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Chapter 6

People Like Newness. It Makes Things Shiny.

"Oi, Mione!"

Hermione Granger groaned and turned to glare at her fellow Gryffindor Prefect, Ron Weasley.

"I told you not to call me that!" she snapped, bushy hair fanning wildly about her head.

The lanky, ginger-haired boy paled and said, "Er, sorry. Won't happen again."

Hermione sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, knowing full well that it would happen again. Ron had a one-track mind and most of the time that mind was focused on girls. As his little sister Ginny said, he was like a dog with a bone.

"What is it?" she grumbled. "I didn't get much sleep last night and I barely had enough money to buy a pumpkin pasty on the train, so I'm sleep deprived and starving which…"

"Makes Hermione an angsty darling," teased Ron. When she glared at him, he sighed and said, "Okay, okay. I don't know if McGonagall told you, but there's some new chap coming into our year this term and all the Prefects are supposed to help him out."

Hermione's eyebrows arched at that.

"Even if he's not in our House?"

Ron nodded solemnly and the bushy-haired girl whistled. This was weird. And it batted at her insatiable curiosity like her cat Crookshanks playing with a moth.

"How odd… Do you know his name?"

"No idea. I know he's supposed to be Sorted after the first years but that's all."

Hermione sighed then grabbed his elbow, pulling him towards the Great Hall.

"Okay," she said, "so we'll find out in a couple of minutes. I just hope he's not another Malfoy."

Ron moaned and hissed, "Oh, Merlin, Hermione, don't even suggest that!"

"Sorry. Couldn't help it."

The redhead moaned again, causing Hermione to roll her eyes. But as she sat down beside him at the Gryffindor Table and answered Ginny's question of how her summer was, she crossed her fingers underneath the table.

It wouldn't hurt to hope this new guy wasn't a prat like Draco Malfoy.

- - -

"Chikusho!"

"Control yourself, Harry," said Snape as he watched the han-akurei pace. The two of them stood in one of the rooms that were situated behind the Head Table, waiting for the first years to be Sorted. Students were actually not supposed to be allowed within them but an exception had been made for Harry due to the fact that any of the students could easily have recognized him had he waited in the entrance hall.

All it took was one glimpse at his scar and the news that Harry Potter was alive would be all over the school.

Snape silently marveled at the fact that they had managed to keep the papers away – and from publishing the story, as well. Ima Foot had done her job well, keeping the truth as low-key as possible and telling the least amount of people.

Of course, after tonight owls would be flying all over getting the news out. But that was a matter to think of later.

"Sumimasen," mumbled Harry. His gray ears twitched wildly as he continued to pace, their movement showing how nervous he was. "I hate crowds. I mean I really hate crowds."

"You are not alone in that," said Snape. He then walked over to the teenager and placed his hands on his shoulders, halting the han-akurei's pacing. "Take a deep breath, boy. All you have to do is walk over and let Minerva put the hat on your head. After that, all you must worry about are the members of your House."

"That's what I'm worried about. And what about sleeping arrangements? One of them could easily see…"

"No, they can't," interrupted Snape.

Harry blinked and his ears twitched again as his mouth fell open to show his fangs.

"Wha?"

"You are to remain in your rooms. Which are just a few feet away from mine, if you do not recall."

Harry frowned, his ears now flattening against his head. A look of anger flashed across his face and he growled, "Why aren't I to be allowed in the dorms?"

"Just a moment ago you were worried about one of your Housemates discovering you."

"Forget that. Why am I not even going to be allowed that fear?"

Snape looked at him for a long moment before he said, "None of the other professors would tell you this. But I am not them and I have my own loyalties – many of them less than reparable."

"Sir…"

"But I digress," said Snape hurriedly. "Albus believes that you could be…dangerous…to the other students."

"Nan no?" exclaimed Harry. "You mean he thinks I'd attack them or something? I may be half demon but I'm not barbaric!"

"I know that. But he is headmaster here and must think of the other students. And remember, very few headmaster's would have allowed you into school."

"True. Still…it hurts to know I'm not trusted."

"I know," said Snape, the tone in his voice letting Harry know that the man knew exactly what he was talking about.

And why wouldn't he? After all, he had been a Death Eater and few had reason to trust them. But Dumbledore did and so did Harry.

He'd trust Snape with his life.

"Now that that is done, we have one more student to sort: a new seventh year student who is transferring here from Tokyo, Japan," came Dumbledore muffled voice through the door suddenly.

"That's our cue," said Harry as he grabbed his hat. His fingers tingled as he touched it, the charms Snape had placed on it earlier causing the reaction. Charms to hide his ears and tail from sight had been tried when he'd first arrived at the school. They had failed so only charming other things would work.

Snape smiled slightly and pulled the hat down in the back before he opened the door and stepped out into the Hall. Harry took a deep, shuddering breath and – after checking his hands to make sure his claws were retracted – strode out of the room.

He caught Dumbledore's eyes as he walked towards McGonagall and the old wizard smiled.

"Mister Potter," he said with a nod of his head.

"Did he say 'Potter?" Harry heard someone hiss.

"He did!"

"It can't be. He's dead!"

"Does he have the scar? Can you see it?"

"'Nother imposter I bet."

"No, there's the scar! I see it!"

"Professor," murmured Harry as he sat down on the stool McGonagall was standing by.

"Potter," she replied. "Remove your hat, please."

"Hai," said Harry, taking off his hat. No gasps of shock went up from the assembled students so he knew that the spell McGonagall was supposed to cast to hide his ears (it wasn't actually cast on them, so it worked) at this point was in effect.

A moment later the Sorting Hat was on his head and he flattened his ears against his skull.

"What is this?" he heard a voice say inside his head. "A half demon?"

"Yes," said Harry back to it. "Half demon."

"Well, well. This is the most surprising case I've had since the werewolf… And that was a surprise indeed. But no matter!"

Werewolf? thought Harry.

"Friend of your father's," said the Hat. "Or should I say your stepfather… Now, lets see what we have in this brain of yours."

Harry waited, looking at the expectant student body as the Hat did whatever it did.

"Hmm. Protective, I see. Loyal. But ambitious… Very ambitious. You don't want to see any other families torn apart like your own. A very ambitious goal. Ah, you sly cat, you. Sneaky and quite the trickster. Quite the tangle you are, my boy. Quite the tangle indeed…"

The Hat chuckled then and said, "Ah, here's one to shock the Hall. Give that black knight of Dumbledore's my regards, osuneko."

"SLYTHERIN!"

A stunned hush fell over the Hall as Harry took off the Sorting Hat and put his own back on. He stood and handed the Hat back to McGonagall, who smiled at him, before he straightened his robes and strode over to the Slytherin table.

"Oi, Potter!"

At the sound of his name, Harry looked down the table to see a young man with white-blonde hair and a pointed face waving at him. Frowning, he stole a glance towards Snape before he walked down the table and sat in the empty seat beside the blonde.

"Fancy this," said the blonde, his gray eyes shining coldly. "The famous Boy-Who-Did-Not-Live in Slytherin. Bet the Prophet'd have a high time with the news. Draco Malfoy, by the way."

"Harry Potter," said Harry. "Or Subaki."

"What kind of name is that?" sneered a pug-faced girl who sat across from Malfoy.

Harry fixed her with a mild glare and replied, "My foster mother's maiden name is what it is. If you have a problem with it, I would be glad to discuss it at further length with you. Preferably with my wand."

The girl glowered at him and started to say something but Malfoy jumped in.

"Come now, Pansy," he said in a false cheery tone. "Is that any way to treat our new Housemate?"

Pansy snorted in a very unladylike manner and continued to glower at Harry, who ignored her.

"So," said Draco, "you've been hiding in Japan all these years? How'd that turn out?"

Harry turned towards him and narrowed his emerald eyes at the blonde.

"It is not polite for people who have just met to ask such personal questions," he said softly. "We are not friends, Draco Malfoy. Nor even acquaintances. Refrain from asking such questions if you value your fingers."

Malfoy's eyebrows arched up into his hair and he laughed, brashly and genuinely, causing other students to stare at him.

"Oh gods, Potter," he said, wiping tears from his eyes. "You don't have to be so solemn."

"I was serious."

"That I don't doubt. Would you really remove my fingers?"

"One at the time with a dull, rusty knife. Then your toes. After that your nose and in continuing succession your lips, ears, and…other extremities."

The males sitting near them winced and one hissed, "Good grief, Potter. Where'd you get that?"

"My foster mother," replied Harry. He quirked a smile as he added, "She's absolutely mad about torture methods."

"I'd hate to get on her bad side then," said the boy. He then extended his hand across the table and said, "Oh, Thomas Ymber, by the way. Fifth year."

"Konnichi wa."

"What?"

"It means 'hello.'"

"Oh. Japanese?"

Harry just nodded then picked up his fork, falling into silence as he began to eat. At his side, Malfoy watched him with cautious gray eyes.

"Staring is rude, Malfoy," said Harry shortly as he pushed his empty plate away twenty minutes later.

"Your odd, you know that?"

Odder than you may ever know, thought Harry. Aloud he said, "What of it?"

"Nothing. Oh, forgot to tell you, I've got orders to show you around. Prefect duties and all."

"Ah."

Dumbledore had mentioned something about telling the Prefects to help him out. Figured that this blonde who smelt vaguely of ice demon would be one.

"Are there others who have these orders?" he asked.

Malfoy scowled and replied, "Every Prefect got the order. I suggest you ignore Goody-Girl Granger and her idiot buffoon of a partner Weasley."

"And why would that be?"

"They're Gryffindor's, Potter. That says all."

"Y'know," said Thomas, "they're not really that bad, Malfoy."

"Consorting with them again, Ymber?"

"Just a little bit."

Malfoy snorted as Harry looked at the other boy and said, "What's the problem with Gryffindor's?"

"They're Gryffindor's," repeated Malfoy before Thomas could speak. The brown-haired boy glared at the blonde then answered Harry's question.

"The only problem between us and them is that our Founders had some difficulties with each other. Since then, Slytherin and Gryffindor House have been at each other's throats."

Harry frowned at that and said, "And we're still fighting about it? That makes no sense!"

Thomas shrugged.

"I know but it does to them."

Harry looked at the rest of the Slytherin's and shook his head, saying, "Nuts."

"I know."

They fell silent a few minutes later as Dumbledore rose to his feet and ushered them off to bed. Harry rose with the rest of the school and started slowly towards the door, flicking his eyes over the back of the heads that bounced in front of him.

A small body was suddenly shoved into his and he instinctively reached down to steady the child, looking about for whoever had pushed her. An older boy surged past him, a sneer fixed on his handsome features as he snarled, "Mudblood mutt."

Underneath his hat, Harry's ears flattened against his head in anger as his tail bristled, causing his shirt to slightly puff out. He very nearly reached out and ripped out the boy's throat then and there for that comment. But he controlled himself and looked down at the young girl who now had her arms about his waist.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, stroking her hair.

The girl sniffed and tilted her head back to look up at him, tears glistening at the corners of her dark violet eyes. Her mane of blonde hair wafted across her face and Harry brushed it back, wiping the tears from her face carefully with his fingers.

"You're tall," she whispered in awe.

Harry chuckled and said, "Yes, I know. I'm Harry."

"Wencia," mumbled the girl.

"That's a pretty name," said Harry. "Can I call you Wen?"

Wencia nodded and Harry smiled as he brushed her hair behind her ear.

"Okay, Wen. Are you okay?"

"Uh-huh. He just pushed me, that's all." She sniffed and added in a mumble, "They don't like me."

Harry smiled at that, dropping to one knee beside the girl. His right hand dropped to the small of her back as his left brushed new tears from her eyes.

"I'll tell you a secret: if they knew some stuff about me, they wouldn't like me either. And don't cry. They'll only do more if you do."

"I know," mumbled Wencia. "But it hurts."

"I know, Wen. I really do." He smiled and said, "If they do it again, you tell me, okay? I'll make sure they stop."

Her eyes lit up, causing them to go from dark violet to a slightly lighter shade. A bright smile spread across her face and Harry made a mental note to make this girl smile a lot more.

"Really?" she whispered. "You promise?"

"Hai," said Harry. "I promise. Now, what do you say we get you to bed, eh?"

"Okay."

"Alright."

Harry took her hand in his and led her from the Hall, sensing a pair of eyes following him as he did so. Before he went past the doors, he turned and saw Snape was looking at him with an expression that looking almost like pride.

Their eyes met and the Potions Master quirked a smile at him, nodding slightly. Harry grinned back then continued on his way, Wencia bouncing happily along beside him.

Translations

Chikusho: Damn

Sumimasen: I am sorry

Nan no: What

Osuneko: Tomcat

Konnichi wa: Hello