Harry noticed that the hat said the last part out loud to the room. A table
to the far left clapped for him, but the rest of the students were silent.
He took the hat out and placed it on the stool. Now, with the hat of, and
able to see again, Harry looked around and saw that the students were all
looking at him in a sort of horrified wonder. He stepped forward, and made
his way toward the Slytherin table. The relief that had flooded him that
the hat had finally decided where to put him was being replaced by fear
again. The other students had been received warmly by their table, but they
had had a sort of welcome from the other houses, too. But how they reacted
to Harry was all-wrong. As he sat down at the Slytherin table, he saw Ron
looking at him, obviously intrigued, but also confused. Harry was terrified
of this welcome. He looked down his table at the rest of the people sitting
there, and wasn't happy with what he saw. While a few Slytherin students
waved at him and smiled, others were glaring at him suspiciously. He was
also upset to see Malfoy and his goons sitting not far off from him. He had
forgotten that Malfoy had been sorted here. The sinking feeling Harry had
was just capped by this. He had decided on the train that Malfoy was
definitely not the sort of person he wanted to be around. He was reminded
forcibly of what Hagrid had told him. All the dark witches and wizards had
come from Slytherin house......
Harry felt that this was unfair. He had been placed in Slytherin, and he knew that he wasn't to be a dark wizard. He looked at his table again, his eyes wandering over those who had smiled at him. They couldn't all be worth that bad reputation. So they were ambitious, was that a crime? But as the sorting ended, and the chattering began, Harry could tell from what he heard, that apparently the rest of the school thought so. "Harry Potter in Slytherin?" said a confused Ravenclaw girl behind him. "What does that mean?"
"I don't know," answered a Ravenclaw boy. "But it can't be good."
Harry felt his anger rising. So he was in Slytherin? Big deal! He didn't understand what was so bad about this. The Sorting Hat had it's reasons for putting him there. It knew better than any of them where he should go, and he didn't see how they could talk about it as though it was something horrible he had done.
Then, the room fell silent, and all heads turned to the staff table. An aged old wizard with long white hair and beard had stood. "Hello, all!" he said. "I am your Headmaster, for those of you who don't know. More words later, but now," he grinned widely, "feast!"
Food suddenly appeared in front of them, lining the tables, and the students began digging in. Harry helped himself, although he didn't have much of an appetite. His stomach was flopping with nerves, but at the same time, clenched with indignation. Nobody talked to him for a while. Then, at last, a blonde-haired second year girl slid over to him. Se was one of the few who had smiled. "Hey, Harry," she said amiably. She looked around the room, where people were still watch Harry in horror. "Probably not the welcome you expected, is it? Well, don't mind them. Slytherin's just not a very popular house around the school, and once you get to know them," she jerked her thumb down the table, "you'll understand why. But, don't worry about it. The shock'll wear off. Anyway, I'm Patricia Tiddle, a fellow Slytherin," she smiled even wider. "I just thought I should tell you we're not all bad. And while everyone here may not agree, I think you're quite welcome at the Slytherin table."
Harry smiled thankfully, feeling part of his alarm vanish. If this was what Slytherin was like, he thought, as the girl beckoned her friends over to her, then it couldn't be that bad. "Thanks," said Harry. "But, why does everybody seem to have something against Slytherin House?"
Patricia looked slightly uncomfortable, but smiled nonetheless. It seemed to be her natural expression. "Oh, well, you see, it's kind of ridiculous. But one of the things that the Sorting Hat looks for in the people it selects for Slytherin is the, well, purity of their blood," she chuckled nervously and this and grinned awkwardly. "You see, Salazaar Slytherin, our House founder, only thought that the school should accept students who had a magical family, as well. Kind of silly really."
Here, someone nearby stepped in on the conversation. It was one of Patricia's second year friends. "Very silly," he said, "But nonetheless, since that what he looked for, that's what the Sorting Hat looks for, too. Not only that, though, it just helps your odds. But, anyway, it's given Slytherin House a bad name. We're all supposed to be dark wizards in the making, or something. We're supposed to hate all Muggle-borns, and such. It's really unfair," he scowled, "We can't help being Purebloods anymore than the Muggle-borns can help their family not being magic. Nobody listens to the hat, anymore. They typically don't stop to think about how they didn't say to the hat what House they want put in, and automatically go there. They got put in their house same as we did. But still, being a Slytherin is like being branded a Muggle hater. Sorry, mate. But none of us here," he gesticulated the others who had scooted over toward Harry, "really wanted to be here with that reputation either. I mean, you're not a so-called 'pureblood', are you? Your mum was Muggle-born! How do you like it that almost everybody's going to think you hate your mum for having had Muggle family? I tell you it's not right. I myself am a pureblood, but I have Muggle friends! I went to a regular Muggle school before I got my Hogwarts' letter."
"Yeah," said another girl, "all of us here have been grouped up with that lot," she said, scowling down the table, "and we can't help it anymore than anyone else here."
Harry smiled at them. They were right. It was unjust that Harry should be viewed as some Muggle-hater just because he was ambitious. He looked at his new friends. "Well, that explains a lot," he smiled.
The group around him smiled back. "I'm Sean Kramer," said the boy, "And this is Olga Martin," he said, and the girl to his right nodded at Harry. "It's a shame, but I don't think there'll be too much bonding between you and your fellow first years," he said, looking disgustedly down the table at Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and some first year girls who were all talking loudly about the joys of the Slytherin house. "My advice," said Sean with a smile, "is to get in with some of the others, too. There's too much animosity between the houses at this school. I think that you might be judge the bridge that Slytherin house needs." And with one last group smile, they returned briefly to their meal, before the food vanished from the plates. They looked up again towards the staff table. Dumbledore had risen again. "And now," he said, "that we have all had our filling, it is time to get slightly more serious," he looked out over the sea of students. "First off, I would like to tell all you first years that the Forbidden Forest is, strictly, off limits, and I would like to remind a few older students, too. And also, Fanged Frisbees and Banging Boomerangs have been banned from the school premises. If you wish to know the full list of all 572 banned items, see Mr. Argus Filch, the caretaker. And also, the third corridor is strictly off limits this year, to all those who do not wish to die a horrible death."
This last comment got a few nervous chuckles but the majority of students took a more solemn approach to this announcement. "And, without further ado, I dismiss! Goodnight!" All at once, the students in the hall stood up from their seats, stretching and yawning, and filed out of the great hall. "Can you guys wait up for me?" Harry asked Sean, Olga, and Patricia. Sean nodded, and held the other two back, and Harry hurried over to the Gryffindor table. He saw Ron, just standing, ready to join the bustle out of the hall. "Hey Ron!" called Harry.
Ron turned around, and smiled at Harry, in a more reassuring way than Harry had expected. Some of the apprehension he had be feeling drained away. "Great that you got in Gryffindor, Ron! Your Mum and Dad'll be proud!"
"Yeah," said Ron, nodding, "but Slytherin, Harry, I don't think any of us were expecting that! I've never heard anything, well, good about the Slytherins you know," he added, eyeing Sean and the others. "Oh, they're not all so bad," he said, and then followed his gaze, "and they're not all what you think, either," he added defensively.
"Oh, no, right," said Ron, not sounding reassured. "Well, I mean, you did get put there, so I suppose not, aye?"
"Yeah," said Harry smiling, "I don't think I am at least. But then again, I'm a rotten Slytherin now, are you going to take my word for it?"
Ron laughed this time, "Yeah, well, as long as you don't start hanging out with creeps like that Malfoy, I guess I can trust you," he said. "Well, I'll see you around, aye?"
"Yeah," said Harry, "see you around!" And with that, he ran back to meet up with the others.
"Nice," said Olga, "definitely a start. And that was one of the Weasleys, too, wasn't it?"
"That's Ron, I met him at King's Cross and rode with him on the train. He's all right. You know, why don't you guys attempt to be friendly with the others?"
"Oh, we try, Harry," said Patricia, "believe me we do. But nobody really wants to be associated with Slytherins. That's why it's so great that you're here. You, the one who defeated You-Know-Who, whose parents were known for fighting him? You'll give Slytherin a good name, Harry, you mark my words. Especially if you get along with a Weasley! I mean, I don't really know them myself, except that the twins, Fred and George, hate Slytherin. The whole family is strongly against any sort of foul attitude towards Muggles. Don't trust the whole lot of us," she said sadly.
"But, ah, Harry, we're here!" said Sean, stopping in front of...nothing. The wall was empty, flanked by two portaits not far off. It looked as though a picture had been taken down from here. "Draconus!" said Sean, and the wall suddenly dissolved away into a large doorway. "After you," he said, letting Harry and the girls enter first.
The Slytherin common room was not very inviting. It was dark and dungeon like, sporting green armchairs, lit with an eerie green glow from nearby torches. The few people in left in the common room looked up as they entered and sneered, looking away again. "Right," said Sean, "Harry, maybe we haven't been totally honest with you. We're not exactly the most loved people, even by Slytherin standards." "My lord! Potter, do you seek out the riffraff everywhere you go? You get into Slytherin House, and still manage to find some low-lifes!" cried a oiled and unwelcome voice.
"You're right, Malfoy," said Harry, his temper, which had already been overworked tonight, spilling over, "I do seem to run into riffraff wherever I go. And yet you still won't go away!"
Malfoy's mouth opened as he searched for some retort to throw at Harry. Behind him, he heard someone snicker. "You had better watch your step, Potter" said Malfoy maliciously, "You don't want to cross me. You'll be sorry, just as I bet your parents were." And he turned on his heel, and spun away off to the boys' dormitories.
Harry stood there, shaking with anger at Malfoy. "If I have to deal with him," he said through gritted teeth, "everyday, I don't know how I'm going to make it here."
"Don't we know it," said Olga, turning away to the girls' dormitories. "'Night Sean, Harry. See you in the morning. And stick in there, Potter!" she said, in a ridiculous impression of Malfoy. They all laughed, before they turned off to bed.
"So, who else should I know about who you think I can trust here?" Harry asked Sean. "Hmm, well, you don't have many choices, I'm sorry to say. There are two seventh years who're alright. Klein and Brady. Oh, and a third year named Tricia Gold, she hangs with us a lot. Too bad your year didn't have anyone to promising. Besides you, of course."
And with a wave, they both set off to their separate rooms. Harry saw that his things had been brought up for him, and set at the end of a four-poster bed. There was also a note in his owl cage, that told him Blaise had been sent to the Owlery. Harry smiled. He pulled his pajamas on, and got into bed, pulling the curtains shut around him. He wasn't too comfortable, sleeping in the same room as Crabbe, Goyle, and Malfoy, but he didn't have a choice. 'Besides,' he thought, 'they won't attack me. It would be too obvious. They wouldn't do anything that risked their own necks.'
And Harry rolled over, pulling his covers habitually to his chin in the warm night air, and fell into a rejuvenating sleep. Hogwarts had proved to be better than all his hopes.
Harry felt that this was unfair. He had been placed in Slytherin, and he knew that he wasn't to be a dark wizard. He looked at his table again, his eyes wandering over those who had smiled at him. They couldn't all be worth that bad reputation. So they were ambitious, was that a crime? But as the sorting ended, and the chattering began, Harry could tell from what he heard, that apparently the rest of the school thought so. "Harry Potter in Slytherin?" said a confused Ravenclaw girl behind him. "What does that mean?"
"I don't know," answered a Ravenclaw boy. "But it can't be good."
Harry felt his anger rising. So he was in Slytherin? Big deal! He didn't understand what was so bad about this. The Sorting Hat had it's reasons for putting him there. It knew better than any of them where he should go, and he didn't see how they could talk about it as though it was something horrible he had done.
Then, the room fell silent, and all heads turned to the staff table. An aged old wizard with long white hair and beard had stood. "Hello, all!" he said. "I am your Headmaster, for those of you who don't know. More words later, but now," he grinned widely, "feast!"
Food suddenly appeared in front of them, lining the tables, and the students began digging in. Harry helped himself, although he didn't have much of an appetite. His stomach was flopping with nerves, but at the same time, clenched with indignation. Nobody talked to him for a while. Then, at last, a blonde-haired second year girl slid over to him. Se was one of the few who had smiled. "Hey, Harry," she said amiably. She looked around the room, where people were still watch Harry in horror. "Probably not the welcome you expected, is it? Well, don't mind them. Slytherin's just not a very popular house around the school, and once you get to know them," she jerked her thumb down the table, "you'll understand why. But, don't worry about it. The shock'll wear off. Anyway, I'm Patricia Tiddle, a fellow Slytherin," she smiled even wider. "I just thought I should tell you we're not all bad. And while everyone here may not agree, I think you're quite welcome at the Slytherin table."
Harry smiled thankfully, feeling part of his alarm vanish. If this was what Slytherin was like, he thought, as the girl beckoned her friends over to her, then it couldn't be that bad. "Thanks," said Harry. "But, why does everybody seem to have something against Slytherin House?"
Patricia looked slightly uncomfortable, but smiled nonetheless. It seemed to be her natural expression. "Oh, well, you see, it's kind of ridiculous. But one of the things that the Sorting Hat looks for in the people it selects for Slytherin is the, well, purity of their blood," she chuckled nervously and this and grinned awkwardly. "You see, Salazaar Slytherin, our House founder, only thought that the school should accept students who had a magical family, as well. Kind of silly really."
Here, someone nearby stepped in on the conversation. It was one of Patricia's second year friends. "Very silly," he said, "But nonetheless, since that what he looked for, that's what the Sorting Hat looks for, too. Not only that, though, it just helps your odds. But, anyway, it's given Slytherin House a bad name. We're all supposed to be dark wizards in the making, or something. We're supposed to hate all Muggle-borns, and such. It's really unfair," he scowled, "We can't help being Purebloods anymore than the Muggle-borns can help their family not being magic. Nobody listens to the hat, anymore. They typically don't stop to think about how they didn't say to the hat what House they want put in, and automatically go there. They got put in their house same as we did. But still, being a Slytherin is like being branded a Muggle hater. Sorry, mate. But none of us here," he gesticulated the others who had scooted over toward Harry, "really wanted to be here with that reputation either. I mean, you're not a so-called 'pureblood', are you? Your mum was Muggle-born! How do you like it that almost everybody's going to think you hate your mum for having had Muggle family? I tell you it's not right. I myself am a pureblood, but I have Muggle friends! I went to a regular Muggle school before I got my Hogwarts' letter."
"Yeah," said another girl, "all of us here have been grouped up with that lot," she said, scowling down the table, "and we can't help it anymore than anyone else here."
Harry smiled at them. They were right. It was unjust that Harry should be viewed as some Muggle-hater just because he was ambitious. He looked at his new friends. "Well, that explains a lot," he smiled.
The group around him smiled back. "I'm Sean Kramer," said the boy, "And this is Olga Martin," he said, and the girl to his right nodded at Harry. "It's a shame, but I don't think there'll be too much bonding between you and your fellow first years," he said, looking disgustedly down the table at Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and some first year girls who were all talking loudly about the joys of the Slytherin house. "My advice," said Sean with a smile, "is to get in with some of the others, too. There's too much animosity between the houses at this school. I think that you might be judge the bridge that Slytherin house needs." And with one last group smile, they returned briefly to their meal, before the food vanished from the plates. They looked up again towards the staff table. Dumbledore had risen again. "And now," he said, "that we have all had our filling, it is time to get slightly more serious," he looked out over the sea of students. "First off, I would like to tell all you first years that the Forbidden Forest is, strictly, off limits, and I would like to remind a few older students, too. And also, Fanged Frisbees and Banging Boomerangs have been banned from the school premises. If you wish to know the full list of all 572 banned items, see Mr. Argus Filch, the caretaker. And also, the third corridor is strictly off limits this year, to all those who do not wish to die a horrible death."
This last comment got a few nervous chuckles but the majority of students took a more solemn approach to this announcement. "And, without further ado, I dismiss! Goodnight!" All at once, the students in the hall stood up from their seats, stretching and yawning, and filed out of the great hall. "Can you guys wait up for me?" Harry asked Sean, Olga, and Patricia. Sean nodded, and held the other two back, and Harry hurried over to the Gryffindor table. He saw Ron, just standing, ready to join the bustle out of the hall. "Hey Ron!" called Harry.
Ron turned around, and smiled at Harry, in a more reassuring way than Harry had expected. Some of the apprehension he had be feeling drained away. "Great that you got in Gryffindor, Ron! Your Mum and Dad'll be proud!"
"Yeah," said Ron, nodding, "but Slytherin, Harry, I don't think any of us were expecting that! I've never heard anything, well, good about the Slytherins you know," he added, eyeing Sean and the others. "Oh, they're not all so bad," he said, and then followed his gaze, "and they're not all what you think, either," he added defensively.
"Oh, no, right," said Ron, not sounding reassured. "Well, I mean, you did get put there, so I suppose not, aye?"
"Yeah," said Harry smiling, "I don't think I am at least. But then again, I'm a rotten Slytherin now, are you going to take my word for it?"
Ron laughed this time, "Yeah, well, as long as you don't start hanging out with creeps like that Malfoy, I guess I can trust you," he said. "Well, I'll see you around, aye?"
"Yeah," said Harry, "see you around!" And with that, he ran back to meet up with the others.
"Nice," said Olga, "definitely a start. And that was one of the Weasleys, too, wasn't it?"
"That's Ron, I met him at King's Cross and rode with him on the train. He's all right. You know, why don't you guys attempt to be friendly with the others?"
"Oh, we try, Harry," said Patricia, "believe me we do. But nobody really wants to be associated with Slytherins. That's why it's so great that you're here. You, the one who defeated You-Know-Who, whose parents were known for fighting him? You'll give Slytherin a good name, Harry, you mark my words. Especially if you get along with a Weasley! I mean, I don't really know them myself, except that the twins, Fred and George, hate Slytherin. The whole family is strongly against any sort of foul attitude towards Muggles. Don't trust the whole lot of us," she said sadly.
"But, ah, Harry, we're here!" said Sean, stopping in front of...nothing. The wall was empty, flanked by two portaits not far off. It looked as though a picture had been taken down from here. "Draconus!" said Sean, and the wall suddenly dissolved away into a large doorway. "After you," he said, letting Harry and the girls enter first.
The Slytherin common room was not very inviting. It was dark and dungeon like, sporting green armchairs, lit with an eerie green glow from nearby torches. The few people in left in the common room looked up as they entered and sneered, looking away again. "Right," said Sean, "Harry, maybe we haven't been totally honest with you. We're not exactly the most loved people, even by Slytherin standards." "My lord! Potter, do you seek out the riffraff everywhere you go? You get into Slytherin House, and still manage to find some low-lifes!" cried a oiled and unwelcome voice.
"You're right, Malfoy," said Harry, his temper, which had already been overworked tonight, spilling over, "I do seem to run into riffraff wherever I go. And yet you still won't go away!"
Malfoy's mouth opened as he searched for some retort to throw at Harry. Behind him, he heard someone snicker. "You had better watch your step, Potter" said Malfoy maliciously, "You don't want to cross me. You'll be sorry, just as I bet your parents were." And he turned on his heel, and spun away off to the boys' dormitories.
Harry stood there, shaking with anger at Malfoy. "If I have to deal with him," he said through gritted teeth, "everyday, I don't know how I'm going to make it here."
"Don't we know it," said Olga, turning away to the girls' dormitories. "'Night Sean, Harry. See you in the morning. And stick in there, Potter!" she said, in a ridiculous impression of Malfoy. They all laughed, before they turned off to bed.
"So, who else should I know about who you think I can trust here?" Harry asked Sean. "Hmm, well, you don't have many choices, I'm sorry to say. There are two seventh years who're alright. Klein and Brady. Oh, and a third year named Tricia Gold, she hangs with us a lot. Too bad your year didn't have anyone to promising. Besides you, of course."
And with a wave, they both set off to their separate rooms. Harry saw that his things had been brought up for him, and set at the end of a four-poster bed. There was also a note in his owl cage, that told him Blaise had been sent to the Owlery. Harry smiled. He pulled his pajamas on, and got into bed, pulling the curtains shut around him. He wasn't too comfortable, sleeping in the same room as Crabbe, Goyle, and Malfoy, but he didn't have a choice. 'Besides,' he thought, 'they won't attack me. It would be too obvious. They wouldn't do anything that risked their own necks.'
And Harry rolled over, pulling his covers habitually to his chin in the warm night air, and fell into a rejuvenating sleep. Hogwarts had proved to be better than all his hopes.