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Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, oh my goodness, yes – and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting … So where to put you?…Better be…

Chapter 2

"SLYTHERIN!"

Well, shit. Being friends with Ron was going to be difficult now. He was already looking like someone had stepped on his pet rat. Hari wasted no more time thinking about it, and just hoped the sorting hat had made the right decision. Weasley's always ended up in Gryffindor, or so the boy had said. From the look of sheer betrayal on Ron's face, it was clear he was blaming her already for the sorting hat's decision, as he had hoped that 'Harry' would be placed in Gryffindor with him.

When the rest of the sorting was over, food magically appeared in front of them all. Hari did her best not to look amazed, but she just couldn't help it. Some of the older students were laughing at her for her open expressions, and she tried to school her expressions down a bit. The way these people ate, much more refined than her Uncle and Aunt back home, and so she tried to copy them. A part of her wondered if food was always going to be this readily available, and fought the desire to squirrel away some food for later.

"Surprised to see you here, Potter." One of the older students sneered. "Thought you'd be over there with the blood traitors like those Weasley's, and the mudblood lovers. Filthy muggleborns are overtaking the school as it is."

"The hat sorted me here. I doubt it's ever been wrong." She said, flippantly. "I am told my mother was a…mudblood, as you've just so tactfully put it, brightest in her year. So kindly take your opinions and shove it."

"Is it true you were raised by muggles, Potter?" Malfoy asked. He'd condescendingly introduced himself before the feast, and she had snubbed him for being a git. "Is that where you got your horrible table manners?"

"Actually, I've been copying you." She said neatly, earning snickers from around her. "Doesn't look like your henchmen are doing much better."

At that, the two boys stopped eating as if realizing the pigs they were being.

"Ugh, mum would kill me if she saw me eating like this." One of them groused. "I'm Goyle, by the way. That there is Crabbe."

"Missed breakfast?" She asked, knowingly. The both of them were shocked, but nodded. "I understand. I often miss breakfast myself, unless I sneak a bit of it away after I've made it for the…what was that word again?…muggles? that raised me."

"What are you? A house elf?" Malfoy asked, but the reference was lost on her.

The conversation devolved from there, though she thought it was going swimmingly, with snickering had all around. They had been asking her all kinds of questions. Thankfully, no one said the word mudblood in her presence for the rest of dinner. Most did not want to have their mother's insulted, thinking from her shoes, and she was technically part of the 'sacred 28' they kept mentioning. Inwardly cursing herself, she made a mental note to buy some books on wizarding society when she got the chance.

"I'm not looking forward to classes tomorrow." She said, looking over the schedule she'd been given. "I haven't been able to look over my books at all over the summer."

"What were you doing the whole time?" Goyle asked, after swallowing a mouthful of potatoes.

"Being herded around by my uncle, who was trying to keep me from reading my Hogwarts letters by keeping me locked up in my room, or traveling to hard to get to islands during monsoon season." Hari said, without missing a beat, still looking over her list. "I didn't get my books until Hagrid burst into the cabin to come get me about a month ago."

"And after?" Crabbe asked, just as shocked as the others within hearing distance.

"Locked in my cupboard room under the stairs. No, wait, that was before the cabin. After the cabin, all my school stuff was locked in the cupboard room, and I was locked in a room upstairs. Poor Hedwig, I couldn't let her fly all summer. She had to stay in her cage too, or in my room when I cleaned out her cage." Hari said, before looking up to see a sea of shocked faces. "…What'd I say?"

"They really treat you like that?" Malfoy asked, snickering. "You really are a house elf."

No, there was no way. Absolutely not. All throughout dinner, she had heard about how Hogwarts was alive in a way, that it had an intelligence of its own. There was no way it expected her to sleep with boys! Did the school believe she was a boy too? Surely there had to be an end to this madness.

"Um. Potter? You've been staring at the room for a good half hour now." Malfoy stated, looking like he wanted to snicker at her, but the look on her face had stopped him. "What's the deal?"

"It's just…" She stalled. These guys had no idea she wasn't a guy, she realized. "These are the biggest beds I've ever seen in my whole life."

Laughter filled the room, as Malfoy and two other boys couldn't seem to help themselves. She couldn't help but crack a smile at them, and before she knew it, she was laughing with them too. To be fair, she'd said the first thing that had popped into her mind, and the beds were the biggest ones she'd ever seen. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad, she decided, even if she was staying with boys, even if…even if everyone still couldn't see she was a girl. A part of her wondered if she should tell them, but then she wondered if maybe the school did it because there were dangers to her even here.

"Are all muggles that bad?" One of the other boys asked. "I'm Theodore Nott, by the way. You can call me Theo if you want, and that's Blaise Zabini."

"Hari." She said, with a small nod to him. "And no, they aren't all bad, Theo, just the one's I got stuck with. Some are worse, though, so I guess I'm lucky there. I imagine wizards are like that too. I mean, Voldemort killed people, after all."

The reaction in the room was instant, gasps had by all.

"You're not suppose to say the name like that!" Malfoy explained, looking uncomfortable, but then he was back to his git like self in an instant. "Us Purebloods call him the Dark Lord."

It was Hari's turn to laugh then. "I'm sorry, but there is no way I'm calling him that. That sounds like he plays dress up, with dolls and everything, in the basement of his mum's house." She said, when she calmed down. "And besides, if anyone has the right to call him Voldemort, it's me."

They shuttered again.

"I'll not go out of my way to say it, if it bothers you all that much, but I won't shy from it either." She said, sensing their growing unease. "Why did so many like this bloke anyway?"

"He spoke to traditional pure blood values." Malfoy insisted. "The preservation of wizarding culture."

"I don't really know what those are. I'm going to have to get books on that, but anyway, are you sure he did?" Hari asked. "I mean, he killed people. Besides, Pureblood just means inbred anyway. You know that, right?"

"Inbred?" Malfoy asked, with a frown.

"It's a muggle word. It means people who are related to each other having kids together for so many generations that defects start showing up." Hari explained, silently thanking the librarian that had helped her whenever she'd had a question about anything.

"You mean like squibs?" The other boy asked. Seeing that she didn't understand the term, he explained. "Children born into wizarding families, but have no magic."

"Maybe." Hari replied, a bit uncertainly.

"Bollocks. That's caused by mud- I mean muggleborns." Malfoy objected, barely stopping from saying the word when Hari glared at him. "My father told me that, said they steal the magic from us."

"How would they do that?" Hari asked, thinking about it. "Wouldn't they have to know about magic first? Or have magic already? Wouldn't you have to have magic to steal it from someone else?"

"You're being impossible, Potter." Malfoy just huffed, and went his bed. Meanwhile, Hari decided it was as good a time as any to study her books, and when he saw that, he had to ask. "Just what are you doing?"

"Studying? I haven't looked at these all summer, I know nothing about magic, and I don't want to look like an idiot." Hari insisted. "I could use a little help, Malfoy."

"Well, we have potions tomorrow with the Gryfindork's." Theo stated, getting his potions book. "If you insist on studying, Potter, you might want to get the right book. We've also got Transfiguration and Defense against the Dark Arts, so just grab those too."

"Here. We'll help." Blaise said, getting out his books.

"Ugh, fine." Malfoy groused, going to get his books. "We can't have you making Slytherin House look bad just because you don't know anything."

"Hey, Ron!" She said, seeing him head into the great hall for breakfast.

"What do you want, Potter?" Ron asked, looking over at her. He still looked betrayed.

"I thought I'd see how my first friend in the wizarding world liked Grryfindor so far." Hari stated, no longer as happy as she was before. "I didn't realize I had to be in your House to stay your friend, Weasley."

Ron gaped like a fish for a moment, before Malfoy saw them as he entered the great hall.

"Auditioning to be a fly trap, Weasley?" Malfoy asked, snobbishly, only to quickly hold his head in pain a second later, because Hari had hit him up side the back of his head.

"Ron Weasley is my friend, and if you don't like it, Malfoy, tough!" Hari declared, before turning back to Ron. "We have potions with the Gryffindor's today, so I'll see you then, I guess."

"See you then, Harry." Ron said, with no small amount of wonderment, before heading over to Gryffindor table.

"Wait till my father hears about this." Malfoy grumbled, with little energy, as they made their way over to Slytherin table.

"Please, your hair barely moved." Hari remarked, causing Theo to snort behind them. "You're eleven. Why do you need hair gel?"

Malfoy didn't say anything, except to grumble as he angrily grabbed at a piece of toast.

There were few things that could shock one Severus Snape. Having Harry Potter sorted into his house had been one of those things. He hated that kid's father with a passion, but he'd also promised to look after Harry because of his mother. That Harry Potter had made a sort of budding friendship with both Ron Weasley and Draco Malfoy was another thing that shocked him. He was also hearing stories of how those muggles had treated the boy before the Hogwarts letters had been sent, and he wasn't sure whether it was true or the boy was just trying to garner sympathy for not being a part of the wizarding world for so long.

Severus was surprised to see one of the nicer potions kits in front of Potter, but the boy looked just as clueless about what to do with it as the rest of them. He fumbled over answers every other first year should already know, and shook like a leaf when Severus berated him for his air-headedness. Severus frowned as he thought over something that hadn't occurred to him before now. The boy looked malnourished, but not overly so, and much too thin for a boy his age; giving some credence to the stories he'd been hearing about Potter's treatment with those muggles he lived with. Potter flinched every time he raised his voice, or when Severus made to move quickly towards him, but didn't seem bothered by Malfoy's git like behaviour.

At least one boy had had to be taken to the hospital wing. Foolish Longbottom boy didn't even pay attention enough to know to take the potion off the fire before adding the porcupine quills. Most of the first year Slytherin's and even the Gryffindor's had laughed at him. Potter just looked pained to see the boy's suffering, offering to help when Finnagin had been ordered to take Longbottom to the hospital wing; not that Severus had allowed it. That was another un-Slytherin like thing from this boy, something else that the others in his house had spoken of, and so Severus kept the boy after class.

"Potter!" Severus shouted, testing a theory, watching as once again the boy flinched. "Relax, boy, it's not like I'm going to hit you."

The fact that Potter looked relieved at that spoke volumns.

"I'm going to ask you a series of questions. I don't want sob stories. I want short, simple, straight to the point answers. Is that understood?" Severus asked, waiting till Potter nodded before continuing. "Why didn't you study your books this summer?"

"Uncle Vernon locked them in the cupboard, so I couldn't, Professor." Potter explained, keeping the answer simple like he'd been asked.

"Why do you flinch like that?" Severus asked, and Potter looked down before mumbling. "Speak up, Potter."

"I said, I don't know what you're talking about, Professor." Potter denied, which flew all over Severus.

"I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS!" Severus shouted, making his point as Potter not only flinched but began shaking slightly.

"I would rather not say, Professor." Potter insisted, something that surprised Severus. "May I please go?"

"After you answer this last question." Severus stated, keeping any sympathy he might feel for the boy out of his voice. "Why did you offer to help Longbottom?"

Potter seemed surprised by this question, and tried and failed to make himself answer.

"It's not the first instance of un-Slytherin like behaviour from you in less than a day." Severus pointed out. "I saw that display in the Great Hall this morning."

That seemed to help jar him out of his shock.

"It's not. Un-slytherin like, I mean." Potter stated, in defense of his actions. "It's just different."

"Explain." Severus ordered, coolly. "Do not try my patience, boy."

Potter flinched again.

"Or perhaps in Slytherin you'll make your real friends. Those cunning folk use any means to achieve their ends." Potter recited, before looking up at him. "I don't know if the phrase is known in the wizarding world, but muggles have this saying. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I want as many real friends as I can get, so if being openly nice to the other Houses whittles out the fake friends, that's no skin off my nose. Plus, it's to my advantage, because real friends would want to be around for me, and not my name, or what I can give them. I'll need that in a world where everyone knows my name."

"A surprising stance to take for one so young. My predecessor would have congratulated you on your desire to create interhouse friendships for future connections at such a young age, as he would put it." Severus stated, with a frown, thinking back on Slughorn. "5 points to Slytherin for your unusual foresight. You may go."

Dumbledore sighed as the gargoyle let him know Severus was at the bottom of the stairs waiting to be let in. A look at the schedule confirmed that Slytherin and Gryffindor had just had a shared class that day. So it was no surprise that Severus would be up to his office to complain about it. The man did have an unnatural hatred for Gryfindor's. Signalling the gargoyle to let the man in, Dumbledore waited till Severus was at the top of the stairs to say anything.

"Lemon drop?" He offered, surprised when Severus grabbed a half a handful and shoved them into his mouth. Now he was worried, as Severus had outright refused to ever try one of these 'silly muggle confections'.

Severus waited until the bite of the lemon drops no longer plagued him before continuing. "You knew."

"I know a lot, Severus. You're going to have to be more specific." Dumbledore remarked, with a tired sigh.

"I shout, he flinches. I move towards him, he flinches. It's not normal, not like this!" Severus snapped, angrily. "He can't look an adult in the eyes, but is brave to a fault with children his own age."

"Is this a riddle?" Dumbledore asked, with a slight smile, knowing he will get the information quicker if he pushes his friend's buttons instead of outright asking.

"I'm talking about Harry Potter!" Severus shouted, fuming now. "That boy is being abused by the muggles he's forced to live with, and you knew!"

"Yes. It is unfortunate that Hari can not be removed from the home, but you're right. I knew." Dumbledore admitted. This knowledge was not something he was proud of, and raised his hand to silence Severus before he could begin arguing with him. "If it were not for the Blood wards, Hari Potter would have been removed from that home long ago, Severus. They offer a protection we can not give."

Severus threw up his hands in anger, and stormed out. It was…unfortunate didn't even cover it. It was horrendous, the circumstances Hari Potter had to deal with in the muggle world. The sacrifice of Lily Potter could not be denied, however, and as James Potter had no other living family to speak of, Hari had had to go with the Dursley's. He'd given Hari what magic he could, unsure of the outcome it would bring, and now he realized that it had given everyone the misconception that Hari Potter was a boy; even Hogwarts had helped boost the magic by setting her up in the boy's dorms. How long the magic would last would be up to Hari.

There it was again, that sound. Draco couldn't stand it. He'd already complained to his Head of House, but there was no room changing. It appeared that rooming with The Boy Who Lived also came with dealing with his nightmares. What did he have to be scared of anyway? The Dark Lord was dead as far as anyone knew, he was rich and from an old family.

That was it. If Uncle Severus couldn't deal with this, and the Headmaster was only going to suggest a dreamless sleep draught, Draco was going to have to deal with it himself. The nightmares didn't seem to bother anyone else. Blaise and Theo slept straight through them, but Draco couldn't. So when it started up again, Draco stormed over to Potter's bed and ripped open the curtains, only to have his annoyance deflate at the sight of what was happening.

Harry Potter's face was contorted in pain, as he clutched at the curse scar. So desperate for a good night's sleep, Draco had purposefully discounted the one thing that could give Potter nightmares. If there was some part of his mind that remembered the attack, no matter how young he'd been, it would make sense that that is what gave him nightmares. He went over to his bed, fished for one of the dreamless sleep his mother had sneaked into his bag, and went back to Potter. After harshly shaking him awake, Draco all but shoved the potion at him.

"Drink this, and you won't dream." Malfoy said, grumpily. "Sips only. Don't down the whole thing, and don't try to drink it every night. Got it?"

Potter nodded groggily, taking the potion from him, making sure to only take a sip like he'd ordered, and set the remainder of it down on the night stand.

"Thanks, Malfoy." Potter managed, right before the potion took effect, and he conked right out.

"Finally, I can sleep." Draco grumbled, before getting back into bed.

The next morning didn't help much. He'd written to his mother and father about Potter being in Slytherin House, the nightmares, and also subtly inquired about what inbreeding was. The reply he got back later that day was lengthy. His father didn't want to hear any of that muggle filth from him ever again (something that made him wonder if he was onto something, as his father only ever got mad like that when someone questioned his view on…anything really), and his mother expressed a desire to get in contact with Potter herself. If those muggles were really anything like what Potter had described to him, she'd likely try to adopt the boy or stuff him with sweets, or both; Draco groaned at the thought of it.

Dudley didn't know what the big deal was, Smelting's was a horrible school. It let you hit other children with a stick! This is the kind of thing he used to do to Hari, because he was bored and it was kind of expected of him. His friends from his old school couldn't understand why he'd stopped beating Hari up, and he'd tried to explain it better, but they hadn't understood. It wasn't too long before they started trying to beat him up the way they had Hari, but Dudley was a lot bigger than Hari, and it backfired on them spectacularly.

He was pulled out of his thoughts by the hoot of a snow white owl, Hari's owl. Had it waited till he was alone? Could they be trained to do that? Brilliantly smart bird, that was for sure. It carried a letter, and now that whole thing about 'we'll expect your owl' made a lot more sense.

"Brilliant bird, you are." Dudley said, scratching the top of it's head. "Don't have a treat for you though. Sorry. I'll try to remember next time. Is that from Hari?"

The bird hooted in approval, and stretched out it's leg for him to take the letter.

"If you can hang about here for a bit, I'll get you a reply to send back. I'm sure there's some mice or something you'd like, yeah?" Dudley said, hoping the bird understood him, otherwise he'd have no way to get the letter to Hari. The bird hooted again, and stretched out it's wings. "I'll meet you on the roof tonight."

Without further prompting, the bird took off, and Dudley went back inside. He had a letter to read, and a response to send. He'd have to sneak up onto the roof, which meant waiting till after curfew. It was amazing, but he was fairly certain that owl had understood him. He wondered what other kinds of things magic was capable of, and in the safety of his room at Smeltings, he read the letter.

Dudley!

There's so much to tell you, I'm not sure how I'm going to fit it all on here. Guess I'll have to sum it up bit, I'm afraid. Got sorted into Slytherin House, by a talking hat! It looks inside your mind, sees what makes you you, and decides where you go. It sings too, but that's another story. There are four Houses, and each House represents specific traits and things you're good at.

You're not going to believe this, but everyone still thinks I'm a boy. The castle of Hogwarts, which is apparently kind of sentient (bit creepy to think about that, actually), put me in the boy's dormitory! I don't know whether to say something, or just let this play out until someone figures it out. Potions class is interesting, although I'm pretty sure the professor hates me. Which reminds me, one of my professors can turn into a cat!

We're actually supposed to learn to fly soon, on broomsticks and everything. I don't know whether to be nervous or not. There's a few people that I'm kind of friends with, and they say I should be alright, but these are wizard children that have been around magic all their lives. They actually call non magic folk muggles, which is a weird word, but fun to say. Everyone keeps staring at my forehead like I've got something on it, and then I remember, 'Oh, yeah, Hari, you do!'

I hope Hedwig got this to you okay. I told her to stay out of sight of other people, and to only show herself to you when she knew it was clear, just in case the school calls Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia when something 'odd' happens around you. Don't want to get you in trouble. How's Smeltings? Do you like it there? Is it a good school? Tell me all about it in your next letter, and I'll see if I can include some of the wizard candies they have here. Anyway, hope to hear from you soon.

Hari

I hope you all like it, and that I haven't made Malfoy too goodie. I want him to be generally prat-like and stuff. the typical snobby 11 year old with money lol. Suggestions are awesome, and for those who want to see a Gryffindor Hari, I'll get started on that soon. Going to duplicate the first chapter though. I'll keep everyone posted!