When the train pulled away from the station leaving Harry behind Neville almost panicked. Ron just sniggered as he returned to their compartment, and Hermione explained about Harry going to the Academy. They were joined a few minutes later by a pair of twins who Hermione struck up a conversation with a muggle born boy. They introduced themselves as Padma and Parvati Patil, pureblooded witches of Indian descent and Justin Finch-Fletchley. The trip was eminently enjoyable but nether Ron nor Hermione could wait for it to be over, though for different reasons.

Hermione was looking forward to meeting the teachers, seeing the school and beginning her classes. Ron just wanted to see everyone's faces when they realised Harry wasn't here.

Hermione ordered the boys out of the compartment while she and the Patil twins changed into their uniforms. When the train arrived at Hogsmeade station she followed Ron to meet Hagrid the single largest man she have ever seen, though Padma assured her he wasn't nearly big enough to be a giant.

As they walked to the lake the first years got their first glimpse of Hogwarts. "Ooooh!" Perched atop a high mountain on the other side of the lake was a vast castle, its many windows sparkling in the night sky. "No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called pointing to small fleet of row boats sitting in the water by the shore. Ron and Hermione shared the row boat with Padma and Parvati having lost Neville in the crowd.

"Everyone in?" Hagrid shouted, having a boat to himself. "Righ' then. FORWARD!" And as one the boats moved over the glasslike lake. On the other side of the lake they all climbed out and clambered up to the castle, where Professor McGonagall waited.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said. '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 in a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. The Sorting will begin shortly I suggest you smarten yourselves up."

The Patil twins looked nervous and started whispering to themselves. Hermione turned to Ron. "How do they sort us anyway? I don't think Percy said." Ron was pale and fidgeted with his sleave.

"Yeah, it's tradition for the new students not to know. Fred and George said something about wrestling a troll, but you know how they are. They were probably kidding."

Parvati heard the comment and scoffed at him. "Of course we're not going to wrestle a troll. Nobody can let alone a bunch of first years. Please."

"There's not need for rudeness." Hermione frowned. McGonagall came back in. "Come along. The Sorting is about to start. Form a line and follow me."

Nether Hermione nor Ron had ever seen anything so strange or splendid of the Hogwarts Great Hall. Lit by thousands of floating candles were four long tables with students, and a shorter table where the teachers sat. Professor McGonagall led them to the front and placed to stool with a very old battered hat in front of them. As they watched the brim twitched then split open and the hat began to sing.

"O, 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 sleep 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 brace 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 folk use any means

To achieve the 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!"

"Thank Merlin it's not a troll." Ron whispered to Hermione.

"When I call your name you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted." McGonagall called out. "Abbot, Hannah!"

One after another the first years where called up to try on the Hat.

When her name was called Hermione marched, back ramrod strait, to sit on the stool.

"My, my what an interesting mind, certainly you have the qualifications for Ravenclaw, but I'm forced to wonder if perhaps Slytherin might suit you better."

"Slytherin!" Hermione thought in horror.

"Oh yes house of the cunning and ambition would suit you down to the ground. But you are right, perhaps you might not suit them. Do you have any preference?"

"I wish to be put where I can learn the most. I intend to make the most of my time here."

"Right then. GRYFFINDOR!"

Hermione beamed at the crowd and raced over to the red and gold table.

Poor Neville looked terrified as his name was called.

"Ah a Longbottom, I haven't Sorted one of you since your father put me one. So what to do with you?"

Neville just sat there preying the hat wouldn't kick him out. The hat gave a chuckle. "Oh not to worry, no chance of that old boy. I see plenty of potential in you, and I know just the place to help you bring it out, GRYFFINDOR!"

Neville was so relieve he ran off still wearing the Hat and had to jog back amid sniggers, to give it to "MacDougal, Morag."

"Moon…" "Nott…" "Parkinson…" "Patil" and "Patil", the Perks, Sally-Anne… then finally "Potter, Harry!"

Whispers broke out in the hall. "Potter did she say?" "The Harry Potter?" "Which one is he?" "Is he coming or not?"

Hermione was confused. Why would Harry be down on their list? He was never going to go to Hogwarts. She wondered if she should say anything.

McGonagall glared at the remaining first years. "Mr Potter please come forward." The whispering grew louder. Ron raised a hand and with a small grin took a step forward.

"Er Professor? Harry isn't coming to Hogwarts. He never replied to his acceptance letter."

Professor Dumbledore stood up, power rolling off his old form a scowl evident behind his shining beard. Ron took a hasty step back to his place. "What is the meaning of this Mr Weasley? Am I to understand you have spoken to Mr Potter?"

"Um, er, yes Professor, Headmaster sir." Ron suddenly lost his nerve, in the face of the sheer power Dumbledore extruded. "I er meet him in Diagon Alley while he was shopping for his school things. He came over to our house once during the holidays. He said he was going to the Academy of Magicks. Sir."

Ron was looking very pale, having the attention of the entire school and the very stern focus of the headmaster solely on him. Hermione wanted to help out but she too was intimidated by the once seemingly harmless old man. She could understand why the wizarding world might respect him but at the moment she wasn't going to do anything to have that focus turned upon her.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat. "We will sort this out later. Lets continue with the sorting. Turpin, Lisa!"

After Lisa it was a very much subdued Ron that mad his way to the stool. As the hat settled around his ears there was a voice. "Another Weasley eh? You seem to be following in the tradition of your brothers. Only the first day and you have already put a bee in Albus' bonnet. He had many great plans for the young Potter. Keep an ear out for the start of term notices. But enough about him where shall I put you? Perhaps Hufflepuff? You certainly have the loyalty for it. Or Ravenclaw, you would have the mind if only you would use it." Ron just snorted and the hat chuckled. "But no I think you are most suited for GRYFFINDOR!"

Ron raced off to the table and collapsed into a seat next to Hermione and Neville. Then there was just "Zabini, Blaise," and all the students had been sorted. There was a pause and the Professor had to cough to gain Dumbledore attention. He looked up with a frown. "Ah yes." He got to his feet. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts. Please enjoy the banquet."

The older students blinked in surprise at the abrupt greeting, but Ron's attention was caught by the vast array of food that appeared in front of him.

After the feast Dumbledore stood again. "Ahem, - just a few word now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start of term notices to give you. First yeast should not that the forest in the grounds in forbidden to all pupils. I have also been asked by Mrs Filch the caretaker to remind you that no magic is to be used in the corridors between classes. 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." There was some scattered laughing but Ron and Hermione just shared a look. "Now bed time. Off you trot!"

The Gryffindor first years followed Percy through the crowds, out of the Great Hall and up the marble staircase. They passed through corridors and passageways behind sliding panels and came to a stop outside a portrait of a very fat woman in a pink silk dress.

"Password?" she asked.

"Caput Draconis." Percy replied and the portrait swung forward to reveal round hole in the wall. They climbed in - Neville needed a leg up - and found themselves in the Gryffindor common room. "Girls dormitories are up that stair. Boys up here. Boys the girls stair is enchanted so that no boy may enter their dorms. Consider yourself warned." At the top of the stair they found their beds, four beds with deep red velvet curtains hanging off the posts. Their trunks had already been delivered. Ron spared a thought to wonder about the plans Dumbledore had for Harry before he fell into a deep sleep.

Up in the Headmasters office Dumbledore was far from sleep. Minerva McGonagall stood across his desk with a furious expression while the portraits of the previous Headmasters looked on in avid curiosity not even trying to feign sleep. Fawkes looked at the humans in amusement.

"What do mean you just assumed? Did you get any sort of reply or check up on him at all?"

"Yes Minerva I checked. When I got this list without his name I flooed Arabella. She informed me that the Dursleys were on vacation. I just supposed the letter was on it's way and put it out of my mind."

"Along with a few other things no doubt." She snorted and sat down. "James and Lily would be so disappointed he is not attending their alma mater. Well they can at lease be proud he's at the Academy. It is a very prestigious school. Just think what would have happened if he had gone to Durmstrang."

"Now Minerva I'm sure Harry would not want to disappoint his parents. Perhaps I shall write him a letter letting him know the whole story."

"Albus don't you dare pressure the boy. He'll have enough on his plate at it is. And I doubt his relatives," she spat the word, "have been any help." She gave him a look then nodded. "You write to him explaining. And don't forget his fathers cloak. He'll want that. I must go check on my students." She turned to leave. "And in future, Albus, do not put anyone down on the list that has not confirmed their acceptance. I do not appreciate being stood up by an eleven year old."

Once he was alone Albus nodded to himself. "Yes perhaps a letter is the best way to start. Harry will want to know about his parents and he should understand the sacrifices they made for him."

Hermione woke Ron at an ungodly hour the next morning, at least according to Ron. "Bloody hell Hermione, it's only seven. Classes don't stat till nine. Lem'me sleep."

"No Ronald! You have to get up. It's the first day of classes and you can't be late. You too Neville, come on, it's important to make a good impression!" Both groaned as they rolled out of bed, Neville hitting the floor with a thump. "You have fifteen minutes to be dressed and waiting in the common room. Don't forget your books and parchment." With that she turned on her heal and left.

"We don't even know what classes we're taking, how are we supposed to do bring all of them?" He didn't get an answer from the girls retreating back.

"She's probably lugging all of them around." Neville commented. Ron just snorted and began getting ready. Their dorm mates Dean and Seamus slept on oblivious.

Down in the Great Hall Professor McGonagall was handing out the timetables. "Miss Granger, Mr Longbottom, Mr Weasley I hope you are all settling in well. Miss Granger well done getting these boys out of bed. If Mr Weasley is anything like his brothers or Mr Longbottom like his father, then it's quite a feat."

"Thank you Professor." Hermione said, giving the boys a superior smirk.

"As the boys may know I am the Head of Gryffindor House. So if you have any questions or if you just wish to talk, I will try to make myself available. Mr Longbottom I knew your parents very well and I'm very proud to have you in my house. As would they."

"Thank you Professor." Neville said in a small, pleased voice.

After the Professor had left it occurred to Ron to ask. "Hey what did the Sorting Hat tell you two?"

Hermione frowned in remembrance and Neville answered. "The Hat said I had potential and that Gryffindor would help me achieve it." Ron looked at Hermione.

"Well I don't think I should say."

"Come on Hermione, what could be wrong?"

"It said, Ron, that I might suit Slytherin might suit me."

"Slytherin?!" The boys gasped.

"Yes that was my reaction. Then it said that I would not suit them. I assume because I'm muggleborn."

"Cor, a muggleborn in Slytherin. You'd be crucified." Ron shook his head.

"What about you Ron?" Hermione asked.

"Oh yeah." Ron leaned in and the others joined him. "The Sorting Hat said I put a bee in the Headmasters bonnet because of Harry. Said he hand lots of plans for him. Big plans. Then it told me to keep an ear out for the start of term notices."

"Where he warned us about the third floor corridor." Hermione said.

"But what does it mean?" Neville asked.

"Well you can be certain we are not going to the third floor corridor to find out!" Hermione asserted.

"But it could be important." Ron insisted

"Harry isn't here so it can't hurt him. And there is no reason that Headmaster Dumbledore would not want to hurt Harry anyway." She gave Ron a strong glare. "We have classes to focus on, not mysteries."

"The Hat also said I was smart enough to do well in Ravenclaw if I tried." Ron retorted.

Hermione just gave him a smirk. "Then I shall have to make sure you do."

Author Note:

For those worried about all the OC's, they are not going to be major characters. They are just there to help him out and offer advice. I didn't give him friends his own age for this exact reason.

Well here's Hogwarts. I actually think this chapter turned out pretty well.

We will see quite a bit of Hogwarts and Ron Hermione and Neville as well. I do plan to follow the basic story line of the series, just with my own twist.