Welcome to the World

They Gonna Clean Up Your Looks

With All The Lies In The Books

To Make A Citizen Outta You

--'Teenagers' by My Chemical Romance--

.

Originally byKyuubi08(First Years, This Way)

Adopted by Shimo Ino

.

.

.

Harry slid off the stool as his new table cheered. He dimly noticed that the other tables were silent with shock and for some strange reason, anger. "Thanks," he whispered to the battered old hat as he placed it onto the stood.

'No problem,' He thought he heard as he sat down onto the long benches. "Hi Hannah, hey Susan!"

The two blonds were ecstatic at his sorting, both hugged him silly. Susan noticed that Harry turned as stiff as a board, but kept it in the back of her head, for later.

Next to the raven sat a slightly chubby brunette, who held out his hand to introduce himself sort of pompously. "I'm Ernie MacMillan."

Harry shook it back, not wanting to seem rude. "I'm Harry Potter."

"And I'm Justin Finch-Fletchley, but just call me Justin!" Said another boy, who grinned and waved from the other side of the table.

"Alright," The skinny boy replied. He had barely been here a few minutes, but already felt . . . at home. He'd never really felt that way, but Harry knew that it felt good.

"Well Done!" A cheery voice spoke from behind him. Harry turned, and knew that his eyes were as big as saucers. The speaker was a ghost who was pure white, yet slightly transparent. He was al balding man, and wore a monastery robe complete with sandals and a cross hanging from his neck. "Glad to see you in Hufflepuff," He smiled widely and adjusted his vision to all the new students. "I am the Fat Friar, although I protest the name, and your House ghost!"

"A house ghost? What's that?" The ghost merely smiled, and proceeded to tell the pre-teens about Hogwart's history.

After the sorting finished with Blaise Zambini in Slytherin, the Headmaster stood up to make a pre-feast speech. Harry recognized the aging man from his Chocolate Card on the train.

The beared man stood, eyes twinkling and arms wide open. His robes were even more outlandish than anything that Harry had seen in Diagon Alley, and his cheerful smile seemed to calm everyone in the room.

"Welcome!" He exclaimed sweeping the room with his powerful gaze. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwart's! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" He yelled as he sat back down.

Harry had to keep himself from laughing. This was Dumbledore? He turned to Ernie, who was staring at the Wizard with something akin to worship in his eyes. Then he looked across to Justin who was also staring at the man like he was insane.

The kid make the crazy sign and the two shared a laugh. At least he wasn't alone, Harry thought with reassurance. He turned to one of the older students who was introducing himself as a Prefect and asked. "Is he mad?"

The older student grinned at him knowingly. "Oh yes. Very touched in the head, but you'd have to be to run a school filled with children." He laughed, but suddenly looked curiously at Harry plate. "Could you pass the peas?"

Harry turned to his plate, not knowing what he was talking about, until he saw the food covered table. All the plates were filled with food: potatoes, roast beef, peas, roast chicken, gravy, pudding fries, bacon and steak and so much more!

The Dursely's had never starved Harry, exactly, but he had never gotten his fair share either. He respectively piled a smaller amount on his plate that he would have, but after seeing the red-haired kid who had rode on the boat with them stuff his face, it took a bit of his hunger off. It reminded him of Dudley who ate all he wanted, even if it make him sick.

After most of the food was gone and had turned to dessert, their talk turned to family. "My family is pure, for at least nine generations back." Ernie boasted, at little bloated from the feast.

"I'm half and half," Hannah spoke from beside Susan, who had announced that she lived with her aunt. "My dad was a wizard and my mom–well, he thought she was a muggle, but it turns out she was an elemental mage from Ireland! She shocked him silly to say the least!" Her face turned slightly pink from the giggles.

Harry however was immediately interested. "What do you mean a mage? Isn't wizardry the only type of magic we can use?"

Susan looked up from her pudding, and shook her head. Seeing that Justin was also interested, she elaborated. "Hogwarts really only teaches one kind of magic, the one known as Latin magic, respectively. But there are other types of magic's to study and learn about, even if there is no formal teaching here."

"Oh," Harry was surprised, although he felt he shouldn't have been. Of corse there was more than one way to do the same thing! He just didn't think of it at the time.

After more talk, Harry noticed that he was slightly tired, and others were calming down as well. He took his first good look at the staff table, and noticed his head of house, Professor Sprout, who jovially waved to him while finishing her Jell-O. He saw Hagrid drinking deep fully from his goblet, Professor McGonagall talking to Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor Quirrell quietly conversing with another teacher with oily black hair, pasty skin, and a rather impressive nose. While talking, he tilted his head and met Harry's eyes, and a sharp pain caused him to choke, almost silently.

"Harry?" Justin asked causing concerned eyes to focus on him. "Are you alright? Did you choke?"

The raven haired teen nodded slightly. The strange teacher had already turned away, ignoring Harry and the rest of the Hall. "Who is that teacher up there? Talking to Professor Quirrell?" They all turned to see, but another Puff beat them to it.

"That's Professor Snape," answered a handsome looking student, a couple seats down the table. He held his hand out. "Cedric Diggory. Third year."

"Harry Potter." He answered, almost automatically. "What does he teach?"

"Oh, Potions." Cedric grinned winningly. "Horrible class actually. At least with him teaching it's been."

Harry winced. He guessed it was too much to expect a nice, competent teacher. The ones at primary school had never noticed anything, and he didn't like the look this one gave him.

The desserts disappeared after a while, and Dumbledore got to his feet. The whole hall fell silent.

"Ahem-just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you."

"The first years should note that the Forbidden Forest is indeed forbidden to all pupils" Harry heard a snort from further down the table, and a 'shssh'. "And a few of our older students would do to remember that as well." His twinkling eyes flashed to the Gryffindor table where Fred and George Weasly stood up ceremoniously, and began denying autographs.

"No, no really we cant!"

"Right you are brother of mine!"

As the laughter died down, the headmaster continued. "I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that magic in the hallways and between classes is explicitly forbidden."

"Quidditch Trials will be held in the second weak of term and anyone interested in playing, should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must inform you that this year, the third floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to anyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

Harry laughed, but was sure that he and Justin were two of the very few that did. "He's not serious is he?" He muttered to Cedric.

"Hopefully not, but must be." The handsome boy frowned, looking up at the light idol. "It is strange though, because usually he gives up a reason why or why not we cant do things. The forest is filled with strange and dangerous creatures, but something inside the school? Kind of irresponsible."

"And now, before we go to bed let us sing a song!!" The old man cried. Harry noticed that the teaches smiles became very stony, very fast. The wizard gave his wand a little flick, as if he were trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon twisted high into the air above the staff table and formed into lyrics. "Everyone pick their favorite tune," He proclaimed. "And off we go!"

The next few minutes could only be described as a horrible accident, one that could have been avoided if only someone had been smart enough not start it.

Harry nervously hummed out the first words rather intimidated by Hannah's pretty, but extremely high pitched voice, Cedric's deeper cry and an older girl on the other side of the table who was singing out the tune to an American band he vaguely remembered as My Chemical Romance.

Most of the students finished singing at different times, leaving the brunette and the Weasely twins to battle it out. The red heads had a slow funeral pitch going on, and the older teen was repeating Dead flies and bits of Stuff for the chorus. It ended when the boy's funeral march stopped and they bowed in the girl's wake.

She jumped up and down in victory.

"Ah, music," Dumbledore wiped his eyes. "A magic beyond what we all do here! And now bedtime! Off you trot!"

"Alrighty, alrighty gather round everyone, gather round!" The tall girl with barely neck-length brown hair beckoned. Her robes swung apart to show frayed jeans and a black shirt with a yellow target sign on the front. Interesting. Harry recognized her as the girl who had beat the singing Gryffindor's in the Great Hall.

He looked around the welcoming Common Room, yellow and black being the main colors. Plush chairs and bean-bags littered the floor, oval tables sat on the sides, several bookcases sat on the wall, the ceiling was majestically made of tinted glass, and the doors leading in and out of the large room were rounded and low to the ground and one large hallway led down the way with seemingly endless doors. It was really, really nice! "Take a seat, this is my year to start the show!" She grinned, her bouncy hair falling over green speckled brown eyes.

Professor Sprout sat in the back as everyone, from first years to seventh, sat on the floor and looked up at the bubbly girl. "First of all, and most importantly, Welcome back! If you're a first year and haven't been here before, then Welcome for a first time! I am the Head-Girl of this year Hufflepuff's, Morgana Bard!" The brunette paused for a moment, looking into the eyes of every First Year there. "Welcome young Puff's, welcome to Hogwarts!!"

"Every year, the Head of the Seventh years gets to do introductions, embrace the youngins' and explain just what is going to happen during the year." She was shifting from one foot to the other, and seemed to have nervous tension running through her body. "Well, first I'd like to explain what bein' a Puff is all about!"

"No doubt, if you've been raised in the Wizarding world, you might be under the impression that the Hufflepuff House is one of mediocrity and the outcasts. Some have said that they'd rather go home than be sorted into Hufflepuff. Almost everyone says lines such as 'better than a Hufflepuff.'" Some older members of said house looked repulsed and pissed off. Harry himself was more than peeved. What was wrong with some people? Who would say something like that? Morgana nodded solemnly as she stomped her foot down.

"Well they are WRONG!"

The whole room shook, and many people in the seated crowd cheered. "Hufflepuff is the people who stay loyal when the going get tough! We are the friends who never back down, but know how to pick our battles! Who learn, but know when we should keep our knowledge to ourselves! Who make the cut, but work hard for it!"

She now paced around mirroring a badger, their house animal. "We work behind the scenes, making sure that the brave Gryffindor is bandaged and healed when his bravery turns against him. We make sure that the researching Ravenclaw is reminded that even a brilliant person has to rest and stop to eat and sleep! We make sure that the crafty and ambitious Slytherin has the resources to go places!"

"We are the light in this world, the group of people that are virtually from every house! You there!" She pointed to the third year, Cedric Diggory. "Why, Mr. Diggory! What other houses did the hat recommend you for?"

He grinned, loving her antics. "Gryffindor. It said I had the bravery of a lion, but I wasn't at all daring."

"And you!" She spun around to a fifth year girl who had a muggle device in her hand and was furiously casting spells on it. "Sarah Roland? Sarah!" Said girl looked up with a scowl on her face.

"What?"

"Sorting. Hat. Other house."

She shook her head. "Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Apparently I have no ambition and little cunning." She said bluntly.

"Good, good!" Morgana turned around and racked the first years. "You there!" She pointed to Harry. "How 'bout it?"

Harry felt his heart speed up, and impulsively looked down. "Uhh,"

The brunette above him frowned and tilted her head. She bent down and tried to look him in the eyes. "Are you okay? Hey, hey!" She patted his messy hair. "Its okay, Hufflepuff is the least prejudice house around, so you can tell us." He still didn't want to say anything, but knew that everyone was staring at him.

" . . . S-slytherin."

The brunette just shook her head. He heard her mutter, "Darn inbred beliefs. Hey! Who else had a chance with the snakes?" Harry looked back and saw that a lot of other students had their hands raised.

"I bet it's because you're cunning! Or maybe ambitious!" She smiled easily and stood. "But enough about that! I've already explained how the Hufflepuff works, the lifestyle, the people, but this year! This year, with Madam Sprout's permission, I'm trying something new!"

"Its just starting, actually," She whispered schemingly to both Ernie and another first year, the bleach-blond Zacharias Smith. "I came up with the brilliant plan! To start, yes start, what will be known as the Brother-Sister Hufflepuff Act!"

The older teens looked amused at her antics and Sprout openly laughed, as she pulled a large clothed item from off 'stage' and tugged the cover off.

A large wheel, one that Harry recognized from one of the many TV shows that the Dursely's watched. It was black and yellow colored, and to his surprise had his name on it. In big bold letters at the top, it said 'The Wheel of Puff', and it had the names of the first years to seventh, as Harry could see from Morgana's place on it.

"To explain in length, what I plan on doing with strengthen the love between the different years! In my first year, I was a small scared child, and didn't know who to talk to when I had a problem. The older students were scary and hard to approach, even if they were nice, and when I was hexed by a third year Gryffindor I had no idea what to do! So I've decided! No more!"

"My idea is that the firsties will have a mentor of sorts, like so," She pointed to her name on the wheel. "I'm a seventh year and so I will 'mentor' a first year! But well, the rest of the years wont really have one. . ." All the other students stared at her. ". . .what? I'm sorry that I have the ingrained belief that the other studest can take care of each other. . . " They didn't look convinced. "Fine. I'll tell you guys where the kitchen is alright? Happy?" Many nodded eagerly. Free food! Others didn't. Pssh, we know where the kitchen is!

"But, just to let you know that this is just a trial run. With Madam Sprouts permission, I have my one and final year to prove how awesome this can turn out! At the end of the year, you all will vote and see if it really helped you, and if not," She shrugged. "What can you do? Now! Onward!"

Morgana pulled another seventh year up, and gave him a small baseball hat. The bored red-head just let it go and she pulled a name out. "Susan Bones!"

The blond haired first year jumped up and stood next to the brunette nervously. "Now, I want you to spin the wheel and who ever it lands on will be your mentor for the rest of the year, okay?"

Susan boldly stepped up to the wheel and gave it a good firm pull. The names twirled round and round until they came to a stop next to a Darryl Edwards. Near the back, a dark skinned, tall and deadlocked teen stood. He wore the standard Hogwarts robes, but underneath the normal attire, you could hear the 'chink' and 'tink' of several chains. Susan went to introduce herself and the two turned their attention back to the wheel where Hannah was spinning it. She was handed over to a small oriental-looking girl who was almost as short as she was.

Ernie was paired with the bored, hat wielding redhead named Harold, who just stood there stiffly. Justin was matched with a tall, pale blond, a Natalie Sherman who wore a disarming smile. Zacharias, to his distress was given to a hyper brunette who immediately hugged him and started babbling about how they would stay up late, and do each other's nails and share scary stories.

The seventh year's name was Jimmy Craig.

It was lastly Harry's turn, and some of the students were trying to crane their necks to see him. He ducked his head shyly, and tugged onto the wheel. It turned and turned, finally landing onto his mentor, Morgana Bard. He stared up at the brunette who was grinning madly and smiled. It couldn't be that bad . . . could it? A large oval shaped clock that he hadn't noticed before chimed, and several of the students began to get up and head for the dorm rooms down the hall.

"Alright, you guys! Time for bed, cause I know that everyone is tired!" When a second year yawned fakely, Morgana threw a couch pillow at his head. "And to all First and Seventh years," Said children stopped and turned. "Try to spend lunches and free periods together with your buddy, kay? Get to know 'em. Night Kiddo!" She mussed up the bespeckled kid's hair. "Tomorrow morning, I'll meet you here for breakfast alright?"

He nodded and joined Susan and Hannah who were whispering at high speeds, and gossiping about what was going to happen during the year.

All the years climbed down the large hallway where their rooms were placed, mingling in as old friends met up and greeted each other. Professor Sprout called a good night before walking out of the Common Room and to her own quarters.

Harry and his new house mates turned to the first door, labeled in fine print 'First Year boys' and opened the light brown door. Inside was a huge room with low ceilings and homey wooden floors. The furniture was large and inviting and along with a bed every boy had a dresser, desk, and a small closet.

Harry fell into the plushy, oversized yellow and black bed, sagging in relief when this muscles unwound. "I love this bed!" He exclaimed happily, grabbing one of the giant pillows that his head just sunk into.

Ernie laughed and started to change into his pajamas while Justin looked through his trunk to make sure nothing was missing. Zacharias had been held up by his mentor who insisted on making a 'secret handshake' so they'd always know if they were talking to each other instead of an imposter.

Harry didn't bother pulling off his clothes, but merely wrapped his body in the soothing comforters. It was mere seconds before he fell asleep, leaving the worries he had about the magical world behind.

That night, he had a dream where a strange bright green light zoomed at him, chasing him unrelentlessly. The closer and closer the light got, the louder a strange high pitched laugh got. When it finally hit him the high pitched laughter turned to a deep, low chuckling. He woke up in a cold sweat, and fell back asleep almost immediately. The next morning, he didn't remember a thing.

TBC

I plan on taking this fic places! The Hufflepuff's are a noble breed and almost nothing is known about them so I plan on having a lot of fun! They are virtually invisible, and who would care enough to tell them, 'no you cant do that!'?

And I've always wanted to have a character named Morgana. It just suits the magical world, and I've always wondered why people haven't taken advantage of a magically rich name. Oh well, I am!

Just a note, the year is in the 2000s, 2001 okay? Just letting you know!

Shimo Ino