"You were very silent in train. Is everything okay with Romelia?" Tom was nudged by his fellow Slytherin when he was absentmindedly watching the thestrals that were flying with his carriage. He was among the handful of students who could see the creatures. The blitz took care of it since last year. He frowned at the question maker getting interrupted in his thought.

"Alphard, since when I was into chatting and gossiping you all love to kill time with? And why it has to be her behind every action of mine?" Honestly if Alphard was not a Black he wouldn't have let him to be close enough to irk with such stupid questions. But it was also true Alphard was only Black who took interest in talking to him unlike his siblings and cousins who still consider him to be inferior to them even though they are not vocal about it unlike initial years.

"Not often we get to see a third year boy asking a fifth year girl out for Valentine's at Hogsmede especially when she is Head boy's girlfriend and a prefect herself. You can't blame us for getting curious about how the things work between two of you." Alphard didn't seem to notice Tom's irritation.

"Just because you stutter while mere talking to a girl it doesn't mean everyone would share your confidence level or lack of it." Tom's tone caught attention of Avery and Munciber too who were in the same carriage. But unlike Alphard they never tried to cross the wall Tom had around himself like any other slytherins. Alphard is too friendly and easy going to be sorted even in slytherin, let alone to be a Black. Had he not asked sorting hat to put him in the same house with his family members he would surely have been sorted to hufflepuff.

"See Tom, Lucas Flint was not only the head boy but also captain of our Quidditch team and now a professional seeker in national level. You on the other hand don't even go near quidditch field. So naturally the question comes how does she get involved with a younger boy so different than her previous boyfriend?" Alphard went on without caring Tom's irritation.

"Oh come on Alphard, stop bugging Tom" Avery interjected. "Romelia Rosier only has eyes for the best things. Hence after head boy graduated hogwarts' golden boy would be her obvious choice wouldn't it?

"Also we heard she broke up with Flint because he was not able to give her required attention because of Quidditch practice so Tom being not interested in quidditch is just another reason for her choosing him." Munciber added.

Laughter broke out inside carriage and Tom turned his attention towards the thestrals. If only Alphard had an idea how disturbed the topic made him. Romelia Rosier could be one of the most beautiful witches of Hogwarts but had her aunt not been among Gellert Grindelwald's most trusted followers Tom had no business perusing her. Since the moment Walburga Black slipped the information about Vinda Rosier in Slytherin common room last year Tom had his eyes fixed on Romy. But he didn't expect her to be that control freak. She considered him as a trophy and liked to show him off. Now he was forced to think perhaps her break up with Flint was not because of his time management issues. Moreover her attitude towards Harry today was totally uncalled for. Although her snobbery was nothing new to Tom but showing it towards Harry was really unacceptable to him. Tom was not sure why he felt that way though. But now he had to work harder to get in touch with Vinda Rosier to end things with Romy sooner.

Harry's reaction upon seeing Romelia felt kind of strange too. It seemed like Harry couldn't believe that Tom was dating her. But what was so strange in that? Don't teens get attracted to opposite sex all the time? Or did Harry actually have an idea about his intention behind being with her? Tom sighed. He didn't see Harry after he got in train. As first years would be arriving by boats so he had to wait till sorting ceremony to meet Harry again and trying to get the answers. But there came another problem regarding Harry's sorting. Potters belonged to Gryffindor. So it was almost certain that Harry would have been sorted there too. And it would be difficult for keeping eyes on him. Had it been Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff Tom could have charmed his way to manipulate someone for spying on Harry. But that was not easy with Gryffindor for obvious reasons. Now Tom had to think of another way to study the boy. However being at Hogwarts he could now take help of magic and that made him little relieved.

The boats filled with first years reached middle of the Great Lake when Harry could see the glimpse of the tentacles of the giant squid waving to the first years. Some of the children including Myrtle cried in fear but Harry felt warm in the welcoming gesture from the squid. After last two months he could finally sigh in relief feeling like going to home. For past two months it felt like he was living someone else's life. Harry never had to pretend to be someone he was not for this long where acting and lying had never been his stronger side. But it was a really tricky situation for him. He had to hide the truth of time travel and knowledge of future to avoid creating a paradox. It was really not an easy task to live in an era he had a little knowledge about and constantly remaining concerned to not to slip any information on future which he had grown up with. Added to that was the bunch of magic phobic muggle bullies he was living with. It felt like he was back with Dursleys all over again but this time he had to be conscious with not to let out any magical accident to get slipped as it happened with Dursleys and their relatives especially when he couldn't control them and made discreet without wand unlike Riddle. Mrs. Cole could have thrown him out if that happened and in war torn London none would have cared for a lost child and with no money and wand he wouldn't have survived to come to Hogwarts. This was the reason he couldn't stand up against those bullies properly. Above all Tom Marvolo Riddle was literally breathing on his neck. Harry still had hard time to believe that he was living in the same room with a young Voldemort for two months. He cringed remembering the amount of crap from Tom he had to endure in past months. Riddle was not only a controlling prick but in times was downright abusive. If it had been anytime in past Harry wouldn't have tolerated it without putting up a fight no matter how badly he was going to get hurt. But all these time travel fiasco somehow had a toll on his personality. Or it might have made him little mature from inside along with de-aging him from outside. Whatever it was he now had to think before acting on impulse. Especially when he had figured out his goal of coming here was to stop Tom Riddle from becoming Voldemort, he couldn't really keep on antagonizing Tom and had to make attempt to understand the situation that led Tom to choose the path that made him the monster he knew. So he had to remain in Tom's good book to the extent of tolerating Tom's weird obsession with his fringes that could very well be labeled as harassment. Harry inhaled deeply remembering the moments. He was relieved now he didn't have to stay in the close proximity with Riddle. As a Potter he was going to get sorted into Gryffindor and would be away from Tom's interrogating eyes. Now his only concern should be talking to Dumbledore and getting the time-turner to be back to his time. Although he still would have to figure out how to get back to his original age permanently and not with the temporary solutions like ageing potions. Then about Tom it would be up to Dumbledore to deal with. After knowing Tom's situation he would surely figure a way won't he? Harry needed not to really be bothered about the rest, he kept telling himself the last bit.

"Harry what are you thinking?" Orion's voice broke the thought web of Harry and he was at the loss of words at first.

"Of course you would think of the sorting ceremony. All of the new students get both excited and worried about it." Thankfully Orion continued himself.

"What about you then? You sound neither to me." It was hard for Harry to continue a normal conversation with Orion without getting distracted by his godfather's memories. It felt like Sirius not only did inherit the look of his father, there was a similarity between their personalities as well.

"Why should I? I know I am going to get sorted into Slytherins like all the Blacks anyway." Orion said bemusedly.

"So I take it, you are not very happy about it." Harry turned to Orion sensing dissatisfaction in his voice.

"Well you know my all relatives are in Slytherins and it is hard to build own space among them or choose own friends. Besides, people got prejudices." Orion sighed. "Slytherins don't have friends from other houses except a few from Ravenclaws. And others houses tend to avoid Slytherins too thinking all of them are the same. Above all Blacks have a superiority complex they even don't make friends with half bloods inside Slytherins either. All of us are told so before going to Hogwarts and I am especially warned not to follow Alphard's footstep."

Orion trailed off seeing Harry looking up at him inquisitively at his last sentence.

"Oh Alphard is my second cousin, in the same year with Tom Riddle. He doesn't quite follow the rules of us the Blacks. Hence me and his younger brother, Cygnus are pressured not to be like him. "Orion grimaced "Now you know why I am not happy regarding sorting ceremony. Once in Slytherins I would have a little space for myself and I have to be like any other of them if I don't want to get disowned which Alphard would surely be if he doesn't stop being a rebel and I don't want to be. That's why I might not be your friend after you are sorted into Gryffindor, as you must have known they are rivals of Slytherins." Orion looked at the

So Sirius was not the only one to be dissatisfied with the bigotry of the Blacks. Now Harry had idea after which parent his godfather took up his rebellious side. It felt like Orion's personality was suppressed by a more dominating Walburga and he had no say in their marital life or regarding their children. That is why he couldn't know much about him from Sirius. Apparently he didn't have the courage like Alphard Black to be a rebel which Sirius later fulfilled. Orion Black never could be himself because he didn't want to lose his family and Harry couldn't blame him for that. He felt bad that they couldn't be friend as they were going to be sorted in rival houses now.

As the form of Hogwarts castle was seen through the mist an exciting cheer broke around Harry. Tears threatened to fall down as the home was welcoming him across the time. He was finally being back to his world.

"Students follow me, I am Ogg the gamekeeper of Hogwarts and I will be taking you to the great hall." The man who was leading their boat addressed them as they came down from the boats. Harry remembered Molly Weasley had once mentioned about this Ogg whose job was later taken up by Hagrid.

"Harry, I am afraid, what if sorting hat refuses to sort me in any house and ask me to go back?" Myrtle said nervously.

"Myrtle relax, you are not only the odd one out there. Trust me everything will be okay." Harry didn't know though whether he said the last bit to Myrtle or himself but he gave Myrtle's hand a squeeze. "Just remember you are not alone here." He assured her again.

Through the train journey Myrtle had quite opened up about herself. So, Harry got to know that she was bullied and isolated even before coming to Hogwarts and was left feeling unwanted in muggle world as well. Before being back to his time he would do everything in his hand to stop her ending up as the means of Tom's first horcrux.

As they entered the great hall the hall lightened in their welcome like it always did in his time. The interior of the hall was same too. Time really didn't matter inside Hogwarts. Harry's eyes went to the table where all the teachers sat. Headmaster Dippet was in the middle. He looked same as Harry recalled her from Tom's diary. Slughorn was sitting on his right. Among the rest Harry could recognize younger Kettleburn with all his limbs yet intact, a young and surprisingly attractive Madam Hooch and an old but alive Mr. Binns. But the chair of Assistant Headmaster was empty. That meant Dumbledore didn't return from Continent yet. That means Harry still had to wait. He sighed in despair. Only Merlin knows how long he had to wait before meeting the person he needed most .His eyes went to the Slytherin table and unintentionally made contact with Tom's. Even from this far Tom was the most noticeable figure in his table or among every table to be honest. He had the same unreadable expression but Harry could sense his eyes were struck on Harry only. Harry tried his best to ignore the glare as much as possible to concentrate on the sorting ceremony.

"Welcome students for another year of Hogwarts and here we get another batch of first years." Headmaster Dippet addressed the students. Since its already afternoon let us not waste any more time and begin with the sorting ceremony of first years." Then he turned to the empty chair of Dumbledore. "As you all know our Deputy Headmaster is sent to Europe by ministry our Head girl Dorea Black and Head Boy Charlus Potter are going to conduct the ceremony."

As the headmaster announced their name a wizard and a witch stepped towards the first years. The wizard had head full of disheveled raven locks and glasses on. His grand uncle had quite resemblance to his father.

"That's my aunt, Dorea" Orion indicated to the witch who was standing beside Charlus. Harry wondered how the Blacks did approve of their relationship as Potters were removed from the sacred twenty eights for their muggle friendly behavior. Were they already in the relationship?

"Myrtle Warren" Dorea Black called out and Harry realized he was so lost in his own thought that he didn't notice when the sorting hat finished its song. He didn't pay attention to the wordings at all but it would surely be something new as the hat did come up with a unique song every year.

"Go Myrtle" Harry gave a little push on her shoulder and Myrtle shakily walked towards the chair where Charlus put the hat on her head.

"Ravenclaw" the hat declared after few seconds. Harry gave thumbs up as Myrtle looked at him. She smiled for first time after entering the hall and walked towards Ravenclaw table.

"Hey Potter, you better come and stand by us. We are going to be in same house so you would want to choose your friend wisely." Harry found Algie Longbottom standing by his left and Orion's smile faltered seeing him." Harry recalled the first day at Hogwarts, When Draco asked him to choose him as his friend over Ron. It seemed the same scenario only with the table turned this time.

Before Harry could answer Algie's name was called and the hat shouted 'Gryffindor' as soon as it was placed on his head. Harry saw the Aron Longbottom hugging his brother as he ran towards Gryffindor table.

Next name was of Orion. Dorea patted his nephew's back as he walked towards the hat. This time the hat seemed have taken few moments to consider. Then it declared

'Slytherin!'

Orion looked at Harry with a sigh, then shaking his head he walked towards Slytherin table without any excitement.

After few more students Harry's turn came up. As Dorea mentioned his name Harry saw Charlus frowning. It seemed to him his grand uncle was not very happy seeing him.

"Charlus are you sure you don't know this Potter?" Dorea asked as Harry walked towards the chair. Charlus just shrugged. "I neither know any Harold nor any James Potter. Only Harry I know is my father Henry Potter" Charlus replied sternly.

Harry grasped. Does that mean Potters also believed he was from a bastard branch and so they are embarrassed to accept him?

He silently sat on the chair and Charlus put the hat on his head.

The hat was silent for a while. Then he started in the low voice. "Strange, very strange, I can see through time. This is not the only time I am sorting you. I can see I am going to sort you again in the time you really belong. I can see I have a hard time deciding to sort you as I have seen your allegiance with both the Gryffindor and Slytherin, I can see you are here for the sake of the same allegiance, that time you influenced my decision but this time I am going to have the final say."

"Wait but" Harry tried to interrupt the hat but it was too late.

"Slytherin" declared the hat aloud shocking everyone present in the Great Hall.