AN 1: This would be a Haphne pairing.
AN 2: Filius, Snape and Flamel would play important parts in this story as mentors.
DZ2's 'Harry Vs Hermione' Challenge
Plot: So, let's see if we've got this right: according to JK, a Muggle-born obsessed with books is meant to be better than the Master of Death, who comes from one of the oldest magical families in the world...is that right? Oh, I don't think so...and neither does Harry and he's more than willing to prove it, by any means necessary.
Rules: All affinities are welcome
Smart, Powerful Harry
When the story starts is up to youIf the story starts AFTER first year/first lessons, Harry MUST have a private moment where he questions why Hermione is the only one who can be smart
After his epiphany, Harry starts to better himself...in ALL lessons
No matter what, Harry and Hermione CANNOT become/remain friends or anything more
At least once, Harry and Hermione have duels and debates on right and wrong answers (no prizes for guessing who wins EVERY time)
As Harry grows stronger and better mentally, he must also do the same magically, physically, emotionally and personally
IF Hermione is part of any of Harry's adventures, it CANNOT be because she's figured it all out first OR because it was planned
At some point, Hermione forms a group of smart people, but its true purpose is to show-up Harry
Harry MUST also form a group of study partners that DON'T include Hermione because they're more open-minded than her
All pairings are welcome EXCEPT Harmony/Harmony-related pairings
Guidelines: Crossovers
Genius-Harry
Super/OP-Harry
Dark-Lord Harry
Spell-Crafter Harry (that would really stick in Hermione's craw)
Harry OR Hermione get a resort
Harry and/or Hermione are sorted somewhere other than Gryffindor
As a Potter/Peverell/magical heir, Harry has access to a Grimoire/books that Hermione doesn't
A magical adult/famed figure/professor takes Harry as an apprentice, furthering his studies
Lily and/or James are still alive
Slash
Harems
Harry/Multi
Harry explores magic outside British beliefs
Hermione leaves Hogwarts, but returns later, still-believing she's become better than Harry
In a bid to really stick it to Harry, Hermione offers her 'services' to Voldemort and/or his armies
Forbidden: Harmony
Harmony-related pairings
Harry and Hermione as/remaining friends
Dumb, naive, weak Harry
Hermione being part of Harry's adventures at first
Harry and Hermione as part of the same study groups (unless one leaves/is forced to leave soon after)
Harry siding with Tom
Other than that, it's up to you...
Platform 9 ¾
It was with no small hint of relief that the Weasley family, along with Hermione and Harry, arrived at King's Cross close to the time the train was to depart for Hogwarts. The sky was clear and there was no hint of rain, no signs of a storm. It was a perfect day for going to Hogwarts, sitting back for a very long train ride across the rolling English and Scottish countryside, however it would not go as planned for the second youngest of the Weasley brood and Harry Potter, the savior of the wizarding world. The young scion of House Potter and House Peverell, though he knew not the second house he was heir to, clambered out of the Ford Angelia's back seat where many of the Weasley brood were scrunched together despite the expansion charms on it, watching as Mr. Weasley began packing trunks onto several trollies and handing them off one-by-one to each child who was still attending Hogwarts, meaning Ron, Hermione, Harry himself, the twins, Percy and the only girl in the Weasley family who was Ginny Weasley, though she had been acting a bit strange since they had gotten back from Diagon Alley after their school supplies, each child taking their own trolley and beginning to head for the platform. Harry wasn't sure if it was his place to say anything, only knowing that whenever the girl saw him, she squeaked and ran off or blushed like mad.
"Harry come on," said Hermione as she tugged on her friend's arm, the twelve-year-old giving a shake of his head and following after Hermione and the rest of the Weasleys, seeing that Mr. Weasley was steering Ginny's trunk and Ginny was clutching Mrs. Weasley's hand as they rushed through the muggle side of King's Cross towards the magical barrier between Platforms 9 and 10, a simple brick wall that hid the magical platform students were to take to get to their school in the Scottish Highlands.
Mr. Weasley looked up at the clock overhead to check the time. "Right, we'll go in pairs. Percy, you go with Hermione. Then the twins and Molly, Ginny and I will follow them. Ron and Harry, you come in last," said Mr. Weasley. Everyone nodded, and each pair went through the barrier without issues, the Muggles remaining oblivious to what was going on around them. When it was Harry and Ron's turn to go through the barrier the pair of boys steered their trollies to the brick wall between Platform 9 and Platform 10, both picking up speed to get through the barrier before the clock turned 11:00 AM and the train left for Hogwarts. A crash issued as the trollies hit the barrier, Hedwig's and Scabbers's cages falling off and rolling across the platform earning looks from some Muggles and talk of animal abuse, especially when some saw Hedwig in her own cage.
Harry shakily stood and rushed after the cages while Ron got the trollies upright. "What do you think you're doing?" questioned a Muggle guard as Harry returned with the cages, handing Ron Scabbers's cage and placing Hedwig's cage back on his own trunk. Hedwig hooted in disgust and ruffled her feathers to show her displeasure at crashing into the barrier and then rolling across the ground while Scabbers squeaked loudly and rushed about.
"Lost control of the trolley," said Harry.
"Bloody kids," said the guard before heading down the platform. When he was gone both boys looked at each other, Harry glancing up at the clock as Ron placed a hand on the barrier and pushed upon it. If they couldn't get through onto the platform, then what were they going to do? Harry strapped Hedwig's cage onto his trolley and glanced at the clock which now said it was 10:58 AM.
"Harry what are we going to do if we can't get through?" questioned Ron.
Harry shook his head. "I don't know," he said. He pressed on the barrier, throwing all his weight onto the wall and hoping it would give but it remained steadfastly solid. "It's like there's a barrier protecting us from getting inside," he said.
Ron's eyes seemed to widen as he had a thought. "Harry…if we can't get through then what about mom and dad? Will they be able to get back out and get home?"
The thought had not occurred to Harry, but it did bring up an interesting question. How did the adults get back to the Muggle side after dropping their children off for the Hogwarts Express? Did they go back through the barrier or were there other means to get onto and from the magical platform without having to go through Muggle London? "I'm sure they'll be able to get back. Maybe we should go wait in the car until they arrive and then tell them what happened," suggested the scrawny twelve-year-old.
While Harry had been thinking, he hadn't heard Ron's moan about having missed the train as the clock now said it was 11:01 AM which meant the train had left. However, Harry mentioning the car made an idea pop into Ron's head, a foolish idea but he wasn't thinking about the consequences. "Harry that's it!" When Harry gave him a confused look Ron elaborated. "The car! We can fly it to Hogwarts and really get under Malfoy's skin!"
Harry frowned and looked to Hedwig. Or we could just send Hedwig to Hogwarts with a letter, he thought to himself. It seemed the simplest solution and the easiest one that wouldn't get either boy into trouble. Harry did not want to get detention when he arrived at Hogwarts. "Ron…I don't think that's a good idea. I mean, I have Hedwig and can just send a letter with her."
"Come on Harry! It'll be easy. Dad installed an invisibility booster on the car, so no Muggles will see us, and Fred and George managed to fly it from our home to yours easily."
"That was at night Ron and probably illegal," said Harry. "Muggles have never seen an actual flying car. I don't want to get in trouble with Snape or McGonagall by arriving at flying car. Let's just wait for your parents to come back and then explain what happened."
"Harry, I don't want to wait here forever in Muggle London. Are you coming with me or not?"
Harry frowned at his friend and stepped back, not believing the stupidity of the youngest Weasley boy. Why couldn't Ron understand that flying to Hogwarts was a bad idea? "I'm sorry Ron but I am not going with you."
"Fine. Be a goody two-shoes like Hermione. I'm going to take the car," Ron said. Turning his trolley around, the fiery red-head made his way out of the station and left, some Muggles still staring at the two boys in confusion before making their way to their respective destinations. For a moment, Harry considered not sending a letter to Hedwig and just getting on a train going somewhere else within England but that thought was squashed as he realized he didn't have Muggle money on him and might be in more trouble if he decided not to go back to Hogwarts. He couldn't return home either as he wasn't expected back at the Dursleys until the summer holidays and he didn't want to think about what his relatives would think if he returned home before he was supposed to arrive. They might throw him out on the streets and then what would he do? No, the smartest thing was to send a letter to someone at Hogwarts and explain what had happened, though even he was not sure what had happened with the barrier and why he couldn't get through. Pressing a hand against it, in the off chance it would let him through with the train gone, he was disappointed to see it remained steadfastly solid. With a sigh, he looked at Hedwig and released her from her cage, the owl hooting angrily and alighting on his shoulder. Harry locked the cage and then moved his trolley to a bench outside the station and opened his trunk. Pulling out a piece of parchment, a quill and an ink bottle, he began penning a letter to his most hated professor. His Head of House didn't seem to have a lot of faith in him when he was telling the truth and Harry couldn't help cringing at the idea that he hadn't given her a lot of reason to trust him during his first year at Hogwarts.
Professor Snape,
I know I'm the last person you want to hear from, but I'm stuck on the Muggle side of Platform 9 ¾. Ron and I were unable to get through the barrier and catch the train but the other Weasleys and Hermione got through just time. Ron has also refused to listen to my advice and has taken Mr. Weasley's flying car to school though I tried to say that we could just send Hedwig. I'm sorry to trouble you but I can't go back home until the summer holidays and didn't know who else to contact.
Harry Potter
Rolling the letter up until it resembled a scroll, Harry then tied it with a piece of string and then secured it to Hedwig's outstretched leg, the bird having flown to the bench beside him. "Take this to Professor Snape, Hedwig. I think he's the only one at school who will believe me." Hedwig gave a hoot and spread her wings, flying into the open sky. Harry sighed and began putting his ink bottle and quill away in his trunk and closed it. He felt a bit bad about betraying Mr. Weasley's trust after being allowed to spend the rest of the summer holidays with the Weasleys thanks to the Twins and Ron rescuing him, but was it honestly a good idea to have a flying car that Muggles could spot roaming about England?
Harry had fallen asleep on the bench outside of King's Cross when the sound of a drawling voice entered his ears. "Mr. Potter. Do explain why the train was too good for you to arrive on it with everyone else?" These words from his hated professor…no…a professor as he vowed to be respectful to all his professors from now on served to wake the sleeping twelve-year-old…the face of his Potions Professor looming over him and the fact that it was around mid-afternoon by a quick look at the clock outside the station. The Hogwarts Express was still on its journey towards Hogwarts, given it never got there before 11:00 PM.
"Professor Snape!" Harry shouted as he sat up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes before noticing Hedwig wasn't there. "Where is Hedwig sir?"
"Your owl is in the owlery," said Professor Snape, not commenting on the fact that the boy wasn't being his usual arrogant self. "Come Mr. Potter. Take my arm and I will side-along apparate you to Hogwarts where we will discuss this in my office. Hold onto your trunk and don't let go of me or your trunk. I don't fancy having to pick up scattered body parts because you were a dunderhead and can't heed simple instructions."
"Yes sir. What is apparition sir?" Harry questioned as he grabbed his trunk tightly with one hand.
"A method of traveling in the wizarding world where you imagine yourself somewhere else," said Severus. "Failing to concentrate on your destination results in you splinching yourself where you leave body parts behind you and cause serious injury, if not death. Therefore, we do not teach this at Hogwarts until you take a course in your sixth year to get your apparition license by a certified Auror who has their license to apparate," said Professor Snape.
Harry took his Professor's arm and they soon found themselves in the middle of Hogsmeade Village at the platform. Harry staggered but managed to keep from getting sick, Professor Snape not saying anything until the boy had straightened. "Come and don't think of escaping," said Professor Snape as he pulled out his wand and a light burst from it before heading off towards the castle to inform the boy's Head of House and the Headmaster that he had the boy. Harry followed, not wanting to press his good luck into the school and down into the dungeons. They passed the corridor leading to the kitchens and passage leading to the Hufflepuff Common Room, past the Potions' classroom and then past a painting of Salazar Slytherin, the serpent's brown eyes watching Harry while the man, who he assumed to be Slytherin himself, remained asleep within the painting.
The pre-teen stopped outside a door in which the professor performed a counter spell to open it. Harry was surprised it wasn't concealed behind a painting. The office was a gloomy and dimly-lit room found in the school dungeons. The shadowy walls were lined with shelves of large glass jars filled with slimy, revolting things, such as bits of animals and plants, floating in potions of varying colors. The office had a fireplace. In a corner, there was a cupboard containing Snape's private stock of Potions ingredients. There was a table there with a chair behind it near the fireplace and another door led to Professor Snape's private quarters.
"Sit," said Professor Snape as he headed towards his desk and sat down. Harry let go of his trunk and moved it out of the way before heading towards the table and sitting down in a seat across from him. "Explain."
Harry opened his mouth to begin explaining when the fire behind the Professor sprang to life and out stepped Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore, both brushing soot and ash off their robes before staring at Mr. Potter. "What is the meaning of this Mr. Potter?" Professor McGonagall asked. "Why are you not on the train with your friends and fellow students?" Harry's mouth tightened into a thin line as his head of house began immediately badgering him about why he was not on the train with the other students.
"I couldn't get through the barrier Professor."
"That's preposterous," said Minerva. "The barrier has never sealed itself before."
Dumbledore was staring quietly at the Gryffindor through his half-moon spectacles. "Please explain everything Harry, starting from when you entered King's Cross. You were with the Weasleys yes?"
So, Harry began explaining of the Weasleys running late as usual to the platform and how they had arrived close to the time the train was going to leave. He told of how everyone else had gotten through until it had been his and Ron's turn, how they had attempted to run through the barrier like Harry had done last year only to crash into the brick wall and lose control of their trollies, how Harry had tested the wall both after crashing into it and after Ron had gone to find it wouldn't give way.
"Where is Mr. Weasley now?" questioned Dumbledore.
"He took Mr. Wealey's flying car Headmaster and decided to fly to Hogwarts even though I said I could send Hedwig to the school or that we should wait for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to return," said Harry.
"And you sent a letter to Severus to explain your situation?" Dumbledore questioned.
"Yes sir," said Harry. "Professor Snape should still have it I think."
Severus handed the letter to Dumbledore who began reading it, Minerva looking over his shoulder. The Potions Master had been watching Harry throughout the interaction between the Gryffindor Head of House and Mr. Potter with hidden curiosity, finding it peculiar how Minerva was arguing with the Golden Boy of Hogwarts.
"Everything seems to be in order. Thank you, Mr. Potter, for informing us of your friend's actions and not going with him. Severus, if you could watch for Mr. Weasley and summon me when he arrives. Mr. Potter a house elf will take your belongings to Gryffindor…"
"Actually Professor, I would like to request a resort to a different house if I may?"
Silence met the pre-teen at this request, all three professors staring at him. "May I ask why Harry?"
"Mr. Potter," said Harry.
"Excuse me?"
"Mr. Potter please Professor," said Harry as he was questioned. "I don't know you well enough, really anyone here enough to allow them to use my first name like you do Headmaster. It's probably not even appropriate, at least not within the Muggle world, for students to be addressed so informally by a Professor."
"Mr. Potter, why do you want a resort?" questioned Snape.
"I went to Professor McGonagall last year with Ron and Hermione to tell them about you trying to steal the Sorcerer's Stone and she dismissed us like it was nothing to worry about," said Harry.
"I wasn't after the stone foolish boy," said Severus.
"I realize that now. It was Voldemort possessing Quirrell," said Harry. "I'm sorry Professor for suspecting you. The hat also wanted to put me in Slytherin. You and Professor Flitwick seem to be the only professors I can trust at Hogwarts."
"Now my boy I'm sure there's no reason for…"
"Headmaster, I will only say once more to please not call me by that name," said Harry. "I am not your boy and I am not Harry to anyone but my friends. At least show me a decorum of respect," said Harry. Snape turned and called Filius and Pomona into his office, so they could be present for the resort as well in case Harry was sorted into either of their houses while Minerva couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Before any more could be said, a phoenix appeared with the Sorting Hat clutched in its talons which was dropped on Mr. Potter's head. "Hello Hat."
"Mr. Potter. I see you are wanting a resort yes?"
"I do," said Harry mentally.
"Yes…lack of trust in your Head of House, tired of having to hide yourself and your abilities from the public eye, brought on by years of pain and abuse…ah I see you still have a thirst to prove yourself…will you end up taking my advice this time and going where I desired to put you last year? Without complaint or resistance this time?"
"Yes," said Harry. "It's the only way I can end up being allowed to become smarter, if I'm away from those who would end up wanting to use me for their own ends and preventing me from studying to my full potential."
"Very well Mr. Potter. You would do well in…" The hat opened the brim and shouted out the house for the Heads of Houses to hear… "SLYTHERIN!" The hat was then plucked off by Fawkes who disappeared in a flash of fire. Harry's tie, the hem and cuffs of his robes changed to Slytherin green and the crest on his robes changed to a serpent instead of the lion it had been for the past year. His trunk disappeared to a room in the Slytherin dormitories and Harry was escorted by his new head of house towards the Slytherin common room. Yet he didn't leave before a parting few words to his former Head of House. "Perhaps if you had believed me more Professor, I might have stayed within Gryffindor, but everyone expects me to be a savior or some wonderful hero for them. I just want to be Harry, but I can't get that in Gryffindor."
"Mr. Potter, I thought you would be like your parents, but I can see now you are nothing like them. They would be disappointed in you becoming a Slytherin."
"The Sorting Hat wanted to put me in Slytherin last year," said Harry. "I refused because of meeting Draco and being told from Hagrid and Ron how evil everyone in Slytherin is, how they don't amount to anything but being dark wizards. And because of Voldemort and being put on the Dursleys' doorstep when I was a baby, I know nothing about my role within Hogwarts or the wizarding community, nor do I know what my parents would have liked or how they acted because nobody talks about my mother and only says stuff about how my father was a great flyer and Chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Professor Snape may not like me, no offense sir, but at least he is honest and hasn't lied to me…then again Voldemort hasn't lied to me yet either."
With those parting words, the twelve-year-old walked out of Snape's office, Snape and Filius both appearing thunderstruck at what they had heard before Snape followed Harry and the other teachers disappeared to their respective quarters. Dumbledore was fuming at the fact that Harry had chosen to go to Slytherin instead of remaining within Gryffindor like his parents. Perhaps he would need to get Mr. Lupin as a teacher at Hogwarts to get the boy into line. The boy needed to remain in Gryffindor and stupid, so he could take position of the light and kill Voldemort, a descendant of Slytherin and descendant of the Peverell bloodline through the second brother. He sighed and returned to his office. Perhaps some lemon drops would be satisfactory.