Harry was excited as he got off the train with his friends and up to the tall figure of Hagrid. Despite his size Hagrid was a gentle soul who would not harm anyone if he could avoid it. He was a trusting soul and smart in the ways of the forest and grounds of Hogwarts. Of the ways of men he was not as wise and many would call him stupid or slow, this of course was a silly thing to do as he was not stupid at all. You just had to talk to him about things he knew about and you would be amazed at how smart he was.
"First years, this way, come on then!" Hagrid said holding his lantern up and beaming down at the small students. "Alright then Harry?"
"Yes sir, very well sir." Harry replied.
"Already spreading your fame?" Draco muttered by him.
"No, he came to take me to Diagon Alley, he knew my parents." Harry said, "they were friends."
"Big o…"
"He could help you out here at school." Neville said, "best to have him on your side."
Neville was not the timid nervous boy he would have been if he had not met Harry through letters then on the train. He was far smarter than he had ever let on at home and all he needed was a boost of confidence, Harry gave that to him and in spades though Harry would deny it if you told him that. He just wanted Draco to leave Hagrid alone as the man was nice enough and why be rude to him? He had no idea he had sewn some positive thoughts into the arrogant, spoiled pureblood boy.
They came on the boats that would take them to the castle and they got in four to a boat. Harry, Neville Hermione and a boy with flaming red hair stepped in with them. Harry knew who this was as Fred and George had told him this was their youngest brother Ron Weasley. He would have to talk to him later as the boats had started to move and they went down the river, into the lake and there, around a bend the castle came to view. Harry stared at it in awe, it had to be the largest castle in the world and he could see light from hundreds of windows. All too soon the boats landed on a small beach in a cove and they were walking up a long flight of stairs to the large oak doors of the school. Hagrid knocked and a woman opened the door and Harry looked up at Minerva McGonagall deputy headmistress of Hogwarts stood there looking down at them.
"I brought 'em professor." Hagrid said, "all safe and accounted fer."
"Thank you Hagrid." McGonagall said, "come along children."
Harry followed her into the school and looked around the vast hall, the Granger's home could fit into the hall with a bit of room left over and the massive marble staircase before him that led to the upper floors was amazing. He barely listened to McGonagall as she explained the sorting and took them to a small room to wait. They did not have long to wait as McGonagall came back and led them in and suddenly Harry was very nervous. He wondered what they had to do as his parents would not tell him only smile when he asked! He saw an old hat on a stool and he started at it wondering what kind of spells he had to do to when the hat opened up at the brim and began to sing:
When Hogwarts' founders Snuffed It at the start of the millennium,
Their rivalries and foibles didn't cross the Lethe's banks with them;
For Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw and Slytherin and Gryffindor
Bequeathed me their authority to pick the House you're suited for.
Let other schools set entry tests and quiz your personality,
A Sorting Hat gets access to your innermost reality.
Your aptitudes and certitudes and psychoanalytical
Complexities will indicate which path will prove so critical.
Now Gryffindors are fêted for persistent feats of bravery,
And Righting every Wrong from Third-World Debt to House-elf Slavery.
They'll throw you in the thick of fine adventures that should not missed
If you can stick their heartiness and aren't too individualist.
The Hufflepuffs are loyal, fair, hardworking and meticulous,
Which makes up for the fact that Helga's surname was ridiculous.
You'd never cheat or take short cuts for laziness is criminal,
An excellent philosophy when praise you win is minimal.
The wise Rowena Ravenclaw creamed off the intellectual,
The scholarly, the witty and profoundly ineffectual,
Whose credo "Cogitamus ergo sumus"makes the best hot air -
And if you didn't get all that, don't panic, I won't put you there.
The virtues of the Serpent's house are swathed in deepest mystery,
But only slaves to simpleness would shun its checkered history,
With drive that sends you far in life and calculating brilliance-
A Slytherin, for good or ill, will make the greatest diff-er-ence.
But now my tender audience I'm sure that you have heard enough
Of Slytherin and Ravenclaw and Gryffindor and Hufflepuff,
My job's to get you Sorted and I'll brook no bribes or threats or tears,
Just put me on and trust me – I've been doing this a thousand years.
Harry stared at the hat, that was brilliant and mad all at once, that hat had a sense of humor for sure! He waited in line as students were called forward and sorted. Hermione ended up in Gryffindor, as did Neville, Su went to Ravenclaw and Draco of course went to Slytherin, as if he would go anywhere else. Finally it was his turn and he walked up determined to end up in the house of his parents. Severus had made it clear he did not care what house he went to but that it was best really if he ended up in Gryffindor. James had pretended to cry when he said that and Lily smacked his arm.
"Ah Harry Potter, sorted your parents I did." The hat said in his mind, "lets see where to sort you…"
"Nice song, you come up with that?" Harry asked.
"Not the tune no, the headmaster has an affinity for muggle music, and I used the tune from Pirates of Penzance, glad you liked it."
"I did, now sort me to Gryffindor and we can call it a day." Harry said. "I mean the other houses are not so bad but can you really see me there?"
"Hmm you are a smart one, sure Ravenclaw is not for you?"
"No, Gryffindor please I have four friends sorted there."
"Very well, you will do great things no matter where you are, but better be GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry grinned, took the hat off , handed it to McGonagall and went to sit by Neville and Hermione . He waited until everyone was sorted, they did get Ron Weasley and he took a seat next to Neville. After everyone was sorted and the headmaster gave his speech dinner appeared and Harry fell to eating far more than he would have if he had not had such good food for a full month. He took his potions with his meal getting Ron to look at him in worry, but he did not say anything. Harry did look forward to doing away with the growth potion, it did not taste nice like the nutrient potion did. Finally it was time to head to bed, and after a warning to stay out of the forbidden forest and third floor corridor Dumbledore sent them to bed. Yet Harry was quietly led away up to meet his godfather by Professor Remus Lupin.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Sirius was having a hard time waiting, he had done his best to eat slowly his own dinner but he hardly paid attention to what he ate. He was going to see his godson after so many years! Would the boy want to even have anything to do with him? He paced the office of his friend Remus Lupin for what seemed like hours and he turned as the door opened and Remus came in with a boy who looked so like James it hurt. Yet there were differences, he did not wear glasses and his eyes were green like his mothers and his jaw was softer his nose smaller too. Then there was that terrible scar on his forehead. Sirius walked up to him and put his hands on his shoulders taking in the boy before him.
"Merlin Harry you have the best qualities of both your parents." Sirius said enfolding him in a hug, "I have missed you so much."
"Padfoot." Harry said hugging him back knowing deep inside who this man was, "Padfoot!"
"My pup." Sirius said tears falling down his face, "my brave wonderful pup."
"I win!" James said from where he was in the landscape painting with Lily grinning down at them. "I knew you would be sentimental, nearly as bad as Moony here!"
"Oh shut it James, it's been years, years, I should have taken him and not gone after Wormtail, I find him he is dead for what he did." Sirius said, "no matter, you have to tell me what you have been doing this past month? Old Snape I hear has been treating you well?"
"Oh yes, he is a great man, I like him." Harry said, "he does make me study though, he says I have lots to learn, between mum and him I don't have time to get in trouble."
"Well we will have to fix that, you need to learn pranks…."
"Sirius Orion Black you will not dare get my son in trouble!" Lily snapped.
"He needs a Marauder name, " Remus said, "with his powers what would be a good name?"
"I don't know what animal to start with, I can be any." Harry said.
"Well what is your favorite animal?" Sirius said.
"Well not my favorite but I know all about them, cats." Harry said.
"Hmm, Whiskers?"
"No how about Smoke?" Remus said, "for his amazing powers."
"I like Smoke." Harry said.
"Good then I Mr. Prongs." James said solemnly.
"And I Mr. Padfoot."
"With Mr. Moony."
"And Mrs. Tiger Lily."
"Declare you Mr. Smoke!"
"Thank you!" Harry said looking up at his mother, "mum you an Animagmus?"
"Yes dear, I was an orange stripped tabby cat." Lily said, "now you have had a long day, you will need to go to bed young man."
"Yes mum." Harry said yawning.
"I will take him." Sirius said.
He led Harry up several fights of stairs to the portrait of the Fat Lady in a beautiful pink gown, gave the password with a wink and bowed Harry in. He bid Harry good night and the boy walked up to his dorm room where he found Neville already in bed, Ron talking with a black boy named Dean Thomas and another boy named Seamus Finnegan. Harry saw his trunk at the foot of his bed and he unpacked, putting his clothing in his wardrobe and dressing in his pajamas. No-one commented on his trunk as it looked old and used on the outside, just like a trunk passed down from one family member to another. Harry got into bed and fell asleep his dreams filled with feats of wonder and bravery.