Hogwarts Station (Night)

After a few hours, the train finally reached it's destination. Several of the children shoved their way out of the doors and onto the platform, Calore included. The platform was small, tiny even, with a singular lantern illuminating the area.

"First years! First years over here!" a large man bellowed, quickly becoming the center of attention. He was easily twice Dominic's size, which made it easy for Harry and Calore to identify him as a half-giant. They knew he wasn't a true giant, as they've met those before, and they could've crushed the bearded man without effort. "C'mon, follow me. Mind your step."

'He smells like Brock.' Harry noted as Ron and Hermione walked out of the train. The quartet followed the half-giant and dozens of other kids down a narrow pathway through the woods. Eventually, the path stopped at the edge of a massive lake with water darker than the night sky. In the distance, the children could spot a large castle that radiated a magical aura. However, the only way there was by boat. Something Harry knew would be a problem.

"Hold me!" Calore said in terror, grabbing hold of her brother's arm, gaining the attention of many around them. Much like her father, she had an extreme case of aquaphobia. Begrudgingly, Harry went along and kept a firm hold on the blonde for the entire ride. As soon as they got to shore, Calore jumped out of the boat and let out a breath she unconsciously held out of stress. It didn't help that an extremely powerful Water Elemental made it's home in the lake.

The half-giant approached a large door, knocking on it. The resulting sound was akin to a person yelling into a bullhorn. The door opened, revealing an elderly woman in green robes. "How is it that you are late every year, Hagrid?" the woman asked. "I'll take them from here." The woman led the children into an antechamber inside the castle that was directly adjacent to the Great Hall. She turned around, facing the kids to address them. "Welcome to Hogwarts. I am your Deputy Headmistress, Professor McGonagall. In a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you can take your seats, you must be Sorted into your Houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."

Hearing a small chuckle, Calore turned to see Malfoy smirking alongside two other boys. She rolled her eyes and resumed listening to the speech.

"Now while you're here, your House will be like your family." McGonagall explained. "Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rulebreaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points is awarded the House Cup." Just as the witch finished, a boy ran up to her and retrieved a toad that had somehow made it's way into the castle. Calore and Ron struggled to hold in their laughter at that. "The Sorting Ceremony will begin momentarily." the woman said as she left, entering the Great Hall.

"We're going to be Sorted in front of everybody?" Ron asked, panicking slightly. "Fred said they were going to make us fight a Troll. But I don't know if he was joking or not!"

"You really believe that they'd make 11-year old kids fight a monster before the first day of school?" Calore asked, raising an eyebrow.

After a few minutes of talking among themselves, McGonagall walked back out of the doors. "We're ready for you now." she said as she led the soon-to-be-students into the Great Hall. It was a massive cafeteria with four main tables that stretched out to be as long as the room itself. There were also floating candles and a night sky above them. Harry, Calore, and Ron learned that the roof was bewitched to look that way, courtesy of Hermione. At the back of the hall was a table where the teachers sat. "Now, before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words."

A man with a long white beard stood up and began speaking. "I have a few start of term notices I wish to announce. First Years, please note that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me to remind you that the third-floor corridor of the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death." Harry and the rest of the students flinched at that, while Calore merely smiled, excited by the challenge.

McGonagall spoke up at this point, bringing out a scroll. "Now when I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head, and you will be Sorted into your Houses."

Hermione was Sorted into Gryffindor, as well as Ron and Neville. Two girls, Hannah Abbot and Susan Bones, were both Sorted into Hufflepuff. The Hat barely touched Malfoy's head before he was Sorted into Slytherin, same for two of his goons, Crabbe and Goyle. Eventually, Calore's turn came up.

When the Hat was placed on her head, it felt like something was trying to worm it's way into her nonexistent brain. "Now, this is new." she heard. "Not human, and yet human all the same."

"Who are you?" she asked, her magic bubbling to the surface as her eyes faintly glowed. Thankfully, nobody noticed this except Harry.

"Why, I'm the hat on your head!" the strange being answered, seemingly unfazed by the blonde's aura. "Now, this is interesting. You're brave, that much is evident. And yet you cower when placed before any body of water. You're loyal, but will still berate your family whenever the opportunity presents itself. You're cunning enough to sneak into the castle, and smart enough to have earned your place here. But where to put you..."