AN- This chapter has been updated by the wonderful Celran.

God I love getting reviews.

PsychWard158: I'll never be sick of being told that people enjoy my writing. Thanks for the help.

ThunderClaw03:Thanks. I think Zana's pretty cool.

Dragonflyperson1: Harry, Ron, Draco and Hermione is one of the main things that drive this story so I'm glad you like it.

Linda: Draco is now in the Red :)

xxxLeanniexxx: The Slytherin side of this story has far more to offer. Arabella has so much more to give this story and Harry, Ron, Draco and Hermione have huge things coming in this story. I have huge plans for the Rat and I hope you like it (Rubs hands together just as menacingly)

PenDiva1: I try to post as often as I can so I'm glad you appreciate it. I blushed when you said I have quality work. Harry will be pretty talented and Quidditch is defiantly in his future as surely as it was in his past.

elvander72: I've tried very hard to give it a different feel to the others. So thanks.

David305: Thanks for the help but it cut off on 5. Chapter 4. Also I'm not going to change the AN's so I hope you don't mind.

Thanks for all the amazing reviews and favourites. It really inspires me to keep going.


Chapter 5

Harry walked beside Draco with Ron and Hermione right behind them. He looked up with awe at the ceiling of the great hall with its candles floating suspended in the air. Even with only candles to light the room it was usually bright and inviting.

Harry smiled as they were brought up to the front of the hall. Professor McGonagall placed the sorting cap in front of the school and let it sing.

"When I read out your name, come up here and place the hat on your head." She waited a moment before unrolling a scroll. "Abbott, Hannah." The hat was placed on her head and once again she became a Hufflepuff.

Students were placed in their houses as Harry counted down the people. Everyone was going into the houses they were in before.

"Entwhistle, Kevin." He stepped up to be placed in Ravenclaw.

"Evans-Potter, Harry." Harry grinned and turned so his eyes landed on Snape ignoring the whispers that were going on around him. He tightened his Occlumency defences against him and the leach on the back of his dark arts professors head; this was something that came naturally since he had adopted the memories of the older Harry.

Harry had the hat placed on his head. "Hmm, how curious, these memories, have I sorted you before?'

'Technically yes. May I ask a favour?'

'That is not how it works, Harry.'

'Please, just look at my memories. See Draco's bravery, he saved my life so many times. Even just today in the train he defended me against his friends.'

'You're serious, aren't you?'

'He will become a brave man if you give him a chance and put him in Gryffindor with, me, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.'

'Harry I can't place someone where they don't belong.'

'You let me persuade you to put me in Gryffindor… and you put Severus Snape in Slytherin where he really doesn't belong.'

'I can't.'

'He's ever so brave if he gets out from under his father. Draco will be so much better with us. Me, Ron and Hermione.'

"Gryffindor." The hat shouted so as to shut the boy up.

Harry smiled and walked over to the table where the Weasley twins were cheering. "We've got Potter."

He sat down and waved at Draco and Ron. Seamus was the next Gryffindor to join him followed by Hermione and Neville beside her.

Harry watched Draco as he walked up to the hat with significantly less confidence than the time he remembered. He sat carefully on the stool and the hat was placed on his head. Harry waited; it was taking forever.

"Gryffindor!" Then whisked off. Draco stood and turned back to the hat.

Harry cheered loudly so Draco would turn to him. He did and smiled, walking over to sit opposite his new friends. Dean Tomas followed Draco and Ron was the last to join them.

"So I guess we're friends now." Harry smiled; hoping the hat wouldn't tell Dumbledore anything he had seen in Harry's mind.

Draco smirked. "Yeah, I guess we are."

They all settled to eat, Draco was given some sceptic looks by some of the older students. He ignored them and spoke to Harry and Ron as they ate.

The conversation turned quickly to family's in the meal. Ron spoke about his many brothers and sister. Hermione mentioned her parents being Dentists. Seamus declared he was a half-blood and everyone laughed at the way he told it; even Harry.

Neville told his story about of his Gran and Uncle, prompting Draco to ask Harry about Mrs Figg. "Harry I was wondering, if you're father's family are dead, who's that lady you introduced my mother to?" Everyone close by was listening.

"That's my Gran. She's not really my Gran; we aren't related but I was raised by muggles. She looked after me as often as she could because they weren't doing a very good job of it."

"She seemed really nice."

"Yeah she is. I wish I could live with her, rather than my aunt and uncle. They're horrible excuses for Muggles." Harry didn't have much for desert, only a little piece of cake and some ice cream. He accidently gorged himself on his pack lunch and then again at the feast. "Draco?"

"Nothing to tell that isn't public knowledge." He shrugged. "I live with my mother and father. But I was raised by house elves as my parents are less than interested. As long as I don't disgrace the Malfoy name they couldn't care less."

"That's actually quite sad." Hermione commented.

"I don't lose any sleep over it." He brought his glass to his lips. "Hey Ron, what's your Quidditch position?"

Ron knew he was distracting the subject but he agreed. "Probably Keeper or maybe Beater but Fred and George are better than me at that."

"I favour Chaser." Draco told them.

"Probably Seeker for me, it sounds like the best." Harry grinned. "What about you Hermione?"

"Sitting on the side-lines cheering you all on." Everyone laughed but no one was unsupportive. Neville spoke about his Gran not letting him on a broom and Harry agreed mentioning his own Gran.

"Right, come on." Percy Weasley got the first years up to take them to their dorms. Harry easily moved up to the common room and Percy gave his speech.

They entered the dorm room and there were six beds in the room; three on the left and three on the right. They were larger than single beds but smaller than doubles. Each of them had a small desk beside their beds and a Gryffindor scarf and two red and gold ties on the chair. Harry walked over to his trunk, seeing Ron's to his left and Draco moved to his right. Neville was directly opposite Harry with Dean and Seamus beside him.

Harry realised he didn't have any pyjamas any more- he had left his only pair in his cupboard. He got dressed into one of the t-shirts that Mrs Figg had gotten him. Zana got out of her bag to curl up beside Harry in his bed.

"Night girl." Harry petted her head and settled down to sleep. He was finally home again.

It was early morning when Harry woke up, with it still very dark; he still had nightmares, his memories haunting him. He sat up noticing that Zana wasn't anywhere on his bed.

"Zana? Here girl."

"She's with me Harry." Draco spoke from his bed. Zana was letting him pet her.

"What are you doing awake?"

"Couldn't sleep." He shrugged.

"Worried about what your parents will say?" Harry predicted; he knew it was risky persuading the hat to do this for him. Draco would need a lot of support from his friends now but Harry was sure to be there and he knew Ron would be too.

"Yeah. I don't know what my father will say."

Harry nodded. "I know what you mean, you know we're here though. We're your friends."

"You know everyone thinks my father worked for the man who killed your parents."

"Draco you were one. One-year-old. You are as much your parents as I am my aunt and uncle." Harry sighed. "I don't care what people will say. You are my friend and that is that. I've introduced you to my grandma, so you're stuck with me now."

Draco laughed. "Thanks Harry, your cat is sweet."

"Yeah just don't ignore her or pet another cat. She claws you when she gets jealous or, you know, just when she doesn't like someone." Harry thought of her attacking Goyle.

"My dad made me get an owl- they're more useful."

"I love Zana but I also have an Owl named Hedwig."

"You have two? Are you aloud?"

"Well no. Hedwig has to stay at home with Gran but she'll come and visit often. I need to send letters to Gran and she raises Kneazles so I got Zana and Hedwig."

Draco shook his head and rubbed Zana under the chin. "Do you want to get ready? Unless you want to go back to sleep."

"I usually get up around six anyway, what's another hour." Harry got up and pulled a fresh uniform out of his trunk. "I'm going to shower."

Harry came back out of the shower and Draco went in. Ron and Dean were both snoring, the others were still asleep. Draco took a very long time in the shower as Harry was fully dressed with his bag packed before he turned the water off.

"Ah that shower is wonderful."

"I should think so. You were taking your time."

"Hey, my hair is very high maintenance." He spoke highly flipping the still wet hair behind his ear. Harry laughed. "My mom is always on at me about looking my best." He dried his hair with a charm and then brushed it out.

"I lost interest in trying years ago." Harry laid out food for Zana, Mrs Figg had given him a bag to last him a few weeks. She would be sending more by owl post at regular intervals throughout the year. "Hey Draco why don't you just leave it like that?" Harry inquired.

"What do you mean?"

"Well you oil it down right?" Draco nodded. "Why bother? Just brush it and leave it be."

"I'm not lazy like you Potter. And I happen take pride in my appearance." Draco was grinning as he used the oil on his hair.

"It's Evans-Potter Malfoy." Draco shook his head in apology. "Want a game of chess before everyone gets up?"

"Uhh, sure, alright." Harry lost that game epically.


AN- Next Chapter soon. Don't forget to leave more of those amazing reviews. Love you all ~Tia