Author's note: Time to start subtly fixing things! Here we go :)

Also, anything borrowed from the book here is not mine, nor are the characters. Feel like I have to say this since there are some sections borrowed from canon here.

...

Diagon Alley was as magical as anything Harry had imagined. Or rather, hadn't even known to imagine.

The wizarding alley was full of so many amazing things that Harry couldn't really tell where to keep his eyes. There were shops selling magical books, a wand shop, a clothing store selling funny robes and hats, a magical pet store, and even some sort of sports shop! So many wonderful, magical things whizzing by him every time he turned to look in a new direction. He was sure he would never run out of wonderful things to see.

But even better than the wizarding world and its many wonders was the company with him. Harry had never met anyone like Hagrid, the giant who had arrived after the whole funny business with the hundreds of letters following him around. Hagrid was funny, and although he seemed unaware of his own strength, he was kind as well. He had told Harry stories of the wizarding world, Harry's fame, and about you-know-who and his parents, answering all of Harry's questions and never seeming annoyed or put out by having to spend his day off with him. Harry had never had anyone tell him about his parents, so he was beyond grateful for that. And he'd never had anyone truly seem to want him around either.

However, just because Hagrid was nice, Harry still didn't really trust him. At least not completely. After all, Mrs. Lynn had been kind too, and she had still thought he was a liar in the end. Maybe Hagrid would turn out to be the same. Harry hoped not, but he couldn't be too careful.

So although Harry liked Hagrid, he wasn't sure exactly if he could trust everything he said. He wanted to believe that his parents were kind good people, but how could he be sure? Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon certainly didn't think they were. But if Hagrid was right, then they had lied about a lot of things about his parents, like them being no good drunks, and not telling him about the magic. So Harry doubted they had been right either. But it was hard to say what the truth was. Harry was happy simply to know their names though, and a little bit about them, even if all of the fantastic things Hagrid said about them may not be exactly true. Hagrid had said they went to Hogwarts too, so maybe Harry could ask someone else there about them too.

However, Hagrid also said some things that didn't quite make sense to Harry when he asked about Hogwarts. Like, when he told Harry that some "house" at Hogwarts (a "Slithering" or something) was where all the evil wizards went. Harry couldn't really believe that was true. If they knew all the wizards in that house were evil, why would they let them go to school in the first place? But Hagrid did seem to be a bit clueless about some things, so maybe he was just confused.

Regardless of the many questions spinning around in his head about his newfound knowledge of his parents and the wizarding world, Harry had an amazing time shopping for his school supplies. He still couldn't believe there was all that wizarding money in a vault all for him! When all was said in done, Harry had a wand, books, and all his other school supplies in his new magical trunk that was bigger on the inside. And best of all, he not only had made his first friend in Hagrid but also had his first pet, a beautiful snowy owl he had named Hedwig.

The only snag to the whole day had been when he met a strange boy while being fitted for his robes, a Mafloy, or something. (He'd said some rude things, or at least, they seemed rude. Harry didn't quite understand all of it truthfully. Thankfully, he hadn't had to talk to him long.) Well, that and the fact that Hagrid had forgotten about lunch, so Harry was a bit hungry when he returned towards the Dursley's. And because they were mad at him about the whole magic thing, he didn't get any dinner either. But that was fine. Harry was used to that, and he hadn't wanted to annoy Hagrid by bringing it up.

Although Harry was reluctant to let this wonderful day end, he couldn't shop with Hagrid forever. But he was pleased to find that Uncle Vernon was so scared by magic, and Hagrid, that Harry was allowed to keep all of his things with him in his new room! (Granted, it was Dudley's second room, so it was not very nice and a bit drafty. But Harry didn't care. It was his very own room, not a cupboard.)

But as he settled into his bed, Harry couldn't sleep. And as he lay, thinking about all the things he'd learned that day, a horrible truth sunk into him.

Harry had always known the Dursley's weren't fair, that they wanted to fix a freakishness about him that Harry couldn't even understand. But now, Harry understood what it was. The freakishness that had plagued his life. It was the magic.

Harry's stomach ached at the thought. All of those years spent trying to earn the Dursley's acceptance. It would have never worked. The magic was something he was born with. At least, that was what Hagrid had said. He could have never stopped it.

Suddenly, Harry was mad. He wanted to scream at the unfairness of it all, but he didn't dare for fear of waking his Aunt and Uncle and being punished for waking them up in the middle of the night.

So Harry did what he always did. He swallowed down his anger at the unfairness of it all, rolled on to his side, and attempted to sleep.

Maybe he couldn't do anything about it at the Dursley's, but Harry wouldn't be here for long. He would be at Hogwarts soon. There, Harry was determined, it would be different. He wouldn't be a freak there, in a place where everyone else was magical too. Maybe, just maybe, he could fit in there.

With that hopeful thought in his mind, Harry drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

...

"Ronald! Hurry up now, we're going to miss the train if we don't hurry!"

The loud voice of his mother yelling startled Ron Weasley, who was currently looking under his bed for a missing shoe he should have packed hours ago, but had been putting off. Startled, he accidentally hit his head hard on the bedframe above him, letting out a startled yelp.

As he rubbed his aching head, he heard the sound of footsteps rushing up the stairs, before his mother popped her head in the room with a sigh.

"Oh dear, have you hit your head again? Let me take a look."

"Mum!" He moaned in embarrassment as she rushed over and began tutting in concern over his head, messing up his hair to see the damage. "It's just a bump. I'm fine."

"I'll be the judge of that!" She said sternly, pulling out her wand and murmuring a simple healing spell. Immediately, the pain alleviated and Ron's head felt much better.

"Now, grab that trunk and let's get a move on! Can't be late for your first year at Hogwarts, now can we!" She said with a misty smile, before rushing forward to crush him in a tight hug. "My little Ronnie, off to Hogwarts already!"

"Better get off him Mum." He heard, rather than saw, a familiar voice from where he was squished in his mother's arms.

"Might smother our little Ronniekins if you squeeze him any harder!"

"Smothered before he ever became a proper wizard-"

"What a tragedy!" The twin voices snickered.

"Fred, George, off with you!" His mother said as she let him go, giving him a clear view of his twin brothers smirking at him from the doorway. "You should have your trunks outside already! This isn't your first year at Hogwarts." She rushed towards them, and they let out a sarcastic yelp and rushed down the stairs fast and loud.

Ron smiled, taking one last look around his room. It would seem the shoe would have to wait. He was going to Hogwarts.

And boy, was he excited!

...

Molly Weasley was a good mother. At least, she tried to be. She was well aware that, having so many children running around, sometimes she missed things or messed things up. But she knew that her children all knew they were loved.

Molly liked to think she had developed a certain sixth sense for motherly things as well. Like noticing when Charlie's letters were a bit more homesick than usual and sending him an extra helping of homemade fudge by owl. Or when Percy was stressing over a test, and sending him extra letters reminding him to take breaks. Or when Ron was feeling nervous, like he had all last week about going to Hogwarts, and making sure she gave him extra hugs and words of encouragement.

Yes, the Weasley's might be poor and they might not be perfect, but Molly was determined that none of her children would ever feel unloved.

But right now, Molly wasn't thinking about any of those things. No, right now, she was much too preoccupied with how late they were in getting to the train.

"Hurry up now! We can't miss the train!" Molly bellowed loudly to her children as they pushed their many trunks and bags down the crowded train platform. "And the trainyard is packed with muggles, of course, as always."

She let out a sigh, and pushed lightly on Fred and George's backs, steering them towards the platform.

"Now, what's the platform number?" Molly prompted her children.

"Nine and three quarters!" Answered Ginny enthusiastically. She had been talking nonstop about going to Hogwarts since Ron received his letter, and Molly had nearly exhausted herself trying to explain to her that she couldn't go just yet. Ginny refused to listen and seemed to believe it was some sort of unfair conspiracy against her since she was the only girl.

Molly sighed and shook her head. "You're not old enough, Ginny, hush. All right, Percy, you go first." She gestured towards her son, who puffed up his chest proudly at being the oldest going to Hogwarts this year, since Bill had graduated. He walked confidently through the wall and disappeared.

"Fred, you next."

"I'm not Fred, I'm George! Honestly, woman, you call yourself our mother? Can't you tell I'm George?"

Molly could feel the headache coming on already. Honestly, those two boys. They still thought she couldn't tell them apart. And honestly, she wasn't sure they'd believe her that she could tell them apart (most of the time) even if she told them.

So, instead of buying into the prank, she decided to save time. "Sorry, George, dear."

The reply of it only being a joke was to be expected, and Molly rolled her eyes and chose not to comment, instead pushing George through the barrier behind Fred, ignoring his amused chuckles at her expense.

But just as she moved to motion Ron to follow his siblings, a sudden timid voice called out.

"Excuse me." Molly turned to see a small young boy, with messy black hair, tanned skin, and large glasses.

"Hello, dear," She said, smiling warmly at the poor, timid thing. "First time at Hogwarts? Ron's new, too."

"Yes," The boy replied. "The thing is, well, I don't know how to-"

Suddenly Molly knew exactly what the boy was asking for. And she felt a sudden icy worry about why he would need to be asking it.

The boy was thin and quite short, but she couldn't tell how thin truly, as he was swimming in his oversized and baggy clothes. They seemed to be many sizes too big for his small frame, and now that she was looking carefully, seemed rather old and threadbare as well. Now, her boys often wore hand me downs, so she was no stranger to ill-fitting clothes or things that were a bit worn. But this was quite different. The boy's clothes were more fit for the rubbish than they were to be worn, and the giant size meant they were slipping off his frame as he stood in front of her! Completely unacceptable in her opinion. Whoever had bought his clothing was either facing some great financial struggles, or they should be ashamed, sending the poor boy out like that.

On top of the thinness and the clothes, the boy was clearly alone. Alone, at a busy train station where anything could happen, and clearly unaware of how to get to the Hogwarts express. And that set Molly's mothering instincts on high alert. Something wasn't adding up. Where on earth were his guardians?

But Molly didn't have time to dwell on these things. They were late already.

So, instead, she showed the poor thing how to get through to the platform before rushing Ron through as well. She helped her children onto the train and threatened Fred and George not to repeat the toilet incident from last semester.

But it was in the last moments, as she told her children farewell, that Fred told her something that changed everything.

"Hey, Mum, guess what? Guess who we just met on the train? You know that black-haired boy who was near us in the station? Know who he is?"

Molly was used to the twin's nosy attitudes but decided to humor Fred anyways. "Who?"

"Harry Potter!"

As Ginny shrieked in excitement, and discussion shifted to you know who, Molly waved her sons off and told them not to bother the poor thing. But as the train turned round the bend, Molly couldn't help but wonder; what exactly was going on with Harry Potter?

She hoped she was mistaken, but as a mother, she couldn't help but feel that something was very, very wrong.

...

Seated in his own empty train compartment, Harry was happily soaking in the view outside of his window as the train began to pull out of the station. The closest thing to traveling Harry had ever done was the recent excursion to the cabin with the Dursley's, but that had been bad circumstances and he hadn't been able to enjoy the experience of leaving Privet Drive at all. But now, Harry was happily taking in all of the sights and sounds of the magnificent Hogwart's express.

He was happily watching the scenery of the countryside fly by, engrossed in the view, when the sudden noise of the compartment door sliding open caught his attention.

Turning apprehensively, he met the gaze of the lanky, red-haired boy he had met at the train station.

"Mind if I sit here?" The boy asked with a sheepish look on his face, scratching the back of his head nervously. "All the other compartments are full."

Despite his worry about meeting a new person, Harry swallowed down his fear and smiled. "Sure." He replied, gesturing for the boy to sit down.

"Thanks!" The redhead said, beaming. "I'm Ron by the way. Ron Weasley."

Harry was a bit startled by Ron's friendly and open nature. People didn't usually like him at all. He masked his surprise though, and answered, "I'm Harry. Harry Potter."

"So you're really-? I mean, do you still have the, you know-" Ron pointed at his own forehead, miming the clear meaning of his words.

Despite Hagrid explaining that he was "famous" or some other rubbish to Harry, he was still quite confused and disturbed that people would know so much about his life that even he hadn't known until recently.

Harry nodded in response to Ron's questions, and again when Ron asked to see, pulled his hair back casually.

"I don't know why you'd want to see it." Harry mused as he pushed his fringe back into place as best he could. "I didn't even know it was a special scar until a few days ago."

"You didn't?" Ron asked, clearly confused.

"Nope. Grew up with non-magical people. I think you call them muggles or something? Had no idea." He shrugged nonchalantly.

"But didn't you know where it came from? I mean, you'd have to know how your parent's died, right?"

"Yeah, sure." Harry brushed him off, not quite ready to admit to a stranger that he didn't know anything about his parents at all. "The Dursley's- I mean my relatives- didn't like talking about magic much." That was, of course, an understatement.

"Oh." Ron replied, seemingly at a loss for what to say.

They sat awkwardly for a few moments before Ron began launching into a discussion about his family. Harry was shocked when he mentioned the size of his family, and thought it sounded wonderful to have so many siblings despite how Ron seemed to be complaining about them.

"I don't think it sounds bad at all! I'd give anything to have a big family like that!" Harry exclaimed earnestly.

"Well, it's not all great you know, not when you're stuck in everybody's hand-me-downs, and everyone has already done all the interesting things before you."

"Still, it must be wonderful to have all those people who would love you and support you. And your hand-me-downs look better than mine. I get all of my cousin's old cast-offs, and he's practically the size of a whale."

Ron blinked at him for a moment, before he realized Harry was joking, and let out a small laugh.

"You're a strange one, mate. But I guess you're right. Mum and Dad are pretty great. And my brothers aren't so bad, especially Bill and Charlie. They're pretty neat."

Harry smiled and nodded in agreement with Ron's words.

"Say, which house do you think you'll be placed in?" Ron asked suddenly.

"I'm not sure-" Harry began to answer before the door opened up and a girl with extremely bushy hair poked her head inside.

"Excuse me. Has either of you seen a toad? Neville has lost his." She gestured to a blonde, pudgy boy standing behind her and wringing his hands nervously while his eyes darted back and forth.

"Sorry, haven't seen a toad today." Ron replied quickly with a shrug, shooting a look at the girl that wasn't unlike how people at primary school had once looked at Harry. Well, Harry couldn't have that.

"I'm Harry. Harry Potter. And this is Ron Weasley." Harry spoke up with a small smile towards the girl. "It's nice to meet you Neville, and..?"

"Hermione Granger." The girl answered confidently, while at the same time the boy, Neville, let out a small gasp from behind her. "Are you really Harry Potter? I've read about you in Hogwarts a History."

"Yeah, that's me. I guess."

"What do you mean you guess?" Neville spoke up timidly.

"Well, I don't know what the book says about me or anything." He shrugged. "I'd never even heard of magic until recently."

"He was raised by muggles." Ron answered at the shocked look on both of their faces.

"Oh, I see. I'm a muggleborn." Hermione answered promptly. "But I took the time before school to read the history of the magical world before heading to Hogwarts. I could tell you about it sometime if you like?" She offered timidly.

"That'd be great! Thanks Hermione." Harry responded with a smile. "Maybe we'll even be in the same house!"

"What house do you both think you'll be in?" Ron asked, looking more at ease with Hermione and Neville now that Harry had decided they were worth befriending.

"M-my parents were in Gryffindor." Neville stammered nervously. "But I don't think I'm brave enough for that."

"You could be in any house I bet, Neville. You just need to believe in yourself." Ron said encouragingly.

"Well, I personally think I could be in Gryffindor, but-" Hermione began, when suddenly an announcement rang out through the train, announcing they were approaching Hogwarts.

"Oh, Neville! We have to go and find your toad before we arrive!" Hermione exclaimed, grabbing Neville's sleeve and pulling him out of the car.

"It was nice to meet you Ron, Harry!" She yelled behind her as she went.

"Blimey," Ron said. "She's a bit energetic, don't you think."

"Yeah, but she seems nice! I hope we're in the same house. I'd like to know more about whatever strange things that book has to say about me too." Harry mused.

Ron simply shrugged, suddenly looking a bit pale and not meeting Harry's eyes.

"But I hope we're in the same house too, Ron." Harry rushed to say, hoping that whatever Ron was upset about wasn't about him. "I'm really glad we met on the train and now we're friends. We are friends, right?"

"Yeah, of course we are!" Ron exclaimed.

"Good." Harry said with a small smile. "I'm excited! You're my first friend! I can't wait to make more friends at Hogwarts too!"

"First friend?" Ron mumbled but didn't comment. "Well, we should probably change into our robes if we're arriving soon."

"Yeah, sounds good. I do hope we're in the same house though." Harry added.

"Me too Harry, me too."

...

The Hogwarts castle was beautiful and just as magical as Harry had imagined it would be. After he and Ron had exited the train, they'd found themselves being summoned amongst the other first years by none other than Hagrid. Harry greeted him happily, and they quickly took the boats across the Hogwart's lake to the school.

As they entered the school and found themselves in the great hall, Harry couldn't stop himself from gaping at the magic all around him. From moving staircases to magical paintings that greeted them as they walked past to the magical scenery on the high ceilings of the great hall, Harry was in awe of everything. And so very excited.

Ron mumbled something about the sorting ceremony not being fighting a troll and being relieved. Neville laughed nervously, and Hermione snorted and said he should have read Hogwarts a History.

But before Harry could comment, the sorting ceremony had begun. Names were called up and people were quickly sorted. Hermione and Neville went into Gryffindor, which made Harry happily cheer and Ron smile. That strange boy from the robe shop, Draco Malfoy apparently, went into Slytherin. Ron sneered when he saw him for some reason, and Harry wondered if he'd met him before too.

Suddenly, it was Harry's turn. He nervously walked towards the professor, McGonagall, and sat on the stool. The large old hat was placed on his head and began speaking to him immediately.

"Why, Harry Potter! I've been waiting quite a long time to sort you!"

"You have?" Harry said, confused.

"Oh yes! I sorted your parents, you see. Your parents were the perfect Gryfindor's, for certain. Quite easy to sort them." The hat began. "And you have many of their characteristics as well, so you could be in Gryffindor. But, you could be great in Slytherin house as well. Their house would bring you power and prestige for certain, which would serve you well. But yet, I also see a great desire to learn more about the wizarding world around you, and a desire for knowledge as well. That would serve you well in Ravenclaw. Your desire to make friends though is quite Hufflepuff. Hmm. Where to put you, indeed."

"I don't really mind what house I go into," Harry replied softly with a shrug of his shoulders. "But it would be nice to be with my new friends. They're the first ones I've ever had."

"Indeed, indeed. Then it must certainly be, Gryffindor!" The hat yelled the last word loudly with a decisive shout, and suddenly the Gryffindor table erupted into cheers and Harry hopped off the stool and sat with his new housemates who greeted him with happy smiles and a few pats on the back. He could have done without the touching, but he forced himself not to flinch. He didn't want to seem rude.

Within no time at all, the sorting was over, and the strange headmaster, Dumbledore, had begun the opening feast after a few cryptic words about expectations for the school year.

And it was certainly a feast. Harry had never seen so many different kinds of food before in his life, and certainly never all in one place! And the number of sweets would have made Dudley beyond jealous. He was sure his eyes were as wide as saucers.

"Hermione?" He leaned over to whisper to his new friend. "This is a lot of food. How are we supposed to pay for it? Are we allowed to eat it if we can't pay?"

Hermione gave him a strange look, unsure of how to answer.

"It's included in tuition, Harry." Neville answered simply.

"Oh. So it's okay to eat it then?"

"Yes, of course. You can eat what you'd like, mate! And I plan on eating at least three servings!" Ron added with a smile and a laugh, to which Hermione sputtered and began lecturing him about proper food consumption, which Harry then tuned out.

The sight of it all made Harry hungrier than he could ever remember being, but he knew better than to begin eating before anyone else. So he waited patiently for everyone else to fill their plates around him before taking a small amount for himself. He wanted to take more, to eat and eat and eat as he'd always dreamed of while watching the Dursleys stuff their faces with food he could never touch, but he didn't dare, afraid that he'd be caught and called out for eating more than he should. Instead, he savored each individual bite of the delicious foods he'd only cooked for the Dursleys and never tasted for himself. He was glad that everyone else was preoccupied with the excitement of the beginning of a new school year and wasn't paying attention to him. He was certain he was making some embarrassing noises, but everything was just delicious! He also used that distraction to slip a few rolls and biscuits into his pocket, just in case he needed them late. Although he hoped Hogwarts wouldn't withhold meals for punishment as the Dursleys did, he wanted to make sure he would have something just in case he did get in trouble.

As they ate, around Harry his new friends and housemates chattered with one another about their families, their excitement for the school year, what they might learn. The happy atmosphere was contagious, and Harry found himself unable to shake the large smile that had placed itself on his face.

"Mate, you going to eat that?" Ron asked Harry suddenly, pointing at a nearby tray of biscuits.

Harry shook his head. "No, I don't think I can eat another bite!"

"But you've barely eaten anything Harry." Neville commented. "Compared to the rest of us I mean." He quickly added, looking embarrassed for speaking up.

"No, really. I'm full!" Harry assured him. "I've never eaten so much food in my life!" He added with a laugh. Ron, Hermione, and Neville, as well as some of his other new housemates, gave him a funny look, but Harry shrugged it off and moved to finish the last of the small amount of treacle tart he'd allowed himself to grab.

They all three shared a look, but didn't comment, and instead went back to their conversations. The rest of the meal went without problems (save for the strange moment where Harry's scar had hurt a bit), and his smile stayed firmly in place.

After the meal was finished, and they'd been escorted to the dorms and settled in, Harry lay on his new bed (his very own bed!) and stared happily at the dark red curtains above his head.

Today had been just as magical as he'd imagined, and more. He couldn't believe he'd made three friends! And Dudley wasn't here to scare them off so it was likely he'd get to keep them.

He'd eaten a delicious meal and felt actually full for the first time in as long as he could remember. Tomorrow, he'd get to learn actual magic! Already, being at Hogwarts was perfect, and he was certain nothing at all could go wrong.

With that happy thought, Harry rolled over and fell into a restful sleep, for once not dreading what would come in the morning.