The Serpentine Way

The Serpentine Ways

Chapter 03: The Hogwarts Express and Hogwarts

Finally the day dawned. The sky was a pale blue, and looked cheerful, its mood suiting Tom completely. Philip was humming some random tune. Tom couldn't stop grinning. Nothing, absolutely nothing was going to go wrong that day. They were the first ones that came down to breakfast. They ate what was going to be their last breakfast at the orphanage of Little Hangleton. Tom spent the morning by visiting all the places in the orphanage and the village that he loved, saying good-bye to the garden, the cats, dogs and especially- the snakes. Tom had a curious liking for snakes. Even they seemed to like, and understand him. Of course he kept this ability of talking to snakes to himself; he didn't think any of the others would exactly like it! Finally, Dickle called them, and after putting their trunks in the car, they set off for Kings Cross Station. The journey was uneventful, each boy, lost in his own dreams about Hogwarts, magic and the wizarding community. Eventually, at about half past ten they arrived at the station, which was already crowded with peoples going to their jobs.

"C'mon boys, help me get these trunks out of the car, we have to get on the platform, and the train in time," Dickle panted, getting out one trunk and setting it on the road.

"Sir, it says the Hogwarts Express will arrive at eleven o'clock at platform nine and three quarters!" said Brett wildly looking around at the platforms nine and ten. "How do we get there?"

"Aah, I thought you would ask that! Well, you see that barrier dividing the Platforms Nine and Ten?" Dickle asked them, smiling. They nodded. "You have to go through that barrier to get on to the platform. But remember, no muggle should notice it, so better do it when there is a crowd and you cannot be noticed. Go on now, before me, I'll come last of all. Best do it at a run if you're nervous. Tom you go first," he explained to them, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world to do. Tom looked at the wall, and without thinking just did as Dickle had said, thinking that if got injured by hitting the wall, then Dickle would have to foot the hospital's bill. But as his trolley touched the wall, it slid through with ease, as though there was no wall at all, and so did Tom himself. After going through a dark tunnel-like passage, he came unto a different world altogether, the wizarding world, the world where he belonged. He looked and saw a sign saying, 'PLATFORM NINE AND THREE QUARTERS', in bold letters. There was a scarlet steam engine, The Hogwarts Express. The platform was crowded with people, there were cats meowing, owls making noises, and of course the huge number of people talking. Many parents were saying good-bye to their kids. Tom suddenly felt sad; he had never known his own parents. But he forgot his sadness as Philip suddenly hurtled through the barrier on to the platform. A minute later, Dickle and Brett came through, Dickle looking angry and Brett looking scared.

"He wouldn't listen to Dickle. Wouldn't go through the barrier. Dickle gave him a yell-fest, I guess," said Philip, smirking. They put their trunks in an empty compartment and were discussing what they should do next, when Dickle called them back.

"Now, boys, I don't want any complaints about you from Hogwarts, okay? Behave yourself!" he said sternly, "Now go, or else you'll be late, GO!" he said pushing them back in the train. Suddenly, a whistle sounded somewhere and the train began to move. They went inside their compartment and started talking about how their classes would be, random things, broomsticks and of course- magic. They wondered which houses they would be in. Dickle had given them a little explanation about the four school houses, and Quidditch. So they knew a little about them.

"Definitely Gryffindor," said Brett. "It's the best house at Hogwarts."

"Ravenclaw, even though I want to go in Gryffindor too, I just think that I'm not brave enough," sighed Philip. They both looked at Tom, who shrugged.

"I just want to be in the house where you two are!" he said casually. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and two boys entered. They looked about their age, one had bright red hair, brown eyes, a muscular and athletic body, and he was tall. The other boy had the messiest black hair Tom had ever seen, hazel eyes, round, black glasses. He was almost the same in height and body as the red haired boy. Both of them had mischievous looks on their faces, and grinned at them.

"Can we join you? All the other compartments are full," said the red haired boy. They nodded.

"Oh, and I forgot to introduce myself, I'm Paul Weasley, and my idiotic friend over here is William Potter," he said grinning at his friend, who punched him.

"Don't believe him, he's the idiot over here, who should have been saving me a seat as he came early," William said rolling his eyes at the three. They introduced themselves and became friendly with the 'Duo' as they called them. Will and Paul soon had them laughing over their jokes. Meanwhile, the train sped by and the neat fields had turned into wild and untidy fields. Will and Paul both came from pure-blood families, and brought-up in the wizarding world, they knew a lot of things Brett, Philip and Tom didn't. Both of them were first-years and proudly said that they were going to get in Gryffindor and leave Hogwarts if they didn't.

"Don't worry, we'll get in Gryffindor as sure as anything," assured Will, as they looked shocked. As it became afternoon, there came another knock on the door and a witch pushing a food trolley came in. Tom, Will and Paul brought almost everything off the trolley, and shared it with the other two. Tom had never had so much money in his whole life, and he easily shared it with his friends. Tom especially liked the Chocolate Frogs and was having a ball, reading about the various world famous witches and wizards who smiled at him from their respective photographs. Will and Paul were shocked to find out that the people in the muggle photos didn't move at all!

Then as the sky became darker and the time passed on, the talk turned to Quidditch. Dickle had not explained about it in detail and the three muggle-borns were very interested to know about it. Soon Will and Paul were describing some of the best matches they had watched with their families (both were rich), and the many brooms. They bragged about their Quidditch skills too. Evidently, at least this was common between the muggle and the wizarding world- boys raving about sports!

"Dad promised to buy me a Nimbus 100, if I manage to get on the house Quidditch team," Will said excitedly. "Of course I want to be a Seeker, can't do anything else better!"

"I want to be a Chaser, always been one," Paul said. In the middle, Will suddenly started about a wizard named Grindelwald, who was a dark wizard, called the Dark Lord by some, and had just been defeated by Albus Dumbledore, Dickle's cousin and the deputy headmaster of Hogwarts. Will and Paul both exchanged dark looks before chorusing,

"He was a Slytherin, dirty house that one, wouldn't go in there if my life depended on it."

After a while they changed into their robes, and readied themselves as the train came to a halt.

"LEAVE YOUR LUGGAGE ON THE TRAIN; IT WILL BE CARRIED TO THE SCHOOL SEPERATELY. AND NO PUSHING!" yelled a voice making them all jump. Leaving their trunks behind, they joined the crowd outside and got down on a dark and dreary platform.

"FIRST YEARS! FIRST YEARS COME ON HERE! I REPEAT FIRST YEARS, OVER HERE!!" yelled a man gesturing wildly to them. They hurried towards him, as did many other first years.

"Follow me now, come on," said the man, this time in a quieter tone. He was shabbily dressed, had dark hair and black eyes, and claimed to be 'The Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts'. They followed him and quite suddenly got their first view of Hogwarts. There were many oohs and aahs from the first year girls.

"Never thought it would be so huge," muttered Paul shaking his head. Tom couldn't take his eyes off the castle; it looked so wonderful, with its many towers and turrets. It was then that Tom realized that they had come right towards the edge of a lake, which was still as a mirror. There were a fleet of boats anchored, and the groundkeeper, Nogg, ordered them to sit in groups of four or five in the boats.

They got a boat to themselves and watched as Nogg tapped his wand on his boat and roared, "FORWARD!" The boats moved smoothly over the glassy surface of the lake. They finally got to the other side of the lake. Then Nogg rapped on a giant wooden door, three times. It was opened by a wizard with graying hair and beard, both of which were quite long.

"The first years, Professor Dumbledore," Nogg said nodding at him and gesturing carelessly with his hands at them. Tom looked at the wizard of whom he had heard so much about. Professor Dumbledore led them through, to a small chamber. Voices could be heard from the hall next to it. They waited with anxiety as Dumbledore turned towards them and were only a bit relieved when he smiled at them.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, my dear students! You will now be sorted into four different houses according to the qualities and abilities that you possess. They are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. Each have separate histories and greatnesses. I request you to wait a moment till I come back and suggest that you straighten yourself a bit," he said, his eyes twinkling behind his half-moon glasses. Then he went out towards the hall on the left.

"Great wizard, he is," said Paul looking respectfully after him.

"Of course, defeated Grindelwald, didn't he?" Will asked. They had hardly waited for long, when Dumbledore came back and cheerfully asked them to stand in a line and follow him. Tom was feeling nervous, but not so much as Brett who looked green as a toad. They followed Dumbledore to a hall and Tom gasped at it. It was bigger than any of the halls he had ever seen. It looked as though there was no ceiling and it opened to the sky; Tom could see the clouds gathering in the grey sky. Suddenly a voice began singing, and Tom searching for the owner of the voice was astonished to find that it was a hat singing. It was a very dirty hat and certainly old. Yet it was extra-ordinary and from the way people were looking at it, well respected. It sung a song about the four houses, about their qualities- Gryffindor, which accepted only the brave-hearted, Ravenclaw in which were the clever, Hufflepuff in which were the loyal and hard-working, and Slytherin which housed the cunning, shrewd people. All of them clapped as it finished its song, and it bowed to each of the four houses, and finally to the teachers' table.

"When I call your name, you should sit on the stool and put the hat on your head, and let it sort you," Dumbledore explained to the first years. Then he started reading from a scroll of parchment.

"Atkins, Ackerley," said Dumbledore, and a little golden haired boy sat on the stool and put the hat over his head.

"Ravenclaw," yelled the hat and the table on the left started applauding.

"Marie, Hope"

"Hufflepuff"

"Adams, Mandy"

"Gryffindor," said the hat promptly.

It continued in this vein, until, "Lee, Brett." Brett stumbled out of line and put on the hat.

Like with his wand, the hat took some time to sort him and,

"Gryffindor". Brett looked pleased and almost ran to the Gryffindor house table.

"Well, at least he got the house of his choice," Philip whispered to Tom. Kurt Malfoy became the first Slytherin. The hat didn't take a very long time to sort him, and he walked amidst cheers, as though he owned the place. Tom rolled his eyes, what a show-off, he thought. He was starting to see why Will and Paul hated Slytherin.

"Mannering, Philip." Philip walked calmly and put the hat on his head. Like with Malfoy, the result was instant,

"Gryffindor," shouted the hat, and Philip walked to the Gryffindor table grinning like a Cheshire cat. Tom gave him a thumbs-up. A few more names were read out, the results differing in each case, until

"Potter, William." Will walked with as much swagger as Malfoy.

"Gryffindor," shouted the hat. It was the fastest ever sorting they had ever seen. It was even faster than Philip's or Malfoy's. Tom watched as Rebecca Rory became a Ravenclaw, when the hat called out,

"Riddle, Tom." Tom walked towards the hat in a sort of daze. This was it, the acid test; he hoped he would be sorted into his friends' house. He sat on the stool and put the hat onto his head.

"Hmmmmm..........interesting now. A Serpdow eh? Haven't seen one in ages," said a voice in his head. Tom jumped, but assumed it must be the hat talking to him.

"I am a Riddle," Tom thought fiercely.

"Yes, yes, you may call yourself a Riddle now, but not for long, I foresee my friend! Now let me look into your head, determination, aah cleverness, resourcefulness, desire to break the rules, and ooooh........." the hat trailed off.

"What's there to ooooh about?" Tom asked the hat irritated. He really wanted the hat to sort him fast. He wanted to join Philip and the others.

"Don't worry, I'll sort you, my friend, let me see further into this head of yours, quite interesting it is, aah yes my friend, you are quite shrewd, you have the power, but which road will you take? I wonder........but I know my duty, yes my friend, you are to go in SLYTHERIN!" Tom had never been more shocked in his entire life, him a Slytherin? The house which everyone hated? He pulled off the hat from his head, and went towards the Slytherin table, slowly, shuffling his feet. Philip, Brett and Will were gazing open-mouthed at him. He looked away from them and miserably found himself a seat. He did not watch the rest of the sorting, did not see Paul being sorted into Gryffindor..................

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