Ares Salazar Riddle| a hp fanfic

chapter two

—THE TRAIN SLOWED RIGHT DOWN AND FINALLY STOPPED. People pushed their way towards the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. Ares shivered in the cold night air. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students and Ares heard a familiar voice: "Firs'-years! Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here!"

"That big oaf," scoffed Draco with a roll of his eyes.

Hagrid's big hairy face showed over the sea of heads.

"C'mon, follow me – any more firs'-years? Mind yer step, now! Firs'-years follow me!"

Slipping and stumbling, they followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark either side of them that Ares thought there must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke much.

"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

There was a loud "Oooooh!". Ares wasn't one of them. He kept it to himself.

The narrow path had opened suddenly on to the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore.

Ares and Draco got into a boat together immediately. Then, another boy came in. Then, another one.

"I'm Blaise Zabini," one of them introduced themselves. He was dark skinned and had a buzz cut.

"I'm Theodore Nott." The other boy shyly introduced himself. He had dirty blonde hair and green eyes.

"Draco Malfoy."

"Ares Riddle." The two introduced themselves.

Ares enjoyed the sight of their widened eyes. He turned back around and looked at the castle.

"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself, "Right then – FORWARD!"

And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass. Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood.

"Heads down!" yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy which hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them directly underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbour, where they clambered out on to rocks and pebbles.

Within minutes, they were finally at the castle.

"First years, follow me." A woman came up and motioned for them to follow her at the doors leading to the castle.

They followed them up. There were so many stairs. Ares felt his legs getting tired, but everyone else seemed like they expected this. Which they probably did.

"Now," started the woman as they stopped in front of two big double doors. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

Ares watched as she opened the door a bit, then went inside and closed it on them.

Theodore Nott sighed. He looked around, then tapped Blaise on the shoulder. He motioned towards someone.

"It's true, then." Blaise announced to everyone. "Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts."

Ares immediately tensed. Draco had told him all about the person who "killed" his father— technically.

Whispers erupted between the first years.

Harry Potter shifted in his place quietly.

The woman came back out and announced herself. "I'm Proffessor McGonagall, and this.." she opened the doors, earning "ooh"s from the students, "is Hogwarts."

The first years walked to the front of the hall while looking around.

It was beautiful, Ares thought. He couldn't believe he was so lucky.

"Welcome, first years!" Headmaster Dumbledore stood up and opened his arms. "Now, you will get sorted."

There was a stool in front. On top of the stool the Professor put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty.

For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth – and the hat began to sing:

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

If you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.