Hey so i'm back, i know it's been a while, but life's been getting in the way. luckily for y'all i have corona so here we is, the next chapter! If anyone's still there say holla in the comments ! :)

Harry woke up early for his first day, (his body-clock was used to waking up at 6:30 for school anyway), and took advantage of his sleeping roommates to shower and prepare for the day early. The facilities, despite not running on electricity, were much nicer than those at the orphanage, and Harry certainly would not miss sharing with everyone else on the hall. Harry took the time to attempt to tame his hair, if only just for the first day, good impressions and all.

After twenty minutes of furious attempts at charms Harry accepted the less knotty, but still rather tussled look, it could pass for very curly. He also fed Hedwig and Zaccai with the packaged mice he had caught and killed himself. He had been doing Madam Nelson a favour really. Although the companions were also decently satisfied with the packaged pet food Harry had also picked up, he knew they wouldn't be content with that alone.

Sitting on his windowsill, flicking through one of his already dog-eared textbooks, he wondered if there was anywhere he could buy rats or mice, he doubted Hogwarts had any running about, unless they were pets of course. Although, what with all the other neglects of hygiene in favour of aesthetics he had seen in the wizarding world, there was probably a chance, right?

Speaking of aesthetics, Harry looked out into the lake through his window, he found himself entranced with the green water, for one, it was clean. Beautiful water unmurky from pollution and full to the brim of creatures of all assortments, none of which Harry could see from here of course. They probably didn't want to interact with the likely infuriating young students of the school, and honestly, Harry could sympathise.

Almost by magic, his roommates began to wake at that exact moment. They weren't exactly cutting it late; 7:30, half an hour before breakfast, but based on the boys' appearances, some of them had much longer routines than Harry. Upon seeing Harry already awake and dressed, Malfoy rubbed his eyes almost cartoonishly.

"You're already up." He said rather pointlessly.

"I like to start the day early." Harry answered as un-condescendingly as possible.

"Will you wait for us for breakfast?" Malfoy got out of bed, leaving his sheets unmade. Clearly far too privileged.

Harry thought about this for a moment. He wanted to make Malfoy work for an alliance, he didn't want to be the person that gave in, but this boy had clearly never worked for anything in his life. There was a limit to what any person would do, and this boy's limit was far shorter than most. Harry would have to meet him halfway eventually and concede.

"Yes, of course." Harry smiled politely. This was met with an obvious wave of relief from the blonde, who immediately scrambled to the bathroom. "Just don't take too long." Harry yelled over his shoulder. Malfoy nodded without looking as he disappeared into the bathroom. Harry returned to his book while he waited, but he wasn't really reading it. He'd already learnt it off by heart, it was the one subject he was really looking forward to; Potions.

Harry had been using his magic for years now, and although he lacked the names, the technical uses, and the wizarding knowledge about many things, he already had a basis in any spell-based subjects, but not potions. There had never been any opportunity to really get into them, and he was thrilled to be getting a chance at brewing. He also wouldn't dare go into a class in which he was not one of, if not the, most-skilled student.

"You like reading?" Theodore interrupted him, clearly being the last one to the showers, missing his chance.

"Not especially. Books can be entertaining, definitely, but I prefer to read something I can gain knowledge from. This is the potions textbook, I find that fiction is often more disappointing and always less useful." Theodore looked slightly taken aback by that, but continued bravely.

"Yes, well, sometimes it can be nice to just relax with fiction I find. Maybe you just haven't found a good story yet?" He tried.

"Can you suggest any good ones?" Harry was certainly entertained by this misinterpretation of what he had very clearly explained. Misreading Harry's entertainment for genuine curiosity, the tall boy began listing off stories Harry had never heard of, likely wizarding tales.

"I've read all of these books….they are ….not great." Tom mentally grimaced. Harry wouldn't bother reading them then. He could read one or two to gain this boy's favour, perhaps even learn something about him.

"So which one is your favourite?" Harry cut in.

"Hm? Oh well, I'd have to say 'The Eagle's Pride', it's always been my favourite, it's about this prince who-"

"Oh, don't spoil it, I'll have to look for it in the school library." Harry smiled as kindly as he could, and silently cheered when Theodore grinned back at him.

"Oh, um, I know Draco introduced me last night, but I'm Theo, just in case you'd forgotten." He smiled rather sheepishly. Why did everyone Harry had ever met believe that he had some sort of short-term memory dysfunction?

"Of course I didn't forget, what do you take me for?" Harry tried to come of as fakely-indignant rather than actually annoyed, and from the smile he was met with, he could tell he had succeeded.

Just then, the four other boys filed out of the bathroom door, fully-dressed and ready, checking his watch, Harry realised they had been quicker than he thought, it was only 7:50. Theo ran to the door to quickly prepare while the others politely waited by the door.

When they finally arrived at breakfast, no one else was there. It was only eight in the morning granted, and most preferred to have a half hour lie in rather than an hour-long breakfast.

The few students in the hall were mostly first and last years, and many of which that were Slytherin and Hufflepuff. The teachers of course were mostly present, and Harry took the opportunity to scope out the faculty, a chance he had missed last night.

There was the very tall man, Hagrid, whom he recognised, he was the groundskeeper wasn't he? Harry would put himself in Hagrid's favour, groundskeepers are the most useful people to be friends with. Back at the orphanage Harry was always polite to the groundskeeper Mr Knights. He always stopped to ask him how he was, wish him a nice day, etc. In return, Harry noticed the gate from the orphanage garden into the woods was often left unlocked, meaning Harry no longer had to maintain his acrobatics act as long as he didn't stay out too late. It was shocking how little people needed to do to be nice. Perhaps this man could even get him fresh rats?

The next teacher he recognised was Quirrell, the turbined man that had likely tailed Harry through Diagon Alley, at least until Harry had put his enchanted ring on, he was sure that had shaken the man off. Even if it hadn't, all the man had seen was him going about his shopping as normal. Nothing to worry about there, but the man did seem to have a rather sneaky air to him, his behaviour in Diagon Alley was far too suspicious, as though he was more savvy than he liked people to think. Harry would be careful with him.

Then Harry noticed McGonagall, the seemingly strict teacher that had taken the first years into the great hall for the first time. He had a feeling she would be a good teacher, which wasn't really an explainable feeling, but he knew he was looking forward to her lessons.

Then there was Snape, the potions master and his head of house. Snape had the same sort of strictness as McGonagall, but Harry didn't have the same feeling of excitement at the thought of being taught by him. The man seemed to have a shroud of depression clouding his every move. Even now, as he sat silently surveying the hall, a single mug of what Harry had to assume was black coffee sitting in front if him. He looked as though he was plotting a gruesome murder.

Dumbledore was missing, Harry noticed, the head chair vacant. He couldn't help but notice how throne-like the chair was, and stamped down feelings of rage at this man's arrogance going unpunished.

After spreading marmalade on his toast he also studied the other teachers, a rather short, friendly looking man, a portly, roughed up middle-aged woman, and an owl-like hippy woman. There were certainly only a few teachers for so many students, maybe only some actually took breakfast with the others? Speaking of, Harry would need to find the Staff Room soon. Dumbledore had to sign his extra forms for school, the 'extra paperwork' Madam Nelson was worried would be a deal-breaker.

As the hall filled up, Harry couldn't help but notice that everyone was staring at him, whispering. Looking around, he noticed people turned away embarrassed at being caught gawking. He really didn't like that. Didn't they have something better to do?

He was far more used to being ignored, that was his safe space, where he could work in peace. It had always been easier for everyone to ignore Harry, especially Harry. He tried to tune it out as he ate small bites of his toast, making idle chat with his housemates.

Harry was tuning everything out so much he almost missed Ronald tapping him on the shoulder. Turning around with a smile, he saw Ron looked rather anxious.

"Call I talk to you for a minute?" He asked quietly eyeing the surrounding Slytherins, who had all stopped their conversations.

"Of course." Harry got up, following him out of the hall, to the disbelief of the green-robed children.

"What is it?" Harry wondered what this was about, had Ron reconsidered his friendship now that Harry was in Slytherin?

"Well, it's just, you know, what with everything I said yesterday about…Slytherin, I was just hoping, well, wondering if-" Ron seemed to really be struggling here, but Harry understood. Ron had been thinking Harry had reconsidered their relationship.

"Ron, what you said yesterday was, factually, more or less correct. You shouldn't feel embarrassed for telling the truth. I like you, and I hope we won't let something as stupid as houses determine something as important as our friendship." At every word, Ron seemed to calm down, relief showing on his face.

"Yes well… I'm glad to hear that." He looked far less red now, which Harry took as a victory.

"Now, do you have your schedule yet?" Harry asked, changing the awkward topic.

"Yeah, I have Charms first, what about you?"

"I'm still waiting for Professor Snape to hand them out, but I'll hopefully see you there." They started walking back into the hall.

"Yeah, see you there." Ron gave a little wave as he returned to his table, and Harry to his. When Harry saw the faces of his housemates, Harry knew he was going to have a little problem.

"Why were you talking to a Weasley?" Malfoy wrinkled his nose in disgust.

This would be extremely annoying. Malfoy didn't like Ron, and Harry would place his bets on Ron not liking Malfoy. The problem was Harry actually liked Ron. He was probably one of the most bearable people Harry had ever met so far, but Malfoy was just so much more useful. Ideally they could balance each other out, and of course, only an idiot would say Ron had no use at all.

From what Harry could tell, there were two main groups of people in the wizarding word, and though they really weren't defined, some people liked to use the words Dark and Light to identify them. They were political parties by no means, but the titles made references very simple. Malfoy was powerful with the dark, just as Ron was powerful within the light. All the other 'dark' kids flocked to Malfoy as their (current) leader, while Ron had already made three other, very probably 'light' aligned friends, and had a large enough family Harry would put money on the fact they held influence somewhere along the line. The best way to use them both is to use them against themselves and force them to get along.

"He is a friend of mine, why?" Harry nonchalantly asked.

"He's a dirty blood-traitor!" Malfoy spat.

Perhaps that wouldn't work. What Harry was dealing with was a boy that had been trained into a mind-set since birth, and he could only imagine the same of Ronald after their long discussion the previous day. It would take years of constant persuasion to change either one's mind. What Harry really needed was a buffer, someone that both people liked, that wasn't him. Harry wouldn't work even if he was the boy who lived, Malfoy wouldn't actually change his opinions for Harry, he would try to change Harry's mind instead. Harry pondered who he could use, but was saved from reacting to Malfoy's insult by a familiar bat-like man.

"Timetables." He spoke slowly and deliberately, and looked as though he was trying to talk without moving his lips.

A chorus of 'Thank you professor' later and they had more or less dropped the 'blood-traitor' argument, comparing timetables. Harry was pleased to see that he shared charms with Ron, in fact, the Slytherins seemed to share all of their lessons with the Gryffindors. Considering the historical rivalries, this was either a cruel joke, an evil plan, or poor scheduling, but either way it allowed Harry to continue his effort of gaining as many 'friends' as possible.

Yes, Harry viewed Hogwarts as a way of networking, he would build as many alliances as humanely possible, the best way to succeed in the adult world.

Harry had no idea what he wanted to be when he grew up, but he wanted every corner possible covered.

There was only one thing Harry knew he wanted to do when he grew up.

He was going to murder Albus Dumbledore.

Charms was pleasant, Harry had sat with the Slytherins, best to please them for the moment until he had a buffer. Ron had silently understood, sitting next to the chubby Longbottom boy instead. They hadn't actually been able to do anything, Flitwick instead lecturing them on the importance of pronunciation, which Harry and Tom alike laughed at silently.

Herbology had been much more fun, seeing the plants they would be caring for, and also getting an introductory session rather than actual work. After lunch, Harry finally met the ghost teacher that Tom had actually remembered being taught by.

"They really should let him go.." Tom grumbled as the entire class, consisting of half of the entire year, fell asleep. Harry decided to find an older student and buy their old notes from this lesson rather than waste his time. He could use this period to get homework done instead. After waking up the rest of the class, he had headed to Defence against the Dark Arts, which had turned out to be horrifically disappointing, and rather difficult to listen to frankly.

Harry had nothing against stutters, but was there nothing in the wizarding world like a cure for it? It seemed rather inconvenient to employ someone like that in a lecturer position. Either way they all survived through the lesson, but Harry had noticed something rather odd.

His scar felt weird. Tingly almost. All through Defence his scar felt as though it had pins and needles. When he asked Tom about it, he had been met with an equally confused response.

"It feels…tingly…" came the uncertain response.

It wasn't an unpleasant feeling by any means, but it was still rather strange.

Finally, potions came about. It was in the dungeons, very conveniently near the Slytherin common room. They had all filed in silently, while the cloaked professor stood at the front of the classroom judgmentally. Harry sat in front next to Malfoy, the table seemingly set out in pairs, probably for work activities. He immediately got out his notebook, muggle, but efficient.

Snape took the register, pausing, as had every teacher that day, on Harry's name. After the last name was called he began to speak;

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but Harry could hear each word – the entire class was silent, an achievement not many teachers could honestly claim to have.

"As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses… I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death—if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."

Harry found the whole speech very condescending, and rather arrogant, and incredibly rehearsed as well, but nevertheless he scribbled every word Snape had spoken to him, copying the lecture precisely, just in case. This was, apparently, not the right move.

"Potter!" Harry snapped up, hopefully not looking too shocked. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

"The Draught of Living Death sir, an incredibly potent sleeping potion." Harry answered mechanically. Snape didn't say anything, but he seemed to internally bristle. Was he trying to catch Harry out? Perhaps he didn't like Harry's fame, or perhaps he was just a bully, either way, he seemed rather unpleasant as a person. Harry stared into the miserable black eyes of the teacher, who turned away immediately.

"Longbottom. Where would I find a bezoar?" The nervous boy seemed to panic, while the girl from the train raised her hand quite violently.

After a moment or two of the boy shifting in his seat he practically whispered a response.

"I don't know sir." Snape gave a vaguely disgusted look at him, before turning back to Harry.

"And what about you Potter? Where would one find a bezoar?" Hermione still jumping out of her seat behind him, Harry turned to again look the teacher in the eyes.

"The stomach of a goat sir. It protects against most poisons." Snape quickly ripped his gaze away, which was interesting. This man hated eye-contact. Harry could definitely use it to shut him up in future.

"Copy this out." Snape commanded, turning away from the class, and with the flick of his wand the blackboard began filling with instructions and ingredients.

Harry felt triumphant.

The rest of the class had gone uneventfully and Harry had taken the short walk back to the dorms alongside Malfoy and the other Slytherins. Fortunately they seemed to have forgotten about Ron and Harry's interaction that morning, and their had moved onto a new target.

"Did you see that girl?" Pansy asked with a mocking tone.

"Such a little know-it-all. OH PROFESSOR PICK ME!" Malfoy imitated her, jumping up with his arm in the air. "Classic half-blood." Zabini smirked. Harry just ignored them.

While the girl was very annoying, she was clearly quite able, but Harry would have to watch her closely to gauge just how useful she would be. It could turn out that she was worth more trouble than she was worth. Harry didn't correct Zabini, despite knowing her true heritage. These kids were absolute blood-purists, and he didn't want to set them up to dislike her more than they already did just in case he did want to add her to his circle of friends in the future.

Harry was still thinking about that small issue later, as he left dinner, this time alone. He had slipped away from the gaggle of serpents with the excuse of wanting to explore a little bit before bed. In reality he needed to talk to Snape about his extra paperwork, which Madam Nelson had reminded him of the morning he left. He had the documents neatly folded in his robe pocket, and began walking towards the dungeons. Snape had left very early from dinner, and Harry could only assume that he had returned to his office.

As he walked along the otherwise empty corridor, he bumped, rather unexpectedly, into Ron.

"Oh, hey Harry." He grinned at him.

"Hi Ron." Harry smiled. "How come you aren't at dinner?" Ron seemed like the type to not miss any meals.

"Oh, yeah, I had a nap after lessons and managed to almost miss it. Is it still on?" He looked hopeful.

"Yeah, I don't think they'll switch to dessert for another ten minutes."

"Brilliant!" Ron gave a blinding smile. Just then, Hermione came down the hall, causing Ron's smile to slightly dim. Interesting.

"Hello, have you also finished dinner?" Hermione asked both boys.

"Actually Ron hasn't gotten any yet, he was just on his way there." At this, Ron nodded in agreement, and after a small wave was on his way to grab the last of the roast potatoes.

"What about you?" She turned to Harry.

"I was just on my way to find professor Snape."

"Oh." She seemed a little bit disappointed, though for what reason Harry couldn't tell. "He's in Dumbledore's office. I saw them go in there together, I've been walking around finding where everything is since I finished dinner." She paused for a moment, creating what anyone other than Harry might've described as an 'awkward' silence. Harry decided to stop wasting time.

"Thanks, I'd better go find him." Harry politely smiled and walked away and, taking the cue, Hermione also began walking in the opposite direction. Clearly she didn't have any friends yet, or possibly ever. She seemed like a very lonely girl.

That could absolutely be weaponized. In fact, it seemed as though all Harry would have to do is be her first and only friend, and she'd be fiercely loyal to him and only him.

As he walked along the stretching hallways towards what Tom told him was the headmaster's office, he pondered Ron's reaction to Hermione. It had been quite negative, and he clearly didn't like her very much. Harry also thought back to potions class when Ron had made an annoyed face at her antics. Very interesting. He had a similar reaction to Malfoy.

Perhaps Harry been going about this all wrong. He had been looking for someone that both boys liked, but perhaps he should have been looking for someone they both disliked. Someone they had the same opinion of, someone that evoked a similar reaction from both of them, and someone that was 'politically neutral' in the wizarding world.

Hermione would be absolutely perfect.

"Are you sure… You want to go to Dumbledore's office?" Tom asked, sounding slightly surprised.

"I won't be going inside, i just want to wait by the door so I can catch Snape on his way out." Harry reassured Tom. He didn't want to meet Dumbledore yet.

"If you do see him…Don't look into his eyes…" Tom quickly added, as the large griffin statue came into view.

"Why?" Tom had never mentioned this before, it was a bit last moment.

"I just remembered…He is a skilled legilimens…mind reader…" Harry panicked slightly, that was a pretty BIG deal that Tom had only just mentioned to him, and he was already outside. After barely a second Harry decided against the risk, and began walking away, he could find Snape later.

"Come in Mr Potter." The griffin spoke.

"Well fuck." Thought Harry, as he ascended the rotating stairs. He couldn't very well run away now, it would look too suspicious.

As he reached the door, he put up his fist to knock, only for the door to be opened abruptly by a sour looking Snape. Harry looked into the room, a rather comfortable looking office with various trinkets sitting on tables, bookshelves covering the walls, and near the back of the room the sat a desk, and behind it, sat the headmaster of Hogwarts. To his side sat McGonagall, Flitwick the charms teacher, and Sprout the herbology teacher. This was much worse than Harry had thought, it was a head of house meeting.

"How can I help you my dear boy?" Dumbledore's kind voice made Harry internally cringe. Here goes.

"Sorry sir, I was just waiting outside for Professor Snape." Harry stuttered out slightly, religiously avoiding eye contact, instead looking at the man-bat in question.

"Well I'm sure whatever it is it can wait." Snape grumbled, walking away from the door, leaving Harry standing in the doorway facing the teachers.

"Now now, Severus. What is it Mr Potter?" Dumbledore smiled, and Harry was forced to stare at his crooked nose, which most people couldn't tell wasn't their eyes when being looked at. Dumbledore would be able to tell, since he was a nosy old git.

"Um, well I have some extra paperwork for you to sign?" Harry pulled the papers out of his pocket. To the faces of slight confusion he added "For the orphanage?"

This apparently didn't help, as Dumbldore's smile dropped almost immediately, just for a split second, and the heads of houses had faces of utter puzzlement.

"Orphanage, my dear boy?" Dumbledore asked, sounding to Harry as though there was an underlying anger in his voice. Harry himself was now slightly confused, until it hit him. They didn't know.

"Where I live? Sorry, I thought you knew because it was on my letter." Harry explained, cursing himself that he had revealed information they didn't know before. He felt tricked. "You have to fill out the forms to say that you take responsibility for my safety etc." He again clarified.

"Ah of course." Dumbledore said, in a calm voice that Harry could tell was fake. He was panicking. "Unfortunately the quill that writes the letters is automated, we don't have the time to write out every single one. May I ask how long you've lived there, my boy?"

Harry absolutely hated being called that. It was just the same as his uncle calling him 'boy'. Adding an extra word or two and saying it in a different tone didn't change a thing.

"Since I was about six I think? I don't really remember exactly. Sorry" Harry was doing his best to act shy and slightly abashed, which wasn't difficult, looking at the faces of the teachers. Sprout and Flitwick looked slightly shocked but overall not upset, more as though they didn't really know what was happening. McGonagall's lips had turned into a thin line on her face, and seemed to be concealing…rage? Bizarre. Snape was staring at Harry intensely, his black eyes boring into Harry's skull. Just in case, Harry decided not to look at anyone's eyes for the moment, until they had been cleared as mind readers.

"Ah. I see." Dumbledore smiled shortly. Harry took advantage of the pause to walk over and drop the documents onto Dumbledore's desk.

"If I can come and collect them later sir I'll post them back." Dumbledore seemed to break out of his trance of staring at the pile of paper by looking back at Harry, still smiling. How infuriating.

"Not to worry my dear boy, I can post them for you. I assume the name of the establishment is on your letter?" Harry nodded reluctantly. "Then I can have them sent off myself. Not to worry. Thank you my boy, I shall get onto this once our meeting concludes." Harry again nodded and began to leave as quickly as possible.

"Thank you sir." Harry said, taking once last glance at the group and he noticed something. Dumbledore was looking at him with…what? Was that fear? Apprehension? Whatever it was, his calm demeanor had been utterly shaken off, now replaced by something more sinister. With a polite nod from Dumbledore, Harry left, closing the door behind him, and walking as fast as he could without running back to the dungeons.

"You did well…" Tome piped up.

"No I didn't, I revealed potentially crucial information without needing to, and now everyone is suspicious of me!" Harry snapped back internally. After a moment of quiet, Tom spoke up again.

"Only Dumbledore harbours suspicion towards you…I know it is not…ideal…you didn't know…it was unavoidable…he would have discovered it eventually…better for it to happen now as you tell him…he would be much more suspicious if you kept it from him…this is good…"

Harry had to admit that this was likely true, and perhaps it wasn't as bad as he thought, but his pride had taken a small hit. He certainly wasn't going to spread his living situation around school. People didn't need to know.

He climbed into bed that night after some small talk with his doormmates and felt the comforting warmth of Zaccai sliding up his leg. Harry had charmed his curtains to be soundproof so he could talk to Tom and Zaccai freely.

As he told Zaccai about his day, he missed Hedwig, who had been moved to the owelery for the time being. He planned to summon her every morning at breakfast however, to maintain contact.

"Oh master! Zaccai has such good day!" Zaccai happily hissed back at him. "There is many, many pipes for Zaccai to run free!" He exclaimed gleefully. "Hogwarts very very good!"

Harry smiled, happy in the knowledge that he wasn't the only one enchanted with the castle, despite its residents.

As the excitable snake began telling Harry the passages and pathways of the castle, Harry felt himself drifting to sleep.