The Hogwarts Express shuddered to a halt at a tiny little platform. Harry, shivering slightly amidst the throng, felt Hermione get separated from him. Then, a familiar booming voice cut through the air:
"First years, over here! Oy, you, first year, put that luggage back on the train, didn't they say someone would take it to your dormitory?"
Hagrid, holding up a lantern, was shouting loudly. He spotted Harry and his face split into a wide grin. "Hey! Harry, you alright? Over here!"
Suddenly, the crowd erupted. Everyone stopped, looking left and right, and then Harry found himself swarmed.
"He's got the scar! Oh my goodness, it really is him!"
"I'm going to write to Mum and tell her I'm going to school with the Boy Who Lived!"
Harry instantly regretted not wearing a hat. He felt countless hands reaching out, trying to touch him, and one particularly bold girl even tried to reach inside his robes! Harry quickly dodged a kiss from a dark-skinned girl and, with a great deal of effort, managed to duck behind Hagrid.
"Hagrid, I'd be much better if you didn't shout my name in front of everyone," Harry grumbled.
Hagrid gave Harry an apologetic look, then boomed at the encroaching crowd, "Move along, move along, nothing to see here! The professors are all waiting in the Great Hall!"
With that, Hagrid led the first-year students down a narrow, winding path, flanked by dense trees. After a few turns, Harry saw a dark lake, with many small wooden boats bobbing by the shore. On the opposite bank, a magnificent castle loomed.
"There's Hogwarts!" someone yelled, and everyone suddenly buzzed with excitement.
"Careful now, no more than four to a boat!" Hagrid held his lamp high, signalling for the new students to board.
Harry was among the first to get into a boat. Hermione, appearing seemingly out of nowhere, scrambled in after him, dragging a round-faced boy with her.
"Harry, this is Neville..."
"Get out of the way!" Two squat, rather lumpy boys rudely shoved Neville aside. Then, a pale-faced boy and a girl with a face like a pug climbed into the small boat. Hermione suddenly grabbed Harry's robe.
The boats began to move on their own. The pale-faced boy opposite Harry stared at him for a long moment before saying, rather haughtily, "So, you're Harry Potter? I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. And this is Pansy Parkinson."
Malfoy glanced disdainfully at Hermione, then continued in his arrogant tone, "Potter, you'll soon find that making friends with Malfoys is much better than making friends with Muggle-borns." He extended a hand, inviting Harry to shake it, but Harry merely watched him with keen interest. Slowly, Malfoy retracted his outstretched hand, a blush creeping up his pale cheeks.
"Potter, you should appreciate this opportunity! Not everyone gets to be Draco's friend!" Parkinson suddenly piped up.
"Like those two?" Harry asked, pointing to the two pudgy boys in another boat.
"Of course not! You're far more noble than Crabbe and Goyle. The Boy Who Lived can be a true friend to a Malfoy." Draco emphasised "true friend" and returned to his haughty demeanour.
Harry didn't bother to reply, turning instead to Hermione. "You were made to cry by chaps like this?"
"You'd best be careful, or you'll end up like your parents," Malfoy said, a hint of menace in his voice.
For a moment, no one on the boat spoke, only Malfoy glared fiercely at Harry.
"Mind yer heads!" Hagrid's loud warning came as the boats approached a cliff face. They entered a pitch-black tunnel, barely able to make out a small dock ahead.
Suddenly, a flash of red light. "Agh!" Malfoy shrieked, tumbling into the lake. Hermione looked at Harry, utterly astonished. He had just shot a spell that hit Malfoy!
"Harry! You alright!" Hagrid called out, his voice echoing from the front.
"You imbecile! Draco fell into the Black Lake!" Parkinson shrieked.
"Don't worry, he'll be fine!" Hagrid said, sounding a bit flustered. He slapped the water vigorously, and moments later, Malfoy was lifted onto the shore by a massive tentacle.
Professor McGonagall, who had been waiting behind the main doors for the arrival of the young wizards, suddenly heard a thud from outside. She had a dreadful feeling and immediately opened the doors to find a young wizard lying on the ground. Professor McGonagall quickly stopped Malfoy's bleeding and then informed Dumbledore.
Once the boats reached the shore, Parkinson rushed forward excitedly, then let out a scream. Malfoy had a deep gash on his face. Harry stood by indifferently, watching.
Thump-thump-thump, Dumbledore appeared, followed by a wizard and a witch. Seeing the wizard, Parkinson immediately stepped forward, pointing at Harry and saying something.
"Oh, my word!" The witch immediately went to Malfoy's side, extending her wand to begin healing him.
"Minerva, what exactly happened?" Dumbledore asked, his voice serious.
Professor McGonagall shook her head, gesturing towards Hagrid. Hagrid stammered, "Uh, it seems Malfoy fell into the Black Lake. Probably just too dark in the tunnel."
"Lies! Parkinson told me everything, Potter attacked Malfoy!" The wizard shot a malicious look at Harry, then said to Dumbledore, "Potter's wand should be snapped immediately, and he should be sent to Azkaban!"
"You can't snap Harry's wand!" Hagrid roared, enraged.
"Malfoy insulted Harry's parents first!" Hermione blurted out, clearly distressed by the talk of Harry's wand being broken.
"Oh, so Potter has accomplices, does he?" The wizard sneered.
"I'm not..."
"Enough!" Dumbledore interjected, cutting them off. "Severus, please inform Lucius that I'd like to see him in my office. Harry, you'll also come to my office after the feast."
"Dumbledore, you..." The wizard tried to protest further, but Dumbledore's look of absolute finality made it clear he would handle it. The wizard turned and stalked off in a huff.
"Poppy, how are Mr. Malfoy's injuries?"
"He's all healed now, it was caused by a Severing Charm, but it won't leave a scar," Madam Pomfrey replied.
"Very well then, Minerva, please continue leading the students inside for the Sorting," Dumbledore said, and with that, he left, without a single glance back at Harry.
Hagrid quietly reassured Harry, "Don't worry, Harry, Dumbledore won't expel yeh."
Inside the Great Hall, everyone was buzzing about what had happened. Students at the Slytherin table eyed Harry with a peculiar look. Hermione looked worried, trying to say something, but Harry simply gave her an uncaring look in return.
Professor McGonagall took out a battered old wizard's hat and, addressing a roll of parchment, called out:
"Hannah Abbott!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"..."
"Harry Potter!"
"Hmm," Harry heard a small voice in his ear as he put on the hat. "You have great magical talent, and Parseltongue too... perhaps I should put you in Slytherin, but you lack ambition. Wait, you dared to go to Knockturn Alley alone at eleven to buy Runespoor eggs? Courageous indeed. Gryffindor might suit you better."
Before Harry could react, the hat shouted loudly:
"GRYFFINDOR!"
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