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an-ecu-harrypotter-au · 1 month

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TPS Part 6: The Man In The Painting

"Toby wake up. We’re here."

Ah snap awake. Trevor jumps off mah lap an back inta mah hand. Ah look out the window an see the entrance ta Hogwarts. Mah eyes look out tha window wit excitement, but mah mind still feels half asleep. Ah hear tha kids all round us gettin' their bags an Ah realize Ah haven't moved. Ah put Trevor back in his tank an get everythang ready.

"Do you have everything? I don't want you to leave anything behind."

Ah nod an watch Jacklin pick up a weird lookin cage.

"I forgot to mention this, but this is my cat, Tiger."

Ah'm still gettin' Trevor's tank an bags set up.

"Ya have a cat? Mah grandpa had a cat when Ah was young. He named it Mittens. Mittens' dead now."

Ah realize Ah probably shouldn't have brought tha up, but the words're already outta mah mouth.

"Is Tiger yer family's cat, or your cat?"

"Father bought him last year after our last cat died of old age. The Gryffindor Manor has a library full of journals and diaries from every wizard family who ever went to the school. Mice nibble on the paper so my father uses a cat."

Ah stop a sec while Ah'm packin up everythang.

"How'd yer dad get a fancy job like that?"

"Oh. I wasn't aware that you didn't know. My father, Henry Gryffindor, is the descendent of Godric Gryffindor. Godric was one of the school's founders over 1000 years ago. Our family is one of the only wizard families who had every family member go to Hogwarts. There isn't a single non-magic user in our family tree which makes me pure blooded. Pure blooded families are so rare that they end up having a lot of power."

Ah jus blink at 'er. This girl's jus too fancy ta be nice ta me.

"That'd make ya a princess a some kind then."

She laughs a lil bit as we walk. Nicest laugh Ah've ever heard. Ah look down at Trevor in his tank like he's readin' mah mind. He's lookin' at me wit his big, round eyes an that makes mah heart want ta melt.

"So if yer Godric's whatever many great-granddaughter does that mean ya gotta be in Gryffindor too?"

"Every descendent of Godric was sorted into that House. It isn't necessarily a rule that all members of the same family have to be in the same House though."

"Do ya think yer dad's gonna get mad if ya don't get inta that House?"

Ah see her stop an look a lil nervous.

"Well. Father wouldn't necessarily be angry. Even though there is a lot of expectations to be the next heir of Gryffindor, he never told me that I must be sorted in that House. Since my mother never went to Hogwarts, she doesn't have any expectations either. They both just want me to be true to myself. But I will admit, I'm still nervous."

Ah nod as we keep walkin.

"Well either way Ah still wanna be in tha same one as you an a boy Ah met in the robe store named Pacer Burton. We can go ta all the classes tagether."

Ah grab 'er hand an lead 'er off tha train, makin' sure Trevor stays in tha tank.

"Then I guess that means we need to be sorted in Gryffindor together."

Ah blush as Ah realize tha way Ah'm holdin' 'er hand makes it look like we're more than friends. Ah start ta get real worried. Ah'm startin' ta get real nervous.

"Fers years this way!"

Ah get a lil spooked by the loud noise an let go a Jacklin's hand. We follow the other kids ta the lake. We find an' board the row boat an Ah hear a real big guy at the oars talkin' in a Scottish accent.

"This way, ya wee gawks."

We sit in the boat an Ah see the castle on the other side a the lake.

"That’s the groundskeeper, Hagrid. He’s a half giant."

"A half giant? Ya mean he's like half human an half monster?"

She starts ta giggle an Ah start ta get confused again. Was Ah bein' real stupid an a dummy jus' sayin' that?

"Hagrid’s not a monster. Stories about giants eating kids are just a myth. They have their own villages away from humans."

Ah see what she means now: Hagrid ain't some big ugly monster. Ah look up an can see a kind face beneath that beard. We pull up ta shore an start gettin out the boat.

"That's the main entrance to Hogwarts Castle. Just think, in a few minutes we’ll officially be Hogwarts students."

Mah heart starts ta beat faster now as the weight of what's happenin now gets ta me.

"How they plan on sortin us? Do we gotta take a test or somethin?"

"No not at all. The Sorting Hat has been sorting students for over 1000 years. It was Godric's idea to put a spell on his hat so that it can read students thoughts."

Ah blink. Ya gotta be kiddin' me. Ah'm worried it's gonna read mah thoughts an' put me in tha dummy House.

"Everyone please hand your luggage to the porters and follow me. You will line up by last name once we get inside. 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."

Ah hear an old lady talk an a group a people linin up. Ah give 'em mah bags, backpack an carefully pass 'em Trevor's tank. Ah see Jacklin walkin ahead a me an Ah know G comes before K. She's gotta be ahead a me in line. Ah ain't Pacer at all but Ah know he's gotta be even more ahead a Jacklin. A real old guy wit a pretty red robe stands up.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, first years! I must tell you all that the forest surrounding the castle is forbidden due to the extreme amount of dangerous creatures within it. I would like to introduce your new Defence Against The Dark Arts professor, Professor Quirinus Quirrell. Professor Arif Sikander will officially succeed him as our Muggle Studies expert."

Ah see a man wit a purple turban stand up wavin before sittin back down.

"Also on behalf of the entire staff including our caretaker, Mr. Flich, I would like to inform you that the corridor in the Charms section of the 3rd floor is also forbidden. Unless you wish to die a most terrible death, I suggest you heed my warning."

Before Ah can even get scared Ah see all the other kids an teachers stand up. They all start singin.

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts, Teach us something please, Whether we be old and bald, Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling, With some interesting stuff, For now they're bare and full of air, Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing, Bring back what we've forgot, Just do your best, we'll do the rest, And learn until our brains all rot."

Ah have no idea why this' happenin. Ah hope Ah ain't gotta sing this one day. Too embarrassin.

"When I call your name please sit down on the stool. I will put the Sorting Hat on your head. When you have been sorted, please take a seat in your respective section."

Ah wait patiently wit all the other kids as the old lady talks agin. She takes out the Sortin Hat an then the hat starts singin. Ah dunno why though.

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty, But don't judge on what you see, I'll eat myself if you can find A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black, Your top hats sleek and tall, For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head The Sorting Hat can't see, So try me on and I will tell you Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell the brave at heart, Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff, Where they are just and loyal, Those patient Hufflepuffs are true And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, if you've a ready mind, Where those of wit and learning, Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin You'll make your real friends, Those cunning folks use any means To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid! And don't get in a flap! You're in safe hands (though I have none) For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

Ah like how the hat tol me what every House's like. Ah know if Jacklin were ta explain all this ta me it'd take jus bout all day. It ain't like listenin ta 'er'd be too bad cause that'd mean she's nice fer wantin ta explain all this ta me. Shame Ah jus wouldn't be able ta tell 'er Ah stopped understandin 'er after 5 minutes.

"Jacklin Gryffindor."

Ah missed a lot while Ah was thinkin an watch her as she walks up to tha Sortin' Hat. A look round an Ah see Pacer's in Hufflepuff. Ah wonder if Jacklin's gonna be in that House too. Some a the boys're lookin' at her hair, the girls lookin' at her eyes an some a the older boys're lookin' at her chest. Ah dunno who ta feel bad fer cause they ain't got a clue bout 'er Veela magic or Jacklin cause she ain't asked fer all this.

"Ah yes. Another member of the Gryffindor family. I see you have a high level of intellect never before seen. Very tempting the notion of putting you in Ravenclaw."

Ah start ta worry that we won't be in the same House cause Ah know Ah ain't gonna be smart nough.

"What's this? You seek something more than just wisdom? I see. Better be.. Gryffindor!"

All a Gryfdor jus starts screamin cause a how happy they are. Ah gotta cover mah ears cause it hurts too much. Ah look at Jacklin an she kinda looks happy like the kinda happy ya get when ya pass a test ya thought ya failed. She sees me lookin at 'er then she turns an walks over to tha table. She looks back at me, kinda embarrassed when she sits down.

"Toby Kwimper."

Ah'm nervous as Ah move over ta the Sortin' Hat an' wait for it ta read mah mind.

"Toby Kwimper. How interesting. Such a perfect blank slate."

Ah start ta get excited cause if tha Sortin' Hat says Ah'm a blank slate then Ah won't be goin' ta tha dummy House.

"Shh. Let your mind go, little wizard."

Ah hear the hat whisperin' an mah head gets a little woozy. Mah eyes close even though Ah ain't tol 'em too. Ah kinda feel good though like when Jacklin's wit me.

"Slytherin's definitely out. No big ambitions. Ravenclaw would be a good challenge but not good enough. Hufflepuff? Yes I feel a strong sense of loyalty.

It sounds like tha Sortin' Hat's whisperin' ta itself or like there's a million voices talkin' at tha same time. Ah feel real torn cause Ah like Pacer but Ah also like Jacklin an they ain't in the same House. Ah know Jacklin's magic's dangerous but Ah still wanna be 'er friend.

"Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff. Such a hard decision."

Ah dunno wha's been said but Ah feel a little tap on mah shoulder makin me almost jump outta mah skin.

"We’re in Gryffindor together, Toby!"

"Huh?"

Mah head's still spinnin a lil bit but Ah'm real excited! Ah'm a lil sad too that Ah won't get ta be wit Pacer too. But Ah guess the Sortin' Hat read mah mind an put me where Ah wanted ta be. Ah see Jacklin lookin' real relieved an Ah know Ah can relax a little bit.

"You must've been in a trance like state so the Sorting Hat can read your memories. You should sit down since you look about as pale as me."

Ah shakily walk over wit her ta the table an' sit down next ta her. Ah wipe the cold sweat off the back a mah neck. Ah can't believe Ah'm really here.

Time Skip

"I would like to welcome all of the 1st years and returning students. With the conclusion of the Sorting Hat ceremony, and before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you."

Ah'm still a lil outta it an hearin the ol' man talk jus makes it a lil worse as Ah had no idea wha he said. Everythang jus appears outta nowhere an mah eyes light up. This' a lotta food.

"What would you like to try first, Toby?"

"Ah dunno... Ah ain't ever seen food like this before. What should Ah try, Jacklin?"

Ah see 'er lookin over the table. She points at this weird lookin thang Ah ain't ever seen before.

"This is Yorkshire pudding. It's a baked pudding made from a batter of eggs, flour, and milk or water. You can eat it as a starter because it's small."

Ah look at the Yorkshire pudding an' try ta get mah mind round what it should taste like. Then Ah reach inta the pile a food an' start ta put a little bit a everythang on mah plate. Ah chew a couple a times an swallow. Ah look over at Jacklin an' she looks like she can tell how Ah feel.

"What are puddings like in the States, Toby? Here we have sweet and meat puddings."

"Only meat puddin Ah know bout's sausage. We got banana puddin, chocolate puddin, a whole buncha sweet puddins."

"I guess we're not that different then. There's sausages and mash on the table. We also eat a lot of roasted foods and lamb chops."

Mah stomach starts growlin.

"Sounds good ta me, Jacklin. Ah'm real hungry now. Ah'mma try the gravy now."

Ah take the tip a the spoon now, an' Ah hold it over tha plate. Ah sloooowly start ta pour the gravy on it.

"Now this is an onion gravy that goes with the Yorkshire pudding. It's very common when you eat it as a starter."

"An' tha meat puddins tha's on the table. They go wit onions, too?"

"We use brown gravy for foods that have meat and potatoes. The cream gravy can also go with potatoes but we usually use that with chicken."

Ah try the cream gravy. It tastes really good. Ah get a nice big helpin a mashed potatoes on tha plate an' Ah pour gravy on 'em. Then Ah eat the whole thang while Jacklin watches. She tells me that tha puddin, mashed potatoes, gravy, the whole meal's called a roast.

"The Kitchen Elves work in the kitchen. They put the food on tables there and use magic to make them appear on our tables."

Ah jus shake mah head.

"Tha's strange."

"It's a normal thing. They make food appear when something runs out so that none of us go hungry."

Ah start ta get worried it's gonna happen anyway. Mah momma wouldn't a never let me get way wit takin' tha last a anythang.

"See Toby. Just like that, another roast chicken appeared a little bit to your left."

Ah see the chicken an Ah'm startin' ta feel better now.

Time Skip

Desserts start ta appear on the table.

"Have you ever thought about making a food list, Toby?"

Ah look at 'er all confused. She's real good at askin me questions bout thangs Ah don't got a clue bout.

"A food list?"

"Yes. There are so many types of food served here, that it isn't possible to try all of them in one day."

"Oh. Well what do Ah gotta put on a food list? Mah favorites?"

"You can write down everything you tried and how it tasted."

Ah start ta fill mah plate wit cake. Ah eat up tha cake while Jacklin writes somethin' on a piece a paper.

"This is my food list, Toby. We can compare our lists and see what we still need to try."

Ah look over at what Jacklin's holdin' up. Ah wonder if Jacklin's got room fer another dessert.

"Have you ever had a St. Honore cake, Toby?"

"Nope. Sounds like somethin' tha elves'd make. This St. Honor's cake's on yer list?"

"Oh yes. My father brought one back from his trip to Paris a few years ago. It has a lot of chocolate and cream as it's basically a cream puff cake."

Ah feel real full but Ah jus gotta try it.

"Do ya think they've got one here fer me ta try?"

"Of course, Toby. This is big enough for us to split it up."

Ah pick up a slice an' Ah start ta eat it. So good.

"Have you ever been to Paris, Toby?"

Ah manage ta answer even though Ah got a lotta cake in mah mouth.

"Ah've ain't ever been anywhere, actually. Ah've never left Florida till June so's Ah could live wit mah Irish cousins. Pop done tol me it's the only way Ah'd be able ta go ta school here."

"Fascinating. I'm amazed you weren't asked to attend Ilvermony in Massachusetts. They're supposed to serve all students from North America."

Ah jus shrug cause it ain't like Ah know wha she's talkin bout anyway. The cake's the only thang on mah mind.

"Jacklin, this cake's tha best thing Ah've ever tasted. Ah like it so much Ah don't even wanna swallow it."

"You need to have some ice cream so you don't choke, Toby."

"Okay. Ah'll have some ice cream."

Ah use a spoon ta scoop up a big bite a ice cream. Jacklin starts wipin 'er face wit a napkin.

"I believe that's enough for me. How do you feel, Toby?"

"Ah'm not too good, actually. Mah stomach kinda hurts. Do ya think Ah can go walk it off?"

Ah move ta leave the table.

"We have to wait for our prefect to take us to the Gryffindor Tower. Since they act a role model for us, they want us to follow the rules so we won't get into trouble."

"Oh. So… Ah gotta sit at the table till tha prefect shows up."

"Yes. We all have to go to our common room together."

Ah jus hope Ah can last that long.

Time Skip

We get to the top a the stairs an mah stomach starts ta feel better. Our prefect stops.

"First years this is the way to get to the Gryffindor common room. The password to enter will change every month so pay very close attention."

Ah listen hard ta the password so Ah'm not left outta the Gryffindor common room.

"Bezoar."

Ah hear this word an' try ta remember. Bezoar... Bezoar... Bezoar's somethin ya get from a goat's stomach an's an antidote fer most poisons. Ah dunno how know it but Ah do. The door ta the common room opens an we all walk inside. All a our luggage's there.

"Amazing."

Ah follow Jacklin an' the others inside the common room. We leave the luggage in tha corner of tha room. Ah look 'round an' it's the nicest room Ah've ever seen.

"Hey, Jacklin... Ya like the room?"

"It's just like my father described it."

Ah nod an start ta remember bout 'er talkin bout 'er dad.

"So tha other kids at Hogwarts are they jus' a hodgepodge a every which kind a bloodline?"

"Yes. Do you know if your parents are wizards?"

"Pop knows somethin bout it. He said he don't do magic though."

Jacklin's bout ta say somethin when our prefect comes ta us.

"First years take a look at this painting. We have been honored to see the very founder of our House, Godric Gryffindor! Born of Scottish and Welsh ancestry in what's now Cornwall, England, this man helped found our very school. He's the only founder with a direct descendant and she's right in this room!"

Ah look at tha painting an Ah see a man with red hair in a red robe lookin like a lion's mane. He's holdin' a sword, an' Ah wonder if he used ta go an' fight those dark wizards.

"He looks tough."

"I'm just so speechless. I know father has his own portrait of him in his study, but it's still so amazing to see him."

Ah feel real good bout that one. Ah turn ta Jacklin an' Ah start wonderin' what she thinks.

"Did mah granddaughter teel ye abit me?"

Ah'm a little surprised bout the paintin talkin ta me, but Ah'll just go wit the flow. Ah nod an' Ah get more comfortable.

"Yeah... She did tell me a bit 'bout ya."

"Ye hae some Irish in ye. Whaur ur ye frae?"

Ah think a bit ta make sure Ah don't say somethin' dumb.

"Well... Well, Ah’m from tha South, but Ah live wit mah cousins in a place called... Cork."

"Dae ye hae onie fowk in Irelain boy?"

Ah can't believe Ah have ta answer tha question from tha founder a Gryfdor. Mah mind goes blank an' Ah think Ah might puke. For a minute Ah think Ah'm gonna be sick ta tha floor an' then Ah just remember tha Ah gotta get my answer out. Ah'm real glad Jacklin's not tryin' ta help me out wit words.

"Uh, yes, Godric, Ah do..."

"What's yer nam boy?"

"It's... Ah'm Toby. It's Toby Kwimper."

"Ay th' Kwimper clan?"

Ah nod real quick an' Ah'm amazed Godric knows mah last name.

"Yeah, tha's right."

"Ah thooght ye aw died it. Ah huvnae seen a Kwimper come tae Hogwarts in ower a hunder years."

Ah feel like Ah can breathe again. Godric's kinda lookin happy ta see me.

"Diz anyain still use magic?"

"Well, Mr. Godric, Pop done tol me Ah'm the only one wit real magic."

"Th' Kwimper clan is huir uv a weel knoon fur havin' squibs."

Ah shake mah head cause it's not the answer Ah was hopein' for.

"No, no Mr. Godric, tha's just not possible. Ah got magic!"

"That's a sign th' Kwimper clan is gettin' their magic back. Whit can ye dae sae far boy?"

Ah dunno why, but what Ah'm about ta say feels so important.

"Ah mean, Ah can talk ta animals. Ah can make 'em feel better an' Ah can help 'em an' Ah can make 'em like me."

Ah notice Godric is listenin' real good an' Jacklin's eyes ain't left Godric one second.

"Woods ye min' tryin' tae reid mah granddaughter's future?"

"No, sir. Ah guess Ah can try."

"What do you need me to do, Toby?"

"Ah need ta see yer hand. Ah can tell a lot more tha way."

Godric looks over mah shoulder as Ah look at Jacklin's palm an Ah let out a loud gasp the startles Jacklin.

"Yer gonna be attacked by a strange man!

"What about my 2nd year?"

Ah feel like Ah know what's gonna happen but Ah gotta make sure.

"Yer gonna be in trouble. There's a flash an yer gonna be lyin in a hospital bed all stiff!"

Ah feel Jacklin's hand tighten round mah own hand 'cause Ah think Ah jus really scared her.

"Can you see my 3rd year?"

"There's gonna be a werewolf an it's gonna be chasin ya!"

Ah'm so deep in the visions all Ah can hear's Jacklin's voice.

"Will my 4th year be any better?"

"There's… there's gonna be… there's gonna be some… some… some death! Somebody's gonna die an everybody's gonna be sad!"

"How bad will my 5th year be?"

Ah sniff an Ah blow a snot bubble.

"Yer gonna be attacked agin. This woman's gonna split the school in half... but... there's gonna be so much blood!"

"Do you think my 6th year will get worse?"

"Ah... Ah... Ah think things will get bad… an worse! There's gon be trouble. Someone's gonna be fightin’ fer someone else an it could get bad! There'll be some… some bad blood!"

"Is the bloodshed going to end in my 7th year?"

"No."

Ah see a vision of a man turnin' inta ash.

"So… Ah think when good guy wins tha battle it'll be a beautiful thing, but it's a terrible path."

Ah gotta be lookin weird cause mah eyes're blinkin real weird an swayin a bit.

"Ye better sit heem doon hen. Th' boy's lookin' as peely waly as ye."

Ah feel weak in mah legs an Ah can feel my head slippin' down off a mah shoulders. Everythang goes black an Ah don't 'member anythang else.

Tagging: @arrolyn1114, @nemos-rapture, @xanatenshi, @briefpandatimemachine, @hooked-on-elvis, @vintagepresley, @aliengoth3, @smokeymountainboy, @bigdaddyelvislover, @mercsandmonsters, @pledgingmylovee, @presleysgirl6, and @thetaoofzoe.

#toby and the veela #the philosopher's stone #godric gryffindor #he lived during the middle ages he's supposed to sound that way

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deke-rivers-1957 · 4 months

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Toby Meets Godric Gryffindor

"Toby wake up. We’re here."

Ah snap awake like tha frog snapped out of tha chocolate. Trevor jumps off mah lap and back inta mah hand. Ah look out tha window an see tha entrance ta Hogwarts. Mah eyes look out tha window wit excitement, but mah mind still feels half asleep. Ah hear tha kids all round us gettin' tha bags an tha things Ah need for school an Ah realize Ah haven't moved. Ah put Trevor back in his tank an get everythang ready.

"Do you have everything? I don't want you to leave anything behind."

Ah nod an watch Jacklin pick up a weird lookin cage.

"I forgot to mention this, but this is my cat, Tiger."

Ah'm still gettin' Trevor's tank an bags set up.

"Ya have a cat? Mah pawpaw had a cat when Ah was young. He named it Mittens. Mittens' dead now."

Ah realize Ah probably shouldn't have brought tha up, but the words are already outta mah mouth.

"Is Tiger yer family's cat, or your cat?"

Ah stop a sec while Ah'm packin up everythang.

"How'd yer dad get a fancy job like that?"

"Oh. I wasn't aware that you didn't know. My father, Henry Gryffindor, is the descendent of Godric Gryffindor. Godric was one of the school's founders over 1000 years ago. Our family is one of the only wizard families who had every family member go to Hogwarts. There isn't a single non-magic user in our family tree which makes me pure blooded. Pureblooded families are so rare that they end up having a lot of power."

Ah jus blink at 'er. This girl's jus too fancy ta be nice ta me.

"That'd make ya a princess a some kind then."

She laughs a lil bit as we walk. Nicest laugh Ah've ever heard. Ah look at her and Ah see that she's smilein', too. First time Ah'd ever seen anyone smile so much. Ah start ta have tha warm, fuzzy feelin's like maybe this could... Ah look down at Trevor in his tank like he's readin' mah mind. He's lookin' at me wit his big, round eyes an that makes mah heart want ta melt.

"So if yer Godric's whatever many great-granddaughter does that mean ya gotta be in Gryffindor too?"

Ah see the way she's lookin at me an Ah wonder if Ah said somethin' only a dummy would say.

"Every descendent of Godric was sorted into that House. It isn't necessarily a rule that all members of the same family have to be in the same House though."

"Do ya think yer dad's gonna get mad if ya don't get inta that House?"

Ah see her stop an look a lil nervous.

"Well. Father wouldn't necessarily be angry. Even though there is a lot of expectations to be the next heir of Gryffindor, he never told me that I must be sorted in that House. Since my mother was only born and raised in Bulgaria, she never went to Hogwarts. They both just want me to be true to myself. But I will admit, I'm still nervous."

Ah nod as we keep walkin.

"Well either way Ah still wanna be in tha same one as you. We can go ta all the classes an' sit next ta each other at tha feasts."

Ah grab her hand and lead her off tha train, makin' sure Trevor stays in tha tank.

"Then I guess that means we need to be sorted in Gryffindor together."

Ah blush as Ah realize tha way Ah'm holdin' her hand makes it look like we're more than friends. Ah start ta get real worried. Should Ah let go? Should she? Ah don't want her to want ta let go. Ah'm startin' ta get real nervous. Ah'm startin ta get upset now.

"Fers years this way!"

Ah get a lil spooked by the loud noise an let go a Jacklin's hand. We follow tha other kids ta tha lake. We find an' board tha row boat an Ah hear tha real big guy at tha oars talkin' in a Scottish accent.

"This way, ya wee gawks."

We sit in tha boat an Ah look back ta see tha whole of tha castle. The clouds are startin' ta cover tha sun. It gets a little windier an' tha boat moves slowly twords tha docks.

"That’s the groundskeeper, Hagrid. He’s a half giant."

"A half giant? Ya mean he's like half human an half monster?"

Ah look at her to see if tha answer's on her face. She starts to giggle an Ah start ta get confused again. Was Ah bein' real stupid an a dummy jus' sayin' that?

"Hagrid’s not a monster. Stories about giants eating kids are just a myth. They have their own villages away from humans."

Ah stare an stare at tha oars as they creak an move back an forth in tha water. Ah see what she means now: Hagrid ain't some big ugly monster. Ah look up an can see tha kind face beneath tha scruff of tha beard an' the smile in tha eyes. We pull up ta tha shore an start gettin out the boat.

"That's the main entrance to the Hogwarts Castle. Just think, in a few minutes we’ll officially be Hogwarts students."

Mah heart starts ta beat faster now as tha weight of what's happenin now gets ta me. Ah'm real excited, too.

"How they plan on sortin us? Do we gotta take a test or somethin?"

Ah start lookin' a little scared at tha sound of tha school's huge doors swingin' open.

"No not at all. The Sorting Hat has been sorting students for over 1000 years. It was Godric's idea to put a spell on his hat so that it can read students thoughts."

Ah blink. Ya gotta be kiddin' me. Ah'm worried it's gonna read mah thoughts an' put me in tha dummy House.

"Everyone please hand your luggage to the porters and follow me. You will line up by last name once we get inside."

Ah hear an old lady talk an a group a people linin up. Ah give 'em mah bags, backpack an carefully pass 'em Trevor's tank. Ah see Jacklin walkin ahead a me an even though Ah ain't got a clue how ta spell Gryfdor, Ah know G comes before K. She's gotta be ahead a me in line.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, first years! I must tell you all that the forest surrounding the castle is forbidden due to the extreme amount of dangerous creatures within it. Also on behalf of the entire staff including our caretaker, Mr. Flich, I would like to inform you that a corridor in the Charms section of the 3rd floor is also forbidden. Unless you wish to die a most terrible death, I suggest you heed my warning."

An old man wit a long gray beard makes an announcement bout how this school's real dangerous. Before Ah can even get scared Ah see all the other kids an teachers stand up. They all start singin.

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts, Teach us something please, Whether we be old and bald, Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling, With some interesting stuff, For now they're bare and full of air, Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So teach us things worth knowing, Bring back what we've forgot, Just do your best, we'll do the rest, And learn until our brains all rot."

Ah have no idea why this' happenin. Ah hope Ah ain't gotta sing this one day. Too embarrassin.

"When I call your name please sit down on the stool. I will put the Sorting Hat on your head. When you have been sorted, please take a seat in your respective section."

Ah wait patiently wit all tha other kids as the old lady talks agin. She takes out the Sortin Hat an then the hat starts singin. Ah dunno why though.