveled at the platform.
It really was amazingly clean. On the other side of the entrance, Kings Cross was tidy. They had people working constantly to pick up trash and occasionally scrub the platform but it was still filthy compared to this. Kings Cross had a smell in the air from all the trains coming in and out and the cars from the outside, not to mention the people everywhere. But here? It's like they were nowhere even close to the old station.
Kirkland and Jameson altered their outfits so they were back into their red jackets and started walking to the train. That's when people started noticing Harry Potter. People were staring and talking as they walked by.
"That's the Boy-Who-Lived right there."
"His hair looks different than in the books."
"He doesn't look that tough."
"Cor-blimey, that the Black princess he's with?"
"If he killed the Dark Lord, why does he need protection?"
Many other comments were overheard by the time they had crossed only thirty feet to get to the train. When they got there, Tristan stepped down from one of the carriages. Harry and Lyra jumped forward and gave him a hug which he returned.
Tristan nodded to both of them, "I am going to be on the train specifically to watch after the two of you. However, I will be disillusioned and somewhere outside your cabin. Both of you should spend time with children your own age." Harry and Lyra looked unhappy but he continued, "This is your first ride on the Hogwarts Express, this is where you will make friends and get to know them before school starts. So I will be here but not right next to you. Got it?"
They weren't happy but Harry and Lyra nodded anyways.
Right before Tristan was going to walk them in, Kirkland grabbed him by the arm. "Hold it, I forgot the procedure" and she pulled out a spray bottle and shot him in the face with it.
Nothing happened other than Tristan got wet. Kirkland smiled, "I bet I would have gotten a nice stinging hex from Mad-Eye if I had forgotten that." Two seconds later a stinging hex hit her in the back.
She looked around to find the source and Lyra pointed to the smokestack of the locomotive, "He's up there, watch the smoke." As they watched, they saw something flicker next to the smoke.
Kirkland smiled as she rubbed her back, "At least I'll get to call him out on seeing him disillusioned."
Tristan walked Harry and Lyra onto the train before telling them, "I'm going to disillusion myself now, the two of you go ahead." He tapped himself on the head and gave them a push forward as he slowly vanished.
They were alone. There were no teachers or aurors or Tristan. It was just them and a long corridor of the train. After feeling another push from Tristan, they started to walk forward. They walked by a few compartments with other students in them and crossed to the next car, getting a nod from the auror stationed at the beginning of the next car. They found an empty compartment and settled in. Harry placed his briefcase/trunk on the rack above and Lyra opened hers on the floor to take out Whispers who climbed out and jumped onto the luggage rack above them and they pushed the trunk under the seats.
From the window, they looked on at the chaos on the platform with people greeting each other and getting on the train. They both stared at all the families hugging each other and saying their goodbyes before boarding the train. Neither of them got to experience this tradition. The aurors were great but not family. Neither were Alastor, Severus, Tristan, Minerva, or Nestor. Their family was on the other side of the world on an island. They had already said their goodbyes for the year to Charlie, Chief, Weaver, Mango, Teacher, Cynthia, Digger, and everyone else. Harry and Lyra did long to be back on the island during the holiday break.
As they were both scanning the crowds outside, Lyra let out a peep and turned invisible. Seeing there might be a danger, Harry did the same. Lyra whispered, "Over there, by the benches; that's my mother and Draco."
There was the woman they had seen in St. Mungo's who appeared to be giving a lecture to a boy who looked a lot like Lyra, though his hair only went to his shoulders and seemed to be shiny like it was wet and frozen in place so it didn't move in the wind. The boy didn't seem to be put down by the lecture and stood tall as he was being spoken to. Eventually, the woman gave the boy a quick hug and they parted ways. Harry and Lyra sat down in their seats and turned visible again.
Close to 11 a.m., the train whistle blew twice and they returned to the window to watch as everyone rushed to board. A huge family of gingers came through the barrier a few minutes later and said quick goodbyes before five children boarded the train. Moments after they were on, the train started to move forward.
As they left the station, the door to their compartment was opened by the two youngest of the ginger family. The youngest was a girl Lyra's size who seemed to be hiding behind her older brother who was pulling both of their trunks.
"Do you mind if we join you?" he asked. "Everywhere else was full."
Harry nodded but the boy hadn't really waited for him to do so, pulling the two trunks in. He pushed one under the side of the seats where Harry was and pulled out his wand to start levitating the other to the rack above Harry. There was a scratching of quick movement as an invisible Whispers jumped down to Lyra and she caught him.
As the boy continued storing the trunk, Lyra scolded him, "Slow down, you almost hurt Whispers."
Harry knew that wouldn't have happened because of the Hidden's precognition but the boy was still being a bit brash. The girl had meanwhile sat on Lyra's side of the compartment but as far away from both her and Harry as possible. She reminded Harry a bit of how Lyra acted in new situations or large groups.
The boy had possibly ignored what Lyra said as he just sat down next to Harry and held out his hand. "I'm Ron, Ron Weasley. That's my sister over there, Ginny."
Harry cautiously took the boy's hand and shook it. "I'm Harry, this is my sister Lyra." She gave a small wave to both of them.
Ron looked a little confused. "Aren't you Harry Potter?" and Harry nodded. "Harry Potter doesn't have a sister," he said as if it were a fact.
Harry didn't know what to say back. He looked to Lyra who was just as confused that this boy had just told Harry that he didn't have a sister. Maybe Ron didn't understand.
"I grew up with Lyra, she is my sister," Harry said in no uncertain terms.
Ron stared back with the same confusion Harry had a moment ago. Ginny was still silent and just staring at Harry.
Ron looked at him like he was trying to put together a puzzle in his mind and asked, "Do you have any brothers?"
"Just Whispers over there," and pointed slightly above Lyra.
Now Ron was extra confused. "I thought you said she was your sister and her name was Lyra?"
"Whispers is invisible, he's sitting on Lyra's shoulders," Harry said like that would explain everything.
"Ohhh Kaaay," Ron said, looking at Harry like he was crazy. "So what's going on with your hair? Everything I've read says it's just black but yours has silver streaks in it."
Harry was happy the conversation was continuing and Lyra took the invisible Whispers down from her shoulders and started scratching his head.
"Whisper's aunt wove some of her hair into mine. Lyra's too, that's why we have the streaks. Her name is Weaver." Ron took a look over at Lyra's hair to see the silver there too, it blended pretty well with her already platinum-blonde hair so it was hard to see at first glance.
"Is Weaver invisible too?" asked Ron with a skeptical voice.
"She can be," replied Harry. "Both Weaver and Whispers are Hidden after all."
Ron shook his head, "I'm going to go see if I can find some other friends. I think you would get along great with Looney. I'll send her this way if I see her." He got up and left the compartment. His sister, Ginny, was still sitting there staring at Harry in silence.
After the door shut, Lyra whispered, "Looney is a nice name."
Ginny looked over to Lyra, "She lives near us, she's a bit strange but nice."
Whispers chose that moment to relax and turn visible again. This caused Ginny to scream and he vanished again.
"What was that?" she yelled, backing up against the wall by the door to the compartment.
Lyra was holding the invisible Whispers and protecting him from the girl's scream.
"That's Whispers, he's our brother. He's a Hidden, other wizards have called him a demiguise. He can turn invisible when he doesn't want to be seen," Harry explained to Ginny.
"Is he dangerous?" asked Ginny.
"Not at all, if you're nice, he might let you pet him. We've been teaching him to speak and read as well," Harry informed her.
Ginny sat back down, looking intently at the bundle of nothing that Lyra was holding, and held out her hand like she was greeting a dog. Harry nodded to Lyra who released Whispers. Harry could see the movement as Whispers cautiously climbed on the seats towards Ginny. As he got closer, he turned visible and Ginny lit out a small peep but kept her hand still. Whispers was just about to reach out and touch her hand when his eyes glowed and he vanished, hopping back onto Lyra's shoulders.
Something was about to happen, so Harry and Lyra started looking around with Ginny doing the same just because something was happening and she didn't know what. There was a knock on their door.
"Lyra, it's Tristan," came a voice. "There is a boy here with a letter for you." He opened the door slowly.
Tristan was there with his red jacket standing next to a chubby but strong-looking boy holding an envelope. The boy stepped forward and handed the letter to Lyra. "Your brother asked me to deliver this to you. He requests to meet with you after the sorting." Lyra took the envelope and the boy left.
Tristan stood there for a moment looking at Ginny. He turned his head slightly and asked, "Are you Charlie's little sister?"
Ginny's face brightened, "You know Charlie?"
"We were friends in school, I thought he was nuts for going to work with dragons, and he thought I was nuts for being Mad Eye's trainee as an auror." Tristan laughed a little. "I bet he's got some cool burn scars by now, and I've got this nice one too." Tristan lifted his curly hair to show Ginny the scar along the side of his head.
"I write to Charlie at least once a month, I'll be sure to tell him I met you," Ginny said.
Tristan nodded to Ginny, Harry, and Lyra and left the compartment.
Ginny looked back to Lyra and asked, "How many brothers do you have?"
"Harry and Whispers are my brothers," she said flatly. Whispers reappeared at his name and climbed up to the luggage rack to stretch out. Ginny's eyes followed him up. Lyra waved the envelope, "This is from my other brother but I don't want to see him."
Harry looked at Lyra and told her, "We can look at that later. Don't worry about it now."
She opened the first compartment of her trunk and placed it inside.
Ginny told them about all of her brothers. They were both very interested in Charlie and dragons in general. They had heard the one down in the vaults of Gringotts but they really wanted to see one too.
Ron came back once to check on Ginny and she tried to convince him to come in and see Whispers but muttered something about a case of the Looneys and left.
There was a knock later and a woman with a trolley full of food offered them something. Harry and Lyra took quite a few chocolate frogs and Ginny took some Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. Harry and Lyra had been shown the beans when exploring Diagon Alley. They had so far eaten some that tasted like all the things around their island including grubs and saltwater. They weren't sure about trying more though. Ginny seemed to like the surprise of each bean being something amazing or disgusting.
At the Leaky Cauldron, Harry and Lyra had created a game to play with the chocolate frogs. They had a tiny table by the window so they placed one of the frog packages on it. They asked Ginny to come over and pull the string to open it while both of them sat watching it with their hands on their knees. Ginny was interested and pulled the string to open the top.
The frog looked around and saw it was surrounded on three sides but the window above him was opened, so he took one big leap upwards only for Harry and Lyra to reach for it with Lyra grabbing it out of the air and cheering.
Harry reached over and pulled a leg off the frog and ate it while Lyra bit the head off while it was still wiggling.
Ginny expressed her disgust with a big "Ewwwwww! You ate it before it stopped moving!"
Harry added the card to the stash he was keeping. He still didn't see the purpose of it but all of the aurors insisted that one day he would trade them for something important. They played the chocolate frog game three more times. The last time, Ginny tried to play against Lyra but didn't win. She did pull the leg off before Lyra ate the rest, her face looking disgusted but amused as she ate the still-squirming chocolate.
As the sun started to set, Harry stepped out while Ginny and Lyra changed into their school uniforms. Just as the girls finished, Ron came back to change into his too.
While they were changing, Ron asked Harry, "Why are you so tan?"
Harry thought Ron was strange but answered him anyway, "Because I was in the sun."
He seemed to accept that but when they were finished, he took his trunk and went away again.
The train slowed down and rolled into a tiny town. The lights in the station and the houses around seemed to all be from oil or magic. Harry didn't see any electrical poles or open flames anywhere. The aurors on the train reminded all the students to leave their luggage in the cars and they would be delivered to them later.
Most of the students seemed to know where to go as they left the train and headed towards a series of carriages being pulled by some obviously magical horses. It was like their skin was pulled so tight you could see every bone in their body and they were almost as dark as the night. Just looking at them up on the hill, Harry got a feeling that was almost the opposite of looking at the Lampong and its white light.
However, away from the carriages, a giant man was calling out "First years! First years! Over here! Don't head to the carriages, come this way!" He held up a lantern which with his height had to be at least fifteen feet in the air when it was above his head. Harry quickly headed over to the man.
Lyra ran after Harry and they were the first ones there.
He looked down at them, "Harry? Is that you? I haven't seen you since you were a babe, we missed you last year but looks like you've come along just fine."
Harry stared at the man but couldn't remember him. He couldn't remember his parents either, so that made sense. "I'm sorry, I don't remember you," he said.
"Of course, you were so small," the large man said with a tear in his eyes. "You look so much like your parents though. Come by my hut sometime and I'll tell you about them. My name is Rubeus Hagrid; Groundskeeper at Hogwarts." He suppressed a sniffle before turning back towards the train and swinging his lantern while yelling "First Years! Over here!"
When it seemed like there was no one else coming, Hagrid led them on a small path down to the cove of a very large lake. In the cove were a few dozen small boats. He placed the lantern on a hook on one of the larger ones and turned back to the children.
"Take a boat everyone. No more than four each, mind you"
Due to the darkness, they had lost Ginny, so Harry and Lyra climbed into a boat with two other children who had less than two adjectives that could describe them. Harry was now holding an invisible Whispers in the front of the boat with the two other non-descript first years sitting behind them. Once everyone was in a boat, Hagrid pulled a pink umbrella from his coat and tapped the front of his boat that he sat in alone, though he did take up the entire boat. Hagrid's boat moved forward and the other boats pulled out as well as if tethered by an invisible string behind him.
As they pulled out of the port, they could see the moon rising and reflecting its light onto the lake. Way off in the distance something large splashed in the middle of the lake, making everyone strain their eyes to see what it was. Lyra saw Ginny in another boat while Colin saw Harry and called to him while enthusiastically waving.
A minute later as they fully cleared the cove all of their attention was seized by the castle which could be seen ahead. It had been obscured by a large bank and tall trees on the other side of the cove but now it was there. On a cliff maybe 200 feet above the lake ahead of them, there was the largest castle any of them had ever seen. There was a very tall tower on the edge of the cliff connected to the castle by a stone bridge, the rest of the castle had four large towers sticking off the main building which looked to be at least seven stories tall. Several smaller towers were branching off from the larger ones but the one that caught Harry's attention, in particular, was part of the main building. It was higher than the rest of the towers and seemed to be open on the top with a square platform, and a large spire on each of the four corners.
The boats approached a cave covered in vines at the bottom of the cliff and passed through them into a small harbor. Crystals were covering the walls that let off a small glow so they could see in the dark. The boats pulled into docks and all the children gathered near the base of a set of stairs.
Hagrid placed his lantern on a hook and hundreds of smaller lanterns lit up the stairs ahead of them. "Let's get going, it's a long way to the top!" The giant man started walking up the stairs, easily taking them five at a time and about forty kids followed as quickly as they could behind him. After twelve flights of stairs, they arrived at a large set of wooden doors that Hagrid could fit through with ease. Most of the children were out of breath but Harry and Lyra kept pace behind Hagrid. They did feel a bit out of shape from all the time spent in the Leaky Cauldron though.
When all the children had caught up, the doors opened and Minerva stepped out. Harry and Lyra moved forward to hug her but they saw her give them a quick shake of her head and a stern look, so they stood still where they were. Whispers on the other hand did not understand, so he launched himself at Minerva, turning visible as he flew. Minerva managed to see him just in time and caught him. All of the children cried out just as Hagrid gasped, "A demiguise!"
Minerva returned the hug but then looked at Whispers with a stern face. "Whispers, no jumping, this is not the place for games. Please go back to Lyra or Harry"
Whispers tilted his head and gave a creepy smile. Then jumped over to Lyra and sat on her shoulders. Hagrid had his eyes glued onto the creature, though at this point, so did all of the other first-years too.
Minerva turned to all of the children. "I am Professor McGonagall; Deputy Headmistress and Professor of Transfiguration. You are all about to pass through the doors behind me. They lead to the Great Hall. It is where you will eat your meals and convene for special assemblies at Hogwarts. Before you are seated, you must first be sorted into your houses. Your house will be like your family, these will be the students you will spend the next seven years at Hogwarts with. Each year, students compete for the House Cup. All of your actions will reflect on your house with your merits earning points and rule-breaking bad behavior losing points for your house."
She stood up taller and took a breath before continuing, "The four houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Named for the four founders of Hogwarts. Prestigious wizards have come out of all four houses, and your hard and dedicated work will see you join them. Take your time now to straighten your cloaks and make yourselves presentable and the doors will open in a moment."
A few seconds before the doors opened, Whispers's eyes glowed blue and he vanished. When they opened they could see into a room that could probably fit a thousand people, and it was less than half full. Four long tables spanned the length of the room with a large stage at the far end that had stairs leading up to it. Along the back wall of the stage sat many adults including Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. There was a large lectern at the front as well with a small wooden stool in front of it.
The first-years marched down the center of the tables while some students cheered them on. Harry was one of the tallest of the children and was easily picked out and he could hear people talking about him again. He saw Ron at one of the tables and saw him whisper at a boy next to him. All the first years spread out in front of the stage and waited.
Professor McGonagall walked up on stage carrying a scroll of paper and a pointed brown leather hat. She placed the hat on the stool and it straightened itself out before scrunching down so the folds turned into a face. The brim of the hat separated into two and it began to sing.
When I was stitched so long ago
When I first remembered
I sort new students in search of magic
At the beginning of September
I'll see your thoughts and find your place
To send you on your way
For all of you, a destiny awaits
That I will not betray
The founders of our great school
Knew the best ways to make you strong
Though they prattled and they argued
None of them were wrong
The four of them raised dear Hogwarts
From the cliff face and bedrock
And gathered here inquiring young minds
Who were deemed of proper stock
Not just to sort, I have a job
To enlighten and inform
To give the history of these greats
And hope that you absorb
For when you join your classmates
You should think long and hard
About the ideals that your house stands for
And yours too in that regard
Gryffindor was brave and strong
Though he often did not think
Before charging into danger
Or tossing down a strong drink
Lady Ravenclaw was the greatest of the scholars
With a library and great wit beyond measure
Though in her final years, only then did she realize
That family was the greatest treasure
The great Clan of Hufflepuff were always the most loyal
They took in all who asked and made them of a feather
They healed the weak and comforted the lost
But lost their strength when not together
Salazar loved all who were touched by magic
While bringing down curses to those who persecuted
Cunning, ambitious, and strong in the Dark
However, dangerous when his ideas were disputed
When I gaze into your thoughts
and I sit upon your head
Your greatest strengths and your weakest points
Will make for me my choice
Professor McGonagall tapped the scroll with her wand and it opened next to her and hovered in the air. "When I call your name, please come forward and sit on the stool. I will place the Sorting Hat on your head. When it calls out your house, please head to the corresponding table and join your classmates."
She picked up the hat from where it sat and called out, "Ryan Adamson!"
A boy with greyish-blonde hair ran up the steps and sat on the stool and sat down. The hat was placed on his head and there was silence around the room. The scrunched face on the hat made faces like it was thinking hard for about thirty seconds before yelling out, "Ravenclaw!"
As the boy got up, the piping on his robe turned to bronze and blue, as did the tie he was wearing.
Next was Shirley Baker who was placed in Gryffindor. The piping on her robes and tie changed colors to red and gold as she stood up from the stool.
Then came Arthur Bell who went to Hufflepuff. His colors changed to yellow and black.
Then came, "Lyra Black!"
Harry gave his sister a side hug and she walked up the steps very slowly, Harry realized she was still carrying Whispers and waved at Professor McGonagall and made a motion like he was rocking a child. As Lyra sat down, McGonagall whispered something to Lyra and she held out an invisible package. Harry could barely see Whispers climbing onto McGonagall's shoulders as the sorting hat was placed on her head.
Students started whispering at the strange display, though all the first years knew what was going on. After two minutes, a teacher in a red hat and robes pulled out a stopwatch and put two fingers in the air. At five minutes Harry started hearing whispers from the other students and the word 'hatstall' repeated over and over.
When they reached nine minutes, the hat opened its brim and spoke. "Fine then!" it said with a bit of annoyance, "I need to call for a point of order!"
Author's Note: The hedge animals around Black Manor I imagined like the hedge monsters in The Shining. Those things always gave me the creeps worse than the woman in Room 237.
When I named Kirkland, I was eating some organic roasted seaweed from Costco and looked at the store's brand name to provide me with the Auror's name.
The Sorting Hat's song had a lot of broken verses and non-rhyming lines, that was actually on purpose and will be addressed later.
Alternative Castings for Hagrid: While I enjoyed Robbie Coltrane's portrayal of the half-giant, I never got the feeling of him being a giant, just really big. My story has Hafþór Björnsson playing the role of Hagrid. I think The Mountain from Game of Thrones would be a much better giant, and it would be interesting seeing him play the role of a gentle giant, then to have moments of incredible strength and anger be shown that are more believable for a man of his physique.