A/N: Happy New Year! This was supposed to be posted yesterday but I slept. Thank you for the favs, reviews and follows! Finally, we start Hogwarts! Petunia won't be appearing much until break as the story focuses on Harry and Dudley. This chapter may be a bit longer than usual because I didn't want to break sorting. Hold your bets on which house they're getting into! The answer to the will question at the end. And thanks again LexisRee :)
11 - Going to a new House
"This is it. Now, we just have to go through the wall."
Aunt Petunia was eyeing the wall like it would eat her alive. Harry didn't want to try it first; what if he broke his things? Even if the money used to buy them was his, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Sev would definitely get mad at him. Dudley seemed to not mind trying it first, he just got his trolley, rushed to the wall and disappeared. Aunt Petunia was so freaked out that she just went running after him. That left only Harry behind. They both went and nothing happened. I suppose it's safe then.
As Harry was preparing to rush in, his Aunt Petunia came out to help him in. Harry loved when she fussed over him. Going through the wall was like going through a dark tunnel, the sensation ended fast, though. His Aunt Petunia led him to where she left Dudley, who was making his best impersonation of a fish. Harry did the same after he turned to see what he was looking at. The Hogwarts Express was a... magnificent sight. Harry even petted himself mentally for remembering the difficult word, Uncle Sev would be proud.
"Now, you two get on the train and find yourselves a nice and good seat. I'll stay here until it leaves just to make sure you left me to my normal and peaceful life."
Harry and Dudley laughed at that and hugged her goodbye. "It's still an hour before it leaves. Don't you want to come in a bit?"
"Yeah, mum. Uncle said it was okay as long as you didn't go to school with us." Dudley made an ugly face probably thinking how bad it would be to have your mum go to school with you.
"No, dear, I'm quite fine. I brought some reading material. Also, your uncle said many witches came together with their kids and I could observe a bit to get used to how they dress."
"Okay. Can you please help me with my ribbons? They're coming loose, Aunt Petunia." He whined. He actually whined and nothing bad happened!
"That's because you had the stupid idea of trying to use all of them at the same time. You could always go with pigtails, you know."
Aunt Petunia chuckled but helped a scowling Harry to tie his low ponytail with the five ribbons and fixed his fringe to cover all his forehead properly. "What about when you're at school, dear? How will you use them?"
Harry stopped scowling to answer his aunt. "I can manage to tie two and make the bow beautiful but all five..." Harry didn't know which house he would end up in, so he didn't know which combination to choose and just decided to go with them all.
They had another round of goodbyes and boarded the train. It looked even bigger on the inside; magic really was used for everything. Uncle Sev had told them the compartments could fit many people inside because they magically enlarged to fit those who entered. Harry was secretly hoping to make so many friends that they would have space problems in theirs. Dudley entered one about the middle of the train, or what Harry thought was the middle, and Harry noticed they could see his Aunt Petunia sat on a bench reading her book and looking at whatever witch passed by.
Instead of putting their trunks up, they left them under the table near the window. The owls were left in the space over the window meant for luggage. If someone needed space, they could always shrink their trunks. Uncle Sev insisted they bought one with a permanent Featherlight Charm and self-shrinking function, totally worth it in their opinion. Dudley took out a book on Quidditch, he was anxious to learn to fly, and Harry took out a notebook and some coloured pencils to make good use of the table and to attempt to draw what he saw until now.
They were so distracted that they both jumped high with train's whistle. They looked out in time to see Aunt Petunia preparing to leave and lots of people, likely parents, waving at the train. It was a quiet beginning of a ride for other moments still. The door opened the first time to reveal a red-headed boy with a dirty patch on the nose.
"Uhn, the other compartments are full... Can I sit here with you guys?"
"Sure." Dudley answered and Harry only nodded. He wanted the make friends but he was still afraid of people's reaction to him. Judging from the books he read, and what his Uncle Sev told them, Harry was treated like a hero or something. He didn't believe the bit about the fan mail so he wrote Mr Ragnok to ask about it. Unfortunately, he was informed that not only was it true, there was a whole vault for them! He was even set to receive inheritances from people he never met just because they didn't have any family to leave it to!
"Thanks. Kinda nervous here. It's my first year."
"Ours too! Do you know anyone at school?" Dudley seemed to have found his first friend; maybe Harry was overthinking the reaction thing.
"Yeah, I have three brothers still there. Two others already graduated and my little sister's coming next year. I'm Ron, by the way, Ron Weasley."
"I'm Dudley, Dudley Evans. We've got nicknames too! Mine is Tiger and his is Raven. We're cousins." Dudley shook the boy's hand. Really, what was Harry scared of? He was just a kid like him.
"Harry Potter." He said as he quickly shook the boy's hand. Harry had a bad feeling with Ron's stunned face and grimaced a little.
"Blimey." He was out of his stupor seeming overly excited. "Harry Potter! You're The-Boy-Who-Lived! You defeated You-Know-Who! Blimey!" If that were all the reaction, Harry would be just fine. Thankfully, the trolley lady stopped any more gawking from the boy; one can always count on food to distract people.
Dudley was so excited with the different sweets that he bought them all; two of each mind you. Harry bought a few different ones and one cauldron cake he wanted to give to his Uncle Sev. Dudley was starting to feast on the sweets with Ron without taking his potions. "Dudley, don't forget the potions and the lunch Aunt Petunia packed for us." He reminded his cousin taking out his own potions and lunch.
"Right. Don't tell mum about the sweets, though. I'll save some for later." He drank his potions and started on his veggies.
"Why do you need potions?" Ron asked while eating his own packed lunch. He seemed more at ease now that he knew he wasn't the only kid with one. He had gone all red before saying he didn't want anything from the trolley because his mum had packed some lunch for him. Harry couldn't understand why he was ashamed; Harry himself was over the moon with happiness when his Aunt Petunia handed him his packed lunch.
"Mum always let me eat anything I wanted and too much of it. Our healer said that wasn't health and we needed nutrition potions and another one to get to the right weight."
That seemed to be enough for him. They went on chatting, mostly about Ron's brothers and Quidditch. Ron was about to show them a spell his brothers taught him when the door opened again. This time, a bush-haired girl and a slightly plump boy were looking for a toad.
"Oh, you're doing magic! Let's see it!" The girl sat down on the sweets wrapping paper like they weren't even there and waited for Ron to do his magic. He said some strange rhyme but nothing happened; no one was impressed.
"Maybe your brothers were just having some fun. Don't worry we'll learn things at school." Harry tried to comfort Ron. Being on the receiving end of the pitying look of that girl wasn't good; at least Harry hated to receive those.
"Yeah. Thanks, mate." Harry smiled. He really liked to be useful.
"Well, I read all our books for this year and already know all the spells. For example-"
"How do you know all the spells?" Dudley was spot on with his comment but the girl seemed to be angry at being cut off. Uncle Sev hated that too.
"I trained the movements and incantations at home. I tried some after boarding and they all went well."
Harry was really confused about another thing, though. "But... If you already know everything, what are you going to school for?"
You could almost see steam leaving the girl's red face. Harry didn't know if it was embarrassment, anger or both. He just cocked his head to the side waiting for the answer, he... genuinely wanted to know. He gave himself another mental petting for a difficult word.
"Maybe some teacher can teach you something new or more difficult than the ones we are going to learn. By the way, what are your names? I'm Dudley."
"Hermione Granger. That is Neville." She was beaming at Dudley. His cousin was really nice.
"Ron Weasley." He grumbled.
"I'm Harry. Nice to meet you Neville, Hermione."
"Harry? As in Harry Potter?" Ron and Dudley both confirmed that. Harry's bad feeling had just come back full force. "I know all about you! You were in many books I read about the Wizarding World! You defeated You-Know-Who and saved the world! What house do you think you'll go into?"
"My whole family went to Gryffindor, so I'll probably go there too." Ron seemed proud of that.
"I want to go there too! It's the best House. The Hogwarts Headmaster is also from there! He defeated a Dark Lord just like you Harry!" Hermione was too excited for Harry's taste.
"I don't know. I think I will just wait and see. The adults should know better which House would be better for us." He just didn't want to be alone in his House and have only strangers to talk to. He wanted new friends but was scared no one would want to talk to him. Their possible reactions also kind of terrified him. He would be fine with them if they were all like Ron's but something told Harry Hermione's was more like the norm; that or worse.
"Yeah, mate. As long as it's not Slytherin."
"Why not?" Harry didn't understand what could possibly be wrong with Slytherin; Uncle Sev was there.
"They're evil, mate. Every wizard that went wrong came from that House. You don't want to be a Dark Wizard."
"I don't think there's anything wrong with Slytherins!" Dudley was faster than Harry was. They both loved Uncle Sev and their Uncle wasn't evil.
"Whatever, mate. You'll see at school..."
"So, why don't you two stay here for the rest of the ride?" Harry said beaming and trying to bring the shy boy still standing at the door into their conversation; if this could also help change the subject, it was only a bonus.
"Thank you, but my toad..."
"Right. We should get going. Nice meeting you all." She was already leaving and rushing Neville along with her.
"She didn't even let us say goodbye!" Dudley was... outraged. Another mental petting.
"Mental that one." Ron was right; she must have some serious problem to be like that. Poor Neville being dragged all over the train. I hope he finds his toad. The Neville boy did seem like a nice kid, maybe Harry could be friends with him. He didn't even react to him like Ron and Hermione did, it was nice to know someone out there would maybe treat him like a normal kid.
Not long after they left, the door opened again shocking both Harry and Dudley. The prince-like boy from Uncle Sev's photo had just entered their compartment. Uncle Sev's godson is even prettier in person!
Draco dressed himself up in the beautiful new robe his Papa had given him for receiving his Hogwarts Letter. He knew Harry Potter would be on the train and making a good impression would help him on the path to becoming friends with the boy. The Malfoys could benefit a lot from being acquainted with The-Boy-Who-Lived. After lunch, he started his search over the train, opening or peering into compartments. About the middle of the train, he peered into the window of a compartment and saw him: The cute boy from his Papa's neighbourhood. That cute muggle boy he spent the rest of last month thinking about. He was on the Hogwarts Express! That meant he was a wizard!
Well, things were certainly looking better now. Draco was sure his father wouldn't let him near a muggle boy; however, a wizard was different. Draco just had to teach him right and he wouldn't end up like all those mudbloods. If Draco could teach him all about the Wizarding World, his father, his mother and his Papa wouldn't be against Draco being close to him. It wouldn't be an easy task by any means; Draco could already see he was acting in a friendly manner with the two other boys inside, one of them with a peculiar red hair. A Weasley! Draco couldn't let his new friend be contaminated by a Weasley! He quickly opened the door and stepped inside. All eyes were on him and Draco could notice he had caused quite a good impression on his cute boy.
"Raven! He really looks like a prince!" The boy opposite his cute boy seemed to know a well-bred pureblood when he saw one. Even so, he got the families mixed up; Draco would love nothing more than to also have his Papa's blood, nevertheless he didn't. Every fibre of his being screamed Malfoy. Anyway, the boy appeared to be talking to his cute boy and referred to him as Raven.
"Yeah, Tiger." Tiger? So his cute little boy was already exchanging endearments with these two! What would he call the Weasley kid them? Weasel? Draco smirked at that thought; at least his cute boy still couldn't take his eyes off him.
"I am not a Prince. I am Draco Malfoy." Draco went straight to his cute boy and extended his hand to him. "Pleased to meet you. I hope we can be friends, I could teach you all the things you need to know about our world. Like who to get acquainted with; some people are better than others."
Just as Draco was enjoying the beautiful green green eyes of his cute boy and the feel of his hands, the Weasel kid had to intrude. "Yeah, right. You would just love to teach The-Boy-Who-Lived all sort of Dark stuff. Harry, you shouldn't be friends with him, his father is a Death Eater. He's going to Slytherin; I'm sure. He's evil!"
"Ron!" It was nice to see his cute boy outraged on his behalf, not that Draco would let the Weasel insult his family. Draco was about to make the comeback of his like when his brain caught up with what the Weasel had called his cute boy. Harry? The-Boy-Who-Lived?
"He can't be evil."
"Dudley's right. He's our Uncle's godson, so he can't be evil."
Draco was doing the most unforgivable unMalfoyish act there is: gaping. His mother would be reproaching him and be extremely disappointed but Draco couldn't do anything but gape. His cute muggleborn boy was Harry Potter! And did he call his Papa uncle?
" .evil."
"How so?"
"He's father a-"
"Oh, shut up, Weasel. Are you sure you should be here? Do your family have enough money to send yet another spawn to Hogwarts? From the looks of your clothes, it does seem they are in quite the dire situation." Draco snapped finalising it with his best smirk, still not as good as his Papa's or his father's but close. Then, suddenly, he felt the hand still locked with his slip away.
"There's nothing wrong with his clothes!" His cute boy was defending a Weasley! Draco had had enough. He sneered at the Weasel boy, told his cute boy he would see him at school and left to go back to his compartment.
Draco was almost calm when he reached his destination. The bad thing was that now he could think clearly, so all the thoughts in his head started to click together like a giant puzzle being finished. His cute boy was Harry Potter and he lived somewhere in his Papa's neighbourhood. There was just no way his Papa wouldn't know about The-Boy-Who-Lived living nearby. His next thought made Draco instantly freeze and go hot with anger, all at the same time. Papa wanted to introduce me to Harry Potter!
"Are you okay?" Dudley asked his cousin knowing clothes were sort of a sore spot for him. It wasn't until recently that he got clothes of his own; he always used hand-me-downs from Dudley. Not that he didn't appreciate them; Dudley knew Harry was thankful for whatever he got. He much preferred the food Dudley passed to him than be caught with one of his nicer outfits.
"Yeah. Thanks for defending me, mate. See what I told you? That Malfoy is a git."
Harry gave Dudley a knowing and thankful smile that looked more like a grimace and went on to answer Ron. "No, Ron. I don't think he's a git. You insulted his family first; he was only giving it back." Ron was about to say something but Harry just shook his head. "I don't think what he said was right. As I said, I see nothing wrong with your clothes; they do their job just like any other. But I also don't think you were right to call his family evil. You don't know them. You're just basing your thoughts on what someone told you."
"Our Uncle told us people had all kinds of prejudice against the Houses in Hogwarts. Like that girl, Hermione, she said she tried some spells from the books and they worked. She must be a genius or something and she wants to go to Gryffindor, but people say all the intelligent people go to Ravenclaw. If she doesn't go to Ravenclaw, does it mean she's not intelligent enough to make it?" Dudley was really proud of his reasoning, he didn't like to study by any means but he wasn't stupid, just a bit lazy.
"No. It would just mean that whoever chooses our House thought that she would do better in another house. Our Uncle told us that a trait was not exclusive to one House. Like Dudley said, Hermione wouldn't stop being intelligent just because she's not in Ravenclaw. A person is more than what people think of their House."
"Okay." Ron was a bit red and looking down.
"No problem, mate. How about we change to the uniforms and be free to do what we want the rest of the trip?" Dudley tried to change the subject and attempted to smile like his cousin, his smiles really changed moods at home. Ron nodded and they all began changing. About an hour after they did so, Hermione and Neville came back, they looked a bit green. Ron scooted over to Dudley's side so Neville sat beside Harry and Hermione beside Ron.
"So. What happened? Did you find your toad, Neville?" Harry's question made the mood lighten up, Dudley really needed to learn how to do that.
"We did. An older kid helped. He looked a bit like you, Ron." Hermione was the one who answered while Neville only smiled and showed his toad.
"Was he alone?"
"No, he was with some other guys in his compartment." Hermione frowned at him.
"No. I meant: there was only one of him?"
"Of course, Ron. How would there be two of him?"
"Then it was Perfect Percy that helped you. Mum was all proud 'cause he became a Prefect." Ron was nodding to himself self-satisfied but Hermione was still frowning.
"He has three brothers still in Hogwarts, Hermione. One in fifth year and the twins in third year." Dudley explained to her.
"Oh. Why didn't you say so then? How could I know you had brothers who were twins?"
Ron only shrugged. Harry tried again to change the subject and asked what classes they were most looking forward to. Dudley started off with flying and struck another conversation about Quidditch with Ron while Harry, Neville and Hermione talked about other classes. They kept on talking and chatting all through the rest of the way.
The time passed fast with such a nice time they had and soon they arrived at Hogwarts, or so Dudley thought at first. They were at a station with a few buildings in it. Most people were going towards one end but Dudley heard a booming voice calling the first years from the other. Hermione pulled them to go where the booming voice was. Turns out the booming voice came from the biggest man Dudley ever saw in his life. Wow! What a giant!
The big man led them to a lake and told them to enter the boats four at a time. Hermione was so excited she was already in one waiting for them, not really intelligent of her since some other girls entered the boat before them. In the end, they had to split up. Ron went to a boat with only one spot left, but Dudley, Harry and Neville still found one with only one girl inside. After everyone boarded, the boats started moving on their own and soon Dudley saw a big castle coming their way. Harry was so excited he kept pulling Dudley's sleeve to show him, but, of course, he was already looking.
They arrived at the castle and a stern looking old woman led them through corridors to a small room and told them to wait there until they were called. Dudley, Harry, Ron and Neville were talking about how they thought they would get chosen to a House. Dudley hit his cousin lightly on the head to stop his fidgeting, to which he answered with a betrayed look, and told him to keep still. Dudley looked over to see what the other kids were doing. He saw Hermione sort of talking to herself and Uncle Sev's godson looking at them and turning back to keep talking to his friends.
The woman that led them inside came back telling them to enter after her. They entered a really big room with lots of people inside already seating on four different tables. Must have a table for each House like Uncle Sev told us. There was another table at the end with older people and Uncle Sev was there watching them. Dudley turned to show Harry their Uncle but he was looking up. Dudley did the same and saw the ceiling was the sky! Like the real sky! Clouds, stars and all! He heard Hermione's voice telling someone it was enchanted, she read it in Hogwarts: A History. They arrived at the front and after a strange hat finished singing, the old woman told them to go up the stool and place the hat over their heads once their name was called.
Dudley was the first from their group. As the Hat came down on his head, he heard a voice. 'Why, Mr Evans, I only expected one from your family today.'
What does he mean by that? He thought wanting it to hurry up and choose his house.
'Oh, just that I didn't expect the Evans to produce another one with magic enough to come. Well, aside from your cousin, anyway. And yes I can see your thoughts and everything in your head. Now, let's see. Where to put you? Any suggestions?'
'I think anything is fine. Uncle Sev told us that the House traits are not exclusive, so I'll still be me in any House, right?'
'That is certainly right! Snape was always very clever and don't you worry, I'll not tell anyone you know each other. Now onto the choosing... I see you are quite daring and brave... Better be Gryffindor!" The House name was shouted and the hat was taken off his head. Dudley went straight to the bench near the wall so he could see his cousin and friends sorting.
Harry was nervous. He knew any House would be good but he didn't want to be alone. His cousin, Hermione and Neville were all in Gryffindor. The princ- Draco Malfoy had just been sorted into Slytherin. Now it was just Ron left from the people he knew, and Ron would go after Harry. His turn came to seat at the stool and have the Sorting Hat on his head.
'What an interesting mind you have there, Harry Potter.'
'You talk?'
'Well, did you think I simply shouted the House name and sang a beautiful song?'
'Maybe?'
The Hat chuckled in his mind. 'Now, this will be one hard choice. Where to put you, hm? Let's see... You are curious and very intelligent. You seek knowledge but I see it is not a priority. You are rather loyal and hardworking, really kind too. Maybe you are fairer to those closer to you, though. Also quite daring and brave, but only when you think it's worth the risk. Oh!'
'What?'
'You want to prove yourself, make your Aunt Petunia and Uncle Sev proud.'
'I do. I don't want them to stop liking me...'
'I doubt they would ever stop loving you, especially your Uncle Sev.'
'You think so?'
'I know so! Now, your House. We've been here for a long time already. You would fit any House as you have traits of them all, but better be Slytherin!" Harry felt the shout and the Hat being pulled off his head. The hall was dead silent as he walked to the Slytherin table. Draco Malfoy made space next to him so Harry went straight there to where someone he knew was. After he sat, there was some clapping from his table and the Sorting went on. Harry looked over at the Gryffindor table smiling and waving at his cousin who was doing the same to him. They both turned back to their tables to talk to their new housemates.
"Who were you waving at?" A girl seated across him asked, she was sorted a little before him he remembered.
"To my cousin, Dudley. He was sorted into Gryffindor."
"You have a cousin? But your father was an only child!" She asked again. Somehow, Harry felt annoyed by her.
"He's from mum's side." He grumbled.
"Another mudblood then." She sneered.
"What? His blood is perfectly normal, red just like mine." He frowned. Harry knew she was insulting his cousin just from her tone but he didn't know what she meant.
"It's unbecoming to use such a word in public, Parkinson." Another girl scolded her. It seemed they all knew each other already.
"So the Tiger is your cousin?" Draco Malfoy asked. He looked a bit curious.
"Yes! Uncle gave us our nicknames!"
"Those are beautiful ribbons you're wearing. Why five of them, though?" The same girl who scolded the Parkinson girl noticed them when Harry turned to answer Draco. Would he mind if I call him that?
"She's right. They are all different colours and one of them is multicoloured." Draco touched them and his hair making Harry blush a little.
"They were a birthday gift from our Healer. Four of them are coloured after the Hogwarts Houses' main colour. The other one actually changes colour to fit the ribbon it's accompanying. If it's alone it turns white, and it goes multicolour if it's with the others." He fidgeted a little before finishing. "I put all five because I didn't know which House I would end up in." He was looking down on the table when food simply appeared on it. Magic was really nice.
"They look cute on you, Harry." Draco told him smiling and Harry beamed at him.
"Thank you, ...Malfoy." Harry much preferred to be on the safe side than lose his first friend in his House, especially Uncle Sev's godson.
Draco didn't like his cute boy being all formal with him; it would mean Draco having to be formal back. Being formal would put too much distance between them and that Draco wouldn't admit. "You may call me Draco, Harry."
"Thank you, Draco!" He beamed at him again and this time Draco was sure he started to melt. As one of the girls reminded them they should eat before Crabbe and Goyle ate all the feast away, Draco motioned for Harry to serve himself as well.
Harry was really a wonder. While most kids were piling only sweets and all sorts of unhealthy foods on their plates, he chose only two types of meat, the slices were a bit on the small side, some potatoes to accompany it along with a big serving of vegetables and salad. Draco decided to do the same so Harry wouldn't be the odd one out, his meats, however, were bigger slices. Desserts came and again he chose a simple serving of treacle tart. Draco wanted to only eat one like he did but ate three different types of desserts instead. He noticed Harry looking in the direction of the Gryffindor table again. "Worried for your cousin?"
"Not really. Was looking to see if Ron was there with him. I got distracted and didn't see his sorting." He was even cuter blushing like that. Draco preferred to ignore this budding friendship with the Weasel in favour of observing Harry. He was now hiding behind his cup.
"You don't like pumpkin juice? There are other options besides water." He asked in a voice low enough so the talk would be restricted to the two of them.
"Oh. I never drank it before. Didn't want to take chances with my stomach." He blushed again. "And I usually drink water with dinner."
"You didn't eat much too. Well, except for salads and vegetables." Draco started to worry, his parents made him eat like that when he was sick.
"Our Healer said that eating this way would help recover faster." Harry hid again behind his cup and Draco noticed he didn't want to talk about that. Certainly, Draco would ask later when they were alone; if luck were on his side, they would be sharing a room for the next few years. Obviously, Draco could give Lady Luck a helping hand and change his roommate if necessary.
"Looking forward to classes tomorrow?" Draco received another beaming smile for changing the course of their conversation. He would end up addicted to them.
"I hope we have Potions! The books I read were... fascinating!" Harry had a satisfied face on. Draco couldn't even fathom why. He smiled at the boy since that was the class taught by his Papa and one Draco himself was looking forward to.
"I like potions as well." Draco would have said more but the food disappeared and the Headmaster started a speech. Draco ignored him completely to observe the other students and staff, and Harry who was avidly paying attention. Soon enough the Prefects led them down the dungeons to Slytherin.
The common room was just the way his parents described. Posh chairs, black leather couches, windows with a view of the Black Lake, the bottom of it that is, a fireplace... Despite being a bit less than what Draco was used to, it was still bearable. They were directed to their dormitories, where you had to share a room with up to two other people until the fourth year. Fifth years and above had a bedroom each to themselves, his Papa told him once it was to help them have more privacy to study. Thankfully, he didn't need to help Lady Luck as Harry was roomed with him and Blaise; poor Theodore Nott would share with Crabbe and Goyle.
"Wow!" Harry seemed impressed with the room.
"I hope next year we only get one roommate. This is too little for three people." The first night of the year and Blaise was whining already, though Draco could relate to his predicament. Harry made a face at Blaise and jumped on his bed praising its fluffiness. He was cute behaving as a little kid. Draco wondered how else he could be cute.
"Don't get too comfortable, Harry. We are to go back to the common room for the Head of House welcoming speech." Jumping up from the bed, Harry dashed outside with eagerness plastered on his face.
"You gotta admit, Draco. Surviving the Killing Curse messed with his mind." Blaise laughed leaving their room. Draco found Harry's behaviour endearing, still, he had to agree Harry needed to tone it down a little. He left the room to find Harry practically bouncing waiting for their Head of House, his anxiety clear for anyone to see. Draco held him by the shoulder with one hand and looked pointedly to him until he blushed and stopped acting like a child on his first Quidditch game. The wall opened to reveal his Papa entering and making the common room go silent with his mere presence.
"This is Slytherin House where the cunning, resourceful and ambitious dwell. As your Head of House, I expect not to be bothered by my colleagues due to any of you being caught in your moments of misbehaviour. My Slytherins are to maintain a strong and united front at all times when not inside these walls. Would you care to elaborate on that, Mr Flint?" Flint stiffened. By the looks sent his way, his Papa didn't usually make questions during his speech. Well, his Papa's silky voice Draco knew meant trouble was a huge hint.
"The other Houses have a lot of prejudice against us and tend to ostracise us. We should leave all rivalries to be solved inside the Slytherin Dungeon. The others are to think there are no problems between Slytherins. That will be reinforced by Slytherins helping each other outside this Dungeon."
His Papa nodded and continued his speech. "I would suggest to the first years not walk by yourselves as there is the possibility of an ambush. Do turn to a Prefect or older student for help with bullying and your studies if necessary. My office is always open to receive a Slytherin, do not abuse that privilege, as I am not your mother nor am I a Mind Healer.
"The Prefects have enough knowledge to deal with minor injuries in case you are not comfortable with going to the Hospital Wing. I am also available for that. That said, this year a few changes in our rules have to be observed. Pranks and any action against a fellow housemate are to be restricted to the common areas, meaning the bedrooms are off limits. One Fourth Year will be responsible for adapting a group of first years, I expect volunteers by the end of breakfast tomorrow.
"For the general knowledge, a change in the division of the rooms were made. First year boys are separated in groups of three and girls in two people a room. Second, Third and Fourth years have two people a room. Fifth years and above have each their own room. Each years' three best students will be rewarded during the school year and after. Those rewards will be up on the bulletin board tomorrow after dinner.
"Finally, I expect your grades to be among the best students and far above Acceptable. Any questions?" His Papa surveyed the room with narrowed eyes daring anyone to ask. Obviously, Harry couldn't for the life of him read a mood correctly and put his hand up signalling he had one. "Yes, Mr Potter?"
"Can- May I bring my cousin or friends here?" Draco was beginning to think Harry actually knew how to use his looks and smiles to get his way with people. No one could make those puppy eyes without second intentions. Although his Papa seemed unaffected by them.
"After the adapting month if your grades are all EE's and O's. That is true to all Slytherins as well. Visitors will be only allowed if the visited student is the bearer of those grades. As well, no visitors allowed before October 1st. Any more questions?" This time no one dared. Papa was emitting enough menacing aura to kill the next person with a question. "Then have a good night and I expect to see you all at breakfast." He left with his robes billowing after him.
The other students started to mingle and discuss the changes. Draco had other plans. He dragged Harry back to their room to start his questioning. Harry went straight to his trunk once they were inside and took out a potion to drink. "What is that potion for?" Draco was now convinced something was wrong and Harry was sick, which worried Draco to no end.
Harry grimaced a little and looked over the room. Draco surmised he was either making sure no one else was there to listen or he was trying to find something to change the subject. From his squealing and rushing to his bed, he presumed it was the latter. When Draco got near, he saw Harry tearing apart the warping paper of a thin long box and taking a wand holster from the inside. Draco had to get a hold of himself and look away to keep from hugging the boy who was hugging his holster and rolling on his bed from one side to the other laughing the most delicious laugh Draco had ever heard. And yes, it was delicious period.
"Oh. You have a package too." Harry seemed composed again. Draco looked over his bed and true to what the other boy said, a long and thin package with a note attached sat on his pillow. The note was from his Papa congratulating him on being sorted into Slytherin. Draco was glad and confused seeing he not only also received a wand holster but it was identical to Harry's; made of leather with a dark green hue. From the feel of the leather, he concluded it was dragon hide.
He turned back to Harry who was looking curiously at him and his present. Draco knew he had to start his questioning and that Harry would try to change the course of it whenever health was mentioned, so he conceded to leave that for another day and concentrated on getting to know him better, and his relationship with his Papa. "Seems like we got the same welcome gift. Who gave you yours?"
Harry was beaming and hugging the holster again. "My Uncle Sev!" Not a minute after he let go of his gift in favour of putting both hands over his mouth like he said something he wasn't supposed too. He looked on the verge of crying and so hurt Draco couldn't help but pick up the holster, seat next to him and pull him into an embrace. Harry lodged his head on the nook of his neck and Draco petted his head and made what he thought would be soothing circles on the boy's back. As he did that, Draco made sure to keep reassuring him that everything was just fine and he wouldn't tell anyone about him knowing Uncle Sev.
Draco could imagine their situations were a bit alike. Draco couldn't tell anyone Severus Snape was his Papa and had to call him Uncle Sev in front of others. Harry shouldn't know his Papa. Anyone would think it strange if a former Death Eater, even a spy, was called Uncle by The-Boy-Who-Lived. In the end, Draco's ministrations were so soothing to the boy he fell asleep. Draco took Harry's shoes and outer robes out and tucked him in. Seeing as the day was over for him he went to sleep as well.
Dudley was so tired from the day and chatting until late with his new dorm mates he almost missed the long and thin box waiting on his pillow. There was a note attached to it saying it was from Uncle Sev and congratulating him on getting into Gryffindor. Dudley knew Uncle Sev didn't care much for Gryffindors, so he was happy his sorting didn't make him automatically be hated.
Being hated by Professor Snape was a big no-no according to the older boys. His wrath was legendary and it seemed he especially liked to make the first years cry. Dudley better pair up with Hermione since she knew everything, he definitely didn't want to screw up and mark himself as a target to his famous vicious tongue. He should have done like Harry and bought something to appease the man. Maybe some of the sweets he bought on the train would do...
Dudley put his dark red leather wand holster on his right arm, together with his wand, and lulled himself to sleep with thoughts on how to get his friends and him on Uncle Sev's good side even being Gryffindors.
About James' will. Let us put it like this: Someone was Harry's magical guardian and wasn't present in his life. They tried their best to do things in a way that wouldn't alert that person. Severus had a good guess on who it was and Ragnok knew for sure (and wasn't happy with his client not knowing anything). Add to the mixture the fact that Petunia was not likely to be in James' will as a possible guardian for Harry, or at least not as a first choice or second. Anyway, it was too much of a wild card for Severus to play at that time. In addition, the Potters were oldblood, very rich and very powerful; if the will wasn't read (and Ragnok wasn't pleased, meaning he didn't agree) it happened because of interference of the Ministry (I remind you here that this was a situation where they were dealing with goblins, thus they needed to be powerful enough to push). Who else had enough sway to lock away such an important will, name a "random" magical guardian and would still be notified on the off chance of someone trying to get it read? Better have everything set up before they go into the really troublesome parts. Finally, bear in mind that now Petunia treats her nephew right thus becoming an acceptable guardian. There's always a chance for guardianship to be contested and they want to play safe.