Hidden in Hogwarts

by MorningStar0804

The Potters were always aware of the prophesy and, in an attempt to save their son from his fate, the three fake their deaths to live in Potter Manor with the assistance of the house elves. When tragedy strikes on his 9th birthday, Harry is left alone to raise himself. At his arrival in Hogwarts everyone is keen to learn the many secrets of the boy. His biggest one?His baby sister.

4. Chapter 4

AN: I'm back! Thanks to all those who have followed and reviewed, it's all very much appreciated. I may not be updating quite as often for a while since I am now back at school. I'm not too sure about the pairings for this story, but it's definitely not going to be Harry/Ginny or Harry/Hermione, so please leave any suggestions in the reviews.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any associated characters or places.

Hidden in Hogwarts: Chapter 4

Harry stood in the midst of the busy train station, examining the wall between platforms 9 and 10. As he remembered his parents telling him, he was supposed to simply pass through the wall, which in turn lead to platform 9 3/4. He shrugged nonchalantly to himself and carefully steered his trunk to face the wall, ensuring that Em was firmly secured to his hip. And then, he was running towards the wall. Closer, closer... and then it was gone. In its place, was an overly-crowded platform, packed to the brink with young school children with trunks similar to his own. The Hogwarts Express sat grandly on the tracks, already being in place. Owls, cats and toads could be seen littered throughout the scene, an extraordinarily odd sight for those first years that had been raised by muggles.

After loading his trunk onto the train, Harry found an empty compartment and settled onto the cushioned seat inside. He gently placed a sleeping Em beside him, ensuring that the Invisibility cloak was closely secured over her small figure. Picking up one of his first year textbooks, he began to revise the curriculum.

After he had finished both the first and second year books, Harry heard a light tap on the door to the compartment. It slowly slid open, revealing a seemingly timid blonde, round-faced boy.

"Would you mind if I sit with you? All the other compartments are taken," he asked nervously.

Harry paused, setting his book down. He liked to think of himself as a good judge of character, and this boy seemed to ooze kindness.

"Sure, why not."

The boy sighed in relief, having been unsure as to what the answer would have been. He immediately moved towards the seat opposite to Harry.

"I'm Neville, by the way. Neville Longbottom."

"I'm Harry."

A moment of silence passed between the two boys, when Neville suddenly asked:

"Oh, have you seen a toad, by the way? I lost Trevor on the platform."

"Sorry, I haven't. Do you know what house you're going to be in?" Harry enquired curiously. This boy seemed to posses characteristics of lots of houses.

"I'm not too sure. I'd like to be a Gryffindor, but I doubt that I'd get in. I'm not exactly brave, you see. What about you?"

"I was thinking maybe Ravenclaw seems a good fit," mused Harry. He hadn't given houses much thought, having larger matters at hand.

"Oh. I guess you like reading then?" Neville asked, indicating the closed book to Harry's side.

Harry grinned. "That obvious, is it?"

The boys both laughed.

The train ride passed quickly after that. No one else joined their compartment, but a girl with bushy brown hair and rather large front teeth had entered towards the end, introducing herself as Hermione Granger. And before they knew it, the train had arrived a t Hogsmead station.

"Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here!" Called an abnormally large man, who Harry guessed to be Hagrid, the school groundskeeper, judging from his parents' description. "C'mon, follow me. Any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs'-years follow me!"

Slipping and stumbling, the small crowd of first years followed Hagrid down what appeared to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark either side of them that Harry thought there must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke much.

Hagrid led them to a large lake with a fleet of little boats, which they obediently boarded. Harry shared his with Neville, Hermione and an obnoxiously loud boy with ginger hair who introduced himself as Ron.

The boats glided silently over the glittering lake, and eventually they pulled to a stop. Hagrid led the group of nervous first years into the entrance hall, where they were met by a severe-looking woman who introduced herself as Professor McGonagall, head of the house Gryffindor.

She informed them of what the Sorting consisted of, then the basic principles of each of the houses - Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. In Harry's opinion, it sounded like Mcgonagall was rather biased in favour towards the Gryffindors.

There were sudden gasps from the front of the room, and Harry craned his neck to see what was happening, and next to him, Neville mimicked him. Four pearly-white transparent beings had glided into the room, apparently deep in conversation. Harry immediately recognised them from Hogwarts: A History as the house ghosts, and almost laughed at some of the other first years' looks of both terror and awe.

"The Sorting Ceremony's about to start. Form a line and follow me," she called.

The anxious first years followed in an organised line, Harry towards the back with Hermione in front of him and Neville behind. They walked out of the chamber and through a set of double doors, into the Great Hall.

Everyone gasped as they entered the vast hall. It was lit with thousands of hovering candles with four long tables, one for each house. Hundreds of students stared back at the nervous new pupils. Professor McGonagall led them into a horizontal line facing the tables, with the teacher's table behind them.

Professor McGonogall silently placed a battered-looking pointed wizard's hat on top of a three-legged stool. It was patched and dirty, not really surprising since it was the Sorting Hat, and had been passed over many heads over the years.

Everyone in the Great Hall stared at the Hat expectantly, and the room was filled with utter silence. After a few tense moments, the Hat twitched, and the brim opened wide like a mouth. And then 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 you 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 Gryffindor 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 folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put on me! 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 room burst into an enthusiastic applause as the song drew to a close, and the hat bowed slightly in the direction of the four house tables before becoming still once again. Professor McGonagall stepped forwards, 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!"

The girl who stumbled out of the line sat nervously on the stool, and the hat was placed over her head, falling slightly below her eyes. After a moments pause-

"HUFFLEPUFF!" Declared the hat. The table on the right cheered as Hannah almost ran to join her new house mates.

"Bones, Susan," called McGonagall.

"HUFFLEPUFF," The hat shouted again, and Susan strolled easily to the same table.

The sorting continued, with Hermione Granger being sorted into Ravenclaw and Neville Longbottom into Gryffindor. The sorting continued, until McGonagall paused suddenly, squinting at the roll of parchment before her. She looked up in confusion, before calling-

"Potter, Harry."

The Hall filled with a tense silence. Bewilderment filled the faces of every student and teacher. Glancing up at the head table, Harry could see an almost blinding twinkle in the Headmaster's eye. And finally, Harry stepped forward.

Almost immediately, the silence was broken, filled with different exclamations and hisses of surprise.

Harry strolled easily to the three-legged stool, immune to the shocked stares of the students and mutters of "But isn't he dead?"

With the hat placed on his head and covering his eyes.

'Hmm,' said a small voice in his ear. 'A Potter, didn't think I'd be seeing one of you this year. Now where to put you? Plenty of loyalty, a strong sense of bravery, combined with underlying cunning? Quite a variety, I haven't seen this sort of range in many years. Really, you could go to any house you wish. So what will it be?'

'I'm not sure, but I was thinking Ravenclaw? I really like learning, and I think that would be the best place for me,' Harry replied timidly.

"Alright, better be RAVENCLAW," Announced the hat loudly.

The occupants of the hall could only gaze in disbelief as the small figure skipped happily to the Ravenclaw table to join his friend Hermione.

XxXxXxXx

AN: I'm really sorry about how long this chapter has taken, but I've had to be studying for a load of exams this week, including a piano practical, theory, flute practical, GCSE practical and theory, and it doesn't help that I've been cursed with writers block.