Post his meticulous rundown of the semester's need-to-knows, Dumbledore reverted to his whimsically affable self, sporting a wizard hat that was charmingly askew, as he proclaimed with gusto.
"Let's end the day on a high note with our school anthem, shall we?"
As the words spilled from Dumbledore, a visible wave of horror washed over the professors on stage, and several senior students looked as though they were grappling with a severe case of magical constipation.
Unperturbed, Dumbledore flourished his wand, and out twirled a long, golden ribbon that spelled out words in a serpentine dance.
Wand in hand, Dumbledore led a cacophonous choir of Hogwarts' finest, as the school song boomed through the hall.
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hogwarts,,teach us something, please! Whether we be old and bald or fresh-faced with knobbly knees, our heads could do with filling with some interesting stuff..."
The song was a hotchpotch of tunes and tempos, a jumbled symphony that even the Weasley twins couldn't sabotage further. Evan, caught in the chaos, sang a few stray notes and, to his surprise, found the discord quite harmonious.
This prompted a brief crisis in Evan's musical taste...
Thankfully, Dumbledore shared the sentiment, the venerable wizard so moved by the music that tears nearly graced his cheeks. It took a moment for him to compose himself before he tearfully reminded everyone that it was time to retire.
Evan followed the Gryffindor freshmen up the spiraling staircase to the tower's peak.
At the corridor's end, Percy halted before a portrait of a plump lady. Before the newbies could inquire, the lady stirred, struck a new pose, and solemnly inquired.
"What's the password?"
"Caput Draconis," Percy replied.
With a nod, the portrait swung open to reveal a round entrance. Evan knew, this was the gateway to the Gryffindor common room.
Inside, the space was grander than he'd imagined.
Crimson banners emblazoned with the Gryffindor lion fluttered mid-air. The spacious room was furnished with numerous tables and cozy armchairs. A deep brown fireplace crackled merrily, its flames casting a warm glow and banishing the evening chill.
The Gryffindor dormitory was a five-per-room affair, with large four-poster beds and neatly arranged luggage.
Memoryless, Evan couldn't recognize his own trunk or bed.
As Evan hesitated, choosing a bed, a grey and white owl swooped down, affectionately pecking at his face.
"Ma-ca?" Evan stammered, the name popping into his head unbidden.
"Hoot-hoot," the owl seemed to confirm.
"Ma-ca it is, then," Evan decided, scratching the owl's neck, eliciting a contented eye squint from the bird.
Guided by Ma-ca, Evan quickly claimed his bed by the wall. The surroundings were simple: bedding, clothes, a few personal items, and some textbooks.
Notably, Evan found a nameplate by his bed, etched with 'Evan Halse'.
Similar plates adorned the other beds, which he'd previously overlooked.
Evan's solitude was short-lived as the door creaked open, followed by a familiar voice.
"Who'd have thought sorting was just a hat thing? I was braced for a troll brawl, thanks to George's blathering."
In came a freckled, red-haired wizard, muttering away, followed by a bespectacled, slender boy.
Harry? Ron?
Surprisingly, Evan found himself rooming with the savior, Harry Potter—a stroke of fate indeed.
"Hey there, I'm Evan Halse!" Evan greeted them warmly.
"Oi, I'm Ron Weasley," Ron replied, just noticing Evan.
"Pleased to meet you, I'm Harry Potter," said Harry, extending his hand.
After a friendly handshake, Evan turned to Ron with a grin. "Your brothers George and Fred mentioned you back at the ceremony."
"Oh, blast, I doubt they had anything nice to say," Ron grumbled, thinking of their typical pranks.
Harry appreciated Evan's refreshing approach; too often, others were either awestruck or keen on glimpsing his scar.
The bond between young wizards can form swiftly, especially when one has read the source material. Evan's deliberate rapport quickly solidified their friendship.
They chatted into the night—Harry about his pre-wizarding injustices, Ron about twin-induced capers—until Neville and another dorm mate joined, and they talked until sleep called.
Exhausted from the day's whirlwind, Evan collapsed onto his bed, his planned exploration forgotten as sleep claimed him.
He faintly heard Ron's complaints about his rat, then pulled the covers over his head, whispering a silent greeting.
"Goodnight, Hogwarts."
...
The next morning, Evan awoke with a start, momentarily disoriented before remembering his classes.
The abrupt shift from sickbed to schoolroom was jarring, but he was determined not to be tardy. Despite the early hour—and Hogwarts' notorious staircases—Evan decided to head out early.
Not forgetting to rouse the still-slumbering Ron and Harry, of course.
Whether due to Harry's hero aura or Evan's misfortune, they encountered vanishing steps twice. Poor Ron even collided with a wall disguised as a door!
Luckily, Ron's mishap served as a cautionary tale, sparing Evan and Harry from a similar fate...