Chapter 2 - Old Friends & New Faces
The platform was chaos as exuberant students dismounted the train. James hung back in the carriage and waited for the stampede to die down a bit and Noah waited with him. But there was no holding Polly back and she exited immediately. Seth took a cautious look into the corridor and seemed to be swept away with the flow of students whether he had wanted to or not.
Eventually James and Noah left the safety of the carriage, James carefully carrying Atticus in his cage, trying not to bump him into anyone. As they stepped onto the platform James immediately saw a familiar face. And to be honest it was hard not to see him as Hagrid towered over the rest of the students by a long way.
Hagrid was a close family friend and often visited the Potter house so James knew him very well and couldn't wait till his third year when he'd be able to take his Care of Magical Creatures class.
Hagrid was busy trying to round up all the first years so hadn't noticed James yet as he and Noah pushed their way through the crowd.
"Come on firs' years. We aven' got all night," Hagrid's voice bellowed as he looked around counting heads and finally noticed James.
Hagrid, who had been looking rather annoyed up till now, suddenly started to beam and his face lit up. "There yeh are James. Was startin' ter think yeh'd missed the train."
"We almost did. Dad insisted on driving to Kings Cross."
Hagrid let out a chuckle and gave James what was meant to be a friendly pat on the back, but forgetting his own strength and how small James was, it almost knocked James off his feet.
"Right let's go! Yeh can leave all your luggage 'ere," Hagrid declared and started leading the first years off of the platform.
James carefully placed Atticus down near where the train conductor was offloading the rest of the luggage and assured Atticus he would be safe and back with him soon, before he rushed to join the others.
The first years followed Hagrid down a steep narrow path which eventually opened up to the edge of a great black lake, where numerous boats with lit lanterns awaited them.
"No more than four to a boat," Hagrid called out.
James and Noah got into an empty boat and were soon joined by a girl with long black hair who didn't say a word and then by Polly, which James wasn't thrilled about as he knew what was coming.
"Hello, I'm Polly," she said to the girl with black hair. "Did you know that muggles can't see the castle? It's protected by several enchantments so all they see is ruins. Isn't that fascinating?"
It might have been fascinating for James had Polly not already told him this fact on the train.
Hagrid shouted for the boats to begin moving and they started to glide across the lake before they eventually reached the cliff and the boats began to disappear one by one through a curtain of ivy, which hid an opening. The tunnel continued to a small stone harbour where the students started to disembark and Hagrid led them up some stone steps to a huge oak door which he knocked on three times. The sound of the knocks seemed to echo within the castle and the door swung open at once. A tall dark skinned witch with olive robes and a pointed hat spangled with astrological signs greeted them and led them into the castle and to a small empty chamber.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," the witch said. "Soon I will take you into the Great Hall where you will be sorted into one of the four Hogwarts' houses. There is absolutely nothing to worry about," she said, trying to reassure some of the worried looking faces. "And after that you will join your new house and the feast will begin."
A lot of the students worries seemed to ease at the thought of food and a feast and it wasn't long before the witch was leading them in a line through the doors of the Great Hall.
The hall was enormous. It was lit by hundreds of candles floating in the air and there were four long tables that the rest of the students were sitting at.
As the first years walked in all eyes were on them and James was sure all eyes were on him in particular as he looked around and could see students whispering to their friends sat next to them.
As James walked up the centre of the room between two of the tables he noticed Teddy Lupin, his father's godson, sat at a table of his right and on the table of his left was his cousin Victoire who smiled at him. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting and James recognised a couple more familiar faces. Neville Longbottom who was a friend of his parents and now Herbology teacher at Hogwarts was sat in between a rather small wizard who could only just barely see above the table and a young witch with short curly black hair and thick rimmed glasses. And sat in the middle of the teachers table was Professor McGonagall. James had only met her twice but knew she was a formidable woman and both his parents spoke highly of her.
The witch who had led them in motioned for the first years to stop before placing a four legged stool in front of the line and then placed a rather patched and dirty looking pointed hat on it before taking her own place at the teacher's table.
Silence suddenly descended on the hall and James knew exactly what was coming next as a rip near the brim of the hat opened wide and it began to sing:
Welcome one and welcome all,
To this here magic wizarding school.
For centuries it has stood strong,
To take in every child who came along.
Whether muggle born, half-blood or pure,
You'll find a home here that's for sure.
We will teach you all you need to know,
To help your magic knowledge grow and grow.
And to start your journey tonight,
I will sort you with my great insight.
For it is my job now as you will all see,
To place you where you'll be as great as can be.
Gryffindor are brave and daring,
While Hufflepuff are loyal and caring.
And Ravenclaw are creative and clever,
Which leaves one house left and well I never.
It's Slytherin who are ambitious and resourceful,
So now I will sort you but don't think I'm being forceful.
For ultimately which house you end up in,
Is not just determined by me but from within.
From deep within your mind and heart,
So let's stop this babbling and make a start.
For once the sorting has ceased,
Then we can enjoy the splendid Great Feast!
The hall erupted in cheers and applause as the hat stopped singing and the witch who had placed it there returned holding a large roll of parchment.
"When I call your name you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Blunt, Nancy."
The girl with long black hair who had shared a boat with James stepped out of the line and walked towards the hat before putting it on and sitting down. From the look on her face you would have thought she was about to be executed, not just sorted into a house. She looked extremely nervous and you could see beads of sweat on her forehead.
After a moments pause the hat began to speak "Hmm another Blunt. I remember your grandmother. I can sense a lot of her in you. Just like her I think you'll do well in SLYTHERIN!"
The table on the right side of the hall exploded in cheers and James wasn't sure if Nancy looked relieved or distraught at the placement. He knew all about Slytherin and the reputation they had. He just hoped he didn't end up there.
"Cooper, Seth," the witch called out next and a very nervous looking Seth took his place on the stool and awaited his fate. He almost looked like he would pass out from the anticipation but luckily the Sorting Hat took no time at all making its decision.
"This one is easy. HUFFLEPUFF!"
A relieved Seth stumbled over to the Hufflepuff table and the Sorting Hat continued with its job, working its way through the first years. A blonde girl with round glasses looked thrilled to be placed in Ravenclaw while a tall boy with short hair looked rather disappointed to be put into Hufflepuff.
James was sure when it was Polly's turn she would be placed in Ravenclaw with her 'superior' knowledge but she in fact ended up in Gryffindor.
"Payne, Greta," the teacher called out the next name and a girl with long blonde hair took her place on the stool.
"My, my, what ambition you have," the Sorting Hat noted. "No doubt about it. SLYTHERIN!"
Once the cheers from the Slytherin table had died down the teacher called out the next name, "Potter, James."
Suddenly you could have heard a pin drop in the hall as everyone went silent and James nervously walked to the stool and sat down. The witch placed the hat on his head and James closed his eyes in anticipation of what it might say.
"Well, well, well. I wondered if I'd ever be seeing another Potter again. Yes you're much like your father in some ways but totally different in others. Maybe it wouldn't be good to place you in the same house as he was."
"Not Slytherin, not Slytherin," James said under his breath.
The Sorting Hat let out a little laugh. "Maybe you're not so different after all. GRYFFINDOR!"
James let out a sigh of relief and the Gryffindor table broke out in cheers and applause and the other three house tables looked a little disappointed. As the witch lifted the hat off his head, James got up from the stool and headed over to join his new house who couldn't wait to welcome him.
Eventually James was able to take a seat after seemingly having been offered everyone at the table's hands to shake and the sorting ceremony continued with only three more students to be placed. James was glad to see Noah was placed in Gryffindor with him, a boy with red hair ended up in Ravenclaw and the last student, Madeline Wells, was sorted into Gryffindor too.
The witch who had been conducting the ceremony rolled up the parchment and removed the hat and stool as Professor McGonagall got up from her seat behind the teacher's table and walked around to the front of it to address the students.
"Good evening students," McGonagall announced with her Scottish accent. "And welcome to Hogwarts. Now without further ado let the feast begin," she said and clapped her hands once.
The tables which until now had been empty suddenly filled with all sorts of food imaginable. There were pies, mashed potatoes, sausages, roast beef, chips, chicken, pasta, roast potatoes and every kind of vegetable imaginable as well as many more types of food. The students couldn't wait to dig in and everyone was starting to load up their plates and devour the food.
As they ate a ghostly figure appeared through one of the walls and headed straight for James' table.
"So these are the new Gryffindors then?" the ghost asked as he floated beside the table. "I'm Nearly Headless Nick."
"'Nearly' Headless Nick?" a small first year girl asked looking confused.
"Yes," Nick replied and proceeded to lift his head to one side revealing that it hadn't quite been completely detached from his body and girl who had spoken looked like she was about to faint. But James had already heard about the Gryffindor ghost from his family and just laughed.
Soon the students felt very full but then desserts appeared on the table and everyone seemed to find room for them too and James helped himself to a large slice of cheesecake, a big spoonful of chocolate mousse, a piece of apple pie and three scoops of butterscotch ice cream. Now he was truly full and couldn't manage a mouthful more.
All the students seemed rather subdued now as they felt the effects of their 'food comas' as Professor McGonagall stood up to address them once more.
"Now before you retire to your dormitories for the night I have a few notices to give you," McGonagall began and James wasn't sure if he could stay awake for much longer. "Firstly I would like to introduce you all to a couple of new members of staff. Professor Friday has taken up the chance to study werewolves in Greece so we have Professor Payne joining us as our new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."
A man with slicked back blond hair stood and nodded towards the students. His face was expressionless and he looked rather serious.
"Wasn't there a girl sorted into Slytherin called Payne?" Noah asked to James who was sat next to him and James nodded that he thought there was. "I wonder if they're related?"
"And next to our new teacher of Muggle studies," McGonagall continued, "may I introduce a former student of Hogwarts – Professor Creevey."
A small young looking man with mousy brown hair stood and looked rather nervous but smiled none the less. James thought to himself that he recognised the name but couldn't remember where from.
"And also, and despite announcing his retirement last term, I am pleased to welcome back Professor Slughorn once again as our Potions Master," Professor McGonagall said and a bald man with a rather large belly and an enormous silver, walrus like moustache stood and seemed to stare directly at James and smile a rather knowing smile.
After Professor Slughorn had sat back down, McGonagall continued with the rest of her announcements. "First years take note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all students and Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Any student wishing to try out should speak to Madam Hooch."
James perked up at the mention of Quidditch. Though he knew as a first year he would be unlikely to make the team yet he was determined to make it eventually. With both his parents having played for Gryffindor during their time at Hogwarts, Quidditch was in his blood. And his dad had already given him a few broom riding lessons at home so he knew he would be ahead of the other first years in terms of his flying abilities.
As Professor McGonagall finished her speech the prefects stood and began to lead their respective houses to their dormitories. James actually regretted a little being placed into Gryffindor after climbing all the stairs to eventually reach the portrait that concealed the entrance to their common room.
"Now please remember the password otherwise you will not be able to gain entrance. I don't want to find students loitering in the corridor because they can't get in," the prefect announced before turning to the portrait of a rather fat lady. "Fortis Anima."
The Fat Lady smiled and the portrait swung open to reveal a cosy round room full of squishy armchairs and everyone scrambled in before the prefect directed the boys and girls to their separate dormitories. After some more stairs, James eventually reached his bedroom for the next seven years. There were five four-poster beds with deep-red velvet curtains and their trunks were already at the foot of each of their beds. James was a little disappointed to see Atticus wasn't there but knew he would be safely in the owlery with all the other owls and he would go and visit him tomorrow as soon as he had chance.
"So your dad is Harry Potter then?" a boy with blond hair asked James.
"Yeah," James replied with little enthusiasm.
"I'm Leo Easton," the boy continued and James knew the name. The Eastons were a rather prominent wizarding family in Britain.
The rest of the boys started to introduce themselves and James learnt that his other two dormmates were Anwar Kapoor, a boy of Indian heritage and Zander Murray, a Scottish boy with hair as equally as messy as his own.
They all briefly chatted and James was pleased that the topic of his father didn't come up again before they all changed into their pyjamas and climbed into bed, all feeling utterly exhausted.
The other four boys seemed to fall asleep instantly but James lay awake, a little too excited to sleep just yet. His mind raced with thoughts of what was to come, what he would be learning, what magical creatures he would encounter and the friends he would make. If the stories he had heard from his parents and aunts and uncles were anything to go by, his Hogwarts experience was going to be unforgettable.