chiyoku says: Hey again! Thanks for reading and reviewing, everyone!
Now, a few answers to some questions and comments for those curious souls out there...First of all, I want to try to make as much character development as possible, and I want my characters to be as human as possible. This means, of course, that not every character is completely truthful and light, or evil and dishonest. Also, remember that Harry just met everyone, so they're not gonna be telling each other everything, either, that would be kinda weird.
I haven't decided on pairings yet, I figured, you know, they just started school, and they're only 11 years old, so I'll try to introduce it slowly, you know, get the characters to know each other first, and see what happens. But it's not gonna be a Harry/Ginny story, I already have plans for her.
As for the rest, I'm not sure yet, I have some ideas floating around so...I do know already what's gonna happen during first year to some important characters. But you're gonna have to read and find out.
So that's it, hope you read everything above 'cuz it's important.
Enjoy!
Alternation Nation
A fanfiction by Chiyoku Shibata
Recap
"That's really cool if it was true. How do you know so much?"
"Well, my father is in the board of governors, you see. He likes to keep me informed."
Harry nodded in understanding, and turned his attention to dinner.
Chapter 2: Officious Underhanded Coots
Harry kept turning this way and that for the first part of dinner. People kept staring at him from all over and it made him uncomfortable.
"Potter, ignore them. They are all unworthy fools." ordered Draco in annoyance.
"I know, but I can't help it. And some of the teachers have been staring, too." explained Harry, already in weariness of being the center of attention.
Suddenly, he turned sharply at the teachers table. Something told him someone was staring at him with ill intent. He turned to one corner of the long table, where Quirrel was conversing with someone.
"Who's that next to Quirrel?" he asked, quickly glancing at Draco, then back at the teachers.
"That's Professor Snape. He's the potions master and our head of house."
The man was staring at him intently, a sharp calculating gaze. But the feeling didn't come from him or Quirrel. Who's watching me so much? Who would hate me already? He thought.
It was then that his gaze fell on Headmaster Dumbledore, and the feeling sharpened. He stared curiously at Dumbledore in the eyes; trying to assess the man's purpose. The man stared back and Harry suddenly felt himself go numb. He couldn't look away. And it was like he didn't want to, either. Memories floated around him, his family insulting him, the time he chatted with that snake at the zoo, then sharply at the train ride, and finally the hall and his wish not to be bullied.
It was a weird feeling, as if someone was rummaging about in his head and was bringing up the memories. He didn't like the feeling at all, but he felt powerless to stop it.
A sharp jab on his side brought him out of it. He turned to stare at Draco, still feeling hazy. His eyes were slightly unfocused and he shook his head to bring himself out of it.
Draco stared in disgust at Dumbledore for a second, before turning back to Harry. Some of his housemates had noticed, as well, and they were all as irritated and disgusted as him.
How dare that man try to read Harry Potter's mind, let alone a Slytherin Harry Potter?!
"Potter, don't ever stare at Dumbledore in the eyes ever again!" ordered Draco in a sharp and demanding voice.
"...Why?" asked Harry, as he came out of his reverie and went back to eat the carrot cake in front of him.
"Dumbledore is one of the masters in the art of Legilimency, mind reading. And he was reading yours just now. Don't let him have the opportunity to try again." he finished, in a low voice.
"That's right!" cut in a girl next to Draco. She had short black hair and aristocratic features. "Dumbledore is a manipulative old coot! He'll do anything to have you under his old, wrinkly, smelly thumb!" a few people snickered at the description.
Another boy also cut into the conversation, "We all noticed how he was quietly seething at the fact you were chosen for Slytherin." The boy was as a tall and handsome black boy, with high cheekbones and long, slanting eyes. He had a very Italian look about him, as well.
"He wants to use me?" asked Harry in a voice that betrayed his anger. I'm never letting myself be used! I already have enough of that with my so called family! He thought as he turned angrily to glare nastily at Dumbledore. The man, though, didn't notice as he was engaged in a hearty conversation with a woman Professor sitting next to him and slurping his lemon flavored ice cream greedily. Professor Snape, though, did notice and adopted a rather curious look about him, while Professor Quirrel continued to talk with him.
"Yes," responded Draco, "but don't worry. We'll teach you all you need to know. After all, we can't have Harry Potter ignorant to the ways of the wizards."
They all glanced sharply at Dumbledore, who had now dropped the conversation and was staring at them with hate, but it was only obvious to those who were Slytherin enough to know what to look for.
The girl next to Draco coughed loudly, but very ladylike and brought attention back to herself. "I'm Pansy Parkinson, by the way. And I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance." She said, extending a hand around Draco towards Harry.
"Harry Potter, nice to meet you too." he answered, and then he kissed the girl's hand, just like he had seen done in movies he had been forced to watch with the cat lady who had often been his 'sitter.
Pansy blushed and turned back to her chocolate cake. Draco smirked and the other boy watched with amusement.
"Blaise Zabini, good to meet you." he said as he extended a hand across the table. Harry shook it, "Harry Potter, you too."
"Oh, I have a grand idea! Daphne Greengrass, by the way... I think we should form a study group!"
Harry shook the girl's hand as she spoke.
"Study group? We haven't even started classes, yet!" exclaimed Pansy in outrage.
"Not for classes, pug-face!" she answered, rolling her eyes, and Pansy sneered at her.
"I think she means for pureblood etiquette." said Draco.
"Exactly! If we all pitch in, then surely we could write a book with all we know and everything we've been taught. And not to be rude to anybody, but I'm sure there's many here who forget their manners from time to time."
"She's right," said Blaise, "besides, one thing is home where you're around your parents all the time hitting you over the head if you mess up, and another thing is school where stupidity tends to be contagious."
"Blaise is right," responded Draco, "in any case, we can't have any Slytherins making fools of themselves in public."
"We should start tonight!" exclaimed Daphne with enthusiasm, "after all, we start classes tomorrow."
"Yes, and we'll start with Potter over here; he's the one who'll be noticed the most." said Draco.
"Definitely! For now, honey," exclaimed Daphne in a conversational, cheery, and well educated voice, "try to look very self-assured, O.K.? Even if you don't know something, try to save the questions for later, act confident. You are powerful, and you know it. That's the image. But at the same time, try to look... well, approachable, and not condescending; because you're "The Savior of the Wizarding World", after all. And why didn't you kiss my hand like you did Pugsy's? I meant Pansy! Sorry, dear."
Harry tried to take in everything the girl had said, while Pansy looked at her with narrowed eyes. But at the last exclamation, Harry quickly grabbed Daphne's hand and kissed it. The girl giggled and grabbed her cheek with her free hand in a very lady-like, flattered and flustered, manner. Her eyes were sparkling, and her cheeks coloring sweetly from the bubbly feeling that arose in her chest.
The other boys rolled their eyes in amusement at the playful manner of Daphne and the obvious way that Harry was being led around.
All these pureblood kids are too adult-like for their own good...
End of chapter
Thanks for reading, please review.