Harry Potter and the Slytherin's Stone
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters or a lot of the other things included that I'm unable to think of just right now.
Note: This Alternate Universe fanfiction has come about from pondering what would have happened had Harry been placed in Slytherin, instead of Gryffindor. I used a lot of the same things for the first chapter, but it should branch out on it's own.
Chapter One
The Arrival at Hogwarts and the Sorting Hat
Harry pressed on through the crowd until he found an empty compartment near the end of the train. He put Hedwig inside first and then started to shove and heave his trunk toward the train door. He tried to lift it up the steps but could hardly raise one end and took him two times to lift it up. Trying to look as if all were normal, he stuffed his trunk in a corner of the compartment and went to his seat. Outside his window he could see the red-haired family saying their good-byes. When the students had boarded the train began it's journey.
The train ride was uneventful for Harry for the most part, full of worries of what Hogwarts would be. He would probably be behind everybody else and be a complete failure of a wizard. These thoughts continue to agitate Harry in his silence, until his compartment door was opened by a boy looking for his toad. Seeing that it was not present there he left.
Only a few moments later, a girl entered alongside the boy wearing her Hogwarts robes. "Have you by any chance seen a toad? Neville's lost his," said the girl, and then when she saw that Harry had not she said, "Oh, I haven't met you yet, my name is Hermione Granger, what's yours?"
"Harry Potter," he answered.
"Really?" she exclaimed, "I've read all about you in the books I got for background reading. You were in Modern Magical History, The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts, and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century."
"I am?" he said in a daze.
"Don't you know? I had no idea you were actually going to be in my class. What a experience to have a living legend in my own class! If I were you I would find out everything there is to know about myself. In fact," she said as she reached into a bag she was carrying, "I have a extra copy of Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century if you want it."
"Thanks," Harry said meekly as he accepted the book that Hermione gave him.
"Well, I better get back to looking for Neville's toad," she said as she left.
Her exit was followed by the silence while Harry entertained himself by skimming through the book the girl had given him until the train finally arrived at the destination it had been heading towards. As he left the train, Harry was forced to swim through a crowd of Hogwarts students when he heard a familiar voice: "Firs' years, Firs' years over here! Why hello, Harry, you doin' all right?"
Hagrid's big face greeted Harry over the mob of heads. Hagrid lead the silent first years along what seemed to Harry a steep, narrow path. Around the bend the path opened up to reveal a black lake with the light from Hagrid's lamp sparkling on the surface of the water. Ahead of them was a fleet of little boats, which they used to cross the lake with four to a boat and one boat for Hagrid himself. Approaching the cliff face, a curtain of ivy opened itself up and the boat fleet continued through the murky tunnel until they reached a harbor.
"Everybody there?" asked Hagrid before leading them up a tunnel towards the castle door. Hagrid gave three knocks with his gigantic fists and the door to Hogwarts opened. Greeting them was a black-haired witch in emerald-green clothes with a stern glance that made Harry think that she was not someone to mess with. With a few words greetings between Hagrid and her, she led the students into the castle. After a moments travel they arrived at a door which Harry presumed must be where the rest of the school was by the droning noise.
Having seen the students had gathered before she began: "Welcome to Hogwarts, the beginning banquet will begin shortly, but before you dine you must be sorted into your houses. In the tradition of Hogwarts the house you are sorted into will become your family within Hogwarts. You will eat, sleep, and take your classes with the rest of the members within your house. The four houses in which you will be sorted into are Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. All four houses have had their successes of outstanding noble wizards and witches. Within the point system you can be victorious for your house or you can become an dissatisfaction to your house. The house with the most points will win the House Cup. The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes, I suggest that you prepare yourself."
Students began to rapidly prepare themselves for whatever might be waiting them in the next room. Some nervously tried to pat down their hair or straighten out their robes, while others looked down nervously at their wands. "What is it that we have to do, do you think," Harry heard someone whisper. "I heard you had to do some sort of test or something."
Harry's head began to spin with the horrors of what might be waiting beyond the doors in front of him. He didn't even know any magic. At that moment, he felt as if everyone around him knew everything they would need to pass this test and that Harry would be sent back to live with the Dursleys for sure. Perhaps they wouldn't let students who failed return. Or maybe students who failed never survived their failure.
"Now, form a line and follow me," commanded McGonagall.
As they entered the Great Hall they were mesmerized by the floating candles which illuminated the room. The tables were filled with shimmering golden goblets and plates. Above them appeared to be the night sky, which Harry only knew wasn't possible because they were still inside. Flying around the first year students flew the ghosts of Hogwarts and peering at them were the crowd of older students waiting for the ceremony to begin.
Upon a stool which everyone's attention was focused on was placed an old, tattered hat. Harry hoped that they didn't have to do turn the hat into anything or use some other magic on it. The hat twitched and a rip at the brim opened to operate as a mouth as the hat began to sing:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty, but don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find a smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black, your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat and I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head the Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry set Gryffindor apart
You might belong in Hufflepuff, where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, if you're a ready mind
Where those of wit and learning, will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin you'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk will use any means to achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid! And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands, for I'm the Thinking Cap!"
After the hat had finished it's song the hall burst into applause while the hat bowed to the four tables. When silence returned McGonagall stepped forward and said, "When I call your name step forward and place the hat upon you head. Abbot, Hannah!"
A girl stepped forward among the students, walked toward the sorting hat and a moment after she had placed it on her head and sat down, the hat shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!" The entire table of Hufflepuff cheered as their new affiliate joined their table.
While others were being sorted, Harry had horrible thoughts that he might not be chosen for a house at all and instead sent back to live with the Dursley's who would surely lock him up for good this time. It was like this would be a repeat performance of picking teams in the gym at his old school.
"Malfoy, Draco!"
The boy that Harry had met at the robes shop swaggered forward, and the hat did not even need to touch his head before crying out,
"SLYTHERIN!"
And on down the list it went until the McGonagall finally called out Harry's own name. Whispers filled the hall of the name of Harry Potter as students wagered what house the great Harry Potter would go to. With a feeling of nausea inside his stomach he walked towards the hat and placed it upon his head to face his sentence.
"Hmmm," whispered a voice that sounded like it was coming from nowhere yet somewhere, "Very difficult. Abundance of courage. Thirst for knowledge. Talent and craving to prove yourself. Where to put you?"
Harry gripped the edge of the stool and thought, Anywhere, just put somewhere, please.
As if it was able to hear his thoughts the Sorting Hat replied, "Oh don't worry, Harry, I'll put you somewhere. For it is clear to me that you will do well in- SLYTHERIN!"
The last word the hat said was shouted out for the entire hall to hear and the entire Slytherin table and a blood-dripping ghost were celebrating. Greeting him at the table with a suspicious look was Draco and two other boys called Goyle and Crabbe. "Sit here, Harry. So I see the rumors flying around on the train were true. Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts," Draco said. When the Sorting Ceremony was over an aging wizard who Harry had figured to be the headmaster stepped up and said, "Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts! Before we eat, I would like to say a few words. Nitwit! Blubber! Ointment! Tweak! Thank"
Harry turned to Draco and asked, "Is he a bit mad?"
"That's what my father tells me. Why anyone would allow such a crazy person to be the headmaster of this school is beyond me. Father keeps telling everyone that he needs to be replaced, but it seems people are still enchanted by Dumbledore's nonsense," replied Draco in knowing voice. Harry was a little distracted as he stared down at the feast that had magically appeared before him.
During the meal Draco talked to Harry of the many dealings his father (which he spoke very highly of) had taken part of. However, it did not take long for Draco to realize that Harry wasn't paying that much attention to him and he switched to talking to Crabbe and Goyle. Draco stopped talking when the Slytherin ghost, the Bloody Baron floated over and took a seat right next to him. Covered in silvery blood, he took his post of looking dangerous for a few minutes before leaving.
Seeing some of the first year's reactions an older student commented, "They're scared stiff of him now, but they'll be thankful for him when they meet Peeves."
Harry didn't like the sound of that. From the conversations that he gathered, he could tell that almost all the people in Slytherin had grown up in the Wizarding world and probably knew a whole lot more than him. Harry tried to keep silent so no one would know that he didn't come from the same sort of place that they did.
It was at this moment that Harry looked up and noticed a greasy, black-haired man staring down at him and felt for a second a sharp pain in his forehead. Being venturesome he asked Draco who that teacher was.
"Oh that's Snape, he's the head of Slytherin household. He's one of the best teachers here or that's what I've heard, anyway," said Draco.
When the meal was finished and the food had disappeared from the hall, Dumbledore stood up.
"Ahem – I have just a few start-of-term notices that I wish to announce, first years should not that the forest is off ground to all pupils and I would remind a few older students as well. Mr. Filch would also like to remind you that there is to be no magic between classes in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in two weeks, contact Madam Hooch for more information. And last, I must remind you that third-floor corridor is off-limits to anyone who does wish to suffer a terrible death. Thank you."
