Keep on keeping on

Harry and Hermione exited the train and stepped onto the platform. The lanterns were lit, their flames dancing and casting shadows on the students as they walked past. Harry was still shaken from his episode in the bathroom, so he allowed Hermione to lead the way. He kept his gaze on the floor, flinching as every student bumped into him. The noise was loud on the platform, the air filled with chattering children, excited to get back to school.
“Come on Harry. All the first years are gathering over here.” Hermione called. Harry nodded and followed her.

Ahead of them stood the large crowd of first years, vibrating with nervous excitement.
“Alrigh’ you first ‘ears! Follow me then!” A booming voice drifted over the crowd. Harry started at the voice and snapped his head up. He breathed a sigh of relief when he realised it was not Uncle Vernon shouting but an even larger man instead. Holding a lit lamp in his ginormous hand, stood a man that towered over everyone else. He must have been at least 8 feet tall with bushy, wiry brown hair. Most of his face was hidden by a large beard. Harry shuffled on his feet and looked at Hermione, who nodded encouragingly. The wave of first years followed the man, who had announced himself as Hagrid, to the banks of a great lake. On it, sat a dozen boats.
“Right. Four to a boat. On ya go. Don’t lean o’er the edge or else yall fall in!” Hagrid shouted. Hermione and Harry clambered into one of the boats, followed by Ron and Neville. The boats began to move away from the bank and glided smoothly over the lake’s glass-like surface. As the boats turned a corner, Harry came face to face with Hogwarts for the first time.

Atop a towering mountain stood the most magnificent building. Lights glowed in the windows, contrasting the dark night sky. Tall towers bordered each corner of the castle with pointed roofs, silhouetted but he bright light of the moon. The castle was old, and ivy clung on to the walls. Harry gasped and grabbed Hermione’s hand, smiling to himself for the first time in a while. Hermione glanced at the contact that Harry had made and smiled to herself too.
“Harry. This is our new home.” Hermione whispered. Harry felt relieved at Hermione’s words. He had escaped. There were no Dursley’s here. Harry was free.

The boats stopped at the opposite side of the lake and all the first years stepped out and on to the bank. They followed Hagrid up the marble steps and into a large entry hall. The ceiling was high and arched, chandeliers hanging from its apexes. Harry was in awe. He’d never seen anything like it. A sharp clicking began to echo through the stone halls and then a tall, sharp faced woman appeared at the top of the stairs, a stern look on her face. She scanned her eyes over the crowd of anxious first years and they landed briefly on Harry. Her eyes surveyed the boy slowly, before landing on his forehead. Harry shifted uncomfortably under her gaze and looked down at the floor. Hermione’s hand graced his arm.
“You okay?” She whispered. Harry nodded silently. The woman in front of them cleared her throat and looked away from Harry.
“Good evening first years. I am Professor McGonagall. I teach transfiguration and am head of Gryffindor house – which some of you, I’m sure, will be sorted into momentarily. The houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Whilst here, your house will be like you family. Your triumphs will earn you points whilst any rule breaking will lose you points. Study hard and you will succeed.” She paused her speech to study the first years. Some were shaking, some smiling.
“Now, in a few moments you will walk through these doors and be sorted into your houses. Follow me.” She continued, before turning on her heel and leading the first years through the ornate double doors to lay ahead of them.

Through the doors lay a large hall, sparkling in light. Floating candles hung in the air casting a golden glow over the students already seated. Four long table ran down the flagstone floor, packed with students decked out in black robes and pointed hats. As the first years trailed into the hall, all faces turned to them. At the end of the hall, Harry saw a small, rickety, three legged stool with an old, battered hat perched on top. The small wixen gathered around the stool and the whole hall fell silent, with bated breath. Harry peered closely at the hat and jumped when a slit in the hat opened wide and began to sing. Its voice filled the hall as it sang about house unity and welcoming new students. After a few minutes, the hall fell silent again and a man stepped up to the podium behind the stool. The man was tall and thin, with bright blue eyes that twinkled behind half-moon spectacles, catching the lights of the hall . He had a long white beard that fell past his waist. He looked around the hall, the glint in his eyes never dimming, and raised his arms wide.
“Welcome, welcome. Welcome to all students – old and new. Another year begins. Another year to explore our magic and broaden our friendships. For those who do not know who I am, I will introduce myself. I am Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster of our great school. Now, I know we are all excited to watch the sorting and get tucked into our brilliant feast but first – a few school rules. First, the third floor corridor is strictly out of bounds to all who do not wish to die a painful death-” Harry gulped at the warning. “Secondly, once again, entry into the forbidden forest is still forbidden to all students. And finally-” Dumbledore smirked, “Let the sorting begin!” He clapped his hands and returned to his seat.

Professor McGonagall stood up once again in front of the gathered first years, a long scroll of parchment gripped in her hand.
“When I call your name, step up to the stool and place the hat on your head to be sorted. Abbott, Hannah.” McGonagall announced. A timid, brown haired girl stepped up to the stool and sat down, pulling the hat tightly down on her head. She shook beneath it and waited patiently. After a few seconds of silence, the hat opened its mouth and called out Hufflepuff. One of the tables cheered loudly and Hannah went and joined them. The names went on and on, each child going to their respective house tables.
“Potter, Harry.” McGonagall called. Waves of whispers and muttering rippled across the hall.
“Harry Potter. The Harry Potter?!”
“Didn’t he defeat he-who-must-not-be-named”
“The orphan!?”
Harry’s hands began to shake, and he stood rooted to the spot. He couldn’t move. He could hear all the whisperings about him, he could feel the eyes on him. Hermione’s hand slipped into his and she gave it a tight squeeze. Harry’s hearing was still muffled, panic rising inside him, but Hermione’s gesture grounded him enough to start taking uncertain steps towards the stool. Harry kept his eyes on the floor as he made his way to the front of the hall. If he’d looked up, he’d have seen Dumbledore’s eyes sparkling brightly, tracking him. He’d also have seen Severus Snape’s eyes following him filled with curiosity and concern but a sneer on his face. When Harry reached the stool, he turned around and sat carefully on it. Gingerly, he picked up the hat and pulled it onto his head, panicking when it fell over his eyes and his vision went black. Harry gasped when he heard a small, raspy voice in his head.
“Hmm. A tricky one. I remember your parents. Both Gryffindor but your different.”
Great! Harry thought. Different is just another word for freak. Please don’t let me be a freak. Please don’t make me a freak. Harry pleaded to the hat.
“Not a freak eh? You’d do well in Slytherin you know. People wouldn’t be happy with you being in that house but you’d do well, I can promise you that.” Harry continued chanting in his head, begging not to be different.
“Very well. I’ll give you what you want.” The hat sighed before announcing aloud to the hall.
“Gryffindor!”
Harry sighed with relief as he pulled the hat from his head and was met by raucous applause and cheering from the table at the end of the hall. Harry trudged over and grinned.

Hermione was also sorted into Gryffindor and slid into a seat beside Harry. Ron was also placed in Gryffindor, along with Neville as well. Neville smiled at Harry and Hermione whilst Ron remained stony faced. Clearly, he held a grudge about the incident on the train. Harry tried to brush off Ron’s demeanour and focus on the conversations around him instead. Hermione turned to look at Harry.
“Oh Harry! I’m so glad we got placed together! We will have so much fun, won’t we!” Hermione asked eagerly. Harry nodded in response and smiled at her. Before long, Dumbledore stepped up to the podium once more as McGonagall took the hat and stool away, signalling that the sorting had finished.
“Congratulations to all our new students on your sorting and I hope that you will be very happy in your houses. Now, let the feast begin!” Dumbledore waved his hands and the plates and platters on the tables filled with food.

Harry gasped again as the plates before him were piled high with all different kinds of food. Roast potatoes and crispy chicken breasts; tonnes of vegetables and bowls of gravy and other kinds of sauces. Everyone around Harry began tucking in but Harry hesitated. He began to reach for a spoon to serve himself but pulled his hand back and placed them in his lap, tugging at his fingers. Hermione had carefully placed chicken and vegetables on her plate before she noticed Harry’s empty plate. She nudged him gently.
“You okay? Why aren’t you eating?” Harry shrugged and didn’t look at her. He still tugged at his fingers nervously. “Use the notebook to explain.” Harry shook his head and looked around warily. He was not about to embarrass himself in front of all these people. Hermione sighed and reached for the food in front of her, putting a small portion of food on Harry’s plate. Harry balked at her brazenness, and he looked around nervously. He was sure he was about to get told off for taking food. He’d never been allowed to eat the good food at the Dursley’s, and, in Harry’s mind, this was good food; Harry didn’t deserve it.
“Harry. It’s okay. Take a deep breath and have some food, please.” She whispered gently, a slight sound of begging creeping into her voice. Harry blinked and picked up a fork slowly. He lifted the fork to his mouth and took a few bites of his food before he heard a scoff break through the happy chattering of hungry students. Harry looked up and locked eyes with Ron who was sneering at him. Ron muttered something that sounded suspiciously like ‘freak’. Harry’s breath quickened and he dropped his fork to the plate with a loud clatter. Hermione’s head snapped up at the noise and looked quizzically at the boy.
“Harry-” She began but Harry shook his head and didn’t look up again. He’d suddenly lost his appetite.