Chapter Text
He sat on the bench seat in the train terminal, looking utterly lost behind his trunk and the birdcage that sat on it. While the snowy owl hooted comfortingly, it did very little to ease the nerves and fears of the 11 year old boy. His Uncle Vernon had dumped him at Kings Cross Train Station – a whole three hours early! With a soft groan, Harry covered his eyes with his hands as his mind whirled. It had already been two hours, and he still had no idea on how to get onto platform 9 ¾.
When he’d asked the guard about it, he’d been snapped at and told to scram. Harry’d scrammed alright, and now he was more than a little lost. He’d never been to London before this whole adventure began, and now he was in a train station with hundreds of people rushing to and fro with no idea where to go.
So he sat, on a bench near the main terminal, absolutely miserable and terrified he would be stuck at Kings Cross Station until the summer when the Dursley’s had to pick him up again. Absently, he rubbed his right wrist where Vernon had yanked him about yesterday. It was bruising pretty badly, but he had nothing to cover it up with.
With another low moan, he covered his face with his hands and muttered, “What am I to do?”
“Surely it can’t be all that bad, darling?” Came a soft, female voice from in front of him.
Peeking out from behind his fingers, his green eyes widened at the woman who stood in front of him. She was a smaller woman, definitely not as tall as Aunt Petunia, but also much more lovely than his aunt. Her hair was a soft bronze color, and she had pretty grey eyes. She smiled at him, leaning over to look into his face.
She had a nice smile. It made his tummy flutter.
“I’m Zamira.” She said, moving to sit next to him.
“Harry…” Harry murmured softly, following each of her movements carefully.
She *was* a stranger after all.
“Well. I dare say, that’s a fine name. I see you’ve a Hogwarts Trunk, Harry. Are you a first year?” She asked, cooing softly at Hedwig in her cage.
“Yes ma’am. But…” Harry said softly. “I don’t know how to find the platform.”
“Oh, dear. Now that is a bit of a pickle then. It’s a good thing I spotted you then, and my family and I got here so early.” Zamira said with a warm smile. “My son goes to Hogwarts too. He’s a third year, but a good little chap. Hufflepuff.”
“That’s the house with the badger on it, right?” Harry asked eagerly. “I like the colors on their ties too.”
“You’re quite right, Harry. The badger is our mascot. We value loyalty and hard work in our house. We view our house as our family and are fiercely protective.” Zamira said with a nod. “Would you like to meet my son?”
“Is he nice?”
“I’d like to think he is, but I’ve never heard a cross word otherwise. Either way, I’d like to take you through the barrier so you can find the train properly. Is that alright?”
“Yes ma’am. Hedwig too right?” Harry asked, looking at his snowy owl.
“Of course Hedwig too. Wouldn’t want a wizard to be without his familiar now, would we?” Zamira smiled and got to her feet, holding her hand out gently to the little boy. “Come now Harry. I can see my boys just over there and I know Cedric would love to meet you.”
“Yes ma’am.”
He didn’t take her hand, as much as he wanted to. He didn’t feel it was quite right to take her hand, her being a nice lady and all, and him being…well him. Petunia wouldn’t let him hold her hand on any day of the week anyways and she was *normal*. Instead, he felt her place her hand on his upper back.
“Amos!” Zamira called, other free hand raising to wave in the distance.
Lifting his gaze in the direction that Zamira had waved in, catching sight of an answered hand in the air. When a few other passengers passed by, Harry could now see the man that Zamira had called out to. He was shorter than Zamira, with a ruddy looking face and a scraggly beard. He wore a brown suit and a newsy cap, and dragged a wheeled trunk behind him. Small, rectangular glasses sat on his face, doing nothing to conceal the wide, beaming smile there.
Behind him strode a younger boy, tall and wearing denims with a white teeshirt and a brown leather jacket. He was taller than Harry thought he would be, but when he looked at Zamira, his whole face kind of lit up like a light bulb.
Oh… he thought. That must be what having a mother feels like…
“Knowing your mother, she’s probably cornered some poor, hapless muggle and talking their ear off, you know that right?” Amos Diggory said to his 13 year old son with bemused exasperation on his face.
“I’m not taking that bet, dad. Remember what happened last year? We were almost late for the train after she found some poor bloke who said he was a chemist and she just kept pelting him with questions.” Cedric Diggory replied, glancing at the large clock in the center of the aisle.
As had been habit for 3 years now, the Diggory’s had come to Kings Cross Station an hour early, as one of the muggle shops in the station had the best tea and biscuits around. And, as had been habit for 3 years now, Cedric’s mother had wandered off without telling them. It would be a little while before they found her again, probably harassing some poor unsuspecting muggle about some such nonsense. Zamira Diggory was a force to be reckoned with, that much was certain. Once, in his first year, she had shared with her son that the sorting hat had been torn between Slytherin and Hufflepuff, her tenacity and aspirations making her quite qualified for Slytherin, while her loyalty and steadfast beliefs made her a prime candidate for Hufflepuff. In the end, she had been placed in Hufflepuff, and had no reason to ever regret it.
After all, she highly doubted she’d have gotten so close to Amos Diggory if she’d been in Slytherin. Her best friend since first year, they were married straight out of Hogwarts.
Cedric sighed, thinking over his next school year at Hogwarts. His third year, he was due for Prefect within the next two years if he continued with his studies. At the top of his year, he knew that many of the Ravenclaws were furious that they couldn’t surpass his scores. He had always enjoyed learning, and studied hard and vigorous for the hopes that it would lead him to a steady career – in what, he didn’t know yet. But he definitely wanted to be good at it. He saw how happy his parents were, doing what they enjoyed, and wanted that for himself.
Shaking his head slightly, he glanced up as he heard his mother call his father’s name. Weaving their way through the crowd, they spotted her standing next to a trolley – and a dark haired little boy who looked barely tall enough to see over a Hogwarts trunk. After exchanging a wide eyed look and shrug with his father, they both turned and made their way over to Zamira and her victim – er…innocent bystander.
Even from a distance, Cedric could see wide, brilliant green eyes and shaggy, messy black hair. He seemed to hide behind his Hogwarts trunk when he caught sight of Cedric and his father moving towards them. Poor ickle firstie, Cedric though with a shake of his head and an amused smile for his mother. Cornered by his mum and smothered with attention probably. As he and his father arrived, Cedric glanced around for the lad’s parents.
“Hello, mum.” Cedric said, facing his mother and the boy. “Who did you kidnap today?”
“Your replacement, you terrible boy.” Zamira replied with a happy laugh, not seeing the look of panicked fear on the boy’s face.
But Cedric had seen it.
“No worries, mate. She won’t really kidnap her unless you ask for it.” He teased, leaning down to stare into green, green eyes. “I’m Cedric. Cedric Diggory.”
Holding out his hand for the boy to shake, he absently heard his mother and father speaking softly beside him.
“Harry. Harry Potter.”
And the world ceased moving for a moment. In that moment, Harry had reached out and grasped Cedric’s hand as well and Cedric noted several things at once.
One – the boy was entirely too thin. The fine and delicate bones of his hand and wrist were very prominent and Cedric worried for a moment that he’d break the lad’s hand just by shaking it. Two – There was an almighty bruise on his right wrist that definitely wasn’t made with some explainable accident other than being yanked about. And three – this boy was the Defeater of He Who Must Not Be Named, and yet, it was obvious to Cedric that he had no idea what that meant.
He knew somehow, in that one paused moment, that whatever he chose to do next would change his whole world, his whole reality. And it terrified him.
Suddenly, the world seemed to catch-up at rapid speed for Cedric, as his mother set her hand on young Harry’s shoulder and smiled at her son.
“Nice to meet you Harry. Going to Hogwarts then??” Cedric asked, smiling brightly at the young lad’s brilliant smile and nod of his head. “Nervous?”
Harry stilled all movement for a moment before nodding his head slightly.
“Stick with Cedric then, Harry. He’ll set you right.” Cedric’s father said with a rather strained smile – as if he wasn’t sure he ought to smile too brightly at the boy.
Harry looked at Zamira, who nodded with her own bright smile on her face, before turning to Cedric as if he could walk on water. It seemed that with his mother’s obvious approval, he’d gained Harry Potter as a cling-on. Not that he minded, really. There was so much going on in his head right now. He’d heard his father gasp when Harry had said his name, but his mother had hushed him quickly before Harry had had a chance to notice.
“Let’s go then,” Zamira said brightly, and began walking with Amos arm in arm.
Cedric helped Harry get his trolley turned around, and they walked behind the two adults. For a moment, Cedric struggled for conversation. But it seemed Harry had more pressing matters to talk about.
“Are the classes hard at Hogwarts?” Harry asked, looking up at Cedric from his fringe of dark hair.
Cedric thought for a moment before answering. He could feel the weight of the decisions he was making like a pressure on his heart. A part of him, deep down, knew that he was making history here with Harry, but for the most part, his general goodwill and desire to help the lad made his decisions for him.
“It depends, really. How were you in Primary School?” Cedric asked.
“Alright I suppose. My maths were hard, but I got through.”
Watching him, Cedric could almost feel the lie in the statement, but couldn’t put his finger on what it had been about. Nodding his head as if Harry had said something important, Cedric continued.
“It also depends on what House you’re in at Hogwarts. Some houses prefer to let first years muddle about on their own with no guidance from the upper years. Some of them have study groups from all years, and others have assigned tutors to help those who are struggling.”
“Which House is best for helping then?” Harry asked softly, gripping the handle on his trolley tightly.
“I would imagine that all Houses try to help everyone in their own way,” Cedric hedged slightly, not wanting to demonize any particular House, but he also couldn’t help adding, “But Hufflepuff is a wonderful house with helpful people. We’re a right cheerful sort.”
Harry looked up at Cedric and for a moment, it felt as if he was being judged for some great honor or deal. He didn’t know how he kept walking without running into someone or something, with their little stare off but he just instinctively felt as if he shouldn’t break eye contact with him. After a moment, Harry nodded and smiled at Cedric.
“Okay. Do you have a familiar too?” Harry asked, looking up at the bronze haired boy in slight awe.
It was obvious that Harry thought Cedric could do no wrong. A piece of his heart winced at the trust in those green, green eyes; it was a fragile trust, and Cedric was determined never to break it. Shaking his head at Harry’s question, he smiled widely.
“Not yet. I imagine I’ll stumble across one sooner or later. But it’s wicked that you’ve got one!” Cedric praised, watching the small boy blush and practically wiggle in delight at the simple approval. “And an owl at that.”
“Cedric, dear, let’s get onto the platform then. You’ll want to get into your compartment soon.” Zamira said, smiling down at Harry’s face.
It seemed that Zamira Diggory had a devoted fan in Harry Potter. The thought made Cedric chuckle; everyone who met his mother had fallen a little in love with her. It was impossible not to love her, in his opinion. She was warm, caring, and loving. His parents had been trying to have another child, but it seemed the Fates weren’t with them on this matter. Which disappointed Cedric, the idea of being a big brother was wonderful to him. Looking down at Harry Potter, he decided that he’d watch out for the ickle firstie, just like a big brother would. Someone had to watch out for him, Cedric thought with a firm mental nod.
Catching his mother’s eye, he nodded at her gently and watched the warm smile spread on her face. They understood each other perfectly.
Walking towards the Platform 9 ¾, they stopped for a moment to explain to Harry what would happen. He looked concerned for a moment, doubt settling into those wide green eyes as he looked skeptically at the dividing wall.
“I’ll go first, so you can see how to do it.” Cedric said with a wide smile and a ruffle to the messy black hair. “I’ll wait on the other side for you.”
With that, Cedric simply walked at a decent pace, and the wall seemed to swallow him up. Harry gaped at the sight, looking up at Zamira with wide eyes.
“He’s on the platform, Harry. I promise it’s safe. Muggles can’t see us going onto the platform, it’s part of the Notice-Me-Not charm that’s on the area.” Zamira explained with a soft laugh. “Go on then, Cedric’s waiting for you.”
With a slightly scared nod, Harry straightened his back and took a deep breath. Walking with a confidence he certainly didn’t feel, Harry braced himself even as he walked through the barrier. When nothing happened, he opened his eyes.
Cedric was the first thing he saw, and he was smiling at Harry. Unable to help himself, Harry let out a relieved laugh and smiled back.
“See? Everything’s alright then. Best move out of the way to let my parents through though.
“Oh!” Harry said, startled by the thought and moved away from the barrier.
Just as he did, Zamira and Amos walked through the barrier and smiled warmly at each other. Harry giggled softly, and looked around.
There on the train tracks was a bright red train, with “Hogwarts Express” emblazoned on the side. There were lots of train compartments lined up behind it, so many that he couldn’t see them all! And so many people! Families and children saying goodbye and loading up on the train; attendants to help the younger kids lift their luggage onto the train compartments so that they could take them to the compartments they wanted to sit in. The conductor and engineer were leaning out of the window of their compartment, talking with a few older kids and nodding at the things they said.
It was simply magical to him. He was really here. He was going to go to Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Looking up at Cedric, he was certain his smile was so wide that all his teeth were showing.
“Well come along, then, lets get you settled and going then. You’re going to love Hogwarts, Harry.” Amos said with a warm laugh. “It’s a wonderful institution of learning; the finest in the world in my opinion.”
Harry giggled at Amos’ exuberance, smiling shyly at him. He wasn’t sure what to make of this man. So very different from Uncle Vernon that it made his head spin. Glancing between Amos and Zamira, who was kissing Cedric’s cheek and straightening his hair (much to his dismay) he couldn’t help but feel envious of Cedric and his family. How he wished he could be a part of a family like this. Oh, how he wished.
“Now, Harry, I would love for you to write to us.” Zamira said, surprising Harry with the warm demand. “I know we’ve just met, but we would like to know how you’re settling in and things that you experience at school. That way, if you have any questions at all, you can ask us, alright?”
“Yes ma’am.” Harry said softly, amazed that this wonderful lady in front of him wanted to hear from him at all.
“Take care then, Harry.” Zamira leaned down and kissed the crown of his head, trying to straighten the hair much like she’d done for Cedric.
“Quite, quite, Harry. We’d love to hear from you. Wait until you see your first quidditch game, lad. I want to hear all about it!” Amos said, patting the thin shoulder warmly.
And with that, it seemed time fast forwarded for him. Suddenly, he was following Cedric down the corridor of the car they were in, and then Cedric was lifting his trunk up onto the rack in an empty compartment.
“You can sit with me, Harry, since you don’t know anyone else yet. Maybe you’ll like my friends too!” Cedric said hopefully, while Harry smiled back a little nervously.
Looking out the window, he saw Amos and Zamira talking to one another, with Amos’ arm wrapped around his wife and his wife leaning into him. Amos kissed Zamira on the temple, while Zamira waved at Harry when she spotted him.
He waved back shyly, before sitting next to Cedric. He was so much smaller than Cedric, that his feet didn’t even touch the ground when he sat down. Tapping his shoes together aimlessly, he didn’t notice the look Cedric gave them. They were falling apart, wrapped in duct tape, and he could see a pinkie toe covered by a white sock on the right one.
The door to their compartment opened and Cedric smiled at the girl and boy that entered.
“Bernie! Mercedes! How was your summer, then?”
The girl, blonde and blue eyed, smiled back at Cedric warmly as she dragged her trunk into the compartment.
“Pretty good. Mum found me a potion’s tutor so I managed to get some extra studying in. We went to the beach and-“
“Who’s this then?” The boy, who was tall and burly, leaned around Mercedes to look at Harry.
Harry immediately blushed, curling into himself in an effort to make himself smaller. He glanced at Cedric who was smiling at him.
“This is my friend Harry. We met in the terminal, didn’t we, Harry?” Cedric said.
Harry nodded, his whole face heating up when both older kids looked at him. Both of them were examining him intently, but with warm smiles on their faces. He reached up to play with his lips nervously, unconsciously flashing the great bruise on his wrist.
“Well my name is Mercedes Medley, and this is my cousin Bernard Zeller.” The girl said, sitting down in front of Harry after she put her trunk up on the rack. “We’re in Hufflepuff with Ced here,” she said with a laugh. “What house do you think you’ll be in, Harry?”
It seemed his voice had deserted him, and he was nervously shifting on the seat. After a moment of patiently waiting for a response, Harry said, “I…I don’t know yet. I just found out about Hogwarts on my birthday.”
“Are you a muggleborn then?” Bernard asked, sitting next to his cousin.
“What’s that?” Harry asked.
“A muggleborn is a child with magic, who’s born to parent’s who don’t have magic.” Cedric explained. “Harry here is a halfblood. He was raised in the muggle world, right?” He asked Harry.
When Harry nodded, Cedric turned to his friends, hyperaware of the boy next to him who shifted closer as if asking for protection. It made a piece inside him, the piece that had horrible suspicions about the boy, hurt a little more. Without thinking about it, he raised his arm and wrapped it about the boy’s shoulders.
His friends eyed the boy with curiosity in their eyes. He could tell Mercedes was already suspicious about Harry, and probably had figured out who he was. Bernard was trying not to stare intently at the boy, since he apparently made Harry nervous but he was just as curious. Cedric could tell that they were noticing the same things he had – the ratty shoes, the clothes that were far too big and practically thread-bare, the broken glasses, and most importantly the massive bruise they could see around the small boys wrist. The thin body was also alarming – Harry was much smaller and far more delicate than other boys his age. His wrist bones were prominent, as were his cheekbones and clavicle which they could see from the way the shirt bagged on him. Sharing a glance with Mercedes and Bernard, he nodded slightly at them, and they back.
The third year Hufflepuffs were going to keep an eye on one Harry Potter.
Glancing at the door as it opened, with Harry barely peeking around Cedric, a girl with frizzy brown hair stood framed in the doorway.
“Has anyone seen a toad? Neville’s lost his.” She said with no introduction or preamble.
“Sorry, we haven’t.” Mercedes said politely, and the girl in the doorway sighed softly.
“I don’t think we’ll ever find him,” she bemoaned softly. “Hey!” She cried, being shoved out of the way of a redheaded boy.
The boy was scowling slightly, and barely glanced into the compartment before huffing and continuing on his way. Harry frowned slightly, that had been rather rude.
“How rude,” the girl said, rubbing her elbow where it had knocked into the doorjamb. “Anyways, let me know if you find a toad please?” she asked, before moving towards the other compartment after shutting their door.
“Never thought I’d see a Weasley do something like that and not apologize.” Mercedes said softly. “I wonder what he’s up to.”
“I’m not going to concern myself with it. If he wants to act like a boor, he’s in for a rude awakening at Hogwarts.” Bernard said with a grunt.
“Anything from the trolley?” Came a woman’s voice from the walkway.
An older woman with tight gray curls and wearing a dress with an apron on it was pushing a sweet trolley down the walkway. She peeked into the compartment and smiled at the four within (though she could only see three).
“Anything from the trolley dears?” She asked.
“Please. I’d like four chocolate frogs, and two ice mice.” Cedric said, digging into his pocket for the money.
She smiled at him and handed him the candy. Mercedes asked for a licorice wand and Bernard asked for a cockroach cluster, making Mercedes gag.
“I don’t know how you can eat those.”
“Purely to make you sick to your stomach,” He replied with a laugh, dodging Mercedes hand when she went to smack him.
Cedric ignored their bantering, turning to Harry with a grin.
“I bet you’ll like this, Harry.” Cedric said. “It’s a magical candy, in the shape of a frog. They’ve got one good jump in them, and then they turn inert.”
“Inert?” Harry asked softly, staring down at the packaging with a suspicious frown.
“Means the magic goes away and they turn back into candy.” Mercedes said with a laugh, “Our Ced’s a bit of a nerd.”
“Always using big words.” Bernard said, nodding sagely.
“Anyways,” He said with a mock glower at his friends. “The chocolate’s good but it’s the cards you want. You can collect them, they’ve got a famous witch or wizard on them, and it tells you some facts about them too.”
“Oh.” Harry said, and tore open the package delicately.
He’d never had chocolate before, or candy. The Dursleys wouldn’t waste such things on him. The frog in the package let out a chirpy “Ribbit!” before trying to leap away. Quick as lightning, Harry caught it and giggled when the little chocolate legs wiggled slightly in his grip. Then he popped the frog in his mouth, with the back legs hanging out comically, making Bernard laugh.
Looking at the card within the box, Harry saw a tall, severe man in black robes with a rather large, hawkish nose. He seemed to permanently be scowling from the picture. He had chin length black hair and dark eyes, with rather pale skin.
“Severus Snape!” Cedric said with a crow of laughter. “I can’t believe you got a card so rare! Lucky lad, you are.”
After swallowing the bite of chocolate, he read the blurb under the picture.
‘Severus Snape. Youngest Potion’s Master In The World. Inventor of The Wolfsbane Potions and Potions Professor at Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Head of Slytherin House.’
When he glanced up at the picture again he gasped.
“He’s gone!” Harry said, looking up at Cedric with wide eyes.
“Of course. He’s got lots of duties to see to at Hogwarts. They only made so many of his card because he’s so antisocial. He can’t be staying around in the card all the time.” Mercedes said with a delighted laugh.
“Oh.” Harry said with wonder. “In…in the muggle world, cards don’t do that. They have a picture that doesn’t move at all.” He explained softly, with a slight blush on his cheeks at taking that step to talking.
“How weird.” Bernard said. “I can’t imagine a picture like that. All the portraits at Hogwarts move and talk, even at the Manor.”
“Wow!” Harry said excitedly. “How wicked!”
A moment passed where everyone laughed and then Mercedes caught his attention again.
“Harry, I noticed your glasses are broken. Can I fix them for you?”
“You can fix my glasses?” he asked in surprise.
“Yeah, but you’ve got to be wearing them while she does the spell.” Bernard said as Mercedes took out her wand.
“Just stay still, alright?” Mercedes said, pointing her wand at Harry.
Harry gulped slightly, his green eyes crossing in an effort to keep his eyes on the wand in front of him.
“Occulus Repairo.” She said clearly, and with a slight brush of wind, the crack in his glasses went away, and the tape that was holding them together at the nose bridge zipped away.
It was then that Bernard and Mercedes got confirmation of just who Harry was. The scar had been visible with the burst of wind from Mercedes spell and they were shocked silent for a moment. Harry took no notice of this, taking his glasses off and happily exclaiming over their (almost) brand new state.
Cedric looked at his friends and caught their obvious dismay. They’d added up all the signs they’d noticed about Harry, and now with the confirmation that he was Harry Potter, it simply shocked them. Mercedes gritted her teeth, nodding firmly at Cedric letting him know that she’d be watching over Harry very carefully, and Bernard folded his arms over his wide chest, frowning at the floor. Despite his obvious frustration, Cedric knew that Bernard would be doing the same.
By the time Harry had put his glasses on, the conductor had called over head to change clothes into their Hogwarts uniforms. Mercedes took her small shrunken set out of her pocket and went to the loo to change into them. Leaving the boys to change in the compartment.
Harry had turned away from them in an effort to get some privacy, and so was unaware at the looks of pure rage on Bernard and Cedric’s faces when they saw bruising around the back of Harry’s ribs, and old, mostly healed marks. It was hard to tell, but if Cedric had had to guess, he’d say that they were from a belt. Harry also had small, shiny, round scars on his shoulder blades and neither boy had any guess. Harry had quickly put his robes on and had changed his trousers as well, looking at Dudley’s hand-me-downs with a sad look. How he wished he had his own clothes. Maybe some like Cedrics, he thought with a dreamy smile.
They sat back down in their seats and waited for Mercedes to come back. Cedric turned to Harry and smiled as warmly as he could, though inside he was sick.
“Harry, promise me something.” He said.
“What?” Harry asked back.
“Promise me that if you need anything, you come to me alright?” Cedric answered. “Even if you’re not in Hufflepuff, I want you to come find me if you need something or have questions.”
Harry gazed up at Cedric skeptically. Did the older boy really mean what he said?
“I’ll even give you the password to our common room so you can find me in between and after classes. No one there will turn you away.”
At this, Bernard nodded firmly. “We’ll make sure of it.”
After a moment of silence, where Harry stared intently at Cedric, he nodded.
“I promise.”
Soon after, Mercedes came back and the train was slowing down. Once arriving at the station, Harry gulped. Harry fisted his hands tightly, nerves and fear running high within him. Cedric noticed it, and patted his hands gently.
“You’ll be fine, Harry.” He said, and together the four left the compartment.
Once on the platform, Cedric glanced around all the milling first years. He could see and hear Hagrid calling them, but Cedric wanted Harry to be in a boat with someone friendly. It was then that he noticed a strawberry blonde haired girl he recognized.
“Susan!” He called, waving when she looked up and smiled at him.
The girl walked towards him, followed by a blonde haired boy.
“Cedric!” She said happily. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, just fine.” He replied and motioned to the boy next to him. “This is Harry, my friend.”
Susan smiled at Harry and he offered her a shy one back.
“Hi Harry.”
“Hello.” He replied back softly. “Are you a first year too?”
“Yep!” She said cheerfully. “Me and Ernie both are.”
Harry turned to the blonde boy and saw the polite smile on his face.
“I’m Ernie Macmillan.” He said, waving his hand.
“Harry Potter.” He replied, frowning when Ernie’s blue eyes went wide in surprise.
“Really?” he asked.
Harry fidgeted nervously before nodding.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Harry.” Ernie said, with a far more open smile on his face.
“Harry, why don’t you, Susan and Ernie here head towards Hagrid – that big man over there. There you’ll go into a boat, and cross the lake to Hogwarts to get sorted.” Cedric said, and Harry gulped.
“You’ll be there won’t you, Cedric?” Harry asked, his voice painfully thin.
“Of course. I’ll be clapping the loudest when you’re sorted.” He replied.
Reluctantly, Harry went with the two other first years, and climbed into a boat with them. There, they crossed the dark lake in silence. Harry could tell that Ernie wanted to ask him questions, but Harry’s shyness kept his gaze adverted.
Suddenly, he heard a few gasps and looked up. Instantly, he was entranced with the castle in front of him. He felt warm and comforted, as if he were supposed to have been here all along. The castle itself was huge, with turrets and beautifully sculpted towers. All the windows had light in them, illuminating the water with its own special brand of magic. The moon had risen during their journey, casting a silver glow over everything.
“Wow…” he whispered, in awe of Hogwarts Castle.
Abruptly, the journey across the lake was over, and all of the first years were walking up the wide steps towards large double doors. Looking around in delight, Harry was shocked to see pale, ethereal figures floating through walls. Real life…er…well, Real Ghosts! He grinned and waved at a portly old monk, who winked back at him.
He could hear a woman talking, her voice a little strident in her efforts to make sure everyone could hear her. But he was so far in the back he could hardly hear her at all. Susan was frowning, rising up on her tiptoes to see.
“That’s Professor McGonagoll,” Ernie said softly to the two first years. “She teaches Transfiguration. She’s the head of Gryffindor too, and the Deputy Headmistress.”
“Wow.” Harry said, slightly nervous at the stern looking woman at the front of the crowd of first years.
“I can’t hear anything she’s saying, though.” Susan said, a pout on her face.
“Probably telling us how we’re going to get sorted.” Ernie said with a nod. “Ron Weasley was saying that we have to fight a troll, but my cousin Devon said that they put a hat on your head and it tells you where you belong.”
“A hat tells you where you belong? How does it know?” Harry asked.
“Magic.” Susan and Ernie said at the same time.
“Oh.”
Suddenly, the large double doors swung open, and the crowd of children moved forward. The cavernous room they entered was lit by hundreds of floating candles. There were five long tables, one at the very front that had adults sitting at it, and the four others were closer to the doors. It seemed each table held a different house, Harry thought, and searched for Cedric’s table.
Glancing up, he gaped at the ceiling. The ceiling was very high up, but reflected the night’s sky above the castle. He only figured that one out, though, when the girl with the brown frizzy hair from the train said she’d read about it in ‘Hogwarts, A History’. Shifting nervously, Harry glanced shyly around, still trying to find Cedric. He caught the eye of another first year though. A lanky black boy was watching him out of the corner of his eye. When their eyes locked, the other boy winked slyly at him, and gave him a rueful smile.
“When I call out your name, please come sit on the stool, where I will place the sorting hat on your head. Then, you will be sorted into your house.” Professor McGonagoll said, her voice echoing off the stone walls, much louder than in the entryway earlier.
When the children settled a little more, she pulled out a scroll and called the first name out.
“Hannah Abbott.”
A girl with long honey colored hair made her way to the front, and nervously sat on the stool. Professor McGonagoll pulled a ratty, patched pointed hair from behind her, and sat the hat on Hannah’s head. Only a few seconds passed by, when a seam made itself known in the front, and two wrinkles that perhaps could be called eyebrows became apparent.
“Hufflepuff!” the hat bellowed, and the table to the far right applauded loudly.
She smiled and made her way to the table. The names continued, and more students were sorted. The girl with the frizzy brown hair (Hermione Granger) was sorted into Gryffindor quickly. He assumed that the friend she was helping look for his toad on the train was Neville Longbottom and he was sorted into Gryffindor too. Ernie and Susan had both been sorted into Hufflepuff. Harry was terribly nervous as he realized that he was coming up next. His palms were sweaty and his heart was pounding. What if he didn’t belong anywhere??
“Harry Potter!”
He couldn’t move. He was frozen in his own fears and he felt the blood drain from his face. This was it. This was when they told him that he couldn’t stay here, that he was a freak and had to go back to the Dursleys.
“Harry Potter!” she called again, and by some miraculous kind of magic, he began making his way up to the stool.
Gingerly, he sat on the rickety thing, and jerked in surprise when the hat was plopped on his head. His head was so small (or maybe the hat was so big) that it slid down and covered his eyes from view.
“Now let’s see here…oh my.” A voice inside his head spoke, and Harry flinched. “Oh my dear boy. A grave injustice has been done to you. I shall find you the best house you could possibly be in. You are no freak here, Mister Potter. Here you are a remarkable wizard, with great potential.”
“Okay…” Harry whispered softly, not sure if he could answer in his head back to the hat, or if maybe the hat had magical ears.
“It seems that you’ve qualities for any of the houses, Harry Potter. You’re quite brave, with a burning desire to learn, and the ability to think outside of the box – a cunning way to think, dear boy. But perhaps above all, you are fiercely loyal. I believe that, perhaps, it is your most dominant quality. Yes, yes, I know just where to put you.”
The hat seemed to take a great breath (did the hat really breathe, Harry wondered) and bellowed his new house.