Death is but the Next Great Adventure

Hoggy Warty Hogwarts

In the last chapter: Harry prepares for Hogwarts. Hagrid pays Harry a visit. Dumbledore and Hagrid discuss what's become of the boy they dropped off all those years ago. Draco finds Harry on the train and the beginnings of a friendship form between the pair.

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It's a bit amazing how several hours of close quarters could change a relationship. He and Draco had achieved 'friend' status by the time the sun had fallen over the green and gold horizon and they were warned that they'd be arriving at Hogsmead Station in twenty minutes. Pulling shut the curtain that had appeared on the little window on the door, all four boys got out their robes and began undressing.

Once in their uniforms, they sat and waited.

When Draco sat down this time, he sat next to Harry instead of across from him and they talked about sorting—something they'd been avoiding the entire ride to keep themselves from getting nervous. Well, Harry wasn't really nervous, mostly it was Draco. Draco feared the small chance that he'd end up in anything but Slytherin. Apparently he felt that he needed to uphold the family legacy and join the den of snakes. He then immediately turned back to Harry and told Harry to stuff his own family legacies and that he better not be sorted into Gryffindor. It had pulled a genuine laugh out of Harry and he rolled his eyes and promised Draco to placate the blonde.

When they finally arrived and exited the scarlet train onto the slick cobblestone platform, they stood together for a moment before they were joined by four more students of their year. There were two girls and two boys. Harry was introduced by Draco while Crabbe and Goyle towered behind them like human shields. The first girl was a tan girl with a sharp black bob and slightly pinched facial expression, her name was Pansy Parkinson. The second girl was a pretty and fair blonde who looked like Draco's hand crafted counterpart, her name was Daphne Greengrass. A tall and thin boy with honey colored hair and brown eyes was introduced as Theodore Nott, but Theo for short. The last first year was Blaise Zabini, smooth mocha skin and high cheek bones. They had all been polite enough to Harry, though he did notice the brief flash of disdain on the faces of the Parkinson girl and Zabini.

Harry wasn't able to say anything to the others in greeting because as soon as he opened his mouth a thunderous voice crackled across the sea of students, summoning all of the first years towards the end of the platform where Hagrid could be seen towering over the students.

All of the first years where led down a worn path through the trees in a line like little ducklings. The mental image amused both Harry and his companion, who he could feel paying attention now that Harry wasn't stuck on a train. Draco walked by his side the whole way down the path and to the side of a lake where a fleet of little boats were waiting.

What caught everyone's attention, though, was the huge ancient castle on the other side of the lake dotted with glowing windows that looked like a scatter of floating lanterns, luring you in with the promise of warmth and shelter. The overall scene of the glassy lake, bright moon casting silver ribbons over the water's surface, and the fantastical castle in the background made for a breathtaking sight.

Harry was physically pulled out of his thoughts by a pale hand wrapped around his wrist as he was led over to one of the boats that already held Crabbe and Goyle. Half of the boats were filled by the time Harry and Draco stepped in and sat on the hard wooden bench seat. Once everyone was situated in a boat, a few drifted forward into the water and the others followed a few at a time so that they were more of a cluster than a straight line.

They were pulled by an invisible force straight into a cave under Hogwarts and when their boats pulled up to the dock, they all climbed out carefully and were led inside by a severe-looking witch who announced that she was the transfiguration professor, Minerva McGonagall. She briefly explained the sorting process and what they were to do once they went through the large door behind her. As she did this, Harry caught a few of the whispers floating around between the other first years.