Italics - Parseltongue

Bold - Sign Language

Chapter Two

Harry's plate was piled high with a wide assortment of his favorites, and he was enjoying being surrounded by his housemates. He could see that everyone around him was having a great time, and that a few first years were trying to join in the conversation. Harry had asked Hedwig not to translate for him unless someone was speaking directly to him, and she was more than happy to do that "in exchange for sssssome of thossssse chicken bitssss." So Harry was free to zone out and think about some of the first year students that stuck out to him.

The first one he noticed was the red-haired girl that he had seen at the train station the year before. Professor McGonagall had yelled "Ginny Weasley" before putting the Sorting Hat on her head. She had almost immediately popped up and gone to join the rest of the Gryffindor house. It was then that Harry noticed at least three other Gryffindors with the same shade of hair. "Sssssssiblings" Hedwig sounded like she wasn't impressed. Harry fought back a laugh before the next person went to be sorted. This girl was pale from head to toe, the black of her robes making her look even more pale than Harry believed a human being could be. Harry wondered what her name was, just as Hedwig vibrated the name "Luna Lovegood" into his head. The name suited her, Harry thought. She was pale enough to be the moon. Harry felt a strange sense of something that wasn't quite sadness, but it was pretty close.

"Harry?" His head jerked up suddenly. "You okay, mate? You've been staring at the Ravenclaw table for the past 10 minutes…" Blaise looked a little bit worried. Harry shook his head and smiled at his roommate. "Yeah, I'm fine, just distracted. What's the problem?"

"We were just talking about some of the first years, nothing important. But we were also talking about how you're staring at that one Ravenclaw first year." Blaise wiggled his eyebrows. "So, do you want me to help you out? Be your smooth, Italian wingman?" Harry felt his face getting red as everyone sitting near Blaise laughed. Harry quickly took a bite and tried to change the subject.

"I really hope Transfiguration is more interesting this year than it was last year," Harry said after everyone had stopped laughing at him. He was met with blank stares. "What?" Harry was confused. Surely he couldn't be the only one that thought Transfiguration was way too easy? But alas, he was. Or so he thought.

"So, Mr. Potter, my class isn't challenging enough for you?" Harry paled. "Professor McGonagall?" he mouthed to Draco, who was sitting directly across from him. Draco nodded.

"Hello Professor," Harry stammered. "It's not that your classes aren't challenging, I must just be studying harder than I should be, that's all."

"If you prefer, Mr. Potter, I can add you to my third year level course." Professor McGonagall looked at Harry sternly, and Harry momentarily wondered if she had ever killed someone just by looking at them. Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows as if to say, well? Harry gulped and nodded.

"I would appreciate that very much, Professor. Thank you." With that, Professor McGonagall swirled her cape and continued down the aisle out of the Great Hall. Harry leaned forward and began bouncing his forehead off of the wooden table. "Why didn't any of you help me?" Harry asked, enunciating every word with a *thwack* of head against wood. Blaise smirked and told Harry that he looked like he had it completely under control, except for the whole going pale and stammering thing. Blaise then ducked, still laughing, as Harry threw a dinner roll at his head with surprising accuracy.

For what wasn't the first time, Harry was so glad he had come to this place. The friends he was making here were better than any people Harry could have dreamed of in the back bedroom at his aunt's house. Harry got choked up for half a second, but took a drink of pumpkin juice to cover it up. Harry's mind wandered, remembering all of the friends he had made in the past year. He had his roommate, Blaise, then there were the mermaids who he knew would be excited to see him. To be honest, he was excited to see them too. And Harry even occasionally got along with Draco and his two minions. Granted, that wasn't exactly a ton of friends, but it was more than Harry had ever had in his life before this point, and he was grateful.

Hedwig suddenly let out a sharp little hiss that vibrated right behind Harry's ear. She quickly told Harry that there was an odd number of first years, and that one of the upperclassmen was saying something about it. Harry didn't really feel like that conversation applied to him, so he went back to paying attention to his dinner.

"Hatchling."

"Yes, Hedwig?"

"You like the girl from the bird houssssssse."

"No, I just think she's interesting. I want to be friends, that's all."

"Promissssssse you won't get rid of me and like her better?" Harry smiled and nodded, momentarily forgetting that Hedwig couldn't actually see him moving his head.

"So you'll do it, Potter?" A third year, Cassius Warrington, looked at Harry with a raised eyebrow. Harry wasn't sure what he was agreeing to, but he nodded. Cassius nodded definitively. "So it's settled. Potter will room alone until we can get this whole thing settled."

"Wait, what?!"