Disclaimer:
Not mine... bah!
4. The Sorting Hat
Harry got to the King Cross train station at 10 am the following morning and went through the barrier to the platform 9 and 3/4. There, the Malfoy's were waiting for him, prim and proper, not a hair out of place as any self conscious wizarding family should be.
Harry greeted them and inquired about Isis. According to Lucius, the snake was already gracing their garden in France, lazying in the sun and scarring the garden gnomes away.
He then helped the two boys get their trunks into an empty compartment and told them to be wary of everyone and not to associate with other houses except Slytherin. He congratulated them for their sorting, assuring them that there was no other choice for them but to end in Slytherin.
It was really amazing how Harry managed to switch in between being an adult at times and an utter boy, more his age than any other some other times.
He got extremely emotional, when Lucius hugged not only Draco, but him also, and told them to behave and to write home weekly. Moreover, he received the promise that the following holidays will not be spent with the Muggles and that the Malfoy will initiated the custody procedures so that Harry could grow into a proper family.
With watery eyes Harry watched Lucius leaving the station, in order to avoid the soon to be crowded platform, full of mudbloods and simpletons.
Turning to Draco they started to exchange opinions, comparing what they knew about the sorting, the teachers, Hogwarts and it's grounds.
Twenty minutes later, they were interrupted by two sturdy and very similar boys, that entered their compartment and froze when they saw Malfoy deep into a conversation with a black haired unknown boy.
"Hey Draco, the brown haired one said, is this fella bothering you? Just say the word and we'll throw him out for ya." he continued.
"Watch your words, Goyle, Harry here is my friend, so he is not to be touched. Understood?" Draco quipped in a bossy, firm, tone used to giving orders.
The boys eyes grew bigger, and moved in between the boy's forehead were a most famous scar could be seen, and Draco.
"Is that HIM?" the other boy, Harry knew was the Crabbe heir, exclaimed, his eyes growing even bigger. "How come is he here with you? A Malfoy and a Potter..."
"Quit babbling Crabbe, Potter is one of us, got it? Now take a seat and please stop with the starring. It's irritating me to no end!"
The boys took a seat, flanking Harry and Draco from both sides, listening with awe to their conversation. They decided then and there that they would protect both boys with the price of their life, if needed, and joined the conversation with insightful comments that no one ever expected could come from the two bullies.
At 11 sharp the train departed, heading towards Scotland, where the school was located, hidden to Muggles by repelling spells and charms.
Halfway through the trip a bushy haired girl opened their compartment door and asked about a toad. Seeing that she was ignored by the four occupants of the compartment, she dressed her voice and took a better look at them. Seeing Harry, she immediately realized who he was and exclaimed:
"Oh my God, you are Harry Potter! I have read all about you in Wizards Across Time and in The Rise and Fall of Dark Wizards. You are not at all what I expected" she continued.
Her words were interrupted by a very cold and bored tone that sent icy chills to her spine and made her take a step back.
"Yes, I am, and you are?" the boy inquired, raising an eyebrow and fingering his ebony wand.
"oh yes. I am Hermione Granger and I am going to Hogwarts. I have read all about it in Hogwarts A History. When we, I mean my family and I, found out that I was a witch, we went to the Alley and got all these books about the wizarding world in order to be well prepared and"
"Ah... a muggleborn then..." Harry step in again, smirking and throwing a warning glance to Draco.
"Leave Granger, there's no bloody toad in here" he continued, flicking his wand.
The compartment door opened again with Harry's wand movement, and Hermione Granger found herself in the hall, starring at a closed door.
The demonstration of silent spell casting that Harry displayed enforced the other three soon to be Slytherins desire to forge a long-lasting friendship with the strange Boy Who Lived.
Soon, they arrived in the Hogsmeade train station were they were gathered round by Hagrid and seated in small wooded boats that headed to the castle.
They were taken into a great hall, were an middle aged stern looking lady, dressed in emerald robes waited for them.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts School of Magic and Wizardry. While you are here you shall be sorted into four houses. Your housemates will be oyu family for your remaining seven years. If you behave and study you shall gain house point, if not you shall loose them. The House that has most points by the end of the school year will win the House Cup – a great honor. The houses are as following: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin."
"Now step into a line and follow me. Let the sorting begin!"
The Great Hall was... well...great, divided in four areas. There were four long tables, bearing the flags of their specific houses and standing before then was the teacher's table. The ceiling was imitating the morose weather outside, drops of watter falling from heavy grey clouds, vanishing half a meter above their heads.
At the teachers table, right in the middle, Harry recognized Dumbledore in the Headmaster's handcrafted seat. His eyes twinkled while they felt upon Harry and then he stood and the hall felt silent.
In front of the four house tables stood a high chair, with an old tatty hat. Taking out a scroll from her robes, Professor McGonagall removed a thin little band from the hat and unsurprisingly it started singing:
"I am the wise all knowing hat,
That on Godric Griffyndor's head sat
I see what's in your mind and heart,
Too sort each and everyone I like
Chosen from quite a few,
I am the most powerful tool.
Welcome to Hogwarts young witches and wizards,
The brave, courageous and audacious,
To Gryffindor's like,
The smart and knowledge seekers,
To Ravenclaw's belong,
The quiet, nice and loyal
They're Hufflepufs you see,
The cunning, sneaky and ambitious
Salazar Slytherin's pride and joy.
So, my young-lings, as you can see
I sort and choose and find and seek
As instructed by the Hogwarts's Four
To divide and unite against all foes!"
As the Hat finished it's song, McGonagall unrolled a long parchment and started shouting the first years names.
As the sorting went on, Crabbe, Goyle and Draco were joined at the Slytherin's table by Theodore Nott, another pureblood, and by three other girls: Pansy Parkinson, Daphne Greengrass and Millicent Bullstrode.
Then, after a redhead boy was sent to the Gryffindor table, Harry heard the teacher's voice shouting his name. Unsurprisingly, everything went silent before the whispers begun.
He heard muttering from the older students, everyone started to rise and try to get closer to have a better look at the Boy Who Lived And Finally Came To Hogwarts.
He stood on the stool and with firm hands he grabbed the hat and shoved it onto his head.
"Ahh... Young Mister Potter" he heard a voice inside his mind, and immediately remember that hat's powers to see you as an open book.
"You see Mister Potter, I have strict instructions from our Headmaster over there to put you in Griffindor. He panicked today when he heard that you did not meet, as he intended, the Weasleys at the barrier. And so he wanted to be sure that you get the right friends and guidance..."
"That old, meddling fool.. He will get what's his. Now sort me where I belong HAT, or else I promise you this is the last sorting you'll ever do" Harry threatened.
"All in good time Mr. Potter, all in good time... But as I see, our wishes coincide, there's actually no better place for you to be. And so, without any ado, better be... SLYTHERIN!" the Hat shouted the last word aloud, for the whole Hall to hear.
Harry removed the Sorting Hat and watched with hidden amusement the partially horrified and partially surprised faces of his fellow student. The only ones that seemed satisfied were the Slytherins, and it was so thanks to Draco who took care to inform them on the state of the matter.
And so, slowly, the Slytherins started raising to their feet and clapping in unison, with elegance an style.
Harry Potter, newly sorted Slytherin, took a seat next to Draco and ignored the stares and the muttering coming from the other houses.
He took a goblet full with pumpkin juice and smiling at Draco, relaxed and waited for the sorting to be over.
As the hat was removed from the stool, he looked at Dumbledore, meeting his eyes and saw the disappointed look of a man who's life plans have just been thwarted. He easily repelled, though with intended awkwardness, the Headmaster first attempt at Legilimency and analyzed the other occupants of the teacher's table.
Next to the old man, stood a strange man wearing a turban, displaying what seemed to proud smile. Looking into his eyes Harry felt his magic warning him of the presence of another. So much like him and yet completely different, so much like Tom, but still too week to matter.
"Not yet, my friend, we must not raise suspicions, he informed the inhabitant of the teacher" and the teacher composed itself and nodded approvingly.
On his right, a black haired teacher, with a crooked nose and eyes as black as night watched him with a guarded, suspicious look. He remembered the man, a faithful follower, a snake amongst lions, a master potioneer and Head of the Slytherin House. He nodded to him, raising his glass and as his eyes grew colder, he sent another silent message:
"Now, now, Severus, we don't want an old school rivalry spoil a beautiful friendship, do we?"
He saw the potion master choke on his drink and dropping the goblet on the table. The teacher send another sharp look to the Boy Who Did Not Die and Harry innocently smiled at him, shrugging his shoulders.
Severus Snape nodded and made a mental note to write to Lucius that night and get as much information as possible about the strange Boy Who Was Not Suppose To Be Sorted In His House. His decision was based on the fact that his House behavior was odd and that Draco was too friendly and seemed to know to well what he was doing in order for him not to suspect anything more.
Without knowing, the wheels of fate turned that moment while Severus Snape changed the course of his life, costing the light another follower they could not have afforded to loose had they known about it.
What followed next was the Headmaster's speech, containing a welcome to Hogwarts, a few warnings and several words as nitwits, odds, bublesomething, that Harry found very odd and it confirmed what he already knew: the old man wasn't in his right minds anymore.
As soon as the speech ended, food appeared on the table, probably brought by the house elves.
Choosing a light dinner over the more spicy and greasy meals displayed on the table, Harry enjoyed the clattering of forks hitting the dishes and the quiet, intelligent conversations carried by his house mates.
He soon found himself yawning and walking along Draco, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle, through the castles corridors, in the dungeons, heading towards the Slytherin Common Room.
He suddenly stopped the others in front of a big painting containing a man petting a huge snake.
"Why are we stopping here Harry" asked Goyle surprised.
"This is the entrance to our rooms guys", he replied, not taking the eyes of the painting.
"Yes, but we do not have the bloody password" continued Crabbe.
"Shush you and let Harry work his magic" observed a smirking Draco, trusting his friend.
"May you have a well rest, Lord Slytherin" Harry hissed in parseltongue, ignoring Crabbe and Goyle's startled expressions and whitening faces.
"Who is dissssturbing my rest, my ssssweet, Salazar Slytherin asked his snake. The snake uncoiled his head out of it's master's shoulder and looked at Harry straight in the eyes.
"A younsssg boy, my Lorrrrd... He speakkksss..." replied the snake.
"Yessss, and who might you be, young lad?" he inquired, without taking his hands away of his beloved pet.
"Harry Potter, my Lord, an alley of Tom Riddle and an heir of your bloodline, twice removed of squib forefathers. I seek you help, counsel and entrance to the Common Room" said Harry, bowing as low as he could.
"Yes, I remember your mother... She never wanted to admit being one of my blood, preferred to be known as a moodblood instead. So you denied your parents and refused thy name, have you young Lord of the House of Serpentsss... I am pleased, great nephew... You may have your wish fulfilled. Welcome to your legacy Harry Potter." he hissed, and let them pass into what was going to become their home for the next seven years.
The others watched with fascination the conversation between Harry and the old man, that later they found out was the founder of their house. When the discussion ended, they entered the room and felt castle's magic shift and sparkle to life in order to great one of it's heirs.
The three other Slytherins understood the importance of what just happened and thought with fright at what other surprises their young friend might have in store for them.
On the other side of the dungeons, in the House Head chambers, Severus Snape stood in front of the fireplace, trying to recover after the informations he received from Lucius, by floo.
He now understood that he had to make a choice, between Dumbledore on one side, and Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort on the other side. He knew full well that the light side had already lost the battle, just that they were not aware of this yet. He tried to imagine what thoughts passed right now through Dmbledore's head at seeing all his plans thwarted and congratulated himself for swearing an oath to protect the child and not one to serve the light.
He was awakened from his mussing by Salazar's presence in his office.
"Young Snape, I have good news for us, good news indeed. My other heir has returned and reclaimed the legacy. My line is complete now" hissed Salazar to the protector of his house.
"Are you sure, Lord Slytherin, that it's not just another plan of Dumbledore to get more information out of you?" said Snape, cautions and prudent as was his nature.
"Do not fret Severus and do not doubt me... He bores the ring... The House of Serpents has been reclaimed after 500 years of silence, and, together with Tom, my other heir, they shall be unstopped." Salazar stated, confident and proud as he hadn't been for over a millennium.
"The wind of changes brought our enemies on their knees, young Snape. Trust into my heirs and protect them, serve them as you served my house and my children for all these years" finished Salazar Slytherin and left the young man alone, to gather his thought and prepare for his welcoming speech.
Severus Snae knew at that moment that his choice has been already made for him. Wherever Harry went, he had to go, and it was even better if he didn't need to pretend that he hated him anymore, as the boy has been sorted into his house and not into that of Godric Griffyndor.
And thus, he put his cape on, and billowing as the great bat he was rumored to be, he left the quietness of his rooms to talk to his children.
He found the Common Room crowded and in a greater fuss than usual. As soon as he stepped through the painting, all voices stopped and waited for their House Head to say something.
"Welcome to another year in Slytherin, young and old snakes." he begun. "As always, I expect good result from each and every one of you. If you need to break the rules or sneak around, do it, but do not get caught. I do not tolerate point loss. We have won the House Cups for as long as I have been working here and this will be the eight year in a row it shall adorn my office. Understood?" he bellowed.
"Yes, Professor Snape" replied the Slytherins at once.
"Now, I do not want to hear about any fights happening outside of our Common Room. We have to present an united front for the other houses. They will be wary and suspicious of any of you, and if you are alone they will attack you. So first years, never wander alone. The password for the common room is parselmagic. Never give it away to anyone. Be it house mates or friends, because you never know if they have not been polyjuiced. Any conversation of importance is to be held in the common rooms. The paintings from the castle have ears and give weekly reports to Dumbledore and unless you do not want for him to know all your dirty little secrets you will keep your mouths shut. Homework is to be done here or in the library, and whatever happens I do not accept excuses for going unprepared to lessons. While you are here, you follow my rules and behave as the pureblooded wizards you were raised to be. Otherwise, you are free to pack your trunk and go home at this moment. Am I clear enough?"
"Yes, Professor Snape" the Slytherins replied again in a what seemed to be a well trained chorus.
"And now, off to bed children with you all. Make Salazar Slytherin and his noble house proud to have you in!" he smirked and left the silent room, robes billowing behind.
"Wicked" Harry exclaimed, impressed by the firmness and determination displayed by their House Head.
"Yeah, uncle Sev's like that, a tough nut to crack but once you did it, he's a big softy" whispered Draco, not at least impressed by his godfather's antiques.
With all that was left said and done, they headed to their dormitories where they already found their trunks seated next to a bed. They changed and immediately went asleep, dreaming of wooden boats, flowing over dark waters carrying them to a mighty magical castle, with hidden passages and mysteries to uncover. And, for the first time ever, Harry slept with a smile on his face, feeling safe, feeling at home. He did not had any nightmares that night.