Hey thank you all so much for the reviews! Okay well here is chapter….28! The day has finally arrived for Harry and Rob. In this chapter they are leaving for Hogwarts. I contemplated writing a chapter based on the trip to Diagon Alley but I thought, what's the point? All Id be doing is regurgitating certain elements which have already been scripted so…I hope you realise that this is a better alternative. Anyway enough of my rambling. Enjoy this chapter! Talk 2 ya!
Sunday morning August 31st finally arrived. There was a mixture of anxiety and eagerness brewing within everybody. Lily and Sharina were making chocolate pancakes while James, Sirius and Remus were setting the picnic table for the last meal they would have as a family for a while. Harry and Rob were in their rooms making the final packing adjustments to their bags whilst Ryan, Arielle, Samia and Kyrah were outside sitting at the table. The plan was that when the ministry cars, which James ordered arrived, Ryan would summons the Weasleys so they could all go to the station together.
"….two, four, six, eight, ten….okay that's the plates and cutlery taken care of." James announced looking at his friends who nodded in agreement.
"Dad can I have chocolate milk please?" Ryan asked, kneeling on the bench and playing with a napkin.
"No Ryan you can't. Sirius stated firmly.
"Aww but dad……" Ryan whined.
"Ryan I said no and I mean it alright? Now come on sit down properly please." Ryan did as he was told but glared hard at his father before doing so. Sirius didn't notice this. Just then Harry and Rob came bounding out of their houses grinning from ear to ear at each other. They ran over to each other and shouted…."WERE GOING TO HOGWARTS!" They slapped each other a high five before hugging each other. Sirius, James and Remus smiled at each other while the kids just laughed.
"So have you got everything packed champ?" James asked as he and Sirius and Remus approached them. Harry and Rob turned to face them.
"Ya I sure do dad."
"Are you positive coz I don't want to be getting an owl from you saying you have forgotten all your books for instance hence the reason why snivelus has given you detention!" James said half laughing with his friends. Harry smirked at him before saying……
"Don't worry dad. You won't be getting an owl saying anything like that." Harry assured him with a warm smile. James reciprocated it before ruffling his hair.
"Besides dad, it won't be for forgetting books that Snivelus will give me detention!" Harry grinned up at his father while he and the others burst out laughing.
"Harry mate I would be very disappointed in you if it was for that reason!" Sirius announced smiling at his godson who reciprocated it. Lily and Sharina arrived with two plates of chocolate pancakes to place on the table. They saw Harry and company laughing so after exchanging quizzical expressions, Lily asked…"So is it a private joke or can anyone join in?" James turned round and said….
"Sorry Lils but we were just….."
"Explaining the marauder rules Lily my love!" Sirius interjected grinning.
Lily and Sharina just sighed as they approached the table to put the plates down. The boys followed them over taking their seats at it whilst Lily and Sharina divided the pancakes equally to each plate.
Ninety minutes later and everyone found themselves at Kings cross station on platform nine and three quarters to be exact. It was 10:45 so Harry and Rob would be boarding the train with Ron in ten minutes at the latest. Fred, George and Percy had already gone on but Molly was too upset to let her youngest son go just yet. Harry and Rob were standing next to the train when their parents and guardians came up behind them. They turned round to find five depressed looking adults and children staring at them. Lily stepped forward first with Sharina.
"Okay well I guess this is it sweetheart. I hope you have a great time and make lots of new friends……but I am really going to miss darling." Lily said on the verge of tears. Harry nodded at her before saying…"Ill miss you too mom." She hugged him tightly for a minute or two before releasing him. "Be good and please don't take head of what your father and godfather have told you okay?"
"Yep sure mom." Harry said unconvincingly. She left to stand next to Remus who smiled warmly at her. James stepped forward and said…."Alright champ well….you enjoy Hogwarts okay? Coz it is probably going to be the best experience of your life kid!" Harry sniggered at his smiling father who then hugged him for a few seconds before releasing him. Before he left, James said…..
"Let me know if Snivelus gives ya any bother and….well sort it!" He winked and left to stand next to Lily." Take care of yourself Harry wont you?" Remus asked sincerely.
"Ya of course Remus." Harry replied, smiling softly. They shared a few second hug before Remus left.
"Oh and don't forget to keep in touch." Remus said smiling warmly at him. Harry just nodded.
Sirius then stepped up and they both knew that this was going to be difficult. Sirius bent down and said...
"I guess that this isn't so essential anymore now." He sniggered at him and Harry smiled a little before saying..."Ya but I like it. It makes me feel like not everything has changed." They smiled sadly for a few seconds. "You are going to make your parents so proud at Hogwarts mate. Do you know that?"
"I want to make you proud too Padfoot."
"I already am proud Harry. Your parents are too of course……"
"Ill really miss you Sirius." Harry interjected sadly.
"The feeling is mutual Prongslet!" Sirius said despondently. "Come here mate." Sirius said as he embraced Harry securely. After a few minutes, they detached themselves as Sirius stood up.
"You best get on the train mate." Harry nodded. "See you at Christmas Harry." Sharina said hugging him quickly. "Keep in touch okay?" She kissed him on the cheek as Harry nodded.
"My my how you have grown." Everyone turned round to find Malfoy standing behind them.
"What the bloody hell do you want Malfoy!" James shouted.
"Oh nothing just to wish young Harry here good luck at Hogwarts." At this point Arthur and Molly were holding Samia and Kyrah whist Remus had Arielle in his arms. Ryan was in between James and Sharina. Lily was standing next to James and Sirius next to Sharina with his arms across Harry's chest.
"I want nothing from you." Harry replied meekly yet firmly.
"Oh come now Harry cant we forgive and forget? You know put all that has happened in the past?"
"You hurt Sirius. He could have died but you didn't care! You probably hoped he would die you sycophantic warped git!" Harry shouted aggressively. Ron was holding onto his father's waist so Arthur put his left arm around him and James had one arm around Rob. Malfoy stepped a little closer to Harry saying….
"Now that is not very nice Harry. You see what you must understand is this. You will be all alone at Hogwarts and there will be no father or precious godfather to protect you……"
"Malfoy swear god help you if you touch my godson because then you will have me to answer to!" Sirius shouted releasing his wand as James and Remus stepped forward.
"Oh don't worry….I wouldn't dream of harming young Harry here. He means far too much….to everyone….!" He smiled smugly as he walked away from them.
"Alright Harry, Rob, Ron get on that train now. Go!" Sirius bellowed releasing Harry.
"But Sirius what did he mean….."
"Not now Harry okay? Go on get on the train before it leaves. You have barely two minutes…."
"Come on Harry lets go!" Ron shouted from the carriage doorway. With a final nod from his father and godfather, he boarded the train and waved out to them all as soon as he was in a carriage with Rob and Ron. "Well be in touch Harry." James shouted from the platform." With another few waves from everyone the train was on its way to Hogwarts.
"Well that was very unexpected. Who the hell does Malfoy think he is anyway threatening you like that!" Rob said looking at Harry who was sitting opposite him with Ron.
"Well he supports the dark side Rob. All of them reckon they can treat people like that and get away with it. But you can't let them scare you coz then they will have won." Harry replied
"Ya that's what Sirius always says." Rob said smiling sadly at them.
"Hey what do you guys say to a game of exploding snap?" Ron asked removing a pack of cards from his bag and displaying in front of his friends. Rob and Harry smiled amiably at each other before saying…
"Ya alright." Ron grinned back at them before distributing the cards evenly between them. They played for the best part of an hour when all of a sudden there was a voice from the corridor….
"Anything from the trolley dears?" The boys immediately put the cards away and gathered their money together. When she eventually stopped outside their carriage, Harry got up and after much debate, bought the remainder contents of the trolley for his friends. He was under his fathers orders to do so; a kind of Potter tradition. The remainder of the journey was spent eating food such a sherbet lemons and chocolate frogs whilst discussing the best quiddtich teams, players and skills.
"I can't believe that they don't let you try out for your house team in first year. It is so unfair." Ron proclaimed despondently.
"Ya I know. Harry you would be well awesome as a seeker mate, wouldn't he Ron?"
"Ya definitely. You are a fantastic flier for starters and your skills are….outrageous!"
"That's all down to practice though guys. I mean the amount of time Sirius especially spent flying with me and teaching me……he and my dad were Gryffindor quiddtich champions you know? Il bet that if it wasn't for me….they would have made it professionally."
"What do you mean if it wasn't for you?" Ron asked quizzically.
"Well the whole Voldemort thing and…..oh Ron it is just a name."
"Yes but Harry….it is HIS name." Ron said through gritted teeth. Harry just rolled his eyes as Rob shrugged his shoulders and shoved another chocolate frog into his mouth. A few seconds there was a knock on their door. As the boys turned they saw a girl with longish, curly blonde hair dressed in Hogwarts uniform with a dictating look about her. She sighed before saying….
"Have anyone of you seen a toad? A boy named Neville has lost one? Honestly, I don't understand how anyone could loose a toad!" She walked in and sat down beside Ron. The boys looked at each other in disbelief before she said….
"By the way, I am Hermione Granger. What are your names?"
"Oh well my name is Rob Charlton Black, sitting beside you is Ron Weasley and next to me is….."
Hermione gasped before she said…..
"Oh my god! You are Harry Potter aren't you?"
"Yes I am." Harry replied coyly.
"Wow. Okay well I had better go so you can all change into your uniforms because I expect that we are almost there. See you at the ceremony." She said getting up and smiling a little at Harry.
"Well…..that was…..interesting. Wasn't she?" Rob asked universally.
"Well Rob mate lets just hope that not all the girls are like her here." Ron said.
"I thought she was nice. A little highly strung……but….you know nice." His friends just stared at him open mouthed so Rob said…."Right well we better get changed then."
As the train came to a halt, all anybody heard was the sound of Hagrids loud, over bearing voice.
"Firs years over here now. Come on now. Don be shy. Come on……" As the first years stepped off the train, some were petrified of the sight whilst others were mesmerized and smiled at the friendly giant who reciprocated it. Harry, Ron and Rob were one of the last to leave the train so Rob and Ron were in a state of shock when they saw Hagrid but Harry, who had met him on a few occasions said…..
"Hi Hagrid. How are you?"
"Alrigh Harry. Ya I'm great thanks." They both smiled a little at each other before Harry, Rob and Ron went to the docks and boarded a vacant boat. Within five minutes Hagrid had joined them and they were off to the castle. All the children were astonished at the sights in the water. One boy almost had his fingers slivered by a cat fish but was saved by Hagrid shouting universally…..
"Keep your hands inside the boat at all times."
The journey other than the occasional threat from sea creatures was quite pleasant. Within five minutes they had arrived safely at Hogwarts. Everybody stepped out of the boats and trudged their way up the ancient yet solid concrete steps of the castle. Hagrid directed them to wait outside the great hall doors and the deputy head mistress would be there in a few minutes. As they all were waiting for Mc Gonagall to appear, nobody noticed a cat sitting in the corner eying them suspiciously. They all began chattering amiably amongst themselves but a short time later, a boy with slick blonde hair shoved his way through the crowd and made his towards Harry and company.
"Well well if it isn't the notorious Harry Potter. I see you got here safely Potter."
"I see you did too Malfoy. What is it you want?"
"Oh not much just to make you a life changing proposition."
"Oh really? And what might that be then?"
"You don't want to be seen mingling with the wrong sort. Stick with me and I assure you that you won't regret it." Malfoy stuck out his hand for Harry to accept. Harry looked at it briefly before facing Malfoy and saying…..
"I would rather eat rat crap than be seen with you, Malfoy." Everybody around him burst out laughing while Malfoy glared at him and said….."You are going to regret this Potter!" He then rushed back to his clan as Mc Gonagall transformed to her human self. As she approached them she heard "Wow……did you see that? That was so cool….I wish I could do that…"
"Attention students. I am Professor McGonagall. Firstly I would like to welcome you all to Hogwarts. Now directly behind me you will see a door which will lead you straight into the great hall where the sorting ceremony awaits you. So if you would please follow me now." They all obediently followed her into the great hall, single file. As the great oak doors open, the large dining room was unexpected. As they were walking down the ceiling was transformed into the luminous, crystallised night sky which Harry overheard Hermione saying was magically constructed. Finally they reached the top of the room where McGonagall stood waiting with a long parchment in her hand which contained the names of all the first years. She stared at them gravely in order for their mindless chatter to cease. Within a few seconds the great hall fell silent as a graveyard as McGonagall addressed them.
"Right well the sorting ceremony will begin shortly whereby each and every one of you shall be sorted into your houses. There are four different houses as I am sure you are all aware. They go by the names of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and slytherin. Your houses are like your family now while you are at Hogwarts. You eat and attend classes with the rest of your house and you sleep in your dormitories which are situated in the common room. Throughout the year your triumphs shall earn you points whilst rule- breaking shall lose you points. At the end of the year whichever house has the highest amount of points shall be awarded the house cup which might I add, is a great honour. I hope that you all will be a credit to whatever house you are placed in. Now when I call your name you will please come forward and sit on the stool. I will then place this hat on your head and you shall be sorted into your house. So…… Hannah Abbott!" Shouted McGonagall. A small, fair haired girl with rosy cheeks came cautiously forward and sat on the stool obediently. Minerva smiled at her but this didn't appear to calm her. After a moments silence the hat roared "HUFFLEPUFF!" The great hall erupted with cheers as the girl hopped off the stool happily and ran over to the Hufflepuff table where she was warmly welcomed. After the room had quietened down, McGonagall called "Susan Bones". Within seconds the hat shouted "HUFFLEPUFF!" A few more were placed in Hufflepuff including Justin Fletchley. "Pansy Parkinson" A sour faced girl stepped forward with cropped hair. She sat smugly up on the stool with the top of her fingers resting tenderly on her knees. The hat didn't have to decide too long since it bellowed out "Slytherin" without being on her head thirty seconds. "Seamus Finnegan." A browned haired boy stepped forward who was standing next to Ron. The hat took a couple minutes to decide but finally declared him a "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Hermione Granger." Hermione breathed in deeply before slowly making her way to the top of the quay. As she approached McGonagall she placed the hat on her head rather gingerly. Not twenty seconds passed when the announced that Hermione was to be in "GRYFFINDOR!"
"Draco Malfoy." Naturally Draco knew where he belonged so before the hat could touch a strand of his silky blonde hair, he was proclaimed a "SLYTHERIN!" A few more names were called before…..
"Ronald Weasley." Ron looked at Harry anxiously. Harry patted him on the back and mouthed "Good luck." As Ron sat on the stool cautiously, the hat sat on his head which made him jump. A few seconds later Ron was an official "GRYFFINDOR!" Ron breathed a sigh of relief as he went to join his brothers at the table. After Ron was "Harry Potter." The whispering started immediately as Harry made his way up to the stage uncertainly after Rob wished him luck orally. Minerva smiled fondly down at Harry but he could only reciprocate it weakly. He saw all the professors staring at him but was sure he saw Hagrid smiling at him and Dumbledore wink slightly. He sat on the stool as the hat decided his fate.
"Hmm difficult. Very difficult indeed. You have so much talent that any house would be honoured to have you. Hmm let us see….You are a loyal friend so maybe Hufflepuff? Oh no you are not suited in Ravenclaw because I see that you like to cause mischief…Slytherin you would do very well in….
"Please not Slytherin….Please anywhere but Slytherin….." Harry pleaded meekly to the hat.
"Not Slytherin eh? Well Gryffindor….ah yes your father went there and he did very well. All the Potters do….well then I suppose you belong to…..GRYFFINDOR!" Harry breathed easily as he smiled down to Rob and at Mc Gonagall after she removed the hat. After Harry there was only one name left which was
"Robert Charlton Black." Rob stepped forward uneasily. As the hat was placed on his head it shouted within seconds "GRYFFINDOR!" He ran over to the Gryffindor table next to Harry and was welcomed warmly to his new home. A few minutes later Dumbledore stood up addressing his students.
"Attention please. Firstly I would like to welcome all the first years to Hogwarts. I hope this is the beginning of many opportunities to come. I have a few start of term notices before we begin our feast. Firstly the dark forest is strictly forbidden to anyone who does not wish to die a most horrific death. Our care taker Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you to check the items which shall be confiscated on the notice bard in your common rooms. So before I start rambling, let the feast begin." With that all the tables were spread with turkeys, bacon, beef, salmon, fried potatoes, garlic buttered potatoes, carrots, parsnips, rolls and slices of bread, pumpkin juice, milk, water and so much more. At around 9:00 Harry, Rob, Ron, Fred, George and Hermione left the great hall together. There were a few more students and professors still present but the majority had gone to bed a while ago. As they got to the door Hagrid came up behind them calling out
"Congratulations Harry on getting into Gryffindor. Your parents will be proud of ya. Not to mention how delighted Sirius and Remus will be of course." He smiled down at the young people.
Harry smiled back and said..."Thanks Hagrid. I was going to write and tell them tomorrow."
"Ya that's a good idea Harry coz am sure they would be wondering though Im sure they know anyway. So what do you say you come down to me tomorrow for some tea?"
"Oh ya sure Hagrid. I mean Id have to check my timetable first but Ill let ya know."
"Great and Rob, Ron if ye wanted to come too….."They nodded. "Right well I best let ye get to bed. Goodnight and enjoy your first day of lessons tomorrow." With that he was gone. The six young people made their way up to the Gryffindor common room with Fred and George in deep plot together. As they got to the portrait hole Fred called out "Caput Draconis" after the fat lady asked for it.
"Fred! George! Where did ye get to?" Percy asked approaching them.
"Oh we were just talking to Hagrid Perc why?" George asked amiably.
"Why? George it is my duty to lead the first years to Gryffindor tower safely not yours."
"Ah yes but well weren't ready to leave when you were Perc and neither were they so after ensuring Hermione here that we wouldn't actually loose house points, we agreed to follow you up."
"Don't sweat it mate. We won't breathe a vowel of this to anybody. Plus nobody got hurt so its all cushty! Come you lot. See you in the morning Percy!" Fred called out after the others followed him and George up to the dormitories. Everyone smirked before following the twins upstairs.
"Alright Hermione here is your dormitory. See you in the morning."
"Thanks guys. But next time can we please follow Percy when he is guiding the other first years?"
"Sure thing." George called out. "Goodnight!" All the boys said to her together. She just closed the door on their faces. Fred, George and Rob just ignored it and headed off up the stairs whilst Ron said "mental." Harry smirked at him before saying…."Come on Ron."
Ten minutes later and everyone was in bed. The last thing Harry said before removing his glasses was…
"Goodnight Hedwig." Seconds later he was sound asleep.