Dumbledore's Army and The Alchemist's Secret - 4. All Aboard the Hogwarts Express

It was just as he wished it to be. Albus always wanted to see what it looked like inside the Hogwarts Express. James would rant on and on about the chilled pumpkin juice, variety of sweets and pastries aboard Hogwarts express that the plump witch with the trolley brought. He would also show off the photographs that he took in the train and at the school with his friends.

Harry had given James a camera for his eleventh birthday and James developed a mania for photography. Now, his room was filled with photos of little moving people waving their wands, laughing and holding broomsticks. James played as the Keeper for Griffindor’s Quidditch team and guffawed whenever Albus tried to get on a broomstick. Somehow, Albus never got the hold of a broomstick and James silently taunted him of not having what he called a ‘Family Skill’.

So, Albus never asked his parents for a broomstick and his parents too never insisted on giving him a broomstick. He decided that he would get one after having Flying Lessons at school.

Now, looking at students holding broomsticks around him, Albus thought that it would have been better if he too bought one with him. After all, he is the son of two famous Quidditch players in the history!

After all the squeezing and pushing around, Rose and Albus found a compartment all for themselves in the last carriage. Albus pulled his new robes on to put an end to Rose’s nagging. James promised to come and meet them around Lunch. But Albus thought it would be better if he didn’t join them. James would surely babble more about his second year friends and how good he was at magic. James always made Albus nervous about school and the sorting.

‘Mom said it would be better if we go through our books before they teach. It would give us a lot of insight, you know’, said Rose turning the pages of her Magical Drafts and Potions book.

‘I don’t know about insight Rose, but I am sure that would make your eyesight awful’, mumbled Albus.

‘Yeah, yeah. You and your lame excuses. You should spend a little time studying new books Albus. James is the topper of his class. Don’t you want to beat his score?’ asked Rose peering down at Albus from behind her book.

‘There are too many records to break, Rose. Flying better than Dad, getting more popular than Mom, beating James at school work and being more intelligent than you. Don’t you think it will be too much work for me if I start being better than all of you?’ Albus said miserably.

‘Oh! Come on! I am not so intelligent!’ said Rose, though she looked slightly mollified.

‘Yeah? Let us see, then’, said Albus in a put-out tone.

‘Cheer up, Albus!’ said Rose slamming her book shut and smiling, ‘we are going to Hogwarts! We are going to learn Magic!’.

‘Yeah’, smiled Albus, in spite of himself, ‘yeah we are finally going’.

‘Do you want to eat these mince rolls Grandma Molly made? They are really tasty!’ said Rose offering one to Albus.

Albus took it and stuffed into his mouth. Anything Grandma Molly cooked was wonderful. Though his mother cooked well, Mince Rolls were something of Grandma Molly’s specialty. He hadn't seen much of her this summer because she went to visit Uncle Charlie in Romania with Granddad Weasley and had returned only three days ago right before Lily's birthday.

After an hour or so, James turned up and started grinning at Albus and Rose.

‘Aren’t you a little too excited? It’s just a little more than an hour and you are wearing your robes! I mean, we are still hours away from Hogwarts. You have time to change, you know! I didn’t wear robes till it was almost time to get down at Hogsmead platform’

‘Well, Rose here chewed me out and forced me to wear’ said Albus shaking his head a little.

‘Well Rosie, stuffing your nose into books already? Trying to beat out my score?’

‘I am going to get more than yours and of course, beat yours’ said Rose with her nose in the air.

‘Funny. Doesn’t your nose stay at one place Rosie? It’s always buried in books or up in the air. It’s going to forget its place if you keep throwing it up and down’ said James now positively howling with laughter.

‘You just wait, James Potter. You need to taste a bit of defeat. Wait till I get into Quidditch team and become a topper at school too’ said Rose rising from her seat.

Just then the train gave a little lurch and Rose toppled into her seat. James laughed so hard that tears came out of his eyes.

‘Yeah, yeah Rosie. With your balance, you would last about 5 minutes on broomstick. And with your temper, you would end up in too many detentions’

With that, James went out of their compartment still guffawing.

‘Oh, the nerve of him! I would like to see how best he feels after our first Quidditch match. I am going to outfly all the teammates this year when they hold Quidditch trials. You too buckle up, Albus. We need to show your brother how good we are!’

‘You do know that I don’t play Quidditch, don’t you Rosie? Last time I climbed on a broomstick, it whacked me on my head before flying away into broom shed’

‘But you can’t have James bullying you about Quidditch all the time at school, can you? You need to learn to stand up and show him you are no less than him’

‘Forget it, Rosie. I don’t have to show anyone. And, James doesn’t bully me. He just shows off too much. You can stand up against him anytime. But, I am not even remotely interested’

‘You could do with a little confi-’

A tall boy with pale face and blonde hair opened their compartment’s door. He looked surprised at seeing Albus and Rose, blushed a little, muttered something about being sorry for disturbing them and started to turn back.

‘Hey, aren’t you Scorpius Malfoy? Draco Malfoy’s son?’ asked Rose as the boy started dragging his luggage with him in the corridor.

Scorpius flinched as though Rose had just thrown a broomstick on him. He turned again to face Rose and Albus.

‘Yes’, he said slowly, ‘I didn’t know that you people were here. Every where's full. So I thought……’ and his voice trailed off.

‘You can sit here if you want to’, said Albus, ‘we don’t mind’.

Scorpius stared at Albus as though he could believe what he just heard. Then he looked at Rose who was shoving down her books from the seat into her trunk and dragged his luggage in.

‘Thanks’, said Scorpius tucking his trunk shoving his trunk in the luggage rack beside his owl cage and settling down, ‘I dint expect you to – I mean – I thought you wouldn’t like-’.

He seemed to be struggling to find words. At that moment, Albus felt a kind of kinship with the boy. Something in him, told that Scorpius was nervous like him, thinking about how people in Hogwarts will treat him or what they would expect from him. He thought that Scorpius too, like him, lacked confidence.

‘So what’s the name of your owl?’ asked Rose trying to make a conversation.

‘His name is Troy’, said Scorpius looking at Rose and blushing furiously.

‘Oh! My owl’s name is Petra’, said Rose stroking her little owl which was perched on her shoulder, ‘isn’t she sweet?’

‘And mine’s Beaky’, said Albus pointing to a snowy owl sleeping on the luggage rack, ‘mom and dad gave him to me on my birthday’.

Scorpius smiled at both of them. He seemed a bit relaxed now.

‘Dad bought me Troy the day before yesterday when we went shopping with Granddad. Troy has an iron claw fitted to his leg. Granddad says it makes him look regal. But, of course, he is just an ordinary owl’, said Scorpius faltering at the end a little.

‘It will help him defend himself in case he’s attacked during flight’, said Rose looking at the eagle owl.

‘Yeah’, said Albus, ‘so, do you know how to duel?’

‘No. I am not that good with the spell work’, said Scorpius smiling ruefully.

‘Oh! Then you are like Albus’, said Rose supremely, ‘Honestly, you guys should be more confident about yourself. It’s all about confidence. I mean, you are just afraid of it. You just have to be more-’

‘Yeah, yeah Rosie. We should be brimming with confidence. Like you. Overconfident’, sniggered Albus.

Scorpius too chuckled a little but stopped almost immediately as though afraid of offending.

‘I don’t mind. Even if you laugh’, said Rose kindly as though she realized Scorpius’s fear, ‘we are friends now, aren’t we? Friends don’t get offended’.

Scorpius widened his eyes as though he couldn’t believe what he heard. He looked at Rose and then at Albus and said in a low voice, ‘Really? You want to be friends with me? I mean, aren’t you – won’t you – I thought you didn’t like – I mean –’

‘What?’ asked Rose, again in a kind voice.

Scorpius took a deep breath and started to explain. His words gushed out and he spoke fast as though trying to make the unpleasant stuff short.

‘I thought you wouldn’t like to be friends with me. Because, my granddad was on the wrong side. And from what I have heard, he turned against your dad at one point. He was with the bad people who did dark magic. I thought no one would like to be with me thinking that I am a bad person too’.

Albus felt pity looking at Scorpius who bowed down his head, tears clinging to his eyelashes. He did hear about Draco Malfoy and his father being rivals at school and how Draco turned to be a traitor. Uncle Ron hated Draco very much and always told the story about how they saved his neck twice and still Draco turned against them at the end. But looking at Scorpius, he felt that there was nothing wrong with him. He was just as decent and as innocent as he was. He thought about what Aunt Hermione said before they boarded the train, ‘don’t try to turn them again each other before they’ve even started the school!’

‘I don’t think you are bad’, said Albus in a small voice, ‘we can be friends if you want.’

Scorpius’s face lit up. He smiled widely and said, ‘I would love to be friends with you!’

‘I think it would be wise to start our friendship with a formal introduction. I am Rose Callie Weasley. Daughter of Ronald and Hermione Weasley’ said Rose shaking Scorpius’s hand.

‘And I am Albus Severus Potter. Son of Harry and Ginevra Potter’ said Albus in a pompus imitation of Rose and sniggered.

They started playing Exploding Snap till it was time for lunch. The witch with the trolley holding a variety of sweets came to their compartment and they bought a big lunch for themselves.

Albus silently thanked God for not letting James join them. He was sure that James wouldn’t approve him being friends with Scorpius and he didn’t want James to be rude to Scorpius. He felt that there was something which he shared in common with Scorpius and he was happy to be his friend.

‘I never had so much fun till now’, said Scorpius stuffing a cauldron cake into his mouth and grinning.

‘Oh, this is just the beginning’, said Rose biting the head off a chocolate frog, ‘this is just the beginning’.

By the time they reached Hogsmead station, night fell and it was dark all around. The little station was crammed with students and everyone looked highly excited. Over the screeching of the owls, purring of cats, croaking of toads and escaping mice, it was difficult for the first years to make their way towards Hagrid who was calling them to form a line near him, holding a gigantic lantern and smiling through his rather bushy moustache. The first years traditional journey to Hogwarts through the Lake on the little boats was rather enjoyable.

Albus, Rose, Scorpius and a brown haired boy occupied the boat which sailed right behind Hagrid’s bigger boat. The boy introduced himself as Ben Tukker, a muggle-born, who was even more excited that the rest three. He was bouncing so much that Albus was afraid that he may topple out of the boat into the watery depths of the Lake.

When finally they climbed out on the underground harbor, Hagrid smiled at Albus and waved the rest of them to follow him. Albus was now too nervous to smile back. Rose who too was not so confident looking now, clutched her robes tightly and looked paranoid. Scorpius was merely looking around in mild interest and grinned lightly when Rose slipped a little on the pebbles and caught his arm to steady herself.

When they reached the huge Oak doors, Hagrid knocked three times and the door swung open. A round faced wizard sporting a bright smile stood there. Albus smiled at him at ease, because he knew that wizard was Neville Longbottom, a professor at Hogwarts and a dear friend of his father, Harry.

Professor Logbottom held up a hand signaling silence and started the welcome speech, ‘Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am professor Longbottom. Before the start of the term banquet, we will be sorting you into the four houses’.

Neville cleared his throat a little and continued, ‘The four houses of Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin have their own glorious history and each of them have produced great witches and wizards. The Sorting Ceremony will be held to sort you into your respective house where you will be living for the rest of your stay at Hogwarts. You will be sleeping in the dormitories assigned to you, having the classes with your housemates and spend your free time in the common rooms of your houses. You will be rewarded housepoints for your triumphs and stripped off housepoints if you break any rules’.

Neville’s eyes twinkled mischievously for a second.

‘As your deputy headmaster’, said Neville smiling again, ‘I suggest you all to work hard and bring glory to your house in the form of the House Cup which will be awarded at the end of each year, to the house with the most points. Now before we enter the Great hall, I want you all to make yourself more presentable. Meanwhile, please be quite’.

As soon as Neville left, a nervous chatter started punctured by excited squeaks and gasps from the students. Ben Tukker was asking Rose how the Sorting was done while Rose explained patiently to him. Scorpius was looking miserable again with his bowed down.

‘I just want this to be over soon’, said Albus nervously.

Scorpius mumbled something without looking up.

‘It’s okay to be nervous. Aunt Hermione said that it helps when you are nervous before exams. You will be careful and alert, she says’, said Albus trying to cheer up Scorpius.

‘I don’t want to be in Slytherin’, said Scorpius glumly.

‘What? Why?’ asked Albus, surprised to hear.

‘I don’t like it. It makes me feel that I would be branded a bad person if I got into Slytherin. But what choice do I have? My whole family was in Slytherin’, said Scorpius tonelessly.

‘Oh’, said Albus surprised to hear his fears echoed by Scorpius, ‘Don’t worry about that. My dad said that the sorting hat takes in your choice too. So you can select your own house’.

Albus smiled at the relief and surprise on Scorpius’s face now.

‘If that’s true, then I will ask it to put me in any house other than Slytherin. I won’t have to be in Slytherin at all, then’, said Scorpius smiling feverishly.

‘It would be good if we both get into the same house’, said Albus seriously, ‘I think we will be great together’.

‘Yeah, I will be your best friend’, said Scorpius solemnly.

Professor Longbottom came back and conducted them to the Great Hall. All the first years stared at the ceiling, mesmerized by the bright stars shining in it. The Hall was so silent that they could hear their footsteps echoed around and gasps of the students as they took in the view.

There on the center of the raised dais where the teachers were seated behind a long table, stood the patched and frayed Sorting Hat on a four-legged wooden stool. Albus could recognize Professor McGonagall, who was the headmistress of Hogwarts, sitting at the center of the table on a throne like chair. Beside her sat Professor Trelawney, whom Albus recognized from the innumerable shawls and bangles that she was wearing. He had seen Professor Trelawney a number of times at Luna Lovegood’s home during the summers. His father said that Professor Trelawney was helping Luna in uncovering facts about the underwater home of Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. He also recognized Professor Slughorn who invited his Father to his Christmas parties at Hogwarts. James had a wall full of pictures of him and Professor Slughorn posing along with a number of well-known people.

Professor Longbottom took his place beside the Hat. Everyone turned their attention towards the Hat and waited. A minute later, the Sorting Hat opened its mouth and started singing,

‘Like all the bygone years,

today I will sort you all,

I know your strengths and fears,

your rejoice and your gall.

So don't hide your mind from me,

for it is not possible,

there's everything I see,

I know how much you're able.

Then I will decide your place,

among the houses four,

for I know the best, in your case,

'll lead you through the right door.

Now, who would you be?

The brave Gryffindor?

If courage is within thee,

selflessness even more.

Or into Slytherin, will you go?

With mind full of craftiness,

And if you let humility flow,

be Hufflepuff, who don't mess.

If you own skilled intelligence,

then I will let you in Ravenclaw,

but wherever I put you hence,

Glory from you, let that house draw’.

The students, the teachers and the Ghosts which shimmered here and there clapped when the Hat ended its song. Albus could feel Scorpius praying silently behind him. He caught sight of James who waved back to him and patted the place right behind him. Albus felt happy about James saving him a place at Gryffindor table.

Professor Longbottom unfurled a parchment and asked the first years to come forward and place the Hat on their head when their respective names were called.

‘Ambrossa, Jessica’ called out Professor Longbottom and a blonde girl with a heart shaped face moved forward. When she jammed the Hat on her head, it shouted almost immediately, ‘Gryffindor’.

Next went Mary Ackerley who became a Ravenclaw. When the M’s came, Professor Longbottom called out Scorpius Malfoy. Scorpius slowly walked up to the dais and put the Hat on his head. Albus kept his fingers crossed inside his pocket and waited as the Hat seemed to take time before making its decision.

Finally, after what seemed to be a long time, the Hat opened its mouth and cried out, ‘Gryffindor’.

The Hall seemed to fill with surprised gasps. Even Albus couldn’t believe his ears when he heard what the Hat said. He watched the look of glee on Scorpius’s face as he ran to the Gryffindor table and found a lot of Slytherins staring sourly at him.

And then, he heard ‘Potter, Albus’.

He wheeled around to look at Professor Longbottom and gulped. He walked nervously, feeling many eyes on him, and held the Hat in his hands. After staring at it for a second, he jammed it on his head and then he was looking at the blackness inside the Hat.

‘Another Potter, eh. Lets see what you have got’, whispered the Hat in his ear, ‘Courage. Selflessness. The usual. Humility. Desire. Hmmm… Why is it that you cannot decide what’s good for you?’

‘Don’t let me be a Slytherin’, though Albus fervently.

‘Prejudiced. And Loyal. Well, that makes you a Gryffindor to some extent’, said the Hat gravely.

‘Thanks’, whispered Albus.

 ’Well, if you are sure to play a Gryffindor, then be GRYFFINDOR’, said the Hat, shouting the last word.

The Hall erupted with applause. James was jumping up and down in his seat. Dominique and Molly were beaming at him from the far end of Gryffindor table while Victoire and Lucy stared wistfully as she clapped for Albus from their Ravenclaw table.

‘You made it’, shouted James as he hugged Albus, ‘you became a Gryffindor. Wait till I tell mom and dad!’

Albus beamed at his brother and turned to Scorpius who was waiting for him with a broad grin. Both the boys then sat down beside each other and waited for Rose to join them.

When Professor Longbottom called Rose’s name, she walked upright to the dais and put the Hat. Hardly a minute passed when the Hat shouted ‘Gryffindor’ and Rose all but ran down to hug Molly who was waiting for her with open arms. Albus could see Rose’s tear filled eyes and joy as she waved at James, Albus and Scorpius.

‘Well, we couldn’t ask for a better start’, said Scorpius beaming as the sorting ended and Professor Longbottom carried away the Hat and the stool.

‘Yeah, like Rose said, it’s just the beginning’, said Albus beaming down at his plate where pork chops had appeared magically when Professor McGonagall initiated the Banquet.

They ate their dinner ravenously. The Sorting somehow made Albus so hungry that he ate triple helpings of everything. And when they started the desserts, Ben squealed with surprise at the variety of the dishes that were there.

Albus and Scorpius filled their plated with everything they could reach and chattered with James and the rest of Gryffindors. Surprisingly, James accepted Scorpius warmly and got along like he would with any other Gryffindor. Ben told them that his parents as the Lawyers in the Muggle community and started explaining them about Muggle courts and their ways. He was surprised to know that wizards had only one prison and only single court in the whole of UK.

‘Well, we are not as many as the Muggles are’, said Kevin Huddlewump, a sixth year and the captain on Gryffindor team and then turned to Albus as he said, ‘Seems that you have to wait another year to play’.

‘What?’ said Albus, his eyes watering, as he choked over his chocolate Gateau.

‘Well, we have a full team right now. So we can’t take you in. Next year, our seeker, Violet Bones will be retiring. So you will have to wait till next year to get into the team’.

 Albus felt himself going red.

 ’I don’t play Quidditch. I am not great with the broomstick’, he said slowly.

It was now Kevin’s turn to choke. He gulped down some water and looked incredulously at James who half smiled and then turned back to his treacle tart.

‘But… You are a Potter, for crying out loud. Quidditch is in your blood. Be a sport, Albus. Just train up well and gear up for next year. I want the team to have best players, okay? No compromises’, said Kevin with a finality that made Albus gape at him.

 

‘I am good at Quidditch’, said Scorpius smiling at Kevin as the last morsels of the desserts vanished.

Kevin looked at Scorpius with a strange expression that Albus was too distracted to decipher. At that moment, Professor McGonagall stood up and all the students turned to listen to her.

‘Welcome to our first years and welcome back, to our old students. Another year at Hogwarts awaits you. Like every year, I hope you bring good remarks to your house and your housemates. The first years will have Mr. Filch and Mr. Gimp, the caretakers, to help them whenever they need and Madam Pomfrey, the matron, to heal them whenever they feel low. Every student is advised to stay out of the Forbidden Forest. If they face any problems, they should inform their Head of the House. And this year, I have a special announcement to make. Our charms teacher, Professor Flitwick retired at the end of last year, to enjoy the rest of his life with his, er, kinsmen. We have a new teacher for charms’.

Professor McGonagall straightened her hat and continued, ‘She has come all the way from Egypt, to teach Charms to the students of Hogwarts. Please join me in welcoming, Professor Nut Sekhet’.

With that Professor McGonagall and the staff started a polite applause that the students were too stunned to join. Professor Sekhet, who was wearing a long cloak and a hood that covered her face till now, shook off her hood when Professor McGonagall introduced her. The woman had such breath-taking beauty with long golden colored hair, emerald green eyes and pointed nose. Her face was oddly symmetrical, as though it was a perfect wooden carving. She smiled once at the students and her eyes swept the Great Hall before she stood up and bowed a little. She sat down with a satisfied smile, as if the stunned silence was in itself applauded her.

Finally, after what seemed to be whole five minutes of uninterrupted silence from the students, Professor McGonagall cleared her throat loudly which brought the students attention back to the Hall though there were scattered whispering.

‘Now, it’s time for you to rest until the start of your classes tomorrow morning. Off to bed you go then’, she said signaling the students to go off to the Dorms.

There was an instant scrapping of benches on the floor followed by gradual increase in the chattering of the students. Albus looked at Scorpius who was grinning at him as he said, ‘now who would want to miss a class with her? Let’s be off to bed early. Tomorrow if it’s going to be her class first, then I want to be the first student in the class occupying the first bench’.

 

‘First year Gryffindors! Please follow me! Excuse me, I am your Prefect! Hey, first years. Come on’, shouted Dominique shepherding the first years pointing at her prefect badge.

 

After what seemed to be an eternity, the first years finally came face to face with the portrait of an immensely fat lady in pink satin drapes flowing down her. She wore a genial smile and looked down them as she said ‘Password?’