A Tale of Two Wizards

Chapter Three: At Hogwarts

The students flooded out of the train almost at the moment it stopped. With so many older, taller children around, it would have taken a miracle for the smaller first years to find where they were supposed to go were it not for the enormous man calling "Firs' years over here! Firs' years!" A group of wary children gathered around the man calling for first years, who, at a closer look, was far more than enormous. His height was inhuman, to be sure, but he was also alarmingly wide and hairy. Out of habit, Sam made note that if need be, he should turn and run; he had no chance of getting around the giant.

"This alla yeh? Good. I'm Hagrid, keeper of the keys an' grounds, since I suppose yeh don't know. All righ', we need ta walk a little ways, watch yer step, now. Jus' follow me."

The sun was hanging very low in the sky by now, and trees obscured what little light may have been left. Stumbling over roots and each other, the first years followed Hagrid. Occasionally, the groundskeeper would call out "Keep comin', we're nearly there!" or "Watch ou' for that hole there, yeh could twist yer ankle in it!", but for the most part, the children were on their own. After about fifteen minutes of confusion, the road (if it could be called that) took a bend and the group took one great gasp. Sam hadn't known what to expect from a wizarding school, but the castle of Hogwarts wasn't it. With turrets and arches and bridges and towers, not to mention its location atop a cliff, it was as much a story book castle as any had ever been.

"I am beginning to think, Sam, that perhaps seeing is not believing," Chad murmured softly nearby. Sam had to agree with him. Luckily, the keeper of the keys didn't leave much time to wonder.

"All righ', no more than four to a boat. We'll jus' go across the lake, an' then you'll be at Hogwarts."

Still dazed, the boys clambered into a boat were soon joined by two others, whom Sam couldn't see in the darkness. Most everyone was still awestruck, so the trip was taken in silence. Only the gentle lapping of the lake against the sides of the boats and the occasional creak of wood disrupted the palpable stillness.

"Heads down!" called Hagrid as the first boats approached a curtain of ivy that obscured an opening in the cliff face. One by one, the boats floated through the tunnel beyond the ivy and came to land in a cavern that must have been under the castle. Hagrid took an enormous lamp (which had been hanging on the stern of his boat) and led the way upon a flight of smooth stone steps. It was completely dark by the time the first years made it up to the grassy lawn and started to ascend the stairs to the great oaken door of the school. The groundskeeper raised his fist and knocked on the door, causing the entire wooden structure to tremble. A black haired woman in green robs opened the door.

"Here are the firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid, with a nod to the shivering children behind him.

"Thank you Hagrid. I will take them now." The giant moved away and the professor motioned for the students to come into the entry hall.

Sam never could recall his first impression of the interior Hogwarts. Upon entering the warm castle with its rich colours, he fell into a dreamlike state and moved independently of his wandering mind. Chad discretely kicked him a number of times to keep him moving with the rest of the first years, and then had to grab him so he wouldn't enter the dining hall where older forms were already seated. Professor McGonagall gave Sam an odd look, and when she turned her head, Chad gave him a sharp kick in the shin..

"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," said McGonagall. "In a few moments, you will join your classmates for the traditional start-of-term feast, but first you must be sorted into one of four houses. This process is very important, as your housemates will be much like your family here for next seven years. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin all have noble histories and have produced talented witches and wizards. While at Hogwarts, you shall earn points for your house with your successes and misconducts will result in a deduction of house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points shall win the House Cup, a much coveted honour.

"The Sorting ceremony will take place in a few moments. I suggest you better yourselves as much as humanly possible in the next few minutes. I shall return for you after I speak with the headmaster." With that, McGonagall entered the room and went to talk to an old man with long white hair.

"Are we going to take a test?" Sam whispered apprehensively to no one in particular.

"I should have asked that Ravenclaw what the heck we're supposed to do," Chad lamented, causing the rest of his classmates to discuss the scenarios they had heard.

"My uncle told me that everyone puts their names into some kinda cup, and it spits your house out into the air," said one girl knowingly.

"You're uncle is a nutter, Marietta," said a wiry haired boy, "My cousin said that you have to survive forty seconds with a dragon, and that's how they keep the number of students in the school down. If you go right at the dragon, you're a Gryffindor, if you outsmart the dragon, you're a Ravenclaw, if you just run around and avoid the dragon, you're a Slytherin, and if you make it out on dumb luck, you're a Hufflepuff. "

"That's crap if I've ever heard it, there are other wizarding schools. I should know, my mum went to Durmstrang," came the natural rebuttal. Someone was about to reply, but then about twenty white figures floated through the air into the dining hall, melting into the castle walls without a thought. One girl let out a strangled scream, but most of the children watched in silent awe at this newest wonder. "Oh, they're just ghosts," said the Durmstrang-parented student knowledgably.

"Come along," said McGonagall upon her return. "Line up, don't worry about order. Your name will be called as it comes." The first years marched into the hall and stood along the stone wall, away from four long tables. McGonagall once again abandoned the students, so Chad nudged Sam and told him to look up. Sam gasped softly, as did most of his peers, when he saw the ceiling. Or, more correctly, the apparent absence of a ceiling. Candles floated mid-air against the dark, starless sky. A dark grey cloud obscured most of the sliver moon, a perfect imitation of the night outside.

The hall regained Sam's attention only when he heard the older students fall silent. Turning his gaze towards McGonagall, Sam saw the filthiest, most forlorn-looking hat he ever could have imagined. It sat on a stool, seeming to face the tables with students, like it was watching them. Then a tear at its brim opened wide, and the hat began to sing:

Oh, I was just a pointed hat

Black and brimmed and tall

I sat on a shelf in old Cassia's Caps

Not a thought in the world, at all

And then, one day, a certain Founder

Noticed his balding, to much dread

And so old Godric purchased me

To hide the egg shape of his head

Slytherin just laughed and sneered

At his poor partner's covered crown

For never did he take me off

In vanity of great renown

Ravenclaw, in her wise ways

Suggested cover spells, instead

Dear Hufflepuff, she shushed them both up

But suggested that he dye me red

So my time on Gryffindor's scalp was rough

But there, his mind I learned

Now I can tell you where to go

And you may be unconcerned

Be you Gryffindor, stout and brave

Or Hufflepuff, loyal, hard working, and just

I shall know and send you there

Just place in me your trust

You might be Slytherin, with plots and plans

Or Ravenclaw, with a keen mind

Never fear, your safe with me

My judgment's quite refined

So go ahead, let's move along

The rest are getting antsy

Come willingly and open minded

or I'll just throw you where I fancy

The hall erupted into applauses, and Sam clapped along even though he was rather bewildered. The hat bowed and stopped . Professor McGonagall stood beside the stool with a length of parchment.

"When I read your name, you will sit of the stool and put the hat on," she said, looking at the first years. "Bell, Katie!"

The girl made her way up to the stool with trepidation. The hat wasted no time in sorting her. "GRYFFINDOR!" it called, for the whole hall to hear. The Gryffindor table applauded and welcomed their new housemate.

"Bletchley, Miles!" called McGonagall.

The Sorting Hat replied with a strong "SLYTHERIN!"

The names continued: "Carmichael, Eddie!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Chang, Cho!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Dunstan, Brian!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Edgecombe, Marietta!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

Then Sam nearly collapsed in the anxiety when he heard the deputy headmistress call out: "Gower, Samuel!"

With legs like lead, Sam shuffled over to the stool. He saw Chad craning to get a look, but then the hat was dropped on his head and over his eyes.

"Hmm...Sam Gower," a soft voice whispered in his ear. "Let us see...you don't seem confident that you belong anywhere. Not a problem, my boy, just the smallest peek into your mind shows that you would make an excellent Hufflepuff."

"Oh, please no," thought Sam, wondering if the hat could hear him. "Chad's right, it sounds like a brand of bathroom tissue."

Evidently, it could. "I'll excuse such a crude reference on account of the fact you are eleven and very loyal to your friend. That's a classic Hufflepuff trait. It really is a fine house..."

"Loyalty takes courage, though," Sam argued desperately. "Put me in Gryffindor. Heck, put me in Slytherin, Chad always tells me I need to learn some cunning. I might benefit. I don't want to go to Hufflepuff."

"Slytherin would eat you alive. I should know. In any case, this conversation has lasted too long; I have many more students to sort." The Hat seemed to sigh a bit, and then it shouted "HUFFLEPUFF!"

With his ears ringing, Sam reluctantly journeyed to the Hufflepuff table. A girl who wore a badge labelled "prefect" greeted him warmly and Sam tried to smile. It was hard, though. He didn't really know why he was so opposed to Hufflepuff, but he was sure he didn't want to be in this house.

"Jackson, Rachel!" called McGonagall. Then "Keeble"...,"Kemp"...,"Laban"...,"Mallon"...,

"McLaggen"...,"Midgen"...,"Minaya."

A slick film of sweat layered Chad's forehead as he went to the stool. Sam felt sorry for whoever wore the Hat after him; it was bound to be wet. The Hat, however, wasted no time in sorting him, calling "Slytherin!" before Chad could have possibly given a thought in protest. Not that he'd want to argue about his house. Sneaky, cunning people were his type, anyway.

The list continued until "Vaisey, Nicholas" was called and sorted into Slytherin. Professor McGonagall rolled up her parchment and took the Sorting Hat away. The headmaster stood up and smiled at the students. The stars on his purple robe seemed to dance in a way apart from movement of the cloth, and his half-moon spectacles, which he seemed to be looking over, rather than through, added to the eccentricity of the old man's appearance. At the same time, though, Sam was sure that no student in the school ever mocked his odd apparel; he carried such an aged dignity.

"It is good to see so many old faces back after the summer holidays, and some new ones, as well. I trust you all had a good summer?" The students replied "yes" in unison. "And I trust that you have all brought your heads back empty for refilling?" the old man said with a twinkle. The student body rumbled a sheepish affirmation, causing the aged wizard to laugh. "Very good, very good. Now, I shan't talk any longer--" the older children cheered, "as I am sure you are very hungry." He waved his hand, and all sorts of food appeared on the tables. "Enjoy!"

Sam wasn't sure what to do with so much food. Ham, turkey, and roast beef served as very appetising centrepieces on the long house tables, which were dotted with all sorts of side dishes and desserts. Golden goblets filled with bright orange liquid sat at each place setting. After a swig, Sam concluded that it must be pumpkin juice; it tasted similar to the pasty on the train. Noticing everyone else diving into their food, Sam added some turkey and a bit of gravy to his empty plate. He had never tasted anything better.

"Try the mash, it's great," a husky blond boy recommended from across the table, scooting the bowl towards Sam. Sam took the suggestion and scooped a healthy mound onto his plate. It was a good suggestion.

"I'm Brian, by the way," the same boy said conversationally. He extended his hand across the table and Sam stared at it for a second before the proper response came to mind.

"I'm Sam," he finally said, and he shook the other boy's hand. Brian smiled, seeming delighted to talk to someone.

"So, did you know you were going to get a letter? I was really surprised, I mean, I knew my cousin went to Hogwarts, she's in Hufflepuff, too, seventh year, but no one in my family had been invited for years.

"Yeah, I was surprised. Both my parents are magic, but I guess it's just...kinda thrilling, either way..."

Brian nodded sagely, buying this story as perfect truth. "Yeah, I've talked to some other kids whose families have been coming here for years, and they all say that they were terrified the letter wouldn't come. What's your favourite Quidditch team? "

"I don't really know very much about it," Sam said, the fact that he was slightly distracted aiding his answer. His attention was the on head table, which sat perpendicular to the four student tables. All of the teachers sat at that table with the headmaster at the centre. Sam could see Professor McGonagall, who sat to the headmaster's right, and to McGonagall's right sat a black haired man who carried an altogether unpleasant look about him. On the other side of the old man sat a plump, almost grandmotherly looking woman who was waving her hands expressively as she talked to a very small man who looked as old as the headmaster. His grey hair stuck up as though it had been shocked.

Brian followed Sam's gaze to the table, and asked, voice dropped a bit, "Do you know anything about any of our professors?" Sam shook his head and grimaced slightly as the black hair man glared at the teacher next to him. Sam hoped that he didn't have him for any classes.

"Well, Shannon, that's my cousin, told me that most of the teachers are pretty nice, but you have to make sure you are respectful to them and don't always say what you think when they're around. Professor Sprout, that's our head of house, is always willing to help if you need it, but Snape, who is the Ravenclaw head of house...or maybe he's Slytherin, I'm not sure, should just be avoided. Apparently he'll twist anything you say so that you either look stupid or disrespectful, and he'll take house points for both."

"Can you tell which one is which?" Sam asked, fervently hoping the black haired man wasn't Professor Snape, and that he could still be avoided.

"The woman to the left of Dumbledore, err...that's his left, I mean, is Professor Sprout. See the woman with grey hair, next to the little tiny man? Yeah, that's her. Obviously, that's McGonagall to Dumbledore's right. All I remember about what my cousin told me about her is that her class is really hard and she's strict, but not mean like Snape is. That must be Snape to the right of her, he certainly looks unpleasant enough. Hmm...I think that's--"

Brian was interrupted by Dumbledore. The remaining food on the table disappeared, though the food on plates did not, as the headmaster stood up. The hall fell silent.

"Now that you have eaten, there are a few items of importance still remaining. First, I would like to welcome Professor Greta Hester to the staff as the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Professor Madge decided over the summer that he was really much better suited for a career in magical spa products, but he wishes you all the best. I would also like the inform the first year, as well issue a reminder to some of the older students," Dumbledore glanced at a pair of red heads at the Gryffindor table, who grinned back at him, "that the forest is off limits to all pupils. Mr. Filch, our caretaker here at Hogwarts, has asked that I remind you all that no magic should be used in the corridors between classes. Madam Hooch has asked that I tell you all that tryouts for house Quidditch teams will be held in two weeks, anyone interested in playing for their house should talk to their head of house.

"Now, before we all go to bed, let us sing our school song!" Sam saw McGonagall stiffen in her chair; Snape buried his face in his hands. Dumbledore took no notice of his staff, though, and waved his wand to emit smoky white words. "Everyone pick their favourite tune, and away we go!"

And so the school sang:

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we forgot

Just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot."

The hall all finished at different times, but as the garbled noise faded, Dumbledore wiped his eye and said, "Ah music, such a magic, such a magic. Now, off to bed with you. Remember, classes in the morning. Your professors will not be happy if you fall asleep. Goodnight, all." The first year Hufflepuffs followed the girl who wore the prefect badge down a flight of stairs nears the Great Hall. They walked a little ways, then turned and were met by a portrait of a man busily cooking. Very busily. He ran all around the framed kitchen, murmuring something about a lost sifter. He stopped when he saw the approaching students.

"Ach, new children? Wonderful, wonderful, welcome to Hufflepuff. And I'll be needin' the password from yeh..."

"Fidem Praestare," the girl replied, and the portrait swung open. "Does anyone need that repeated? Fidem Praestare. Be sure to remember, or else you may find yourself sitting outside all night. Now, boys, you are in that room to the left, and girls, you are up that staircase. You should go to bed soon, the first day of classes is always the longest. Good night."

The first year boys trouped into the rectangular room to find their trunks already at the foot of their beds. There were five boys in all. Too tired to talk, the boys quickly exchanged names (Riley, Philip, and Shay were the names of the other boys) and fell asleep. Sam had never slept on so soft a bed.