Always You

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called while pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Charles looked to his friends, and with a look they all agreed to go together.

"Everyone in?" Hagrid shouted, who was already on his own boat, "Right then — FORWARD!"

And the fleet of boats moved across the lake all at once. There was silence, among the students. Some of them were looking at the castle, and his boat was not the exception. Time passed by as they sailed nearer to the cliff on which Hogwarts stood.

"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff. There was a curtain of ivy that was hiding a wide opening in the cliff face. The boats carried them along a dark tunnel underneath the school until they arrived at some kind of underground harbour, where they clambered out on to rocks and pebbles.

"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" said hagrid, calling Neville who was climbing out on the boat beside Charles.

"Trevor!" he said, blissfully, taking him.

Then they clambered up some passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last on to smooth, damp grass right in the castle's shadow. There was a long walk up a flight of stone steps and crowded around a huge, oak door. Charles was glad that all that stuff was only for first years because we never wanted to do that again. He started to hate boats.

"Everyone here?" Hagrid asked, and also checked that Neville had his toad with him still. He then raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the big door, which swung open at once.

A tall woman, black haired wich had emerald green robes stood right inside. Miller supposed that she was Minerva McGonagall, his parents mentioned her once or twice back at home. She had an stern face, opposite of what his father mentioned. Charles thought it must be her first impression to the students.

“Firs'-years, Professor McGonagall,”

“Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here.”

She pulled the door wide. The entrance hall was incredibly huge, the ancient stone walls were lit with flaming torches just as Gringotts, the wizarding bank, where charles and his family were plenty of times in the past. The ceiling was excessively high and the remarkable marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.

They all followed Professor McGonagall across the stone floor. There were voices  from the doorway to their right. The sorting. Charles knew what was coming. The rest of the school was obviously right across. However, Professor McGonagall showed the first years in to an empty chamber off the hall, where they all crowded in, standing rather closer together that they would usually have done.

“Welcome to Hogwarts,” she said. “The start-of-term banquet will began shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you’re here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room.”

Charles began to feel nervous. He looked at his sister, who was with a relaxed expression looking at their professor. He then looked at Ron, who was as nervous as him, such as plenty other students around them. Knowing he was not the only one nervous because of the sorting relaxed him a bit. Also, no matter the house they ended up in, he would have Ella and Ron. And maybe even Harry. It would be the four of them no matter if he was on a different house. 

“The four houses are called Gryffindor,  Huffelpuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has it’s own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn  your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded with the House Cupp, a great honour. I hope each of you will be credit to whichever house becomes yours.

“The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in the front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up  as much as you can while you are waiting.”

Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville’s cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and Ron’s dirty nose. Charles tried to make his hair less messy. He totally forgot that the ceremony was in front of the whole school. He had a strand of  his hair dark blue, his hair still changed colour accidentally when he had strong emotions. Charles was a metamorphmagus, which meant he could change his appearance by choice. However, he rather have a normal appearance. So he changed back.

“I shall return when we are ready for you,” said Professor McGonagall. “Please wait quietly.”

She left the chamber. He heard some other students swallowing.

“How exactly do they sort us into houses?” Harry asked them.

“Some sort of test, I think. Fred says it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking” said Ron.

“He definitely was, Ron. And I don't believe it’s a proper test,” he said “If it was, what would muggleborns do? They barely know anything about the wizarding world.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” the red-haired said.

Charles noticed Harry getting anxious and looking around. Right, he grew up with muggles, Charles thought. However, almost everyone looked terrified too. The room was quiet except for Hermione Granger, the girl from the train, who was muttering spells probably wondering which would she use. But it couldn’t be any of that, houses represented different values. Why would they need spells? He tried to remain calm, and looked at his sister who was, for his surprise, also nervous with the idea of an exam. At any moment, McGonagall would enter the room and guide them to the Great Hall for them to be sorted. He started to feel nervous himself when suddenly some people behind him screamed.

“What the– ?”

He gasped. Same with Harry, Ron, Ella and the people around them About twenty ghosts  had just streamed through the wall. They were slightly transparent and fully pearl white. They all glided across the room, not even glancing at the students, talking to each other. Not properly talking, it seemed to be arguing. One of the ghosts, fat friar said “Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance–”

“My dear Friar, haven’t we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he’s not really even a ghost – I say, what are you all doing here?”

The other ghost suddenly noticed the first years. Nobody answered.

“New students!” said the Fat Friar, smiling to them all, “About to be sorted, I suppose?”

They nodded, not a single sound came out of the children.

“Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!” said the Friar “My old house, you know.”

“Move along now,” a sharp voice said, “The Sorting Ceremony is about to start.”

He thanked Merlin when Professor McGonagall returned. He felt uncomfortable talking to ghosts. One by one, the ghost floated away through the opposite wall.

“Now, form a line,” Professor McGonagall told the first-years. “and follow me.”

He started shaking, slightly. Charles got into the line right behind Ron and Harry and ahead his sister. They walked out the chamber across the hall and into the double doors of the Great Hall.

It was just like he imagined. The people, the tables, the floating candles (which were thousands). The tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the end of the hall there was a long table where all the professors were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first-years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, teachers behind them. There were hundreds of faces now looking at the children. This made Charles anxious, he wondered why they needed to be in front of all these people just to be sorted into a house. Is this really necessary? He thought.

He wanted to be anywhere but there. Most of students started to stare at the ceiling fully covered with stars. Hermione turned to him, whispering. 

“It’s bewitched to look like the sky outside, I read about it in Hogwarts: A History.” She clearly saw him staring. He nodded to her. Charles already knew that stuff, he had read Hogwarts: A History dozens of times.

They all looked down when their Professor  placed a four-legged stool in front of them. On top of it she placed a pointed hat, it was patched and frayed, extremely dirty. It could do a wash really.

It must be the Sorting Hat. There was silence for a few moments. Then, the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide, The Sorting Hat 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 Hat 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 folks 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!"

The whole hall burst into a huge applause as the Hat finished his song. He bowed to each of the four tables and then became still again.

“So we’ve just got to try on the hat!” Ron whispered to Charles and Harry. “I’ll kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling a troll.”

“I told you so. You ought to stop believing Fred and George so easily, they are always messing with you.” the three boys smiled. He turned to his sister, she was talking with Hermione Granger. Their eyes met, and smiled at each other.

Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.

“When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted,” she said. “Abbott, Hannah!”

A blond pink: faced girl stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which felt right down over her eyes, and sat down. There was a small pause until..

“HUFFLEPUFF!” the hat called.

The Hufflepuff table on the right cheered and clapped while she went to sit down with them, the Fat Friar waved merrily at her, as a welcome to his old house.

“Bones, Susan!”

“HUFFLEPUFF!” he said again.

“Boot, Terry!”

“RAVENCLAW!”

Now the table second second from the left clapped and cheered. Some of them even stood up to shake his hand.

He stopped paying attention. He started hearing “Brockehurst, Mandy” Ravenclaw. “Brown, Lavender” Gryffindor. The first gryffindor of the night, he could see the Weasley twins catcalling. “Bulstrode, Millicent” Slytherin. “Finch-Fletchley, Justin” Hufflepuff. With some of the students he took his time to decide. “Finnigan, Seamus” who was called a gryffindor at last.

“Granger, Hermione!” Charles now looked up.

She ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head.

“GRYFFINDOR!” Hermione smiled widely. Ron groaned and Charles smirked at him.

He was lost to his thoughts again until Neville Longbottom was called. He was curious about where would he be. He almost fell over on his way to the stool. He was clearly really clumsy. It took a while for Neville to be sorted. The hat finally shouted “GRYFFINDOR!”. Neville had run off still wearing the hat and had to go back amid gales of laughter to give it to the next student, “MacDougal Morag”

Then Malfoy was called. Charles just noticed he was about to be sorted. He could be the next person to sit on the stool and suddenly started feeling loads of different emotions. He was anxious, nervous, happy, worried and excited all at once. He didn’t made much time from the blond boy, the hat barely touched Malfoy’s head when it screamed “SLYTHERIN!” as he went to join his friends from the train, Crabbe and Goyle, pleased with himself.

“Miller, Ella!” his sister was called first. At least he had some more time. She gave him a look. Don’t worry she clearly said. The hat started thinking, it took a minute when it suddenly said…

“HUFFLEPUFF!” the table to the right cheered again. She looked back, pleased, and smiled to Charles. He smiled back as she left to join Hannah Abbott and Susan Bones and other students sorted to Hufflepuff.

“Miller, Charles!” Oh no.

He walked to the stool, out on the hat and took a seat. In just a moment he was looking at the dark inside of the hat.

“Hmm..” a small voice said to his ear. “I see a lot in here, boy. Wisdom indeed, but also hard working and patience. I see, I see. Oh yes, determination, plenty of courage in here. Now where shall I place you? Hmmm, I know what to do with you – GRYFFINDOR!”

He took off the hat, relieved.  Thank Merlin it’s over. He went to Gryffindor’s table as it cheered. He saw the Weasleys, Percy looked at him and nodded. Then Charles turned to the twins, who shook his hand, welcoming him. He then turned to Neville, Hermione and the other Gryffindor’s first years.

“Hey.” said Charles.

There were few students left now. “Moon” … “Nott” … “Parkinson” … another pair of twins who were also separated, one to Gryffindor and other to Ravenclaw, “Perks” … and finally..

“Potter, Harry!"

As expected, as soon as Harry stepped forward there was a lot of muttering, whispers and hissing around the room.

“Potter, did she say?”

“The Harry Potter?”

There were people craning to get a good look at him. Charles crossed his fingers. However, the hat took a while to decide. He could see Harry gripping the edges of the stool. After what Ron had said back on the train, Charles imagined he must be thinking to not be put on Slytherin. Which made sense for Harry. It was the house where the man that killed his parents was. If he was on his place, he wouldn’t wanna be on Slytherin either. A minute passed, maybe more until it finally screamed:

“GRYFFINDOR!”

He took the hat of with a small smile on his face and walked shakily towards the table he was already sitting. Harry was getting the loudest cheer yet tho he probably didn’t even notice. Percy shook his hand vigorously, while Fred and George yelled, “We’ve got Potter! We’ve got Potter!” Harry sat opposite  to the brown haired boy, next to a ghost. This ghost patted his friend’s arm.

“Hey Charles.” said Harry

“Hey. Glad we ended up in the same house.” Harry grinned and continued observing the table at the front 

There were only three students left to be sorted. Ron was one of them. “Turpin, lisa” who became a Ravenclaw. And now it was his friend's turn. He was pale, Ron walked slowly towards the stool. Charles saw Harry cross his fingers under the table and smiled as he did the same. There was no way Ron would not end up with them, however, he didn’t know what he would do without him by his side. It was his best friend. Just a second later the hat shouted: “GRYFFINDOR!”

“Yes!” Charles whispered, as he clapped loudly together with the rest of Gryffindor’s table. Ron collapsed right next to Harry’s chair, relieved. 

“Well done, Ron, excellent,” said Percy across them while the last boy, Blaise Zabini was sorted into Slytherin. Then, McGonagall rolled up the scroll and took the Sorting Hat away.

Now Professor Dumbeldore stood up. He was beaming at the students with his arms widely open, as if there was nothing more pleasant than seeing the students there.

“Welcome!” he said. “Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, i would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!”

 “Thank you!” said the students. Charles was confused.

Professor Dumbeldore sat back down as everyone clapped and cheered for him. He was glad to see the confused faces of both his friends.

“Is he – a bit mad?” Harry asked, looking at Percy.

“Mad?” answered Percy “He’s a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he’s a bit mad, yes. Potatoes, Harry?”

Charles now realised that the table in front of him was piled with food. He forgot how hungry he was, he was too focused on being nervous because of the sorting. He decided to eat a bit of everything. Not at once of course. He first served himself, steek, carrots and roast potatoes. In front of him both Ron and Harry put on their plate everything they could.

“That does look good,” said a ghost with a sad expression looking at their plates.

“Can’t you..?” asked Harry.

“I haven’t eaten for nearly five hundred years,” he said. “I don’t need to, of course, but one does miss it. I’ve introduced myself? Sir Nicholas de MimsyPorpington at your service. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower.”

“I know who you are!” Ron said. “My brothers told me about you! You’re Nearly Headless Nick!”

“I would prefer if you called me Sir Nicholas de Mimsy–” he began to say until another first year, Seamus Finnegan interrupted him.

“Nearly Headless? How can you be nearly headless?”

Sir Nicholas seemed miffed, as if their chat wasn’t going the way he wanted, at all.

“Like this,” he said, sarcastically. He seized his left ear and pulled. His whole head sung off his neck and fell on to his shoulder as if it was on a hinge. Someone tried to behead him, clearly failing. It was so gross to look at that Charles had to look away so he wouldn’t vomit. Sir Nicholas looked pleased at the stunned faces of the first students, he then flipped his head back on to his neck, coughed and then said, “So, new Gryffindors! I hope you’re going to help us win the House Championship this year? Gryffindor have never gone so long without winning. Slytherin have got the cup for six years in a row! The Bloody Baron’s becoming almost unbearable. He’s the Slytherin ghost.”

They all looked to the Slytherin table. There was a horrible ghost sitting there. Blank staring eyes, a gaunt face and robes stained with blood, for some weird reason. He was sitting next to Draco Malfoy who didn’t look pleases with the seating arrangements. 

“How did he get covered in blood?” Finnegan asked. 

“I’ve never asked.” said Nearly Headless Nick.

Charles looked again, curious. He was glad to have Sir Nicholas as his house ghost. He was much more warming, ignoring the part when he showed why he was called “Nearly Headless Nick”. He was still disgusted with the picture of it. He tried to focus on his food and ate as much as he could. The boys had a nice talk, until the it turned into families and his black haired friend remained silent.

“My parents’ are both wizard and witch, my grandfather was a muggle born if i’m not wrong.  How about you Seamus? Since you asked.” said Charles.

“I’m half and half,” said Seamus. “Me dad’s a Muggle. Mam didn’t tell him she was a witch ‘til after they were married. Bit of a nasty shock for him."

They laughed.

“What about you, Neville?”

“Well, my gran brought me up and she’s a witch” said the toad boy. “But my family thought I was all Muggle for ages. My great-uncle Algie kept trying to catch me off guard and force some magic. But nothing happened until I was eight. Great Uncle Algie came round for dinner, and he was hanging me out of an upstairs window by the ankles when my Great Auntie Enid offered him a meringue and he accidentally let go. But I bounced — all the way down the garden and into the road. They were all really pleased, Gran was crying, she was so happy. And you should have seen their faces when I got in here — they thought I might not be magic enough to come, you see. Great Uncle Algie was so pleased he bought me my toad.”

On the other side, Percy and Hermione were talking about lessons 

“I do hope they start right away, there’s so much to learn. I’m particularly interested in Transfiguration, you know, turning something into something else, of course, it’s supposed to be very difficult” 

“You'll be starting small, just matches into needles and that sort of thing.”

Charles was starting to feel even more tired. He needed some sleep as soon as possible. He would’ve fallen asleep if it wouldn’t for Harry who let out a pain noise.

“Oueh!” Harry slapped a hand to his head.

“Are you okay?” He looked up.

“What is it?” asked Percy.

“N-nothing.” Could it be..? Charles thought his scar must be hurting since he slapped his hand right to where it was. It was a magical scar, could magical scars hurt out of nowhere? He made a mind note to read about it later.  

“Are you sure it’s nothing, mate?”

“Yeah no worries. I’m alright.” he was still looking at the High Table.

“If you say so..”

“Who’s that teacher talking to Professor Quirrel?” said Harry, now looking at Percy.

“Who’s that teacher talking to Professor Quirrell?” he asked Percy.

“Oh, you know Quirrell already, do you? No wonder he’s looking so nervous, that’s Professor Snape. He teaches Potions, but he doesn’t want to — everyone knows he’s after Quirrell’s job. Knows an awful lot about the Dark Arts, Snape.”

He was just half listening. All the noise distracted him. Ron, Seamus and Neville were now talking about their quidditch teams, conversation he would’ve loved if he wasn’t so sleepy.

At last, the desserts disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent.

“Ahem —just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.” Charles was now paying attention, much easier without the other voices. He looked up to see Professor Dumbelore while he talked.

“First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well.”

Dumbledore’s twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins, which he founded hilarious remembering the reputation they said they had.

“I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.”

“Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their House teams should contact Madam Hooch.” the next year, he would be allowed to participate on Gryffindor’s team, which was his dream. Maybe in a few years he could apply to be captain. It was such a shame that first years were not allowed to participate, however, at least he had another year to practice and become even a better chaser.

“And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death.”

He found this confusing. Wasn’t Hogwarts one of the safest places? He laughed awkwardly, he was one of the few who did.

“He’s not serious?” Some of the students asked.

“Must be,” said Percy, frowning at Dumbledore. “It’s odd, because he usually gives us a reason why we’re not allowed to go somewhere. The forest’s full of dangerous beasts, everyone knows that. I do think he might have told us prefeets, at least.”

“And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!” cried Dumbledore. He now noticed that the other teachers' smiles had become rather fixed.

Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, white rose high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike, into words.

“Everyone pick their favorite tune,” said Dumbledore, “and off we go!”

And the school bellowed:

“Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please.

Whether we be old and bald Or young with scabby knees.

Our heads would 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’ve forgot,

Just do your best, well do the rest.

And learn until our brains all rot”

It was pain for his ears.

Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest.

“Ah, music,” he said, wiping his eyes. “A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!” 

The Gryffindor first years followed Percy through the chattering crowds, out of the Great Hall, and up the marble staircase.  He was too sleepy to even look at the paintings in the corridors that he always wondered how they would look, or that twice Percy led them through doorways hidden behind sliding panels and hanging tapestries. They climbed more staircases, yawning and dragging their feet, he could just think of getting into bed and sleep. It was so late by now, at least that’s what he felt until they came to a sudden halt.

A bundle of walking sticks was floating in midair ahead of them, and as Percy took a step toward them they started throwing themselves at him.

“Peeves,” Percy whispered to the first years. “A poltergeist.” He raised his voice, “Peeves, show yourself.”

A loud, rude sound, like the air being let out of a balloon, answered.

“Do you want me to go to the Bloody Baron?”

There was a pop, and a little man with wicked, dark eyes and a wide mouth appeared, floating cross legged in the air, clutching the walking sticks.

“Oooooooh!” he said, with an evil cackle. “ickle Firsties! What fun!”

He swooped suddenly at them. They all ducked.

“Go away. Peeves, or the Baron’ll hear about this, I mean it!” barked Perey.

Peeves stuck out his tongue and vanished, dropping the walking sticks on Neville’s head. They heard him zooming away, rattling coats of armor as he passed.

“You want to watch out for Peeves,” said Percy, as they set off again. “The Bloody Baron’s the only one who can control him, he won’t even listen to us prefects. Here we are.”

At the very end of the corridor hung a portrait of a very fat woman in a pink silk dress.

“Password?” she said.

“Caput Draconis,” said Percy, and the portrait swung forward to reveal a round hole in the wall. They all scrambled through it — Neville needed a leg up — and found themselves in the Gryffindor common room, a cozy, round room full of squashy armchairs. It was beautiful. Everything was just as he imagined. He couldn’t believe he was there.

Percy directed the girls through one door to their dormitory and the boys through another. At the top of a spiral staircase — they were obviously in one of the towers — they found their beds at last: five four posters hung with deep red, velvet curtains. Their trunks had already been brought up. Apparently everyone was too tired to talk much, they pulled on their pajamas and fell into bed. He shared the room with Harry and Ron and Dean Thomas, Seamus and Neville.

“Great food, isn’t it?” Ron muttered to his friends through the hangings. “Get off, Scabbers! He’s chewing my sheets.”

“Yeah. Leave Scabbers down here Ron, brought him some cheese.” 

Right after saying that he fell asleep. Warm inside his sheets. Charles had perhaps eaten too much, he had a really weird dream. Never in his entire life had dreamt something like that. He was on the woods, walking with a girl beside him. He wondered if it was Ella or just some random girl. He walked forward, leaving her behind. He couldn’t stop himself. Then, in de dark, he could see bright blue eyes. That was all he could see. He didn’t stop, Charles was not sure what he was looking for, but he could just walk towards those eyes. Then he could see his smile. It was not normal, it was an evil smile. He had pointed teeth. He couldn’t recognize much of him, neither of them had wands. Then he felt pain. Just pain. He was now on the floor, not able to move. Right when the bright blue eyes looked straight at him again there was a burst of red. 

Charles woke suddenly, sweating and shaking. Just to see Harry breathing heavily right in the bed right in front of him.

“Bad dream?”  asked harry. He could just nod. He could still feel the pain of his dream, unable to speak or even move much.

Harry rolled over and fell asleep again. On the other hand, Charles stayed awake for an hour until he fell asleep from exhaustion. 

The next day, when he woke up, he had a bath and decided not to think about it at all. He would talk to his sister about it of course, just not now.