Chapter 4: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

While I was reading the transfiguration book, there was a knock on the compartment door as it opened. Looking at the door, I saw a round-faced boy with a toad sitting on his shoulder.

"Oh, so it was occupied. I'm sorry for disturbing you," he said and slammed the door shut before I could have invited him inside. He seemed like a mini version of Quirrell, but instead of being scared, he seemed rather nervous.

I just closed my book and put it back in the trunk. The trunk also has an auto organizer so I can just throw all the stuff in and not worry about it.

Looking outside of the window, I can see a family of redheads and one of them was talking to their mom about not blowing up a toilet or something? What a weird conversation.

While I was lost in my thought, looking out the window, I heard a whistle, and not long after that, the train had begun to move. The door to my compartment was slid open once again and a redhead came in.

"Anyone sitting there?" he asked, pointing at the seat opposite me. "Everywhere else is full."

I just replied with, "Not at all."

Just after the redhead sat on the seat opposite me, two other redheads arrived. They looked identical, probably twins.

"Hey, Ron." one of them said.

"Listen, we're going down the middle of the train — Lee Jordan's got a giant tarantula down there." the other said. the now named Ron looked rather afraid of what the twins were talking about.

Then their attention shifted to me.

"And who-" one of the twins said.

"-might you be, ickle firsty?" the other one completed.

'They have perfect timings' was the only thought going into my head.

"I'm Harry Potter," I said with a sweet smile. The first impression is important.

Though in reaction, all three of them looked at me in shock and a little awed.

" "Are you really?" " was the question all three of them asked at the same time.

I just showed them my scar for ease. I mean me and my scar are legendary, everyone knows that I am the only wizard who lived after getting hit by the killing curse.

After this ordeal, the twins left while saying 'enjoy your first ride, 'ickle firsties!' while Ran and I sat in silence for about five seconds.

"I'm Ron by the way, Ron Weasly"

We then talked about various mundane topics and I found out that Ron had five brothers and a small sister. Two of his brothers had already graduated and the remaining were somewhat capable according to Ron, he said that any of his efforts won't be appreciated since his siblings have already got almost all the possible positions in Hogwarts like the Head Boy, Prefect, or the Quidditch Captain. Not like I have anything to do with his inferiority complex.

His family was also not very rich as he said, and so he got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat.

His rat scabbers however was strange, he had almost the same amount of magical energy as a grown adult, but I guess it might just be another weird thing in the wizarding world because not everything makes sense with magic.

We then chatted about different mundane stuff until half-past twelve when there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and the door to our compartment opened and in came a smiling dimpled woman who was carrying a cart filled with different kinds of sweets.

So, I bought some of all kinds and paid the woman eleven sickles and seven knuts. Heh, me and my crazy spending. I think I should start a business to earn some money as well. Yeah, I'll think about it later.

So, while eating chocolates, Ron was kind enough to give me the introduction to every chocolate.

So I picked a blue box and asked, "what's this?"

"Oh, that's chocolate frogs," he said, "they come with a card of a famous witch or a wizard that you can collect, there are over 101 cards in total. But I haven't got Agrippa and Ptolemy."

So, eating the chocolate and looking at the card, I got Albus Dumbledore. There was even information about him that read:

'Considered by many to be the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the Dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of Dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and tenpin bowling.'

Now, why does the Flamel name sound so familiar? Well, let's not think about that now.

So, I got to collect the cards and have got so far Dumbledore, Hengist of Woodcroft, Alberic Grunnion, Circe, Paracelsus, Druidess Cliodna, and my two personal favorites were Morgana Le Fay and Merlin himself.

Anyway, the fun ride on the train continued, and Ron and I were talking about Quidditch while eating Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. That was until there was a knock on the compartment door and the chubby boy that had previously came to the compartment came again, looking all nervous of course.

"Sorry," he said, "but have you seen a toad at all?" we just shook our heads in response. He then started to cry about his toad and Ron and I tried to comfort him. After about a minute, he thanked us and continued the search for his toad while we were back to our discussion.

So, at some point in our talk, Ron wanted to show how his brother George had taught him a spell to turn scabbers yellow and he was about to try it until the compartment door opened once again.

Standing there was Hermione, who said in her everpresent bossy tone, "Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one."

"Haven't seen one. Though I suppose you're not that glad to see me here Hermione?" I asked. It was then that her attention drifted from Ron's wand to me as her face brightened.

"Harry, You're a wizard!" she exclaimed while giving me a friendly hug.

"Well, I don't suppose I would have been allowed on the train any other way?" I asked with a smile at which she just punched me on the shoulder.

"Uh- so you two know each other, Harry?" asked Ron, a bit confused while Neville nodded his head to know as well.

"Oh right, Ron this is Hermione Granger, we have been friends for about five years now," I said to Ron while Hermione nodded her head. Then I turned to Neville.

"And I am Harry Potter, a pleasure to meet you, Neville," I said while shaking the hand of the nervous boy who was awestruck to hear my name.

"Wait wait wait, you're Harry Potter, as in The Harry Potter, as in the boy who lived?" asked Hermione in her Bossy tone.

"Well yeah, as far as I know, I am that person" I nodded while Hermione again punched me in the shoulder.

"You were a famous wizard and you never even bothered telling me" she exclaimed.

"Well, I only found out that I was famous and a wizard about a month ago," I argued back. Well, that is not entirely true since I knew I was a wizard since I was one, but who cares about the small stuff.

"Why did you stop writing to me since June?" she changed the subject as soon as she saw that I was winning the argument.

"Well, I remember saying in my last letter that I would be busy for a couple of months," I responded while eating a chocolate frog, Ron was doing the same and Neville was just standing there nervously.

Seeing that she was not winning in any argument, she turned back to Ron who was stuffing his face with chocolate frogs while he held his wand in the other hand.

"Oh, you are doing magic? Let's see it then," she said and sat down beside me while Ron looked at me dumbly and I just shrugged.

"Er- all right," he said after swallowing the chocolate frogs.

He cleared his throat and chanted the spell while swinging his wand in random directions.

"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."

Nothing happened. There was silence for a second before Hermione started blabbering.

"Are you sure that's a real spell?" said the girl. "Well, it's not very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard — I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough... Anyway, we'd better go and look for Neville's toad. You two had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon."

And she left, taking Neville with her.

"Whatever house I'm in, I hope she's not in it," Ron said while throwing his wand in his trunk.

"Oh, she can be bossy, but she is a kind person. Don't worry about stuff like that" I said.

"Say, Ron what house are your brothers in?" I asked.

"Griffindor," said a now gloomy Ron, "Mom and Dad were in it, too. I don't know what they'll say if I'm not. I don't suppose Ravenclaw would be too bad, but imagine if they put me in Slytherin."

"What's so bad in Slytherin?" I asked.

"Bloody Hell Harry, that's the house You-Know-Who was in. Most of his followers were from Slytherin as well," said Ron.

"That so?" I hummed in his response.

"So, what do your oldest brothers do now that they left Hogwarts?" I asked to avert the gloomy conversation.

"Charlie's in Romania studying dragons, and Bill's in Africa doing something for Gringotts," said Ron. "Did you hear about Gringotts? It's been all over the Daily Prophet, but I don't suppose you get that with the Muggles — someone tried to rob a high-security vault."

"Yes I read it," I said. When I visited Diagon Alley with Hagrid, I had picked a yearly subscription of the Daily Prophet there for 3 Galleons, 11 sickles, and 27 knuts.

The vault that was robbed was the same vault that Hagrid took that grubby-looking package from. It was robbed on the same day that Hagrid took the package from the Vault, to begin with, and that makes me curious about what exactly was in the package. Dumbledore must have known that the package was going to be stolen and therefore asked Hagrid to retrieve it.

We then continued our discussion on Quidditch and I must say that it is a fascinating sport, Ron was telling me about his favorite teams and all the tournaments he has been to until our discussion was disturbed yet again.

The door to our compartment opened and this time it was the blondy that I met at the robes shop, behind him were two kids who were so thick that they looked unreal.

"Is it true?" he said. "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So it's you, is it?"

"Yes, I am Harry Potter, and what do you want Blondy?" I asked. He looked at me with a sneer before saying.

"I have a name and it's Draco Malfoy, and these two behind me are Crabbe and Goyle," he said.

Ron however was trying hard not to laugh for god knows what reason and Draco seemed agitated by it for some reason.

"Think my name's funny, do you? Well, no need to ask yours. My father told me that all the Weasleys have red hairs, freckles, and more children than they can afford." he said while looking at Ron. Well, I guess I can agree with the last part.

He then went on to warn me that some wizarding families can be better than the others and I couldn't agree more. He also offered me his help and held out his hand for me to shake.

"I'm pretty smart you know, I can tell the wrong sorts myself, here have a pasty," I said while placing a pasty in his extended hand. Draco absentmindedly took a bite.

"This is good," he said.

"Right!" I agreed while eating one myself, Ron was also eating. There was silence for a second before Draco seemed to remember something and threw the pasty on the ground.

"Don't joke with me Potter, hanging around with riffraff like the Weasleys and that Hagrid, it's rubbing on you," he said after throwing the pasty.

"Meh, I was always like this. Here try the Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans," I said and gave him the chocolate box. He took one and tried it.

"Bleaargh- ear wax," he said.

"Don't think I'll forget this humiliation Potter," he said still trying to get rid of the ear wax taste as he left with his goons. This time we left the compartment door open because there was no point in closing it.

As we settled down in our seats, Ron asked me a question.

"You've met Malfoy before?"

"Yeah, in Madam Malkin's shop," I said.

"I've heard of his family," said Ron darkly. "They were some of the first to come back to our side after You-Know-Who disappeared. Said they'd been bewitched. My dad doesn't believe it. He says Malfoy's father didn't need an excuse to go over to the Dark Side."

"Oh, his father worked for Voldemort?" I asked. Now that makes him an interesting person, but I'll just leave it be. Ron flinched as I said the name.

"Don't say that, it's scary," said Ron. Just then Hermione entered our compartment.

"You'd better hurry up and put your robes on, I've just been up to the front to ask the conductor, and he says we're nearly there," said Hermione.

So, after Hermione left, we closed the compartment and changed into our school uniforms. Ron's uniform was a bit short for him, probably because it was his brother's old robes. The sun had also set as I gazed outside the window.

As we finished changing, a voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."

As we arrived at the Hogsmede station and got out of the train, the weather was a bit cold, and from a distance came Hagrid as I heard his familiar voice: "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" shouted Hagrid so that every fist year could hear him loud and clear.

He then guided us to a steep and narrow path. There were trees on either side of the path and nobody spoke much, though I could clearly hear Neville sniffing a couple of times.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.

There were many who said 'Oooooooh!' while looking at this magical sight. After which, Ron, Neville, Hermione, and I border a boat that will take us to the other side of the lake- Hogwarts.

The other side of the lake was a kind of underground Harbour where we all clambered out onto rocks and pebbles until Hagrid called out Neville who was still sad because he didn't find Trevor.

"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" said Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them. Neville was delighted to find his pet toad.

We all walked up and crowded around the huge oak front door which Hagrid knocked three times and it swung open revealing a severe-looking witch, with black hair, and wearing emerald green robes.

We followed this lady who was introduced as Professor McGonagall by Hagrid. She is the Deputy Headmistress. She led us to a small empty chamber off the hall where she faced us.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "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 because, 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 your 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 your house points, while any rulebreaking 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."

"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly." after which she left.

I looked around the room and saw that there are 40 students in total. Most of the people present in the room looked terrified with Neville being at the very top while some looked fairly confident. Then about twenty ghosts streamed through the back wall as several people screamed. They had a pearly white slightly transparent appearance and they glided across the room talking to one another. When their attention was brought to us, one of the Ghosts (The Fat Frair) had shown his desire to see us in Hufflepuff.

"Move along now," said a sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."

Professor McGonagall had returned.

One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall.

"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me."

So, we followed Professor McGonagall and walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.

It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led us up here so that we came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind us. The ceiling as mentioned in 'Hogwarts, A History' was enchanted to look like the sky outside.

Professor McGonagall placed a four-legged stool in front of us and placed an old and battered hat on the stool.

The hat from what I could sense was filled with enchantments, runes, and lots of different charms. It took me a few seconds to realize the purpose of putting so many spells on a hat- it was a sentient hat, that can read the wearer's mind. A brilliant piece of magic I have to say. As I had finished with my analysis magic, the hat twitched, and then a rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth- and the hat began to sing:

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Yeah, I was somehow able to get the laptop back from dad and things seem to have settled down for now. So, I'm just grateful for that.

Anyways, let me know what you all think.

Remember spread Love, not Hate

With that Author-Kun is signing off.