Here is the next chapter. For future reference Tom Senior is Tom Riddle and Tom Junior is Harry Potter. For the purposes of ease in this story Tonks will be in her third year now not her last one. Please read and review thanks, love Angel x
The train pulled into the station and as the boys finished adjusting their cloaks they exited the train. Tom saw Hagrid calling them over something telling him there was something familiar about the man not that he could place it of course. "Firs' years this way. Come on now don't be shy there ya go!" he said as Ron approached him terrified wand out hands shaking.
"My brothers told me I'd need to battle a troll to get sorted. You're not a troll but I dunno any spells. Do I need to battle you? Please don't hurt me too badly!" he said as Hagrid looked horrified.
"Fred and George always were the worst kind of boys always scaring everyone. I'm Hagrid the groundskeeper of Hogwarts and you'll no' be needing to fight anything to get sorted. I reckon they thought they were being funny but ain't nobody laughing now. Come on guys!" he said leading them down a muddy path towards a set of boats which were docked and waiting for them. He told them that there was to be no more than four people per boat. Unluckily for Tom Draco and Hermione happened to be in his boat along with Neville. Draco said something disparaging towards him which again unfortunately Hermione noticed her eyes bugging out.
"Are you ok Tom? I didn't know it was you. You don't look like you do in your books. Oh well you can't help that I suppose. I am Hermione Granger and it's a pleasure to meet you. Are you settling in to our world ok?" she asked ignoring Draco who gaped furiously at her.
"Wow heir Malfoy even this muggleborn girl managed to be more polite then you. It doesn't say much about you now does it? Hermione Granger let me introduce my best friend heir Neville Longbottom. I am Tom Potter as you guessed and I am loving it in our world although I didn't really need to settle in as you say. I've always known I was a wizard. It wasn't necessarily hidden from me after all!" he said smartly as she looked so stunned she just sat there with her mouth agape. His mouth was soon agape too but it was because of the school in front of them. He saw it twinkling against the night sky the lights coming from the various windows of it. Neville too gasped as Draco once more said something snide about him being amazed only because as a suspected squib he'd not been sure he'd even get into the school in the first place.
Neville felt the love and security from his bond with Tom and let the insults roll off him like water off a ducks back. As they slipped under the school to the dock there a light flashed quickly in Neville's eyes as Tom saw the light flash in his own eyes reflected back at him. He had no idea what it meant but all would be revealed soon enough. They all exited the boats and as soon as they did so Hermione started hammering with questions on how he'd met Neville and how they even knew each other. How in the hell had he known he was wizard? Professor Dumbledore had told her she was the only one who ever had and now she was learning it wasn't true at all and was gutted. She had thought herself unique and it had all been a lie. Ronald ran over to them enthusiastically.
"Tom mate there you are! I've been looking for you all over. Come on away from this lot and we'll be great friends. Besides which you'll be in Gryffindor like me. I mean everyone knows all the best wizards go there. I mean even Professor Dumbledore was a Gryffindor and he's incredible!" he enthused as Tom looked bored.
"I apologise but I believe you have me at a disadvantage. Who are you?" he asked as Ron's face went bright red and he looked furious. Hadn't Tom heard anything he'd said before?
"I'm Ron…Ron Weasley of course. Don't worry we'll soon be best friends and you can forget this lot!" he said casually with a wave of his hand.
"I already have a best friend and it certainly isn't you Mr Weasley. I mean seriously heir Malfoy even this is better than you at this stage!" he sneered as Draco reached for his wand to curse Tom when suddenly it was in Ron's hand. Tom had done that on purpose and stunned them both. Draco forcefully took back his wand and was about to shout at him when Professor McGonagall approached them with a smile.
"Good evening everyone I am Professor McGonagall. I am the vice headmistress of this illustrious school. I also teach Transfigurations and head the noble house of Gryffindor. In a few moments when we are ready for you, you will be sorted into your houses. They are Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Each house is like a family. You treat family with respect and kindness so you should comport yourselves the same in your houses. Any rule breaking will lose your house points and any good behaviour earns house points. At the end of the year the house with the most points wins the coveted house cup. Now straighten yourselves out and I will be back!" she said snootily leaving as they all checked themselves over. Ron was too stunned to try and even say anything still thinking they needed to fight a troll and Tom allowed him to think like that as it got him far away from him. Hermione was devastated Tom had already known he was a wizard but even that didn't mean he knew everything and still had plenty to learn from her. She contented herself in knowing that he could learn much from her and was once more happy and excited about her sorting. Professor McGonagall returned exclaiming that they were now ready for them at the same time as the ghosts made an appearance making many people scream.
Tom was disappointed that Draco didn't scream. Instead he just looked highly disconcerted. The hall was huge and guilded in gold in certain places. The ceiling was enchanted to look like the night sky something which amazed Tom and delighted him. His delight however was short lived as Hermione invaded his personal space telling him she'd read all about it in Hogwarts A History and proceeding to bore him to death. He simply moved away from her stunned as she followed him seemingly undeterred. He felt like he couldn't get away from her.
"Ok when I call your name on this list you will come forth and sit on the stool. I will place the sorting hat on your head and your house will be decided!" Professor McGonagall announced happily and the sorting was underway. Hermione thankfully was able to be silenced by her fascination in the sorting and he was able to move away from her without her noticing. When she did notice she went to follow him but was called up next scowling as she didn't want to be away from him. She approached the stool and sat as the hat was placed on her head. It called out Gryffindor a short while later leaving her looking entirely stunned as she slowly made her way to that table. She was so ecstatic to be in the former house of the illustrious headmaster. He was so special and cool. What an honour beyond measure. When Neville was called up the hat was placed on his head flashing briefly as it seemed to clean itself properly for the first time ever. It now looked new and McGonagall was stunned as she didn't know what caused it. Neither did Dumbledore and he looked very put out by not knowing something.
Oh Neville Longbottom it is an honour to sort you. I would advise you to write to Gringotts bank and order them to send you an inheritance test. You descend directly from the line of Ravenclaw through your mother and henceforth may decide which house you go into. Also you may change anything about the house you like but you must tell me here. Don't worry we can take as long as you need to. I have stalled time for a moment. It will appear as though your sorting has taken a minute but will really take as long as you need.
Well thank you for that I didn't know that and it is nicer to feel closer to my mum. I really don't like the cloak. It's not very flattering. Could you make it into a long cloak style coat so that the front of it has sleeves and things? Like I want the interior of the long cloak coat to be blue and I want the edges of the cloak where the house emblem is not present to be silver in colour. It really would be best.
It will be done. Everyone in Ravenclaw shall have robes which change to your specifications. I have always told Rowena the robes of the school flattered no one but she never really wanted to hear it. At least now it will look like the robes actually fit instead of hanging awkwardly from peoples frames. The common room has always been entered by knocking on a golden knocker and answering the riddle of the eagle to gain entrance. Do you wish to change that?
Yes I do. That's not smart because if someone can't answer we're all stuck outside like fools and no one needs that anxiety. Let's agree with the head of Ravenclaw on a question the Eagle can ask which everyone can answer. This way we will all know the question and the answer. I would suggest asking who taught charms before the head of Ravenclaw or something and then the answer can be whoever he or she was.
Yes ok it is done. Professor Flitwick will now know of the changes and the question shall be who the potions professor before Professor Snape was. The answer will be Professor Horace Slughorn or simply Horace Slughorn. Each year the question will be changed. This way no one needs to be remembering thousands of passwords and so on. As the other houses do not know the answer no one can get into the house so it's all good. What else would you like?
Actually just one more thing. I have heard on the train that there is a librarian who either lets the Ravenclaws loan out all of the books or doesn't let anyone loan any books hoarding them all in the library so no one can study properly. I want something done about her. We are here to learn and books should be available to all no matter which house they're from although I would ask that all books have impervious charms on them so they can't accidentally be destroyed by someone being rough with them. Also all hidden books everywhere are to go the library right now!
Well ok I have done so however there were four thousand new hidden books which had been all added to the library now. They have been added to the catalogue and some are old indeed so it will be great. Is that everything?
One last thing I just thought of is that I want all books which are not genuinely dangerous available to all people. I don't like the idea that someone might get it into their heads to take books away because they don't agree with whatever is in them and wouldn't want anyone else to read them. That is too controlling and I have no time for anyone like that.
It shall be so. Welcome back Lord Ravenclaw. Get that test please. Better be RAVENCLAW! He shouted out as everyone watched and Ravenclaw house clapped. Everyone was stunned as their cloaks all appeared to be more form fitting and practical but still resemble a uniform which they loved. It went on and on. Ron went to Gryffindor and Draco went to Slytherin. Although the hat had purposely taken a long time with him making him an extreme hat stall to embarrass some humility into the young boy after hearing his selfish and spoiled brat style thoughts. Tom Potter was called up next the whole hall gasping at his appearance none more than Dumbledore the hat was placed on his head and the same time delay was activated.
Lord Slytherin your brother Lord Ravenclaw instituted changes in his house and I must now ask the same of you. There is a time delay too so don't worry about how long this takes. What would you like to change?
Well thank you for that hat. His changes were no doubt great. I want punishments in place so that if someone tries to say the word mudblood quietly they end up shouting it instead. Please let the portrait of Salazar know that all muggleborns are really halfbloods. As for any other changes please give the common new furniture and lighting so it is as bright as it can be. Also make sure all dark items are not permitted entrance into the house. If anyone has anything dark on their person it is to go at once to whoever the head of house is.
That would be Professor Severus Snape or merely Severus Snape if you like. Would you like any other changes?
Yes I want everything in the house to be equal and should anyone harm or attempt to harm anyone I like secretly or otherwise they are to be instantly knocked unconscious and remain that way for the day. No one is responsible for the actions of others nor to be made to feel that way either. Also I would like wards around the bed of Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle so Draco Malfoy cannot order them to do anything for him whilst they are either sitting on or sleeping in them. It will piss him off and I prefer that. Also I don't want any house elves going into his room either. He must suffer for being ridiculous. He is to leave any clothing he needs cleaned in the bathroom which will be returned to him there at the end of the day and so be it.
Yes it shall be so. I really didn't like the mind of that boy. He had many evil thoughts in there which it would seem he got from his father of all people. Just a heads up he is very prone to throwing tantrums to get what he wants at home and it does work so he is in for some much needed tough love here. No one in Slytherin will take that kind of thing my Lord and you can be sure of that. Do you anything else?
All uniforms are to be designed the same way Neville asked for except with Slytherin colours obviously. I want Professor Snape compelled to always tell me the truth when we are alone or with Neville only. This will make things easier for me for sure. If he cannot tell us in the house something he is to explain carefully and sensibly who told him he cannot tell us and that is all. He is not to be compelled to tell us why as that is his own business. Also before I go make sure anything unnecessary the school does not require in storage is taken and sold by the house elves. Any money we receive from those items is to be used to update classrooms as and when necessary thank you. I want it to be unnoticeable to all staff though as that would only draw further attention we don't need. I need to ask though since when did Albus Dumbledore decide that he should have a throne like chair the same as a king would have while his staff have what I can but describe as peasant chairs?
Oh good you noticed that did you? Yes that happened in the last decade or so although I don't know why. Things will be as you have asked no problems. I will make his chair plain and larger than the others as he is the headmaster after all but their chairs will get an upgrade. I will make it look as though Hogwarts herself has been sick of it and changed it. He will not like it but he will have to suck it up and deal. Better be SLYTHERIN.
The hat called out as Hermione and Ron both screamed out no and the Weasley twins looked like they might faint. The Slytherins all noticed their better fitting uniforms and now held themselves with more pride than ever. Severus Snape looked like he was ready to kill someone. He glanced at Tom his face paling drastically when his eyes flashed red for a moment. This would indeed be interesting.