The Hogwarts Express was beginning to slow down, and all throughout the other compartments, first years were heard fumbling their way to the window to try and get a glimpse of the castle from across the lake. Several students cheered.

Without fail, even that small view of the lake sent chills down Marty's spine. This place was so much more than a school.

A voice called through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train. It will be taken to the school separately."

The train pulled up to the station and finally stopped. The students pushed their way out of their compartments and crowded the halls of the train. Bill, Ted, and Ricky were forced to wait in the compartment for an opening.

David, Marko, Ace, and Dally were shoving their way through the cramped halls, forcing their way toward the door. The other Lost Boys were trying their best to keep up, but the irritated older students barricaded them off.

Deacon got out into the hall and pushed his way out the door. Vern was holding onto the back of his shirt tightly as the crowd threatened to separate the two first years.

Ferris Bueller and Neo Anderson lingered back, making an opening for Mikey Walsh, Teddy Duchamp, and Sam Emerson to pass.

When Ted finally pushed his way out onto the platform, he could see the half giant, Hagrid, raising a lantern above his head.

"Firs' years this way!" He bellowed. Ted spotted Deacon through the crowd and ran over to him.

"Deacon!" His younger brother stopped.

"Ted, what?"

"Just wanted to make sure you've got your wand? You got everything, dude?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Deacon assured his brother, squirming out from under his grip, "I made friends on the train."

"I just wanted to make sure, duder. Okay, I'll see you inside. Don't worry if we are not in the same house--"

"Okay, okay, I gotta go,"

Deacon pulled out of Ted's hand and followed Hagrid down the same narrow path all first years went down.

Chunk slipped on a few of the steep rocks and fall forward into Teddy Duchamp, who fell forward into Deacon Logan, who Hagrid caught easily.

"Easy there," Hagrid laughed, offering Chunk a hand up.

"Are you okay?" Gordie asked.

"Oh, I'm alright," Chunk answered, dusting off his robes. "Sorry guys."

As Hagrid led the eleven year olds into the clearing, they were faced with the beauty of Hogwarts castle. It sat on a mountain above a smooth, black lake. The castle was tall, with high peaked towers and yellow lights shining like tiny beacons from the windows.

"No more 'n four to a boat!" Hagrid instructed, gesturing to the little wooden boats all around the shore, each equipped with a lantern.

Deacon, Vern, Gordie, and Data all went into one, while Chunk and Teddy climbed into the one next to them with two first year girls. The boats pushed off and sailed to the other shore, making Hogwarts double in size as they got closer.

On the other shore, Hagrid climbed out and helped the first years get out into the sand.

"Are ya all ready?" He asked excitedly. Everyone's stomachs were in knots, and their minds were racing. Hagrid raised his large fist and knocked on the castle door.

***

The older students were seated at their respective House tables, looking up at a wooden stool in front of the High Table. Upon that stool was an old, beat up hat that determined the fate of every student.

Ted was seated at Hufflepuff between Bill and Garth Algar, who he was very inclined to meet this year ever since their introduction on the train.

The first years were brought in, marching in a line nervously, avoiding people's eyes and looking up at the enchanted ceiling, bewitched to look like the sky.

The room fell silent. The hat on the stool twitched, and a large rip opened up into a mouth and began to sing.

It told about the Hogwarts Houses and their values, Gryffindor being the home to the chivalrous and brave, Hufflepuff to the loyal and hardworking, Ravenclaw to the creative and intelligent, and Slytherin to the ambitious and keen.

The Great Hall burst into applause. Ted could see Ferris standing on his seat wolf whistling. Marty grinned excitedly from across the way at Ted.

The Potions Professor, Emmett "Doc" Brown, one of Ted's favorite professors, stood up next to the stool with a list of the first years' names.

"Alfie, Carl,"

A young first year stumbled out of line and sat on the stool, the hat covering his eyes completely. There was a moment of silence before,

"RAVENCLAW!"

Bill watched as Steve Randle and Brandon Walsh all but climbed on their tables to cheer. Neo reached up swiftly, pulled them down into their seats, and continued watching easily.

"Cohen, Lawrence,"

Chunk skittered up to the stool nervously, almost knocking it over before he sat down. Silence.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Bill, Ted, Garth, and Marty exploded, clapping above their heads. Ponyboy waved Chunk over easily, and he sat next to their prefect, Cameron Frye.

"Duchamp, Teddy,"

A young kid with large glasses and messy brown hair marched forward and took a seat. Almost no time passed before,

"SLYTHERIN!"

David let out a long whistle, and the Lost Boys made a huge racket, pounding the table. Across the entire hall, over at Gryffindor, Marko Reeves stood up and raised his middle finger to the new Slytherin, as well as his friends on the other side of the hall.

"Icarus, Terry,"

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Lachance, Gordon,"

The kid Ted recognized from earlier that day on Platform 9 3/4 walked timidly to the front.

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Logan, Deacon,"

Ted crossed his fingers as his brother crossed the stage, the oversized hat falling into his eyes.

There was a long moment of silence.

"RAVENCLAW!"

Ted's shoulders slumped, but Deacon quickly and wildly looked around for his proper table, where Darrel Curtis, Ponyboy's brother, was waving to him.

"Novack, Alonso,"

"SLYTHERIN!"

Ace Merrill shouted out for him, looking extremely smug.

"Robinson, Tina,"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Smith, Hannah,"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Tessio, Vern,"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

The first year Marty helped in Diagon Alley stumbled over to Hufflepuff, where Marty high fived him in congratulations. He sat down, embarrassed, next to Chunk.

"Walsh, Mikey,"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Wang, Richard,"

"RAVENCLAW!"

That was the last of the first years, and Ted was glad. He was looking forward to getting some food.

The headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, stood up to make a quick speech, and for the first time, Ted got a good, long look at the professors. Some of them were new.

"Before we begin, I would like to introduce you to our two new professors this term," Dumbledore said easily.

"Please give a warm welcome to Professor River Phoenix, who will be teaching Care of Magical Creatures this term, and Professor Bobby Singer, your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

River Phoenix and Bobby Singer stood up. Bobby Singer was probably in his early thirties, with bushy, dark hair and a beard. However, River looked like he should still in school. He was so young and small, comparitively. He nodded shyly as people applauded for them.

The two new professors took their seats, and at once, Dumbledore raised his arms. Instantaneously, the plates in front of them were filled with food, and the room succumbed to silence as they ate.

***

"So dude," Bill said to Garth, "What do you think of that new professor? The young one?"

Garth looked up awkwardly, almost like he was trying not to smile, and fixed his glasses.

"He's really little," he said quietly.

Ponyboy smirked and waved,
"He must be the youngest professor in Hogwarts History."

"Actually," said a voice from behind them.

Every head swiveled at the same time to a large, pot-bellied ghost behind them, The Fat Friar, the Hufflepuff ghost.

"Actually, the youngest Head of House in Hogwarts History!"

"That pipsqueak is our Head of House?" Katie Winter, a fourth year, asked in disbelief from her potatoes.

"Be nice," Sodapop Curtis chided. Ponyboy rolled his eyes at his brother.

"Yes, he is," The Fat Friar stated without hesitation. "So you'd all better treat him respectfully." He smiled.

"You got it, duder," Bill grinned up at the ghost.

"I believe he would prefer to be called Professor, Mr. Preston," but the Fat Friar winked anyway. He floated through the table to the other side.

"Yes, sir," Bill and Ted laughed.

"Mr. Cohen and Mr. Tessio! Welcome to Hufflepuff House!" The Fat Friar greeted kindly.

"Are you a ghost?" Vern immediately asked.

"Yes, I am. Actually, every House has a ghost,"

"Cool!"

"How did you die?" Chunk asked.

While the boys chatted with the ghost, Ted turned his attention back to his current friends.

"This is totally gonna be a good year, dudes," he grinned excitedly. Marty thumbed over his time turner and nodded.

"Yeah, definitely. It's good to be home,"