Hogwarts
A/N: I am overwhelmed by the reviews I have been getting. Thank you so much for all of your support. Some people asked about Dumbledore forcing Nick to remove him glamour. I am playing with the idea of a somewhat manipulative Headmaster and that the deal Harry and Albus made was for Harry to join Hogwarts, not Nick. So I think Dumbledore feels justified making him remove the charm.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Nick reluctantly stepped out of the shadows. He was cursing himself for taking Dumbledore's deal. He should have broken Tako out on his own.
Dumbledore frowned at the boy. "Without the glamour please."
The entire student body stared at the boy. Hermione looked shocked. Nick was under a glamour?
Nick muttered curses under his breath. Never breaking eye contact with the Headmaster he lifted a hand, and with a simple wave Harry Potter was standing where Nick Fields once stood.
The Great Hall went into an uproar.
And now on with the story.
Hermione was in shock. She had been talking to Harry Potter, the entire train ride and never knew. She glanced at Nick, no Harry. He was glaring at Dumbledore. If looks could kill the Headmaster would be dead twenty times over. She wondered why Harry was so furious at Dumbledore. She made a mental note to ask the boy later.
Harry was beyond angry. He was seething. He silently walked up the the sorting hat. Giving it an angry look he put the ancient hat on his head.
"Ah the elusive Mr. Potter. I see that you have finally decided to join us."
"Forced is more like it."
"Well you certainly have the mindset of a Slytherin. However, I also see the the loyalty of the Hufflepuffs. You did after all risk it all to save Tom Fields. And that also shows the bravery of a Gryfindor, to go up against one's greatest fear is very courageous. Wait, I also see that you are very intelligent. My dear boy you are a conundrum. I think the easiest way to solve this is for you to decide your own house."
Harry was confused. "You're going to let me decide. Isn't that your job?"
"I only read what is already inside of you. You will do well in whatever house you choose. It is now up to you to decide."
Well this is unexpected, Harry thought. Smirking to himself he thought of what Dumbledore would do if Harry was put in Slytherin. Probably have a heart attack. Then he shook his head. As amusing as it would be there were too many children in Slytherin whose father he had put in Azkaban. Hufflepuff was too laid -back for him. He doubted that they would understand his dangerous tendancies. Ravenclaw would be alright, but they didn't seem to be able to have fun. Always studying. Gryffindor was a little pompous, but probably his best choice.
The hat had been following his thoughts and nodded at his decision. "A wise choice young one." Speaking to the captivated Great Hall the hat yelled, "Gryffindor!"
The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers. Harry walked to the table ignoring the cheers and sat down next to Hermione.
"So, it's Harry is it?"
Harry had the grace to blush slightly. "I answer to Harry or Nick. It really doesn't matter to me what you call me."
Hermione seemed to be contemplating to herself. Coming to a decision she turned to face Harry. "Where have you been the past 16 years?"
Harry sighed. "That is a very long story." Seeing Hermione's slightly disappointed look he relented. "But if you want to stay up late tonight with me in the common room, I will gladly tell you when everyone else goes to bed."
Hermione's face brightened considerably and she went back to eating. Harry faintly noticed her talking, but was more focused on the teacher's table. He didn't see enough professors to cover all of the subjects Tako had mentioned. As if reading his thoughts Dumbledore stood and cleared his throat.
"I am sure many of you have noticed our lack of a defense teacher. He will in fact be arriving tomorrow morning before classes. Auror Kinsley Shacklebolt has graciously agreed to come here and teach, so I insist that you all give him proper respect. With that said, everyone should note that the Forbidden Forest is just that, forbidden. Also our caretaker, Mr. Filch has posted a list of banned items on his door for anyone who would wish to see. Goodnight."
The prefects stood to lead the first year students to their house. Harry looked to Hermione to lead him to the Gryffindor house.
The common room was...cozy. Harry was used to Tako's Slytherin pride. Their whole house had been decorated in a bright green. All this red was a little daunting. Hermione instantly grabbed a book and sat down by the fire. Harry sighed. She was definitely not going to bed until she heard his story. Grabbing a book on Defense, he sat down next to the girl.
Their silence was interrupted a few minutes later by a shriek.
"Hermione." The word was drawn out as it was spoken giving it the sound of a two year old begging. "Aren't you going to introduce us to your friend?"
Harry looked over his shoulder. Standing there were two girls. They could have been pretty, but their faces were absolutely covered in makeup. Harry preferred a more natural beauty like Hermione. He faltered as he realized what had just run through his mind. He then looked up at the girls and smiled. "And who would you lovely ladies be?"
The girls smiles widened. Hermione smirked, she could hear the sarcasm in Harry's voice even if the two bimbos couldn't. "I'm Lavender and this is Pavarti. And what is your charming name?"
Harry almost gagged at the flirtatious moves of this girl. He smirked to himself. May as well have some fun. "Nick Fields."
Lavender frowned. "Didn't Dumbledore say you were Harry Potter?"
Nick winked at the girl. "I go by many names."
Lavender giggled. "Oh Nicky-poo, you're so funny."
Hermione watched as Harry's eye's widened. What was with this girl and pet names? She had almost died of laughter when Lavender has christened Ron Won-won.
Nick fought back the urge to go throw up and smiled at the girl. "So what is it that I can do for you?"
"Oh I'm sure you could do many things for me."
Harry congratulated himself inwardly. She had walked right into that one. He looked her up and down critically. "Sorry, I don't date transvestites."
Hermione couldn't take it anymore and burst out laughing. Lavender's face bore an outraged expression. Her and Pavarti huffed and stomped away. Still smiling Harry turned back to his book. Maybe this school wouldn't be so bad after all.
HPHPHPHHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP
At around midnight the common room was empty save for Harry and Hermione. Harry could feel Hermione's eye's boring into his skull, She was waiting for him to begin.
"I was at the Dursley's for no more than an hour. The moment they saw me they abandoned me in muggle London. I was then in an orphanage for about a year. I was then adopted by the Kirst family. They had a daughter two years younger than me. She was my sister in every way except blood. I lived with my family for about 5 years. There was an accident. About three months later Tako, Tom Fields, took me in. I've been with him ever since."
"Why did you leave your adopted family?"
"I don't like to talk about it."
Hermione contemplated him quietly. "Where did you live in the time between the Kirst family and Tom?"
Harry shrugged. "Here and there. On the streets mainly."
Hermione was shocked. "How did you survive?"
"I begged for scraps and sometimes stole what I needed. It's not a time of my life I am particularly proud of."
"You were seven years old!"
"Yes, I was, but I refused to go to an orphanage. I was a child, but I can't say I regret any of my decisions."
They sat in silence for a while. Harry began to feel uncomfortable. "Hermione?"
"I can't believe, I mean I never imagined, You've been through so much."
"And yet here I am alive and well."
HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPPHPHP
Harry was not looking forward to his first class of the day. Potions with Snape. Tako loathed Snape. Knowing Tako he probably caused the problem, but still Snape sounded like a git.
Sure enough it seemed Snape took a natural dislike to Harry. After proclaiming that he was the new celebrity, he proceeded to make it the most boring and useless class, Harry had ever sat through. Tako had been obsessive about potions. Personally Harry had a suspicion that he dreamed of being the next Severus Snape. Harry had learned more from Tom than he would ever learn in this class. Apparantly his lack of attention did not escape Snape. However the man could find little to taunt in Harry's potion as it was near perfect.
"You cheated."
Harry looked up at Snape with a calm gaze. "Actually I had the best teacher available. Perhaps you remember him, Tom Fields?"
If it was possible to anger Snape further, it happened. "Detention Potter for your tongue! and twenty-five points from Gryffindor!"
The oversized bat turned sharply, his cloak whirling around him. Immediately he began yelling at Neville Longbottom, for some crazy nonsense.
Harry muttered under his breath, "Jeez! Tako was right, he really is an overgrown bat."
The only sign Snape gave that he had overheard was the tensing of his shoulders. "Detention for the rest of the month Potter."
Hermione looked at him with a sense of awe. "I think living with Tom affected you worse than I thought."
Harry looked thoughtful for a second. "Actually I think it was Tom's friends. You know there was a reason that he was labeled a Death Eater."
The end of class prohibited Hermione from further questioning Harry, but she would not let him get off that easily.
HPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHPHP
Harry was half-asleep by the time he got to Defense, his last class of the day. His classes had all been filled with information he had learned two years ago. He could probably take the NEWTS and pass them right now. Harry sighed, perhaps Defense against the Dark Arts would be better. He had heard Shacklebolt was a pretty good auror.
"Good after noon class. My name is Auror Shacklebolt and I will be your new defense teacher. Now I realize that you have not had one consistent teacher during your years here, so today we are going to duel to determine the level everyone is at."
Everyone in the class was whispering excitedly. Harry was just bored. He already knew he was god at dueling. If he wasn't he would be dead already.
Shacklebolt dived the team up into pair. Harry smiled as Hermione was paired with Ron. Harry was put with a boy named Neville Longbottom. Harry recognized him as the kid who Snape was always yelling at. Hermione and Ron went first.
"Hey baby, I promise to take it easy on you." Ron smirked.
Hermione's eye's narrowed. The moment Shacklebolt said go she fired a curse Harry had never seen before. However, the results were hilarious. Ron was now a girl with long curly hair and a bright blue dress. Lazily Hermione yelled Expelliarmus, and the duel was over. It was one of the shortest duels. Harry became bored and started thinking strategy. He knew he couldn't show off his full range of skills, there were a lot of Death Eater's kids in this school. Finally, it was Harry and Neville's turn. Shacklebolt said go and Neville fired an Expelliarmus. Harry dodged it without even thinking.
Crap. Harry thought. He needed to slow it down. He needed to end this as soon as possible before he did something stupid.
"Petrificus Totalis!"
The spell hit Neville instantly and down he went.
Shacklebolt congratulated Harry on the win and called out the next pair. Suddenly a powerful pain seared through Harry's head. His scar felt like it was on fire. Voldemort.
"Sir," Harry said through clenched teeth. "I have a headache. May I go see Madam Pomfrey?"
Shacklebolt let him go, but looked at him curiously.
Harry practically ran out of the classroom and to his dorm room. He grabbed his gear cursing the entire way. What the hell was Voldemort doing? It was the middle of the frickin day and Harry had seen Voldemort preparing to attack a muggle school. He needed to hurry. He changed his features to Nick and apparated out of Hogwarts, not knowing that it was impossible to apparate out of Hogwarts and not knowing that a pair of curious blue eyes had seen his sprint up to his dorm room.
A/N: I am so sorry that this is late. It was an extremely hectic week. I was planning a birthday party for a friend and then said friend had an emotional breakdown on her birthday. It was just not a good week. The next update should come tomorrow or Monday hopefully. Thanks for your encouraging reviews and great feedback. Much love to all my loyal readers!!
