Chapter Three

Harry felt a sharp tug behind his navel the second his hand touched the book. He felt as If he were moving faster than light. He was soon relieved of this sickening feeling as his feet slammed into the ground. He staggered a little, but did not fall as most of the others did. Taking a few deep breaths he regained his bearings and looked around the room in awe.

He was standing in a large entry hall with two gigantic oak doors leading into it and several doors and halls leading out of it along the walls. The room was magnificent, to say the least. Expensive looking portraits hung all over the walls and shiny suits of armor stood all over the room.

"Welcome to Hogwarts Castle Harry" Dumbledore said. Harry stared at him. "Castle?" he questioned. The old man just smiled and winked at him. He then began to walk toward some of the majestic twin-doors in the hall, motioning for Harry and the others to follow.

"Ah, excellent, were just in time for dinner. Am I correct in assuming that Hermione has explained to you all about the sorting ceremony?" Harry nodded and the Headmaster continued. "Wonderful, Minerva, would you please go and fetch the sorting hat from my office? I'm going to have to make a short speech announcing your existence and then we can get you sorted Harry". Harry nodded to the Professor and they all followed him over to the doors.

When they opened the doors it was into yet another gigantic hall. This hall was much the same as the one they had just arrived in except there were four gigantic tables filled with students and smaller head table where the other professors were sitting. As soon as Harry had walked into the room he almost moaned in pleasure due to the wonderful aromas of food in the air. He looked over and noticed that the tables were all filled with dozens and dozens of many different varieties of food. Harry once again realized how hungry he was. The winter was always a tough time for food and all he had to eat in the past weak was a can of tuna, a can of dog food, and a small loaf of bread, and he had not eaten anything in the past two days. He had to actually bite his lip to keep him self from running over and shoving as much food in his mouth as humanly possible, but he did not want these people to get a bad first impression of him. Mag was acting just as anxious as Harry. She was walking back and forth restlessly waiting for permission from Harry to begin satisfying her own empty stomach.

Harry was so caught up in all the food that didn't notice as every head in the hall turned to stair at him. Nor did he notice as the hall broke out into whispers.

"Who is that?"

"Why is he dressed like a muggle street rat?"

"What the hell is that thing doing in hear?"

"I sure wouldn't want to cross that guy"

"Where the heck did he get all those scars come from?"

"Are we aloud to have dogs in school?"

Almost every one in the hall were ether looking at him with fear or giving him disgusted looks as if he were some thing stuck to there shoes. But he didn't notice, all he wanted was the food. The smell of it was almost hypnotizing him. He hoped to God that they would give him some. Now that all this food was right in front of him, it became so much harder to ignore his hunger.

The hall fell silent and tore there eyes away from the stranger as the headmaster walked up to the head table and faced the students. The headmaster began, "Good evening my friends, I come before you all today to announce some wonderful news. For some time, a boy who should have been among you all in you studies, has been missing from our world. I am pleased to announce that we have found this young man and he will know be beginning his long overdue education here at Hogwarts. I would like you all to meet Harry James Potter, who is just about to be sorted."

The hall then broke out into a loud roar.

"Did he say Harry Potter?"

"I thought he was dead."

"That filthy street rat is Harry Potter?"

"Cool, I hope he's in Gryffindor."

Just then Professor McGonagall entered the hall carrying a stool and a hat. She set them both in the middle of the hall and walked over to the side. Dumbledore then spoke again, "well then, on with the sorting. Harry, if you will." Harry had torn away from the food and began to walk toward the stool, Mag following obediently at his side.

That was when he first noticed how many people were in the hall. This made him very uncomfortable. He forced himself to ignore them as he sat on the stool and, feeling a bit silly, put the hat on. When he did he heard a voice in his head.

"A yes you, I was wandering when I'd be seeing you. Let's see, oh my there's talent, much talent indeed. A fast learner. Oh my yes, very good mind. Loyal to your friends, you are also. Lets see, cunning, oh dear very cunning, very impressive, you would do great in Slytherin, yes very great indeed. But theirs one quality in you that outdoes them all, yes, you are defiantly the most courageous I've seen in a long time, better make it...
GRIFFINDORE!!"

Most of the students from three of the tables began to cheer loudly, the students from the other table mostly just scowled at him in disgust. Harry did not like the cheering at all; he hated being the center of attention, especially in such a large group of people. Fighting the impulse to take of out of the hall, he nervously walked over to the Gryffindor table to where Hermione and Neville had scooted apart to make room for him.

"Congratulations Harry" Hermione said as she made room for him. "Yeah, welcome to Gryffindor Harry" Neville said nervously. Harry nodded his thanks, but was only half listening. He was once again caught up with all the food in front of, which he was eyeing anxiously. Ginny must have noticed Harry's reaction to the food. "Help yourself Harry" She said to him, as he practically shivered with anticipation. "Really?" Harry asked with a hopeful smile on his face. Hermione then spoke up, "Of course Harry, you are a student here now, and this food is for the students."

Harry didn't ask again, he gave them all a thankful look, and began to eat everything he could reach. He silently threw some chicken under the table to where Mag was sitting at his feet. Hermione, Neville and Ginny were all staring at him with slight sadness. Harry looked up at them and asked "wha'". Hermione couldn't help herself and asked "When was the last time you had something to eat, Harry?" immediately wishing she had not said anything. But Harry did not look offended. He thought for a moment and said, "two days" and returned to the food, occasionally darting his eyes around nervously at the people around him, most of which were making no effort to not to stare at him.

He noticed that there were two girls across from him who were staring at him with disgusted faces. His head quickly shot up and he locked eyes with the two girls. There disgusted looks immediately turned to fright as they both let out little squeaks and shot there eyes down at there plates. Harry then continued eating, occasionally staring back at everyone around him who where eying him. He felt very uncomfortable the whole time, but was too hungry to care.

All Harry cared about at the moment was the food. This was literally the best food he had ever eaten, and defiantly the most food he had ever eaten at one sitting in his entire life. Most of the people where he came from, including him, would kill for an opportunity like this. If not for the education, then just for the food. And he was defiantly not going to take it for granted.

Within twenty minutes he had consumed more than he had in the past month and was at last full. He was also glad to see that most of the people around him had gone back to minding there own business.

Harry could not remember ever being this happy. At least not since his friends all died. He was now anxious to start school. Wondering when he would be able to start he turned to Hermione, who seemed to be on top of things, and asked "Hermione, when da I get ta go ta school with you." Hermione smiled at Harry's enthusiasm towards school and said, "Well, I guess you should be able to start tomorrow, even though your still behind and don't have your supplies yet. I'm sure Neville could lend you some robes until you get your own, right Neville?" Neville then replied with a little more enthusiasm than before, "sure Harry, no problem, they might not fit you very well though." Harry grinned at the nervous boy and said "tanks a lot Neville, that'll do jus' fine."

By that time dinner was over and Hermione, Ginny and Neville began to escort Harry back to the Gryffindor tower. As they were walking out of the hall Harry thought of something else. "Uh, wha' exactly are da' classes ya' take 'ere?" he asked. Hermione, who Harry noticed always seemed to be ecstatic about the topic of school, replied "well, we study transfiguration, herbology, potions, charms, care of magical creatu..."

Hermione was cut of by the cocky voice of a tall redheaded boy who was being followed buy two other boys and the same two girls who were staring at Harry with disgust earlier. "Stop boring the man know it all; I seriously doubt he wants to be pestered by your rambling about school Granger." The four of them turned towards voice and all of them glared at him, except Harry, whose face remained blank.

"Shut the hell up Ron, why do you have to be such an ass all the time" Ginny said with rage. Ron just glared back at her and said "why do you have to hang out with these two losers all the time, its so embarrassing being related to you some times." Ron then turned back to Harry and held out his hand, "I'm Ron Weasley by the way, nice to meet you. You don't want to hang around with the wimp and the now it all here; they don't really fit in around here any. We can help you get to now the place much better than they can I assure you."

Harry look at him and chuckled a little at the at the boys offer of friendship. Harry reached out grabbed his hand. Ron smiled, thinking that Harry was accepting his friendship, but his smile quickly vanished as Harry started to squeeze his hand harder and harder until Ron was on his knees trying to hold back tears. Harry just stared at him with a slightly amused face and said, "Whose da wimp, Ron?"

Harry then let go of his hand. Ron got up and immediately took several steps back. He looked at Harry with shock and fear and stuttered, "w-what the hell man, I didn't do anything to you." Harry, whose face was still blank, replied "No, but I don' like people who judge others so easily."

Ron hade now regained his cool and said "you better watch yourself Potter; you don't want to get of on our bad side." Harry raised an eye brow in amusement. "Well dat sounds terrifyin', ya do all look like a scary lot, 'specially dem two", Harry replied sarcastically, motioning to the two girls who were cowering away from Harry. Ron got a furious look on his face but could not think of anything witty to say. The group then walked away, all shooting Harry glares which caused Mag to growl with malice.

After they were gone he turned back to his three companions who were all laughing out loud. "Don think 'e' likes me much, do ya?" he asked with his own amused grin. Ginny said between laughs, "That was brilliant, oh the look on Ron's face, I think you nearly made him wet himself." "It's good to see him get put in his place" Neville said with no apprehension like before.

"Wha's da' deal with all dem anyhow, why are day all so rude" Harry asked after they once again began to climb up to the tower. Hermione replied, "Oh, there just full of them selves. They think there cool and consider us losers. The black boy was Dean Tomas, he basically just follows the heard around. The red head is Ginny's brother; he's probably the cockiest of them all. The other sandy-haired boy was Seamus Finnigan, he's just like Ron except if possible, even dumber," Harry chuckled as Hermione continued. "The two girls that were with them were Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown, incase you couldn't tell by there makeup there both kind of sleazy". Harry laughed and said, "I'll say, hey ya' think there's a place I could clean up a bit, I aint as well groomed as da rest of ya, don wan' ta offend anyone." Ginny then spoke "of course Harry, Neville can show you the showers in your dorms and you can get changed and cleaned up."

Once they had made it to the tower, Harry was once again shocked by the elegance of the castle. Hermione and Ginny decided stayed in the common room while Neville led Harry towards the showers. When they got there Neville gave Harry some robes and told him that he would be in the common room with Ginny and Hermione when he was finished. Harry then took off all the rages he was wearing and shoved them into his back pack. He had never taken a shower before and wasn't exactly sure about how to go about taking one. He stepped in under the shower head and twisted the knob, but nothing happened. He continued to play around with it for a moment before he finally pulled up on it and a scalding hot shower of water began pouring down on him. He jumped away in shock and twisted the knobs until the shower was at least cool enough to stand under. Grabbing a wash cloth and some soap, he began washing off the nine years of grime covering his body.

An hour later a very handsome Harry Potter came down the stairs of the dormitories and walked into the common room, his dog following closely by his heals. He looked like a whole different person. His skin, although still covered in scars, was no longer blackened with filth, but held a weathered bronze tan. His hair still hung below his shoulders and was know soft and shaggy instead of greasy and matted. His rags were gone and he now wore Neville's neat robes witch were just a little bit too stocky. Harry felt a little stupid wearing a robe but he still felt better than he had ever felt in a long time. He was clean and had a full stomach, something he could not ever remember being.

As he walked over to his three new friends, they all looked shocked. To be honest they did not recognize him at first. Harry smiled a little at their expressions and said "how da I look?" After a moment Hermione spoke, "You look great Harry, almost didn't recognize you." Then Ginny added, "yeah Harry, you look much better now." Neville nodded his agreement and Harry told them all thank you.

They all sat and talked to Harry about Hogwarts and Quidditch, which Harry had been very interested in.

After a little while a tall red headed boy with spectacles came over to introduce himself. He turned out to be Ginny's other older brother Percy. Percy seemed to Harry to be a bit up-tit and bossy, but overall a good guy.

Harry also was confronted by Lee Jordan, Fred Weasley, and George Weasley, who he quickly became friends.

The small group continued to chat for about another hour when they all decided to go to bed. Neville and Harry bid the girls good night and went up to there dormitory. When they got there they noticed that Ron, Seamus and Dean were all sitting huddled up together on one of the beds.

"If it isn't Potter and the wimp, can't they see where there not wanted" Seamus said with disgust. The other two boys both started to laugh but quickly stopped as Harry advanced towards them with a murderous smirk on his lips. "you three wan' another demonstration on who's really da' wimp?" Harry asked. They were all silent and looking at the slightly mad boy with apprehension. When none of them answered Harry said in his slow dangerous drawl "den shut da' fuck up". He then turned back to his bed and sat down on it with his back to them, not expecting the fight to be over.

The three boys must have gotten there courage back because Harry soon heard Ron's voice behind him. "Were not afraid of you Potter, the three of us could easily take you and Longbottom with our eyes closed." Harry turned around and saw three wands pointed at him. Mag was now growling, she looked as if she was about to start tearing people to peaces. Harry did not know much about magic or what kind of damage it could cause, so he did not want to be hit by any of it. He slowly turned around and walked towards the three boys and said "is da' so Weasley, cause I don' recon all you rich punks could even get past me an my dog, even if ya do have dem wands."

The three of them just laughed at this. Ron then said "well Potter, I'd say we should teach you a little lesion about who's in charge in this dormitory. The three of them all began to shout something but before they could finish, Harry had swiftly closed the space between them, grabbing Ron's wand quickly out of his hand and kicking Dean's wand right out of his grip while Mag bound on top of Seamus, pining him to the ground, and began snapping his sharp teeth just centimeters from his face. All this had happened before anyone had any time to react, or even blink for that matter.

Everyone in the dorm but Harry looked shocked at the street kid's speed. Harry then pulled the switch blade out of his packet and advanced towards Ron with it. Ron began to back up apprehensively until his back was against the wall. Harry reached forward to grab the front of Ron's robe and said in a soft but deadly voice, "Now you listen ta me Weasley, I don now much 'bout magic, but if ya go lookin' fer trouble with me, you gona find more dan ya can deal with. Now, I is goin' to sleep, an I'm a very light sleeper so don' try nothin'"

Harry then walked over to his bed, bid Neville good night and pulled the covers down to get in. When he first lay down on the mattress it almost brought tears to his eyes it was so comfortable. That night Harry slept better than he could ever remember sleeping. He didn't even have any nightmares.

Remus Lupin sat in front of his fireplace holding a glass of fire whisky. He normally didn't drink much, but know he felt he needed to.

The events of the day were wonderful indeed. They had finally found Harry. Remus had prayed for this day for over three years and it had finally come.

But the condition that they had found Harry in had broken his heart. He could not imagine what kind of hardships his best friend's son had been through. He wished Harry could have had a happy childhood and grown up in a loving home. The thought of Harry's life till now depressed him so much that he could barely even function properly. This was why he had been drowning himself with whiskey for the past hour.

He was so lost in his unclear thoughts that he did not even realize that the Headmaster had walked into his quarters and was standing over him. "Having trouble dealing with reality are we?" Remus nearly yelled when the old voice of the Headmaster broke his thoughts. Looking up at the headmaster Remus asked, "Albus what are you doing in hear."

The old man looked down to the glass of whiskey in his hand and replied, "I think the question is what are you doing". Remus immediately felt ashamed at having resorted to alcohol in order to ease his troubled mind.

He looked back to the old wizard and said sadly, "How could this have happened?" Albus came and sat down on a chair next to him and said, "You must not dwell on it Remus, all we can do now is try and give Harry the best life possible. That is why I came here. I was hoping that if you were free tomorrow after diner you would be able to give Harry his first tutoring session. We might as well get him caught up quick."

Remus agreed eagerly at the opportunity to spend time with Harry. After the old man left he went to sleep, looking forward to the next day.

End of Chapter Three

Thank you for reading this chapter of my story. Chapter four is currently under work and should be up by next week sometime. The following are my responses to my reviewers.

Eden's Echo:  No, I do not plain on making a ridiculously powerful 'super Harry'. Thanks for the review.

Elissar:  Thank you, I will.

Spacecatdet:  I appreciate you advice. I will admit I am terrible with spelling and grammar and should probable look into that.

Shdurrani: Thanks for the review.

Raven Potter Weasley:  I'm glad to see your enthusiasm. Your idea really does sound like a good one but unfortunately I have already written a basic plot line in my head and that is not part of it. So sorry. On the other hand, I do plain on those pairings as of now and I never did say Jack was dead, did I.

Scott:  I'm glad you like my story. That thing about the time line is very interesting. I had never known that but I have had other people tell me that the dates were wrong. I may change that if I get time. Thanks for the review.

Meresger:  That's some very constructive criticism. Thank you. I realize that there are a lot of plot holes but I do plan on filling them in the future chapters using flashbacks and such. About Harry's birthday, I honestly did not know that and may go back and change it but until then it is irrelevant to the story. As for why Sirius broke out, I explained that it was because he wanted revenge and wanted to look out for Harry. In the Philosopher's Stone if you recall, Harry was the one to pull the stone out of the mirror. Dumbledore would have stopped them before they could ever get the stone. Ginny would not have poured herself into the diary so much because she would not have had a crush on Harry and would have had Hermione and Neville's friendship. About Harry being tracked by his magic. I do not think it would matter where it came from, just who. Dobby probably used elf magic to fool the system. I know the three students probably would not have gone to London to find Harry but it fits well with my story line so what the hell. The rest is all your opinion. Good Review, really made me think.

Dreams of Magic:  Thanks for the input