A/N: Hello everyone! Yet another chapter has arrived for you to read! Yay!
Disclaimer- It belongs to JKR. She is quoted in some places, where the story overlaps briefly with cannon, as somethings wouldn't change, and I find it takes depth away from a story to cut out details, not to mention some of them are useful to the plot I'm working with.
"But at any rate-"
"They're likely to think-"
"-for a moment at least-"
"That you're a ghost. There are ghosts here by the way."
"I see. Two things to consider, then; Do you actually plan on trying to make me look like a ghost to further the effect, and what am I supposed to do once I've let it be discovered that I'm here?"
"Hmmn... good idea, w'dya think Fred?"
"Quite, quite, now all we have to think of..."
"Is how."
They were looking through what appeared to be a notebook they'd put together of amusing spells and charms... or, if you're Fred or George, useful information.
"Here... look, fizzing wizzbees, that'll work for floating..."
"Fake injuries, a few fake burns here and there, maybe a few fake cuts for extra effect..."
"Hope you don't mind if we singe the hems of your clothes a little-"
"What about transparency?"
"Can't find anything so far-"
"Harry-"
"You can turn invisible-"
"And visible-"
"Can you turn transparent?"
"I'm not sure. I'll try," he replied, sounding mildly annoyed, "If you'll tell me what I'm to do once I'm seen."
They shrugged.
"You could go to school here-"
"You were supposed to, before you 'died,' after all-"
"You could even-"
"Keep pretending to be a ghost-"
"Until someone realizes you're not."
Harry considered this. If he went to school here, he would learn more about magic, and be able to keep an eye on Quirrel. If he managed to fool people into thinking he was a ghost, however, he wouldn't be under authority to the same degree. He would most likely be under estimated, and would earn less attention from the general population than if he was a student. It would be more interesting, at any rate, than staying invisible. He could gain a more neutral position here, and probably learn more, though it would be more of a risk. The wiser people present would most likely find the new ghost quite suspicious. It was a gamble, but it was worth it. He couldn't hide forever if he was to gain anything, and hiding in plain view would be all the more fun. Being a student here would be interesting anyway, if things did go awry, and he didn't have to remain semi-visible all the time...
"Alright."
He closed his eyes and concentrated on how much he wanted to be transparent, and on the feeling of changing degree of visibility.
"Did it work?"
"Well, uh-"
"Sorta, might need practice-"
"Sorry mate, but-"
"Ghosts are all pearly white-"
"Try making color invisible."
He tried again, focusing as much as he could. When he opened his eyes, he found the twins grinning at him.
"Wicked!"
"Magnificent!"
"Fabulous!"
"Right, let's see to the fake burns then..."
"I must say, they look much more convincing when you're silvery and transparent-"
"And the singing..."
"How 'bout a fake cut here?"
"Good, here's a mirror-"
"Take a look!"
Harry glanced at the mirror, then blinked in surprise. He looked, in short, quite convincingly like a ghost. He was semi-transparent, and pearly white, though his hair and the singed hems of his cloths were a shade darker, and there was a faint hint of green to his eyes. They had removed the bandana and sunglasses, so that his scar and eyes were clearly visible, and added fake injuries. His hands and the back of his neck were almost completely covered, and in some places silvery fake blood oozed out. He had a fake burn on one cheek, and a fake cut along his hairline on one side with drops of silvery fake blood. His clothes, which had already been a bit worse-for-wear, now were singed a bit here and there, as if had been in a fire.
A slow smile spread across his face, and he nodded.
"Don't forget the fizzing whizbees," one commented, pressing a small container into his hand.
"They'll make you float-"
"So just eat a few-"
"-right before you make yourself semi-visible."
"Get the rest out of sight-"
"To avoid suspicion. Save them for later."
He nodded.
"Alright then,"
"Make yourself invisible-"
"And follow us."
Severus Snape was not having a good day. The staff were all on edge, hell everyone was on edge. Today was the day Harry Potter was to have come to Hogwarts, and despite they'd known him to be dead for years, it was somehow all the worse today. They'd thought, for awhile, that they would find out any day that it wasn't true, but the day had come, and they had to face what they'd known for years: that Harry Potter was dead.
The Potter brat was dead. The son of his arch-nemesis was dead. The child-savior of the wizarding world was dead. A child he owed his life to nearly twice over- once indirectly, through James Potter, and once for the past few years of freedom from the dark lord. Because Harry Potter was all of these things, and the fact that this was the day he would have come to Hogwarts surfaced the old wound all over again.
To make it all worse, Minerva had requested that he bring in the first years, as she felt she needed to stay to give the headmaster support. The sorting hat had been brought in, and the little brats were still chattering.
"Weasley!" he snapped, "quit the senseless chatter."
"Now that's not very nice..." said a voice from behind him.
The Weasley twins had spent a few moments looking for a target to say a few choice remarks to in order to set up their prank. On seeing Snape only a little ways a way with the first years, they exchanged evil grins, before sneaking over to stand behind him where he stood with the group of first years.
"...quit the senseless chatter."
"Now that's not very nice..." one commented.
"You ought to be more nice to ickle Ronniekins-"
Both Ron and Snape glared at them.
"To help you learn to be nice, and how to have an obnoxious sunshine and daisies attitude-
"You will be visited by three ghosts, starting-"
"NOW!"
With that they set off the fireworks. When the smoke cleared, Severus Snape found himself faced with what appeared to be a ghost, hovering a few feet off the ground, a ghost of a young boy, with wavy, shoulder-length hair, several burn marks, singed clothes, and a lightening scar. A ghost that was, undeniably, that of Harry Potter. The entire hall had gone quiet.
"Bloody hell," Severus muttered softly in utter shock.
Fred and George were grinning triumphantly. It was, of course, a much less somber moment for them than anyone else, as they knew perfectly well that he wasn't a ghost at all.
Harry smirked, glancing around, then remarked to Severus, eyebrows raised: "Easily startled lot, aren't they?"
Severus smirked back.
"That they are."
"Definitely." remarked the twins, still grinning.
Severus merely glanced between them, eyebrows raised, and shook his head. Perhaps, he thought, he wouldn't the presence of one Harry Potter at Hogwarts nearly as much as he one thought he would.
After getting over his shock, Headmaster Albus Dumbledore called the hall back to order, instructing that they continue with the sorting as usual.
"Right," said George.
"Come on, Harry,"
"You can come sit with us, for now,"
"If you want to watch the sorting-"
"-or we could just make a grand exist now,"
"And head down to the kitchen."
"Or you make your grand exist after the sorting," remarked Severus wryly.
Harry nodded.
"Right-o, Harry. See ya Professor."
Harry followed, floating after Fred and George over to the end of a long table. A stool had been brought out, and a ragged hat placed upon it. A rip in its brim opened up, and it 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 Gryffindors 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've 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 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 (though I have none)
For I'm a thinking Cap!"
The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.
Professor Snape stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment, and began to call out names.
"Abbott, Hannah!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
The list was fairly long, and Harry soon stopped trying to keep track. Hermione Granger, upon being sorted into Gryffindor, came and sat near Harry and the twins, and gave him a nervous smile.
"Err, hi, I'm Hermione Granger, nice to meet you."
"Harry Potter, and it's a pleasure."
Ron Weasley also joined the Gryffindor table.
"Way to go Ronniekins."
Ron glared at the twins.
"Shut up," he told them for the millionth time.
Harry smirked.
"Well done, Ron. Excellent," said Percy pompously.
The sorting continued to pass without event. Harry resolved to make sure and check out the other houses, and talk to those students later. Looking around, the Great Hall was quite impressive. It contained four student tables, one for each house, and a staff table, which had the Hogwart's Crest above it. The hall was illuminated by floating candles, and the ceiling-
"It's bewitched to look like the sky outside. I read about it in Hogwarts, a History," Hermione whispered, following his gaze.
Harry shrugged.
"Never read it. Does it mention anything out how they managed it?"
"No, unfortunately."
"Pity. That would be interesting. I wasn't raised by wizards, so I don't know much about how they do magic here."
"I've tried several simple spells, and read through our text books- you wouldn't have been able to, would you? I'm sorry. Maybe I can go over some of the material we learn in class with you some time, if you'd like."
"Sure, thanks."
"You can always come to class with us as well," commented Fred.
"Just think of the stir it'd cause!" George agreed, grinning.
"Well, I guess that would be one way to learn," said Hermione dubiously.
Harry laughed.
Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet.
"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. Everybody clapped and cheered.
"Bloody optimists," Harry muttered.
"See you all later!"
A ghost had come up to the table.
"We're headed to the kitchens. Just follow us, Nick!" one remarked, seeing the odd expression on the ghost's face.
"Ta! Come along Nick, Harry!"
"Where do you two think you're going? You need to be here or you won't get the password!"
"We'll be back for the end of the feast. And really Percy, are you a Prefect? You should have told us..."
With that they were off, Harry and the ghost floating along next to them. Percy glared after their retreating forms.
As soon as they were out of hearing distance, they broke into gales of laughter.
"It's a crazy world," muttered Harry, smirking slightly. But he was in a good position to keep a close eye on Quirrel, learn some magic... and to be amused. For some odd reason, he wouldn't have it any other way.
A/N: I'll try to reply to reviews next time. I'm leaving on a trip shortly(just for this weekend), and am in a hurry, but I didn't think it'd be nice to delay the next chapter. Until next week!
twighlightshadow.