Sorry for the wait. I just don't have enough time to write constantly, so I'l probably update two or three times a week, if possible.

Disclaimer: I, regrettably, do not own Harry Potter. Any bits of dialogue taken from the books are not owned by me.

Warning: Contains SLASH. Male/male relationships! You have been warned.

:::

Harry was pushed forward by the people coming in behind him, which was very uncomfortable, so he set off in search of a compartment. The first ones were full of older students meeting up with friends, and as he walked farther back they seemed to get younger. He looked for Ron's familiar red hair, but could not find him anywhere. Just as he was about to give up search for somewhere to sit and just stand in the hallway the whole ride, he felt someone tap his shoulder. He turned, and was surprised to see Draco Malfoy standing there, smirking.

"Having trouble?"

Harry smiled a bit.

"Want to sit with me?"

Harry hesitated. The Malfoys were a generally shifty family, but... he did enjoy Malfoy's company and really did need a place to sit.

Malfoy saw his hesitation. "I'm not my father, Potter."

Harry nodded once, and saw something stir in Malfoy's grey eyes. He only saw it for a second, because the boy then turned around and walked a few compartments down. "In here," he said.

When Harry arrived at the compartment Malfoy was in, he was wary to see there were more people with him. A small girl with an upturned nose and short, black hair was sitting next to a pale, mousy boy. They were sitting across from a slightly regal-looking dark-skinned boy, who Malfoy then sat next to.

"Er, hi," Harry sat in greeting as he dragged his things in the compartment.

The girl looked up and nodded, the pale boy said, "hello", and the other boy ignored him, continuing to read his book. Harry hoisted his things up onto the rack, and then sat down rather awkwardly next to Malfoy.

Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Potter, this is Pansy Parkinson," he motioned to the girl, "Theodore Nott," the pale boy, "and the rude git is Blaise Zabini. He's rather anti-social."

The boy- Zabini- looked up at that. "I am not!"

Malfoy just smirked.

"So," the girl, Pansy Parkinson, Harry remembered, said, breaking the silence that had then fallen, "Harry Potter, huh? What's a boy like you- son of two of the most famous Aurors ever- doing in a compartment with us?"

Harry shifted in his seat. "There wasn't anywhere else, and I... met Malfoy in Diagon Alley and we talked. We agreed to meet up on the train." he shrugged. "And so here I am."

"Aren't you just the tiniest bit wary? I mean, we practically scream 'Slytherin!' Your father would be disappointed."

"I'm not my father," Harry told her, looking at Malfoy, who smiled slightly. Parkinson seemed mollified, as she stopped asking questions for the time being. They chatted about Quidditch for a bit before sinking into a more comfortable silence than last time. After a while of just small talk and silence, a smiling woman stopped outside their door and asked, "Anything off the trolley, dears?" Everyone in the compartment stood up and picked a good heap of sweets off the cart. Harry got the most.

Nott looked over at Harry's helping and raised his eyebrows. "Sweet tooth?"

Harry grinned and nodded. "I can't help it."

Their conversations got started up again as they ate, Zabini finally joining in after some prodding by Parkinson. Nott kept staring over at Harry for time to time while he ate his sweets. Eventually, he said, "You look like you're in pure bliss eating that stuff!"

Harry chuckled. "I am."

This got everyone laughing, or just sniggering quietly in the case of Zabini, and the noise level rose higher as they continued talking about everything they could think of. They're rude, but... hilarious. I just wouldn't want to get on their bad side, Harry thought, as they discussed what they already knew about Hogwarts. Harry discovered that he was the only one there to have ever been inside the castle, or even on the grounds, before.

"You've actually been there?" Malfoy asked, shocked. "Why?"

"Yeah, I lived there for about a year when I was like, one or two. For the year after we got attacked."

Everyone was slightly dumb-struck by this revelation.

"I don't remember it, though. The first place I remember living is the house I live in now."

Parkinson shook her head. "That's still awesome, though. What else have you gotten to do?"

Harry smirked a little. "Oh, nothing big, really. I've met the Minister of Magic a couple of times, though."

Nott's mouth actually dropped open a little at this. "The Minister of Magic?"

"Mmhmm." Harry said, like it was a normal occurrence for a eleven-year-old boy to have met the Minister a few times in their life.

Zabini arched an eyebrow, while Malfoy shook his head a little. Parkinson, apparently, thought she could do better than that.

"I've met the Holyhead Harpies and the Montrose Magpies. They're the most successful team ever, you know.

With that, it soon turned into a competition to see who could come up with the most impressive celebrity they had met.

Just as Zabini was describing the President of Gringotts, their compartment door banged open. They all jumped and looked over to the door.

"Harry! There you are! What are you doing here with these... snakes?" Harry's friend, Ron Weasley, asked.

"Oh. Hi, Ron..."

"Did they kidnap you or something?"

"No. I'm just talking to them."

"...why?"

Harry shut his eyes in frustration. He murmured, "I'll be right back" to the compartment in general and then marched out into the hallway with Ron, sliding the door closed behind him.

"Yes?"

"Why are you in there? I've been looking for you all ride!"

"I was sitting with them, because they offered. I couldn't find another place to sit."

"You could have sat with me! Now come on, let's get your stuff, and we'll get to the right place, eh? Sorry it took so long, by the way, but Neville-"

"No."

"Huh?"

"No."

"No what?"

"No, I'm not going with you. I'm sorry, but I was with them first, and it would be rude. Besides, I like talking to them."

Ron looked confused. "You do know who's in there, right?"

"Of course I do! I just don't judge them by their parents or their names."

Ron shook his head, looking at Harry as though he had gone insane.

"Look, I'm sorry, but I'm gonna stay."

"...I don't even know what to say to you," and with that, Ron walked away down the row of compartments and slid the door to one open, vanishing from sight and slamming the door shut behind him. Harry sighed, but opened the door again anyway, and sat back down next to Zabini. He noticed that everyone was trying to look like they hadn't been listening, when they obviously had.

There was silence for a few moments, before Malfoy snorted and said to Zabini, "Oh, please. The president of Gringotts is hardly impressive compared to some of the things the rest of us have come up with."

*

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!"

Harry made his way toward Hagrid, who he had met once or twice before, with Malfoy, Parkinson, Zabini, and Nott. After Malfoy's initial comment had broken the awkwardness that had been there after Harry's confrontation with Ron, their conversation picked up again. A little while later, a girl who looked to be about their age had opened their compartment door and told them they should probably change now. The ride had only been going for five more minutes, when a voice announced that they would be arriving at Hogwarts in five minutes, and to leave their luggage on board. Sure enough, five minutes later and they were being ushered off of the train and in the direction of the large man.

"Firs' years follow me! This way!"

The group of first years shuffled their way over and followed the man leading them, huddling together against the wet and cold. Harry found himself pressed in between Malfoy and Parkinson, which he found slightly awkward, but welcomed the heat it provided. After a few minutes of near-silence, Hagrid called back, "Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec jus' round the bend here."

A moment later, there were many "oohs" and "ahhs" as the castle came into view beyond a large, dark lake. They trudged down to the shore of the lake, where there were small boats waiting for them.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid told them, and Harry looked at his companions.

"I'll go find a different boat, so you guys can sit together. Nice talking to you." Harry smiled a bit, and started to set off in search of a partially empty boat. Before he had even taken his second step, someone grabbed the sleeve of his robe and pulled, causing his the stumble back toward the group. He looked behind him, and saw that it was Parkinson who had grabbed him. She was shaking her head. "That's ridiculous. You're sitting with us."

"But- no more than four to a boat!"

"Which is also ridiculous. Theo, go sit with Millicent and Goyle."

Nott raised an eyebrow but did what he was told, walking away through the crowd.

"You didn't have to do that, I could have sat with-"

"Just shut up and be thankful."

Harry did, and he was grateful. Parkinson linked her arm through one of Harry's and Malfoy's, and nodded to Zabini. They climbed into a boat, and heard Hagrid call, "Everyone in? Right then- FORWARD!" and the little assembly of boats started making their way across the lake. Nobody said anything, gazing up at the large castle looming ahead, getting steadily nearer.

"Heads down!" Hagrid shouted, and everybody ducked as they sailed through a patch of ivy that concealed an opening in the cliff. After sailing along in a cave for a minute or so longer, they got out of their boats and they all followed Hagrid's lamp once more as they made their way up and onto a grassy area. They traipsed up the stone stairs that led to a giant front door, where Hagrid looked around at them all before knocking three times.

*

They were taken over from Hagrid by a tall, austere woman, who they discovered was Professor McGonagall. Harry had to stifle a snicker at this; she was exactly the way his father, Sirius, and Remus had described her. His mirth was soon replaced first by awe at the sheer size of the entrance hall, and then with nervousness. His nervousness was at least three times as bad as it had been in the car on the way to the station, and was only getting worse as they traveled into a small side chamber of the entrance hall. If those were butterflies in my stomach, then these are like wasps in my organs. Maybe something less gruesome, but horrible and unsettling all the same.

He looked to his right, where Malfoy was standing, looking completely at ease. He seemed to be the only one, though. Everyone else looked terrified. Harry then glanced to his right, where Parkinson was slight pasty-looking, but not nearly as nervous as him. He tried to pull himself together, telling himself that he shouldn't be nervous at all, or at least not show that he was. He knew it was a losing battle, though.

"Parkinson? Do you know how they sort us?" he asked her, mostly to distract himself.

"Call me Pansy, we know each other well enough. And no, I don't. A test, maybe?"

"Hmm. You can call me Harry, then."

She smiled a bit, and then turned toward the front, where McGonagall was explaining some things. Harry wasn't paying much attention, though. He caught the end of her speech, "I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly."

Harry looked around, where most people were adjusting their robes or hair. He tried to flatten his own unruly hair, but gave up quickly, knowing it was no use. A moment later, several gasps and a yell of surprise alerted him that something was going on.

"Ghosts," Malfoy breathed next to him. Of course, Harry thought. Ghosts.

What looked to be a few dozen translucent ghosts had swooped through the wall at once and were all chatting together. Harry gaped up at them. Two in the front seemed to be arguing about something when they noticed the first years standing below them. The two arguing ones swooped down over the group and were talking to some of the students, asking them questions and giving them information. Since Harry was pushed to the back right-hand side of the chamber, and Pansy was talking to Zabini, he could barely make out most of what they were saying. He heard the words, "Sorted," "Hope," "Hufflepuff," and "know," before McGonagall returned, sending the ghosts away and calling the group to order.

"Now, form a line and follow me." her loud voice rang out through the chamber.

Harry hopped behind Pansy and in front of Malfoy, and the nervousness that had abated slightly returned yet again, this time with more vigor and a will to make him feel like he was going to puke all over Pansy's back. They waked out of the chamber, back into the entrance hall, and into a large pair of doors that opened to the Great Hall. Harry swallowed nervously as almost all of the older students turned around in their seats to gaze at the newcomers. He tried to distract himself from the stares to study the hall. He looked around at the thousands of candles floating in the air, and then up to the sky, which was absolutely beautiful; pitch black and filled with glittering with stars. He stared up at it in amazement, barely noticing that they had now come to a halt in front of the long table at the front of the room. He didn't notice that everyone was staring at the tattered hat sitting on a stool in front of them until Malfoy nudged him and then nodded toward it. Harry stared at it like everybody else, and was starting to get confused, as it wasn't doing anything. A moment later though, it started singing. Harry listened to every word of the song, soaking up all the information he could. When it was finished, Harry clapped along with everyone else, and he watched as it bowed to all four house tables before becoming motionless. Harry smiled to himself. We only have to try it on. He could have cried in relief. Pansy looked as though she was having the same thoughts.

Professor McGonagall then strode forward a few steps, holding a long roll of cream-colored parchment. She angled herself toward the first years. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted."

"Abbott, Hannah!"

Harry watched as the girl tripped up to the stool and jammed the hat on her head. A moment later, it declared, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

The girl smiled, and headed toward her new table. Harry observed as "Bones, Susan", "Boot, Terry", "Brocklehurst, Mandy", and "Brown, Lavender" were sorted before hearing a vaguely familiar name.

"Bulstrode, Millicent!"

Millicent Bulstrode, Millicent Bulstrode... Oh! Pansy told Nott to go sit with her! Harry mentally congratulated himself on remembering before turning back to the sorting, where "Finch-Fletchley, Justin" was sorted into Hufflepuff. "Finnegan, Seamus" was next, and the hat took it's time deciding. A full minute and four seconds after the boy had put it on, it screamed, "GRYFFINDOR!" and the boy headed to his table. Harry noticed that the girl with the frizzy, brown hair who had told them to put their robes on was sorted into Ravenclaw, and after a few names it was Malfoy's turn. Harry gave him a meek smile when McGonagall called, "Malfoy, Draco!"

Malfoy sauntered up to the stool, practically radiating confidence. He plopped down on the stool, and set the hat on top of his head. Barely three seconds had passed, before- "SLYTHERIN!"

Harry didn't know whether to be happy for him or not. While he knew that all of the people who he sat with on the train were probably going to be sorted into Slytherin, he had hoped not. He wished that at least one of them- hopefully not Zabini, as he didn't seem to like him much- would be sorted into the same house as Harry. He clapped for Malfoy nonetheless, though. Only two people later, and Nott was being called forward as well. The hat declared, "SYTHERIN!" again, and Harry applauded. Pansy was called up directly after Nott, and she too was sorted into Slytherin. Now my only hope is Zabini, Harry thought bleakly. Three more were called up, and then it was Harry's turn.

"Potter, Harry!"

Harry stepped up to the stool, trying to look as confident as Malfoy, and picked up the hat gingerly. He sat on the edge of the stool, and set the hat on his head. It slid down halfway over his eyes, which was very uncomfortable, as his glasses got in the way. He started a little when he heard a voice.

"Well, well, well... your attributes are about even, I see. This will be challenging. Courageous, smart enough, eager to please, as well, but not too much so... where shall you go? Your talents make you well suited for Slytherin. You could go very far there, they would help you gain excellence. You would have many useful allies there. Yes... well, then- SLYTHERIN!"

Harry pulled the hat off, dumb-struck. Why did I let it do that? I should have told it no! He staggered over to the Slytherin table, where everyone was cheering and clapping, Pansy, Malfoy, and Nott the loudest. He sat down next to Nott, and gave them an uneasy grin. He glanced back toward the front of the room, and then immediately wished he hadn't. Ron was glaring at him with all his might, it seemed like. If looks could kill...

Harry watched the remaining few people get sorted, Zabini being the last. He tried to ignore the faint feeling of dread that was settling around him. He tried to act like nothing was wrong, but Slytherins really are too observant for their own good.

"What's wrong?"

Harry looked up from staring at his lap at the whisper.

"Hm?"

"You look like someone just killed your pet Kneazle," Nott told him, frowning a bit.

"Oh! Umm, it's nothing."

"You're wondering what your parents will think." It wasn't a question.

"Err... how did you-?"

"It's not that hard to figure out. I mean, you are the son of the of the world's most famous Aurors, as Pansy pointed out earlier."

"Hmm."

"You shouldn't care what they think."

"They're my parents!"

"Not them, they'll accept you. I meant Weasley," Nott nodded over to the Gryffindor table, where Ron was glaring daggers at everything. "You need to get over it. It's not like you'll never see each other."

Harry nodded, feeling admittedly better. I'll just have to make the best of the situation, then.

"Now watch, Dumbledore's talking."

Harry looked to the front, and sure enough, there was Dumbledore, standing up and grinning around at all the students.

"Welcome! Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin out banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!" and he sat.

Harry looked around at his fellow Slytherins in puzzlement. Pansy gave him a wide-eyed look, Malfoy had an eyebrow raised, and Nott was frowning slightly. The rest of the Hall burst into applause and cheers, and Harry clapped along with them, not very sure of what to do. He didn't have to worry, because a moment later all of the gold dishes in front of them were filled with every kind of food imaginable Even though Harry had eaten more than his helping of sweets on the train, he immediately filled his plate with food. He started stuffing the food in his mouth, savoring every bite. He made sure not to eat too much, though; he wanted to save room for desert.

Ten minutes later, the food disappeared and was replaced with dessert. Harry gazed around at it, not knowing which dish to try first. He settled with just plain ice cream, his favorite. He scooped several portions of a rich chocolate into a bowl, picking up a spoon, and tasting it.

He thought he had gone to heaven.

"This," Harry said, in between mouthfuls of ice cream, "is the best thing I have ever tasted," another two spoonfuls, "In my entire life."

Everyone else ignored him save for a look or two, focusing on their own desserts. It wasn't until three minutes later, when Harry thought he would just about die from ecstasy, that anyone acknowledged him.

"Are you alright?" Zabini asked him incredulously

"More than alright."

"You sound like someone's giving you the time of your life under the table, if you know what I mean."

Harry almost spit his ice cream out all over the table. "What?!"

"You're moaning and groaning like there's no tomorrow."

"Oh," was all Harry could say, absolutely mortified. "Umm."

Zabini rolled his eyes, and went back to his cheesecake. Harry noticed Malfoy smirking around his torte, and he scowled, trying to control his reactions.

A few embarrassed but uneventful minutes later, Dumbledore stood up again. Harry listened as the Headmaster told them that the forest was off-limits, magic was not allowed in corridors, and Quidditch trials would be held the week after next.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" he flicked his wand, and a gold ribbon came out of the end, and maneuvered itself into words. "Everyone pick their favorite tune, and off we go!"

Harry did not sing along with the rest of the school, and noticed that a good many of his fellow Slytherins did the same. Malfoy looked like he was trying to block out the sound, Nott looked bored, and Pansy had an amused look on her face.

When everyone except the Weasley twins were finished, Harry couldn't help but grin. Fred and George were two of his favorite people, they were such characters it was hard to not like them. When they were finally finished, Harry applauded.

"Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"

There was a great rustle as everyone stood up and made their way out of the Great Hall. Harry walked with his fellow first year Slytherins behind a prefect, on their way to the Slytherin common room. Right after they pointed out where the dormitories were, Harry trudged in there, located his bed, shut the curtains, and fell asleep, fully clothed.

:::

Slytherin!Harry. Pretty easy to guess, right?

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