The Boats
"A'right first years. Follow me this way to the boats! Everyone else, you know where to go." Mallory and Malachi simply stare up at the large half giant in front of them.
"Hagrid!" James and Rose run up to Hagrid to meet their father's friend.
"James, Rose! Good to see you back! Ok, hurry on, don't want to miss the carriages."
James and Rose run off, but Mallory, Malachi, Scorpius and Albus stand back a bit. "Ahhh, you lot must be the new first year children of our golden trio."
"Well, sir, Scorpius and I are, but these two are my cousins Mallory and Malachi Dursley. They are my Uncle Dudley's twins."
"Dudley had magical children!? I bet that was a right surprise for the foul git."
"My father is NOT a foul git! How DARE you speak about a man you have never met?" Mallory began to spew quite urgently and harshly.
"Of course, Miss Dursley, I do apologize. You are correct. I never met your father as a man, however, I did meet him when he was your age. I think your Uncle Harry would agree that at that age, your father would have qualified as a foul git. However, it is not right for me to disparage your father, in front of you or at all. Please accept my apologies."
Although she didn't exactly accept his apology, she gives the large man a curt half nod before turning toward the lake. Hagrid suddenly remembers that he is supposed to be leading the first year students to the boats, and heads off toward the lake with a loud, "Come along now, we are going to be late!"
~~~
Once everyone is settled into their boats, their chatter and giggles quickly filter out as one by one they become entranced with the large school in front of them.
"Oi, Albus, did Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny really go to school here!? This seems like a fairytale castle out of the storybooks Aunt Hermione read to us," Mallory poorly whispers.
"That they did. And from all the stories I have heard, it was both an amazing time, but also a terrible time for them. Remember the story of the Dark Lord?" Albus who, typically a more quiet and timid child, suddenly forgot his timid nature as he begins to expound upon his knowledge of the subject.
"I do," Malachi said, "BUT, didn't our parents all tell us that just because we have knowledge of something, doesn't mean we have to talk about it. Make sure to remember so that we don't repeat the mistakes of the past, but let the past remain in the past. There was a time when even Mallory and I were in danger of not being allowed at Hogwarts due to our dad."
Albus dropped his eyes, obviously recognizing the verbal reprimand.
"While that is all true Malachi, wouldn't you also say that it is good to speak about the past in order to educate ourselves and others so as to help spread the knowledge? Knowledge is power, my mother always says. When one has the power of knowledge, to keep that knowledge all to oneself would be harsh and selfish and is not good. So, maybe we drop the subject for tonight, but it would be good to make sure that we embrace knowledge and spread it for the general prosperity of everyone involved." Scorpius met Albus' eyes and nodded a silent thank you, to which Scorpius nodded a barely perceptible 'your welcome'.
~~~
"Good Evening First Years! Gather around quickly, quickly." Gathering in the front foyer, only slightly distracted with the grandeur and splendor all around them, the young first years gather in but struggle to focus on the aging woman with a pointed black hat in front of them. "Ok, everyone, eyes up here. My name is Headmistress Minerva McGonagall. You took a little longer than usual coming up from the boats, so we must hurry if we are to be finished by curfew. Now, for those of you who do not know, you are about to walk into the Great Hall where you will be sorted into your houses. The four houses are as follows, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Hufflepuff. Now, once we get inside, please follow my all the way to the end of the aisle. Once we read the end of the aisle, I will step up onto the platform but you will remain on the floor until your name is called. at that point, you will climb up onto the platform where you will have the Sorting Hat placed on your head and you will have your house said aloud. Once your house is chosen, you will step down and walk to the table where you will meet your new housemates. After tonight, there will only be a few feasts where the houses are separated into four long tables. Some of your parents came back for the year after the Second Wizarding War and decided that the divisions between houses was no longer necessary, and if I have to admit, I heartily agreed.
Okay, any questions? No? GREAT! Then please follow me!" Headmistress McGonagall turned on the heel of her boot and began to march straight through the large double doors of the Great Hall. Just as on the boats and in the Foyer, the First Years were taken with the enchanted ceiling and floating candles. Before they knew it, they were at the front of the Great Hall, and the first student's name was called and the sorting began.
"Amberlee Elaine Abbott"