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 Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:58 am
Prologue
Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that yea. The morning of the first September was crisp and golden as an apple, and as the little family bobbed across the rumbling road toward the great sooty station, the fumes of car exhausts and the breath of pedestrians sparkled like cobwebs in the cold air. Two large cages rattled on top of the laden trolleys the parents were pushing; the owls inside them hooted indignantly, and the redheaded girl trailed tearfully behind her brothers, clutching her father’s arm.
“It won’t be long, and you’ll be going to Hogwarts too,” Harry told her.
“Two years,” sniffed Lily. “I want to go now!”
The commuters stared curiously at the owls as the family wove its way toward the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Albus’s voice drifted back to Harry over the surrounding clamor.; his sons had resumed the argument they had started in the car.
“I won’t! I won’t be in Slytherin!”
“James, give it a rest!” said Ginny
“I only said he might be,” said James, grinning at his younger brother. “There’s nothing wrong with that. He might be in Slyth ----”
But James caught his mother’s eye and fell silent. The five Potters approached the barrier. With a slightly cocky look over his shoulder at his younger brother, James took the trolley from his mother and broke into a run. A moment later, he had vanished.
“You’ll write to me, won’t you?” Albus asked his parents immediately, capitalizing on the momentary absence of his brother.
“Every day, if you want us to,” said Ginny.
“Not everyday,” said Albus quickly. “James says most people only get letters from home once a month.”
“We wrote to James three times a week last year,” said Ginny.
“And you don’t want to believe everything he tells you about Hogwarts,” Harry put in. “He likes a laugh, your brother.”
Side by side, they pushed the second trolley forward, gathering speed. As they reached the barrier, Albus winced, but no collision came. Instead , the family emerged onto platform nine and three-quarters, which was obscured by thick white steam that was pouring from the scarlet Hogwarts Express. Indistinct figures were swarming through the mist, into which Kames had already disappeared.
“Where are they?” asked Albus anxiously, peering at the hazy forms they passed as they made their way down the platform.
“We’ll find them,” said Ginny reassuringly.
But the vapor was dense, and it was difficult to make out anybody’s faces. Detached from their owners, voices sounded unnaturally loud. Harry thought he heard Percy discoursing loudly on broomstick regulations, and was quite glad of the excuse to stop and say hello…
“I think that’s them, Al,” said Ginny suddenly.
A group of four people emerged from the midst, standing alongside the very last carriage. Their faces only came into focus when Harry, Ginny, Lily, and Albus had drawn right up to them.
“Hi,” said Albus, sounding immensely relieved.
Rose, who was already wearing her brand-new Hogwarts robes, beaming at him.
“Parked all right, then?” Ron asked Harry. “I did. Hermione didn’t believe I could pass a Muggle driving test, did you? She thought I’d have to Confund the examiner.”
“No I didn’t,” said Hermione, “I had complete faith in you.”
“As a matter of fact, I did Confund him,” Ron whispered to Harry, as together they lifted Albus’s trunk and owl onto the train. “I only forgot to look in the wing mirror, and let’s face it, I can use a Supersensory Charm for that.”
Back on the platform, they found Lily and Hugo, Rose’s younger brother, having an animated discussion about which House they would be sorted into when they finally went to Hogwarts.
“If you’re not in Gryffindor, we’ll disinherit you,” said Ron, “but no pressure.”
“Ron!”
Lily and Hugo laughed, but Albus and Rose looked solemn.
“He doesn’t meant it,” said Hermione and Ginny, but Ron was no longer paying attention. Catching Harry’s eye, he nodded covertly to a point some fifty yards away. The steam had thinned for a moment, and three people stood in sharp relief against the shifting mist.
“Look who it is.”
Draco Malfoy was standing there with is wife and son, a dark coat buttoned up to his throat. His hair was receding somewhat, which emphasized the pointed chin. The new boy resembled Draco as much as Albus resembled Harry. Draco caught sight of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny staring at him, nodded curtly, and turned away again.
“So that’s little Scorpius,” said Ron under his breath. “Make sure you beat him in every test, Rosie. Thank God you inherited your mother’s brains.”
“Ron, for heaven’s sake,” said Hermione, half stern, half amused. “Don’t try to turn them against each other before they’ve even started school!”
“You’re right, sorry,” said Ron, but unable to help himself, he added, “Don’t get too friendly with him, though, Rosie. Granddad Weasley would never forgive you if you married a pureblood.”
“Hey!”
James had reappeared; he had divested himself of his trunk, owl, and trolley, and was evidently bursting with news.
“Teddy’s back there,” he said breathlessly, pointing back over his shoulder into the billowing cloud of steam. “Just seen him! And guess what he’s doing? Snogging Victoire!”
He gazed up at the adults, disappointed by the lack of reaction.
“Our Teddy! Teddy Lupin! Snogging our Victoire! Our cousin! And I asked Teddy what he was doing ---”
“You interrupted them?” said Ginny. “You’re so like Ron ---”
“--- and he said he’d come to see her off! And then he told me to go away. He’s snogging her!” James added as though worried he had not made himself clear.
“Oh, it would be lovely if they got married!” whispered Lily ecstatically. “Teddy would really be part of the family then!”
“He already comes round for dinner about four times a week.” said Harry. “Why don’t we just invite him to live with us and have done with it?”
“Yeah!” said James enthusiastically. “I don’t mind sharing with Al --- Teddy could have my room!”
“No,” said Harry firmly, “you and Al will share a room only when I want the house demolished.”
He checked the battered old watch that had once been Fabian Prewett’s.
“It’s nearly eleven, you’d better get on board.”
“Don’t forget to give Neville our love!” Ginny told James as she hugged him.
“Mum! I can’t give a professor love!”
“But you know Neville ----”
James rolled his eyes.
“Outside, yeah, but at school he’s Professor Longbottom, isn’t he? I can’t walk into Herbology and give him love….”
Shaking his head at his mother’s foolishness, he vented his feelings by aiming a kick at Albus.
“See you later, Al. Watch out for the thestrals.”
“I thought they were invisible? You said they were invisible!”
But James merely laughed, permitted his mother to kiss him, gave his father a fleeting hug, then leapt onto the rapidly filling train. They saw him wave, then sprint away up the corridor to find his friends.
“Thestrals are nothing to worry about.” Harry told Albus. “They’re gentle things, there’s nothing scary about them. Anyway, you won’t be going up to school in the carriages, you’ll be going in the boats.”
Ginny kissed Albus good-bye.
“See you at Christmas.”
“Bye Al,” said Harry as his son hugged him. “Don’t forget Hagrid’s invited you to tea next Friday. Don’t mess with Peeves. Don’t duel anyone till you’ve learned how. And don’t let James wind you up.”
“What if I’m in Slytherin?”
The whisper was for his father alone, and Harry knew that only the moment of departure could have forced Albus to reveal how great and sincere that fear was.
Harry crouched down so that Albus’s face was slightly above his own. Alone of Harry’s three children, Albus has inherited Lily’s eyes.
“Albus Severus,” Harry said quietly, so that anybody but Ginny could hear, and she was tactful enough to pretend to be waving to Rose, who was now on the train. “you were named by two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew.”
“But just say ----”
“ ---- then Slytherin House will have grained an excellent student, won’t it? It doesn’t matter to us, Al. But if it matters to you, you’ll be able to choose Gryffindor over Slytherin. The Sorting Hat takes your choice into account.”
“Really?”
He had never told any of his children that before, and he saw the wonder in Albus’s face when he said it. But now the doors were slamming all along the scarlet train, and the blurred outlines of parents were swarming forward for final kisses, last minute reminders. Albus jumped into the carriage and Ginny closed the door behind him. Students were hanging from the windows nearest them. A great number of faces, both on the train and off, seemed to be turned toward Harry.
“Why are they all staring?” demanded Albus as he and Rose craned around to look at the other students.
“Don’t let it worry you,” said Ron. “It’s me. I’m extremely famous.”
Albus, Rose, Hugo, and Lily laughed. The train began to move, and Harry walked alongside it, watching his son’s thin face, already ablaze with excitement. Harry kept smiling and waving, even though it was like a little bereavement, watching his son glide away from him….
The last trace of steam evaporated in the autumn air. The train rounded the corner. Harry’s hand was still raised in farewell
”He’ll be all right,” murmured Ginny.
As Harry looked at her, he lowered his hand absentmindedly and touched the lightning scar on his forehead.
“I know he will.”
The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well.
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Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:07 pm
Chapter 1-“Journey to Hogwarts”
Albus watched as his father disappeared, as the Hogwarts Express turned the corner out of Kings Cross. Albus turned to stare down the huge train. Many kids were making their way in and out of compartments. He elbowed his way through many people, some that were older students that just glared at him muttering, “First years.” Albus just ignored him and continued looking for a compartment. For a few moments, he wondered where is brother was off to. Probably hanging out with his friends somewhere, picking on other first years. Not that he was a bully, but like his father said, he loves a good laugh. Albus continued looking through compartments when she spotted Rose. He smiled to himself and walked into the compartment. He set his stuff down and sat across from Rose, as she smiled at him.
“Hey Rose!” Albus said smiling. He pulled out his new wand and began twirling it in his fingers. It was a phoenix feather and unicorn hair, just like his father’s. He stuck his wand back into his bag and looked up at Rose. She was reading one of her new books, and already decked out in her new robes. Albus raised an eyebrow towards Rose, since apparently, she hadn’t heard his hello.
“Hello. Earth to Rose! Are you there?” Albus waved his hand in Rose’s face, as she looked up from her book surprised.
“Oh Albus! Hey. Sorry….I got lost in this book. Its all about some different species of witches and wizards.” She smiled happily, and went back to aimlessly reading her book.
“Well obviously, I can see that.” Albus said while laughing. He turned to look out the window as the Scarlet Train rolled across Britain. At least Albus thought it was Britain. Albus looked away from the window to see Rose had put down her book. “So Rose….what house do you think you’ll be in? Albus knew this question couldn’t be avoided. He thought back to his brother taunting him, saying he is going to be in Slytherin. Rose looked up to see Rose with a pale face. Apparently what Uncle Ron had said, made her worried too.
“Well, to think both my parents were in Gryffindor, I would expect to be in Gryffindor, but I did some research, and a lot of the bright minds are in Ravenclaw.” Rose said, her face regaining a little bit of color.
“I guess it’s the same for me too. “ Albus said, still a tone of worry in his voice. Suddenly James burst through the compartment door laughing his head off.
“Oh hey Al, hey Rose!” James said not even turning to look at them He was peering out of the compartment and looking down the corridors. Albus looked a little confused at him before speaking.
“Ok James, I am not sure if I want to know…but what’s going on?” Albus said, a little hesitant. James looked curiously at Albus, before turning back to examine the corridors.
“You have to promise you wont tell anybody?” James said. He closed the compartment door and looked at Rose and Albus. Rose didn’t seem to care what hijacks James was getting into although, Albus was a bit intrigued.
“I promise.” Albus said truly. Rose just rolled her eyes and went back to her book. James shrugged her off.
“Alright. Well I was in a compartment with some other first years. And they were talking about all the stuff that happened when Dad was at Hogwarts and they were saying stuff like, those Potters are just walking danger signs. But of course they were to stupid to realize I was standing in there, so I stood there silently for a few moments, and then I said, oh am I a walking danger sign then? And they screamed like bloody murder. So they started pointing there wands at me because they thought I was going to like lash out on them, so I pulled out my wand, and said some made up spell, and it ended up erasing there memories. I don’t even know how I did it, and I cant even remember the spell. I thought it was just made up. So now I am like really worried that I am going to get into trouble.” James finished his story slightly out of breath. Albus stared at him in awe A small smirk began to creep on James face. It grew bigger and bigger and bigger, before James burst out laughing.
“Wow!!! I cant believe you believed me!!” James was having a laughing fit. He was holding his stomach and continued laughing. Albus began to get angry, he looked over at Rose, who looked angry too. Maybe she had believed him as well.
“I can’t believe you James!” Albus cried. He aimed a punch at his shoulder, but James moved out of the way still laughing.
“What? You guys seriously thought that I did that? Come on.” James said still laughing. He got up and walked out of the compartment. Albus was still angry, but glad to watch him leave. He looked over at Rose.
“I can’t believe we believed him.” Albus said, feeling a bit stupid, and by the look of Rose, she had fell for it but was trying to be smarter that that.
“What do you mean we, you mean I can’t believe I fell for it!” Rose said matter-of-factly. But then she froze. She had basically admitted she believed James. She blushed a shade of pink on her cheeks, before letting her hair fall in front of her face.
“Its ok Rose, I know what you meant.” Albus said laughing. Albus went back to staring out the window, as the long scarlet Hogwarts Express rolled through Britain. “So Rose, what House do you think you’ll be in?” Albus said cautiously. He knew that the question couldn’t be avoided, though Rose and him were both very nervous about being Sorted. Rose looked up from her book. She slipped the leather bookmark back in the book, and set it down. She stared right into Albus’s emerald green eyes before speaking.
“Well….” Rose began. She thought through her head. Her mother and father were in Gryffindor, and she had her mothers brains. Rose read in Hogwarts: A History, that Ravenclaw was the House for the intelligent students. So Rose was in conflict with her mind, should she be in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. She gasped out loud. “I actually, want to be in Gryffindor, like my parents, but I have a feeling I will be put in Ravenclaw.” Albus stared back at Rose after she had answered.
“Ravenclaw would be lucky to have you Rose, but you’re going to be Gryffindor. I have a gut feeling.” Albus smiled at Rose, and she smiled back, blushing a furious red.
“Why thank you Albus. What about you? What House do you think you will be in?” Rose’s cheeks had now faded back to their regular cream color. Albus looked up suddenly. His mind was in an even bigger conflict than Rose. Slytherin or Gryffindor. Albus remembered James’s taunting and his fathers kind words. “You were named by two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew and if you get picked for Slytherin House then they will have grained an excellent student, won’t it? It doesn’t matter to us, Al. But if it matters to you, you’ll be able to choose Gryffindor over Slytherin. The Sorting Hat takes your choice into account.”
“Well of course I would love to be in Gryffindor, but for some reason I have a feeling that I might be put in Slytherin.” Rose stared at Albus in horror, like she had seen a ghost or something.
“Albus, there is no way you will be put in Slytherin. Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny were both in Gryffindor, plus your brother is in Gryffindor, so you will definitely be in Gryffindor!” She said smiling.
“Thanks Rose.” Albus said smiling. He sighed out of boredom and stared back out the window, for the millionth time. He looked over at Rose, who seemed to pick up her book again Albus smacked his head against he window, before jerking it up again. “Rose look!” Albus said excitedly The train was approaching a castle. This castle was A huge, rambling, quite scary-looking with a jumble of towers that nearly touched the sky. The buildings, eerie look and grey color, made it seem almost unreal. As the train grew closer, the castle came more clear. Albus stared in awe. Rose had put her book down, and was staring too.
“Is…..that….” Rose stammered. She was absolutely speechless., as Albus was too. The train began to slow, and there was much commotion outside their compartment. Albus and Rose gathered there belongings and exited the compartment. Many excited Hogwarts students filled the corridors. The train came to a complete halt. Some kids seem to fall forward slightly. Albus followed everyone aimlessly out the train. He stepped down and gazed up at the giant castle. “Wow…” Albus heard Rose say from behind him, she was staring up at Hogwarts too. Suddenly a booming voice fell over the crowd of stunned first years.
“Firs’ years! Firs’ years over here!” The booming voice belonged to none other than, Hogwarts Game Keeper, Rubeus Hagrid. Hagrid was a giant of a man. His face was almost completely covered by a long, shaggy mane of hair and a wild, tangled beard, but you could make out his eyes, glinting like black beetles under all that hair. Hagrid’s big hairy face beamed over all the sea of heads.
“C’mon, follow me --- any more firs’ years? Mind yer step, now! Firs’ years follow me!” Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side of them that Albus thought there must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke much.
“Yeh’ll get yer first’ sight o’ Hogwarts in a second,” Hagrid called over his shoulder, “jus’ round this bend here.” There was many ooohh’s and ahhh’s . the narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, was the vast castle with all the towers and turrets. “No more’n four to a boat!” Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Albus and Rose were followed into their boat by Scorpius and another first year.
“Everyone in?” shouted Hagrid, who had a boat all to himself, “Right then ---- FORWARD!” And the fleet of little boats moved all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.
“Heads down!” yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until the reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out on to the rocks and pebbles. They clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid’s lamp, coming out at last onto a smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge oak front door.
“Everyone here? Ready ter see the inside o’ Hogwarts?” Hagrid said happily as he raised a gigantic fist and knocked three time on the castle door.
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Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:14 pm
Chapter 2-”The Castle and the Sorting Hat”
The door swung open at once. A tall, black haired wizard in sky-blue robes stood there. He had a very polite face, and of course Albus and Rose recognized him at once.
“The firs’ years, Professor Longbottom,” said Hagrid.
“Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here.”
She pulled the door wide. The entrance hall was so big. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.
They followed Professor Longbottom across the flagged stone floor. Albus could hear the drone of many voices to the doorway they were approaching ---- the rest of the school must already be in there ---- but Neville showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather close together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.
“Welcome to Hogwarts,” said Professor Longbottom. “The start-of-team will begin shortly, but before you take your Sorting is 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 you house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.
“The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards.” Professor Longbottom, put his eyes on Albus and winked. Albus waved shyly back.
“While your at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
“The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting.”
His eyes glanced around at all the first years, and he smiled happily. Albus was trying to flatten his hair, while Rose was looking as nervous as Albus, and Scorpius was just smiling evilly.
“I shall return when we are ready for you,” said Professor Longbottom. “Please wait quietly.”
He left the chamber and Albus gulped.
“Are you still nervous Rose?” Albus said calmly.
“Well a little, but I am sure we will be fine.” Rose said quickly and quietly. Of course Albus knew how this was all going to work. His dad and mum had told him everything he needed to know about Hogwarts. He looked around anxiously and saw that everyone else looked terrified, too.
“Everyone form a line please and follow me.”
Neville had returned to collect them. Suddenly, feeling oddly as though his legs had turned to jello, Albus got into line behind a boy with sandy hair, Rose was behind him, and they walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors in to the Great Hall.
Albus had never imagined such a beautiful place. His father had always described it, but Albus always had trouble imagining it. The Great Hall was lit by thousands of candle that were floating in midair over four long table, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid by glittering golden plate and goblets. A the top of the hall was another long table where the teacher were sitting. Professor Longbottom led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teacher behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Mainly to avoid all the staring eyes, Albus looked upward and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. He heard Rose whisper,
“It’s bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History.” It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that they Great Hall didn’t simply open on to the heavens. Albus quickly looked down again as Neville silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool he put a pointed wizards hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. Albus could only assume that was the Sorting Hat. For a few seconds there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth --- and the hat began to sing:
Oh you may not think me pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap
The whole Great Hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again. Neville was now stepping forward holding a long roll of parchment.
“When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted,” he said.
Albus’s head was clouded with the fact that he might be in Gryffindor or Slytherin. Before he knew it, they were already on the last names starting with M. The next person up was Scorpius Malfoy. The hat had barley touched his head before the hat cried, “SLYTHERIN!” Scorpius went to join the other Slytherin‘s, looking pleased with himself. There weren’t many people left now. Suddenly, Albus heard his name.
“Potter, Albus!” Neville said smiling. Albus stepped up nervously. He sat on the stool with the hat in his hands. He looked over at the Gryffindor Table, and received a thumbs up from his brother James. He placed the hat on his head, as it fell a little bit over his eyes. He didn’t mind so much, now he couldn’t see the people staring at him.
“Hmmm,” said a small voice in his ear. “Another Potter. I see you have the courage of your father. Not a bad mind either. You don’t seem to have the hi-jinks that your brother has. But where to put you?” The hat thought. Albus was saying in his mind, Not Slytherin!
“Not Slytherin! Hmm…where have I heard that before. What seemed like yesterday, your father said this. Well I will do to you ,what I did with him…better be GRYFFINDOR!”
Albus heard the hat shout the last word to the whole hall. He took off the hat and walked shakily toward the Gryffindor table. He was so relieved to have been chosen and not put in Slytherin. He sat down next to his brother, who gave him a pat on the back. He still felt utterly relieved, until he realized Rose was still up there. He looked up ,and saw there were only three people left besides her. The last few people got sorted, before Professor Longbottom called Rose up to the stool. Albus watched as she sat down on the stool and put the hat on. Rose watched as the hat fell over her eyes. Soon she heard the hat speaking to her.
“Well, well, well. What a surprise. I was waiting for another Weasley. Lets see. Your mind is extremely bright. Just like your mother. You seem to have inherited your father’s appearance though, huh. Well I know exactly where to put you…GRYFFINDOR!” Rose’s face lit up from under the hat. She pulled it off and placed it back on the stool. She skipped happily over to Gryffindor table and sat next to Albus. Albus looked down at his empty gold plate. He had only just realized how hungry he was. Minerva McGonagall had gotten to her feet. She was wearing a pair of emerald green robes, her haif in a tight bun on her head.
“Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. Before the feast is to begin, I would like to say a few words. Have fun!” She smiled before sitting back. Albus thought she would be a pretty nice Headmistress. Soon Albus turned to notice the tables had magically been placed with food. This was the most food, Albus had ever seen, well not counting Christmas time with the his family and the Weasleys. Albus piled his plate with a bit of everything except peppermints and began to eat. .It was all delicious.
“That does look good,” said a ghost that had startled more than one first year at the table.
“Can’t you ---?” Albus began. Very stupid to ask a ghost.
“I haven’t eaten for nearly five hundred years,” said the ghost. “I don’t need to, of course, but one does miss it. I don’t think I’ve introduced my self? Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower.”
“I know who you are!” Rose chimed in. “My dad and uncles told me about you ----you’re Nearly Headless Nick!”
Probably everyone at the table was wondering how he was nearly headless. Before any of them could ask. Sir Nicholas had seized his left ear and pulled. His whole head swung off his neck and fell onto his shoulder as if it was on a hinge. Someone had obviously tried to behead him, but not done it properly. Looking please at the stunned looks on their faces, Nearly Headless Nick flipped his head back onto his neck, coughed, and said. “So new Gryffindors! I hope you’re going to help us win the house championship this year. Gryffindors have never gone so long without winning. Slytherins have been winning every year since Harry Potter left this castle 19 years ago.” Everyone’s eyes turned to look at James and Albus, who put there heads down to look as if they were eating.
When everyone had eaten as much as they could, the remains of the food faded from there plates, leaving them sparkling clean as before. A moment later the desserts appeared. Blocks of ice cream in every flavor you could think of, apple pies, treacle tarts, chocolate éclairs and jam doughnuts, trifle, strawberries, Jell-O, rice pudding. Albus helped himself to practically everything.
Albus, who had started to feel stuffed and sleepy, watched as Professor McGonagall stood up once more.
“Ahem ---- just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term noticed to give you.
“First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well.”
McGonagall flashed a glare towards James Potter, who put his head down, snickering.
“And finally Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.
“Ok now everyone off to bed!” said McGonagall sternly.
The Gryffindor first year followed the Prefects through the chattering crowds, out of the Great Hall, and up the marble staircase. Albus’s legs were lead again, but only because he was so tired and full of food. He was too sleepy even to be surprised that people in the portraits along the corridor were moving and talking. They climbed more staircases, yawning and dragging their feet, and Albus was just wondering how much farther they had to go when they came to a sudden halt. There in front of them on the wall was a portrait of a very fat woman in a pink silk dress.
“Password?” she said.
“Balderdash,” said one of the Prefects, and the portrait sung forward to reveal a huge hole in the wall. They all scrambled though it and found themselves in the Gryffindor common room, a cozy round room full of squashy armchairs.
The prefects directed the girls through one door and the boys through another. Albus waved at Rose as she disappeared through the door to the girls dormitory. Albus followed the other first year boys up the spiral staircase until they reached a tower where they’re beds were. Too tired to talk much, they pulled on their pajamas and fell into bed. Albus pulled the covers up to his face and his eyes dropped shut. Hogwarts was just as he imagined, and he was glad he was there.
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