The Dark Heir
Chapter 3: Hogwarts
The Leaky Cauldron
Nathan and Hagrid sat on a table eating away some stew. Nathan sat in silence as he switched between eating his stew and feed Zeus some meat.
"You alright, 'ate? You seem very quiet" Hagrid asked. Nathan turned to the half-giant.
"Listen, I am sorry again about what happened in Gringotts." Nathan apologized, which made Hagrid adopt a soft expression.
"It's okay, 'ate. I forgive ye. I think I woulda' reacted the same." Hagrid said and Nathan smiled in gratitude. They sat for a bit longer in silence before Nathan broke it.
"He killed my parents didn't he? The one who gave me this,"Nathan spoke touching his scar, "You know Hagrid, I know you do". Nathan of course, already knew thanks to Sinistra, but he thought he should have Hagrid explain incase Dumbledore asks him if Nathan knew the truth.
Hagrid sighed and pushed his bowl away, "First, and understand this, cause it's very important; not all wizards are good. Some of them go bad. A few years ago, there was this one wizard who went as bad as you can go. And his name was v-… his name was v-…" Hagrid shuddered as he struggled to even say the name of the Dark Wizard.
"Why don't you write it down?" Nathan asked. Hagrid shook his head.
"No, I can't spell it… all right, his name was Voldemort," he whispered.
"Voldemort?" Nathan repeated with his superb acting, but not loudly enough to get people's attention.
"Shh," Hagrid shushed him, "It was dark times, dark times..."
Flashback
A black cloaked man walked along a path towards a house and used his wand to enter.
"Voldemort started gather up some followers, brought 'em over to the dark side. Anyone stood up to him ended up dead. Your parents fought against him, but nobody lived once he decided to kill 'em."
The cloaked man points his wand, "Avada Kedavara!" a green spell fired from his wand and hits Lily, making her scream her son's name before dropping to the floor dead.
"Nobody… not one, except you-"Hagrid said.
End of Flashback
"Me? Voldemort tried to murder… me?" Nathan asked in disbelief, once again using his superb acting skills to play his ignorance up.
"Yes, that ain't no ordinary cut on your forehead, 'ate. A mark like that only comes from being touched by a curse and an evil curse at that," Hagrid explained.
"What happened to Voldemort?" Nathan asked in his acting.
Hagrid just looked outside the window and out into the dead of night, "Some say he died. Codswallop in my opinion, nobody ever found his body. Nope I reckon he's out there still, too tired to go on. But one thing's absolutely certain." he said getting Nathan's attention.
"Something about you stumped him that night. That's why you're famous 'athan, that's why everybody knows your name. You're the boy-who-lived" Hagrid stated. Nathan understood why people acted the way they did. Nathan, as a baby, had survived an encounter with the most insane and monstrous Dark Wizard in history. Naruto had known this already, of course. What he did not tell Hagrid was he still had nightmares about that time. It always happened near Halloween.
Train Station
8:30 AM
"Come on, 'ate. Don't want to be late now do you?" Hagrid said as the Potter scion then pushed his cart faster.
Minutes later, they arrived at a platform. Hagrid pulled out his pocket watch and his eyes widened, "Blimey, is that the time!? Sorry Nate, I'm gonna have to leave ya… Dumbledore'll be wanting his… well, he'll be wanting to see me. Now, uh your train leaves in thirty minutes so ya have plenty of time," he said reaching into his pocket and bringing out a golden slip, "Here's your ticket, Nate. Stick to it, 'ate, it's very important. Stick to your ticket" he said.
Nathan looked at the platform number, "Platform 9 ¾? But Hagrid, this must be a mistake. This is Platform 9 ¾ there's no such thing…"Nathan said in his act.
"…Is there?" Nathan asked, only to find that Hagrid was gone.
Nathan glared at the spot where Hagrid had been and pushed his cart further. 'You're lucky I already knew about the Platform, Hagrid.'
Nathan walked through the magically concealed entrance and saw a large black and red 4-6-0 steam engine train. The young boy heard the train whistle, "Better hurry up" Nathan said as he hurried aboard the train but, not before leaving their luggage to the employers.
But not before taking out the Hogwarts: A History. Some light reading to occupy his time would do. Well, light for him, anyway. Occlumency was so great. Not only did it protect you from Legilimency, a skilled user could also learn new skills and learn new info anywhere from 3 to 10 times faster. And he was only about a year away from mastering Occlumency and Legilimency. This was due to him starting to learn it while he was young. He'd be through this book in a few hours, a day tops. He was reading it to see if there was any info he didn't already know.
The train let out a whistle before its wheels began to turn 30 minutes later, the students waved goodbye to their parents as the train took off.
3.5 hours Later
Nathan sat in his compartment, having read through all the chapters of the book. He looked up and watched the train go by the surrounding landscape with a smile then turned to his book.
He pulled out his wand and pointed at the book. "Reducio." He incanted, as the large book shrunk to the size of a small eraser. Satisfied at successfully casting the Shrinking Charm for the first time, he pocketed his wand and shrunken book. Voldemort's memories were very handy.
Several minutes passed and a red-headed boy opened the door, "Excuse me, do you mind? I don't really know where else to sit." he asked.
"Sure. Come on in." Nathan said as the new kid sat opposite of him.
"Thanks" he said. "I'm Ron by the way, Ron Weasley" he introduced himself.
"Nathaniel Potter" the Potter scion himself making Ron go wide-eyed.
"So-so it's true!? I mean, do you really have the… the…" he stuttered.
"The what?" Nathan asked.
"The scar?" Ron whispered. Nathan remembered then that he had not cut his hair in a few months, so his spiky black hair was a mane that also covered the scar.
"Oh, yeah" Nathan moved his thick spiky mane out of the way and showed the scar.
"Wicked-"Ron stared. Nathan did not care all that much. He was getting used to people staring at the scar.
Just then, a small cart filled with sweets rolled up.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?" the nice old woman asked.
"No thanks. I'm all set" Ron said bringing up a half mushed sandwich from his jacket. Nathan felt a bit bad before taking out several galleons from his pockets.
"What'll this get us?" Nathan asked.
"Whoa!" Ron sputtered at the amount he had.
Time passed as the two continued talking about what they think they would expect at Hogwarts. Ron being something of a expert on wizard food, explained what kind of sweets they were eating.
Nathan opened up a small box with multi colored jelly-beans inside. "Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans?" he asked. Surely they did not mean every possible flavor imaginable right?
"They mean every flavor. There's chocolate and peppermint, and there's also spinach, liver, and tripe. George swore he got a bogey-flavored one once" Ron said. Nathan stopped eating after the explanation and spit out the bean in his mouth. Last thing he wanted was to taste a bean that was urine-flavoured, shit-flavoured, cum-flavoured, or rotting flesh-flavoured. That would just ruin his day.
Nathan picked up a golden blue package, "These aren't real chocolate frogs, are they?" he asked.
"It's only a spell. Besides it's the cards you want. Each pack's got a famous witch or wizard. I got about five hundred myself" he said. Nathan opened the box revealing a chocolate frog, which to their surprise, leaped onto the glass window before jumping out through the opening.
"That's rotten luck. They've only got one good jump in them to begin with" Ron stated.
Nathan picked another chocolate frog and ate it before it could jump. "Mmm, milk chocolate" he said. Then he took a look at his card. It was a middle-aged man with light blond hair, and he had heterochromia, with his right eye having a whitish blue color and the left a brown color. He also had a thin white moustache. "Gellert Grindelwald" Nathan pronounced while looking at the holographic image of the greatest dark wizard in history.
"Whoa, his card is really rare. It's almost impossible to find it." he explained.
"Hey, he's gone" Nathan said as Grindelwald's image disappeared.
"Well, you can't expect him to hang around all day, can you?" Ron said. Nathan put his card to the side and continued eating. Nathan noticed Ron's rat pop out of a bag.
"This is Scabbers by the way. Pathetic, isn't he?" Ron stated while looking at his pet.
"Just a bit" the black haired wizard responded.
"Fred gave me a spell to turn him yellow, want to see?" Ron asked.
"Sure." Nathan shrugged.
Ron pulls out his wand and clears his throat, "Okay, let's do this...". Just as he was about to start the enchantment, the door opened.
"Hey has anyone see a toad? A boy named Neville lost one" a familiar girl asked.
"Hermione!" Nathan stated as he got up and hugging the girl.
"Nathan? Where were you? I couldn't find you at the Platform" she asked.
"I got here early. Sorry about that" he said. Hermione accepted his apology and then noticed Ron with his wand out.
"Oh, you're doing magic? Let's see it, then," she motioned him to start.
Ron once again cleared his throat. "Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, turn this stupid fat rat yellow!", he said, zapping Scabbers who let out a squeak.
Nothing happened. "I think your brother may have pranked you." Nathan said kindly.
"I think he might right…I'm sorry, I don't know your name," Hermione apologized to Ron.
"Ron Weasley" he replies with his mouth full.
"Well, you two better change into your robes. I expect we'll arrive soon" she said as she made to leave the apartment before turning back to Nathan.
"Oh and Nathan, you've got some chocolate on your lip" she says, licking her thumb and wiping it off before leaving.
Nathan sat back as he pondered this, 'I should probably get my head checked. I'm mentally 30 years old and attracted to my 12 year old female friend.' Nathan stopped that line of thought, 'Then again, when I was a shinobi, I was constantly trying to get Sakura to date me, so this is kinda the usual for me. I think I'll stick with being friends for now.'
He noticed the looks Ron was giving him, "Don't say a word." Naruto said.
Hogwarts Station
30 Minutes Later
The train lets out a whistle as it comes to a complete stop. Several minutes later, the students begin to exit the locomotive. Nathan and Ron exit the train now wearing their school robes and notice the half-giant walking along side with a lantern. "Right, then! First years! This way, please! Come on now, don't be shy! Hurry up!", Hagrid pronounced.
The two walk up to him. "Hiya, 'ate", the half-giant said.
"Hey Hagrid" he said casually.
Ron stared at the half-giant in amazement. "Whoaaa!" Ron stated.
"Right then, this way to the boats! Come on now, follow me" he said.
"What about our luggage?" Nathan asked.
"Don't worry about that, they'll be in your rooms by the end of the day" he said reassuring him.
Nathan nodded, thankful that he had used the Shrinking Charm on his book and stuffed it in his pocket, and hurried up to the boats along with Ron.
Moments later, the boats are found rowing across a vast lake. Nathan and Ron were paired in a boat, and they looked up ahead to see a huge castle in the distance. All the kids stared in awe at the castle. "Wicked", Ron stated.
Nathan, Ron, and Hermione ran upstairs with the rest of the students. They were all stopped by an elder teacher, Professor McGonagall. She looked upon the new prospective students with a smile.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. Now in a few moments you will pass through these doors and join your classmates, but before you can take your seats you must be sorted into your houses," she said. Nathan and his group looked amongst each other before turning their attention to the teacher.
"They are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin," Minerva of course, said Slytherin last, letting everyone know subtly which house she liked the least. "Now while you are here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you house points. Any rule breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup".
A scared looking boy just behind Ron and Nathan spots his toad by the teacher's feet and rushes forward. "Trevor!", he said picking up his pet. McGonagall stares down on him with a raised eyebrow. "S-sorry" he said as he backed away.
McGonagall shook her head. "The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily" she said before walking away.
Nathan took this time to speak amongst his group, "I hope we're all in the same house" he said, Ron and Hermione agreeing with him, but only because they were friends with Nathan and not with each other. It was then when a boy with slick back blond hair spoke up. The same asshole Nathan spoke to at Malkin's shop.
"It's true then, what they're saying on the train. Nathaniel Potter has come to Hogwarts" he said. The students heard him and began to whisper amongst themselves.
"This is Crabbe and Goyle,"he said pointing to the two other boys by his side, "And I'm Malfoy. Draco Malfoy" Malfoy then frowned when he heard Ron snicker.
"Think my name is funny, do you? No need to ask yours. Red hair and a hand me down robe? You must be a Weasley. You will soon find that some wizarding families are better than others Potter. You don't want to go making friends with the wrong sort, I can help you there," he said with a sneer as he held out his hand.
Nathan looked down at Malfoy's hand in amusement and let out a chuckle confusing the other students. His chuckle eventually annoyed Draco and he demanded, "What's so funny, Potter?"
"That you think, that I," Nathan stopped chuckling and gained a deathly serious expression, "would ever be friends with someone who insulted my mother?"
"What are you on about? I didn't-" Malfoy said but Nathan interrupted them.
"You mentioned the 'other kind' back in Malkin's Shop. It doesn't take a genius to know you are talking about Muggleborns. I would never debase myself to be friends with somebody that causally throws around that racist slur which insults my mother." Nathan said with a low snarl. Some of the other students that were muggleborns or knew about what Malfoy had meant by his comments, glared at the blonde-haired ponce.
"This is the first time we have met, Potter." Malfoy snarled.
"Really? So you don't remember meeting me at Malkin's Shop? Wow. You're racist and stupid." Nathan commented causing some of the other students to laugh at Draco's expense. Nathan normally tries to be polite and respectful, but someone who causally insults the woman who gave him life? No pleasantries needed at that point.
"Why you-" Draco growled but it was at that point that McGonagall returned and tapped him on the shoulder with a rolled up paper. Draco moved back to his group with a one last glare at Nathan.
McGonagall turns to every student, "We are ready for you now" she said as the doors open and the professor leads everyone through Great Hall. Nathan and his group looked around in awe. There four long tables for each respected house with many students already seated, as well as floating candles, and the roof itself appeared to be the night sky.
"That's one neat ceiling" Nathan said.
"It's not real, it's just bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it in "Hogwarts: A History" Hermione explained.
McGonagall motioned for the students to stop, "All right, will you wait along here please? Now, before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words," she said before moving to the side.
An elderly man with a long white beard, half-moon glasses and a maroon colored robe stood up from his seat, "I have a few start of term notices I wish to announce. The first-years please note, that the dark forest is strictly forbidden to all students. Also our caretaker, Mr. Filch,"he motioned to a ragged old man holding a red-eyed cat, "Has asked me to remind you that the third floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds, to everyone who does not wish to die a most painful death. Thank you" he said before sitting down.
Nathan wondered what he was on about, 'Why would he say that? It's like he wants people to explore it', Nathan thought.
McGonagall walked back to the group with a stool, scroll, and an odd wizard's hat, "When I call your name, you will come forth. I shall place the sorting hat over your head and you will be sorted into your houses," she said as she opened the rather long scroll.
"Hermione Granger,"she called out.
Hermione was surprised. She didn't think she'd be the first on the list. "Okay relax", she told herself.
"Mental that one, I'm telling you" Ron said. Nathan elbowed him lightly on the ribs. Ron rubbed his ribs. "What?" he asked, confused by Nathan's actions.
Hermione sits on the stool as McGonagall places the hat on her head. To their surprise, it started speaking, "Ah, right then… hmm… right… okay… GRYFFINDOR!" it shouted, every house began to clap for the newest member of Gryffindor. Hermione jumps off the stool with a smile as she walked over to her respected house and sat down.
'Ah, right. Voldemort's memories showed that the sorting hat reads the mind of the students to see where they would best fit. This could be a problem.' Nathan thought with trepidation.
"Draco Malfoy," McGonagall called out.
Draco saunters up to the stool proudly. Nathan heard something scream in his mind mentally and he rubbed his head. 'Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin! Slytherin!'
The old hat didn't even get put on Draco's head before it announced, "SLYTHERIN!". With that, the mental screaming stopped and he realized it had been Draco, broadcasting his thoughts so loudly that any Legilimens would have heard it. Somehow, he managed to hear it despite his shields being up. That might also be because Nathan devoted most of his Occlumency shields to protecting his memories as Naruto and the ones from Voldemort's, so the one's protecting his memories as Nathaniel Potter were the weakest. Nathan didn't notice that there was a girl behind him with a bowl-cut hairstyle that was rubbing her ears, having felt heard the same mental screaming. The students applauded as the boy walked over and sat down with his housemates.
"Susan Bones," the elder teacher called out.
A small red-haired girl walks up nervously, while the sorting hat was making its choice. Nathan noticed a greasy, black haired, pale teacher looking at him. As he did his scar began to hurt. But Nathan ignored it and watched the sorting.
"Let's see… I know… HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat declared, everyone cheered as the girl walked to her respected house.
"Ron Weasley," McGonagall called out, the red-head gulped and walks up to the stool. He turned to his friend, Nathan gave him a thumbs up and a short nod.
"Ah! Another Weasley, I know just where to put you…" the hat said, making the red-head more nervous. "GRYFFINDOR!" it shouted, Ron sighs in relief, as everyone cheered as Ron took a seat opposite of Hermione.
"Nathaniel Potter," McGonagall called out. The room went silent that the many whisperings could be heard as Nathan walked up to the stool. Dumbledore watches with much interest.
The professor places the hat on his head. "Hmm… Hmm… Hmm… Hmm… Hmm…Mr. Potter, please let your Occlumency shields down so you can be sorted."
If there wasn't whispering before, there definitely was now. Dumbledore, wondering if this was true, used a gentle probe on the boy but soon ran into what he could only describe as a wall of stone. He pulled back and nobody noticed his left eye change color to brown for a moment before returning to their normal blue as he rubbed his head.
But Nathan remained calm and said in annoyance, "You just had to say that outloud."
"My apologies, but I must be able to read your mind in order to sort you properly." The hat said.
"Fine," Nathan relented and let down part of his shields that protected Nathaniel Potter's memories.
After a moment, the hat spoke in his mind, 'Mr. Potter, I did say ALL of your shields.'
'You only need to see what I am showing you right now. The rest in private and not important to your sorting. Don't test my patience, hat.' Nathan thought.
"Hmm…difficult, very difficult. Plenty of courage I see, and a good, sharp mind too. That's plenty of talent, oh yes, and a thirst for knowledge, but where to put you?" the hat asked itself.
Nathan closed his eyes, "Not Slytherin" he whispered.
"Not Slytherin eh? Are you sure? You could be great, you know it's all in your head, and Slytherin will help you on your way to greatness, there's no doubt about that, no?" it asked.
Nathan continued to whisper, "Put me in Gryffindor. That's final."
The hat grinned, "Well, if you're sure, better be… GRYFFINDOR!" it declared. Nathan smiled, he got to be with his friends. The eleven year old got off the stool and walked toward the table as everyone cheered, he took a seat next to Hermione.
Forty five minutes of sorting later, McGonagall dings her cup with a fork, "Your attention please –"she said as she stood from her seat. Dumbledore rose from his own seat, "Let the feast… begin" he stated.
To the newcomer's surprise, foods of all kinds magically appeared on the tables. The halls filled with awe and chatter as the students began to chow down.
"I knew we'd be in the same house," Nathan said as he ate a chicken leg. Ron nodded in agreement as he stuffed his face in.
"Hey Nathan, what did the hat mean when he told you to 'let down your Occlumency Shields?'" Hermione asked. Nathan looked up from his meal as well as Ron.
"I'll tell ya later." he said with a wink.
Nathan then turned to the teacher he saw earlier, "Say Percy, who's that teacher talking to Professor Quirell?" he asked. Nathan wanted to know who the greasy git was.
Percy turned to the teachers, "Oh, that's Professor Snape, head of the Slytherin house" he responded.
"What's he teach?" Nathan asked.
"Potions, but everyone here knows its Dark Arts he fancies. He's been after Quirrell's job for years" Percy explains before he continued eating.
Ron reached for a chicken wing when a ghost head pops out, freaking the two out.
"Hello! How are you? Welcome to Gryffindor" the ghost said as he flew away, as he did more ghost come pouring from walls, sailing through the air as they do.
Nathan heard a girl shout, "Look, its Bloody Baron!"
He turned to see the same ghost from earlier float near the table, "Hello, Sir Nicholas, have a nice summer?" Percy asked.
"Dismal. Once again, my request to join the headless hunt has been denied" the ghost slumped as it floated up and away.
Ron then recognizes him, "Hey, I know you! You're Nearly Headless Nick!" the red-head pointed out.
'Nearly headless?' both Nathan and Hermione thought.
"I prefer Sir Nicholas if you don't mind" the ghost retorted.
"Nearly headless? How can you be nearly headless?" Hermione asked, the ghost turned to the newcomers.
"Like this" he said before grabbing his head and pulling it to the side. Nathan's group resisted the urge to gag as the ghosts head hung on to the neck by just a bit of skin.
'Clearly, somebody fucked up his decapitation.' Nathan noted.
The feast continued for a while before the houses headed to their respected dorms. Nathan, Ron, and Hermione looked over the staircase as they see the other students walking to their dorms and several stair cases switching to another pathway.
"Keep up, please and follow me. Quickly now. Come on, come on" Percy said, as they continued walking up the stairs, Nathan was amazed by the multiple paintings hung against the wall, even more since the ones in the painting could move and talk.
"Seamus, that pictures moving", Neville stated as he pointed.
"Look at that one, Nathan" Ron said.
"I think she fancies you" Nathan joked with Ron who backed away slightly from the painting.
"Welcome to Hogwarts" a man within a painting said. Nathan and Hermione waved hello before continuing their trek.
As the house approached its dorm, they came up to a large painting of a large woman in a pink dress.
"Password?" she asked.
Percy nodded, "Caput Draconis" he said. The woman nodded and the painting opened up to reveal a gape through the wall. "Follow me, everyone. Keep up. Quickly, come on" Percy said as he entered the dorm with the rest following.
"Gather around here," Percy said as the students entered the Common Room, "Welcome to the Gryffindor Common Room. Boy's dormitories are up stairs and down to your left. Girl's the same on your right. You'll find your belongings have already been brought up," he said as the students walked towards their dorms.
Nathan found his belonging's on his bed, which was between Ron's and Neville's. Zeus was chilling out at the bedrest. When he saw his master, he flew over and rested on Nathan's shoulder. Nathan chuckled and petted his Thunderbirds beak and fed him some meat. He then noticed a note on his bed.
He opened the note.
"Oh, this is my schedule" he said to himself as he looked it over. Nathan pulled out his shrunken book and pointed his wand at it and muttered, "Engorgio". The book returned to it's true size and he put it back with his other books.
Nathan placed the note on top of his trunk and placed Zeus's cage near the window, he then headed towards the bathroom to brush his teeth before he slumped in his bed and drifted into sleep.
He was looking forward to starting his new school life.
Chapter End
I could not justifiy starting classes on a short chapter. Classes start next chapter.
Also, if your are wondering why he is friends with Weasley, Harry's friendship with Ron was central to the first three books/movies. It's is somewhat needed for the story. Plus, while I give Ron a lot of shit for not growing up and still having his childish habits when he is an adult, as an 11 year old, I can't justify cutting him off...yet. He wasn't totally terrible in books one and two.