First Sign of Danger

Along the way, Cotton looked into the dark waters of the lake and received a better idea about what lies beneath the surface. Much to his shock, he sensed creatures that were brimming with power. He noticed long ago that Wizards felt different from magical creatures when spying through his magical sense. Tonight he saw that Hagrid was somewhat in between.

Magical creatures looked to be perfectly assimilated to magic, while wizards looked to be vessels for their magic.

"Do you see anything?" Hermione asked him with a hushed tone.

"Magical beasts and beings. I think there's a city down there." Cotton replied in a distant tone.

"You're getting excited. It's nice to see. Are there any wards or charms placed on the lake?" Asked Hermione.

She had long noticed that Cotton was different. He was abnormally composed and the way he showed his feelings was a lot different than others and hard to read for people who didn't bother to get to know him. After a few visits to the Hollow Estate, Hermione had learned a few of Cotton's tells from Vanessa.

"None that I can sense." said Cotton, "Hmm, say, Hermione, have you ever been diving?"

"No, I have not, but I have seen documentaries on sea life and diving looks fairly simple."

"Of course she's watched documentaries on sea life. All this silly girl does is soak up knowledge and wastes by locking herself in a study." Cotton spoke with disregard.

Hermione's cheeks turned hot, "I'll try to be more of a Kinetic learner from now on, Cotton. Now that I have a friend, I don't see why we can't learn from experience."

Cotton finally looked into the boat to find Hermione whose eyes were locked on him, waiting for a reply of some sort.

"Ahh, yeah, I feel the same. Let's take care of each other this year, ehh, Mione?"

Hermione turned beat red and she mouthed , Mione, to herself. Cotton rolled his eyes and went back to staring into the deep dark lake of perplexing mystery and adventures waiting to be had.

'That's it..." Cotton thought, 'I can study Magical beings and Wizard anatomy this year. Huh? I wonder what it's like to live with every cell in your body drenched in magic. Better yet, maybe I can make a magic version of the Geno Cosmos Serum for my parents.'

While Cotton was in his thoughts. The students talked amongst themselves as they arrived at Hogwarts. Cotton took no interest in the castle. It was just a building. If it proved to surprise him, then naturally he would explore like anything else.

But the other students seemed to think it was the most magnificent thing that they had ever seen. Hogwarts Castle is a large, seven-story high building supported by magic, with a hundred and forty-two staircases throughout its many towers and turrets and very deep dungeons. But it was nothing compared to the Planetary-class warship he commanded in his life before. Hell, the Trans-System Carrier made the earth look like an egg. Cotton sighed as he hoped to see great things that piqued his interest soon.

Cotton and his peers arrived from the south of the school and it was too dark to take in the entire scene. As a group, everyone walked up the docks and into the school. Hagrid led them up a large stone staircase, crowded around the huge, oak front door.

In front of the door, Professor McGonagall, a tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood. She had a very stern face and Cotton smirked when he saw her. His first thought was that she was not someone to cross, she commanded respect with her very presence. His second thought was that she had brimming yet refined magical power and assumed she was a scholar of whatever her subject was.

" Welcome to Hogwarts." the Professor began, "Now, in a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you can take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Now while you're here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you house points. Any rule-breaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup."

"Trevor!" a round boy jumps out and catches his toad. He looks up at the stern-faced woman and the students laugh. The boy apologizes and backs away a bit embarrassed.

The professor told the students to wait a moment then left them alone. That's when Cotton noticed an idiot who was looking for trouble approaching the Potter boy. Akasha told him to stay away and that's what he planned to do. Cotton simply shook his head when the blonde hair boy began to speak.

"It's true then, what they're saying on the train. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts."

Some of the students are heard whispering, "Harry Potter?"

The boy proceeds to introduce his two friends. "This is Crabbe and Goyle. And I'm Malfoy...Draco Malfoy." he said.

Ron snickers at his name. Cotton raised an eyebrow.

"Think my name's funny, do you? No need to ask yours. Red hair, and a hand-me-down robe? You must be a Weasley. Well, soon you'll find that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. Don't want to go making friends with the wrong sorts. I can help you there." Draco spoke with a haughty voice and extended his hand to Harry.

Cotton watched this and he suddenly thought, "Politics. Wizarding World Politics. I'm glad my father drilled it into me. Even at this age, the children are starting to build connections and establish a foundation for themselves. Prince, Parkinson, and with a little guidance, Malfoy. Good seeds the three of them.'

He then leaned over to Hermione. "I hope you read War of Houses, Mione. You would know that the Malfoys and Weasley-Prewett have been at each other's necks since the Malfoys arrived in Wizarding Britain from France."

"I'm aware. I finished the book two weeks ago," she replied in a similar tone. "We need to discuss it as I have some questions about a few things that don't quite add up."

That's when McGonagall returned and led the student body into the great hall where there are four long tables with thousands of students, as well as floating candles. The roof appears to be the sky.

"It's not real, the ceiling. It's just bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History." Hermione spoke.

"Tsk. Mione, don't start your nonsense. Quietly enjoy the scene and we can talk about it later. You know, when there isn't a ceremony happening." Cotton chided the girl.

"S-sorry, Cotton."

"It's fine. Think of it as 'another' lesson about restraint. Now, silence." he replied and Hermione didn't say another word. "Pay attention to those sizing you up and not the glitter of the castle that isn't worth much compared to your survival."

The student body eventually stopped at the front of the large table where all of the professors sat, overlooking the grand hall and all the students within. Between the staff table and the group of first-years was a wooden stool with a hat atop of it.

The hat is battered and old; it's patched, frayed, and extremely dirty. In order to speak and sing, a tear along the brim opens like a mouth. And sing it did. The hat sang about the four houses and their origins.

When the song ended, McGonagall said, "Before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words."

A tall, thin, and very old man, judging by the silver of his hair and beard, which were both long enough to tuck into his belt, stood up from his well-crafted chair at the center of the table. He was wearing long robes, a purple cloak that swept the ground, and high-heeled, buckled boots. His blue eyes were light, bright, and sparkling behind half-moon spectacles and his nose was very long and crooked, as though it had been broken at least twice

"I have a few start-of-term notices I wish to announce." He said, "The first years please note that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also, our caretaker, Mr. Filch."

Dumbledore motions to a ragged old man, called Mr. Argus Filch, with his cat with red eyes, called Mrs. Norris.

Dumbledore then continued, "Has asked me to remind you that the 3rd floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death. Thank you."

Cotton squinted as he thought, 'Why don't they use a Fedilius Charm or just magically seal the damn door and why tell the whole damn school?'

After Dumbledore took his seat. McGonagall faced the students and projected her voice. "When I call your name, you will come forth, I shall place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses. Hannah Abbott."

A pink-faced girl with blonde Pigtails walked onto the stage. That hat sat on her head and the room went silent. A moment later it shouted, "Hufflepuff!"

The Hufflepuff table cheered and Hannah's robes transformed from all black to black and yellow. She smiled as walked to her house.

The list went on until McGonagall called out, "Hermione Granger!"

Hermione became extremely nervous and began to mutter to herself as she stepped forward, " Oh, no. Okay, relax."

" Mental that one, I'm telling you," Ron whispered loud enough for a few people to hear and snicker. Cotton called his wand, flicked, and Ron cried out in pain as his drawers were yanked up his ass. The worst wedgie he had ever gotten. Cotton's wand was hidden away before Ron even cried out, perk of having a holster.

Hermione gave Cotton a warm smile as her cheeks turned pink. A few of the professors shared a glance and McGonagall frowned at Cotton. Cotton rolled his eyes and disregarded them all. They say better to ask forgiveness than permission. But Cotton believed that you shouldn't ask for either if you truly believed in your actions as the right actions.

After a moment of contemplation, the old hat shouted, "Gryffindor!"

Cotton clapped at the happy girl as she was placed into the house she was hoping for. Time passed and finally, it was finally Cotton's turn.

"Cotton Hollow!" McGonagall called out.

Cotton walked up with his hand resting lightly on the pommel of his sword that did not have a sheath, only a brace crafted into the sword where a band attached and hooks on to Cotton's wait. The craftsmanship and razor edge were out for all to see. Whispers rolled through the hall as the metal was identified as Mithril of the Dwarves.

They then spoke of the Barony of Godric's Hollow and Viscounty of Thetford, all wondering if Cotton Hollow was the Hollow of the mysterious prominent family.

His deep hazel eyes looked tired and unimpressed by the entire show. When Snape saw the boy, they locked eyes, but both of their expressions remained stoic as they exchanged a brief message with their minds.

Cotton turned around, sat on the chair. His signet ring then hit the light and a few Slytherin hoped for the boy to be placed in their house. But they were the only ones as Thetford was a large Viscounty with many vassals families.

When that hat touched Cotton's head, it grazed his mind and then it suddenly tried to dive deeper to discover more than just his personality. In a flash that startled all of the students and most of the professors, Cotton had his wand drawn, the hat was blowing into the air and a mean-looking severing charm was cast to mince the hat.

Dumbledore moved fast, blocked the charm, retrieved the hat, and disarmed Cotton.

Though Dumbledore was shocked when Cotton's airborne methuselah wand reappeared in Cotton's hand and was now pointed at him. By this time all of the professors had their wands drawn on Cotton.

"Keep that damn hat away from me!" he roared.

"Mr. Hollow! Put down your wand!" Snape snarled as he quickly walked to Cotton and blocked him from the professors' sights.

"No! That damn hat tried to penetrate my mind. And the old fool attacked me!" Cotton was serious and offended.

"That is what it does!" said McGonagall.

"No! It tried to go deeper."

McGonagall was confused and Snape flashed a knowing look at Dumbledore. Dumbledore lowered his wand and smirked in amusement. Many pureblood students were introduced to Occlumency before attending school but none could ever feel the probe of the sorting hat only its loud scan of their personality.

In an instant, it was like time had been turned back and Cotton was once again sitting on the stool, and McGonagall was placing the hat on him.

'Hmm what an interesting boy. You clearly belong in Slytherin.' it spoke into Cotton's mind.

Cotton frowned as something felt off. He put up extra defenses in his mind before telling the hat, "I originally wanted to, but I'm not so sure now. I want to be in Ravenclaw."

The hat hummed again then shouted, "Ravenclaw!"

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow and Cotton refrained from looking at him, but he felt the old man's gaze. When that hat was on his head, for some reason, he recognized the hat's presence in his mind. It was a skill called battle memory, Cotton's mental avatar was a warrior. Remembering one's enemy is a required skill. That is why Cotton put up his defenses and stopped the hat's probe altogether.

So when the Hat said Slytherin, it felt like a trap. So he opted to pick a different house. Hufflepuff was too general and Gryffindor was too obnoxious for his taste. Especially if could accept the entire Weasley clan and the potter boy, fate was just screaming for him to turn away. In the end, Ravenclaw was all that was left.

'Akasha was right, this place is dangerous.' Cotton thought as he took a seat at the Ravenclaw's table. He and the rest of the hall had no idea that the old headmaster had turned back time.

The ceremony went on and when it was finished, the houses had time to talk amongst themselves. Cotton was in no mood to socialize, however, he felt himself being watched and decided to blend. He spoke to his fellow housemates, laughed, and acted carefreely.

The only time he slipped is when he met Cho Chang, an extremely pretty girl with long, shiny dark hair, and a freckled nose. She was sad and quiet. Cotton learned that her younger sister was supposed to be attending Hogwarts this year as well.

Cotton introduced himself and poured Cho a drink of mead. He then made a toast to her and said something that he figured Mira would say even if her past life was still dormant when she died.

"To the people we love and the home we share with them. We should cherish it now because we'll kill each other in a month" Cotton joked.

"That's a thought," the upperclassmen laughed and raised their goblets. They found Cotton a bit eccentric due to his facade to deter prying eyes.

But all of the upperclassmen understood his toast. Houses were like families and after being cooped up together things tended to get a bit rocky. But, Cho's eyes watered as she stared at Cotton. She then put the cup to her lips and down every drop.

When she was finished, she was surprised by his warm smile and eyes just as sad as hers. It was oddly comforting and made her feel that she had someone to mourn with. What made it better was that Cotton had a similar demeanor to her late and sassy sister who always seemed years ahead of her age.

Cho couldn't keep her eyes off him for the rest of the night. But Cotton didn't mind as her mood had visibly improved. And he had started to see Cho Chang as his sister-in-law, in a way she was. And like he had for Mel, Cotton made mental plans to care for the girl as he would if his late wife had survived to this point.

The food soon appeared on the table in a delicious feat of magic. Cotton cast a quick spell and when his food didn't change colors he dug in. His peers were shocked as he ate enough for twelve people and was the only first-year who was able to turn his water to ale, drinking pitchers of it as the drunkenness helped the food go down easier.

Time passed and the staff was shocked as Dumbledore said, "Hagrid, the young Mr. Hollow has just broken your first feast record by finishing his fifteenth turkey."

Hagrid was shocked.

"And that bird of his is on its way to doing the same," McGonagall added with a light chuckle.