A Different Beginning

Hogwarts

At Platform 9 ¾, Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and Percy were all pushing trolleys towards the scarlet Hogwarts Express, and behind them walked Ginny, Mrs. Weasley, James, Lily and Selena. Harry was bubbling with anticipation, and couldn't wait to get to Hogwarts. Once he had his trunk loaded into an empty carriage with Ron, he walked back to the platform to say goodbye. He hugged his parents first, then Mrs. Weasley. Knelling down next to his sister, he smiled at her.

"Before you know it, you'll be coming here, with me," he said.

"I know, I just wish I could go now," Selena pouted. Harry hugged her, and stood up. He caught a glimpse of red, before he was pulled into a bone-crushing hug from Ginny. He looked down and saw she was crying slightly.

"Ginny, this year is going to be over before you know it," Harry told her.

"I know, but I still will miss you," Ginny sniffed. Harry pulled her close, and gently kissed her cheek. He pulled back, and a look in Ginny's eyes told him she would be fine. He gave her one last grin, and hopped on board. He sat down across from Ron, who gave him a funny look, but didn't say anything. They both waved out the window as the train started to move, and Harry looked back until he couldn't see the station. He and Ron then got out a game of exploding snap, and played until the trolley lady came. Harry, of course, bought at least one of everything, and split it with Ron. Right in the middle of trying to catch a chocolate frog, the compartment door opened to a boy with blond hair, and two other boys, one large, very fat with a flat nose and gorilla like arms, and the other with noticeably broad shoulders. The two in the behind the blond boy looked like mere bodyguards. Before the boy could speak, though, the chocolate frog jumped up and flew into the boy's face. Ron stifled a laugh while Harry passed him a napkin. After wiping his face, the boy looked at Harry.

"So it's true then," he started, "Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts."

"So," Harry replied notchantly, "I don't want any special attention."

"I'm Draco Malfoy, and this is Crabbe, and Goyle," Draco stated, as if it was the most important thing in the entire world, "If you want to uphold a good reputation, I suggest you start by forgetting your old friends, like this weasel. I can help you there." Draco held out his hand. Harry glanced at Ron, before looking back at Draco.

"I like my friends, and if you insult them, I can't be yours," Harry said simply. Then, a bushy haired girl walked up to them.

"Have any of you seen a toad, a boy names Neville's lost his," she asked. Harry and Ron shook their heads, while Draco looked this new girl up and down.

"I'm Draco Malfoy, may I ask who you are?" he said politely.

"Hermione Granger," she replied.

"Granger, a pureblood family I haven't heard of then?" Draco presumed.

"Well, not that I know of, you see, I'm muggle born," Hermione answered. Instantly Draco backed up, looking offended.

"Wait till my father hears about this, Potter hanging around with a family who can't support them selves, and me touching a mudblood the first day," Malfoy threatened. Instantly, Harry and Ron had their wands pointed at Malfoy.

"I don't like your language, Malfoy, please leave," Harry growled. Malfoy looked at them, and scoffed.

"I have better things to do, Potter," and with that, he strode off, Crabbe and Goyle following.

"What's a mudblood?" Hermione asked.

"It's foul language meant for someone who is muggle born, it means 'dirty blood' but most wizards don't use it in everyday conversation," Ron growled, "People like the Malfoys think they're so much better because they're 'purebood', but don't listen to them."

"Oh," Hermione said softly.

"By the way, I'm Ron Weasley, and this is my friend, Harry Potter."

"Ive read about you," Hermoine told Harry, "I suppose I shouldn't really judge until I've gotten to know you better, though."

"Thanks, I'm always afraid of things like that," Harry replied, grateful.

"Well, you should get changed, we're going to arrive soon." She got up and walked back to her compartment. Harry and Ron got into their uniforms, and five minutes later, the train stopped. Harry got out, and saw the massive figure of Rubeus Hagrid, the gamekeeper of Hogwarts, and one of Harry's long time friends.

"Hey there, 'arry, 'ow's it going?" Hagrid asked gruffly.

"Great, glad to finally be here," Harry replied, as he got into one of the boats that would take them up to Hogwarts. Looking around, Harry could tell people were excited to be here with all the pointing and talking. Lookng around his boat, Harry introduced himself to Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan. On the boat next to him, he saw his old friend Neville, who he hadn't been able to talk to since his birthday, Hermione, and a redhead he didn't know.

Finally, the boats stopped, and everyone followed Hagrid up into the castle. Before them, stood a pair of great wooden doors stood. The doors swung open at once to reveal a tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green. She had a very stern look on her face and Harry's first thought was that she would be very strict, and to not cross her.

"I am Professor McGonagall, one you pass through these doors, you will be taken into the great hall to be sorted," she said. Then, she led the students into the hall, and everyone was amazed. There were floating candles, and the ceiling looked like the night sky. Harry heard Hermione saying that according to Hogwarts a History, it was bewitched to always look like the sky above. Why she would read Hogwarts a History, Harry never understood. A hat sat on the stood. Everyone was silent, waiting for something, when all of a sudden, the hat broke into song.

"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 keeo 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.

(Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, pg. 117)

Professor McGonagall took a hat off the stool, and began reading names. Harry then saw the hat shout out the house that person would go to.

"HUFFLEPUFF," the hat declared, and Hannah Abbot, the first person, walked over to the clapping table. Harry clapped for Hermione when she got into Gryffindor, and as for Neville as well, who looked shocked.

"Malfoy, Draco," McGonagall called out. He stepped up, and put the hat on. Nearly three minutes had passed, and the Sorting Hat finally made up his mind.

A/N: What did you think? Review plz! :)