A new table.
"Platform 9 and three quarters. Who are the trying to kid I've been here a million times and I have never seen that platform".
Out of the corner of his eyes Dareth's father spots someone run through the brick pillar separating nine and ten.
"I think it's over here boys".
Placing his hand on the on the pillar… Nothing happened, he pushed it. Nothing again.
"Your new at this aren't you"? A kind voice said next to the struggling man "Are your boys going to Hogwarts"?
"Yes, do you go there"?
"Actually I'm first year teaching". The young woman introduced her self as Miss Potter.
"Can you take the boys to the train"?
"That would be a delight. Just follow what I do when you've said good bye". With that she walked through the bricks like nothing was there.
"Look after each other ok. James behave and be nice to the witches even if they are ugly ok".
"Ok mum". James gave his mother a hug and walked through to platform nine and three quarters.
"Dareth… you too". Dareth's father looked away to hide a tear. "See you when you get back boy". Then Dareth followed suit.
A beautiful steam train whistled for the last people to board. Dareth and James hurried inside. Walking down the carriages trying to find somewhere to sit. For what seemed hours they marched down the never-ending train, they were told that this was the longest the train had ever been . They came to a compartment with only one person in it.
"Ah… Miss Potter, can we sit with you, there doesn't seem to be any room".
"Yes that's fines boys come in and sit down". Not long after the two sat down a small group of seventh years came to the door of their compartment.
"Hey Hermione what are you doing back at school… did you fail last year"?
"No I didn't and it's Miss Potter this yeah. I get to teach you". The group laughed and acted out a skit of them losing some sort of magical battle.
"I knew it would be hard for them. I was friends with them last yeah now I'm their teacher".
The trio talked for the rest of the journey mainly about Hogwarts and what it does. But the thing that interested the boys most was Quidditch, a game played on flying brooms.
Once they reached the end of the railway, they got off and joined the rest of the 1st years where they were ushered into rowboats, that weren't rowing at all. James looked over the bow of the boat to try and find what was pulling them.Once they hit dry land they carried on up some cold looking stone stairs. Miss Potter was walking with them talking to the teacher that had helped the group into the boats. Soon they came to two great wooden doors.They opened when they were asked to by the teacher that introduced herself as thetransfigeration teacher.The Great hall, where everyone was crowded round four tables. The it looked like it had no roof. Dareth could see the stars passed the floating candles. He over heard 1st years saying that they represented the students that had attended Hogwarts killed in the time a man names Lord voldivort. James elbowed Dareth in the ribs causing him to yelp in surprise. He pointed to a smaller table, one where no one else was sitting. James knew it was odd because everyone in the room had turned the whispers back to that ancient looking table.
The unusually large group of first years entered and were hurried to the front of the room where a very dusty old top hat sat on a chair. The headmaster stood up and began to speak. Probably doing the usual welcome to the school, bragging about how proud he was of the students. The headmaster looked awfully young amongst the the rest of the teachers.
"I do hope you will all pay Miss Potter the same respect you do the other teachers. Now to the sorting hat".
One at a time the 1st years went to place the hat on their heads. Names like Gryffindor and Slytheryn, each time a chair went up from their respective tables. Until James, the forth person up placed the hat on his head.
"Right… you're a big fulla for someone of your age. Strong, but not too bright, Loyal to a key. You'll be great for…" The hat seemed to pause for a while then finished with " Balythior"!
No one gave a chair for James, only questions and loud chatter amongst the students.
"Hush". The head master stood up. "This is when we introduce to you the new house. The common rooms have been getting crowded so we are going to start a new house to make more room. Not many things will change, classes will remain the same as last year but inter house competitions will be longer".
"Does that mean a longer Quidditch season sir"? A cheeky student asked.
"Yes Doogal" with that came a loud roar from the quidditch fans and players, which happened to be the great majority of the school. "Now James if you follow Miss Granger to the Balythior table we shall continue".
The 1st years kept on being dished out to the houses, James was getting to know his house mates, twelve of them now. Dareth was however still waiting to be called upon. When it was his turn he placed the hat on his head and silently wished to be in Balythior with James. "So you want to be in Balythior do you, well they do need the numbers. You've got a lot of heart and I'm not sure if that is courage or bravery or stupidity, strong and loyal like your friend. Balythior "!