Harry heard his name being called and he swallowed past the lump in his throat. Ok, so he'd struck out not once but three times in the friend department already. That wasn't a big deal though right? After all one of the Weasley brothers had liked him at least. It wasn't his fault that he snapped at three of them for picking on their brother, was it? He'd grown up in the Dursley household and while he hadn't been able to stop his own humiliation that didn't mean he'd let others be picked on. Just because Percy was a sticklar for the rules didn't make him a bad person. If anything that just meant he'd be a good friend to have because he'd keep you on the right track. His thoughts were cut short as a voice filled his head. During his internal rant he'd sat down and forgotten the sorting hat was on his head.
"No need to fret, Mr. Potter. I don't divulge what I learn from a student's sorting. I find you're thoughts enlightening however; for you to stand up for someone you've just met after what yuo've previously endured shows great courage and loyalty. It seems to me you'd do well in Gryffindor or Hufflepuff, Mr. Potter. Though if I could I'd like to make a suggestion. In your memory what you did had a major impact on young Percy. Perhaps if you were to go into Gryffindor you might continue to make that difference. Hufflepuff is full of people that encourage others, but that's something Gryffindor needs more of. It's your choice though, so which will it be?" the sorting hat inquired.
Harry was silent for only a moment, "I think I'd like to go to Gryffindor then." Harry decided and the sorting had squeezed his head in a hug before it was lifted off.
Severus looked over the first years and then paused as his eyes rested on the Gryffindor table. He had figured that Harry Potter would be spoiled because of his fame and having been raised as an only child to parents that couldn't have a child. As a result he thought Harry would be rude and arrogant. In contrast though Harry was sitting towards the front of the table between Percy Weasley and Oliver Wood. Weasley was chatting away to him and then one of the other Weasley, Fred or George, sniped something and Percy eyes narrowed. Harry seemed to shrink in on himself before Percy turned back completely ignoring his younger brother and trying to get Harry to talk again. There was definitely something there, but he'd have to wait until he had the first years to see what all was going on.
Harry followed dutifully behind Percy to the Gryffindor dormitories trying to keep as far away from Ronald Weasley as possible. Dinner had been an awkward time; one of the twins had remarked that Percy must attract rejects like himself. Percy hadn't replied and had tried to keep him talking and laughing, but a part of Harry already regretted his decision. As Percy gave the password and everyone started to climb through he noticed the common room was full of people.
"What's going on?" Percy questioned moving towards the older years.
"We're all trying to find our rooms. We went to where the rooms used to be and now all of the rooms are one person to a room. So far we've sorted out through the second years, but there are so many new passage ways and years have been seperated that it took a little while. We've mapped out the first few floors, so we know where everyone goes we just have to actually get them there now. The sixth and seventh years are on the top two floors and it goes down mixing from there." Oliver explained.
"The remaining first years are grouped as such: on the first floor we have Ronald Weasley and Seamus Finnegan, the second floor Dean Thomas and Lavendar Brown, the third floor Hermione Granger, Parvati Patil, and Neville Longbottom, and on the fifth floor we have Harry Potter with Percy, me, Edward, Emily, Katie, and Audrey." Oliver finished and Harry gave a breath of relief.
Percy felt the corners of his lips quirk; he'd heard that the castle and the house elves that worked there determined housing, apparently the castle was trying to protect Harry too. He had personally never been close to Oliver Wood even though they were in the same year, but the other boy appeared to be protective of the small blackheaded first year as well. At dinner Wood had insisted that Potter sit between them when he saw how anxious the younger boy. Harry had originally sat down on his left, but he was closer to the twins that way and there was a seat left open beside him. When Wood had noticed that Harry seemed to be timid he suggested that Harry sit between them and had the others scoot down to make room. Once he was between them and surrounded by older children he was ok enough to reply to questions. As he looked back up he noticed the others heading to bed and Harry hanging behind. He caught the look that some of the other first years gave Harry and he hoped the room assignments were a wise choice.
Oliver guided the others up the stairs and Percy was stunned by what he saw. Each floor had a door that opened up to let the house members in, but from the stairs all you could see were the initial doorways. When Oliver opened the fifth door everyone stepped inside and then froze. The fifth floor had a common room of its own accompanied by seven rooms across from the common room. To the right of the common room was a personal library and there was a case for each Gryffindor on that floor. Finally to the left of the common room was a small kitchen of sorts that had fruit, juice, and a few other foods to choose from. "This is amazing." Emily smiled walking into the common room. The common room was decorated with a beautiful golden carpet, maroon couches with cream colored pillows, and black chairs and recliners with golden throws draped over them. Harry looked at the fireplace and his eyes widened; at the top was an engraving of a pride of lions playing together.
Albus looked up in shock as the Heads of House rushed into the room and Minerva started speaking at once followed by Filius.
"Wait, wait. One at a time please. Now would everyone set down and then we can talk about whatever is going on." Albus instructed and the others quickly took their seats.
"Now, Minerva could you calmly explain what you were saying please?" Albus probed and Minerva sighed and blushed only slightly before explaining.
"I went to check on my lions like I usually do first night and it was like walking into a different common room. The stair case is longer now and as you walk up them there are seven doors that lead to seperate halls. Each hall has a mixture of students from different years. On the seventh and sixth floor there was a mix of seventh and sixth years, but from there it's more mixed. The most odd thing is that while most of the students are with at least one student from their year, Harry Potter is not. He's on a floor with Percy Weasley, Oliver Wood, Audrey Kirke, Edward and Emily James, and Katie Bell." Minerva elaborated.
Albus was completely silent and was trying to think of something to say when Pomona started talking.
"Hufflepuff was sit up different too, but not like that. The Hufflepuffs are still grouped together, but they're grouped together by interests. Those that play Quidditch are all in the same room, still seperated by sex, but the different rooms for the different groups are side by side." Pomona offered and Albus looked over at the other two Heads of House.
"Are there similair changes with Slytherin and Ravenclaw?" Albus probed and Filius was the first to nod affirmatively.
"The Ravenclaws no longer have their own rooms and have been grouped two or three together based on year and sex like Gryffindor used to be." Filius confirmed and Albus's eyes widened.
Just what was the castle doing?
"Severus? Are there changes in Slytherin?" Albus questioned curiousity peaking.
"Yes. Slytherins have been assigned halls like the Gryffindors, but in each hall there are suites like a muggle apartment and three to five students of varying age are together. Of course the apartments are still seperated by sex; the floors though are mixed between sexes." Severus concluded and Albus accioed the sorting hat to ask it for information.