Chapter 1
Harry had always known he was special. Always known he was different than those idiots he was related to.
From a very young age he was able to manipulate, and control his magic, and yes he knew what it was, knew what the Dursley's were hiding from him. Knew what they thought he didn't. Because knowledge is power, and no one had ever called Harry stupid.
With emerald green eyes, messy dark hair and average to tall for his age, he was often referred to as a bit of a "pretty boy". The only 'defect' marring his face was a lightening bolt scare just off centre, that looked exactly like a thin, silvery rune, Sowilo. Not that Harry knew just yet what that was. Adored by teachers, hated by his family, Harry was everything the Dursleys weren't, clever, charming and beautiful.
Sitting alone on the Hogwarts Express, he wondered what school would be like, would he be the top student (he certainly thought so, but one never knew) would he make any allies, friends, dare he say. He'd never had any of those thanks to Dudley, and whilst Hagrid, the man who came to tell him about Hogwarts was very nice and gave Harry his first pet, he didn't think the man was a friend per se. He loved Hedwig but she too, was not the same as a human friend, chuckling he thought how Ophion would feel about this train of thought. He'd probably be extremely offended. Ophion was the snake he'd picked up when accidentally freeing him from the zoo and using him to scare Dudley. It said boa constrictor on the information board but he was definitely magical and had signs of being some sort of mix. According to Ophion, a long time ago a wizard bred him from a boa and another snake but when he became too large, left him in Brazil and he ended up in the London Zoo. Either way he was now Harry's familiar and they were quite close for boy and snake.
Harry thought back to what he'd found out about the magical world so far, his relatives always telling him "there's no such thing as magic", made him one hundred percent sure that's what he could do. Things like saying his parents were drunks or layabouts he also took with a pinch of salt, having been kept in a cupboard all his life he certainly had no love for his family and knew them to be liars. Hagrid had told him of his heritage, of his fame, how his parents died and he had felt rage about every part. Some wizard had murdered his parents, and another had condemned him to live with abuse. The rest of the Wizarding world thought him a saviour, mentally sneering at the "boy who lived" moniker, he decided that he would live for himself and use what he could to become great.
Wondering what house he would be in (and the inherent bias against Slytherin he'd already picked up on with Hagrid's speech about dark wizards coming from there), he'd already discounted Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, he wasn't particular brave, and didn't give loyalty freely. He possibly thought Slytherin but was hoping for Ravenclaw. Learning was something that he cherished, made him feel special and talented and he wasn't willing to give up that side of himself for anybody.
During his musings, his compartment door was slammed open and a small girl with a mass of hair and oversized front teeth burst in, asking if he'd seen a toad for some Neville fellow, presumably the boy standing behind this girl in looking as if he wanted the ground to swallow him whole. Without waiting for his answer she sat down and grilled him on the book he was reading 'one thousand magical herbs and fungi', she had clearly memorised the book and evidentially wanted to show off her knowledge, albeit because she was nervous, but the bossy and rude manner rubbed Harry up the wrong way, too used to his aunt Petunia talking in the same shrill, demanding way, he wasn't inclined to be particularly polite back and gave her a solid "no". When it became obvious Harry wasn't interested in talking to her she flounced away after calling him rude and snobby. Harry was not bothered in the slightest, she wasn't someone he could be friends with, people like that thought they held the answers to everything because they read it in a book. Absolutely convinced they were correct and any other source of information would be unwelcome if it went against what they preached. No, harry was not willing to give anyone the time of day who would bring him endless annoyance. He hoped the rest of the students weren't like this, he didn't want to spend seven years with only Ophion as his companion.
"Well Ophion, what do you think?" Asked Harry $she was not good enough to be your friend master... the boy though... he is worth watching$
Interesting. Harry would indeed watch him, perhaps they'd be in the same house? Just as Harry was contemplating his potential ally, the door slid open once more and a ginger haired boy with a dirty face and hand me down robes barged in, "they're saying Harry Potter is on the train, is that you then, I've looked everywhere else, can I see your scar?" A hard look entered Harry's eyes as he very firmly said "no".
"Oh right then why's that? We can be friends you know, I expect you'll be a Gryffindor like me and we can help each other out"
Is this guy for real, harry thought venemously. Help me out? With what exactly, how not to adhere to regular hygiene levels?. He didn't voice this however and just once again gave a flat "no" as a response. The boy looked thoroughly confused at the entire exchange and decided to introduce himself anyway "my name is Ron, Ron Weasley, what Quidditch team do you support then?"
"Considering I found out about the Wizarding World about a month ago I would say I don't support any quidditch team, and I'm not much into sport as it is". Picking back up his book, he carried on reading ignoring the red head and hopefully any more inane questions. Ron seemed to get the hint at least and mumbled something about twins and left the carriage. Ophion stuck his head out of Harry's inner robe pocket and requested no more idiots to come bumbling in as if harry could control that.
Another hour or so passed in peaceful silence with no interruptions, Harry wanted to bring Ophion out, but decided against it just in case he was caught. Staring out he window, he jumped slightly at a knock on the door, followed by a blonde, pointy faced boy come in followed by two extra large eleven year olds. He just raised his eyebrow and waited for the next spiel of this new person, or rather he was pretty sure that this was the daddy's boy he met in Diagon Alley, but couldn't be sure.
"I hear Harry Potter is on the train, is that you then? How come you didn't say in Madame Malkins?"
"Mostly because you were arrogant and rude but also because where's the fun in that" Harry responded dryly.
Malfoy looked perplexed at this turn, and sat down opposite Harry. He held out his hand and waited for Harry to shake it, "we're cousins of a sort, did you know?".
Absolutely taken aback Harry responded with that no he didn't know, as he thought his only family left was the Dursleys. A vicious rage entered him at the thought of another family being able to take him in, even if it wasn't the Malfoys, and Harry decided just exactly who was responsible for this situation. Malfoy, Draco, was rambling on that his mum was his grandmothers aunt, or something and that a lot of families were interconnected and especially one as large as the Blacks, but Harry didn't care, someone had kept him in the dark about his family, and he didn't care how distantly they were related, anything was better than the Dursleys.
"So what house do you think you'll be in then" Draco asked, looking at Harry with genuine interest.
"Probably Ravenclaw or Slytherin, but I'm hoping for Ravenclaw. Everyone will expect me to go dark if I go to Slytherin, and I think I would fit in well with the Ravenclaws. If not I shall just demand the hat put me in the house I want anyway"
"Well I expect I'll be in Slytherin like all Malfoys before me, but we can still be friends if you get Ravenclaw I suppose" he responded with a grin.
"Friends then" Harry stated and shook Draco's hand.
As he whizzed through miles of countryside, Harry contemplated the upcoming year. He surreptitiously glanced at Draco, the boy seemed happy enough to sit in silence but Harry knew he must have plenty of thoughts about how 'the boy who lived' acted. He wanted to ensure that people would not push him around, or inflict their own ideals onto him and considered that the Malfoy heir would help keep people away, if not because of his father than because of his rebukes towards them. Harry was just happy that Malfoy could be useful and that the entire train journey hadn't been a dud.
Malfoy looked at the cover of the book he was reading and had told him that the Slytherin head of house had exacting standards and would expect first years to understand the basics and that it would be prudent to read the text book for the class ahead of time too. Harry bodded and explained that in face he had read all the text books ahead of time and had remembered them so as not to embarrass himself. Malfoy was seemingly confused by this statement until Harry stated that he had an eidetic memory and a family he wanted to stay out of the way of. He had read everything he could get his hands on and had planned to get more at school but he hadn't time on his trip with Hagrid. Malfoy just sneered at this and muttered about oafs and how it wasn't right.
He'd offered to send a letter to his father about putting things in motion to release Harry from the Dursleys but, Harry resisted stating it was his mother he was related to and that he doubted he'd be foisted onto a family that included a death eater even if he wasn't bothered.
Draco's cheeks tinged pink at this and he started to claim he didn't know what Harry was speaking about, until Harry interrupted him "you can read the court arrest transcripts, and your father 'imperioused' or not was a death eater" not that it mattered, Lucius Malfoy wasn't about to straight up murder the boy who lived as soon as he stepped foot in his house, but one could never be too careful. More likely Harry would try and cultivate the elder Malfoys for no reason than an escape route out of the Dursleys.
After coming to a stop, the four boys exited the train and were greeted with the other students by Hagrid who was ushering them to boats "no more than four to a boat" he had bellowed loudly, Draco grabbed Harry and the two other boys followed them in. Harry learnt their names were Crabbe and Goyle but he wasn't sure which was which.
The view of the castle was amazing, and Harry couldn't hide his awe even if he tried. Large turrets towered in the distance, twinkling lights everywhere and sprawling grounds, he'd never seen something that embodied magic quite like this before and his excitement level has ramped up as they drew closer. He looked around and it seemed he was amongst a sea of similar faces, for the castle was truley magnificent.
Huddled together in the hallway with the other first years who were nervously whispering to eachother about the sorting, Harry couldn't help but feel joy at the sheer magicalness of it all, so very un-Dursley, and he felt like he belonged instantly, that this was his home now.
After being ushered inside the great hall, and lining up ready, Harry looked around and saw four large tables for the houses, and another opposite for the staff. After the sorting hats song, it alphabetically started haunting them to where they belonged in Hogwarts. He saw the annoying girl from the train go to Gryffindor and the boy with her go there too, his name was Longbottom and he looked utterly terrified. Malfoy went to Slytherin after about a millisecond of the hat on his head and soon it was Harry's turn. Whispers followed him as he went to the stool, with everyone giving their own opinion or commenting about him he supposed. As soon as the hat was on his head a voice began to talk "well Mr Potter, quite a mind you have here! Oh yes a real thirst to prove yourself, but where to put you? Ravenclaw eh? No doubt you'd do well there but Slytherin could help you on your way to greatness. Well if you're sure Mr Potter better be RAVENCLAW!"
Harry calmly walked to his new table amongst cheers from the house in blue, and disbelief from the Gryffindors. Draco just gave him a smirk and a nod of acceptance. A Terry Boot and a Padma Patil introduced themselves to Harry, with a few older students also making themselves known.
The headmaster stood and made a speech, citing death and mayhem waited for them on the third corridor and the dark forest, he ended his speech with nonsensical words and conducting the school song, a move which Harry found extremely odd and also extremely suspicious. Who tells a group of school children to not go somewhere dangerous and intriguing, and yet Harry wasn't showing any interest in the corridor but couldn't help but feel interested.
Next to the headmaster was a man dressed all in black, with a large nose and greasy hair. When he caught the man seemingly glaring at him he asked Terry who he was, "Professor Snape, head of Slytherin and potions master, my brother told me he's the most hated professor here and the most unfair teacher we have. Hates anyone not Slytherin and is a general menace". Well wasn't that interesting, Harry decided to ensure he wasn't in his bad books but by the looks he was receiving he might not have a choice. Deciding there was nothing to be done he followed his prefects up out the great hall and up towards the Ravenclaw tower, where a riddle was answered before entering.
Gazing around the tall circular room, filled with book shelves, comfy yet regal looking chairs and desks, and a large telescope in the middle, Harry felt like this was the best choice for him, the room wasn't boisterous but neither did everyone have a secret agenda. Yes, he thought, the right choice indeed.
Once in bed, within a room he shared with five other boys, he drew the curtains, let out Ophion onto his chest and fell straight asleep. Tomorrow he would start his new chapter in Hogwarts but for now he was content to sleep in a bed, surrounded by new people who on the surface, didn't all hate him unconditionally.