(A/N: Ah, another chapter written and gone, and posted on FF.net. I just
wanted to thank all of you reviewers! I love reading reviews and
responding to them. They make me feel all warm and cuddly inside. *Ahem*
But that is not the point. I only look for constructive criticism in a
review, I mean, I am a professional author. Well, maybe not. I look
forward to ALL reviews! Oh and thanks to Time Twins for reviewing EVERY
chapter so far :D And of course to Otaku Freak for reviewing faithfully.)
(Extra Special Disclaimer - I used some parts directly from the books in this chapter and I am citing the book right here.
Rowling, J, K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. Bloomsbury Publishing: New York, 1997.
Oh and by the way, I don't make any money off of this)
Chapter 6: Age 11 and Hogwarts
'Harry Potter.'
'Dammit won't you just leave me alone?!'
The voice seemed to chuckle a bit, 'I'm sorry; you already know that you are special Harry. You know that I must do this.'
'Well, couldn't you wait until I was dying or something?'
'No, I have to do it when you turn ages.'
'Whatever, what is it now?'
'I am here Harry, to tell you about chaotic magic.'
'Chaotic magic?'
'Yes. Chaotic magic is just that - chaotic. It is more commonly referred to as Chaos magic. It is the magic that is in everything. Every person, even muggles, every plant, every inanimate object contains magic. This was found to be a truth long ago. However, normally if one tries to access this power it fails them. There are instances when one can grasp this power, but usually only when that person is fighting for their life. You Harry, have the ability to access this power, this untamed magic, at will.'
Harry groaned. 'May I ask again? Why me?'
'Because of who you are, who your ancestors were.'
'I know that. But who were my ancestors? I think that I have the right to know, seeing as they are complicating my life with their special abilities.'
'Yes Harry, you do have the right to know. But not yet. You must wait until you have received your final power, which I'm not going to tell you about now.' Harry got the distinct impression that if he could see the voice it would be smiling.
'Typical,' Harry thought in disgust, 'I never get told anything.'
'Ah, but soon enough you will be told everything. And then I think, that you will wish that you hadn't been told anything, that you had been kept in the dark.' With that the presence of the voice left Harry's mind.
********************
Harry awoke that morning to the sound of a blow horn in his ear. In fact, it basically was in his ear. Sirius had snuck into Harry's room by the use of a silencing charm and set up the blow horn to go off at 7:00, which it was now. When Harry jumped up out of bed there were poppers and small fireworks that flew around the room, exploding to spell in big letters, 'Happy Birthday Harry!'
'Oh joy,' thought Harry while putting a look of indignation on his face. "Sirius! How many times, gah!" Harry threw his hands in the air. "You always INSIST on waking me up in some special, loud way on my birthday don't you!" Sirius nodded his head, his face one big grin. "You - you -," but Harry couldn't get any farther without breaking into a smile himself and laughing along with his godfather.
"I guess I wouldn't have it any other way," he said finally.
"I'm glad you wouldn't, because I'm gonna do this until you are eighty," announced an euphoric Sirius.
Harry lightly punched his godfather, who in turn picked up a pillow and slammed it over Harry's head. "Hey!" yelled Harry, who immediately picked up his own pillow. The result was a twenty minute long pillow fight that didn't stay at pillows. The two began hexing each other and charming other objects around the room to hit their opponent. In the end, Sirius won, though Harry claimed that he let Sirius win out of the pity of his heart.
"Sure you did kiddo."
"Kiddo? I assure I did you mutt." Harry smiled at his reference to Sirius animagi form.
"Who are you calling a mutt, beak boy?"
"At least my animagi form can fly!"
"Well mine can run! You just squadle!"
"I do not!"
"You deny it? I assure you that you do. In fact, I would be willing to take Veritiserum to prove it." Harry quieted at this statement, and Sirius grinned. "Ha, you know I'm right!"
"No -"
"Shhh," said Sirius raising his hand.
"Bu -"
"Shhh!"
"I -"
"Shhh! Shhh! That was a preemptive 'Shhh,' just to let you know I have a whole bag of 'Shhh' with your name on it!"
Harry and Sirius both fell into laughter as Harry recognized the saying from the muggle movie Austin Powers. Sirius had rented it about a month ago and both of them had watched it ten times before returning it a week later.
Talking about the movie once again, both headed downstairs to the kitchen where a feast rivaling the one from Harrys birthday the previous year was lying on the table. Both Harry and Sirius dug into the food with a vengeance. Soon the food on the table was reduced to about half of its original size. Harry had devoured most of the fruit flavored croissants, and Sirius had had a particular liking of the fruit pancakes that morning. Soon both of the now stuffed boys were lying back in their chairs happily discussing what they planed to do today.
They came to the conclusion that Sirius would help Harry practice his elemental and wandless magics. Over the years Harry had augmented his ability of wandless magic and now he was as proficient without a wand as he was with one. His elemental capacity had also greatly increased. Two years ago, just a few spells had bedridden Harry for a day and a half. After two years of training these powers he was able to control some of the most violent storms and other natural disasters. It took a lot of elemental magic to tire Harry and he could go for a full day of practicing his elemental magics before being worn out.
Also, since that day at Diagon Alley a year ago, Harry had read the book on necromantic magics quite a few times. Sirius knew by now of this capability of Harry's, and at first, truth be told, he was a little nervous. He had always thought of necromancy as a dark magic, but Harry explained to him that no magic is dark; it is only thought of that way if the way it is used is dark. And Harry had no intentions of using his necromancy for evil. Harry often wondered however, who his ancestor that had necromancy was. Was he evil?
Harry was a little bit nervous about starting his necromancy training as well, however, with the aid of the book, it wasn't as difficult as he thought it would be. Necromancy dealt with death, but also the ways of preventing it. Harry found that there were many spells that could slow the coming of death, heal mortal wounds, and even cure the majority of potions. These spells Harry did not hesitate to learn, but he rarely was able to practice them because of the obvious lack of mortally wounded people around. He did attempt to practice on whatever wounded animals came around the house, and those instances the spells had worked, but on humans he still had to try.
That night Harry went to bed very tired, and still wondering who his ancestors were. He took out the marauder's map and with a, 'Moony, Padfoot, and Prongs forever' began to study the map of his soon to be home.
******************
[September 1st]
"Harry! Wake up! Today is the big day!" Harry shot out of his bed upstairs and grabbed some clothes. Today was the big day. Today he was going to Hogwarts. Harry dressed in a pair of muggle jeans, he, like so many other boys, wore his jeans a little baggy. Then he slipped on a navy blue Hurley T-shirt. Last weekend, Harry and Sirius had been to a muggle hairstylist, to see if there was any chance of Harry's hair being tamed. It turned out that it was simply too long. The solution? Cut it. Harry soon found himself with short spiked hair. He also had his hair frosted. Finally, he went to an optometrist. He bought some contacts to wear instead of having his glasses, which had become to small for him anyway. The colors of contacts he had picked thought were very unusual, silver and gold. Sirius approved of the new 'look' and said that it went very well with Harry's school robes.
Harry threw on his school robes and met with Sirius downstairs. He didn't have to do his hair because of a charm on it to keep it the way it was after the lady cut it. His hair wouldn't even grow unless he took the charm off. Sirius had also charmed his contacts so that they would never dry out, therefore never irritating his eyes.
"Alright. You have to be at Hogwarts by nine." Harry nodded his head. "It is 7:30 England time right now. I suggest that you leave. Do you have everything?"
"Yes, it is all right here." Harry patted his robe pocket. He had shrunk everything to miniscule size the past night.
Sirius nodded his head in understanding. "Alright, remember what I told you about Hogwarts, and the walk from Hogsmede okay?" Harry nodded; he was beginning to feel 'butterflies' in his stomach. "Alright, form a really clear picture in your mind. It is difficult apparating that far, as you know." Sirius smiled at him.
Before Harry could say anything Sirius swept him up in a big bear hug. "Harry, you are going to be alright, you are going to do fine. Just remember everything I taught you. Be a good person Harry, and you will do fine." Sirius was crying now, tears streaming down his face. Harry was crying too. He was about to leave his most trustworthy companion of ten years. He most likely wouldn't see Sirius until the school year ended.
"I love you Sirius. Take care of yourself. Take care of the home."
"Don't worry about me Harry. I'll be fine. Maybe by the time you get back I'll be free huh?" Harry smiled through his tears.
"Yeah, hopefully. I don't want to leave Sirius."
Sirius ha been expecting this. It was only natural for him to be having second thoughts about the whole thing at this point. But Sirius didn't want him to go either. Yet, he forced himself to be composed and said, "Harry, you have to go. I want you to have this experience. It will help you to be well rounded, a person that others like. Just remember that I love you too Harry. Now go."
Before Harry could have more second doubts, he pointed his wand at himself and with one word , "Appario," he disappeared with a *pop.* Sirius was left behind, tears in his eyes, but with the knowledge that this decision was best for Harry.
**********************
Harry warped through nothingness for an uncomfortably long time. But this didn't faze him in the slightest. Right now Harry was crying, crying that he had left Sirius; the man was like his father. In fact, though James was Harry's father, Harry considered Sirius his dad. And now he had to spend a long nine month away from the only person that had cared for him for ten years. No one else knew, understood, that Sirius was innocent. But he would change that. This year he would make certain that all knew that Sirius Black was innocent of the crime of which he was accused. A living Harry Potter could only help prove his point. Nothing could stop him. He wouldn't let anything stop him.
*pop* Harry appeared on the outside of what looked like a small village. In fact, it didn't even look any different than a muggle village. That was until Harry saw some people running around in robes, and a train labeled The Hogwarts Express leaving the station. 'Oh no! I'm late!' he thought before running up the way to the castle. About halfway up to the top of the hill he realized that running would take to long. Quickly he reached into his robes pockets and grabbed a stick, which he unshrunk. Quickly he hopped onto his Nimbus 2000 and began his assent to the castle with god speed.
He was expecting something impressive, but when he finally flew high enough to see Hogwarts, he was struck breathless. In fact, in those few instants he didn't even urge his broom forward. He just sat looking at the castle in all of its majesty. Its high towers reached up into the England fog, its battlements lined with gargoyles, and its courtyard green as though it wasn't September but June. Soon Harry remembered his urgency however, and took off again towards the magnificent castle that was his new home.
******************
Professor McGonnagal looked around at the first years anxiously. She was told by the headmaster under the utmost secrecy that Harry Potter would be attending school this year at Hogwarts, she had hoped to spot him in the group, though how she knew not. "Welcome first years, to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In a few moments you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. You will stay together until you have been sorted and will then proceed to sit at your house table. While you are here, your house will be like your family. The four house are Gryfindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, - and Slytherin. Please follow me. With that the doors to the great hall opened and the first years followed Professor McGonnagal inside. Among them were a boy with flaming hair, a girl with hair to follow suit, and a smirking blonde haired boy; but the one named Harry Potter was not among them.
*********************
Harry Potter was flying as fast as his Nimbus 2000 would take him, which was quite fast, and he was slowly coming up on the castle. He knew that he was late when he saw the gates shut, but he flew over them and landed in front of the main door of the castle. There he shrunk his broomstick and slowly opened the doors. There was no one in sight. He stepped inside the empty hall and looked around. Thanks to the marauder's map he knew exactly where he was and how to get where he was going, but he was rather nervous about the entire ordeal. He was thinking about simply waiting for Headmaster Dumbledore at his office so that he would not attract attention coming in late. But then how would he be sorted?
Going over his options he came to the conclusion that he must embarrass himself in front of the school, but that didn't bother him much, he was never one to care about what others thought of him, though he wasn't given the chance to care much either. Cautiously he crept through the hallways until he heard voices coming from the direction of his quarry. It was clapping. 'Perhaps they are not done with the sorting after all!' thought Harry excitedly, and he ran towards the doors. It wasn't long before his well-muscled legs carried him to the doors of the great hall. As soon as he reached them his mind began to wander again.
'What kind of impressive entrance should I go for? Should I go for an impressive entrance? No, I don't want to appear full of myself, though I don't really care what they think. I just don't want enemies.' This decided Harry simply used some wandless magic to throw open the doors of the Great Hall, which he entered, robes flowing behind him, hair showing brilliantly in the well-lit room.
*********************
Dumbledore scanned the first years eagerly as they entered with Professor McGonnagal. He didn't know what to look for, he had know idea what Harry looked like, but somehow he deduced that Harry Potter was not among the first years present. A quick look at the self-updating roll call sheet confirmed this. 'Sirius wouldn't go back on his intentions would he? It really sounded as if he wanted Harry to come here. What would he gain from saying that Harry was to come and then not send him?' These thoughts were put on hold however by McGonnagal's stepping up to the platform and grabbing the roll call sheet. Her shoulders slumped only a bit, but Dumbledore caught it, when she read that Harry Potter was not on the list. But she continued as if nothing had happened.
"Abbott, Hannah!"
A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. A few moments pause -
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.
The Hufflepuff table applauded and the sorting continued. "Bones, Susan!"
Dumbledore sat back in his seat, thoroughly disappointed that Sirius had gone back on what he said. He had wanted desperately for Harry Potter to make a reappearance in the wizarding world, but it seemed that appearance would have to be delayed again.
The sorting continued, putting the red haired boy, Weasley was his name, and the red haired girl, Granger, in the same house, Gryfindor. The boy with blonde hair was sorted into Slytherin before the hat even had touched his head. Dumbledore pondered this for a moment. 'Ah yes, that was the Malfoy boy.' He then continued to dwell over the absence of Harry Potter. Soon the sorting came to the last of the first years and Blaise Zabini was made a Slytherin. Now it was time for Dumbledore to make his yearly opening speech. He stood.
"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
"Thank you!" He sat back down. Though smiling and appearing perfectly calm he continued to dwell over the Potter boy. That is until the doors of the Great Hall shot open, hitting the walls with a bang that made everyone in the hall jump and turn their heads to the doors. Silhouetted against the dark hall stood the outline of a person, not tiny, but small. As the person stepped out of the darkness and into the light his features were revealed, and Dumbledore studied them.
'Hmmm, blonde and brown hair, looks dyed. Gold and silver eyes? That can't be natural. His build, well-muscled, kind of reminds me of someone from quite some time ago.' Sudden realization hit him. 'James? Harry?' Quickly Dumbledore grabbed the roll sheet and noticed that there was but one name on the list.
'Harry James Potter'
Quickly he stood, and many heads turned to him from the lone figure as he began to speak, his voice laced with excitement. "It appears that we have a late arrival," he said with a smile and a twinkle in his eyes, "Minerva please get the sorting hat out for Mr. Harry James Potter."
The response of instantaneous. Students everywhere were straining their eyes to get a look at the boy that had been 'kidnapped' ten years ago, a boy that had supposedly been dead at the hands of a death eater all those years, a boy that had saved the world from the dark lord Voldemort when he was one. This boy, known to almost all, was seen as a hero throughout the wizarding world, and here he was, alive nonetheless, standing in front of the entire hall at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. People began to ask each other questions.
"Can you see him? Look at his hair!"
"Is it really him? The one that defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"
"No, it couldn't possibly be!"
"What does he look like?"
McGonnagal quickly got the sorting hat back out and placed it on the sorting stool. It began to grumble. "One year already? Blimey! I haven't come up with a song yet."
"Don't worry you stupid hat," McGonnagal chastised, "it is only a late arrival."
"A late arrival eh? I suppose that you will hang him in the dungeons for a while? Just like the old days?"
"No! For the millionth time those punishments are dead!"
"Pity. Well then, come one, put me on, don't be afraid."
Harry carefully walked up the steps to where the sorting hat sat on the stool, he could feel every pair of eyes in the hall on him, and he dared not look up. Ever so slowly he lifted the sorting hat up on to his head.
"Ah, Mr. Potter, so it is you who is the late arrival. Where to put you? I see power in you, and a desire to prove yourself, well in that case better be - SLY"
"NO!" yelled Harry inside his brain.
"No did you say? I can tell you that Slytherin is where you belong!"
"I will NOT go into Slytherin! You will not put me into Slytherin or I will leave!"
"Stubborn child, listen to me. Slytherin is where you belong. Your power, your ambition, it all fits. However, I suppose that there is a little courage in you as well. Ah yes, I see it. But, I warn you, the path of Slytherin is correct, if you chose to not take it then your road will be much more difficult for you to travel. Your paths more crooked and steep."
"I will accept that. But I will NOT be put into that wretched house the house of the man that murdered my parents, the house that turns out the most evil wizards. If you said easy I know what you meant. And I will take DEATH over it."
"Then you are decided. As am I. You will be spared from Slytherin as you wish, but I warned you. You will not find your road in life easy, and you will always know why it was so. It is decided - GRYFINDOR!"
Harry took the hat off of his head and set it back onto the stool and turned to face the cheering students. One table however was not cheering. Everyone had heard the hat call the beginning to Slytherin, and yet the hat changed its mind. One question was on everybody's minds, 'Who is this Harry Potter that he can control even the Sorting Hat?'
************************
Cherrity - Thank you for reading my story that you discovered : ) And yes, I hope to make them reconcile in the future
Matt - What WILL the ministry do? I haven't even figured it out yet. Hehe. Yes he will take first year even though he knows the material. But perhaps a few advanced classes are in order?
Otaku Freak - Thank you my faithful reviewer. Oh, caffine highs are fun! *runs to get three pepsis*
Time Twins - A NEW REVIEWER! I think that his chapter may have been soon enough for you. ; )
Prongsjr - WOAH! I'm glad you like the story! What a long review! My longest review yet by far! Thank you for all the complements. I do try to keep the story personal by getting the characters feelings in it. I'm glad that you appreciate it. Hope I updated soon enough!
John - Another Repeat Reviewer! You guys make my day! I hope that you enjoy it even more, now that Harry's at Hogwarts. Next chapter should include classes, and FRED AND GEORGE!
(A/N: Thank you so much to ALL reviewers of the chapter. I'm glad that you cared enough about my story to review. CHEERS!)
(Extra Special Disclaimer - I used some parts directly from the books in this chapter and I am citing the book right here.
Rowling, J, K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone. Bloomsbury Publishing: New York, 1997.
Oh and by the way, I don't make any money off of this)
Chapter 6: Age 11 and Hogwarts
'Harry Potter.'
'Dammit won't you just leave me alone?!'
The voice seemed to chuckle a bit, 'I'm sorry; you already know that you are special Harry. You know that I must do this.'
'Well, couldn't you wait until I was dying or something?'
'No, I have to do it when you turn ages.'
'Whatever, what is it now?'
'I am here Harry, to tell you about chaotic magic.'
'Chaotic magic?'
'Yes. Chaotic magic is just that - chaotic. It is more commonly referred to as Chaos magic. It is the magic that is in everything. Every person, even muggles, every plant, every inanimate object contains magic. This was found to be a truth long ago. However, normally if one tries to access this power it fails them. There are instances when one can grasp this power, but usually only when that person is fighting for their life. You Harry, have the ability to access this power, this untamed magic, at will.'
Harry groaned. 'May I ask again? Why me?'
'Because of who you are, who your ancestors were.'
'I know that. But who were my ancestors? I think that I have the right to know, seeing as they are complicating my life with their special abilities.'
'Yes Harry, you do have the right to know. But not yet. You must wait until you have received your final power, which I'm not going to tell you about now.' Harry got the distinct impression that if he could see the voice it would be smiling.
'Typical,' Harry thought in disgust, 'I never get told anything.'
'Ah, but soon enough you will be told everything. And then I think, that you will wish that you hadn't been told anything, that you had been kept in the dark.' With that the presence of the voice left Harry's mind.
********************
Harry awoke that morning to the sound of a blow horn in his ear. In fact, it basically was in his ear. Sirius had snuck into Harry's room by the use of a silencing charm and set up the blow horn to go off at 7:00, which it was now. When Harry jumped up out of bed there were poppers and small fireworks that flew around the room, exploding to spell in big letters, 'Happy Birthday Harry!'
'Oh joy,' thought Harry while putting a look of indignation on his face. "Sirius! How many times, gah!" Harry threw his hands in the air. "You always INSIST on waking me up in some special, loud way on my birthday don't you!" Sirius nodded his head, his face one big grin. "You - you -," but Harry couldn't get any farther without breaking into a smile himself and laughing along with his godfather.
"I guess I wouldn't have it any other way," he said finally.
"I'm glad you wouldn't, because I'm gonna do this until you are eighty," announced an euphoric Sirius.
Harry lightly punched his godfather, who in turn picked up a pillow and slammed it over Harry's head. "Hey!" yelled Harry, who immediately picked up his own pillow. The result was a twenty minute long pillow fight that didn't stay at pillows. The two began hexing each other and charming other objects around the room to hit their opponent. In the end, Sirius won, though Harry claimed that he let Sirius win out of the pity of his heart.
"Sure you did kiddo."
"Kiddo? I assure I did you mutt." Harry smiled at his reference to Sirius animagi form.
"Who are you calling a mutt, beak boy?"
"At least my animagi form can fly!"
"Well mine can run! You just squadle!"
"I do not!"
"You deny it? I assure you that you do. In fact, I would be willing to take Veritiserum to prove it." Harry quieted at this statement, and Sirius grinned. "Ha, you know I'm right!"
"No -"
"Shhh," said Sirius raising his hand.
"Bu -"
"Shhh!"
"I -"
"Shhh! Shhh! That was a preemptive 'Shhh,' just to let you know I have a whole bag of 'Shhh' with your name on it!"
Harry and Sirius both fell into laughter as Harry recognized the saying from the muggle movie Austin Powers. Sirius had rented it about a month ago and both of them had watched it ten times before returning it a week later.
Talking about the movie once again, both headed downstairs to the kitchen where a feast rivaling the one from Harrys birthday the previous year was lying on the table. Both Harry and Sirius dug into the food with a vengeance. Soon the food on the table was reduced to about half of its original size. Harry had devoured most of the fruit flavored croissants, and Sirius had had a particular liking of the fruit pancakes that morning. Soon both of the now stuffed boys were lying back in their chairs happily discussing what they planed to do today.
They came to the conclusion that Sirius would help Harry practice his elemental and wandless magics. Over the years Harry had augmented his ability of wandless magic and now he was as proficient without a wand as he was with one. His elemental capacity had also greatly increased. Two years ago, just a few spells had bedridden Harry for a day and a half. After two years of training these powers he was able to control some of the most violent storms and other natural disasters. It took a lot of elemental magic to tire Harry and he could go for a full day of practicing his elemental magics before being worn out.
Also, since that day at Diagon Alley a year ago, Harry had read the book on necromantic magics quite a few times. Sirius knew by now of this capability of Harry's, and at first, truth be told, he was a little nervous. He had always thought of necromancy as a dark magic, but Harry explained to him that no magic is dark; it is only thought of that way if the way it is used is dark. And Harry had no intentions of using his necromancy for evil. Harry often wondered however, who his ancestor that had necromancy was. Was he evil?
Harry was a little bit nervous about starting his necromancy training as well, however, with the aid of the book, it wasn't as difficult as he thought it would be. Necromancy dealt with death, but also the ways of preventing it. Harry found that there were many spells that could slow the coming of death, heal mortal wounds, and even cure the majority of potions. These spells Harry did not hesitate to learn, but he rarely was able to practice them because of the obvious lack of mortally wounded people around. He did attempt to practice on whatever wounded animals came around the house, and those instances the spells had worked, but on humans he still had to try.
That night Harry went to bed very tired, and still wondering who his ancestors were. He took out the marauder's map and with a, 'Moony, Padfoot, and Prongs forever' began to study the map of his soon to be home.
******************
[September 1st]
"Harry! Wake up! Today is the big day!" Harry shot out of his bed upstairs and grabbed some clothes. Today was the big day. Today he was going to Hogwarts. Harry dressed in a pair of muggle jeans, he, like so many other boys, wore his jeans a little baggy. Then he slipped on a navy blue Hurley T-shirt. Last weekend, Harry and Sirius had been to a muggle hairstylist, to see if there was any chance of Harry's hair being tamed. It turned out that it was simply too long. The solution? Cut it. Harry soon found himself with short spiked hair. He also had his hair frosted. Finally, he went to an optometrist. He bought some contacts to wear instead of having his glasses, which had become to small for him anyway. The colors of contacts he had picked thought were very unusual, silver and gold. Sirius approved of the new 'look' and said that it went very well with Harry's school robes.
Harry threw on his school robes and met with Sirius downstairs. He didn't have to do his hair because of a charm on it to keep it the way it was after the lady cut it. His hair wouldn't even grow unless he took the charm off. Sirius had also charmed his contacts so that they would never dry out, therefore never irritating his eyes.
"Alright. You have to be at Hogwarts by nine." Harry nodded his head. "It is 7:30 England time right now. I suggest that you leave. Do you have everything?"
"Yes, it is all right here." Harry patted his robe pocket. He had shrunk everything to miniscule size the past night.
Sirius nodded his head in understanding. "Alright, remember what I told you about Hogwarts, and the walk from Hogsmede okay?" Harry nodded; he was beginning to feel 'butterflies' in his stomach. "Alright, form a really clear picture in your mind. It is difficult apparating that far, as you know." Sirius smiled at him.
Before Harry could say anything Sirius swept him up in a big bear hug. "Harry, you are going to be alright, you are going to do fine. Just remember everything I taught you. Be a good person Harry, and you will do fine." Sirius was crying now, tears streaming down his face. Harry was crying too. He was about to leave his most trustworthy companion of ten years. He most likely wouldn't see Sirius until the school year ended.
"I love you Sirius. Take care of yourself. Take care of the home."
"Don't worry about me Harry. I'll be fine. Maybe by the time you get back I'll be free huh?" Harry smiled through his tears.
"Yeah, hopefully. I don't want to leave Sirius."
Sirius ha been expecting this. It was only natural for him to be having second thoughts about the whole thing at this point. But Sirius didn't want him to go either. Yet, he forced himself to be composed and said, "Harry, you have to go. I want you to have this experience. It will help you to be well rounded, a person that others like. Just remember that I love you too Harry. Now go."
Before Harry could have more second doubts, he pointed his wand at himself and with one word , "Appario," he disappeared with a *pop.* Sirius was left behind, tears in his eyes, but with the knowledge that this decision was best for Harry.
**********************
Harry warped through nothingness for an uncomfortably long time. But this didn't faze him in the slightest. Right now Harry was crying, crying that he had left Sirius; the man was like his father. In fact, though James was Harry's father, Harry considered Sirius his dad. And now he had to spend a long nine month away from the only person that had cared for him for ten years. No one else knew, understood, that Sirius was innocent. But he would change that. This year he would make certain that all knew that Sirius Black was innocent of the crime of which he was accused. A living Harry Potter could only help prove his point. Nothing could stop him. He wouldn't let anything stop him.
*pop* Harry appeared on the outside of what looked like a small village. In fact, it didn't even look any different than a muggle village. That was until Harry saw some people running around in robes, and a train labeled The Hogwarts Express leaving the station. 'Oh no! I'm late!' he thought before running up the way to the castle. About halfway up to the top of the hill he realized that running would take to long. Quickly he reached into his robes pockets and grabbed a stick, which he unshrunk. Quickly he hopped onto his Nimbus 2000 and began his assent to the castle with god speed.
He was expecting something impressive, but when he finally flew high enough to see Hogwarts, he was struck breathless. In fact, in those few instants he didn't even urge his broom forward. He just sat looking at the castle in all of its majesty. Its high towers reached up into the England fog, its battlements lined with gargoyles, and its courtyard green as though it wasn't September but June. Soon Harry remembered his urgency however, and took off again towards the magnificent castle that was his new home.
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Professor McGonnagal looked around at the first years anxiously. She was told by the headmaster under the utmost secrecy that Harry Potter would be attending school this year at Hogwarts, she had hoped to spot him in the group, though how she knew not. "Welcome first years, to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In a few moments you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. You will stay together until you have been sorted and will then proceed to sit at your house table. While you are here, your house will be like your family. The four house are Gryfindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, - and Slytherin. Please follow me. With that the doors to the great hall opened and the first years followed Professor McGonnagal inside. Among them were a boy with flaming hair, a girl with hair to follow suit, and a smirking blonde haired boy; but the one named Harry Potter was not among them.
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Harry Potter was flying as fast as his Nimbus 2000 would take him, which was quite fast, and he was slowly coming up on the castle. He knew that he was late when he saw the gates shut, but he flew over them and landed in front of the main door of the castle. There he shrunk his broomstick and slowly opened the doors. There was no one in sight. He stepped inside the empty hall and looked around. Thanks to the marauder's map he knew exactly where he was and how to get where he was going, but he was rather nervous about the entire ordeal. He was thinking about simply waiting for Headmaster Dumbledore at his office so that he would not attract attention coming in late. But then how would he be sorted?
Going over his options he came to the conclusion that he must embarrass himself in front of the school, but that didn't bother him much, he was never one to care about what others thought of him, though he wasn't given the chance to care much either. Cautiously he crept through the hallways until he heard voices coming from the direction of his quarry. It was clapping. 'Perhaps they are not done with the sorting after all!' thought Harry excitedly, and he ran towards the doors. It wasn't long before his well-muscled legs carried him to the doors of the great hall. As soon as he reached them his mind began to wander again.
'What kind of impressive entrance should I go for? Should I go for an impressive entrance? No, I don't want to appear full of myself, though I don't really care what they think. I just don't want enemies.' This decided Harry simply used some wandless magic to throw open the doors of the Great Hall, which he entered, robes flowing behind him, hair showing brilliantly in the well-lit room.
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Dumbledore scanned the first years eagerly as they entered with Professor McGonnagal. He didn't know what to look for, he had know idea what Harry looked like, but somehow he deduced that Harry Potter was not among the first years present. A quick look at the self-updating roll call sheet confirmed this. 'Sirius wouldn't go back on his intentions would he? It really sounded as if he wanted Harry to come here. What would he gain from saying that Harry was to come and then not send him?' These thoughts were put on hold however by McGonnagal's stepping up to the platform and grabbing the roll call sheet. Her shoulders slumped only a bit, but Dumbledore caught it, when she read that Harry Potter was not on the list. But she continued as if nothing had happened.
"Abbott, Hannah!"
A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. A few moments pause -
"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.
The Hufflepuff table applauded and the sorting continued. "Bones, Susan!"
Dumbledore sat back in his seat, thoroughly disappointed that Sirius had gone back on what he said. He had wanted desperately for Harry Potter to make a reappearance in the wizarding world, but it seemed that appearance would have to be delayed again.
The sorting continued, putting the red haired boy, Weasley was his name, and the red haired girl, Granger, in the same house, Gryfindor. The boy with blonde hair was sorted into Slytherin before the hat even had touched his head. Dumbledore pondered this for a moment. 'Ah yes, that was the Malfoy boy.' He then continued to dwell over the absence of Harry Potter. Soon the sorting came to the last of the first years and Blaise Zabini was made a Slytherin. Now it was time for Dumbledore to make his yearly opening speech. He stood.
"Welcome!" he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
"Thank you!" He sat back down. Though smiling and appearing perfectly calm he continued to dwell over the Potter boy. That is until the doors of the Great Hall shot open, hitting the walls with a bang that made everyone in the hall jump and turn their heads to the doors. Silhouetted against the dark hall stood the outline of a person, not tiny, but small. As the person stepped out of the darkness and into the light his features were revealed, and Dumbledore studied them.
'Hmmm, blonde and brown hair, looks dyed. Gold and silver eyes? That can't be natural. His build, well-muscled, kind of reminds me of someone from quite some time ago.' Sudden realization hit him. 'James? Harry?' Quickly Dumbledore grabbed the roll sheet and noticed that there was but one name on the list.
'Harry James Potter'
Quickly he stood, and many heads turned to him from the lone figure as he began to speak, his voice laced with excitement. "It appears that we have a late arrival," he said with a smile and a twinkle in his eyes, "Minerva please get the sorting hat out for Mr. Harry James Potter."
The response of instantaneous. Students everywhere were straining their eyes to get a look at the boy that had been 'kidnapped' ten years ago, a boy that had supposedly been dead at the hands of a death eater all those years, a boy that had saved the world from the dark lord Voldemort when he was one. This boy, known to almost all, was seen as a hero throughout the wizarding world, and here he was, alive nonetheless, standing in front of the entire hall at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. People began to ask each other questions.
"Can you see him? Look at his hair!"
"Is it really him? The one that defeated He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"
"No, it couldn't possibly be!"
"What does he look like?"
McGonnagal quickly got the sorting hat back out and placed it on the sorting stool. It began to grumble. "One year already? Blimey! I haven't come up with a song yet."
"Don't worry you stupid hat," McGonnagal chastised, "it is only a late arrival."
"A late arrival eh? I suppose that you will hang him in the dungeons for a while? Just like the old days?"
"No! For the millionth time those punishments are dead!"
"Pity. Well then, come one, put me on, don't be afraid."
Harry carefully walked up the steps to where the sorting hat sat on the stool, he could feel every pair of eyes in the hall on him, and he dared not look up. Ever so slowly he lifted the sorting hat up on to his head.
"Ah, Mr. Potter, so it is you who is the late arrival. Where to put you? I see power in you, and a desire to prove yourself, well in that case better be - SLY"
"NO!" yelled Harry inside his brain.
"No did you say? I can tell you that Slytherin is where you belong!"
"I will NOT go into Slytherin! You will not put me into Slytherin or I will leave!"
"Stubborn child, listen to me. Slytherin is where you belong. Your power, your ambition, it all fits. However, I suppose that there is a little courage in you as well. Ah yes, I see it. But, I warn you, the path of Slytherin is correct, if you chose to not take it then your road will be much more difficult for you to travel. Your paths more crooked and steep."
"I will accept that. But I will NOT be put into that wretched house the house of the man that murdered my parents, the house that turns out the most evil wizards. If you said easy I know what you meant. And I will take DEATH over it."
"Then you are decided. As am I. You will be spared from Slytherin as you wish, but I warned you. You will not find your road in life easy, and you will always know why it was so. It is decided - GRYFINDOR!"
Harry took the hat off of his head and set it back onto the stool and turned to face the cheering students. One table however was not cheering. Everyone had heard the hat call the beginning to Slytherin, and yet the hat changed its mind. One question was on everybody's minds, 'Who is this Harry Potter that he can control even the Sorting Hat?'
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Cherrity - Thank you for reading my story that you discovered : ) And yes, I hope to make them reconcile in the future
Matt - What WILL the ministry do? I haven't even figured it out yet. Hehe. Yes he will take first year even though he knows the material. But perhaps a few advanced classes are in order?
Otaku Freak - Thank you my faithful reviewer. Oh, caffine highs are fun! *runs to get three pepsis*
Time Twins - A NEW REVIEWER! I think that his chapter may have been soon enough for you. ; )
Prongsjr - WOAH! I'm glad you like the story! What a long review! My longest review yet by far! Thank you for all the complements. I do try to keep the story personal by getting the characters feelings in it. I'm glad that you appreciate it. Hope I updated soon enough!
John - Another Repeat Reviewer! You guys make my day! I hope that you enjoy it even more, now that Harry's at Hogwarts. Next chapter should include classes, and FRED AND GEORGE!
(A/N: Thank you so much to ALL reviewers of the chapter. I'm glad that you cared enough about my story to review. CHEERS!)