Diospyros

The sun was lighting almost all of Harry's room yellow when the boy finally woke up, slowly sitting up in bed. Yawning, he made his way to the bathroom.

Harry Potter was a healthy 11-year-old boy, the son of James and Lily Potter, an Auror and a Hogwarts professor, respectively. He was the brother of Adrien Potter, The Boy-Who-Lived. He lived in Devon, somewhere near the sea, and occupied one of the master bedrooms at Potter Manor. There was an old house elf who was particularly attached to him, so it could be said that he was also the most spoiled boy in the area.

He dressed slowly, and took the time to calmly brush his hair. His Hogwarts trunk was already packed and placed near the door. He would be taking the Express to school soon.

—Harry! Adrian! Breakfast!

Lily Potter called out to the boys, apparently waking Adrien up, if the loud creaking Harry heard coming from the next room meant anything. Yawning, he placed the brush on the shelf and left the room.

The kitchen was the most particularly Muggle place in the magical mansion. It was actually kind of funny, seeing a kitchen that he discovered was called “American cuisine” being managed by a witch in the Muggle style. He finds Sunny's shocked expression when his master denies his help with cooking very amusing.

— Have you prepared everything? – Lily asked Harry when he sat down on the counter.

— Yes – was the only thing the boy replied, still very lethargic. The mother smiled and placed a plate of eggs and bacon in front of the boy, who thanked him.

It was around ten thirty when Adrien finally showed up, looking very messed up.

— Mum! We're almost late! Why didn't you wake me up?! – There was a mixture of upset and anger in his voice, and Lily just looked at her son, without much reaction.

— Who's going to Hogwarts by Express? – She raised an eyebrow, making the boy twist his face, but didn't say anything else.

Harry didn't find the exchange particularly eye-catching, considering his parents only argue with his brother when he doesn't keep to his schedule. Adrien was finishing the eggs when their father, James Potter, entered the kitchen.

— I expected that — He commented, giving Adrien an unimpressed look. – Let’s go to the station via Floo.

The Potters left the house as soon as a quarter to eleven, Harry finding the soot that stuck to his sandals and the hem of his robes particularly bothersome. He had a really weird taste in clothes, his mother had told him once, but he didn't really care. He still finds loose, oversized robes more comfortable.

James pushed Adrien's stroller and Lily pushed Harry's, with Sunny following behind them holding Adrien's owl, Hedwig, and Harry's cat, Crookshanks.

The Hogwarts Express glowed just the right shade of metallic red (which sounds pretty redundant, if Harry thinks about it), and the sound of frantic, angry owls sounded above the heads of frantic, angry people. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw a boy opening a strangely large box, revealing the huge, hairy leg of what he assumed was a giant tarantula. This wasn't as exciting as the boys around the box seemed to think.

Neville Longbottom, his godmother's son, was staring at the station floor, seeming to look for something.

— Grandma – he heard when they got close. – I lost my toad again...

— Ah, Neville — Madam Longbottom sighed.

Smiling slightly, Harry nodded to Trevor, who was watching the station from the iron clock next to the station administration office. The frog inflated and did nothing more when it deflated.

— Very well – James said when they arrived in a train carriage. – I expect letters from the director before the end of the night.

— James!

— Just kidding, darling — James smiled at the boys. – I'm really proud to see you going to Hogwarts. When you get there, ask Peeves where to get a hat like his. He will understand. Also be careful with the fake step on the ladder to Gryffindor, you hear?

— Yes dad – The boys replied, but Harry wasn't too sure about wanting to talk to a poltergeist.

The boys who were still outside the train ran when a whistle sounded through the station, and the Potter twins jumped into the carriage almost instantly.

— Master Harry, Master Adrian, please take care of yourselves! – Sunny said squeaky, tears in his eyes. – Sunny will take care of the Lord and the Lady while you are gone!

— Hey! – James scolded, but was ignored by the little elf.

— Bye mom, bye dad! – Adrien waved to them as the train started to leave the station, Harry also waving behind him. When they finally left the station, the boys entered the carriage.

They managed to find an empty cabin at the end of the carriage, and Harry placed his and Adrien's suitcases in the cargo hold. Hedwig looked very upset in her cage, while Crookshanks stretched out and lay down on the back of the bench Harry was on.

— I'm going to walk through the train – Adrien suddenly said, not even fifteen minutes after they sat in the cabin.

— I'll stay with Hedwig and Crookshanks – Harry said, only receiving a nod from his brother before he left.

Yawning, Harry lay down on the bench, welcoming Crookshanks as the cat jumped into his lap.

— Alohomora – he murmured, pointing to Hedwig's cage, who gave him a grateful pinch after leaving the little place.

Harry had a particular affection for animals. Crookshanks was a half-Kneazle kitten that his parents bought for him in Diagon Alley when they went shopping for Hogwarts supplies. He had followed him all around the store until he picked him up.

It was an interesting day; The Leaky Cauldron was crowded, lots of people wanting to shake Adrien's hand, and the Alley itself was too crowded to be able to pass through very freely, even with those who didn't recognize his brother. Madam Malkin's ribbon caressed his cheek when they went to measure the uniforms, while the needles seemed to have taken a liking to Adrien. He found it particularly funny when they took the pattern for the cover. Later, at Flourish and Blotts, Adrien was swallowed by a bunch of Quidditch books that fell on him as he tried to pick up a new edition of Quidditch Through the Ages. The pharmacy may have been the only thing that made the two boys sick, with the smell of pickle burning their nostrils.

Ollivander still managed to provide their wands. Adrien got a scary one made of holly and phoenix, twin to You-Know-Who's wand, and Harry got a peculiar combination of diospyros and unicorn hair. According to Ollivander, his wand is good for Charms.

A knock on the door woke him from a drowsy state he hadn't realized he was in, and he found himself staring at two little girls.

— Hello — One of them, a blonde with pigtails, greeted him.

— Hello – Harry replied, sitting down.

— The rest of the train is full... can we stay here with you?

— Of course.

The blonde girl dragged a particularly large trunk into the cabin, while the other brought a standard trunk.

— I'm Hannah Abbott – The girl with pigtails introduced herself.

— I'm Susan Bones – The other girl, a brunette, introduced herself. She had a heart-shaped face, Harry could tell.

— I'm Harry Potter.

— Potter? Like Adrien Potter? – Hannah seemed half surprised and half anxious.

— He's my brother, actually.

— Wow — Hannah seemed to look at him in wonder with some kind of hero worship.

— She's been in love with your brother since she was little — Susan commented in a conversational tone. – Don't worry, she's harmless.

Hannah didn't seem to know whether she felt embarrassed or offended. Harry didn't mind much, anyway.

The girls talked a lot amongst themselves, but still brought Harry into the conversation. Crookshanks slept peacefully against the boy's belly, facing away from him. Hedwig had her head under one wing, but Harry didn't think she was asleep either.

— Which House do you think you'll be in, Harry? – Hannah asked him, when the subject arrived at Hogwarts. Harry thought for a while.

— I don't know. I think I'll go to Ravenclaw, but I'm not really sure.

— And your brother?

— Gryffindor – He replied immediately. – He's the type to ask after he's cast a spell. And you? Where are they going?

— I'm going to Hufflepuff — Susan said. – My whole family was there.

— I don't know – Hannah looked a little depressed when she said that. – I don't know if I fit into any of them.

The lady with the candy cart decided to knock on the door at that moment.

— Will you want anything from the cart, dears? – The lady smiled.

— A little bit of everything – Harry asked, and right after paying, he handed Susan and Hannah a pastry. The girl seemed to perk up a bit while eating.

Hedwig discreetly bent down to pick up a pastry from Harry, who watched from the corner of his eye. Crookshanks was not as discreet as he was, directly observing the owl picking it up with its beak and getting back up onto the luggage rack. The cat ended up wanting a chocolate frog, although it was probably just to play with the moving animal.

The landscape beyond the window was almost entirely arboreal, probably to prevent Muggles from seeing wizards. Harry didn't think it was particularly clever to use a bright red train so Muggles wouldn't notice them, now whether it was because it was an abnormal color or the fact that there are nearly five hundred miles of magical exposure inside a train with clear glass windows, no would say.

He had just left for Bertie Bott’s Beans when the cabin door opened. Neville had entered the cabin, and had a girl with him. She was already wearing her new Hogwarts robes.

— Has anyone seen a toad? Neville has lost his. – He had a bossy tone of voice, very thick brown hair and large front teeth.

The girls shook their heads, and Neville finally recognized him.

— Harry! – He seemed really surprised to see him. – Trevor's not with you, is he?

— Hi Neville. Actually, I had seen him at the Station, but I don't know where he is now. Sorry.

The boy visibly lost heart, and Hermione turned to him.

— Did you see him near any carriage before boarding?

— He was on top of the station clock. – The other children looked at him.

— Well… I'm sure he boarded! – The girl with voluminous hair spoke stubbornly, looking at Neville from the corner of her eye nervously, seeming to want to reassure him. Harry liked her.

— Did you ask a monitor to summon the toad? – Susan asked.

— Oh – That's what the girl with Neville said. — Um... that's a good idea. I'm Hermione Granger, and you?

— Susan Bones.

— Hannah Abbott.

— Harry Potter.

— Potter? Like Adrien Potter? – The girl seemed to get excited. – I read the books about him, you know? I'm the first person in my family to have magic, so I was really excited to learn everything I could. I read the books at school and some that I asked my parents to buy. Adrien Potter was in Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Famous Wizards of the 20th Century. – Granger said everything in one breath.

— Well, he's my brother, and yes, I remember he's in those books.

— Do you already know which House you will stay in? I was watching Gryffindor. It seems to be the best House, Dumbledore himself was there, but Ravenclaw doesn't look bad... well, I think we'll look for a monitor now to summon Neville's toad – Granger left the cabin. – Ah, we're almost there, so you better change your clothes soon.

And she took her way.

— She's pretty intense — Hannah muttered, earning a snort from Susan.

— I thought she was fun — Harry admitted. – It would be funny if the Selector Hat placed her somewhere other than Ravenclaw and Gryffindor.

— Selector Hat? – The two girls asked together.

— Damn it – Harry muttered. – Please pretend you don't know if anyone asks, but my da told me that students were selected by the house by an enchanted hat – Technically his dad was talking to his mom about the selection during Christmas, but he was around at the time.

— My aunt told me we were going to take a test! – Susan seemed really indignant.

Harry wisely said nothing to incite her further.

Adrien appeared some time later, with a somewhat irritated expression, to get his uniform from his trunk.

— What happened?

— I met Draco Malfoy – Adrien said irritably. – He's a complete idiot.

This earned a snort from Susan, who pretended she hadn't done anything when Adrien looked at her. He gave her a smile, which ended up making Hannah a little jealous. The girl had barely managed to introduce herself when the boy entered the cabin.

Night ended up coming faster than Harry could realize, lighting up with a hundred bright stars that cut across the sky in a kind of immense radiant cloud, getting lost above and beyond the mountains along the way. At each turn on a hill that the train made, Harry looked to see some repeating or larger formation.

The train slowed down, until it stopped at a dark and foggy station. The students pushed each other to get out of the carriages, and the cold night chilled Harry as soon as he got out with Susan and Hannah. An immense flash caught attention amidst the fog.

— First year students! First year here!

The big, hairy face of the biggest man Harry had ever met smiled at the approaching children. It was Rubeus Hagrid, from what his father had told him.

— Come on, come with me. Anyone else from first year?

Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down a steep and narrow-looking path. It was so dark all around that Harry thought there must be big trees there. Nobody said much. Neville sniffed a couple of times.

— You'll get your first view of Hogwarts in a second — Hagrid called over his shoulder — just around this bend.

A very loud Aoooooh was heard.

The narrow path had suddenly opened up to the shore of a large, dark lake. Perched high on a cliff on the opposite bank, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was an immense castle with many towers and turrets.

— Only four in each boat! – shouted Hagrid, pointing to a flotilla of small boats parked in the water near the shore. Harry and the girls were followed by a blonde boy.

— Is everyone settled? – shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. – So… LET’S GO!

And the flotilla of little boats all let go at the same time, gliding across the lake that was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, their eyes fixed on the great castle above. The building grew larger as they approached the cliff on which it was located.

— Lower your heads! – shouted Hagrid when the first boats arrived at the cliff; Everyone lowered their heads and the little boats passed through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were driven through a dark tunnel, which seemed to take them underneath the castle, to a kind of underground pier, where they disembarked by climbing and stepping on stones and pebbles.

— Hey, you there! Is that your toad? – asked Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people disembarked.

—Trevor! – shouted Neville, happily, stretching out his hands.

Then they climbed through a passage cut into the rock, following Hagrid's torch, and finally emerged on a soft, damp lawn in the shadow of the castle. They climbed a stone staircase and crowded around the huge oak door.

— Is everyone here? You there, do you still have your toad?

Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked on the castle door three times.

The door opened suddenly, and a tall witch with black hair and emerald green robes appeared. She had a very stern face that made Harry think she was a teacher who shouldn't be bothered.

— First year students, Professor Minerva McGonagall – said Hagrid.

— Thank you, Hagrid. I'll take care of them from now on.

She threw open the door. The lobby was so large that the entire attic of Potter Manor could have fit inside. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like those at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to see, and an imposing marble staircase in front led to the upper floors.

They accompanied Professor Minerva across the stone tile floor. Harry heard the murmur of hundreds of voices coming from a door to the right – the rest of the school must have already gathered. But Professor Minerva took the first graders to an empty room off the lobby. They huddled inside, a little tighter than usual, looking nervously around.

— Welcome to Hogwarts – said Professor Minerva. – The opening banquet of the school year will start shortly, but before you sit down at the tables, you will be sorted by houses. Sorting is a very important ceremony because while you are here, your home will be a sort of family at Hogwarts. You will attend classes with the rest of the students in your house, sleep in the house's dormitory and spend your free time in the common room.

“The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its honorable history and each has produced extraordinary witches and wizards. While at Hogwarts, your successes will earn points for your house, while mistakes will make you lose. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will receive the house cup, a great honor. I hope that each of you will be a source of pride for the house to which you belong.

“The Selection Ceremony will be held in a few minutes in the presence of the entire school. I suggest you tidy yourselves up as best you can while you wait.”

Her gaze lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was buckled under his left ear, and on Ron Weasley's dirty nose.

— I'll be back when we're ready to welcome you – said Professor Minerva. – Please wait in silence.

It took a few seconds before a scream caught his attention, as well as the other students, who saw about twenty ghosts passing by the back wall. Pearly white and slightly transparent, they glided around the room chatting amongst themselves, barely seeing the first years. They seemed to be arguing. What resembled a chubby little friar was saying:

— Forgive and forget, I'd say, let's give him a second chance...

— My dear friar, haven't we already given Peeves all the chances he deserved? He tarnishes our reputation and, you know, he's not even a ghost. Wow, what are these kids doing here?

A ghost, wearing a starched ruff collar and socks, suddenly noticed the first-year students.

No one answered.

— New students! – said Friar Fatty, smiling at them. – They are waiting to be selected, I imagine?

Some boys nodded silently.

— I hope to see you in Hufflepuff! – said the friar. – My old house, you know?

— Let's move now — said an energetic voice. – The Selection Ceremony will begin.

Professor Minerva had returned. One by one the ghosts flew out the opposite wall.

— Now line up and follow me.

Feeling uncomfortable with the cold left by the ghosts, Harry fell into line behind Susan and in front of a boy with straw-colored hair, and everyone left the room, walked back through the hall and through the double doors that led to the Great Hall.

Harry had never imagined such a different and splendid place. It was lit by thousands of candles that floated in the air on four long tables, where the other students were already sitting. The tables were set with golden plates and cups. At the other end of the room there was another long table at which the teachers sat. Professor Minerva took the first-year students there, so that they stopped in a row in front of the others, with the teachers at their backs. The hundreds of faces staring back at them looked like dim lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Mixed here and there with the students, the ghosts shone like silver shrouded in mist. Mainly to avoid the stares staring at them, Harry looked up and saw a velvety black ceiling studded with stars. He heard Hermione whisper:

— It's enchanted to look like the sky outside. I read it at Hogwarts, a story.

It was hard to believe that there was a ceiling there and that the Great Hall simply didn't open into infinity.

Harry quickly looked down as Professor Minerva silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she placed a pointed wizard's hat. The hat was patched, tattered and very dirty. Sunny would not have allowed an object in that condition to enter the house.

Noticing that everyone in the room was now looking at the hat, he looked too.

For a few seconds there was total silence. Then the hat moved. A tear near the brim opened like a mouth – and the hat began to sing:

Ah, you may find me unattractive,

But don't judge me just by appearance

I swallow myself if you can find

A smarter hat than daddy here.

You can keep your bowler hats black,

Your shiny satin top hats

Because I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I'll give it ten to zero at every other hat.

There's nothing hidden in your head

That the Sorting Hat cannot see,

So just put it in my head and I'll say

Which Hogwarts house should you stay in?

Who knows, maybe your home is Gryffindor,

The House where indomitable hearts live.

Boldness and cold-bloodedness and nobility

They highlight Gryffindor students from the rest;

Who knows, maybe it's Hufflepuff where you'll live,

Where its residents are fair and loyal

Patient, sincere, without fear of pain;

Or will it be wise old Ravenclaw,

The House of those whose minds are always alert,

Where men of great spirit and learning

You will always find equal companions;

Or maybe Slytherin will be your house

And there you will make your true friends,

Cunning men who use any means

To achieve the ends that were previously collimated.

Come on, try me! You must not fear!

Don't even get in the way! You will be in good hands!

(Even though the hats don't have feet or hands)

Because I'm unique, I'm a Thinking Hat!

The entire hall erupted in applause when the hat finished singing. He bowed to each of the four tables and then became very quiet again.

— Then we just need to try on the hat! I'm going to kill Fred! He said we had to fight a troll! – He heard Ron whisper to Adrien, who gave an awkward smile. Apparently trying on a hat was a lot better than having to do a spell, but he seemed to wish they could have tried on the hat without all those people watching.

Professor Minerva then stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.

— When I call your names, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool for the selection. Abbott, Hannah!

The pigtailed girl stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which sank straight down to her eyes, and sat down. A momentary pause...

— Hufflepuff! – announced the hat.

The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit at the Hufflepuff table. Harry saw the ghost of Friar Fatty waving happily at her.

— Bones, Susan!

— Hufflepuff! – announced the hat again, and Susan quickly left and went to sit next to Hannah.

— Boot, Terence!

— Ravenclaw!

This time it was the second table on the left that applauded; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake Terence's hand when the boy joined them.

Madi Brocklehurst went into Ravenclaw too, but Lavender Brown was the first to be sorted into Gryffindor and the table on the far left erupted in cheers; Harry saw Ron's twin brothers whistle.

Mila Bulstrode became a Slytherin. The girl had a slightly nervous expression on her face, walking shakily to the table at her house. The claps were kind of cold, if he could classify them in any way.

— Finch-Fletchley, Justin!

— Hufflepuff!

Sometimes, Harry noticed, the hat immediately announced the name of the house, but other times it took a while to decide.

Seamus Finnigan, the straw-haired boy next to Harry in line, sat on the stool for almost a minute before the hat announced that he was going into Gryffindor.

— Hermione Granger!

Hermione almost ran to the stool and put on the hat, anxiously.

— GRYFFINDOR! – announced the hat. He heard Ron groan from his place in line.

Neville was soon called, but ended up taking a fall on the way to the stool. The hat took a long time to decide on it. When he finally announced “GRYFFINDOR,” Neville ran out with the hat on his head, and had to return amid an avalanche of laughter to hand it to Morag MacDougal.

The boy named Draco Malfoy, who had upset Adrien, waddled forward when his name was called and had his apparent wish granted immediately: the hat had barely touched his head when he announced:

— SLYTHERIN!

There were few people left now.

Moon..., Nott..., Parkinson..., then two twins, Patil and Patil..., then Perks, Sara... and then, finally...

— Potter, Adrien!

When Adrien stepped forward, there was a buzz throughout the room like a wildfire.

— Potter, is that what she said?

—The Adrien Potter?

It was a rude commotion, but expected. Harry wondered if any of them had read the Daily Prophet recently, as there had been a text about Adrien going to Hogwarts not two weeks ago.

The Sorting Hat opened its mouth after some time of deliberation and shouted:

— GRYFFINDOR!

Adrien shakily stood up from the stool, a smile on his face. Percy Weasley, the Prefect, stood up and shook his hand energetically, while the Weasley twins shouted, “We won Potter! We won Potter!” Adrien sat across from the ghost with the ruffled collar he had seen before the ceremony. The ghost patted him on the arm, causing a visible shudder. Their mother, Lilian, smiled from the teachers' table.

— Potter, Harry!

The room ended up falling into another silence, although admittedly confusing.

— Another Potter?

— Did the brother come?

If Harry hadn't been as reclusive as he knew himself to be, he might have been offended by the whispers. He walked to the stool and sat down calmly, letting Professor Minerva place the hat on his head.

— Difficult. Very difficult. Quite brave, I see. Not a bad mind. There's talent, oh my, a reasonable thirst for power, now that's interesting... So where am I going to put you?

Naturally, Harry tried to ignore the Hat's murmurs in his head.

— Hmm... you’re interested, I see that, a little focused too... maybe too much, but... hmm... yes, I think it's better to be SLYTHERIN!

Well. That surprised Harry too.