Chapter 13

Emma shook her shaggy head and Harry hummed in thought, finally after a moment he snaps his fingers and turns back to Hermione.

"Let's see if we can't find an upper year to help find it with magic rather than going up and down the train looking for a small toad."

The look on Hermione's face shows her disappointment at not having thought of that earlier. Harry simply brushes past her and out his compartment heading down the hallway towards the older student that is walking around and looking into compartments.

Emma following closely behind quickly draws the attention of the older student that, now that Harry can see it properly, has a badge on their robes seemingly telling everyone their importance.

"Excuse me, could you help us, a student has lost his toad and we can't seem to find it, do you have a spell that could possibly help us?"

The older student gives them a warm smile and motions them to lead on to where the other kid is. Harry turns to Hermione who begins to move down the train towards the engine, about half way there they come across the boy.

He was slightly pudgy and had straight black hair and a teary face, he was also already wearing his robes like Hermione and the older student. As they get closer Hermione waves the boy over and explains why the older student is here.

"Now then little firsty, why don't you tell me your name and your toads name." The warm and gentle smile the older student gives seems to relax the boy who in a trembling soft voice answers.

"m-m-my name i-i-i-is Neville L-Longbottom, my toads c-c-called t-t-t-trevor."

Harry and Emma were sorely unimpressed by Neville, he wouldn't even last a day in aspirant training let alone as a guardsman. This boy looked like he had never seen any sort of training in his life and would faint at the sight of some of the enemies of man.

The older student gives another smile and then raises their wand before saying the strangest sentence Harry had ever heard.

"Accio Neville's toad Trevor."

From somewhere behind them a short scream followed by a loud croak was heard as a toad came sailing through the air and into the older students hand. Holding out the toad to Neville who quickly took it the older student asked if they needed anything else over the many thanks Neville was giving her.

"No thank you we're good now, thanks for the help miss?"

Harry waited if the student would give him a name or just walk off, but it seemed her kindness was not faked but genuine.

"Penelope Clearwater, I'm a prefect, we help the younger years and offer advice when needed."

Harry gives a nod while Emma simply lets out a loud yawn and begins to nudge Harry back to their compartment. Harry shoots off a quick thanks and farewell before Emma pushes him out of the car and towards the next one, leaving the other either confused or amused at the pairs antics.

After much poking, prodding and nudging they finally make it back to the compartment and return to their seats Emma's head once again in Harry's lap. The rest of the trip was uneventful with the exception of the trolley cart lady and the many interesting snacks she has for sale.

But nothing really peaked Harry or Emma's interest so they simply waited until they could get real food at the castle.

After the sun had finally set and the world was plunged into darkness, they finally stopped and were told to depart the train and leave the luggage and animals. Emma ignored this and joined her pup on the platform to finally stretch after a long ride in a tiny train compartment.

Many students gave Harry and Emma a wide berth since even if Emma was smaller she was larger then the average wolf or dog and looked much fiercer. Of course this did not stop every student and some even tried to tell them that Emma had to wait on the train just like all the other pets, of course her growl always seemed to stop that line of thinking quickly.

Over the heads of the students a lantern could be seen and a loud voice bellowing for all first years to follow him couldn't be missed.

As Harry followed the voice he finally saw who it belonged too and couldn't help but be mildly surprised. A man who looked like a space marine but with more fat stood at the end of the platform, covered in furs and pelts from all kinds of wild life Harry almost thought this might be a rouge marine.

But then he remembered that no marine would ever be able to get that large around the middle with their metabolism as high as it was. Plus the fact the man was here and Harry didn't know who he was ment he had to be a teacher and not one of the people they sent to infiltrate the school to keep him safe.

Soon enough all the first years had gathered and the large man began to lead them down a well trodden path that led them to a lake that had boats ready for them.

"No more than four to a boat." The large man directed, which would be awkward for Harry and Emma since that would mean they would need one just for themselves. Luckily that didn't seem to be a problem since none of the other students wanted to get close to the wolf and subsequently her pup, which worked just fine for her and Harry.

Once everyone had gotten on a boat the large man yelled forward and almost of their own volition the boats began to move forward out into the dark lake. As they glide across the star dappled lake they get their first look at Hogwarts in all its glory, the torch light giving it a timeless look that even Harry found mildly impressive for such a small building.

The large man calls out for everyone to watch their heads but only he has to really worry about it,so the students got to watch the castle disappear over the grotto they had just entered.

Soon enough they had docked and exited their boats, the large man led them up a set of stairs before coming to a large door and with a thunderous knock the doors soon open. Standing on the other side was a stern faced witch who after looking over the students looked up to the man that had lead them here.

"Thank you Hagrid, I'm sure you had no trouble?" The stern faced witch asked in a thick Scottish brogue.

"Not at all professor McGonagall, I'll leave them in your care now and head to the feast." The man said with a large smile and cheerfulness.

McGonagall gives a nod to this and let's the man leave before turning to the new students waiting before her and motions them to follow her. As the students follow behind her Harry and Emma bring up the rear and try to remain out of sight since Harry is certain this professor will demand to know why Emma wasn't on the train and why he has a wolf instead of a owl, cat, or toad.

While Harry may have some allies here he didn't need to make a scene so early in the school year, so with a look Harry sends Emma off into the school to look for his things and while she is reluctant to do so knows that he has his reasons for doing so. With a swish of her tail Emma disappears around a corner as the students continue to follow the professor with none the wiser of what now roams the halls of Hogwarts.

Soon the professor has led the students to some sort of antechamber with a door leading some where with a lot of people on the other side of the sounds of chatter are anything to go by.

Once all the students are finally in the room McGonagall gathers their attention and gives them a small speech.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, the start of term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room."

"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 at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn you 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 honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."

"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 are waiting."

She gives the large group a look over with a critical eye at the young Neville and some red headed boy Harry didn't know who had a slightly dirty face.

"I shall return when we are ready for you." With that McGonagall left the students in the chamber, once she was out of sight the students immediately began to discuss what the Sorting Ceremony might entail. Harry simply leaned against the wall and listens as the students came up with ridiculous ideas for the ceremony and almost shook his head at their naivety.

That's when he saw the first spirit enter the room followed by even more and he tensed in preparation for what was about to come.