"What are you doing?" Remus looked over his long time friend Sirius Black, who was in his seat of the compartment of the Hogwarts Express, but upside down. This caused his long black hair to be strewn across the ground. Remus could promise that if anyone stepped on his hair, he would eviscerate them.
Sirius slid further down, signing dramatically, "Wasting away slowly. Wait for death's soft grip to rip my soul out of my body, running away with it, and tossing it into the coldest depths of hell."
"... okay." Remus would rather read a book than deal with the dog's idiocies. So he pulled out his Arithmancy book. He could look it over as he awaits their other friends' return. He was just waiting for James, so he could go to the prefect's meeting.
"That's it? Moony! I'm offended."
"I'd be more concerned if you didn't say something weird." They were having a perfectly normal conversation, at least for them. Awaiting for James to come back from flirting with a certain redhead, Lily Evans. This was pretty much a ritual every year.
The door opened, glancing up Sirius piped up looking up at the figure towering over him, "James! She stole you away for a while. Were you a good boy?"
"Uhh, wrong compartment." As Sirius looked over the other male, it was striking how similar this guy looked to James. The main difference being his green eyes. His voice was less confident too, that is what made Remus look up to the stranger, right as he turned to exit.
"Wait!" SIrius called to the stranger, scrambling to get up, successfully ending up completely on the floor after sliding out of the seat rather clumsily, "I don't recognize you. Who are you?"
The boy stopped and turned back a bit, "I am transferring in?"
"Are you asking us or telling us?" Remus chuckled, looking over the kid. He was rather scrawny and aside from physically looking like James, his posture was completely different. His tired eyes told them he hadn't had a great life. He would guess that this kid was probably a fourth year. A couple years younger than them.
"Telling." The stranger turned away again, closing the compartment behind him without another word or glance.
Remus looked toward Sirius, who had successfully gotten to a standing position, they made eye contact. Neither said anything. Although, they both knew the kid had managed to pull their attention. James would hear about this. Maybe they could pull the kid under their wing?
The stranger continued to walk down the corridor, before choosing another compartment. In this one he found two more students. Both had robes lined with green, and the emblem of a snake. Both also had very obviously been reading. Harry would immediately recognize one as Severus Snape, and the other, he could hazard a guess as being Regulus Black. He had the same long luscious hair. It complemented his pale complexion nicely. He was quite handsome.
As soon as the door opened both boys stopped reading to look up at their intruder, "May I sit in here with you?"
The two immediately saw the resemblance to James, but they saw the same thing Remus did. His eyes, not only a different color, but a bit spent.
"Are you related to Potter?" Severus growled out.
"Who?" Harry tilted his head to the side, with a questioning look, "I just transferred in. I don't know anyone yet."
"James Potter, you look a lot like him. If you wanna survive him, avoid him. He is a bully. Also, avoid Lily Evans, associating with her will put a target on your back. He is basically her stalker." Regulus supplied, still looking him over. Harry noticed that he sat up straight and rigid, the picture of a pureblood. He kind of reminded Harry of Draco through mannerisms.
Harry kept standing waiting for them to give an answer, Harry was about to give up and leave, but Severus sneered, "Fine, but I am studying. Stay quiet."
"Thank you." Harry sat next to Regulus.
"Who are you?" Asked Regulus as he peered over his book to the stranger.
The stranger was pulling out a book, potions from what the other two could see, "Hadrian Morte."
"I am Regulus Black." While sticking out a hand to him. Harry accepted the hand and gave a polite nod, he had learned a lesson about refusing handshakes from purebloods many years ago.
"Severus Snape." The other didn't even look up from his book.
A silence covered the boys, they seemed quite comfortable in their spaces, content with reading in silence. The two Slytherins eventually started relaxing, "So, transfering in?" Regulus seemed to have the more curiosity of the two.
Harry gave a small nod. Not offering anymore information freely.
Soon the train was coming to a halt, their 2 hour journey had come to an end. They had arrived at Hogwarts. Students flooded the corridor of the train, rushing to file out of the train. First years were quickly taken off to the lake for their enchanting boat ride. While older students were heading to the carriages.
Hadrian paused in front of the carriage to pet the Thestrals, "What are you doing?" Regulus was looking at him like he was insane. While Severus was merely raising an eyebrow at the boy who was petting air. Harry motioned for them to do the same. They reluctantly did, and were surprised by the feeling of soft leathery skin. They could clearly feel the bony animal.
"Thestrals pull these carriages. I was giving her the attentions she deserves." Harry explained with a small smile on his face. Thestrals seemed to like him, like they knew of his closeness to death. He stopped and motioned for the other two to get in the carriage, and quickly followed them into the carriage.
"Thestral?" Regulus questioned, he looked like he was racking his brain for any information on the beast.
Severus quietly answered him, "Only someone who has seen death can see Thestrals…" The two had their eyes on the new guy again. Harry stayed focused on the outside of the carriage, watching the passing landscape. Once they reached their destination, Harry gave the creature another pat, which earned him a nuzzle from the creature. He smiled down at it again.
The two watched this, wondering what their new acquaintance had seen. They made eye contact with each other, and if this kid was put in Slytherin, they agreed that they would try and watch out for him.
Everyone was filing into the great hall, Harry was flagged down by Professor McGonagall, "This way Mr. Morte. You need to be sorted before you sit down." Hadrian waved a goodbye to the pair and followed her without complaint, "Transfers are not common mid schooling, if you have any questions you can feel free to come to me or your head of house." She stopped and stared at him, "You could be related to Mr. Potter. I hope you aren't as much of a trouble maker. His merry band of pranksters are enough as it is." As soon as she said that she was leading him to a room next to the great hall, where the Headmaster Dumbledore and the three other heads of houses were waiting. She motioned for him to sit, "This is the Sorting Hat. He will tell us where you will fit in best."
Hadrian sat where he was told to, and allowed the Sorting Hat to be placed, soon a voice whispered into his ear, "Harry Potter. You have met me before."
I have.
"I stand by my opinion. You would do well in Slytherin."
Ravenclaw.
"Ahhh. Now that is an interesting notion. However, not for you I am afraid."
Being outside of the two main houses that clash the most I have more chances for Alliances.
"While that may be. You are very cunning. Ambitious. Plotting. You are seeking power."
I am trying to stop a war.
"Power is power all the same. Slytherin is not evil. You will be able to show that."
Will?
"SLYTHERIN!"
The Hat's loud proclamation was startling in comparison to the loud silence that had been over the room just a moment ago. Harry looked up to the stern professor that put the hat on his head, waiting for her to remove the stubborn entity.
The fat professor stepped forward as she removed the hat, "Mr. Hadrian Morte, I am Professor Slughorn, I will be your head of house." Harry nodded.
"If you all could head to the great hall, I have a few things to discuss with Mr. Morte." Professor Dumbledore gazed upon the young man, with the twinkle ever present in his eye. After they left the room, "Now I understand you came here under extreme circumstances. But I must advise you to be careful of the people you choose to associate with. You don't want to end up like your late parents, I presume."
Hadrian's story was that his family had died due to some wild Death Eaters. Thus however still made him raise an eyebrow, "Of course Headmaster. I am always careful."
"Good good, now if you should run off and join the others, we will need to start the Sorting Ceremony." The headmaster dismissed him. His eyes felt as if they were trying to penetrate Harry's being. Harry just focus on getting up. He waved and gave a courteous nod and left the room.
Once he entered the great hall, he decided to try and sit next to Regulus, and began scanning the room. Harry over heard, "See Prongs. He is right there. It's creepy isn't it!"
Followed by, "Bloody hell he does."
Hadrian eyes landed on the marauders, and then made eye contact with James. Hadrian gave a small smile, and then turned to the Slytherin table. Knowing that this would damage that friendship before it ever even started.
Harry found Regulus, who happened to have an empty spot next to him. He was sat across from Several. Harry sat down, "Hello again."
They stopped talking and stared at him. They were not all that surprised, which is why they had saved him a spot. They weren't going to tell him that though
Hadrian could feel his face turning hot, "I got sorted in that back room there. Slytherin." Hadrian looked down, "and I don't know anyone else."
"Welcome to Slytherin. Careful who you trust." Severus remarked as the ceremony began. With the hat giving it all to his song about house unity. Harry smiled a bit, but Severus was clearly rolling his eyes at the antics of the hat. After the performance, students got sorted one by one. Harry would be eternally appreciative that he got privately sorted.
Once the students were sorted, Headmaster Dumbledore said a few words. Unimportant and weird as always. He introduced the current professor of DADA, Professor Emerson. Then he began the feast. Harry stayed fairly quiet, watching who interacted with whom. Who knew each other. Who he knew of. There were more students than he had ever seen. He was beginning to comprehend how much damage Tom Riddle had actually done. He only picked at the food a bit, not really hungry. Severus noticed this, and chose not to acknowledge it right now.
After the feast, the Slytherins were led down to the dungeons, where their common room was. A prefect was telling us the password. "It is Secrets." Harry thought this was rather on the nose for a secret password. Considering last year he had named a student militia Dumbledore's Army, he couldn't say shit.
"What year are you two in?" Harry decided to directly ask the pair, before anyone headed to the dormitories.
"I am in my fifth year." Regulus replied quickly.
"Sixth."
"You are a fourth year, right? We can help you if you need it at all." Regulus added.
Harry felt his entire face turn red and he mumbled out, "I am also in sixth year."
The heat of their gaze intensified on him, "You are older than me?" Regulus sounded rather undignified right now.
Harry nodded enthusiastically. Dealing with the Dursleys during the summer always made him lose weight during the summer. Each time he got back to Hogwarts, he would practically be skin and bones.
Severus' gaze on the boy changed, it seemed a bit more empathetic. Severus was pretty sure Hadrian's home life was similar to his own.
Harry motioned to Severus, "Does this mean we will have the same classes?"
Severus nodded, "Likely yes. Depends on your electives if it will be all the classes, but certainly the core subjects."