Chapter Two
Severus Snape sat in his customary spot at the end of the Staff table, scowling furiously at the students as they walked into the room and took their seats. The scowl only deepened when he saw Zachary Potter taking a seat at the Gryffindor table, surrounded by his usual little crowd of admirers and followers. He glared at the red-head, preening in his seat as he made some obnoxious comment designed to be witty. Whenever a lock of red hair fell in front of the lightning-shaped scar he pushed it out of the way.
Enough that I have to deal with that little arrogant, big-headed twit. Now his twin's going to be here. He snorted, he expected the twin to be just as annoying and ignorant as his famous brother. He watched as the Slytherins filed in, each one of them with a look of open distaste on their faces. All except for Zabini, Lestrange and Malfoy. The three of them walked in with cool faces and drifted toward the table, completely ignoring the Gryffindors.
All three of them were confident, handsome purebloods. From there they differentiated from each other with wild abandon. Tor Lestrange was the smallest, a pixie-faced boy with dark blonde hair and his Death Eater father's warm brown eyes. Blaise Zabini was tallest, an elegant red-head with dark blue eyes. He was the youngest son of a Greek family who had remained neutral during the last war to their own great profit.
Draco was the middle one of the group, pale-faced with his father's white-blonde hair and gray eyes. He was Lucius' oldest and the Death Eater's only acknowledged child. For a moment gray eyes found a black-haired, blue eyed boy and narrowed into slivers. Lamont was his younger brother but Lucius had disowned the child after he'd been sorted into Gryffindor and become one of Zachary Potter's best friends.
Draco's eyes found his and the boy gave a small nod of greeting which he returned. Of all the Slytherins he found that trio the most competent, capable students. It didn't hurt that he was one of Draco's honorary godfathers, along with Rodolphus Lestrange. He found the boy likeable on his own, with the intelligence to match his good looks.
After the terrified first-years had been Sorted he watched as Dumbledore stood and made his way to the podium. The students paid little attention to his usual warnings and more attention to the fact that the Triwizard Tournament was going to be played for the first time in almost a century.
"Finally, you are going to be witness to a rare occurrence for Hogwarts School. Once in a great while a student will transfer from another school. They are never accepted above third year and only if they were on our original list. Never have we accepted a student that isn't a transfer. That is about to change. Please welcome Harry Potter!"
The double doors swung open and Minerva walked in, followed by the younger twin. Severus blinked. He couldn't be more of an opposite from his famous brother in appearance. About 5' tall, he was thin and seemed made up entirely of long, narrow bones. The handsome face had slender yet prominent cheekbones and a smooth, high forehead. The eyes were warm emerald and contrasted sharply with pale features and pitch black hair that was as straight and fine as his.
What surprised Severus most was the cool, flat expression on the young face. He looked around with a confident, intelligent gaze. Every movement was precise and deceptively slow. Calmly he stepped up to where Dumbledore stood and shook the Headmaster's hand, accepting his welcome.
Minerva stepped up to him with the Sorting Hat and placed it over the dark eyes. It debated for a surprisingly long time; Severus had assumed it would immediately place him in Gryffindor. He looked over to that table and saw Zachary watching his brother's sorting with narrow brown eyes. The set of his mouth was strange and it took Severus a moment to place it as an unhappy expression. That's strange, he thought. I would have thought the Golden Boy to be happy that his brother's here.
The hat rustled and said, "I have come to a decision."
"What is your decision on this momentous occasion?" Dumbledore asked as Minerva removed the hat.
"Slytherin," the hat replied in a firm, decisive tone. Severus just about jumped in shock.
The whole school started rumbling with the mutters and whispers of the students and staff. This was unheard of; the famous child who'd defeated You-Know-Who had a Slytherin sibling?
A cool smile twisted the younger Potter's mouth as he locked emerald eyes with astonished brown ones. After a moment Zachary's mouth thinned in anger and he sat back sullenly. Harry raised his chin defiantly and walked to the Slytherin table, taking a seat next to Draco, who looked delighted.
Severus was unable to look away from the younger Potter as the meal progressed and finished. The grim, victorious smile on the fine mouth was unexpected to say the least. He flicked his eyes over to look at Zachary and noted the angry expression on the older boy's face. No doubt the perfect child was going to be sending his parents a letter with the surprising news.
Well, this year might actually be interesting.
* * * *
Zachary Potter glared at his little brother, mouth set in a thin line. Suddenly he smiled. This was hisopportunity to get rid of the little pest. He'd shamed his family name beyond repair; there was no way James would put up with a Slytherin son. Time to send his parents a letter. He'd left his favorite picture of himself at home anyways.
Now I won't have to see him at home on summer vacation, he thought gleefully. His younger brother was an annoyance anyway, always acting so superior. I'm the one they all know, not you. What do they say when you tell them your name? 'You're Zachary Potter's brother, aren't you?' 'You're brother's so wonderful.' 'Your brother saved the wizarding world, you should be proud of him.'"
He turned and gave a false smile to Hermione Granger. The girl was bushy-haired and not really that attractive, but she had brains. "'Mione, would you help me compose a letter to my father tonight? I think he should know about my brother's placement."
"Gladly, Zachary," she cooed, batting her eyelashes and smiling.
"Thanks. You're the smartest girl in the whole school, you know how to help me get what I want," Zach smirked.
"I certainly do," Hermione purred.
*
Harry stood up next to Draco and followed the blonde out of the Great Hall. The other Slytherin had offered to escort him to McGonagall's office to choose his classes. As he walked he smiled broadly. He'd done it; he'd been placed in Slytherin house! The complete opposite of what his family expected of him.
They walked into her office and she looked up, gazing sternly at him. "So, you're going to be tested tomorrow on your class levels starting at 8 o'clock sharp. Most likely you'll be placed in 4th year level classes. You have two electives, what would you like?"
Draco had recommended a couple and they sounded interesting enough to choose. "Care of Magical Creatures and Fencing, please."
"Very well. Assuming that you place at 4th year classes, you'll have the exact same schedule as Malfoy here," she didn't look at all surprised. "You must be in your common room by sunset and if you're caught out after curfew you'll get at least two detentions and lose house points."
"Yes, Professor," he said coolly.
Once he and Draco had exited he rolled his eyes and said, "Really, does she think me a first-year? We're a little old to be intimidated by threats of detention."
Draco smirked at him and said, "I know. She's like that in classes as well. She's head of Gryffindor so she always ignores your brother's pranks and gives him house points. Did you see that bushy-haired girl with the long front teeth sitting next to him?"
"Yeah," Harry smirked back. "She's not exactly the most attractive girl in the world, is she?"
"No way!" Draco laughed. "She's a piece of know-it-all Mudblood scum. McGonagall dotes on her and is always praising her. McGonagall teaches Transfiguration. The only class that's worth anything is Potions. It's taught by Professor Snape. He's our Head of House and a Death Eater. My dad's good friends with him and he always favors Slytherin. It's fun to watch him insult your brother."
"I bet it is," Harry grinned.
The two of them walked down to the dungeons and entered the Slytherin common room. The password outside was 'Loyalty'. He looked around the common room and smiled. It was done in shades of emerald green, silver, black and dark gold. Two boys sat in comfortable chairs near the fireplace and he followed Draco as he approached them.
"Blaise, Tor, this is Harry Potter."
"It's a pleasure," murmured the taller one, voice a pleasant tenor. He possessed very dark blue eyes and gold-red hair. "My name is Blaise Zabini."
"Glad to meet you, Potter. My name is Torian Lestrange, but everyone calls me Tor," Tor had sharp, slender features and very warm-colored skin that complemented golden-brown eyes and dark blonde hair.
"Please just call me Harry. I've had enough with being called by my last name."
"Certainly," Blaise replied. "I don't know how you survived trying to deal with your idiot brother."
"Neither do I," Harry said dryly.
"Come on, I'll show you the way to the dormitories," Draco said.
"See you Blaise, Tor."
"See you in the morning, Harry."
"They're nice," Harry commented as they walked.
"Blaise and Tor are the best. All the Slytherins are nice to each other; we believe in house loyalty here, unlike some of the others I could name."
His black and silver trunk sat at the end of a four-poster bed in the last room. A dark green and silver one sat in front of the only other bed and Draco said, "That's mine. All the rooms are set up with two beds. I've been on my own in here since first year; it'll be nice to have some company."
Harry dressed for bed and as he slid under the covers and blew out the flickering emerald lantern he said, "See you in the morning, Drake."
Malfoy's only answer was a grumble. He grinned. He closed his eyes with the smile still in place.