*Chapter 2
Harry introduced us to Hagrid after we got off the train. Hagrid was huge. And intimidating. But he had apparently rescued Harry from his muggles with a birthday cake and bought him an owl, how generous. I looped my arm with Hermione's as we followed Hagrid from the train platform to the edge of this lake, and that's where we saw Hogwarts for the first time. It was magnificent. I was so ready to be here. Hagrid directed us into the boats, certainly not my first choice of transportation, I'd much have preferred to fly. I think Hermione noticed my apprehension as the four of us clambered into the small boat, she never let go of my hand as we sailed over the great lake.
"It's massive." I whispered to the others, they nodded in agreement, as spellbound as I. We next met Professor McGonagall, the deputy headmistress, as we were lead into the castle and huddled in front of the Great Hall. She spoke to us about what was to come but I was too busy taking it all in to pay much attention. Hermione pulled me to follow everyone else into the Hall with the attention of the rest of the school on us as we walked to the very front beneath all the teachers.
"When I call your name, come and sit ready to be sorted." Professor McGonagall declared. "Abbott, Hannah." A little blonde girl nervously sat on the stool and had a hat placed on her head, moments later it announced to the room.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The Hufflepuff table roared up in cheers as Hannah skipped to their table.
"Bones, Susan." Another girl was called and sent to Hufflepuff.
"Boot, Terry." Was called next. He a Ravenclaw. Brocklehurst, Mandy went to Ravenclaw too. Lavendar Brown was the first to go to Gryffindor, their table won the competition for loudest cheering. A beast of a girl, Milicent Bulstrode was the first Slytherin, their celebration was more reserved. Michael Corner join Ravenclaw and Vincent Crabbe went to Slytherin, another dark family and one of the boys hanging around Malfoy earlier. Justin Finch-Fletchley went to Hufflepuff, Seamus Finnegan was cheerful Gryffindor, Gregory Goyle, another Slytherin crony.
"Granger, Hermione." Was next to be called, I smiled at her before she walked shyly to the stool. The sorting hat was placed on her and after longer that it had taken any of the others the hat shouted; "GRYFFINDOR!" Hermione grinned widely at me while skipping off to the Gryffindor table. Daphne Greengrass went to Slytherin and Wayne Hopkins to Hufflepuff.
"Hyde, Allidora." My twin was called next, she strode confidently to the stool, the brim of the hat had hardly touched her head when it shouted "RAVENCLAW!" The Ravenclaw table cheered as Allie excitedly joined the.
"Hyde, Aurora-Shaw." Was called, my turn now. I took a deep breath and walked carefully to the stool eyeing up the hat. Professor McGonagall placed the hat upon my head.
"Ash, well, well, what do we do with you. Another tricky customer. You are intelligent even if you do not believe it, yes. There is loyalty there, definitely, you're a bit crafty too." The Sorting Hat spoke in my head, I just wanted to be wherever I belonged. "Where you belong, eh? You're crafty and certainly powerful. Very brave though, yes, you'll do great things in, GRYFFINDOR!"
The Gryffindor table cheered, I looked at the loud table and grinned. Yeah, that's where I belong, I skipped towards them and sat down next to Seamus Finnigan and across from Hermione who looked almost as happy as I.
"Why Ash?" Hermione asked.
"Simple. Aurora, A, Shaw, S, Hyde, H. Ash." I replied. Neville Longbottom and Pavarti Patil were also sorted into Gryffindor. Neville slipped between me and Seamus while Pavarti sat between Lavendar Brown and Hermione. Malfoy went to Slytherin with Theo Nott and Pansy Parkinson.
"Potter, Harry." Was called by Professor McGonagall bringing my attention back to the sorting. The hall descended into whispers.
"Is that the Harry Potter?" Neville Longbottom whispered to no one in particular.
"Yes." I whispered back.
"Do you know him?" Pavarti asks me.
"Yes. He is my Godbrother." I reply proudly. Everyone in hearing distant then dissolves into more whispers. The wait was agonising as the hat took as long to decide as it did for Hermione.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The sorting hat finally shouted. Me and Hermione jumped up immediately cheering closely followed by the rest of the Gryffindor table. Harry walked to me carefully and as soon as he got to me and hugged him. I was ecstatic.
"This is brilliant! We're going to all be in the same house. I bet Ron will be too, all the Weasley's are. I'm telling you." I gushed making Harry and Hermione laugh.
"We got Potter!" The Weasley twins cheered. The sorting continued sending Lisa Turpin to Ravenclaw before it was time for the last of our quartet
"Weasley, Ronald." Professor McGonagall. Again the sorting hat barely hit Ron's head before the hat shouted; "GRYFFINDOR!" The cheers erupted from our table once again as Ron ran to sit next to Hermione.
"Well done Ronniekins." Fred and George congratulated Ron.
"Shut up!" He replied embarrassed. That left Blaise Zabini last, he went to Slytherin, not a bad fellow and his mother, Rose, was also kind to me when she would visit Father and Blaise was left to play with the four of us whilst they did business.
"Students." Professor Dumbledore called pulling me out from my thoughts. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts." The room had completely dissolved into silence. "I must make some announcements before we have our feast." He was smiling brightly, he was a brilliant man, the headmaster, and everyone in the wizarding community knew it. But nobody knew why he wasted his brilliance and looking after children. Our gain I suppose. My stomach grumbled, I'd been sent to my room without dinner yesterday and I didn't dare come out for breakfast this morning so I had properly eaten since yesterday morning. At least that's not something I have to worry about now that I'm here, the house elves will keep us very well fed and I know how to get to the kitchens thanks to Uncle Remus.
"Are you even listening?" Hermione is suddenly scolding me. I look up and the three of them are looking at me, I smile slightly.
"No." I tell her honestly. "I'm absolutely starving." I whined grinning. Hermione sighed.
"You're not the only hungry one." Ron grumbled.
"If it's really important, you could tell me later." I grinned at Hermione, she tried very hard to look at me seriously but lost the battle and grinned back before going back to listening to Professor Dumbledore. I turned to Ronald. "Which twin is Fred?" I whisper it, he just looks confused. "Remember, we're getting him back."
"Sat across from Percy." Ron replies just as mountains of food suddenly appears all down the table as far as the eye could see. "Wow!" Ron exclaims.
"Oh, is he done?" I asked looking up. "Thank Godric." I start piling my plate with everything delicious in arm reach. "This is amazing, I love Hogwarts." Ron nods in agreement as he has a go at two chicken legs, one in each hand. Whilst everyone is distracted with the food, I sneakily slip down under the table, I'm certain that nobody noticed and carefully tiptoe down to, if I had counted the feet correctly, as Fred Weasley's shoes. I undo his shoelaces gently and tie both of his shoes together in a big mess. This is so much fun, I think about doing Percy's as well but he is a prefect, I'm certain I would get into trouble if I were caught and then in worse trouble with Father. I creep back quickly just as I hear my name called.
"Ash?" Hermione had called in a low voice as I swiftly pulled myself back up into my chair making Neville jump. I chuckle at him, I've probably known Neville the longest of all my friends. His Grandma practically raised my mum and her brother when their mother left and their father passed away. She grew up with Frank Longbottom and actually set Neville's mum and dad up, Allie is named after his mum Alice and she was her Godmother. And Harry's I believe so Neville is both of their Godbrother. We all used to play together when we were babies before Harry and Neville lost their parents. And before Allie turned into a bitch.
"Sorry Nev. Yes Hermione?" I enquire, she just shook her head so I dived back into my dinner.
"Ahhh!" Harry hissed suddenly clutching at his head.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"My scar hurts." He replies, his gaze is on the teachers bench. "Who's that Professor talking to Quirrell?"
"Professor Quirrell, he's the one in the turban, right?" I look up the table and try to locate him, glaring back in our direction could only be Snape, Uncle Remus told me about him. A lot of bad blood there. "That is Professor Snape. He is the Head of Slytherin and went to school with our parents. I believe he will be our Potions Professor." I look to Percy for confirmation who had been listening.
"He is." Percy adds. "But everyone knows he'd rather teach Defence Against the Dark Arts."
"Hello!" A ghost appeared out of the middle of the food table scaring the life out of all four of us. "How are you? Welcome to Gryffindor!" Then ghosts start appearing everywhere.
"Hello, Sir Nicholas." Percy greeted the ghost. "How was your summer?"
"Dismal." Sir Nicholas replied. "Once again my request to join the headless hunt has been denied."
"I know you!" Ron chirped up. "You're Nearly-Headless Nick!"
"I prefer Sir Nicholas, if you don't mind." He replied.
"Nearly-Headless?" I asked. "How can you be Nearly-Headless?"
"Like this." Sir Nicholas replied by nearly pulling off his head.
"Ugh!" Ron shouted.
"Okay. That has put me off my food." I said.
"Agreed." Hermione muttered.
"I had to ask." I moaned.
"If you hadn't of asked, I would have." Hermione said trying to cheer me up.
"Students." Professor Dumbledore called again with immediate silence following swiftly. "Unfortunately, it is now time to end our start of year feast and go up to bed. Good night everyone."
"Gryffindor's! Follow me." Percy called out and started rounding us up. I nudged Ron as his twin brothers both started getting up, we watch as Fred gets up with absolutely no trouble unfortunately the same can be not said for George.
"Wrong twin Ash." Ron murmurs through his laughter as George is sprawled on the floor, Fred looks like he is about to fall on the floor himself with laughter.
"Oi! I'll get you back for this Fredrick Weasley." George grumbles at his brother as he struggles to untie the shoes. "What kind of lame ass trick was that? And how did you even do it?!" Fred laughs harder at this but holds his hands up.
"I swear George, this was not me." Fred replies.
"Language, George! Now, out of the way boys, it's time to take our first years to their new common room for the first time." Percy says trying to diffuse the situation. "Come along now, this way." Percy starts to guide us out of the Great Hall and passed Fred and George.
"Well I don't believe you, you just wait." George has a wicked grin looking back at his twin.
"This could be a better result." Ron chuckles as he loops his arm around my shoulders. "You're the best Ash!" Harry is still laughing as we try to catch up with Percy.
"Come on, keep up! And be careful of the staircases!" He calls back to us as we climb up several staircases up to a large portrait of an exceptionally large woman below one of the towers. "This is the Fat Lady, guard to the Gryffindor Common Room."
"Password?" The Fat Lady asked.
"Caput Draconis." Percy replied. The Fat Lady swings open her portrait revealing the spectacular sight of the Gryffindor Common Room. Everyone starts piling in. It's a wonderful and warm room with big comfy sofa's and a lovely fireplace. Percy wanders further in towards two sets of staircases.
"Gather around here. Welcome new Gryffindor's. The Boy's dormitory is upstairs to the left and same for the girls but on the right. You will find all your belongings already in your dorms. Good night everyone." Percy smiles and walks off.
"It's so lovely in here." Hermione sighs as she sinks into an armchair. "I can really see myself curling up with a book in this chair."
"I'm glad we all ended up together." Harry adds as he flops onto the sofa across from Hermione.
"It was destiny." Ron decides as he drops next to Harry. We all murmur our agreements.
"Thanks for letting us sit with you." I chuckle. "I'm so excited for classes tomorrow. And breakfast, the food here is so good."
"We must be related." Ron laughs, I poke my tongue out at him.
"I'm going to head up and check out my new bedroom, I'll see you boys in the morning." I wave with a yawn. "I'll see you in a bit Hermione." I go upstairs to the right and find a door with '1st Years' upon it, I'm the first one here. My trunk is at the bottom of the bed nearest the wall which must be mine. My bed looks amazingly comfortable. I take off my robe and collapse onto my new bed. I was going to write Uncle Remus, maybe tomorrow.