"You will achieve great things Mr Potter. And I see it in your heart and your mind that there is only one place where you will achieve that greatness."

"SLYTHERIN!"

Silence. Absolute Silence.

From the depths of the silence a lone pair of hands starting clapping. Harry looked across to see Daphne on her feet applauding Harry's selection in Slytherin. Tracey stood up next to her and started clapping too. It sounded very small in such a large hall. Then from the Hufflepuff table Neville started clapping. Then Hermione from Ravenclaw.

But that was it.

Harry walked towards the Slytherin table, back straight, shoulders back, with his eyes focussed on Daphne. Sitting down next to her he looked along the table meeting and holding every pair of eyes. He would not be intimidated.

"Rivers, Oliver" continued Professor McGonagall until "Weasley, Ronald"

The hat seemed to take its time sorting Weasley. Harry could see the Weasley twins across the other side of the hall starting to get worried. Weasleys always go into Gryffindor. But then again so do Potters and look what happened there.

Everyone could see Ron arguing with the hat until eventually the hat sighed. "Ok then, Gryffindor" it said without much enthusiasm.

"Zabini, Blaise" went straight into Slytherin and sat across from Harry, giving him a nod as he sat down.

Dumbledore wearily stood up.

"Welcome," he said. "to a new year at Hogwarts. Let the banquet begin." Waving his hand causing the food to appear on the tables.

"Well that was a bit lack lustre" one of the older Slytherin students remarked. "He must have a lot on his mind" Harry just smirked.

"So, Harry Potter then" Blaise stated.

Harry looked at Blaise and they both cracked up laughing with Daphne and Tracey joining in. Harry had always got along well with Blaise while being Henri and it would appear that that would continue. Blaise's dry wit made a good foil for over the top Tracey's teasing.

"You don't belong here Potter!" Malfoy spat standing up "why don't you take your little tart to Gryffindor with the rest of the losers."

Harry clamped down hard on his occlumency shields noticing the rest of the Slytherin table was watching.

Turning to Draco with a calm and dispassionate look. "Mr Malfoy, you appear to have slopped half your dinner down your robes. Have you not been taught how to eat like a civilised person? I suggest you sit down and not embarrass yourself further."

Draco looked down and sure enough there was a large gravy stain on the front of his robes. "What? But" he started. Pansy Parkinson began to clean his robes with her napkin. One of the fifth-year prefects hissed at them "Malfoy. Parkinson. Sit down. You will not embarrass our house like this."

Daphne leaned over to Harry to whisper in his ear "levitation spell?"

"Switching spell. He will find his tie clip in the gravy boat." Harry replied then added with a smirk "oh, wandless and silent"

After everyone had finished eating Dumbledore stood up to make his start of term announcements. He appeared to have gotten his wits together during the feast.

"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils and no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Plus, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

And there it is thought Harry, the bait. Still doesn't give away anything about Dumbledore's scheme, but it seems very much like a test. The question is, is this just to test Harry or is Dumbledore running some sort of knockout competition. Last man standing. Looking at the eager faces and urgent whispered conversations at the Gryffindor table, there were plenty that would take the test as well.


The Slytherin fifth-year prefects led the first years into the common room.

Harry observed the layout of the common room. There was a central path of flagstones stretching the full length of the room from the entrance to a door at the far end – probably the residences. Along each side was a series of carpeted alcoves containing sofas and armchairs. All were facing inwards towards the central corridor. A Paranoid lot, Harry thought, not wanting to have their backs to anyone. The décor was green, it wasn't too bad Harry thought, if you liked green. The ceiling was glass, not showing the evening sky but the lake. Harry hoped that it was a magical effect like in the great hall, or it had some pretty good strengthening charms working on it.

The sight of the common room caused a memory of duelling on this very path of flagstones into his head. The feel under foot, the limitations of the narrow space, and the protective wards. Up to now Harry had only been getting flashes of Voldemort's memories about using magic. Now that he was at Hogwarts it seemed that other memories would be forcing their way through. Probably because of the profound impression attending Hogwarts had on Voldemort's life.

The prefects had them line up along one side of the room with the other years lined up on the other side.

Professor Snape walked in, silence fell.

"For those of you that are new here, and a reminder to those that aren't, this house has rules."

"These rules are not a whim on my part, they are for your survival at school and the betterment of Slytherin House."

"Some of you think you know these rules as you were brought up in 'Proper' families. You do not. You will learn them and follow them at all times."

"If you are having difficulties with anything, see your prefects. If they cannot help you, they will bring them to me. I will help."

"You will always be punctual, to classes, to meals, to quidditch games."

"You will attend all meals in the great hall as a group."

"You will excel in your studies. Help will be given to those that are less academically inclined to the point where you will at least pass your classes."

"You will always be dressed in clean and tidy clothing. Ties will be worn and will be straight. Hogwarts has an army of house elves. Treat them with respect and they will ensure that your clothes are clean and pressed. They will also carry out repairs to garments that need it."

"Outside of this house you must show unity at all times. There are plenty that hate us just for being Slytherin. We are the house of the cunning and ambition and we are not liked because of this. If you have a grievance with another member of this house it will be dealt with in here."

"I never want to see another display like I just saw in the great hall."

"Mr Malfoy. You vocalised a complaint against Mr Potter in a very loud and public way. For this you have earned yourself a week's detention with myself. Miss Parkinson, you can join him for your part in his display." Draco who was already seething from his embarrassment almost exploded.

"Mr Potter, you reacted in an entirely appropriate manner and therefore have escaped punishment."

"But Potter does not belong here. He's a Potter." Draco yelled.

"Mr Malfoy. Control yourself." Snape said and looked towards Harry "Do you have anything to say on the matter Mr Potter?"

Harry stepped forward and turned to address all the students.

"I am Harry Potter."

"My Grandmother was Dorea Potter, nee Black, a Slytherin Prefect."

"My Guardian is Roxanne Greengrass nee Black"

"My godfather is Lord Sirius Black who has named me his heir"

"By my Black family heritage alone I belong in Slytherin."

"The sorting hat put me in here. Against the headmaster's wishes no less." Harry had decided to sow some seeds of discontent towards Dumbledore. Successfully too if the muttering he heard was any indication.

"But I do not claim my place in Slytherin due to my family heritage, or because some ancient relic decided this was the house for me, I claim my place by my intelligence, my cunning, and by my wand if need be!"

"If anyone disputes this, I would be more than happy to discuss it with them in a more straight forward manner." Harry looked at Draco and nodded his head towards the duelling piste.

Draco was confused, why was Harry nodding towards the aisle? And why wasn't everyone jumping to his defence. Did they not know who his father was?

"Well Mr Malfoy" Snape asked "Do you accept the challenge?"

"What? What are you talking about?" Draco replied with confusion on his face.

The older students laughed at his ignorance.

"It appears Mr Malfoy, for all his talk about who belongs in our house and who doesn't, is not aware of house traditions" Harry said looking towards the older students.

He turned back to Draco. "It is traditional for disputes to be settlement in the time-honoured way. With your wand Mr Malfoy. You do have one, don't you?"

Everyone laughed. They were enjoying this. It was almost a tradition to have a couple of first years fight it out after the sorting. There was always someone who wanted to be the top firstie. The long boring train ride, experiencing the castle for the first time, the sorting, emotions ran high.

The surprise this year was Potter. He looked nothing like everyone was led to believe by the news articles, the books, and the now suspect interviews. There was no scar. No glasses. He looked nothing like the photos of his father that always accompanied these articles. He looked like… well one of them.

And he talked and behaved like one of them. The way he was playing Malfoy was brilliant. Best firstie fight ever, and that was before they had even fired a spell.

"Of course I have a wand, Potter" Draco said while fumbling in his robes trying to draw it.

Harry flicked his wand into his hand and marched down to the end of the piste not even deigning to look at Draco. He reached the end and turned. "Well come on then Malfoy, the sooner I finish you the sooner Professor Snape can get you up to the hospital wing."

Professor Snape was in a quandary, it was his sworn duty to protect his godson Draco, but the boy did not make it easy. One look at the poise Potter portrayed during this entire event and he had no doubt as to what the outcome of this would be. But this was his house, and it had its traditions, he could not interfere. Maybe just mitigate the damage.

"Well Mr Malfoy?" Snape asked "Please step forward so I can activate the protective wards. Unless of course you would like to apologise to Mr Potter?"

"Apologise? To a Potter? Never" he said stepping onto the piste "You are going to regret this Potter"

Harry just looked at him with a bored expression. "Are you done talking Mr Malfoy?"

As the wards went up Draco started firing spells at Harry who side stepped them while observing Draco's technique. Stunner, Stunner, Stinging hex. Basic first year spells.

He was not going to under estimate Draco but he needed to hold himself back. Can't have too many of his secrets revealed this early.

Harry let loose his own string of spells to test Draco defences, all whispered. Stunner, Stunner, wide area stinging hex. The last was very effective in a narrow space, impossible to dodge. So either shield or dive under it.

Draco chose the latter and hit the ground with the hex fizzing just over his head. Taking advantage of Draco's position on the ground, Harry wrapped Draco's robes around his head till he looked like he was in a cocoon. He fired a powerful stinging hex at Draco's backside. Draco yelled in pain. "Do you yield Mr Malfoy?" Harry asked.

Before Draco could answer Harry felt the wards go down and Professor Snape walked towards Draco cancelling Harry spell and helping Draco to his feet.

"Do you yield Mr Malfoy?" Harry asked again annoyed Professor Snape had released Draco.

"Of course not Potter" Draco replied and returned to his place at the end of the piste.

Professor Snape sighed and stepped back reactivating the wards. He hoped his intervention did not look too much like favouritism. He knew that he would not be able to get away with that again.

Draco advanced on Harry. "Serpensortia" he yelled with glee. This was his big move, he had practised it non-stop since he could wave a wand. It scared the living daylights out of an opponent. A snake appeared. A large snake with glistening fangs. It hissed as it raced through the air towards Harry.

Before the snake had got even half way to Harry, he flicked his wand.

"Evanesco" - the snake disappeared. Draco was speechless.

"Is that it?" Harry asked "Is that the best you have? Really? Well now it is my turn."

Harry's response was vicious. His wand moved so fast it was a blur as he whispered the spells.

"Incendio" – Draco's robes were set on fire.

"Aguamenti" – A powerful stream of water flowed from Harry's wand hitting Draco and extinguishing the flames – soaking Draco in the process.

"Glacius" – Draco froze into a solid block of ice

"Bombarda" – The exploding charm shattered the ice around Draco and knocked him back

"Incarcerous" – Draco found himself tied up in ropes

"Expelliarmus" – Draco's wand flew from his hand. Harry caught it.

"Do you yield Mr Malfoy?" Harry asked for the last time. If Draco was going to carry on Harry would show him no mercy.

"Yes" Draco said. With no wand and being unable to move he had no choice.

"Diffindo" – Harry cut the ropes holding Draco. "I will give you a moment to get your self together and then you will apologise properly, or we shall continue this."

Draco could barely stand. He was sore and bruised all over, unable to pinpoint the source pain to any one place. His robes were burnt, his hair was singed, he had a headache, and a loud ringing in his ears.

Harry examined the damage he had caused to Draco. Nothing serious he thought, he had received worse than that in a hard training session.

Draco stood on wobbly legs "I apologise Mr Potter. I was wrong about you not belonging in Slytherin and the words I used were unforgiveable. You have proven yourself a formidable opponent with a wand and the cunning you displayed to fool Dumbledore was masterful."

Harry did not believe a word of it. The look in Draco's eyes was pure hatred and he was only doing this to avoid further humiliation. Harry understood, it was the way the game was played.

As the wards came down Harry looked around for Daphne and realised that he was not the only one that had seen action tonight.

For at the back of the dorm, on the side the first years were standing, Pansy Parkinson was pinned against the wall with her arms outstretched. It looked like she was crucified. Holding her arms in place were Daphne's knives, one through each of Pansy's sleeves. Standing in front of Pansy was Daphne holding her wand against the girl's neck. She had Pansy's wand in her other hand.

"Just a girl thing" Daphne told Harry "Nothing to worry about. Miss Parkinson here thought she could hex me in the back while I was watching you demolish her boyfriend."

"Obviously she thought wrong" Harry said with a laugh.

Professor Snape who was watching this while attending to Draco was at a loss for what to do. So he did the only thing he could do in the situation. "Miss Greengrass, please let Miss Parkinson down and return her wand. Miss Parkinson you will accompany myself and Mr Malfoy to the infirmary."

He turned to look at the rest of the common room who were talking animatedly amongst themselves over the night's events. Harry and his girlfriend were quite the formidable first years.

"I believe the night's entertainment is over. Would the fifth-year prefects please show the first years to the dorm rooms. I expect everyone to be punctual for breakfast tomorrow."

As Harry and the other first years were being led out of the common room, a sixth year student stepped in front of Harry. He looked at Harry for a long time before nodding to Harry and moving out of his way.


In the first-year boys' dorm there was one bed that was obviously the favoured position. Beside the fire place, in a small alcove with extra space around it. Harry went and stood next to the bed. He turned to the other boys.

"Does anyone have a problem with me taking this one?" he asked innocently

Everyone shook their heads and Crabbe and Goyle shuffled forward to remove Draco's trunk that was at the foot of the bed and replaced it with Harry's.

"Thank you Mr Crabbe, Mr Goyle. Your help is appreciated" he said politely.

Blaise claimed the bed on the other side of the fire place. No one said a thing, they just moved the trunks to the new places.

Blaise looked at Harry and said "So Harry, you have humbled Dumbledore, become the head firstie, and put baby Malfoy in the hospital wing. On Day One. What are your plans for the rest of the year?"

"Me? I am just hoping for a quiet year, keep my head down and study hard" Harry said barely managing to keep a straight face.

He risked a glance at Blaise, seeing Blaise's look of total disbelief he lost control and started rolling around on his bed laughing.

It was going to be an interesting year.