Harry could hardly believe everything that had happened to him in the past month. A boa constrictor had escaped from the zoo, letters streamed into their house via fireplace, they relocated to a hut on a secluded island, and on his birthday, a giant man called Hagrid broke down the door to their hut and told Harry he was a wizard. And now, Harry was in the car with the Dursleys headed towards King’s Cross Station where he was supposed to be going to Platform 9 ¾, which would take him to a wizarding school where he would be taught about magic.

When they arrived, Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley walked Harry over to the platforms. “There you are. Platforms 9 and 10. I don’t know where your’s is supposed to be. Well, that’s your problem. Have a good term!” And with that the Dursleys departed and Harry was left alone.

He looked at his ticket again to make sure he’d gotten the platform right. “9 ¾” it read. He had. He asked around to see if anyone knew where platform 9 ¾ was and they all told him to stop wasting their time, there was no such thing. He sat down, defeated, stroking Hedwig’s feathers.

When he’d finally given up hope of ever finding the platform, a group of red-heads passed Harry and he caught a few words of what they were saying. “...packed with Muggles, of course.” He got up with a start and went to follow the family.

“You first, Percy.” a plump woman, clearly the mother, was saying.

The eldest of the red-heads walked towards the wall between platforms 9 and 10, but before he crashed into the wall, a crowd of people covered him, obscuring him from view. When they moved, he had disappeared.

The woman continued as if nothing peculiar had happened. “Now you, Fred and George.”

A pair of twins ran at the wall, but disappeared before crashing into it.

There were only two children left, and it didn’t seem the girl was going to Hogwarts, so, before he missed his chance, he approached the woman. “Excuse me,” he began.

“Oh, hello, dear! Is it your first time going to Hogwarts? Ron’s new too.” She nodded towards the red-headed boy and he smiled.

“Yes ma’am.” He replied. “I just don’t know how to-”

“How to get onto the platform?”

He nodded.

“All you have to do is run at the wall. Don’t be scared you’ll crash into it, because you won’t. Go on before Ron.”

“Er- okay.” Harry said awkwardly, turning his trolley around to face the wall. He began walking towards it, but eventually broke into a run. He shut his eyes, expecting a crash, but none came. He went straight through the wall as the three boys before him had.

He came out onto a busy platform which had a red sign that read: “Platform 9 ¾”. He had done it! A few seconds later, the boy, Ron, came barreling through the wall with his trolley. Harry quickly dodged.

“Sorry about that.” Ron said.

“You’re good. Shall we find a compartment?”

Ron nodded, and the pair hopped aboard the train. They found an empty compartment and sat down. 

“You know my name,” Ron said. “What’s yours?”

“Harry,” Harry said, “Harry Potter.”

“Blimey!” Ron said. “You’re really Harry Potter!?”

Harry nodded and pulled back his bangs to reveal the thin lightning bolt scar on his forehead.

“Do you remember anything about it?” he asked, eagerly.

“I remember there being a lot of green light and mum was screaming.” he said.

“Wow,” Ron muttered, turning to look out the window again.

The compartment door slid open. “Sweets, m’dears?” the trolley witch asked.

“No, I don’t have enough…room in my stomach...just ate.” Ron said, awkwardly.

“What do you want, Ron? I’ll get us each something.” Harry offered, standing.

“No, I’m good, really.”

Harry bought a bit of every kind of sweet, thanked the trolley witch, and moved to sit beside Ron again.

Ron’s ears went pink. “You didn’t have to-”

“I know.” Harry said. “Here, have some. I can’t eat all of this.” He unwrapped a chocolate frog and pushed the pile towards Ron. “Go on.”

Ron tentatively took a chocolate frog off the top of the pile and unwrapped it.

They sat and ate their sweets for a little while, until the compartment door slid open again. “Have any of you seen a toad?” a dark-haired boy asked, looking distraught.

They shook their heads. “Sorry, no.”

“Let me know if you find one!” he said, then hurried off.

Harry paused, just remembering that Ron didn’t have an owl. “What animal did you bring?”

Ron produced what looked like a miniature grey carpet from his robes. “I brought a rat called Scabbers. It was Percy’s old one before he got an owl because he was made a Prefect.” Ron rolled his eyes. “Mum’s been at it all summer. ‘Percy’ this, ‘Percy’ that. You’d think she doesn’t have 6 other children!” He pulled out his wand. “Anyway, Fred and George told me a spell that is supposed to turn him yellow. Make him more interesting, I suppose.”

The door to their compartment slid open a third time and this time there was a girl with lots of bushy brown hair and large front teeth. “Has anyone seen a toad?” she asked. “Nevelle’s lost his.”

“No.” they repeated, but she wasn’t listening. She was looking at Ron’s wand.

“Oh, you’re doing magic? Let’s see it then.” She had a quite bossy sort of voice that matched her hands that were resting on her hips.

Ron cleared his throat and said, “Sunshine, daises, butter, mellow, turn this stupid, fat rat yellow.” A flash came out of his wand, but Scabbers remained as grey as ever.

“Are you sure that’s a real spell? Well, it’s not very good, is it?”

Ron muttered something under his breath.

The girl ignored him. “I’ve tried a few simple spells and they’ve all worked for me.” She pointed her wand at Harry’s glasses. “Oculus Reparo!” The tape flew off and his glasses were mended.

“I’m Hermione Granger. And you are…?”

“Ronald Weasley.” Ron said through a mouthful of pasty.

“Harry, Harry Potter.” Harry said, still shocked from what happened.

“Are you really? I read all about you, you know. You’re in so many books!”

Ron and Harry exchanged a look.

“Anyway, I’ve got to be going. You two had better change, you know, I expect we’ll be arriving soon.” She left, closing the door behind her.

Ron and Harry quickly changed into their long black robes as the train pulled into a station, the wheels squealing against the track.

“Leave your luggage on the train, it will be brought up to your dormitories.” A voice said, as people were exiting the train.

“Firs’ Years! Firs’ Years, follow me!” Hagrid shouted over the noise.

“Hagrid!” Harry shouted without meaning to.

“How’re you doin’, Harry?” He said, leading the group of First Years towards some boats on the edge of a massive lake.

“Good!” He shouted back, getting into a boat with Ron, Hermione, and the toad-less boy.

“Oi, Neville, is this your toad?” Hagrid held up a frog.

Neville nodded and ran over to him to claim his toad. “Trevor!”

When everyone was settled into their boats, the little fleet set off across the lake.

“After we go under this bridge,” Hagrid said, “you will get your first glimpse o’ Hogwarts.”

They went under the bridge and all of a sudden, there was a chorus of “Ooh!”s from the front of the group.

It was truly the most beautiful thing Harry had ever seen. Hogwarts was a massive castle sitting atop a cliff. It was black, it’s yellow windows standing out against the night.

The little fleet docked and everyone climbed out. “Follow me!” Hagrid called, leading the group up the rock face. When they had reached the top, Hagrid raised a massive fist to the oak doors and knocked three times.

A tall, thin witch in dark green robes came to the door and opened it for them. “I am Professor McGonagall.” she told them, leading the way into the Entrance Hall.

To their right was another pair of massive oak doors flanked by trophy cases on either side. To their left was an archway leading down a hallway and a staircase on either side of that. At the end of the hall was a painting of a fruit bowl that went wall-to ceiling.

“Wait here.” she told them. “I will come and get you when we are ready.” and she disappeared into a chamber to their right.

“So it’s true then.” a voice said from behind Harry. He turned and saw a slender boy with platinum blonde hair leaning on the shoulder of two brown-haired boys who must’ve been a sort of bodyguards.

“Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts.” He liked the way he said his name.

The boy moved to stand about 3 feet in front of him. “My name is Draco, Draco Malfoy.” He extended his hand. “Want to be friends?”

Harry nodded and shook his hand without hesitation. Draco smiled and Harry felt lighter. He smiled back.

Ron coughed. “You might want to wash your hands after touching a Malfoy.” He sounded resentful.

Harry looked down at their hands, which were still clasped, not seeing what could be wrong with his new friend.

Draco’s grip on Harry’s hand tightened. “At least I’m not a Weasley!” he spat back, his pale face flushing a slight pink in his anger.

“Your father corrupts the Ministry!” Ron shouted. His ears and face were as red as his hair. “He-!”

The door opened and the two fell silent, still glaring at each other.

“Follow me.” Professor McGonagall said, opening the doors wider so the students could enter behind her.

The Great Hall truly was great with its 4 long tables filled with students and a huge walkway leading up to a raised platform where the teachers were. A black haired professor sat at the left end of the table talking to a man in a purple turban. In the centre of the table was a big golden chair with a man with long silver hair and beard, long enough to tuck into his belt. He must be Dumbledore. Harry thought. To Dumbledore’s left was Hagrid, a plump little witch with dirt all down the front of her robes, and a little man that looked as though he was standing on a stack of books and might fall over at any second. Behind the platform was a banner with the Hogwarts crest on it, the same that was on the seal of his letter. There was a high ceiling that was “bewitched to look like the sky above” as Hermione had told them. The room was lit by over 100 floating candles.

They walked down the centre aisle to the front of the raised platform where a stool with an old, ragged hat sitting upon it was.

Professor McGonagall addressed the first-years. “Now when I call your name, you will come forth and I will place the sorting hat on your head and you will be sorted into your houses.” She cleared her throat. “Hannah Abbot!”

A girl with wavy brown hair walked onto the platform timidly. She sat down on the stool and Professor McGonagall place the hat on her head. She sat there for a little bit before the hat shouted, “HUFFLEPUFF!”

A cheer rose up from the left-most table as Hannah went to join them.

“Blaise Zabini!”

A tall black boy strode forward and took his place on the stool. “SLYTHERIN!” the hat shouted.

“Neville Longbottom!”

The toad-less boy came forward.

“GRYFFINDOR!”

“Astoria Greengrass!”

“SLYTHERIN!”

“Parvati Patil!”

“GRYFFINDOR!”

“Padama Patil!”

“RAVENCLAW!”

The black haired teacher that had been talking to the man with the purple turban looked suddenly at Harry and a stabbing pain went through his forehead. He pressed a hand to his scar and winced.

Ron and Draco turn to face him at once. “Are you okay?” they asked, then glared at each other.

“Yeah.” Harry said. “Fine.”

“Vincent Crabbe!”

The shorter of Draco's “bodyguards” from earlier went to the platform.

“SLYTHERIN!”

“Gregory Goyle!”

The other came forward.

“SLYTHERIN!”

“Hermione Granger!”

Hermione took a deep breath and went forward timidly.

“GRYFFINDOR!”

“Draco Malfoy!”

Draco smiled at Harry, then went to the stool and sat on it. The hat had barely touched his head before it shouted, “SLYTHERIN!”

“Ronald Weasley!”

“Wish me luck, mate.” Ron said, then gulped and made his way slowly towards the hat.

“GRYFFINDOR!”

“Harry Potter!”

The Hall fell silent at once and Harry felt the eyes of everyone present on him. He approached the stool and sat.

“Well, well, well.” a voice in Harry's ear said.

Harry jumped. The hat was talking to him!

“Plenty of courage, I see.” The hat continued. “Not a bad mind, either. There's Talent! Ooh, yes. And a thirst to prove yourself. I know just where to put you: SLYTHERIN!”

He stood and started making his way towards the Slytherin table. Harry caught Ron's eye. Ron rolled his eyes and looked away.

He sat down beside Draco, who looked uncomfortable. To Draco's right sat a ghost with a hood over his face and silver blood dripping down the front of his robes. Harry pulled Draco closer to him and he relaxed a little.

When everyone had been sorted, Dumbledore stood. “Before we begin this lovely feast that has been prepared for us, I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. Firstly, Mr. Filch, our caretaker,” He indicated a tall man with a receding hairline that had a brown cat circling his ankles at the back of the room. “has asked me to inform you got the list of objects not permitted in the Halls has grown immensely since last term and can be viewed in his office. Secondly, the Dark Forest on the edge of the property is forbidden to all students.” his blue eyes flickered to Ron's twin brothers for a split second then back over the rest of the Hall. “Thirdly, and most importantly, the third floor corridor is forbidden to all students who do not wish to die a most painful death. On that happy note,” He raised his arms. “Dig in!”

The golden plates and goblets instantly filled with all kinds of food. Roast beef, lamb chops, boiled potatoes, and Yorkshire Pudding, better than anything the Dursleys had ever given Harry.

“Go on.” Draco urged him when he saw he wasn't eating.

Harry reached for some sausages and began filling his plate. “So,” he asked Draco between mouthfuls. “why do you and Ron hate each other so much?”

Draco thought about it. “well, our families have been enemies for ages, our fathers especially.”

“I wish everyone could be friends.” Harry said.

Draco nodded. “Me too.”

Harry reached for the gravy at the same time as Draco. Not meaning to, he grabbed Draco's hand. He let go immediately, blushing.

“Sorry.” he mumbled.

He picked up the gravy and dumped a portion onto his and Draco’s plates. Draco smiled gratefully.

When everyone had had their fill, the food transformed into desserts. There was pies in every flavour, trifle ice cream, pudding, and so much more. Harry got a little bit of almost everything and ate until he could barely move.

He began to collapse, but Draco caught him, pulling him against his chest and wrapping his arms tightly around his middle.

he leaned into Draco's chest and closed his eyes. “I ate too much.” He moaned, groggily.

Draco chuckled, pushing the hair out of Harry's eyes. “Yeah, I think you did.”

Harry smiled weakly. 

Dumbledore got to his feet again and Draco topped Harry on the shoulder so he would open his eyes. Harry looked around and saw Dumbledore been whispered, “Thanks!” to Draco. Draco smiled and the two turned their attention to the raised platform.

“Now that you have all eaten enough, some of you, probably too much,” Harry grinned sheepishly. “prefects will now lead you to your house dormitories. Have a good term!”

Two 5th year Slytherins, a boy and a girl, got up from the other end of the table.

“I'm Zarith.” the boy said. “And this is Dahlia.” He indicated the girl. “We are your prefects for this year.”

“Follow us!” Dahlia said, leading the Slytherins out of the Great Hall.

Slytherin and Gryffindor went left and Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw went right. Harry spotted who he was looking for. He grabbed Draco's arm and let him to where Hermione, Neville, and Ron were walking. Ron tried to walk away, but Hermione held fast. Eventually, he gave up, folding his arms and glaring at the Slytherins.

“Don't mind him.” Hermione said, gesturing to Ron. “He's in a bad mood.”

Harry laughed. “You're good.”

“Gryffindors, this way.” someone said, pointing to a staircase to the left. Harry recognized him as Ron's eldest brother, Percy the prefect.

“Well, bye!” Hermione said. “See you in lessons!”

“Bye!” Harry and Draco said as the Gryffindors departed.

The Slytherins began to sending down a staircase. They emerged in the dungeons of the castle.

“The dungeons?!” Harry hissed.

Draco shrugged.

They stopped at a fairly normal looking patch on the stone wall.

“Pureblood!” Zarith said, and the wall opened, revealing a sitting-room bathed in green.

Stepping into the room, Harry saw, to his right, black sofas and armchairs surrounding a blazing heart. Straight ahead was a massive window, except, instead of looking outside, the view was underwater. They were under the lake! he realized.

“Boys’ dormitories to the left, girls’ to the right!” Dahlia said, pointing to the staircases on the sides of the room. “Goodnight!” In with that, the two prefects went up to their dorms.

The students scrambled up the stairs.

“Wow!” Harry said, stepping into the first year boys' room.

The windows were covered with thin green curtains to let in the greenish light from the lake. Spread across the floor was a green rug with intricate patterns. And the beds; they were like nothing Harry had ever seen. Five 4-posters arranged in a u shape with green hangings and soft-looking green bedding. At the foot of each of the beds were their trunks. Crabbe and Goyle got the two beds on the left, Blaze got the middle bed, leaving Draco and Harry with the right-most beds.

Harry crawled into bed, which was even softer than it looked, and fell asleep before his head hit the pillow.