A/N: Sorry for the delay.

Harry eyed Douglas in the backseat. His slimmer, more athletic figure threw him off and his smile as he played with his wand was weird.

"What've you got?" Douglas asked as he felt Harry eyeing him keenly.

"What?"

"Your wand? What do you have?"

"Oh," said Harry, grabbing his from his pocket. "Phoenix feather. 11 inches… uh, what about you?"

Douglas, gleaming and handing Harry his for inspection, "Dragon Heartstring. 14 inches. Olivander said he was surprised at the core. We tried a few dozen before this one. Remember mum?"

Petunia glanced back at the two, half smiling at their conversation. "Several dozen. Several broken pots and cracks in the walls."

Harry eyed the wand. It felt thick and heavy in his hand, a perfect fit for Dudley he thought. "It definitely carries its weight." He found himself saying as he weighed it against his own.

Handing the wand back he again looked at his cousin, trying to figure out what exactly did transpire with him at Smeltings.

"I noticed you did not attend Hogwarts. Where did you go?"

"Oh, I still went to Smeltings."

"But wait. Didn't Uncle Ver-"

"Yes, Harry," Petunia interjected. "He also attended Smeltings. The school has two seperate sets of students, muggle and magic. They actually have the campuses next to each other, with the muggle students never being the wiser."

"So, ugh, Douglas, what's Smeltings like?"

"Oh, pretty ordinary I would think, compared to Hogwarts."

Petunia butted in briefly, "It's more of a public wizarding school, Harry."

"A public school? For wizards?"

"Yeah. From what our principal says Smeltings, the wizard one, is just some woods to muggles. If a muggle tries to go through them the magic will turn them around and take them straight out the way they came."

"Oh, I… I wasn't aware there were public wizard schools."

Petunia again cut in, "Not all witches and wizards can go to Hogwarts. The waiting list for Hogwarts is rather long, and most are born into the school."

"What does that mean, born into the school?" Harry said, leaning forward into his seat.

"When every child is born, a magical child, their magic resonates with the magic of the world. If your magic resonates with Hogwarts or any other specific wizarding school, then you are placed on a list to attend that school when you come of age. If your parents permit you, you go to the school you resonated with. If not, you attend the nearest public wizarding school."

"So, Dudley... err Douglas, resonated with Smeltings?" Harry said, avoiding saying that he failed to resonate with Hogwarts.

"Oh no. He was the same as you, put on the list at Hogwarts the same day of his birth. Or at least that's what the records indicated." Petunia said, nodding her head and shrugging her shoulders. "A good thing I suppose. It made the transfer more manageable."

"Do some get put on the list after their birth?" Harry asked, again leaning forward.

"Oh yes. All the time. Some are not added until very late, almost until their 11th birthday. Not everyone's magic resonates from the beginning. Some do not unlock their abilities until later in life, while others, it literally pours from them in waves. In both your cases, it resonated soundly from your first cries."

"Oh. I never knew. No one ever explained how it worked."

"It's mostly overlooked. It's something young witches and wizards learn in primary, while muggle-borns are simply never told until they have children of their own. It makes no difference. Resonating is not affected by things like purebloods and muggle-borns. Each witch and wizard is granted equality in that reasoning."

"Oh." Harry said, finally leaning back into his seat.

"I hear you're a seeker." Douglas piped up, changing the conversation.

"Oh, yes. Do… do you play quidditch?" Harry asked, eyebrow tilted.

"Oh loads. I'm a beater. Smeltings came in third last year in our division. Couldn't quite get past Saint Charles or Ingets. Their seekers are so-so, so it was really their quaffle handling that got them there."

"You play in a division? Like local football leagues?" Looking confused Douglas answered,

"Yeah. Don't you?"

At this Petunia interjected, "There are no other schools near enough for divisional play, nor does the school have any interest in taking students off school grounds during the year had the opportunity arisen. The houses play each other."

"Houses? Like our dormitory?"

Harry nodded.

"Well that's odd. How do you know who plays who? What team are you on? Or do you all choose your own like at recess in primary?" Douglas crossed his arms and thought momentarily. "Well surely there must be some sort of order, otherwise you could easily recruit the best team…"

"We're sorted into different houses. There's four of them. And you can only play for the house you're in." Harry answered.

"Well I suppose that would make sense. I guess I'll be taking an entrance exam then?" He asked, this time directing the question to his mother.

"Well yes, for class placement, but the sorting into the houses involves a ceremony."

"How…hmm…"

"It's strange, really." Harry said, "But I'm sure you'll be fine." Harry then abruptly closed his mouth.

Instantly Harry imagined the sorting hat screaming, "SLYTHERINE!" and a proud Douglas storming off to join Draco and his goons. Petunia caught the change in Harry's demeanor and guessed his thoughts.

"Thinking about his possible house Harry?" She said, wanting to alleviate some doubts for him.

"No! Well, I mean, ugh.. ugh…"

"Do you remember when you were sorted Harry? What the hat told you?"

"Yes… more or less." He said, quickly becoming quiet.

"What are the houses mum?" Douglas asked leaning into the front of the car.

"Well, you have Hufflepuff, Slytherine, Ravenclaw, and Gryffindor. You're sorted into each house based on your abilities and strengths. Harry is in Gryffindor," Petunia paused, "for those brave at heart."

Douglas smirked at Harry, "Brave of heart? Huh, well I 'spose you would have to be dealing with all the beatings I gave you."

Harry half laughed at the remark.

"What about you mum? Where were you?"

Smiling she answered, "Ravenclaw, for those with a ready mind."

Harry again leaned back into the chair. "Ravenclaw. Why wasn't I aware?"