Chapter 7

The rest of the ride passed quickly to Harry's surprise. He and Draco talked for a bit. Harry, however reluctantly, accepted that he was going to have to tolerate Draco's presence. Draco wasn't suddenly Harry's best friend. Nor were either of them entirely comfortable with one another. Too much history for that all to be erased in one conversation. But Harry realized with a chill, that the two of them had more in common now than he had with anyone else in the world but his owl. So the conversation was a start.

Draco and Harry spent most of the time talking about things that might be useful, but most of their plans remained fluid. They were both concerned about the sorting.

Harry was worried that the hat might shout to the rooftops about who he was. Draco was relatively certain that the hat would never spill secrets otherwise it might share anything it found out in the heads of the children of deatheaters. Eleven year olds they may be when they're sorted, but some still had knowledge of their parents' misdeeds.

Draco was equally certain that the hat would put Harry in Gryffindor, with an outside chance at putting him Hufflepuff. Harry on the other hand was not at all certain which house the hat was going to put him in. He had his suspicions, but for all he knew the hat might flat out refuse to sort him.

When the train signaled the five minute warning, Draco made his left to return to his compartment while Harry donned some robes and returned to glancing at his book. He waited until the train was nearly empty, to gather himself with a sigh and exit the train car. He heard Hagrid's voice in the distance already leading the first year's down to the lake for their crossing. Harry briefly debated going with them, before shaking his head and heading towards the carriages. He bowed his head slightly. The rain was threatening to come down at any moment. He didn't envy the first years their trip across the lake this year.

Thankfully for him, there was one carriage left as he climbed into one of the seats. He was just about to urge the thestral to go for the castle when the carriage shook slightly and someone else heaved themselves up into the cab.

Harry was rather surprised to find himself staring into eyes that were the deepest blue he had ever encountered. He realized that staring at a vaguely familiar looking girl, with dark hair, that seemed to have the slightest tinge of blue in it, though for all Harry knew it could have been the light. He also noted that she was wearing the silver and green trim of Slytherin robes. "Er… hello." Harry greeted eloquently in an attempt at politeness.

Daphne Greengrass for her part was surprised to find anyone in the last carriage. She had gotten back onto the train because her sister had left a book on there, and Daphne offered to get it because she preferred Astoria not go anywhere alone. Astoria had gone on to the castle with her friends and Daphne's best friend Tracey Davis. After a moment to get over her surprise, and another one making sure that he was no immediate threat. She sat down across from the stranger warily. After a moment, she nodded her head in greeting but said nothing else merely looked at him with an evaluating expression on her face.

Rather than take offense at the rather cold welcome, Harry shrugged internally. For just a moment he had forgotten himself. It was a good reminder for him. He wasn't here to make friends. He was here to prevent the catastrophe to come. Harry turned his attention away from her to view the path as the carriage began to move toward the castle. They both rocked slightly as the carriage began to move.

"I've not seen you around before." Daphne stated. She had spent a full minute noting everything she could about the stranger. It wasn't often you met someone you had never seen before in Hogwarts. She had taken note of his calm expression, one that was undeterred by her presence after the initial surprise, nor was it bothered by her silent appraisal.

Harry shrugged lithely, "I'm not surprised, as I'm newly enrolled this year in Hogwarts."

Daphne raised an eyebrow curiously at this as she appraised Harry again. His school robes looked new, and expensive, though they were without house affiliation that all uniforms gain after a student had been sorted. What she had noticed most of all in the shadow of the evening sky, and the further shadow of the carriage were his piercing emerald eyes. Though they hadn't done more than glance at her when she entered the carriage. They hadn't acknowledged her since.

"Do you have a name?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. It was odd that he hadn't introduced himself yet.

Harry smiled a moment before nodding. "I do." He kept his gaze out the side of the carriage, looking at the surrounding area. He knew he was being silly, and possibly a little bit rude. But Harry's rather stunted social instincts were telling him to talk to her, and to have a dialogue with the beauty sitting across from him. However, Harry knew that might lead to more friendships, and more friendships inevitably meant more people ending up dead because of him.

Any teasing comment he was going to make was stopped as he felt the carriage pass through the outer most wards of the school. He was momentarily surprised that he could feel them, since he had never felt the wards before. However, Harry realized that by the time he had gotten a feel for that sort of thing in his world, Hogwarts had been destroyed and there was nothing to feel.

Now Harry was very aware of the feel of the wards, but he could also feel that they weren't as strong as he expected. The anti-apparition wards and anti-portkey wards alone, at the world cup, were stronger than the ones they had just passed through. Harry wondered if they just weren't powered up all the way at the moment.

Daphne frowned slightly. This was a different experience for her. Usually with boys her age, their attention was on her, and they did their best to draw her into conversation. This stranger's responses might have mirrored her own if the positions were flipped. She had her cold and remote "Ice Queen" persona well crafted. It kept her aloof and apart from most of the politics of Slytherin House. And here was someone who was turning it around on her. The boy across from her seemed to be honestly lost in thought.

"Well, if you're not willing to share it. I'm not going to indulge your childish need for me to give you attention by asking for it." Daphne said. She kept her voice slightly chilly, with the slightest hint of recrimination in it. Her mother had long ago taught her how to get responses out of people.

Harry's response was an utterly apathetic shrug. He didn't care if he'd offended her or that she'd called him childish. At the moment his mind was only aware of her vaguely, once he'd dismissed her aloofness and attitude he turned his attention to other things. He was thinking about the castle wards, to keep himself from concentrating and worrying about the sorting ceremony, and whether or not he could get the hat not to say anything about who he really was.

Daphne blinked in surprise to his response. She had, in effect demanded his name, but by accusing him of being childish, she had implied that his actions were that of a boy. And if there was one thing that men, especially teenagers, didn't want; it was to be accused of acting like a boy. But the other occupant of the carriage didn't seem to care at all. And worst of all, by her own statement, she couldn't follow up with a question because she had categorically stated that she wasn't going to ask.

Any further thought on the matter was cut off by movement in the sky. Daphne shifted her attention from the stranger to the sky in time to see a pastel blue coach pulled by large winged horses. Daphne counted 12 of them. The horses were golden, though she also noted they had crimson eyes. She followed the coach with her eyes as it flew in and landed on a straight patch of land where Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper had to dive out of the way or be landed on by the carriage. Daphne could see the coach settle in.

Daphne had turned her puzzled expression away from the carriage and back to the stranger sharing a compartment with her, and was about to make a comment when she saw his attention was on the lake. Daphne glanced in the direction of his gaze, wondering if he had caught a glimpse of the giant squid that inhabited the lake. Instead her attention was drawn by a pole moving through the water. After a few moments, the pole jerked and an enormous blood red sailing vessel emerged from the water to rest gently on the surface of the lake. Daphne's eyes widened in surprise, even as the carriage they were in jerked to a stop, signaling arrival at the castle.

Harry smoothly got out of his seat, already moving before the carriage had stopped. He hopped to the ground, walking toward the castle entrance purposefully. His path was unimpeded since most people were looking at the carriage or the boat and talking excitedly amongst themselves. Though neither had opened to disembark anyone yet. Harry hoped to find a professor who could direct him where to go. He really wasn't keen on joining all the first years in a line waiting for a sorting. He'd hoped the sorting could be done privately beforehand.

Daphne watched, astounded as the stranger bounded from the carriage without a backward glance. She had never been dismissed so utterly before and her eyes narrowed before her own aloof mask slipped into place. Daphne had no idea who he was but she made a mental note to find out and then to make him pay appropriately for the social snub.

She wasn't going to let him bother her as she got out of the carriage to look for her sister and return her book. Then she was going to find her best friend Tracey and see what Tracey might know about any of it. Daphne didn't know anything about the mysterious carriage or the ship in the black lake. Nor did she know anything of the mystery person she had just shared a cabin with. Tracey tended to keep her ears more firmly to the ground for gossip and if anyone would know the goings on, it would be her.

Harry took a moment to make sure his appearance was intact. His long hair was held in a ponytail and felt a little bit odd. But the ponytail kept it from turning into a crow's nest. While Harry wasn't particularly concerned with his looks, he didn't want anyone to draw conclusions. Further, it kept his hair in such a way that it obscured the area where his faded lightning bolt scar remained on his head.

Perenelle had further helped him with a charm that they applied to the skin where the scar was. It was apparently an advanced charm but one that a few skilled adult females were capable of doing. It was a small and localized combination of glamour and notice-me-not. Apparently women who were skilled spellcasters had used it for years to hide unwanted facial blemishes. So if he were careless enough with his hair, it would still hide the scar. He had no interest in people seeing a faded scar and drawing comparisons to Iris Potter.

Harry looked around and saw Professor McGonagall walking slowly toward the docks where the first years would arrive. He steeled himself before calling out "Professor?" as he quickly stepped a few paces to draw even with her.

Minerva McGonagall was drawn out of her musing by the call for a professor. She turned to see a boy who looked oddly familiar but she was sure she didn't recognize him, and he wasn't wearing any house affiliation. "Yes? Can I help you?"

Harry nodded a little, meeting her eyes. "I was hoping you might direct me where to go."

Minerva frowned and tilted her head curiously. "You should be with your school delegation, because they're all supposed to come in together." She looked like she was preparing to direct him to the ship or the carriage.

Harry quickly shook his head, "No, I'm not with Durmstrang or Beauxbatons. I'm Ares Flamel, I'm a transfer student."

McGonagall's eyes widened momentarily, either at the last name, or the new student's knowledge of the arrival of the two guest schools, but quickly composed herself. "Oh! Yes, of course Mr. Flamel. You need to be sorted and I assumed you would come across the lake like all the first years. I'm headed to get them now if you'll accompany them, you can join me."

Harry sighed a little bit, so much for hoping he could be sorted privately. However, knowing the professor as he did, he knew there was little hope of convincing McGonagall to allow him to be sorted privately, especially if Dumbledore hadn't approved it. So Harry merely nodded, "Of course, Professor McGonagall."

Minerva raised an eyebrow at him, wondering if someone had pointed her out to him, but shrugged and turned to walk toward the entrance. They were quiet for several moments, in which she was surprised the teen did not ask about the sorting, he merely seemed content to walk next to her. When it became clear he wasn't going to ask her questions Minerva began to ask questions of her own. "Professor Dumbledore was most surprised when Nicholas contacted him about your enrollment."

Harry merely shrugged. "They were relatively undecided until recently. And this is only a trial experience. If the school doesn't suit me, I'm able to withdraw and transfer to another institution, or return to private schooling."

Minerva frowned as she regarded Harry thoughtfully, "I'm surprised your parents didn't enroll you when you were twelve. That's the standard practice."

Harry could almost see the lines, as she fished for information. "They researched schools thoroughly. After looking at all the options, they thought that remaining homeschooled would be better for me. I had already started my education at that point. They saw no reason to take me back to basics. As it is, I'm still relatively advanced in comparison to others in my age group. We think. Truth be told, they still weren't sure about sending me here; they had some educational and safety concerns."

Minerva looked surprised at that. "Hogwarts is the finest magical institution in the world. The education is unparalleled and it's very safe."

Harry raised an eyebrow at that statement, though he kept his tone placid. "Let's just say that I have my doubts about that Professor."

Minerva scowled at that, but any rebuttal she would have been able to make was cut off as they arrived at the entrance to where the first years awaited. She looked at all of the first years and began to give a speech about Houses and family.

Harry completely tuned her out so that he wasn't tempted to interrupt her. He remembered the same speech given to him as a first year... "Yeah. Houses are like family. If family will turn on you whenever it's convenient, or beneficial to them, or whenever rumors paint you in a bad light, or at the slightest misstep, or when it's popular to do so, or… Then again… given my experience with the Dursley's I guess I can't say she's wrong. Maybe the houses really are like family."

He purposefully moved his mind to something else so that his temper wouldn't rise. Looking around at the first years, Harry repressed a brief smile. He could see that Dennis Creevey was dripping wet from head to toe, and shivering a little bit, but still smiling wide as he tried to look everywhere at once.

When McGonagall spoke with a short "Follow me." after a short moment to glare at Dennis, she turned to lead them into the feast, Harry scowled at her back. Of course she hadn't done anything about Dennis being soaked to the bone and dripping wet.

He turned to follow her, but at the same time flicked his holly and phoenix feather wand into his hand and then deliberately muttered as he cast several drying charms on the soaking boy. Harry hadn't believed it was possible for the boy's smile to get any wider, but it did as he grinned at Harry with a bright "Thanks!"

Harry almost envied the boy for a moment. Dennis had just let a complete stranger cast spells on him. If someone had tried that on Harry, Harry probably would have banished them halfway across the room before they'd finished the first wand swish, and without bothering to stop to think.

Minerva glanced back, seeing him drying Dennis off but did not say anything else. Harry merely nodded in acknowledgement to Dennis' thanks. He had no desire to become a target for the hero-worship of either Creevy boy. Especially since all it had gotten them in the last world was an early grave and broken-hearted-parents.

They strode into the hall. Harry spared a glance for the ceiling, which was dark and seem to be filled with storm clouds. He made sure all the first years went before him, and came in at the back of the group. Harry kept his face placid as he could feel eyes on him from all over the hall. He purposefully didn't turn to look at the tables, not wanting to seem like he was staring back, instead he looked at all of the professors at the front table. He let himself inspect them all in turn while McGonagall began to call the names of the first years.

Harry picked out the familiar, not noting any major changes. Professor Flitwick still attentive and excited, his goblin features highlighted in the candlelight, and his white hair poking out at odd angles. He was enthusiastically clapping for each of the students, though he did so extra loudly for any that ended up in Ravenclaw. Rubeus Hagrid was sitting down next to the diminutive professor with a friendly smile on his face. Harry had never found out exactly what had happened to his first friend in his old world. He merely was told that Hagrid was killed during the battle of Hogwarts.

Further down the table Severus Snape sat watching each sorting with an impassive expression, every so often letting his eyes pass over the group. He clapped each time the hat announced someone was headed for Slytherin. As was his norm, Snape dressed all in black. Harry's eyes met his for a moment, and Snape's eyebrows rose slightly in surprise before returning back to his blank expression. Harry was grateful that Snape made no attempt to scan his mind, even briefly. That would have been very painful for Snape and Harry was sure the results would have been noticeable to everyone in the hall.

Harry was uncertain how to feel about Snape. On one hand the man was an utter bastard and had been horrible to him for every moment of his Hogwarts career. He had spent Harry's entire fifth year firing legilimancy probes into his mind again and again. The technique was incredibly painful and caused more harm than good to Harry's mind.

However, Harry had later found out that it was the fastest way to teach someone to defend against harmful intrusion, and Dumbledore had demanded Snape teach him fifth year, as fast as possible, and specifically in that way. Harry couldn't deny that Snape had probably enjoyed it a little too much, but he wasn't willing to lay all the blame for that at Snape's feet. Though it had been a direct contributor to the state of Harry's mental defenses as they stood now.

Snape had also been instrumental in the Dark Lord finding out about the prophecy, causing the deaths of his parents. On the other hand he had begged both Voldemort and Dumbledore. The former he had begged to spare his mother, the latter had been to help save her respectively. He then helped defend Harry from attacks that would have killed him during school, more than once. And apparently he had done the same for Harry's mother when they were in school together and people in Slytherin wanted to take things out on Lily. In the end, Snape had fallen holding off Death Eaters while Harry and his friends made their escape during the assault on Hogwarts.

Harry wondered at the loyalties and experiences of the Snape in this world. Especially since both of his parents were alive. What did this mean for the events that occurred on this world and Snape's role in them. Harry let no reaction show on his face to his personal thoughts as his perusal continued down the table.

He was interrupted in his perusal when he mentally noted that McGonagall had passed the G's and was into the H's. Harry sighed internally, knowing that it was likely that the headmaster was going to make more of a spectacle of Harry's arrival than he would have preferred.

He saw other faces he recognized, though ones he didn't remember ever talking to. Bathsheda Babbling, teacher of ancient runes, her dark brown hair cut in a pixie cut, with glasses. She was strikingly attractive, and probably the youngest of the teachers, at least in appearance. She was clapping with politeness every time that the cap shouted. Next to her sat Septima Vector, clad in red with a pointed hat, and long dark hair. She looked slightly older, but incredibly regal. She watched the sorting impassively, though also clapped politely for each sorting. Harry realized that they really had no reason to be excited since they wouldn't interact with the students in any significant way before third year.

Next to her, clad in black and blue was the familiar form of Rolanda Hooch. Her short grey hair, still obviously spikey despite the witch's hat she wore. Her piercing yellow eyes, which Harry had always found interesting, watched the sorting with interest, and she clapped for each student. Harry was surprised that somehow she looked even more intense than he remembered her being on his world. Her amber eyes moved over every first year, and then locked on Harry's for a brief moment before she returned to the student being sorted.

Harry turned his attention to the other end of the table. Dark skinned and beautiful Aurora Sinestra, astronomy professor, sat next to Pomona Sprout and were talking very quietly between one another, pausing only to clap after each sorting.

Harry's eyes moved on to the professor next to her, and his eyes widened ever so fractionally before he schooled his expression. Lily Potter nee Evans sat and clapped politely after each sorting, though she occasionally leaned over to reply to something Professor Sinestra had said, their voices too quiet for Harry to hear. Then he realized that they probably had a muffliato charm up.

She was very beautiful, and her red hair was very eye catching. But he noticed her eyes most of all. Everyone was right. He did have her eyes. His eyes lingered on her for a few moments longer than the others before he moved on with a force of will. It was interesting to see her here and alive but as much as he might want to talk to her, Harry reminded himself he needed to keep his distance. He would not be responsible for her death, again.

Finally his eyes landed on the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Professor Albus Dumbledore. Harry had to admit, his robes at the moment were probably some of his more reserved robes; they were only a shiny grey with gold trim. He looked on, pleased and was clapping on the back of his hand after each sorting. Harry kept his eyes away from Dumbledore's. He had no interest in causing a spectacle if Dumbledore should try and use legilimancy on him.

Harry sighed as Professor McGonagall called the last name on the list, a Blake Zabini, sorted into Ravenclaw. Harry remembered vaguely that there was a Blaise Zabini in his class, though Harry couldn't remember anything else. She began to roll up her scroll, and he heard the murmur of students rise behind him. He had already heard several remarks from the closer tables wondering who the student still up at the table was.

Dumbledore stood up and Harry saw him smile first down at Harry and then the room at large, before speaking. "This year, we also have someone else joining us. He has been home schooled up until this year, and has elected to enroll in Hogwarts to continue his education. Please welcome, Ares Flamel." Dumbledore stated loudly enough for everyone to hear as he gestured to the stool for Harry to take a seat.

Harry internally rolled his eyes, as he heard murmurs break out all over the hall. It was mostly upper class students. He wondered if it was the rarity of any sort of transfer student, or if it was the name Flamel.

Harry was sure he'd find out later, as he turned and sat on the stool, facing the crowd. McGonagall wasted no time in setting the sorting hat on his head. Even his own mind, defended as it was wouldn't recognize it as an intrusion.

It took only a moment before Harry heard the sorting hat's voice in his head. He didn't even bother bracing himself, knowing that there was no form of occlumency that could stop the hat from getting a read on someone's mind.

"Well, let's see what we have here. You're a bit older than I'm used to…" The hat's musing voice trailed off for several seconds. "What the bloody hell?" The hat's voice resounded in his mind.

Harry was thankful that the hat was speaking only to him and not to the hall at large. "Um… Hi! I can explain!" Even as he was saying it, he was mentally cursing himself for the complete lack of preparedness for this moment.

The sorting hat's voice was dismissive, "Don't bother. It's all right here in your head. You've been through quite the ringer haven't you?"

"That's one way of putting it." Harry replied with a mental shrug. He knew he wasn't likely to have any secrets when the hat was through with him. It was the reason Harry hadn't put a ton of thought into a convincing story or argument for the hat. He knew the hat would see to the heart of the matter anyway.

"There really wasn't much left there at all, was there?" The sorting hat mused as it sifted through Harry's mind and memories especially as it examined the last few years of Harry's life.

Harry just shrugged mentally. He knew he couldn't hide anything from the hat and though he could feel the presence of the hat in his head, it was a lot like feeling the air in his lungs. He could tell it was there, but couldn't do anything about it.

"Your mind is… damaged." The hat said bluntly and rather suddenly.

Harry cocked his head to the side very slightly, "My brain is just fine." His voice was polite and defensive at the same time.

"We are talking about your mind, not your brain. Two different things." The hat corrected primly.

"Oh." Harry frowned but had no real reply to that. He knew exactly what the hat was talking about. He had never mastered occlumency, but the repeated violations of his mind had created a unique defense. He didn't have impenetrable walls or a cleared mind. Harry had an unconscious mind that reacted powerfully and violently to any sort of intrusion. Harry had no control over it whatsoever and couldn't even let someone in if he wanted to. "Couldn't do anything with occlumency, and my mind had to protect itself somehow."

The hat completely bypassed his defense as a magical artifact, but could still feel the turmoil it set off within his mind. "Quite right. Also quite dangerous for anyone trying to enter your mind." The hat replied.

"With all the things to worry about. That is the least of my concerns. No one should be entering my mind. If they do, they deserve what they get. The secrets of my world are mine to keep." Harry replied sharply.

The hat said with a sigh. "You blame yourself for far too much. You hold the destruction of the world and all those deaths as your own fault. That burden should not fall to you."

"It was my fault." Harry replied bluntly and with heat. "It was my job to defeat Voldemort and I failed. Whatever excuses and rationalization you put behind that failure, the fact remains. I failed. Voldemort may not have ruled the world, but he got his second choice. Destroying it. He was very successful at it."

"And yet you were hindered at nearly every step of the way." The hat argued, though there was a resigned tone to his voice, as if it knew it was a losing argument.

"What does it matter what hindered me? I wasn't strong enough. Wasn't smart enough. Wasn't powerful enough. Every single death can be laid at my feet as much as anyone else's. The deaths of people protecting me, the deaths of people following me and fighting with me, the deaths of people who died because of simple proximity to me, and the deaths of people I couldn't protect. That is my burden." Harry responded, his eyes flickering over to the Hufflepuff table and finding Cedric Diggory. Not the first person whose death he was responsible for, but the first person who died because Harry couldn't protect him. The image of Cedric's dead body and sightless eyes flicking through his mind, briefly.

There was a silence, then a very sad voice. "Perhaps it's not just the mind that's damaged, but your soul as well."

Without giving Harry time to reply or ask what the hat meant by that, it continued "What are you hoping to get out of this?" The sorting hat asked curiously, though it's tone still carried tinges of sadness and thoughtfulness.

Harry was silent at that, trying to figure out what the hat meant by it's previous statement, before he realized that he had been asked a question. "Well, I'm hoping to convince you not to share what you see in my head with anyone." Harry replied bluntly.

There was a soft chuckle in Harry's mind. "No need to worry about that. The magic the founders weaved into the hat and the castle itself forbid me from spilling the secrets of a sorting."

"Even if it's a second sorting?" Harry asked bluntly. It wasn't that he didn't believe the hat. It was one of the few beings that had never lied to him, but he was just being cautious.

"Your secrets are safe and will not be shared, Mr. Potter. My question was broader. What are you hoping to gain here?" The sorting hat replied, its tone truly curious.

Harry shrugged a bit, well aware of all the eyes that remained on him. "Well, I need to stop what happened on my world from happening here. In order to do that, I need to prepare myself for war as fast as possible, and do anything I can to weaken the other side's grip before it becomes a stranglehold. In order to stop Voldemort's rise to power here and crush the bastard before he lays waste to this world. That's why I'm here. The events on my world during this year lead directly to his resurrection and the destruction of absolutely everything."

"And if the Dark Lord from your world should show up, or if he is already present on this world?" The hat asked curiously.

"To utterly destroy him too, and any who take up his cause. And do it with a minimum loss of life from those who don't deserve to die." Harry replied more harshly but no less firmly than he'd intended.

"Those who deserve to die. Such an interesting statement. Anything else?" The hat's voice was neither accusing or upset by Harry's statement. In fact it seemed altogether neutral to Harry's comment and filled with curiosity. Harry knew that the hat hadn't missed his statement of qualification about those who don't deserve to die.

"Isn't that enough?" Harry countered.

"Well, it seems like something has also been requested from you by Nicholas Flamel." The hat replied.

Harry was puzzled for several seconds before he replied. "Well...after talking to the Flamels, Nicholas made me promise that I was not going to hold back the chaos I was going to cause, especially if it served a purpose." Harry replied somewhat sheepishly.

It was a request Nicholas had made of Harry, and Harry hadn't really understood why. Nicholas had flat out encouraged him to cause as much chaos as possible. Harry had thought that perhaps it was just Nicholas urging to prank showing through. One week with him and Harry knew that he was a kindred spirit to the Weasley twins.

But Perenelle had agreed with him, and while she tolerated Nicholas' playful side. she wasn't one for pranking. She had merely told Harry that "A society as repressed and stagnant as the Wizarding world, needs a little bit of chaos and confusion. It might just do society some good."

"And if you accomplish all that? What then?" The hat asked, ignoring whatever Harry's thoughts were regarding being encouraged to cause chaos.

Harry shrugged mentally. He hadn't really given that much thought. "Then I'll have done my job and completed my purpose. In the very unlikely event I'm still alive. I think I'll have earned a rest. Maybe I'll go live in some fidelius charmed cave away from everyone. Or… if what the Flamels said is the truth and I'm not going to expire of old age... Maybe I'll just step through the Veil here. See what's on the other side. And if it truly is the Veil of Death, then I'll see my friends again."

The sorting hat was silent at that. It was a nearly mournful voice that spoke up. "Never a life for yourself. How very sad."

Harry frowned at that, but the hat wasn't finished. "You have no plans to meet your family and get to know them here." It wasn't so much a question as a statement wanting explanation.

Harry inwardly recoiled. "Hell no. I'm the kiss of death. Anyone who has ever been close to me has died. I will not show up here and disrupt their life like that. I'm going to stay as far away from them as humanly possible. I've already caused the deaths of James and Lily Potter once. I won't be the cause of it happening a second time."

"And Iris? You won't even connect with her? Perhaps out of anyone she could understand and share your burden. The burden you carry like a yoke around your neck, could be understood and even shared by her." The hat argued.

"Again, hell no. She's not me. It's not the same situation. She's got family and support. And If I do my job right, then hopefully the burden I carry will never be one that she has to carry. Maybe that's what I hope to achieve most of all. I plan to keep her, and my… her family as far away from me as possible. I am going to do this alone. That is my plan." Harry said fervently. He hadn't even laid eyes on Iris, but was defensive of the idea all the same.

"The best laid plans of mice and men." The hat snorted, and once more continued without allowing Harry to interrogate it. "To succeed in your goals you will need allies. You seem to have already picked up one in young Mr. Malfoy."

"That wasn't by choice. It's not like I wanted him to swear a loyalty oath or anything. He works with me, and I might as well be signing his death warrant… again. However if I don't work with him, then I'm signing his death warrant anyway. Damned if I do, damned if I don't." Harry was defensive, he hadn't planned for Malfoy. Harry still hadn't completely convinced himself that the smartest thing to do wouldn't be to kill Draco, transfigure him into a rock and throw him into the lake.

"All the same. You will need some allies. And we don't mean just among those here. Whether you like it or not, you are incredibly powerful. And incredibly skilled for someone without any advanced training, most of your skills have been developed on the fly. You must seek out the knowledge you need. The Room of Requirement can't provide you someone with that instruction. While it is a powerful enchantment, it was never meant to teach or instruct. You must look elsewhere." The hat told him.

Harry sighed a little bit, his primary idea out the window. If the room of requirement didn't have what he required. Harry would have to figure out something else, but he honestly didn't even know where to start.

The hat hesitated for several long seconds. "Before you are sorted, Hogwarts must make a request of you."

Harry's response was wary as he wondered what sort of request that the hat might make. "Why am I not surprised?"

The hat paused, as if Harry's response had indeed caught it off guard and it was debating with itself. "We do not wish to heap more on your shoulders."

Harry sighed and shook his head slightly. "No, but you're going to anyway, so you might as well go ahead and ask." He hadn't meant to but he sighed inwardly with his response, and his shoulders slumped slightly on the stool, as if preparing themselves for more responsibility.

The Hat hesitated, but then it seemed to accept Harry's statement at face value, "The things that happened in your world are an abomination. They must not be allowed to occur in this world! Hogwarts must not fall! We must ask you not to fight all of your nature. You have the ability to change this world, and this time you are unfettered and not restrained, physically, socially, and most important, magically." The hat's voice seemed to reverberate in Harry's mind. Though before Harry could ask what the Hat meant about being restrained the hat continued.

"Evil is stirring and Hogwarts has felt the tremors. You will be standing as a beacon against it. Young Mr. Malfoy was right on the train, you know. He was the first to swear to you as a Lord, but he won't be the last. Don't turn away from those who would join you to follow you. And beware those who might use you to their own ends." The hat made the request in a voice of solemnity.

"I've had enough of Dumbledore's 'greater good' to last me forever. This time I'm going to do things my way." Harry said resolutely.

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There were several people watching this sorting curiously. It had been some time since Hogwarts had taken any real transfer students.

Headmaster Dumbledore was watching with curious eyes, as the hat sat quietly on Ares' head. He was still surprised that the Flamels had an heir, much less one that was only a young boy. He was aware that the Flamel's might still be unhappy with him regarding the destruction of their Stone. Perenelle in particular seemed unhappy with him when he had delivered the news. Dumbledore wondered if they'd passed the secret on how to create it onto their son. He also wondered exactly how much training the young boy had, neither of the Flamels were particularly powerful magically, nor were they gifted spell casters.

One other thing that surprised him was the feeling of anticipation in the air. As if the castle itself was excited for this particular sorting.

Professor Severus Snape had been surprised when he'd laid eyes on young Ares Flamel. When Dumbledore had informed them all about the arrival of the Flamel heir, Snape had been very curious. Flamel was the pre-imminent alchemist in the world, for obvious reasons. Snape wondered whether that had been passed on to his offspring. As a potioneer Snape wondered what secrets the boy might know. However, laying eyes on the boy had been quite a shock. When their eyes met, Snape was startled to find himself looking eyes that he had only seen twice before in his life. In his best friend Lily, and her eldest daughter. Snape glanced over to see Lily watching the stool with interest. He wondered if she had seen the same thing that he had seen, and then realized that she was exchanging looks with some of the other professors and realized that they were watching the timing of the sorting.

Iris watched the new boy on the stool with an odd look on her face. There was something about him, that she couldn't quite place, that tickled some sixth sense. She had been watching the unknown student more intently than she had realized. When Iris had heard his name, she and Hermione had exchanged looks, clearly flashing back to the path of obstacles. Iris knew they were both wondering the same thing, whether this new student was any relation to the Flamels with the Philosopher's stone. Still, it wasn't just that. There was something different about this sorting. She frowned as more than once she thought she heard her name murmured around her, but when she looked around she couldn't tell where it might have come from.

Daphne Greengrass watched from Slytherin table as the boy who'd refused to give his name, and then hadn't cared when she'd called him childish, sat to be sorted. Ares Flamel. That name had sent whispers throughout the upper years at every table and through all of the purebloods at Slytherin. The question on everyone's lips was whether or not he was any relation to Nicholas Flamel. Daphne wondered who would be the first to ask him. She also wondered where he might be sorted.

A pair of silver-grey eyes belonging to Luna Lovegood watched the sorting with an uncommon expression of confusion on her face, her brow furrowing as she stared with intensity at the boy sitting on the stool. She didn't know why and she certainly could never say how, but in that moment Luna knew with certainty that something had changed.

To all those watching the sorting, they were starting to get restless, the hat had been sitting on Harry's head for over five minutes without making a sound, and there were starting to be mutterings. Though it wasn't the longest sorting ever, it was starting to get up there. Suddenly they were all taken aback when the hat opened it's brim, but instead of shouting out an expected house. The hat started to laugh, a deep booming laugh that seemed to reverberate throughout the castle.

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Harry felt self-conscious at the hat's laughter, well aware that it wasn't limited to just his head.

The hat finally stopped laughing and spoke in an amused tone, once again speaking only to Harry. "You are not the only one who has tired of that phrase. Though we weren't really speaking of him, many people may want to use you. Some people, more honestly than others, such as Draco Malfoy."

Harry snorted internally, "I'm well aware that Draco gave that oath because he didn't want to die like he had before."

The hat gave a small burst of agreement, before it continued. "We caution you though, just because someone makes mistakes does not mean they're evil. But… our request was serious. Do not turn away someone away who would genuinely follow you. Keep them at arm's length if you can, and if you must. But do not turn them away."

Harry sighed a little bit, "I will do my best, but I will remain cautious."

"Of course. One final warning. Just because someone was good, or evil on your past world, does not mean they are so on this world. There are differences." The hat said solemnly.

"I will remember that. I promise." Harry replied. Harry's mental voice trailed off with a frown. Something was slightly different about the hat now. It was speaking in plural, and listening closely Harry was able to hear different voices speaking in unison when the hat spoke.

As if sensing the direction of Harry's thoughts, the hat changed topic quickly, "Now, suppose we should get you sorted. Do you have a preference?" The hat asked curiously.

Harry frowned at that. "Not… really. Somewhere I'll be able to do what I need to."

"Hmm. Normally we would say this is a tricky decision, but it's really down to two houses. Hufflepuff would drive you nuts and they would worry for you whenever you were alone. Your intensity would probably drive a wedge between you and them quickly. Gryffindor is out as well. For the same reasons. You would have no peace in that house." The hat pondered slowly, musing to itself.

"If I put you in Ravenclaw, they would… likely leave you alone whenever you were studying. And you would be able to study in peace. However that would put you in close proximity to Iris Potter and the Miss Granger of this world. I think it would also limit you. Those in Ravenclaw tend to seek knowledge for knowledge sake. Pure knowledge will not help you in your quest." The hat's voice was getting more firm as it talked through its thoughts.

Harry swallowed. His momentary surprise at the mention of both Iris and Hermione in Ravenclaw was surpassed by the decision that the hat seemed to be heading toward.

Harry had come full circle. The first time he had sat on this stool he had begged the hat not to place him in Slytherin. Now the hat from this world was drawing the same inexorable conclusion the one in the old world had.

Harry didn't have quite the same problem going into the house as he did before. The first time his concern was mostly that he had heard Voldemort had gone there and had seen Draco Malfoy go there. He had desperately wanted to avoid that.

Harry's concern about placement in the house was much more elemental now. The question was whether or not he'd be able to resist the urge to slaughter a generation of future death eaters the first time one of them tried to prove their superiority to him or the first time one of them tried to cram a pureblood agenda down his throat.

It was the symmetry of the conclusions from the Sorting Hats in two separate worlds was eerie to him.

Once again people were stunned as the hat began to burst out in the same deep laughter for several seconds.

The hat's voice was amused. "Yes, in your last world, you successfully argued to be placed elsewhere. However, I don't think that will work a second time. You have a plan to save the world. What is that if not ambition?"

The hat's voice turned firm and Harry was surprised, he could hear actual anger in the hat's voice or voices. As the hat's emotions rose, Harry was able to pick out different voices in the hat's speech. The hat even seemed to tremble with rage on top of Harry's head. "We were wrong, Mr. Potter. We have a second request for you. You're going to the house of the ambitious and cunning for many reasons. The politics can destroy people in that house, but you have lived through far worse than anything you might be faced with by the members of that house."

"For too long that house has been a bastion of bigots and bullies. To be in the house is incredibly dangerous and it is known as a viper pit for a reason. What limited power the headmaster over the houses, has been unable to change it despite his attempts. Until now we have been powerless to do anything about it. No longer!" The hat's voices rose in Harry's head, and he could clearly hear the combination of two male and two female voices, though the hat hadn't said any of this aloud.

The hat seemed to cackle with glee, though this time Harry could tell it was only in his head. This time though, the hat spoke with only one voice. And it was noticeably different than the hat's normal voice or the four voices in unison. It was deep and rich, and sounded far more cultured than Harry had heard before. "This chance may never come again. I'm going to release a basilisk among the little vipers. Accept yourself and all of who you are. Above all I ask that you do not allow the atrocity that the house of the serpents has become, to continue any longer. The House I gave my name has fallen into disgrace. You have true power. Your potential is unlimited. Change my house Mister Potter. Change it and you make strides to saving the school and changing the world. I beg you to restore nobility to my name and to the house of Salazar SLYTHERIN!"

The last word was shouted with an exuberance that raised some eyebrows all around the professor's table.

Harry took the hat off and kept his face carefully blank of any surprise, the Slytherin table was clapping politely. Harry wondered if anyone else knew just how much of the founders were in the sorting hat. He also made a mental note to investigate closer in the near future if the opportunity presented itself. Harry rolled his eyes slightly at all the gawkers he made the way over to the table, his robe already changing to acquire the silver and green trim of Slytherin.

On his way over, despite his internal resolution not to look for familiar faces, out of the corner of his eye Harry caught a glimpse of Ron for the first time in this world. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Harry could see that Ron had a sneer affixed to his face. Harry didn't really blame Ron. The Ron of his world had never gotten over his dislike of Slytherins, though that might have had to do with the fact that they had met very few Slytherins that weren't trying to put them down in their early years, or kill them in their later years.

As Ron so eloquently put it, "If it looks like a duck, smells like a duck, and quacks like a duck, chances are good that it's not a cow."

As he descended from the dais, Harry glanced up at the head table and saw Snape watching him with a blank expression, though Harry could tell he was curious. A quick curious glance at Dumbledore, showed nothing but polite clapping and a smile on the man's face. He did notice a slight flurry of activity from the other side of the table. Lily Potter eyebrows were drawn up in surprise as were the two teachers nearest to her. Though Harry only spared it a thought, wondering what they might be surprised by as he focused on the Slytherin table.

He could feel the evaluating eyes of the house even as they clapped politely. Harry saw Draco, surprise still etched on his face, nudging Crabbe over, so he made a beeline for the spot next to Draco. "Better the devil you know…" Harry thought as he approached and slid into the seat with a nod. Harry turned his attention from the surrounding hall, to Draco, and his new housemates.

Draco's expression was still surprised, and he leaned a bit closer and his voice was soft. "Never figured you'd end up here." He glanced around at all the people in Slytherin that were watching them with a variety of expressions, from cool indifference, which Draco knew was feigned, to thoughtful evaluation, to outright greed.

Harry glanced around at the Slytherin's, the majority of whom were either eyeing them with open curiosity, or pretending not to, and he smirked slightly at Draco. "You'll find I'm full of surprises Malfoy."

He kept his tone even, but his posture was stiff and Harry could feel his hand twitch slightly, instinctively wanting to lash out at several students that he knew would be death eaters in the near future, or at least they had been in his world. He took several slow breaths even as the people all around him seemed to be eager to interrogate him, but just didn't want to be the first person to break the ice.

Any further conversation was cut off as Dumbledore got up to make another announcement. Harry turned his head to listen to the announcement, though he was already well aware of what the Headmaster was going to announce.

Harry turned with feigned interest as Dumbledore announced the guests everyone had seen arrive with a flourish. Though Harry was attentive at the entrances of both Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, and was only mildly impressed at their theatricality and the impression they made on the other students.

Harry's eyes picked out Fleur out of the Beauxbatons group. She was at the very end of the Beauxbaton's line, and twirled before curtseying to the crowd with the rests of our schoolmates. Her cool eyes swept the room with a haughty expression, a thoughtful expression crossing her face as her eyes traced the room searchingly a second time.

"Looks like she's recovered from exposure to the cruciatus curse." Harry mused to himself as he turned away turning his attention back to the head table, mentally relieved at that fact. He had endured a busy week, and had checked the Daily Herald for any note about how she or Gabrielle had done. But there was nothing there about their status. Harry had wanted to check with St. Mungo's directly to be sure, but Nicholas had convinced Harry that if he did it would draw attention to him.

Harry didn't bother to roll his eyes at the excited murmurs that broke out through the student body and definitely didn't take part in any of the discussions that broke out when the fact that Viktor Krum was there caused murmurs to break out at all four tables.

Durmstrang came and sat down at their table. Most of the Slytherins shifted and moved in order to give Viktor Krum and his friends some space to sit. Several people throughout the table were making eyes at Krum. Though Harry noted that Draco made no move to engage him in conversation this time. Instead Draco remained nearby Harry, and merely nodded at Viktor Krum who seemed pleased at the subtle acknowledgement as opposed to the fawning that he became immediately besieged with.

Harry himself remained silent his eyes roving up and down the Slytherin table. He noted the boys and girls of Durmstrang all sitting stoically under the watchful eye of their headmaster. Then Harry's eyes roamed the people of Slytherin, though his eyes didn't linger anywhere. Once again Harry was struck by how many familiar enemy faces were sitting there, including some that Harry himself remembered killing.

The rest of the meal went as he remembered it. The introduction of the Tri-Wizard tournament. Moody coming into the great hall through the side entrance, the clouds in the enchanted ceiling thundering and lightning and him dispelling the effect with a blast of energy from his wand.

Harry's watched Moody carefully, normally he might even be concerned that he was showing too much interest in the man, but he definitely wasn't the only one who was looking. Half the hall had turned to stare at him. The Slytherin's reactions were interesting, there were some angry looks among the students, but they were curiously subdued, Though Harry wasn't certain whether it was because of fear or respect.

Harry watched intently and then saw what he was looking for. Moody's tongue flicked out of his mouth, just briefly in a sort of tic. Harry's eyes filled with malice as he stared at Moody. The flask that Moody kept with him at all times, was the same one he continued to use after the cup, so simply drinking from the flask wasn't proof aof anything. However, that tic had told Harry everything he needed to know.

He felt his magic inside him start to clamor for release and for a moment Harry wasn't sure that he wanted to prevent it, but Draco elbowed him in the side, which brought Harry back to reality long enough for him to settle back into his seat. Harry hadn't even realized that he had risen, just slightly, in preparation to get up and attack..

He turned to meet Draco's grey eyes, anger still reflected in his own eyes. Draco didn't say anything, but his expression was a combination of seriousness, puzzlement, and what Harry almost thought was concern, which was enough to bring Harry back to some sense of equilibrium. Harry held Draco's gaze for a few moments before he nodded slightly and then looked away. Draco watched him for several more moments before turning his attention back to didn't see a pair of deep blue eyes watching him speculatively and suspiciously from a little ways down the table.

There was one last set of announcements. Harry listened to the announcement as Barty Crouch got up to speak about the Tri-Wizard tournament. Harry searched Barty's face from this far away, wondering if he was already under the Imperius curse, but Harry couldn't detect one way or the other.

Barty Crouch Senior stood, looking very formal as he glanced around the room. "This tournament will be a test of skill, bravery, and power. To ensure that an impartial judge chooses who is best to compete in this tournament, we will be using the Goblet of Fire. Anyone may write their names on a piece of paper and submit their name to the Goblet of Fire, and be chosen to be a Tri-Wizard champion and to represent their school in the tournament for eternal glory."

There were excited murmurs around the hall at this statement. Crouch around, pleased at the excitement his announcement elicited in the population of Hogwarts. Harry and Draco exchanged quick looks but hadn't said anything.

Though Harry noticed the sternness in Dumbledore's expression at that announcement, anyone could tell he was not pleased, and he stepped forward with his arms raised, irritation in his tone. "The Ministry, in it's… infinite wisdom, has decided there shall be no minimum age requirement, for this tournament."

There was no mistaking the mutual scowls that crossed the faces of both Dumbledore and Barty Crouch as they stared at another for just a few seconds. It was clear that Dumbledore wasn't happy about there being no age restriction, and Crouch was equally as displeased about Dumbledore's shot at the Ministry.

Dumbledore turned his attention back to the students who were hanging onto their words. "Please do not take this commitment lightly. The Goblet of Fire represents a binding magical contract. if you submit your name, and you are chosen, you will be required to compete or lose your magic. The Tri-Wizard Tournament is a dangerous competition and the number of competitors who have lost their lives in the past saw the end of the tournament until now. Do not enter your name lightly. There is no having second thoughts or getting cold feet. If you enter, and you are chosen you will be required to compete!"

Harry turned his attention away from the front, and met Draco's eyes for a moment, but he didn't miss the ominous tone Dumbledore used when he unveiled the goblet and announced loudly. "The Tri-Wizard Tournament has begun."

Harry did however see Dumbledore wave his hand and make the opening feast appear at all of the tables. He couldn't help a reflexive breath and a closing of his eyes as he took a deep breath of the food from Hogwarts. For just a moment he forgot where he was, and it took him back to the first time he had smelled all the delicious aromas and couldn't wait to try them all.

Then Harry snapped back to reality. This wasn't his Hogwarts. No matter how much it might smell like it. He had to stop reminiscing. He helped himself to several dishes and some pumpkin juice. After loading his plate up, Harry deliberately snapped his holly wand into his hand. An action that was noticed by a few with raised eyebrows including by Draco as well.

When Harry cast several detection spells on his food and drink, it was someone sitting close by, who spoke up. "Are you expecting someone to poison your food Flamel?" A masculine voiced asked with a slightly mocking note.

Harry turned to regard a sneering Marcus Flint, with a carefully raised eyebrow. "Did you see this food prepared?"

Marcus Flint frowned, and shook his head, "Of course not. Cooking is for house elves." He said with a sneer. Harry briefly wondered if that was simply Flint's default facial expression any time he spoke.

Harry shrugged a bit, "That may be, but it also means you have no idea what's in the dish you're eating." Harry didn't bother continuing the argument with the older Flint, who apparently had to repeat his final year of schooling in this universe as well. Instead Harry turned back to his meal, making sure all the charms came back clean before he began to eat.

It was something that Ron had actually gotten Hermione and he to do in the old world. After Ron had been poisoned any time they had food that they couldn't see prepared the three of them had meticulously checked their meals. Ron found that a side benefit of it was the fact that he managed to avoid a large number of jokes from his elder twin brothers at the same time.

Harry did not notice the many speculative looks that were being sent his way, or more appropriately, he didn't care. Though Harry had no idea that his action had not gone unnoticed by his new head of house, who was watching him speculatively.

It was Pansy Parkinson who brought up the question that Harry had been expecting since the moment he arrived at Hogwarts. Her tone was slightly condescending as she spoke, "So, Ares Flamel. Are you related to the famous Flamel's?"

"Do you know any others?" Harry responded to her blunt question with a blunt riposte of his own.

Pansy shook her head, her dark hair in a pixie-cut covering her face briefly. "No of course not. But that doesn't mean you couldn't have been raised by muggles and be a mudblood with a similar name!" She responded arrogantly.

Harry clenched his fist under the table at her casual use of such a slur, but he managed to keep control of his emotions. It was Parkinson of all people, he was more than familiar with her bigotry from his world, so instead of snapping, Harry rolled his eyes, "Yes, because then I'd be able to be home-schooled in magic, by non-magical parents before coming here this year." His words had more than a touch of condescension in them. Pansy had always irritated him. It seemed like this one was the same way.

Pansy flushed at the brushback but wasn't willing to give up that easily. "That doesn't tell us whether you're related to the Immortal Alchemist or not."

Harry turned slightly to catch Draco smirking at him, with a very "told ya so" expression on his face. Harry sighed a bit as he realized that Nicholas and Perenelle would probably be wearing the exact same expressions if they were observing now. He rolled his eyes and extended his right hand flashing a ring of light blue, very similar to the color of the uniforms of Beauxbatons with a distinctive golden crest on it. It was in the shape of a cursive f, with tiny vines of gold etched around the letter.

"The heir-apparent ring. If that will convince you. Though… given the title "Immortal Alchemist" I don't foresee moving up to head of house anytime in the near future." Harry said blandly showing the ring off sent a ripple of whispers up the Slytherin table. Draco looked at him in shock for a few moments before he turned away and Harry saw him shake slightly in what he was certain was a bit of laughter.

This had been a long extended argument with both Nicholas and Perenelle over the past week, and hadn't been resolved until the day before when they met with the goblins. The Flamels had insisted on adopting him into their family magically. Harry had argued loud and long against it. He hadn't wanted any sort of family and certainly didn't want the Flamels to feel obligated in any way. He had no interest in trying to form familial bonds here. Nor did he have any interest in being 'adopted' out of some sense of pity.

Perenelle in particular had been stubborn in the argument by trying to get Harry to accept adoption. She had never been able to have children, though there had been rare times the two of them had adopted orphaned children in the past.

Perenelle and Nicholas were both aware that Harry was older than his appearance, and his experiences made him anything but a child. Perenelle also didn't suddenly feel some great love for Harry by any stretch, though she would freely admit she was concerned about him.

But she was also aware that anyone would have cheerfully maimed to be in the house of Flamel, the renown alone carried a powerful weight. But there was also the economic power the Flamel's were capable of wielding. Yet here was a young man who was doing anything he could to stay out of the family. Perenelle had argued that given the name Nicholas had given Dumbledore it had only made sense.

More than that, he was a new entrant to their rather exclusive "club". And while he seemed to have a great deal of life experience, he seemed to have had the least formal training or preparation of any of the other immortals they had encountered.

She and Nicholas were both united on this. Harry hated the idea, but he knew that it wasn't just his decision. Nicholas and Perenelle, after hearing his story, had chosen to take a stand at least insofar as helping him was a stand.

And Harry couldn't deny that even if he somehow managed to overturn that decision, then the Flamels would be forced to rely on someone else, or even to fight themselves if it came down to it. Besides, he had always complained about people not being willing to fight for themselves or not giving him tools to help, and there they were insisting on giving him aid, and he was fighting them on it.

And though Harry wasn't willing to go so far as to call them friends, Harry desperately didn't want the two of them to end up dead because they had the gall to help him out. And considering the historical chances of people helping him and living, was exactly zero. Harry was incredibly leery of risking it.

Despite this, Harry had only relented in the end when he had been informed by the goblins, that if he didn't accept, then the Ministry would automatically be notified to assign him guardians. And while Nicholas and Perenelle were willing to swear oaths not to sign any contracts for him, or hinder or restrict him at all, any family the Ministry might place him with would likely not be so willing. They also assured him that if anything happened publically that it would give Harry some semblance of legitimacy. No one would question the Flamel's claim that he was their heir.

Harry and Perenelle were also amused by how excited Nicholas seemed to be by all of this. He couldn't wait to see what sort of effect the mere existence of 'Ares Flamel' was going to cause. He was even trying to guess what the reactions of different families would be. In the end all it had taken was a contract signed with a blood quill. It didn't require any exchanging of blood or anything since the adoption was magical, not a blood adoption.

Harry shook his head, pulling himself out of his thoughts on the Flamels and refocusing on the Hogwarts meal around him. He was relatively silent for the rest of the meal, though he could feel eyes on him from many angles, he ignored it. Draco didn't attempt to engage him in any further conversation either. Harry appreciated that much, he wasn't sure what he would say and at the moment being surrounded by a mass of people was more than a little unnerving to him. It had his instincts screaming at him.

Shortly afterward, the meal was dismissed. The prefects got up to lead the people back to their houses. Harry idly wondered if Dumbledore or someone else would want to meet with him, however no summons appeared, and he got up to join the rest of his house in the short trek to the dungeons, with Draco at his elbow.

Harry found it odd to be headed down when his instinct was to head up to the Gryffindor room. Harry kept his expression blank as he felt a little pang, just briefly. If Draco noticed, he kept it to himself as they ventured into the depths of the dungeons.

They reached a solid stone wall in the dungeons, and the prefect leading them, Terrence Higgs, if Harry's memory served, said loudly and clearly "Fraternity." The prefect went on to explain to the first years that the password would change every fortnight, and if they forgot it or neglected to get the new one from the noticeboard, they would be left outside until someone came to let them in.

The wall melted to the side, opening to a large room that was lit by lamps. The lamps emitted a greenish light, giving the entire room a green tinge. The room itself had lots of black and dark green leather chairs and couches, spread throughout the interior. The walls were decorated with tapestries featuring people that Harry assumed were Slytherins. Part of the room had a giant window that looked out into the lake, and Harry could see the fish on the other side of the window, swimming around.

Once inside, Harry noticed the entire house remained gathered in the main room, rather than dispersing to their rooms. At that point, one of the prefects strode to the front of the first years. The prefect was one that Harry didn't really recognize though he seemed to be in charge, so Harry assumed he was a seventh year.

"Alright. Listen up, you lot. I'm Lucian Bole. I'm the seventh year prefect. You've been sorted into Slytherin. As such that comes with certain expectations and rules." He looked around at all the First years, who all shifted nervously, and then glanced over to Harry who merely kept his face blank.

Harry was doing everything he could to clamp down on his emotions. He was in Slytherin. But…it really wasn't so much that he was in the house that bothered him. Nor was it the common room itself. He'd been here before. Granted, he'd been polyjuiced and convinced that Malfoy was the heir of Slytherin. Harry wondered if he would have done it if he had known just how dangerous a risk he was taking at the time. If someone had found Harry Potter in the Slytherin common room, he would have been lucky to make it out of the room alive.

That wasn't what was bothering him.

It was all of the faces, many of which were looking at him. He was used to being stared at. Had gotten used to it from the time he was 11 years old, until Voldemort had killed everyone who could stare. No, Harry was surrounded by faces that were at least passingly familiar to him. A great many of these faces had sided with Voldemort. All of them had died in the war. Some of them were the faces of people that killed some of Harry's friends. Some were faces of people that Harry had killed personally. Some fell into both categories.

He was resisting the urge to start throwing curses. Though at the moment he wasn't even sure he'd need to do that. Harry could feel the magic inside him boiling so much that he felt like it was almost ready to lash out at people around him. Harry clenched his fist tightly at his side, his nails digging into his palm so deeply, Harry thought he might have drawn blood. He slowly started to relax, and leaned back against the wall behind him. Harry's pose was casual but it served two purposes, one it made sure that no one was flanking him in order to curse him. Second, it gave him a relatively direct path toward the entrance of the common room. Through it all he kept the look on his face blank.

"First off, you represent our house now. As such you will not be late to any of your classes in the first month. The prefects will take turns guiding you to your classes for the first week to make sure you know where you're going." Lucian stopped waiting to see if there would be any questions before continuing.

"Secondly, you are never to go anywhere alone. Always go in pairs. Even to the bathroom." Lucian obviously saw some confused expressions so he expanded. "We are Slytherin. There are some in other houses that would take advantage of one of us on our own. This we do not allow."

Once he got confirming nods, he continued, "Thirdly, if you are going to cause trouble or break the rules in any way, you better not get caught. If you get caught and cost this house any significant amount of points, you can expect there to be… repercussions within the house." Lucian glared at each one of the first years to make sure they understood. He once more looked over at Harry, but Harry continued to keep his face blank.

"Fourth, it doesn't matter what happens in here. Anything that happens in the Slytherin common room, and dormitories stays in the Slytherin common room. Anyone caught so much as gossiping about something that happens in here, much less running to a professor who is not our head of house, is subject to severe punishment." After a pause to make sure his point sunk in, Lucian continued.

"Lastly, and most importantly Slytherin is one house. We present a united front at all times. If you have a problem with someone, you don't address it out there where the rest of the world can see. You deal with it in here where it doesn't go beyond the walls of this common room. We have a dueling pit for any disputes that need settled like that. Out there in the castle, you ALWAYS support one another. You never, ever show division to the other houses. We act together. This rule above all others will be followed or the consequences will be most severe. Are there any questions?" Lucian finished his speech with a question, though the tone of his voice made it clear that there had better not be questions.

When no one spoke Lucian gestured to the side, "Your rooms are that way. Your names are on the door. Each of you have your own. In it you have your bed, a desk, a chair, a toilet and a shower head. Anything else you want you will have to provide for yourself. Once you learn appropriate spells, you can shift and change the room however you are able. Do not ask a prefect to help you, the answer will be no."

When no one moved, Lucian clapped his hands together, "What are you waiting for? Go!" The first years all scampered away in the direction he had indicated.

Then Lucian turned his attention on Harry. "Oi, Flamel."

Harry raised an eyebrow but didn't move away from his position on the wall, or give a response other than "Yes?"

Lucian moved closer until he was within a few feet of Harry, and looked down at him. "Did you understand all those rules?"

Harry's eyes narrowed briefly, before his expression smoothed out. If Lucian thought he was going to manage to intimidate him, he was sorely mistaken. Harry almost laughed out loud at the idea of the prefect intimidating him. Instead he channeled his best Draco impression and drawled, "The first years all understood what you said. But no, it was too confusing for me to follow. Do you perhaps have an illustrated instructional parchment I could see? That would probably help."

Lucian scowled at Harry's flippant and nearly insolent response. Harry also saw Draco frown, though it wasn't out of anger. Lucian took a step closer to stare down into Harry's eyes. "I don't need you to be a smart ass about it. I want to make sure you understand. I don't want you to embarrass our house. We don't need you causing trouble."

Harry met Lucian's eyes levelly but didn't say anything. He knew that the "older" boy wouldn't approve of him saying that he didn't care about the rules he'd just outlined, and that Harry intended to cause more trouble than the prefect could ever imagine. Whether that happened at the school remained to be seen. The larger prefect was trying to intimidate him by entering his personal space and stare him down.

Given that he'd stared down Voldemort before, Harry felt that this prefect's stare was a good deal less than frightening. Harry thought he was being incredibly polite and restrained by not rolling his eyes.

Sensing that Harry wasn't about to engage in an argument with him, Lucian pointed to Draco. "You're with the fourth years. I'm sure that Draco can show you to your room." Without waiting for a response, the older prefect spun around and moved to talk to some others he apparently had business with.

Harry turned to Draco with a raised eyebrow, and Draco gestured for him to follow. Which Harry did without complaint as he was lead through another door and down a hallway, past several named doors, both female and male, before he came to the room with the plaque beside it, stating "Ares Flamel."

Harry stepped in and looked around curiously. It was just how the seventh year prefect had described. A small room with a bed, desk and chair, and then in one corner was a toilet and a showerhead. There was no curtain or anything hiding it. Harry nodded in acceptance, though Draco was looking around with a puzzled expression. Harry raised an eyebrow at him

Draco finally looked at Harry, with a puzzled frown. "Your trunk should have gotten here by now. The house elves always have them here before we arrive."

Harry chuckled and then lightly patted his chest, where the trunk remained shrunk and on its unbreakable chain. "I never go anywhere without it, Malfoy." Then he quickly, snapped his wand into his hand and cast a detection spell for any sort of listening charms in the room.

Draco raised his eyebrow and then nodded at the wisdom in that statement, then glanced around, "You should make as many changes as you want to this room. Expand it, change the interior. Add some furniture or whatever else you need. Some people have full fledged potion lab set ups in their room."

Harry shrugged, "This will do. I don't plan to spend a lot of time in here." It was the truth. There wasn't a lot of things Harry wanted to do in the Slytherin dormitories. Harry wasn't even sure he was planning on sleeping in the room.

Draco frowned at that. "You should expand it as much as possible. You never know when you need the extra space."

Harry tilted his head thoughtfully before nodding at that. "Okay. I'll keep that in mind."

Draco frowned a little bit more "Besides, you don't want to make it seem like you want spartan features to your room. It's one of the many functions of status in Slytherin, how well can you enchant your room. I can promise you the others will judge when they see your room."

Harry shrugged noncommittally in response to Draco's statement. He looked around once more and then murmured. "You should consider getting to bed. If you're serious about training, I'm going to be up early."

Draco sighed a little bit, but decided against pushing the issue of his room farther. Then he nodded in response to Harry's statement, "I told you on the train. I'm serious about this. Though I still say we need an actual teacher."

Harry sighed a little bit and nodded, "Yes. And the sorting hat told me that the room of requirements wouldn't be able to make an actual teacher. That solidly punctures a hole in my first choice and doesn't leave me with any other options I consider viable."

Draco frowned, "Well, we both know Dumbledore's out."

Harry snorted in amusement. "Of course he is." Though he didn't elaborate further.

Draco chewed on his lip, "I am not sure who else that leaves. We could ask Snape as our Head of House. He might agree to do it."

Harry immediately and violently shook his head no. He hated Snape, not with quite as much loathing as the headmaster or Voldemort, but Snape would never be one of Harry's favorite people. "Absolutely not. Snape is almost as much a bastard as Voldemort. I don't know where Snape's loyalties lie. I don't know his motives, and I sure as hell don't trust him. We run the risk of him running and telling Dumbledore or worse."

Harry took a moment to calm himself before continuing, "Besides, as a fighter he was a fair one, but we both know he doesn't have the necessary skills to defeat some of the better death eaters, much less the dark bastard himself. And that's what I need. I can't just hope to rely on luck this time… we saw how that worked out for everyone."

Draco sighed, it was weird for him seeing Harry like this, much less having an actual conversation. But he put that aside for later and then nodded a little bit. "As I said, that probably lets out all of the professors here." Draco's tone turned thoughtful. "You know, after Dumbledore, the people that are widely considered the best fighters are James Potter and Sirius Black."

Harry once again shook his head immediately. "No. Absolutely not."

"They're scary good. Even Lucius knows that the odds of fighting either one of them successfully is a flip of the galleon at best, much less the two of them together. We don't have to tell them everything. But we could get their help." Draco argued, though his tone wasn't very earnest. Draco could tell Harry had closed down the idea the instant it left his mouth.

"No, even if we could convince them without telling everything, anything they teach us will probably find its way to Dumbledore." Harry said. There were a multitude of reasons beyond that. He was going to stay as far away from both of them as humanly possible.

Draco sighed and then nodded. "You're right. Besides, I don't think they'd ever teach anything to a Slytherin. Anytime they've been in the castle, occasionally filling in for McGonagall or judging a dueling tournament a few years ago. They're not fond of Slytherins, they'd probably stop listening entirely at 'Malfoy'. Or they might just start tossing curses. They and Lucius don't get along."

"I wonder why." Harry said sarcastically, though he noted that Draco had referred to his father as Lucius rather than any sort of familial title.

"Because he's a bastard." Draco replied, his voice grim. When Harry made no move to reply to Draco's comment, he sighed a bit. "I'll keep thinking on it then."

Harry nodded in assent and then murmured, "And if you so much as think of suggesting your Aunt, I will be forced to hurt you." Harry's tone was relatively dry, and Draco could tell it was meant to be humorous, but it didn't quite work, because there was an undercurrent of seriousness to his voice.

Draco just nodded, and turned to leave, and gestured. "I think my Aunt is probably too busy being an escapee from Azkaban and dodging aurors to give us some tutoring. Anyway I'll let you get settled in. What time are we getting up tomorrow?"

Harry tilted his head thoughtfully, "Figure on 4:30." Draco looked up slightly startled at that so Harry continued, "I'll wake you up if need be."

Draco's eyes narrowed a bit "You won't be able to get in my room." Draco frowned fully as a thought occurred to him. "That reminds me. Everyone wards their doors. Sometimes other students will attempt to break in. You'll want to protect yourself."

Harry's eyes narrowed at the implied challenge in Draco's first statement, but let it pass. "I've never heard that the students from other houses attempt to get in here." His tone was curious rather than challenging. Harry had planned on putting up defenses, it was second nature to him. He even did it at the room he slept in at the Flamel's house. Which caused Perenelle to look at him with a sad expression on her face and Nicholas shook his head and repeated "paranoid"

Draco shook his head and a momentary flash of irritation crossed his face. "Don't be naïve Pot—Ares. It's not to protect you from people outside of the house. This is the house of the cunning. You have to protect yourself at all times. Most purebloods, especially the women, come in knowing several wards, both normal and family protections. So that they can protect themselves from one another."

Harry frowned in confusion for a few moments as he pondered the implications of Draco's statement.

Draco, seeing the, confusion on Harry's face, quickly continued to explain. "It's not called the den of serpents for nothing. This isn't a safe space. According to the older students it's this way to teach you from the moment you step in that just like in the magical world, you're not safe. It's dangerous. Alliances and protection pacts are made all the time, as much for social and physical survival as anything else. Sytherins rarely have friends, because it gives someone too much opportunity to put a dagger into your back."

When Harry didn't reply, Draco continued, his voice serious. "Tonight, between 2 and 3 am, the sixth and seventh years will all attempt to break into the first year's rooms. If they don't have very good protection or one of their families has protection from the families of one of the older students, the older students get through the wards and punish the first years. They almost all end up strung up and humiliated, until someone comes to release them right before breakfast. It happens every year to almost every first year. Occasionally you'll get a first year whose parents have taught them a complex enough ward that the older years can't break through or the student has enough protection through family connections for the wards to hold them off."

Harry's expression was slowly darkening as Draco talked.

Draco saw the anger on Harry's features, but plowed on figuring that Harry should know it all up front. "The first night is the only night by tradition that they're spared any sort of pain. After that they have a week to get up decent protections and then it's a free for all. The only rule is that no one is to permanently damage anyone. That's why females especially come in knowing some protection wards. Though… they're usually safe until 3rd year from anything... serious."

As Harry realized what Draco was truly saying, his expression went blank and he bowed his head slowly. Draco instinctively jolted as Harry's eyes flared bright green and Harry began to shake with rage at the idea. "And the professors just let this go on, they don't do anything?"

"It's tradition… and while Snape and the Headmaster might punish someone from time to time, when it's reported… it's the reporting that's the issue. The last time someone reported they ended up in the hospital wing for six weeks and a permanent limp. It's so much worse to go against the house." Draco summed it all up, as he watched Harry cautiously. "This house meets the definition of its name. It's a true viper's nest."

Harry trembled as he once more fought a battle to control his magic as it flared higher than it had even at the world cup. His entire body vibrated for nearly thirty seconds before he gained control of his emotions. Harry idly realized that he was getting better at holding the volatility down. But at the moment it was a very close thing. Harry had rarely felt himself as angry as he was in that moment.

Finally, he looked up at Draco, and though his eyes had stopped flaring with unreleased energy, they stilled gleamed with emerald luminescence.

Harry's voice was soft, and flat. He repeated the words of the sorting hat from earlier. "Well, now there's a basilisk loose in the viper's nest and things are going to change. And they're going to change starting tonight."

Instead of speaking he just swallowed at the tone of Harry's voice. At that moment, Harry was as scary as anything he'd ever seen from the Dark Lord. There was something decidedly deadly in Harry's voice. More than that, Draco could feel the magic that Harry was suddenly radiating. It wasn't visible, but Draco could absolutely feel it as it seemed to fill the room with menace. It filled the air and seemed to surround Draco . For just a moment Draco felt that the magic might consume him.

Draco opened his mouth to say something and then shut it. Harry's expression and voice told him all he needed to know. This wasn't negotiable. And Draco didn't even find himself disagreeing. He knew that Harry was going to do something, and Draco wondered exactly what that would be.

Harry's own mind was racing. He had initially formed a tentative plan of keeping his head down while he waited and saw how the house worked. He wasn't even sure that he wanted the responsibility of wholesale changes. It was just more responsibility heaped on him, when he had one objective and one responsibility already and felt that that was more than enough.

But given everything that he had seen thus far, and the environment both inside and outside the house, Harry was not going to sit back and bide his time. If Harry did that, he would be allowing the cycle to continue. Harry was now beginning to understand what the hat had asked him to do. He briefly wondered how the professors had allowed a culture like this to exist, before dismissing that thought. He didn't know how the professors worked in this world. But he remembered the impotence of the professors in his own world. Harry wasn't sure how he would go about changing a whole house, especially if it was as toxic as the sorting hat and Malfoy both intimated.

"No wonder death eaters are the way they are. They're practically bred by the environment in here." Harry realized. There was no question in Harry's mind that he wasn't going to allow behavior to continue. The question was just how to go about it. One option involved declaring immediate and open war against the culture and the people who supported it. Harry was sorely tempted, but decided against it. There were other ways to start. Harry knew it would come to a head eventually, but he hoped this way that at least some people in the house didn't get caught in the crossfire.

Draco already saw the wheels turning in Harry's head. For a moment Draco wondered whether or not there would be fatalities during the night, or a common room left standing in the morning. Draco wasn't sure what Harry was planning, and had to stop himself from asking for the plan. Instead Draco found himself asking "What would you like me to do to help?"

Harry's gleaming eyes locked on Draco's grey ones for just a moment before Harry shook his head. "Nothing. Get some rest."

Draco frowned, wondering if Harry was already cutting him out, "Are you sure? I can…"

Harry shook his head again. "I'm sure. If I do something, whatever I decide to do we're more likely to trip over one another's feet because I know nothing about your capabilities, and vice versa." Harry smirked a little bit as he met Draco's eyes, a plan forming in his mind. "Trust me."

Draco frowned, "You're.. not… er… going to kill them are you?" Draco was surprised at just how much that idea didn't really bother him.

Harry frowned and thought that over for several moments before finally deciding. He shook his head, "Not this time. I'm merely going to… teach them a lesson."

Draco frowned a bit at the implications, "Some of them may be slow or reluctant learners."

Harry shrugged unconcerned, his voice ice cold in reply. "While I am here, I'm not going to tolerate that sort of thing. If the professors can't or won't act. Then I will, and I'll make sure that the lessons stick."

Draco shivered at the look on Harry's face, but nodded slowly. "If there's… anything you need…." Draco hesitated, he was uncertain how to offer aid and once again the look and air of menace that was on Harry's face had him shivering.

Harry waved his hand dismissively. "Go to bed Malfoy. Thank you for the warning. I will see you in the morning."

Draco frowned and hesitated before nodding slowly. "Okay, let me know if you need anything. Worse comes to worst I can always be your alibi. I'll see you tomorrow morning bright and early." Draco hesitated and then scowled. "Don't forget to ward your door. They might come after you as well. In fact, I'd wager on it."

Harry nodded slowly, a smirk crossing his face. "It won't be a problem, but thank you for the warning. As I said, I'll wake you in the morning if you're not up and ready to go by 4:30."

Draco shook his head a little bit, "I'll be up. I… don't sleep well right now. Since I got here."

Harry nodded once. That was one thing he could sympathize with. He didn't often get much sleep himself, so he had learned to go on minimal. But he did leave Draco with a parting shot. "If you're not up, I'll meet you in your room at 4:30 sharp."

Draco hesitated and then shook his head, and headed towards the door to make his way toward his own room, determined to set up a ward scheme that Potter wouldn't be able to get through.

Unbeknownst to both of them. Someone had heard every word the two had just said.

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After Draco left, Harry shut the door with a flick of his hand. He took a breath and then slumped leaning back against the door. He was tired. And it wasn't a physical or magical tiredness. He was just weary. The entire day had been a lot more emotionally draining than he expected. And now the sorting hat, or the founders, or the castle itself seemed to be laying more expectations at his feet, when all he wanted to do was finish his damn job.

It had been harder than he thought. Being here again. He had deliberately kept his focus on the area immediately around him and that was just because he was trying to make sure he didn't fall under attack. Harry had done everything he could not to look to all the familiar faces he remembered. He did his best to avoid even glancing toward Gryffindor's table, sure he would see the red-headed forms of the Weasley's.

The fact that every death in that family save for Percy's could be traced to him, still weighed on Harry. He was determined not to look out and see those faces, specifically Ginny and the twins, though he had already failed by seeing Ron's face right after his sorting. Harry still shuddered when he remembered the look on Molly Weasley's face when she had been told of the death of the twins. Harry was thankful for the very small mercy that Molly had died before Ron or Ginny. He was certain their deaths would have completely broken the woman.

It was the same with Ravenclaw, apparently Hermione was there and Harry definitely wanted to avoid her as well. Harry never had gotten the nerve up to go to Australia and restore the memories to Hermione's parents. Once she had died, Harry had kept putting it off, telling himself that he would do it after Voldemort was dead. But he could never really bring himself to put any more than idle thought into it. Bringing back a couple's memories of their daughter, only to tell them that she had died, and he was at fault.

Harry shook his head. He knew he couldn't avoid every familiar face forever. But he still hoped to minimize it. Harry had slipped only twice during the evening. The first had been when he glanced at Lily Potter. Harry refused to think of her as his mother, because then that just made things harder. But he had avoided meeting her eyes for long and he had braced himself for that. Harry knew from reading the papers that she taught muggle studies here. Harry knew he wasn't taking that class so avoiding her wasn't likely to be a problem.

The other time was when he had looked at the Hufflepuff table and found Cedric, alive and smiling sitting there at the Hufflepuff table. The popular Cedric was among a good deal of friends. Harry only remembered that his was the first death his actions were responsible for.

Harry shook his head a little bit, shaking off the morose thoughts even as a somewhat amusing thought occurred to him. Malfoy of all people had been somewhat of a stabilizer during the day. Harry never thought that that was something that he would ever ponder.

Malfoy's presence had thrown a wrench into Harry's plan. Now Harry had another life he was directly responsible for. Then again it seemed that Malfoy had realized where his path was headed. Of course that only happened after his death. But there were times Harry had doubted Malfoy had enough sense that he would be aware even then.

Harry ran his hands over his face, as he rested his head back against the frame of the door behind him. This had started out so simple. Relatively speaking. At least as simple as things were when they came to anything involving Harry.

Kill Voldemort once and for all.

Complicating things was pretty much par for the course when it came to anything involving Harry.

A world in which he never existed. A world where alot of the people closest to his family seemed to live better lives because he hadn't existed. Now Harry hoped his mere presence didn't ruin that.

Now he had Draco Malfoy not just agreeing but volunteering to follow him. He had a hat making demands of him to fix an entire house. He was surrounded by faces of people that he had absolutely zero fond memories about.

Why him? Why was he expected to do all this stuff? Fix the whole damn world that was a mess not of his own making.

Harry sighed deeply once more before he shook his head firmly and straightened, pushing the feelings of tiredness and melancholy to the back corner of his mind with everything else he didn't want to dwell on. He was not going to stew on those emotions. What and how he was feeling wasn't important. And that's the way it would stay if he had anything to say about it. No need to linger on it.

He once more surveyed his room. "There was no use in complaining when you've got a job to do." And Harry had things he had to do. He turned to his room, and snapped his holly and phoenix feather wand into his hand.

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Woohooo! Another Chapter!

So! As you've noticed, I have a habit of casting parts. Mostly because it helps me envision the characters and how they act. You are TOTALLY free to picture other actors and actresses! We've casted a few additional parts!

The coveted part of Iris Potter has gone to a young Ashley Greene, and the part of Daphne Greengrass has gone to Emmy Rossum. Both actresses are being held securely in their cell- i mean they're resting comfortably in their trailers and are excited to be a part of the project!

The role of Hedwig has been recast to be played b- OW OW OW! My EYE! Damnit! GET OFF! AH! No! What are you doing with that chainsaw?! NOOO! Okay okay! Hedwig will continue to be played by the wonderfully talented Gizmo!

A artistic direction has also been confirmed! Professor Flitwick is exactly like he was in the first movie. Goblinesque features and white hair!

1) Onto the complaints. First, I have no intention of completely renaming Harry or anything. It was done for story purposes, and Harry will continue to be called Harry unless it's in dialogue or we're exploring the perspective of a character who only knows him as Ares. The Narrator voice will continue to call him Harry.

2) Draco Malfoy. Get over it. He is a fascinating character study that I plan to explore as the story goes on. He will never be in a male slash relationship. (Neither will harry for that matter) and he and Harry aren't going to suddenly be, "YO! BRO!" "SUP BRO!?" they do have a history.

3) I have used the generally accepted Fanon version of Daphne Greengrass. I like her character. And depending on how things shake out she may get involved with Harry.

HOWEVER.

Just because i describe someone as attractive or even have interactions between people does not mean that they're going to be in a relationship! I LOVE interactions and i love writing them. so you'll see alot of them.

4) Lethalette's Author's Notes: Author's notes? No! My only weakness!

5) That, and his inexplicable fear of naked mole rats. (don't ask!)

6) I love in depth reviews, especially those who suggest possible pairings for Harry and reasoning behind those pairings. I actually do listen to them!

If you have any ideas who might be good actors to play Lily and James Potter, I haven't cast them yet. The actors from the movie make me go meh. (they look really old for having died "young") If we use your suggestion i will be sure to give due credit!

So we're doing a casting search for both roles! Please suggest them in your reviews!