Chapter 7
"Well, you should board the train and find an empty compartment," Salis said hiding the sadness he was feeling. He handed both Harry and Hermione tiny money bags. "For the food trolley that comes around. There's enough in those to get a few treats."
"Thank you, Sal. And thank you for Sammy," Hermione said giving him a hug.
"You're welcome, Hermione. Harry, have fun."
"I will." Harry looked up before hugging him. In a quiet voice so no one but Salis could hear, he said, "I love you, dad."
Salis held onto Harry for a moment, his voice too tight to respond. "I love you, too, son."
Harry beamed up at him before saying goodbye and Salis watched the two run to the train. Harry's words ran through his head and a great smile formed on his face as he waved. When he turned to walk away, he wiped away the stray tear that had escaped.
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Harry and Hermione had found an empty compartment and had settled in.
"I can't wait to get there!" Hermione said excitedly.
"Me either." He suddenly looked nervous. "Mione, I need to tell you something."
"Okay."
"Well, Sal isn't really my dad. He adopted me a couple years ago. My real name is…Harry Potter." He pushed away the hair that covered his forehead to show the scar, which she had miraculously had never seen.
She was speechless as she leaned closer to get a better look. "Harry Potter? You're the boy-who-lived!"
Harry nodded glumly. He then launched into the story of how he came to be with Sal and how Sal had told him of being a wizard. "When I got my wand, when you were at the book shop, Mr. Ollivander told me and Sal something strange. He said that my wand's core was the same as Voldemort's."
"Wow, Harry. I can't believe you never told me."
He smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry. You didn't know you were a wizard before and Sal wanted me to keep it a secret, especially in Diagon Alley. I'm famous for something I don't remember and he didn't want me to have to deal with all that attention."
"I understand. I'm glad you told me, Harry."
He flashed her a grin. "You're my best friend. I wanted to tell you sooner, but I was waiting for Sal to say it was okay."
"He's a good man. I like him a lot."
"He likes you, too."
They smiled at each other before launching into a discussion of houses. A good hour or so later, they were interrupted by a chubby, shy-looking boy their age. "I'm, I'm sorry, but have you seen a toad? I can't seem to find Trevor."
"No, but we can help you look," Harry said standing as Hermione nodded in agreement. "We'll just change into our school robes and we'll help."
"Thank you!"
"I'm Harry Sorin."
"I'm Hermione Granger."
The chubby boy smiled. "I'm Neville Longbottom."
He left and they changed into their robes before leaving their compartment. They asked the people in the compartments but none had seen them. They entered another compartment filled with three boys."
"Have any of you seen a toad? A boy named Neville's lost one," Hermione said.
The three shook their head. The boys introduced themselves. They were Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, and Ron Weasely. Ron, the red-headed boy, had his wand out.
"Are you doing magic?" Harry asked.
Ron nodded wearily. "Let's see then," Hermione said.
Ron cleared his throat and began. "Sunshine daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid fat rat yellow!" A spark shot from his wand but nothing happened to the rat in his lap.
"That's a spell? Sounds made up. I've only tried a few myself, but they've all worked for me." She stood and walked to Harry. She turned back to them. "We should be arriving soon. You better change into your robes." She walked off.
Harry turned to follow, but not before he saw the look Ron gave the other two boys.
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They never found Neville's toad by the time they reached the castle of Hogwarts. They were led to the castle by a large giant of a man named Hagrid. They were led up stairs to two extremely large doors when they met a professor. She gave them a speech basically saying that their houses would be family and breaking rules would cause the whole house to suffer through loss of House points and good-doing would win House points.
"I'll be in Slytherin," they heard a voice say and Harry and Hermione turned to see a blonde haired boy with a smug look smirking. "Father would expect nothing less."
Harry rolled his eyes at Hermione who gave a little giggle causing the blonde to look sharply at them. He strolled over to them. "I'm Draco Malfoy," he said extending a hand.
Harry looked at it for a moment before deciding to be polite and took it. "Harry Sorin. This is my friend Hermione Granger."
Draco ignored Hermione and looked thoughtfully at Harry. "Sorin? Name sounds kind of familiar."
Harry just shrugged. He had never heard Sal mention the name Malfoy.
"Follow me," came the voice of the professor and the group followed her into the Great Hall.
The room was huge and the sky was bewitched to look like the nights. It was wonderful in Harry's opinion. The sorting began instantly and the two friends waited anxiously for their names to be called.
Finally, "Hermione Granger!"
Nervously, she walked up to the stool and the professor placed the hat on her head. After a moment or two it cried out "Gryffindor!"
Harry clapped loudly and smiled at Hermione as she walked past to her House table. After a few more students, Draco Malfoy was called. He was instantly placed in Slytherin.
"Harry Potter-Sorin!"
The hall was silent as he walked up. He heard the whispers. "Potter? Could it be? Wow."
The hat was placed on his head. "Hmm…not a bad mind. Very strong. Traits of all four founders, though Slytherin and Gryffindor surely out do the others. Where to put you?" Harry said nothing as the hat muttered in his mind. Finally, "SLYTHERIN!"
Once again, the Great Hall was deathly silent as Harry walked to his respective table. The students were all shocked. He looked up at the teachers' table to find them all with the same look as the students. He smiled weakly as he remembered the story of Slytherin Sal had told them. The horrible Slytherin name was now his label. Oh Boy, he thought.
