AN: SO here we are with a nice big chapter. I have to admit writing this chapter was like pulling teeth, it was a right pain. But preserved and got it out, thanks in part to the amount of encouragement I got form you readers, so cheers for that. I can only hope you all like the chapter.

So yeah other than that and me giving a brief update on my other stories. I am currently working on the next update for my stories; the Road to Hell, Dead Man Walking, Sage of the Hunt, The God of Fairies and Limitless. All of which I encourage you to read if you are interested. We can probably get on with the next chapter. I hope you all enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, though I wish I did as I would be a millionaire by now.

(Last Time)

"I am sure you would pass off as a Child of Hermes sometimes." Aphrodite replied amusedly and he would, Harry was sometimes such a scoundrel he probably put Hermes to shame. Even so she pitied Magical Britain, whatever Harry was doing here he would succeed, of that she had no doubt. "I take it, it doesn't have anything to do with a girl?"

"It does, though I think the girl in question is hoping to manipulate me." Harry replied with a shrug, a slight smile forming on his face at the thought of someone trying to manipulate and control him, it would be interesting to see what it would be like, who knows maybe he can even pick up some new tricks. "Not that I will let her control me. But suffice to say I have decided to go to Hogwarts for a reason, you'll just have to trust me on that."

Aphrodite raised a finely manicured eyebrow at that, before shrugging it off. She trusted Harry, she knew he wouldn't betray her or the plan. That being said she also suspected that he was here in Britain preparing for the potential fallout if their plan was to fail. It would be something he would do, even so though she would let him do what he wanted. After all with Hermes throwing a tantrum she didn't want Harry nearby.

"Good." Aphrodite said lightly, before a sudden smile spread across her face. "So tell me about this Hogwarts girl?"

"No." Harry said bluntly as he looked away.

"Oh go on don't be mean… I am the goddess of love I might be able to help." Aphrodite whined a smile on her face as she saw Harry scowl and look away petulantly.

"What have I told you about trying to interfere in my love life?" Harry said as he turned back to his mother irritably, knowing as he did that she already likely knew how his love life would go or at least suspect and was just doing this for her own amusement.

"Like that's going to stop me." Aphrodite replied a predatory smile on her face as she reached across the table and took Harry's hand in her own. "So this girl?"

"Leave me alone." Harry replied as he tried to pull away, his face a bit pink as his mother once again tried to mess with his love life.

( - )

Chapter 6

( - )

(With Harry)

Harry cocked an eyebrow as he casually checked out his reflection in the floor length mirror that took a had a prominent position in the master bedroom of the luxurious, London based penthouse suite that he had been using as his temporary home for the last three weeks. A unfortunate necessity as he was still waiting on the Goblin contractors he had engaged to finish the renovation and warding of his new Manor House. The work should have been done a week ago, but Harry had insisted on the best protections the Goblins could create, including a comprehensive 'Fidaleous Charm' and Blood Wards. After all his new mansion would not just be his home, but it would also be his bolt hole, his sanctuary against potential divine threats.

Not that Harry minded staying in his luxurious penthouse, especially since he had 'persuaded' the hotel manager to give him the suite on the house. By the gods he loved having Charmspeak sometimes, it was just so useful.

Pushing those thoughts away for now, Harry instead began to inspect his appearance, using his Metamorphic abilities to alter his appearance, as he tried to come up with the perfect look for his newest character/ persona, Harry Orwell.

The changes Harry made were only minor, just a few alterations here and there as he easily shifted his features, making his raven colour as he made it significantly a than its natural colour. He then made his cheek bones higher, and his face far more aristocratic and striking than he had been born with. Afterwards he made his jaw line a bit more defined, his skin tone a slight bit paler, his eyes he decided to change a bit as they shifted from his preferred choice of emerald green, to a more striking violet colour. Metamorphic abilities truly were a blessing, with them he could be anyone or anything he wanted. All he then needed to do was act the part, which for a Child of Aphrodite was easy, they were natural actors. Which was probably why the few adult children Aphrodite had or the legacies born from her pureblood children all tended to become famous actors, politicians, lawyers, business men and socialites.

Taking a step back as he surveyed his new look, liking his striking new features, Harry then began shifting the rest of his body. His shoulders became a bit broader, his arms and legs became more defined than they had been before as he condensed his muscle. His hips also became a bit narrower, giving his body a very athletic look, with broad shoulders, defined muscles and a slim waist. Playing around a bit Harry at first gave himself a full on eight pack, before shaking his head and toning it down a bit more, he wanted to be striking, but not unrealistic.

After going through a few stretches and a light exercise regime, consisting of press-ups, sit-ups and a couple of star jumps, Harry began to use to his new form, breaking it in so to speak. With that done he then began to get dressed, going to his large walk in closet as he chose the perfect costume. After all he needed to play this part for a year, he needed to make a proper first impression.

Making his decision he pulled on a pair of regular-fit black jeans, followed by a baggy red T-shirt, a light grey, zip up hoodie, a pair of brown leather boots, and finally a, kangaroo leather, Harley Davidson biker jacket.

Turning back to look at himself, Harry nodded to himself in satisfaction, as he saw what Harold Orwell, his newest form/ persona looked like. He looked like a handsome, striking youth of around seventeen. He wore good quality clothes, which despite being muggle in origin had a number of durability charms that marked them as having been altered by a wizarding tailor. This would give off the appearance that he was from a well to do family, but trying to be a bit of a rebel by wearing muggle clothing.

Harry nodded to himself, satisfied in the character he had created and content that he could easily play the role he had chosen. Turning away from the mirror and approaching a nearby dressing table, Harry scooped up the finishing touch. A new wand, one which he had acquired at the wandmaker, Ollivander's whilst he was posing as Harold Orwell, using his Hogwarts's letter of proof of his acceptance as he bought his 'first' wand. He had ended up telling the creepy old man, Garrick Ollivander, that previously he had used a family wand since he was homeschooled, but that with him going to Hogwarts, his family had decided to allow him to get a new wand.

Twelve inches long, made of French rosewood, with a single Phoenix tail feather as a core. It was if Harry was honest a beautifully crafted wand, with thorn like patterns carved delicately into the honey coloured wood, and a very sharp needle like tip. More than that the wand almost perfectly fit him, nearly as well as the ring his mother had had Hephaestus make for him.

Harry had ended up trying out wands in Ollivander's for nearly two hours before he came across one that reacted positively to him. Unfortunately though Ollivander had told him that although the core responded well, the wood the wand was made out of and the length of the wand did not fit Harry. Suffice to say by that point Harry was very much fed up of trying out wands, so he had decided to ask Ollivander whether it would be possible to remake the wand, using a more fitting wood and with a more appropriate length.

The old man had been a bit resistant at first, but after a slight use of Charmspeak he was more than willing to try it out. The end result was the wand in Harry's hand, a wand that Harry had ended up paying double for as he had felt a slight bit of guilt for 'persuading' Ollivander to remake the wand like he had. Still though all's well that ends well, and Harry now had a nice new wand, to go along with the rosewood and celestial bronze ring he still had on his right hand.

Idly twirling the length of finely carved wood through his hand, Harry admired it one more time before he slipped it into a sheath he had sowed into the inside of his jacket.

"You know, if you continue to look at yourself in the mirror like that, you'll just be proving the stereotypes about Sons of Aphrodite right." A soft, lilting voice said from behind Harry, getting him to smirk as he turned around and looked over at the speaker.

"And what pray tell are those stereotypes?" Harry asked in amusement as he turned around, and found himself standing across from a very beautiful girl, with shoulder length golden blonde hair, lightly tanned skin, twinkling heterochromatic coloured eyes, and a body and face most supermodels would die for. "Sweet sister?"

Silena Beauregard rolled her eyes as she heard that. Her soft, pink lips twitching with amusement as she looked across at her slightly older brother, Harry. Putting a hand on her hip, Silena feigned a look of deep thought, bringing her other hand to her chin and adopting a cute expression before replying. "Hmm… I don't know, maybe conceited, narcissistic, superficial, egotistical, arrogant, oversexed nancy boys?"

"Ooo harsh…" Harry chuckled shaking his head in amusement as he did so, "You know, I didn't portkey you over to London so you could insult me?"

"No you didn't, you portkeyed me over because I am your favourite sister and you love me." Silena replied cheerfully as she crossed over to Harry, ruffling his hair slightly and straightening his clothes. "And as your dear, sweet, innocent little sister it is my job to make sure you don't turn into a colossal douche."

"I'll keep that in mind." Harry replied dryly, before he let out a soft laugh and kissed his sister on the cheek, before he walked past her. "Speaking of which, I am going to have to head off soon, my train to school leaves soon."

Silena laughed softly at that, "I can't believe you of all people are going to school. I mean wasn't it you who said school was for stupid people, and that the only way for people to truly learn was to go out into the world and experience everything it has to offer."

"Oh, I can see what you mean about being a douche." Harry replied back with a chuckle, before he shook his head. "That being said I stand by those words. Which is why I am not going to school to learn, but to do what I do best; lie, cheat and steal."

Silena frowned slightly as she heard that. "That's the thing I don't get about you Harry. With your mind, abilities and upbringing, you can literally do anything in the world and be anyone. Despite that though you stick with being some lazy, self-indulgent conman. You could do so much and yet you settle with so little."

Harry paused for a second as he heard that, this was a long standing discussion the two had going on. Despite how much the two of them loved each other, Silena couldn't help but express her disapproval at some of his lifestyle choices. "As you just said Silena, I could be anyone and do anything. Where is the fun in that? Where is the challenge?"

Silena opened her mouth to respond, but before she could Harry continued, not giving her the chance to come up with a suitable retort.

"I mean yes I could become some famous politician, or business man, or celebrity, or even the Prime Minister of Britain or the President of America if I fancied it. But those goals… they're just so… mortal." Harry continued a very faint scowl on his flawless face as he tried to express his thoughts. "Those things… those achievements they're just so pedestrian, so easily achieved, so mortal…. I wouldn't find any satisfaction in them, but transcending the limits of mortals, now that is something that would be interesting."

Silena frowned faintly at that, long since used to her brother's occasional delusions of grandeur. "You know most people would be happy living out their lives as a billionaire on a private island, surrounded by a harem of beautiful gold-diggers." Silena replied, her tone quite dry as she pretty much outlined, the fantasy that the majority of mortals had.

"But I'm not most people." Harry said simply, shrugging as he did so. It was true to, Harry was not just a simple wizard, or even just a Demigod. He was a combination of the two, when Aphrodite had blessed him and adopted him she had made it so he was one quarter wizard and three quarters god. Harry never really had a chance to be an ordinary person.

"Oh, I know that much." Silena replied with a sigh, before perking up as she decided to change the tone of the conversation to something a bit more fun. "So this girl you were telling me about, Daphne Greengrass, the Asgardian Demigod. Tell me about her?" Silena said sly, engaging in a favourite pastime all Children of Aphrodite seemed to share, a good old fashioned gossip.

"Not much to tell really, she's a beautiful girl, she's smart, witty and determined. The demigoddess daughter of Freya and a witch, one who happens to be the Heiress to one of Magical Britain's most wealthy families." Harry replied with a shrug.

"But?" Silena queried sensing a but coming. Harry was never the type of person to dole out compliments without making a backhanded statement too, not if he was being honest.

"But she has a high opinion of herself. She's been living in the bubble that is the magical world. She's used to being at the top of the pecking order, and I am not sure how she will handle it when she finds out there are much stronger and more powerful things out there than her." Harry replied with another shrug, the ring on his hand glowing as his clothing and belongings all began to fly through the air, all of them shooting towards an internally expanded trunk he had set up in the centre of the room, folding themselves in midair as they did so.

Silena idly watched Harry's actions, once again impressed by how versatile and fascinating the wizarding world's magic was, if she was honest she was sometimes jealous of Harry's nature. She only had her Charmspeak and Metamorphic abilities, both of which were not as strong as Harry's own. Still though she was better than Harry with a spear, bow and knife, so she had that going for her. "She's still young, I am sure she will survive and adapt. I mean you did when you first left the Camp."

She meant it too, Harry had only left the safety of Camp Half-Blood a couple of years ago. Despite that though he had landed on his feet. She could only hope she could do the same when she finally decided to leave the Camp for good. Though knowing Harry and how overprotective he was of his brothers and sisters, he would likely look out for her, even if she asked him not too.

Harry smiled at that, flicking his hand as he did, his ring glowing as he did so, casually shrinking the now packed trunk down. Before he summoned the trunk, which was now the size of a match box into his hand. Idly slipping the trunk in his jacket pocket, his belongings now all safe, secure and easily carried.

"Maybe" Harry admitted as he turned back to Silena. "We'll see."

Silena shook her head in amusement as she heard his noncommittal answer, once again an answer that was typical of Harry.

"Well I need to go now. The portkey I gave you has another two days left on it before it will activate and take you back to New York." Harry said a smile on his face as he looked at his sister. The girl had been staying with him for nearly a week now, having insisted in coming over so she could check out London and all so she could help him celebrate his seventeenth birthday, which their mother had ended up gate crashing when she had taken them to a number of extravagant and overly expensive London nightclubs. "We've got the hotel room until the end of the week, so you should be okay there too and if you need anything…."

Silena rolled her eyes at this, her brother was always like this when he was leaving. "Yeah, yeah I get it."

"And stay out of trouble whilst you are in London by yourself. If you run into any trouble you can't handle send me a message on that communication mirror I gave you for your birthday." Harry continued on, ignoring the growing smile on his sister's face. "And remember-"

"Use my Charmspeak if I run into any trouble that I can handle, and also feel free to use it to get anything I want and to have a generally great time?" Silena said, mimic Harry's voice perfectly as she did so. Metamorphic abilities truly were a useful gift, especially when it came to annoying your siblings.

"Don't get snippy with me you." Harry said his lips twitching upwards as he pulled his sister towards him, her arms wrapping around him as he pulled her into a tight hug. "Just have a great time whilst you're here, and make sure to keep in touch."

"Shouldn't I be the one saying that?" Silena replied as she held her brother close, enjoying the hug for a few moments before she released him. "After all you are the one off to school. So remember be nice and friendly, try to make friends and don't get in trouble. And also, remember if you meet anyone you like, 'don't be silly, wrap your willy!"

Harry cringed as he heard that. "Silena, you're my sister you shouldn't be saying stuff like that to me. And besides what do you think 'anti-pregnancy charms' are for?"

"I am just making sure you're being sensible brother." Silena replied with a faint grin as she caught the twitch in his eye. "I'm too young to be anyone's auntie."

Harry shook his head at that in amusement. "Well whilst we are on this topic of conversation Silena. Remember don't take sweets from strangers, and if any man who doesn't have my approval touches you… I will gut them like a pig."

"Oh you say the sweetest things sometime." Silena replied with a grin on her face. "Now go, I don't want you being late for your first day at school. First impression are everything after all."

"Alright, alright I'm going. Have a good time in London and I will call you tonight." Harry said as he scanned the room, making sure he had everything, before with a final nod of his head and a kiss of his sister's cheek he apparated away, heading for Platform Nine and Three Quarters.

Now left alone in the hotel room, Silena chuckled softly as she shook her head, looking at the place her beloved brother had just disappeared from. "I can't believe he's going to a school called 'Hogwarts'."

( - )

(At Platform Nine and Three Quarters)

Harry appeared a few seconds later on the busy magical train platform, Platform Nine and Three Quarters, and wasn't that just a typically stupid Wizarding name.

The area Harry had appeared in was a specifically designated apparition/ portkey/ floo point that was in a red brick room just off from the main platform, the wall lined with fireplaces for floo travel and an auror to make sure there was no trouble.

Glancing around as he arrived, Harry had to swiftly move as he saw multiple families appearing around him, jostling each other as mother's dragged and shepherded their wayward offspring to the main platform. Whilst other parents shouted out greeting as they pushed forward to meet up with people they recognized. Luckily though these people were swiftly shunted on, the gruff, bored looking auror shouting for people to keep moving, and to not crowd the area.

Following the crowd, Harry weaved his way through the crowd. Idly swiping a copy of the Daily Prophet from under the arm of some stuffy looking pureblood as he did so. He would after all need something to do whilst on the train, and despite the poor quality of the articles and the writing, the Daily Prophet did damn good crosswords.

Ignoring the distant call of "Where's my paper!" Harry instead pulled himself up onto one of the passenger carriages, taking a few moments to admire the splendor that was the scarlet steam engine that would be pulling the carriages as he did so. But otherwise not that concerned with the goings on, on the platform. The place was crowded and Harry wasn't a particular fan of crowds, plus he wanted to snag himself a good seat. He refused to be stuck in a train car with a bunch of brats for five hours. He would even use his Charmspeak if he had to, to avoid that torment.

Finding himself a nice empty compartment, Harry flung himself down in the seat nearest the window, his feet resting on the seat opposite him as he unfolded his paper. Whipping his hand through the air he made the door close, no locking I though as he didn't want to appear too antisocial. One of the several reasons he was coming to Hogwarts this year was about making useful contacts in the Magical World after all.

Vaguely glancing at the article on the front page as he unfolded his paper, he glanced at the title; Dangerous World Cup Killer still on the loose! Rolling his eyes as he saw the article, knowing that it was about the six pureblood scion he had killed a couple of weeks ago, who apparently should have been arrested and put on trial to verify their guilt, and not cut down by some brutal vigilante murderer…. By the gods the Daily Prophet could spout some shit.

Completely ignoring the article, Harry instead leafed through the paper and instead focused on the first crossword question. One down; what is another name for Monkswood?

Scribbling down the answer Harry moved onto the next question, casually working his way through the crossword as the train carriages began to fill up with students, before with a loud whistle the Hogwart's Express pulled out of King's Cross Station. Making swift progress as it began to eat up the miles.

Harry however ignored this, not really interested in the goings on, as students shuffled up and down the corridor, looking for empty compartments they could findfor them and their friends. At one point he even saw Michael Potter leading his cohort through the train, of course with a different face none of them recognised him as Harold Ourania. Not that that bothered him too unduly as he instead went back to working on his crossword. In fact he only really paid attention when he heard the door of his compartment being pulled open about an hour into the trip, when Harry had just finished the papers cryptic crossword.

"Ermm… Hi, I was wondering if you'd mind if we sit in this compartment with you?" A female voice said, getting Harry's attention as he looked up from his paper and found himself looking at two girls who were around his age, maybe a year or two younger, it was sometimes difficult to tell.

One of the girls was a plain looking girl with curly brown hair, hazel brown eyes, pale skin and a slightly too skinny figure, seeing Harry looking at her she gave him a slight smile, her face flushing red as she did so. The other girl, the one who spoke was a very pretty girl, who looked to be of oriental descent, Chinese at first glance, though she spoke with a Scottish accent. Harry had to admit this girl, with her silky black hair, dark eyes, natural beauty and athletic physique, she was a good looking lass, not quite on a par with a Child of Aphrodite though. She to like her friend was smiling at Harry in a friendly manner, her face a bit pink as she took in his build, his violet eyes and his handsome features. It seemed the girl liked what she saw.

Smiling Harry nodded his head, taking his feet of the seat in front of him and folding up his newspaper as he did so, pushing it down the side of his seat as he knew it would be rude if he did otherwise, and Harry hated rudeness. "Sure why not."

"Thanks." The pretty, raven haired girl said as she walked into the compartment, her wand in her hand as she used magic to levitate her trunk and her friends into the luggage rack overhead. Before with another smile to Harry she took the seat opposite him, her friend following after her and taking the seat beside her. "So… are you new this year?"

Harry raised an eyebrow as he heard that.

The raven haired girl gained a sheepish expression at that, before continuing. "Sorry, bad way to start a conversation. It's only I don't remember seeing you before and I… well I think I would remember if someone like you went to our school?"

Harry gave her a smile as he heard that, before he replied pleasantly. "Yeah, I'm new this year, transferred in to do my seventh year at Hogwarts. My name's Harry Orwell, what about you two?"

"Oh, well I'm Cho Chang, and this is my best friend, Marietta Edgecombe." The now named Cho replied, her cheeks once again darkening as she saw Harry's smile.

"Well it's lovely to meet you two." Harry said agreeably, the dashing smile once again present on his face. "Have to say you two of the first Hogwarts students I've met today, so I hope we can be friends."

"Oh I am sure we will be, I'd be more than happy to show you around the castle when we arrive, I mean you're going to love it at Hogwarts!" Cho replied with a grin on her face as she passionately spoke about the school, "I know I've loved my last four years there!"

Harry smiled faintly at that. "I am sure I will. So I heard the students at Hogwarts are divided by House. Do you mind if I ask which Houses you two girls in?"

"Oh we're n Ravenclaw! Or the 'Claws' as we're occasionally called" Cho said with a smile. "And yeah, you get sorted into a House on your first night. You go into either Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin. Do you have any idea what House you want to be in or do you just want to leave it up to chance?" Cho continued enthusiastically, as she saw Harry's apparent interest, and his lack of surprise when she named the Hogwarts Houses, guessing he had heard about them before.

"Yeah I heard that. I have to say though I haven't really decided yet." Harry replied with a casual shrug, the smile on his face turning a bit more genuine as heard the enthusiasm and passion in the girl's voice. Maybe this year wouldn't be that bad, plus with the Tri-Wizard Tournament coming up he was sure to have some entertainment, he might even try and enter it.

After all he had a new identity, and no one was looking for him in the first place. He reckoned taking part in a potentially deadly tournament. Would be a great way to break up the year whilst he was working with this Daphne Greengrass to build up his position in Magical Britain and loot as many hidden priceless magical treasures as he could find in the ancient castle.

Hearing Harry's answer, the other girl, Marietta rolled her eyes before speaking up. Her tone unconsciously condescending, which irritated Harry a bit, not that the showed it through his mask of geniality. "You don't get to decide, your House is decided for you."

Harry cocked an eyebrow at that, knowing they were talking about the Hogwart's Sorting Hat as he did so, one of the magical artifacts he was interested in having a look at. "Well from what I heard you are still able to influence which House you go into."

"I guess…" Cho said uncertainly, having never really thought about someone doing that before. One the other hand the hat was a powerful, sentient magical object, it wouldn't surprise her if a person could influence their sorting. "But anyway, do you have any idea which House you would prefer to be in, if you had to decide?"

Harry gained a thoughtful look at that, thinking about which one would be most beneficial to him during his year at Hogwarts.

Hufflepuff would be an interesting choice, they were a House based on loyalty and hardwork, perfect minions if Harry needed them. But then again he didn't like how close he had heard the members of the House were. If he wanted to get up to his usual shenanigans he would no doubt have to liberally use his Charmspeak to keep them off his back.

Ravenclaw was more a neutral House, one which promoted intelligence and learning. It was the kind of place Harry thought he would enjoy, he would have his own space and have access to as much knowledge as he wanted. Plus he had always enjoyed academic pursuits, the tutor his mother hired having inspired with the passion and ability in the subjects they taught him. Then again the Ravenclaws were said to be a curious lot, and the last thing he wanted was some nosey school children poking their noses into his business.

Gryffindor was also an interesting choice. The House was apparently a lot more rowdy than the other Houses, on a par with the Hermes Cabin from what he had managed to glean from the thoughts of the Weasley children. Plus the Wealsey twins were there, and he had found the pair very agreeable, those two would certainly make his year enjoyable. Then again the Gryffindors apparently had a rivalry with Slytherin, which would make it noticeable if he met up with Daphne Greengrass so he could get her assistance, and help her with whatever plot she was cooking up.

Now Slytherin, the house of the cunning and the prejudice arseholes. The rivalry with Gryffindor would be a pain I the arse, and would not be conductive if Harry wanted to get to know his little brother or hang out with the Weasley twins. Then again that was not on the top of his lists of things to do, so that was okay. The House was also secretive and insular, they respected power and cunning above all else, which Harry had in spades. Another plus was that it would also put him in close proximity with Daphne, which would be beneficial to their partnership. Unfortunately though it would put him in a suspicious light, people would be more likely to suspect him and keep an eye on him if he was in Slytherin. Plus he would also be surrounded by lying backstabbers, a pit of snakes, which included the Malfoy Heir, whose family Harry had pretty much ruined. As well as the families of the six men Harry had killed a the World Cup.

"No, not really thought about it much if I'm honest." Harry replied easily, a smile on his face as he did so.

"Well that's not a problem I am sure you will fit in no matter which House you join." Cho said kindly.

"So Orwell?" Marietta spoke up, getting both Cho and Harry's attention. "I think I've heard that name before?"

Harry smiled amicably as he heard that. "Well we have been in the papers recently. We just moved to Britain from North America."

"The colonies?" Marietta asked in surprise, having no doubt noticed that Harry had a distinctly British accent.

Harry rolled his eyes as he heard that. The wizarding community was a long-lived and stubborn one. Even centuries later they still referred to America as one of the colonies, and called anyone from the North American continent, colonials.

To be fair though, their reasoning wasn't actually that bad if you looked at it. Although the muggles of America revolted against British rule in the late 1700s, the magicals didn't break away until much later around the early 1900s. This was mainly because the number of magicals in America was always so low, even now it was barely a quarter the size of the British magical population. In fact it was only because of the growing pressure form the ICW and the dissatisfaction in North America that Britain ended up allowing the American Magical community independence. Which considering the long lives of Magical meant that a lot of the witches and wizards still remembered North America being under British rule.

"Yeah moved over this summer, was homeschooled previously, but the mother thought it would be beneficial to get some British qualifications whilst I was here." Harry replied with a smile, deciding not to comment on her terminology. After all the Magical Americans were more than aware of it, but for the most part let it go, after all Magical Britain as one of the oldest Magical Societies was not known as being the most enlightened of modern day society.

"Sounds like a smart move, Hogwarts is the best school of magic in the world." Marietta spoke up with an approving smile, sounding as if she were simply spouting pure fact and not just personal opinion.

Harry smiled faintly as he heard that before once again choosing not to comment. Instead he settled back into his seat as he continued to engage the two girls in small talk. Using his finely honed skills, courtesy of growing up with many sisters, to find out the latest gossip about what was happening in the school. After all gossip was a very useful tool when it came to gathering information, and Marietta turned out to be a very gossipy person.

Most of it was useless, like how his younger brother was still going out with that Ginny Weasley girl, and how there may be some School Ball coming up, what with them being told to bring Dress Robes. For the most part Harry just listened in, occasionally contributing when necessary as the hours passed by, their compartment occasionally being visited by other students, who Harry was subsequently introduced to before being given the gossip on them as soon as they left. This included some members of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, a couple of Ravenclaws and a half dozen Hufflepuffs. No Slytherins dropped by though, showing that there might be something to the rumours he had heard about the isolationist Slytherins, and the reputation they tended to have with the other Hogwart's Houses.

It was just as he was being given a rundown of how Alex Black and Susan Bones had apparently been attacked by Death Eaters at the World Cup, after the two girl had passed by their compartment, neither of them choosing to drop in and say hello as they instead seemed deep in conversation. That he heard a particularly amusing piece of gossip.

"But anyway, have you heard about the Malfoys?" Marietta asked as she looked from Harry to Cho, a vindictively, gleeful gleam in her eye. As she got ready to dish the dirt on one of Magical Britain's once premier families.

"I heard they had to move out of their manor after a deal Lucius Malfoy made fell through." Cho replied uncertainly, going off what she had read in the Daily Prophet and what her parents had mentioned during family dinners.

Harry meanwhile merely cocked an eyebrow, feigning interest.

"Oh it's more than that. The Malfoy's are completely bankrupt, they haven't a knut to their name, they're having to borrow money of friends to even send Draco to school. I mean from what I've heard they are staying with the Goyle's as they can't even afford to rent a new place. More than that though I heard the reason they lost their money was because they were robbed!" Marietta continued, becoming more animated as she spoke of the Malfoy's misfortune. The girl seemed to delight in revealing the worst bout people, it was not the most attractive quality Harry had ever seen.

"Really? I can't believe that, I always heard from my dad that Lord Malfoy was like a snake, cunning, shrewd and deadly?" Cho replied in interest as she leant forward to find out more.

Marietta glanced around the compartment as she also leant forward. "That's true, but from what I heard some Dark Wizard managed to force Lord Malfoy into signing all his money and assets away. Apparently, from what my mother told me, there are more than a few people at the Ministry who are talking of the rise of a new Dark Lord."

"A new Dark Lord?" Cho said incredulously. "If that was true wouldn't the Malfoy's be the first ones to join up?"

Marietta shushed her at that, once again looking around the compartment furtively as she did so. "Not if the Dark Lord in question is a muggleborn. One who is tired with the status quo and wants to start a revolution, killing off all the older, wealthy pureblood Houses, decimating the government and putting the muggleborns on top. A full on muggleborn revolt!"

Harry blinked as he heard the bullshit the girl was peddling, it sounded like she had been reading too many books on the Russian Revolution. "You really think that that is what's happening?" He asked disbelievingly.

"Well it would make sense wouldn't it? They start by going after the Malfoy's a wealthy family of proper standing, one of the ones that would be the first to oppose the Dark Lord. Then they start killing off the other purebloods, like the ones at the World Cup, framing them as Death Eaters to hide the fact they were taking them out those who might oppose the rise of a muggleborn Dark Lord." Marietta said as she looked around again, before looking back at the incredulous Harry and Cho, it appeared the other Ravenclaw was just as disbelieving of Marietta bullshit as Harry was.

"Seriously?" Harry asked with a bemused expression, not sure how he should feel about this interpretation of his actions.

Marietta however misinterpreted his expression, as she instead swelled with self-importance. Nodding her head knowingly as she did so. "According to my mother that's what quite a few of the more senior members of the Ministry think. Don't share this around too much though, they don't want to cause a mass panic."

"Oh don't worry, I won't tell anyone." Harry said with a stage whisper, having to stifle a laugh as he did so. The conversation might not be as intellectually stimulating as doing the crossword, but it sure was entertaining to say the least.

( - )

(A few hours later)

Soon enough the Hogwart's Express pulled to a stop in the station at Hogsmeade, a small wizarding village based only a mile or so from the gates of Hogwarts. As the train stopped, carriage doors began to open as the students began to disembark, all of the students now wearing the Hogwart's school uniform, which consisted of a flowing back robe, over the top of smart black trousers or skirts, white button up shirts or blouses and ties. The ties and the bordering of the robes, either being red, green, yellow or blue, depending on what House the person was in. With red being for Gryffindor, green being for Slytherin, yellow for Hufflepuff and blue for Ravenclaw.

Flooding onto the platform the second years students and above all moved away from the train heading into the little wizarding village, as they shuffled towards a large line of black carriages that were waiting to take them up to the school. The first years however they all milled around the platform at first, before they were called over by a huge hulking man, who stood at over nine feet tall, with a large bushy black beard and mane of wild curly black hair. A the gigantic man turned out to be called Hagrid, or at least that is what Harry assumed going off some of the greetings the man received.

Glancing at where the first years were beginning to gather, Harry decided he would rather not travel to the castle with them. Which is why he instead began to follow the masses, heading in the direction of the carriages as he did so, vainly looking out for Greengrass or anyone who he knew. Looking around he could see he had already lost track of the two girls he had spoken to on the train. Not that he was that torn up about this as there were less than four hundred students at Hogwarts, which mean it would be very easy to track them down if he wanted to. Which he might as Cho had seemed like lovely girl, and Marietta, well she had been a bit of a cow so he might not bother tracking her down.

Pushing that thought away for now, Harry instead decided to board a random half-filled carriage. Barely glancing at the thestral that pulled it, a skeletal winged horse like creature, which was only visible to those who had seen death. This wasn't the first time he had seen a thestral.

Upon getting onto the carriage Harry glanced around briefly, noting as he did that he was now sat with a group of Hufflepuffs, if he went off of the yellow colour of their ties and the bordering of their robes.

"Sup." Harry said with a nod of his head as he saw he now had the attention of the three Hufflepuffs.

"Ermm… hi." One of the boy's, a kid around Harry's age with thick blonde hair and handsome features said, an awkward expression on his face. "I don't think we've met, my name is Cedric Diggory."

"Harry." Harry said in response, giving Cedric a brief nod before doing the same as the two other Hufflepuffs in the thestral drawn carriage introduced themselves. One of them a tall, lanky, brown haired kid called Joshua Dawson, the other a short stocky boy with short brown hair and the beginnings of a wispy beard, he was apparently called George Henderson.

"Nice to meet you." Harry said with a nod of his head as the carriages began to move off, not really paying attention as the three boy preceded to engage in chitchat, talking about their summers and about the Quiddtich World Cup. Harry occasionally pitching in when Cedric attempted to include him.

( - )

(In the Great Hall at Hogwarts)

It was probably another twenty minutes later that Harry found himself in Hogwart's Great Hall, waiting patiently at the back of a line of first years. Having been directed to wait here with the rest of the new students, all of them eleven year old first years, by Minerva McGonagall, the Transfiguration Professor at Hogwarts. Suffice to say Harry was drawing a lot of attention from the other students as they muttered about who he was and why the recently turned seventeen year old Harry was transferring to Hogwarts and heading straight into his NEWT year, it was not something that happened often.

Looking around the Great Hall, Harry couldn't help but be impressed. The room was massive, with large windows lining both sides of the hall, which during the day would no doubt flood the cavernous room with light.

The roof of the hall was also marvelous, having been enchanted to be semi-transparent, showing the dark cloudless sky above. Hovering over the heads of the hundreds of patiently and occasionally impatiently waiting students and staff were hundreds of floating candles. Looking at them Harry couldn't help but wonder how they dealt with the falling candlewax, was it vanished before it hit the students below? Or were the candles enchanted to burn eternally? It was honestly pretty interesting.

Harry was soon drawn out of his musings though as Headmaster Dumbledore appeared. The famous old wizard confidently getting up from where he was sat in a throne like chair at the head table.

Harry couldn't help but smile as he saw the man's half-moon spectacles, his waist length white beard and the magenta coloured robes he was wearing. The man might be old, weird and maybe a little bit mad, but he sure knew how to make an impression. Harry had never actually spoken to or even met the man so he couldn't yet judge him, but from first appearances he matched the descriptions he had heard. Old, eccentric and powerful, even from where he was stood Harry could sense the magical power the man possessed.

For Harrys it was just a shame he had not gotten to meet the Headmaster himself and get the measure of the man. Unfortunately though his transfer to Hogwarts had been done through correspondence with Minerva McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress after he had sat his OWL exams at the Ministry. The Transfiguration Mistress had been more than happy to accept Harry into the school, especially after he took twelve OWL exam in a single day and got an Outstanding in every one. He hadn't even need to have an interview.

Harry cocked an eyebrow as he saw the elderly figure of Dumbledore walk forward from the head table where the teachers sat and up to a podium that was set up next to a small pedestal centered at the front of the large hall. It appeared the man was going to speak, which was a bit annoying as Harry had been hoping to have been sorted and sitting by now.

Approaching the podium, the old man turned to face the four large House tables, his appearance silencing the hum of chatter that had filled the room ever since the first year and Harry had entered the room waiting for the upcoming sorting.

"Welcome! Welcome! To another year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore's said loudly, his voice booming through the vast room and instantly getting the attention of all the students. Even the Slytherin students, who according to the two Ravenclaws he had chatted to on the train, all disliked the muggle-loving, geriatric old man and his obvious bias against the Dark Arts and the darker families.

"Now, before we get started with sorting the new students I have a few announcements!" Dumbledore continued a genial smile on his face as he surveyed the hall in front of him. "For all new students, please know that magic is prohibited in the halls!" Dumbledore continued, before he went on to listing what seemed to be routine yearly proclamations for the new students and reminders for those returning. Telling them about how the Forbidden Forest was forbidden, and how there was a list of banned items which were surprisingly banned…

"Now before we begin the sorting ceremony, I'd also like to announce that we have only one faculty change for the upcoming school year. Would everybody please join me in welcoming Professor Alastor Moody to Hogwarts. Professor Moody as I am sure some of you may have guessed will be filling the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." Dumbledore said, beginning to clap as he did so, the entire room quickly joining in as they welcomed the newest in a long line of Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers, none of whom seemed to be able to last over a year.

Harry's cocked an eyebrow as he saw the man at the end of the table stand up, he had heard of this Alastor Moody before, or Mad Eye Moody as many called him. The man was apparently a veteran auror, a deadly duelist and a paranoid bastard. His presence at the school was unexpected, and not welcome, at least in Harry's opinion.

The man who stood up from the table was even more distinctive than Dumbledore. The man had a face that looked like it was roughly carved from wood, covered with scars and topped with a mat of messy grey hair. It was hard to be sure but it looked like he had a prosthetic or fake leg by the way he seemed to hobble to one side. But the most startling thing were his eyes. One of them was normal looking flinty blue eye, the other on the other had was clearly a prosthetic.

It was also no doubt one of the reasons for his nickname, Mad Eye. His fake eye was bright white, with a small blue dot that acted as an iris. More than that though this eye seemed to move independently to the other one. Spinning in its socket as it seemed to be scanning the entire room and the assembled students. Pausing for a few moments on Harry before it shifted away.

"Professor Moody will be bringing years of expertise from his time as an auror for the Ministry of Magic and will be an invaluable addition to our staff." Dumbledore added as Professor Moody sat back down and the clapping died out. Dumbledore smiling genially once again as they did so. "Now, before our feast, I think it is time for the Sorting Ceremony to take place, after all we don't want to leave the new students standing there for too long! Professor McGonagall, if you would please begin the sorting?"

( - )

AN: So what did you all think? I hope you enjoyed it.

I have to admit I found writing this chapter difficult yet also interesting. It allowed me to show off more of Harry's character and a bit more about him as a person, his reasoning, his driving factors, it also allowed me to introduce a personal favourite Silena. It also let me show Harry's relationship with his family, and his slightly overprotective side.

The chapter also allowed me to play around with the canon world a bit, making a few alterations as I went. I also personally liked the idea about the muggleborn dark lord theory some of the more idiotic Ministry workers are throwing around. As it shows the deep seated suspicion in the magical society, and the fear and paranoia uncertainty and insecurity brings.

But anyway, next chapter we will have a unique little twist which I am sure will surprise a few people. We will also find out which House Harry will be sorted into. We will also get to meet more Hogwarts based characters, hear a bit about what is going on in the divine world. As well as the reaction to the Tri-Wizard tournament.

It should be fun.

Other than that I hope you all leave a comment or a review and I will see you all later.

Seagate.