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I have already decided what house Harry shall be in, and I know a few people, if not a lot want something different to what I have decided, as I have had people already asking me for Harry to be in a certain house. I will stand by my decision and keep going. You will all find out what it is next chapter!
A Different Life
Chapter 26 - Dinner Anyone?
Harry was going back to Hogwarts to help his father pack everything that they would need from their rooms to take back to Snape Manor. Harry had had a lot of fun and happy times with the Weasleys. He was sad that he wouldn't be over there as much anymore. It was now the school holidays and he would be staying with his father, and after that he would be starting his first year at Hogwarts.
But Harry still felt sad, he had gotten very close to the whole family. Ron's brothers were like his own brothers, and Ginny was like his sister, Molly was like a mother to him and Arthur was like a second father. It had taken them a lot of time, but Harry finally referred to Ron's parents by their given names.
But on the last day Harry would spend at the Weasley home for a while, Harry and Ron were intent on having as much fun as possible. The whole day they joked, played games and mucked around.
Mrs. Weasley was only too happy to let them play, as Harry was bound to want to spend a lot of time with his father before school started.
"Hey Harry, will you be on the train when school starts?" Ron asked as they lay on the grass out in the sun, looking up at the sky and passing clouds.
"Yeah, dad says that because I won't get to experience seeing Hogwarts and being at the sorting for the first time with everybody else, that I can experience the Hogwarts train ride there instead. So I have to go from Hogwarts, to platform 9 ¾ just so I can go to Hogwarts again. If you ask me, I reckon he just wants to get rid of me for a few hours!" Harry joked.
"That's good; I can sit with you on the train then."
"Yeah, I heard the train ride is fun, I guess when you are away from both parents and most of the professors for a small while, it would be fun, plus you can do magic on there and not get in trouble."
Ron nodded. "When are you going to get your wand?"
"Dad is taking me later on, we should meet up."
"Yeah"
They sat silent for a few moments, watching the clouds pass.
"Ron, I need to ask you something."
"Sure, what is it?"
"I've been having this funny feeling lately."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, a feeling"
"What feeling?"
"A bad feeling, like something bad is going to happen soon."
"Have you told your dad?"
"No, I mean it is most likely just me... I don't think I have gone this long without something bad happening to me."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm just being paranoid, just forget I said anything."
"If you're sure..."
***
"Severus, is there a problem?" Dumbledore asked as Severus walked into his office.
Severus remained quiet, just pacing in front of the fire. After a few minutes he finally stopped and turned to face Dumbledore who was waiting patiently.
"Albus, what house do you believe Harry will end up in?"
"Does it really matter what house Harry ends up in?"
"No, of course it doesn't. I just wanted to know your opinion."
"Well, my opinion is..." Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and brought his hand up to his chin, he began thinking out loud. "Well after being abused by his family, Harry rarely gives his trust and when he does, he is very loyal to them... so maybe Hufflepuff? But then Harry is very smart, always reading and wanting to learn new things, so perhaps Ravenclaw... What about Slytherin? You have raised him since he was 5 years old, something is bound to rub off on him correct? Or possibly Gryffindor, He has shown bravery and courage on many occasions, one being when he pulled Ron out of the way when the wolf attacked them in the forbidden forest, putting his life at risk to save Mr. Weasley..." Dumbledore trailed off, still thinking but in his head this time.
"So which one is your answer then Albus?"
"Severus, believe it or not, I do not know."
"Well you just left me with more questions then answers."
"I think Severus, that deep down you know that Harry will have to make a choice, and I believe you know what choice that he will make is."
Severus didn't say anything and for a while nothing was said.
"What time do you need to pick Harry up?"
"Just after dinner"
"Are you to join them?"
"No, they offered but I declined. Harry will be seeing enough of me through the holidays, I thought he might like to spend some time with them by himself."
"Well then, you and I can eat dinner up here tonight."
"Really Albus, I couldn't-"
"Nonsense, now what would you like?"
***
Harry had never eaten so much food in his life, he felt like he ate 3 times the amount of food that could fit him his stomach.
All the Weasleys had been amazed by the amount of cooking Mrs. Weasley had done, and everyone there had eaten more then they should have.
When Severus came to pick Harry up, he didn't look much better.
Severus walked into the living room where Harry and Ron were currently sitting down, not moving.
Severus collapsed next to Harry and breathed out. He did not feel well.
"Are you okay Dad?"
"Damn Albus, it's easy to eat what I want in the Great Hall, he watches over the students, but when it's just you and him, he watches what you eat like a hawk."
Harry raised an eyebrow at him, not understanding.
"Apparently, even though I am a fully grown man, I don't eat enough food, at least not enough to satisfy Albus. He made me eat much more then I would have liked. And you can just imagine how I felt flooing over here."
Both Harry and Ron paled just thinking about it, all the spinning would be enough to make either of them sick.
"Ah, Severus you're here. Would you like some desert I have left over?" Mrs. Weasley said as she walked through the living room and into the kitchen, not stopping for him to answer.
"No Molly, that's alright. I'm not feeling too hungry." Severus quickly yelled over to her.
"What was that dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she came out with a plateful of chocolate cake.
Severus paled looking at it.
Harry and Ron smiled at each other.
"Go on Dad, Molly won't mind." Harry said innocently
"Won't mind what?" Mrs. Weasley asked
"Well, he didn't want to say anything but..." Harry trailed off, smiling at Severus' confused look that was directed to him.
"But-" Ron continued "He was just telling us how hungry he was, we even heard his stomach grumble"
Severus opened his mouth, about to protest but Harry cut him off.
"It's true, I heard it as well, and it's probably because he skipped dinner. He always does, no matter how much he tries to deny it."
"That's not true!" Severus said indignity
"It's okay Dad, I'm sure Molly will give you some food if you ask her really nicely"
Severus glared at Harry.
"Molly, I did NOT miss dinner and I am NOT hungry."
"Really Severus, skipping meals, I always did think you were too thin. Just think of the example you are setting Harry, now I'll be right back with some proper dinner."
Mrs. Weasley the walked out and back into the kitchen.
Harry and Ron laughed and quickly got out of the room and ran up to Ron's room before Severus could get to them, they were both feeling much better now.
They were still laughing when Severus banged open the door and glared at them both.
"I advice you laugh it up, once we are at Hogwarts I believe I will be having the last laugh."
"Even if we are in Slytherin?"
"Even if you are in bloody Slytherin, now hurry up Harry, I am tired and I would like to leave soon."
"Sure, I'll just finish packing my things, did you want a chocolate frog while you wait?"
Severus was about to reply to make a snide comment when Mr. Weasley interrupted him, which both Ron and Harry were grateful for as they could tell Severus was getting angrier now.
"Hello Severus, boys, is anything wrong?"
"Arthur" Severus nodded to him, glaring at both Harry and Ron. "I'll wait downstairs for you Harry."
***
Harry felt a bit bad about what Ron and he had done, Severus was currently making a complicated potion to try to calm down a bit.
"Sorry about before Dad, Ron and I were just having some fun." Harry said as he walked over to his father and sat on a stool and looked into the cauldron.
"Hmm" Severus still didn't look any happier.
Harry thought about how he could make Severus less angry at him.
"What potion are you making?" Anything to do with potions was probably a good way to go to get back onto his fathers good side.
"Wolfsbane potion for Lupin"
"Can I help?"
Severus finally looked up from his work and could see that Harry was sorry for before.
"You can cut up some ingredients for me."
Harry smiled and set about doing as his father told him.
After a while he let his mind wonder to the sorting that would take place September 1st.
Harry had no problem with going into any house. He had no prejudices with any of them. But which house would he want to be in?
Harry thought about his father, would it be a good thing to have his father as his head of house? It would mean that he would be closer to him, and if he did something wrong he would most likely only get punished once, if he was in a different house he would probably get punished by them AND his father.
But then he thought about Ron and the Weasleys. Although Ron hadn't been sorted yet, he knew that he would go into Gryffindor with his brothers. Would Ron care if they weren't in the same house? Harry knew his father would be fine with whatever house Harry went in, even though he would probably prefer any of the other houses besides Gryffindor, but would Ron care? It would be difficult to keep up their friendship. They would have different common rooms, sleep in different dorms, they would eat at different tables and only be in a couple of classes together. The question was, would Harry be willing to give up another house just so he could continue his friendship with Ron? They were best friends, his first non- grown up friend he had ever had.
Being in Slytherin house wouldn't make his father happy if he was un-happy in there... Harry was definitely confused. He was glad that the sorting hat would make the decision for him.
***
It was August 16th, Harry and his father were currently shopping around for all the things Harry would need for his first year at Hogwarts.
They had just gotten Harry's wand, which was a holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches. When he had got it the owner of the shop had acted all weird. But Harry was only to glad to get out of the shop to care. He had gone through most of the wands in the whole store and was happy to finally be out.
Harry was so delighted to have a wand, it was killing him to have it but not be able to use it. His father had warned him what could happen if he did and he was not about to be expelled for Hogwarts before he even began.
Harry purchased his books which he was keen to look over. He already had an owl and his equipment. Ron was unable to meet Harry over at Diagon Alley so Harry and Severus left early. Harry kept checking that he had his wand, as though scared that it would just vanish all of a sudden.
He couldn't help but feel excited about Hogwarts. He had waited so long to be able to join in and do the magic that he saw being done in the classes he sat in on, and it was only a few weeks until he began.
I have already decided what house Harry shall be in, and I know a few people, if not a lot want something different to what I have decided, as I have had people already asking me for Harry to be in a certain house. I will stand by my decision and keep going. You will all find out what it is next chapter!
A Different Life
Chapter 26 - Dinner Anyone?
Harry was going back to Hogwarts to help his father pack everything that they would need from their rooms to take back to Snape Manor. Harry had had a lot of fun and happy times with the Weasleys. He was sad that he wouldn't be over there as much anymore. It was now the school holidays and he would be staying with his father, and after that he would be starting his first year at Hogwarts.
But Harry still felt sad, he had gotten very close to the whole family. Ron's brothers were like his own brothers, and Ginny was like his sister, Molly was like a mother to him and Arthur was like a second father. It had taken them a lot of time, but Harry finally referred to Ron's parents by their given names.
But on the last day Harry would spend at the Weasley home for a while, Harry and Ron were intent on having as much fun as possible. The whole day they joked, played games and mucked around.
Mrs. Weasley was only too happy to let them play, as Harry was bound to want to spend a lot of time with his father before school started.
"Hey Harry, will you be on the train when school starts?" Ron asked as they lay on the grass out in the sun, looking up at the sky and passing clouds.
"Yeah, dad says that because I won't get to experience seeing Hogwarts and being at the sorting for the first time with everybody else, that I can experience the Hogwarts train ride there instead. So I have to go from Hogwarts, to platform 9 ¾ just so I can go to Hogwarts again. If you ask me, I reckon he just wants to get rid of me for a few hours!" Harry joked.
"That's good; I can sit with you on the train then."
"Yeah, I heard the train ride is fun, I guess when you are away from both parents and most of the professors for a small while, it would be fun, plus you can do magic on there and not get in trouble."
Ron nodded. "When are you going to get your wand?"
"Dad is taking me later on, we should meet up."
"Yeah"
They sat silent for a few moments, watching the clouds pass.
"Ron, I need to ask you something."
"Sure, what is it?"
"I've been having this funny feeling lately."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, a feeling"
"What feeling?"
"A bad feeling, like something bad is going to happen soon."
"Have you told your dad?"
"No, I mean it is most likely just me... I don't think I have gone this long without something bad happening to me."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm just being paranoid, just forget I said anything."
"If you're sure..."
***
"Severus, is there a problem?" Dumbledore asked as Severus walked into his office.
Severus remained quiet, just pacing in front of the fire. After a few minutes he finally stopped and turned to face Dumbledore who was waiting patiently.
"Albus, what house do you believe Harry will end up in?"
"Does it really matter what house Harry ends up in?"
"No, of course it doesn't. I just wanted to know your opinion."
"Well, my opinion is..." Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and brought his hand up to his chin, he began thinking out loud. "Well after being abused by his family, Harry rarely gives his trust and when he does, he is very loyal to them... so maybe Hufflepuff? But then Harry is very smart, always reading and wanting to learn new things, so perhaps Ravenclaw... What about Slytherin? You have raised him since he was 5 years old, something is bound to rub off on him correct? Or possibly Gryffindor, He has shown bravery and courage on many occasions, one being when he pulled Ron out of the way when the wolf attacked them in the forbidden forest, putting his life at risk to save Mr. Weasley..." Dumbledore trailed off, still thinking but in his head this time.
"So which one is your answer then Albus?"
"Severus, believe it or not, I do not know."
"Well you just left me with more questions then answers."
"I think Severus, that deep down you know that Harry will have to make a choice, and I believe you know what choice that he will make is."
Severus didn't say anything and for a while nothing was said.
"What time do you need to pick Harry up?"
"Just after dinner"
"Are you to join them?"
"No, they offered but I declined. Harry will be seeing enough of me through the holidays, I thought he might like to spend some time with them by himself."
"Well then, you and I can eat dinner up here tonight."
"Really Albus, I couldn't-"
"Nonsense, now what would you like?"
***
Harry had never eaten so much food in his life, he felt like he ate 3 times the amount of food that could fit him his stomach.
All the Weasleys had been amazed by the amount of cooking Mrs. Weasley had done, and everyone there had eaten more then they should have.
When Severus came to pick Harry up, he didn't look much better.
Severus walked into the living room where Harry and Ron were currently sitting down, not moving.
Severus collapsed next to Harry and breathed out. He did not feel well.
"Are you okay Dad?"
"Damn Albus, it's easy to eat what I want in the Great Hall, he watches over the students, but when it's just you and him, he watches what you eat like a hawk."
Harry raised an eyebrow at him, not understanding.
"Apparently, even though I am a fully grown man, I don't eat enough food, at least not enough to satisfy Albus. He made me eat much more then I would have liked. And you can just imagine how I felt flooing over here."
Both Harry and Ron paled just thinking about it, all the spinning would be enough to make either of them sick.
"Ah, Severus you're here. Would you like some desert I have left over?" Mrs. Weasley said as she walked through the living room and into the kitchen, not stopping for him to answer.
"No Molly, that's alright. I'm not feeling too hungry." Severus quickly yelled over to her.
"What was that dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she came out with a plateful of chocolate cake.
Severus paled looking at it.
Harry and Ron smiled at each other.
"Go on Dad, Molly won't mind." Harry said innocently
"Won't mind what?" Mrs. Weasley asked
"Well, he didn't want to say anything but..." Harry trailed off, smiling at Severus' confused look that was directed to him.
"But-" Ron continued "He was just telling us how hungry he was, we even heard his stomach grumble"
Severus opened his mouth, about to protest but Harry cut him off.
"It's true, I heard it as well, and it's probably because he skipped dinner. He always does, no matter how much he tries to deny it."
"That's not true!" Severus said indignity
"It's okay Dad, I'm sure Molly will give you some food if you ask her really nicely"
Severus glared at Harry.
"Molly, I did NOT miss dinner and I am NOT hungry."
"Really Severus, skipping meals, I always did think you were too thin. Just think of the example you are setting Harry, now I'll be right back with some proper dinner."
Mrs. Weasley the walked out and back into the kitchen.
Harry and Ron laughed and quickly got out of the room and ran up to Ron's room before Severus could get to them, they were both feeling much better now.
They were still laughing when Severus banged open the door and glared at them both.
"I advice you laugh it up, once we are at Hogwarts I believe I will be having the last laugh."
"Even if we are in Slytherin?"
"Even if you are in bloody Slytherin, now hurry up Harry, I am tired and I would like to leave soon."
"Sure, I'll just finish packing my things, did you want a chocolate frog while you wait?"
Severus was about to reply to make a snide comment when Mr. Weasley interrupted him, which both Ron and Harry were grateful for as they could tell Severus was getting angrier now.
"Hello Severus, boys, is anything wrong?"
"Arthur" Severus nodded to him, glaring at both Harry and Ron. "I'll wait downstairs for you Harry."
***
Harry felt a bit bad about what Ron and he had done, Severus was currently making a complicated potion to try to calm down a bit.
"Sorry about before Dad, Ron and I were just having some fun." Harry said as he walked over to his father and sat on a stool and looked into the cauldron.
"Hmm" Severus still didn't look any happier.
Harry thought about how he could make Severus less angry at him.
"What potion are you making?" Anything to do with potions was probably a good way to go to get back onto his fathers good side.
"Wolfsbane potion for Lupin"
"Can I help?"
Severus finally looked up from his work and could see that Harry was sorry for before.
"You can cut up some ingredients for me."
Harry smiled and set about doing as his father told him.
After a while he let his mind wonder to the sorting that would take place September 1st.
Harry had no problem with going into any house. He had no prejudices with any of them. But which house would he want to be in?
Harry thought about his father, would it be a good thing to have his father as his head of house? It would mean that he would be closer to him, and if he did something wrong he would most likely only get punished once, if he was in a different house he would probably get punished by them AND his father.
But then he thought about Ron and the Weasleys. Although Ron hadn't been sorted yet, he knew that he would go into Gryffindor with his brothers. Would Ron care if they weren't in the same house? Harry knew his father would be fine with whatever house Harry went in, even though he would probably prefer any of the other houses besides Gryffindor, but would Ron care? It would be difficult to keep up their friendship. They would have different common rooms, sleep in different dorms, they would eat at different tables and only be in a couple of classes together. The question was, would Harry be willing to give up another house just so he could continue his friendship with Ron? They were best friends, his first non- grown up friend he had ever had.
Being in Slytherin house wouldn't make his father happy if he was un-happy in there... Harry was definitely confused. He was glad that the sorting hat would make the decision for him.
***
It was August 16th, Harry and his father were currently shopping around for all the things Harry would need for his first year at Hogwarts.
They had just gotten Harry's wand, which was a holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches. When he had got it the owner of the shop had acted all weird. But Harry was only to glad to get out of the shop to care. He had gone through most of the wands in the whole store and was happy to finally be out.
Harry was so delighted to have a wand, it was killing him to have it but not be able to use it. His father had warned him what could happen if he did and he was not about to be expelled for Hogwarts before he even began.
Harry purchased his books which he was keen to look over. He already had an owl and his equipment. Ron was unable to meet Harry over at Diagon Alley so Harry and Severus left early. Harry kept checking that he had his wand, as though scared that it would just vanish all of a sudden.
He couldn't help but feel excited about Hogwarts. He had waited so long to be able to join in and do the magic that he saw being done in the classes he sat in on, and it was only a few weeks until he began.