Disclaimer: I own Nothing
Eyes of an Eagle
Chapter 1: Altered Departure
It was amazing! Truly amazing. A sight Harry was glad for, definitely better than the alternative of smashing into that barrier he just ran through. Harry stared in awe at the large station packed with people all wearing clothing he wasn't accustomed to. Most of them were dressed like they were going to a comic convention or something.
The large scarlet steam engine was waiting next to the platform as kids and teenagers jumped on with a sign over head saying Hogwarts Express, eleven O'clock. He couldn't believe that he was there; actually at the train that promised to take him away from his life, from the bullies and especially the Dursleys. He even had to look back to where he entered from to prove he had done it. So imagine his face as he no longer saw the portal but a wrought-iron archway where the barrier had been, with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on it. If it wasn't for the fact a young boy with brown sandy hair with his father came running through it, Harry wouldn't have believed he came through there.
But he did it; he's here, no way of disproving that fact. Hearing the scarlet red train whistle brought him back out of his wonder a moment later, reminding him it was getting close to departure time, so pushing his trolley, Harry made his way over to the train, getting distracted here and there as he watched all soughts of magic that surrounded him like the paper birds flying as freely as real ones before being engulfed by fire by an older teenager's wand.
Distracted so much, he failed to see another wonder as a young boy with black short hair flew in front of him and smashing him with his trolley, only stopping once he heard a loud "OW!".
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going." Harry quickly apologized rushing to the boy side to make sure he was fine, and with the look he was giving Harry was sure he was hurt.
"Is it bad?" He said with shut eyes and in terrified voice.
"Is what bad?" Harry asked concernedly, looking over the boy. Nothing seemed to be physically wrong with him.
"What you think, my shoes!" The boy replied determined not to open his eyes. "Their brand new." Harry looked down at the boy black and blue shoes. They were definitely new with how they shined and all and thankfully not a scratch on them, if they did, Harry wouldn't know what to do.
"It didn't touch your shoes." Harry replied with a small sighed with relief.
"Then we don't have a problem then." The boy replied finally opening his ocean blue eyes giving a large cheesy smile. "The name's Terry."
"Umm… I'm Harry, Harry Potter." Harry replied, a little stunned and unsure what to do, so he just extended his hand hoping that will work, though with the dumbfounded look on his face, he wondered if handshakes were even a custom to the magical world.
"You're Harry Potter?" Harry nodded his head, uncomfortable with the zoned out stare Terry was giving him. What was so important about his name anyway? Yes, he apparently defeated the dark wizard of the century, but come on, he had no memory of this and it was really unbelievable that a one year old baby could have ever done that. A part of him just felt like the magical world decided to play a joke on him. "Well then Harry better get on the train before it decides to go without us." Terry said a second later giving his hand a shake before moving towards the train. Harry just stood there staring after him, his thoughts wondering if all wizards were like this. He only snapped out of it when Terry turned around as he entered the train with his head titled to the side looking curiously at him. "You coming?"
"Oh right." Harry responded, pushing the trolley over to the train. He needed some help from Terry get his stuff on the train, when he tried himself, Hedwig had barked in frustration as Harry accidently rammed the cage into the train door frame, getting him unwanted attention.
"Okay, you grabbed one end and we'll lift this together." Harry nodded using his free hand to grab his end. "On the count of three we'll lift it. One… two… three." With some difficulty the two boys lifted the trunk off the ground grunting in sync as they slowly moved onto the train.
"Well Harry, I got to ask, when you were packing your things did you happen to pack your whole room?" Harry laughed at the joke, waving off the fact that he did, after all he was only ever given clothes, his glasses, Hedwig and the books that were all in the trunk, besides the owl of course, but wasn't going to let Terry know that.
"Well Harry, do you have an idea where you want to sit?" Terry asked as he moved down the train.
"No not really." Harry replied. He hadn't really thought about that. He was just hoping he could find an empty cart or someone would allow him to sit with them for the ride.
"Well if you want you can come into my cart, there's only one other person in there at the moment. But I must warn you he's a bit of whack job."
"Really? Thankyou." Harry replied, letting Terry lead the way, not caring about this so call whack job in the compartment, after all how different can he be to Terry?
Reaching the compartment, Terry slid the door open before going in. Following close behind, Harry looked around the compartment as he entered, becoming completely stunned as he had one look. It was truly amazing, it was already a giant mess of books, candy wrappers, cards and clothing, all scattered around the seats and floor with a giant mountain in the middle of the room with either a large cat or small tiger, Harry was unsure which, laying curled up on top. And off to the side, with his back on the window and his feet up on the couch and a book resting against his knees, a young blond hair boy, no older then him, sat uncaringly, just flipping a page of his book.
"Did he do all this?" Harry couldn't help but asked looking over to Terry.
"Do all what?" Terry asked as he and Harry placed the trunk with the rest of them.
"This mess." Terry now looked over the messy compartment taking in everything around him before looking at Harry blankly.
"What mess? Everything seemed to be in place." Terry continued to look around the compartment curiously not noticing the 'are you insane?' look Harry was giving him. "Oh, now I see what you mean, why is my underwear over here?" He asked picking up his underwear off the unoccupied seat.
"Because that is where I flung them when they landed on my book." The blond hair boy replied turning a page.
"Wait you're the one who did all this?" Harry asked, his eyes drifting from the mess to Terry who gave him a sheepish smile.
"In a blink of an eye too." The blond hair boy replied his eyes peeling away from the confines of the page in front of him. "One second he walked in, the next a total pigsty."
"Hey it's not a pigsty!" Terry defended.
"You're right that's an insult to pigs."
"Hey, now I know where everything is."
"Except the floor."
"So much for he being the whack job." Harry sighed as he made his way through the compartment.
"He called me a whack job? That rich coming from him." The blond said his attention finally been taking away from his book.
"What's that meant to mean Goldstein?" Terry shouted, placing his hands on his side leaning down at the blond.
"Who wanted me to follow him into the forbidden forest just to hug a werewolf?"
"I wasn't going to hug it." Terry defended, standing back up and crossing his arms against his chest.
"Just man handle it."
"Well Goldstein, you shouldn't judge after all, your family is known for trapping your entire house. What are you trying to do, trap your guest?" Terry shot back.
"No, we actually trap ourselves." Anthony replied amused. The compartment went quiet for a moment before Terry broke into a laugh.
"We're so screw up." Terry laughed as he took a seat by Goldstein, even the blond grin at the comment. Harry didn't though, he was confused.
"What's just happened?"
"I hate to admit it, but I think we just bonded." Goldstein said amused before looking up to Harry and extending his hand, which Harry grasped. "The name is Anthony Goldstein by the way."
"Harry Potter, nice to meet you." Anthony eyes almost shot out of his head as they went as wide as they could. Harry noticed his eyes looking up, focusing on Harry forehead. He stared for a few seconds before realising what he was doing and regained his posture.
"You're Harry Potter?" Terry gasped jumping out of his seat smack his face with both his hands before grinning like an idiot. "Just kidding, we've already done that."
"Just a little louder Boot, I don't think the whole train heard you."
"And why would that be so bad?" Terry asked confused, starching his head.
"I don't know, I'm sure Harry would love for the whole school to come into this compartment, crowding him, shrieking with joy, asking to shake his hands and possibly stealing his clothing while still on his person." They both looked over to Harry, who seemed to have paled at the thought. He definitely didn't want to mysteriously lose his underpants without losing his pants first.
"Sorry Harry." Terry apologized, smiling instantly again as Harry gave him an 'it's alright'.
It went on a bit like that a bit long time after the train departed from the station. Terry would say something Anthony considered stupid and he had some sarcastic remark that would bring a small smile to all of their faces. Harry hadn't even notice when they left London. One second they were surrounded by buildings, the next they were in cow country where the fields spread out as far as the eye can see. He didn't mind it though, for the first time he was actually enjoying himself with kids his own age. Usually by now, his aunt or Uncle would have dragged him away to set up lunch or Dudley would have made the others stay away from Harry, if not beat him up. This was the first time he never had to worry about them and actually be a kid, enjoying the time spent with two interesting kids.
About half past twelve, a clattering cart sat out in the corridor with a smiling, dimpled woman, though that smile didn't last long once she slid the door to the boys compartment back. She took one look at the mess and sighed, her eyes glancing at each one before landing on Terry. "Boot, of course." Harry held back a laughed as he turned to the goofy smiling boy, wondering in thought if Terry was famous or something.
"Anything off the trolley dears?" She asked, more to Harry and Anthony, not giving the boy a second glance. Anthony shook his head boredly as he returned to his book, but Harry; he was instantly off his seat and stepping over the garbage. He never once had money before and the Dursleys would never buy him a treat, so he was taking advantage of it now, he was going to buy all the Mars bars that he could. The only problem was there weren't any, in fact all the candy and chocolate Harry knew of was missing.
There were things called chocolate frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Bertie Botts and a lot other weirdly named candy Harry never heard of, but there wasn't a single Mars Bar on the trolley. Shrugging and still wanting to take advantage of the lack of Dursleys, Harry got some of everything and paid the woman before stumbling back into the compartment.
"Someone wants a sugar high." Terry teased as he eyed the food in Harry arm. "Hoping you're ready to crash before we even make it to the castle?"
"I'm just starving." Harry replied with a blush as he took his seat again looking at the pile of goodies on his lap.
"So you reached for the every flavour beans." Anthony replied, sarcasm rolling off every word, making Harry question what did he buy. "Well there's a chance you'll no longer be hungry I guess."
"He's right, there's nothing like tasting cow poop to lose your appetite." Almost instantly the every flavour beams fell to the floor, Harry didn't even try to stop them as he looked at them in disgust and just as they hit the floor terry scooped them up. "So I guess these are up for grabs?" Harry just stared gobsmacked at the toothy grin at the slightly taller boy.
"But you just said they taste like cow poop!"
"Yeah, but they can taste like chocolate though." Terry replied, unwrapping one and throwing it into his mouth without hesitant. "They are called every flavour for a reason, mmm... bitter."
Harry looked back down at the treasure of candy eyeing each one suspiciously before picking a pack of Chocolate Frogs. "These aren't really chocolates frogs are they?" He asked a hint of disgust in his voice.
"No, they are actually quite taste" Terry replied, throwing another bean in his mouth, this time humming with joy. Harry took the frog and took a curious bite out of the corner and just as Terry said, it tasted nice, but then again, chocolate always does. "Don't forget about the card."
"The what?" Harry asked looking up at Terry who pointed back down at the pack.
"Chocolate frogs have cards in them, each one about a famous witch or wizard." Terry simply replied stuffing another bean in his mouth before spitting it out. "Eeww!" Harry was suddenly really glad he hadn't had one now.
Looking down curious, Harry looked at the box and as Terry said, a card was there. Taking it out, Harry stared at the picture, it was an older woman. Her name was apparently Morgana. There was a bit of her history on the back of it, which Harry scammed through before looking back up at Terry.
"So these are collectables?"
"Yeah, it's not really my thing, but a bunch of people collect them." Harry returned to look at the picture but jolted when he notice the woman was gone, it was as if she wasn't there.
"She's gone!" He cried swaying the card to see it wasn't just a trick, but no she was gone.
"Of course you can't expect her to be there all the time." Terry replied nonchalantly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You act like you never seen a picture before."
"Sorry, it's just with the Muggles, their pictures don't move." Terry almost choke on the three beans he bravely threw into his mouth at Harry's statement.
"They don't move? Ever?"
"No they don't"
"Blimey, pictures that don't move." Terry spoke in awe before throwing the last of the beans into his mouth, his face quickly dulling after the thought. "How boring." Harry was wondering if he meant the pictures or the beams that he thrown into his mouth. He ended up shrugging the thought as he noticed Anthony still in the corner reading his book.
"Hey Anthony do you want any?" Harry asked, catching the blond attention. The boy peeled his eyes away from his book and towards the other boy eying the treats in his lap. "I have more than enough to share." Harry assured, which seemed to make the boy decide on what he wanted.
"Can I have a chocolate frog?" Harry instantly shot out of his seat and gave the blond a pack who instantly opened and ate the frog. Harry was about to go back to his seat before Anthony opened his mouth again. "You want the card?"
"Can I?" harry asked shocked, not many ever gave him a thing, so this was kind of a big deal.
"Of course." Anthony replied handing Harry the card. "You can start collecting."
"Thank you." Harry replied, taking the card from the grinning blond hand, eyeing the old man on it before reading his name. 'Dumbledore.' He was about to read the back when Terry suddenly jumped beside him, throwing an arm around his shoulders.
"So is anyone going to give me anything?"
"Why Boot? You already the beans." Anthony asked with a roll of his eyes.
"Yeah ,because they were discarded, that don't count." Terry defended himself crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"Here you go." Terry eyes lit up immediately at the chocolate frog in Harry's hand, quickly snatching it. "If either one of you wants more, you can have much of the candy as you like."
Terry eyes went as big as saucers as he stared intensely at the eleven year old. "Really?" He asked before throwing the frog into his mouth like the beans as Harry nodded his head.
"Thanks Harry, you're alright." Terry laughed with a mouth full of frog before jumped at the pile and checking everything over.
"You shouldn't have done that." Anthony suddenly said.
"Why not?" Harry asked, dumbfounded and guessing from the looked Anthony gave him that he probability looked it too.
"Look at him." Harry did as he was told, watching Terry engulfed the candy. "He won't just eat all of it but he's going to be on a sugar high and possibly puking, and as he is now is bad enough."
"Maybe, but I wouldn't have been able to eat all that. And I rather not be sick and making a fool of myself by puking when we get to Hogwarts." Anthony chuckled at the grin on Harry face as the two watched Terry dig in.
"Yeah, first impressions are everything."
"Chocolate frog?" Without answering Anthony took the other frog from Harry and gave him the card back. Harry was about to check the card when Terry ended up grabbing the pile of treats and piling it by Anthony's feet on the seats, saying it just made it easier to share. Which was true, Anthony didn't seem like he would ever get off his butt, not unless they suddenly arrived at Hogwarts.
The three boys ended up eating all the treats with Harry getting several cards of famous wizards and witches. His favourite one would probably be Merlin. The three chatted and laughed with Terry and Anthony getting back into their stupid comment and sarcastic remarks, sometimes with Harry getting left out, but he was find with it. For starters, one of them would realize this and ask for Harry's opinion and when they didn't, well he was just happy that he could finally give something to someone else. He never had something to share before and his opinion was actually considered, these two things never happened before. It was a nice feeling.
They lost him a few time while talking though, like when Terry mentioned Quidditch. Harry summed up it was some kind of wizarding sport to do with brooms after ten minutes of listening to how Terry's favourite team, Vratsa Vultures creamed their opponents. Thankfully Anthony had noticed and subtlety filled in the blanks.
"So Harry what's it like living with Muggles?" Terry asked curiously as he threw another candy wrapper on the floor.
"Horrible, they barely feed me, gave me this tiny room underneath the staircase, got me to do all their work and my cousin would beat me up." Harry answered, his hands balling into fist and shaking furiously as he recalled everything the Dursleys ever did to him.
"Sounds horrid." Terry replied, taking in Harry's features for first time, looking absolutely concerned. It actually made Harry feel a bit uncomfortable.
"Ummm… Not all Muggles are like that, some are very nice." Harry quickly responded, after all the Dursleys shouldn't be the people the wizards should base all Muggles off of. "My old library teacher actually gave me some of her old books she used to have for her son."
"Well, that's good then." Terry responded leaning back on the compartment wall, bringing a sigh of relief to Harry as he was no longer under his examining eyes.
"So Harry, when did you learnt you were a wizard?" Anthony asked, looking away from his book again focusing his attention on him.
"Oh, ummm…Just a few weeks ago when Hagrid came crashing through my door." Harry spoke truthfully though a bit hesitant to say.
"What? And you let me blab on about the wizarding world and leaving you in the dark?" Terry asked, jumping out of his seat looking completely flipped-out. Unable to find his voice for a second unsure what to do, Harry just nodded his head. "Harry you should have said something. Okay first thing first, Quidditch, greatest game in the wizarding world… actually greatest game ever made in the world."
"Yeah, what's greater than the stupidest sport ever where you're flying a broom a mile off the ground while dodging cannonballs on either side of you?" Anthony replied actually bringing a chill down Harry spine as he imagined the scene in his head. It seemed more then life endangering, though this only brought a larger smile to Terry face.
"Well how else do you get your heart pumping then of doing something incredibly stupid?" Anthony actually grinned and nodded at the claim which made Harry end up questioning the insanity of wizards and wondering if staying with the Dursleys was actually better for his health.
"So where was I…? Right! In Quidditch there are seven players…" Terry never had the chance to finished as the door to the compartment slid opened so fast it made a bang as it went as far as it could.
"Is that a Kneazel?! Merlin's beard, what happened to the floor?" A girl with shoulder length brown hair asked excitedly, about to rush over to the cat that was still laying onto of the mountain before noticing the mess.
"There's a floor?" Terry asked dumbfounded looking down at the ground.
"You must be Boot." The girl summed up with one look, amazing Harry how well everyone seemed to know Terry.
"You know who I am?" Terry asked, still looking dumb as he pointed to himself.
"Purebloods run in the same circles, and your parents talk about you often." The girl replied cautiously walking into the compartment. Harry couldn't blame her, at one point he thought he saw a rat.
"Nothing good I suppose?"
"Well, they say you're good for a laugh." The girl shrugged at the thought with a small friendly smile.
"Aha, bet you a gallon they said that with strained look on their face." Terry shot back as the brunette lowered herself to pat the cat. The Kneazle seemed to welcome her touch as she rubbed behind the ear and its belly as it rolled over.
"Kind of." She said amused as Terry laughed at her answer.
"So what's a Kneazle?" Harry asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
"You don't know what's a Kneazle is?" The girl asked shocked as Harry said no. Before now he just thought it was large cat.
"I haven't been in the wizarding world for some time." Harry admitted, looking down at the Kneazel to avoid the girl look.
"Oh, well Kneazles are these furry little creatures. They're the perfect pet as long as they get along with you that is." The girl laughed as she paid all her attention to the cat.
"So you like them a lot."
"Yeah I absolutely love them. They're quite intelligent creatures you know. They have this uncanny ability of picking up if someone's trustworthy or not." She said passing a glance at Harry and not failing to notice the staring blond in the corner.
"Really? That's pretty cool."
"Yeah it is." she replied, smiling back at Harry until she notice the crack in his glasses. "Hmm… you're glasses are crack. Here, I know a little spell to fix them right up."
She whipped out her wand in an instant, said something strange and pointed her wand at his glasses. They were immediately repaired, Harry actually took them off for a sec to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks on him before placing them back on.
"Thankyou."
"It's no problem." She replied cheerfully. "So you're new to the wizarding world?"
"Um yes, I am." Harry replied, nervously, looking away from her again embarrassed.
"Bet it's kind of weird and a bit frightening isn't it?" she asked sweetly placing a hand on Harry shoulder.
"It's a little nerving wracking ." Harry admitted
"Don't worry man, you'll get used to it after awhile." Terry encouraged with a smirk and a thumbs up. "You could end up better than us all."
"He's right you know, give it a week and you'll be wondering how you ever lived before it."
"I guess."
"What's wrong." The brunette getting a bit more concern for the boy.
"Well like you said I'm new, I have lots to learn and I bet…" Harry stopped mid-sentence then, the room becoming quiet for a moment.
"Bet what?" She encouraged.
"I'll be the worst."
"That's a fool bet. A lot of people are like you, living in the Muggle world and all of them turn out pretty well ." She replied before out stretching her hand to Harry. "My name's Daphne by the way."
"Harry, it's nice to meet you." He replied shaking her hand.
"Harry, meaning Harry Potter?" She asked, shocked.
"Arr… Yes." Harry replied nodding his head nervously before the girl squealed in excitement before quickly regaining her cool.
"Well Harry, the pleasure's all mine. It's not every day you meet someone famous like yourself." Daphne replied with a large smile on her face.
"Thanks." harry replied a little dishearten. "Now if only I knew how I became famous I might actually seem like I know what I'm doing."
"You know Harry, I have a feeling you're more special then what you give yourself credit for." Daphne reassured, noticing the dull look in his eyes. "So what's with the guy that's giving be the stink eye?"
Harry looked up to where she was point, though already knowing who she was talking about, to see Anthony staring down at her intensely.
"That's Anthony Goldstein he's…." Harry replied before being cut off by Terry.
"A bit of a whack job."
"I'm sorry, who said they wanted a dragon as a pet?" Anthony shot back, his attention only drifting off Daphne for a second. She must have noticed this too because she instantly stood up from her spot near the cat.
"Well I got to be off, we're almost there and I still need to change, I suggest you guys do the same."
"Yes mum." Terry responded as they watched her leave the compartment.
"Oh, I'm you mum huh? Well then clean this room up; other people have to use this compartment after you. When I come back it better we tidy, if not a certain young man is going to be on my lap." She replied leaning forward with a hand on her hip while using her free hand to gesture at the mess before laughing and waving her goodbye.
"So, that happened, what's next?" Terry asked, Anthony nodding silently as he drifted his glare out the window. Harry ended up looking out the window as well becoming completely shocked as he saw the dark sky above, amazed so much time went by without him noticing. Guess that's what the old saying 'time fly's by when you're having fun' meant. He could see mountains and forests which the train seemed to slowly move by. It wasn't like London, where the buildings quickly came and went out of sight.
"We need to get dressed." Anthony replied, starting to take off his jacket and moving towards his black robe, Terry and Harry following his example. Soon after, a voice spoke through the train telling them they would be stopping in five minutes and to leave their luggage behind. That was when it finally hit, Harry was at a Hogwarts. His stomach lurched with nerves as he realized how much time has passed.
He wasn't ready. He was going to go through his books to learn as much he could before arriving, but he was having too much of a great time with Terry and Anthony. And what about these Houses everyone keeps on mentioning? Which is a good one to be in? How do you find out which house you're in, is there a test? Are they going to send him home because he doesn't know a thing? Will he be stuck with the Dursleys for the rest of his life? Suddenly making a fool of himself in front of everyone and vomiting didn't seem so bad.
"Come on Harry you don't want to be left behind." Terry said excitedly as he wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulder, snapping him out of his thoughts and dragging him through the crowd of students flooding the corridor. All cramped up, Harry waited patiently as Terry jolted every few seconds, getting impatient with waiting for the train to come to a halt, and when it did, people barged their way through the masses, wanting to see Hogwarts as fast as possible or in Harry's case, to no longer be in a cramped situation. Terry made it quick as he dragged a reluctant Harry through the metal doors and stepped onto a dark platform. He Immediately missed the warmth of the train as the cold night air brush against him, goosebumps spreading down his arms as he shivered.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there Harry?" Hagrid's booming voice spoke louder than the mass of students, his tall build and hairy face acting like a beacon to the first years.
"Yes, Hagrid, doing just find." Harry replied smiling as he moving over to the large man.
"That a boy. C'mon, firs' years follow me! Any more fis years? Then C'mon follow me, but mind yer step now!" The man replied smiling back before examining the first years and walking away.
"You know a giant!" Terry asked gobsmacked.
"Yeah, he brought me into the wizarding world the first time."
"Wow!" Terry smack his own face in awe. Harry actually thought if this was anime his eyes would have been all sparkly as he stared up at Hagrid.
The first years followed Hagrid, slipping and stumbling as they went down a narrow path. They followed the Games keeper in silence, the only sounds made being when someone slipped and landed on their butts, which started up laughter.
Eventually the path opened up, revealing a big black lake between them and a large, very old looking castle perched on a mountain side. Harry could hear the students gasps at the large castle, all of them felt what he was feeling.
After a moment of gasping, Hagrid told them to pick a boat. Instantly Harry felt like he was on the train again as the first years swarmed for a boat, wanting to get to the castle as soon as possible. Terry, just like before, pulled Harry along who in turned grabbed Anthony, mainly because he seemed to be going to another boat with a red head boy and a brunette that seemed to be in the middle of bickering.
As the three climbed in their boat, a young Chubby boy with brown hair holding a toad, looking completely nervous, walked up to them.
"Ex-excuse me." The boy stuttered. "Is that seat taken?"
"It will be in a second," Terry replied cheerfully, the chubby boy dishearten, looked down at the ground and started to apologize when Terry continued. "Come on, you don't want no one else to come along and steal your seat do you?"
"Than-thankyou." The boy smiled as he jumped in the empty seat beside Anthony who nodded to the boy as he sat down.
"I'm the great Terry Boots." Terry boasted giving the new boy a toothy grinned. "And the whack job beside you is Anthony Goldstein and last, but defiantly not least, the Dark Lord slayer, the Boy Who lived, Harry Potter."
The boy's eyes immediately looked at Harry, his eyes going as wide as saucer plates, but he was the least of Harry's concern. Thanks to Terry's display, who's hands are still up in the air gesturing towards Harry, whispers quickly spread through the darkness. Embarrassed, Harry slowly slid down the boat, looking over to Anthony who face palmed while shaking his head.
"Did he say Harry Potter?"
"Is he over there in that boat?"
"I knew I should have went in that one."
Harry face was completely red with embarrassment, glad it was too dark for anyone to see his face, but still. "Thanks a lot Terry." Harry grumbled as he considered diving into the lake and drowning. It would get him away from this embarrassment, though he could become a bad joke, after all, the Boy Who Lived deciding to drown because of embarrassment did not sound like a good line for a grave stone. Besides if he died, the Dursleys would get the last laugh and he couldn't allow it.
"Oops, sorry Harry." Terry apologize smiling sheepishly at the dark hair boy.
"You're Harry Potter?" The boy asked, Harry just nodded his head in response. The boy didn't stop gawking at Harry, probably trying to see his lightning marked forehead. After a minute of staring he seemed to catch himself though and looked around at the other two. "Sorry, umm... my n-name is N-Neville Longbottom."
"Nice too meet you Neville." Terry said cheerfully, acting as if nothing happen, though probably to him, nothing did. The four floated across the lake, never once getting a second of peace, whether it be from Terry's loud mouth and rocking the boat or because people were still whispering about Harry, trying to get his attention and make their boats go towards him.
"So what houses do you think you're going to be in?" Harry asked trying to ignore the other students.
"Hufflepuff of course." Terry spoke proudly ,which really confused Harry, seeing that all he'd heard of that house was that they were a bunch of jokers. Then again, Terry could fit well in that house.
"I-I might be in Hufflepuff." Neville answered less heartedly then Terry, looking away from the group as he answered.
"Lighten up Longbottom. Hufflepuff is great." Anthony suddenly spoke up for the first time on the boat, getting the three boy attentions. "Loyal, hardworking, just, they're all good qualities to have." This seemed to lighten Neville up, but he still seemed unconfident.
"What about you Goldstein?" Terry asked. "What house are you reaching for?"
"Ravenclaw." Was the blond simple answer.
"Ravenclaw huh, my folks want me in that house." Terry remarked, shrugging at the thought before glaring at the now laughing Anthony.
"You, in Ravenclaw, I like to see that."
"Hey I can get into Ravenclaw if I want to." Terry defended, getting loud once again. Harry was sure the other first years were soon going to make a noise complaint.
"If you get into Ravenclaw I'll give you a gallon." Anthony laughed, fully confident the boy couldn't make it to Ravenclaw.
"It's a bet then." Terry shot back out stretching his hand to Anthony who shocked it in turn.
"This is easy money." Anthony smirked as he sat back on the boat. "If you make it to Ravenclaw though I'll probably try for Slytherin."
"Why would you want to go there." Harry spoke up Neville nodding his head in agreement. "Slytherin is full of dark wizards." Suddenly the boat got very silent, not even Terry made a peep as his carefree, joyful smile turned blank.
Harry suddenly felt like he said something wrong and was about to say something when Terry opened his mouth.
"They're just misunderstood, not all Slytherin are bad." Terry replied coolly, which was a shocked to Harry. In the day that he known Terry he never once talked so seriously, so calm, it wasn't him.
"There's honour being place in that house." Anthony added on, agreeing with Terry, which was a first for the day, another shock to Harry. "It's good to be praised and acknowledged by your ambition, and cunning."
Harry was unsure what to think now. Hagrid had told him all dark wizards came from Slytherin and there wasn't a good one, but here his two new friends were saying he was wrong. Could that be true? Could Hagrid been wrong? Neville didn't seemed too convinced, but Harry wasn't so sure anymore.
After a while, the boat docked at an underground harbour. Once off the boats, Hagrid brought out his lamp and the first years followed him up towards the castle. There were many steps made of stone they had to climb up in which Harry expected to hear complaining, but surprisingly enough none of them did, instead they whispered all round, each one trying to get a better look at Harry.
Once they reached the front oak door Hagrid knocked three times with his large fist and after a second of waiting, the doors slid open to show a tall, black-haired witch in a green robe. She looked pretty imitating with her stern face, really reinforcing the idea of not doing anything too stupid while at Hogwarts.
Hagrid greeted the old witch, calling her Professor McGonagall, and passed them off in to her care. Harry was really disappointed in that, he preferred Hagrid. None the less, he followed the old witch with the other first years across the flagged stone floor.
She took them into a empty chamber just next to the hall, where you could hear laughter and yelling. All the others students must already be there. Once all the first years were in the chamber and quiet, Professor McGonagall welcomed them and talked about what to expect as they entered the Great Hall, talking about the houses and how they be like their new home and family.
New home and family. That sounded pretty good to Harry, he was more than ready to leave the Dursleys, a new family would be good, and best part they couldn't be any worse. He could only go up.
After finishing her speech and tidying up, gazing at Neville for a few extra seconds longer than the rest of the first years, she left the chamber, leaving the first years by themselves. And as she left, Harry instantly regretted it, she was the only reason why the other students hadn't pestered him yet.
The first person that made his way over was a boy with blond hair and pale skin. Harry instantly recognize him from the when he was at madam Malkin's robe shop, though he looked more interested in him now then back then. He had two larger boys beside him, they kind of looked like bodyguards with how close they were to the blond.
"So you're Harry Potter." The blond said, seeing the Harry up with one glance. "I expected more."
"What?"
"I mean look at you, you look like something that came out of a barn." Draco reinforced. "You don't at all look like someone who could defeat the Dark Lord."
"You're one to judge, Mummy's boy." Terry said by Harry side with a laugh. "Do you still have your blankie?"
"Friends with Boot are you?" Draco asked, with hint of annoyance in his voice. "Trust me Harry, you would be better off ditching that fool. Sure his parents are highly known, but he himself is a real disappointment. People are assuming he's going to bank rob his fortune when he's older."
Terry grumbled something beneath his breath, which Harry assumed was a curse word as the dark hair boy glared at the blond.
"You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there." Draco said, passing his hand out to Harry. He merely looked at it though before turning up to Draco face.
"I think I can tell who's the wrong sort are for myself, thanks." Harry replied more coolly then he expected. Draco faced turned a bright shade of red, the smug looked on his face gone as he glared daggers at Harry. If Professor McGonagall hadn't come back at that moment Harry was unsure what would have happened.
"Now, form a line." She ordered. The first years got into a line, not needing to be told twice. Harry did need Terry to pull him along, but only because his stomach twisted at the fact that it was time. It was time for the test that would give him a place in Hogwarts, for his first step into his new life and his final step out of his old one or just maybe be sent back home instantly. Harry hoped it wasn't the last one.
The large double doors of the Great Hall opened as the first walked towards them. Harry groaned as he walked, staring frightenedly a head. If it wasn't for Anthony placing his hand on Harry's shoulder behind him, encouraging him, Harry would have probably bolted out of line and back to the boats.
Just as he was about to enter, Harry looked back to his sarcastic friend who only nodded his head. A simple gesture that gave Harry just enough courage to step forward, taking his first step into the Great Hall.
AN: As I promised, it's out rocking on the 15th. I can't believe how long it felt to get here, I felt like I spent a year waiting for this day. Anyway this is a story I had in my head for a while and though I'm uncertain how quick I'll get through this, but I decided to place it up for the rest of the world to see. As you would have noticed, this is an au world where Harry never met the Weasleys' Clan and venture off to Hogwarts with Terry and Anthony. This story is meant to show a possibility of what could have happened if Harry was placed in another house with different people. Don't threat though, some of your beloved Gryffindor characters have a hard time staying away from the boy-who-lived and well have a part in Harry new life. Though at the moment, the first year will more focus on two other houses, then Gryffindor.
So far I have three chapters ready and working on the fourth so the story will definitely kick off before I run out of chapters. For warning, I'm am working on three others stories each one just as long, if not longer, then this one, so chapters may come a bit slow after chapter four. The Next chapter, Sorted, will be out on the 11th of May.
I hoped you enjoyed the first chapter and hope to hear from you. If you have any questions don't be afraid to ask though I may not answer depending on the question. Don't want to give away too many spoilers. Hope to see you again on the 11th, Shadowwolf547 out.