The Hogwarts Express finally screeched to a halt at the Hogsmeade Station.
The once peaceful train was now filled with students bustling to gather their things.
As I lugged my trunks and newly acquired collection of sweets toward the exit, I mentally calculated how much I had just spent on the leftover stock from the cart lady.
It was... significant.
Hermione gawked when she saw the literal mountain of chocolate frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and licorice wands stacked on a luggage cart.
"You spent all your money on snacks?!" she exclaimed, clearly scandalized.
"It's called an investment," I said smugly, shoving a licorice wand into my mouth.
"First rule of Hogwarts: always be prepared for snack-related emergencies."
Neville gave me a hesitant thumbs-up. "Smart move, I guess... but how are you going to carry all that?"
Before I could answer, a booming voice echoed through the station.
"FIRS' YEARS! FIRS' YEARS, THIS WAY!" Hagrid's unmistakable voice bellowed, cutting through the chaos.
Hermione and Neville both darted toward him, while I struggled with my overloaded cart.
"You can leave your things there, Someone will be out to transfer your things up to the castle." Hagrid grinned,
Hearing this, I dropped the trunk stacked full of sweets right next to my other luggage and followed along.
Hagrid led us through the dark, winding path toward the boats waiting by the Black Lake.
The scene was breathtaking: Hogwarts loomed in the distance, its many turrets glowing against the night sky.
"Whoa," I whispered, momentarily forgetting about my snack empire.
"It's beautiful," Hermione breathed.
Neville looked a little pale. "We're going across the lake in those? They look... small."
"Don't be a wimp, Neville," I grinned. "What's the worst that could happen? Capsizing? Freezing to death? Giant squid attack?"
Neville's face turned even paler.
"Relax," I added. "I hear the squid's friendly."
Hagrid directed us to climb into the boats, four students per vessel. I ended up with Hermione, Neville, and a freckle-faced boy.
The boat glided smoothly across the water, the chilly air filled with excited chatter. Hermione, naturally, began quizzing us on Hogwarts trivia, while I silently plotted my snack-selling empire.
We reached the docks without incident, much to Neville's relief. Hagrid guided us up the stone steps toward the castle entrance, where Professor McGonagall stood waiting.
She was as stern as I remembered from Diagon Alley, her sharp gaze sweeping over us.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said crisply. "In a few moments, you will pass through these doors and be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin each have their own noble history. Your house will be like your family during your time here. Any triumphs will earn you points while any rule breaking will lose you points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points will win the House Cup."
I caught Hermione staring intently and excitedly at the concept of winning as many points as possible.
McGonagall continued, "Now, please wait here. I will come to retrieve you when the Sorting is about to begin." She turned and disappeared through the large oak doors.
As we stood there, whispers filled the stairwell.
"So it's true," a pale-haired boy near us drawled. "Harry Potter has finally come to Hogwarts."
Draco Malfoy.
He strode toward Harry, flanked by two hulking boys who looked like they moonlighted as trolls.
"The name's Draco, Draco Malfoy."
there was a snicker from Harry's side.
"No need to ask who you are, red hair, and a hand me down robe. You must be a Weasley."
Ronald looked uncomfortable.
"You'll find that some wizarding families are better than others," Malfoy sneered, holding out his hand. "I can help you there."
Harry glanced at the outstretched hand, his expression cool. "Thanks, but I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself."
Malfoy's face twisted in anger, but he quickly masked it with a smirk. "Suit yourself, Potter. You'll regret it."
I suppressed a laugh. "Bold move, Harry. Welcome to Hogwarts, home of questionable decision-making."
Before Malfoy could retort, Professor McGonagall returned and beckoned us to follow her into the Great Hall.
The sheer grandeur of the Hall stole my breath.
The ceiling was enchanted to look like the night sky, and hundreds of floating candles cast a warm glow over the long tables.
"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside, I read about it in 'Hogwarts: A History'" Hermione whispered.
"Definitely beats my warehouse trunk," I admitted.
"Your what?"
oops, I didn't mean to say that out loud.
"Nothing"
The first-years were led to the front, where the Sorting Hat sat on a stool. Its patched surface looked old and worn, but there was an undeniable aura of magic about it.
McGonagall stepped forward. "When I call your name, you will come forward, sit on the stool, and the Sorting Hat will determine your house."
The ceremony began with McGonagall calling out names in alphabetical order.
"Abbott, Hannah."
A blonde girl with a nervous expression walked up to the stool. The Hat touched her head for a bit before it shouted, "Hufflepuff!"
The Hufflepuff table erupted into cheers as Hannah beamed and hurried to join them.
Many students passed by like this going into each of the four houses.
"Granger, Hermione."
Hermione practically sprinted to the stool. The Hat took its time, muttering things only she could hear. After what felt like an eternity, it declared, "Gryffindor!"
Hermione looked both relieved and elated as she joined the cheering Gryffindors.
Finally, McGonagall called my name.
"Kingston, Sky."
I swaggered up to the stool and plopped down, grinning at the gasps from the crowd when the Sorting Hat barely touched my head before shouting,
"AZKABAN!"
Wait, what?
"Kidding," the Hat said out loud before it started conversing with me mentally.
"But seriously, your record for vanishing objects is disturbing."
"Look, if you rat me out, I'll vanish you too," I threatened mentally.
The Hat was silent for a moment. "You wouldn't dare."
"Accidental magic happens all the time, right?"
Hat started to look a little unsure.
"Try me. I've already stolen IKEA shelves—you're nothing."
The Hat sighed heavily. "You are, without a doubt, the most insufferable student I've had the misfortune of sorting."
"Thanks," I said smugly.
"I should put you in Slytherin for that threat alone," the Hat grumbled.
"Do that, and I'll store you away and burn you at a time of my choosing."
The Hat mentally shuddered. "You're a menace."
We argued back and forth for what felt like an eternity until McGonagall's voice cut through our mental bickering.
"Has a decision been reached yet?"
The Hat, clearly exhausted, announced, "Perhaps it's best if he chooses his own house."
The Hall erupted into shocked murmurs.
Never in the history of Hogwarts had a student been allowed to choose their own house so openly.
I stood up, looking smug. "Puffindor it is!" I declared triumphantly.
The Hat ignored me. "Gryffindor it is," it announced, turning my robes a deep scarlet.
The Gryffindor table roared with cheers as I slumped over.
Hermione gave me a disapproving look. "Why do you look so down?"
"I wanted Puffindor, Ive been robbed."
"You are impossible." she said exasperatedly.
"And you love it," I said with a wink.
She huffed, but there was a smile tugging at her lips.