A/N- As it was my birthday this week I've decided to put up two chapters today! I hope you're all enjoying it :)
Chapter Five
Harry woke up to a knock early on his door.
"Come in." He mumbled reaching for his glasses.
"Today's the day." Lily said coming in and sitting on the edge of his beds, "You excited?"
"Of course!" Harry said sitting up quickly, "It's 1st of September!"
Lily smiled, "I still remember my first day at Hogwarts; all the excitement, getting my letter, shopping... it all paled compared to when I first saw the castle. It's… breath taking. I met up with Severus on the train and I sat next to James that first day although I didn't know him then. Harry I want you to know that I don't care what house you're in. And it doesn't matter. Severus and I were in opposite houses and we were such good friends. Peter was a Gryfindor and look what happened with him. House politics gets in the way of so much. Your house is only a small part of who you are. And if you end up as a Hufflepuff you get to be close to the kitchens!" She joked.
Harry laughed, "Well we know where Danica is going to end up!"
"Oh no. She's going into Slytherin, she knows exactly how to get her way." Lily smiled, "Up and dressed Harry, not in rags please. The train leaves at exactly eleven o'clock and if we're not there by 10:30 I'm going to get rather annoyed at someone." She said jokingly.
Harry smiled and jumped out of bed. He dressed quickly in the clothes he'd gotten out the day before. Smart jeans and a new t-shirt, both hole free. He also pulled on his old emerald green hoody, it was warm, comfy and didn't fit in his trunk.
He looked over his room, making sure there was nothing he's forgotten before going down stairs.
Severus had Danica balanced on one hip and was dishing out porridge with the other hand. He smiled as Harry took his seat at the table next to Sirius.
"Looking forward to today?" He asked mixing dried fruit into his porridge.
Harry nodded, "Yes and no."
Sirius nodded understandingly, "I remember my first time on the Hogwarts express. God I couldn't wait to get away from my mother! I meet James and Severus. Couldn't stand him, mostly because I was so sure of who I was, turned out I was completely wrong. I soon met Lily to and she couldn't stand us." He laughed, "It's a home Harry. No one who steps foot in there could pretend otherwise. You're going to be OK."
Harry had a small amount of porridge but his stomach was to full of butterflies to eat much. It seemed only minutes before the clock said it was 10:25 and he took his mothers hand, the other hand holding tightly to his trunk to disapparate out.
He caught his breath after a few seconds, having arrived in a swelteringly hot and crowded small room filled with other families of witches and wizards being let out the door a few at a time. They walked quickly towards the door and waited for Remus to arrive. 10:30 on the dot Remus walked out the door and greeted them.
"Glad you could make it." Lily said giving him a quick hug, "Right off we go."
"Wouldn't have missed it for the world." Lupin smiled.
They were walking towards platforms nine and ten when they were overtaken by a large red headed family who pushed roughly past them.
"Every year, always packed with muggles!" a short, round women said towards the front of the group. She was holding tight to a young girl followed by what seemed like a hundred boys of different ages.
Harry glared at her, of course it's packed with muggles. It's a muggle station! Moron.
They let them past before continuing down the platforms. Sirius scooped Danica up and walked through the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Remus followed him and then Severus so Lily and Harry were left standing with Harry's trunk, Hedwig in her cage balanced on top.
"Are you ready?" Lily said, her hand on his shoulder, "It's best to take a bit of a run at it first few times. And everyone else is on the other side, waiting. I'll be just behind you."
Harry took a few deep breaths and ran towards the barrier. He closed his eyes; half expecting to slam into it but he went straight though. Lily stepped through behind him to watch his face light up. Harry opened his mouth; it was beautiful, the scarlet steam train stood before him, steam blowing gently out it's funnel.
"Wow." Harry said after a few moment, "Just...wow…."
"I want a photo." Lily said pulling out a camera. Harry took Danica from his god father and stood, with his trunk so they were in front of the train.
Lily took a few pictures, and then took a few more with everyone. Severus insisted that she was in at least one of the photos so took the camera from her.
"Hello Harry." Draco said making his way through the crowd which was growing bigger by the minutes.
"Hi Draco, where's your trunk?" Harry asked putting his little sister down.
"Mother and Father are putting it on the train for me. I wanted to come and find you."
Narcissa and Lucius arrived behind him soon after.
"Narcissa you're a white as a sheet! Are you all right?" Lily said giving her a gentle hug.
"I'm just not...not very well again." Narcissa said softly, Lucius wrapped an arm around her shoulder looking like he hadn't slept in a while.
Lily nodded, "When you're feeling better, you come round for tea. Are you sure you're OK?"
"I wouldn't miss this for anything. I've been dreaming of this day." Narcissa said hugging Draco. He shrugged her off but Harry knew his friend well enough to know he didn't mean it.
"Where's Danica?" Severus asked suddenly.
Harry looked around him, "I'll go look for her," He said rolling his eyes.
"Alright but meet us at the fourth carriage. We'll put your stuff in." Sirius smiled.
Harry moved off down the platform calling out for his sister. He spotted Neville on the way and gave him a quick wave. He reached the end of the train and heard a rustling coming from the pet carriage.
"Danica. Danica are you in here?" He called.
Danica popped her head out from behind a crate and smiled.
"Checking for iggys." She explained.
Harry sighed, "Come on. Mum's getting grey hair from you." he joked
"You first!" Danica laughed
Harry picked her up and turned around to almost walk into a red headed boy, about his age, holding a cage that looked like it contained a large white and black rat.
"Umm excuse me." Harry said awkwardly. The boy continued to stare.
"You...you're Harry Potter!" He said loudly.
Harry did his best not to roll his eyes, "Yeah that's me." Danica started to wriggle to try and get back to looking at the pets.
"Wow! Can I see your scar?" The boy said, "I'm-"
"Sorry." Harry interrupted through gritted teeth, "Got to get my little sister back to mum."
He darted past the boy and walked as quickly as he could with arms full of wriggling Danica back down the platform to where his family was waiting.
"Oh you found her. Thank the gods." Lily said taking Danica, "You are going back on baby reigns if you're not careful." She warned Danica who buried her head in her mothers shoulder.
Draco waved his hand out a window a little way down the platform, "Come on Harry it's nearly eleven."
"Right, this is it then." Harry said. He gave everyone a huge hug, "I promise to write, everyday."
"Oh don't, no way I'm going to be able to read all those!" Sirius laughed.
"Just have fun." Remus told him, "You're going to love it."
"Stay safe Harry." Lily said, her eyes dripping with tears.
"I will mum." He gave her a huge hug. The train whistle blew loudly and Harry waved goodbye before hopping on the train. The whistle blow again and he felt the train begin to move and waved goodbye from the open doorway. Lily rolling her eyes and letting out a small laugh at his lack of care.
He watched his family for as long as he could before the train had moved him to far away. He made his way through the carriages until he found Draco and slid the door open and flopped down on the comfortable seats.
Hedwig sat happily in her cage looking out the window.
The journey past slowly enough. They both got a few goodies from the trolley and sat munching on them.
"Lets see your wand then." Harry said through a mouthful of liquorish wand.
Draco smiled and pulled it out from his robes. It was slightly shorter than Harry's and a little darker in colour although not by much.
"Very nice." Said Harry looking over it.
The carriage door flew open suddenly.
"Hello, I'm Hermione Granger." A short bushy haired girl said primly.
"Harry and this is Draco. Can we help you?"
"Oh you're doing Magic. Lets see then. I've only tried a few simple spells myself but they've all worked perfectly." she said rather haughtily.
"We weren't doing magic." Harry said, "I was just..."
"What house do you want to be in? I think Gryfindor it definitely seems the best don't you think?" Hermione interrupted.
"Can we help you?" Draco said impatiently, looking over the buck toothed girl.
She sighed loudly, "I was looking for a toad, a boy named Neville's lost one."
Harry and Draco burst out laughing. Hermione looked at them disgusted.
"It's not that funny!" She spat.
"Neville… the tea….that stupid toad!" Harry burst out through the laughter.
"You two are horrible. It's bullying and that's not right. It's not his fault he's lost his pet. You two should be ashamed!" She shouted before slamming the door shut and flouncing away.
"Wait, you don't understand-" Harry called behind her, "Well that was strange."
"I wouldn't worry about, seven sickles on her being a mu...muggle born." Draco said shaking his head, "They don't have a clue."
Harry nodded, "I can't see my mum being like that." he said staring out the window at the flat green fields going past.
"Of course not, your mum isn't a stuck up cow." Draco smirked.
Harry laughed and flopped back against the seat.
"We should get changed. We should be arriving soon." Draco said pulling the curtain shut.
Within an hour the train pulled into a sleepy village station and ground to a halt. They got off the train and stood awkwardly as the older students rushed around them.
"First years over 'ere." Hagrid boomed, "Leave yer thin's on the train."
Harry put Hedwig back on the train and he and Draco moved towards him as quickly as they could through the crowds of older students that were going in the other direction.
"Hello Hagrid." Harry said once they'd gotten over to him.
" 'ello 'arry. You all excited?"
Harry nodded happily.
"Righ' first year all together? Now come wi' me." Hagrid boomed.
Hagrid lead them all down a rough path towards a large lake where a group of a dozen or so small boats sat waiting.
"Ever'one get in the boats, four each, that's it 'urry up." Hagrid called climbing in one of the boats himself, "Don't over fill 'em."
Harry and Draco climbed in the nearest boat. Harry moved to the front and took the lantern. A young blonde girl and another boy joined them in the boat. Many people pointed and stared at Harry but he ignored it. Once everyone was in the boats they began to move silently across the water.
Harry stared straight ahead, they rounded a corner and Harry caught his first glimpse of Hogwarts castle. It was every bit as beautiful and inspiring as everyone told him it would be.
"It's… It's amazing." He said open mouthed.
"Isn't it just." Draco agreed, shuffling closer to Harry.
They disembarked on the other edge of the great lake and straightened their robes. Harry ran his hands through his hair to try and neaten it a little.
"Righ' now. Everyone stick togetha." Hargid said leading them towards the looming castle. He led them up the steps and into a large hallway. The celling seemed miles away, it went all the way to the roof; cut across by moving staircases.
"Righ' all you lot stay 'ere, a Professor will be 'ere soon." Hagrid gave Harry a quick pat on the shoulder before leaving the nervous group of eleven year olds alone.
"Hello Harry Potter, Harry."
Harry turned around to see the red headed boy from before.
"Hi." Harry said nervously.
"I'm Ron, we can be friends if you like." He said with a wistful smile on his face.
"Umm well...ummm." Harry gave him a small smile and moved away. He spotted Draco talking to a group of girls and moved over towards them.
"Hi Pansy." Harry said waving to the dark haired girl.
"Hello Harry." She smiled, "This is Daphne Greengrass."
Harry looked up and down the slim girl, her honey blonde hair fell in wavy ringlets down her back, soft ice blue eyes looked fondly at Harry.
"I think we meet at Draco's last birthday party." Daphne said politely, "It's nice to see you again Harry. I think someone is trying to get your attention." she said pointing to behind Harry where Ron was hoovering just behind him.
The door swung open quickly and Harry turned around to to a tall black-haired witch in emerald-green robes. Harry looked at her face, she had a stern look of disdain and Harry couldn't help but feel a bit put off by her.
"Welcome to Hogwarts." She said loudly and clearly, "I am Professor McGonagall, head of Transfiguration. The start of term banquet will begin shortly but first you must be sorted into your houses. The Sorting in a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with you house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room. They will be the people you spend the most time with for the next seven years." She paused briefly to glare at the students.
"The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are Hogwarts, your triumphs and hard work will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."
Professor McGonagall checked a small pocket watch in her robes, "The sorting ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you wait, quietly. I shall return when we are ready for you."
She left the chamber. Harry swallowed.
"She didn't seem to friendly." Harry whispered to Draco who nodded in agreement. Harry looked around, no one was talking much apart from the girl he'd met on the train, Hermione. She was whispering very fast about all the spells she's learned; Harry rolled his eyes.
Harry jumped a foot in the air and turned around as several people screamed. About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. They glided across the room talking to each other as though the first years weren't even there. They seemed to be arguing. Harry turned around again ignoring them, waiting for his heart rate to return to normal and for the large door to swing open again. He was never any good at waiting.
A ghost wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first years.
"New students!" Said one who looked like a fat friar, smiling down at them, "About to be sorted, I suppose?"
A few people nodded mutely, Harry among them.
"Well I hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said the Friar. "My old house, you know."
"Move along now," Said a sharp voice. "The sorting ceremony is about to start."
Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall.
"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "And follow me."
Feeling very much like his legs had turned to lead, Harry got into line behind Draco. He noticed that Ron had managed to get in line behind him and gritted his teeth as Ron walked uncomfortably close behind him. They walked through a pair of double doors and into the Great Hall.
Even though it had been described to him a hundred times Harry had never imagined such a strange and splendid place. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in mid air, over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting.
Harry looked up towards the velvety black sky, dotted with sparkling starts. He heard Hermione whisper, "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts; A history." her nose stuck in the air.
He sighed loudly and rolled his eyes at Draco, who smirked back at him. He'd never had much respect for people who read a few books, especially basic ones like Hogwarts; A history and thought they knew everything.
Harry shook his head, he didn't want some full of herself muggle born to ruin this for him. He watched silently as Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she placed the hat his mother had described a million times to him. It was patched, frayed and extremely dirty. He allowed himself a small laugh at the idea of giving it to Aunt Petunia as a gift; that would stop them from having to go round.
For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched, Harry felt butterflies rise in his stomach. Lily had written down the seven sorting songs she's heard in her years at Hogwarts and Harry used to get her to sing them to him when he was sad or ill.
A rip near the brim opened wide, like a mouth and the hat began to sing:
