We Didnt Start The Fire

Arrival

Eddie was still moping when the train came to a stop again but this time Hermione looked excited, not scared.

"What's going on?" Eddie asked nervously.

Hermione looked at Eddie, took his hands in hers and said excitedly "we are at Hogwarts, well outside Hogwarts. We will be taking the boats across the moat while the older kids take the carriages. Oh, I'm so excited".

Eddie looked to the boys who just shrugged their shoulders and they got up and followed the others off the train.

When they got out there were boats lined up across the moat's edge.

"Harry, Ron Hermione over here" came a loud voice. Hermione grabbed Eddie's arm and they ran towards a man towering over the others.

"Hagrid, I want you to meet Eddie; he is new to the wizarding world. Eddie, this is hagrid. He is half giant and the most generous person you will meet. He saved Harry, his mom, aunt and cousin from his asshole uncle and his own father and found them a beautiful home in Godric's Hollow. It's a safe place for wizards mixed together with non wizards though they don't know about the wizards but you will learn all that in history of magic.

Oh and if you're wondering about Harry's scar, with a combination of his mother's and aunt's protection he survived a killing curse being used on him.

Harry's cousin Dudley is a year above us and he is in Gryffindor, that's one of the four houses but they'll explain that also in a history of Hogwarts" Hermione said in one breath.

Eddie nodded. He took in most of it but a lot went over his head.

Suddenly he had big arms around him and was being pulled in for a squishy hug.

"Nice to meet ya Eddie. How's your pops? I really enjoy hanging out with Wayne in Diagon Alley and having a drink" Hagrid said in a gruff voice.

"Wayne's good" Eddie said not knowing what else to say because none of this was making an ounce of sense to him.

Hagrid let him go, took one look in Eddie's eyes, and gave him the same look the woman on the train did, a look of sadness.

Eddie just stood silently until Hagrid motioned them to follow.

Once they were in the boat Hagrid had secured they headed towards the castle Eddie finally saw on the horizon.

Eddie silently watched as they crossed the moat until he saw the blonde-haired blue-eyed boy on another boat but it was the blonde-haired blue-eyed boy sitting next to him with the same look of confusion and pain as he was feeling.

"Who is that with the loud-mouthed kid" Eddie asked accidently rocking the boat.

The others looked across at the boat and none of them had any idea. Eddie did but he kept it to himself.

Looking at the opposite shore he saw the wagons with the older students and was taken aback by what looked kike the ringwraiths horses.

"What are those horses?" Eddie asked excited about something finally.

They all looked at him.

It was Harry who said "you can see them. They are Thestrals and only people who have witnessed death can see them. None of us can see them. Did you see someone die Eddie"?

Eddie nodded and said sadly "I watched one of my good friends get killed by an evil force right in front of me. She was destined for greatness before her life was taken too early".

Hermione put a hand on his shoulder quietly and that was enough for Eddie. He liked quiet interactions. It seemed Chrissy was the only one who ever got that but maybe Hermione does as well.

Eddie smiled at Hermione and the quietly enjoyed the rest of the boat ride.

When they landed Eddie's mouth fell open at the size of the castle in front of him.

"How do you keep nonwizards from seeing this place?" Eddie asked.

"It's protected by magic Mr. Munson but please continue moving into the waiting area for the first years for the sorting ceremony.

I am Professor Minerva McGonagall and will be waiting with you while Hagrid joins the rest of the staff at the main table" the woman from the train said.

The four of them headed into the waiting area where ghosts were just hovering around.

"Wow, Dudley told me about the house ghosts. That's the fat friar for Hufflepuff, nearly headless Nick for Gryffindor, the gray lady for Ravenclaw, and the bloody Baron for Slytherin" Harry said, pointing each ghost out.

"Percy likes to talk about how the bloody Baron and the gray lady hate each other. Rumor has it he killed her and then killed himself" Ron said as he ate another chocolate frog.

Eddie listened intently. It was like a huge live-action DnD campaign and he was soaking it all in.

After a few minutes, names started being called alphabetically.

When it came to Hermione's turn Eddie gave her a thumbs up and when the hat shouted Ravenclaw everyone at the Blue table started clapping and a set of blue robes appeared on her.

Next was a name he knew and a face he saw on his way here.

William "Billy" Malfoy-Hargrove the blue eyed blonde haired sun-kissed devil that made a whole year of Eddie's life feel like a living hell mixed with the best year he ever had.

Eddie watched as the hat was placed on his head and after several minutes it screamed Ravenclaw and he now adorned the same blue robes Hermione got and for some reason, Eddie was feeling super jealous.

Next was the blonde-haired blue-eyed creep who turned out to have the same last name as Billy, Malfoy. Even though Draco Malfoy had no poise like Billy he did have the same air of arrogance. Eddie laughed as the hat screamed Slytherin without even being put on his head.

Then it happened. "Eddie Munson" was called and he was pushed out onto the walkway. He saw Billy watching him with surprise. The room had grown pin drop silent when his name was called.

The older man placed the hat on his head and he heard a voice in his head. "ahh another one from Hawkins. You're finally joining us. Well, you would do wonderful things in Gryffindor but it's the Hufflepuffs that would gain the most" the hat said.

"Why can't I be in Ravenclaw with Billy and Hermione?" Eddie asked, confused.

"Well Mr. Munson because you will flourish better in Hufflepuff where they will share a lot of your own interests and your friends will have their task of answering your questions as soon as your able to ask them" the hat said and then yelled "Hufflepuff" and the hat was removed and Eddie had orange robes on and the cheering from the table where a older woman with gray hair and a green hat sat rang through the room.

Eddie headed over and took a seat next to a girl with long brown hair plaited down her back.

"My name is Susan," she said, smiling. "Im Eddie" Eddie said back with a grin. "Would you like to hang out after this really boring ceremony? I have a DnD board" she said laughing. Eddie's eyes lit up and nodded.

Then the girl with fiery green eyes, Pansy Parkinson was the name called out and she had the hat just yell Slytherin before being put on.

Next was Harry who also went to Slytherin and Ron who ended up coming with him to Hufflepuff. Eddie felt bad for the kid since it seemed his siblings were all in Gryffindor.

"I will never hear the end of this," Ron said as he sat across from Eddie.

When he saw who Eddie was sitting next to he said "Hey Susan I'm sorry about your family. That must've been terrible". Susan said "Thank you" and laid her head on Eddie's shoulder and when he didn't move Ron whispered "why are the girls all over you" making Eddie laugh.

When the ceremony ended they were led off to their tower or basement as their house was known. They were led by the older students known as head boys and girls.

He watched Hermione and Billy head off to one of the towers. Billy grinned and put an arm around Hermione and flipped off Eddie as they disappeared. Eddies inside boiled again.

Eddie took a deep breath and told himself he had been through worse and this was just another adventure.