Hello again, everyone! I'm so glad you all liked the last chapter! I was having a bit of trouble trying to keep the dialogue from the book the same, but still trying to not make it seem copied, or plagiarized. It'll start getting into my own words soon!
This chapter isn't as long as the last one, mainly because I wanted to hurry up and post it before I had to go to school tomorrow, so I'll try to get chapter 4 up to standards, okay?
I don't own Harry Potter in any way, shape, or form, JK Rowling does. This is purely for my, and others, entertainment.
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"SLYTHERIN!"
Harry grinned as the Slytherin table burst into cheers, Draco clapping the loudest. The rest of the House tables were in a shocked silence, and stared at Harry as he made his way to sit next to Draco, who patted him fondly on the back.
Harry looked up at the High Table, and his smile slipped slightly at Hagrid's face. He looked none too pleased at Harry's sorting and, when he caught Harry's eye, he glanced away quickly. Harry didn't feel all too happy anymore.
Feeling someone's eyes on him, Harry turned to the middle of the High Table, where an old man with a long, silvery beard was gazing at him with blue eyes. He recognized him from Draco's explanation as Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts.
Harry stared into the calculating blue eyes, and started to feel very distant from his mind. The memories and feelings of his recent sorting were being pulled to the front of his mind, and he was starting to recall why he had wanted to be in Slytherin in the first place. But that's not right, he shouldn't be thinking about this at all, he just finished his sorting, he wanted to eat. But he kept thinking about it, almost forcefully, and was about to remember when he asked the hat to place him in Slytherin when-
"Harry!"
Jerking his eyes away from Dumbledore, Harry turned to Draco, who was giving him a weird look. "Are you alright?" he asked. Harry nodded, mumbling something about the aftershock of the sorting, when the last first year, Blaise Zabini, was sorted into Slytherin as well, sitting down next to Harry. Harry saw that Ron had, in fact, made it into Gryffindor, alongside his older brothers.
Dumbledore had risen to his feet, silencing them all with his presence. He opened his arms wide and smiled down at them all. Harry noticed that he had a rather annoying twinkle in his eyes.
"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to another 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!" Everybody clapped as he took his seat again. Harry turned to Draco.
"Is he – a bit mad?" he asked hesitantly. Draco shrugged.
"I suppose so. What self respecting wizard would shout out those words to a welcoming feast? Potatoes, Harry?"
Harry's eyes widened when he saw the once empty plates on the table were now laden with delicious looking food. He had never been hungrier than he was right now; there were all sorts of meats and veggies, puddings of all colours and flavours, and a drink Harry hoped was orange juice, otherwise he'd stay away from it.
He put a slab of lamb chop on his plate and some mashed potatoes and dug in; though he made sure to eat at a leisure pace, lest he look like Ron across the Hall, spilling gravy on the front of his robes. Draco prodded the side of his ribs, and he yelped at the harsh poke.
"Harry, pay attention." Harry rubbed his bruised ribs and let his attention drift back to Draco. "Yes, as I was saying, this is a childhood friend of mine, Blaise Zabini. Blaise, this is my very good friend, Harry Potter." Harry rolled his eyes at Draco as he exchanged pleasantries with Blaise, a tall, dark-skinned Italian boy. He was such a show off, marketing Harry like that.
"You don't have to say that, you know. The 'good friend' bit." Harry mumbled to him. Draco only gave him a confused look.
"Why not? We are friends, aren't we?" he replied.
Harry's face went red-hot, and he said, "Well, yes, we are, but people should already know we're friends, shouldn't they? I mean, I did sit next to you, right?" Draco considered his words and, nodding, smiled.
"Yes, I suppose you are correct. If they don't understand by just that, well then, that's why they weren't sorted into Slytherin, yes?" They went back to their meals for a while. Draco and Harry had the displeasure of being seated near the Slytherin House ghost, the Bloody Baron. He wasn't a pleasant looking person; his body was covered in a silvery substance that Harry suspected was blood. He was just explaining about how Slytherin had won the House cup for the past six years.
"– and I expect you first years to aid your upperclassmen in winning the cup once more this year, yes? It would be a shame if some other House managed to take it away from us." Harry could see him cast a withering look over to the Gryffindor table.
After they all had their fill of the main course, it all disappeared to be replaced with many desserts. There were tubs of ice cream, pies, éclairs, doughnuts, Jell-O, pudding, and everything else of the sort. Harry helped himself to some treacle tart and listened in on the conversation pertaining to wealth and social standing.
"We Zabinis have many estates over in the countryside; if you'd like, I'm sure we can all spend Christmas break in one of them." Blaise said. Harry quite liked that idea, anything to get away from holidays at the Dursley's, but Draco shook his head.
"I won't be able to join you, I'm afraid. Mother has given me specific instructions that I'm to return to the Manor for the break. She wants to make sure that the school is to my liking, you see." He rolled his eyes, as if embarrassed of his mother's actions. "Father had originally wanted to send me off to Durmstrang, in Bulgaria, but Mother was having none of that. I must say, I'm glad that she had her way, otherwise I wouldn't be here!" Draco looked at Harry from the corner of his eye, and Harry, too, felt grateful that Draco's mum wanted him at Hogwarts; Harry wouldn't have been able to make friends with him if he was all the way in Bulgaria!
Harry's stomach was beginning to ache from all the food he consumed. He glanced again at the High Table, carefully avoiding Hagrid's gaze, and settled his eyes on Professor Quirrel, in his large turban, who was talking to a dark-haired man, with a hooked nose and somewhat gray-like skin.
Suddenly, the dark teacher looked away from the trembling Quirrel and right at Harry. Harry felt a white-hot pain burn into his forehead, where his scar was.
"Ouch!" he shouted, reaching up to rub at his scar.
"What's wrong, Harry?" Blaise said from across the table.
"N-nothing."
The pain was gone, but Harry still felt a bit shaken from the suddenness of it. His scar had never pained him before, so why had that happened when that man looked at him?
"Who's that teacher talking to Professor Quirrel?" he asked to no one in particular. It was Pansy Parkinson, a short girl with an upturned nose, who answered him.
"That's Professor Snape. He teaches Potions class, and is our Head of House. We'll be meeting him later on, I suspect." Harry nodded blankly, and kept staring at Professor Snape, but the man didn't look back at him.
Soon enough, the desserts disappeared as well, and Dumbledore rose from his seat again. The hall hushed quickly and listened to what he was about to say.
"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 cast a twinkling eye in Fred and George's direction.
"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." Harry frowned, wasn't doing magic the whole point of going to a magic school? "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 cast a startled glance at his Housemates, who looked just as freaked out as he did.
"He's not serious?" he whispered to an upperclassman, Marcus Flint.
"He might be," said Marcus, frowning at his plate. "No one really knows why that man says the things he does. He's stark-raving mad, I tell you."
Dumbledore finished his speech with an enthusiastic suggestion to sing the school song. Harry decided to not sing along, like most of his House, and just stood there quietly as everyone finished the song, the Weasley twins being the last ones, using a dreadful funeral march. Dumbledore dabbed at his eyes with the sleeve of his robes.
"Ah, music. A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
The Slytherin first years all followed behind one of the prefects out of the Great Hall, and down some marble steps. The air seemed to get colder with each passing step, and Harry shivered next to Draco, who looked like he was about to fall asleep any second. They were all nearly frozen to the bone until they stopped in front of a stone door in the wall.
"Caput Leonis," one of the prefects said, and the stone door opened up to reveal a classy looking room, with plush, black couches and armchairs, surrounding a roaring fire. It seemed very welcoming, if not cozy, and the enchanted windows gave an eerie green glow, and what looked like moving water. Harry suspected that they were underneath the great, dark lake.
The prefect told them to settle down in the common room and wait for Professor Snape to come and give them a welcoming speech. Thinking back to Snape's scowling demeanor, Harry figured that the speech would be less than welcoming.
They didn't have to wait long. After a few minutes of sitting in front of the fire warming up and reading a few passages from his new Potions book (he was told that Snape liked to quiz his students on the first day), the stone door opened once more and Professor Snape strode in, his long black robes flying out behind him impressively.
"Silence," he spoke, but didn't need to; the whole common room quieted instantly when he stepped through the door. The respect he demanded drifted through the room, forcing the students into submission.
Stopping in front of the lit fireplace, Snape turned and examined the room. He dutifully kept his eyes away from Harry, ignoring him, and then addressed them.
"To you new students: Welcome. To the older ones, welcome back. You were chosen to be sorted in Slytherin House for a reason, and whatever reason that may be, I expect all of you to abide by our House rules. There will be no riffraff within these castle walls, no tomfoolery of any sort, from anyone." Snape's eyes finally drifted to Harry, and he almost flinched when he expected the pain to return. When it didn't, though, he raised his head more confidently and stared back at Snape.
Their eyes stayed locked for several moments, before Snape looked away, crossing his arms.
"Keep to your own if you're out alone; the other Houses don't take kindly to us Slytherins, and there have been far too many occasions where some of you have ended up worse for wear." At this, a few older students nodded forlornly, remembering the times they were sent to the Hospital Wing more than they'd like. "Do not give anyone reason to attack you; we are a strong House, made of only the best, so I'm sure I'll have no worries when it comes to your personal matters."
Snape let his eyes roam the common room, taking in everyone's faces.
"You are dismissed."
Everyone stood up and started heading to the back, where the girls tapered off to the right and the boys to the left. Harry made to get off the couch and follow his dorm mates when Snape's voice hissed over to him.
"Except for you, Mr. Potter."
Freezing, Harry turned to look up at Snape, who had glided silently to stand over him. Looking down into his green eyes, Snape's lips curled slightly.
"The Headmaster would like to see you now." He said briskly.
Harry groaned softly under his breath. He wanted nothing more than to slide into his bed and get a good night's sleep, but it seemed that he wouldn't get that for a while. Waving away Draco's offer to stay behind and wait for him, he said, "It's alright, you go on to bed. I'm sure I won't be long." Harry followed Snape out of the stone wall and up several flights of stairs. The tension was tangible, and Harry didn't know whether to just stay silent or start a conversation. He didn't think Snape would enjoy speaking to him.
They arrived in front of a stone gargoyle, and Snape spoke the password.
"Fizzing Whizbee," he drawled. The gargoyle jumped out of their path and the two stepped onto the spiraling staircase. Snape knocked onto the door and waited to be allowed in.
"Enter," Harry heard the cheerful voice called out, and Snape opened the door, leading Harry into the office.
Harry stared at all the unusual artifacts and knickknacks adorning the walls, and at the great, scarlet bird sitting in the corner, staring back at him. Behind the mahogany desk, Headmaster Dumbledore was smiling gently down at Harry over his crescent-shaped spectacles.
"Thank you, Severus," he said to Snape. "You may go now." Snape sneered and left the room in a flurry of robes, shutting the door quietly behind him.
Dumbledore continued smiling at Harry, even after he gestured for him to sit down, and offered him some yellow candies from a bowl on his desk, which Harry politely declined.
"Harry, my boy," Dumbledore said, clasping his hands together on the desk. "How are you enjoying your stay at Hogwarts so far? You must be exhausted, correct?" At Harry's quiet nod, Dumbledore stood up, moving around his desk to stand in front of Harry's chair. "Don't worry, dear boy, this won't take long at all, and you'll be resting in your bed in the Gryffindor tower."
Harry began to nod, but then sputtered. "The – the Gryffindor tower? But I'm a Slytherin!" he exclaimed, but then hurriedly added, "sir."
Dumbledore gave him what Harry thought was a sad, almost pitying, shake of his head.
"Really now, Harry. Surely the Sorting hat made a mistake. You truly belong in Gryffindor, Where both your parents were sorted. Slytherin House is not for someone like you, Harry." Dumbledore explained, though Harry didn't want to listen anymore. He was trying to take him away from his one true friend, and place him in a House he was sure he wouldn't belong to! Harry suddenly wished he had gone straight to bed.
"But – But sir, if I was meant to be in Gryffindor, why did the hat place me in Slytherin in the first place?"
"It's possible that the Sorting hat wanted to switch things up this year; it can be very mischievous, sitting in my office all year. Come, let's just have the Sorting hat put on your head a second time, and I'm positive that it will tell us your true place." Dumbledore hurried Harry out of the chair, and over to a large cabinet, where the Sorting hat was placed inside. Dumbledore opened the cabinet, taking the hat out, and turned to Harry, his smile hidden behind his white beard.
"If you will, Harry," he said, handing him the hat. Harry swallowed, and stared at the ratty hat in his hands, then placed it on his head.
"Mr. Potter," the same voice from before spoke. "Back again, I see. Is there a problem with your House? You were pretty adamant to be in Slytherin, you know."
Harry closed his eyes from the blackness inside the hat. Dumbledore thinks I belong in Gryffindor. Do I? He asked with his thoughts. The Sorting hat was quiet for a moment, and then said, "It is true, you would do well in Gryffindor," Harry's heart thumped painfully in his chest. "But you'd also do well in all the other Houses as well. You are quite the interesting boy, Mr. Potter. Remember my song from the welcoming feast; Slytherin is where you'll make your real friends."
The hat then bellowed out, for the second time, "SLYTHERIN!" and became lifeless once more. Harry took off the hat, looking up into Dumbledore's disappointed blue eyes, and put the hat back into the old man's hands.
"Ah, I see that I was mistaken," Dumbledore spoke gently, putting the Sorting hat back in its original position in the cabinet. "I'm sorry to have taken up so much of your time, Harry."
Dumbledore crossed the office and sat back down in his grand chair. He laced his fingers together, and rested his chin on them, then gestured to the door with his eyes.
"You are free to leave now."
Harry nodded, still standing by the cabinet, and walked curtly to the wooden door, pulling it open. He glanced back to Dumbledore, who continued to watch him behind the odd, half-moon glasses, and bid him a good night.
"Goodnight, Headmaster Dumbledore," Harry said, closing the door behind him and hurrying down the spiral steps. Dumbledore stayed quiet, waiting for the quiet sounds of Harry's footsteps fade into nothing before saying, "And goodnight to you, Mr. Harry Potter…"
~…~
Harry had walked as quickly as he could down to the dungeons without suspicion, and stopped to catch his breath, a few feet away from the Slytherin entrance. He slumped against the wall, his mind reeling from the events in Dumbledore's office.
He had tried to send Harry off into Gryffindor territory! Harry couldn't explain the anger that had built up inside of him. He wasn't angry at Dumbledore, so much as angry at himself. Everyone had expected Harry to be in Gryffindor, even the Headmaster of Hogwarts himself. But Harry had to stray from everyone's expectations, and instead he was a silver snake. Maybe his Uncle Vernon was right, maybe Harry really was a freak if he can't even live up to everyone's thoughts of him.
Harry felt his eyes water, and he rubbed furiously at his face with the sleeve of his robes. He hasn't cried in a long time, and he won't start now.
Harry pushed himself off of the cold wall and, after brushing himself off of any dirt or cobwebs, he gave the Slytherin entrance the password and entered.
He was about to head to where he suspected the boy's dormitory was, when a spot of white-blond hair caught his attention. Harry moved over to the couch, and peered over the back to see Draco, sleeping deeply, with his head lolling on the arm rest. His face looked more peaceful than Harry has ever seen before, and Harry could see his eyes flickering back and forth behind closed lids, indicating a dream.
"Draco," Harry whispered, trying to softly jostle Draco awake. Draco only grunted quietly, and swatted at Harry's hand. "Draco, wake up." Harry said louder this time, shaking the sleeping blond. Draco opened his eyes and blinked up at Harry blearily.
"Harry," he said groggily, rubbing at his face. "You're back." Harry nodded, and frowned at his sleepy friend. "I am. I had told you that you could go on to bed, it's very late now. You didn't have to stay up and wait."
Draco shrugged. "I wanted to," he stood up from the couch and stretched, his joints giving a satisfying pop. "What did the Headmaster want, anyway?" he asked, moving around the couch to stand next to Harry.
Harry stared at this boy, who was the first wizard his age Harry had met, who always seemed interested in what he had to say, who stayed up and fell asleep waiting for Harry to come back. Harry's chest clenched uncomfortably and he smiled at Draco, who gave his own lopsided grin of his own.
Harry took Draco's hand in his own, and pulled the still lethargic blond to the boy's dormitory. Draco followed behind obediently.
"Nothing important. C'mon, let's go on to bed."
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Tada! Chapter 3 has finally been finished! *cheers* Did any of you have a favourite part, scene, or line? Tell me in a review!
I actually had a bit of difficulty with the ending, I didn't want it to seem like Harry was already falling for Draco or anything, but make it look like Harry's mind was becoming more concrete with the idea of being best friends with him instead. So, sorry if it seemed like Harry was falling in love or anything, that wasn't my intention at all ^^;
Next chapter:
Harry and Draco's first week of Hogwarts starts out well, but trouble always seems to find them anyway. How will they get through their very first potions lesson with the sour Professor Snape?
Also, I have a poll on my profile going on RIGHT now, with a very important question for you all.
Should Harry and Draco become friends with Ron and Hermione? Or any other Gryffindors?
Tell me if you'd like for them to become friends with Ron or Hermione, or someone different, Gryffindor or not. If it's not Ron or Hermione, then why don't you leave a review or PM me on which character, and why? I'd appreciate it if you guys did this!
