The Black Lake, Hogwarts - the night of the Sorting Feast

Boats. They put eleven-year-olds in boats and sent them across a lake with only one adult as supervision. That was the dumbest idea Harry had ever heard. Even with supervision they could get into trouble, just look at the time everyone thought they had kidnapped Theo. Although, that might have been because the heir to the House of Nott had disappeared on a dragon reserve more than they actually thought he had been kidnapped. The first sight of the castle was impressive though, definitely better than it would have been from the carriages.

The stern looking women waiting for them was also impressive and Harry had high hopes for Transfiguration if she was as stern as she appeared. He didn't know how fair she would be, she did seem a bit too hopeful to see the students in Gryffindor, but otherwise alright. Neville looked terrified, McGonagall probably reminded him of his Gran, they were both stern, old ladies.

While the soon to be sorted first years were gathered, the Dragon Boys discussed their thoughts about the sorting.

"It's going to be something really simple, like asking what house you want to be in."

"There's no way it would be that easy Seamus, if it was they would have to give Veritaserum too. That's the only way to explain why people's parents get so uptight over it."

"I must disagree with you Harry. Veritaserum is illegal unless an investigation is happening and even though the Ministry stays out of Hogwarts' business, there is no way they would let that happen."

"I have to agree with Theo, there is no way the parents would allow the school to hold so much power of the students. I think it might be like getting a wand, you wave and depending on what happens you get placed into a house." Neville didn't usually give his opinion, preferring to be the voice of reason, but when he did they all listened. Then they heard a loud voice say,

"I bet we have to wrestle a troll. The twins always go on about they had the nastiest brute of the whole bunch."

The Dragon Boys just rolled their eyes at that. Obviously that red-head wasn't the brightest if he believed they would put eleven-year-olds against a troll. None of the adults would tell them, saying it was tradition. Remus did say that if they were that bothered they could ask a ghost. Their best bet was the Fat Friar, he was always willing to help a student.

"Hey guys, which one do you think is the Hufflepuff ghost?"

"Why would you what to know Longbottom? Hoping he'll put in a good word for you?"

"One would think you would remember the discussion we had about manners, it was only a few hours ago." Harry shared a look with the others, Draco would be their first target and they would get him within the week. The twins will be so proud.

Before the blond could respond the doors to the Great Hall opened and the first-years were left speechless. All except one brunette who started going on about enchantments and Hogwarts, A History. That one should be a Ravenclaw.

Suddenly the old, ragged hat sitting on a stool started to sing,

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me…"

Harry couldn't believe it. All that hype over a hat that sings. This was ridiculous, sure it's been sorting students for a thousand years, but a singing hat. He looked at the others and saw that they were amused; well Seamus just looked appalled and Neville was looking a bit relieved.

When the hat had finished and the applause had died down, McGonagall wasted no time starting. Harry didn't really care where his fellow students ended up just waited for his name to be called. He knew that Theo would pay attention to who ended up where, and whether they would be useful for pranks or studying. Pureblood politics had their uses and if the Dragon Boys were to change the world then they needed people in other houses. He cheered when both Seamus and Neville went to Gryffindor, it was to be expected of course. When Theo went to Slytherin he just nodded at the other boy, there was no surprise there. The sorting went on until

"Harrison Thevenet."

He took his place on the stool and waited for the hat to say something. The voice whispering in his mind was

"Hm, you are interesting. You have plans to achieve your goals no matter where you end up, very Slytherin and you have the same gift as the founder interesting. You would do anything for friends and family but only because they have your absolute trust, so Hufflepuff is out. Learning useful information interests you and you are quite intelligent, but you don't particularly care about subjects that don't interest you, Ravenclaw would be good but maybe not the best. Quite brave, facing a dragon because a friend dared you to, but not noble you will use trickery if it suits you, Gryffindor wouldn't be gone within the week if I placed three of you together. Yes, the house of the snakes would be best for you, and wouldn't people be surprised to see their savior as a…"

"Slytherin!"

The Slytherin table didn't look to pleased to have someone who wasn't a pureblood or known halfblood at their table, but Theo looked smug and nodded to him. He made his way over and sat down, ignoring the rest of the sorting until a dark, Italian boy sat down across from him.

"You must be quite the interesting person for Theodore to have been so invested in where you ended up." He held out his hand and said, "I'm Blaise, Blaise Zabini, and it's a pleasure to finally meet the boy behind so many of Theodore's stories."

"Harrison, and whatever you heard, it was probably worse."

"Well then, I look forward to hearing the actual stories."

Dumbledore stood up to make his announcements, staffing changes and forbidden items. Theo would let him know if something truly important was said.

"Harry, we are going to have to meet about this third floor corridor. We should meet with the others just after breakfast tomorrow."

"Others, Nott. Isn't it bad enough that you associate with foreign mudbloods, must you also associate with the other houses as well?"

"Some people just don't learn, do they?" muttered Harry. "Is that really the best you have? The only way you can insult muggleborns is by using such as a crass word? My father would be disappointed if that the best I could come up with, but then again being French we do have more subtle insults than Brits."

"How dare you, when my father hears of this…"

"He would most likely be disappointed that you couldn't deal with it on your own. Even if he wasn't, the Thevenets are a powerful family, with many allies in France, and currently building an alliance with the Nott's. I would watch what you say Draco." Theo always did have a head for politics and this discussion started the power plays for who would be the leader of their year. It might not seem like the others were paying attention to what was being said, but they were and any Slytherin with a hint of ambition was awaiting the outcome. "Although, you never do think before you speak. A Gryffindor quality I believe. Perhaps you should ask for a re-sort?"

Draco looked livid. Red really wasn't his color. Harry found this is hilarious and couldn't resist taking a stab as well.

"He might actually be thinking right now, he does seem pained enough for it. Either that or he is uncouth enough to show his emotions on his face." Having gotten the last word, Harry moved on. "Now I do believe that prefect would like to take us to the common room." Indeed a prefect was standing nearby and the other students were already leaving. "I believe that we should follow them."

The Gryffindor common room was nice and Neville was relieved that he wasn't the only one of the Dragon Boys there. Seamus was excited because they were in the same house as the Weasley twins. The red and gold was a bit much on the eyes, but the arrangement seemed homely and the dorms were quite nice.

The other Gryffindor boys didn't seem to bad. Dean Thomas seemed decent, if a bit obsessed with the muggle game, football (Neville didn't think to much of it, having seen it when Tristan took them on trip to the Muggle world). Ron Weasley was a bit loud, but Neville really just hoped that he wasn't like his older brothers, the twins. Seamus was Seamus, probably would have a crazy plan ready for action tomorrow morning. The girls were decent. Hermione Granger was a bit too eager to share her knowledge, that would get old very fast and a bit naive about social situations. Lavender Brown would most likely end up being the year's gossip queen, it would be important to stay on her good side. Parvati Patil was interesting. Her twin sister ended up in Ravenclaw and for that they ended up in different houses, they seemed close, he would have to watch her. Theo would be interested to know this information, he was a Slytherin to the core.

Dumbledore was worried. He had allowed himself to hope that Harry Potter would show up, even without accepting his letter. He had foolishly thought that the Thevenet boy was him for a moment; he had brilliant green eyes, Lily's eyes. He didn't know what to do. The Minister was pushing harder than ever for him to produce Harry Potter, and he had promised the boy would be at Hogwarts this year. The wizarding public demanded to see their saviour and Harry Potter was nowhere to be found.

He needed a plan, and fast. The Dursley's would be no help, and Arabella couldn't find him using Muggle means, it was worrisome. It was finally time to contact Remus about Harry.

Severus watched the first years from the shadows. The power plays had started before dinner, showing that this would be an interesting year. He had had an idea of who would ally with whom and was glad to see that he was right. Draco had his two gorillas, Crabbe and Goyle, as well as Parkinson. Greengrass was keeping to herself, as expected of the heir of a neutral house. Davis was waiting to see who came out on top before giving her support, not surprising as as halfblood she was starting out lower in the others' eyes. He was surprised to see that Nott was not with Malfoy, but in his own group with Thevenet and Zabini. Thevenet was interesting, obviously he wasn't the heir to the family, not if he was at Hogwarts, but he still had a grasp of politics, and to so quickly build such an alliance with the House of Nott was surprising. His eyes were the truly interesting part of him though, they looked just like Lily's. At least he wouldn't have to deal with the Potter brat, though it makes it hard to pay a debt if the person wasn't around to protect.

He stepped out to start his usual beginning of the year speech. He made sure that the little snakes knew everyone would be against them, for the simple fact that they were Slytherins. House unity was important when everyone was out to get you. The most important rule of all, don't get caught. They didn't need to give a reason to have more points taken.

Harry was excited. The most important rule of Slytherin was "Don't get caught." This was his life's motto and with Theo it would be almost impossible for any of the Dragon Boys to get caught. They would have to find a good meeting place though, since Gryffindor was notorious for its intolerance of Slytherins and Seamus was a halfblood, so while the Slytherins might make an exception for Neville as a pureblood heir they would be no hope for Seamus. This third floor corridor that held a painful death sounded interesting, nobody had mentioned the school having deadly corridors. He would have to send a letter in morning, the tamers would be eagerly awaiting the results of his sorting.

A.N.

Lily's grandfather, Harry's great-grandfather was a squib from the Thevenet family, who was placed in the muggle world as a young toddler and unaware of magic. Lily's mother moved to England, after growing up in France, got married and had Petunia and Lily, unaware of magic until Lily was accepted into Hogwarts. The Thevenet family never had the opportunity to accept Lily into the family, as she never told anyone outside of her immediate family she was a witch and died at a young age. Lily's uncle, Tristan's father, stayed in France and had Tristan, unaware of magic until Tristan went to Beauxbatons. The magical branch of the Thevenet family accepted him back. Due to believing the English branch had no magic, Tristan never told Lily he was a wizard, despite seeing her at family functions in the muggle world. When Tristan adopted Harry, the main family accepted him, officially making Harry a Thevenet. They have a great deal of power in France, but as Harry isn't from the main branch, he isn't the heir. The green eyes that Lily had were markers for magic in the Thevenet family, meaning that Tristan also has them (for future reference). The Thevenet family isn't really important other than to explain how both Lily and her cousin had magic, at the moment. It will be important later on with the Triwizard tournament.