Disclaimer: I do not (sadly) own Harry POtter
Staggering slightly on arrival Harry straightened up and looked around him, they were standing on a busy train station. Owls hooted, cats hissed and the deep croaking of toads sounded around, adding to the ambience. To the side a gleaming red train waited. It was long and had a black engine. 'The Hogwarts Express' was written in large letters on the front. Students gathered around, dressed in muggle clothing and black robes. It was obvious who the muggleborns and halfbloods were-passable muggle clothing. Many purebloods wore robes, however a few had interesting 'muggle' clothing. One boy was walking around in a flowery dress, while another women wore an interesting combination of a woman's eighteenth century dress and mans waistcoat-complete with a gold pocket watch-which if Harry wasn't mistaken, was showing the time for Southern Spain.
Turning back to Sirius he stared, confused. In amidst all the chaos Sirius had disappeared, feeling more confused by the second Harry spun in a circle, searching for him. Abruptly, he took a step forward and promptly crashed into someone. That someone had curly brown hair and blue eyes. Her skin was pale and her hair was tied up neatly.
"Oh, sorry. Didn't see you there." She said, before getting a proper look at him.
"Oh, I'm Fay, Fay Dunbar."
"Harry Potter." He said shortly, slightly embarrassed.
"Yes, I noticed." She had an abrupt manner, but Harry liked it. Certainly much more then people who gave hints and pretended-rather falsely-not to notice who he was.
Smiling she turned away.
"I'll see you around then Harry Potter." Smiling, she slipped away, brown hair disappearing into the crowd of people. Slightly bewildered Harry resumed looking for Sirius. Spotting him he headed over.
"Wondering where you got to." Sirius noted as Harry turned to greet the Lowe family-who had just appeared out of the smoke.
"Hi Harry, oh did you go through the station-it was really cool how we got to walk through the barrier." Fending away Jess's questions he explained how they'd apparated. Jess's older sister, Merianda had spotted her friends and disappeared, presumably to get a carriage.
'Well, you'd better get your stuff on the train otherwise you'll never get a carriage." David, Jess's dad, mentioned, gesturing to the red express, which was rapidly filling up.
Climbing onto the train they found an empty carriage and Sirius lifted their trunks up, casting a charm at the door-which would give anyone seeking to steal their carriage a nasty rash-they jumped back out to wave farewell to Sirius, Jennifer, David, Isabelle and Michael.
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After saying goodbye they reentered the train, only to find a bunch of third years, covered in red rash, waiting to hex them. Upon seeing Harry's scar they slipped away, presumably to nurse their wounds. Tapping the door with his wand to cancel the charm Harry entered the carriage.
Pulling Kenja's enclosure down he opened the door and she sprang out. Gasping, Jess stared-having not seen Kenja yet. Curling up on one of the seats she began to purr.
They began to talk, discussing what Hogwarts would be like.
"I've looked everywhere but I can't find anything on sorting." Harry complained, looking through his books furtively. "The best thing I've found is 'Students are sorted by an unbiased judge, who resides in the headmasters office for most of the year.' What kind of answer is that?"
"It'll be some kind of challenge I imagine, thinking through the traits Gryffindor will be those who face it head on, Slytherin will be sneaky, Ravenclaw will be the smart ones with a good theory. Hufflepuff, I don't know? Those who stick together. But that's too vague, I can't wait to find out though." Jess theorised as the train shuddered into motion. Their door slid open and Neville pulled his trunk in.
"Hey guys, sorry I'm late. Gran wanted me to take my dads wand as well as my own. Thanks for getting Sirius to talk to her. Who knows how dangerous I'd be with just that wand?" Laughing, they helped him hoist his trunk up into the luggage rack before collapsing back into the plush red seats. Neville's owl hooted uncomfortably from his cage while Jess's kitten and Kenja lay curled up on padded bench.
For hours they talked, watching as the scenery flew by, towns, streets, country, farms all dashed past, as insignificant as a passing bird, yet as important as life itself. They discussed their classes, particularly ones requiring a wand. Despite constant tutoring they hadn't cast many spells, Harry was the only one with a wand without the trace. He'd practiced a few charms, mainly ones that could be useful, cleaning charms, finding and basic tracing spells and colour changing jinxes-which he demonstrated on Neville's hair to much amusement.
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Eventually the trolley came around and the trio bought a pile of sweets. They had packed lunches, but wouldn't end up eating them. As the sun started to reach its high the door slid open again and a dark skinned, dark haired boy stood in the gap. Stepping up, thinking it was Sebastian; he opened his mouth to greet the newcomer, before noticing it was Sebastian's obnoxious cousin, along with a blond haired boy and another dark haired pug-faced girl.
"Hello Potter, just thought I'd drop in. Greet our countries great saviour." His sarcastic tone grated on Harry and he glared at him. "And I thought I'd give you a warning. My cousin seems to think you and he might be friends. Poor orphan, I'm going to be steering him right and if you know what's good for you you'd avoid him-and me." With that the boy left, his companions stepped forward.
"Potter, apologies for Zabini, halfblood foreigners can be incredibly abrupt. I don't know if your godfather received my fathers letters, it seems so unfortunate that this be our first meeting, as an heir to a noble house you could do far better then the unfortunate company you seem to be keeping."
"I'm sure you know plenty about halfblood foreigners Draco, heir to the house of Malfoy. Surely you were taught proper etiquette, as an Heir to a Most Ancient and Noble House I should be addressed respectfully, not as Potter. And I'm sure even you could figure out that us ignoring your letters was a hint, a very blunt hint but clearly you didn't get it. Threats don't work on my godfather Draco, I'm sure you know that now." Paling slightly Draco stepped back and strode out of sight. Slamming the door shut he sat down, fuming.
"Was that Malfoy, the French nobleman's son?"
"Yeah, unfortunately they have money where their social skills lack, and our minister is particularly respondent to bribes." Harry continued to smolder at the door for the rest of the trip, as if daring Malfoy to make a reappearance.
Finally the train pulled up at the station, leaving his trunk and Kenja safely in her travel case he followed the stream of students out. Glancing around, the older students seemed to heading towards a line of carriages but some of the younger ones-first years no doubt-were standing around bewildered.
"Firs' years, firs' years this way." A rough voice called. Looking around Harry quickly found Hagrid and strode over, leading the other students who gawked at him and his scar.
"Harry! Harry 'otter, I hasn't seen you fur months Harry, how're you?" His accent was uncultured and difficult to understand but Harry could tell.
"Yes, my father Sirius has been preparing me for Hogwarts for the last year." Hagrid frowned, no doubt at the comment of Sirius being his father.
"Make no mistake, Hagrid, Sirius is my father. He raised me, and is legally my father. James Potter is my biological dad and Lily my mum, but Sirius and Cascadia are my mother and father." Still frowning slightly, Hagrid turned to the others.
"If you'll jus' follow me now, jus' 'round 'ere and we'll get to the lake." They rounded the corner and saw the edge of a black river. Small ripples lapped the edge and a flotilla of rowboats waited in the water.
"Four to a boat, everyone in? Great, forward." Hagrid shouted the last word and Harry found himself separated from Jess and Neville, in the boat with Fay, Sebastian and another girl.
They quietly waited as the boats slowly cruised over the water, eventually coming to a curtain of ivy, after ducking underneath it they found themselves on a large lake, looking up at Hogwarts-which was above them on a large hill. The left side of the hill was a sheer cut, and Harry could see windows peering out, indicating that Hogwarts had multiple levels below the ground.
The boats gently crashed against the shore and Hagrid led the first years up a series of stone steps, towards the large doors. The door were three times as tall as Harry and two cars could have driven through them side by side. They were jarred open, cheery yellow light spilling through the crack. A tall witch stood in the opening, Harry recognised her as McGonagall, a Scottish Transfiguration master and one of the only Animagus of the century-registered ones that is. She was dressed in long green robes and a pointed hat. Leading them through the entrance hall they paused at the doorway to a small classroom.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. In a few moments you will enter the Great Hall and be sorted in to your houses-Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin." Her distaste was obvious on the final word. "Your house will be like your family at Hogwarts, you will eat with them, sleep in the same dormitory and have classes with them. Points are awarded for good behavior and taken away for rule breaking. The house with the most points will be awarded the house cup. Please wait here a moment." She left the room and the first years broke out in nervous chatter. The question of how they'd be sorted was voiced several times, often with battling some creature or performing some intensely hard NEWT level spells as answer. Some peoples imagination was ridiculous.
McGonagall reentered the room, leading them back out through the marble entrance and through another pair of large doors. The Grand Hall was quiet, older years watching the newcomers. Harry stood up straighter, knowing he'd be making his first proper impression in Wizarding public. McGonagall placed a three legged stool down and placed a frayed dirty hat on top of it. Knowing objects were not what they seemed Harry watched the hat, expecting something to happen. He wasn't disappointed. The brim opened and the hat burst into song.
Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!
The brim shut and the Hall burst into applause. McGonagall pulled out a scroll and began to read out names.
"Abbot, Hannah." The brown haired girl run up and hesitantly pulled on the hat.
"Hufflepuff" The hat cried, Hannah jumped up and ran to the yellow and black table.
"Bones, Susan."
"Hufflepuff!"
"Boot, Terry."
"Ravenclaw" This time the blue and bronze table cheered. Brocklehurst, Mandy became the second Ravenclaw. Brown, Lavender was the first Gryffindor, the table cheering as if they won the house cup.
"Bulstrode, Millicent"
'"Slytherin." Harry noticed McGonagall eyeing the girl, uneasily.
"Dunbar, Fay." The pretty girl from the train station confidently walked up to the hat and placed it on her head. For four minutes she sat there, her face falling further until she was eventually sorted into Gryffindor, followed a few minutes later by Granger, Hermione. Eventually they got down to L.
"Longbottom, Neville." Neville slowly walked up,
"Gryffindor" The house shouted. Neville smiled and walked to his table.
"Lowe, Jessica." Jess strode towards the hat, smirking slightly.
"Slytherin." The house shouted immediately, shocking Harry. Jess? A Slytherin? Sirius had schooled him about house differences and reputations, and he knew Slytherin wasn't all bad but still, Jess?
"Malfoy, Draco." The blond boy from the train was chosen Slytherin as quickly as Jess, if not faster. Looking at her he smirked and she glared, defiantly.
"Nott, Theo." The third Slytherin in a row joined the table, much to Slytherin's joy and the other houses discomfort.
And then, finally. "Potter, Harry." Harry stepped forward, listening as the hall erupted in chatter. Finally, silence fell as he put the hat on his head.
'Well, well. Mr Potter. Raised by a Black, you are interesting. Where should you go?"
'Wherever you put me." Harry retorted, slightly unnerved by the voice in his ear.
'Brave, yes, certainly not foolish though. Well, loyalty and cunning-incredibly selective about friendship. A thirst for knowledge and quite smart too. Well then, there's a couple of choices. So much ambition, you'd do well in Slytherin." Harry thought of Jess, and being in a house with her. "The intelligence however, I place you in RAVENCLAW!"
The hat yelled and the table second from the left burst into cheers. They watched Harry as he walked to his table, sitting next to Terry Boot and Mandy Brocklehurst. A surprisingly short number of students remained, eventually there was only three students left, Weasley, Ronald became a Gryffindor and there was only the Zabini cousins left.
"Zabini, Blaise." The smirking boy walked up and pulled the hat over his head.
"SLYTHERIN!." It cried and he walked past Harry, smirking.
"Zabini, Sebastiano."
Harry started, he'd thought his name was Sebastian, but being Italian it made sense to be Sebastiano. While he mused over the name Sebastian walked weakly to the chair and pulled the hat on. For well over two minutes he sat there but eventually:
"RAVENCLAW" Sebastian looked relieved and sank down next to Harry.
"Hello again." He sighed.
"Sebastiano?" Harry questioned.
"Italian, please just call me Sebastian."
Nodding he watched as the headmaster stood.
"Welcome everyone to Hogwarts. Before we begin I'd like to say a few words, and here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"
He sat down and Harry stared.
"Well then," Sebastian questioned, summing up Harry's feelings.
Food appeared on the plated in front of them and they dug in. Harry piled his plate with sausages, roast potatoes and fish. An interesting mix but it worked. The Ravenclaw's, ever studious, began to talk about classes.
"What classes do we have with the other houses?" Harry questioned, curious of when he'd see his friends.
"Not sure, every year is different. You'll have quite a few with Hufflepuff though, Dumbledore likes putting the rivals together." An older student replied, rolling his eyes.
"What's charms like?" Sebastian questioned.
"Charms is good, Flitwick is head of Ravenclaw and a good teacher. Transfiguration is also good, although McGonagall is strict. Snape favours Slytherin in potions and hates Gryffindor, but as long as you brew a good potion he won't take points or pout you in detention. Herbology with Sprout is great, she often makes lessons fun. Astronomy is tiring, but Sinistra is a great teacher and is very patient. Defense Against the Dark Arts hasn't had a proper teacher for years, maybe we'll be lucky this year." The older student added wryly. "My name's Lucas Bolvington, third year."
Smiling Harry introduced himself and Sebastian, watching the students face as he struggled not to look at the scar. The tables emptied and desert appeared a moment later, the talk dying down as everyone ate. Filling his plate with cakes, puddings and sweets Harry began to eat.
"What about co-curricular activities." Sebastian asked Lucas.
"Well there's Quidditch, Gobstones, exploding snap, study groups, charms club, transfiguration theory, potions pioneers and DADA Group. Oh, and there's flying skills-like trick flying and stuff rather then Quidditch. For classes there is flying for first year every Friday morning and at least until Christmas there is a class teaching you about Hogwarts, like how to get around it and all."
Harry nodded, already considering the flying skills, Quidditch had never been his favourite.
The desert dishes disappeared and Dumbledore stood.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. First years should be told, and others reminded that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds. As is the Third Floor corridor for all who do not wish to die a most painful death. Quidditch notices will be up by the end of the week, along with a list of all banned items and behavior. Have a great year."
He sat down and the tables stood in unison, another older student appearing in front of the first years.
"Hi everyone, I'm Penelope and this is Robert. We're your prefects and we'll be showing you to the Ravenclaw common room and around for the first week. Follow us please."
She lead them out the hall and up the stairs, they continued to climb up, watching the portraits in amusement and they dashed around, looking at the Ravenclaws. Eventually they arrived at a large door with a bronze raven knocker.
"We don't have a passwords, instead you have to answer a question this knocker gives you. Theoretically it's possible for other houses to get in, but no one ever has. We have a theory that the knocker uses a question the student or teacher will know. If they're a student from another house or imposter it asks a question they don't know. That's just a theory, but it seems to fit.
The knocked on the raven and a its beak opened.
"What is the primary difference between charms and transfiguration." Its voice was deep as it waited.
Penelope looked at them. "Anyone know the answer?"
Harry did, and quietly put his hand up, along with Sebastian and half a dozen other students. Penelope picked Sebastian.
"Transfiguration changes an items properties, or the whole item itself, whereas charms gives it new ones."
"Aptly put." The knocker said before the door swung open.
The room was blue, the ceiling and floor were enchanted to look like an unclouded night sky, displaying the astronomy positions amazingly. Large windows displayed views of the grounds and the room was filled with bookshelves and couches, along with plenty of desks and reading nooks. A large statue of Rowena Ravenclaw stood next to a pair of doors.
"Ok, boys to the left, girls to the right. Your dorms are on the first landing." Robert gestured to the doors and the boys climbed the stairs. The dorm was also blue, with large windows and seven beds. It was circular and every bed had a alcove with a window, a set of expansible draws and a long blue, soundproof curtain that covered all their belongings. The seven boys took one look round the room before leaping on the bed of their choosing. Strangely, they all got their first choice, presuming it was the wit of the Ravenclaw common room they began to unpack their bags. Harry let Kenja out of her enclosure and she leapt up to the alcove. He quickly undressed before falling in bed, straight asleep.
AN/ Hey guys, I'm so sorry its been two weeks, I had tests, an exchange, long term projects and general school. I'll be updating every 1-2 weeks on Mondays.
Also in my Fanfic there are roughly 40 students per year, J. diary of Harry's year contained forty students, obviously I've got some OC's and slightly more uneven numbers, (7 Ravenclaw boys and 4 Gryffindor boys) but that's how it is.
Character profiles-
Harrison James Potter
31st July 1980
Ravenclaw
Neville Longbottom
30th July 1980
Gryffindor
Jessica Lila Lowe
18th November 1979
Slytherin
Fay Renée Dunbar
7th May 1980
Gryffindor
Sebastiano Zabini
27th January 1980
Ravenclaw
Lucas Bolvington
3rd December 1977
3rd year Ravenclaw
Sirius Orion Black
1959
Gryffindor
Cascadia Kayla Black
1963
Ravenclaw
Merianda Holly Lowe
1977
Slytherin
Michael John Lowe
1981
Isabella Rani Lowe
1983
David Lowe
1955
Gryffindor
Jenny Lowe
1957
Slytherin
Aslan Black
14th February 1984
Giselle Black
14th February 1984