A/N See disclaimer in chapter 1.

CH 3

The last word was shouted out for the entire hall to hear. After a heartbeat of silence pandemonium reigned over the Hufflepuff table excited at having Harry Potter sorted into the house of the badgers. Standing up from the stool Harry made his way over to his new house mates with a huge smile on his face. Never had he expected to be so well received anywhere. He sat between his two friends and quickly was the recipient of quick hugs from both Susan and Hannah. It was the happiest moment of Harry's life. He had two friends and was in a house known for its kindness and fairness. As the sorting came to an end putting the rude red head boy Harry had met on the train in Gryffindor the headmaster stood and after a few nonsense words the feast began.

The plates that a mere moment before sat empty was suddenly laden with more food than Harry had ever seen. He sat the and just stared at the amount of food realizing for the first time that he could eat all he wanted. He was brought back to his sense by a poke in the ribs from Susan.

"Come on Harry dig in, you're practically skin and bones." And taking his plate and filling it with potatoes meat and vegetables and handing it back Harry started to dig in. Smiling at her friend Susan watched as Harry started to eat making a mental note to ensure that he ate enough food.

Harry had never eaten so much before in his life. For the first time he understood the saying 'stuffed to burst'. Throughout the meal he listened to talk around the table as his fellow badgers began to get to know each other.

Though Harry was quite pleased with his sorting, a few people did not hold the same opinion. Harry glanced around the hall his eyes fell on one of those not too pleased with his sorting. As Ron caught the eye of the Boy-Who-Lived he couldn't stop the glare from his face. 'Harry was supposed to be my best friend. We were supposed to be in Gryffindor together and have all sorts of adventures. Now what am I going to do. I can't be best friends with a puff.'

Up at the staff table similar thoughts where running through the headmaster's head. 'The boy was supposed to go to Gryffindor. How can I mold him into what he is supposed to be if he isn't a lion?" Next to the headmasters Professor McGonagall felt a slight pang of disappointment. She really wanted Harry in her house but seeing the happy smile on his face as he talked to his new house mates between Ms. Bones and Abbot, she couldn't help but feel happy for him. Professor Sprout was positively quivering with excitement. She loved all her badgers and was hoping that with Harry they could break the stereotype that has plagued her house for years.

At the other end of the table the Potions master couldn't believe what he was seeing. When the Potter brat walked in his first reaction was pure loathing. The boy looked just like his father. 'They will be exactly alike. His fame will surely go to his head just like his father.' But then he was sorted into Hufflepuff of all places. James would never be sorted into that house. Taking another look at the boy as he talked with his friends he decided to wait to see what the scion of his hated rival was like. Hopefully he had more of Lily then just the eyes or this will be a long 7 years.

Back at the Hufflepuff table everyone was just finishing dessert and still talking amongst themselves. Harry met more of his year mates, Ernie MacMillan, Justin Finch-Flechley and Zacharias Smith, and Megan Jones. A 3rd year boy came and introduced himself as Cedric Diggory. He seemed nice enough to Harry and rather polite, but as he was leaving he gave Harry a friendly slap on the back. At the sudden slap on the back Harry flinched violently in surprise. Cedric was already on his way back to his seat and only Susan and Hannah at the table and Madam Pomefy at the head table saw his reaction.

Harry was starting to get overwhelmed with all the people talking. It was with great relief when the headmaster stood up to give the start of term announcements. "The Forbidden Forest is off limits, as is the 3rd floor corridor unless you want to suffer a painful death." A few people chuckled at that. Susan looked at her friends and raised her eye brow.

"With an announcement like that he is seems to almost be begging people to go see what's there." She commented to the table.

The Headmaster dismissed every one and with the scrapping of benches the students began to move towards the exit. The first years were herded together and began the sleepy march to the common room. As they waked deeper into the castle, Harry could smell the food wafting down the hallway. The smell was strongest when they past a portrait of a fruit bowl. Vowing to investigate the portrait later, Harry continued to follow the Prefect. Finally they came to a dead end o where a large barrel seemed to protrude from the wall.

"This is the entrance to the Hufflepuff Common room. You just say the password and you can get in. There are no rules limiting who can enter the common room, just remember not to give the password out to anyone."
Turning to face the barrel the Prefect gave the password, "Loyalty" and the barrel swung open. Inside the room was littered with puffy chairs, tables, and a great fireplace with big squashy coaches in front of it. The room looked inviting and comfortable. It seemed the whole house was milling around as if waiting for something. The Prefect pointed out the doors to the boys and the girl's dorms and directed the first years to wait here. A few minutes later, they were joined by a smiling Professor Sprout. She was a plump lady with fly away hair under her witch's hat. She looked kind and smiled openly at everyone.

"Good evening Badgers welcome to a new year and welcome to Hufflepuff to all our new first years. Hufflepuff is known for its loyalty and hard work so I hope all of you work hard to live up to that. If you need any help for any reason, my door is always open. The older students and Prefects are also available if you have any questions. First years will be escorted to classes by an upper year for the first week to help you get your bearings around the castle. I hope that all you including some of the older years try to stay out of trouble this year." At this she seemed to pointedly look at a 7th year girl with brilliantly pink hair who responded by rolling her eyes. "With that I will bid you goodnight. Tomorrow is Saturday so you have the weekend to settle in."

As Professor Sprout left the room the students started to mill about and talk. Harry was starting to feel anxious. Everything was begging to overwhelm Harry with all the new information and experiences, combined with dinner and the excitement of the day he started to feel a little overwhelmed. Quickly making his way to the door to the boy's dorm rooms he escaped to the peace and quiet of his new room. Susan watched her new friend go with a bit of concern. She had noticed him getting more and more withdrawn as the night went on. She was concerned that he would be a bit overwhelmed with everything that has happened today.

When Harry entered the first year's room he found the bed with his trunk in front of it. The large four poster bed was probably the most comfortable thing Harry had ever sat on. As he lay on the bed he started to think over the day. From meeting Susan and her Aunt, to the hugs and the feelings of belonging and now ending with this big bed it all started to finally hit him. All the sudden changes in his life kept running through his head and he could feel himself start to get over anxious. He franticly looked around for something that would be more familiar to help him calm down. He saw his wardrobe and opening it up saw that it was about the size as his old cupboard. He climbed in just as his anxiety attack hit. He was able to just crawl in and close the door and curl up in a ball as it him.

As he lay in the wardrobe trying to control his breathing he heard the rest of his roommates come in. This only increased his anxiety as he tried to ignore the voices. Justin walked in the room and looked around. He had though Harry had come up to bed already but looking around the room he was no were in sight. He went back down to the common room and walked up to Susan and Hannah where talking with Megan Jones.

"Have you two seen Harry? I thought he went up to bed but he's not there." A look of concern came across Susan's face.

"I saw him go up almost ten minutes ago. Did you look in the bathroom?"

"Yeah he isn't anywhere." The girls followed Justin up into the boy's room and looking around saw no sign of Harry. Susan's eyes then fell on his wardrobe. Walking up to the wardrobe she quietly knocked on the door. "Harry, are you in their?"

Susan heard a small scare voice come through the door. "I'm sorry Aunt Petunia I'll be good I promise." Turning to Hannah and Justin she told them to go get Professor Sprout and Madam Pomfrey. Hannah turned around and quickly went out the room and almost ran to Professor Sprout's office. Knocking on the door franticly she waited for her to open the door. After a few moments, the door opened and their stood Professor Sprout. "What's wrong Hannah? Is everything ok?"

"No Professor, something is wrong with Harry. Can you get Madam Pomfrey and help?"

"Of course let me just floo her right now." She walked over to her fireplace and after a quick floo call Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sprout where striding behind Hannah towards the common room. As they walked into the first year's room they found Susan still sitting in front of the wardrobe.

"Harry, its Suzy. You're at Hogwarts. Professor Sprout and Madam Pomfrey are out here can you please come out? No one will hurt you or think anything bad about you. Can you please come out?"

Susan's calming words seemed to do the trick as Harry's breathing began to return to normal and his mind began to clear. "Suzy, Is that you?" Slowly he opened the door and peaked out of the wardrobe seeing everyone there made him a little nervous but their encouraging smiles helped and he sat up on the edge of the wardrobe. Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sprout waked over and took Susan's place and squatted down so as to be at eye level with Harry.

"Harry, are you alright?" The concern in their voices took Harry back. He was unused to adults actually wanting to know how he felt.

"I think I will be fine. I just got a little overwhelmed with all the new things and the changes. I needed something familiar and I guess it all just got to me."

"Ok Harry but why don't you come to the Hospital Wing and I can give you a checkup" Madam Pomfrey asked.

Harry shook his head. He didn't want to be dragged to the hospital wing his first night. It was bad enough he had an anxiety attack he didn't need the added embarrassment of having to stay in the hospital. "Can I stay here, I need to sleep in my bed and get used to all the new things. Please let me stay."

Seeing the determination in the boy's eye she agreed to his request but gave him a sleeping potion for the night and orders to report to her first thing in the morning after breakfast. After seeing him into bed Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sprout headed out of the room. Susan walked up to Harry to bid him goodnight. "Goodnight Harry and sleep well. Hannah and I will be waiting for you downstairs for breakfast in the morning."

"Goodnight Susan. Thanks for your help I feel so embarrassed people will think I'm a freak."

"No they won't Harry. No one in Hufflepuff house will think anything bad about you and no one outside the house will hear about this."

"Thanks again Susan. I hope your right. Good night and see you tomorrow." And with that, Harry drifted off to a dreamless sleep.

A/N Thanks for reading and reviewing. Next chapter the examination and the start of the end of the Dursleys.