Author's note: Thanks for all of the positive support on my first chapter! I've had 200 hits :D Sorry for the delay in this chapter...life caught up to me... Feedback is always appreciated, especially constructive criticism.

Disclaimer: Everything that you recognize belongs to the amazing J.K. Rowling.

Harry woke with a start. Glancing over at his clock he saw that the time was four in the morning. He rolled over and had begun to fall back asleep, when he sat up with a start. Today was the day his life would change, for he was going to get away from the awful Dursleys and to Hogwarts. Hastily, Harry put on a faded blue shirt three sizes too big for him and some of Dudley's old pants, packed his books, and pulled out a book he had bought from Flourish and Blotts, titled Magical Theory.

Vernon Dursley knocked loudly on the door to Harry's room, bringing him out of his book.

"Well, boy, do you want to go to your blasted school or not? We'd be glad to leave you behind, but if you're coming get out to the car NOW so that Dudley isn't late for his doctor's appointment," he yelled.

On the ride to Kings Cross, no one spoke a word to Harry. Finally, they arrived.

Vernon stopped the car at the front of the station.

"Boy, get out of my car. We'll be glad to be rid of you for the year."

Harry didn't stop to look back or say goodbye, he quickly gathered up his school supplies and walked into the station. Remembering Lucius's instructions, he walked through the barrier between Platform Nine and Platform Ten.

As soon as he walked through, whispers started all around him.

"Is that the Boy-Who-Lived?"

"Wow, it's Harry Potter! He's my hero!"

"Harry Potter is going to Hogwarts this year? My, how time flies!"

Most annoying of all was none other than Ron Weasley.

"Mom, Ginny, look! It's Harry Potter. I met him in Diagon Alley when we were shopping for school supplies and new robes for Percy the Perfect Prefect," yelled Ron.

Harry walked quickly by the family without even glancing at them, looking all the while for the distinct blond hair of Draco and Lucius. Suddenly, he was grabbed from behind, with a hand put over his eyes.

"Looks like we found you first," said Draco. "Granted, it wasn't too hard with everyone in Wizarding Britain gaping at you on the station."

"Draco, don't scare me like that next time," laughed Harry.

"Good to see you again," said Narcissa. "How was the rest of your summer?"

"It was so much better than any other summer that I've ever had! The Dursleys didn't make me do any chores like they used to. I guess they were too scared I would curse them or something, so I didn't tell them that I knew no spells."

At this, Lucius and Narcissa shared a glance.

"Mom, Dad, can Harry and I get onto the train now? We have to make sure we get a good compartment," asked Draco.

"Yes, Dragon, we'll see you at Christmas. Harry, good luck at Hogwarts. Both of you, be sure to write us," stated Narcissa.

The two boys climbed onto the Hogwarts Express, and looked for an empty compartment.

"Dragon?" asked Harry. "Nice nickname."

Draco rolled his eyes. "My mother has called me that from when I was little, and won't give it up now."

Suddenly, Draco stopped at a compartment partially filled with people.

"This is the one we want," he stated. Opening the door, the duo walked in. Everyone inside said hello to Draco, and looked inquiringly at Harry.

"If you haven't seen already, this is Harry Potter, the supposed Savior of the Light. He doesn't know anything about the Wizarding world because Dumbledore decided to make him stay with muggles." said Draco mockingly. "Harry, this is Blaise, Pansy, Daphne, and Theo."

Their eyes widened at Harry's name. "You really stayed with muggles for eleven years? How were they?" asked Theo.

"I hate those goddamn muggles! My aunt and uncle made me do all of the chores while my cousin did nothing but eat and sit around all day. Whenever I did anything wrong, I would get spanked. One time, I did better than Dudley on a test, and my uncle beat me so badly I couldn't sit down for days."

Soon, other first years walked into the compartment, and were introduced to Harry as Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Millicent Bulstrode, and Tracy Davis. The group continued to ask Harry about his life with the Dursleys until the compartment door was thrown open by their least favorite redhead.

"What are you doing with Harry Potter? Did you give him some potion to make him like you? He shouldn't be seen with the likes of you. What are you, the Junior Death Eater Club? You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there."

At this, six wands were drawn and pointed at Ron.

"I think I can tell who are the good sort without your help. And come up with new insults next time," said Harry coolly.

"Well, you heard him Weasley. We certainly don't want the likes of you around here," added Draco.

Ron's face turned as bright as his hair, as he walked out he spit, "You'll regret this, Potter."

"No, I don't think I will," retorted Harry as he slammed the compartment door on a beet red Ronald Weasley.

A few minutes later, the door slid back again. "Anything from the trolley, dears?" asked a plump woman.

Harry, who never had money of his own before going to Gringotts with Hagrid, bought enough candy for everyone.

He tore open a chocolate frog, and was extremely surprised when the frog jumped out of his hands.

Draco grabbed it, and tore off its head, causing it to stop moving.

"What card did you get? I'm looking for one of Nicolas Flamel."

Harry showed him his card. "I got Dumbledore."

"I've got about twenty of Dumbledore, the coot. Looks like you can start your own collection."

Harry yelled in surprise. "Dumbledore is gone! Where did he go? Did I do something wrong?"

At this, everyone else laughed. "Do you expect him to stay in your card all day? He has so many portraits and cards to visit. I certainly don't mind that he's gone," said Blaise.

Suddenly, the door was opened again, this time by a girl with unruly brown hair, who looked quite anxious.

"Have any of you seen a toad? Neville here has lost his, and I was wondering if you know where it went," she asked.

After scanning the group, her gaze rested on Harry.

"Are you really Harry Potter? I've read all about you and how you vanquished You-Know-Who."

"Yes, I'm Harry Potter, and no, we haven't seen a toad, and I would appreciate it if you left my friends and me alone."

As Harry closed the door, Draco scoffed. "Mudblood, and the Gryffindor type too. You can tell because they always take everything a Wizarding book says to be true."

"So, what house do you all want to be in?" asked Harry. "Sounds like you don't like Gryffindor."

All nine quickly responded that they wanted to be in Slytherin, because their parents had gone there.

"How about you, Harry?" asked Millicent, who until then had been sitting in the corner reading a book.

All eyes turned to him.

"You guys have been my first friends, and I would love to join you all in Slytherin, but I think I'll let the sorting hat decide where I go," Harry said carefully.

Draco smirked. "Said like a true Slytherin."

Too soon to get to know everyone, the train had stopped. "Firs' years over here. Follow me, no more'n four to a boat" said Hagrid.

As they rounded a bend, Harry gasped. Besides a giant black lake was Hogwarts, an enourmous stone castle with too many windows to count and turrets reaching the starry sky, as well as an energy throughout the air that Harry had never felt before.

"Wow," he breathed, "It's really happening. I'm a wizard and I'll have friends and for the first time I won't be an outsider."

"You will, however, be left here unless you get into a boat," stated Blaise.

Harry laughed and climbed into a boat with Draco, Blaise, and Pansy. After the initial shock of seeing Hogwarts, he was extremely nervous. What if he was sorted into Gryffindor? Would his friends ever talk to him again?

After what seemed like an hour, they were standing at the doors to the Great Hall. Hagrid raised one giant fist and gave a loud knock. The doors opened up, and Harry gasped again. Although he knew that the Great Hall's ceiling was enchanted to look like the sky, it was so much more impressive in person. The navy blue and stars stretching into what seemed like infinity made it seem so real. Looking down, Harry gasped again.

"Draco, are those ghosts?" he whispered.

"What do they look like? Elves? Of course they're ghosts," replied Draco. "You know so little about our world, I'll have my parents send you a book about customs and such so that you don't accidentally offend someone and so you stop looking like a blubbering idiot all of the time."

After a whispered thanks, the first years were led to the middle of the Great Hall, and the sorting began.

There were many names he didn't recognize, but he listened for people he knew. Millicent, Vincent, Tracy, Greg, Daphne, Draco, Theo, and Pansy were all sorted into Slytherin. The girl who had come into their compartment, who Harry found was Hermione Granger, was sorted into Gryffindor, at which Draco snorted. Neville Longbottom was sorted into Gryffindor as well.

Finally, his name was called.

"POTTER, HARRY"

Ignoring the whispers that had erupted around him, Harry walked up to the sorting hat and put it onto his head.