Title: AU: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Author: Artemis Luna Diana

E-Mail: artemislunadiana@yahoo.com

Rating: PG-13 (cursing)

Pairing: none

Time: begins the night of James and Lily's deaths and continues through Harry's first year of school

Summary: Harry grows up under the watchful eyes of Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, and Arabella Figg.  When Harry was still little, he had a nightmare and woke up screaming.  When his guardians arrived in his bedroom, he told them that he would be coming back.  Knowing instinctively who Harry was referring too, the three resolved to train Harry to defend himself before he left for Hogwarts.  They figured that everyone would dismiss Harry's vision as a simple nightmare.  So they kept the whole matter a secret.  Now it's time for Harry's first year of Hogwarts.  He's been trained in secret to be cunning, strong, and quick-thinking.  So where does he end up: Slytherin.

Disclaimer: I own not a thing.  Due to the fact that this story covers one of the years already written, the majority of the events and some of the dialogue comes straight from the book. 

Thanks to: snapeysnapesnape for the excellent beta

Chapter Four: You ain't got nothing, if you ain't got friends.

"I think I'm going to be sick."

"Oh, no you don't!"

"If I throw-up it's your fault."

"Do we have everything?"

"I think I'm going to pass out."

"Drink this."

Swallow.  "What did I just drink?"

"It'll help your nausea."

"It will get better once we're at the platform."

"Sirius!  Come on!"

"I'm coming!"

"Harry, take some floo powder."

"What if I fall on my face?"

"Just go on, we're right behind you."

Harry disappeared into the floo network.

"What did you give him?"

"A confidence potion."

"I don't think it's working."

Remus stepped into the fire.

"Sirius!  Harry and Remus are already gone!"

"I'm coming!"

Arabella stepped into the fire.

Harry and Remus were waiting patiently off to the side as she appeared.  She made her way over to them.  "Why does it seem like there are more people here than normal?" she yelled over the noise.

"Because there are more students than when we were at school!  Where's Sirius?"

"He's coming!"

"Well, he'd better hurry up!  I'm going deaf!  I want to get away from the floo entrances!  It'll be quieter elsewhere!"

"There he is!" Harry yelled and pointed to the emerging auror.

The group made their way away from the noisy floo entrances and over to the quieter parts of Platform 9¾.  Harry drew his wand and cast a levitation spell on his trunk and put it on the train in one of the empty compartments.  He placed his owl's cage on top of his trunk and got off the train.  He walked back to Remus, Sirius and Arabella.

"It's all on there," he said unnecessarily.

"Our little baby is all grown up and off to school," Sirius pretended to sob.  "Whatever shall we do without him?" he collapsed into Remus' arms. 

Remus sighed.  "I'll give you two seconds and then I'll drop you."

Sirius continued to fake crying but moved out of Remus' arms and onto Harry.  "We'll miss you, so much!"

Arabella dragged Sirius off of the laughing Harry.  "You're to owl us when you get there and tell us what house you've been sorted into," Arabella said smiling.

Sirius straightened up and forgot about his pretend crying.  "What are you talking about?  He'll be in Gryffindor, just like his Dad!"

"Here we go again," Remus said and dropped his head into his hands.

"You know very well I'll be sorted into Hufflepuff," Harry said calmly, causing Sirius and Arabella's argument to halt abruptly.

"Never mind, Harry.  If you want to be in Slytherin, I'm behind you all the way.  Just don't get sorted into Hufflepuff," Sirius said sternly.

Remus started laughing.  "If I had known that was all it took, I'd have ended your bickering ages ago."

The whistle on the train blew.  "Better get going, Harry," Arabella said softly.  "You don't want to miss the train."

Harry hugged them all and kissed Arabella on the cheek.  He ran over to the train and hopped on.  He turned around and waved at them before going all the way in.  The three stood watching until the train began to move.  They turned and walked over to the floo entrances; it was going to be odd not having Harry around.

***

Harry reentered the compartment he'd placed his stuff and found a red-headed boy sitting in there.  The boy looked up at his entrance.  "Hello."

"Hello," Harry replied and sat down. 

"My name's Ron, Ron Weasley."

"Harry Potter."

Ron's mouth dropped open in shock.  "You're Harry Potter?"

Harry nodded and reached up to lift his hair from out of his face.  On his forehead, the lightning bolt scar was clearly visible.  He lowered his hand and opened his trunk to take out one of his books.  He turned so that his back was to the side of the seat and stretched his legs out over the empty bench.  He leaned back so he was resting comfortably and opened the book.

"What are you reading?" Ron asked after awhile.

"'Potions and their Masters' by Alara Keys," Harry replied without looking up.

"Was that on our list?" Ron asked shocked.

"No.  I picked it up because I like potions."

"Oh."

They sat in silence awhile.

"Do you like Quidditch?"

Harry glanced over at his companion.  "Who doesn't?"

"Who's your team?"

"Falmouth Falcons."

"The Falcons?  Mine's the Cannons."

" 'Let's all just keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.' " Harry asked smiling slightly in amusement.

Ron scowled.  "They're just having a bit of bad luck."

"Right," Harry replied and resumed reading.

There was silence again.

"You don't talk much do you?"

"When I'm not reading, I have been known to have a conversation or two."

"So stop reading."

Harry sighed and closed the book.  He looked over at Ron.  "Talk."

"What house do you think you'll be sorted into?"

"I honestly don't know.  It could be Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin.  I truly doubt I'll be sorted into Hufflepuff."

"That doesn't bother you?"

"What?"

"That you could be sorted into Slytherin.  That house has turned out more dark wizards than any other.  They say that's the house You-Know-Who was in."

"No.  It doesn't bother me.  My Dad was in Gryffindor.  My Mum was in Ravenclaw.  Remus and Sirius, two of my guardians, were in Gryffindor, and Arabella, my other guardian, was in Slytherin.  I couldn't care less which of three I ended up in.  Though, Arabella and I both believe it will be Slytherin."

"Oh.  I guess I can see why that wouldn't bother you.  My whole family is in Gryffindor.  I figure that's where I'll be, unless I end up in Hufflepuff.  That would be horrible."

Harry smiled slightly.  There was a knock on the door and it opened to reveal a plump little witch.  "Anything off the cart, dears?"

Harry stood up.  "Yes, please."  He bought about two dozen chocolate frogs.  "Thanks," he said, smiling at the witch.

"You're welcome, dear."

Harry sat back down and opened one of the frogs.  Absently he caught the frog as he picked up the card.  "Bugger.  Dumbledore.  I have six of him."  Harry looked over at Ron.  "You're welcome to have a few frogs," he offered.

"Thanks!"

They hadn't been sitting there for too much longer when the door opened to reveal a slightly pudgy boy.  He was looking for his toad and left nearly in tears when they said they hadn't seen it.  "Don't know why he's so bothered," said Ron.  "If I'd brought a toad I'd lose it quick as I could.  Mind you, I brought Scabbers, so I can't talk." Ron said and pulled a fat rat from his pocket.  "What's the name of your owl?"

"Hedwig."

"Oh." Ron looked back down at his rat.  "I tried to turn him yellow yesterday to make him more interesting, but the spell didn't work.  I'll show you, look…"

He rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out his wand.  "Sunshine, daisies…" was as far as he got before Harry started laughing.  "What?"

"I can tell you right now, that is not a spell."

"Fred and George gave it to me," he sighed.  "I knew it was a dud."

The door to their compartment opened.  The toadless boy was back, but this time he had a girl with him.  She was already wearing her new Hogwarts school robes.  "Has anyone seen a toad?  Neville's lost one," she said.  She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair, and rather large front teeth.

"We've already told him we haven't seen it," said Ron, but she wasn't listening, she was looking at the wand in his hand.

"Oh, are you doing magic?  Let's see it, then." She sat down.

"Uh," Ron stuttered.

Harry rolled his eyes and drew his wand.  "Wingardium Leviosa."  Scabbers, who was still sitting in Ron's lap, began to float upwards.

The girl smiled at him.  "I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me, too.  Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean it's the very best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard – I've learned all our course books by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough – I'm Hermione Granger by the way, who are you?"

Harry allowed Scabbers to float back down into Ron's lap before replying.  "Harry Potter.  That's Ron Weasley."

"Are you really?" said Granger.  "I know all about you, of course – I got a few extra books for background reading, and you're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."

"I know; my Godfather took great delight in reading those portions out loud to me," Harry replied with a wry smile.

Granger giggled.  "Do either of you know what house you'll be in?  I've been asking around, and I hope I'm in Gryffindor, it sounds by far the best; I hear Dumbledore himself was in it, but I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad.… Anyway, we'd better go and look for Neville's toad.  You two had better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon."  And she left, taking the toadless boy with her.

"Whatever house I'm in, I hope she's not in it," said Ron.  He dropped his wand back into his trunk with a sigh.

Harry put his wand up.  "It's alright, Ron.  You're only a first-year, it's okay to be fooled."

"You weren't."

"I was raised by a Slytherin," Harry replied as if that explained everything.  And it did.

The door to their compartment opened again.  They glanced up, expecting to see Granger and the toadless boy again.  Instead it was three boys: two bulky ones on either side of a petite blonde.  The blonde glanced at both of them.  "Is it true?" he asked.  "They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment.  So it's you, is it?"  His gaze rested on Harry.

"Yes," said Harry.  He was looking at the other boys.  Both of them were thickset and extremely mean.  Standing on either side of the pale boy, they looked like bodyguards.

"Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle," said Draco carelessly, noticing where Harry was looking.  Harry recognized both names as belonging to Death Eaters.  "And my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

Ron gave a slight cough, which might have been hiding a snigger.  Draco looked at him.

"Think my name's funny, do you?  No need to ask who you are.  My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford."  He turned to Harry.  "You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter.  You don't want to go making the wrong sort.  I can help you there."  He held out his hand.

"What makes you think I can't figure that out for myself?" Harry asked with a slight smile on his face.  "And what makes you think you are the right sort?"  Harry gave a soft laugh.  "After all, your father was a Death Eater."

Malfoy stiffened and withdrew his hand.  "Watch yourself, Potter.  You might regret what could happen to you."

"Oh, was that a threat?" Harry asked, still at ease.

Malfoy's eyes narrowed.  "Let's go," he said to his companions.  The three left without another word.

Harry smirked at the closed door.  He glanced over at Ron and was surprised to see him staring at him with his mouth open.  "What?"

"You just called Lucius Malfoy a Death Eater to his son."

"So?"

Ron shook his head and dropped the subject.  They sat in silence for a bit before the compartment door opened again.  Harry sighed.  "They come in, they go out, they come in, they go out."  He looked at Granger, the one who opened the door.  "Can't you all make up your minds?"  He flashed her a smile, so she'd know he was teasing.

She smiled back at him.  "I've just been up to the front to ask the conductor, and he says we're nearly there.  You two had better change into your robes."

"Thanks, Granger."

"You're welcome, Potter."

Harry stood and got out his robes, and Ron did the same, while Granger left.  They had just finished putting on their robes when a voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time.  Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be taken to the school separately."

Harry could barely keep still in anticipation.  Soon the train slowed to a stop, and they climbed off.  They followed a huge man, who Harry figured was a half-giant which meant that, according to his guardians, this was Hagrid, down to the edge of a great big lake.  Perched up on top of a hill was Hogwarts.

They made their way across the lake and up to the castle, Hagrid knocked three times on the large door.  The door swung open at once.  A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. 

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.

"Thank you, Hagrid.  I will take them from here."

She led them through the entrance hall and to a small chamber.  Harry listened with half-an-ear to her introduction lecture.  After she left, Ron turned to Harry.  "How do you think we get sorted?  Fred and George said something about wrestling a troll."

"You just put a hat on," he replied absently.  Sirius had tried to convince him that he had to sing, before Remus and Arabella chewed him out for scaring his Godson.  Arabella had told him in no uncertain terms exactly what the sorting ceremony entailed.

"That's a relief," Ron said with a sigh.

After a brief incident with some of the castle's ghosts, they were led into the Great Hall.  McGonagall placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years and placed a tattered hat on top.  The hat sang its song to much applause before Professor McGonagall began calling out names.

Harry studied the hall while he waited, only paying attention when certain names were called.  Granger ended up in Gryffindor, Malfoy ended up in Slytherin.  When his name was called, he noticed that the hall broke out into whispers.  He walked up to the stool and placed the hat on his head.

"Very brave, intelligent, but cunning and sneaky.  Oh, and it looks like you've had a bit of extra training… there's only one place for you," the hat whispered to him.  "SLYTHERIN!" it bellowed to the hall.

The hall was in shock for a moment, Harry Potter in Slytherin? before the Slytherin table erupted in cheers.  Harry smiled happily and walked to the Slytherin table.  He sat down a few seats away from Malfoy; he didn't want to have anything to do with the Death Eater's son.

He watched as Ron was sorted into Gryffindor.  Ron sat down and the two exchanged uncertain looks.  They both knew of their house's rivalries, and one train ride wasn't that big of a deal in the long run.  Harry sighed softly.  Their supposed friendship wouldn't last a week.

Once the last student was sorted, Professor Dumbledore 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 to applause. 

Harry listened to the conversations around him without bothering to contribute to them.  He ate in attentive silence.  The boy sitting across from him was doing the same he noticed, and looked up slightly to study him.  The boy must have felt his eyes on him because he turned to meet his gaze.  They studied each other a bit before twin smiles broke out.  They had each found someone similar to themselves.

The boy lifted his hand and held it out to Harry.  "Blaise Zabini."

"Harry Potter."  Harry accepted the offered hand and gave it a brief, but firm shake.  They resumed eating, but didn't talk.  There would be time enough later for that; right now, it was time to study their fellow house-mates.

Harry was pleasantly stuffed and decidedly sleepy when Professor Dumbledore stood again.  He gave a few start-of-term notices, including a rather odd one to avoid the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side. 

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore.  "Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!"

Harry didn't sing, and he noticed that neither did Blaise.  They listened to their school mates make fools of themselves, taking notice of who else didn't sing.  Harry noticed one of the teachers wasn't singing, and scattered in and about the Slytherin table were silent students.  Some of his fellow first-years in other houses were too shy to sing. 

The students were all finishing at different times, and soon all that was left was two red-headed Gryffindor boys, whom Harry assumed were related to Ron Weasley.  They had been singing a very slow funeral march.  Dumbledore conducted their last few lines and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest.  Harry found himself smiling in amusement.  They were entertaining if nothing else.

The first-years stood and followed the Slytherin Prefect, Marcus Flint, out of the Great Hall.  They were led down to the dungeons, where the entrance to the Slytherin dorms was.  They stopped at a simple stone wall.  "The password is 'parselmouth,'" the older Slytherin said with a smirk.  A hidden door slid open.  They followed him into the Slytherin Common Room.

Flint directed them to their respective domiciles and left them to their own devices.  There were six Slytherin first year boys.  Harry claimed his bed before anyone else could say a word.  He wanted the bed on the far end, so as to have only one boy sleeping beside him.  Blaise claimed the bed next to him while Malfoy was still trying to get over his shock that he hadn't been allowed to pick his bed first.  Malfoy picked the second bed from the end and Goyle and Crabbe picked the beds on either side of him, leaving Thomas Nott with the bed beside Blaise. 

Harry said goodnight to Blaise and shut the curtains on his bed.  He cast a few warding charms and a proximity warning charm.  He needed to protect himself with four Death Eater children in the room.  Harry was asleep soon after, his dreams undisturbed by nightmares.

***

TBC…

A/N: just in case anyone is a little confused about Malfoy still saying: "You'll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don't want to go making the wrong sort…" Everyone in the wizarding world knows that Harry grew up with Sirius, Remus, and Arabella; however, they also know that Harry was isolated from everyone. He's never met anyone besides Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Fletcher (the three people allowed to floo to the Manor). Draco realizes that he can take advantage of Harry's ignorance, because he assumes that no one has really told Harry anything. Harry's reply reveals that he knows exactly who he can and cannot trust.

~Artemis Luna Diana~