The night skies were alight with stars above Privet Drive. It was a humid summer night, the kind that made your body lace with sweat, making the very idea of sleeping impossible.
Harry lay there, trying to desperately get to sleep for the past hours. As he lay there he can't help but think about the many things that had happened over the past years. Sirius passing away, Voldemort still out there and now his friends weren't even sending him letters over the holidays.
He was to enter into his sixth year at Hogwarts, and he simply could not wait to get out of Privet Drive, away from his 'relatives', and back to Hogwarts.
He let out a weak sigh, "What's the point of laying in bed when I can't even go to sleep"
He felt alone, and neglected. His friends are simply ignoring him, Dumbledore wasn't sending anything to him at all and the Order, well he hadn't heard from them since his experience at the Ministry of Magic, where Sirius died.
He was simply left to tolerate these damn relatives of his, though he'd rather not refer to them as family.
He got up, finding the latest copy of the Daily Prophet. Maybe this would put him to sleep, or maybe it could simply entertain him in his ever so boring life. Nothing seemed interesting in the latest issue, a few articles mentioning how "the Boy Who Lived had indeed not been lying about the re-emergence of Voldemort", Harry couldn't help but snort at how oblivious the Ministry had previously been.
Sighing, Harry put the paper down. There was still half the holidays to survive and he really didn't know how much longer he could last until the Dursley's made him crack. This was going to be a long holiday.
--
The weeks passed very slowly, each week Harry had hopes of at least receiving a letter from the wizarding world. But about a week before school was about to begin, a letter from Hogwarts arrived.
Thankful for the fact that something had come from the wizarding world at last, Harry opened the letter straight away. Enclosed in the envelope were a few letters, and some sort of small, hard object. The first letter was signed by Professor McGonagall herself. It read:
Dear Students,
I hope that you have all had a fine, safe holiday. Its seems that over the holidays, the Sorting Hat has developed an idea that it unfortunately wants to carry out. The hat has demanded that we re-sort all sixth and seventh years for this year. This will be further explained to you upon your arrival at Hogwarts.
Enclosed as always is your subject list and your book list.
Thank You,
Prof. Minerva McGonagall
Harry just stared for a second at the letter before realizing what this meant. He was going to be re-sorted along with everyone else, including his friends. "Stupid fucking hat" he said to no one in particular.
There was also a second letter in the envelope, which he pulled out, the small object falling out of the letter unbeknown to Harry.
Dear Mr Potter,
It is with great pleasure that I appoint you a prefect this year, based upon your demonstration of leadership, intuition and intelligence. You are to be a great asset to whichever house you are placed in this year, and I will expect you to uphold the full integrity and duty of being a Hogwarts prefect.
Enclosed is your prefects badge, which you must wear at all times at Hogwarts. After the resorting, you will meet promptly with your house Head, who will inform you of the specifics of being a prefect of that house.
Best of luck,
Albus Dumbledore
Harry then noticed the metallic, metal badge on the ground. Upon further inspection, he saw the that badge was en scripted with the letter "P". "Why on earth would I be made a prefect? I'm not really rule abiding material".
He couldn't help but think to himself, "This is going to be an interesting year indeed".
--
The rest of the summer holidays were filled with utter boredom for Harry. He received no further news from the wizarding world, except for the Daily Prophet. More importantly, he received no letters from his friends.
The Dursley's directed as much contempt at Harry as was usual, however they did not give him that hard a time.
When the holidays came to an end, and the Dursley's promptly drove him to the train station and practically launched him from the car. He was happy at the prospect of being in the wizard world once again, his true home.
He avoided both of his friends for the whole of the trip on the Hogwarts Express. He wasn't in the mood to talk to them about anything at the moment, maybe when he got to Hogwarts.
The Great Hall's ceiling was cloudy, kind of alike the milky way. It also mimicked how Harry was feeling at the moment. He had finally caught up with Ron and Hermione, they seemed pretty unhappy about the whole re-sorting thing too.
"I don't see how the damned hat can do this" Hermione exclaimed, she was always the one to speculate around the idea of how he or she, or in this case it, can do that. Harry had completely forgotten about the whole 'abandoning thing' now that he had to worry about being sorted into another house.
Harry then noticed the small prefects badge upon Hermione's school robe, suddenly realizing that he had forgotten to even put his on.
They sat together, and looked up at the teachers table. There sat all the usual teachers, with one exception. The Defence Against the Dark Arts seat was filled by none other then Remus Lupin.
He was busily engaged in a conversation with Snape, of all people. Snape was probably trying to preform legilmens on him, Harry thought darkly.
Before he could put this out to his friends, McGonagall took to the lectern, requesting that "All sixth and seven years make their way out into the foyer"
As Harry and his friends stood out in the foyer awaiting the inevitable, he couldn't help but notice how nervous everyone looked.
Sure, they wouldn't admit it, but Harry could read it upon everyone faces, their bodies swaying ever so slowly, their hands shaking ever so slightly.
That is everyone except Draco Malfoy. He just stood there, surrounded by his Slytherin crew, all of them looking fearful of what might ensue in the Great Hall. Harry doubled back to glance at Malfoy, he looked different this year.
His hair was longer, hanging just below his shoulders, unusually absent of hair product. Most noticeable though, were his eyes. They weren't gray this year, but almost silver. Even from the distance that Harry was standing at, he could the see the difference. He was also slightly taller, though still retaining that slim sleek look about him. Pinned on his robe was a prefects badge, shining ever so brightly. Figures that Snape would make Malfoy a prefect, he is the Potion Masters lap dog after all.
Before he could think about the new appearance of Malfoy anymore, Professor McGonagall entered the foyer.
"As you all know the Hat has come to a decision that the years six and seven are to be resorted this year. It demands such, and we cannot disobey the Hat as it is part of the ancient system of magic at Hogwarts. If we do not obey the Hat, Hogwarts will not function".
Harry couldn't help but hear Ron mutter beside him, "What about if we drown the hat...that might solve the problem". He chuckled at this, seeing some unusual logic in the statement.
"The chances are you will be sorted back into your current house, as your characteristics cannot change an aweful lot. However, it is possible that the Hat may decide that you better belong in a house based on your current characteristics"
Harry remembered what the Hat first said to him, that he would do well in Slytherin. He felt a shiver run down his spine, Slytherin was the last house that he would be welcome in. The Hat may as well order his execution, for it would possibly be quicker and much less painful than being sorted into Slytherin.
"If you could all form a single file and follow me please" McGonagall ordered, swiftly turning and marching through the doors of the Great Hall.
The first of the 'golden trio' to be called up was Hermione. Ron and Harry wished her good luck, each giving her a quick hug. She went up to the stool where the ancient Hat was sitting lifelessly.
McGonagall placed it atop her head and she waited expectantly. The Hat became animated, forming a mouth. After a while the Hat shreiked "Hufflepuff". She took the Hat off her head, glancing a sad look at Harry as she strode toward the Huffelpuff table.
A half dozen students later, the name Draco Malfoy came from McGonagall. The blond stood, and walked up to the hat. The way he moved was graceful, dignified. Harry envied him for this, to have such an air about him. He couldnt help but notice the blondes curved hips from behind, and that tight, hot a...what am I thinking?. Why would I me checking out Malfoy, let alone any guy at all? I'm not gay... I have kissed a girl for gods sake, even if I didn't enjoy it one bit. Harry put the thought aside, not really wanting to think about it until much, much later.
"What's the bet that the hat doesn't even have to go on his head for him to be resorted into Slytherin" Ron said, and sure enough it didn't have to go atop Malfoy's head for him to be resorted into Slytherin.
A handful of students were called before Harry was called up by the professor. He walked up to the ancient, worn hat, remembering how nervous he had been in his first year when getting sorted. This was just like judgment day all over again.
That nervousness still took a hold of him all these years later. Harry sat on the stool, and felt the hat placed atop his head. He immediately heard the voice of the hat, echoing in his head.
"Hello again Mr. Potter, I remember how hard it was to sort you last time" the hat greeted in its rustic tone. "But this time", the hat exclaimed, "you aren't going to have any say in the matter, so lets take a look at your characteristics once again".
After what seemed like an eternity of people staring at him, Harry heard the voice of the Hat once again. "You have plentiful courage, no doubt there.There is also a hidden intelect about you. Then, there is the overwhelming character of loyalty about you, that is a rare quality these days. But what is this...cunnning. This was not here last time we met. My boy...there is no doubt that you are a ..."
--
Harry: No doubt that I'm a what? DAMNIT YOU DEMENTED HAT
Draco: I would actually blame it on the author
Author: Draco, you really arent meant to have a line until the next chapter
Draco: How abysmal. It's hardly a chapter when I don't say anything.
Author: Would you like me to skip you for another chapter?
Draco: I'LL BE GOOD!
Harry: Would you trust a white ferret?