Disclaimer: The author of the fic would like to declare that the HP universe is not owned by him. He owns just a few grains of sand he took from the sandbox of JK Rowling's which includes the fic's plot.
Harry and Hermione were going down the train's corridor trying to find Daphne. They soon found her in one of the last few compartments. She was sitting with a brunette and both were talking amicably. They knocked on the door politely and asked the girls' permission to enter as they had learned from the books on wizarding etiquettes. They sat down on the seat opposite to the girls.
"Harry, meet Tracey Davis, heir apparent to the Noble house of Davis. Tracey, Harry Potter." "A pleasure to meet you, Ms Davis." Harry said warmly while extending his hand. "The pleasure is all mine Mr Potter and its Tracey please." Tracey replied with an equal warmth while shaking his hand. "Then please call me Harry by all means. This is my friend Hermione Granger." Harry said.
After they shook hands and after the initial awkwardness disappeared, they started opening up. They were soon disturbed as someone opened the cabin door without permission. The boy looked inside for a moment, his eyes fell on Harry and he exclaimed, "Can I sit here? Everywhere else is full."
Harry immediate put his guard up and coolly replied, "I find this hard to believe considering the train is magical and has already enough space to seat double the usual number of students. We also saw a number of compartments empty on our way." The Hogwarts express had a whole section on it in Hogwarts A History so Harry was bound to know this.
"But this compartment has some space for me. Come on! Let me in." The boy all but whined. He pushed his way through the compartment and sat without permission. "I am Ron Weasley." He said to Harry and looked up at his scar."Blimey, you are Harry Potter" He exclaimed.
As soon as Ron has said the word Weasley, Harry's green eyes flashed dangerously as remembered that this was the family who was being paid by Dumbledore. It seemed that they were searching for him and wanted to make relations with him. He stood up and glared at Ron, "Mr Weasley, you come here uninvited and blatantly lie to us just because you wanted to see me but simply put we don't want you here. So I request you to remove your company before we are forced to take some action." Ron may not have been smart but even he knew he couldn't fight with Harry or the whole plan which his mother explained to him would go to waste so he left quietly muttering curses.
After that incidence, the topic came to houses. "We are hoping to get in Slytherin. Most of our family comes from that house and it suits our plans for Hogwarts perfectly." Daphne said.
"I would be happy to get in any house, though Ravenclaw sounds the best to me." Harry said. Hermione nodding her acceptance too, "According to Hogwarts a History, they even have a library in their common room." Hermione's eyes gleamed when she said this. All the occupants of the compartment laughed when they saw the gleam.
They were again disturbed when the compartment door opened and a boy with blonde hair walked in. "I heard that Harry Potter is in here. It is you isn't it." The boy said in a superior air to him while he looked at Harry. Harry nodded and asked, "Yes and whom might you be."
"My name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." Hermione sniggered lightly when she recognized the obvious muggle style the boy has stolen his introduction from. The boy, Draco, looked affronted at the laugh and exclaimed, "Think my name is funny, do you? No need to ask yours. Malfoys don't need to talk to the likes of peasants. You will soon find that some wizards are better than others Potter, I can help you find them." Malfoy raised his hand to shake Harry's but Harry was livid. He was going to tell this boy exactly how he felt when he saw the discreet shake of the head from Daphne.
"Mr Malfoy, firstly insulting my companions would not win you points from me. Secondly, I thank you for your gracious offer and I will consider it, but give me some time. I am new to the magical world and am trying to blend in, okay?" Harry now saw what Daphne was trying to say. Here was the perfect example of the Bigoted Lords that he had read about. They were politically powerful and were not the ones to mess with but also, they had little to no arguments to support their beliefs. Someone this young could easily be shown the way but the process must be slow.
Malfoy nodded slowly as he contemplated Harry's words. "Okay, Potter. I can understand. But remember that this offer will not be for long." And Malfoy exited their cabin. "Good work Harry, I was afraid you will simply reject his offer and start a fight. You see this is why I won't make many relations with people at Hogwarts." Harry now understood why Daphne had suddenly got a passive face when Malfoy entered.
A knock at the door was heard and a pudgy-faced boy looked inside,"H..Has anyone s..seen a t..toad? I have l..lost one." The boy stuttered and was clearly very nervous. Harry stood up to greet him and said, "No but I will be happy to help you", "Me too" Hermione piped.
The boy's face brightened instantly and gave them a nervous smile, "Thanks, I am Neville by the way, Neville Longbottom."
"I am Harry, nice to meet you. So let's find your pet and later if you want you can sit with us." Harry offered while he glanced at the two girls for their permission which they soon gave happily.
The trio searched for the toad for fifteen minutes when Harry suddenly exclaimed, "I am so stupid. Come on Neville, I know how we can find your toad quickly." Hermione and Neville both followed Harry as he went to the front end of the train towards the prefects' cabin. They made their way to the nearest prefect who looked at around 15 years of age and Harry asked, "Excuse me but we were wondering if you could help us. Our friend Neville here has lost his toad and I thought maybe you could summon it for us." Hearing this, Hermione's palm hit her face as she also realized her supposed stupidity of not remembering the spell that even a third year was not required to know. But to both the kids, that was a serious crime. Soon the trio made their way to the cabin with one of them holding his pet amphibian called Trevor.
The trolley lady made her appearance soon and the five friends ate candy together though Hermione was reluctant, something about growing up with a lot of 'candy rules'. An hour was left in the ride when they changed into their robes, the boys giving the girls their privacy by leaving the cabin for a few moments.
The train stopped soon and they stepped outside to meet a man who could only be described as a giant. He was a lot taller than the average man and was holding a lamp, calling out to the first years. They walked towards him and were asked to sit in a boat. Daphne and Tracey sat with two other kids while Harry, Hermione and Neville were joined by the redhead boy Ron who constantly pestered Harry with questions throughout the trip. As they got the first look of the magnificent castle, gasps of wonder were heard everywhere.
They reached the castle and Hagrid led them to the only professor Harry and Hermione knew, Professor McGonagall.
"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 honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."
All eyes were on her as she spoke. She then led them to the great hall where all the other students were waiting for them to be sorted. They assembled just before the teacher's table which had a stool to sit upon in front of it and a dusty old hat was kept on the stool. Professor McGonagall took out a scroll and started taking names of the first years.
Harry waited patiently for his turn while he looked around to observe his surroundings. His gaze was upon Dumbledore, who was sitting in a grand chair, a few seconds longer. He saw Hermione taking a lot of time before the hat shouted the name of her house and she took her place with the Eagles. Daphne joined Tracey in Slytherin while Neville took even longer than Hermione before he joined the house of the lions. Soon his name was called and he stepped up to sit on the stool.
The sorting hat was placed upon his head and he felt a strange presence as if someone was knocking, on his mind shields. He then heard a voice in his mind, 'Can you let me, I have to sort you, you know?' It was an old, raspy voice, 'How do I know that you will not betray my secrets?' Harry asked sceptically. 'I have been charmed not to do so Mr Potter so please, I do need to read your mind'. Harry reluctantly lowered his mind shields which had slowly gotten stronger over the month.
'Oh my! Difficult, very difficult. There is courage no doubt, you were very brave to tolerate your relatives. But you are not loyal to many and don't give your trust easily so Hufflepuff is out. Your ambition is one of the greatest Mr Potter and cunning too. Salazar would have loved to have you in his house. But in the end, it comes down to your knowledge. You seek knowledge, not as a requirement but as a skill. You have one of the most developed mindset I have ever seen among anyone your age. It is obvious now that I see it. Though Slytherin suits you a lot, it seems you are better for another. So better be RAVENCLAW!'
AN: I would like to thank NushaK and Enss, my beta readers. Without their help, this fic would not have been possible. RR