[ The New Kid ]
[Chapter 1]
So Harry was in danger. So much danger, in fact, that he was a danger to himself. At basically a loss for ideas, four people paced up and down Dumbledore's office, eyebrows knitted together, tugging at their chins frantically. The four of them walked back and forth, every other one going in an opposite direction. It was like synchronized swimming, only on dry land and with a lot more thinking going on.
The four people were Hermione Granger, Minerva McGonagall, Harry Potter and of course, Albus Dumbledore. They were all deep in thought, fishing for any ideas to keep their prized golden boy safe. Normally Harry wouldn't be eager to go to a meeting all about his personal welfare - Of course not when he was trying to dodge the stories about him being bigheaded and a liar - but this time had been different. Dumbledore had to leave the school for 6 weeks for some top secret reason and Harry would no longer have the security of having the only man Voldemort ever feared looking after him.
It seemed hopeless. What ways would there be to protect him? They had been thinking for hours. Suddenly, Hermione stopped pacing. The other three in the room looked at her expectantly, hopefully. They had all run out of ideas.
"What if sent Harry to a different school, disguised as a different person? Would that work?" Hermione asked Dumbledore. Dumbledore sat back in his chair, he seemed to be contemplating the idea. Hermione looked hopeful, Professor McGonagall looked impressed, Harry looked worried.
After a few moments, Dumbledore spoke.
"It seems that we have a plan then." he said. "So could you to please leave Mr. Potter and I alone while we discuss the circumstances?"
The two women nodded and rose from their seats. Hermione touching Harry's arm as she walked past him and out of the Headmaster's office.
The door shut behind them and Dumbledore immediately started talking.
"Well, Harry, there are many schools for you to choose from, there's Beauxbatons of course, or you could opt for Durmstrang, or The American Academy of Sorcery-"
"Sir," Harry cut in. "I don't want to leave."
"No," Said Dumbledore thoughtfully, "I can't imagine that you would. But really, we have no other choice. Now there is always the Alaskan School for Wizards, it's an all boys school of course-"
"Excuse me, sir, but I have an Idea."
Dumbledore smiled and peered over at him through his half moon glasses, urging him to continue.
"What if I just changed my appearance and just acted as though I was a new student?" Harry asked hopefully. " I could still see my friends and I would be protected. Please, sir."
"Well, Harry, it is up to you, this is your life we're talking about. Whatever you wish to do has my blessing, given that what you wish to do does not involve throwing my things?" The old man gave a small smile and Harry blushed in his seat.
"I would like to stay here." Harry replied. Dumbledore looked at him.
"Then that is what you'll do."
[ Chapter 1, Part 2 ]
"So that's it?" Ron asked almost hysterically, "You're just leaving?"
"I have to Ron. I have no other choice." Harry said, half mock-miserably.
"Of course you have a choice! Go back down to Dumbledore and tell him you want to stay, you NEED to stay." Ron looked as though he was going to cry. Harry closed his trunk and looked around the room.
"Ron, I'll be back." He said. He looked at his tearful best friend of 6 years and hugged him.
"And I won't make a new best friend either." Ron seemed relieved at those words and he hugged him back. Harry parted from him and exited the room, not feeling up to glancing back. He had already said goodbye to Hermione before he had gone to pack. She was now currently in her room sobbing, even though it was her idea in the first place. He tried to slip out of the common room without anyone noticing, and in the end told anyone that asked that he was only going out to throw his old trunk away so that he wouldn't have to explain the whole story.
He made the short trek to Dumbledore's office again and hauled his trunk up the stairs. Dumbledore was waiting for him at the top.
"Come in, Harry, we have a lot of work to do." Harry rushed up the stairs and into the office, now nothing a large mirror on the far side of the room.
"Harry, no on knows about this, not even your teachers, and I think it's better to keep it that way."
"Yes I know." Harry told him. "You already said that." Dumbledore led him over to the large mirror and instructed him to stand in front of it.
"Now, Harry. Tell the mirror what you want."
Harry looked skeptically at the mirror but then decided to speak.
"I want, longer hair." Harry finally said. "To my ears at least. Blue eyes, bright ones. I want to get those rectangular shaped black glasses. I want a little more of a golden tan, more muscular shoulders and legs, but not too muscular. I want my shoes to go up a size and a more defined chest." Dumbledore stared at him.
"I see you've thought about this before." He said, his eyes twinkling.
"Obviously."
Harry looked at himself in the mirror. He was exactly how he had imagined himself to look. In his imagination, he still had his green eyes, but his blue ones really were not bad at all. His tanner fingers brushed some of his, now longer, black hair. As he did this, he noted something.
"Sir, what about my-"
"Your scar. Yes, I thought about that, and since you and I both know that you can not get rid of this scar. We're just going to...re-locate it." He pulled out his wand. "Recomparo" he whispered and Harry's scar vanished from his forehead. Harry pressed himself up against the mirror and rubbed his fingers over his now smooth forehead. It was amazing. The one thing that distinguished him from the crowd. The one thing that he got annoyed with most. It wasn't there. He felt - naked.
"Wh-where is it?" Harry asked.
"On your lower back. I will leave it up to you to decide on a decent cover story. Now that that is settled, all that's left to do is to re-sort you."
Harry, who had been looking at his back now and trying to think up a story looked immediately up. He knew how to get in what house he wanted. He just had to beg for it, and he knew that he did NOT want to be in Gryffindor. He knew he would not be able to stand being so near Hermione and Ron and not being able to talk to them as usual. Anything but Gryffindor.
That's exactly what he said to The Sorting Hat.
Harry Potter! I never thought I'd be seeing this head for a fourth time! But nevertheless, I have one job and I intend to do it! Said The Sorting Hat in his ear.
"Not Gryffindor, not Gryffindor."
Well, that certainly is a change. Said the Sorting Hat, And I think you know what's coming. Harry Potter now belongs to-
"SLYTHERIN!"
Harry, shaking, half horrified, half relieved stood up from his chair. He looked expectantly up at Dumbledore.
"So now we're going to give you a name and then send you off to dinner where we will introduce you to the school. Dumbledore put a finger to his head and after a moments silence said, "Lucas. My favorite name. Any ideas for a last name?"
Immediately Harry spoke up.
"James. After my father. I'll be Lucas James." Harry...er..Lucas, looked very pleased with himself.
"Very well then, Lucas. Welcome to Hogwarts."