Even as late as Harry was getting onto the platform with the large red-haired family's help, he wasn't the last one on the train, or even close to the last. Eventful as it was to discover the hidden magical train platform, he was just happy that it was not some sort of sick joke.
It was apparent to him that many students put their trunks in a compartment and then went back outside to greet other families and to say goodbye to their own. Harry would be lying to say he wasn't jealous of the familial affection and love. He was lucky to even be on the train, all things considered.
The redheads, while apparently a very nice family, didn't have the easiest of times about it. Their large size worked against them, and it took all of the parent's efforts to just make sure that no one was left behind and that everyone that was supposed to be on the train, was indeed on the train.
Harry had merely taken the first compartment that was empty, and with the help of the redhead twins, both his and the youngest redhead's trunks were up in the storage racks. The youngest was nowhere to be seen yet, so Harry took a few moments to just gaze out the window and watch the families buzz about at the last minute.
A few people perked his attention for no good reason, such as a young tow-haired girl with black glasses and a blue bow hugging a smaller tow-haired girl who also wore a blue bow. Seeing the sisterly friendship was slightly nauseating, but that was just his jealousy shining through. But he didn't need family, he had Hogwarts, and he hoped to make a lot of friends. It was going to be a fresh start to his life, and he planned to take every advantage of that.
Turning his gaze from the two sisters, Harry spotted a solitary, chubby boy hugging an ashen-haired woman wearing a ridiculous hat with a stuffed vulture on it, along with an enormous red handbag. The young boy reluctantly let go of the lady, presumably his grandmother, before heading onto the train with everyone else.
There were plenty of interesting people, but Harry couldn't possibly see everyone. Probably the most standout out person in Harry's mind, and probably the minds of every male at the station, was a pale skinned, black haired woman wearing a very slim, form fitting green dress. She had prominent cleavage on display to stare at if her beautiful face didn't transfix everyone. Perhaps more curious than her beauty was the young girl that was hiding in her shadow. Just as pale as her mother, the daughter seemed shy, or perhaps embarrassed by the attention her mother was getting. She was cute, sure, but she was only eleven, and had a few years before she had her mother's beauty, if ever. Her mother kissed her on the forehead before sending her onto the train.
Nearly everyone was on the train by now, and just as Harry moved his focus away from the window and the pale woman, the compartment door slid open. A single redhead was pushed, gently, into the room by his two older twin brothers.
The door closed behind him, so it was just the two eleven year olds.
"Hi again," he started off nervously, "uh, we didn't get to introduce ourselves earlier… I'm Ron Weasley."
Harry shook Ron's hand, "Harry Potter."
"Wow, that's so cool."
"What?"
"Do you have, the, er - ?"
"Oh, yeah," responded Harry. He pulled back his hair, revealing his lightning bolt scar.
"I didn't realize you were the same age as me. I mean, I knew, but I didn't well, you know, realize I'd be going to Hogwarts with a legend."
"I'm that popular, huh?"
"Everyone knows you mate, or rather, knows of your story. But no one's actually met you before, not that I know of anyway," Ron said. He seemed unsure of what to say next. "Hidden away some say, no one knew where you were. My sister, heh, she must have written you a hundred times but never received a response."
"Really?" Harry asked, slightly amused at that idea. "I've never received anything until I got my Hogwarts letter. I didn't even know I was a wizard until a month ago."
"Wow, no way."
Harry nodded his head. "I grew up with my, er, muggle aunt, uncle, and cousin. I'm related to them through my mother who was…"
"Muggleborn," Ron supplied.
"Yeah, that. They hate magic and tried their best to not let me come here, but they relented in the end with some persuasion from Hagrid."
"They hate magic? I think everyone's going to be disappointed that you have not been having private lessons or something with Dumbledore since your birth."
"I've never even seen the man. I think my relatives just don't like anything that is different than them, fundamentally I suppose. They knew I was magical, but they denied it ever since I could remember, and treated me like I wasn't part of the family," admitted Harry. He hope getting the truth out about his upbringing right away would quell a lot of rumors about him before they start. " Without going into details, I will just say that I'm happy to be getting away from them."
Ron looked distinctly uncomfortable. "Are you saying that they, uh, hurt you? If they did, I'm sure any number of people would love to teach them a lesson."
"No, no, nothing like that. No abuse, at least nothing physically. I just never really felt like a part of the family, and they never went out of the way to make me feel like one. I'm not sure you'd understand that, what with there being four of you."
"Seven actually. But I see what you are trying to say, kind of. Family is all I really got. With seven of us, you could say I've got a lot to live up to. Bill and Charlie have already left — Bill was head boy and Charlie was captain of Quidditch. Now Percy's a prefect. Fred and George mess around a lot, but they still get really good marks and everyone thinks they're really funny. Everyone expects me to do as well as the others, but if I do, it's no big deal, because they did it first. You never get anything new, either, with five brothers. I've got Bill's old robes, Charlie's old wand, and Percy's old rat. My dad does his best, but…"
Ron showed him some homemade corn beef sandwiches to prove his point.
"I never got anything either. I never got new clothes and never got a proper birthday present. I never even had any money to buy anything until I learned I was a wizard and Hagrid took me to Gringotts. I got some money now, left over from my mum and dad, but I don't have any family or friends. You can be the first if you want."
"Sure mate," Ron responded quickly. "First friend of Harry Potter, blimey."
"I don't suppose you could tell me a little about, well, wizarding. I started to read a book, but there's only so much a book can teach I guess."
"Yeah I can do that. There's not much I know of muggles, but my dad finds them clever. I only just got my wand this summer like everyone else, so it's not like I know loads of magic. I've seen my family use a few spells before, but I don't actually know them, if you get what I'm saying?"
Harry nodded his head, even though he didn't understand.
"George told me a spell though. I haven't tried it yet, Mum would probably go crazy if she saw me doing magic, but I can try it if you want."
An excited look came across Harry's face. "That'd be cool."
Ron rummaged around in his battered trunk and pulled out an equally battered looking wand. "Damn, unicorn hair's nearly poking out."
Reaching deep into his pocket for something, Ron pulled out a battered looking rat. Battered was quite a common word when dealing with Ron's possessions. Just as he pointed his wand at the rat, the door opened revealing a girl with a large amount of bushy brown hair and two prominent front teeth.
"Neville's lost his toad, has anyone seen it?" She asked in a somewhat bossy voice, before actually taking notice of the people in the compartment.
"No, haven't seen a –"
"Oh, are you performing magic?" The girl cut in. "Well, let's see it then."
Ron shrugged to Harry, who shrugged back.
"Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow… turn this stupid fat rat yellow!"
Ron finished by jabbing his wand at the rat, but nothing happened.
"Stupid Scabbers, stupid spell. Should have known it's a dud..."
"Are you sure that's a real spell?" asked the girl. "It's not very good, is it? I've tried a few basic spells just for practice and curiosities sake, and they all worked for me. Nobody in my family is magical at all, and they were ever so surprised when I received my letter. I was so pleased though, when I got it. Hogwarts is the best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard – I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough – I'm Hermione Granger by the way, who are you?"
Ron's mouth remained agape for just a second longer than polite, but he quickly responded "Ron Weasley."
Hermione looked down at the rat scurrying about on Ron's lap before replying somewhat airily, "Charmed. And you?"
"Harry Potter."
"Are you really? I've read about you of course, in Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall –"
"Wait, I'm in books?" Harry asked, bewildered.
"Dozens. How could you not know?" she responded, perplexed.
"Well, no one's ever come to me for an interview, and I doubt that Voldemort –"
"Don't say his name!" Ron whispered harshly.
"Sorry. See, I don't know these things, the little details of the wizarding world that are so important. Anyways, I doubt You-Know-Who has given any interviews either, and aside from me and him, no one else truly knows what happened. And as I was too young to remember, I don't know what happened either. So how could books know anything?"
Hermione stood there gaping. "Books – What- How –"
After a few seconds of spluttering she merely left. Ron and Harry both shrugged simultaneously again and shared a laugh.
"Well mate, regardless of anything else you may learn, there is one thing that brings wizards and witches together, regardless of politics and family history. Quidditch."
"What's that?"
A giddy look came across Ron's face. "I'm glad you asked…"
Harry listened raptly as Ron described the most prominent wizarding sport, a mix of cliché broomstick riding, rugby, and ancient gladiatorial games. It sounded fun to watch, and Ron went on to describe some of the matches he saw, and went even further on to mention how Harry's father was once a Quidditch player for Gryffindor. That was one of the first things Harry learned about James Potter.
Ron continued on for a bit, he was quite enthusiastic about it. Eventually the door opened once more, showing a plump, elderly woman pushing a trolley laden with food.
"Anything off the cart, dears?" The woman asked in a kind voice.
Ron shook his head, but Harry got up to look.
"I've never had any of this stuff before Ron, any recommendations?"
Ron's eyes lit up and he started point out food to Harry, snacks to avoid (pumpkin pasties), and treats to get (chocolate frogs).
Harry, as a show of appreciation to their new friendship, bought two of everything suggested, plus a few extra frogs. Harry, never having any money at the Dursley's, relished the chance to spend a little bit of his new found wealth. Using it to gorge himself on candy seemed as good of a start as any.
Ron talked a little bit about his family, how they've all been in Gryffindor, before he went off on a tangent after opening a chocolate frog.
Harry, opening one of his own, got a Dumbledore card. "Wow, so this is Dumbledore. Huh, he moved!"
"You can't expect him to stick around forever, can ya?"
"Hard to argue with that," Harry responded with a shrug. He turned the card over and read:
ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
CURRENTLY HEADMASTER OF HOGWARTS
Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times, Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his work on alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and tenpin bowling.
"He's probably the most famous wizard alive," Ron stated as he opened his second frog. "Darn, another Cliodna. I'm only missing Agrippa and Ptolemy for a set. You can redeem a set for some cool prizes."
"Really? Like what?"
"My brother Bill redeemed a set for Quidditch tickets when I was six. Chudley Cannons versus the Ballycastle Bats. The Cannons are my favorite team, probably because that was the first match I ever saw, and they won."
"That's pretty cool. I'd like to see a match."
"Oh, you won't have to wait long for that. Hogwarts has its own matches. Fred and George are the Gryffindor beaters, and Charlie was the seeker. He graduated last year so I guess that spot's open. I'd try out, but first years don't normally get on the teams."
Harry kept that in mind, still fuzzy on the idea of Quidditch in general. But that thought barely passed through his brain before the door opened, and the chubby kid from the platform with the vulture-hat grandma was standing in the door way.
"Sorry, but uh, have either of you two seen my toad?"
"Neville, right? Hermione Granger came by a bit ago looking for it. No toads, but we have these," replied Harry, and he tossed one of the frog boxes at the kid.
"Oi, thanks. So no toad?"
Both Ron and Harry, shook their heads no.
"Well, I really got to find him. I'll see you two at Hogwarts."
The chubby kid left just as quickly as he came, but not a minute passed before the door opened once again, and this time three boys framed the door. The one in the middle was clearly the leader. He was smaller than the two goons surrounding him, and his unnaturally blond hair stood out on the kid's pasty white face.
He had a demeanor about him that Harry didn't particularly like, but he wasn't about to be rude. The kid spoke up first. "I heard Harry Potter is on this train."
Harry was a bit wary, but he shook the proffered hand. "That would be me."
"I'm Draco Malfoy. You will find at Hogwarts that not all families are equal. If you ever need some… guidance, the Malfoy's will always lend an ear."
Harry wasn't sure what Draco meant, but he did notice that Ron became very suspicious of the boy, and Draco returned the same look. Harry didn't know what to do, so instead he tossed a chocolate frog to Draco, just as he had to Neville.
Draco looked confused for a second, and after realizing that Harry didn't do anything to it, he ate it. "Father doesn't usually allow me to have candy, so I appreciate it."
The kid seemed to be thrown off track, and unsure what to do next, he merely nodded and left as quickly as he arrived. After the door closed, Ron had some words of warning.
"I'd be careful with the Malfoy's. They're very influential and they have a lot of money to throw around. My dad says that Draco's father was in with You-Know-Who's lot, but claimed he was bewitched. Very old family and very shady, if you catch my meaning."
Harry was picturing a mobster in his mind, but he didn't know anything about the higher echelons of the wizarding world.
After a few minutes of talk, with Ron trying to explain what he knew, and with his father working for the wizarding government, Harry had gathered some bits of information that he found interesting.
Several hours passed and Ron slowly got over his star struck state and slowly realized that Harry was just another kid who was looking to make some friends, and Ron was very happy to meet someone his age who he could talk to and who would listen to his ramblings.
As the sun slowly sank down on the horizon, the door to the compartment opened once again. Harry was surprised more people didn't stop in to meet him due to his apparent fame, but that was fine by him. The person didn't walk in this time; instead she just stuck her head in.
She was an older student, with pink spiky hair, and as quickly as the words "We're fifteen minutes from Hogwarts, I suggest getting changing into your school robes unless you enjoy being embarrassed," left her mouth, she was gone, yelling the same thing into every compartment.
"That was… odd," Harry commented.
Ron shrugged. "Probably a prefect."
Harry didn't respond, but instead pulled down his trunk and searched for his wizarding gear. He slipped the robe on, and he felt distinctly uncomfortable. Slipping it on felt like slipping into the wizarding world. If he was going to be a wizard, he was going to have to dress like one. It was clearly going to be an acquired taste though, but he was anxious to leave the Dursley's world behind and begin anew.
The robes weren't anything overly fancy, but they were the first new clothes he had ever owned. Ron was stuck with his brothers' hand-me-downs, which were probably second-hand to start, but there was no pity in Harry's eyes over that. He lived like that his whole life, and he was thankful that he had the chance to learn magic. The clothes one wore were not indicative of the kind of wizard one will be, and so far Ron was a good bloke.
Harry hoped he would be sorted into the same House as Ron, and with the little bit he had learned about them, it was very possible. Ron's whole family had been Gryffindors, and he grew up in the same exact environment as them, same beliefs and everything, so chances were he would follow them. Harry's parents were also Gryffindors, but he didn't grow up with them - he grew up with the Dursley's, so all bets were off in his mind. He was prepared for anything, but he hoped for the best.
The train started to slow down, and looking out the window, Harry saw a village come into view. As the train approached it, Harry noticed the village was old, as if time just passed it by. There were no cars, no electricity, and no sign of the modern world. Harry kind of liked that.
After the train stopped, and after the prefects told everyone to leave their trunks, everyone rushed out of the doors, anxious to set foot back in Hogwarts. Summer was nice, but there was something about Hogwarts that just enchanted everyone of any age.
A voice boomed out over everyone, and Harry spotted the unmistakable form of Hagrid holding up lantern that illuminated his large bearded face. For someone who's never seen someone so large, Hagrid would be very imposing, but to Harry, he was a welcomed sight.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" Hagrid called out. "C'mon, follow me — any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years follow me!"
All the eleven year olds gathered around the giant of a man, none of them more than half of his height. It was dark out, somewhat damp, and cold. The train platform wasn't well lit, and the students slipped a few times while trying to follow Hagrid as he led them down a steep path through a forest.
Eventually the group stopped at the edge of a large lake. "Careful now, no more'n four to a boat," instructed Hagrid.
Harry climbed into a boat along with Ron, and two girls he hadn't seen before - a redhead and a blonde. Before pleasantries could be made though, they were all forced to clutch to the side of the boat as Hagrid yelled "Forward!"
The boats lurched as whatever magic controlled them activated from Hagrid's voice. The water was calm, almost too calm. The boats glided across the glass-like water with little problem, and Harry was growing more and more excited by the second.
In the distance, Harry thought he could see a large, looming building, and as the moon broke free of the clouds, he caught his first glimpse of Hogwarts.
Sitting upon a sheer cliff face, Hogwarts' turrets, battlements, and towers gazed down upon the first-years. It was an awe-inspiring sight, and as they got closer and closer, the larger the castle became.
"Heads down!" Hagrid yelled as the boats headed for the wide, ivy-covered cave in the cliff face. The cave lead right into a dark tunnel, and Harry was sure they were underneath Hogwarts.
Light coming from torches played on the cave ceiling as they entered an underground harbor. The boats pushed ashore on their own volition and the students clambered out onto the rocky shore.
"Everyone out now, gather 'round!" Hagrid called out. All the first years flocked towards the large man and his lantern, eagerly wanting to get out of the cold and wet cavern and into the school.
Herding the flock of students up an old, carved-stone path and up to a large door, the giant of a man knocked on it slowly with a massive fist, three times. The door open quickly, and standing in the doorway was a tall, dark-haired witch beginning to show signs of her age. She had a very stern face, and Harry had the impression that she was very strict.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank you Hagrid," the professor responded, opening the door wide and ushering the kids inside.
Harry looked around the Entrance Hall, marveling at the walls, ceiling and just the sheer size of the room. It could easily fit a large house in it, perhaps even two. Torches hung from the stone walls, illuminating the room, and on the opposite side of the hall, Harry spied a staircase leading upwards into the castle.
Voices could be heard coming from a door to the right, mostly likely the rest of the students, but Professor McGonagall led them into a smaller side room. The students crowded around the Professor, looking at her expectantly.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but first you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting Ceremony is a very important tradition, dating back centuries. Your House will be like your family here at Hogwarts. You will attend classes with your House, sleep in the House dormitory, and spend a lot of your free time in your House common room."
"There are four Houses, each with their own noble history and each has produced their fair share of talented witches and wizards. Each House is named after one of this school's founders; Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. While you are here at Hogwarts, your triumphs will gain you House points, and any rule-breaking will lose them. At the end of the year, the points will be tallied up, and the victor will earn the treasured House Cup. I hope each of you will be a credit to your house in the upcoming years and make the most of this opportunity."
"The Sorting Ceremony will begin in a few minutes. I suggest straightening yourselves up; you will be in front of your peers. I shall return when we are ready for you, please wait quietly."
The professor walked out the door, and all the first years just looked at each other uneasily after she left.
"How do you reckon they sort us?" someone asked from behind.
"My brother said we had to wrestle a troll," Ron responded helpfully.
"Is this the same brother that told you that rubbish spell on the train?" Harry asked with a laugh. His outward nature belied what he was feeling on the inside. He wasn't ready for any sort of test or show of magic. He didn't know any magic yet. And what if he wasn't chosen at all? He wasn't expecting this when he had arrived.
There were a lot of hushed whisperings, and Harry thought he could hear Granger muttering various spells under her breathe, as if she was deciding which one would be the best to use. She wasn't the only one panicking though, it was apparent that no one really knew how they would be sorted.
Suddenly, a shriek rang out through the room, and everyone turned around to see several dozen ethereal figures bursting through the wall.
"What the – " gasped Harry.
"Ghosts, I think," responded Ron. The ghosts in question didn't even seem to see the first years until they were comfortably in the middle of them all.
"Oh, what do we have here?" One of them asked.
"I think it's the first years," Another answered.
"New students about to be sorted. How Exciting!" Said a third.
"I hope to see you in Hufflepuff," A large one said. "My old House you know."
Just then the door opened up, and McGonagall came back into the room, sending a piercing look at the ghosts. "Move along now, the Sorting Ceremony is about to begin." One by one the ghosts disappeared back through the wall.
"Now form a line and follow me."
Harry was very nervous, and it was as if his legs were made of lead. Still, he managed to follow a sandy-haired kid, with Ron behind him, out into the Great Hall.
Everyone noticed the magnificent ceiling first, enchanted to look like the sky outside. But everyone's eyes quickly fell to the students and teachers assembled below. There must have been at least two hundred students, sitting at four massively long tables, with the Professors sitting at their own table at the head of the Hall. But the Hall itself was absolutely massive. Harry had thought the Entrance Hall was huge, but this was at least ten times larger than that.
Flaming braziers lined the wall, with the walls themselves decorated with massive tapestries depicting a lion, raven, snake, and badger. And floating in the air above them were thousands of candles casting their haunting light down upon the tables below. The tables were decked with golden plates and goblets, and with dozens of hungry students excited for the Sorting, but also excited to eat.
Harry's mouth was slightly agape, as was everyone else's. This was Hogwarts. This was magic.
McGonagall led them in front of the Professors' table so everyone in the Hall would be able to see them. Harry started to get the jitters again upon seeing hundreds of faces peering up at them, along with ghosts spread periodically amongst them, flickering in the pale candlelight.
Procuring a battered looking four-legged stool, the elder witch carefully placed an aged wizarding hat upon it reverently. The hat was very faded, it may have been red at one point in its distant past, and Harry couldn't help but wonder if they had to pull a rabbit out of it.
Everyone stared at the hat, students and professor alike. There was several seconds of complete silence before the hat started to twitch on the stool. With a rip forming above the brim - a crude mouth, the hat burst into song, much to all of the first years' astonishment.
"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!"
Harry slowly blinked his eyes, in a futile attempt to bring himself out of his stupor. A singing hat was not what he expected.
Calling attention to herself, McGonagall unfurled a scroll of parchment, and after adjusting her glasses, she instructed the first years of the process. "As I call your name, you will come up and sit on this stool. I will place the Sorting Hat upon your head, and it will make its decision as to what House you belong to. You will then take a seat at your new House table."
"So we just have to put a silly hat on our head," Ron whispered to Harry. "I'm going to kill Fred for the troll wrestling idea."
Before Harry could respond, McGonagall called out the first name. "Abbott, Hannah!"
A girl with blond pigtails nervously sat down upon the stool, the same one from the boat ride across the lake, and McGonagall placed the Hat on her head. The hat twitched for around fifteen seconds before shouting "HUFFLEPUFF!"
Cheers erupted from the Hufflepuff table while polite applause came from the others. McGonagall took off the Sorting Hat, and tapping her wand on Hannah's clothing, they changed from generic Hogwarts attire into her new Hufflepuff colors.
As Hannah rushed down to join her housemates, McGonagall called out "Bones, Susan," and a redhaired girl (also from the boat ride) sat down and was promptly put into "HUFFLEPUFF!" as well.
"Boot, Terry," was the first to have his colors changed into Ravenclaw Blue by McGonagall, followed shortly by "Brocklehurst, Mandy."
Lavender Brown, who had neither lavender nor brown hair, was the first to be sorted into Gryffindor, while a tall girl named Millicent Bulstrode became the first with the green of Slytherin. Both of Draco Malfoy's friends from the train, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, made it into Slytherin as well, along with a girl named Tracey Davis.
Looking extremely pleased with herself, Hermione Granger got into Gryffindor after the hat sat on her head for two or three minutes. After that it was the tow-headed girl from the platform, Daphne Greengrass. She got sorted into Slytherin, and when McGonagall changed her robes to the Slytherin motif, she tapped her wand on Daphne's hair ribbon, changing it from blue to green as well. McGonagall got a smile from the girl, but Harry couldn't help but think she looked like the kind of girl Dudley would pick on for being nerdy.
The boy with the toad and grandmother with a stuffed vulture hat, Neville Longbottom, got sorted into Gryffindor, and after giving a great sigh of relief, he joined the others at his new House table. He didn't seem to match the hat's description of a Gryffindor.
Unsurprisingly, Draco Malfoy got sorted into Slytherin after a half second deliberation by the Hat. It didn't even look like the hat touched his head, but perhaps the boy's confidence in which house he would get in was well-founded. A black haired girl named Pansy Parkinson joined Draco at the Slytherin table just as quickly.
And then it was his turn. McGonagall called out "Potter, Harry!" and the hall fell silent instantly, only for murmuring and whispering to begin a second later.
"The Harry Potter?"
"I thought he'd be a lot taller."
"Look, you can see his scar."
Ignoring the talk, Harry sat down on the stool and McGonagall plopped the Sorting Hat on top of his head.
"Ah, Mr. Potter," the Sorting Hat spoke into his head. "Interesting…. Hm, very difficult, yes... Any House would love to have you, and you would fit well in all of them. Plenty of courage I see, an air of hidden intelligence suppressed by your relatives. You don't like them much, I can't blame you though, dreadfully negligent humans they are. Oh, and what's this?"
"What's what?" Harry asked back.
"You have ambition, such a thirst to prove yourself, but I see something within you, a rare gift."
"What gift?" He asked curiously.
"You can speak to snakes," the hat responded.
"Only once," Harry explained. "Is that not normal?"
"It's very rare indeed. Salazar Slytherin is the most well known wizard to speak the language of snakes, and several of his descendant's have had the talent as well. "
"Does that mean I'm related to him?" Harry asked with trepidation.
"No, but I would be a fool to see all the evidence before me and say you are not destined to be a part of his House. You will do great things, Mr. Potter, and the House that will help you achieve that greatness is SLYTHERIN!"
Author's Notes: Read my profile for more information and my current projects. There will be no real pairing for this story for a long time, so don't be fooled by Harry/Pansy. I have several chapters completely for this fic so far. It's not just a canon rewrite, but it takes time to properly build up the story. I want this to be different that Mira Mirth's and VotN's stories, and I am trying to write something that I enjoy writing and how I think Slytherin!Harry should be, without going to the extremes.
As always, I am not a perfect writer, I am prone to grammar and spelling mistakes no matter how many times I edit, or send it off to a beta. Please tell me anything you see. Also, feel free to point out paragraphs that seem sloppy, or sentences that seem poorly worded. I am always trying to improve my writing.