Come What May

Disclaimer: All Harry Potter works belong to J.K. Rowling.

Mildly Inspired by Knowledge is Power by Fetucini

Chapter 04: Hogy Hogy Warts, Hogwarts

Harry and Terry joined the rest of the students as they got out of the train and out on to a tiny, dark platform. Harry shivered in the cold night air and immediately put a warming charm on himself and felt the chillness leave him.

Terry saw that and nudged his friend. "Come on mate, help me out here. I am dying." Harry rolled his eyes and put a warming charm on him as well. Terry beamed at him. "Thanks."

Eventually, after the first years waited by themselves for a couple of minutes as they watched the older students walk off in the direction where some carriages were, a large bobbing light started coming from the opposite direction.

"Firs' years, Firs' years, this way please" yelled a booming voice over the sea of 11-year-olds. A huge man over ten feet tall with a huge bushy beard and beady eyes wearing a large haggard coat walked towards them.

"Come on Firs' years, my name's Rubeus Hagrid, but everybody calls me Hagrid, follow me up te the castle now, its cold out" he said, turning around and motioning for them to

ollow him "try te keep up now, no fallin' be'ind"

Harry was momentarily surprised at finding his parent's friend so unexpectedly. He smiled at the thought of the giant man sitting beside his parents' beds and his heart warmed up to him.

The path they were lead on was narrow and even darker then back at the station. The crunching of dry leaves could be heard after every step they took but. Harry could see nothing but the person in front of him and Hagrid's lantern.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

There was a loud "Oooooh!"

They turned a corner to reveal the most beautiful sight Harry had ever seen. They currently stood before a huge black lake that seemed perfectly silent and still, on the other side of the lake however was a huge cliff with a large castle with many tower sand torrents illuminated from within letting the windows glitter like stars. The night sky above the castle with the half moon gazing down at it bathed it in an ethereal light, which made everything look surreal and incredibly…magical.

"All righ' everyone, four to a boat now. Come along now!" Hagrid warned with his thick accent indicating to the dozens of wooden boats lined up at the lake's shore.

Harry got into a boat with Terry, a dark boy and a black haired girl.

"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then — FORWARD!"

And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead in wonder. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.

"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.

"Everyone here? No one drowned? On we go!" Hagrid led them up a passageway in the rock, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. They walked up to a huge door and Hagrid knocked on it three times with his huge hands.

The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. The moment he saw her Harry knew that she is not one to be messed with.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."

She pulled the door wide and the students followed her across the flagged stone floor into an empty chamber off the hall. The first year students looked around in wonder especially toward a set of doors through which they could hear hundreds of voices.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "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 honor. 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 smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."

She left the chamber and the students started whispering among themselves. From what Harry heard it looked like it has most to do with the sorting.

"My brothers said that we need to wrestle a Troll," said the red haired boy who accompanied Longbottom.

The boy-who-lived laughed. "Ron, don't be stupid. They won't let first years wrestle a Troll. I think it will be a test. Of course I will pass it easily… I have been learning magic for the past two years."

Ron and many of the first years around them hung on his words. A bushy haired girl started muttering the spells she read about under her breath.

Terry glanced at Harry. "How can you be so calm? What if it's a test?" Then he slapped his head. "Of course… You will pass."

Harry smirked at him, when a few people screamed behind him. All the students turned around to see what caused the screams and gasped at the sight. 20 or so ghosts came floating through the back wall.

Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was saying: "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance —"

"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost — I say, what are you all doing here?"

A ghost wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first years and smiled at them.

"New students!" said the Fat Friar, smiling around at them. "About to be sorted…"

A few students nodded mutely but the ghosts were not paying attention to them anymore. All the ghosts were staring at only one student, Harry Potter.

Harry momentarily panicked at their sudden interest in him. Why were they looking at him like that? He had no idea and if was honest with himself, it irritated him. He tried to pay them no mind. Not even when Terry nudged him. "The ghosts are staring at you, mate." He just shrugged and left it at that.

Soon Professor McGonagall walked in. She stared at the ghosts curious at their strange behavior, but put it down to them being ghosts. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start. Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me."

The ghosts kept their eye on Harry until he passed into the great hall and then they followed him inside as they slid through the wall.

Harry had never even imagined such a strange and splendid place. The hall was lit by thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting.

Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver and Harry knew they were still staring at him. Mainly to avoid all the staring eyes, Harry looked upward and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. He heard the bushy haired girl whispered, "Its bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History." And so did he.

Harry looked down in time to see Professor McGonagall walk through another door and silently place a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. He wondered what it was supposed to do. He suddenly got the image of holding it up and pulling a rabbit out of it in a flourish. He chuckled at the silly thought.

Terry scowled at Harry's apparent lack of nerves and shook his head. But he was not the only person who saw Harry chuckle. He caught the attention of Albus Dumbledore. The headmaster of one of the most famous magical schools in Europe was mystified at the student's reaction. Never in his long career, first as the Transfiguration professor and then as the headmaster, had he seen a first year laugh at the hat. He immediately recognized the student. He after all looked exactly like his dad. He concentrated on the hat as it sang its song.

Oh you may not think me 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 entire hall applauded the hat and it took a bow at the four tables. Professor McGonagall stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!"

A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. A moments pause —

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.

The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. Harry saw the ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at her.

"Bones, Susan!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah.

"Boot, Terry!" Terry smiled weakly at Harry and stepped forward. "Good luck!" whispered Harry.

Terry sat on the stool and soon the hat shouted, "RAVENCLAW!"

The table second from the left clapped this time; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them. Terry gave Harry a thumbs up hoping his first wizard friend will join him in his house.

And soon the rest of the students followed. Hermione Granger, the bushy haired girl, went to Gryffindor, which surprised Harry slightly considering the fact that she was muttering about the different spells under her breath. When Neville Longbottom's name was called, the entire hall went silent in apprehension. But it soon sorted him into Gryffindor amid shouts of joy the entire Gryffindor house and especially from a couple of red haired twins who were dancing and who could only be that boy, Ron's brothers. Malfoy went to Slytherin as fast as the hat touched his head.

It was finally his turn. "Potter, Harry."

He composed himself, lifted his chin up and walked toward the hat regally. This immediately captured the interest of most everyone in the hall. He glanced to his right to see the ghost at the Gryffindor table slightly bow to him. This again confused him greatly. He calmly sat on the stool and the hat was dropped on to his head.

"Hmmm…" said a voice in his head. "What do we have here? The master of the Elder Wand." Harry suddenly grew tense and the hat chuckled at his reaction. "Not to worry Mr. Potter, your secrets are safe with me. But I must say I haven't had such a difficult choice in a long time. A noble ambition you have to cure your parents. But where to put you Mr. Potter? You have bravery the likes of which I haven't seen. You have the cunning and the vicious nature about you to get what you want. You have the craving for knowledge that would put Lady Rowena to shame. And you are loyal to a fault to those you trust and work hard to achieve your goals. Where to put you?"

I want to be in the house, which will help me gain the most knowledge.

It took a few more moments before it spoke again. "Yes. It is for the best. I wish you luck Mr. Potter, in the house of RAVENCLAW."

Thanks. Harry took of the hat and gave it to McGonagall who looked slightly disappointed on not getting the son of her favorite student. Harry walked calmly to the house clapping the loudest for him and sat beside Terry.

"Good to have you here mate," said Terry as he shook Harry's hand along with the other Ravens.

Soon, Ron Weasley was sorted into Gryffindor and Blaise Zabini, the dark boy who rode with them on the boat was sorted into Ravenclaw and the sorting was finished.

Albus Dumbledore rose to his feet beaming at the students with his arms wide open. "Welcome, welcome to another 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!"

Harry looked back at his plate thinking the headmaster was missing a few marbles and his mouth fell open. The golden plates in front of him were now full of different kinds of food like pork chops, lamb chops, roast potatoes and so on. Harry immediately started piling food into his plate. Having huge helpings of food regularly for the last one month not only made him look more healthy and like a regular eleven year old, but also gave him a huge appetite.

The other first year students introduced themselves to each other. Harry shook hands with Blaise Zabini who was sitting beside him. The rest of the house consisted of Michael Corner who was chatting with a fifth year prefect and Anthony Goldstein who was listening to a girl of Indian Origin, Padma Patil, as she explained about her twin Parvati being in Gryffindor. The other three girls, Lisa Turpin, Su Li and Mandy Brockelhurst were listening to a second year girl Cho Chang as she explained about the different classes.

Harry bit into a chicken drumstick when he felt a cold draft behind him. He turned around and was surprised to see a ghost, a regal looking woman with high cheekbones, who sat at the Ravenclaw table during the sorting, behind him. The ghost lady bowed slightly to him. "Welcome Harry Potter to the house of Ravenclaw. I am the house ghost The Grey Lady."

Harry swallowed the chicken in his mouth and bowed back hesitantly. "Er… Thank you?"

The Grey Lady smiled and floated away. Harry turned around to see some of the students surrounding him were interested in the conversation. He shrugged and went back to his dinner.

Soon the talk turned toward families. "I'm a Half blood," said Michael Corner. "My mother's a pure blood and father's a muggleborn. My mother's family still won't talk to her because she married him."

Blaise Zabini, Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil turned out to be pure bloods. Su Li, Lisa Turpin and Mandy Brockenhurst turned out to be half bloods like Corner.

"I'm a muggleborn," Terry introduced himself. "My dad's a business man and mom works with a couple of charities."

They all turned to Harry who was the last. "I am a Half Blood as well. Mom's a muggleborn."

Zabini nodded. "Potter's are one of the oldest families in the wizarding world."

The conversation turned toward subjects and Harry glanced at the table. He recognized Hagrid, Professors Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall immediately. But he didn't recognize any others, though he caught one man with greasy black hair and hooked nose staring at him. As soon as Harry met his eyes, he looked away, but not before Harry saw the look in his eyes. It was one of anger and confusion.

Harry spoke to the closest non first year student, Cho Chang who was telling Su Li about Transfiguration. "Hey Cho, can you tell us who the different professors are?"

Cho smiled at him. "Sure Harry. The tiny professor is Professor Flitwick. He teaches charms and is also our head of house. The one with greasy hair sitting beside him is Severus Snape and is the potions master."

Harry cut out the rest of the explanation, the professor's name still ringing in his ears. He immediately knew this was going to be a problem. His dad mentioned in his journal how he and his friends always used to pick on one greasy haired kid by the name Snape. They called him Snivellus or something. Harry knew that the professor gave nearly as much as he got back… But there is bad blood. He needs to be careful with him.

Soon the feast was over and Professor Dumbledore stood up again. The hall went silent.

"Ahem — 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."

Harry scowled at that. "Is he serious?" whispered Terry. "How would I know?" shot back Harry wondering the same fact himself.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore. He 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 the song after him.

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!"

The Ravenclaw first years followed a fifth year prefect, Penelope Clearwater into the west side of the castle, which housed the Ravenclaw Tower. Harry took note to remember the way so that he won't get lost. He had some business to attend to in the morning after all. He passed many paintings, which were moving and talking. A couple even waved at him and he still marveled at the wonders of the magical world. There is so much he still doesn't know.

Eventually, they arrived at Ravenclaw tower, where they stopped in front of a door with no keyhole or handle, merely a bronze eagle doorknocker that seemed to be alive.

"Ravenclaw is the house that values intelligence, creativity, wisdom and wit," said Clearwater. "For you to gain entry into the common room you will need to answer a riddle or intellectual question. If you cannot answer, you will not gain entry"

Seeing the terrified faces of the first years, she continued with a smile. "Don't worry, you get used to it and if you don't get it, ask someone else to help you do it, or even Professor Flitwick, our head of house, if you can't find someone – his office is just down the hall."

Then, she turned to face the door and knocked on the door using the knocker. At once the beak of the eagle opened, but instead of a bird's call, a soft, musical voice said, "Until I am measured, I am not known. Yet you miss me, when I have flown. What am I?"

The fifth year prefects seemed to know the answer but they turned to the first years, expecting an answer. And the answer came from the back. "Time," answered Harry.

Instantly, the students all turned to look at him with a questioning look in their eyes and a couple nodded agreeing with him. The fifth years just smiled brightly at him.

"You may enter" the doorknocker stated before swinging open and allowing them entrance.

The fifth year prefects beckoned the group to follow them inside and they got their first glimpse at the common room. The room was spacious with many arched windows overlooking the surrounding mountains, all hung with heavy bronze and blue silk curtains, matching their house colors. The ceiling is domed and painted blue with twinkling stars on it, which were echoed by the midnight-blue carpet covering the floor. The room was also filled with comfortable looking chairs and tables and bookcases filled with a variety of books. Opposite to the door in a niche, a marble statue of Rowena Ravenclaw wearing her diadem stood proudly.

To Harry it looked perfect and his smile conveyed the smile. The prefects smiled at the reactions of the first years.

"The first year dorms are up those stairs, girl on the left, boys on the right" Rollins, the boy prefect, said, motioning to the stairs on the other side of the room. "The upper years are further up."

"Once a week, there is a mandatory study group for all first through fourth year students held by fifth year students, it helps you learn and helps the fifth years revise for their OWL exams," the prefect explained.

Every first year there nodded in understanding. "Your study sessions will be held on Wednesday nights before your Astronomy classes, if for some reason, you can't make it, please inform a prefect or Professor Flitwick, so we know you aren't slacking."

"You will get your schedules tomorrow during breakfast. Then, you can come back and collect your books for the days' classes." Rollins looked at Clearwater. "Anything else?" She shook her head and motioned to the first years. "Do any of you have any questions?"

"How will we know the way around the school?" asked Padma.

"Tomorrow morning at seven thirty sharp, we both will lead you down to the great hall for breakfast. With the schedule you will also get a general map with locations of the different classes. Follow the directions and you should be fine. But be careful. As you saw the stairs move and you can easily get lost." Explained Rollins. "If that happens, ask the paintings or any ghosts for directions. They will help you. I also suggest when the weekend comes that you take the time to explore the castle a little. It's a grand place and you will enjoy knowing some of its secrets," he said with a smirk. Seeing as there were no more questions, the prefects lead them to their dorm rooms.

Harry entered his dorm room and gazed around. It was simple and had the exact number of four-poster beds as first year Ravenclaw boys. Each bed had a canopy that allowed them to drape their own blue curtain around the bed for privacy as well as large and comfortable blue and bronze pillows and blankets.

There were also two large windows showing them the same view as the common room windows. Each bed also came with its own study table and chair and an accompanying small bookshelf, attached to a wall. Harry couldn't have asked for me. It reminded him so much of his room in the Leaky Cauldron only with extra beds. Soon, everyone claimed a bed and Harry chose one, which is closest to the window. He was not bothered with the cold and after spending most of his life in the cupboard he dearly wanted something, which will show him the world out there.

"Night Harry," called Terry from beside him. Harry wished him back and slowly drifted of to sleep as he gazed at the half moon floating above the mountains. He knew something magical happened to him the night before Dudley's birthday. He didn't know what, but thanked every deity he knew for helping him. If not for that, he would have never known his parents were alive. He would have never known about the magical world. He would be going to stonewall high and living in the cupboard under the stairs.