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(Word Count: 1,799)
"First years, this way! First years!" Hagrid's voice boomed over the crowd of students and they all filed out of the train onto the platform. He stood well above the crowd waving a large lantern.
Hermione nudged Harry, pointing to the small first years heading towards Hagrid. "Can you believe it's already been a whole year? It feels just like yesterday when we were following Hagrid."
To Harry, it felt the opposite. Somehow it felt ages ago. "Time sure flies, doesn't it? Come on, the carriages are this way."
They made their way to the other end of the Hogsmeade platform, where the road leading to Hogsmeade and beyond that the castle. Lining the road was a line of carriages filling up with students.
"I've heard of Hogwarts' self-driving carriages, but it's amazing to see it in person," Hannah said.
"They're not self driving. They're pulled by thestrals," Harry said.
Harry could see the bony leathery black winged horse-like creatures. Considering that he had killed Quirrell, it was really no surprise.
"Thestrals? What are thestrals?" Hannah asked.
"They look like horses, only they're skin and bones, with a beak, and black leathery wings. Many associate them with death omens, because the only way to see them is to personally witness someone's death. However, they are actually quite peaceful," Harry explained. He watched the two thestrals that were harnessed to the nearby carriage thoughtfully. 'Were they created by Death, or Magic?'
Hermione looked at Harry with concern in her eyes, and she touched his arm gently. "You can see them, can't you?" she asked softly.
Harry looked at her and smiled softly. "It's alright, Hermione. I'm okay."
Harry met her eyes, her warm brown eyes radiated with care. He could feel it, combined with sadness on his behalf, so strongly he couldn't help but be lost in them for a moment.
Susan looked between them and cleared her throat. "Come on, we should hop on before they start moving."
"Right!" Hermione jerked her hand back, and hurriedly climbed onto the carriage. She sat down, with her curly hair hiding her face, clutching her bag nervously in her lap.
Harry climbed in after her and sat beside her. He placed a hand on hers. "Thank you for your concern, Mione. It means a lot to me," he whispered into her ear.
"It's nothing!" She squeaked. Then she abruptly dug into her bag and pulled out Hogwarts: A History and began flipping through it. "Y-you know, I bet there's something about thestrals in here!"
Harry chuckled. It was far too dark by now to read anything. He waved his hand and created a little ball of light above her so she could read.
Neville, Hannah, and Susan climbed aboard and soon they began to move forward toward Hogwarts.
The carriages took the road around the lake, leading them through the outskirts of Hogsmeade and passing the edge of the Forbidden Forest to approach Hogwarts' Northern entrance. Although the route was technically longer than the one the boats would take, the thestrals pulled the carriages quickly and smoothly.
The castle came into view as they rounded a small hill. It stood majestic on the cliff overlooking the black lake. Its many towers and turrets rose into the sky, and their many windows glowed in warm golden light. Though the scale of the castle was impressive, it didn't give off an imposing feeling. Instead, it felt like coming home. Which, in many ways for most witches and wizards of magical Britain, it really was another home to them.
Off to the left, in the middle of the lake, they could see the clusters of lantern light of the boats as they made their way across the water.
The carriages rolled through the North Gate and entered the large Hogwarts grounds, where there was a large open field for the flying classes, and a large circular path around a central water fountain. The carriages lined themselves around this fountain for easy unloading right in front of the bell tower, and the empty carriages rolled back out to be stored who knew where.
Soon enough, they were all sitting in the great hall waiting for the first years. Harry sat next to Neville and Dean, with Ron and Saemus across from them. Hermione was too flustered at the moment to sit with him, and had gone down the table to sit with her roommates. Hermione had never quite forgiven them for the library ban incident, but things were getting better between them, enough that she could talk with them normally. It helped that they felt terrible over it.
It was good that she was getting friends outside of Harry's own circle.
"Harry? Are you listening?" Ron asked, bringing Harry's attention back to the conversation.
"I don't think he heard a word. He's been eying Granger this entire time," Saemus said teasingly.
"Hmm? Yeah, mate, I was listening. It's a shame about the Cannons losing. I wasn't really paying attention to the Quidditch season, but from what I hear, the Harpies have a really strong team this year. Plus, with the Cannons losing Cassoway, I don't really see them having much luck this year," Harry said, ignoring the teasing remark.
Ron, Saemus, and Dean were in a heated debate on the year's quidditch season, which was also over the summer. It didn't really interest him that much, but thanks to his perfect memory, he could just zone out and still keep up with the conversation if needed. Neville threw in some comments here or there, but Harry could tell he didn't really know a lot about sport.
"Neville, mate, next summer, you've got to come watch a game with us! Trust me, you'll fall in love!" Dean said.
Not all official quidditch matches were the same as the world cup series. That scale of game was obviously reserved for the world cup, which was held in a different country every four years. Most games were held at local stadiums, and were relatively cheap to watch. There were 5 stadiums in the UK, which was a lot considering the UK only had about 10 villages that were fully magical.
Dumbledore approached the podium. "Welcome back, everyone! Welcome back. In just a few moments, Professor McGonagall will enter with our newest first years. I want you all to be on your best behavior during the sorting. Remember when you first arrived to be sorted yourself and place yourself into their shoes. When a student is sorted into your house, please welcome them with open arms and help them adjust to their new environment. That is all for now until the sorting is done, where I will go over the start of term announcements."
A few minutes later, the great hall door opened and Professor McGonagall led the first years through to the front, where they gathered around at the base of the raised stage of the teacher's table, where there was a stool and the sorting hat.
One by one Professor McGonagall called out their names and the first years were sorted into their houses.
"Birch, Hayley!" She called. It was the girl that sat with Ginny and Luna. Surprisingly, she was sorted into Gryffindor.
'So she ended up as Ginny's roommate, huh.' Harry thought, watching as she went to sit down near Kellah, Eloise, and Sally—the other girls in Hermione's dorm, who were actually currently more friends with Hermione than Lavender and Padma at the moment, but they really had their own clique going on—who welcomed her with a smile.
"Creevey, Colin!" Professor McGonagall called. The small blonde kid gulped nervously and made his way to sit on the stool.
McGonagall placed the hat on his head. The Sorting Hat hummed thoughtfully, then declared loudly, "Gryffindor!"
Colin grinned widely and practically ran straight to Harry. "I made it into Gryffindor! We're in the same house, can you believe it?" He said eagerly.
"Welcome to Gryffindor, kid," Harry said wryly. "You'll love it."
Colin bounced in excitement to the empty spot at the table, on the far side of Ron.
More students were sorted, and then McGonagall called "Lovegood, Luna!"
Luna skipped up to the stool and plopped down. "Hello, Mr. Hat," She said when the Sorting Hat was placed on her head, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine, Ms. Lovegood. Hmmm…. I think you would do well in… Ravenclaw!" The hat replied matter-of-factly.
She skipped over to the Ravenclaw table, giving Ginny a wave as she passed.
The last to be sorted was Ginny.
"Weasley, Ginevra," McGonagall called.
Ginny sat down on the stool and the hat was placed on her head. "Ah! Another Weasley!" The Sorting Hat flapped its brim like it was happy to encounter another member of the family. "I know just what to do with you! Gryffindor!"
Ginny grinned and went to sit down next to Hayley Birch, but she waved at Harry and Ron as she passed. The two first years started chatting excitedly, happy to be in the same house.
With the sorting done, Dumbledore stood to give a few announcements.
"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts! I do hope your summers were restful, enlightening, or, at the very least, reasonably uneventful," Dumbledore said with a small chuckle. A quiet ripple of laughter spread through the hall. "Now, before we begin, we have a few start-of-term announcements: the Forbidden Forest remains forbidden to all students, and Mr. Filch has asked me to reiterate that magic in the corridors between classes is, as always, discouraged."
At that, Filch gave a few nods of approval.
Dumbledore continued, "As many of you are aware, our dear Professor Quirrell is, alas, still missing. Unfortunately, I will not be able to continue filling in the position as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." A chorus of groans of disappointment responded. "However, in my place, we are fortunate to welcome a wizard of considerable experience, whose accomplishments are known throughout the wizarding world. Please join me in welcoming your new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart!"
Lockhart stood in his place at the professors' table. He beamed at the students, teeth flashing a bright white smile, and gave a dramatic bow as applause broke out across the hall. The majority of the students loved Lockhart, as many of them had read about his "adventures." Though Harry imagined that their enthusiasm would fade over time as it became clear his lessons weren't exactly very good. Lockhart placed his hands over his heart, as if touched by the cheers, soaking in the attention.
Yeah, he would definitely have to pay the man a visit. The last thing Harry needed was to sit through an entire year of this fool's so-called lessons.