The Start-of-Term Feast was nothing short of magical for Harry. He had never seen such a variety of food—roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, bacon, and steak. There were bowls of mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, carrots, and more pies than he could count. It was overwhelming for someone who had grown up with scraps and leftovers.

He stared at the table, unsure of what to do next, when Ronnie, sitting beside him, noticed. Her face softened with concern. She reached for a plate and quietly began placing food on it, filling it with a selection of meats, vegetables, and a hearty slice of pie. When she slid it over to Harry, he blinked at her in surprise.

"Here you go," she said, a small, reassuring smile on her face. "Eat as much as you like, but don't rush. You'll get an upset stomach if you go too fast."

Harry nodded, appreciating her gesture more than he could say. He took a bite of roast chicken, savoring the flavors far richer than anything he had ever tasted at the Dursleys. He slowed down, remembering Ronnie's advice, and enjoyed the food.

When dessert arrived, plates filled with treacle tarts, chocolate éclairs, jam doughnuts, and even blocks of ice cream appeared before them. As they helped themselves to the sweets, the conversation turned to their families.

"I'm not sure how much you've heard about me," Harry said, his voice quieter than before. "But I'm nothing like what they make me out to be in the Wizarding World. I grew up in the Muggle world with my aunt and uncle... and they hate magic. I didn't even know I was a wizard until Hagrid told me a month ago."

Hermione's eyes widened in shock, and Neville looked down at his plate, fiddling with his spoon. Ronnie furrowed her brow, still not liking how the Dursleys treated Harry for being a Wizard.

"You didn't know?" Hermione asked gently. "But you're Harry Potter. That's... crazy."

Harry shrugged. "They never told me. They made me live in a cupboard under the stairs. I never knew my parents or even heard about them until now."

A moment of silence hung in the air before Neville spoke. "My family thought I was a Squib," he muttered, his cheeks reddening. "They didn't think I'd ever be able to do magic. Not until my great-uncle Algie accidentally dropped me out of a window, and I bounced down the street like a ball."

Hermione gasped in horror, her hand flying to her mouth. Meanwhile, Ronnie and Harry looked at Neville with concern. "He dropped you out of a window? On purpose?"

Neville shrugged, though he smiled faintly at the memory. "It wasn't so bad. It was the first time I did real magic. My family was so relieved."

"Magic or no magic. You could have died, Nev," Ronnie murmured, looking worried, while Harry nodded in agreement.

Hermione leaned in, sharing her own story. "I grew up in the Muggle world, too," she said, looking at Harry. "My parents are dentists. I didn't even know I could do magic until I was eight. I remember trying to get a book from a shelf that was too high, and it just floated down to me. I thought I was like Matilda, you know? That girl from the Muggle book with mind powers. It wasn't until I got my letter to Hogwarts from Professor McGonagall that my parents and I discovered the truth."

Ronnie smiled, amused at Hermione's story. "Matilda, huh? I love that book. I remember my Dad letting me read that book. He loves all things Muggles. His love for everything Muggle has allowed him to work at the Ministry of Magic as Head of Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office." She glanced around the group before adding, " Speaking of my family. I'm the youngest of six kids. The only girl, too. It's a madhouse, but it's fun. I'm not very feminine, though—I think growing up with five older brothers will do that to you."

Harry chuckled, imagining Ronnie keeping up with her brothers. "Sounds like you could hold your own."

Ronnie grinned. "Oh, I do. Believe me."

As the group continued chatting and eating dessert, the tension that had once been there began to fade. Despite their different backgrounds, they shared their stories openly, finding common ground in the challenges they had all faced.

As they finished their desserts, they felt more connected. The start of their Hogwarts journey had brought them together, and they were all excited for what lay ahead.

Harry's excitement was interrupted by a sharp pain in his forehead. He winced, instinctively reaching up to touch his scar. It felt like a lightning bolt of pain shot through his head, and it startled him. He looked up at the staff table and spotted Professor Quirrell, whom he had met at Diagon Alley, talking to a tall, hook-nosed man with greasy black hair.

"Harry, are you okay?" Ronnie asked, noticing his discomfort. Her brow furrowed in concern as she leaned in closer.

Harry nodded, though he still looked a little uneasy. "My scar," he muttered, rubbing his forehead. "It just started hurting all of a sudden. But..." He glanced back at the staff table. "I was looking at that man talking to Professor Quirrell when it happened. Do you know who he is?"

Ronnie followed Harry's gaze. She didn't recognize the man in the turban, but her eyes landed on the person Quirrell spoke to. "Wait, you mean him?" she asked, pointing at the greasy black-haired man.

"Yeah," Harry replied, still watching him. "Who is that?"

Ronnie turned to her older brother, Percy, sitting a few seats away. "Percy, who's that man at the staff table? The one next to the guy in the turban?" she asked, keeping her voice low.

Percy glanced up and gave a slight nod. "That's Professor Snape. He teaches Potions and is the Head of Slytherin House. Bit of a tough one, but brilliant with Potions."

Harry and Ronnie exchanged a glance. "Potions," Harry echoed. "We'll have him as a teacher, then."

Ronnie nodded thoughtfully, though her attention shifted back to Harry. "Does your scar hurt often?" she asked, still concerned.

Harry shook his head. "This is the first time. It was weird, like a sharp pain." He shrugged it off for now, but something about the encounter left him with a strange feeling.

Harry didn't know that Professor Snape had also noticed him. Snape looked at Harry from the staff table with mixed emotions—surprise, confusion, and curiosity. He wasn't expecting such a clear reflection of Lily Evans in the boy's hair color, face, eyes, and mannerisms, though his hairstyle and glasses are that of James Potter, the man Snape despised. It caught him off guard, but Snape quickly turned his attention back to Quirrell, his expression neutral once more.

As the feast ended, Headmaster Dumbledore stood up and addressed the students. "Welcome, welcome, to another year at Hogwarts!" His voice boomed across the Great Hall. "Before we begin, I'd like to remind everyone that the Forbidden Forest is strictly off-limits to all students. And this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to anyone who does not wish to die a most painful death."

The students exchanged nervous glances, but Dumbledore's cheerful demeanor didn't match his words' gravity. Ronnie and Harry looked at one another, confused as to why the Headmaster would reveal such a severe thing to the whole student body.

"Maybe he doesn't want certain infamous pranksters snooping around," Ronnie mutters, glancing at her older brothers, Fred and George.

Fred and George looked at Ronnie innocently.

Harry chuckled.

"Now, before you all head to bed, let's sing the school song!" Dumbledore added, his eyes twinkling. With a wave of his wand, a golden ribbon unraveled in the air, forming the words of the Hogwarts anthem.

After a somewhat chaotic rendition of the school song, Percy stood and gathered the Gryffindor first-years. "Come on, follow me!" he called out as he led the group through the corridors and several flights of stairs to Gryffindor Tower.

When they finally arrived at a large portrait of a very regal-looking woman, Percy turned to the group. "This is the entrance to the Gryffindor Common Room," he explained. "To get in, you need to know the password. This week's is 'Caput Draconis.'" He spoke the password, and the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open, revealing a cozy, warm room behind it.

Ronnie, Harry, and the other first-years stepped inside, taking in the sight. The Common Room was precisely what Harry and Muggleborn students imagined a wizard's living space—full of squashy armchairs, crackling fireplaces, and red-and-gold decorations everywhere. The walls were adorned with tapestries of witches, wizards, and mystical creatures, and the entire room felt inviting and homey. Harry already liked it here.

Percy turned back to them, smiling proudly. "This is your new home. You can relax here after classes, do homework, and hang out. Now, the dormitories are up those stairs—boys on the left, girls on the right. Professor McGonagall will go over the rules with you."

Their Head of House, Professor McGonagall, was already waiting in the Common Room. She nodded to Percy, thanked him for escorting the students, and addressed the group. "Welcome to Gryffindor. As you all know, this is your Common Room, and there are a few rules to remember—no dueling magic. I do not want to see two housemates dueling each other. I expect you to conduct yourselves with respect toward your fellow housemates. Lastly, be in bed before curfew." Her stern gaze softened slightly. "Now, I suggest you all get a good night's sleep. Classes begin tomorrow, and you'll need to be well-rested."

Ronnie and Hermione exchanged goodnights with Harry and Neville before heading to their dormitory. They were pleased to find that they would share a room and learned that their roommates were two girls, Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil. Meanwhile, Harry and Neville discovered they would be rooming together with two boys, Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas.

Everyone got ready for bed and wished each other good night as they tried their best to fall asleep. They were excited and nervous to start the new day learning magic.