The Hogwarts Express pulled into Hogsmede station around 7 pm; it was cloudy, but mercifully not raining. As the foursome got off the train, Charlie cuffed them over the head and shouted he'd see them at the feast before racing off with his mates to get a carriage.
"Firs' years o'er 'ere!" Came a loud shout. AS the four 11 year's olds turned to see a huge and hairy man calling them to the end of the platform.
Kathy grinned, "That's Hagrid," she explained to her new friends. "He's the groundskeeper here."
"Alrigh' Kath?" Hagrid called.
"Good thanks, Hagrid!" Kathy smiled back at the giant of a man. Hagrid winked at her before gesturing to the first years to follow him to the lake side.
"Four to a boat!" He shouted, "Hurry along now, or we'll be late for the Feast!"
There was a scrabble for boats, and eventually, all the first years were packed into boats and had set off across the lake. As the rounded the cliff face there was a chorus of gasps as the first years set their sights on Hogwarts. It was an intimidating sight, set against the purple-Black storm clouds gathering in the sky. Silence feel across the first years as the boats glided up onto the beach beneath the great castle.
Hagrid did a quick head count, and walked up the steps to the large, ornately carved wooden doors. Kathy thought it must seem an imposing sight for people who'd never seen the building before. Hagrid raised his right hand, and banged on the door three times. The door swung open to reveal and intimidating witch with salt and pepper hair.
"The firs' years' professor."
"Thank you Hagrid," Professor McGonagall replied. Turning to look at the first years she inclined her head slightly to Kathy, "Follow me."
"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 rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarted yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." Her eyes lingered for a moment on the students, coming to rest on Kathy, Fred, George and Lee. "Please wait quietly."
As soon as she left the room, people began talking about what they might have to face to be sorted, if they would have to perform magic. Fred and George looked ready to faint, and Lee fidgeted nervously. Kathy stared at the wall unseeingly. Just because she knew what to expect did not preclude her from the nervous excitement that awaited. She desperately wanted to be in Gryffindor and despite her conversation with Molly the previous night, was scared she might not manage it.
Screams distracted Kathy from her ponderings as the ghosts appeared. "NEVER! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR FRIAR?" a ghost covered in what seemed to be bloodstains shouted at a fatter ghost in a habit. Kathy quickly explained to her friends who the ghosts were.
"But shouldn't we give him a chance?" the Fat Friar asked.
"No." A ghost of a young lady said clearly, "He has had his chances, no more."
A ghost had floated away from the masses towards Kathy.
"Hullo Nick!" she greeted with a smile. "Does Peeves want to attend again?"
Nick nodded his dangerously wobbly head, "Indeed he does my dear. Every year, the same old argument. It does get tiresome I promise you."
Kathy grinned at the ghost who'd been her childhood confidant. "Hopefully I'll see you soon Nick!"
"Come along now. Line up and follow me." Many of the students jumped, having not noticed that professor McGonagall had returned. As they reached the front of the hall, Kathy moved away from her friends, further forward, so she wouldn't be to near her when they realised there was no hippogriff. She could see Charlie and Percy watching for the twin's reactions to, and sent a quick grin their way.
"When I call your name, you will come to the front and place the hat on your head. It will tell you which house you are best suited for, you will then leave the hat on the stool and join the appropriate table."
"Bletchley, Miles."
A chubby, unpleasant looking boy ran past Kathy.
"Slytherin"
Coote, Alexander
"Ravenclaw"
"Chambers, Lucy"
"Ravenclaw"
At each new addition to the houses the appropriate tables applauded, along with the staff. Eventually Lee's name was called, and he made Gryffindor, along with the tall black girl who had preceded him.
"Potter, Kathleen"
The room went silent; most people in the room (minus the muggleborns) knew she was the sister of the famous boy-who-lived. She was also reasonable well known to the returning students, but it was the staff who were most interested. They had helped in part to raise her, and all wondered whether she would end up in Gryffindor like her parents.
Kathy put the hat on, 'aha, so it's finally my turn to sort you young lady. I've known ever since you broke into Albus's office and put me on all those years ago in an attempt to get me to tell you where you would be sorted, you would display many tendencies and your impatience made me chuckle then, so very like your parent's, but despite your cunning, intelligence and loyalty, you posessed much bravery and would overall be best suited for' "GRYFFINDOR"
Kathy sent a quick grin up to her guardians and ran down to the Gryffindor table and sat herself next to Lee. The twins soon followed her and sat opposite her.
Albus Dumbledore stood and greeted his students. "We will make a speech when our stomachs have been filled. Tuck in!"
Charlie raised his goblet, "Here, Here!"
As the new first years ate, they got to know the other new members of their house. Along with Fred, George, Lee and Kathy, Gryffindor had four other new members, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet, Patricia Stimpson and Kenneth Towler. The latter two already knowing each other as they had grown up mere miles apart.
As they enjoyed eating and drinking their full, Fred and George kept promising revenge for Kathy's trick. Charlie just laughed and pointed out that it was a very Weasley-esque behaviour, and that they'd better get used to being bettered by a girl. Before the twins could respond, Albus started his speech.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I have a few things to say to you all, before we bid each other good night. I would like to remind our new students that the Forbidden Forest, is just that, Forbidden. If you enter, you may find yourselves in more danger then point losses and detentions. Also, wandering the school after hours is also strictly forbidden, and as always, the Kitchens are out of bounds to students. I look to the prefects, and our new Head Boy and Girl, to make sure that these rules are abided by. For a full list of rules, please see your house notice boards, although of course, you have already familiarised yourselves with these rules, correct?" He paused, eyes twinkling. "On a happier note, I am pleased to welcome two new teachers to our ranks this year. First, Professor Quirrell, who will be taking the Muggle studies class this year whilst Professor Burbage takes time off on maternity leave. Secondly, Professor Lanktree has kindly consented to fill the post of Defence against the Dark Arts teacher."
The two new teachers stood, and were welcomed by the students, before Albus announced they would be closing with the school song. He flicked his wand, conjuring up a ribbon that floats in the air, creating the words for the students to sing along with, each singing to the tune of their choice:
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.
Kathy stifled giggles when she caught Minerva's stern, impassive face, knowing how much she loathed the school song, and Albus's love of it had always amused Kathy.
"Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! Off you go now, Sleep well."
Charlie stood at the end of the Table "First years! First Years follow me!"
Author's Note - Now I realise that the sorting speech McGonagall gives is the same as that she gave to Harry, but I feel she is a stickler for rules and once she found a working method, she would stick with it. Alas I do not own anything other then Kathy and the idea.
Thank you to all of you who have reviewed. I promise to update as often as I can, but I'm entering exam period here at University and that must be number 1 priority at the moment.