Chapter 2 - Hogwarts

"Good morning, girls!" Alice's voice rang out as a light flicked on. "Time to get up!"

Petunia blearily opened her eyes, immediately squinting against the harsh artificial light. It was finally September 1, but she and Lily had stayed up quite late the night before, having whispered discussions about what Hogwarts was going to be like.

"Wha' time is it?" Lily mumbled into her pillow.

"Five o'clock, you know we need to catch the train in less than an hour, Lily," their mother informed her sternly. "Up, up!"

Both Petunia and Lily stumbled out of bed and once they began getting dressed for the day, Mrs. Evans left the room, satisfied that they were up. "I'm going to miss you," Lily said as she pulled a shirt over her head. "You'll write, right?"

"Course I will," Petunia said confidently as she slipped on a pair of shoes.

They arrived in London around a quarter to ten and Kings Cross was already bustling. Some families looked quite normal, clutching suitcases and kissing loved ones before boarding a train. Others looked normal at first glance, but were slightly out of place with owls and old fashioned trunks. Then there were those who were clearly different, dressed in clothes fashionable several decades - if not several centuries - past.

"Alright, platform 8... platform 9... aha! this must be it!" Mr. Evans was positively quaking with excitement.

They had stopped in front of a wrought iron barrier between platforms 9 and 10. Petunia walked up to it and began to push on the edge of it, barely hearing her mother's plea of, "Petunia, wait!"

Suddenly, she found herself on a similarly crowded platform, no evidence of either platform 9 or 10 around here. People were openly practicing magic here, wands being tapped on individuals to straighten hairstyles or robes, and in one instance, a boy had a wand outstretched and moments later a toad came soaring into his other outstretched hand.

"Petunia Marie Evans!" came her mother's voice. "Don't you ever do that again!"

Petunia turned around and saw the rest of her family standing on the platform with her now. "I'm very sorry, Mummy," she said. "I didn't realize it would be quite so easy to get through."

"Yes, well, you have no idea how terrifying it is to see your child disappear into thin air," she huffed, engulfing her daughter in a tight hug.

"Is that the train?" her father asked.

Sure enough, Petunia turned her head in her mother's grasp and noticed the brilliantly scarlet old fashioned steam engine that was standing next to the platform. "Oh wow," Lily said, wide eyed, voicing Petunia's thoughts exactly.

"Go on, find a seat girls, we'll talk to you through the window," their father said, smiling and giving his daughters a gentle push towards the train. They needed very little encouragement and quickly walked on board.

After peeking into several compartments, they finally found an empty one and managed to get Petunia's trunk onto the luggage rack without much difficulty. Sitting across from one another in the seats closest to the windows, Petunia threw open the window and leaned out, waving to her parents, who quickly hurried over.

"Petunia, dear, get back inside. You don't want to have an accident before you even get to school!"

"Yes, Mummy," Petunia replied, as she sat back down and smoothed her yellow blouse and white skirt. They chatted for nearly a quarter of an hour before the compartment door slid open, causing Petunia to jump in her seat.

"Do you mind if I sit with you?" a young girl with a round, kind face asked. "My cousins don't want me bothering them and I don't know anyone my own age."

"Oh, no, not at all," Petunia replied, springing to her feet. "I'm Petunia Evans and this is my sister, Lily."

"Alice Fawley," the girl said nervously, shaking Petunia's hand.

"We'll leave you to get settled in then," Mrs. Evans said, kissing Petunia on the cheek. "Lily, I expect you to be back on the platform by five of."

Mr. Evans leaned into the compartment and kissed Petunia on the cheek as well. "Have a lovely term at school, learn lots, and write home often," he told her. "Lovely name there, young lady," he said with a broad smile towards Alice Fawley.

"What did he mean by that?" Alice asked with a small frown.

Lily laughed. "Our mum's name is Alice, too."

"Oh," Alice said. "I'm rather fond of it myself. Are you a first year?"

Lily shook her head sadly. "I'm only eight. Mrs. McGonagall says I get to come when I turn eleven! I can't wait to learn about magic."

"No one else in our family is magic," Petunia explained. "Lily and I knew we could do strange things, but we were still quite surprised when Mrs. McGonagall visited and told us we were witches."

Alice's eyes widened. "Oh wow, I can't imagine living without magic," she said, shaking her head, causing her pigtails to swing wildly. "My family's been magical for, well, centuries. Millenia, probably."

"What's it like growing up in a magical house?" Petunia asked, curiously.

Alice laughed. "I honestly wouldn't know where to begin," she said with a sigh. "I've never seen how Muggles live, so I can't tell you what the difference is."

"Does anyone in the magical world use electricity?" Lily asked.

"Use what?"

Lily and Petunia stared at each other in disbelief.

"How do you power your lights?" Petunia asked.

"Well, clearly there are some magical lights," Alice said with a frown. "But mostly we use candles. Some of the newer places have gas lines installed and have gas lamps, but our house is too old for that. Say, what house do you think you'll end up in?"

Petunia was confused for a moment, then realized she was referring to Hogwarts. "I don't know," she said uneasily.

"Oh, well if you're Muggleborn, I suppose you wouldn't have a family tradition," Alice said with a wave of her hand. "I'm hoping to get into Gryffindor, personally. Most of my family has been in Gryffindor."

"How do we get sorted? The pamphlets Mrs. McGonagall gave us were very vague about that."

"I don't know," Alice shrugged. "My mum says it's a secret until you get to school."

The three girls continued chatting until a whistle blew and Mrs. Evans was back at the window. "It's five of!" she told Lily.

Lily stood up sadly. "Well, it was lovely meeting you, Alice," she said, sticking out her hand.

"I hope I'll see you soon, Lily!" Alice said merrily, giving the younger girl a quick hug.

Petunia stood up and gave Lily a tight hug. "I'll write often," she promised.

"I will too," Lily whispered back.

"Good luck in school, I love you!" Petunia was desperately trying not to cry and could see tears swimming in Lily's large green eyes.

"Love you too, Tuney!" Lily called out as she scampered out of the compartment.

"I wish I had a baby sister," Alice sighed when Petunia stepped back into the compartment after seeing Lily walk back onto the platform. The two girls sat next to the window and waved goodbye to their parents as the train gave a final whistle and began pulling away from the station.


Six hours later, Alice had taught Petunia how to play Exploding Snap and they had shared all of the chocolate chip cookies Mrs. Evans had sent along for the train ride. Alice had 18 knuts that she quickly spent on the food trolley that came around several hours after the train had departed. Alice's favorite treat off the trolley was Drooble's Best Blowing Bubblegum, but she also bought Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and pumpkin juice for Petunia to try.

Finally they could feel the train begin to slow down and both girls pulled their school robes on. "Don't forget your hat," Alice warned. "My mum says that they're very strict about always wearing your hats outside."

Petunia frowned, thinking this was something rather old-fashioned that her grandmother would do, but pulled out her hat, straightening it and carefully pinning it into her hair. She helped Alice pin her hat into her hair after she had painfully stabbed herself in the head several times.

"My mum knows a really good spell to keep hats on without pins," Alice grumbled. "I'm going to have to write her and ask how to do it."

Petunia was grateful for the large brim on her hat when she stepped off the train and the sun was still shining quite brightly.

"Firs' years over here! Firs' years!"

Petunia looked up and gasped. "Look at that man," she said tugging on Alice's sleeve.

The man rounding up the first years was positively enormous. He was solidly built and at least eight feet tall, if Petunia had to guess. His broad smile put her at ease somewhat, but she still grabbed Alice's hand.

The first years clustered around the giant of a man while the older students boarded old-fashioned looking horseless carriages. As the last carriage rumbled away, he spoke again.

"Alrigh' now everyone, follow me!"

They trotted off down a path, hardly able to keep up with his long, easy strides. A few minutes later a lake came into view and they could see a large castle on the other side.

"No more than four to a boat!" the man called out again and the students quickly began climbing into the small rowboats along the shore. Petunia and Alice climbed in behind two boys.

"Alice Fawley and Petunia Evans," Alice informed the boys quickly, sticking her hand out in greeting.

"Frank Longbottom and Eric Thomas," the boy on the right said, shaking Alice's hand. "Say, do you know Eustace Fawley?"

Alice's face lit up. "He's my uncle! How do you know him?"

Eric turned to Petunia as Alice and Frank were excitedly discussing people that they knew or had heard of. "I'm the first wizard in my family," he admitted. "How long have you and Alice known each other?"

"Oh, we just met on the train this morning," Petunia assured him. "I'm the first witch in my family too, although Mrs. McGonagall said that my little sister, Lily, is too."

"Did you ever make strange things happen?" Eric asked her excitedly. "We just thought I had the best of luck growing up, I was always getting myself out of tricky spots, like a bus suddenly jumping over five feet when I was little and walked out onto the street without looking, but apparently I was doing magic!"

"One time a boy who was teasing me began vomiting slugs," Petunia shrugged. "Lily's better at it than I am, half the time she can do stuff on purpose."

"Wow," he said, staring at her in awe.

Soon enough the boats had crossed the lake and Petunia let out a small screech as she realized the boats were on a collision course with the castle, which was apparently partially underwater. Her nerves lessened slightly when she saw the boats ahead of her passing harmlessly through a curtain of ivy cascading down one of the walls, evidently hiding an entrance.

"Don't worry," Alice told her as she squeezed Petunia's hand reassuringly. "My mum says there's a dock inside the castle.

Sure enough, their boat approached the ivy and though Petunia flinched and closed her eyes, feeling the ivy tickle her as they passed under it. She opened her eyes again and saw that they were in a rather plain room, dimly lit by candles with water and dirt making up the floor. As soon as the boat scraped against the shore, she scrambled out of the boat and began following everyone up a set of steps. Soon enough, they were in a fairly large room, with a rather impressive vaulted ceiling, lit by candles. Soon enough it was nearly filled with eleven year olds whispering quietly amongst themselves.

"Good evening, if you'll please follow me," Mrs. McGonagall announced, leading them through another door. The entered an even larger stone chamber with a very impressive set of wooden doors. There were a number of smaller doors in the room as well, and they passed one where it sounded like there was a large number of rambunctious teenagers being held behind it. Given that she was at school, Petunia thought that was likely the case, as they walked into yet another chamber where Mrs. McGonagall had stopped.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said once everyone had shuffled nervously into the room. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you can take your seats in the Great Hall, you must first be sorted into your houses. The Sorting Ceremony is very important because while you are here..."

Petunia's mind drifted off a bit, vaguely paying attention to Mrs. McGonagall's speech, which sounded dry and well-rehearsed. She hadn't told them anything yet that was new to Petunia, so she thought about the various ways that they might be sorted into various houses. She had finally decided that they would be drawing papers out of a hat when everyone around her began shuffling into the Great Hall with a mixture of apprehension and excitement.

The Great Hall more than lived up to its name. Petunia only saw five tables, but they were all quite large. It appeared that each house had their own table and the faculty had a separate table. There were hundreds of students sitting around chatting and catching up and several gave the first years waves and thumbs up. There was a great deal brighter in the place than she had expected, so she turned to look at the ceiling, gasping when she saw nothing there.

"Won't we get wet when it rains?" she hissed at Alice, growing rather concerned.

Alice looked up and laughed. "Oh, no, don't worry," she assured her. "There's an actual roof up there, the ceiling's just bewitched to look like the sky."

Feeling relieved, Petunia continued holding her head up high as they made their way to the front of the hall. As Mrs. McGonagall reached the front and center of the Great Hall, she stopped, drawing up a small stool, and pulling an ancient, tattered, and dirty looking hat out of her pocket. Petunia nearly fell over in shock when a hole near the brim of the hat opened up and it began to sing. Later she couldn't tell you the exact words of the song, but it had a pleasant enough melody (for a hat, anyways) and seem to describe the qualities of the four Hogwarts houses. When it was finished, the entire school applauded politely and the hat bowed.

Once everything had quieted down again, Mrs. McGonagall looked around the room sternly, pulling out a piece of parchment from her pocket.

"Abbot, Emily!"

A very small girl nervously made her way to the hat, wringing her hands, before sitting on the stool and slipping the hat on her head. Petunia shuddered, they were expected to put that dirty, ancient hat on their heads? She hoped there was a cure for lice in the Wizarding world.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat after several moments.

Everyone at the left-middle table began clapping and cheering as the small girl took the hat off her head and ran off to join the Hufflepuffs. Once everyone was quiet again, Mrs. McGonagall read the next name off the parchment.

"Bones, Robert!"

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted before it had even settled on his head.

A few more students were sorted and Petunia jerked in surprised to hear her name called out.

"You're up," Alice whispered, giving her a gentle nudge to the front.

Shakily, Petunia crossed the distance to the hat and gingerly placed it on her head as she sat on the stool.

She heard a small chuckle. I may be old and dirty, but I have plenty of enchantments on me to resist vermin, child.

What? Petunia thought frantically.

No worries about catching lice, we need to worry more about where to sort you.

I don't know where I belong, Petunia thought fretfully.

Ah, yes, you're a Muggleborn, the hat said thoughtfully. I think you'd do well in Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Gryffindor, but in the end we must chose one of those houses.

Why not Hufflepuff? Petunia asked indignantly.

You have many fine qualities, but unfailing loyalty is not one of them, the hat told her gently. You have plenty of self-preservation and cunning for Slytherin, plenty of brains and hard work for Ravenclaw, and I daresay you even have enough bravery for Gryffindor.

I'm not brave, Petunia said glumly, thinking back to the visit to Gringotts.

There are many kinds of bravery. Charging blindly into unknown or dangerous situations is not the only type of bravery in the world.

I suppose that's true.

Well now, although I think you'd make a fine Slytherin, they aren't taking kindly to Muggleborns these days, all the pity.

What's wrong with being Muggleborn?

The hat heaved out a great sigh. You'd have to ask them, I don't have any problems with Muggleborns. I may see into their minds but that doesn't mean I understand their convoluted reasoning.

Oh.

So, now it's down to Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Two very fine houses, you'll do well in either of them. You've got a sharp mind, even if your magic isn't the strongest I've seen. Petunia's shoulders sank glumly. No, don't you fret, child, some of the smartest witches of the ages weren't the strongest! You certainly don't think Muggles are blithering idiots because they can't do magic, do you?

No, Petunia thought, aghast at the question.

Yes, I'm thinking that would be an excellent fit for you.

"RAVENCLAW!" the hat shouted, bringing many cheers to what had been the longest sorting thus far that year. Petunia quickly pulled the hat off her head and briskly walked to the Ravenclaw table, the first Ravenclaw of the year.

"Fawley, Alice!"

Alice, pale, scurried up to the stool, nearly tripping over her own feet. After a few moments, the hat shouted "RAVENCLAW!" again and Petunia cheered for her new friend heartily with all her new housemates.

Finally, the last student was sorted, the hat and stool disappeared, and a very tall, very thin man wearing deep purple robes dotted with small silver stars stood.

"Welcome to Hogwarts! I'm sure you're all quite famished, so I'll keep this brief. As its name might suggest, the Forbidden Forest is still out of bounds for all students unless specifically accompanied by a member of the staff. After the disturbance they caused in the halls last year, Screaming Yo-Yo's have unfortunately been banned this year. If you are interested in viewing all banned items, there is a list posted on Mr. Pringle's office door. Thank you!"

The tall man sat down and suddenly the tables were covered in food. Alice quickly helped herself to potatoes, carrots, green beans, and roast chicken, before realizing her new friend hadn't moved yet.

"Come on, eat!" Alice informed her merrily, scooping out chicken and ham pie on both their plates.

Petunia picked at her pie and helped herself to some green beans, which she chewed slowly. Too slowly, evidently, because before she had even finished half of her portion, they disappeared from her plate, along with the rest of the food on the table. Sighing sadly, she set down her fork, only to gasp in surprise again, as the table was now laden with every kind of sweet imaginable. There were even some sweets she was certain she had never seen, were those frog shaped chocolates really hopping all over the table?

"No, really, I'm not hung- oh, alright," Petunia said weakly as Alice prepared both of them hot fudge sundaes.

"So, where are you girls from?" a pale girl with dark brown hair asked.

Both Petunia and Alice looked at each other in surprise, neither had thought to ask that since they met on the train that morning.

"Er - I'm from Cokeworth, it's near Manchester," Petunia offered timidly.

"I'm from London, about a twenty minute walk from Diagon Alley," Alice answered. "How about you?"

"I'm from Aberdeen. Oh! My name's Emmeline, Emmeline Vance."

Petunia and Alice quickly told her their names and then they began discussing what they hoped to learn in the coming year. Emmeline, as it turned out, was a third year, but her best friend, Margie, had transferred to Beauxbatons.

"Beauxbatons?" Petunia asked in confusion.

"It's the French version of Hogwarts," Emmeline sighed, plonking her elbows down on the table. "She had to spend the whole summer learning French, can you believe it?"

"No," Alice answered, wide eyed.

"Why'd she transfer?" Petunia asked curiously.

"Her parents are Muggles and her father's job got transferred to Switzerland," Emmeline said gloomily, stabbing her slice of chocolate cake.

Suddenly, all the desserts vanished just as dinner had. The tall man stood again, said something about following Prefects and everyone began to get up and leave. By this point Petunia was very sleepy, but Emmeline took both her and Alice by the hand.

"Come on, you two, I'll show you where to go," she said, dragging the two tired girls after her.

"But -" Alice smothered a yawn and tried again. "But you're not a prefect."

Emmeline let out a laugh. "I think in the past two years I've figured out how to get to my own tower without a prefect."

She led them up several winding staircases, pointing out that the second staircase they had gone up actually led to the west wing on the fourth floor on alternate Tuesdays, instead of the east wing on the third floor like it did the rest of the time. Finally, when Petunia didn't think she could climb another step, they reached a door with a bronze, raven shaped knocker.

"Ah, first years!" the raven exclaimed.

"You have to answer a riddle to get into the common room, it's to make sure our minds stay sharp," Emmeline explained.

"Yes, yes, but two first years this late at night... I'd best go easy on them. Hmm... Give me food and I will live, give me water and I will die, what am I? No helping!"

Alice and Petunia looked at each other bleary-eyed while Emmeline's eyes lit up in excitement. Finally something clicked in Petunia's mind as she stared at the torches lining the staircase leading up to the door.

"Fire," she answered.

"Excellent!" the knocker said cheerfully as the door swung open.

The common room was wide and circular, with large windows out of which Petunia could see more stars than she ever thought existed. There was a large fire crackling along the wall and there were a number of sofas, squashy chairs, and bookcases throughout the room.

"I suppose you'll want to head straight to bed, so let me show you where the dormitories are," Emmeline announced, heading for a spiral staircase. "These stairs lead up to both the boys and girls rooms, but there are repulsion jinxes on the girl's doorways that the boys can't get through. If a millennia of Ravenclaw minds can't figure out how to get around the jinx, you most likely won't," she warned as they began hiking up the steep steps.

The went up and up and up, all the way to the very top of the tower, as the stairs had stopped when they reached a door with a plaque that said "First Years - Girls Dormitory". They stepped inside and there were two four-poster beds with navy hangings, two desks, and two bookcases.

"Oh, you're so lucky," Emmeline moaned. "There's six girls in my dormitory still and we can barely fit all the beds in the room. Good night!"

Both Petunia and Alice fumbled through their trunks, which had arrived and been placed thoughtfully at the foot of their beds, finally pulling out nightclothes and stumbling into bed. I have so much to tell Lily, Petunia thought just before she fell asleep.


Author's Note:

And there's chapter 2! I hope you enjoyed it. I'm still looking for a beta if anyone's interested!

I took part of Professor McGonagall's speech from HPSS, so that doesn't belong to me. None of the characters belong to me, actually.