A/n : Thank you for everyone who commented and voted. Ravenclaw won the house vote, you guys don’t like Gryffindor and Hufflepuff huh? I could have done something interesting with Hufflepuff but i would have to add some OC characters which i want to keep at a minimum. I’m still thinking for the fmc tho. And guys where are the stones? this simply won’t do.. shower me in stones and watch me dance people. Enjoy the longest chapter till now

Edwina sat by the hearth, Aaric’s school robes folded neatly across her lap. Her wand moved in slow, deliberate strokes, tracing faint silver runes along the seams—charms of warmth, resilience, and quiet protection. Her brow was furrowed, but her hands were steady.

Simon leaned against the nearby doorway, arms crossed as he watched her work in silence.

“You’ve gone over every seam twice,” he said gently.

“I’m not just stitching,” Edwina replied, not looking up. “A few comforts. A few wards. Nothing too noticeable. Just enough to keep him safe.”

Simon stepped forward and gently took her hands, stilling them. She met his eyes.

“He’ll be alright,” he said. “You’ve taught him more than most learn in a lifetime.”

Edwina hesitated, then leaned into his chest with a sigh.

“I know. But he’s still my little boy.”

Simon held her close, his voice low but steady. “He’s your boy—and our son. He’s strong. He’s ready. And he’ll do more than alright. He’ll make his own mark.”

At King’s Cross Station, the Hawthornes moved as a family of four, attracting curious glances from Muggles. There was something unmistakable in their bearing—refined but unforced, like they belonged to another time. Simon’s runed sword hung at his side, invisible to Muggle eyes thanks to layered concealment charms.

Ministry personnel on-site worked harder than usual to ensure the noble-looking group slipping through a brick wall didn’t cause a scene.

Harry was with them, dragging his trunk and glancing between the Hawthornes with an expression caught somewhere between awe and gratitude. At the platform edge, steam billowed from the scarlet engine of the Hogwarts Express.

Edwina knelt before Aaric, brushing a strand of hair behind his ear and murmuring a final list of things to remember. He nodded along with quiet patience, even as she whispered, “Don’t get into fights. And if you do—don’t hit girls.”

Harry wasn’t sure he was meant to hear that part, but it made him grin.

Edwina turned and hugged Harry too, more warmly than he expected, whispering something that made his eyes go wide before softening into a smile. Simon gave each of them a firm, encouraging pat on the shoulder.

“Write home,” Edwina said, straightening her robes.

“We’ll be seeing you soon enough,” Simon added.

The boys nodded and turned toward the train. As they approached, Aaric spotted the Greengrass family. He raised a hand.

“Daphne!”

Daphne turned, her face brightening. “Hi, Aaric! Let’s go together!”

She quickly hugged her parents. “Bye, Mum, Dad! Love you!”

Then she joined Aaric and Harry as the three stepped aboard.

The corridor was packed—students dragging trunks, owls hooting, cats escaping their cages. Prefects barked orders in vain as chaos reigned.

“Everything’s full,” Harry muttered after glancing into yet another crammed compartment.

“We’ll find something,” Aaric said calmly. “Worst case, I conjure a bench in the hallway.”

Daphne shot him a sideways glance. “We are not sitting in the hallway like vagrants.”

Aaric smirked. “Then let’s hope this next one works.”

He stopped at a compartment with only one occupant.

Inside, a red-haired boy sat alone, finishing a sandwich and lazily brushing crumbs off a snoring rat sprawled across his lap.

Aaric knocked once, then slid the door open. “Mind if we join you?”

The boy looked up, startled but polite. “Nah, go ahead. Plenty of room.”

They stepped inside. Daphne claimed the window seat, primly adjusting her skirt. Harry sat across from the redhead. Aaric dropped into the middle seat, looking right at home.

“Thanks,” Harry said. “Everywhere else was packed.”

“No problem,” the redhead replied through a mouthful. “I’m Ron. Ron Weasley.”

“Aaric Hawthorne,” Aaric said with a nod.

Ron blinked. “Hawthorne? That’s a name I’ve heard—my dad’s mentioned your family. Said something about international trade, old estate lines, and—well, stuff I didn’t really follow.”

“Something like that,” Aaric said, amused.

Ron turned to the others. “And you are—?”

“Harry,” Harry offered.

“Daphne Greengrass,” she said, polite but reserved.

“Nice to meet you,” Ron replied quickly, sitting up straighter. “Guess you all know each other already?”

“We met over the summer,” Harry said.

Ron nodded, trying not to seem too out of place. “That’s Scabbers,” he added, nodding to the rat. “He was my brother’s. Doesn’t do much except nap.”

Harry peered at the rat. “He always sleep like that?”

“Pretty much.”

“Sounds ideal,” Aaric said.

Ron grinned. “I’d trade him for an owl, though.”

“You’ve got older brothers at Hogwarts?” Harry asked.

“Five. Fred and George are third-years. Percy’s a prefect. Charlie and Bill already graduated. I’m the last one.”

“Quite the crowd,” Daphne murmured. “Must be hard making your own name.”

Ron gave a small shrug. “Yeah. I’m used to it.”

A knock came at the glass. The trolley witch appeared with her cart.

“Anything off the trolley, dears?”

Ron glanced down at his squashed sandwich. “I’m good.”

“We’ll take a bit of everything,” Aaric said, already reaching for his pouch.

Soon, the bench was loaded with sweets: Pumpkin Pasties, Chocolate Frogs, Cauldron Cakes, and Every Flavour Beans. Aaric handed them out without fuss.

Ron blinked as a Chocolate Frog landed in his hand. “You sure?”

“Take it,” Aaric said.

“Thanks.”

They chatted as the train rumbled on. Aaric demonstrated a small floating charm on a Chocolate Frog, making it hover just above Scabbers’ nose. The rat twitched once, then rolled over in protest.

“You’re going to make him throw up,” Ron laughed.

“Just checking his reflexes,” Aaric said with a smug grin.

The mood in the compartment had shifted—lighter, easier. Even Daphne had relaxed, sipping a bottled pumpkin juice as she read the back of a Bertie Bott’s box.

Then the door slid open.

A girl with bushy brown hair and an eager expression peered inside. Her robes were already on, and a slightly bulging satchel hung off one shoulder.

“Sorry—have you seen a toad? A boy named Neville’s lost one.”

“No toads here,” Harry said.

“Haven’t seen one, sorry.” Ron added.

“Oh. Right.” She lingered. “I’m Hermione Granger, by the way.”

“I’m Harry, there are Aaric, Daphne and ron ” Harry replied politely

Hermione’s eyes widened as she locked on to Harry.

“You’re Harry Potter? I’ve read all about you. The Boy Who Lived. It’s in Modern Magical History and—”

Harry looked like he wanted to vanish through the seat.

Aaric gave her a look that said: ease off.

Hermione blushed at her outburst and as if to brush that away she continued “That was a nice levitation spell you were performing there.” She then hurried off to hide her embaracemment.

Ron’s eyes widened too as he looked at Harry, seemingly recogising him from Hermione’s outburst.

“Don’t start” said Aaric with a grin, looking at ron reaction. Making the boy choak on his coming words. The group laughed at that, even daphne has a smile.

The train came to a halt, steam hissing as students stood to gather themselves.

“We’re here! Leave your trunks, they’ll be taken up!”

Harry, Aaric, Ron, and Daphne stepped out onto the dark platform, joining the cluster of first-years near a large man holding a lantern.

“Firs’-years, this way!” Hagrid called.

They followed him down a sloping path toward the lake. Dozens of small boats floated near the shore.

“No more’n four to a boat!” Hagrid shouted.

Harry, Aaric, Ron, and Daphne shared one boat. A quiet breeze passed over the water as the boats moved on their own, gliding toward the castle.

No one spoke much.

When they reached the other side, they climbed out and followed Hagrid up a narrow path. The castle loomed ahead.

“Wait here. You’ll be sorted soon,” Hagrid said, before knocking on the doors.

They opened slowly, greeting them was a stern face of one Professor McGonagall.

“Welcome to Hogwarts,” she said crisply. “I am Professor McGonagall. In a few moments, you will enter the Great Hall to be sorted into your houses. Your house will be your family while you are here. Please wait quietly.”

She turned and disappeared inside.

Ron leaned over to Harry. “House with the least trolls, hopefully.”

Aaric smirked. “No promises.”

Daphne gave them both a glance. “Just don’t embarrass yourselves.”

“Aaric, its nice to see you finally” Draco entered the chat. He then noticed Harry and remarked “I head harry potter was around, Nice to meet you i am Draco Malfoy. I hope we can be friends.”

“Yeah right” Said Ron from the side “Oh no, its a weasley please don’t through rubber duck at me ” Said Draco in mock fear, he has improved but he is not a push around.

Just as Ron was about to retort, McGonagall returned.

“Follow me.”

They entered in rows, the tall doors swinging shut behind them. The Great Hall was wide and long, filled with enchanted candles floating in midair. Four long tables stretched across the room, upper years already seated and watching with interest. At the far end sat the staff, a golden hat placed on a small stool in front of them.

The first-years came to a stop as McGonagall stepped forward, parchment in hand.

“When I call your name, come forward and sit. The Sorting Hat will decide your house.”

She called the first name.

A hush fell over the room.

They watched as each student stepped forward, the hat placed on their heads, the hall reacting with claps or cheers depending on the house called.

Eventually—

“Greengrass, Daphne.”

Daphne walked calmly to the stool and sat. The hat took only a moment.

“Ravenclaw”

She nodded and stepped down, joining her house at their table.

Next came a few more students before—

“Hawthorne, Aaric.”

There was a slight murmur at the name. Aaric walked with quiet confidence. The hat barely touched his head before it spoke:

“Ravenclaw!”

Aaric gave a small nod and stepped down. He just ordered the hat to do so, the hat keeps the opinion of students in mind and Aaric did not let it read his mind.

“Potter, Harry.”

The hall went nearly silent.

Harry approached, nervous but composed. The hat sat on his head a little longer this time.

“Gryffindor!”

Loud cheers erupted from one table. Harry walked toward it, glancing back at the others for a brief moment.

“Weasley, Ronald.”

Ron almost tripped on his way up. The hat hesitated, then—

“Gryffindor!”

He let out a relieved breath and jogged over to sit beside Harry.

From their new seats, each of them exchanged quick glances across the room. The Sorting was over, but something deeper had begun.

The food appeared.

And Hogwarts welcomed its newest players.

A/n : I rushed the last part but i hope you still liked it.

Anyhoo I welcome the comments and suggestions. Stones people, stones

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