Not surprisingly (mostly due to the head start) Jack was the first one to the door.

What was surprising however, was the fact that he didn't seem out of breath.

"Why the bloody hell, are you not tired?" Ron asked hunched over holding a stitch in his side.

"Practice," Jack said shrugging and leaving it as that.

Looking around for a teacher the boys spotted Hagrid next to some fancy looking carriages.

"Hagrid!" Jack called putting his trunk down and running over, slowing down when he saw the Thestrals.

"Now what in blue blazies are you three doing here?" the half-giant asked after clipping the Thestral into place "Ye're meant to be on the train."

"We couldn't get through the barrier," Ron said quickly so they wouldn't get into trouble "And the train was leaving, and so we sent a letter here, and Jack's uncle brought out some sort of snowglobe thing and here we are."

"I'm surprised you didn't know Hagrid," Jack said petting the Thestral mare next to him, surprising Hagrid that the bat winged horse was so calm with this stranger "We sent that letter about half an hour ago."

"Want any help with this Hagrid?" Harry asked not quite sure what 'This' was but would try to help none the less.

"Well seeing as yeh here, yeh might as well be useful right?" Hagrid said chuckling a little.

Catching on that Jack could see the Thestrals Hagrid placed him on 'Bringing them over to the carriages' duty.

Whereas he had Ron and Harry, make it so each carriage was neat and tidy and had a clean cushion on each of the four seats.

"So Jack," Hagrid said in a whisper while Harry and Ron were in the carriage behind them "How do you know so much about Thestrals?"

"Last year when the others saw you about Norbert's egg, I went to that paddock next to your house and saw them." Jack said keeping a teenage stallion calm.

"Ah... And..." Hagrid said knowing a subject like this was hard on anyone "How can you see them?"

Thinking on what Hagrid said Jack remembered what Pitch said about them only visible to those who witnessed death.

"I'm not sure who they were," Jack said slowly so he didn't trip over himself "Or who it was, I've seen loads of people being killed." he said thinking about the World Wars "But I think the first one was my sister when..." he said cutting himself off so he didn't let anything slip that he shouldn't have.

Thankfully Hagrid just took it as it was too sensitive a subject for the boy and dropped it.

o0o

Once all the carriages were done and lined up for the students in second year and up, the boys carried on inside the castle where they met Professor McGonagall coming out of the kitchens with a plate of cookies.

"Professor!" Jack cried in a gasp making her jump and rather pathetically, try to hide the cookies "Stealing from the kitchens... How could you... For shame Professor..."

Rolling her eyes Professor McGonagall gave each boy a cookie to make them keep quiet about this.

"Nice to see you too Jack Frost," she said and continued on her way pausing to tell them the new year password was 'Wattlebird'.

"I wonder why she didn't put up more of a fight?" Harry said biting into his cookie.

"Because there wouldn't have been any point," Jack said grinning "No one who ever goes into the kitchens..." he began in a spooky voice as if this was a ghost story "Ever comes back out empty handed..."

"You mean," Ron said his mouth full of cookie "All those times Fred and George went to steal food from the kitchens, they didn't need to steal anything at all?"

Jack grinned and shook his head.

"Hey Jack how do you know about this anyway?" Harry said looking suspicious.

"F and G took me on a trip one night," Jack said wanting to keep the fact the April Fools Day Dilemma last year was him and he went to get some food to celebrate it.

All together they head up to Gryffindor Tower gave the portrait of the Fat Lady the password to get inside and spent the rest of the day up there.

When it was getting towards half-past five they changed into their Hogwarts robes and went back down to the great hall.

o0o

They were halfway through a game of exploding snap when the first lot of students came in and took their seats at their own tables.

The teachers except for McGonagall because she had to greet the new First Years and Lockhart – Jack said it was probably because he was putting the finishing touches to his appearance, were already there.

About 15 minutes after the first students arrived, their friends and the rest of the Weasley's (minus Ginny) came over.

"And where the heck have you three been?" Fred asked coming to sit next to Jack, George on the other side.

"We've been here," Ron said looking as innocent as he could.

"The barrier at Kings Cross wouldn't let us in so we came straight here," Jack said dealing in Fred and George into the game.

"What do you mean 'The barrier wouldn't let you in?'" Hermione asked sounding for the first time in the time Jack knew her confused.

"We mean," Harry said calmly "It wouldn't let us in. We were running at it with what 10 seconds till 11 o'clock and just as Ron and I were about to run into it, it changed into a solid brick wall."

"Well what about Jack?" Neville Longbottom, a round-faced forgetful boy who was also in Gryffindor asked.

"I was a little bit behind them," Jack said looking at his cards.

Soon though they had to pack the game away as more and more students were coming in.

It was close to quarter to seven before it seemed like the last student was sat down.

Professor McGonagall came in to signal that the First Years had arrived.

Nodding to her Professor Dumbledore stood up.

"Attention please," he called out calming the hall down and making everyone look at him. "The Sorting Ceremony is about to begin."

Just as he sat back down, the doors opened and the new nervous looking First Years came in.

Right away the group spotted Annie and Ginny, both noticeable because of their bright red hair.

Annie, Jack was pleased to see was wearing a confused face which quickly turned into a pout as she looked for Jack.

Spotting him, she mouthed 'You lied to me...'

All Jack could do was stifle his laughs and shrug.

Soon they were all in the hall and lined up in front of the Teacher's Table facing the other students.

Just like last year, Professor McGonagall stepped forward and set down a four legged stool in front of the first years and placed a patched, worn, very old hat on top.

After a couple of seconds, a tear near the base started to move and it began to sing

o0o

Don't judge me on how I look

For I am more than what you can wear upon your head

But don't worry where you end up

As I have always said

Gryffindor for those who are brave and loyal at heart

Slytherin for those whose skills are being cunning and being crafty with their arts

Ravenclaw forever-more is there to welcome all those who wish to learn

While Hufflepuff is for everyone else who all know how to wait their turn

So put me on and let me judge you

I will soon know where you need to be

It will only take a minute or two

And may your journey in that house give you hope and glee.

o0o

Everyone clapped as the Hat bowed to each of the tables before going all stiff again awaiting the first new student.

Professor McGonagall came forward with a scroll of parchment and said:

"When I call your name you will put on the hat and sit on the stool. Addams Felicia."

A dreary looking girl with pale skin slowly came forward and sat on the stool after putting the hat on.

It only took a few seconds before the hat cried out SLYTHERIN.

Getting up the girl headed over to the table.

As soon as she was seated the next name was called.

It took ten minutes to get through all the A's and B's.

"Creevy, Colleen," McGonagall called and an excited looking boy with curly blonde hair came forward.

"Well he seems pleased to be here," Jack said as the first hat-stall of the night took place.

After about three minutes it sent Colleen over to Gryffindor.

"Dale Annie," Jack looked up smiling as Annie went up taking a deep breath looking over towards where her sister was at the Ravenclaw table.

Jack smiling as he saw Elisa smile and nod back to her sister giving her encouragement.

Quickly Annie put the hat on and sat down.

"Gryffindor!" the hat called out.

"No!" Annie cried whipping the hat off "I want to be with my sister, in Ravenclaw!"

There were murmurs at this. No one could ever recall anyone fighting with the hat's decision before.

"Sorry, but you're more suited to be in Gryffindor." the hat said calmly.

"But..." Annie said looking towards her sister.

Slowly Jack got up and went to collect her bringing her to the table.

"We can meet up with her after the feast if you want" he said gently as the next new student went up.

"Alright," she said in a mopey sort of voice.

Jack was just wondering what the food will be when the next name caught his attention.

"Lovegood Luna."

Looking up he saw a blonde haired girl with an innocent looking face step forward.

Looking around the room in a dreamy sort of face she spotted Jack and waved at him before putting the hat on.

"Hey Jack, what's that about?" Fred asked in a whisper leaning over Annie who was moping with her face flat on the table.

"A few years ago, I came across her fighting off some Spring Pixies to keep a small group of Winter Fairy's safe." Jack said rubbing his hair to say this was as he was a spirit.

"She saw me, we got rid of the Pixies together and helped bring Periwinkle and her friends back to full health."

"Why were the Pixies hurting the Fairy's?" Neville asked hearing the conversation.

"Think of the Seasonal side of my world as Hogwarts," Jack said trusting Neville with this – he already knew about Gaia anyway "We're split into four 'families' which is one much bigger family." he said pausing to check they understood "Now not all family's are perfect are they? Here we have Slytherin to prove that. Anyway, Pixies and Fairies don't really get along to begin with, but neither do those belonging to Winter and Spring."

"And because of them being Spring, and Pixies," George said slowly "There was twice the amount of hate towards them, right?"

All Jack did was nod as the hat finally called out "Ravenclaw!" and Luna came down to join Elisa.

"You think Luna and I can swap places?" Annie asked frowning.

No one answered her.

Finally Ginny Weasley was called up.

The hat touched her fiery red hair and immediately screamed "Gryffindor!"

Quickly she took off the hat and came to join her brothers, Annie, Jack, and Harry.

After a quick welcome from Dumbledore, the food appeared.

After the meal and the Hogwarts school song all the students were sent to bed.

"First years follow me!" Percy Weasley called enabling his act as Prefect to leading the new students to their common room.

Jack saying he would catch up sent the others on their way and went over to the Ravenclaw table to see Elisa.

"Hey," he said smiling.

"Hello," she said a sad tone to her face.

"You're not upset at the food are you?" Jack asked "I mean the chicken did seem a little over done but food's just food."

"No Jack Frost I'm not upset about the food." Elisa said rolling her eyes.

"Then what?"

"The fact that my sister is placed in a different house, and the way she reacted to it," Elisa said sitting back down onto one of the long benches.

"I'll try to look after her for you," Jack said joining her "Keep her out of trouble."

"Says the boy who if he could, could get into trouble everyday of the school year?" Elisa said a small smile coming back to her face.

"I promise to... try, and set a good example," Jack said holding up his hand, and keeping the other one visible, to show he meant it.

"Thanks Jack," Elisa said giving him a quick hug before heading off to bed.

o0o

At a reasonable pace, Jack headed up to Gryffindor Tower, said the password to the Fat Lady, said hello to a few of his lion buddies, went up to his dormitory, got changed for bed and went to sleep right away.

It had been a long day.

(AN: If you don't know what I've been talking about for half this chapter, read the first ROTG X HP I made)