Light
Chapter 4
A/N Hello everyone, hope you enjoy the chapter. If you liked it please remember to review and leave your feedback.
Harry had woken up this morning, desperately wanting to leave the house to go to the station. But now, all he wanted to do was go home. He had forgotten how unkind kids could be; Petunia seeing all the stares and whispers quickly pulled Harry close to her. "Promise me you'll write everyday" she said urgently. "Yes, I promise."
"No, Harry, look at me. If you are unhappy at Hogwarts, just write to me and we can see if there is any other magical school you could go to. Okay?"
"Yes Aunt Petunia, I promise" was Harry's small reply.
Suddenly noise erupted in Harry's ear as he heard a loud whistle. Oh the train! Harry thought. Feeling about with his cane Harry made his way onto the train, luckily avoiding the gap between the trains. He began to acknowledge the sinking feeling that had begun to settle in his stomach. Harry quickly felt the walls of the train until he came across a handle. Desperate to be out of the crush of children Harry hurriedly went through the door despite not knowing if there were other people around.
"Hi Harry" came a cheery voice. Startled Harry frantically began looking around."Over here, well never mind, you can't see me, can you?"
"Uh no I can't" came Harry's small awkward voice.
"My name is Luna, by the way my hand is extended in the friendly way to greet a witch or wizard"
It took a few seconds for Harry to decipher his, but after realizing what she meant he quickly groped around for her hand. After shaking her hand, he sat awkwardly in silence, wishing he had picked a compartment that had nobody in. Luna, noticing his tense, hunched up shoulders, immediately sussed out what was wrong. I wonder if he know Braille she thought to herself.
When Luna was 7 years old she had had a friend in primary school. He was also blind. She remembered clearly, how they would spend their lunchtimes pouring over books trying to learn Braille together. "Hey, Harry do you know Braille" she asked curiously. She immediately wished she hadn't because his face became flushed as if he was embarrassed.
"No" came his short answer. Deciding he needed some peace she decided to leave him alone for a bit.
Although Harry wouldn't admit it, he was sort of enjoying having Luna in the compartment with him. Most people would pity him and try and coddle him but Luna acted…normal.
Harry heard a loud bump outside their compartment door which was explained as a girl burst through the door."Oh, sorry", she seemed quite startled and lost for words until Luna politely greeted her. This snapped her out of it and she began talking at the speed of light. "HimynamesHermionewhatsyours" she said suddenly.
"Hi…Hermione was it? This is Harry"
Overcome by nervousness Harry attempted to look in her direction and seem welcoming.
"Oh, okay, have you seen a toad, Neville's lost one" Hermione said."No sorry" was Luna's reply.
Hermione began to feel slightly out of place standing at the door so she sat down next to Harry. She didn't notice him tighten up as he felt movement around him but Luna did.
"Ooh, I am so excited, have you two done any magic yet?" Although Hermione seemed to be addressing both of them she looked pointedly towards Harry. By the sudden silence in the room, Harry deduced that they were both waiting for him to answer."Uh yeh, I've done a bit" he replied.
"Oh do show us, I've only done a couple of spells but they have all seemed to work fine" Hermione said eagerly.
Harry slowly raised his wand."Uh, what was the name of that toad" he asked Hermione.
"His name is Trevor, why?" Hermione leaned forward slightly, eager to get a closer look at Harry's wand noticing that it looked quite similar to the cane he had been holding.
"Never mind" said Harry distractedly.
Concentrating on the name Trevor, Harry willed the ball of energy to come out from his brain. It obeyed and Harry could feel it fluttering in his eyes. He then imagined it shooting out of his eyes and fetching Trevor. Both of the girls watched in sheer amazement as Harry summoned Neville's lost toad. Hermione was more shocked because it was a 5th year spell while shrewd Luna had seen how he didn't use his wand to cast the spell; he had used his eyes.
After a long time, the train finally stopped. Harry had spent most of the train journey with Luna; he surprised himself by actually enjoying spending time with her. She didn't gape or ask private questions. They had spent the journey talking about trivial things and it was this journey that caused them to become friends.
"Firs' years o'er here! Firs' years!" a loud bellowing voice echoed throughout the bustling station. Harry allowed Luna to take his hand and lead him through the crowd. He didn't have to ask her, she just grasped his hand tightly and began weaving through the crowds. The loud man turned out to be a giant called Hagrid who was apparently the Groundskeeper at Hogwarts. They were told to get on a boat. Harry and Luna took a seat on one of the rickety boats although Luna, after describing them to Harry had to do quite a bit of persuading before he would actually get on them. Two minutes later, 2 other girls came and sat in their boats. They introduced each other as Susan and Megan.
Harry held Luna's hand in a vice grip, his entire body wracked with nerves. He was crossing a large lake at night time with unknown people around him in a rickety boat that seemed likely to fall apart. Luna, sensing his distress began wafting her hands around his head gaining quite a few odd looks from the people around her. "Um, Luna what are you doing" came Susan's voice.
"Getting rid of the Nargles, they are all tangled up in his hair. They cause people to feel unnecessary stress and fear." Luna replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. While it did sound incredibly crazy, Harry noticed that as soon as Luna announced she had gotten rid of them all he felt much better. Putting it off as one of the many wonders of the magical world, he relaxed into the seat as they began slowly moving across the black lake.
Just as Harry closed his eyes, relaxing into the dull sway of the boat, a cry came from the girl named Hermione."Look, Hogwarts" She yelled. Luna immediately began describing the castle, "There are four towers on each corner, and the walls of the castle seemed to be sparkling as if they are alive. There are many stained glass windows dotting the castle. Actually I see some pearly white ghosts floating around as well." That last statement got quite a big reaction from some of the other participants from the boat."Why did you just describe it out loud, Luna "asked Megan curiously. Before Luna could answer Harry replied "She was describing it for me because I am blind". He had taken a liking to these two girls; they were quite like Luna, just a little less eccentric. A short silence fell upon the two girls as they heard his blunt statement.
Before Luna could break the silence with a random fact, they had stopped at the entrance to Hogwarts. Standing at the double doors was an old-ish lady with a very stern face. She wore emerald green robes with a matching pointed hat. She began herding all of the 1st years inside. Harry and Luna were standing right at the back of the small crowd of first years so when the lady began talking they could barely hear her over the whistling of the wind. As soon as she finished her speech and exited the room a babble of noise broke out amongst the first years. "I wonder how we will be sorted, Fred mentioned a troll" came the voice of a pureblood name Ronald Weasley. Before anyone could reply McGonagall came back and lead them into the Great Hall. Most first year's eyes immediately flew to the roof which was shimmering with thousands of stars that illuminated the large hall.
Professor McGonagall placed an old three-legged stool in the middle of the great hall and sat an old torn up hat on it. She then began reading out names in alphabetical order.
Abbot, Hannah
Hannah slowly walked up and placed the hat on her head. After a few seconds it seemed as if it had decided.
HUFFLEPUFF!
Harry paid little attention the reading out of names until she called out Luna. Luna skipped happily up to the stool and placed the hat on her head.
Hello Hat, how are you today?
I am very well Luna. Now let us talk about where to put you. Hmm yes, I see quite a lot of characteristics that would suit you to Ravenclaw but I could not help but noticing that you happen to have made friends with a very powerful young man.
Oh are you talking about Harry. I made friends with him because he is very nice to me. He is also blind and needed a little help getting here and I helped him.
Oh yes, I had hoped that the Fates were wrong when they made that prophecy but unfortunately not. Now, I was thinking about putting young Harry in Hufflepuff. If you promise to stay friends with him and help him as much as you can then I think I will place you in Hufflepuff. What do you think Luna?
I think that's a wonderful idea Hat, and of course I will stay friends with him. The Nargles also told me t stay friends with him. What a coincidence.
Yes, what a coincidence my dear
HUFFLEPUFF
McGonagall took the hat off her with a slightly shocked expression on her face while the rest of the students simply looked relieved. Unknown to Luna, she had just made a record for the longest sorting ever. Megan and Susan had also been sorted into Hufflepuff and they both went to sit down next to Luna.
Finally, Harry stood up shakily as his name was called. Any mutterings in the hall ceased, all of them anxious to hear whether the boy-who-lived would be in their house or not. Clutching his cane, Harry jerkily made his way to the stool and sat down. As soon as the hat was placed on his head it called out…
HUFFLEPUFF
McGonagall seemed too shocked to take the hat of him so he just carefully placed it on the stool. He was about to begin to make his way to his table until he realized he had absolutely no idea which table was the Hufflepuff table. Luna, spotting his dilemma, began shouting "Hey Harry, I'm so glad we are in the same house." Allowing him to follow the sound of her voice, Harry hastily made his way to the Hufflepuff table and sat down next to Luna. The rest of the Hufflepuffs seemed to be going crazy with shock. Most of them couldn't believe Harry Potter the boy-who-lived had made his way into what people thought was the dud house.
As the sorting finished, the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, stood up to make his speech. "Welcome first years, and welcome back everybody else. I don't want to hault the feast any longer but may I just give a warning. Do not enter the third floor corridor unless you wish to die a very painful death. And now, tuck in!"
Harry reached out for whatever food was in front of him, thankful that it turned out to be roast potatoes. The rest of the feast passed very quickly, and before long it was time for the first years to be led back to the doors. They were taken down to a curiously sunny corridor. The prefect who was leading them stopped at a bundle of barrels and began talking. "Hi guys, I am Grace and I am one of the prefects for Hufflepuff. To get into our common room you have to tap this rhythm. To help you remember it just say: Hel-ga Huf-ful-puff
Grace tapped the rhythm of the barrels and a large portrait of a sunny field swung open leading into a circular room. Plants hung from the walls in colorful baskets, sunlight filtered into the room creating a warm homely atmosphere. Grace directed all of the first years into their dorms and then left. Not even bothering to wait for the rest of his dorm mates to arrive, Harry flung himself into bed and fell fast asleep.