𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕀 ~ ℍ𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕪 ℙ𝕠𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣

~ ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕋𝕨𝕠 ~

It was approaching nightfall, and the Hogwarts Express had come to a halt, indicating the student's arrival at the school. Now dressed in her black robes, Lilabeth stepped out of the passenger car and walked towards the sea of students, wearing the same robes as her. Draco and his friends followed close behind, still snickering behind her back. But no matter what was said, the Malfoy girl did her best to keep her calm composure.

"Right, then! First Years this way, please!" the voice called out. It belonged to a man dressed in a brown coat, his brown hair and beard longer than what Lilabeth could've ever imagined. In one hand, he carried a lantern, having the rest of the first years follow him. He led the students to a dock, multiple boats on its waters, big enough to hold four to five people. Lilabeth, Draco, and his friends stepped into one of the boats. In an instant, they began to glide across the water without the assistance of paddles.

The boat tilted briefly to one side, startling Crabbe and Goyle for a moment. But it continued to float, and before they knew it, the Hogwarts school came into view. But this wasn't just any ordinary school. This was a massive castle with perhaps dozens of small and large towers. This is all... breathtaking! Lilabeth thought to herself the longer she stared at it all.

Inside the castle, the First-Year students climbed up two flights of stairs to the next level, where a woman in a dark emerald cloak and black witches' hat on her head was waiting for them. "Welcome to Hogwarts! In a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses," she explained. "They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin,"

Please let me be in Slytherin! Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Draco glancing over at his friends, nodding almost as if he knew he would be in Slytherin. After another minute or so, talking about how the houses would be like their families, Professor McGonagall told the children that the ceremony would begin shortly.

"It's true then!" Draco spoke, his words focused directly on a dark-haired boy with circular glasses and emerald-green eyes. Lilabeth looked over her shoulder, noticing the boy staring back at her brother, confused. "Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts," Lilabeth's eyes slightly widened, as everyone in the wizarding world knew who he was. His parents had been killed by a man who no one would dare speak his name, and somehow, Harry made it out alive with only a lightning bolt scar on his forehead. The Boy Who Lived? He's here?

"This is Crabbe and Goyle," Draco glanced over at his sister for a moment, scoffing under his breath. "That's... Lilabeth. And I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy," A small laugh came from the red-haired boy next to Harry, making Draco's gaze turn sharply. "Think our names funny to you? No need to ask you yours," A Weasley. Pity he and Harry have to be forced through my brother's cruelties on the first day.

"You'll soon find that some wizarding families are better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort," Draco held out his hand as an offer of friendship, although he didn't know it, his sister was silently hoping that Harry wouldn't accept, knowing that Draco would try to turn the young boy into another one of his mindless crones. "I think I can tell the wrong sort for myself, thanks," Harry replied, stunning the Malfoy boy.

Good decision, Potter. Before he could say anything further, Professor McGonagall tapped Draco's shoulder with her scroll, letting the First Years know it was time for the sorting ceremony. "Potter has no idea he made the wrong choice. He'll regret his decision," Draco hissed under his breath, speaking to no one in particular.