Achieving Greatness

Chapter 2

The Hogwarts Express slowed to a halt in front of a picture perfect village, smoke drifting out of chimneys and candles flickering in street lights and shop windows. Everyone peered out of the train's windows, taking in the wonderful sight. Harry took this opportunity to collect his things and head through the empty train to the fresh air, the others following behind. Groups were gathering, some by carriages drawn by seemingly nothing and some by Hagrid, in a large moleskin coat that gave him even more bulk than he already had. It didn't help that Hagrid stood twice as high as most of the first years surrounding him.

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?" Hagrid gave him a bushy smile from behind his tangled beard. Harry smiled and waved before catching a glimpse of Draco's sneer. 

"That's Hagrid, he works here." Harry said, puzzled by Malfoy's resentment.

"I know... Father said he dropped out, the great oaf! Dumbledore only gave him the job of cleaning school grounds, quite a worthless job, that is, out of pity. And he isn't even completely wizard!" He frowned a bit before turning to Goyle to take the History of Magic Blood out of his books pile. Hagrid had told Harry he was the 'Keeper of the Keys' but was that just a cover up for his more dull job of cleaning the school grounds?

Draco seemed very certain of this so Harry pushed it out of his mind before loading himself onto the small boat to get to Hogwarts. The water beneath their craft glowed a green, eerie light that twinkled. The light disappeared for a moment, as if something was passing over it. Malfoy mischievously gazed at it and then up at the castle as it came into view from beneath the bridge lined with carriage after carriage carrying the older students. It was tall and majestic with more towers than one could count on his hand. All the first years let out oo's and ah's.

"Bloody hell!" came from the next boat over, carrying Neville, Hermione, and Ron. Harry chuckled at Ron, smiling, but Ron simply glared at him. Hermione, who had been watching the two, quickly turned to Neville, appearing to be in deep conversation. 

"I don't know why you even bother, Potter," Draco drawled. "He's given up on you." Draco had turned his attention back to his book, in which he was leisurely flipping through the pages. Harry looked at Ron's boat, where the three were laughing at something Neville had just clumsily done. He wished somehow he could be friends with both sides, but since Ron was being ignorant, well, he might as well just leave the others alone.

One by one the boats filed into a stone shelter, where stairs lead up to the main part of the castle. The first room was brilliantly large, with ceilings higher than any Muggle building Harry had seen, and tall oak doors where thousands of voices laughed and chattered behind. The first years stood, shivering in excitement, only making a joke or comment to a friend when they thought they might burst. 

"See that girl over there, Potter?" Draco tilted his head towards a girl, standing near a banister, with light, short brown hair and a stout, pug-like nose. "She is certainly a Slytherin! Look at how she holds herself." Harry tried with all his might, but he could see no difference between anyone else and this girl. Goyle was gazing at her until Draco slapped him. 

"Sorry, she was just... I-"

"Stop your blubbering, will you?"

Goyle did stop his blubbering, but only for the reason that the large oak doors were being pulled open by no one. The first years were led by a strict looking Professor into a room Draco said was called the Great Hall. This ceiling was higher than the first, and was enchanted to look like the night sky above. Four long tables ran the length of the room, packed with older students. A table at the front faced the whole room, lined with all the Professors and Dumbledore, with his long beard and spectacles, was seated in the center.