It was the day before they left to Hogwarts, and Harry was extremely tired, due to staying up most of the night thinking about what had happened at the Quidditch World Cup. He, Ron, Hermione, Sirius, Courtney, and the rest of the Weasley family went to Diagon Alley to go purchase their school things. They all went to Gringotts Wizarding Bank to withdraw money from their vaults, and then went back to Diagon Alley when they were done. Harry and Ron once again had to be refitted for their robes, since they both had grown another four inches in the summer. After they did that, and paid for their robes, the group travelled to Flourish and Blotts, to get their schoolbooks.
After they got their schoolbooks, the group split up, and went their own ways. Fred and George went to Gambol and Japes Joke Shop, Ginny, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and Sirius went to The Leaky Cauldron, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione went to Eeylops Owl Emporium to get Hedwig and Pigwidgeon some Owl Treats. They got a huge amount of Owl Treats for Hedwig and Pigwidgeon, then went to Sugarplum's Sweets Shop to get some candy.
Everybody met up at the Leaky Cauldron after they were done shopping, then went back to Grimmauld Place, to pack their things. By the time dinner came, everybody was already tired, so they quickly ate dinner, and went to sleep. The next day, they woke up early, so they wouldn't be late to get to the Hogwarts Express. Sirius pulled Harry aside from breakfast, and handed him a piece of paper. "What's this?" Harry asked. Sirius smiled and said "something to make your next year at Hogwarts more enjoyable." Harry unfolded the the paper and read:
I, Sirius Orion Black, Harry Potter's godfather, give one Harry James Potter, permission to visit Hogsmeade during the weekends.
Harry read and reread the paper three times, then looked up at his godfather and smiled. The group left a short while after that, and headed to King's Cross Station. Once again, they barely made it in time, and had to rush everybody on the train. Harry gave Sirius one last hug, and got on the train, just as it was about to leave. Harry, Ron, and Hermione went to go find a compartment to sit in, and found an empty one near the front of the train.
Half an hour after leaving King's Cross, Fred and George came into the compartment. "Blimey, everywhere else is full." said Fred. "We were talking to Lee Jordan, but left when there was nowhere to sit." said George. The group all laughed while Fred and George were telling jokes, until Malfoy and his goons came in. "Oh look, Saint Potter's playing with the Weasels. It only figures, you're used to the company of the poor, aren't you potty?" Harry and George both got up and pointed their wands at Malfoy. George casted 'Locomotor Wibbly' and Harry casted 'Furnunculus' at Malfoy, but Crabbe got in the way and got hit with both curses.
Harry, George, Malfoy, and Goyle looked down at Crabbe , and saw tentacles popping out of Crabbe's face, which cause Malfoy and Goyle to run away. "I guess that's what happens when you mix two curses. What did you use Harry?" George asked. Harry replied "The Pimple Jinx. What did you use?" George replied "The Jelly-Legs Curse." They closed the compartment door, and left Crabbe out in the hallway. When it was about time to change into their uniforms, Fred, George, Harry, and Ron stood outside the compartment while Hermione changed. Then Hermione did the same thing for them. Shortly after, the Hogwarts Express stopped at the train station in Hogsmeade.
"Firs'-years, this way!" said a booming familiar voice. Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned to see their friend and gamekeeper of Hogwarts, Hagrid. He was taking the first-years on their traditional journey across the lake, but the only problem was that is was raining heavily. Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and Hermione got into one of the horseless carriages, and rode to the entrance of Hogwarts. When they reached the stairs, they got out of the carriage, and went inside the school to escape from the rain.
Peeves was waiting for them, and started dropping water balloons on the students. When Professor McGonagall came, he threw a water balloon at her, blew a raspberry, and flew away. Everyone then proceeded to go into the Great Hall. Ten minutes later, Hagrid walked in with the first-years, missing his jacket. Harry wondered about this, until he saw a first-year with Hagrid's huge moleskin on his body. The first-year waved at Colin Creevey, and mouthed words that sounded like "I fell into the lake." Then Professor McGonagall got out the Sorting Hat, and the Sorting began.
When the Sorting ended, Professor Dumbledore stood up, and it instantly got quiet. He said in a calm, but powerful voice "To the first-years, welcome to Hogwarts. For those returning, welcome back. I've kept you long enough, so enjoy the feast, and tuck in." Everyone's plates magically appeared, and Harry and Ron helped themselves to everything. It was three servings later, that everyone stopped eating, and when Professor Dumbledore stood up again. "I have an important announcement to make!" he said.