Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters. I do, however, own the random species of reptiles that I create, as well as Parseltongue name translations.

Chapter 8: Hogwarts

"First years, this way!" The Weasleys left the four of them to go off in a different direction.

"Here, watch this." Solaris said to them before bounding up to the half-giant. He put on a really creepy smile (No, really. It even had the pointed teeth and everything) and said, "Hello!"

They watched as he turned around, saw Solaris, and… ran off screaming.

"What's the story behind that?" Draco asked.

Solaris turned his smile (Seriously, it was starting to make him want to cower in fear) on Malfoy and said, "The same reason than Ron over there won't come within swinging distance."

That's when Draco noticed the huge sword on Solaris's back. That actually seemed to be when everyone noticed it.

They all got in the boats, with Solaris, Draco, Hermione, and Neville riding together.

As soon as they entered the castle, a ghost came in through the ceiling and threw a pie at Mcgonagall's face.

"Peeve's!" she yelled at him before vanishing it, turning to the first-years, and saying, "That was the school's resident poltergeist. I'm sure you can guess what his name is. I am Professor Mcgonagall. In a few moments, you will be led into the Great Hall, where you will be sorted into one of four houses: noble Gryffindor, wise Ravenclaw, loyal Hufflepuff, and cunning Slytherin."

She led them in, and up to the front, where an old hat sat on a stool. When they were all gathered up there, the hat started singing a song.

(No, I don't feel like putting the song in. If you want to read it, find the first book.)

When it was done, Mcgonagall pulled out a scroll and started calling out names. "Abbott, Hannah."

Solaris didn't pay much attention, but he did note which houses his friends got in. "Granger, Hermione," Ravenclaw. "Longbottom, Neville," Gryffindor. "Malfoy, Draco," Slytherin. When she finally got to, "Zabini, Blaise," and he was the only one up there, he could feel the eyes on him. He heard everyone take a deep breath from shock as Mcgonagall put away the scroll.

She turned to the students and explained, "Due to a series of circumstances that took place over the summer, the sorting hat has been rendered unable to sort Solaris Reptilia. Therefore, the school faculty has decided to leave the decision up to him."

As she sat down, the students heard Solaris say, "I just wanted to talk to it. I didn't know it would have a mental breakdown." and they all started laughing. Once the laughing had quieted down, Solaris called out, "Ferret!"

After a few moments of confusion, Draco said, "I do NOT look like a ferret!" which was all Solaris needed to find his way over.

"You responded, didn't you?"

After a few more moments of laughing, the food appeared on the plates. Solaris heard someone say from his left, "Do you need help getting any of the food?"

"No, I'm fine." he said as he grabbed a few pieces of chicken. "What's your name?"

"Blaise Zabini."

"Is your family related to Sirens?" he asked.

Blaise smiled nervously. "How'd you know?"

"I grew up around Sirens. You're giving off a low level Siren Call curse."

He blinked for a few minutes. "It's a curse?"

"Not a curse in the usual sense. More like a genetic curse similar to a Gorgon's eyes or a phoenix's immortality."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense." At that moment was when Svils chose to reveal himself by attacking a piece of chicken.

"Aaaaaaahhhhhh!" Blaise scrambled backwards. "What is that?!" unfortunately, everyone else had seen the silver snake, and was now staring at it. Snape paleing did not go unnoticed.

"I swear, you're going to get me killed one of these days." he said to the snake. "I should send you home right now."

"But I don't have anyone to take me!" he complained.

"You don't think I didn't notice Zarkel sneak on me before I left?"

"Dang it. I'm sorry! I'll be good from now on!"

"You better."

Unfortunately, everyone had heard him speaking Parseltongue. He simply 'looked' out at them before saying, "What would you expect? My mum's a gorgon."

People seemed to calm down after that.


When dinner had ended, Dumbledore stood up and said, "You will now follow your heads of house and prefects to your common rooms. Classes start tomorrow."

Deleted scene:

The color finally returned to Snape's face as dinner ended and the students left the Great Hall. "Pay up, Minerva." He held his out to the Gryffindor head of house with a smile.

AN - Gem: Anyone want to guess why the sorting hat had a breakdown?