Disclaimer: Not mine. I am broke. No lawsuits please! Enough said.
But Still, I Hope
Oo0oO
By Bookwyrm86
Chapter Two:
Harry stood nervously at the entrance to Platform 9 and ¾. He had convinced Nicolai to let him do this on his own. Thanks to Severus, he knew how to get through the barrier, but he was still uncertain. After all, he had to walk through what looked like a solid wall. He took a deep breath, and then walked rather deliberately through the wall.
He smiled slightly when he saw the enormous scarlet train sitting there. It was only ten o'clock, so there were hardly any people around. Harry wanted to be early so that he didn't have to ask anyone to sit with them. The platform was practically deserted, only a few older wizards walking around, inspecting the train. Harry boarded the Hogwarts Express and got comfortable in a compartment at the end of the train. He decided put his robes on now, so that he wouldn't have to worry about finding a way to change without someone seeing the scars on his torso.
Harry pulled out a packet of parchment that Severus had given him, describing various things about Hogwarts. He said he normally gave it to his first year Slytherins, but he wanted Harry to have it, no matter which house he was in. After all, the more you knew about your surroundings, the better off you would be. Information was key! Harry giggled slightly as he remembered that particular speech from Severus. Smiling, he glanced at the words on the parchment.
The first page was a list of teachers and things Severus felt relevant about them.
Ancient Runes: Professor A. Black – Alphard Black, disowned member of the Black family, is a strict but fair professor. Has no house prejudices, though he was a Slytherin in school. He is an expert in Runes and he is also willing to teach Warding to promising N.E.W.T students.
Astronomy: Professor A. Sinistra – Aurora Sinistra is a very reclusive professor. It is relatively easy to pass the class if you attend and turn in your assignments on time. She rarely gives out detentions, preferring to let professors handle discipline.
Arithmancy: Professor S. Vector –Septima Vector is extremely strict and known for removing lazy and uninterested students from his classes. He is willing teach Spell-Crafting to eligible N.E.W.T students.
Care Of Magical Creatures: Professor R. Hagrid –Rubeus Hagrid is a half-giant and groundskeeper. He is very easy going, and conducts incredibly easy class. Beware of dangerous creatures in his class! The nicer and gentler Hagrid says the creature is, the more likely you are to get bitten, stung, trampled, or impaled.
Charms: Professor F. Flitwick – Filius Flitwick is the Head of Ravenclaw and perhaps half-goblin, it is not advisable that you ask him. He is an easy going teacher, but with strict coursework. Much like his ravens, he is very intelligent. He is also an extremely skilled dueler, so beware.
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Professor R. Lupin – Remus Lupin is a very quiet and reserved, but intelligent teacher. He is a werewolf and has extra-sensory skills, so do not try to deceive him. You will fail. He is an easy going teacher, but strict work load.
Divination: Professor S. Trelawney –Sibyl Trelawney is a mystic. She has an easy class based mostly on guesswork, and very few real prophecies in her portfolio.
Herbology: Professor P. Sprout –Pomona Sprout is the Head of Hufflepuff. She is strict teacher and very observant. Known for docking points rather than giving detention, however, she will give one out if she feels you deserve it.
History Of Magic: Professor S. Black – Sirius Black is a former Auror and also a disowned member of the Black family (A. Black's nephew). He knows his history very well and expects you to learn it quickly and efficiently. He teaches much like the old pureblood ways, which is surprising as he is a notorious prankster.
Muggle Studies: Professor L Evans-Potter- Lily Evans-Potter is a Muggleborn but extremely powerful. It is wise to take her class so that you do not sound like an idiot around other Muggleborn or half-blood students. There will be no discrimination tolerated in her class.
Potions: Professor S. Snape – Severus Snape is the Head of Slytherin, Potion's Master and researcher, dueler, and notoriously strict. Potion's is dangerous, and no nonsense will be accepted.
Transfiguration: Professor M. McGonagall/Professor J. Potter – Minerva McGonagall is Head of Gryffindor and Deputy Headmistress. She only teaches transfiguration at N.E.W.T. level, and is known for being extremely strict. James Potter, also a former auror, is a skilled teacher and easy going for the most part. He gives out little homework if you accomplish the spells in class. He is also notorious for being a prankster.
Other's of note:
Caretaker: Argus Filch – Filch is a foul-tempered and nasty man, who is notorious for his hatred of children. Keep out of his way, and out of the way of his cat, Mrs. Norris. Detentions with him will not be pleasant.
Dueling Instructors: Prof. S. Snape, Prof. R. Lupin, Prof. F. Flitwick - see above.
Flying Instructor/referee: Madam Hooch – known for being a strict teacher, but fair. Flying is a privilege, not a right. Misbehavior will get you banned from learning.
Librarian: I. Pince – Do not misbehave in her library. It could very well be the last thing you do.
Nurse: P. Pomfrey – Strict with her patients, she is also an incredibly talented healer and able to fix most things after all her years. She is willing to take on anyone with natural healing abilities and provide them with as much training as they like.
Harry looked up from the papers, an indecipherable expression on his face. He quite clearly recognized several names on the parchment. Namely, James Potter, and Lily Evans-Potter. He couldn't help but wonder if these two were related to him in some way. It was entirely possible that they had no relationship whatsoever as Potter wasn't a rare surname, but Harry had a sneaking suspicion that it was not true.
If they were related, then what had been the reasoning behind abandoning him with the Dursley's. Neither Vernon nor Petunia had ever been willing to speak of Harry's family in any context. He didn't even know the names of his parents, or anything about them beyond that they were magical. According to Petunia, they were both dead. He was lucky enough to know his own name.
Harry bit his lip uncomfortably. Things were going to get crazy once they got to the school. He had a feeling that his life was going to change quite drastically, and he was uncertain how he felt about that. He did know, that he almost desperately wanted out of the situation he was currently in. Harry could hardly wait to get to the school library to find out what was going on. There, they would have records of his family, and hopefully he'd be able to find out what happened all those years ago.
Harry absently blew his bangs out of his eyes. He'd cut his hair much shorter now that he was going to school, and much to his annoyance, it had decided to stick up everywhere. He had tried for an hour to get it to lie flat, and it stubbornly refused to obey.
When he'd looked in the mirror that morning, Harry felt that he looked much different. With clothes that actually fit, and his hair cut, and a new pair of wire rimmed glasses, he felt like a new person. Harry smiled to himself. Hopefully at Hogwarts, he could get a brand new start. He had to say, he was looking forward to it.
Harry pulled out a text book on transfiguration and settled back in his seat to read. Before he knew it, he'd lost himself in a world of complicated theory and almost didn't realize the train was filling up and preparing to depart. A tap on the door caused Harry to look up from his reading. A blond boy about his age stood there, an irritated expression on his face.
"Is anyone sitting here?" the boy asked, pointing to the vacant bench. Harry shook his head,
"No, help yourself."
"Thank you," the boy said, flopping down. "With luck, no one saw me coming in here."
"Who are you hiding from?" Harry asked curiously.
"The idiots my father decided I should be friends with," the boy snorted. "The two of the have the combined intelligence of a raisin."
"Ah, not good company then. I see why you are hiding from them," Harry said with a small smile. The boy returned the smile with a small one of his own.
"I am Draco, a first year. How about you?"
"My name is Harry. I'm also a first year. What house do you think you'll be in?" Harry asked curiously. It was nice to be able to talk to someone his own age, as it hadn't happen very often thus far. He very rarely got to be just a kid. Dudley kept all the other kids away from him whenever Harry had the chance to interact.
"I'll probably be sorted into Slytherin. My entire family has been there, and I think I would do well. I wouldn't mind Ravenclaw either," Draco said, thoughtfully.
"I hope to be Slytherin too, but I really don't have a preference. I don't care where I go. Severus said that I seemed like a Slytherin, so hopefully he is right."
"Severus, as in, Severus Snape?" Draco asked in surprise. "How do you know him already?"
"He has been teaching me potions for the last year," Harry replied. "He met me when I was apprenticing at a shop for Nicolai Schwartz."
"Nicolai Schwartz!" Draco yelped. "He is one of the most talented Potion's Masters in the world!"
"Yeah, and he is a great teacher too, if prone to playing a few pranks now and again," Harry said with a smile. "Do you know Severus?"'
"Of course, he's the Head of Slytherin house, and my godfather."
"Really? That is really cool. I hope that we get to be in his house," Harry said. "He seemed like a nice guy." Draco gave him a rather incredulous look at that statement, but didn't comment.
For the remainder of the trip, the two were left pretty much alone. They chatted about things like Quidditch, candy, schoolwork, and about other things that kids normally talked about. Harry was delighted, as he could actually feel relaxed. It felt good to simply be a kid. He didn't feel like Draco was pumping him for information, or analyzing him. He realized though, that it was a distinct possibility that he was doing just that. After all, he was very likely a Slytherin.
When they arrived at the station, Harry and Draco got off the train and headed over to an enormous man who could only be Rubeus Hagrid, the gamekeeper/CoMC Professor. They were instructed to board tiny little boats, and soon they were off towards the school. Draco and Harry found themselves on a boat with a boy that had dark hair and skin, named Blaise Zambini. Draco seemed familiar with the name and was happy to meet him. Harry guessed that he was another prospective Slytherin.
The fourth person on the boat absolutely refused to speak to them, or even look at them, so they didn't know who she was. The girl had thick auburn hair and hazel eyes and was really quite small. The boat ride when without troubles and when they finally reached the school, they followed a teacher who identified herself as Minerva McGonagall, into the building and listened to a lengthy explanation of the school rules and the houses. Harry thought she must have said the same speech many times before as she seemed rather bored with it herself.
Finally, the nervous first years were led into the Great Hall where the rest of the school was waiting. Harry glanced around and saw that the students were talking amongst themselves, catching up after the break, and eagerly waiting for the feast to start.
The hall itself was quite impressive, and Harry found himself quite taken with the enchanted ceiling. He heard a girl with bushy hair explaining to a red-head that the ceiling was enchanted to reflect the sky outside, and that she had found her information in Hogwarts, A History.
Harry looked up at the head table, and his gaze landed on someone who's appearance shook him to his core. One of the professors looked exactly like him. From the same untidy hair, to the glasses, down to the same body type. Though, Harry was admittedly a lot smaller and scrawnier. He was speaking to a woman with bright auburn hair and emerald green eyes.
Harry felt the breath catch in his throat. He nearly started hyperventilating in shock. Before he could panic, he turned his gaze found Severus Snape. The man was looking at the group of children, interest on his face, though it was almost masked by a look of contempt. His gaze passed right over Harry, as he looked for little James. Harry couldn't help but smile. Amazing what a simple haircut would do. Severus didn't recognize him.
Harry was so caught up, that he only just caught the end of a rather beat up old hat singing a song. Then Minerva McGonagall began calling out names. She would say each name, the student would run up, place the Sorting Hat on their head, and the hat would call out their house. It was a relatively simple procedure.
Abbot, Hannah and Bones, Susan became the first Hufflepuffs. Boot, Terry became the first Ravenclaw. Brown, Lavender was the first of the Gryffindors, and Bulstrode, Millicent became the first Slytherin. The list continued with no difficulties:
Corner, Michael was a Ravenclaw.
Crabbe, Vincent became a Slytherin.
Davis, Tracey was also a Slytherin.
Finch-Fletchley, Justin joined the Hufflepuffs and Finnigan, Seamus joined Gryffindor wearing a large grin on his face.
Goyle, Gregory was a Slytherin and Harry rather thought he was a trollish looking child.
Granger, Hermione, the girl who'd talked about the ceiling, became a Gryffindor.
Greengrass, Daphne was a Slytherin.
Longbottom, Neville became a Gryffindor and tried to run off with the Sorting Hat, and had to promptly return it to Macmillan, Ernie who soon joined the Hufflepuffs.
Malfoy, Draco was a Slytherin. Draco walked calmly over to his table, a small smirk on his face. He nodded to his godfather as he walked by.
Nott, Theodore was a Slytherin.
Parkinson, Pansy was a Slytherin.
Patil, Padma was a Ravenclaw and her twin sister Patil, Parvati joined Gryffindor.
Harry held his breath. He knew that his name would be coming up soon, and he was getting anxious about the reactions of everyone around him. The next name McGonagall called shocked him enormously.
"Potter, Arianna," McGonagall called. Harry felt his jaw drop in astonishment. Professors Potter and Evan-Potter watched with proud smiles as the girl that had sat on the boat with Harry and Draco walked confidently up to the Sorting Hat.
Harry also saw the disgusted look on Severus Snape's face as he watched the sorting of the girl. Arianna was quite obviously the daughter of two of his coworkers, James and Lily.
The Sorting Hat seemed to take a long moment, then called out, "Ravenclaw!"
Harry watched as the girl, who was very likely related to him in some way, trot off towards the Ravenclaw table. She waved at the head table, where her parents were clapping, smiles on their faces. She seemed quite proud of herself, as she seated herself among some of the other first year Ravens. Harry held his breath, his body tensing up. Unless there were any other Potter's, he was next.
He saw McGonagall glance down at the parchment in her hands, then her eyes widened quite noticeably in astonishment. Her face grew pale so rapidly that the Headmaster looked at his deputy headmistress in alarm. Her hand on her chest, Minerva looked up and called out in a somewhat shaky voice,
"Potter, Harry."
The silence in the Hall was absolute. James and Lily had astounded expressions on their faces, and Arianna whirled around in shock. Sirius Black had promptly choked on the pumpkin juice he'd been drinking, and Remus Lupin's eyes widened noticeably. The Headmaster leaned forward, his undivided attention on the first years. The entire school population stared at the first years, waiting to see who would come forward. Harry bit his lip, then walked uncertainly towards the Sorting Hat. He did not like this much attention to be focused on him at all.
He could feel his hands trembling violently as he approached the stool, and the incredulous McGonagall. Harry briefly caught Draco's eye, and saw the boy looked amazed, but gave him a small encouraging smile anyways. Harry could feel hundreds of pairs of eyes on him.
Harry took a breath to steady himself, then took a seat on the stool. He tried very hard to ignore the stares of the other Potters. The entire hall could see quite clearly how much he resembled James Potter. A voice spoke quietly in his mind, sufficiently diverting his attention.
"Ah, Harry Potter. You I have been waiting for, for a very long time."
"Me?" Harry asked silently, hoping that hat would hear him. The voice in his mind was very gentle.
"Yes, little one. You have been a long time coming. Hogwarts has never hosted one of your kind before, and we can all learn so much from you, child. You are very firmly of the light, and I think that you can do much for many of the prejudices that exist in our world today. We need someone like you, little one. The Wizarding World is stagnating, and you can bring about changes in our culture that are badly needed."
"What am I?" Harry asked, sounding a little alarmed. "Who am I? Who am I to accomplish all of this. I am nothing but an orphan who grew up in a harsh household. I just want to blend in."
"I am afraid you won't be able to do that for long, little one. On this year's autumnal equinox, during the harvest moon, all shall be revealed to you. I cannot read much about what exactly you are, since that part of your mind is locked. But, don't worry, for you are strong and will easily be able to handle what the Wizarding world will throw at you. You may think of yourself as weak, but you are not.
"I warn you, however, to beware of the teachers here. They will all want you for different reasons, and you must be wary of their motivations. I know you will do wel,l little one. Are you ready to be placed?"
"Tell me," Harry said, trembling even more. "Are Lily and James Potter my parents? Is Arianna my sister?"
"Yes child. Arianna is your twin. I am sorry you found out this way," the Hat said gently, before calling, "BETTER BE SLYTHERIN!"
AN: Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Reactions of many kinds in the next chapter! Review if you feel like it. If not, I am sure I will survive!
~Bookwyrm86
