Ello my obedient followers. Welcome my new chapter.

I do not own Harry Potter, do not sue me.

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"Talk"

'Think'

"Parseltongue"

Chapter 7 – Sorting Hat

The door opened to show a grand hall filled with students sitting at four long tables. The teachers were sitting at a raised table at the end of the hall in front of the wall to wall and floor to ceiling windows looking out to the lake. The ceiling was charmed to look like the sky outside, sparkling with stars and a full moon shining so bright that only a dozen candles were lit to help brighten the room up. A stool stood in front of the teacher's table where everyone in the hall could see it. On that stool sat an old, wrinkled pointed hat that powers shifted in and around.

Professor McGonagall led all the first years down the middle of the tables. Harry watched how his friends and the others try to huddle into themselves to escape the attention they received from the rest of the room. The first years stopped at the base of the steps while McGonagall continued up. Harry zoned out knowing what was about to happen. He wanted to observe the people he was going to have to interact with for the next seven years. He heard the students around his gasp in surprise as the hat opened his 'mouth' to recite a poem.

He turned his attention to the teachers, easily spotting Snape at the end with another teacher in a turban. Harry felt a twinge of pain rush from his scar. He quickly concentrated on the spot and sent a rush of warmth to it as he has always done when it acted up. The pain faded. The teacher with the turban looked up. Harry and the teacher locked eyes. Harry would swear that he saw two different eyes staring back at him. It wasn't until Snape said something that the teacher turned away. Harry sent a look to Snape, who hadn't changed before he continued his observations. A short man came next. Harry noted that he must be part goblin but much happier. Next to him was an empty seat.

The headmaster sat next to the empty spot in an elaborate chair. Harry thought back to what his aunt told him when he asked about the Headmaster, "Don't trust the Headmaster. Dumbledore is not the golden-hearted man so many know him as. Stay out of his sight as much as you can. Give him no reason to call on you for anything." He moved on when Dumbledore looked in his direction. A plump rosy-cheeked teacher sat next. She looked nice Harry noted. Another woman sat in the next chair. Her hair was up and covered with white cloth. She also wore a white apron marking her as the school nurse. He made a note to see her tomorrow like his aunt told him to in her last letter. The last two teachers were both huddled together talking. Harry noted that they must be the third year and older teachers.

Applause pulled his attention back to the hat that was giving a bow to all four houses. McGonagall pulled a scroll from her sleeve, "Now when I call your name you will come up and sit on the stool. I will set the sorting hat on your head and he will decide what house you belong to. You will then go join your housemates at the proper table." She opened the scroll and lifted the sorting hat, "Susan Bone."

Harry watched as student after student got called up and sorted. Six Hufflepuffs, three Ravenclaws, five Slytherins, and four Gryffindors before one of Harry's friends were called. "Neville Longbottom." Neville walked shakily up the stairs and almost fell off the stool when he sat. "Hufflepuff!" Neville barely had the hat off before he was running to his house table wanting away from the attention. Many of the students gave a laugh at him but his house clapped happily to welcome him.

Three more students were sorted before Hermione was called. "Hermione Granger", Hermione walked to the stool with her head held high but her shaking hands gave it all away. The hat took a minute but he was soon calling out her house, "Gryffindor!" Hermione flashed a happy smile in Draco and his direction and at Neville before making her way to her house to sit next to the twins who made room for her clapping and whooping loudly.

Draco was right after her. "Draco Malfoy" Draco had his mask on as he walked up to the stool like the owned the world and he didn't care about anyone. He smirked when the hat called his house without touching his head. "Slytherin!" Harry suppressed the urge to roll his eyes as Draco gave the room a flash of a smirk before strutting to his table. The Slytherin clapped but Harry could see that they were eyeing Draco up as he sat down.

It took four more people to be sorted before Harry was called. "Harrison Evans Potter" Harry ignored the stares and whispers from both the students and teachers as he walked to sit on the stool. Professor McGonagall, his godmother he corrected himself, gave Harry an encouraging smile before the hat was placed on his head blocking the view of the hall, leaving him in darkness. 'What do we have here? A cunning mind I see. A thirst for knowledge, a knack for details, and… what is this? A Blood Magic user is among us again? Well, Mr. Evens, you are full of surprises.

'Where to put you? Hufflepuff wouldn't do; you wouldn't be able to be open like they are. Gryffindor wouldn't accept your magic idealism. Slytherin would do you well, you will be able to practice all magic undisturbed by your housemates but you would get bored with their power plays quickly and you would be scrutiny from most of the school. We can't have that now, can we? You wish to keep your head down. Ravenclaw will give you the cover you need and let you keep your friends whom you are separated from. Yes, that will do nicely. I expect great things from you, Mr. Evans.' "Ravenclaw!" Harry listened to everything the hat said in silence.

He felt the hat get lifted. The hall was quiet. Everyone expected him to be a Gryffindor. His friends and godmother were the first ones to start clapping, his house quickly joining in as he made his way over to them. He sat next to the other first years in silence but he did flash a smile to Neville at the Hufflepuff table behind him, to Hermione and the twins at the Gryffindor table in front of him, and to Draco at the Slytherin table at the far end of the Hall. He was in a neutral house so being friends with people from all houses won't be looked at too hard.

The last few students were sorted quickly. Harry clapped with his new housemates as they accepted one more into their ranks. McGonagall took her seat by the Headmaster. Dumbledore stood and waited as the hall quieted. "Welcome all first years and welcome to all returning students. I only have a few words to say before you eat and they are Bobble Mobble Pop." The Headmaster sat with a wave of his hand.

Foods of many types appeared at every table on plates of gold. Harry helped himself to the kidney pie and an apple. He looked down the table looking past the juices. He turned to the boy to his left, "Can you see tea?"

The boy never had a chance to answer because right after Harry asked the question a cup of cider tea appeared steaming before him. Harry gave an almost silent thank you under his breath to the house elves he knew made all the food and drink in the castle. Harry ate ignoring all the eyes that were on him. A girl across from him was the first to verbalize her questions.

"Are you really Harry Potter? Like the Harry Potter who defeated you-know-who?" The question was blurted out loudly so most of the hall heard her. The girl blushed realizing how loud she was as eyes turned in their direction.

"Harry Potter?" Harry made sure he was talking in a calm chilled voice but the hall was now silent waiting for his response. "No. I am Harrison Evans. Harrison after the man who raised my father to be the man who gave his life to give his wife and son time to live, and Evans for my mother who died to protect me. The idea everyone has that I defeated Voldemort," Harry put force into the name watching everyone flinch, "is inaccurate. I did nothing. My parents invoked an ancient rite when they both died to protect me. It was two parts, my father fought and died with love in his heart for his family, my mother protected her son when her husband passed and also died with love in her heart for her family. That love and both forms of protection passed to the son. That rite was strong enough from their love and need to protect that it was able rebound the killing curse of their killer. It's called Divine Love. Only true soul mates can activate it. That is what saved me and defeated Voldemort." Harry turned back his food. The hall was silent and shocked. Harry ignored them when they started whispering and talking among themselves. Harry glanced behind him to look at Neville who flashed him a small smile. He then turned back to look ahead at Hermione and the twins who were telling the people around them to mind their own business. They saw him looking and gave him a smile. Harry looked past them to look at Draco who was glaring at an older boy. Draco said a thing or two and flashed Harry a grin.

The meal didn't end quickly enough to Harry. The only enjoyment he got was when the house ghosts surprised all the first years. The food disappeared and the Headmaster stood one more time. "Well now that you are all fed and watered I have some announcements that need to be made before you go off to bed. The forbidden forest is just as its name suggests, forbidden and no student should venture into it. This year the third floor is off limits to all who don't wish to die a painful death. Mr. Filch has also added to the band products and the list can be found in his office. As that is all, off to bed with you all."

"First years!" The call echoed the hall by different voices from all the houses. Harry followed the two Ravenclaws calling. He bumped into Neville and whispered breakfast at the Ravenclaw table. Neville nodded before being shuffled away by others of his house. At the door, Harry ran into Hermione and told her the same with intrusions to tell the twins. She happily agreed. Draco was harder to get to as he was past the Gryffindors but he was able to find him and tell him the same as Neville and Hermione. He gave a positive. Harry made his way back to his own housemates before the four houses made it to the hall and stairs.

Harry followed his house through hallways to a picture of a dark-haired woman with blue eyes and a midnight blue medieval dress. She smiled at the students, "A question you must answer if you wish to enter. 'This thing destroys all. Dries Rivers, kills kings, crumble mountains to dust. You cannot escape it, you cannot trick it, and you cannot stop it.' What is it?"

"Time," Harry answered not even a moment after she finished talking. His quick response gathered a few looks from his housemates but Harry kept his eyes on the portrait. The woman gave a smile in his direction with a nod. The portrait opened to show a set of stairs going up.

Harry again followed the others. The stairs admitted them to a large room with couches, tables, and a lit fireplace giving off comfortable warmth. Books lined every inch of the walls on shelves. Six older students stood in front of the first years drawing Harry's eyes to them.

"Welcome to Ravenclaw tower. I am Kindra Countly." The girl gestured to the boy next to her, "This is Marklin Hacher. We are the fifth year perfects."

Harry ignored the rest of what she said and what the others said. He studied the room more. The fireplace was between two stairways. A large couch made of dark blue fabric sat in front of the fire. Two chairs the same color as the couch sat on either side facing the fire. Two tables with four wooden chairs were on either side of the room leaving room in the middle to walk without bumping into others sitting. Large pillows were settled around the edges of the room to provide more seating.

A lone silver fabric chair in the back corner to the left of the door caught his attention. It had a small silver lamp sitting on a dark wood side table to provide a silvery glow to the dark corner. From where the chair was it could see the whole room, even if the door would open anyone coming in would be seen. Harry instantly claimed that corner as his in his mind.

Harry was pulled from his observations as the others split into boys and girls. Harry followed the boys up the left stairway by the fire. The first landing had six doors on it, three on each side of the stairs. Harry noted the two name-plates on each door. The perfect that came up with them explained that to get into their rooms they needed to only touch their wands to their name-plates. One door connected to two separate rooms that they were free to decorate any way they wish. The rooms they have are the rooms they will have for their seven years of school. Every year the rooms will just move up a floor but the rooms will not be changed from the way they were left the previous year.

He waited for the boy who was sharing his door to go first. He touched his wand to his name-plate, whispering in Parseltongue "Open". The name-plate gave a soft glow showing that it accepted the password. It opened without a sound. Harry shut the door and surveyed the room. It was bare but it was a workable size. It had a full sized canopy bed on the left-hand wall made of dark mahogany wood. On it hung blue curtains, heavy and able to block out the light. The sheets, blanket, and pillow were the same color blue as the curtains. He noted both Nightshade and Amara curled up on his pillow asleep. His trunk was set at the foot of his bed, unopened and still locked. A door was set beside it, which led to his bathroom.

Hedwig's cage was by the only window across from him. The window overlooked the lake and in the distance, he could see Hogsmeade. He turned from his window to look to his right. A desk made of the same dark mahogany as his bed sat against the wall across from his bed. It had three lockable drawers on the right side of the chair. The single key to open them all sat on the desktop. Four shelves were above the desk anchored to the wall, three feet in length each.

Harry gave note of what he was going to change or add. He'll need to visit the library to look up the spells and charms he didn't have in his own book collection. He opened his trunk to get his pajamas and changed. He grabbed the small wind up alarm clock his aunt bought and sent him. He set it for 6 am. It took home in his trunk until he got a nightstand. He fed his little Nightshade, gave Amara a mouse from the supply he kept in a box in his trunk and curled up under his blankets in his new bed with them.

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The morning came quickly for Harry. He feeds Nightshade before getting dressed in his school uniform. He tucked Nightshade into the pocket sewn into the inside of his robes. Amara wrapped around his neck as he was becoming accustomed to. Harry put all his school books into his customary dragon shoulder bag and made his way out of his room. The common room was empty and dark but the fire sprang to life as he stepped foot into the room. He walked out of Ravenclaw tower remembering the map he made in his head of the castle from the different books he read. He walked hallways and down two staircases. He found the medical wing easily. He opened the door to see the woman he pegged as the nurse at dinner going through a cabinet, marking off things on a parchment. "Excuse me, Madam."

The nurse turned from her chore, surprise flickered within her eyes but a soft smile graced her lips as she focused her full attention on him. "Can I help you with something Mr. Evans?"

Harry gave a grateful smile at being called by his chosen name. "Yes, my aunt asked me to get a full check up by the nurse as I have never had one and couldn't get medical attention. My aunt wanted to make sure that my uncle didn't do any permanent damage."

The woman's eyes narrowed but she nodded. She sat her parchment and quill down. She motioned to the bed closest to him. "Sit down. While I give you the checkup I want the full story. I am Madam Pomfrey, the school Med witch"

Harry nodded. She pulled out her wand and waved it in different intricate patterns. A scroll appeared as she worked. "My uncle never wanted me but my aunt did. He was abusive. My aunt did everything she could; she even took me away to a different town. Uncle found us soon after. Neither of us could do anything as he beat us." Harry closed his eyes trying to get the image of his aunt lying on the floor bruised and bloody out of his head. "He made me sleep in a cupboard under the stairs, cook, clean, do the yard work, and limited my food. At school, I didn't have friends because my cousin would scare them away or bully them until they left me alone. He and his friends made a game of chasing and beating me up.

"The only time I was free was when it was just me and aunty. Aunty did everything she could. She encouraged me to do my best at school no matter what. She celebrated my birthday with me every year. Bought me clothes that were mine and not my cousin's big hand me downs. She got me books and built a hidden bookshelf for me to put them in. She gave me food at night when uncle locked me in my cupboard without feeding me. She nursed me back to health and set my broken bones. We had to hide everything we did or she bought me but it was the only way she could help me, to show that I wasn't alone, and she loved me."

"Why didn't you two ever leave?" Harry's eyes snapped open to see Snape standing next to the nurse. His blood froze in his veins. Why didn't he hear or sense him come in? Snape continued, leaving Harry little time to puzzle out the problem presented to him. "She should have taken you away from all that."

Harry felt his anger rise. Snape was blaming his aunt! "She tried once. He found us. He beat her so bad that she was covered in bruises and blood lying on the floor not able to move. She was forced to watch as my uncle beat me to the point I almost died. He told her that if she ever tried to leave again he would kill me. She wasn't going to take that chance. Not while we would be in the muggle world. Don't judge her. You don't know a damned thing about what she has had to suffer to keep me with her and alive." Harry noticed in the back of his mind that he was letting his magic react to his anger. He heard glass break and a wind push his hair to the side. He knew his eyes had a glow to them as they always did when he did accidental magic or wandless magic. He closed his eyes and willed himself to calm down. He missed the astonished looks he got from the potion master and Med witch as he slowly got control over his magic once again.

Madam Pomfrey cleared her throat. "Mr. Evans you have some bones that need to be re-broken and fixed. It won't take more than an hour. You also have a small chip in your arm. Do you know where that could be from?"

Harry opened his eyes looking at her in confusion. "Chip as in microchip? You don't mean like the ones muggles put in pets do you?" Harry's mind started working overtime. It went back to a time where his uncle had a 'friend' over who was also a vet. He was only seven at the time. His uncle knocked him out. When he woke his arm hurt and he was back in his cupboard. He thought his uncle just grabbed his arm too hard at the time. "He had me chipped like a dog. That was how he was able to find me and aunty when we ran. He is able to track me. Why did I never think of this?"

"Calm yourself, Mr. Evans. I can take it out. You might want to send a letter to your aunt. She could have one too." Harry nodded absent mindedly. Madam Pomfrey waved her wand again and Harry felt a pressure he never noticed disappear from his arm. "Now I am going to re-break the bones that need it and you are going to drink this." She walked over to her cabinet to pull out a bottle with a skeleton on it. She made her way back and handed it to him without the top. "The breaks will hurt a bit and the potion will cause you some pain but as I said, it won't be more than an hour. Less if you are a natural healer like my scan says."

Harry nodded. He felt the sharp stabs of pain as three ribs, two fingers, an ankle, and one toe re-broke. When Madam Pomfrey nodded he swigged the potion down. He forced himself to not throw it back up and concentrated on his magic. He felt a warm rush go to his broken bones to ease the pain. He spent forty minutes in the company of Madam Pomfrey and Snape as his bones healed. When Pomfrey went to finish her cabinet Snape just watched Harry in silence. Harry ignored him by looking out the grand windows the medical wind had. Pomfrey gave him the all clear to go to breakfast soon after. Harry stepped out into the hallway to hear students making their own way to the great hall. He met up with Draco at the door. They made their way to the Ravenclaw table together. Neville and Hermione were already sitting at it ignoring the stares and whispers they attracted. They all greeted each other as Harry and Draco sat down. This caused even more stares and whispers.

"Morning Neville, Hermione. Did you both sleep well?" Harry asked as he put eggs and toast on his plate. He looked around the table for tea again. "Tea please." A cup of earl grey appeared.

"It was good. I was a little worried that no one would like me but they were all friendly. I have two roommates." Neville replied pouring himself a glass of pumpkin juice.

"I had a good night. I have four roommates. How did you do that?" Hermione looked at the tea in fascination.

"Hu? Oh, I just asked for tea and the house elves gave me some." Harry noticed the twins enter the hall and waved them over.

"House-elves?" Hermione flashed a smile at the twins as that sat to her right.

"Yeah, House-elves are creatures who were banished by the high elves for trying to start a rebellion against the royal family. They can only survive if they are bound to a witch or wizard. They need a master to have a link with. The link feeds them magic that stabilizes their own natural magic. Without the link, their own magic will slowly kill them. After so many decades of this, the house elves don't see it as enslavement or banishment like the first ones did. They are happy to serve. The ones here at Hogwarts cook all the food, clean the castle, wash the student's clothes, feed the owls, and just keep Hogwarts in working order." Harry explained gagging Hermione's reaction to the fact that house elves are 'slaves' in a sense.

"That-that's," Hermione was horrified. Harry almost felt a sense of pity for the girl. This was outside her comfort level. "Barbaric."

"No, making it so their magic kills them slowly and painfully without a master to link to is barbaric. Hermione think of it like the angels that were cast out of heaven when they rebelled against God. The angels became demons and were sent to eternal damnation. These elves' ancestors rebelled knowing that if they lost they were damning themselves and any after them." Harry noticed Hermione calming down, willing to listen to him. "The difference is that they were given a chance to atone for what they did. They were able to keep their magic and live if they bonded themselves to a witch or wizard. They get to live, use magic, and they are now happy. They live to serve and they love it."

Hermione stared down at her omelet in thought. "I guess that makes sense when you explain it that way. I don't like it but if they need a master for the magic I guess there is no changing it is there?" Hermione let the subject drop, now understanding that it was part of the natural order of things and engaged Draco in a conversation on the difference between their common rooms. Harry smiled when Neville was pulled in. He and the twins were talking about pranks and how magical ones differ from Muggle. Before long teachers were passing out class schedules.

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