Chapter Five
Harry spent the following months pouring over his books. He studied various spells and potions; if he had questions, he asked his Mother and Grandmama. Mano helped him take down notes in his new Grimoire. He practiced spell movements with his new wand. Morticia had warned him that performing magic intentionally outside school was prohibited by the Wizarding Governments, so he was careful not to cast the spells he practiced.
Wednesday and Pugsley helped him train Hedwig to follow commands. She could fetch objects, attack specific targets, and come when called. Her intelligence was quite astounding. Harry would let her out to hunt at night, and she would always return with a fresh kill in her beak. One morning at breakfast, Hedwig delivered a package. Inside was another Portkey; this one would take the entire family to King's Cross Station.
Soon enough, the day had come. Harry woke early and quickly, washed and dressed, then ran downstairs with Mano on his shoulder. The House was quiet at this hour; most of the household was still asleep. Harry sat in the lounge, reading one of his school books. Lurch came from his quarters into the room. He grunted a good morning greeting to Harry and slunk to the kitchen to begin breakfast.
After a while, Morticia came down the stairs, holding the hem of her dress as she descended. She noticed Harry studying his schoolbook. She pridefully smiled at her dear child's initiative to prepare himself before he arrived at Hogwarts. Gomez and Morticia had always instilled in their children the importance of education to prepare them for the future and better themselves.
"Good Morning, my dear; are you excited for today?" Harry looked up from his book and greeted his Mother, standing from his seat. Morticia pulled Harry into a warm embrace. A tear came to her eye as she stroked his lovely black hair. For the first time, one of her children was going abroad, leaving their beautiful home. She knew it was best for him, but still, it was hard, for this was the first step in his growing up and eventually leaving for his own life.
"Come, Darling, let's go feed the plants." Morticia let go of Harry and walked to the conservatory together. The greenhouse was full of magical and No-Madj plants, though none were ordinary. Morticia's pride and joy was Cleopatra, her African Strangler. She had grown her beloved plant from a seedling when she was Harry's age and had cultivated the animate plant devotedly.
Cleopatra extended a vine toward Harry when he entered the room, wrapping around his waist and pulling him close. Cleopatra had always been close to Harry, ever since the night Wednesday had tried to kill him when he was a baby. He'd apparated into her vines. Usually, when something found itself in Cleopatra's 'hands,' so to speak, it found itself eaten, but she had nuzzled the infant Harry, rocking him gently to sleep.
Harry stroked Cleopatra's tendril, unwrapping it from around him. Morticia had stepped out to the kitchen as Cleopatra hugged Harry; now, she had returned with a dish filled with the plant's favorite treat, Yak Burgers. She handed the bowl to Harry, who plucked one from the bowl. Cleopatra opened her trap-like maw, making squealing sounds. Careful to mind her thorns, Harry tossed a burger into her mouth. Cleopatra nosily chewed and swallowed her food.
As Harry fed Cleopatra, Morticia tended to her roses. She grew roses not for their blooms but for their thorns. Once they were big and sharp enough, she clipped the flowers and cut off their buds, placing the headless stems in vases.
Once the plants were taken care of, Morticia led Harry to the dining room. It was time for the rest of the family to have breakfast. Harry picked at his food nervously. He'd take the train to Hogwarts in a few hours to begin his Wizard education. Once breakfast was done, Harry went upstairs to pack. He gathered his school books, parchment and quills, potion equipment, and robes. He also took his birthday presents, placing them in his trunk. Once he had placed Hedwig safely in her cage, he pulled the noose hanging from the ceiling to call for Lurch. Quick as a flash, Lurch was there.
"You Rang?" Lurch rumbled. Harry asked him to take his trunk downstairs as he gathered up Hedwig and Mano. Lurch picked up the heavy trunk as if it weighed nothing and carried it one-handed. Harry followed the butler downstairs, where his family was gathered.
"Ah, Harry, right on time!" Gomez exclaimed, checking his watches. He pulled from his pocket the Portkey, like the one that had taken Harry, Morticia, and himself to Diagon Alley.
"Now then, everybody hold onto the Portkey tight and don't let go until we reach the train station. Got everything, Harry; good, off we go!" Gomez held out the Portkey to his family. One by one, they all took hold of the disc. Just as before, there was a whirlwind of colors and sounds until the Addamses found themselves in an alleyway across from a modern train station.
"WHOO, DO IT AGAIN!" Fester and Pugsley whooped with laughter, having thoroughly enjoyed the Portkey trip. Wednesday, as ever, kept a stoic and emotionless demeanor.
"Fascinating." She said, smoothing her dress. Grandmama staggered to get her balance.
"Now, there's a wild ride! And I thought drag racing was a thrill!" Her hair was even more of a tangled mess than usual.
Morticia checked that everyone and everything was accounted for, and then the family walked across the way to the train station. Harry's Hogwarts letter said the train would depart from Platform 9 ; enclosed was a round-trip ticket from London to the village of Hogsmeade. Harry and his family walked until they reached Platforms 9 and 10. They looked, but no 9 .
As they looked, a family with red hair approached. It was a plump, older woman with five children, four boys and one girl. As she came closer, the family could hear her muttering.
"It's the same every year, packed with Muggles." The woman led her brood to where the Addamses stood. She looked up, saw them, and gave a brief gasp. She tried to compose herself and then put on a friendly smile.
"Ah, looking for the Platform?" She asked. Gomez thanked her and asked if she would be so kind as to assist them. She pointed at the wall between the two Platforms.
"It's quite simple, just walk straight at the wall, between Platforms 9 and 10. Be careful not to attract attention; you can't let the Muggles notice."
The red-haired woman instructed her eldest son, Percy, to demonstrate. Percy, a tall, stuffy-looking young man, pushed his trolley towards the wall. Just as it looked like he would crash into the bricks, he passed right through as if the wall wasn't even there. The woman told another of her sons, a boy named Fred, to go next.
"He's not Fred, I am!" exclaimed a boy, identical to Fred.
"Honestly, woman, and you call yourself our Mother." The other boy, George, apparently said this as their Mother apologized. The boy was prepared to go through when he turned around.
"I am only joking; I am Fred!" He laughed and went on, the actual George following. The last boy, the youngest of his brothers, followed through the wall. The woman turned to Harry and his family.
"Please, after you, it's quite easy." Gomez placed his hands on Harry's shoulders and told him to do it. Harry glanced around to ensure no one was watching, then proceeded to the wall. Just as he touched the bricks, they seemed to vanish before him. The rest of the station had disappeared, and now he was standing on a lone Platform in front of a scarlet train. Above him was a sign, Platform 9 . Gomez and Morticia soon followed, along with the rest of their family. The red-haired woman and her daughter came through and caught up with her sons.
Wizard families filled the Platform, parents saying goodbye to their children. Owls flew overhead; porters carried trunks to the baggage car, and students poked their heads out of windows, waving goodbye to their loved ones.
Harry turned to his family, a lump in his throat. This was it; he was saying goodbye to his parents, siblings, Uncle, and Grandmother. Perhaps he was making a mistake; he should stay home and learn from Grandmama and Morticia. Gomez sensed his apprehension and laid a gentle hand on Harry's shoulder.
"You'll be fine, my boy; now go, make us proud. Remember, you're not just Harry Potter; you're an Addams, and Addamses never fear, never give up, and never surrender." Gomez pulled Harry into a tight embrace. Harry hugged Father, then Morticia, then turned to Pugsley and Wednesday.
Wednesday, as always, had a flat expression, yet she still hugged Harry. Pugsley hugged both his siblings and sniffled a little.
"Don't go soppy." Said Wednesday, giving Pugsley a quick jab in the ribs. Harry let go of his siblings and looked at his family.
"I'll be home before you know it. I love you all." Then he turned and walked toward the train. He wheeled his luggage through the crowd until he reached an empty compartment. First, he put in Hedwig and her cage, then began to lift his trunk inside. As strong as he was, the trunk was rather large and unwieldy for Harry to manage independently, and he nearly dropped it.
"Want a hand?" Harry turned and saw one of the red-haired twins, Fred or George; he wasn't sure which. The boy called over his brother, and together, the three hauled the trunk inside, placing it in the baggage rack. Harry thanked the two boys, wiping his brow. As one of the boys looked at Harry, about to say he was welcome, his eyes went up to Harry's forehead.
"Wait a minute, is that?" The boy pointed to Harry's scar.
"Merlin. Are you?" stammered the other twin. Harry rolled his eyes a little, then held out his hand.
"Harry Potter-Addams, a pleasure to meet you." He shook the twins' hands, much to their joy and amazement. As Harry shook their hands, the boy's Mother called to them. The twins raced out to answer her. Harry sat down in the compartment and looked out the window. He watched as more and more students filled the train.
The twins' Mother was wiping her youngest son's face with a handkerchief, much to his annoyance. The twins mocked their younger brother, whose name was Ron. The Mother asked where her eldest son was, and her twins pointed him out. Percy was already dressed in his Hogwarts robes. Unlike Harry's black robes, Percy's were trimmed with red at the hems and sleeves; over his heart was the lion of Gryffindor. A red and gold badge was pinned to his robe, decorated with a capital P.
Percy bid his Mother farewell, saying he had to join the other Prefects in their compartment. The twins mocked their older sibling for his appointment as Prefect. From their words, it sounded like Percy was proud of his achievement, a little too proud, as he had bragged quite a bit about it. The Mother kissed her eldest son on the cheek and then turned to her twins.
"Now, you two behave yourselves. If I get one more owl, saying you've exploded a lavatory or…" but the twins interrupted her, saying that was a swell idea, as they'd never done it before. Harry and Pugsley had blown up their fair share of toilets at school, so he had to agree it was good fun.
The Mother admonished her sons and told them to look after Ron. Suddenly, the twins remembered who they had left on the train.
"Mum, you know who that kid was we met at the Platform? Harry Potter!" The boys' little sister squealed in excitement.
"Oh, Mummy, can I please go see him, please, please!"
"You saw him already on the Platform, Ginny! Are you sure, Fred?"
"Positive! I saw his scar and everything, though he said his name was Potter-Addams. Guess he got adopted by some family named Addams."
"Well, thank heavens the poor boy has someone to care for him, though those were rather strange-looking people he was with."
"I wonder if he remembers what You-Know-Who looks like!" exclaimed one of the twins.
"Don't you dare ask him, Fred; imagine asking him such a thing, as if he needs reminding of that tragedy!" Suddenly, the train whistle blew.
"Now hurry up, don't miss the train."
After kissing their Mother and sister goodbye, the three boys boarded the train. Ginny began to cry at their departure. To their Mother's frustration, the twins promised to write to her and send her a lavatory seat. The train lurched forward and began to move. Families waved goodbye to their loved ones as they left the station.
Harry sat back, excitement filling him. Soon, he'd be at Hogwarts, learning from the finest Professors in Britain. He watched the scenery fly by as the train sped along the tracks. Suddenly, the door opened; it was the youngest brother, Ron.
"Excuse me, do you mind? Everywhere else is full." Harry welcomed him inside and motioned to the seat opposite him. The twins poked their heads inside, telling their brother that one of their friends, Lee Jordan, had a pet tarantula. Harry perked up with interest.
"Ask him to bring it here when he can!" he said. Ron's eyes widened, and he turned pale. The twins grinned at Harry and introduced themselves.
"I'm Fred Weasley, and he's George, and that's our little brother Ron! He's scared of spiders. Better not bring Lee's in here. See you later!" The twins left the compartment to find their friend. Harry turned to Ron, who was still looking nervous.
"They're nothing to be afraid of; spiders are quite gentle creatures. My sister has dozens of them." Ron shuddered and shook his head. He looked up at Harry and eyed his scar.
"Are you him? I mean, are you Harry Potter?" Harry nodded, clarifying his name as Potter-Addams. So far, he was known for the legend of Harry Potter, not who he was.
"You don't sound English, where do you live?" Ron asked.
"Kingsport, New Jersey, in America." Harry's accent came from diction lessons from Morticia. It wasn't quite American or English-sounding; it was a mix between the two.
"You came from America to come to Hogwarts? Why aren't you going to Ilvermorny?" Ron asked.
"My name was on the Hogwarts registry since my birth. I could transfer if I wanted to; Professor McGonagall told me it would be an option after at least one year at Hogwarts." Harry explained.
"Well, you can't beat Hogwarts; it's the best school there is! Your family, uh, adoptive family, are they Wizards?" Many wondered what became of Harry Potter after the death of his parents. Some thought he'd been spirited away and raised by a secret order of mages, trained since infancy in ancient magic. Others thought he'd been hidden somewhere in the Muggle world, raised without knowing his magical heritage until he got his Hogwarts letter.
"Sort of; my Mother, Sister, and Grandmother are Witches; my Father, Brother, and Uncle, however, have no magic. They're not Squibs, but our heritage is rather eclectic. My parents are my cousins by blood, through my birth Mother's side. Professor Dumbledore sent me to live with them after my Birth Mother's sister refused to take me. She and her husband didn't want me 'infecting their family with freakishness.'"
Ron was astounded. He knew some Wizards didn't like or approve of Muggles; hearing of Muggles who didn't like Wizards was strange. Ron told Harry about his family and how nearly all his family members were Wizards and Witches. The Weasleys were part of the so-called 'Sacred Twenty-Eight,' a list of pureblood Wizarding families.
"I'm the sixth of my siblings to go to Hogwarts; I've got some expectations to live up to. My brothers Bill and Charlie have already left Hogwarts. Bill was Head-Boy, and Charlie was the Quidditch Captain. Now Percy's a Prefect, too! Fred and George are pranksters but still get good marks and are rather popular. I'm expected to do as well as the others, but even if I do, it's no big deal; everyone else did it all first. I get all their hand-me-downs, too, like Bill's robes, Charlie's wand, and Percy's rat.."
Ron reached into his coat pocket and produced a fat gray rat, fast asleep. Ron said the rat was named Scabbers and confessed he was pretty useless. He got Scabbers after his parents got Percy a new owl for being made Prefect.
"My owl Hedwig is up there, in her cage, and this," Harry picked up the black wooden box.
"This is Mano!" Harry knocked on the lid of the box. The lid creaked open, and Mano waved to Ron, who yelped and turned pale.
"He won't hurt you; he's quite nice. Say hello, Mano." Mano reached out of his box to shake Ron's hand. Cautiously, Ron came forward and shook the animate hand. Mano let go of Ron's hand and gave him a thumbs-up.
"Wicked! I've never seen such a thing before!" Harry told him about Thing and the rest of his family. He told of his exploits with Wednesday and Pugsley, blowing up the trains with his Father, learning his first spells from his Mother and Grandmama, building bombs with Uncle Fester, and how to play the harpsichord with Lurch. Ron listened, fascinated to hear of Harry's unusual family. The Addamses sounded strange compared to other Wizarding families, but they were a close and loving family.
At about half past twelve, there was a clattering outside the compartment door and a smiling old lady with a trolly full of sweets and other treats rolled up.
"Anything off the trolley dears?" Ron's ears went pink, and he said he had sandwiches, which his Mother packed, producing a semi-squashed bag from his pocket. Harry decided to treat them both and purchased a little bit of everything. Ron tried to protest, but Harry shushed him and divvied the goodies between them. Harry picked up a package labeled Chocolate Frog.
"Is this a real frog?" asked Harry excitedly.
"Of course not; it's just chocolate-shaped and charmed to act like one," Ron explained. Harry's face fell in disappointment, and he offered it to Ron instead. Ron took the chocolate frog and opened the package. Inside was a milk chocolate frog that croaked like the real thing. Ron grabbed it before it could hop away and bit off its head. Under the frog, he turned over a card.
"Aw, Dumbledore again. You collect Wizard Cards?" Ron offered the card to Harry. Harry took the card. Pictured on the front was the headmaster of Hogwarts himself, Albus Dumbledore. Like the paintings in the Potter vault, the picture on the card moved.
Dumbledore sat poised in the frame of the card. He looked around, stroked his beard, adjusted his glasses, and even stepped out of the frame, leaving a blank background. The back of the card detailed Dumbledore's achievements, such as discovering the twelve uses of dragon's blood, his defeat of the dark Wizard Grindelwald, and his alchemical work with Nicholas Flamel.
Ron opened another frog and checked out the card. He opened the frogs individually, and if he already had the card inside, he offered it to Harry. Soon, Harry had cards of Morgana le Fay, Hengist of Woodcroft, Alberic Grunnion, Circe, Paracelsus, Cliodna, and the great Merlin himself. Many Wizards regarded Merlin as the most extraordinary Wizard next to Dumbledore.
Harry opened a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Ron warned him that they meant 'every flavor,' that there were pleasant beans such as chocolate, caramel, and strawberry and unusual ones like tripe, soap, and grass clippings. These were much more to Harry's taste. He shocked Ron by deliberately biting down on a black pepper bean.
The scenery changed outside their window, from villages to countryside to green hills and twisting woods. The boys chatted and munched on their treats until there was a knock on their door. It slid open, and outside was a chubby, round-faced boy.
"Have either of you seen a toad? He keeps getting away from me!" exclaimed the boy. Harry and Ron said they hadn't, and the boy left dejected.
"If I had lost a toad, I'd forget it. They're pretty useless. Almost as useless as Scabbers here." He prodded the rat, still sleeping on the seat.
"All he does is sleep and eat! If he's not doing one, he's doing the other! Fred taught me a spell to turn him yellow and make him more interesting. You wanna see?"
Harry told him to go ahead and give it a try. Ron pulled out a battered-looking wand. Just as he was about to wave it, the door opened again. The chubby boy was back, along with a bushy-haired girl. The girl was dressed in her Hogwarts uniform.
"Have either of you seen a toad? Neville here lost his."
"We already said we haven't seen it," Ron told her. The girl noticed his wand.
"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see then!" She had an intelligent, bossy-sounding voice. Ron turned red and stammered a bit. He raised his wand and spoke.
"Sunshine, Daisies, Butter Mellow, Turn This Stupid Fat Rat Yellow!" he said, sharply lowering the wand. Nothing happened, and the rat still lay there asleep.
"Are you sure that's a real spell? It's not very good. I've tried several simple spells, but they all worked for me. No one else in my family has magic, just me. It was quite a shock when I got my letter, but I'm so happy! According to 'Hogwarts: A History,' Hogwarts is supposed to be the best school in the Wizarding world. I've memorized all our school books to get a head start. By the way, I'm Hermione Granger." She held out her hand, after saying all that, rather quickly.
"Ron Weasley." Ron introduced himself, hesitantly shaking Hermione's hand. Harry reached out and shook her hand as well.
"Harry Potter-Addams." Hermione and Neville's eyes widened.
"Are you? I've read about you; you're mentioned in several Wizarding books I bought for extra study!" Harry was surprised at this. He still wasn't used to being famous; he barely even remembered what happened that night ten years ago to make him famous. He also shook hands with the chubby boy, Neville Longbottom.
"Do either of you know what House you'll be sorted into? I've asked around, and I hope I'll be in Gryffindor; it sounds like the best of the four, though Ravenclaw prizes intellect. Anyway, we better look for Neville's toad.
"Here, maybe Mano can help you." Harry opened the box, and Mano popped up and waved. Hermione and Neville each yelped in surprise.
"Uh, no, no, I think we can manage it. You two better change into your robes; I expect we'll be arriving soon." Hermione and Neville then left the compartment. Ron shook his head in amazement.
"She's certainly got a mouth on her! Whatever House I'm in, I hope I'm not in hers." Ron put away his wand.
"Should have known that stupid spell was phony; stupid George."
"What Houses are your brothers in?" Asked Harry. Mano crawled out of his box and scuttled over to Scabbers. He gave the rat an experimental poke, but the rat kept sleeping.
"Gryffindor, all my family's been in Gryffindor, so I expect I'll be too. Ravenclaw would be fine, but I'm no genius. Hufflepuff's pathetic but not too bad. Imagine if I were sorted into Slytherin, however! All the bad Wizards come from there! You-Know-Who came from there!" Harry shook his head.
"Voldemort may have been a Slytherin and gone bad, but not every Slytherin turns out that way." Ron's eyes widened in shock.
"You said HIS name!" Harry shrugged.
"It's just a name, nothing to be afraid of. There have been terrible No-Madjes, and no one fears their names." Ron was unfamiliar with the American term for non-magical people and had asked Harry for clarification.
"Anyways, no Muggle was as bad as…You-Know-Who!" Ron shuddered.
"Anyway, all of his followers were Slytherin, just like him. If I got sorted into Slytherin, I would go home!"
"I don't care what House I get sorted into. Anyway, Merlin was a Slytherin and the greatest Wizard since Dumbledore." Harry handed Ron Merlin's Wizard Card. Sure enough, it said so right on the back: Slytherin house. Ron thought about that for a moment.
"Well, I think my Dad's Mum was a Slytherin, and Dad turned out ok. He loves Muggles; he thinks they're fascinating!" Ron turned back to the pile of sweets and bit into a Pumpkin Pasty.
"He works for the Ministry in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office. Sometimes Wizards play tricks on Muggles by enchanting Muggle objects to do things they wouldn't normally do, like teapots shooting tea out at people, or books making the ones who read them speak backward." Harry smirked at that. There were a few people he'd like to do that to.
"What does the rest of your family do?" Harry asked. Ron told Harry how his brother Charlie worked in Romania, studying Dragonology. His eldest brother Bill was a curse breaker for Gringotts; currently, he was in Africa, excavating lost tombs. Percy planned to work for the Ministry when he graduated from Hogwarts.
"By the way, did you hear about Gringotts? It's all over the Daily Prophet; someone tried to break into a high-security vault! No one has EVER broken into Gringotts before, not successfully, at least!" This grabbed Harry's attention. He remembered what Griphook had said about anyone but a goblin trying to get into a vault and being trapped inside. That someone could break in and out successfully was disturbing.
"Did they steal anything?" Harry asked. Ron said they hadn't, which was the oddest thing; the vault had already been emptied that day. Harry's eyes widened. The vault Hagrid had taken them to! Someone else had tried to take what Hagrid had already taken on Dumbledore's orders. Whatever it was must be very important.
"Anyway, enough about that. Who's your favorite Quidditch team?" Harry was shaken from his contemplation. He told Ron he only followed Quidditch a little, living in America. There was a national American team, but Harry had never seen them play. He told Ron about the Quodpot games he'd seen. Ron, likewise, had never seen Quodpot and listened with interest.
As the two boys chatted, the door opened again. This time, it was the pale, blonde boy from Madame Malkin's. He was flanked on either side by two burly boys with sour expressions. He looked at Harry with much more interest than before.
"So, this is the famous Harry Potter. You should have said so in the shop." The boy stepped into the compartment. The burly boys tried to enter simultaneously and briefly got stuck. The blonde gave them an annoyed look and then turned back to Harry.
"That's Crabbe and Goyle, and I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." Ron gave a brief snigger. The boy, Draco, turned sharply towards him, a sneer on his face.
"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask yours. Red hair, shabby clothes, you must be a Weasley. Father told me about your family, more mouths to feed than they can afford, living in a hovel, and embarrassments to Wizardkind!" Malfoy turned to Harry.
"You'll soon discover that some Wizard families are better than others, Potter. You don't want to make friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there." Draco held out his hand for Harry to shake.
Harry looked at Malfoy's hand for a moment. Then, he stood up and took his hand. Ron looked crestfallen. Harry shook hands with Draco, but his hand stayed in Draco's when he lowered his arm. Draco looked down to see a pale, stitched-up, severed hand holding his own. He shrieked and tried to shake it off.
Mano crawled up Draco's arm and scuttled all over him. Draco squirmed and screamed. Crabbe and Goyle tried to get Mano off, but the hand pulled their noses and slapped their faces. Ron roared with laughter at the sight. Finally, Mano hopped from Draco and landed on Harry's shoulder.
"I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thank you very much." Draco's face turned pink, and he sneered.
"You'll pay for that, Potter! No one messes with a Malfoy!" Draco turned and left in a huff, followed by Crabbe and Goyle. Hermione came back, almost getting shoved aside by the three boys.
"What was all that about?" Harry explained that Malfoy and his cronies tried causing some trouble, but Mano sent them on their way. Mano waved at Hermione. The girl turned slightly pale but nervously waved back. Ron turned to Harry.
"You've met Malfoy before?" Harry explained their meeting in Diagon Alley and how he could tell he was a nasty fellow from their brief meeting.
"I've heard about them before; they were among the first to return to 'our side' when You-Know-Who fell. They said they'd been bewitched to follow him and returned to normal when he was gone. Dad doesn't believe it, however. He says Malfoy's Father didn't need an excuse to go to the 'Dark Side.'" Ron turned to Hermione.
"Can we help you?"
"I came to see if you were ready. I spoke to the conductor, and he said we were nearly there. Now, get a move on. You don't want to be late your first night, do you?" Hermione left the compartment to let the two boys change.
Harry and Ron quickly dressed in their Hogwarts uniforms. The set consisted of dark trousers, a button-up shirt, a gray cardigan, a tie, and long black robes. Ron's were a little short on him and faded. As they changed, a voice came over the intercom, saying they were pulling into Hogsmeade station.
When the train stopped, Harry and Ron left the compartment and followed the crowd of students off the train. The night was dark and chilly as the students crowded around the train. A lantern approached their heads, and Harry heard a familiar voice.
"Firs Years, this way, please! Come on now, Firs Years, don' be shy!" Hagrid came walking towards them. He smiled down at Harry and said hello to him.
Hagrid called over the students and directed the First-Year students to follow him. The older students went the opposite way. The First Years followed a narrow path until they came to the shore of a massive lake. At the beach were several boats. Hagrid directed the students to them, saying no more than four to a boat.
Harry and Ron sat in a boat, joined by Hermione and Neville. Once everyone was boarded, Hagrid pointed his umbrella in the air and called for the ships to move forward. The boats began to sail across the lake. Everyone drifted in silence, and they all seemed nervous about what was awaiting them. As they sailed across the lake, they passed a vast forest. They continued past the trees until they finally had a clear view of the castle.
Hogwarts stood in all its majesty on a high cliff. The students gasped and ooed and awed at its impressiveness. Harry had to admit the castle was beautiful. He looked at his companions in the boat. Ron, Neville, and Hermione gaped in wonder. Hagrid led the ships until they came to a dock beneath the cliffside. The students left the boats and walked to a large set of doors. Hagrid called out to Neville, handing him back his toad, Trevor. The students stood grouped before the doors. Hagrid walked up to the massive wooden and iron-wrought doors and knocked with his enormous fist.
The door opened and out stepped Professor McGonagall. She was dressed differently than Harry had last seen her. She wore flowing, green robes and a large brimmed, black pointed hat on her head. McGonagall thanked Hagrid for bringing the students and said she would take it from there. She opened the door and let Hagrid and the students inside the massive entrance hall. The students filled the hall, following the Professor. Harry could hear voices behind a door to the right. McGonagall led them to stand before the door and motioned for them to wait. Hagrid waved goodbye and then walked through the door.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress, Head of Gryffindor House, and Transfiguration Professor. The Start-of-Term Feast will begin momentarily, but first, you must be sorted into your Houses. The four Houses are named after the founders of Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Now, while you attend Hogwarts, your House will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points, while any rule-breaking will lose you points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points will be awarded the House Cup. You will sleep in the House dormitories and spend free time in the Common Rooms."
"In a few minutes, you will enter the Great Hall to be sorted and join your classmates, but I must ask you to wait here while we prepare. I shall return momentarily and escort you inside. I suggest you take the time to smarten yourselves up to look your best. Now, please, wait quietly." Professor McGonagall then turned and went back inside. Ron whispered into Harry's ear.
"Fred said we have to do some elaborate test to get sorted, like wrestling a troll or something. I'm sure he was joking, though." Harry thought that a troll wrestling would be quite a sight to see. He knew how to defend himself, learning fencing, karate, and boxing from his Father, though he'd never fought with something as big as a troll.
Everyone was whispering amongst themselves, wondering what to expect. Suddenly, somebody shrieked. Harry turned to see what the commotion was about when a large crowd of ghosts came streaming through the stone wall.
Harry's eyes widened in excitement. He loved meeting ghosts. Many of the Addams' honored dead lingered on the living plane as ghosts, sometimes visiting their living relatives on special occasions. Several ghosts came floating above the students, talking amongst themselves. Two ghosts seemed to be disagreeing.
"I say, forgive and forget; we ought to give him a second chance." Said the ghost of a stout friar. Another ghost with an Elizabethan ruff around his neck shook his head.
"My dear Friar, Peeves has been given countless chances and never improved his behavior. He gives the rest of us a bad name; he should…oh look, new students!" The ghost with the ruff noticed the First Years standing in the entrance hall. The fat friar ghost smiled at the gathered children.
"Ah, hello, my young friends. Welcome to Hogwarts! I hope to see some of you in Hufflepuff!"
"Yes, and some of you in Gryffindor, my own house of course!" said the other ghost.
Professor McGonagall returned and motioned for the students to follow her and the ghosts inside. As large as the entrance hall was, the Great Hall was even bigger. Hundreds of candles floated up at the ceiling. The ceiling seemed to open up to the night sky; Hermione could be heard whispering that it was enchanted to show the sky outside, reading about it in 'Hogwarts: A History.'
Four long tables stretched from one end of the room to the other. Students filled each side; some wore red, some wore green, and others wore blue or yellow. Harry assumed Houses separated the tables. In front of the students was another table filled with various Wizards and Witches, the school's teachers. In the middle of the front table sat Dumbledore.
Dumbledore wore brilliant robes of royal purple, and his long silver hair and beard flowed about him. Dumbledore smiled, wise and benevolently, as the students filled the chamber. All eyes in the chamber, students, teachers, and ghosts were trained on the First Years. Professor McGonagall brought a wooden stool and sat down a tattered pointed hat. The Hat was covered in stitches and patches.
Silence filled the hall as the attention shifted from the students to the Hat. Suddenly, the Hat became animate, and a tear near the brim opened like a mouth. The Hat began to sing in a reedy voice about how the Founders of Hogwarts created it to sort the students into the four houses. It detailed the four houses and what traits they represent. Once the song was over, the Hat bowed briefly to each table.
Ron muttered about how he would kill Fred for making him think they'd be wrestling a troll when all they had to do was put on a hat. Harry felt slightly disappointed; he'd been looking forward to the troll. Professor McGonagall pulled out a scroll of names.
"When I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the Sorting Hat upon your head, and you will be sorted into your Houses." She cleared her throat and began to call out.
First was a girl named Hannah Abbot. A girl with pigtails sat on the stool, and the Hat was placed upon her head. The Hat sat motionless on Hannah's head, then shouted, HUFFLEPUFF! Hannah got up from the stool, and her robes changed, gaining a yellow hem and a badger crest. Hannah joined the other Hufflepuffs at their table.
Another girl named Susan Bones was sorted into Hufflepuff, followed by a boy named Terry Boot, going to Ravenclaw. Lavender Brown became the first Gryffindor, going to join Ron's cheering brothers. Millicent Bulstrode was sorted into Slytherin, her robes changing to green with a serpent. Harry glanced at the Slytherin table. Most sitting there looked rather unpleasant. They cheered for Millicent but sneered at the other students.
Sometimes, the Hat sorted students instantly; for others, it took time. Seamus Finnigan sat on the stool for a whole minute until he was picked for Gryffindor. McGonagall then called out Hermione's name. Hermione ran up to the stool and jammed the Hat on her head. The Hat sat on Hermione's head for quite some time. Finally, it shouted, GRFFINDOR!
Ron groaned that he would probably wind up in the same House as Hermione. Neville was finally called and was chosen for Gryffindor. He began running to the Gryffindor table, still wearing the Sorting Hat and had to return it to McGonagall. Malfoy strutted up to the stool, and the Hat barely touched his head when it shouted SLYTHERIN! Malfoy looked very smug as he walked to the Slytherin table.
Harry watched more students get sorted, wondering where the Hat would choose to put him. Ron was called and, as expected, sorted into Gryffindor. He joined his brothers, who cheered for him. Harry wouldn't mind any of the houses; he was intelligent, brave, cunning, and a hard worker and felt he'd fit in any of them.
Finally, McGonagall called his name. He made a mental note to ask her to remember the Addams part of his name in the future. The minute his name was called, the hall fell silent. Everyone began whispering, pointing, and watching as Harry approached the stool. Harry sat, and McGonagall placed the Hat on his head.
"Hmm, difficult, very difficult." A reedy voice whispered in Harry's mind.
"Plenty of courage, not a bad mind either, a hard worker, there's talent there, yes, and a thirst to prove yourself. But where shall I put you?" The Hat seemed able to read Harry's mind and speak telepathically.
"Shouldn't you ask permission before entering someone else's mind?" Harry mentally asked for the Hat. The little voice chuckled.
"It's my purpose to see inside students such as yourself. You have quite an impressive mind, Mr. Potter-Addams. In particular, you would do well in any of the houses, especially Gryffindor and Slytherin. Slytherin could help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that, but Gryffindor would also be the beginning of success."
Harry asked the Hat to stop reading his mind momentarily, as he needed to think hard about where he wanted to be. If he joined Gryffindor, he would be joining Ron and his brothers. Harry would have to contend with Malfoy in Slytherin, but that could be an opportunity to make the blonde boy's life a living Hell. He did look fabulous in green, though, and he was fond of snakes, though he did have a Lion at home as a family pet.
He wished Wednesday was here; she could help him decide. He had spoken to Ron on the train, and after scaring Malfoy and his henchmen with Mano, Ron had said he wanted to be friends with Harry, no matter what House he was sorted into, even Slytherin.
"Time's ticking, my boy; what's your decision?" asked the Hat. Finally, Harry decided and told the Hat he was ready; the Sorting Hat opened its rip-like mouth and roared GRYFFINDOR!
The whole hall erupted into cheering, except for the Slytherin table. Professor McGonagall lifted the Hat and smiled proudly at Harry. Harry's robes changed, gaining a red trim on the sleeves and hems, and the Hogwarts crest changed to fit Gryffindor House. Harry walked to the Gryffindor table and sat beside Ron, whose brothers were cheering, 'WE GOT POTTER!'
Harry glanced up at the Staff table, able to see it more clearly. Nearest to him was Hagrid, who was grinning at him and gave a big thumbs up. Dumbledore gently clapped when each student was sorted. His eyes were twinkly blue and passed over the entire hall, watching closely.
Once the rest of the new students were sorted, McGonagall removed the Hat and the stool. Professor Dumbledore stood from his elaborate golden throne before a golden dais shaped like an owl in flight. Dumbledore raised his arms to quiet down the Great Hall.
"Welcome, one and all, to another year at Hogwarts. Before we begin our feast, I want to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit, Blubber, Oddment, and Tweak! Thank you very much." Dumbledore chuckled at his little joke. Some of the students laughed, too, though many looked confused. Dumbledore sat down and motioned with his hands.
"Let the feast begin!" Suddenly, the golden plates and platters were filled with foods of all kinds: roasted fried meats, boiled and roasted vegetables, sauces, and condiments. Ron piled his plate with some of nearly everything.
Harry inspected the food before putting it on his plate. He was somewhat disappointed by the fare provided, no roasted alligator, no hump of camel, no toadstool stew. He picked a few tasty things: rare meat and steamed vegetables. The Gryffindor house ghost glanced at all the food, a wistful look on his face.
"My, that does look delicious, " he said, watching the students eat. Harry turned to the Renaissance-era ghost and apologized. Ghosts could not consume food and drink, which they did not need to do, but it was a hard habit to break. The ghost thanked Harry and introduced himself.
"I am Sir. Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, at your service." He stood and gave a little bow. Ron swallowed his mouthful and pointed to the ghost.
"I know you! You're Nearly-Headless Nick!" Sir. Nicholas looked perturbed by this remark, saying he preferred to be known by his proper name and title. Hermione looked confused and asked how one could be nearly-headless.
"Like this, my dear." Sir. Nicholas took hold of his ear and pulled. His head and neck came off his shoulders, exposing severed bone and tendons within. The head barely hung onto the body by a few inches of flesh. The students gasped and shrieked at the sight. Harry's eyes widened in fascination!
"Amazing! That's got to be the worst decapitation I've ever seen! The man must have been an idiot!" Sir. Nicholas looked a little surprised at Harry's interest instead of horror. He explained that, yes, indeed, the axe used to decapitate him over five hundred years ago had been quite dull, and the executioner wasn't very experienced. He turned to the other students and changed the subject.
"So, new Gryffindors! I hope you'll help win the House Cup for us this year! Slytherin House has won it six years in a row! The Bloody Baron has been most unpleasantly smug about it." He pointed towards the Slytherin table. A ghost from the Middle Ages, wearing a long, curly wig and covered in silvery blood stains, sat next to Malfoy, who looked rather unhappy about the seating arrangement.
Harry stared at the Baron for a moment; he seemed familiar. He felt like he'd seen his face somewhere. It finally came to him! Baron Sebastian von Addams! His Great Uncle, many times removed! It was said he murdered the woman he loved in a jealous rage and then killed himself in despair! Harry made a mental note to speak with him when he could.
The students finished their dinner, feeling stuffed when the leftover food vanished and was replaced by desserts: ice cream, cakes, cookies, and puddings. The once-full students now got their second wind at the sight of the glorious desserts and filled their plates again. Harry cut a piece of dark chocolate cake and picked it up as he talked with his new housemates.
"I'm half and half," said Seamus Finnegan.
"My Dad's a Muggle, while my Mum's a Witch. Bit of a nasty shock to him when he found out." Ron asked Neville about his own family.
"My Grandmother brought me up. Nearly all my family's magical, though they wondered about me for a while. My Great Uncle Algie kept trying to catch me off guard and shock the magic out of me! He kept doing it until I was about eight when he dropped me out the top-story window. Instead of crashing to the ground, I bounced! I bounced for several feet across the garden. Everyone was very pleased! Algie was the one who gave me Trevor, my toad."
On Harry's opposite side, Hermione and Percy discussed the upcoming classes. Hermione was very eager to begin her studies. Percy seemed to share her enthusiasm for getting good marks and following the rules.
Seamus and Neville then asked Harry about his own life at home. Harry told them about his family, living in America, and his adventures with Wednesday and Pugsley. Ron told them about their meeting with Malfoy on the train; everyone laughed as they imagined the sight of Malfoy with a living hand crawling all over him. Harry promised to show them Mano when they got to Gryffindor Tower.
Harry glanced back at the staff table. Hagrid was drinking deeply from a large wooden mug. Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore were having a conversation. Harry also spotted Professor Quirrell talking with a dark-haired man with a hooked nose and pale skin. The dark-haired Wizard glanced in Harry's direction, his dark eyes looking into Harry's. Suddenly, Harry felt a sharp pain erupt in his scar. Harry clasped his forehead tightly.
'What was that?' he wondered. That had certainly never happened before. As soon as it had struck, the pain was gone. Harry shook his head and turned to Ron's brother, Percy.
"Who is that man talking with Professor Quirrell?" Percy looked up.
"Oh, that's Professor Snape, Head of Slytherin House. He teaches Potions, but everyone knows it's the Dark Arts he fancies. He's been after Quirrell's job for years." Harry watched Snape for a while, but the potions master didn't look back at him again. Soon, all the desserts vanished, and Professor Dumbledore stood up again. Everyone fell silent.
"Now that we have all been well-fed, I wish to announce a few start-of-term notices. For first-year students, please note that Dark Forrest is strictly forbidden to all students without express permission from a staff member and with a good reason for being there. Some of our older students would also do well to remember this." He glanced at Fred and George Weasley when saying this.
"I have also been asked by our caretaker, Mr. Filch, to remind you that no magic shall be used between classes in the corridors. He also lists items forbidden from being brought into the school. You can find this list outside his office if interested."
"Quidditch trials will also be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in signing up must speak with our flying instructor, Madame Hooch. First Years, however, are discouraged from trying out unless they have written permission from their Head of House."
"And now, finally, I must tell you that the Third Floor Corridor, on the right-hand side, has been made out of bounds to all who do not wish to suffer a most painful and unpleasant death." Harry was intrigued by this. He and his siblings loved exploring where they shouldn't be. One summer, they explored the town's long-since abandoned coal mine tunnels.
"And now, I believe it is time for us all to adjourn to our beds. Goodnight, and welcome once again!" everyone applauded Dumbledore's speech and began to stand. Percy Weasley stood and directed the First Years to follow him.
Harry and his classmates followed Percy out of the hall and up several stairs. The walls were decorated with various portraits and pictures, all charmed to move and speak. The students pointed out the numerous images, wondering who was within them. As they walked, some of the flights of stairs changed direction all on their own. Percy warned that the staircases liked to change where they went, so sometimes students must be careful when walking the Grand Staircase.
As they walked, a bundle of walking sticks floated up to the group and began throwing themselves at the students. Percy dodged and blocked against the barrage.
"PEEVES! Peeves, show yourself right now!" Suddenly, a squat figure in garish clothes appeared, floating in midair and carrying the walking sticks.
"Oooh, little Firsties! What fun!" The figure swooped at them all. Percy yelled at the strange little man that he would fetch the Bloody Baron if he didn't leave. Peeves gave a sour look and blew a raspberry before leaving. Percy turned to the students.
"That's Peeves, the castle's poltergeist. He's always causing trouble. The Headmaster and the Bloody Baron are the only ones who can control him. He refuses to listen to anyone else. Anyways, follow me, we're almost there."
At last, the students reached a wall decorated by a portly woman in a pink dress. She looked at the students and asked for the password. Percy said, 'Caput Draconis,' and the portrait swung open. Through the hole in the wall was the Gryffindor Common Room. The walls were decorated with scarlet wallpaper and rugs. Here and there were large, overstuffed armchairs. Percy turned to the First Years.
"Welcome to the Gryffindor Common Room. Up towards the left are the boys' dormitories, and to the right are the girls. I suggest you all get to bed immediately to be up bright and early for tomorrow." The students walked up the two sets of staircases. The First Year boys were on the lowest landing. Inside were five, four poster beds. Their trunks were already set before them. Harry and his new roommates got ready for bed. As promised, he introduced the others to Mano. Dean and Seamus were amazed to see a living, animate hand. Mano shook hands with each boy, even Neville, who was still squeamish.
Harry got into bed, softer than he was used to, but it would manage. Harry placed a pillow on the bedside table for Mano to curl up. Harry curled up in warm blankets and drifted off to sleep, wondering what lay in store for him the next day.