"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one," she said with her bossy sort of voice.
"We've already told him, we haven't seen it," said the red-haired boy, but Hermione wasn't listening to him, she was looking at the wand in his hand.
"Oh, are you doing magic? Let's see it, then."
She sat down. Ron looked taken aback.
"Er -- all right."
He cleared his throat.
"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow."
He waved his wand, but nothing happened. The rat stayed gray and fast asleep.
Draco can't help sniggering at this scene. Weasel is really a piece of work always making a fool of himself. It really makes him wonder how he survive the hogwarts years in his past life. He neither has Potter's bravery nor Granger's brains, calling him lucky is an understatement of the century. Spending so many years with this illegal animagus is just the icing on cake.
Harry was surprised seeing Draco, smiling he said, "Draco, how have you been?"
"Pretty good." Draco said politely.
Draco is not planning on playing chummy with Potter at this point since he is pretty sure the Weasel will poison him against him. Also he still held a little resentment of the fact that Potter rejected his friendship for this stupid Weasley.
"Harry meet Hermione Granger." Draco said pointing at Hermione, "And you've probably already guessed it, He is Harry Potter." Although he don't want to but the given situation forced his hand.
"Are you really?" said Hermione getting excited. "I know all about you, of course -- I got a few extra books. for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."
"Am I?" said Harry, feeling dazed.
"Goodness, didn't you know, I'd have found out everything I could if it was me," said Hermione.
"In fact I don't know about magic and I only know that I am a wizard for the past month. So sorry to disappoint you but I am pretty much bank about the Wizarding world", Harry said weakly.
"Really?" Hermione asked looking at Harry who nodded in response.
"Oh! let me introduce you two, Ron, this is Draco Malfoy." Harry introduced his new friend to Draco, "And Draco he is Ron Weasley."
Ron looked at him with caution and a bit of hatred. From what Ron knew, Malfoy family and Weasley family were enemies, but even his father had complimented Draco for giving out his research for free to people and called him a good one among the Malfoy's. Also seeing the current attitude of Malfoy family distancing itself from fanatic bigots has made the families such as Weasley even more confused. Ron had a jealous character from a young age and seeing a son of death-eater acting like a saint caused him to be wary of the person named Draco Malfoy. He believed that all of this was just a facade to fool people into thinking the Malfoy's are good people. Ron would be really surprised if he ever found that all his theory were mostly true.
Draco just nodded at Ron but the other party just kept staring at him. Draco didn't like the awkward atmosphere so he just stood up, "Hermione I am getting bored so I will go back to the compartment and Harry I will see you when we reach Hogwarts." He thought that it was destiny that the 'Golden Trio' will again come together and he did not want to create much ripple effect otherwise his future knowledge will be wasted.
Harry and Hermione didn't understand why Ron was acting that way and why Draco was about to leave.
Draco left the compartment, leaving the dazed Hermione and Harry.
"Ron, do you know Draco from before?" Harry asked looking at Ron.
"I've heard of his family," said Ron darkly. "They were some of the first to come back to our side after You-Know-Who disappeared. Said they'd been bewitched. My dad doesn't believe it. He says Malfoy's father didn't need an excuse to go over to the Dark Side." Harry was stunned as he didn't believe that Draco was a bad guy but now he didn't know what to believe in.
While Harry was lost in his thoughts, Ron turned to Hermione. "Can we help you with something?"
"Nothing, you better change into your robes, we are probably about to reach Hogwarts." Hermione said standing up.
"You are a Muggle-born wizard, aren't you?" Ron asked.
"Yes."
"I would be careful around him, From what I've heard Death-eaters have a deep hatred against muggle-born wizard's."
Hermione nodded and walked away, she already knew some things about You-know-who and Death Eaters but she didn't believe that Draco was a bad guy, at least for now. She also have a little doubt about Ron's information regarding Draco's family. After all they have helped her family despite being strangers.
When Draco returned, the boys gave him a knowing smile while Pansy pouted. Draco gave a shake of head and is followed by Hermione who begin to read her books. Draco begin to coax Pansy which calm her a little. Theo and Baise gave him his favourite candies which they had purchased while he was searching for the toad. Sometime later, they begin to change into their robes while Pansy had gone to another room with Hermione.
A voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."
The train slowed down and finally stopped. Pansy pushed her way towards the door pulling Draco, Theo and Blaise who wanted to wait till all the people are gone.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?" A voice came in front of them.
Hagrid's big hairy face beamed over the sea of heads.
"C'mon, follow me -- any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"
Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was very dark on either side of them, Nobody spoke much. Neville, who kept losing his toad, sniffed once or twice.
"Ye' all get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."
There was a loud "Oooooh!"
The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black take. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore.
All seven of them got in two boats as Hagrid's voice came again.
"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then -- FORWARD!"
And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.
"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle until they reached a kind of underground harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.
"Oy, you there! Is this your toad?" said Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them.
"Trevor!" cried Neville blissfully, holding out his hands. Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle.
They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, Oak front door.
"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?"
Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
She pulled the door wide. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.
They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Everyone could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right -the rest of the school must already be here -- but Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They are crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room."
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. 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. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose. I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall.
"Please wait quietly." She left the chamber.
"How exactly do they sort us into houses?" Hermione asked Draco. All heads turned to Draco as well, since keeping what the sorting ceremony a secret was a tradition, not even his father or mother told him what was gonna happen, but Draco already knew.
"They put a talking hat on your head and it will decide your entire future." Draco casually said.
"Hmph! If you don't want to say it then don't say it." Hermione didn't believe Draco and turned back. Draco shrugged his shoulders looking at his childhood friends who are looking at him with a face that say 'I will not be fooled' and he snorted at their disbelief. He was a little jealous of their naivety and carelessness. He was also like them in the past but now... He don't want to think about it.
Draco looked at Harry who was looking in his direction from time to time, Draco was sure that Ron had already told him about the death eater stuff, but he didn't bother too much with it.
Suddenly about twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was saying: "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance --"
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost -- I say, what are you all doing here?"
A ghost wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first years.
Nobody answered.
"New students!" said the Fat Friar, smiling around at them. "About to be Sorted, I suppose?"
A few people nodded mutely.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said the Friar. "My old house, you know."
"Move along now," said a sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."
Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall.
"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me."
Hogwarts was similar to what Draco had remembered before that tragic day, a strange and splendid place. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up here so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver.
Hermione whispered to Draco, "Its bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History."
It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn't simply open on to the heavens. Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool, she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty.
Theo, Blaise, Hermione, and Pansy looked at Draco with a surprised expression.
"Were you really serious?" Theo asked him.
Draco was about to answer when suddenly the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth -- and the hat began to sing:
"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 Hufflepuffis 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 folk 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!"
The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.
All of them have their mouth twitching at the fact that this dirty old hat was going to sort them into their house. Hermione too was just frozen as she didn't know what to say.
"Well at least it sings good," Draco said, gaining him a weird look from other students around him.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said.
"Abbott, Hannah!"
A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. A moments pause
--
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.
The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. "Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah.
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
The table second from the left clapped this time; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them.
"Brocklehurst, Mandy" went to Ravenclaw too, but "Brown, Lavender" became the first new Gryffindor, and the table on the far left exploded with cheers;
"Bulstrode, Millicent" then became a Slytherin.
"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione nodded at them and almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head.
"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat.
When Neville Longbottom, who kept losing his toad, was called, he fell over on his way to the stool. The hat took a long time to decide with Neville. When it finally shouted, "GRYFFINDOR," Neville ran off still wearing it, and had to jog back amid gales of laughter to give it back.
"Crabbe, Vincent"
"Slytherin"
Crabbe gave them a smirk and sat at the Slytherin table waiting for them. Soon all of them were sorted into Slytherin.
"Parkinson, Pansy"
She waved at Draco before going over.
"SLYTHERIN!!"
The Slytherin's table cheered again, Draco sighed in huge relief that nothing has changed.
One by one all people were getting sorted and the only one left where Draco and Harry. Harry looked nervous and wanted to talk to someone but seeing only Draco was around he shut his mouth.
"Potter, Harry!"
As Harry stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall.
"Potter, did she say?"
"The Harry Potter?"
Everyone was whispering things as the sorting hat got put on him. After a moment of conversation with the Hat, it shouted out, "GRYFFINDOR."
The Gryffindor's table cheered the loudest as Harry went over and sat on the chair.
"Malfoy, Draco." Professor McGonagall said the name of the last remaining student.
The crowd again broke into whispers, even though he was not as famous as the savior Harry Potter... he still had the title of genius that no other students had not even Harry.
Draco walked over to the stool, looking at the dirty old hat, Draco casually took out his wand doing a cleaning spell, cleaning the dusty old hat and turning it into a clean one. Draco then sat on the stool gracefully putting his wand back inside his robe (Imagine a wand pocket), looking at people who were staring at him in amazement.
Even the professors were amazed since no one had dared to do so over the course of many years.
Hermione was looking at Draco's arrogant look in annoyance and rolled her eyes.
Theo and Blaise laughed, "Classic Draco!"
Professor McGonagall broke out of her stupor and placed the hat above Draco's head.
The Sorting Hat was placed on his head when he heard its voice, "Oh a child of Black and Malfoy line. Ideally you should be placed in Slytherin but you have plenty of courage to be in Gryffindor, enough intelligence to be in Ravenclaw, hard-working enough to be in Hufflepuff and ambitious and cunning enough to be in Slytherin, so which house should I put you in."
Draco wanted to be put in Slytherin since he would have enough friends and support there, Ravenclaw wouldn't be bad either, But he was scared of being put in Gryffindor. Gryffindor is the most disadvantageous place you could be in, being the son of Death-Eater and it would be much harder to form an influence in the wizarding community early on as well. Before this Draco wasn't nervous since he was sure that he would be in Slytherin like his original life story but seeing all the stuff happened with his wand, along with his change of approach in life, he was getting very nervous.