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Why Slytherin?

By Jamnaz79

Note: I do not own Harry Potter. I do not claim to own or make any money from anything to do with Harry Potter. If I did own Harry, he would not have kept Ron as a friend, he wouldn't have put up with as much bullshit as he did and definitely would not have ended up with the red head fangirl.

Author Note: This story Hogwarts starts at 13 years old. This is done since it is truly when almost all children are into puberty instead of 11 when some had not yet started.

Harry Potter had an interesting past month. He had learned he was a wizard and somehow he had become famous in a world he knew nothing about. He now knew that his parents had loved him. They had actually died to protect him! They were not drunks that had died in a car crash like his Uncle and Aunt had told him. He understood that even if they were gone that he had a world that he belonged to away from the horrible muggle relatives.

So when he was left alone in Diagon Alley he was curious about this new world. He was curious about his place in this world. Before he went to get his robes he went back to the book store even though Hagrid had already gotten his books for the school year. There he picked up books about basic knowledge for the magical world. He found books about the different history, traditions, culture, common basic charms, introduction books for the magical world and finally even a book about the history of his family. It seemed they were something called an ancient family. The nice clerk even shrunk the books so he could hide them into his pocket to take home with him.

When he got home over the next month before the start of school he read the books. While his Uncle may have locked up his classwork he still read the hidden books. He was given his own bedroom upstairs and far less chores were required of him. So he spent every moment he could to learn about this new world. It seemed so much better and brighter than his horrible life had been over the past twelve years living with his Aunt and Uncle.

He knew the muggles would return to their old ways, they may be scared now but that wouldn't last always. They were bullies plain and simple, and he needed to learn as much as he could to try to get away from them someday. Sure he was only thirteen years old but he knew how he was treated wasn't right. In school he had tried often to tell of his situation but it seemed no matter what was said nothing ever happened. Once or twice Harry had told neighbors of the bruises and beatings he received. Nothing that the young man would do would seem to change anything except that he was forced to come back to the same hellhole. He rather be anywhere even an orphanage then living with the abusive Dursley family. So Harry escaped the reality of his life in in the muggle world with dreams of his life in the magical one.

The day he was dropped off at King's cross he felt ready with excitement. He knew where to go as one of the introduction books told of how to find platform 9 ¾. He actually arrived early and slipped through the barrier to find few on the platform. He wore a hooded sweatshirt so he could hide his looks. It seemed that others had somehow noticed him before; it would not do to get mobbed now.

The train was beautiful, a cherry red that according to the books had been running on steam for over a century. It was said to change color to the color of the house that won the quidditch cup the year before. It was a rare use of muggle technology in the wizarding world. A smile touched the boy's lips as he loved the sight and more importantly that it meant he would be able to get away from his hated muggles. Harry quickly loaded his chest onto the train in one of the free compartments. He closed the door and pulled out a book on potions ingredients and how to treat them then started to read it. He really hoped that nobody would find him or bother him, so he stuck his head into his book and read quietly.

The train ride was interesting. He partly hoped for a quiet ride but it was not to be as after a few minutes leaving the station the door opened up and a red head boy stood there. He didn't say anything at first just pulled his trunk into the room without asking. He did stop and smile at Harry, who remained under the hoodie to keep anonymous.

"I am Ron Weasley. There weren't any other compartments left, so I will sit here." The red head spoke up quickly and excitedly.

"Go ahead." Harry motioned to the seat across from him as he leaned back and read over the potions book. But, he didn't offer his name; he really didn't want to deal with someone knowing who he was yet. Perhaps if he didn't tell anyone till later it wouldn't be as big of a deal.

Ron frowned at the other boy not telling his name but shrugged it away. He put away his trunk then sat down. "You are actually reading? School hasn't even started yet!"

Harry let out a grunt, less than dignified but what right was it for anyone else to question if he was studying? Harry had always had to keep himself held back since the Dursley family wouldn't accept him beating Dudley. Well this time there was no Dudley so he would do his best to learn everything he can. Besides is it really work or studying if you were learning magic? It was not like he was being forced to study French, math, or geography! This was magic, the power to make wonders happen at the flick of a wand and his will! He noticed the red head kept staring at him and seemed to be leaning closer and closer. He frowned and spoke up before the boy could see under the hood, "If I study now I won't have to worry about it later on."

The Weasley nodded his head at the words and shrugged, "I guess. Do you like Chess?"

"Never played," Harry commented as he flipped to the next page trying to show his want for privacy. Unfortunately for the boy it would not work as most of the train ride was spent with silence before random questions. Harry would turn away the questions then go back to his reading. He was never impolite directly to the red haired boy but he never was overly friendly. Harry had been taught growing up to be careful since anytime he had previously made friends Dudley or the Dursley's rumors about him would chase them away.

The only interruption on the train ride was the arrival of a blonde haired boy with two other large boys. They asked if anyone had seen Harry Potter. Harry chose to just shrug his shoulders and ignore the question while Ron and the blonde haired boy got into an argument. The young raven haired boy kept out of it since it was never a good idea to get in the way of a fight. It only ended up with him getting blamed in the past.

The arrival at the castle by small boats was beautiful. The place was absolutely amazing before the eyes of the youth. He couldn't believe how wonderful the sight was of the majestic spires. Harry was enchanted by the elegance of the place and he knew that this was his first true home.

Unfortunately since robes were required to be worn to the feast, Harry could no longer wear the hoodie. But at least the hat he had on covered up his scar so the red head boy never asked anything. He did get a strange look from the pair of strawberry blonde haired twins that joined him on the boat ride. They were cute, in a girlish way with little green bows tied into their hair. He didn't speak with them since they were all concentrating on the castle before them. But, Harry did offer his hand to help them from the boat as a gentleman should and they gave him bright smiles for the kindness.

A stern witch came forward once they reached the doorway. Her hair was grey and she wore robes of deep dark red and gold. "I am Minerva McGonagall and welcome to Hogwarts. When Hogwarts was founded the four greatest Witches and Wizards of the age founded this school with the hope to create a brighter future for our kind. You will each be sorted into Houses besides on your traits. The Houses are Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw."

It was different then when Hagrid had spoken about Slytherin with disdain or when Ron on the train had mentioned that all dark wizards came from Slytherin. Of course he had read a book about famous people from the different houses in the month that he was away. Sure Slytherin had some dark wizards but all of the houses had them, for instance Sirius Black was from Gryffindor and caused the death of his family. He couldn't see what the fuss was really about Slytherin being evil.

Immediately after the stern wizard, Professor McGonagall walked off the blonde haired boy walked over with his two large friends and offered his hand. "I heard that Harry Potter had come to Hogwarts. It is important to get to know the correct families, I am Draco Malfoy."

A snort from the red head boy gave time for Harry to consider his options. If he refused the hand then the boy who seemed to be a bully would get embarrassed and most likely cause problems in the future. It seemed obvious when viewed at the choice of befriending the troublemaker or becoming a subject of his anger that the choice to make. Harry interrupted the argument between the Ronald boy and Draco that had started to pick up by taking Draco's hand, "It is nice to meet you Draco. I am always happy to make any friend."

A number of individuals were in shock and surprise. Immediately there was a whisper among the first year students that Harry Potter was here. Harry could see out of the corners of his eyes a number of students trying to peer over top of each other at him. It felt as if he was like that snake in the zoo that he released on his cousin Dudley. Merlin but that was a good day.

Before any further conversation could pick up the doors of the Great Hall swung open and they marched into the giant chamber. The ceiling was enspelled to look like the night sky and did a wonderful job at it. Harry again was amazed how beautiful and impressive magic could be.

Once their line stopped a stool and a hat was brought out. The hat started to sing a song but Harry was too entranced by the beauty of the magic filling the room to notice the exact words. If he concentrated on the floating candles and ceiling he swore he could almost see lines of pulsating power. But, he didn't get a chance to test his thoughts as the sorting started.

They were sorted by last name. One by one they were called up to sit on the stool and place on the strange talking hat. It was a quick process surprisingly with the first girl named Abbott going to Hufflepuff. A red haired girl named Bones joined her shortly afterwards, and the twins earlier named Carrow went to join Slytherin. The Malfoy boy joined the Slytherin table, with a Greengrass and a Davis. The students seemed to be going to different tables to a large amount of applause for each new addition. Finally his name was called, "Harry Potter."

The room was so silent a pin could be heard to drop. Harry walked forward slowly and lowered down to sit on the stool. The stern witch lowered the strange talking had down over his head and he all of a sudden hear talking from it.

"Interesting. Interesting." The Hat spoke mentally to Harry. "There is a lot to work with here. You are hardworking, a brilliant mind, ambitious and plenty of courage to go around."

"You would do well in many of the houses Mr. Potter. But where do I put you? Perhaps Slytherin will help you…"

"Why Slytherin?" Harry whispered to himself.

"Why Slytherin could make you great! You could become powerful and strong, you would become someone remembered perhaps for all time!" The Hat retorted mentally to the boy.

Harry tried to think back, "Would I be able to become strong enough for my relatives to stop hurting me?"

"You will become cunning enough to stop that Mr. Potter. If you are ambitious enough, you will become strong enough to never be picked on and the subject of ridicule again." The comment from the hat opened the eyes of Harry as the boy actually smiled. The Sorting Hat sensing this spoke yelled out, "SLYTHERIN!"

Author note: Harry allowed the abuse and lies of the Dursley family to be a large part on his mind. I can't see a boy that had put through what they put Harry through to become a happy person that he is in book one all of a sudden. Instead this Harry has a goal, to get away from the Dursley family because he hates them. If I did this story I would have Harry befriend and perhaps end up with the Carrow twins or Greengrass or maybe Pansy. They are never given an age in the books but seem to be either the same or close to the same age as Harry so in here I made them the same age as him. Let me know your thoughts?