Notes: Happy Birthday to Harry Potter and JK! (7/31/2013)
Harry and Hermione read through and summarized the chapters of the first halves of all of their school textbooks. Hermione had wanted to read them all the way, but Harry had said that if they did they wouldn't have time to read much of the other books they bought and practice potions.
Of course, because they were practicing potions, they both read through the entire Potions textbook and the other supplementary Potions texts they'd bought. Mr. and Mrs. Granger told them they weren't allowed to do any brewing unsupervised, but as soon as the Grangers got home for their dentistry practice, Harry and Hermione set up their cauldrons on the stove and got started.
It took them both several tried to get their first potion, a cure for boils, the exact right shade. Eventually Hermione realized that maybe they weren't grinding the newt eyes enough. Once they got that figured out, they moved on to the mild forgetfulness potion and then the dancing hair potion.
Crookshanks seemed to like lying around in the backyard. The owl, who Harry had named Hedwig after a name in the History text, often swooped in and out of the kitchen window to go hunt mice in the neighborhood park. Luckily Hedwig and Crookshanks didn't seem to mind each other and the Granger parents didn't seem to mind either animal since they were generally clean and definitely too intelligent to have accidents in the house.
The last month and a half of summer, including Harry's birthday, passed by. Harry spent most of the time at the Grangers, especially after he'd told Aunt Petunia that he wouldn't be going to Stonewall—his Hogwarts letter had arrived and he'd already gotten all his school supplies. She'd screeched at him until he'd run next door and he hadn't return to number 4 for a whole week after that.
Then it was the morning of September first and Harry and Hermione were all packed and ready. They both wore trousers instead of jeans and their plain t-shirts—so they could blend in with the muggle world but wouldn't stand out too much on the train. Then they all piled into the Grangers car and headed off to Kings Cross Station.
Like McGonagall had said, they were able to just walk through the brick wall between platforms nine and ten. The Hogwarts express was a beautiful red steam engine. It was ten thirty and loads of students and parents were bustling around saying their last goodbyes.
Harry and Hermione turned to the Grangers.
Mrs. Granger hugged her daughter first, and then Harry. Mr. Granger kissed his daughter's forehead and ruffled Harry's hair. Harry had stopped flinching a while ago, and now he just smiled brightly.
"We'll miss you both," Mrs. Granger said. "You'd best write us. Tell us all about the magic you're learning."
"And don't forget to brush your teeth," Mr. Granger said. "We'll check on both of you over the winter hols."
"Yes, Mum, Dad," Hermione said.
"Yes, Mrs. Granger, Mr. Granger," Harry said at the same time.
"You're good kids," Mr. Granger said.
"Off with you now, or you won't get good seats," Mrs. Granger added.
Harry pretended not to see the tears in Mrs. Granger's eyes. He tugged Hermione along. They helped each other lift their trunks onto the train, since they were both carrying the carriers for their pets.
Once on the train, they looked for an empty compartment. They ended up finding one at the very end of the train.
"I don't suppose we can practice spells now?" Hermione asked. "Since we're on the train?"
"It is kind of Hogwarts property, isn't it?" Harry added.
"I don't want to get in trouble though," Hermione said, stroking Crookshanks, who she'd let out of his carrier and who now sat on the seat next to Hermione.
"Well if anyone comes, we'll just say we're first years and didn't know better," Harry said.
Hermione frowned, but nodded. Obviously her desire to practice spells outweighed her fear of reprimand.
They both got out their wands and began practicing spells from their Charms and Transfigurations textbooks. Neither of them were very good yet, but Harry reminded Hermione about how awful they both were at the languages they learned from each other at first. They got better at that, they'd get better at this.
"We have seven years to learn," Hermione agreed.
At one point just before eleven, a red-haired boy peeked his head through the window, but he left after seeing the compartment had people in it. Harry and Hermione went back to practicing spells as the train began to move, and then they both got distracted by the scenery.
"We're headed north," Hermione said.
"Toward Scotland?" Harry asked.
"Didn't Hogwarts, A History say the castle was somewhere in Scotland?"
Harry nodded. "You're right."
They weren't bothered by anyone on the train ride. When the trolley lady came around, Harry bought one chocolate frog and a sandwich. Hermione bought a pumpkin patty, because the trolley lady said they had the least sugar, and a sandwich as well.
"Hey, they've got cards," Harry said as he opened the chocolate frog. "Look, I got our headmaster."
"I bet you can collect them," Hermione said. "Like cereal prizes or something."
Harry nodded. He stared down at the picture of Dumbledore. Dumbledore waved at him.
"Hermione! The pictures move like our shirts do!"
Hermione looked and grinned. "I thought it might be only the portraits, like Hogwarts, A History said, but I guess all wizarding pictures move."
"At least the cards do."
Harry put his Dumbledore card away and then he and Hermione put their school robes on over their clothes.
H.H
A giant of a man, possibly a giant period, called for the first years. Harry and Hermione walked toward him. They had left their trunks and pets on the train, where apparently they'd be taken to their rooms.
The large man introduced himself as Hagrid, the groundskeeper at Hogwarts. Harry gave him a polite smile when Hagrid looked at him. Mrs. Granger had helped him straighten his bangs that morning so they'd cover his scar easier. Hagrid just blinked and looked away from him.
Harry and Hermione got into a boat. Two others joined them, a pudgy boy clutching a toad and a red-haired girl.
"Hello," Harry said.
"Hi," the girl said. "I'm Susan Bones."
"Hi, Susan," Harry said. "I'm Harry Potter and this is my friend, Hermione Granger."
Hermione smiled a bit hesitantly.
"You're Harry Potter?" Susan gaped. "Oh, I thought you'd be taller."
Harry scratched his head. "Sorry?"
"What's your name?" Hermione asked the other boy.
"Neville Longbottom," the boy said softly.
"It's nice to meet you, Neville," Harry greeted.
"Do you reckon you'll be a Gryffindor, like your parents?" Susan asked. "I think I'll be a Hufflepuff. My aunt was and she's head of the aurors now."
"Cool!" Harry said. "Hufflepuffs are determined and loyal, right?" He tried to remember what he'd read in Hogwarts, A History. "And Gryffindors are brave."
"I don't know, Harry," Hermione said. "About you being a Gryffindor, I mean. Your parents were obviously very brave, but, I don't know."
Harry nodded. "I don't suppose a I care. I mean, no matter what house I'm put in, we're still at Hogwarts learning magic, right?"
Susan and Neville looked at him like he was a bit insane. Harry glanced at Hermione, but she just shrugged, obviously agreeing with him.
The boats docked and they all got off. Hagrid left them in a hallway, telling them a professor would be with them shortly.
Harry stayed close to Hermione. Neither of them shrieked when the ghosts appeared out of the walls, but they both jumped and then stared in wide-eyed amazement.
"Cool," Hermione whispered.
"Yeah," Harry agreed.
McGonagall appeared them. She introduced herself, smiling as Harry and Hermione both waved at her. "We will now begin the sorting," she announced. "Get in a line now and follow me."
Harry slipped behind Hermione and they trudged with the rest of the students into the Great Hall. "Look, the ceiling!" Harry whispered to Hermione.
"Charmed to look like the sky outside," Hermione said.
"Magic is awesome," Harry said, agreeing with her tone.
McGonagall called the first name, Hannah Abbot, to be sorted. After her, Susan Bones was put into Hufflepuff and he clapped for her. Harry watched and waited as one by one his yearmates got put into their houses. Hermione got called up then. McGonagall placed the hat on her head.
Harry held his breath, but soon he had to let it out. Hermione took forever. He remembered what he'd read in Hogwarts, A History about how students who take over five minutes were called hatstalls.
The hat opened its brim. "RAVENCLAW!" it yelled.
The Ravenclaw table clapped as Hermione got off the stool and headed over to them. She smiled at Harry as she sat and he gave her a thumbs up.
More students were called up, including Neville Longbottom, who became a Gryffindor, and Draco Malfoy, who was immediately a Slytherin. Several more students came and went, and then McGonagall called Harry's name.
The Great Hall began whispering as he walked up to the stool. He wasn't anonymous anymore. Everyone was watching him. Harry resisted the urge to curl in on himself, but he kept his eyes down until he reached the stool and the hat was placed on his head.
"Ah, Mr. Potter," the hat said inside his mind.
"Um, hi?" Harry thought very strongly. The hat seemed to chuckle at him. Harry blushed.
"Let's see… I see a great deal of cunning in you. And intelligence as well. Bravery, too. And a great deal of loyalty to your friends."
"So you're basically saying I could go to any house?"
"No, no, most children have qualities of all the houses. It is my job to find which is strongest. For you… your cunning is great indeed."
"I want to go to Ravenclaw," Harry told the hat. He had nothing against Slytherin, but Hermione was in Ravenclaw.
"The desire to stay with your friend is a very Hufflepuff quality."
"Ravenclaw."
"Stubbornness is a Gryffindor quality."
"I study best with Hermione."
"Very Slytherin of you to try to manipulate me."
"Come on. Please!"
The hat seemed to sigh. "No respect nowadays. Very well. You'll do well there, but mark my words, Slytherin would have been a road to greatness for you."
"I'll still make Slytherin friends."
"Allies, Mr. Potter. You'll want to make Slytherin allies."
Before Harry could ask what the hat meant by that, it opened its brim and shouted, "RAVENCLAW!"
Harry grinned and hopped off the stool. He handed the hat to McGonagall, who smiled at him. The Ravenclaw was cheering loudly. Harry noticed they were being louder for him than they had been for the others sorted into Ravenclaw. He didn't like that. He'd just have to make sure to blend in the background until this fame thing died down.
At least he was with Hermione. He sat next to her at the table. She hugged him tightly. "Look, Harry! Blue and bronze."
Harry looked down at his tie. It had indeed changed color, just like Madam Malkin had said it would. And the crest on his robe had become the Ravenclaw eagle.
At the stool, Ron Weasley was sorted into Gryffindor, and then Blaise Zabini into Slytherin. McGonagall banished the stool and rolled up the hat. Up at the high table, a white-haired figure stood from the largest chair.
"Welcome all of you to Hogwarts. I am Dumbledore, your Headmaster." Dumbledore smiled kindly.
Harry frowned. He remembered what McGonagall had said about Dumbledore placing him at the Dursleys despite her concerns. And the man had never checked up on him. Judging by the look on Hermione's face, she too was remembering that.
Dumbledore said what sounded like four nonsense words and sat down. Harry grinned as food appeared on the table. He grabbed the nearest serving dish—butter rolls—and took a couple for himself, before passing the dish to Hermione.
"Welcome to Ravenclaw, firsties," an older male said. He had a prefect badge on his chest. "My name is Robert Hilliard. The other prefects will introduce themselves to you later. We tend to spread out across the table during meals and I got first year duty tonight." He grinned.
"How many prefects are there?" a Chinese girl asked from across from Hermione.
"Six," Robert told her. "A male and a female from fifth, sixth, and seventh year. Our current Head Girl is also a Ravenclaw, but don't bother her unless it's really important. She has a lot of duties."
They all nodded, looking to the dark-skinned girl at the other end of the table that Robert had gestured to.
"Now, we at Ravenclaw pride ourselves on not discriminating. We care first and foremost about your intelligence. So long as you keep your grades up and continue earning house points, we do not care what else you do. However, in order to be the best you can be, we need to make sure you have all the means to learn what you need to know. So, I want you all to introduce yourselves and state your blood status, an overview of the education you received before Hogwarts including your knowledge of wizarding etiquette, and what subjects you are most confident in and most anxious about."
The boy at the end of the table started. "I'm Terry Boot, pureblood. I had home tutors and I'm well versed in most theory, including for Arithmacy and Ancient Runes. My family is one generation from an Ancient House so I'm very well-versed in etiquette. I'm most confident about my Charms work and I'm nervous about Potions."
Robert nodded. "You needn't worry about Arithmacy and Ancient Runes, as well as any of the other advanced subjects, until you're a third year. However, a good basis in math will help you with Astronomy, which you'll have once a week."
The boy next to Terry spoke next. "I'm Stephen Cornfoot. I'm a pureblood as well, but my parents self-taught me. I'm most confident in History and least in Transfiguration. I have theoretical knowledge of elite etiquette and I know basic etiquette well."
The girl across from him was next. "I'm Lisa Turpin. I'm halfblood." She smiled. "I really consider myself more of a three-quarters-blood though. My dad is a halfblood and my mum a pureblood. I had a tutor and my mum was a Blishwick so I know etiquette. I'm most prepared for Potions and least for Astronomy."
The Chinese girl was next. "I'm Sue Li. I'm a halfblood. My dad is a muggle and my mum a muggleborn. I was mostly raised in the muggle world and went to muggle primary school, but my parents did teach me basic wizarding etiquette. I'm most ready for History and least for Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Across from Sue was a boy with golden-blond hair. "I'm Anthony Goldstein. I'm a halfblood. Both my parents were muggleborn. I don't really know a lot about wizarding etiquette, just the very basics. I have a lot of theoretical knowledge from reading, but I didn't have a tutor and my parents were too busy to teach me much. I feel most prepared for Defense Against the Dark Arts and least prepared for Charms."
Next was an Indian girl, who Harry remembered looked a lot like a girl who was sorted into Gryffindor. "I'm Padma Patil. I'm a pureblood. I know both English and Indian wizarding etiquette. I had tutors and feel confident in my Transfiguration. I'm more uncertain about Defense."
The girl across from Hermione was next. "I'm Amanda Brocklehurst, but I go by Mandy. I'm a halfblood. My father is a German wizard and I spend most of the year in Germany, so I know German wizarding etiquette most. My mother is dead, but she was supposedly a muggle."
"I'm sorry," Robert said.
Mandy shrugged. "It's okay. I have my dad, and I never knew my mother." Despite her words, Harry recognized that look in her eyes. He'd seen it in his own before. She glanced at him and he gave her a soft, understanding smile. She returned it. "Anyway, I had a tutor and feel good about Potions. I don't feel as confident about History."
The boy across from Harry went then. "I'm Michael Corner. I'm technically a pureblood. My dad is a halfblood and my mum is a squib."
"How does that work?" Hermione asked. "How do you become a pureblood?"
"You have to have all magical grandparents," Robert told her. "Which is why Lisa considers herself three-quarters, because only one of her grandparents doesn't have magic." He looked at the girl as if to confirm. Lisa nodded.
"My mum taught me a lot of theoretical things, including basic and elite etiquette, because she was from an Ancient House before her parents disowned her for not getting her Hogwarts letter." Michael grimaced. "I'm ready for Potions most of all and not excited about Transfiguration."
"I'm Hermione Granger. I'm a muggleborn. I read through the beginning chapters of all our first year textbooks, all of the Potions textbook, and a few other texts, but otherwise I went to muggle primary school and don't know anything about wizarding etiquette." She looked cross at that. Harry understood how she felt. "I feel most prepared for Potions or Transfiguration and least for Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Harry was the last of the first years. Everyone turned to look at him, including some of the nearby older years who'd been listening in. "I'm Harry Potter," he said. "I'm a halfblood, but I was raised by my muggle aunt and uncle, so I didn't know anything about magic until I got my letter."
"Really?" Anthony gaped.
Harry nodded. "Hermione and I are neighbors, so we'd talk about our accidental magic, but we didn't really know anything. After McGonagall came to Hermione's house and took us to Diagon Alley, we read all our textbooks together and practiced some making some potions. So I feel best about Potions and I'm nervous about Charms most, I think."
"Well the Charms professor is our head of house. His name is Professor Flitwick." Robert pointed up to the high table. "He's half goblin and he might look scary, but he's a good guy. If any of you struggle in his class, he'll help you after hours. He's also a good person to go to for personal troubles. He's very protective of his eagles." Robert smiled.
"Five boys and five girls, huh," a dark-skinned male said from Robert's other side. "And only two who were raised completely as muggles. Not bad."
"No discrimination," Robert reminded his friend. "This is Jordan Gamp. Ignore anything he tells you. He likes to prank the first years." He shook his head and turned so that his back was to Jordan. "This is what we're going to do. For Terry, Stephen, Lisa, Padma, and Michael, there's going to be a test of your knowledge of basic and elite wizarding etiquette at the end of the week. If you pass, then you'll be set. If you don't, you'll join the other five in etiquette lessons. The lessons will be on Saturdays from ten to six. They will include lunch. Right before winter hols, everyone will be tested. Most pass then. If you don't, you'll be given remedial etiquette lessons after the break is over."
They all nodded. "Great," Robert said. "Now all first years are assigned an advisor. Your advisors will all be fifth years. That person will continue to be your advisor until they gradate, which will be at the end of your third year. When you become fifth years, you will be assigned a first year to advise."
"So we get fourth year off?" Mandy asked.
"Correct," Robert said. "This system has been in place in Ravenclaw for centuries and has always worked well. If you don't get on with your advisor, come talk to one of the prefects and we'll work out a switch. You should want to go to your advisor for anything you're having trouble with, whether it be academic or personal. Prefects are never assigned as advisors, since we have other duties, and if you need to you can come to any of us. However, your advisor should always be your first choice. Understand?"
They all nodded.
"Good. I'll post the list on the common room bulletin board tomorrow morning. You'll be getting your class timetables at breakfast, which is always between eight and nine every weekday. Lunch is between noon and one and dinner between six and seven. If you ever miss a mealtime, talk to your advisor and they'll be able to show you where the kitchens are. The house elves are always willing to feed us if we ask."
'House elves?' Hermione mouthed at Harry. Harry shrugged. Robert must have noticed, though, because he looked at them.
"Don't worry, you two. I know it must be hard, not knowing a lot, but everything will be explained in etiquette lessons. House elves are discussed in one of the first, because of how prevalent they are in our society."
"Okay," Hermione said. Harry could tell she was already impatient for Saturday to come. Luckily it was a Wednesday. They'd only have two days of classes before the weekend.
"Regardless, check that list in the morning. It will include the initial time and place for you to meet your advisor. Every other meeting will be between you and them. Some advisors are more hands on, others just let you come to them. It's something to discuss with your advisor."
Robert turned away then to engage in a conversation with Jordan. They all dug into their plates, instead of the nibbling they'd been doing while Robert had been talking. The food was delicious. Harry hadn't been starved in a long time because of the Grangers, but he would probably always appreciate food and right now he was really appreciating this.
Just as Harry was finishing his plate, Dumbledore stood again. He warned them about going into the Forbidden Forest. Harry wanted to snort. If it were called the Forbidden Forest then by all means he would avoid it. The third floor corridor was also apparently off-limits to any who didn't want to face a most painful death. Judging by the look the older Ravenclaws sported, that was new.
"First years, follow your prefects to your house common room." Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling behind half-moon spectacles.
Harry looked away when Dumbledore glanced at him. He wasn't sure what to think of the seemingly kind headmaster. Well as a first year, he hopefully wouldn't have to interact with the man much so he'd have time to decide what he thought of the man.
Robert stood as soon as it seemed they were all finished. Harry and Hermione had both only had a little bit of dessert each, mindful of Hermione's parents, so they were done first, but soon enough the other first years emptied their plates. A lot of the other Ravenclaws had already left in twos and threes. Harry saw the Slytherin first years being led out the Hall by their prefect. It looked the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors were still eating, though.
"Okay, everyone ready?"
They all stood and followed Robert. He explained more about the castle as they walked. "The staircases are always moving, so if they end up in a landing you don't want, just hang out on the stairs until they move back to where you want to go. There are charms to make sure the students don't fall off, though if you're not careful you might stumble a bit."
They walked up several of those moving staircases. At one point, like Robert had said, the stairs moved and took with it Lisa, Sue, and Terry. They had to wait for the staircase to move back so they could move on.
"The portraits are always gossiping," Robert continued. "And they can move to any other portrait in the castle, so don't think you can get away with insulting one of them. Someone will always report back to them. We're pretty sure the Headmaster has the portraits in his office spy on students around the castle, but we can't be sure."
"Isn't that illegal?" Hermione asked.
"No, why would it be?" Robert countered. "There are never any portraits in the bathrooms or dorm rooms, so you needn't worry about that. In fact, there aren't any portraits inside the Ravenclaw common room at all. We've got a statue of Rowena Ravenclaw, but she doesn't move."
Robert led them up a tight spiral staircase. "This is Ravenclaw tower," he said. He stopped in front of a door with a bronze eagle-shaped knocker. There was no handle.
The knocker opened its beak. "Brothers and sisters I have none, but this man's father is my father's son. Who is he?"
"Anyone?" Robert asked.
"Your son," Stephen said. The knocker clanged once against the door and it opened.
"The riddle changes every day at midnight. After you've been here several years, you'll notice a couple repeats, but they're rare. If you don't know the answer, you just have to wait around for someone who does. House policy." Robert led them inside the common room.
Harry looked around. The common room was circular, because it was a tower. There were large arched windows with blue drapes. Blue and bronze silks hung around the walls. At the far wall between two windows was a bookshelf piled high with books and a ladder to reach the top shelves. There were couches and armchairs in various colors of blue with bronze-colored pillows and throws. There were also a bunch of wooden tables with cushioned chairs. A few smaller bookshelves lined the other walls. There was an open doorway that showed a staircase leading upward. A white marble statue, which Harry assumed was of Rowena Ravenclaw, stood in front of it. The carpet was a midnight blue and the ceiling was charmed to look like the night sky.
"Welcome to the Ravenclaw common room," Robert said. "This will be your home for the next seven years. Up those stairs, you'll find seven floors. The first years are always on the first landing. There will be one door that says girls and the other says boys. The bathroom leads off from your dorm room. Both dorms are spelled so that only the people assigned into it can enter, else you'll get hexed. If you want to meet up with someone of the opposite gender, or from another year, you'll have to do it down here in the common room or elsewhere in the castle."
Robert pointed to where a large bulletin board stood on one wall. "You'll want to check that often. Most announcements are posted there—such as if any classes are cancelled for whatever reason or if anyone is hosting a study session." He clapped his hands. "I'll leave you to settle in now. There's an automatic alarm in each dorm room for seven-thirty, and another one at eight. If you sleep through the eight o'clock one, you're out of luck. There are no alarm for the weekends, but try not to miss your ten o'clock etiquette lessons."
They all thanked Robert. He waved them away and they trudged up the stairs to check out their rooms.
Like Robert had said, there were two doors in the first landing. Harry waved goodbye to Hermione as he headed to the one that was marked Boys. Terry opened the door and they all walked in.
The far wall was curved, just like the rest of the tower. There was an open door to the left that looked like it led to the bathroom. Harry peeked in and saw there were five cubbyholes for their bathroom things and hooks that held clean towels for all of them. There looked to be three bathroom stalls and two showers. It seemed the wizarding world didn't have open urinals. Harry shrugged and looked back at the dorm room. The girls' room shared that other wall with them and their bathroom was probably on the opposite side. The two bathroom walls had to be separated by the staircase. It was a smart setup, but then… it was Ravenclaw.
"Stephen, Anthony, Michael, and Harry," Terry said, as if to remind himself. "Guess we'll be together for the next seven years."
Harry smiled at him. As much as Hermione was his best friend, he was excited to make male friends. Dudley had always scared them all away from him.
"Most muggleborns are sorted into Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, or so I've heard," Stephen said. "Even though you're a halfblood, you're still muggle-raised. So if you have any questions, Harry, just ask. We eagles have to stick together, right?"
"Thanks," Harry said. "I probably will have a lot of questions, but I'm still taking everything in."
He looked around. The five beds were all four posters with blue drapes. There were two large windows on the far wall that separated three of the beds. The other two sat against the sidewalls, one just below the door to the bathroom and the other opposite it against the wall they shared with the girls. Harry noticed his trunk was at the end of the bed in the middle of the far wall. He headed over to it and sat down. The others seemed spurred by his action and found their own trunks. Terry was to Harry's right and Stephen to Harry's left. Michael had the bed across from Terry's, and therefore next to the door to the bathroom. Anthony was across from Stephen.
"We should probably go to bed," Michael said. "So we're ready for tomorrow."
They all seemed to agree. Harry changed into his pajamas. He was more pleased than ever that he and Hermione had made sure to buy clothes that would blend in with the wizarding world. His sleep clothes were just plain black, but they didn't look too different from the others. Harry was the only muggle-raised person in the room. At least Hermione had Sue, who'd been mostly raised muggle too, but she probably knew more about wizarding fashion than they did. Harry didn't want to stand out amongst his housemates and he knew Hermione felt the same way.
Harry had a hard time falling asleep that night. He was just really excited, but also nervous. He was at Hogwarts and tomorrow would be his first day to learn magic.
There was no use staring at the drapes of his bed, though. He needed to get some sleep if he wanted to be prepared for what September 2nd brought. Harry closed his eyes and forced himself to think of nothing at all until sleep dragged him down into the peaceful darkness.