Chapter Three
Disclaimer: Not JKR as usual. Still wish I was. Very sad.
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The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Harry's first thought was that this was not someone to cross. Unfortunately he had a very strong feeling that he was going to have to.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said the large man.
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."
She pulled the door wide. The entrance hall was so big you could have fit the whole of the Dursleys' house in it. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.
They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Harry could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right — the rest of the school must already be here — but Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall.
They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rulebreaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron's smudged nose. Harry smoothed back his dreadlocks calmly.
"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."
She left the chamber. Harry grinned. He'd heard all about Minerva McGonagall from Kingsley and Made-Eye, and was delighted to find that they hadn't exaggerated at all.
"She's great, isn't she?" He commented. "Really sets the mood."
"How exactly do they sort us into houses?" Neville asked plaintively.
"Some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking." Ron said, looking sickly.
"Are you kidding me?" Harry laughed. "Five brothers already gone through Hogwarts, and none of them told you how the sorting works?"
Ron looked slightly sheepish.
"You just put on a hat, and it looks inside your mind and tells you where to go"
"A hat?" Hermione chimed in, sounding rather put out. "How can a hat read your mind?"
"Well I'm not entirely sure," Harry deadpanned. "But I think there might be magic involved."
Several of the other students appeared to be listening in on their conversation, and seemed relieved. Then something happened that made them all jump about a foot in the air — several people behind him screamed.
"What the —?"
About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked like a fat little monk was saying:
"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance —"
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost — I say, what are you all doing here?"
A ghost wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first years.
Nobody answered.
"New students!" said the Fat Friar, smiling around at them. "About to be Sorted, I suppose?"
A few people nodded mutely.
"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said the Friar. "My old house, you know."
"Move along now," said a sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony is about to start."
Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall.
"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me."
Feeling oddly as though he was walking to meet his destiny, Harry got into line behind a boy with sandy hair, with Ron behind him, and they walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall.
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Harry had never even imagined such a strange and splendid place, not in his wildest imagination. The finest homes of Wizarding Uganda looked like hovels next to this place. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the
students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting.
Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Harry looked upward and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars.
He heard Hermione whisper, "It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History."
Harry quickly looked down again as Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty.
For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth — and the hat began to sing:
Oh can you credit it, what a lark!
Here we are again
Another year, another choice
I'll peek inside your brain
I'll tell you what, I'll tell you how
And then I'll tell some more
I'll know just where to put you each
In the founded four
Gryffindor, so brave and wild!
Daring, dashing, bold
Do you hold with Godric's kin?
Our chivalrous friends of old
Or perhaps another house?
Ravenclaw might be the one
If knowledge is power, and learning is key
This is where you belong
Hufflepuff for loyalty
Hard work, and dearest friends
If I sense a heart to do Helga proud
This is where you'll be sent
Last but not least, our clever friends
For the most ambitious among you
Slytherin holds with search for power
In their cunning crew
Oh put me on, try me out for size
Pull me snug down over your ears
I'll try you all, I'll sort you out
So never mind your fears
You'll end up right where you belong
I know just where, in fact
I'm rarely wrong, I'm always right
For I'm the sorting hat!
Harry grinned as the hat came to the end of its song and the great hall exploded in cheers. The hat bowed to each of the four tables, and then fell quiet.
Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said.
"Abbott, Hannah!"
A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. A moments pause —
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.
The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table.
Harry saw the ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at her.
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah.
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
The table second from the left clapped this time; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them. A few more names joined each house, and Harry paid close attention. It was always useful to remember people's names. Sometimes, Harry noticed, the hat shouted out the house at once, but at others it took a little while to decide. "Finnigan, Seamus," the sandy-haired boy next to Harry in the line, sat on the stool for almost a whole minute before the hat declared him a Gryffindor.
"Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head. The hat seemed to be taking a little while to consider this, and Harry could see Hermione's lips moving silently beneath the brim, as though she were arguing with the hat, or perhaps asking it endless questions.
"RAVENCLAW!" The hat shouted at last, and the Ravenclaw table burst into applause. Hermione headed over, looking vaguely resigned.
When Neville Longbottom, was called, he almost tripped over himself. Harry exerted his magic silently, and Neville righted himself, blushing. The hat took a long time to decide with Neville. When it finally shouted "GRYFFINDOR," Neville gave a heartfelt sigh of relief. Harry managed to catch his eye, and give him an encouraging smile.
Malfoy swaggered forward when his name was called and got his wish at once: the hat had barely touched his head when it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!" Harry though was watching closer than the others. In spite of his outward bluster, Malfoy, like Neville, looked like a great weight had lifted from his shoulders when he was placed in his preferred house.
There weren't many people left now. "Moon"… , "Nott"… , "Parkinson"… , then a pair of twin girls, "Patil" and "Patil"… , then "Perks, Sally-Anne"… , and then, at last —
"Potter, Harry!"
As Harry stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall.
"Potter, did she say?"
"The Harry Potter?"
The last thing Harry saw before the hat dropped over his eyes was the hall full of people craning to get a good look at him. Next second he was looking at the black inside of the hat. He waited politely for the hat to speak first.
"Oh my," said a small voice in his ear. "Oh dear, oh dear. The headmaster will not be pleased."
What's wrong? Harry thought.
"Wrong? Oh nothing wrong, no..." The hat said, seeming to be talking to itself. "You've plenty of courage, and you're certainly clever enough. Almost too clever for your own good really. But what really defines you..."
The hat appeared to be talking itself into something. "And of course people must go where they really belong, not where the headmaster expects them. But oh dear oh dear..."
Harry chuckled to himself. Are you telling me what I think you're telling me? He asked the hat silently.
"I'm afraid so," the hat sighed. "So much cunning, such a desire to achieve great things, it can really only be-
"SLYTHERIN!"
Harry took the hat off his head to be greeted with absolute silence. The entire hall was staring at him in shock. Even Ron looked thunderstruck, and Hermione was biting her lip at the Ravenclaw table. The applause began from the staff table, and slowly carried across the great hall, but died away quickly. Harry could see Fred and George looking unusually serious over at the Gryffindor table.
Harry sighed. This was most frustrating, that something so simple as what house you were sorted into could completely change how people thought of you. He hoped his earlier suspicions had been correct, and this wouldn't make things too difficult.
"Come on people, never seen a Slytherin sorted before?" Harry said, his voice carrying across the great hall.
"That will be quite enough," Professor McGonagall said, taking the hat from Harry and handing it to the next person. Harry laughed quietly, and strode over to the Slytherin table, taking a seat with the other first years, nodding at them.
He had expected this, really. An entire lifetime training to defeat the darkest wizard of all time would give someone a healthy respect for the dark arts. And he certainly had cunning and ambition - cunning might be the only way to defeat the bastard Riddle, and if he had to become the inside man in Slytherin house in order to do it, so much the better.
He could see the High Table properly now. At the end nearest him sat Hagrid, the giant who had taken them across the lake. And there, in the center of the High Table, in a large gold chair, sat Albus Dumbledore. Harry recognized him at once from his 's silver hair was the only thing in the whole hall that shone as brightly as the ghosts.
Dumbledore was looking intently at Harry, and a slight frown marred his face.
Albus Dumbledore.
Leader and founding member of The Order of the Phoenix. Headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A great warrior of the light, most famous for his defeat of Gellert Grindelwald. Albus Dumbledore also holds several other notable positions in Wizarding society. Potentially a great ally, but had previously shown tendencies of poor judgement, such as attempting to place Harry Potter with Vernon and Petunia Dursley.
[See more in appendix]
Approach carefully. Do not make enemy without good cause, but be wary of sharing information or trusting overtly.
Harry spotted Professor Quirrell, too, another character from his briefings. He was looking very peculiar in a large purple turban.
Quirinus Quirrell
Expected to take the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in September 1991. Talented and experienced spellcaster, however was recently flagged by local surveillance while visiting Albania, the last know whereabouts of Tom Riddle. Not a known sympathiser to the death eater movement, nonetheless, the information should not be discounted.
Approach with suspicion.
And now there were only three people left to be sorted. "Thomas, Dean," a black boy even taller than Ron, joined the Gryffindor table. "Turpin, Lisa," became a Ravenclaw and then it was Ron's turn. He was pale green by now.
The hat seemed to be taking a very long time to decide, and Ron's face was growing steadily paler until it resembled porridge. A moment later-
"SLYTHERIN!"
Ron say there for a moment, as though he couldn't believe it, as though he expected the hat to change its mind. When no further words were forthcoming, he removed it with shaking hands and placed it on the stool carefully. He looked towards the Gryffindor table where his brothers were staring in undisguised horror, and for a moment Harry thought he was going to disregard the hat and join them regardless.
Then he straightened his shoulders, and turned towards the Slytherin table. Harry applauded enthusiastically and cheered loudly, and after a moment, the rest of the house joined in.
Ron sank into the seat next to Harry, looking as though he wanted the floor to swallow him. "Oh my god..." He moaned. "Every Weasley for five generations has been a Gryffindor. What on earth am I going to tell mum and dad..."
Harry tried to be comforting. "Don't worry mate. You're still the same person you were yesterday, it's just a house."
"You don't understand. This is a big deal for my family - I'll be surprised if my brothers ever speak to me again."
Before Harry could answer, a loud voice brayed from further along the table-
"Merlin this place is going to the dogs when even a Weasley can get into Slytherin. I wonder if his fat mother will die of shock."
Malfoy smirked at Harry and Ron. Ron made to stand up, but before he had moved Harry had risen fluidly from his seat, leaned across the table and punched Malfoy in the mouth. Malfoy collapsed into his seat, hands covering his mouth with shock as blood leaked between his fingers.
"I'd keep your mouth shut if I was you, arrogant death-eater scum," Harry said calmly, and resumed his place at the table.
"Don't worry Ron. Just because we're in Slytherin, doesn't mean we have to mix with the likes of that."
The rest of Slytherin house were staring with unreadable expressions, except for the other first years who looked terrified.
A hand came down upon Harry's shoulder. "Mister Potter."
Harry turned to see a tall, dark haired man with a hooked nose and menacing aura. It was impossible to identify him as anything but Severus Snape.
Severus Snape
Joined the death-eaters in 1979 and rose swiftly through the ranks to the inner circle. Was arrested in 1981 after the fall of Tom Riddle, but acquitted on evidence provided by Albus Dumbledore. Now serves as Potions Master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Maintains close ties to Lucius Malfoy and was named Godfather to Draco Malfoy in 1981.
Albus Dumbledore provided evidence at trial that Severus Snape became a spy for The Order of the Phoenix in 1980. The evidence has never been a matter of public record, and indeed has never been shared outside the courtroom. Great scepticism exists around whether or not Severus Snape was innocent.
Approach with caution.
"Yes professor?"
"That behaviour is absolutely unacceptable. You will learn very quickly that this is not how things are done at Hogwarts, and certainly not how they are done in Slytherin. Two points from Slytherin for fighting like a muggle."
"Yes sir. Will Malfoy lose any points for insulting a fellow Slytherin's family?" Harry enquired innocently. Getting on the right side of Severus Snape could be vital in ascertaining whether or not he was genuinely loyal to Dumbledore and the Order, and provoking him further would only be counter-productive. Not that it made it any less tempting. Harry loved being a smart-ass.
"Two points from Slytherin Mister Malfoy. And I will have someone take you to the hospital wing," Snape said through gritted teeth. "Pucey! Take Malfoy to the hospital wing."
"Yes sir," said a burly looking older Slytherin boy wearing Prefects badge. "Come on Malfoy."
Ron stared at Harry after they left. "That was one hell of a punch," he whistled. Watching Malfoy get decked seemed to have cheered him up.
"I practice a lot," Harry smirked.
"Why didn't you use that accidental magic thing again?" Ron asked.
"Because he was expecting it, and would probably use it as an opportunity to get me into trouble. And, well...sometimes punching someone is just more satisfying."
The other first years Slytherins were gazing at Harry and Ron with undisguised interest.
"Did you really that was was wise?" Asked a dark-skinned boy with deep, unreadable eyes.
"Yes," Harry answered. "Ron isn't the first person to be sorted into a different house from their whole family. And that's certainly no reason for a little prick like Malfoy to be insulting. Start as you mean to continue, and all that."
A heavy-set Slytherin seventh year suddenly barked a laugh. "I think the little half-blood might have a point."
Harry levelled his gaze. "And you are?"
"Flint, Marcus Flint."
"Don't refer to me as 'the little half-blood' unless you want me to refer to you as Slytherin house's pet pureblood troll."
Now all the first years were laughing. Flint flushed an ugly red.
Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there.
"Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
"Thank you!"
He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered. Harry burst out laughing. Even Mad-Eye and Kingsley hadn't prepared him for Dumbledore.
\\/
At last, the desserts too disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent.
"Ahem — just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.
"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins.
"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.
"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Harry laughed, but he was one of the few who did. "Are you kidding me?" He muttered to Ron. "What's more likely to get people to go there than telling them that?"
Dumbledore beamed at them all. "And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
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Harry was surprised and pleased when Hermione, then after a moment's hesitation, Neville - rushed over to the Slytherin table.
Hermione spoke very fast. "I just wanted you to know Harry that I remembered what you said and you're right, what house you're in doesn't change who you are and if you meant what you said I'd really like to still be friends if we can-"
"Woah!" Harry cut her off laughing. "Of course we can. Its just a house after all. How's Ravenclaw?"
"I don't really know yet, we've been talking about lessons all evening and it's so interesting though!"
"Wish Gryffindor had been talking about lessons," Neville said miserably. "All everyone's talked about is how you and Ron ended up in Slytherin. Half of them think you're the next dark lord already. Ron's brothers are furious, they're going to ask Dumbledore for a resorting for Ron."
Ron's ears turned pink. "I don't need a resorting," he said. "I wish I did, but the hat told me why it was putting me in Slytherin and it was right, even if I didn't want to believe it."
Harry glanced up at the top table to see the red-headed Weasley brothers Fred, George and Percy indeed locked in what looked like furious debate with Professor McGonagall.
"Don't worry Ron," he said bracingly. "Almost my whole family have been Gryffindors too, and so were my guardians. We're not ruining anything, we're just shaking it up a little."
"Its not a bad thing," Neville agreed. "I didn't want to be in Gryffindor, I'm not brave at all, but the hat put me there anyway."
"I wanted to be in Gryffindor, but apparently the hat didn't agree," Hermione sniffed.
Harry stared at them all, then burst out laughing. "None of you got where you wanted to be?" He said, chuckling.
The trio shook their heads mutely.
"Well embrace it! Throw away your preconceptions of who you are, and let's run with the new version."
Noticing the Slytherins were all getting up to leave, he added- "And we'll see you tomorrow for breakfast I hope. House difference or not!"
Hermione and Neville left to return to their house tables, and Harry and Ron joined the other Slytherins ready to depart the hall.
\\/
Adrian Pucey, the prefect who had taken Malfoy to the hospital wing, was rounding up the first years. He shot Ron and Harry a look of irritation as they fell into last place. "Come along now first years," he said in a snooty voice. "You don't want to get lost, or we'll have to send the Baron out to find you."
Harry looked back at the Slytherin table and saw a horrible ghost sitting there, with blank staring eyes, a gaunt face, and robes stained with silver blood. The first years clustered rather closer together, and even Harry grimaced.
They marched through a long hall, and down several flights of stairs. Harry stared with interest at the moving portraits all along the walls who waved to them merrily. Portraits weren't common in Wizarding Uganda and the only ones Harry had seen had been on his trips to the Ministry of Magic in disguise, with Mad-Eye. Those had all been rather dull portraits of notable politicians, but these seemed to capture every age, era and walk of life.
Pucey led them through doorways hidden behind sliding panels and hanging tapestries, and down ever more flights of stairs. Gradually the warmth of the great castle above faded as they moved into what was clearly the dungeons, with bare stone walls and the ominous dripping of water somewhere in the distance. Just when the first years thought they could walk no further, they came to a halt in front of a blank stretch of stone wall.
"Severita Maxia" Pucey said firmly to the wall. It melted away to reveal a cold stone passage. "Follow me," Pucey commanded imperiously.
They walked for a few moments along a damp passage, and then exited into the Slytherin common room. It was a dungeon-like room with greenish lamps and chairs. The dungeon appeared to extend partway under the lake, which was giving the light in the room a green tinge. The common room had lots of low backed black and dark green button-tufted, leather sofas; skulls; and dark wood cupboards. It had quite a grand atmosphere, but also quite a cold one.
The first years huddled together, shivering in the chill. "Wait here while the rest of the house arrives," Pucey told them. "Professor Snape will address Slytherin house shortly."
The room slowly filled, while Harry looked around with interest. Neither of his guardians had been in Slytherin, and consequently he had no idea what to expect. Ron seemed to have forgotten his earlier cavalier attitude, for he had gone pale again and looked deeply unhappy.
A dark wooden door opened with a bang,and Professor Snape entered, his deep black robes swirling around his feet.
"Good evening Slytherin house," he said. His voice was very cold.
"Good evening Professor Snape," they chanted.
Snape strode to the front of the room and addressed them all, his eyes sweeping over them.
"Welcome back to our returning students,and welcome to our Slytherin first years. Ours is a proud house, and it is the highest duty of every Slytherin student to obey its code and bring it great honour. We have won the house cup for the last six years running, and I hope you will all do your utmost to keep it in our hands.
"In Slytherin, we do not believe in the chaotic and slap dash manner in which the others houses conduct themselves. A high standard of uniform is expected at all times, as is that you will apply yourself to your work with the greatest attention.
"In return, we look after our own. Bring honour to Slytherin house, and Slytherin will bring honour to you. Bullying is not tolerated, neither is fighting." Here, his eyes rested on Harry for a moment.
"If you have a dispute, you bring it to me and I decide whether it is worthy or not of a duel to decide the victor. Any deviation from this will result in punishment.
"Outside of our house, Slytherin students must watch their back at all times. We are reviled by the other houses,and must be prepared for a potential sneak attack."
"Constant vigilance," Harry muttered.
"What, was that Potter?"
"I said 'constant vigilance,' sir. A phrase my mentor is fond of saying. You reminded me of it, that's all."
Harry saw a brief look of shock pass over the man's face, but Snape quickly schooled his features. "Do not interrupt, Potter.
" As I was saying. We must watch out for one another, and be prepared for anything. Slytherin house is now your family while you are at Hogwarts - do not forget it.
"You may now retire to your dormitories. I will expect you to reach breakfast in a timely manner tomorrow. Pucey will be available to lead the first years."
With that, he left the room is a swirl of black robes. Harry sniggered under his breath. The theatrics were just too much.
Pucey directed the girls through one door to their dormitory and the boys through another. At the bottom of a spiral staircase — they were obviously still under the lake — they found their beds at last: five four-posters hung with deep green, velvet curtains. Their trunks had already been brought up. Too tired to talk much, they pulled on their pajamas and fell into bed.
"Great food, isn't it?" Ron muttered to Harry through the hangings. "Get off, Scabbers! He's chewing my sheets."
"Yeah, and Snape sounds good for a laugh," Harry replied.
He almost felt Ron shudder. "Don't remind me I'm in Slytherin" he moaned. "I'd almost forgotten."
Harry laughed, and was going to say more but he was so tired he fell asleep almost immediately.
\\/
Thanks all for reading.
A brief note - thank you reviewer, for pointing out that Sirius wasn't living at Grimmauld Place in the first chapter. I was kind of aware of that in the back of my mind, but ignored it for easy writing. I know it's lazy and not checking my canon facts, but I'm just trying to get this out the best I can. I have a 2 month old baby and it's kind of turning my mind into mush right now.
Any further mistakes pointed out would be gratefully noted. Thank you for taking the time to help me improve my story.
Updates should be every two days. I'm hoping to have finished first year in the next month or so.
-Cas