"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" Called out a giant man, December pulling Petunia off towards him. "C'mon, follow me -- any more firs' years?" He scanned the crowd before deciding he had them all. "Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"
Leaning heavily on December as not to fall, they followed Hagrid down a steep, narrow path. It was very dark, and from what Petunia could see, surrounded by nothing but bush. Nobody really spoke, December hugged Petunia to her tightly. Petunia could hear her muttering about how much she hated the dark.
"Ye' all get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," the giant called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."
As they came around 'this bend here' there was a loud "Oooooh!"
The narrow path had opened up suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Atop a high mountain on the other side stood the castle of Hogwarts, its windows sparkling in the starry sky.
"No more'n four to a boat!" The giant called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Petunia and December found Ron's boat and hopped in before anybody else had a chance.
"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then - FORWARD!"
And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, sailing across the lake, breaking its calm surface. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.
"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; everybody leaning as low into their boats as they could as they were carried through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They continued through a dark tunnel, which December grumbled about. They reached an underground harbor, where they clambered out onto slippery pebbles.
"Oi, you there! Is this your toad?" said the giant, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.
"Trevor!" cried the boy blissfully, holding out his hands as it seemed he lost his toad yet again. Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after the giant's lamp, coming out onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle.
They walked up a flight of sweeping stone steps and crowded around the huge, wooden door.
"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?"
Toad boy nodded, holding up a struggling toad. The giant nodded and raised his fist high to rap on the door.
The door glided open to reveal a tall witch in emerald robes, her salt and pepper hair tied back in a tight bun. She had a very stern face and Petunia hoped she wouldn't have her as a teacher.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said the giant."
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
She turned sharply and lead them down the gigantic entrance hall. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches and the ceiling was so tall that Petunia couldn't see it, the first years feet barely making a sound on the large marble staircase they were led up.
Professor McGonagall showed them into a small, empty chamber off the hall. The first years crowded in, standing rather close together, peering about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room." Petunia thought that Professor McGonagall's speech sounded like she'd memorised it from repeating it for the last twenty years.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
Her eyes lingered for a moment on December's robes which had been ripped in 'fashionable places' as she had explained to Petunia, and on Ron's smudged nose.
"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Now, Harry Potter and Petunia P-Weasley please come up."
Excited whispers broke out. December raised an eyebrow at Petunia as she went to the front of the group, standing beside who she presumed to be Harry Potter.
"Follow me." She told Harry and Petunia, leading them away from the group of talkative first years. Turning right, Professor McGonagall held open a door for Petunia and Harry. They shuffled into a small room that Petunia presumed was her office.
"Please, sit down." She said, gesturing to the two chairs which sat infront of her desk. They all took seats; Harry to the right, Petunia to the left and Professor McGonagall behind her desk.
"So." She said, grasping her hands on her desk. "You two must be dying to know why I pulled you away from the other first years." She and Harry nodded. "Well, I have news for you two which I thought would be best to hear away from prying ears." Petunia's curiosity was growing with each word Professor McGonagall said.
"The person sitting beside you is your twin."
That was not what Petunia was expecting. Nor, it seemed, was Harry.
"W-what!?" Harry stumbled, glancing between McGonagall and Petunia.
"It is true Mr.Potter, you were separated as children after your parents passed away. People thought you were the only one who survived, and Dumbledore preferred to keep people thinking that for as long as he could. Now I understand that this is hard to grasp, so I will leave the room for a few minutes and come back when it's your time to be sorted."
With that she stood and left, leaving the two Potters to just stare at each other. Only a promise to talk later was passed between them before McGonagall came back.
"Alright, come with me. It is time to be sorted."
