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The platform was crowded. Children and their parents scurried from side to side, accompanied by the clattering of massive trolleys and suitcases, the hooting of OWLs, the hissing of cats. It was so loud you couldn't even hear your own footsteps. All this madness was as if slightly covered by a silvery veil of whitish vapour, as if beckoning, pulling each newcomer to pass on, to push aside this barrier and find themselves in the amazing world of magic.
Suddenly, amidst all the commotion, a ringing cry cut through the air:
- OWLs, Scott, look, owls! Oh, we have owls too, right. Mum, look, there's an express, the Hogwarts Express!
The dark-haired boy of eleven was ready to jump up and down in excitement as he swiftly spun his head from one side to the other. One moment he was looking at the owl in its cage, peacefully hooting at the young man's luggage, and the next he was running his eyes over the scarlet steam train with a loud sigh, as if he couldn't believe it was real, trying to realise that it wasn't an illusion like everything else around him.
- Yes, dear, this is the Hogwarts Express,' the middle-aged woman walking behind him smiled warmly. Every time the boy jerked to one side or the other, Claudia put her warm palm on her son's shoulder, and every time it worked, the boy stopped and, with a slightly guilty look at his mother from under half-lidded eyelashes, began to look at something new.
Their group consisted of only five people - two admiring boys and their warmly smiling parents. Scott wasn't any quieter than Staise, twirling around in his seat every now and then.
The whole delegation moved along the platform, occasionally passing happy seniors who were frozen in place and for whom the meeting of old friends was the end of the journey. Melissa, John, and Claudia looked around with undisguised pride and a twinge of longing in their eyes. But the boys, of course, didn't care about that at all - what parents, when there was so much to see and do!
And so, when the adult members of the company stopped, having decided that they had reached the necessary carriage, the boys suddenly ran up to them sharply, looking with their open burning eyes.
- Mum, mum, mum, mum! - Stiles began, as if wound up. - Mum, what if Scott and I don't get into Gryffindor? What if... What if we get assigned to Ravenclaw? - he stammered. His voice was almost ringing, and the boy's eyes widened with genuine horror.
- Honey, it'll be fine. Even if you end up in Ravenclaw, we'll be thrilled,' Mrs Stilinski smiled at her son.
- Yeah? But you were all in Gryffindor,' Scott encouraged his best friend. The boys seemed to be seriously worried about their placement.
It was perfectly normal, though. Every first year almost fainted at the sight of the allotment hat, and true Gryffindors were no exception.
- Scott, darling, we'll take any option. You're our favourite boys, remember that,' Melissa said, not even mentioning the fact that the boys might be assigned to different departments.
- Mum, I'm not five, I remember everything,' Stiles said. - I'll write it down when I get there. I promise. And yes, I remember that wherever I'm assigned, every department is good in its own way.
Stiles' eyebrows rose. He and Scott had been arguing about placement for months now, and he'd assumed it was like that for everyone. But this tone, which had somehow reached his ears through the noise, was so confident, so literally unwavering. Wondering who was so fearless, Stiles turned round and saw a very pretty red-haired girl. She was standing next to her mum, her dad wasn't with them.
- Of course, Lydia, of course,' Natalie smiled with just the corners of her lips, nodding in satisfaction. It wasn't her style to show emotion, even at times like this.
- Hey, Scott, look,' Stiles elbowed his friend and pointed at the redhead with a hiss of disapproval. - She's not scared at all. What about us? What's Gryffindor, then? - The boy said in an almost disgruntled tone. After waiting for his friend's affirmative nod, Stiles turned resolutely back to his parents. - We're not worried at all. Not a bit. Honestly,' he added with a flutter of his eyelashes.
- Yes, every faculty is good in its own way,' Scott quoted Lydia, raising the index finger of his right hand to enhance the effect.
The parents looked at each other, and then Melissa and Claudia had tears in their eyes.
- I think we overdid it,' Scott whispered to Stiles.
At that moment, a new and loud sound cut through the air, one that could compete with the younger Stilinski's vocal cords. A deafening horn sounded, and the clamour on the platform grew even louder. People already scurrying in different directions began to do so even faster, louder, and more vigorously. Fathers and mothers rushed to hug their children, to admonish them and check that their children had taken everything. The OWLs, whose cages had not yet been loaded into the wagons, flapped their wings impatiently, tired of the incredible noise.
- Mum, Dad, we'll write to you. Today! - Stiles took turns hugging his parents and Melissa.
- Yes, today! Straight from the Gryffindor common room. Erm. Right after dinner,' Scott smiled slyly.
The second horn sounded, and everyone hurried on to the train.
- All right, we're off. Mum, Dad, Melissa, we love you! Bye! Bye! - Stiles gave his mother one last hug and grabbed his friend by the elbow, dragging him towards the nearest carriage.
- Don't forget to write, Scott! - Melissa shouted after her son. When he turned and waved at her for the last time, she unconsciously copied his movement and, as soon as he turned away, pressed her fingertips to her lips, dabbing away tears, whether of longing or pride.
Once on the train, the boys moved around the carriage in search of free compartments. Here and there the heavy doors slammed. Mixed with the sound of rattling bogies, there were cheers from the senior students who had not had time to meet on the platform. But the boys had entered the carriage too late, and so, finding no vacant seats, Stiles opened the door to the compartment where the two freshmen were already sitting.
- Excuse me, guys, can I join you? There's not a single empty compartment in the whole carriage, it's a nightmare! - Stilinski exclaimed unhappily, and without waiting for an answer, went inside the compartment.
- Yes, of course, come in,' replied the boy sitting by the window, a little belatedly. He was wearing ironed trousers and a light blue shirt, the sleeves of which he had already rolled up to the level of his elbows. His waistcoat, matching the trousers, had already been carelessly tossed aside on a neighbouring seat.
Putting their suitcases up, the boys decided to make conversation.
- You're freshers, right? - Scott decided to start, looking at each person in turn.
- Um, yeah. Like you, I take it? - asked the boy who sat by the door, stretching his vowels in a slightly mannered way. He, too, was wearing ironed trousers and shirt, but he was still wearing a jacket that was fully buttoned, clearly making his owner uncomfortable. Despite that, he wasn't going to take it off.
- Yeah,' Stiles nodded cheerfully. - I'm Stiles. Stiles Stilinski,' the boy waved his hand and, before Scott could open his mouth, continued, 'and this is Scott McCall, my best friend. And you are?
- I'm Raken,' the one sitting by the window answered. His eyebrows arched and a mocking light flickered in his eyes as he knew Stiles would recognise him.
- You're Theo, aren't you? - Stiles shrieked, making him smile at the corner of his lips. - I've heard about your family! Purebloods, right? - When the boy nodded affirmatively, he lifted the corners of his lips in response.
- Who are you?' Scott asked the boy sitting by the door, drawing him into the conversation.
- I'm Jackson Whittemore,' he said almost carelessly, arching his eyebrows as well. He made the movement more obnoxious than amused, as Theo had a moment earlier. - I assume my last name is also familiar to you, Stiles?
- Yes,' Stiles nodded. - That's quite a coupe,' the boy shook his head.
- Purebloods to the masses,' he laughed, his eyes showing that the phrase had no negative connotation.
The boys nodded.
- Where do you want to go? Slytherin, right? - Whittemore asked in a tone as if he were asking if they all lived on Earth. - Personally, I'm not even considering it.
- What? No way. - Stiles was silenced by a poke in the ribs from his friend.
- We think every department is good in its own way,' Scott answered for his friend. That girl's abstruse reasoning would probably come back to haunt his friends.
- Good judgement,' Theo nodded, grinning at Whittemore's eyebrows, 'I'm of the same opinion.
After that, after a little more discussion of the obvious topics, the boys came to something that satisfied everyone already - a heated discussion of Quidditch. When the history of each existing team had been recounted and discussed, they moved on to their obvious favourite subjects and other things. There were enough topics of conversation.
When it was time to eat and the sweets trolley went by, Stiles wanted to take almost half of it, and almost did, but the farsighted Sekott materialised just in time to remind him that the money would be useful later.
After about another hour, there was a knock on the door, and a girl with long black hair came into the compartment. She was still in her Muggle clothes and looked quite striking: tall black boots, jeans, a grey t-shirt, and a leather jacket.
- Um, hi,' the girl smiled radiantly. - Have you seen a big black cat around here? It's a cat of a boy named Corey, he's a freshman too. And I think I said too much,' the girl was a little embarrassed, but she pulled herself together. - Anyway, have you seen him?
- No,' McCall answered and smiled, as if determined to continue the conversation. - I'm Scott, and this is Stiles,' the boy nodded at his friend.
- Damn, where the hell are my manners,' Argent muttered softly. - Nice to meet you, Scott, Stiles,' the girl nodded to each in turn. - I'm Allison Argent. And you are? - She turned to the absentee Slytherins.
- Jackson Whittemore. You're a pureblood, aren't you? - The boy smiled for the first time on the whole trip.
Argent nodded.
- Raken Theo.
- I'd still stay, but I need to find the cat. Well... See you later,' the girl ran out of the compartment.
- I should have helped,' Scott said in a low voice.
- Scotty, calm down, we'll make it.
When the darkness had completely enveloped the train, the boys leaned against the window and looked out at Hogsmeade. It didn't take them long. The lights of the houses, like thousands of fireflies, studded the streets. Although it had been relatively cloudy during the day, the sky was clear now, and the first stars were appearing, which made the picture even more magical. There was smoke coming from the chimneys of some of the houses, probably cafes and pubs.
When the train stopped, students began to literally pile onto the platform.
According to tradition, the freshers were to be taken on boats, while the others travelled in carriages.
- Freshers, this way, please! To me, freshers! Come on! Don't push! - Hagrid, sounding like thunder, called the younger students over to him with a wide grin.
- Oh, I know who that is. Remember Mum told us about it? That's Hagrid, he was a forest ranger back in their day. He was expelled, I think, and Dumbledore let him stay at Hogwarts. - whispered Stilinski in his friend's ear.
- Who's talking? - The forest ranger was indignant. - What's your name?
- Stiles Stilinski,' the boy shouted proudly.
- Stilinski? I know your parents, Stiles Stilinski. I'll be glad if you're like your mum,' the ranger smiled at the nod of approval, though a little surprised, but quickly pulled himself together. - Well, please follow me, students.
The boat ride was the most magical experience the boys had in their lives. First, there was the completely black surface of the water and the stars reflected in it. The tentacles of a giant squid flickered occasionally, and the girls squeaked each time. Out of the corner of his eye, Stiles noticed that Lydia and Allison were swimming together, which meant they'd already met. He liked the fact that all the freshmen had crossed paths with each other in one way or another that day and now, having reached the castle, were already familiar with each other. It made him feel calmer for some reason.
Hogwarts had appeared quite suddenly. It was just an immense hulk floating out from behind the rocks, making everyone open their mouths in mute amazement and hold their breath. It was inexpressible. Hundreds, perhaps millions of lights looked at the newly arrived students as if luring, inviting and welcoming - welcome home. The same lights, mingling with the stars shining in the sky, were reflected in the water, making the picture mirror-like and making the children fidget, because it was not clear whether to look up with their eyes open or to look at the lake surface. It was the most enormous castle the children had ever seen in their lives. And it did not matter that they had not yet, for the most part, seen one. The main thing about it was that it was their new home. And from the realisation of this very thought the children sighed in amazement, whispering admiringly among themselves.
As they entered the castle, everyone was speechless. Even Stiles. It was exactly as he had imagined - incredibly beautiful, mesmerising and eerie. The combination was just right.
A stately woman in glasses and a pointy hat was already waiting for the children in the hall.
- Dear freshmen! - she said in a loud, firm voice. - My name is Professor McGonagall, and I welcome you to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Now you will need to follow me and do everything I say. All right? - After waiting for a few dozen heads to nod in the affirmative, the woman turned on her heels and walked away.
The children almost forgot to follow her. The professor walked into some not-so-large room, more like a den, and turned to the freshmen.
- Now you will stay here and wait for me to come back for you,' Minerva said and walked away.
- Well, cool. No luck, no open arms,' Stiles grinned.
- It's for discipline,' said a girl's voice from nearby. Stiles flinched and looked up at the owner of the voice (a rather pleasant voice).
- You're Lydia, aren't you? That's right! You're Lydia Martin, I know about your family! I'm Stiles, it's a pleasure to meet you. You've saved us from an awkward situation several times during the day,' Stiles whispered, leaning in close to the girl's ear.
From surprise Lydia even forgot how to behave in such situations.
- How? - she wondered. It was hard to concentrate because of so much information.
- All faculties are good in their own way,' the boy answered with a shrug of his shoulders. At the same second the professor entered the room, and Stiles didn't notice that Martin smiled faintly and lowered her eyes.
- Freshmen, please follow me,' the professor called out.
After walking a few flights of stairs, the boys found themselves at a huge oak door.
- The Great Hall! - Lydia whispered mesmerised.
Indeed, as soon as the door opened, hundreds of eyes turned on the boys. Their breath caught for the hundredth time that day. Thousands, millions of candles flew under the high vaulted ceiling, their flames casting glints on the faces of the students, who looked at the kids with interest. Many of them craned their necks, some of them spoke quietly, only glancing at the newcomers in passing.
Scott knew the layout of the tables in the hall, so he easily found Derek and Cora at the Slytherin table. Deciding not to distract his friend from contemplating the magical ceiling, McCall moved on.
Walking across the hall, the professor stopped at a stool on which lay a very shabby hat. None of the freshmen seemed to be even breathing.
The professor pulled a scroll of parchment from the folds of her robe.
- 'When I call your name, you will put on the Hat and sit on the stool,' she said. - Let's begin.
And from that moment on, everything began to happen as if in rapid succession. Minerva called out one name after another, and the group of kids dwindled, while the faculty tables filled up a little.
- Boyd, Vernon!
The dark-skinned boy, stumbling slightly but keeping a cool expression on his face, walked over to a stool, picked up the Hat and sat down. The hat covered the boy's eyes almost halfway, and a moment later he began to say something in a low voice. And a second later...
- Hufflepuff! - Hat proclaimed.
The far right table exploded with applause and cheers.
- Talbot, Brett!
Barely touching the boy's head, the Hat proclaimed: 'Ravenclaw!'. Brett nodded satisfactorily and made his way to the table, where the clapping was not as loud as it was at the Puffendui table, but still applauded.
- Reyes, Erika!
A pretty girl with white hair stepped forward absolutely unwaveringly and the next moment a 'Slytherin!' was heard. The girl smiled dazzlingly.
- Quiet, please! - McGonogall asked. - Argent, Allison!
The dark-haired girl walked forward, smiling at Lydia, and the hat, barely touching her head, proclaimed: 'Gryffindor!'. A veritable explosion of applause and roars reached the children from the lion faculty table, and the girl earned respectful looks from her two friends.
- Dahler, Matt!
The boy with the black hair strode over to the stool, and Stiles distinctly heard him whisper, 'anything but Slytherin.'
The next moment the hat shouted across the hall: 'Gryffindor!'. The boy somehow exhaled a very relieved breath and went to his desk.
Next, the boy named Danny Mahilani went to the Hufflepuff table with an incredible dazzling smile.
- Martin, Lydia!
Stiles, as if mesmerised, began to watch the girl's distribution. She exhaled noisily through tightly clenched teeth and lifted her chin as if to glare defiantly at everyone present. Something about her made Stiles hold his breath and stare, almost unblinking, at the proceedings. He couldn't figure out what it was that she'd done that hurt him, or what she'd done that was so special, but he couldn't look away. He watched, as if mesmerised, as the redhead flinched a little when the hat spoke in her head, as she pressed her lips together and lifted her chin proudly again, not letting the others notice the second nervousness. But Stiles did. And that only made him open his eyes wider, finding no reason to do so, not even in his own head.
In the short time he'd known Lydia, the boy had learnt that she was a pureblood, very intelligent, a little self-assured, very proud, but not arrogant, it seemed. There were two options left - Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. Somehow, though, he already knew the outcome. Whether he saw something in her burning gaze, or in her proudly upturned head and lips pressed together in thought. He knew. Felt what would happen next. And when the hat announced across the hall: 'Gryffindor!', Stiles only hummed, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, nodding to himself - the hunch was right. Stiles felt an incredible rush of joy for some reason. Lydia, smiling happily, took off her hat and placed it gently on the stool, waving her fiery hair and running past the remaining newcomers, seating herself next to a happy Allison a moment later.
- McCall, Scott!
Stiles instantly came to his senses. He spun round abruptly and turned to his best friend, looking him resolutely in the eye, squeezing his shoulder for a brief moment - I'm here for you if you need me. And that was all Scott needed, apparently. After looking into Stilinski's eyes for a few more seconds, and finding no sign of fear, he nodded decisively (to himself or to Stiles, he didn't understand), and strode to the stool, exhaling nervously.
For Stiles, the moment of McCall's distribution seemed to be happening in slow motion. It seemed to him that he would have had time to walk to London and come back while Scott mumbled something to himself in response to Hat's questions. In fact, however, after not even three seconds on the student's head, she announced loudly: 'Gryffindor!'
Stiles accidentally let out a squeak of joy, which earned him some strange looks from those around him.
- Stilinski, Stiles!
Oh. Well, this is it.
All day Stiles had thought that at this point he would fall over in terror right in front of everyone, fail the distribution and go home. Except there was no fear. None at all. Everything inside was silent, and only his heart was pounding against his fragile ribs, reminding his master of the passage of time and the fact that, no matter how much he wanted to, he would not be able to stand still forever.
Sitting down on the stool, Stiles waited for his judgement, and flinched when the hat spoke as if it were in his head.
- Bold. Smart. Kind. Talkative. Pureblood,' Stiles grimaced when he heard the last of his "qualities," but didn't say a word. - Well... There's a whole bunch of them. Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, or Gryffindor. What's it gonna be, hmm? What do you think, boy?
After thinking for exactly a second, Stiles suddenly, unexpectedly even to himself, replied lightly:
- I don't care. Every faculty is good in its own way,' and he grinned to himself - how many times had he said that already?
- Bold,' the Hat said, as if weighing it all out. - I'm ready to go against my own wishes,' she proclaimed, 'Gryffindor!
It felt very light at once. The boy slid off his stool and laughed loudly as he rushed over to Scott. After slapping each other on the back and giving each other a high-five, the boys continued to watch the distribution, at least satisfied with themselves. Cory was sent to Ravenclaw, Malia Tate and Isaac Leahy were sent to Gryffindor, Tracey, a stranger to Stiles, and the twins Ethan and Aidan were sent to Slytherin, with Jackson and Theo going there as well.
When the assignments were over, Albus Dumbledore stood up from his seat and everyone fell silent immediately.
- My dear friends! Here we are, the new school year has begun. I am happy to welcome our first year students,' the old man looked round at all those who had just been allocated, 'and all those who have been at Hogwarts for more than a year. I am also happy to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. This is the not unfamiliar Peter Hale,' there was a tremendous clamour from the Slytherin table. They received the news with obvious enthusiasm. - Now, so that you don't have to listen to any more of the old wizard's chatter, I suggest we begin our feast! Bon appetit! - Dumbledore waved his hands, and the tables were instantly filled with hundreds of plates with absolutely different kinds of food.
- Well, at last, damn you! - Stiles exclaimed and pounced on the food.
Then it was all a blur. Dinner, congratulations of the elders, new acquaintances, Sir Nicholas, the road to the drawing room and bed. All these events were like a kaleidoscope, and if Stiles had been asked to describe any one of them, he would not have been able to. All he could do was smile contentedly and squint sleepily. At last he was at peace. There was nothing more to worry about.
They were home.
The boys decided to put off meeting their two new neighbours until the next morning.
- Scotty, are you asleep? - Stiles called out to his friend when the entire Gryffindor tower was already drowning in a pleasant and cosy silence.
- Not yet. What's wrong? - McCall answered sleepily, rummaging around in his seat and giving Silinski a slight smile.
- We haven't texted our parents,' Stiles whispered, yawning, turning in his bed and realising that whatever Scott said, his answer would just hang in the air, part of that all-encompassing silence. He was falling asleep.
- Tomorrow, Stiles. All tomorrow.
And after such a long day, Morpheus finally took the boys into his realm.