"Hey, you didn't say what house you think you would be in."
Cyrus looked a bit hesitant at Hazel's question before replying quietly, "Well, my mom is Gryffindor and Dad is Slytherin. So I guess I can be either."
"You are right, but which house do you think you would be in?" Hazel asked excitedly.
"I don't know," Cyrus shrugged before adding quietly, "Mom thinks I would be in Slytherin. Dad is really . . . "
"Your dad is really what?" Hazel asked.
"Nothing," Cyrus said quickly and before Hazel could ask more, the trolley witch came with candies, and Cyrus instantly perked up. "I will buy every flavoured beans for Shadow!"
"Cyrus, you don't need to," Hazel started, but Harry was already there, smiling at the trolley witch.
"I will take four of every type of candy and chocolates, ma'am," Harry said, already paying.
"Of course, dear," The trolley witch smiled. She glanced at all of us before her eyes settled on me. "Your kid, dear?"
"Yes," Harry smiled, pulling Hazel in front of him. "Hazel Potter."
"Ah, rather sweet girl," the trolley witch said before pulling out an extra chocolate frog. "For you."
"No, no, I don't need it, ma'am," Hazel smiled politely. "Dad has bought enough for all four of us."
The trolley witch's smile only widened at Hazel's refusal, and she gave the chocolate frog to Harry.
"There's no need –" Harry began but the trolley witch just pushed it in his hand along with the bag of candies and chocolates Harry ordered for them.
"Take it," The trolley witch said firmly and went away.
"Alright, who wants candies?" Harry said, sitting back down and opening the bag of candies.
"Thank you, Uncle – Professor Potter," Willow and Harvey said quickly, taking their share of chocolate.
"Thank you, Professor," Cyrus said quietly as Harry gave the rest to Hazel and Cyrus.
"Thanks, Dad," Hazel grinned as they started munching on chocolate. She gave Shadow the ever-flavoured bean box, and Shadow found the flavour he was looking for.
Harry opened the chocolate frog, and as expected, the frog leapt away, but Harry didn't pay it any mind as he saw the card inside it and smiled.
"Who is it, Dad?" Hazel asked curiously. "Who is on the card?"
"Your mom," Harry said, smiling as he showed the card to Hazel.
"Great, another one for your collection," Hazel said, grinning.
"What collection?" Cyrus asked curiously.
"Dad collects all the chocolate cards that are about Mom," Hazel explained, giggling a little. She always thought it was so cute.
"Oh, that's cool," said Harvey with a mouth full of candies.
"Can I see it?" Cyrus asked as Harry started to put the card inside the inner pocket of his jacket.
"Of course," Harry gave the card to Cyrus, and he watched the card where the picture of Chris smiled at him.
"I have collected some of these cards, but I never got your mom," Cyrus said and flipping it over, he read.
Christina Norton-Potter
An Muggleborn witch who exceeded all her academic endeavours during her time in Hogwarts. She is very famous for fighting an ancient wizard, Maligno, and fighting Voldemort alongside Harry Potter (The Boy Who Lived). She is also very famous for her healing potions and other sorts of useful magical items named 'Christina Creations'. She is currently married to Harry Potter.
"Do you want to keep the card, Cyrus?" Harry asked as he watched Cyrus reading it so fascinated.
"No, no, sir, it's fine," Cyrus instantly got embarrassed and tried to return it. But Harry only shook his head.
"Keep it. I already have 56 of them," Harry said, grinning.
"All of them are about Christina ma'am?" Cyrus asked, surprised.
"Yep," Harry just chuckled, seeing Cyrus's shocked expression.
The rest of the train ride went by pretty quickly. Hazel and her friends played with Shadow in their compartment and ate more candies.
A voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken into the school separately."
"Alright, kids, quickly wear your robes," Harry said, checking his watch as he got up, hearing the announcement.
Hazel and the rest of them quickly pulled on their black robes. Hazel was practically vibrating with excitement as they joined the throng of students gathering around the train door.
The train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way toward the door and out onto a tiny, dark platform. Hazel shivered in the cold night air as they got down. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students, and Hazel heard a familiar voice.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?" Hagrid came towards them.
"Hey, Hagrid!" Harvey shouted.
"Hello, Li'le ones, how are ya?" Hagrid asked all four of them. "Harvey, your mo'her had asked me to keep an eye on ya."
"Oh god, is there anyone my mum didn't tell to keep an eye on me?" Harvey groaned and the rest of them laughed.
"C'mon, follow me -- any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!" Hagrid's big, hairy face beamed over the sea of heads.
"Go with Hagrid," Harry told Hazel. "I will see you at the school, alright?"
Hazel nodded, grinning before slipping and stumbling to follow Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. Cyrus quickly caught Hazel's arm and helped her walk before she could slip down again. Hazel smiled at him gratefully as they walked together. It was so dark on either side of them that Hazel thought there must be thick trees there. Nobody spoke much.
"Ye' all get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."
There was a loud "Oooooh!"
The narrow path had opened suddenly onto 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.
"Hogwarts," Hazel whispered, her eyes sparkling with joy as she finally saw the place she had heard so many stories about.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Hazel and Cyrus were followed into their boat by Willow and Harvey.
"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 that hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbour, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles. Then they clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge oak front door.
"Everyone here?" Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
[To be continued]