Chapter III

Harry Was Alone

As Harry expected, none of the Slytherins wanted to talk to him or even welcome him into the common room. The room itself looked just as Harry remembered from three years ago. The ceiling was low, but not suffocating so, and there were several fireplaces with marble mantels along a long wall. Each mantel had a snake carved into it and had several armchairs, couches, and coffee tables surrounding them. On the far side, there were two staircases leading up, and opposite the fireplaces was a long window showing what Harry assumed was the Black Lake. The room itself was spacious with several couches and sofas filling the space. The walls were all dark green and silver, with portraits of different types of snakes and wizards.

As Harry walked in, the other Slytherins seemed to turn their backs on him, which suited him just fine. He broke off from Zabini and moved to the farthest corner of the room, right next to the windows showing the Black Lake, and sat down. He moved the chair so he was showing his back to the other Slytherins and just stared out into the murky depths of the lake, trying to organize his thoughts.

Zabini, meanwhile, made his way to Malfoy and the others, who took up a fireplace of their own. Malfoy had his own armchair while Theo and Daph took up a sofa and Pansy lounged on an entire sofa by herself. Tracey Davis sat close to them as well, while Crabbe, Goyle, and Millicent were off doing whatever those three did. "Enjoying your babysitting duties?" Pansy smirked as Blaise slapped her feet away to make room.

"Piss off," Blaise laughed. "It's embarrassing, really. I almost feel sorry for the prick."

"You shouldn't be," Draco said, crossing his arms. "Honestly the entire thing is an insult. Having to get resorted just because of an apparent fuck up on Potter's part? Disgusting."

"It was kind of fun, to be honest," Daph said, smiling softly from their place in Theo's arms. "Kind of like 'how quickly can you get the Sorting Hat to scream your House?'"

"I was shocked by Longbottom's resorting," Theo said. "I knew he was too nice to be a Gryffindor."

"Yeah," Daph nodded, "Remember that time when he caught me with my binder last year in the bathroom?" He smiled fondly and chuckled. "It was the second time I was wearing it and the boy got so flustered it was almost kind of cute."

"Shame he was a Gryffindor though," Theo added.

"But now he's a Hufflepuff," Zabini said, "which reminds me has he ever, you know?" He looked towards Daph, who shook his head.

"No, I explained it as shortly as I could, he offered to help, and then we never spoke of it again. The fact that the Gryffindors didn't bully me over it is because I'm guessing he kept his mouth shut," Daph said.

"Well, now I guess I can call him a good man for that," Pansy said before scrunching her nose, "Oh Merlin did I actually compliment Longbottom?"

"You complimented a cute Hufflepuff who did the right thing," Zabini said.

"Right, I need to think of it that way before I throw up," Pansy said, giving a fake retching noise that made everyone else laugh. "So what about beds?" she asked, "Did you talk with Snape yet?"

"When I went to him last year, he told me that it was too late and to try again this year," Daph said, shrugging. "My father and mother talked with him over the summer, but I haven't heard anything."

"I'm sure he will," Pansy said, the others agreeing.

In his seat, Draco still looked as if he was seething, glaring at the corner where Potter was sitting in. Blaise looked between the two and sighed, "No matter how long you glare, you will not drill holes in him."

"I cannot believe he is here!" Draco seethed. "Honestly why are you guys acting like it is not an insult?"

"I'm just ignoring his existence, honestly," Pansy said.

"Same here."

"Yeah."

"It's horrible," Draco continued as if he didn't hear his friends. "Who in their bloody right mind would think that Potter, perfect little 'golden boy' Potter belongs here? Hmm?" He crossed his arms and continued to glare at him. "You know I'm not going to defend him," he said. "He'll have to learn the hard way how's it like being a Slytherin. We'll see how long it takes for him to go back crying to return to those stupid lions. He's probably just sulking because he's not surrounded by his constant rabid fans. Probably wishing he's back at that damn palace he lives in."

"Do you really think he lives in a palace?" Daph asked curiously.

"Of course he does Daphnis," Draco said. "He's the fucking Golden Boy!"

Daphnis just hummed and looked unconvinced as he looked toward Potter. "I don't know about that," he said. "He looks too skinny if you ask me. Not to mention short. I think you're taller than him, Pansy." Pansy laughed at that, and Daphnis smiled. "Besides, he's friends with those Weasleys and they're poorer than dirt. If he lived in a palace you'd think he would have some sense."

"I wonder if they will stay friends," Zabini commented. "You guys did not see this, but Potter tried to get to them before I brought him down here. The female Weasley wouldn't even look at him and Weasley and the Mudblood? I swear it was the most awkward conversation I've ever seen. They looked as if they didn't want to even know him."

"Really?" Theo asked, frowning slightly. "How horrible."

"I told him," Draco said angrily. "Didn't I tell you all? I told him exactly that there are some wizarding families not worth knowing and look at where that left him! The spoiled prick is all alone."

"Well if he's a spoiled prick then you two will get along fabulously, darling," Pansy laughed.

"Wha—I'll—I'll never like that prick, Parkinson how dare you!" Draco yelled.

"I mean he's small but who knows, he might still grow a bit more," Parkinson snorted. Draco gasped and moved his mouth, making several sounds that were close enough to both English and gibberish that made everyone laugh. Draco stood up and pointed an accusatory finger at Pansy as he said, "I will not have this conversation with you, vile woman! You will not speak of it!"

"Draco I—"

"WILL NOT SPEAK OF IT!" Draco said dramatically before falling back into his chair, huffing as he fixed his hair. "Harry Potter is a vile, disgusting boy and he is finally getting the consequences of his refusing my friendship long ago. Not another word, woman."

"Whatever," Pansy shrugged. She yawned and stood up with a stretch. "Come on Daph," she said, "Let's go see if they're morons with your bed."

"We might as well go to bed as well," Theo said. He got up with Daphnis and kissed him lightly. "Come on Draco, Blaise go get your pet."

"What? Why is Potter my pet?" Blaise demanded. "Draco can go get him."

"They will kill each other," Theo stated simply. Blaise groaned and rolled his eyes.

"Fine," he said. The dark-skinned Italian rubbed a hand through his hair and turned to the sulking Potter in the corner. He made his way and said, "Come on Potter, time for bed."

"Not tired," Potter muttered.

Blaise groaned, "I don't have time for this boy. Bed. Now." He huffed when Potter still didn't move. "Come on, you're going to need your rest for tomorrow."

That got Potter to move. He got up slowly and turned to follow Blaise to the staircases. The two moved up to the fifth boys' dormitories and Blaise opened the door, revealing a room with enough beds for the boys, all except Daphnis Blaise noticed sadly, and next to each bed was a bedside table along with an enchanted window that shows any weather the viewer wanted.

Potter stared at the windows in shock and Blaise couldn't help but chuckle. "What? You thought we lived in actual dungeons?"

"I—no," Potter said, his cheeks blushing slightly. Blaise chuckled and moved to his own bed, taking off his shirt and pants without hesitation. He noticed that Potter was looking away, blushing openly and he smirked at that. This will be fun, he thought.

"Well, I'm sure you don't need me to hold your hand to find your bed, Potter. Good night," he said. He got into his own bed and watched for a moment as Potter stood in his spot for a second, his eyes roaming the room cautiously before finding his own bed, right between Blaise's and Draco's. He moved to his new bed and got his own pajamas out before getting into bed, closing the curtains to change. Blaise chuckled at that and stretched before closing his own bed curtains.

Harry had a troubled night. He kept waking up to a cold sweat. He couldn't get comfortable in his bed and his thoughts kept going back to Ron and Hermione. He needed to speak to them, he needed to know that nothing changed between them. Maybe they couldn't talk last night because they were extremely busy with the first years. Or hopefully, this would all have been a horrible nightmare, and tomorrow he would wake up either on the Hogwarts Express or, even better, at Grimmauld Place. All in all, Harry had gotten barely three hours of sleep by the time sunlight streamed through the enchanted windows.

He didn't want to leave his bed, but he knew that he couldn't stay in there forever, and it would be worse if he tried to hide. He pulled open his bed curtains and reluctantly got out of bed. The other boys were in various stages of getting dressed or not in the room, but none of them were giving Harry attention, which he was grateful for. He opened his trunk and felt his heart crack when he saw that all of his Gryffindor uniforms were already replaced with emerald Slytherin colors. With a heavy sigh, he got his toiletries and walked towards what he hoped was the bathroom. It was empty, and after a quick shower he returned to the dormitory to dress in the Slytherin robes (he refused to call them his). He made his way downstairs to see Zabini waiting for him again, looking slightly annoyed.

"You took your time," Zabini said.

"Drew the short straw again to make sure I don't blow this place up?" Harry snarked.

Zabini snickered and said, "Right on the money for that one, Potter. Come on, I'm not going to wait long." He turned and started to walk out of the common room, Harry hurrying after.

The Great Hall was already full by the time Harry walked in, the room full of chatter and delicious-smelling food. Harry's stomach growled loudly as he let his feet lead him to his table. As he walked, however, the chatter around him slowly died to whispers, and when he stopped in front of familiar heads of red hair and bushy brown hair, Harry realized why. He automatically made his way to the Gryffindor's table, to his space between Ron and Hermione that seemed to be missing, wearing Slytherin's robes. "Oh," he said, feeling incredibly embarrassed. He tried to give his best friends a smile, "Uh, morning guys."

"Why are you here, Potter?" a sixth-year demanded. Harry looked up to see a wiry-haired blonde glare at him. He seemed to be the only sixth year, the twins and Lee Jordan missing.

"I—it was just a mistake," Harry blabbered.

"Yeah, you are, filthy snake," the sixth-year spat out. Harry flinched at that. He looked at Ron and Hermione. Ron stared at his plate as if it was the most interesting thing in the world while Hermione awkwardly stared in his direction, but never at his face. "Guys?"

"I think you should go sit down, Harry," Hermione said in a soft voice. "At your House's table."

"Oh," Harry said but did not move. He couldn't believe it. He stared at his friends before looking back up at his old housemates. Dean and Seamus were openly glaring at him, the girls wouldn't meet his face, yet no matter where he looked, he didn't feel welcomed. "Okay."

He forced his legs to move, backing away from them and robotically move across the Great hall, doing his best to ignore the whispering from everyone. He moved next to Zabini and sat down. Zabini sighed and shook his head, saying nothing. Harry stared at the Gryffindor table with a sad, longing expression. Almost immediately after he left, it was like life returned to the table as they laughed and joked together, more and more students joining them.

Then, out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Neville walk in wearing his new Hufflepuff robes. He was smiling and laughing with the other Hufflepuff boys but stopped when he heard a cheer. "LET'S GO NEVILLE!"

The entire Gryffindor Table stood up and cheered for Neville, clapping, and stomping their feet at him as they cheered for the ex-Gryffindor. Neville's face turned a vivid scarlet, but he smiled back and waved, Ernie Macmillan, Justin Finch-Fletchey, and Zacharias Smith laughing as well. "YOU GO LONGBOTTOM!" another Gryffindor yelled, and Harry felt his heart fall. It felt like it fell forever inside him before shattering at the bottom as he watched his old housemates embrace Neville not even moments after they jeered and ostracized him. Professor McGonagall had to intervene to get them to stop and Harry felt his cheeks turn wet. He wiped away the tears, hoping nobody noticed.

A napkin was passed to Harry, and he muttered a thank you without looking at who gave it. He cleaned his eyes and looked down at his plate just so he couldn't see the Gryffindor table. He was happy that the others left him alone and didn't tell him that they told him so. He still felt like an outsider, but it was a nice gesture, at least.

Snape came by with their schedules and practically threw Harry's schedule right on his empty plate. Harry didn't even have the energy to glare at the man. "Oh lord no," Malfoy groaned. "Are we really suffering double Defense with the Gryffindors again?"

"Worst, we have the entire day with them," Greengrass groaned. "Are they serious? Reminds me, Potter, what electives are you taking?"

Harry looked up at Greengrass for a moment and frowned at her. "Uh, Divination and Care of Magical Creatures."

"Of course, you would take the easiest ones," she sighed. Greengrass looked at Harry for a moment before nodding, "Right I think Blaise has Divination with Pansy, right?" she looked at both Zabini and Parkinson, who nodded. "Good then you can stick with them, and for Care of Magical Creatures, most of us have that."

"I don't, Daph," Theo said smugly.

Greengrass rolled her eyes, "All of us but my too-smart-for-animals-boyfriend have it so you are good there—"

"What are you doing?" Harry asked. "Why do you care if I have classes with you?"

"God you're a moron, Potter," Malfoy spat. "Think for a moment. Have you ever seen any Slytherin students by themselves?"

"I—no," Harry said.

"Exactly. We need to stick together, and even though I hate you—which I do, Potter, outside the common room we must show a united front," Malfoy said. "So be a good little boy and accept that you will always be with us."

"Then you better stop treating me like a miserable toddler and while you're at it you might want to do something about your manners and hair," Harry sassed.

Malfoy gasped, a hand going to his hair instinctively. "You bastard! My hair is perfect! At least I don't look like I constantly house birds on my head!"

"At least my hair only takes five seconds to get ready and not four hours like yours," Harry spat and ruffled his hair for emphasis.

"Five seconds to look hideous," Malfoy spat back. "I can't believe I actually miss you feeling sorry for yourself Potter, go back to that so that I'm free from your voice!"

"Oh? What? You mean you don't like it when I taunt you in Quidditch?" Harry smirked.

"At least I'm still playing Quidditch," Malfoy shot back.

"What—"

"You're in Slytherin now, Potter," Malfoy said. "Don't tell me you thought that you would still be on Gryffindor's team."

"I—" Harry stopped himself and his cheeks burned. He didn't really think about it, but he knew that it made sense. The moment he switched Houses, he was off the Quidditch team. For some reason, that realization hurt him more than anything else so far. His shoulders slunk and his entire mood deflated. Malfoy smirked victoriously. "I didn't," Harry said softly.

"Now that Draco's ego is lifted, come on, we have History of Magic," Nott said, getting up. The others followed but Harry stayed sitting for a moment as he thought about the fact that he lost Quidditch just because of a stupid article and resorting. He didn't move until he felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Zabini. Harry got up and the two started to follow the others out of the Great Hall.

"HARRY!"

Harry and Zabini stopped to see Neville running towards them, looking a little red-faced. "Harry!" He said again once he was near them.

"Hey Nev, what's the matter?" Harry asked, looking at the new Hufflepuff with concern. Neville looked at Harry in the eye and said, "I'm sorry for how they treated you. The other Gryffindors I mean. I heard about how they kicked you out before I got here and… and I just want to say that I'll always be your friend, no matter what."

Harry gave Neville a genuine smile and felt lighter, "Thanks Neville," he said. "You have no idea how much I needed to hear that."

Neville returned the smile. Zabini stepped forward suddenly and took Neville's hand. "It's a pleasure to meet such a beautiful flower, Neville," he purred.

"I—hello," Neville said, his face turning red. "Harry?"

"Blaise Zabini," Harry said, looking at the Slytherin oddly. "Uh, we have to go, don't we?"

"Indeed we do," Zabini sighed, "But I will see you later, won't I Nev?"

"Y-yeah," Neville nodded, looking down at his body self-consciously as he blushed. Harry blushed as well and took a step away from the two. He did not know what was going on, but he wasn't in the mood to entertain it. Zabini noticed Harry walk away and quickly rejoined him.

"Are your ears not working?" he demanded. "Honestly Potter, we've got to stick together."

"Whatever," Harry said. Though he felt slightly lightened by Neville's affirmation, he couldn't help but feel that today was going to be a long, painful day and it made him long for his bed more so than ever. He looked behind him to make sure that Zabini was still with him and saw Ron glaring angrily at him. His heart broke once again.