Disclaimer = I don't own Harry Potter or the Characters. It's all J K Rowlings.
A/N This chapter feature the sorting. As I've changed where people end up, I put all 40 students into this chapter. It isn't really necessary to read the whole thing, but it does help. I will have the boys speak to every one at least once before the whole tale is over. Maybe not in first year, but no later than 3rd. Either way, here it is. This chapter has been edited.
The train slowed to a stop and Harry took a deep breath. He and Draco nodded to each other and stepped off the train. Every where they could see students shuffling about, trying to find friends or luggage or the carriages to the castle. Many of the other first years hung around the train, terrified and lost. One small group of first year boys surrounded a smaller, nervous looking boy.
"Longbottom. Too bad Lestrange missed you. You're barely more than a squib." The shorstest, but meanest, looking of the boys said, holding the smaller boy at wand point. Harry frowned, recognizing him as Theodore Nott. On either side of him were goons, one large and stocky, the other more of a boulder than a boy. The nervous boy cringed and tried to crawl away. A boy with dark red hair stopped him with a well placed stomp.
"Not so fast. Mister Nott wasn't done talking to you, squib." He snarled. Harry and Draco exchanged looks.
"Should we help him?" A voice said, coming from behind them. A intelligent looking blonde boy stood behind them, wand raised. Harry nodded.
"Sure. I'm Harry, this is Draco. What's your name, before we go to battle?" He grinned. The other boy matched his grin.
"Anthony. Anthony Goldstien, first generation wizard." The boys all nodded, and Harry and Draco drew their wands.
"Stop harassing him!" Draco called out. The four other boys paused. Nott turned around slowly on his heels. He opened his mouth to insult them, but the red headed boy whispered in his ear. Nott's face twisted with rage, but he closed his mouth.
"Fine." Nott snarled. " Rivers, Goyle, Crabbe, let's go. Leave the blood traitors to tend to the squib." And they stormed off, Nott leading the way. Draco's eyes followed them, a strange hole in his chest throbbing.
"Th-thanks you guys..." the small boy on the ground called to them. Harry nodded and offered him a hand.
"I'm Harry Black, that's my brother Draco, and this is our friend Anthony."
"N-Neville. Neville Longbottom." The shy boy whispered. Harry helped Neville to his feet and cast a dusting spell on him. Neville smiled.
"Sorry I can't cast anything better. first year, yeah?" Harry met Neville smile. Draco began to say something, but was cut off by a clear, loud voice.
"First Years! First Years this way!" Remus Lupin called out. He worked his way through the crowds, herding the 11-years olds to a dock just off the side of the lake. He pause to smile at Harry and Draco, who were both thrilled to see their fathers odd friend, then proceeded to round them with the their year mates.
"All right, four to a boat now, be careful. Mr. Weasley, sit down. You'll fall in if you insist on standing like that. Is that everybody? All first years accounted for? Good. Let's go." With a wave of his wand, the boats pushed off. The trip across the lake was quiet, most of the students too in awe of the large tentacles poking up from beneath the water to cause problems. Harry and Draco found themselves sharing a boat with a dark skinned boy who introduced himself as Zabini, and the busy haired girl who'd tried to break into their compartment.
"It says in Hogwarts, A History, that there's a giant squid living under the lake. And mermaids. I hope we see a mermaid." She said, earning her an eye roll from Draco.
"No you don't. You're a muggle born, aren't you? Mermaids aren't what Disney makes them out to be. You should consider yourself lucky we probably wont see one. I'd rather not get speared." He said, looking out at the lake. Harry nodded. The bushy haired girl huffed at them.
"That's not true. It says in Hogwarts, A History, the Professor Dumbledore has a special treaty with the menfolk in this lake. They wouldn't hurt us." This caused Harry to groan.
"We know. We've read it. But not everything you read is true." Harry said, pinching the bridge of his nose. The girl glared at him, clearly put out by the idea.
"But it's a fact book. They couldn't print it if it were false." Even Zabini laughed at this. The dark skinned boy wiped a fake tear from his eye.
"You've never read the Daily Profit, have you? The wizarding world isn't about facts, it's about politics. You can't say anything with out it having some political fallout." Draco said, still giggling a bit. The other boys nodded.
"Well," She pushed," That's different! That's a newspaper. This is a book we're talking about. Books are fact." She declared. She turned away, ending to conversation. Harry just shrugged to Draco. The boys all let out another laugh and turned their attention to the Castle that was just coming into view. Soon, it was all they could see. Stretching for ever in either direction and taller than any of them had ever flown, Hogwarts left all the first year students speechless. The Weasley boy got a little over excited, and took a tumble into the water. It was only the quick reaction of Lupin that saved him from making friends with the squid. Or being it's lunch. Harry and Draco piled out of the boat and marched up the front steps with the other students. A tall, strict looking woman stood at the top, holding a long scroll.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," She said. "I am Professor McGonagall, Depty Headmistress, Head of the Gryffindor house, and your Transfiguration teacher. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rulebreaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours." She glared out across the group of children, then nodded. "Follow me." And with that, she pushed open the doors. The entrance hall was nice, but the great hall left them all speechless. Candles floated above their heads, ghosts mingled with students already sitting in at their house tables, and the ceiling glittered with images of the night sky. The first years grouped up at the front of the hall. McGonagall smiled and took a beat up old hat from Dumbledore.
The great hall fell silent as Prof. Mcgonagall set the tattered hat on the stool before the forty first years. Everything went very quiet, then the hat twitched. A rip opened up along the brim, and it began to sing.
"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 Hufflepuffis 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 folk 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 whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again. Professor Mcgonagall pulled a long scroll from her robes and announced "As I call you name, step up here, sit on the stool, and you will be sorted into the house the is right for you. "
Harry and Draco exchanged nervous looks. They watched as professor mcgonagall unrolled her scroll and cleared her throat.
"Hannah Abbot. " Mcgonagall called clearly. A small blonde girl towards the back of the first year group squeaked and made her way to the front. Mcgonagall lifted the hat from the stool so Hannah could sit, then placed the hat atop the blonde girls head. A moment of silence passed, followed quickly by a loud voice shouting "Hufflepuff!" Hannah kept from the chair, nearly taking the hat with her as she ran over to the Hufflepuff table. She was greeted warmly by the other yellow clad students, and the hall fell silent again. Mcgonagall checked her list.
"Terry Boot!" A short brown skinned boy pushed past the black boys. He sat down, the hat touched the top of his head and shouted "Ravenclaw!" before anyone could really react. He raced to the blue table, smiling wide. Mcgonagall smiled softly and read the next name.
"Draco Black!" She paused, and double checked her list. A look of confusion passed across her face, but when she noticed Draco sitting politely on the stool beside her, she shrugged it off. The hat sat on Draco's head for a long time, and Harry swore he could see Draco arguing with the hat. Finally, the hat shouted "Ravenclaw!" although it didn't seem to happy about it. Draco nodded to Harry, who walked up to the stool as Professor Mcgonagall called his name. She gave him the same confused look she'd given Draco, but placed the hat on his head none the less. Harry held his breath and waited.
'Put me with my brother.' Harry thought.
'But you're an only child, Mr Potter. ' the hat responded lazily. Harry nearly fell off the stool, catching his balance at the last second. He took a breath and projected his thoughts to the hat.
'Draco is my brother in all but blood. We belong in the same house. '
'Youd do far better in Gyffindor or Slytherin, you know. Also, do stop shouting. You only need think normally, and I will hear you'
'Not without Draco I wouldn't.' Harry thought stubbornly, not mentioning the hat's request, but following it all the same. The hat sighed.
"Ravenclaw." it snorted, even less pleased than it had been with Draco. Harry smiled and walked over to the blue clad students and sat with Draco.
"Did it want to put you in Slytherin too?" Draco whispered. Harry nodded, listening to Mcgonagall.
"Susan Bones!"
"Hufflepuff!"
"What did you say to it?" Draco persisted. Harry glared at him and put his finger to his lips.
"Mandy Brocklehurst!"
"Ravenclaw!"
"Lavender Brown!" A girl that reminded Harry of melted chocolate nearly tripped over herself getting to the sorting hat. Draco tapped Harry's shoulder.
"Come on" he hissed," tell me what it said!"
"Gryffindor!"
"Later!" Harry hissed back, his eyes glued to the sorting.
"Millicent Bulstrode!"
"But I want to know now..." Draco started. An older girl nudged him a little, the her eyes locked on to him with a deadly glare. Draco stuck his tongue out at the Asian girl and turned back to Harry.
"Sytherin!"
"Harry, just tell me." Draco whispered at him.
"Michael Corner!"
"No, Draco. Not now." Harry whispered back. He kept his eyes on the sorting, making a mental note to ignore Draco for now.
"Ravenclaw!" The Corner boy came and beside Harry. They exchanged smiles in a silent greeting. Draco tried to speak, only to find his voice not working.
"Please shut up Mr Black. I don't want to lose house points before we even start the year." The Prefect girl sitting across from them said bluntly. She flipped long blonde curls back and turned her attention back to the sorting, leaving Draco trying to speak and Harry and Michael trying to hold back laughter.
"Steven Cornfoot!"
"Hufflepuff!" Harry clapped half heartedly. The sorting was going to take forever it seemed, but he was determined to know where everyone ended up.
"Vincent Crabbe!" Draco shuddered. An unknown chill raced down his spine.
"Slythrin!"
"Just think Drake, we'd of had to share a room with that bull of a boy for 7 years!" Harry whispered, earning himself glares. Draco shrugged, still staring at the large Slythrin boy.
"Tracey Davis!"
Harry watched a nervous girl take to the stool.
"Slythrin!" the girl paled and walked very slowly to the green clad students. She didn't meet the same warm welcome the other Slythrins had revived. Harry was lost as to why.
"Kevin Enwhistle!"
"Gryffindor!"
"Justin Finch-Fletcy!" a smaller boy with very expensive looking robes sat on the stool.
"Is he a pure blood?" a voice whispered.
"Not a chance. Look at how surprised he is by everything. He's got to be a muggleborn." someone answered. Harry strained his ears to listen in.
"But he's dressed so well. He'll fit in well no matter where they put him, I think."
"Hufflepuff!"
"See? A good choice for him."
"Seamus Finnigan!"
"Gryffindor!"
"Anthony Goldstein." Anthony waved to them as he sat on the stool.
"Ravenclaw!" The Black brother cheered, Draco still silenced. Anthony joined them, sitting between Draco and Harry.
"You got silenced? Already?" He whispered to Draco. Draco smiled sheepishly, making Anthony laugh. The prefect cleared her throat and tapped her wand against her hand. Anthony stopped laughing and turned to watch the sorting.
"Gregory Goyle!"
"Slythrin!" Another chill passed through Draco. A brief memory of his early childhood flashed in his mind, but he ignored it in favour of the next student to be sorted.
"Herminone Granger!"
"Isn't that the know-it-all from the train? Helped Longbottom with his frog problem, I think." Anthony whispered to Harry. Harry nodded with a cringe. The Granger girl had made quite the impression in the boat.
"Gryffindor!"
"There's a surprise. I had her pegged for a Ravenclaw." Michael said.
"Just goes to show that miracles can happen." Anthony snorted. Draco nodded in agreement.
"Daphne Greengrass!"
Harry's heart leap a little at the sight on the tiny blonde making her way to the stool. She was easily the prettiest girl he'd ever seen. Some of the older boy agreed, judging by the less than honourable comments they made.
"Damn. She's going to be a nice piece of tail someday. "
"Defintely a ten. "
The comments made Harry a little sick, knowing that it was an 11 year old girl earning this kind of talk.
"Slythrin!"
Harry heart sank a little. Being in Syltherin meant blood purest, regardless of what everyone said.
"Wayne Hopkins!"
"Hufflepuff!"
The Ravenclaw boys watched with mild disinterest as the next few student were sorted.
"Megan Jones!"
"Hufflepuff!"
"Su Li!"
"Racenclaw!"
Harry stiffled a yawn.
"Neville Longbottom!"
"Aren't his parents nutters?"
"Think so. Someone said they were attacked by Lestrange. "
"Poor kid. His folks are better off dead."
"Gryffindor!"
"Ernie Macmillilan!"
"Hufflepuff!" Draco found himself falling asleep. A sharp jab to his ribs from the Asian girl behind him fixed the issue. He turned to glare at her, but she simply stuck her tongue out at him and ignored him.
"Morag McDougal!"
"Ravenclaw!" the boys clapped half heartedly as a plump girl sat near them. She immediately pulled out a book and began reading, ignoring everyone else.
"Lilith Moon!" A tall girl with thick black hair sat on the stool. The general reaction was similar to the one Daphne had earned, but with more onlookers making comments. Harry failed to see the attraction, but Anthony and Michael seemed infatuated.
"I'm going to marry her someday." Anthony whispered.
"Slythrin!"
"I doubt that." Michael laughed quietly.
"Theodore Nott!" Harry remembered him from the train. Without the two goons at his sides, the Nott boy seemed much smaller, but still mean.
"Slythrin!" No surprise there.
"Pansy Parkinson!" both black brother reeled back a bit. Memories of the bulldog faced girl that now sat on the stool flew threw their minds. Her father had written Sirius, demanding that Draco become betrothed to the bratty girl. Sirius had refused, much to the relief of his sons. They were witnesses to the tantrum Pansy had thrown in response, and neither boy had thought much of her since.
"Slythrin!" Harry sighed audibly, knowing Draco would do the same had he not been silenced. The further that girl was away from them, the better they felt.
"Padme Patil!" A simple, dark-skinned beauty sat on the stool, her long hair tied back in a thick braid.
"Ravenclaw!" Everyone welcomed her warmly, Michael shaking her hand a little too long.
"Parvati Patil!" Harry did a double take as a clone of the girl sat on the stool, her hair let down in a flurry around her face.
"Gryffindor!" Padme cheered for her twin, making Harry smile.
"Sally-Anne Perks!"
"Hufflepuff!"
"Quincy Rivers!" One of the boys he'd seen hovering around Nott. Harry new what came next.
"Slythrin!" Harry mouthed as the hat shouted it out. Rivers took his spot next to Nott, and both looked at Zabini expectantly.
"Sophie Roper!" A horse faced girl now sat on the stool, sorting hat atop her head. A moment passed and the hat shouted' "Gryffindor!" Harry yawned again, this time stretching his arm back to smack Draco in the arm. This earned him giggles from Anthony and Michael and a dirty look from the silent Draco.
"Diane Runcorn!"
"Gryffindor!"
"Zacharias Smith!" Micheal leaned over to Harry.
"Watch out for him. Made a real ass of himself on the train. He's a pure blood, and a right coward to boot. Skeptic too."
"Hufflepuff!"
"Ashley Spinks!"
"Hufflepuff!"
"Dean Thomas!"
"Gryffindor!" Harry rubbed his eyes. It was getting late and they still hadn't eaten yet.
"Lisa Turpin!" Harry forced himself to clap as the hat announced, "Ravenclaw!", but his heart was thinking about food. It could have been his stomach, but he didn't care.
"Ronald Weasley!" The ginger from the train left the group of first years that was now down to him and the Italian boy. Draco rolled his eyes when the ginger boy was sorted into Gryffindor.
"Blaise Zabini!" was sent over to the Slythrin table with a cheer and the hall went quiet again. Dumbledore stood and swept his eyes over the crowd of students.
"Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
"Thank you!"
Many people laughed, and almost all clapped. Harry and Draco watched with giant eyes as the empty platters magically filled with food. Student began piling food onto their plates, and conversation was lost. As the meal wound to a close, Dumbledore stood again, his bright blue eyes twinkling.
"Ahern - just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.
"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."
Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins.
"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.
"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death. And now, before we all head to our beds, let us sing our school song!"
Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike, into words.
"Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!" And the school bellowed:
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot.
Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest.
"Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
As other houses piled out, the Ravenclaws remained seated. One of the prefects, a girl in her fifth year, came around and handed all the new 'Claws a pamphlet.
"These are your guides to Ravenclaw. When we arrive at the dorms, Professor Flitwick will want to have a word with you. He's our head of house, so be respectful." She whispered to them before moving on to hand out more pamphlets. Harry and Draco immediately opened the pamphlet and poured over it. It was a simple guide book, full of school and house rules, basic spells for hygiene and tidiness, and a list of the Head Boy/Girl and the prefects. The head boy stood at the end of the table and spoke out,
"Alright, most of you know how this works. 7th years, you're first, line up by the doors, followed by 3rd years and 4th years. Then our new first years need to line up behind them, then 2nd, 5th and 6th years. Remember to be quiet in the halls, to avoid disturbing the ghosts or something more sinister." Everyone did as instructed and soon they were on their way. On the other side of the school, in the Northern most tower, was the Ravenclaw House dormitories. The common room was more a library than anything. Desks lined what few walls didn't have massive bookshelves and the generous fireplace was circled by many large, comfortable chairs. The whole room was a lovely blue colour, accented by spots of black and bronze. At one end of the room was a tiny, goblin like man with a large hat.
"Welcome to Ravenclaw." Professor Flitwick had to stand on a table just to be seen by everyone. Even then though, many of the 6th and 7th years stood in the back because they towered above the tiny professor. "We are a house devoted to knowledge. We maintain the highest grades and uphold the highest standards. Failing a course is unacceptable. If you don't think you can pass a course, an exam, or even finish a nights homework, ask another student for assistance. If they can't help you, ask me. As a house, we are a family. We help one another to excel. No exceptions. Now then, unlike some houses, who use passwords to enter their common rooms, we use riddles. Use your wit, or sleep outside. Those are the rules. Of course, the riddles vary in difficulty based on your year. But I still expect the best from my students. Now then, while the school wide cerfew is at 9pm, I expect you all to be back here by no later then 8pm. That means eat an early dinner. No mucking about in the halls. Boys, your dorms are on the left, youngest on the first floor. Girls, yours are on the right, youngest on the top floor. Sleep well tonight. You are all expected to be at the top of your classes. And remember, your house mates will help you get there and stay there. " Flitwick finished, scanning the crowd of students. He stepped down and walked for the door of the common room. He paused and looked back "One last thing. Under no circumstances will any of you participate in the so called house rivalry. We are all students of Hogwarts. Even if they sink to throwing insults, remain on the high road, holding your heads higher. " he nodded, then left. The students all let out a breath, particularly Harry.
"Well, that was intense. " He looked to his brother. Draco had his eyes fixed on the door the goblin man went through. He only nodded to Harry. Harry chuckled and patted his back. "Let's get some sleep, brother." The climbed the stairs to their room. To their surprise, and that of all the first years, the Ravenclaws all had single bedrooms. Harry chose the first one in the long hall of rooms, Draco taking the one across from him. Inside the room was a small, but well furnished bedroom. One wall was lined with books, none of which Harry had read, and the other side was a large desk. The bed took the center of the room, complete with his trunk at its foot.
"Impressive." Harry said to the empty room. A mirror the stood just left of the desk grunted at him.
"Of course it is. Lady Ravenclaw only wanted the best for her chosen students." It said, causing Harry to jump. He approached the mirror, intending to question it. However, the mirror refused to respond further. With a sigh and a shrug, Harry stripped down to his night clothes and fell into bed. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow.