Chapter 16: Arriving at Hogwarts
Hogwart's Express
Like all things, good things come to an end. Especially when Harry and Ron were rudely interrupted by a group of unwanted guests who barge right inside. And when Harry heard a voice, he wished he'd forget, he turns to his dismay that the voice does belong to the very person he never wanted to see.
But as the saying goes, all good things come to an end. Harry sighed deeply so that he can compose himself and forced a smile so he could greet the boy.
"Hi, it's ni... what a ple... grr, screw it, I can't do this, can I help you?" said Harry after he removed his forced smile and starts to speak in a deadpan expression.
The boy, who Harry met at Madame Malkin's simply pay no mind of Harry's expression and mainly stares at him, looking him up as if he is judging him rather than curiously seeing if Harry is as he claims. But when he sees the scar partially exposed under the rim of his hat, then the boy starts to do something Harry wished he never wanted to see him doing: smile.
"So, it IS true, you are here," said the boy as he steps inside with two other boys who are bigger and beefier compare to how skinny the boy is, especially when his platinum blonde hair which is combed way back to show his entire forehead contrasts with the other boys' dark buzz-cut hair. This comparison does make Harry question if this pale blonde boy is even human, and not some pale fiend masquerading as a human. He'd say vampires, but it would be unfair to make the comparison as vampires are cool and he isn't. "Allow me to make the introductions, these with me are Crabbe and Goyle,"
The big beefy boys cross their arms and kept their heads high up, so they can look down at Harry and Ron with an attempt to display intimidation, but Harry isn't fazed by it as he fought brutes beefier and meaner like Paz Capone than these louts.
"And I am Malfoy," said the pale blonde with so much pride in his voice that it's quite infuriating for Harry to hear every word out of his mouth. "Draco Malfoy."
Ron suddenly snorts and clears his throat as if he is trying to stifle a laugh, unfortunately the pale blonde took notice of this and leers at the red-head.
"You think it's funny, do you?" said Malfoy with a sneer at Ron. "Don't bother telling me yours. Red hair, freckles, shoddy hand-me-downs...you must be a Weasley."
Malfoy scoffs at Ron before turning his attention to Harry.
"You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter," said Malfoy before returning his sneer at Ron. "You don't want to go making friends with the WRONG sort. I can help you there."
Malfoy offers his hand to Harry, but Harry doesn't take the pale boy's hand and gives him a deadpan look.
"I think I can tell who the wrong sort is for myself, thanks," said Harry as he turned away. "Besides, I think you made it perfectly clear when we first met...Malfoy. Now clear off, we're done."
Malfoy didn't go red, as it's impossible for his complexion but managed to form a pink tinge on his pale cheeks. He has never been enraged or embarrassed in his entire life, being rejected by Harry Potter, the nerve of him.
"Then let me give you one LAST piece of friendly advice, Potter." Said Malfoy with a dangerous tone while gritting his teeth so not to lose his temper. "Unless you're a bit politer you'll end the same way as your parents. They didn't know what was good for them, either. Hanging around with riff-raff like the Weasleys and those pirates would end up becoming a bad influence to you, and you'll be forever shunned by the entire wizarding community."
"Ooh, I'm sooo frightened," said Harry with a sarcastic tone, "now let me give you some friendly advise. If you don't clear off right now, you will regret it very quickly."
"What are you going to do, hit me?" said Malfoy with an arrogant smirk which follows with a slight scoff, "it you do, my father will make sure life for your pirate family will be more difficult and extremely miserable."
"Don't say I didn't warn you," said Harry as he pats Malfoy on the shoulder and the pale blonde vanished before everyone's eyes. Ron, Crabbe and Goyle were shocked when they see Malfoy disappear before their very eyes.
"What did you do?" said Crabbe, in a demanding tone as he grabs Harry by the scuff of his shirt while Goyle starts cracking his knuckles and holding the urge of punching Harry. "Where's Draco?"
"Don't worry, he's not far," said Harry with a careless tone when noise suddenly uproars from next door.
"AGH, GET OUT YOU PERVERT!"
"Oops, didn't know there were girls next door," said Harry palming his mouth with a feinting shock. "And by the sounds of things, they were getting changed. I'd go and help the poor lad if I were you, bye."
Crabbe and Goyle growled at Harry but they need to help Malfoy so they left the compartment.
Ron couldn't help but laugh at that and looked at Harry with amazement.
"That was BLOODY amazing," said Ron, "I think that prat would think twice of troubling you again."
"I seriously doubt that," said Harry with a deadpan expression while returning to his seat. "People like him, are hard to get rid off."
Suddenly, due to the commotion going on from next door, two more faces start to pop inside, more to Harry and Ron's irritation. One is a girl with thick mousey brown hair with long front teeth and the other is a chubby nervous boy with brown hair.
"What just happened?" said the girl
"Trouble which I sorted," said Harry making himself comfortable while chewing on a liquorice wand. He then looks at the two kids. "Can I help you?"
"You didn't happen to see a toad wandering around, have you?" said the girl. "Neville here has lost it and we've been looking all over the place."
"Sorry, no," said Ron immediately as he's irritated with people barging in when they are unwanted, Harry however isn't that ticked off since the girl and boy are only here to seek a lost pet.
"Hold on, maybe I can help," said Harry as he sits up and close his eyes. "Can you describe this toad for me and tell me its name."
"What are you doing?" said the girl with a puzzled look.
"Just describe and identify the toad, please!" said Harry as he is trying to concentrate. "The further we delay the farther the toad might be."
"H-His name is Trevor, he is dark green and has three black lines on his back, a light green underbelly and speckles by his right eye." Said the boy named Neville, by the way he spoke was clear that he's been crying, and for good reason.
"Ok, just give me a minute and..." said Harry as he reaches out his hand to the air, and just like that, a Toad with the exact description appears in his hand. "Is this him?"
"Trevor!" said Neville in delight as he rushed in to collect his toad from Harry. "Thank you, thank you so much."
"How did you do that?" said the girl astonished when the toad put appeared on Harry's hand, "You didn't even use your wand."
"Would you believe me if I told you it's...magic?" said Harry with a smirk while waving his hands in a dramatic fashion.
"Oh, ha, ha, very funny," said the girl in a deadpan expression.
"But seriously, how did you do that?" said Ron who is amazed after seeing the toad appear in Harry's hand. And he is curious about how Harry did that without even using his wand.
"I simply thought of the toad and summoned it," said Harry "Not only can I teleport myself or others to other places, I can summon people or items towards me. Like so"
Harry snaps his fingers and another glass of pumpkin juice appears in his hand and starts drinking.
Meanwhile, Belle starts yelling her mouth out when the same glass vanished from her hand.
"OH COME ON!"
"Fascinating" said the girl "I never heard of that kind of magic in any of the books I read."
"It's because it's not magic," said Harry as finished the glass and made it vanish from his hand. "Well...not the magic you'd learn or find in this world."
"What do you mean?" said the girl
"He's from a world where there are pirates, and he ate what's call a Devil Fruit." Said Ron
"Pirates? Devil Fruit?" said the girl with a raised brow which displays her disbelief, "You'd think I would believe that?"
"Witches and wizards were ever considered make believe, and here we are," said Harry
"Fair point," said the girl as she walked right into that one, "but pirates? Come on."
"Fine, don't believe me," said Harry as he doesn't care and looks out the window, the hours went by as the view has becoming dark with the now purple sky and the now blackened trees passing by. "Looks like we're almost here, so if you excuse me."
"Alright, we're done here, anyway," said the girl as she takes her leave. "let's go Neville."
"Again, thank you," said Neville with a bow while holding his toad, he takes his leave so that he can start getting dressed for the arrival of Hogwarts.
"What is she like, not believing you like that," said Ron with a scoff while closing the doors.
"Would you believe me if you were her?" said Harry
"well I...you know what, let's forget her and get dressed," said Ron as he makes his way for his luggage.
Harry snaps his fingers and his school uniform appear next to him.
"I wish I could do that," said Ron as he got his uniform out from his luggage.
"Sorry, the Blink-Blink Fruit is one of a kind," said Harry as he takes off his hat and starts undressing.
Hogsmeade Station
The Hogwart's Express arrived to it's destination in the cover of night, it slowly stops near the platform which is near the village of Hogsmeade and waiting by is a large figure holding a lantern. The train stops and vents out steam, the conductor exits the carriage and starts opening the doors for the students old and new to exit through. As they stand on the platform, the large figure approaches and calls out to them.
"A'ight, gather 'round, gather 'round. Leave your luggage 'ere, it'll be sent up to the dormitories,"
Harry and Ron left the carriage and joins up with the other students who are all dressed up in their school uniforms. Harry kept his hat on as he, like his dad, never leaves without it. Harry looks ahead at the large figure with the lantern and immediately recognise him as Hagrid. Happy to see the half-giant, he heads for Hagrid so he can say hello to him.
"A'ight there, 'Arry," said Hagrid "got there a'ight,"
"I almost missed the train when you forgot to tell me how to get to Platform 9 ," said Harry with his arms crossed. "You could've mentioned that before disappearing."
"Ahh, sorry about that," said Hagrid rubbing the back of his head, embarrassed of forgetting to tell Harry and his parents how to reach the platform which is hidden away from the eyes of Muggles. "I knew I've forgotten somethin'"
"Well, Ron's mom was there and showed me, so it's no worry," said Harry as he brought Ron around to introduce him to Hagrid.
"Another Weasley, eh?" said Hagrid "let hope you don't go 'n cause any trouble like your brothers, eh?"
"N-No sir," said Ron nervously as he looks up at the half-giant, but Hagrid chuckled at Ron before turning his hairy head up to the rest of the students.
"al'ight, First Years, with me now!" said Hagrid as he waves his lantern to the other first years to get their attention and heads off. "Other years, to the coaches."
Hagrid walks away from the platform and leads the first years through road down hill and through the woods. The woods are dark and the majority of the first years are nervous and scared to walk in the forest at night, especially when the tales of monsters and dangerous beasts lurking there. But Hagrid is with them to lead them to Hogwarts, so at least they feel safe.
Black Lake
After crossing the forest, they arrived at a lakeside dock where a flotilla of rowboats awaits them.
"Two for each boat, please," said Hagrid as he steps on board one of the boats to take for himself due to his massive size. The first years pairs up upon the rowboats as they climb aboard, Ron and Harry share a boat, as well as the bushy haired girl and Neville, Malfoy joins with a pug faced girl while his goons Crabbe and Goyle shares a boat but with much difficult as their beefiness caused the boat to rock out of control, almost to the point that it would capsize at any moment, but the boat steadied itself as so that the two can get on with ease. "A'ight? Evr'yone on board? Let's go!"
Hagrid gives the boat a pat on its hull and it starts to sail all on it's own towards the dark waters of the Black Lake, along with the rest of the boats as they start to sail all on their own to join Hagrid. As they sail out of the canopy of the forest, the students were gifted with an astounded sight before their very eyes, Hogwarts Castle awaits them, illuminated with warm lights emerging from the many windows on the towers and turrets, so much that it's enough to reveal the castle's size, shape and style. The first years awe by this, but then, they suddenly notice what appears to be a large brigantine-class pirate ship moored next to the boathouse.
"Is that..." Ron asked Harry but immediately got his answer when Harry nodded.
"The Thousand Sunny, Aye," said Harry as he stands up from the boat, takes off his hat starts waving at the Sunny with it. "AHOY THERE!
BOOM
The Thousand Sunny fired her cannons, causing the first years to jump in fright by the noise and the thought of them attacking. But suddenly the night sky is illuminated with so many coloured lights, which the first years noticed right about now to be...Fireworks. The Thousand Sunny is launching fireworks, courtesy of Usopp as he is angled the cannons upward so he can launch the fireworks for the arriving First Years crossing the Black Lake and arranged this firework show for them.
The first years look up with ooh and awe as they watch the many colours the fireworks give out.
And it's not just normal firework being fired, Usopp managed to purchase some crates of Filibuster's Wet-Start No-Heat Fireworks to use also. He throws them into to the lake and it gives out a climatic display to bewilder the first years. The filibusters shoot out from the lake surface and explodes in the air, illuminating the night sky with so many colourful lights. Harry laughs at this, glad to see Usopp to put up a show.
"Good old Usopp," said Harry with a smile as he sits back down on the rowboat, "He never ceases to entertain"
Hogwarts
After the fireworks and crossing the Black Lake, the rowboats heads toward the cave mouth beneath the castle. Slowly, the first years enter the cave until they reach the cave docks to moor their boats with Hagrid being the first to disembark.
"A'ight, time to get off," said Hagrid as he starts helping the first years climb out the boats.
Harry jumps out with ease and give Ron a hand out so he wouldn't fall off, and as they step on the partially wet stone docking along with the rest of first years. Hagrid helps the rest of the first years disembarking the boats as some are having trouble getting off while the flotilla bobs up and down on the waves and bumping each other.
And during this, Hagrid is now helping Neville who almost fell overboard by tripping on the ledge, luckily Hagrid caught him by the scuff of his neck and hauls him to solid surface.
"Right," said Hagrid now that everyone is out of their boats, "Follow me now, and no dawdlin'"
Hagrid leads the first years to a flight of stone stairs leading upwards, the stairs lead to the castle grounds which are partially lit up by a row of lampposts placed beside a cobblestone path which then leads to the castle courtyard. The journey didn't take long for the first years as they were busy looking up at the towering castle in front of them, as it comprise of high turrets and towers, each topped up with pointed up conical rooftops. And during this awe-inspiring sight, they didn't seem to notice how quick they reached the courtyard until the sight was then changed to a massive pair of doors now in their inclined sight.
Now that they are at the massive front doors, they immediately stop when Hagrid does also. He smiles while he starts knocking on the doors, giving them a loud bang each time his fist rattles the left door. The door suddenly opens wide, and standing on the other side is a witch dressed in emerald green robes, half moon spectacles and a black witch's hat. She looks at the first years with a rather stern expression, but beneath it is a welcoming calm about it.
"Firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid
"Thank you, Hagrid," McGonagall nods at the half-giant to dismiss him. "I'll take it from here,"
Hagrid understands and nods at her before taking his leave, McGonagall returns her attention to the first years, about a handful seems nervous around her and seems to notice this. She softens her stern expression so that she can speak in a calm and welcoming tone.
"Follow me, please," said McGonagall "Don't dawdle and do not wander off,"
She gestures the first years to come in and to follow as she turns to walk away, the first years starts to follow the witch. As they cross the open doors, which leads them to the entrance hall which displays the castle's interior with it's flagstone floor with old but beautiful rugs. The stone walls were lit with hanging torches perched on iron sconces, numerous oil paintings which the figures are moving between the frames as if they but windows or TV screens. And placed on the sides and corners of the wall are suits of armour which the helms would occasionally turn to "look" at any passer-by walking along, or in this case, the new first years who entered the castle.
McGonagall continues to lead the first years through winding corridors and ascending up the stairs until she stops when they are now by another pair of massive doors. McGonagall then turns to the first years and says.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said McGonagall "The first-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you can take your seats in the great hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your houses, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room.
The Hogwarts Houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards throughout the centuries. While you are at Hogwarts, triumphs will reward you house points, any rule breaking however and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the House with the most House Points will be awarded the House Cup, a Great Honour. So, I hope you make the best impression for your appointed Houses if you wish to achieve that."
The first years starts to murmur at one another, and among them Ron starts to mutter to Harry with intrigue about this.
"Fred and George once told me that Slytherin's got a winning streak of 8 years for getting the most points and winning the cup," said Ron to Harry. "Mom assumed that they were partially responsible for Gryffindor's loss last year with their mischief and not taken their school work serious."
"I wouldn't be surprised, knowing them," said Harry with a smirk, this caused Ron to laugh through his teeth from his failed attempt to stifle the laugh.
The murmuring is suddenly silenced when McGonagall gives them another stern look, which they noticed and starts to quiet down.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest your use that time to tidy yourselves up while you can." Said McGonagall as she noticed that Neville's cloak is bizarrely crooked due to his left ear being fastened underneath. And like that, Professor McGonagall enter the main hall so she can prepare the sorting ceremony.
Taking McGonagall's words of consideration, the first years would smarten their robes up so to not to embarrass themselves in front of the rest of the students and the other professors. Harry does the same when he dismisses his uncle's hat for the moment and summons a brush in his hand to he could give his messy hair a brush before dismissing it and recalling his hat back. Despite brushing his hair, it is still appeared messy which Ron sees no difference at all.
"What was the point?" said Ron at Harry with a raised brow, "Your hair's still messy."
"What are you on about?" said Harry look at Ron as if he's nuts. "My hair is tidy, you notice the lack of loose strands poking out?"
Ron sweatdropped at Harry as he sees no difference in his already unkempt hair, but he pays no mind on it as he starts to tidy himself up by wiping off the smudge off his nose. Malfoy took notice of this and starts to scoff at Ron when he tries to smarten himself up.
"Don't bother trying to look good, Weasley," said Malfoy with a arrogant smirk forming on his face. "Knowing you and the rest of your family, you lack any dignity as well as money."
Ron was about to respond in anger, but Harry steps in and confronts to pale blonde instead. Malfoy took notice of Harry approaching him and cross his arms while his thugs Crabbe and Goyle stands beside him so to protect him.
"Careful, Potter," said Malfoy, his arrogant smile never left his pale face, "You don't want to get kicked out before you can even start first term."
"I'm always careful. It's you who should be," said Harry when suddenly something splashed all over Malfoy and his thugs.
Taken by surprised when water has drenched him, along with his bodyguards, Malfoy then leers at Harry in anger and accusation.
"You will pay for that!" said Malfoy leering in fury at Harry, believing him to be the one responsible for getting him all wet.
"For what?" said Harry as he steps back to evade something falling from above and splashes water all over. Suddenly more things starts to drop down from above, which happen to be water balloons which burst out the moment they hit the floor. The first years start to panic and tries to evade the balloons but they are crowded together that they couldn't break apart to evade them on time. So instead, the first years get water splashed all over them, getting their school robes wet moments before the ceremony could even begin. Harry however is evading the balloons with ease as if he knows exactly when and were the balloons would fall and exactly where the water would spread.
He uses his Blink-Blink Fruit powers to vanish from one place and then appear to evade the falling water bombs. It took a moment before all of the water balloons are no more and for Harry to return to where he was standing, right next to a very soaking wet Ron. Ron, turns to Harry with a deadpan expression.
"Oh no, don't mind me, I FINE!" said Ron in sarcasm while wiping the water off his hair and face.
"Sorry" said Harry with a nervous grin, he was so bust evading the water balloons to prevent himself getting wet that he completely forgot about Ron.
"HA HA HA HA!"
A loud sinister cackle begins to echo in the vast corridor where the first years are currently in, and emerging from the ceiling, is a creepy pale face with a cheshire-like gin, a pointy nose and is dressed in a suit with such chaotic colours splattered all over.
"Ooh, ho, ho, ho, Ickle Firsties for my to play with," said the strange figure as he phases through the ceiling and starts floating above them. "And oh, dear me, all the firsties are all WET! HA HA HA!"
"Not all, Peeves!" said Harry as he calls out the floating figure while crossing his arms. Peeves, the castle's poltergeist looks down and immediately scowls at Harry, for he knows exactly who he is.
"Ugh, if it isn't Potter the vanishing ROTTER!" said Peeves as he yelled out the last word. Seeing Harry bone dry while the other first years are drenched with water infuriates him so that he starts to stomp his left foot hard in the air and begins to pull a tantrum by this, "No Fair, no fair! Once again, you ruin my fun!"
"It'll take more than traps and tricks to take me down," said Harry with a smirk. "You failed to prank me before when I first visited Hogwarts, this time is no different."
"We'll see about THAT!" said Peeves as he then throws a water balloon straight at Harry, but before it could hit the boy, Harry immediately vanished, causing the balloon to miss and instead splash Ron and any of the other First Years who are within the splash zone. "DAMN IT!"
"Oh come on!" exclaimed Ron as he is once again splashed. "Seriously? Again?"
Harry reappeared and perches on one of the hanging gargoyles on the upper walls, Peeves snarls at Harry once more and starts lobbing another water balloon at him. This time, Harry didn't vanish but he made the balloon vanish when he stretches out his hand just before it could reach him.
Once again Peeves is peeved at Harry for making the water balloon disappear, he attempts to throw another balloon, but he longer can for the rest of the balloons in his hands are also gone.
"Hey, no fair, you took my water balloons!" said Peeves.
"That's the idea, now go away or I'll bring the Bloody Baron here to punish you," said Harry with a narrowed leer at the poltergeist.
Peeves winced when Harry mentioned the Bloody Baron, one of the ghosts that haunt Hogwarts and the only one that keeps Peeves in his place if he caused too much trouble. Peeves blew a raspberry at Harry and phases through the walls in a retreat.
Harry sighed in relief by this and reappeared back next to Ron, the first years witnessed this and most were ate awe at Harry and some applauded at him for scaring off Peeves so he wouldn't cause any more trouble for a while.
Harry pays this no mind, especially when Professor McGonagall returns to the first years so that she can take them to the great hall for the Sorting Ceremony. She suddenly take notice that the First Years (except for Harry) are all wet, and she has a good idea why and who is responsible.
"Peeves, every year he does this," McGonagall said under her breath as she pulls out her wand and gives it long spiral swish. Suddenly a warm breeze starts to blow all around the First Years, causing their soaking wet clothes to dry up as if nothing happened. The First Years are relieved by this, for they do not want to be present around the others while they are soaking wet, for that would be embarrassing.
"I apologise for Peeve's behaviour, he tends to cause mischief here in the castle," said McGonagall as she sighs and massage her left temple. "But I assure you, he is harmless - most of the time - but rest assure that you will learn certain spells that will help you deter Peeves if he gets out of hand."
She turns to face the door and reaches out her hands so she can push them open, as they open, the first years all start to feel nervous, Harry however feels excite for to him this is but another adventure waiting to happen.
"Everyone ready?" said McGonagall to the first hears, receiving a mixture of reluctant and eager nods from them, especially from Harry, "Good, then we can begin"
End of Chapter