Disclaimer: I Don't Own Anything to Do With Harry Potter.

Chapter 9: To Hogwarts…Finally

Sunday, September 1st, 1991

Bones Manor

"I swear the two of them are going to be the death of me." said Amelia to herself. "Susan, Harry, I told you to be down here and ready 30 minutes ago!"

"We've just got a few more things to pack, Auntie!" Susan yelled down the stairs.

"If you'd finished last night like I told you instead of kissing we wouldn't be running late!" yelled Amelia then after another 5 minutes she added. "You'd better not be kissing right now!"

She was just about to head up the stairs to get them when they came running down the stairs and into the sitting room.

"Finally. Let's go or you'll miss the train." said Amelia rushing them toward the fireplace.

The three of them exited the floo right behind a group of redheads.

"Running late as well, Mrs. Weasley?" asked Amelia as they all hurried to the barrier between platforms 9 and 10.

"Always with this bunch." said Mrs. Weasley.

They all managed to make it onto Platform 9 ¾ with a few minutes to spare amazingly.

As the Weasley's got on the train, Amelia hugged Harry and Susan.

"No time for long goodbyes. I love you, both and we'll see each other at the Yule Break. Take care of each other. And I better not get letters about you getting caught kissing all over the castle." said Amelia.

"You won't, Auntie. I love you." said Susan.

"I love you, Auntie. Don't worry we'll be good." said Harry.

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Harry. Now hurry onboard." said Amelia.

Harry and Susan made it onboard just before the train started to move. Amelia stood there for a while long after the train was gone. The mischief those two got into especially with what they learned from Dumbledore made for and interesting two years and you'd think she'd be ready for the break. But bugger it all she was going to miss them.

Hogwarts Express

Harry and Susan walked down the whole train and finally found a compartment with room in it for them, but they still knocked on the door and asked nicely if they could join them.

Two of the boy's got up and ushered them in and started talking back and forth.

"Come in, come in…"

"we saw you earlier and…"

"knew you'd have to join us."

"One of the problems with…"

"running as late as…"

"late as we always do." the boys finished together.

"Ok, thank you." said Harry as he and Susan sat down.

"I'm Fred Weasley and…"

"I'm George Weasley."

"This little stitch is…"

"our brother Ronald."

"He'll be an ickle…"

"first year like you." said Fred and George.

"It's good to meet you all. I'm Susan Bones and this is my boyfriend Harry Potter." said Susan.

"Are you really?" asked Fred and George.

"Do you have the scar?" asked Ron speaking up for the first time.

"Ronald, that's very…"

"to ask of someone…"

"you've just met." said Fred and George.

"I'm sorry." said Ron.

"It's ok." said Harry.

"Now that we've all…"

"been introduced. Would…"

"you mind keeping our…"

"dear little brother…"

"company? We've got…"

"go find Lee and we'd…"

"be ever so thankful to you." said Fred and George.

"No, problem. As long as that's ok with you, Ron." said Harry.

Ron just nodded and Fred and George took off out of the compartment.

"Where are your trunks?" asked Ron.

"We shrunk them and put them in our pockets. Are your brother's always like that?" asked Susan.

"Yeah. It takes a bit to get used to." said Ron.

"What house do you think you'll get into?" asked Harry.

"My whole family has always been in Gryffindor so that's most likely where I'll go. Anything would be good though except for Slytherin." said Ron.

Harry was going to ask what was wrong with Slytherin, but thought better of it.

"What's your favorite Quidditch team? The Chudley Cannons are mine." said Ron.

"Go ahead, Harry. Tell Ron your favorite Quidditch team." said Susan grinning evilly.

"The Holyhead Harpies." said Harry blushing.

"And why do you like them so much?" asked Susan.

"Because all those witches are hot. I should've never told you that." said Harry while Ron and Susan were laughing.

"There you are! We didn't see you on the platform and I was wondering if the two of you missed the train." said Hannah coming into the compartment. She saw the shade of red on Harry's face and added. "Either we got to the part of the conversation about the Holyhead Harpies or that time when Harry did a cannonball into the pool and lost his shorts."

"Hannah!" yelled Harry.

After the trolley lady sold them some snacks for the ride the compartment door opened again and a girl named Hermione Granger asked if they'd seen a toad that the boy behind her, Neville had lost. After getting the toads name Harry summoned Trevor the toad and returned him to Neville.

"That spell isn't in the first year material. How do you know it?" asked Hermione.

"We've studied a bit ahead." said Susan. "Don't worry though not everyone does so you won't be far behind anyone else."

Hermione and Neville went back to their compartment then about an hour before they'd get to Hogwarts their compartment door was opened again by three boys. The blonde on in the front spoke.

"My name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy. I'm looking for Harry Potter."

Ron snickered at his name.

"Well I know it isn't you. Red hair and a hand me down robe. You're obviously a Weasley." said Draco.

Harry had enough of the boy, but thought that he should introduce himself so he'd leave.

"I'm Harry Potter. This is my girlfriend, Susan Bones and her best friend Hannah Abbott. I guess you already know Ron Weasley." said Harry.

"I'll give you credit for your taste in choosing your girlfriend and your friendship with Miss Abbott as they both come from good pure families. But you should be careful of interacting with certain people. If things had went differently with your guardianship you would've learned this already. If you'd like some help in knowing who the right sort is I can help you there." said Draco holding out his hand.

Harry took his hand and said,

"We're just starting out in the school year and while I appreciate your offer I think we're all a little young to be considered the wrong sort. I think it's better if I find friends who share the same values as I do. I don't know you well enough to say that's not possible with you, but we'll have to see. I hope you don't see this as a dismissal as I don't wish to start the year with an enemy because of a miscommunication."

"I understand. Let's table this and see where we stand once you're more aware of those of your peers." said Draco before turning and leaving with the two boys who weren't introduced.

"I'm sorry about the insults he gave you, Ron. I wish I could've gotten him to apologize to you, but I didn't think it would happen." said Harry.

"It's ok." said Ron.

An announcement was made that they were fifteen minutes from Hogsmeade Station so Harry and Ron left the compartment so that Susan and Hannah could change into their robes and then the girls let them do the same. The four of them got off the train and headed to wear they heard a giant man calling,

"Firs' year's, Firs' year's o'er 'ere."

They were told that they'd be riding in boats up to the castle. Each boat held four so Harry, Susan, Hannah and Ron rode in one. The view of the castle was magnificent and Harry and Susan like all the others were excited to experience the magic the castle had.

Once everyone was out of the boats they continued up the stairs to the main doors of the castle where Hagrid stopped and knocked three times before a very stern looking woman opened the door.

"Is this everybody, Hagrid?" asked the woman.

"Yes, Professor McGonagall. E'ryone is all accounted fer." said Hagrid.

"Very well, follow me everyone. My name is Professor McGonagall. I'm the Transfiguration Professor and Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts. Now when we are ready for you you'll enter through these doors where you'll be sorted into your houses. The houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Now while you are at Hogwarts your houses are like your family. Just like your real families good behavior is rewarded, but bad behavior is punished just as swiftly. Take a moment to smarten yourselves up while I go and see if they are ready for you." said Professor McGonagall.

Harry and Susan already knew how they would be sorted, but it was fun listening to the various theories from the others around them. Hermione was mumbling everything she'd read so far thinking it was a quiz, while the most outlandish one was Ron saying that Fred and George told them they had to fight a Troll to be sorted. Not too much longer Professor McGonagall came back and told her to follow her.

All the older students were already at their house tables watching the first years be led in. Harry heard Hermione telling someone about the enchanted ceiling. When they got to the front of the room Harry and Susan waved to Dumbledore causing him to smile and wave back to them.

"Before you are sorted, Professor Dumbledore has a few words for you." said Professor McGonagall.

"Welcome to Hogwarts first years and to our returning students welcome back. I have a few notices for you before we get on with the sorting. First years should know that the Dark Forrest that surrounds the school is considered out of bounds and is forbidden for you to enter without proper supervision. Some of our older students would do well to remember this as well. Also Mr. Filch has asked to remind you that magic is prohibited from being used in the corridors. Also this year the third floor corridor is closed until further notice. Only venture there if you want a swift and painful death." said Dumbledore.

"Students, when I call your name come forward and sit on the stool. I'll place the Sorting Hat on your Head and you'll be placed in your house. Hannah Abbott!" said Professor McGonagall.

Harry took hold of Susan's hand for a second as Hannah was sorted into Hufflepuff to the cheers of the older students at that table.

"Susan Bones!" called Professor McGonagall.

Susan was placed into Hufflepuff and the older students cheered again as she joined their table. Harry barely paid attention to where the others were sorted as he was trying to decide what he wanted to do. Susan knew that she would go to Hufflepuff and didn't want to go anywhere else because she also knew that's where Hannah would be sorted. Harry wanted to be where Susan was, but they weren't sure that he'd end up there. Susan had told him that it didn't matter where he was sorted that she was still his girlfriend and that they'd have plenty of time together. Harry and Susan both knew that Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had their classes together and Gryffindor was paired with Slytherin so he had an idea of where he was going to try to go if the hat tried to put him somewhere he didn't want.

"Harry Potter!" called Professor McGonagall.

There was a bunch of whispering and pointing as he walked up and sat down on the stool. Professor McGonagall placed the hat on him and he heard a voice in his head.

"Ah, interesting, very interesting. I saw you in the head of the Bones girl earlier. I'd place you with her in Hufflepuff, but I can see that as you are now you only have loyalty to one other person other than her and that wouldn't do. You have plenty of ambition to make it into Slytherin. Your lessons with Dumbledore have proven that, plenty of courage too for Gryffindor from what you went through in the past, but I think your lessons with Dumbledore point us in the best direction for you with as fast as you have advanced. Yes, yes perfect. Better be… Ravenclaw!"

The only word that was heard out loud was when the house was called. Harry was very happy as he went to the table where the older students were cheering. He'd gotten the House he'd wanted if he wasn't able to get Hufflepuff with Susan and he didn't have to beg the hat to do it. He looked over at Susan and she was smiling at him and he could tell that she was happy too.

Once the sorting was done with Blaise Zabini going to Slytherin. Dumbledore said the words,

"Nitwit, Blubber, Oddment, Tweak."

Harry knew those words were the names of the four House Elves that would magically make the food appear on the house tables.

Everyone started talking and introducing themselves while they ate. Harry tried to stay interested in what the others were saying, but he was already missing Susan and felt out of sorts being around all these new people.

When the feast was over Dumbledore gave a few more announcements then sent everyone to their dorms.

The female prefect for Ravenclaw introduced herself as Penelope Clearwater after glaring at her male counterpart who didn't want to talk to the first years. She explained everything they saw on the way to the dorms and even told them where some shortcuts were that would get them to classes on time.

Harry was excited when he found out that Ravenclaw's had their own rooms and didn't have to share with the others as this gave them the privacy to do any self study they wished. Penelope told them that after classes tomorrow they'd have a house meeting with their Head of House, Professor Flitwick and so they would all have to be here and after the meeting they would all walk to dinner together.

Finally feeling tired from the day, Harry laid down and pulled the covers of his four poster bed over him quietly saying,

"Goodnight, Susan. Goodnight, Amelia." before sleep took him.

Author's Note: Here's the next chapter. I hope you all like it. As you can see Harry has some issues to work through. Thank you all for reading and please review, favorite and follow if you haven't. Thank you as always to those of you who have.