James Potter and the Sword in the Stone

After a visit from the trolley lady, it was not long before the train began slowing down. There were only forests and mountains outside the window. James supposed Hogwarts had to be isolated in order to keep it away from Muggles. Then a voice echoed through the train, saying, "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes. Please leave your luggage on the train, as it will be taken to the school for you."

James and Lysander looked at each other with wide eyes. Suddenly, fears about which House he would be sorted in came back to him. He had teased Albus about being in Slytherin, but what if he was in Slytherin? Then he would be stuck with Dolohov and his cronies.

"Well, we best get ready," Lysander said nervously.

They stood and stowed their wands into their robes. As they joined the crowd forming in the hall, Lorcan and Molly came up to them.

"Listen, I'm sorry about earlier," Lorcan said.

"It's fine. I didn't mean to offend you. Molly, you feeling better?" James asked.

"Much better, thanks. I'll think twice before eating something like that again," Molly said.

The train slowed to a stop, and people pushed their way toward the door out to a tiny, dark platform. A lamp came bobbing over the students' heads.

James heard a loud voice said, "Firs' years this way! Firs' years follow me!"

James grinned broadly as he realized it was Hagrid. Lysander, Lorcan, and Molly followed behind him as he pushed past the other first years to get to Hagrid. "James! Good ter see ya here!" Hagrid said happily.

Hagrid still looked relatively the same, except for his hair being completely grey and his face looked slightly more worn than usual. James wasn't exactly sure how long giants lived, or half-giants. He hoped it was a long time, though. Hagrid had always stopped by to see James and his siblings throughout the years, and he always looked forward to it. Except when he brought him rock hard or smashed birthday cakes. When all of the first years were huddled around Hagrid, he led them down a slippery, steep path to an immense black lake. It was now dark, so James had difficulty seeing.

There were a fleet of boats waiting to take them across to the immense castle across the lake. There were lights on in the castle, and they were reflected in the lake below it. There were no sails on the boats as far as James could see. There were lights on the front of the boats that helped because it was so dark.

"Four ter a boat!" Hagrid called out, helping them in.

James, Lysander, Lorcan, and some other boy Harry had never seen piled into a boat together. Molly had joined the three girls she had taken the sweet from earlier. Apparently, they had made up. "Hi, I'm Victor Cresswell!" the boy said eagerly.

"James Potter. This is Lysander and Lorcan Scamander, and Molly Weasley, my cousin," James said, introducing everyone.

"I'm starving! I hope these boats hurry up," Victor said.

He was so excited he was shaking. Or maybe he was just cold. The temperature had dropped slightly over the lake, and James wrapped his cloak tighter around himself as the boat started to magically move. James watched as Hagrid helped the rest of the first years into boats and settled into one himself. Despite his weight, the boat seemed to hold him effortlessly.

"Everyone all right? Good--FORWARD!" Hagrid called out.

The boats moved as one across the lake slowly. No one was talking in the other boats. They were all staring up at the castle.

"Look, there's something in there!" Lorcan said, looking into the lake.

"Wicked! I wonder what it is," Victor said, leaning over the boat to look into the lake.

James heard splashing now that he was listening. But Victor was getting way too close to the water, and the boat was starting to tip.

"Victor, get back!" James cried out, but it was too late.

Victor's hand had slipped on the side of the boat and he had fallen face first into the water.

James leaned over the boat himself to try and help Victor back into the boat, which was still moving slowly. He gripped his hand a few times, but it slipped again. "The thing's getting closer!" Lysander said, pointing at the direction of a new splashing.

"Help me! It's going to get me! Help!" Victor was yelling.

Suddenly, Victor was lifted out of the water by what looked like a giant tentacle, and placed gently back inside their boat. Victor was soaked and shivering. "What was that?" he said quietly, shocked.

"You five alrigh' there?" Hagrid called out to them, standing inside his boat to see them better.

"I fell in!" Victor called back happily.

"The giant squid put yer righ', tho. He does tha' from time ter time," Hagrid said.

"A giant squid! Wait till I tell my older brother about this," Victor said.

The rest of the boat ride was uneventful. They sat in silence as their nerves reminded them of what was to come. Victor said he was going to be in Gryffindor, like his father and grandfather had been. Apparently, his grandfather had worked at the Ministry of Magic when Victor's father was pretty young. He had gone on the run when Voldemort had taken over the Ministry of Magic, but had been killed by Snatchers. Victor had been born when his father was still pretty young.

Hagrid ordered them to lower their heads as they passed under a curtain of ivy that blocked a wide opening against the cliffs below Hogwarts. The boats carried them through a dark, cold tunnel underneath what James figured was the castle.

The boats docked at a small landing stage. They clambered out of the boats and up a flight of steps to a huge, oak door. Waiting at the front doors to the castle was a very elderly woman in green robes and a wizards hat on her head. She looked very stern, and used a walking stick for support. James could only guess that this was Professor Minerva McGonagall. His father had told him to stay on her good side because she could be a fierce enemy. To James, she just looked like a strict old lady. Indeed, she was around ninety-one years old. James couldn't remember ever knowing someone who had lived that long. She was old enough to be his great grandmother!

"Please follow me into the castle, first years. I will lead you to a room where you will wait for the Sorting ceremony to begin," Professor McGonagall said to the group now huddled on the docks.

Victor was still shivering madly behind James. He followed Lysander and Lorcan up steps and into the castle. He spotted Bella and her friends a short way ahead, but she didn't see him. Hopefully, she was in Gryffindor with him, and her friends in some other House. But what if he was in somewhere Slytherin while his new friends all sat at the Gryffindor table together? James didn't think he could bear that kind of humiliation. He waved to Hagrid right before they went in.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. Now, in a few moments you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you 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. You will have classes with your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in the common rooms. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the houses with the most points is awarded the house cup. Remain here until the Sorting begins. I will retrieve you and escort you into the Great Hall where the Sorting Hat will place you into your Houses when we are ready," Professor McGonagall said, leading the forty first years into a small room. Judging from the noise, James guessed they were somewhere near the Great Hall.

"I think I'm gonna be sick," Lysander said quietly.

"Everything will work itself out," Lorcan said, as if that made it any better.

James finally caught Bella's eye, and she smiled at him warmly. Then he caught himself. Why was he smiling at this girl? Why was she so different from any other girl in this room? He told himself that he just wanted to be liked and to make new friends. He ignored his mother's voice in his head saying that someday he would be snogging girls and be made fun of.

Just then, a group of ghosts came through wall in back of them. They were white and transparent looking. "Welcome, first years! It's so nice to be one of the first to see the young students coming to Hogwarts, isn't it, Friar?" a ghost in ruffs and tights said to a large monk.

"Indeed, indeed. Can't wait to see the new faces in Hufflepuff!" the Fat Friar said.

They passed out of the room, not even speaking to any of the first years. Perhaps they themselves were on their way to the Sorting ceremony

After what seemed like hours, Professor McGonagall came back into the small room. She started to speak, but started looking Philip up and down curiously. "What happened to you, Mister . . .?" Professor McGonagall said.

"Victor Cresswell, Professor. I fell into the water! The giant squid pushed me out and put me back into the boat, though," Victor told her loudly as the others laughed at him.

"Well, follow me and we will proceed into the Great Hall. Form a line," she said.

They did as she said, following behind her as the Great Hall doors opened before them. Professor McGonagall's stick clacked softly upon the ground as she walked, but she walked relatively fast for being as old as she was. All of the older students were already at their House tables, staring at them as they walked in. Silver plates and goblets sat on the tables before them. The House banners hung from the ceiling above the tables. The ceiling was amazing, showing the sky as it appeared outside. James looked up to the long table where the teachers sat facing the students.

Hagrid was now seated there, beaming proudly down at all the first years. James recognized Neville Longbottom, who was the Herbology teacher now. His brown hair was graying at the temples, and he was slightly pudgy. Neville had visited the Potters at various times over the years. They had seen him when they had gone to the Leaky Cauldron one day, as he lived there with his wife, Hannah Abbott. Apparently, he stayed there with her during the summer, and spent most of his time at Hogwarts during the school year. He usually spent the weekends and some nights with his wife, but James couldn't see how when his Aunt Hermione had reminded him over and over again that you could not Apparate inside the school.

Below the teachers was a wooden stool with an old pointed hat sitting on top. This, James assumed, was the Sorting Hat. The first years huddled together at the front of the room by the teachers table. Victor made eye contact with a boy sitting at the Gryffindor table and mouthed to him, "I fell in!"

The boy grinned and rolled his eyes. Professor McGonagall went and stood beside the Sorting Hat in front of them. The room went completely silent as the hat twitched. There was a rip in it like a mouth, and it began to sing:

"Oh, you may not think I'm 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 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 folk 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!"

Everyone applauded after it had finished. Professor McGonagall pulled out a long piece of parchment and said, "When I call your name, come up and put the hat on to be sorted. Atkins, Emily!"

A small, black haired girl made her way to the Sorting Hat and put it on. The hat went over her eyes and called out, "RAVENCLAW!"

The Ravenclaw tabled cheered for their first new student. Before long Victor Cresswell was called. He was nervous, but he walked happily up and put the hat on. It took a few silent seconds until the Sorting Hat called, "GRYFFINDOR!"

James grinned at him as Victor joined his brother at the Gryffindor table. "Crichlow, Philip!" Professor McGonagall called. Dolohov's squat friend made his way clumsily to the front of the first years and Professor McGonagall put the hat on. The hat seemed to deliberate to itself, but finally it called, "SLYTHERIN!"

James saw Dolohov smirk a few people away from him. James felt like vomiting every time a Slytherin was called. They all looked the same. He hardly remembered the others who were sorted after Crichlow, but perked up when he heard, "Dolohov, Alec!"

Dolohov walked up to the Sorting Hat with the smirk still on his face, and sat down. As soon as Professor McGonagall put the hat on his head it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"

That was no big surprise to James. He smiled broadly and joined the cheering Slytherins. They clapped him on the back as he sat down. James and Lysander rolled their eyes at each other. The next person James recognized was one of Bella's friends. She had been the one holding the purple sweet in her hand. "Edwards, Abigail!" Professor McGonagall called.

The girl hurried to the Sorting Hat and was sorted into "GRYFFINDOR!" Dolohov's other friend Hardwicke was sorted into "SLYTHERIN!", while Bella's fierce looking friend named Jane Oxley was sorted into "GRYFFINDOR!".

"Potter, James!" Professor McGonagall called out.

At the sound of his name, several people in the hall began whispering to themselves. He realized that all of their parents had probably told them about Harry Potter, and they recognized the name. James walked slowly up to the Sorting Hat, and Professor McGonagall smiled lightly at him. She put it onto his head, and it went over his eyes slightly.

"Ahh, Potter. Yes, I had a feeling I would be seeing a Potter again. Your father was great in Gryffindor, but I offered him Slytherin. He was quite firm in his choice. Didn't particularly care for Slytherin despite what it had to offer him. But what about you? I can see you're like him in many ways, yet different. You have Weasley in you, and they're always in Gryffindor. Any opinions?" the Sorting Hat mused.

James muttered to himself over and over again, "Gryffindor, Gryffindor."

"You too, eh? Well then, GRYFFINDOR!" the Sorting Hat pronounced.

James stood quickly with a grin from ear to ear. He rushed down the aisle to sit next to his various cousins at the Gryffindor table. There were five Weasleys in Gryffindor at the moment, and James had a feeling Molly would be the sixth. James watched as other students were put into their houses. Then it was the Scamander twins' turns.

"Scamander, Lorcan!"

Lorcan was quick to the front, as there were not so many people. James was uncertain as to where he would be placed, but the Sorting Hat put him in "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Lorcan seemed to be happy with his placement, but James could see Lysander begin to worry. He wanted to be Gryffindor, but he feared he and his twin would be judged the same.

"Scamander, Lysander!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Lysander joined James at the Gryffindor table, and he waved to his brother at the next table. As James thought, Molly was sorted into Gryffindor along with Bella. Bella waved to James as she sat across from him.

Now that James' nerves had settled, he was hungry. He hoped it wouldn't take long for them to bring in the food. Professor McGonagall said, "I will not delay your hungry stomachs any longer. So, let the feast begin!"

James looked expectantly at the doors to the Great Hall, but no one came in. Instead, the silver plates and goblets in front of him suddenly filled with various sorts of food. James stared eagerly at it. All the students began digging in, helping themselves to different kinds of meat, puddings, and other delicious foods. There were different sorts of drinks like cider and juice. No one had ever told him this! He helped himself and shoved his mouth full of whatever was on his plate. The Gryffindors around him began talking, and James turned to Lysander.

"Are you disappointed that Lorcan got put into Hufflepuff?" he asked.

"No, I guess not. It's good to know that the Sorting Hat doesn't think we're the same. It will be different without him, though," Lysander said, his mouth half full.

"It looks like he's made friends already," Bella said across from them.

James and Lysander turned around to look at the table next to them and sure enough, Lysander was deep in conversation with two Hufflepuff boys. "Probably talking about nargles," Lysander said, laughing.

James would have been satisfied if this night never ended. Everyone was getting along. Molly seemed to have made friends with Bella and her two friends, and they included James and Lysander in their conversation. James' other cousins who he hadn't seen on the train greeted him happily. He couldn't believe that all the Weasleys were in Gryffindor. As he was thinking this, the doors to the Great Hall opened, and a tall man with shoulder length black hair walked in. He was wrapped in a dark cloak, but when he walked James could tell he was limping. He was handsome, but there was a long scratch running down his face over his eye. He ran his eyes over all the students, as if checking who they were. His eyes lingered on James for a few seconds longer as he walked to the table where the teachers were. James watched him as he went to Professor McGonagall, who was done eating, and whispered into her ear. She nodded slowly and motioned for him to have a seat. When all of their stomachs were pretty much full, and the eating had slowed down she stood and went behind an intricate dais at the front of the room.

"Now, for those who do not yet know," Professor McGonagall said, eyeing Fred Weasley sitting at the Gryffindor table, "the Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students. Also, Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me to remind you that all Weasley products have been banned inside classrooms and in the halls. However, if you wish to have them in the common rooms, use them at your own risk."

"I will introduce the new students to the teachers. I think that by now you know I am Professor McGonagall. I am the Headmaster, Head of Gryffindor House, and I teach Transfiguration. Flora Carrow is the Potions teacher, and Head of Slytherin House. Neville Longbottom teaches Herbology, and is the Head of Hufflepuff. Katie Bell will be instructing your flying lessons, and Augustus Briscoe is the Charms teacher and Head of Ravenclaw. Jonathan Rothwell will be your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

James watched as she motioned to each teacher after she had said their name. He knew Professor Longbottom, but the others he did not. Katie Bell had been a friend of his Aunt Angelina, but James had never personally met her. She looked to be in her late thirties, with brown hair and brown eyes. Professor Briscoe had to be part-goblin from the looks of him. He was very short, with black hair and brown eyes. His father had said that a Professor Flitwick had taught him, but he had passed away a few years ago. Jonathan Rothwell was the man who had come in while they were eating. He seemed to watch everything around him cautiously. James wondered why he was limping.

The plates wiped themselves clean, and they became as spotless as they had been before they had started eating. Victoire, being a Gryffindor prefect, led the first years to their common room. She gave them the password to get past the Fat Lady, and they climbed in through the opening the portrait guarded. Inside the Gryffindor common room there was a couch, and various comfortable looking chairs. The fire in the fireplace kept the room pretty warm. There were two sets of stairs leading up to what James guessed were the dormitories.

By this time James was very sleepy, so he trudged up the steps to the first year's dormitory. His things were already there beside his bed. He didn't bother to do anything besides put his pajamas on, and sank gratefully into the bed, listening to the five other Gryffindor boys (the other two who he had not met yet) sleep.