Prologue -

Harry shivered as a reflex even though he had a coat that was way too big for him wrapped around him. He had just been dumped, discarded, and dropped-off at the nearest asylum after his last episode went too far, even for his aunt and uncle who had strangely seemed stubborn to keeping him. The tragic thing was, he probably deserved it. His 'episodes' as he begun to call them, were getting more and more dangerous. He had almost caused his prat cousin to blow up after him and his gang had came after him yet again. He knew he was a freak. His only-surviving family knew it, and even the kids at his old correctional school knew it.

But he couldn't control it. And even though he tried explaining, no one ever understood. They feared him. And sometimes he feared himself too. But now he currently had no choice, because he was forced to sit in the waiting room of a asylum, waiting for anyone to tell him what was going to become of his life. At least the secretary seemed nice. She was young and pretty, but she had strange colorful hair. She actually smiled at him when he listed to her his 'condition.' She did look back at him every once in a while, but Harry was used to being stared at. Harry just hoped that this place wouldn't be worse than the loneliness he faced at home... if he could even call it that anymore.

"Harry James Potter?" Harry heard the voice before he looked up and saw her. She was an old woman, yet somehow still looked completely healthy and focused. She looked like someone his family would be taunting, not entrusting a teen who practiced 'witchcraft' to. At least her outfit seemed normal, but it merely shadowed the fact that she demanded complete respect and attention. "Y-yes, that's me." Harry cowered, than winced. So much for getting on the woman's good side, he thought to himself. But the woman merely took it in stride. "My name is Doctor McGonagall." She held her hand out and Harry quickly stood up and shook it. "Nice to meet you, Doctor." He said meekly.

The woman nodded in return. "Follow me, please." Harry stumbled after her, struggling to keep up with the fast woman who hadn't even glanced back to see if he was actually following. Finally in step with her, he caught his breath as they walked down a short hallway. Then Harry noticed something "This place looks a lot smaller inside than it did outside." He commented, hoping the woman wouldn't retaliate. Instead she almost laughed. "A very correct observation, Mr. Potter. You'll find out very soon that it is even smaller." Harry wanted to ask more, because he was utterly confused, but she just kept walking until they reached the end of the hall. The end with no doors on either side. Facing a brick wall.

"Okay, what is happening-" Harry was cut off as she- Doctor McGonagall turned to look behind her, before turning back and taking out a... stick? No, that was no stick. THAT was one of the things the Dursley's used to point at while they screamed at Harry. That was... a wand. And it looked like a real one at that, because as she talked gibberish, the bricks... moved. Harry wanted to be shocked, but all he felt was awe. Awe because at least he wasn't the only freak he knew of. "How... where do you get a wand?" Harry finally asked as the bricks finally moved, making a clearing in the shape of a door. "Mr Ollivander will make sure to give you one." She assured, before walking through the clearing.

~.~.~.~.~.

Harry felt significantly smaller than he already was as they walked out into a crowded shopping area. The shopping area wasn't what captured his focus though. It was the huge castle that Harry could see if he squinted in his round glasses, and four smaller castles near it making the shape of a pentagon. Out of all his years sitting on his aunt's apple tree, he had never seen those castles. "This is Hogsmeade... Well, I see Hogwarts has already caught your attention. You'll be going there while I get you your wand and clothes." Harry suddenly felt ridiculously overwhelmed. Not only was this place full of things he had never seen before, but she was expecting him to go up to that huge castle? Alone?

"Shouldn't I be there? When I get my clothes and wand, I mean?" Harry asked halfheartedly. "No need, Mr. Potter. Hold your hand up, please." Harry did as said and only flinched a little when she took out her wand and waved it with a incantation on her lip and a hat she pulled out of her pocket. "There. Now I can show Mr. Ollivander your hand without you being present." Harry wasn't listening, as he was currently watching as the hat became a replica of his own hand, wriggling his own fingers in the air. "As for your clothes... You are a size 38, I presume? You are really quite small, Mr Potter. You must eat better here."

"Yes... Wait- how did you- I-" Harry stumbled. How did she even know his size when he was wearing a big coat? Did she read the papers he gave to the receptionist "Tonks" when he looking? "Don't worry, Mr Potter. Someone will escort you there. And here he comes now." Harry looked in the direction Doctor McGonagall was looking at and saw what looked to be a giant with a long beard. "Uh, Doctor McGonagall-" Harry began. "Actually, it's Professor McGonagall, my dear. Doctor is only for the muggles." Harry didn't know who to gape at, as the tall man came towards them. "Muggles?-" "Harry Potter! You're really here, in the flesh! Did you tell him yet, Miss?" The giant asked.

Doctor- Professor McGonagall gave him a sharp look, but it softened when she looked back down at Harry, who noticed that he was the shortest out of them, drawing attention from passerby. "No. I knew you wanted to have that honor, Hagrid." The giant, Hagrid, made a big smile. "Well, I gander you've figured it out by now, Harry, but you're a wizard." The man giant said with a hard accent. "Well, my uncle called me that. But not so nicely." Harry admitted. "Well, you've come right in time for the next Hatting ceremony. And it's also the year of the next coronation, so you should be very excited!" Hagrid told him.

"Hatting ceremony? Coronation?" Harry questioned, thoroughly confused once again. "Merlin McGonagall, you really didn't tell him? It's the most important day of his life! Harry, you'll be sorting into a house which you'll be a part of forever! And you get to see who becomes king of the house... or queen!" Hagrid added, when Professor McGonagall gave him a look. "Yes... Anyways, Mr. Potter, I and another Professors will be visiting you starting after the ceremony to begin teaching you what your relatives have depraved you of. I will be teaching you transfiguration. Mr. Hagrid here is the gamekeeper of Hogwarts, which is why he'll be leading you there." Hagrid eagerly put a hand on Harry's arm. "Yes, yes. Of course."

TBC-