Hogwarts: A Future

Chapter Three: Past and Present

That evening the Gryffindor common room was full of noise. Students laughing at jokes, catching up with friends who they hadn't seen all summer, bemoaning teachers who had already set homework, and a group of fourth years twisting the dials on the wireless until they found a station playing the latest Weird Sister song.

Aggie, Demetri and James had already opened their freshly bought Weasley's Wizard Wheezes products, and had sent a clockwork winged pig soaring round the room.

'URGH!' screamed a group of seventh years when the pig made an impressive loop and deposited realistic manure over them. The first years giggled nervously as the rest of the common room roared with laughter, as the seventh years gave Dom, Aggie, James, Frank and Freddie a thorough telling off. Al thought it a bit unfair that Frank and Freddie be included in this, but being part of James' group (and laughing as hard as James, Aggie and Dom) it was hardly surprising.

Richard Goodfellow turned to his fellow first years in amazement, 'I'd no idea magic could do that sort of thing!' He had told them earlier he came from a non-magical family.

'Neither did the rest of us,' gasped May Wycliffe, laughing.

David White turned to Al, 'Innit, like, your uncle that makes those?'

'Yeah,' grinned Al, 'but I hadn't seen that yet. Must be a prototype, Uncle George and Uncle Ron sometimes give James stuff to bring to school to "test out". Drives Aunty Hermione mad!'

The group laughed harder still. Perhaps they were all tired from the stress of their first day at school, but everything seemed doubly hilarious. Now James and his group of friends were dashing around the common room, practically clambering over people, as one particularly upset seventh year tried pelting them with handfuls of the sludge from her shoulders and hair. The other two who had been badly hit by the pig had vanished the manure, and were watching with resigned expressions as Freddie and James continued to evade their friends' attempts at revenge. Al could now see on the chest of the boy a shining prefect's badge. The prefect spotted the group of first years as Demetri tried to briefly hide behind them. He made his way over to them, and they all looked up at him, slightly awestruck by his height. In some ways the prefects of the school appeared more intimidating to the first years than the teachers, they seemed so adult and knowing.

'How was your first day?' he asked the group in general, and as everyone murmured that it was fine, Al recalled the prefect's name. Jason Clearwater had esorted the first years to the Gryffindor common room the night before, and although he had told them his name then the effects of lessons and Al's appointment in the Entrance Hall had quite put it out of his mind.

'You might want to think about getting to bed,' said Jason, looking around at the flushed faces, 'just a suggestion, but first week back is always tiring.' He smiled, and Al realised how tired he was. Taking Jason's advice more as an order the first years moved skittishly through the common room towards the dormitories, the girls and boys splitting off to get to their respective stairs.

In the dormitory Al made every appearance of getting ready for bed. There was more chatter about the flying pig and what other amazing things might be bought at wizarding shops, 'I've got to get one to show my parents, they won't believe it!' David said excitedly.

'There's a Weasley's Wizard Wheezes in Hogesmede, we could ask the third years to pick us up some stuff when they go in!' Terry informed David, and the pair began to imagine what delights that shop could hold.

Edwin was already in bed and yawned, 'Well, Al's brother James would probably help, right Al?'

'Most likely,' agreed Al, getting into bed himself.