"It's the same every Year packed with Muggles of course". Harry and Abby turned to see who was speaking. It was a plump woman who was talking to four boys, all with flaming red hair. But what caught Harry and Abby's attention was that they had an owl in a cage. Harry and Abby had been trying to find platform nine and three quarters for over an hour and now they were frustrated. Nodding Abby pushed her cart after them, Harry sighed and followed his sister. They stopped a couple of feet behind them and watched,
"All right Percy, you go first". What looked like the oldest boy marched forward toward platform nine and ten. He was headed straight for the middle and Harry and Abby watched trying not to blink so they didn't miss it. Both gasped as the boy went straight through the wall.
"Fred you next". Said the women.
"I'm not Fred, I'm George". Said the boy who was standing next to his twin. "Honestly woman and you call yourself our mother".
"Sorry George, dear". The boy stood a few feet away from the wall before smiling at his mother. "Only joking, I am Fred". He took off before his mother could call him back. His twin followed him smiling also. Harry looked at Abby before walking toward the woman.
"Excuse me". Harry said causing the women and the remaining two red heads to look at them.
"Could you tell us how to…how to". Harry started.
"How to get onto the platform"? The woman asked smiling, Harry and Abby nodded. "Of course dears, its Ron's first Year too". She pointed to the last son who was tall, thin, and gangling, with freckles, big hands and feet.
"All you have to do is walk straight at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Best do it at a bit of a run. But only one at a time". The woman instructed. Harry nodded to Abby who shook her head. Sighing Harry ran for the barrier not at full speed just in case he did crash into the wall. He closed his eyes and just knew he was going to hit the wall. But he didn't, his hair was blown away from his face and when he opened his eyes he was at a whole other station. A scarlet train was waiting next to the platform packed with people. The sign over head said Hogwarts Express, eleven o'clock. Harry turned and looked at the wall just as Abby came through. She too had her eyes closed and wasn't exactly running. When she opened her eyes, they widened and she looked around before beaming at her brother. He smiled back and looked around too. The first few carriages were already packed with students, some hanging out of the window to talk to their families, some fighting over seats. Harry pushed his cart off down the platform in search of an empty compartment, with Abby close behind.
The eventually found an empty compartment near the end of the train. They put their owls in first. The snow white owl, Harry had picked and named her Hedwig while Abby had picked the midnight black owl and name her Ayrtha. (I really like this name, hence my user name :-) ) Once their owls were sitting on one of the benches they tried to lift their trunks toward the train door. They tried to lift them up the steps but could hardly raise one end and dropped them twice painfully on each others feet.
"Want a hand"? It was one of the red haired twins they followed through the wall.
"Yes, please". Abby said as Harry nursed his injured foot.
"Fred! C'mere and help"!
With the twins help Harry and Abby's trunks were tucked away in a corner of the compartment.
"Thanks". They both said. Harry pushed some of his hair out of his eyes and accidentally let his scar be shone.
"What's that"? One twin asked pointing at Harry's scar.
"She's got one too". The other twin said nodding at Abby's right temple.
"Blimey". The first twin whispered. "Are you"?
"They are". Said the other twin. "Aren't you"? He said looking at Abby.
"What"? Both Harry and Abby asked.
"Harry and Abby Potter". The twins said together.
"Oh, them". Abby muttered.
"Yeahh, we are". Harry said quickly. The twins stared at them and as Harry went red, Abby raised an eyebrow at them.
"Fred? George? Are you there"?
"Coming Mum". With one last look at Harry and Abby, the twins hopped off the train. Harry and Abby looked at each other before sinking into their seats.
20 minutes later their compartment door slid open and the youngest red haired boy came in.
"Excuse me, can I sit in here"? He asked. "Every where else is full".
"Sure". Harry replied. The boy sat down and glanced at Harry and Abby before quickly turning away. It was a peaceful and comfortable silent until the twins came back.
"Hey Ron". One said.
"Listen, we're going to the middle of the train, Lee Jordan's got a giant tarantula down there". The other said.
"Right". Ron mumbled.
"Harry, Abby". The first one started. "Did we introduce ourselves? Fred and George Weasley. That's our brother Ron. See you later then".
"Bye". Ron, Harry, and Abby said.
"Are you two really Harry and Abby Potter"? Ron asked once the twins were gone.
Harry and Abby nodded.
"Then do you really have the…..the". Abby frowned.
"The what"? She asked.
"The scar"? Ron whispered.
"Oh". They said together before moving their hair out of the way so Ron could see the scar.
"Wicked". Ron whispered.
Around half past 12 a small woman slid back their compartment door and smiled at them.
"Anything off the chart, dears"? She asked. Harry and Abby hadn't had breakfast, digging in their pockets they stood. But Ron's ears went pink and he mumbled something about a sandwich. Harry and Abby searched the chart amazed, they had never heard of any of these things. Their were Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Licorice Wands, and some other things that neither Harry nor Abby could pronounce. They got some of everything and paid the woman before going back to their sits.
"Take anything you want". Abby said to Ron as she spread out the sweets between them.
"No, I couldn't". Ron started but Abby cut him off.
"Go on, we bought enough for all of us". She said. They started to eat and Abby and Harry asked Ron all kinds of questions about the magic world.
"What are these"? Abby asked holding up a pack of chocolate frogs. "They're not really frogs, are they"?
"It's just a spell". Ron answered. "But see what card you got. I'm missing Agrippa".
"What"?
"Oh, right, Chocolate Frogs have cards inside them, you know to collect. Famous witches and wizards. I've got about 5 hundred, but I haven't got Agrippa or Ptolemy". Abby unwrapped her Chocolate Frog and picked up the card.
"I got Dumbledore". Abby said.
"Me too". Harry said holding up his card.
"I've got about six of him". Ron replied. Harry and Abby looked down at their cards and gasped.
"He's gone"! They both exclaimed.
"Well you can't expect him to hang around in a picture all day, can you"? Ron asked, Harry picked up a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans.
"You want to be careful with those". Ron warned. "They say every flavor, they mean every flavor. There's chocolate, peppermint, lime, orange, but then you can get the disgusting ones like spinach, liver, and dirt. George swears he got a booger flavored one once". The three of them had a good time eating the beans. Abby got toast, baked beans, dirt, chicken, and chocolate. Harry got coconut, strawberry, grass, sardine, and he was brave enough to nibble on the end of a gray one that neither Ron nor Abby would touch. Harry and Abby's attention was suddenly on a fat brown rat that crawled out of Ron's pocket.
"This is Scabbers". Ron explained. "Pathetic isn't he"? Harry and Abby shrugged,
"A little". They replied together.
"George gave me a spell to turn him yellow, wanna see"? Ron asked.
"Yeah". Abby replied. Ron had just pulled out his wand and cleared his throat when their compartment door slid open.
"Has anyone seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost". She had long brown busy hair and big front teeth, she was already in her school robes. Harry, Ron, and Abby all shook their heads. Then she noticed that Ron had his wand raised,
"Are you doing magic"? She asked. "Let's see then". Ron raised an eyebrow but continued.
"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow,
Turn this stupid fat rat yellow".
But Scabbers remained brown and he stayed asleep in Ron's lap.
"Are you sure that's a real spell"? The girl asked. "Well, it's not a very good one, is it"? She came and said down in front of Abby. "I've only tried simple spells myself, for instants". She pointed her wand at Harry's glasses and said very quickly.
"Oculus Repero". There was a bright white light that streamed from her wand and a small piece of paper wrapped around the tape that kept Harry's glasses together before disappearing. Harry quickly took off his glasses and starred at them in awe, they were fixed.
"Holy cricket, you're Harry and Abby Potter. I'm Hermione Granger. And you are"? She asked Ron.
"Ron Weasley". He said his mouth full of sweets.
"Pleasure". Hermione replied looking at Ron in disgust. "You best be changing into your robes, I expect we'll be arriving soon". And with that, she was gone.
Harry and Abby stepped off the train nervously, Abby had been refusing to wear the uniform because the girls had to wear skirts. After an hour of talking Harry convinced her to wear them, she put her jeans on under it and followed her brother off the train.
"First Years! Over here first Year"! Harry and Abby smiled at each other before making their way to Hagrids huge figure.
"Hi Hagrid"! They said together, behind them they heard kids gasped in surprise as they looked up at Hagrid.
"Right, follow me"! Hagrid yelled before turning and heading toward the lake.
Harry and Abby climbed into a boat with Ron, Abby sat in the middle holding a lamp so they could were they were heading. The castle that they were heading for was huge, it was well light and looked like it had over a thousands windows.
"It's beautiful". Abby whispered, Harry nodded and smiled at his sister.
Once inside the castle they students talked excitedly as they made their way through the huge hall at the front door. At the top of the stairs their was a woman who wore an emerald green robe and a black pointy hat. She was tapping her fingers impatiently on the banister, once the kids were on the top stairs she cleared her throat to quiet them.
"Welcome to Hogwarts". She said calmly. "I am Professor McGonagall, the start of the term banquet will begin shortly. But before you take your seats you must be sorted into your houses". Professor McGonagall was interrupted by a boy behind Abby,
"TREVOR"! He dived forward and scooped the toad up into his arms, right at McGonagall's feet. She looked down at him and he nervously stood up and returned to his original place.
"Now, while you're here your houses will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points and any rule breaking loses you points. The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. At the end of the Year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup. The Sorting Ceremony will begin shortly.". She turned in her heels and walked away. Harry and Abby exchanged nervous glances before someone began to speak out loud.
"So it's true then"? They both turned to see a boy with a pale face, pointy nose, and platinum blond hair starring at them. " Harry and Abby Potter have come to Hogwarts". Instantly there were people whispering, saying their names over and over,
"This is Crabbe and Goyle". He said nodding towards the two big boys that were standing behind him as if they were his body guards. "And I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy". Ron snorted which sounded much like a laugh and Malfoy glared at him.
"Think my names funny do you? Do I even need to ask yours? Red hair and a hand me down robe, you must be a Weasley". Malfoy sneered. He turned back to Harry and Abby, "You'll soon find out that some wizarding families are better than other, Potters, you don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort". He casts a nasty glare at Ron. "I can help you there". He stuck out his hand, Harry and Abby looked at each other, Abby wanted to hit him, Harry could tell but he didn't want his sister getting expelled the first night at school.
"I think we can tell the wrong sort for ourselves, thanks". He replied, McGonagall came back and tapped Malfoy on the shoulder. He glared at Abby and Harry before returning to his original spot.
"We're ready for you". She said before motioning for them to follow her. The Great Hall was light by thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four very long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. The ceiling looked as if they were outside, everywhere stars twinkled and winked at the new students.
"It's bewitched to the look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History". Hermione whispered. At the top of the Hall sat the teachers at a table as
long as or longer than the students table. McGonagall lead them right to the front of the teachers where an old hat sat on a four legged stool. Everyone quieted down and when Abby looked around she noticed they were all starring at the hat. Then the hat twitched and a rip near the brim opened like a mouth and the hat began to sing.
"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But judge by what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat then me.
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"
The entire hall busted into cheers as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the tables and became still again.
"When I call your name, you step up here, sit on the stool, and put on the Sorting Hat to be sorted". She said before unrolling the long parchment she had and reading the first name. "Abbott, Hannah"! A girl with red hair like Ron stepped forward nervously, sat down, put on the hat which fell over her eyes and waited.
"HUFFLEPUFF"! The hat shouted. Hannah jumped down, set the hat back on the stool and went to sit at Hufflepuff's table.
"Boot, Terry"!
"RAVENCLAW"!
"Brown, Lavender"!
"GRYFFINDOR"!
"Bulstrode, Millicent"!
"SLYTHERIN"!
Harry noticed that it sometimes depended on the person, sometimes the hat would shout the house before it was sat properly on the persons head. Then sometimes it would sit there for a few minutes. Abby seemed to noticed the same thing because Harry noticed she was staring at the hat intently.
"Granger, Hermione"! Hermione slowly made her way to the stool,
"Mental that one". Ron whispered, Harry nodded but Abby didn't.
"Right then, right, correct, hmmm". The hat was taking a while with Hermione as if she would do well in two houses. "GRYFFINDOR". Ron groaned.
"Ronald Weasley". Ron's ear went pink and he went up to the stool, hat was placed on his head and he jumped when it yelled.
"HA! Another Weasley. I know exactly what to do with you, GRYFFINDOR"! Ron let out a breath, set the hat on the stool, and headed for the Gryffindor table.
"Potter, Abby"! It was quiet as Abby's eyes widened, she looked at her brother who smiled weakly and nodded. Ignoring the whispers she made her way up to the stool, she sat down and McGonagall placed the hat on her head.
"Abby Potter, hmmm, I was wondering when I would get to be in your head. Hmmm, talented, yes very talented, smart too, special girl, next Year you'll change though, need a house that can help support your change, what house do you belong in"? The hat seemed to be talking to itself now and Abby squeezed her eyes shut.
'Anywhere but Slytherin, anywhere but Slytherin'. She thought softly.
"But you would do well in Slytherin, I'm certain". The hat said, "Fine, if it's not Slytherin, then it should be…GRYFFINDOR"! The Hall busted into cheers once more, the Gryffindor tables being the loudest. Abby smiled reassuring at Harry before going over to the table, the twins scooted apart and pulled her inbetween them.
"Potter, Harry"! Harry too ignored the whispers and made her way up to the stool, he sat down and the hat began to talk again.
"Difficult, very difficult. Plenty of courage, like your sister. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, oh yes lots of talent. And a thirst to prove yourself, but where to put you"? Harry closed his eyes and gripped the edges of the stool.
'Not Slytherin, not Slytherin'.
"Not Slytherin eh? That's exactly what your sister said, Slytherin could help you both on the way to greatness, there's no doubt about that, no, better be…..GRYFFINDOR"! Harry took off the hat and walked shakily to the table, once again the Gryffindor table was the loudest. The twins were yelling as loud as they could,
"We got the Potters! We got the Potters"! Suddenly food appeared on the platters in the middle of the table, everyone sat down and soon the Great Hall was filled with chatter and the sound of knife's and forks hitting the plates. Ron had been reaching for a piece of chicken when a head popped out of them. Ron yelped and snatched his hand back, Abby smirked and Harry's eyes widened.
"Hello, Sir Nicholas, have a nice summer"? Percy asked.
"Dismal, once again my request to join the headless hunt men has been denied". The ghost replied, he went to fly away when Ron called out,
"Hey, I know you, your Nearly Headless Nick". The ghost turned and looked at Ron.
"I prefer Sir Nicholas if you please". He replied.
"Nearly headless? How can you be Nearly headless"? Hermione asked.
"Like this". Nearly Headless Nick grabbed his hair and pulled his head to the side. His whole head swung off his neck and fell onto his shoulder as if it was being held by a hinge. Abby and Harry's eyes widened and Hermione closed her eyes. Harry started talking to Ron while Abby was being entertained by the twins.
"Fred", She said softly.
"Yeah". The twin on her right said.
"Who's the teacher talking to Professor Quirrell"? She asked. Fred and George looked up at the teachers table and grinned,
"That's Professor Snape, he teaches Potions but he's been after Quirrell's job for Years". Fred answered. Just then Professor Snape looked at Harry and Abby when Professor Quirrell put his back to them and a sharp, hot pain went across there scars.
"Ouch"! They both clapped hands over there scars.
"What is it"? The twins and Ron asked them. Harry and Abby exchanged glances,
"Nothing". They said together.
When the desserts had disappeared Professor Dumbledore stood and the Hall fell silent.
"I have a few start of the terms notices to give you. First Years should note that the forest on grounds is forbidden to all students. I have also been asked by our care taker, Mr. Filch, to remind you that the third floor corridor is strictly off limits to all those who do not wish to die a painful death. Now off to bed"! Harry, Abby, and Ron followed Percy out of the Great Hall and up the stair case. They arrived at a painting of a very fat woman in a pink silk dress.
"Password"? She asked.
"Caput Draconis". Percy replied, the lady nodded and the portrait swung open to reveal a hole in the wall. They all scrambled through it and found themselves in the Gryffindor common room. Percy showed the girls their dormitory and the boys theirs, Harry and Abby were so use to sleeping the same bed that the thought of having to sleep in a separate room shocked them. But they made there way up the stairs and slowly went into their dorms. They both sat in the window long after ever one else had gone to sleep, starring at the lawn wondering what their classes were going to be like.