Enjoy the edited version.
-Sept. 1, King Cross-
The Potter siblings were pushing their trolleys that had their trunks that had all their supplies, books and robes. Their familiars were in their cages.
Harry had a poisonous Spitting Cobra snake name Liza with permission from his godfather. Iris had a snowy white owl name Hedwig after a witch her brother found in their history book, A History of Magic. And Azalea had elegant young eagle name Anura that means a smart, witty and knowledgeable person or in this case her eagle.
They reached the platform of nine and ten where they stood in the middle.
The three children dashed forward where they went through the magical barrier. They suddenly were staring at a scarlet steam engine with a sign overhead saying 'Hogwarts Express'. Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering adults and students from all years.
"Do you have everything?" Petunia asked for the twentieth time.
"For the last time mother, yes," Azalea crossed her arms, "Can't we go? I want to find a compartment and not deal with dunderheads."
"Alright, alright dear," Petunia sighing, "I know you protested to go to Beauxbatons where I attended, but just be careful…all of you, understand?"
The children nodded before giving Petunia and Alex one last hug. They let go before heading inside the train to find a compartment.
The Potter siblings looked around to see a few students packing their trucks or leaning over to the window and waving to their families.
It didn't take long for them to find a perfect compartment that was in the middle of the train. The three helped each other lift their trunks over the seats before settling down.
"Finally, I never thought this day would never come," said Azalea, dramatically. She smiled, "I can't wait! We'll soon be learning magic guys."
"I know. I'm practically jumping inside," said Iris, excitedly.
That's when the door of the compartment slid open and stood a bushy brown hair girl who had rather large front teeth and was already wearing her Hogwarts robes.
Iris smiled, "Hello, and you are?"
"I'm Hermione Granger, the very first in my family to have magic. It was such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is! I've read all our course books to be ready…I just hope it will be enough. Who are you?"
"Oh, easy there Hermione," said Iris. "Take a breather. And to answer your question, I'm Iris and this is my brother, Harry and my cousin Azalea."
"As the Twins-Who-Lived?" Hermione asked as the twins nodded. She grinned, "I know all about you! I got a few extra books for background reading and the you two are in 'Modern Magical History', 'The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts', and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century'."
"We know," said Iris.
"Just don't believe what some of the books say," said Harry. "Some can be misleading. When we were younger, some wizards created stories about us that were false. Our uncle had to sue them."
Hermione widened her eyes, "I guess being famous is quite complicated like in the muggle world. Celebrities get harassed by the media and press nonstop."
"You have no idea," said the twins.
"Do you want to join us, Granger?" Azalea offered. "Most wizards and witches would accept muggleborns like you, but if you find yourself with purebloods, then they'll give ya a cold shoulder."
"Why?" Hermione asked as Harry lifted her trunk on top and took a seat by Azalea. While Azalea explained the problems about the muggleborns and purebloods, the door slid open once again, but this time a boy looking rather timid and tearful.
"Sorry, but have any of you seen a toad around here?"
Before anyone could answer, Harry's familiar hissed, "I smell the toad not too far from here…tell him to check to his left."
Harry looked down and sure enough there was a greenish toad close by the compartment door. He got up and picked up the toad, "You're in luck. He was nearby the door though we didn't see him come in at all."
The timid boy sighed in relief, "Thanks. My uncle gave him to me as a gift for getting my Hogwarts letter. My gran would have been mad if I lost him again. My name is Neville Longbottom.
"Nice to meet ya, Neville. I'm Harry and my sister, Iris and my right is my cousin Azalea and our friend Hermione Granger."
"If you like you can sit with us," offered Iris.
"Really? Then-Then let me get my trunk," said Neville before leaving the compartment. He came back and lifted his trunk to the top of the seats before sitting down next to Harry. "Um, how did you know that my toad was here when you didn't notice him?"
Harry rolled up his sleeve, "This is my familiar, Liza. One of the Heads of Hogwarts allowed me to bring her. Don't worry, she's friendly."
Neville nodded, nervously but held onto his toad close to him.
"Why is your familiar a snake?" Hermione asked.
"That's because my dear brother is a Parseltongue," replied Iris before seeing the confused look on Hermione's face and a terrified look on Neville's face. "You don't have to be scared Neville. Harry is not an 'evil' wizard just cause he can talk to snakes. Besides, don't you know wizards who can speak Parseltongue have strong healing magic?"
Hermione frowned, "What's so wrong about being Parseltongue if they have healing magic?"
"The known wizards in Britain that have that ability were Salazar Slytherin and You-Know-Who aka Tom Riddle Jr." replied Azalea. "And since those two were well-known dark wizards, everyone in the British wizarding community thinks whoever has that ability must be evil."
"Also, to those who are sorted into Slytherin," said Iris.
"That's not right," murmured Hermione before frowning. "Nobody should be judge by someone else's mistakes and Slytherin's are not evil. They are…"
"Cunning and ambition," finished Harry. "Which frankly many light wizards think that's a reason why they 'turn' evil."
"I see, but Headmaster Dumbledore must be doing something about it," said Hermione.
Harry snorted, "Not likely. Judging by the stories from my godfather and uncles, Dumbledore favors the Gryffindors ever since he was given the position of Headmaster of Hogwarts. He doesn't really care about the other houses."
Hermione and Neville widened their eyes.
"But – But he should do something! He's the leader of the Light," argued Hermione.
Iris snorted," Leader of the Light my ass! Let me tell ya the mask behind that grandfather appearance he tries to be."
After an hour, Hermione and Neville learned the truth about Dumbledore. That's when the door of the compartment opened once more and came in was a boy with red hair.
"Hey, do you have any more room? Everywhere else is sort of full."
"Go ahead," said Harry.
The redhead smiled before taking a seat by Hermione.
"Name's Ron Weasley, what's yours?"
"Harry and this is my sister, Iris. Across from me is my cousin, Azalea. Seating next to her is Hermione Granger and seating next to me is Neville Longbottom."
Ron widened his eyes, "You're the Twins-Who-Lived! Is it true that you have the scars? Do you remember what You-Know-Who looks like?"
The Potter twins glared at the redhead while Hermione and Azalea had a frown on their faces.
"Well, that's a rude question to ask," said Hermione. "Why do you want to know if they have the scars? Or if they remember the man that killed their parents?"
Ron blushed from embarrassment, "Right, sorry. It's just…I didn't mean to sound like I'm a brat or something. I was…just curious, that's all."
"Apology forgiven," said Iris before smirking. "Now, do you have a favorite Quidditch team?"
While Iris and Ron were having an argument on which Quidditch team was the best, the door slid open yet again but this time a smiling, dimpled woman appeared.
"Anything off the cart, dears?"
"Sure, do you want anything guys?" Harry asked.
"Licorice Wands and Cauldron Cakes please," replied Azalea, not taking off from the book she was reading. Hermione and Neville shook their heads.
Harry got some of everything and paid the woman eleven Sickles and seven Knuts. He slid the door closed before handing his cousin's candy before tossing a bag to his sister who caught it without looking.
"How – How can you catch that without looking?" Ron asked.
"Being twins have its advantages," said Iris. "Most magical twins get some special abilities. For example, some twins can talk to each other though their minds."
"That explains how Fred and George can finish each other's sentences!" Ron said.
Everyone gave him a confuse look.
Ron smiled sheepishly, "Sorry. You see, I have twin brothers. I have five brothers in total and one sister who will be coming to Hogwarts next year."
The Potter siblings and Hermione widened their eyes.
"You can say I've got a lot to live up to," said Ron, sadly. "Bill and Charlie have already left – Bill was Head Boy and Charlie was captain of Quidditch. Now Percy's a Prefect. Fred and George mess around a lot, but they still get really good marks, and everyone thinks they're really funny. Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it's no big deal, because they did it first…"
Iris frowned, "Hey, don't think so negative about yourself Ron. True that your older brothers were great in Hogwarts, but now it's time to show them what you can do, got it?"
"That's right. Hey, you might surpass your brothers of something they never did," said Harry. Ron had his mouth open slightly before given them a smile. That's when Harry handed him a few candies, "Here have some."
"Thanks," said Ron, taking the offered candy and pasties. He was grateful since his mother packed him four corned beef sandwiches that he didn't like. "So, what house you guys think you'll be sorted into?"
"Gryffindor," replied Iris before pouting, "My uncle and aunt keep on complaining that I act just like my dad. He was reckless and doing crazy stunts on his broom."
"Ravenclaw for me," said Azalea. "My dad went to Durmstrang while my mum went to Beauxbatons who was sorted into the house for knowledge. Dad says I'm just like my mum, but a splitting image of my Aunt Lily when she was young minus the eyes."
Ron agreed as he could see the similarities that Azalea and Iris have. They have the same red hair, but Iris is much darker while Azalea's was bright red. As for the eyes, Iris had hazel eyes while Azalea has green-blue eyes.
"Gryffindor since my family has been in that house for years. I don't know what they'll say if I'm not sorted there…I don't suppose Ravenclaw would be too bad but imagine if they put me in Slytherin."
Harry frowned, "And what's wrong about being sorted into Slytherin? My family believes I'm a shoe in to be in that house, if not Ravenclaw."
"But – But that's the house for dark wizards and witches!" Ron argued. "That's also the house where You-Know-Who was in!"
Azalea gave a 'I told you look' to Hermione before addressing Ron. "And where Merlin, the great sorcerer was sorted into. He did great things, and yet he was in the house of cunning."
Ron bit his lip, "I guess…you do have a point there. I just never heard anything good about that house since…well, you know…"
"The same with me," murmured Neville.
"It's best to see and hear it yourself than hearing it from other people," said Harry.
"…I guess I'll give the Slytherins a chance if they are nice," said Ron. "Most purebloods don't like us Weasley's since my father likes the stuff the muggles uses. What about you Neville?"
"Um, I guess Gryffindor since that's the house my gran wants me to be in," replied Neville. "She really wants me to follow in my father's footsteps."
Iris frowned, "She shouldn't do that. You're your own person, not your father."
Neville sighed, "I know, but it's really hard to change her mind about things."
Harry was about to say something when the door slid open yet again, but this time it was Draco that Iris met in Madam Malkin's robe shop. Behind him were two boys who looked extremely mean. They were standing on either side of the pale boy like some sort of bodyguard.
"There you are, Iris. I have been looking everywhere for you," said Draco. "This is Crabbe and Goyle. I've known them since I was young."
Iris smiled, "Greetings. This is my brother, Harry, and across from him is our cousin, Azalea. The other three are Neville Longbottom, Hermione Granger and…"
Draco looked at him with disgust, "No need to tell me who he is. My father told me all the Weasley's have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford."
Ron's face turned bright red from embarrassment and anger.
"That was mean to say to someone you don't really know," said Hermione.
Draco turned his head towards her, "Granger? Are you related to Hector Dagworth-Granger?"
"Um, I don't know," replied Hermione, nervously. She played her robes, "I just recently learned that I'm a witch when I got my letter."
Draco frowned and was about to say something, but Iris beat him first.
"Hey, you never know, you might be related to him without knowing. There are a bunch of squibs in the muggle world so somewhere in your family line shows your slightly distant related to him, right Draco?"
"I guess you do have a point," murmured the blond. "If you would excuse me, but I need to change into my robes as we are getting close to the station," he said before leaving the compartment with his two bodyguards.
Harry peered out of the window to see it was getting dark, but he could see the village the train was going to stop. While the boys dressed in the bathrooms, girls dressed in the compartment minus Hermione. Within a few minutes, the boys returned when they heard a voice echo through the train.
"We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be taken to the school separately."
Harry and his small group walked out from their compartment and joined the crowd of students. The train finally stopped, and the students pushed their way towards the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform.
Suddenly they heard a loud voice, "First years! First years over here!"
There stood a giant man with a long, shaggy mane of hair and a wild, tangled beard. He was holding onto a lamp and waving his large hand. "C'mon, follow me! Mind yer step now! First years follow me!"
The Potter twins followed the large giant to a steep, narrow path and soon they found themselves by the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.
"No more than four in a boat!" the giant shouted, pointing to a fleet of little boats by the shore.
The Potter siblings and Ron sat in one boat while Neville and Hermione sat in another with two other students.
"Everyone in?" shouted the giant, who had a boat to himself. He looked around before nodding, "Right then – forward!"
Suddenly the fleet of boats moved on their own, gliding across the lake, which was a smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring in awe upon the great castle overhead. They soon entered into a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.
Harry helped out his sister and cousin out of the boat before walking over to where Hermione and Neville were. Ron simply just followed them like a lost puppy.
They followed the giant into a passageway that leads to one of the side entrance of the castle.
The Potter siblings smirked, "Let the games begin…"
-Break Line-
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Next Chapter: The Sorting