Disclaimer: Characters are not mine T_T. Only the plot ^_^
A/N: I am soooo sorry that I disappeared for so long. I kind went into a huge slump and I didn't know what to do and then I lost interest in it. By the time I came up with a worthy idea, school had started and man, grade 11 teachers are EVIL!!! But now its Christmas vacation and I'm writing even though I should be getting ready since mass amounts of people are coming over for a Christmas Eve dinner ^_^U. Anyway, I beg your forgiveness! Please!!! Ok, that is all. Now on with the story! And thanks to all of you who are still checking for updates and thanks to the reviewers. I luv you! ^_^
I NEED A BETA-READER!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!! Email me if you're interested. Click on my name ^ up there for my email address. ^_^
NOTE: //.Blah Blah.// means thoughts because I haven't figured out how to do italics ^_^U
Chapter 7
The ride to the Hogwarts castle was entirely uneventful. Harry stared aimlessly out the window watching the plain of white pass by. The wet flurries had turned into sparking snowflakes that drifted gently from the sky. Harry sighed. He felt..nothing, absolutely nothing. It was as though he was an empty shell letting everything around him control what he did; letting anything else choose his path, anything except himself.
The carriage stopped so subtly that he didn't even realize that it had. Ironically enough, at the exact moment Harry mused over that thought, the door he'd been leaning on was flung open so abruptly that he fell out most ungracefully into the snow.
"And you must be Mr. Potter" said the pair of worn leather shoes under his nose, and Harry looked up to see the most sever looking woman he'd ever seen in his life.
"Erm..yes", Harry said cautiously as he stood up so that he was in level with her.
"Good morning Professor" Hermione said stepping out of the carriage, "Harry, this is Professor McGonagall; she's the Head of the Gryffindor House."
She looked at him with the barest trace of a smile. Her greying brown hair was pulled back in to a tight bun at the top of her head and her square framed glasses rested on the bridge of her nose. She stood stiffly, making her dark robes swirl around her in an intimidating way.
"Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy, you may proceed to the Great Hall as usual" she said, still looking directly at Harry, who himself wasn't sure if he was getting more uncomfortable or annoyed by the second.
"Yes Professor" Hermione replied, pausing long enough to give Harry a quick encouraging smile before walking away. Malfoy followed wordlessly.
Harry watched the Head Boy and Girl walk away and disappear into the fog. He wondered vaguely about the Dursley's; what where they doing now? Where they happy? He hoped they were miserable. They damn well deserved it.
A pair of boney hands on his shoulders steered him toward the castle and his feet began moving out of their own accord. Clunk! Clunk! Clunk! Harry's black combat boots thumped dully against the snow cushioned steps up to the castle.
Professor McGonagall stopped to open the door to let herself and Harry in. "Mr. Potter-or its Mr. Evans now isn't it?" she asked as they continued walking. Harry nodded. "Ms. Granger has already owled me about the events that have taken place so far."
Harry gave her a blank look. What in the world did "owled" mean?
Professor McGonagall shook her head, "I forgot that you aren't familiar with the Wizarding world. I'll explain as we walk to the Headmaster's office. He wishes to speak with you and then you will be sorted. You are to go sit at the respective table in the Great Hall after that."
Harry nodded again, nearly running to keep up with her. Since when were old teachers so bloody fast?
The flame torches mounted on the cold castle walls flickered irregularly. Harry was thankful that it was much warmer inside. His paced quickened as he climbed up the white marble stairs but just before he reached the landing it heaved up with a loud groan and began shifting side ways. Harry felt his heart in his thudding in his throat as he lost his balance and stumbled backward.
"Evans!" the elderly professor cried out in horror as she watched him fall into the darkness below.
Harry felt like the world had gone into a slow motion. He watched the professor spin around and scream. He felt himself fall and the air rushing around him. Suddenly his fingers gripped the edge. Harry sighed with relief, but his hands were damp with sweat and he was slipping fast.
Then there were hands pulling him up. Harry accepted them gratefully as he pulled himself up, his heart still pounding in his chest. Professor McGonagall stood rigidly, tight lipped and pale. She didn't know what she would have done if Harry had been injured.
"I don't know what would have happened if you'd fallen" she said, "The stairs like to change but they've never endangered anyone's life before. It's all thanks to Mr. Malfoy that you are safe"
'Malfoy?!' Harry turned to see Malfoy smirking behind him. In all his panic he'd failed to notice that it had been Malfoy who'd saved him.
"No need for thanks Evans" he said airily, "Just being a good Head Boy"
Harry fumed. Of all people to help him it had to be this prat. Malfoy would probably gloat about it forever.
Professor McGonagall noticed the tension between the boys. They were glaring holes into each other. How could they have possibly already developed such a strong rivalry between each other when they'd only met two days ago? It was quite strange. Draco Malfoy was one of the best students at Hogwarts; Head Boy, Slytherin Quidditch Seeker and Captain, and an all around valuable asset in their long lasting fight against Voldemort, for him to choose Harry as a rival.. Minerva wasn't sure herself if this was good or bad news. It could be good since Harry had to be powerful as well to be a worthy adversary. She sighed in frustration; this was bad since their strongest assets hated each other.
"Mr. Malfoy, why are you not in the Great Hall as I specifically instructed?" she said, throwing them a warning look.
Malfoy let out a slow breath. The stupid old hag. He wouldn't have minded getting into a fight with Harry Potter. Of course, it would have to be a fist fight since Harry probably couldn't duel yet. His lips twisted into a little sneer. He would have looked forward to that even more. "Sorry professor" he said smoothly as he walked away, "I had to deliver a letter to the Headmaster"
"Of course" Professor McGonagall said before turning to Harry. "Alright Mr. Evans, follow that hallway until you reach a statue of a phoenix. That is the entrance to the Headmaster's office. The password is "cockroach clusters". I'll be in the Great Hall to commence the sorting ceremony."
"But profes----"
But she had already left before Harry could finish his sentence. This was getting ridiculous. Why was it that everyone around here found it perfectly acceptable to give him random instructions that to him made no sense whatsoever? He walked faster dragging his feet childishly. Normally, had he not been to pissed off, this dimly lit hallway would have given him the creeps. Although, normally, he wouldn't have been in a strange castle looking for a stone phoenix anyway.
The huge statue was placed in the wall. Harry stared at it not really sure about what to do. This password was "cockroach clusters". Alright.. So what was he supposed to do? Write it? Spell it? Say it? Say it to the statue? "Why in hell would anyone want clusters of cockroaches anyway?!" he demanded aloud, giving the statue a swift kick, but all he accomplished was getting a toe ache.
His voice echoed in the empty corridors. Empty. That was good. Now he could say the password to the stupid statue and not feel like a complete idiot. "Cockroach clusters" he mumbled. Nothing happened. "Come on, open. Cockroach clusters!"
With that the mouldy looking bird sprung to life, slowly stepping away revealing an entrance. Harry stepped in. He would have liked to have barged in, banging the door open. Maybe even kicking a few things and hearing it smash. There was always that strange satisfaction in hearing it smash, but he was in a new place. He didn't want anymore enemies than he already had.
Dumbledore's office was large and almost circular. It had a high, domed ceiling, faded purple carpeting, and tall windows that let in an ample amount of sunlight, yet for some reason the room looked old and drab.
Harry sat down heavily in the chair in front of the Headmasters desk. Where was he? Harry ran his fingers along the grooves in the chair idly. He didn't mind waiting. He wasn't in a rush.
At the moment a door in the back opened up and Dumbledore entered. "Ah Harry! A pleasure to see you again my boy" he said, picking up an old, tattered hat and placing it on his desk.
"Good morning Professor" Harry replied curtly, in a tone that wasn't impolite but it left no room for further small talk.
Dumbledore smiled knowingly, his blue eyes twinkling behind his half moon glasses. "We should get you sorted. Professor McGonagall is waiting for the hat"
Harry blinked in confusion "The hat, sir?"
Dumbledore smiled again and Harry, well, he just felt stupid. Dumbledore seemed to have a knack for making Harry feel stupid. "The sorting hat, Harry" he said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Uh..right. Sorting hat. Got that"
"Alright then! Put it on and we'll see what it has to say" Dumbledore said, handing Harry the fraying, old hat. (A/N: Look! It's a wonder hat. It sorts and it talks ^_^U)
Harry shrugged, "Here goes nothing" he muttered as he put the hat on.
//"Ah! So much inside this head! Not so nice things in here."//
Harry stiffened in his seat his eyes widening slightly in surprise. That stupid bloody hat could read his mind!
//"I'm not stupid. You better be nice or who knows where I'll place you"// There was a brief pause. //"Aren't you a bit too old to be getting sorted?"//
Harry scowled. Now hats were telling him that he was old. At this rate he should be in the museum of ancient artefacts by the time he was 25. He could here the hat chuckling in his head.
//"Ahhh! I know the reason. No need to worry. You'll get along just fine. But let's see..Ambition, courage, determination, a disregard for rules, a need for control, a desire to prove yourself, talent.. I know exactly where you should be!"//
Harry rolled his eyes. //"With a profile like that I'd say prison? Or maybe a mental institute?"//
The hat chuckled again. //"I've been debating between two houses but in the end it should be Slytherin. Though I must say, quite a few in that bunch should be in prison or a madhouse"//
//"What?! Then what in bloody hell gave you the idea to put me there?"//
//"There are many things you have yet to learn. You will fair well in Slytherin. And remember this; keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer"//
Harry was too far in a state of panic to really listen. //"What are you talking about? Put me in any other house!"//
//"My decision is final. You are a true SLYTHERIN"//
The last word had been spoken aloud. Dumbledore frowned slightly, "Slytherin? Honestly Harry, I hadn't expected that but alls well that ends well"
"Hn.." Harry let out a small sound of acknowledgement as he picked the hat off his head and gave it back to Dumbledore.
"Thank you" Dumbledore said as he accepted the hat, tied it to a flaming bird's leg and then let it go out the window.
Harry watched the beautiful bird soar away, mesmerized by its brilliance. He'd never seen anything like it before. "Where's it going?" he asked curiously.
"Fawkes is just delivering the Sorting Hat to Professor McGonagall. He is much faster than if I were to walk there myself" Dumbledore replied with a smile, still gazing out the window.
"What kind of bird is he?"
Harry's curiosity was getting the better of him. He hadn't been so full of question since he had been a child and the Dursley's had always discouraged questions. But this was something new and different; something to be excited about.
"Fawkes is a phoenix. They're quite loyal pets" Dumbledore turned and sat down in his chair.
"Wow.." Harry stared into the night sky even though the phoenix was long gone, "I never thought they really existed.."
Suddenly Harry felt a tiny bit happier. He remembered all the times he'd spent locked in the cupboard under the stairs. He'd lie in his tiny bed dreaming; that motorcycles could fly, that brave knights did vanquish evil, that he was happy and phoenix soared. He never believed that any of it was possible. They were merely thoughts to take his mind off reality but now things were different; the phoenix had soared.
He felt like Pandora's box. With all the shit in his life, there was also hope. It had just taken its own sweet time to come out.
A/N: REVIEW!!!! Sorry again for taking so long. Hope you liked that. I'll try to get the next chapter up before school starts again. And I really need a beta-reader!!
A/N: I am soooo sorry that I disappeared for so long. I kind went into a huge slump and I didn't know what to do and then I lost interest in it. By the time I came up with a worthy idea, school had started and man, grade 11 teachers are EVIL!!! But now its Christmas vacation and I'm writing even though I should be getting ready since mass amounts of people are coming over for a Christmas Eve dinner ^_^U. Anyway, I beg your forgiveness! Please!!! Ok, that is all. Now on with the story! And thanks to all of you who are still checking for updates and thanks to the reviewers. I luv you! ^_^
I NEED A BETA-READER!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!! Email me if you're interested. Click on my name ^ up there for my email address. ^_^
NOTE: //.Blah Blah.// means thoughts because I haven't figured out how to do italics ^_^U
Chapter 7
The ride to the Hogwarts castle was entirely uneventful. Harry stared aimlessly out the window watching the plain of white pass by. The wet flurries had turned into sparking snowflakes that drifted gently from the sky. Harry sighed. He felt..nothing, absolutely nothing. It was as though he was an empty shell letting everything around him control what he did; letting anything else choose his path, anything except himself.
The carriage stopped so subtly that he didn't even realize that it had. Ironically enough, at the exact moment Harry mused over that thought, the door he'd been leaning on was flung open so abruptly that he fell out most ungracefully into the snow.
"And you must be Mr. Potter" said the pair of worn leather shoes under his nose, and Harry looked up to see the most sever looking woman he'd ever seen in his life.
"Erm..yes", Harry said cautiously as he stood up so that he was in level with her.
"Good morning Professor" Hermione said stepping out of the carriage, "Harry, this is Professor McGonagall; she's the Head of the Gryffindor House."
She looked at him with the barest trace of a smile. Her greying brown hair was pulled back in to a tight bun at the top of her head and her square framed glasses rested on the bridge of her nose. She stood stiffly, making her dark robes swirl around her in an intimidating way.
"Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy, you may proceed to the Great Hall as usual" she said, still looking directly at Harry, who himself wasn't sure if he was getting more uncomfortable or annoyed by the second.
"Yes Professor" Hermione replied, pausing long enough to give Harry a quick encouraging smile before walking away. Malfoy followed wordlessly.
Harry watched the Head Boy and Girl walk away and disappear into the fog. He wondered vaguely about the Dursley's; what where they doing now? Where they happy? He hoped they were miserable. They damn well deserved it.
A pair of boney hands on his shoulders steered him toward the castle and his feet began moving out of their own accord. Clunk! Clunk! Clunk! Harry's black combat boots thumped dully against the snow cushioned steps up to the castle.
Professor McGonagall stopped to open the door to let herself and Harry in. "Mr. Potter-or its Mr. Evans now isn't it?" she asked as they continued walking. Harry nodded. "Ms. Granger has already owled me about the events that have taken place so far."
Harry gave her a blank look. What in the world did "owled" mean?
Professor McGonagall shook her head, "I forgot that you aren't familiar with the Wizarding world. I'll explain as we walk to the Headmaster's office. He wishes to speak with you and then you will be sorted. You are to go sit at the respective table in the Great Hall after that."
Harry nodded again, nearly running to keep up with her. Since when were old teachers so bloody fast?
The flame torches mounted on the cold castle walls flickered irregularly. Harry was thankful that it was much warmer inside. His paced quickened as he climbed up the white marble stairs but just before he reached the landing it heaved up with a loud groan and began shifting side ways. Harry felt his heart in his thudding in his throat as he lost his balance and stumbled backward.
"Evans!" the elderly professor cried out in horror as she watched him fall into the darkness below.
Harry felt like the world had gone into a slow motion. He watched the professor spin around and scream. He felt himself fall and the air rushing around him. Suddenly his fingers gripped the edge. Harry sighed with relief, but his hands were damp with sweat and he was slipping fast.
Then there were hands pulling him up. Harry accepted them gratefully as he pulled himself up, his heart still pounding in his chest. Professor McGonagall stood rigidly, tight lipped and pale. She didn't know what she would have done if Harry had been injured.
"I don't know what would have happened if you'd fallen" she said, "The stairs like to change but they've never endangered anyone's life before. It's all thanks to Mr. Malfoy that you are safe"
'Malfoy?!' Harry turned to see Malfoy smirking behind him. In all his panic he'd failed to notice that it had been Malfoy who'd saved him.
"No need for thanks Evans" he said airily, "Just being a good Head Boy"
Harry fumed. Of all people to help him it had to be this prat. Malfoy would probably gloat about it forever.
Professor McGonagall noticed the tension between the boys. They were glaring holes into each other. How could they have possibly already developed such a strong rivalry between each other when they'd only met two days ago? It was quite strange. Draco Malfoy was one of the best students at Hogwarts; Head Boy, Slytherin Quidditch Seeker and Captain, and an all around valuable asset in their long lasting fight against Voldemort, for him to choose Harry as a rival.. Minerva wasn't sure herself if this was good or bad news. It could be good since Harry had to be powerful as well to be a worthy adversary. She sighed in frustration; this was bad since their strongest assets hated each other.
"Mr. Malfoy, why are you not in the Great Hall as I specifically instructed?" she said, throwing them a warning look.
Malfoy let out a slow breath. The stupid old hag. He wouldn't have minded getting into a fight with Harry Potter. Of course, it would have to be a fist fight since Harry probably couldn't duel yet. His lips twisted into a little sneer. He would have looked forward to that even more. "Sorry professor" he said smoothly as he walked away, "I had to deliver a letter to the Headmaster"
"Of course" Professor McGonagall said before turning to Harry. "Alright Mr. Evans, follow that hallway until you reach a statue of a phoenix. That is the entrance to the Headmaster's office. The password is "cockroach clusters". I'll be in the Great Hall to commence the sorting ceremony."
"But profes----"
But she had already left before Harry could finish his sentence. This was getting ridiculous. Why was it that everyone around here found it perfectly acceptable to give him random instructions that to him made no sense whatsoever? He walked faster dragging his feet childishly. Normally, had he not been to pissed off, this dimly lit hallway would have given him the creeps. Although, normally, he wouldn't have been in a strange castle looking for a stone phoenix anyway.
The huge statue was placed in the wall. Harry stared at it not really sure about what to do. This password was "cockroach clusters". Alright.. So what was he supposed to do? Write it? Spell it? Say it? Say it to the statue? "Why in hell would anyone want clusters of cockroaches anyway?!" he demanded aloud, giving the statue a swift kick, but all he accomplished was getting a toe ache.
His voice echoed in the empty corridors. Empty. That was good. Now he could say the password to the stupid statue and not feel like a complete idiot. "Cockroach clusters" he mumbled. Nothing happened. "Come on, open. Cockroach clusters!"
With that the mouldy looking bird sprung to life, slowly stepping away revealing an entrance. Harry stepped in. He would have liked to have barged in, banging the door open. Maybe even kicking a few things and hearing it smash. There was always that strange satisfaction in hearing it smash, but he was in a new place. He didn't want anymore enemies than he already had.
Dumbledore's office was large and almost circular. It had a high, domed ceiling, faded purple carpeting, and tall windows that let in an ample amount of sunlight, yet for some reason the room looked old and drab.
Harry sat down heavily in the chair in front of the Headmasters desk. Where was he? Harry ran his fingers along the grooves in the chair idly. He didn't mind waiting. He wasn't in a rush.
At the moment a door in the back opened up and Dumbledore entered. "Ah Harry! A pleasure to see you again my boy" he said, picking up an old, tattered hat and placing it on his desk.
"Good morning Professor" Harry replied curtly, in a tone that wasn't impolite but it left no room for further small talk.
Dumbledore smiled knowingly, his blue eyes twinkling behind his half moon glasses. "We should get you sorted. Professor McGonagall is waiting for the hat"
Harry blinked in confusion "The hat, sir?"
Dumbledore smiled again and Harry, well, he just felt stupid. Dumbledore seemed to have a knack for making Harry feel stupid. "The sorting hat, Harry" he said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Uh..right. Sorting hat. Got that"
"Alright then! Put it on and we'll see what it has to say" Dumbledore said, handing Harry the fraying, old hat. (A/N: Look! It's a wonder hat. It sorts and it talks ^_^U)
Harry shrugged, "Here goes nothing" he muttered as he put the hat on.
//"Ah! So much inside this head! Not so nice things in here."//
Harry stiffened in his seat his eyes widening slightly in surprise. That stupid bloody hat could read his mind!
//"I'm not stupid. You better be nice or who knows where I'll place you"// There was a brief pause. //"Aren't you a bit too old to be getting sorted?"//
Harry scowled. Now hats were telling him that he was old. At this rate he should be in the museum of ancient artefacts by the time he was 25. He could here the hat chuckling in his head.
//"Ahhh! I know the reason. No need to worry. You'll get along just fine. But let's see..Ambition, courage, determination, a disregard for rules, a need for control, a desire to prove yourself, talent.. I know exactly where you should be!"//
Harry rolled his eyes. //"With a profile like that I'd say prison? Or maybe a mental institute?"//
The hat chuckled again. //"I've been debating between two houses but in the end it should be Slytherin. Though I must say, quite a few in that bunch should be in prison or a madhouse"//
//"What?! Then what in bloody hell gave you the idea to put me there?"//
//"There are many things you have yet to learn. You will fair well in Slytherin. And remember this; keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer"//
Harry was too far in a state of panic to really listen. //"What are you talking about? Put me in any other house!"//
//"My decision is final. You are a true SLYTHERIN"//
The last word had been spoken aloud. Dumbledore frowned slightly, "Slytherin? Honestly Harry, I hadn't expected that but alls well that ends well"
"Hn.." Harry let out a small sound of acknowledgement as he picked the hat off his head and gave it back to Dumbledore.
"Thank you" Dumbledore said as he accepted the hat, tied it to a flaming bird's leg and then let it go out the window.
Harry watched the beautiful bird soar away, mesmerized by its brilliance. He'd never seen anything like it before. "Where's it going?" he asked curiously.
"Fawkes is just delivering the Sorting Hat to Professor McGonagall. He is much faster than if I were to walk there myself" Dumbledore replied with a smile, still gazing out the window.
"What kind of bird is he?"
Harry's curiosity was getting the better of him. He hadn't been so full of question since he had been a child and the Dursley's had always discouraged questions. But this was something new and different; something to be excited about.
"Fawkes is a phoenix. They're quite loyal pets" Dumbledore turned and sat down in his chair.
"Wow.." Harry stared into the night sky even though the phoenix was long gone, "I never thought they really existed.."
Suddenly Harry felt a tiny bit happier. He remembered all the times he'd spent locked in the cupboard under the stairs. He'd lie in his tiny bed dreaming; that motorcycles could fly, that brave knights did vanquish evil, that he was happy and phoenix soared. He never believed that any of it was possible. They were merely thoughts to take his mind off reality but now things were different; the phoenix had soared.
He felt like Pandora's box. With all the shit in his life, there was also hope. It had just taken its own sweet time to come out.
A/N: REVIEW!!!! Sorry again for taking so long. Hope you liked that. I'll try to get the next chapter up before school starts again. And I really need a beta-reader!!