Fate's Whim

Fate's Whim book i : chapter one

-course of time-

Harry, quite frankly, had no clue what he was supposed to do at the bustling King's Cross station. He had been left with a strangely iridescent ticket stub (with a fraction attached to the platform number's end, no less), a cart full of the possessions he had bought in a magical world that could only be accessed by tapping the bricks in a back alley in London in a certain order, and the clothes on his back. He was standing between Platform 9 and Platform 10, and he had a fleeting image of himself pounding at the barrier between the platforms, begging to be let in, while people laughed and pointed. He had less than fifteen minutes to go, according to the clock on a nearby wall.

He peered closer at the barrier. A trail of redheads was streaming through the wall? Harry knew he had led a life rather sheltered from the outside world, but he was pretty sure he understood physics well enough to grasp the concept that walls were solid.

Without looking where he was heading, Harry pushed the cart closer to the group. And ran straight into a solid body.

His spellbooks went flying, and Hedwig screeched indignantly. Harry fell to the ground, and saw stars. He sprawled dazedly for a moment before being able to move. “So sorry,” he muttered to the person he had run into, trying to pick himself up and soothe Hedwig at the same time.

A large hand reached down to help grab Harry's books and place them back on the cart. “Not a problem,” the man said, as he held out a hand to aid Harry up.

Harry took it, and when he was standing again he began to apologize once more.

The man shook his head kindly at Harry's apologies. He was a tall sort, with greying brown hair and sharp hazel eyes. “I've had worse with Hermione....” he said. He looked around suddenly, seeming to realize for the first time that said girl was not with him. He blinked hard behind his glasses and ran a hand through his hair. “And where has she got to?” The man peered over the crowd worriedly.

Harry assumed Hermione was a person, probably a relation of some sort to this man. The man laughed softly. “I see her, reading about the history of this station at that plaque over there. Insatiably curious, she is.” He frowned. “But if she doesn't hurry, she'll miss the train.”

Harry had the odd feeling he had been forgotten. “Is she your daughter?” he ventured timidly.

“Yes, she-” He broke off as a smallish girl made her way toward them, pushing a cart with items not unlike the content of Harry's cart. She seemed to have even more books than Harry had piled on his cart, and her trunk was dyed deep blue, with Hermione Granger written in stylish gold ink. She had long, wavy brown hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, and dark blue eyes. “Hermione, dear, come on!” her father called once she came into his and Harry’s direct line of sight.

Hermione grinned as she came closer. “Sorry, Dad, just wanted to see when this station was built. Did you know this station was built on the site of a former hospital...” She trailed off as she saw Harry for the first time, and he watched her eyes take in Hedwig, his trunk, and his books.

Hermione's father seemed to suddenly remember he was there also, and he turned to Harry. “Sorry we ran into each other,” he said, shaking Harry's hand. “I'm Evan Granger, Hermione's father. This is my daughter, Hermione.” Harry opened his mouth to introduce himself, too, but Mr. Granger went on. “I would offer to buy us all a cup of tea, but as Hermione has to be on the train, I’m simply afraid that won’t be possible.”

“You couldn't possibly be...Hogwarts?” a third voice piped up. It was Hermione, and she looked expectantly at Harry.

Harry nodded, and his stomach did an odd somersault. “Actually, yes.” He felt oddly elated. He hadn’t dreamed Hogwarts up. Hermione beamed at him.

“Really? Well, I don’t think anything can surprise me anymore.” Mr. Granger sounded unruffled. “Well, come on then, children, or we'll miss the train.” He started off, albeit a bit uncertainly, toward the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10.

Hermione and Harry followed, side-by-side. “I'm Hermione Granger,” the girl introduced herself, “I'm going to be a First year student at Hogwarts.”

“Me, too,” Harry said, feeling unusually happy. He hadn't even gotten on the train yet, and he was well on his way to making the first friend of his life. “I'm Harry Potter,” he added quickly, just to get it over with. No telling how this girl would react. He remembered Dedalus Diggle from the Leaky Cauldron.

To her credit, the girl's eyes only widened ever so slightly. “Are you really? I've read about you, in some of the history books I picked up at Diagon Alley. Do you know what House you'll be in, Harry? I brought a book about the Houses to read on the train. It's very pretty. You can read it with me, if you want to.” She looked uncertain. “That way we'll perhaps have a bit of an idea of what we're getting ourselves into when we get Sorted.”

Harry grinned at her. “I'd love to,” he said truthfully.He knew next to nothing about any of the Houses, and, furthermore, he liked books. Of course, that could have something to do with the fact that he’d hardly ever gotten to read any before. Dudley didn’t read, so there were almost none in the house, and the Dursleys refused to sign up for a library card.

They were at the barrier. “The letter said to walk briskly through it,” Mr. Granger said doubtfully. Hermione looked a bit scared. “I won't be able to get through,” he said, frowning again. He blinked hard again, and glanced at his daughter, who seemed on the verge of tears. She walked away from her cart, and hugged her father forcefully, reaching up on tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck.

“I'll miss you, Daddy. I promise I'll write all the time, and Mum'll just have to get used to the owls, because I still love you two, and I want you to tell Beth I'll be home for break soon, so I can see her for the first time, and-”

“Oh, Hermione.” Mr. Granger gently stroked Hermione’s hair. “Just know that your family loves you very much, no matter what.” He looked over her shoulder to glance at his watch. “Honey, you've got two minutes before the train departs.” He pulled back to look her in the eye, then wrapped his arms around her tightly again. They both seemed to have forgotten about Harry, who stood there awkwardly guarding the two carts.

Hermione pulled away. She reached for her cart again. “I love you, Daddy,” she said simply, and hurried toward the barrier. Harry, not knowing what else to do, followed without a backwards glance at Mr. Granger.

Hermione’s father didn't go any farther. “I love you, too, Hermione. Have a great term!” he shouted over the teeming crowd.

Then they were through the wall, and before them was a scarlet wonderland of people and smoke and the Hogwarts Express.

/p>

---

Harry and Hermione, after having their trunks stowed away by a nice porter, stepped onto the train while a disembodied voice called out: “Last boarding call for Hogwarts! All aboard!”

Harry turned to Hermione as they climbed the narrow stairs to board the Hogwarts Express. “Would you like to try to find a seat together?”

She smiled at him. “I'd love to.”

The engine roared to life. Harry and Hermione passed the group of redheads that Harry had seen earlier on their way through the train. They passed full car after full car of bubbly boys and girls leaning against each other comfortably, hugging, and generally having a good time. Finally, they found an empty compartment near the front. Hermione grinned at Harry as they sat down.

“That was quite an ordeal getting here, wasn't it? I'm Muggle-born, so my parents wouldn't have known how to get me on the train if it hadn't been for the extra part of the acceptance letter they send to Muggleborns. It's a good thing my parents aren't particularity impulsive,” she added nervously, “or else they would have burned the letter when it came, killed the owl that brought it, and forgotten about the entire affair.”

Harry only nodded in what he hoped was an understanding way, and Hermione went on as if she was quite content to do enough talking for the both of them.

“I was ever so excited to hear I'd been accepted to Hogwarts. I mean, I've made odd things happen for years, but I just added it up to my clumsiness. But then, when I got the letter, suddenly it all made sense. I've already tried a few spells, and they all seemed to work properly, so I'm hoping for a good school year.”

She blushed suddenly. “I'm rambling, I know. I'm sorry, Harry.”

Harry look surprised. “It's perfectly alright, Hermione. I don't talk a lot, but I do like listening to you, honestly.”

“Oh, okay,” Hermione said, pleased. “Anyway, what about you, Harry? You grew up with Muggles, too, didn't you?”

“Yeah,” said Harry. “My mum's sister and brother-in-law. They're terrible.”

“Oh, Harry, “ Hermione said sympathetically. “Really?”

“Yes,” he said, and nothing else. Hermione took the hint, and reached into the bag she had been carrying with her, rummaging for something.

Harry looked out the window, resting his chin on the sill, watching the scenery scroll past. They were still in fairly populous areas, and he glimpsed little farmhouses and even a town or two every now and then. The foliage was bleak, and the sun dull, as the landscape prepared itself for winter. He saw a little boy and his mother, who must have been a witch, because she had a wand tucked into her apron strings, pointing at the train and smiling.

“Harry?”

Harry turned to her, and his eyes widened. In her lap was an enormous book that spread all the way across her legs and even hung off a bit onto the seat. It was extremely colorful, and the pictures were moving, just like they had been in Hagrid's newspaper. It was entitled, in flashing letters, More Than Any Sane Person Could Ever Want To Know About Hogwarts And Its Founders. What was more, the entire thing seemed to glimmer happily. Harry loved the book on first sight. “Want to read it with me?” Hermione asked,

“Wicked.” He scooted next to her.

She opened the book to an enormous color representation of what was apparently the Hogwarts crest. It was divided into quarters, and was made of what appeared to be a badger, an eagle, a lion, and a snake. Underneath the crest, elegant lettering read, 'Tap your wand on the animal for the House you would like to read about.' By the time Harry had finished reading that, Hermione had her wand out. “What do you think, Harry?” she asked. “Which animal?”

“I dunno. You first.”

She shrugged, closed her eyes, and placed the tip of her wand on the upper right corner: on the eagle. The book shuddered, and the pages stood on end and flipped themselves rapidly to a point near the end of the book. The pages settled back down, and the title at the top of the chapter glittered, “Rowena Ravenclaw.”

They looked in wonderment at the book for a moment, then, “Rowena Ravenclaw,” Hermione read eagerly aloud, “was the Head of Ravenclaw House. She was noted for her intelligence and curiosity, which tended to get her into trouble on her various innovative escapades. She had a sharp sense of humor and disliked Helga Hufflepuff, the founder of Hogwarts’ Hufflepuff House. She also admired several of Salazar Slytherin's traits, including his cunning and ambition. However, she was a firm advocator of playing by the rules, and, instead of cheating at various activities, would use her intellect to find ways around them.

“In terms of contributions to the world as a whole, Ravenclaw introduced the philosophical creed The Revolution of Cognizance. She believed ignorance was what killed everything and everybody in the end. She believed, as was popular at the time, in gods, and even went so far as to proclaim that lack of knowledge that was potentially attainable was an insult to the gods, who would send down Strife, their lackey.

“Modern Wizarding philosophies disdain the existence of higher deities, and therefore Ravenclaw’s Creed is largely forgotten.

“Religions like Christianity took hold even in Ravenclaw's era, and records say she became irritable. Rumors say she set a curse on Hogwarts, so that at specified intervals over the ages, hideous monsters would kill the ignorant that walked the halls of the school. The monsters would reign until they killed all those Ravenclaw's spirit deemed unworthy. Little is known about this curse, and the last rumored outbreak of it was over 1200 years ago, in 750 anno domini. This is also the first example in recorded history a rabid sphinx killed anyone. The curse was given the ironic title “Ignorance's Bliss.” For more information, consult section 311482 in the Hogwarts Library.

“Ravenclaw was something like Slytherin in the belief that only the elite should be allowed to study magic at the school; in this case, it was only those with above average intelligence-”

A cheery woman pushing a cart laden with all sorts of delicious looking materials strolled in, and Hermione shut the book with a snap. Harry could see a vat of something bubbly that smelled like expensive perfume, and some mouth-wateringly beautiful vanilla kumquats?There was a platter of chocolate frogs that wiggled around as the woman pushed the car through the compartment. “Something off the cart, dearies?”

“Yes, please.” They made their decisions, Hermione a little more conservatively. She had at least a bit of food that wasn't sweets, including rye bread and ham, and some plain kumquats, but candy was all that Harry picked. “I’ll have a bit of everything sweet,” he had said.

The woman had walked out the door chuckling, saying something about how nice it would be to have the metabolism of a child again.

Hermione stole a chocolate frog from Harry's plate. “Would you like to look at the book again while we eat?” she asked.

“Yeah,” said Harry eagerly, as Hermione reopened the book. “I want to hear more about that curse Ravenclaw set. I don't know anything about magic, so it would be so awesome to learn how to do magic like that.” He looked ashamed. “I mean, to be able to do something like that. Not set a murdersome curse that lasts for millennia.”

Hermione giggled. “No, I understand, Harry. I'll reread that part, shall I?” Hermione tapped her wand on Ravenclaw, and the book's pages shuddered and flipped open again. Hermione continued. “-whom she would allow inside the Ravenclaw common room. There are numerous enchantments inside the common room, most that-”

Harry interrupted. “Hermione, that's where we left off. Not the part about the curse.”

She blinked. “That's where the page started.” She flipped through the pages frantically, mumbling to herself, finally admitting defeat. “I can't find the beginning again, Harry. It isn't here.”

“Well, maybe it went to the back?” he suggested. In truth, he didn't even know if books could do that. Hell, before today, he didn't even know they could be interactive.

She turned to the back, at least as far as the book would let her. On the last page, the book’s backside seemed to fade off into nonexistence. Harry supposed that was a sort of division between the information about different Houses. Even though it was perfectly practical, it was still unnerving watching your friends hand hover over a black abyss in the middle of a book. “Nothing. It ends with talking about Inter-House Wars of 1551... wait, look, it cuts off in the middle of a sentence here, too.”

Harry looked intrigued. “What could that possibly mean?”

“I don't know, Harry. It's hardly logical...” She broke off, looking upset. Harry got the impression that Hermione seriously disliked not understanding things. She closed the book carefully, and then placed it back in her bag, seeming almost uneasy about touching it now that it was plagued with irregularity. Harry waited for her to say something more, but she just stared straight ahead worriedly and refused to glance in the direction of her bag.

Harry rummaged in his bags for his wand. “Hermione, you said you'd tried a few spells already?”

She nodded, looking a bit more sure of herself.

“Perhaps you'd like to teach me? I haven't learned any.”

She reached for her wand happily. She seemed to be back to the Hermione Harry was used to again.“Alright, Harry, the first thing to do is learn the spell Lumos. It will bring a small tip of light to the end of your wand and last for a couple of hours. Next, hold out your hand like this. No, with the fingers pointing down. Now, bring to mind...”

---

“Firs' years! Firs' years this way!”

Harry nudged Hermione as they trudged up the mountainous hill to where the giant gamekeeper Hagrid stood. It was dusk, and the dim light made the lake near the hill they were climbing look dark and ominous. He pointed out Hagrid to Hermione.

“He's very tall, isn't he?” Hermione peered thoughtfully at Hagrid.

“Yeah,” Harry said, stumbling a little as he ascended the steep hill. “He's really nice. He gave Dudley, my monster of a cousin, a pig's tail on his arse.”

“Really? I don't think even full-grown wizards are supposed to do things like that, though.”

“This was a special case,” Harry assured her. They reached the summit, and Harry looked around for Hagrid, and then felt a hand the weight of a small boulder clap down on his shoulder. He looked up to see a shadow that must be Hagrid smiling down at him.

“Get here safely, then, didja, 'Arry?” Harry nodded, realized Hagrid couldn't see him in the dark, and said, “Yes, Hagrid.”

“An' who's this pretty lil' friend o' yours, eh?” Hagrid raised a friendly eyebrow at him.

Harry blushed. “This is Hermione.”

“Pleased to meet yeh, 'Ermione.”

“An honor, I'm sure,” Hermione said charmingly.

“Well, grab a boat, then, kids. Firs' years take the scenic route to 'Ogwarts.” He pointed in the general direction of a cluster of boats on the shore.

For the first time, Harry realized how many children there were just in his year. There had to be at least fifty, from what he could tell of the fidgety shadows that swarmed like ants in the direction of the lake, and that many more times however many years there were... His primary school had been small, and he had never been around this many kids at once before.

Hagrid called out from on top of the hill, “Four to a boat! We'll set off once everyone's 'ere.” Harry and Hermione sat down in a boat with only two other people in it. One was a brunette girl, petite, and with lovely light eyes that reflected the lights from the tips of dozen's of upperclassmen’s wands. That group of people, much larger than the menagerie gathered near the water, was boarding horseless carriages that set off once they were full. Harry glanced at the lake again, and goose pimples rose on his arms. The other was a boy in the boat had pale hair, and was staring over at another boat, already full, containing three laughing boys and a girl.

“Hello,” Harry said cautiously as they sat down.

“Hi,” greeted the girl. The boy said nothing. “What's your name?”

Harry braced himself for her reaction. “I'm Harry Potter.” He breathed a silent sigh of relief when she only smiled politely at him.

“Padma Patil,” she said, shaking his hand.She turned to Hermione. “I'm -”

The boy jumped, and looked at him with wide eyes. “Harry Potter? Father said...nevermind.” He paused, still looking surpised. “Harry Potter, I'm Draco Malfoy.” He held out his hand.

Harry took it without hesitation. There was something familiar about this boy... “Pleasure to meet you, Draco. This is Hermione; Padma and Draco.” Hermione shook hands with both of them, though Draco had a peculiar look on his face as he and Hermione shook.

“We're off!” Hagrid called from his place by himself in a boat. He took up the entire craft by himself.

Padma, Harry, and Hermione chatted as they rode. “I'm a Pureblood,” Padma said, “daughter of an American witch and an Indian father. I have a twin, Parvati; she's in another boat. You, Hermione?”

“Both my parents are Muggles-” Draco shifted uncomfortably here, and Harry looked at him, perplexed. Hermione went on, “and I just learned about Hogwarts this summer. It's such an honor to be here, and I-”

“Hang on,” said Harry to Draco, squinting at the boy in the failing light. “I met you in the robe shop in Diagon Alley, didn't I?”

The boy's perfectly groomed eyebrows knitted together. “That was you? I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you.” Harry wondered if Draco meant then or now. Draco had been perfectly contemptible when Harry first met him, bragging about Hogwarts and his parentage. “And I'm sorry if I was offensive; I was just a little tense about preparing for my first year at Hogwarts,” Draco finished smoothly.

“Quite alright.” Harry said. He wasn't ready to confront someone whom he had just met, especially not since he had apologized and was being perfectly agreeable.

They steered the boats into the lights from the castle, which, now that they had turned a rocky bend on the shore, was visible. There was a sharp intake of breath as everyone stared at the towered wonderland. There was a moat, and an enormous forest, and an odd clearing with three tall hoops on long poles on each end of the field, and what appeared to be floating risers on all sides. The castle itself was best of all, though. It was at once both forbidding and welcoming, and Harry got the odd feeling of one coming home after a long time away. The towers were well over fifty stories tall, which Harry supposed was useful for studying subjects like Astronomy. His heart gave an excited leap.

“Anyway,“ Hermione said to Padma once they were done admiring Hogwarts, glancing sharply at Harry and Draco. They both gave her innocent smiles, Draco's perhaps a bit more malicious. “I'm particularily interested in Potions, though I've heard it's extremely difficult. My father told me it would likely be similar to...”

As Hermione continued talking, Draco turned to Harry. He said quietly, “So, what are you interested in learning at Hogwarts, Harry Potter?”

Harry remembered Ravenclaw's “Ignorance’s Bliss.” “Curses,” he said without thinking.

Draco's eyebrows rose. “Really? Me, too. Just in theory, of course. They're fascinating though, don't you think?”

Harry nodded. “Sometimes, though, I think people deserve them. So not always just in theory, I don’t think.” He told Draco about Hagrid giving a tail to his cousin.

Draco laughed. “Served the stupid bloke right, then, if you aren't exaggerating how horrible this Dudley is.” Harry swore he wasn't. “I didn't even know the gamekeeper had it in him. Shows what I know.”

“We're here! Ev'rybody out!” Hagrid yelled out as his boat rammed into the shore.

They climbed gingerly out of the crafts and onto the squishy ground in front of Hogwarts, and Draco took off. “Talk to you later, Harry,” Draco said. He hurried off to Harry's right to converse with the group of four Harry had seen earlier.

Harry walked a ways alone before Padma called out, “Come walk with us, Harry. We're nice, we promise.” She was still laughing with Hermione when Harry caught up to the pair. They walked in companionable silence for a moment. “So, Harry, what House do you want to be in?” Padma finally asked.

Harry shrugged. “I know next to nothing about any of them, so I guess just wherever I get put, right? I bet you already have an idea, though, don't you, Padma?” He grinned at her. She was almost as self-assured as Hermione.

“Yes, actually. My sister and I have already decided we want Gryffindor.”

“So siblings always get the same House?” Harry inquired, surprised.

Parvati shook her head, and her braids slapped her cheeks. “No, but we’re almost exactly alike. I'm sure we'll be together. Hermione?”

“Well, Harry and I sat together on the train, and we were looking at a book I bought about the Houses. We only read about Ravenclaw, but I have to say I agree with most of what I heard about their philosophy.” Harry reminded himself that she was only eleven; how she came to sound like an Oxford professor when she was lecturing about something was mystifying to him.

The mass they were moving in had come to a dead stop around two huge doors. Hagrid reached the front, and knocked so loudly that several of the students jumped. Quickly, the door opened, and a small witch with enough presence to command an army said sharply, “Thank you, Hagrid.” Hagrid nodded acquiescence and headed off toward the boats.

The woman opened the door wider, and ushered them all inside.

“I am Professor McGonnagal,” she began in a clear, crisp voice. “I am the Deputy Headmistress of this school, Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In a few moments, you will be Sorted into one of four Houses; each and every House which have produced great witches and wizards. There are no ‘bad’ Houses-” someone in the back chortled. She sniffed, and continued,“no outcast Houses, and no 'best' House. Please follow me in single file.”

The group of now very nervous First Years scampered through the large door McGonnagal led them to. Harry was between Hermione and Padma. Padma accidentally stepped on the hem of his robes in her excitement. When she apologized, her voice squeaked.

The Great Hall was beautiful. Candles hovered above the tables, and the general air was one of excitement, and content. There were four tables parallel to each other, and one perpendicular, at the far end of the Hall. Harry was sure the wispy fellow at one of the long tables had to be a ghost, but before he could point this out to Hermione, she whispered, “Look up, Harry!”

Above him was an exact replica of the night sky, with the constellations in their proper places and everything. “It's enchanted, she said.

“Really? It's beautiful.”

McGonnagal cleared her throat. Abruptly, Harry realized the entire group was inside, the door they had come through was closed, and the entire Hall was staring expectantly at them. Or rather, Harry thought, at the dilapidated hat on a stool in the center of the room. As Harry watched, the hat opened its mouth and began to sing. It was a rather catchy ditty, he thought, and he liked the phrase, “Those of wit and learning will always find their kind,” though he couldn't remember which House it belonged to.

When the song was over, McGonnogal produced a scroll and cleared her throat. There was not a sound in the Great Hall.

“Abbot, Hannah!” Harry watched in fascination as a blonde girl stumbled forward, sat down on the stool, and placed the hat on her head. Perhaps thirty seconds later, the Hat called out “HUFFLEPUFF!” The Hufflepuff table cheered, Hannah looked relieved, and she sat down with her Housemates. And it went on like that until-

“Granger, Hermione!” Harry heard Hermione's breath catch, and he turned to her. She was pale, but looked resolute.

“You'll be great, Hermione,” he said, and he meant it. She nodded, and stepped toward the Hat.

It took less than a minute for the Hat to call out, “RAVENCLAW!” Hermione grinned ecstatically at Harry and Padma, and took her place at the Ravenclaw table.

Soon it was, “Malfoy, Draco!” It didn't take long for the Hat to pronounce him, “SLYTHERIN!” Draco waved at Harry from his House’s table, and Harry waved back. Then the boy leaned back in his chair and proceeded to look totally at ease in his new environment.

“Patil, Padma!” Padma shuddered, and Harry pushed her out of the line gently.

“You'll be fine.” But as he was saying that, he felt a renewed tremor of fear. There had to be only a few more people to go before him, he was sure.

Padma sat on the stool for a long time. She seemed to be arguing internally about something. “RAVENCLAW!” the Hat finally shouted. Padma looked dumbfounded as she walked to sit next to Hermione.

The next Patil was put into Gryffindor, and she looked just as upset as her twin.

Then, “Potter, Harry!” Gasps echoes around the Hall. He heard a girl ask her friend if he was THE Harry Potter. Harry stepped grimly forward. The Hall, which had been filled with slight murmurings toward the end of the Sorting, went dead silent.

He placed the Hat on his head. Harry Potter, eh? Harry jumped. The voice was in his head.

Harry Potter. It wasn’t a question. Let's take a look in your head. Hmmm....oh, a nice thirst to prove yourself. And a bright mind, and curiosity, oh my, yes. You will bring a much-needed sense of humor to whichever House you'll be placed in, I'm sure. A pause. Well, you won't be going the same path as your parents, but you are what you are, eh? Interesting... you will be placed in RAVENCLAW!

He said last part loud enough for the whole Hall to hear. There was a surprised delay, and then people were clapping, and the Ravenclaw table was standing up and cheering. Harry took the Hat off, and went to sit down on the other side of Hermione, who was clapping hardest of all. “You were brilliant, Harry, you really were,” she whispered. Parvati smiled tremulously at him.

As the red-haired boy was sorted into “GRYFFINDOR,” a boy named Terry Boot introduced himself to Harry. “Pleasure to meet you, really is,” he said. He had straight black hair almost as dark as Harry’s, and was tall and slender. “I've read all about you. Are you excited to be here?”

Just then, Dumbledore stood while McGonnagal took away the stool and Hat.

“I have only one thing to say before we partake in this surely scrumptious feast: Welcome home.”

There was a whoop from two red-hair twins at the Grffindor table. Plates of delicious treats appeared in front of Harry, and he turned to face Terry again.

“Yes,” he said, piling his plate with mashed potatoes and gravy. “I am.”