A/N: Hello again folks. First off I want to give thanks to Undercover Operative and DZ2 to catching my spelling errors with the house names and such. I'm using word, but you can imagine that most of the words used in the HP universe come up as errors. Still, I'll do my best to correct them and check the net for spelling. Also, I figured that it is easier for me to write around 2000 word chapters and update more frequently rather than spend longer getting to 10000 or some such per chapter. However, if you do want longer chapters with more time in between feel free to say so in the review and If enough people want it that way I'll do my best to get it done. Also, this is a challenge from DZ2 and there are some guidelines that must be followed, and with that being said Snape….is likely to have a little OOCness but I plan on making it reasonable and not over the top. Ok, enough prattling on, enjoy the chapter yea.
Chapter4: Settling in
The feast was filled with all kinds of food and drink that Harry and Hermione had never heard of, but Ron was right at home filling his gullet with forced reservation on his part. With the tension of the sorting gone from their shoulders the trio finally allowed themselves to act like the eleven year old children they really were. All around the other Slytherins talked, some gazing at Harry as they did so, while more of the older students observed Ron and Hermione with looks that ranged from curiosity to open hate.
They didn't let it get to them though, choosing instead to eat their fill until finally the dessert was gone and the head master stood to make a few more announcements. He spoke of Quidditch try outs and the forbidden forest, but what caught the attention of every student from first to seventh, was the warning to avoid a certain corridor on the third floor unless they wanted to experience a most painful death. The gentle tone he used betrayed the seriousness of his words.
Finally they were all dismissed, the perfects raising to escort the first years to their respected common rooms. There was no small shortage of twists n turns to get down to the dungeons, but the perfect, a tall girl by the name of Lexi Shafiq, assured them that it would get easier with time.
They stopped at an apparent dead end, nothing but a brick wall and an old photo of a rather extravagant wizard to greet them. That is until she gave the password, "Perfection."
The wall gave a shake before it rose to reveal a very spacious and green common room complete with fire place. They were given a quick tour, not much to see besides couches and paintings with the dorms on the middle wall. Bidding farewell to Hermione, the two friends made their way up and were pleased to see that their belongings where on bunks next to each other.
Once the perfects left the first years alone Malfoy made his move, "So a Weasley in Slytherin? What did do, you beg the hat to send you here?"
"Shut it Malfoy, I'm here because the hat knows I'm supposed to be!" Ron held none of the uncertainty that was present when he waited to be sorted, and Harry stood slightly behind him to give support much like Crabbe and Goyle had done for Malfoy. His emerald eyes was pleased to notice that the other two boys had yet to pick a side, settling instead to watch the exchange from their beds.
"Ha! A blood-traitor deserves to be in this noble house? Ridiculous! I'll bet your filthy parents are already getting letters from that second-rate owl of yours about you being sorted in the wrong house. Tell you what, when they give you the chance to be resorted I suggest you take it." Smirking at the fuming red head, Draco turned on and retreated to his bed along with his goons.
Ron took a threating step forward, but Harry placed a firm hand on his shoulder and stepped forward to calm him, "Save it mate, he's just trying to get a rise out of you. We both know you deserve to be here." The red head let out a long breath before nodding his head and turning towards his waiting bed. Harry gave one last glance towards the Malfoy heir before doing the same.
Ron….
Ron was busy building his plate up for the third time when he was interrupted by the form of one Severus Snape.
"Mr. Weasley, you are requested to the Headmaster's office." His tone was droll but firm, booking no room for refusal. Ron swallowed the food in his mouth, before nodding and standing. He shoot a concerned look to his friends who returned the favor before he went to follow his head of house. To his annoyance he could hear the arrogant I told you so, from one Draco Malfoy.
Not a word was said, only the echo of their shoes on the halls and the few greetings from some of the portraits to fill the silence. Finally they arrived before a gargoyle statue, which jumped aside as soon as Snape gave the word, "Sugar Pops. Off you go, Mr. Weasley."
Giving a silent nod, Ron climbed the twisting stairs into the Headmaster's office stopping just at the closed door. Gathering his courage and stomping on his nerves, the boy knocked twice on the door before the headmaster gave the ok to come in.
On the other side of the door Albus Dumbledore behind a somewhat messy desk with his parents sitting on before it. "Ah Mr. Weasley come in, come in."
Closing the door behind him, Ron moved to sit between his parents, who both enveloped him in a hug before they retook their seats.
"Now Mr. Weasley your parents have decided to visit out of their concern for you. It seems that your brothers informed them of your sorting into Slytherin, and your parents fear that it may be unsuitable for you."
His father turned to look him in the eye with a slightly apologetic glance, "We aren't angry or upset with you Ron, its just…well."
"It's just that no Weasley or Pruwitt mind you has been in Slytherin for ages. We fell that maybe the sorting hat made a bit of a mix-up. Wouldn't you be happier in another house? Maybe Gryffindor like your brothers?"
Ron had to roll his eyes at that, him go back to being just another Weasley, not a chance. Especially not after he convinced the hat not to send him there, "Mom, Dad it's fine really. I've already got friends in Slytherin and I don't want to abandon them like that."
His father looked a little more relaxed, glad to hear that he'd made friends so fast, "We understand Ron, but we worry about you being in such a…traditional house. I've not hidden what other pure-bloods like the Malfoy's think of us, and we're just not all that comfortable having you surrounded by people who tend to look down on our morals."
"Yes Ron, we really think it would be best to be among likeminded individuals who don't discriminate based on wealth or blood-status. Albus, couldn't you get the hat to resort him? Or perhaps just assign him to a different house?"
At this the old man stood to fetch the hat in question, while Ron tried to get his parents to drop the issue. It was not lost on him that his father wasn't really arguing against his staying in Slytherin, he was just concerned about his happiness and safety. But his mother wouldn't let it go about being surrounded by bad influences and questionable role models that were the older students.
The Headmaster returned with the worn sorting hat in hand, "Now, shall we get to the bottom of this? Have you been listening in?"
The shorting hat seemed to shake to life as the folds creased into a mouth and eyes, "Yes yes," it spoke gruffly, "I've heard it all. They question my sorting of young Mr. Weasley, but I know it was the right place to put him."
was the first to question, "But why? Our entire family has been in Gryffindor for as long as anyone can remember, why put him in what many consider the opposite house?"
"Because he possesses the qualities of Salazar's house is why. Sure he'd have done well in either Gryffindor or Hufflepuff, but Mr. Weasley has ambition and a good deal of will to match his courage and loyalty. Not to mention resourcefulness with a little cleverness to boot. You should be proud that he's been placed in a house where he can truly allow those qualities to show without smothering them, less they come out in unhealthy ways later. Remember the house does not make the student, the student makes the house."
"Well, there you have it," He gently picked up the hat and turned to place it back on the shelf, "Thank you old friend."
Ron nodded at the hat before turning to his parents, "See? Its ok, I want to be in Slytherin." There was a firmness to his voice that lit a light behind his father's eyes. However his mother was not so sure.
"Oh Ron, maybe we can change schools. There is a smaller school in—"
"Enough Molly." As he spoke he placed a gentle but stern hand on his wife's shoulder, "Ron, so long as you're sure about this then we support you fully. You're growing up Ron, and that means being responsible for your own decisions. If you ever have any trouble we are just an owl away."
Ron had always loved his father, even with his lack of ambition and easy going ways the man never made it a point to stand in front of his children's dreams. Not even when it came to curse breaking, or dragon handling, pranks..or his placement in Slytherin. His mother however.
One look to his mother and Ron knew that she was just barely keeping her tongue in her mouth and Ron felt sorry for his father. With another hug to his parents, and the dismissal from the Headmaster, the still Slytherin Weasley made her way back to the Dorm.
Harry….
The next few days were hectic to say the least. Running around the castle, navigating the ever changing staircases and twisting halls was a challenge, but a fun one. Most of their classes were easy introductions to what was expected of them with light reading to ease them into the start of a long school year, but that trend didn't hold with Transfiguration. Professor McGonagall was proving to be a harsh taskmaster as she assigned an 8 inch essay on the subject of simple transfiguration spells as well as having them try to transfigure a match stick into a needle.
The wand movements felt clumsy in Harry's hand as he'd yet to do anything with the instrument, but he quickly got over his hesitance. To his delight, along with Hermione and Ron's, they were the first three in class to successfully cast the spell which earned them six points for the house.
Then came double potions.
Potions class was doubled with Gryffindor and the tension was palpable enough before Professor Snape arrived. Harry had seen few teachers in his life, even fewer that were Magical, but Professor Snape seemed like a man who detested children deeply. With a wave of his wand what little light came in through the windows were curtained, and another swish dimmed a lot of the candles. He took role, his voice hard and cold much like his eyes as he bore them into each student for seconds after each answer.
He didn't pause long, just enough to put a face to the name, but that ended when the name Potter came from his mouth. Perhaps Harry was mistaken, but his name was the only one said with anything close to emotion, disdain.
"Ah yes. , the school has been abuzz since your arrival. Tell me, what would you get if you added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Harry was caught off guard, those were things he might have seen in his book but to remember them now as impossible for the boy. He shared a glance with Hermione, who looked eager to raise her hand, but there was no way for her to share the information with him.
"I don't know, Sir."
"Too hard, let's try again, what's the difference between wolfsbane and monkshood?" By now he could hear some of his fellow Slytherins laughing, one blond git and his two brainless lackeys. This time Hermione couldn't resist, she held her hand high and proud to be called on, but Harry didn't notice as he was currently locked in a staring match with his head of house, "I'm afraid I don't know Sir?"
To his credit, Snape didn't take on a mocking tone or even show a hint of a smirk. No instead his face was as passive and unreadable as ever. If he was trying to make a point, Harry hoped he'd make it soon so they could get on with it.
"No? Perhaps you just need one more chance. Where would you find a bezoar if I asked for one?"
AH! One that he actually knew! Hermione had mentioned that once, saying that it was both interesting and disgusting antidote for common poisons, "I'd look in a goat's stomach or intestines…sir." That brought a sudden hush to the class as Snape and Harry continued to lock eyes, Hermione's hand resting by her side as both she and Ron wore approving smiles.
It was possible that Harry imagined the whole thing, but he could have sworn that he'd seen just the tiniest hint of approval on his professor's face, "Two points to Slytherin, for showing signs of intelligence beyond the norm." Turning his attention to the rest of the class, "You see fame, either from personal exploits or families past deeds, will earn you no quarter here. Your wand means little here, and you'll find spells have next to no use with potions. Only awareness, competence, and an ever watchful eye will allow you to brew concoctions that could bring the most powerful of men to kneel."
Thankfully, the rest of the class went without incident.
By the time the weekend rolled around most of the first years were exhausted and struggling to do their homework, this included Ron and Harry who sat at one of the many tables of the Slytherin common room. But not Hermione. Not only did she finish her work early, but now she was reading ahead a few chapters in preparation for next week. Harry and Ron looked at her like she'd grown a second head, but she glared back at them firmly with a hint of disappointment. Glancing around to make sure no one was paying them any attention she spoke, "I thought you two had goals? Weren't you going to stand out and break the mold? Well how do you expect we do it if we just limit ourselves to this year's curriculum?"
Neither of the boys had an answer for her. She was right of course, no one was going to take them seriously even if they did well in all their classes. That was what the teachers expected. No if they wanted to crave their own way in the world it would come with no short amount of extra studying.
"You're right Hermione, as always," Ron gave her a cheeky grin which just brought an eye roll from their female friend, "We're already here now right Harry? Might as well not let it go to waste."
"Yea of course. Look Hermione I don't know about Ron, but it's just sort of my habit when it comes to schoolwork to just muck about until I really need it. But we'll do better, especially if we split the load between the three of us." The bushy haired girl looked mutinous, and Harry quickly raised his hands to stave off what he was sure to be a verbal assault, "No no, I'm not saying you do our homework or anything! But it's obvious so far that you're the smartest in our year, so why not help us catch up to where you are, and then we can all proceed together? You know, help us form good study habits and all that."
Hermione looked surprised by his suggestion before her eyes got sort of misty. Ron and Harry shared a nervous glance, not knowing what they said to cause such a reaction, and neither of them had to deal with crying girls before…well in Ron's case, crying girls who weren't related.
"Erm, Hermione?"
Said girl waved of the concern in their voice before wiping her eyes and regaining her composure, "Sorry, it's just" She paused, giving them an award winning smile despite her buck teeth, "No one has ever asked me to help them study before. They usually just want to copy, or make fun. Of course I'd be happy to help, we made a promise right?"
Ron groaned dramatically before pretending to slam his head on the desk, "We're going to be up to our noses in books all the time aren't we?" The three of them shared a laugh at his antics, the seriousness forgotten with their childlike laughter.
"Alright I'm in. Can't let Percy be the brains of the family forever I suppose. Still can we at least have Saturday to just you, know, goof around? I'm not saying all the time, important stuff might come up or maybe we'll get into some serious spell work but if not let's just have that day to rest."
End chapter 4
As always reviews and constructive criticism are encouraged.