Chapter 3
Voices overlapped as groups of people bustled around the station. The day was bright and busy, even more so than normal. Much to the station worker’s annoyance, there seemed to be a much higher number of children than average. What were their parents doing taking them on vacations on the first day of school? And just what were they wearing?
He grumbled away, not taking notice of a family running through one of the large platform walls and disappearing.
“Harry! Reg! I can’t do this- I’m going to miss you guys so much!” Harry’s father sobbed dramatically, holding onto the two of them tight.
“I’ll miss you too, father.”
“Ew! Prongs, get your snot off of me!”
His father sniffed as Reggie’s mom took his place.
“My babies! Look at you two, all grown up, about to go to school! Oh, how the years pass.”
Reggie scowled playfully but welcomed his mother’s hugs. Harry tolerated it.
His own mother hugged them as well.
“You kids will be good. Don’t give Sirius or Remus any trouble.”
Harry simply raised his eyebrows while Reggie snickered.
“No promises~!”
His father looked at them with a conspiracy face. “Give 'em hell for me! Ow-!”
His mother retracted her hand. “Don’t listen to him, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” She paused. “I swear to Merlin if I get any letters about you two getting into trouble… ”
She turned around at that moment, missing Harry’s father and Reggie’s mom mouthing. I can’t wait to get the letters.
Reggie made a loud kissing sound before exclaiming.
“Ok ok! The train’s almost leaving, we’ll write to you guys tonight!”
They nodded and walked away after final hugs, leaving Reggie and Harry to walk up to the train, alone at last.
It was already full of students because they arrived almost at the last minute. Harry doubted they could find an empty compartment, but that was alright because they hadn’t been planning to anyway. Connection with everyone, every single student, no matter their background, was one of Harry’s biggest goals for his seven years at Hogwarts.
Reggie knew Harry well enough by now to follow his lead in matters that involve people, which led to the two walking through the partially crowded hallway in search of Heinrich. Heinrich was Harry’s first priority. He and Reggie had been eager to see the boy ever since their birthday and they were not wasting another second.
Reggie and Harry walked from the back to the front of the Hogwarts Express and did not see Heinrich in any of the compartments that had not closed all the way. They look at each other. They had to open each compartment individually. A loud horn also indicated that the train was beginning to move.
Starting from the closest compartment, Harry slid the door open to see three people inside.
Two females that he recognized and one male that he didn’t. He was most likely a muggle-born or foreign.
“Ah, my apologies, we were looking for someone,” Harry said, bowing slightly to the people.
“No bloody way! It’s Harry Potter!” One of the girls exclaimed and was elbowed in the guts by the other girl.
“Don’t talk like that in front of him, how rude!”
Harry simply smiled at the girls.
“I hope you two are doing well, it’s nice to see you again.” He turned to the boy who looked younger than the other two girls. “It’s also nice to meet you, may I have the pleasure of knowing your name?”
“Um, yeah, my name is Justin Finch-Fletchley.”
He gave a warm smile. “Great to meet you, Justin, my name is Harry.” He moved slightly to the side so that Reggie could also walk into the compartment and pretended not to notice Justins’ surprise at him using his first name immediately.
Reggie grinned. “My name is Regulus, but you can call me Reg!” He turned to the girls and gave a light smirk. “And you two can call me whatever you want, whenever you want.” He winked.
Harry could see the girls practically swoon at the statement, and he couldn’t blame them. Reggie had both Sirius’ casual elegance and careless handsomeness. Not only that, but Reggie was very in shape for his age and could probably pass off as a second or even third-year. Though Harry was also tall and strong for his age, it was not to as much of an extent.
They both smile as they move to the door. “Alright, we’re off! Hope to see you guys again soon.” Reggie walked out with a grin and Harry trailed after him after giving a goodbye of his own.
Harry did not mind going through multiple compartments on their search for Heinrich because it was an excellent way to get to know the muggle-borns and other wizards and witches who simply did not go out much. Harry knew the majority of the wizards residing in Britain and with his memory could even tell every single encounter and conversation he had with them down to the smallest detail. This, coupled with his charisma, made him great with people.
They went through only six more compartments before miraculously finding the one that held Heirnich.
Heinrich was sitting alone and reading a book with a blank cover. When Harry slid the door open Heinrich looked up with a frosty expression, though Harry could feel the pleasant surprise radiating from him at the sight of Harry. That made Harry equally as pleased as he greeted the boy.
“Hello Heinrich, it has been a while.” He tried to keep from seeming overexcited, but from the touched and amused emotions he got from the boy, he didn’t seem to do very well.
He stepped aside to let Reggie get his moment.
“Hello! My name is Regulus, but you can call me Reggie.”
Harry was slightly surprised that Reggie allowed Heinrich to call him that, but he was kind of expecting it as well. He felt interest and curiosity from both boys as they got to know each other. Harry waited for a pause in the introductions to ask, “May we sit with you?”
Heinrich's cold expression stayed the same but he nodded and Harry felt eagerness from him.
Harry sat next to Heinrich and Reggie unashamedly sat next to Harry. Heinrich looked at the two with hidden amusement, glancing over at the opposite side that held no one and their own side that had three scrunched together. The seats were pretty wide so even though Reggie and Heinrich were muscular for their age, all three were able to fit snuggly.
Besides, Harry enjoyed the physical touch this brought, as all their legs were touching each other. Physical touch allowed Harry to feel their emotions easier.
Reggie spoke up with a beam on his face. “So guys, what houses are you aiming for?”
Harry allowed Heinrich to respond first. “I am fine with any.”
Harry smiled at the answer but furrowed his eyebrows when he felt that he was indeed being truthful. He didn’t want to push but he wanted to be in the same houses as both of them, and he would be devastated if Reggie and Heinrich went into different houses.
“Oh that’s cool too, I mean, at most, we could only hope for a house, it’s not guaranteed. But Ominis told me they also took into consideration your own opinions!”
Harry felt multiple questions arise from Heinrich at Reggie’s words.
“Who is this Ominis?”
Harry’s smile widened. “That would be me. It’s Reggie’s nickname for me.” Harry paused as Heinrich nodded and decided to follow in Reggie’s footsteps. “You are more than welcome to call me that as well though. In fact, I would prefer for you to.”
Harry felt surprise coming from Heinrich and smiled. He also felt how pleased Reggie was at his declaration and felt his stomach bubbling with genuine happiness.
“Alright.” Heinrich paused. “Who is taking our considerations? My father would not tell me what the sorting held, even though I know he heard from other wizards.”
Harry simply gave a knowing smile and said nothing.
Reggie pouted. “No one would tell me either! Ominis found out in a book but refused to spill.”
“Well, it is tradition to not say anything to the children.” If Reggie wanted to know, he would have told him, but the boy didn’t mind waiting. Reggie loved surprises. Harry had to agree, surprises gave a little excitement to life. The unknown was always interesting.
Heinrich shrugged elegantly. “We will find out soon nonetheless, so it is alright.”
“Okay, anyway! I want to be in Gryffindor! My dad told me all about their adventures and it was so cool!” Harry felt the moment the boy decided to divulge a bit of truthfulness to Heinrich. “But, I would be happy with any house. If I belong there that’s all that matters, right?”
Harry was quick to nod. “Of course.” He decided to be open as well. “I would like to be in the same house as you two. So, hopefully, you two end up in the same house.”
Reggie looked at him questioningly while Heinrich looked at him with surprise.
“Huh? What if you’re sorted first and then us?”
Harry figured this information wasn’t too important. “They sort alphabetically by last name.” Black first, then Klein, then Potter.
“Huh, well that’s inter-”
The door sliding open interrupted them.
“Anything from the trolley, dears?” The trolley witch smiled at them while gesturing to the goods on her cart.
Harry’s eyes lit up at all the sweets and he nodded eagerly. He felt amusement from both the other boys.
“May I have..” He listed almost every single sweet and even ordered multiples of some.
When the trolley witch left the seat across from them was covered by a large assortment of candies.
Harry licked his lips and grabbed a licorice wand first. Biting into it with modesty and elegance, of course, he spoke to the other two. “We can share.”
Reggie laughed while Heinrich cracked a small smile.
“Ominis, even if we share it’s going to be tough eating it all before we get there!”
He pouted. “I can eat the leftovers later.”
Harry watched Reggie and Heinrich share smiles and smiled to himself, pleased that things were going well. They spent their time in small conversation before hearing a knock at their door before an older student popped her head in.
She was dressed in Hufflepuff attire and Harry recognized her to be Raisa Wellington. He recalled a conversation with her mother, Lorin Wellington, at a ministry gala four years ago where the woman mentioned that her daughter was a first year attending Hogwarts. He assumed that that, along with the Prefect badge on the girl’s robe, meant Raisa was a 5th-year Prefect.
The girl gave a polite nod. “Just coming in to warn you guys we’re almost at Hogwarts, so best to start changing into your robes.”
Harry smiled. “It’s nice to see you again, Raisa. How have you been doing?”
Raisa gave a start before Harry saw her turning red. How peculiar.
“You remember me! U-um, I’ve been doing good!”
He brushed against her mind to know what she was thinking. I’ve got to tell the girls about this! No way! The Harry Potter remembers me!”
Hm. He gave her a warm smile and crinkled his eyes.
“How could I ever forget someone like you? Thank you for the reminder and congratulations on becoming Prefect.”
He brushed against her mind one last time. If only he were older...
Older? He watched her stumble out of the compartment after sliding the door shut. He looked at Reggie.
“Haha! What a charmer, Ominis. She was totally feeling you.”
He continued smiling because Heinrich was still watching but he wanted to scoff. If he had somehow managed to fall in love with someone, it would not be someone who only had his fame in their minds. Reggie seemed to understand his thoughts as he silently squeezed his shoulder in quiet apology, though still having the same grin on his face.
The three get up, pulling their plain black Hogwarts robes over the muggle ones they used to blend into the crowd at the station. Harry couldn’t wait to change into some of his own robes over the weekend. He was already tired of the blandness of these.
They sat back down and talked for a while longer, getting to know the basics of each other, before the train stopped. Harry looked out the window to see the night sky dotted with billions of stars that were bright from the lack of air pollution in these mountains.
He smiled at the sight and waited in the compartment for a little bit to allow the large crowd of pushing students to get out of the train first. Heinrich and Reggie seemed content to sit for a while as well. They got up when there were only stragglers left and walked out of the locomotive.
He heard a deep bellow. “Firs’ years! Firs’ years follow me!”
They joined the fairly large group of young students while the older ones went past them to walk directly into the castle. Harry followed the large man whom he had met several times. The man seemed slightly insane, but kind. Though he didn’t seem to feel comfortable in Harry’s presence. Most likely due to the fact he was half-giant and therefore could feel something slightly off with him.
Hagrid looked at him alertedly the minute he was in viewing distance with squinted eyes and with a brush against the man’s mind he could tell the man was fighting with his instincts. On one hand, Harry was but an innocent child, and on the other he felt that he was not safe.
Harry sighed quietly before giving a gentle smile as he got closer. Hagrid snapped out of it and gave a wobbly one back before leading the first years to the lake. Harry could feel resignation from Reggie from the interaction and confusion from Heinrich, but they ended up following the large man in silence.
They got to the boats and Harry tuned out Hagrid’s words as he tilted his head slightly at the boats. They fit four students each which meant Harry should ask someone to sit with them. It was better for him to ask a student to join them rather than make them feel awkward because they had to sit there only because they fit in nowhere else.
Heinrich and Reggie sat opposite from each other while Harry lingered at the front of the boat. He scanned the area with his mind to find someone who was panicking in secret. First day and Harry was already given the opportunity to get someone in his favor. He strained his mind slightly but knew that though he was at the limit of his abilities. He was not going to faint just yet. Whenever he went overboard he passed out, and that was not a good impression to make in this scenario.
He noticed someone near him and recognized him. Neville Longbottom. The boy was the most nervous, stuttering mess of the entire group. How pathetic. Harry decided to add the transformation of the boy into something more worthy to his mental to-do list.
“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Neville. How have you been since our birthday?”
His mother and father had added Neville to celebrate along with Harry and Reggie on their birthdays after realizing it was the boy’s birthday as well. The three had even blown out the candles on the muggle cake together.
“H-Harry! I’ve been great…”
“That’s great to hear, Neville. Would you like to join us on the boat? I would love to have you with us.”
Neville nodded, not bothering to hide his relief.
“O-of course!”
They walked back to where Reggie and Heinrich were sitting and they sat down with them.
They didn’t say a word the entire ride. The view distracted even Harry from socializing as the gorgeous sky and castle permeated his every sense. He closed his eyes and breathed in the lake smell as the wind blew against his hair, tousling it. He didn’t even take his eye off the castle even when Reggie used one of his hands to stop Harry’s shoulder-length sleek hair from going into his face, though he leaned into the boy to show his gratefulness.
When they reached the other side Harry couldn’t help but feel slightly disappointed and he was not alone either because he felt those same feelings coming from Reggie and Heinrich.
He made eye contact with Reggie and had a feeling that this view was worth the risk of getting detention. Besides, his father had given him his invisibility cloak as one of his birthday gifts, despite looking very regretful.
His mother had told them to leave it at their house and Harry had readily agreed.
It was now at the bottom of their luggage, tucked neatly between two of his favorite robes. Harry was willing to take punishment whenever she found out, as long as she didn’t ask for it back.
Harry had seen the ten-pack of Howlers his mother brought back from Diagon Alley the other day and he knew she was looking forward to using them. She was probably under the assumption that Harry cared about his connections with others and therefore would dread those letters, but Harry was looking forward to receiving one. He was going to see how long it took for her to use all ten.
He was mainly doing so because Sirius would find it delightful and therefore Reggie would love to get one. Since Reggie would love it, Harry would too because often the only emotions he could feel were those from Reggie. Well, now Heinrich too.
They walked down the hallway of the large castle till they saw a large closed door. The sound of a throat clearing distracted the students as they quieted down, looking up to see what made the sound. Harry saw who he knew to be Professor McGonagall. He had seen her a few times before and she was at his party.
Hagrid spoke up. “These are the firs’ years, Professor.”
The stern, black-haired woman gave a sharp nod. “Thank you, I’ll take them from here.”
She pulled the door wide to reveal the entrance room which looked similar to their mansion with torches along the wall, a high ceiling, and a winding marble staircase.
They followed Professor McGonagall and Harry could hear hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right – the rest of the school must already be here – but Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall.
“Welcome to Hogwarts,” said Professor McGonagall. “The start-of-term banquet will begin 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 are 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.
She looked around, looking noble and pristine.
“The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its 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 the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in 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 stopped on Reggie’s already tousled uniform. Harry felt his gaze sharpen and his smile slightly dim. He dared her to say something. The professor raised an eyebrow at Harry’s expression but continued with her speech.
“I shall return when we are ready for you,” said Professor McGonagall. “Please wait quietly.”
They stood at the stairwell and Harry looked around them, giving polite nods to those he knew and receiving some as well from those who knew him – which were the majority of the first years. Some, such as Nottgrass and Malfoy seemed a bit more closed off and skeptical, making jerky head movements as if they didn’t know whether they should nod back or not. That was most likely because they didn’t know what to make of him, which was because their parents didn’t either.
Harry made an effort to be polite to even those he knew with certainty was a dark wizard. He didn’t care about anyone's social standing or morals. As long as they did not harm Reggie, he would not care.
“Woah!”
A boy exclaimed at the sight of dozens of ghosts flying above them, coming out of nowhere. The expansive ceiling that seemed almost a mile away as above them and was filled with paintings and stairwells was now covered in ghosts of all ages.
Harry greeted the passing ghosts with a tender smile.
“At least some of the youngins’ this year know of politeness.”
Harry heard a ghost next to his ear and shuddered involuntarily as chills went down his spine. How intriguing. He would love to study ghosts more during his time here.
“Move along now.” He heard Professor McGonagall’s voice above those of the ghosts. The students stumbled obediently after her in a line. They walked past the tall doors into the great hall. Harry looked around the most lovely dining room he had ever seen. There were hundreds of floating candles above four long tables that held each of the four houses’ students.
Harry looked up to see the enchanted ceiling and saw the starry night sky instead of a normal ceiling. He heard a girl’s voice whisper. “It’s bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History.”
Harry raised an eyebrow. A future Ravenclaw? He didn’t recognize the girl which meant she was most likely a muggle-born. He supposed it was logical to study a world you never knew before living in it, but it didn’t seem most took the logical route. He wanted to get her name, but, unfortunately, they weren’t standing next to each other. He paused. Well, the hat would announce it anyway.
He felt Reggie’s and Heinrich’s curious gazes and slight worry with what they would have to do in the sorting and Harry would be lying if he didn’t find that funny. Reggie bumped him against his shoulder with a pout, which resulted in Harry pouting as well. He thought he hid his humor well.
He heard a loud, “Reg! Harry! Over here!” He looked at where the sound came from to see Sirius waving his arm enthusiastically while Remus shook his head with exasperation. Reggie shouted back. “Hi Dad!”
Harry gave a polite smile and wave, which was copied by Remus. Sirius and Reggie looked at the person next to them with scowls and the two looked back fondly at the black-haired boys next to them.
In front of where Sirius and Remus were sitting–the rounded teacher’s table–Professor McGonagall pulled out a raggy old hat that had a tear around its brim in the intimidation of a mouth. She placed it on a stool before walking backwards to stand close enough to the hat to take it off each student’s head but still give some kind of semblance of privacy.
The hat seams ripped and it bursted into song.
“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 folk 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!”
He felt the two’s relief as Reggie exclaimed. “So we just have to put on a hat?” The boy shook his head vehemently. “And Dad was going on about life and death battles…”
Heinrich gave Reggie a fond look at the same time as Harry before the hat’s voice rang out into the hall.
“Abbott, Hannah!”
Harry paid attention to the other’s sorting. This was his chance to learn every name in his year. He looked around and mentally counted seventy-nine students, eighty including himself. He knew over half of them.
“Hufflepuff!” The hat roared out.
Harry watched a few other students get called before he heard:
“Black, Regulus!”
He saw Sirius look up eagerly from where he was sitting at the staff table and Remus looked just as interested.
A minute goes by but the hat does declare with a loud bellow, “Gryffindor!”
The Gryffindor table cheered like animals with Fred and George Weasley jumping out of their seats in glee. Harry focused more on Heinrich. He sincerely hoped he got into Heinrich and he could see Heinrich wishing the same as well.
He waited rather impatiently for Heinrich’s turn. After over thirty minutes the boy got called up and Harry watched with raptured eyes. The hat was placed on his head by Mcgonagall and Harry could see the brim of the mouth of the hat moving, but he couldn’t hear what it was saying. He looked into Heinrich’s mind which was slightly more difficult to do due to the distance but succeeded.
The mind had many layers and it was even hard for Harry to correctly interpret what he found sometimes. He felt another presence in the mind he was trying to explore, something foreign. He assumed that must be the hat. He felt the hat brush over many aspects of Heinrich, especially around the boy’s morals and ethics. He stayed away, not wanting to see what would happen if they met. He could tell that the hat seemed to sense his presence as well as it also strayed from where Harry was.
He pulled out, deciding not to try to read into Heinrich’s main thoughts. With greater distance Harry felt less of what Reggie and Heinrich did, but they were still close enough for Harry to still dimly feel it. Heinrich was anxious and slightly… pleading?
Harry monitored his emotions, focusing on only that and nothing else until he heard a loud voice declare.
“Gryffindor!”
Harry let out a breath of relief, feeling a slight chill spread as he untensed. He hadn’t even realized he was so tense until he wasn’t.
He waited for more names to be called before he finally heard it.
“Potter, Harry!”