Chapter 13

Hogwarts

Headmaster's Office

Dumbledore was busy looking through the returned student forms for new students. He had a smile on his face that would send shivers down spines. All he needed was the mad scientist cackle and he would get the job. NO TRAINING NEEDED.

Yet at that exact moment he experienced the feeling of cold dead fingers scratch down his spine. Trouble was on its way to him and it was coming with a vengeance.

On the top dusty shelf of Dumbledore's office, sat a tattered old hat. He went by many names, currently he was called Copernicus by the Dumb-Ass, but he was actually named SAM.

Sort-After-Memory

The Founders created him as part of their best charms and spells and potions work. His ONLY goal in "life" was to see to it that the new student received the best possible companions to assist in his/her school term.

Yet at that moment in time SAM was laughing his "ass" off inside his mindscape with Magic as his guest. They often met like this to sort through potential student to become seers or elementals.

But today they were meeting as friends and were having the time of their lives laughing at the scene that was happening inside Hogwarts Express Train Car #7.

Sam thought it hilarious that Harry bonded to 4 Element creatures at the same time and Magic thought it funny as Neville tried to understand why his friend had to have all the weird stuff happen to him.

Dumbledore thought himself pretty smart for organising the coming year and to "TEST" Harry to see what he knew in a way to find out where he was all these years.

It NEVER occurred to him to simply ASK Harry the question.

It was too complicated to do in that way, for the Greater Good, he simply HAD to test Harry. He was after all the BOY-WHO-LIVED and the Boy-Dumbledore-Could-Never-Find.

Unfortunately his first task to test Harry died in a freak accident in Diagon Alley a few days ago. Something to do with a freak possession according to the newspaper, The Daily Prophet.

But Dumbledore knew better. He sensed Voldemort had possessed Quierell and wanted to use him to lure Harry into the trap he had set up using the Philosopher stone he borrowed from his friend, Nicolas Flamel.

But now that plan was over since the damn fool went and got himself killed before the right time.

Dumbledore was not troubled by this very much. He did not reach the positions of power he held for being LAZY in the planning department. He could plan and scheme the whole day long if that damn Minerva would allow him the luxury.

Right now though he had to come up with a way to get his latest plan into running order. It included a bookworm, a red head and a troll. The plan had a certain RING to it that made it feel right to him.

Just thinking about it made the old man want to giggle.

Dumbledore: It is fool proof! Whatever could go wrong?

Dumbledore smiled at his clever plan and popped a Lemon Drop in his mouth.

Sam and Magic switched views and watched as the old man planned and schemed how to manipulate Harry's life even more than he already has.

They were Not happy.

Sam: Some days I wish the Potion Master would put some mind altering drugs into those sweets! But then I think of how it would affect him and shiver at the thought of seeing a Dumb-Ass like him being HIGH.

Just thinking about it made the mental image pop up and it made him shiver again.

Magic: Oh dear me… Now THAT is a disturbing image! Remove it from my sight at once!

Magic was not impressed with the thought of even imagining that "man" on mind altering drugs. She will find a way to permanently remove him from the gene-pool if that ever happened.

Sam: Not my fault this is the only place we can meet. This is my mind after all you know. Anyway, back to the carriage! I want to see what else Harry has to offer in ways to shock poor Neville. Or maybe we get to see somebody else get some tongue lashing from our esteemed Gentlemen.

Sam and Magic just laughed at their own little joke for Harry and Neville and switched views again. Neither of them cared to watch what else the old fool dreamed up.

KNOCK KNOCK

Harry looked towards the door as Neville got up to answer it.

Draco: Good day Mr Longbottom.

Neville: Mr Malfoy.

Draco: May I enter and be introduced to Mr Potter please?

Neville turned to Harry and waited for an answer. Harry nodded his head and Neville stepped aside to allow Draco entrance.

Draco: Good day to you Mr Potter. I am Draco Malfoy, son of Lord Lucius and Lady Narcissa Malfoy. I am very pleased to finally be able to meet you in person.

Harry: Why?

Draco was put off his step for a few seconds but stood his ground as he saw no malice in the question Harry asked.

Draco: The reason is that I know for a fact just from your mannerism now, that all the books written about you are false and nothing more than fairy tales written by a mad man and a drunk who got together and thought up ways to make a quick Galleon.

Harry: Most of that is true, especially the end parts.

Draco looked at Harry for an explanation but soon found that there would be none given.

Harry: Well met Draco Malfoy, son of Lord Lucius and Lady Narcissa Malfoy. It is a pleasure to meet you also. Above the pleasure it is to actually meet somebody with manners and some common sense. You may call me Harry.

Draco thought of the welcome as a bit stiff and maybe a little insulting, but he accepted it for what it was and held out his hand to formalise the greeting.

Draco: And you both may call me Draco.

Harry shook the offered hand and offered the seat next to him for Draco to sit down.

Neville had in the meantime closed the door and have taken his seat across from Harry again.

Draco sat down and politely waited to be involved in whatever Harry and Neville decided to discuss.

Neville: Tell me Draco, do you have a pet you brought with you to school?

Draco: Father was planning on giving me a snake for my birthday this year, but I see no use for it as I will not be able to communicate with it or even be allowed to bring it to school. It would have only been a showcase pet.

Harry: That is very sensible of you Draco. I would have taken you for a Rottweiler owner anyway.

Draco: What is a Rottweiler?

Harry: It is a breed of dog. Very buff and loyal dogs.

Draco: I will have to do some research and see what they look like. Maybe I will be able to convince Father to get me one next year.

Harry: That's the spirit, plan ahead and get your facts straight before jumping in and swimming for the horizon.

Draco just kept quiet about the remark. It sounded like a compliment, but he couldn't be sure.

Neville: My uncle gave me a toad. It is pretty useless, except for when I am in the Greenhouse. It helps to equal out the pests there.

Harry: Green thumbs

Neville: Wise Ass

Harry: Draco, I take it by your family name that you would be sorted into Slytherin, but if you could choose, where would you put Neville and why?

Draco knew this to be a test to see if his offer of "friendship" was genuine. Even if it just turned out to be a civil relationship he would still be happy with it.

Draco: I would say Hufflepuff with no doubt. Their Head of House is Professor Sprout and she is also the Professor for Herbology. Neville would do well there and he might even be able to apply to be an Apprentice with her if he is truly interested in the subject.

As for me, I would really love to be able to be accepted as an Apprentice under Professor Snape. He is the Potions Master at Hogwarts and my Godfather.

Harry: That is so cool to have your Godfather so close to you at school. Mine is at home chasing his own tail now, instead of looking for some other tail to look at. So back to the subject at hand. Where would you put me and why?

Draco gave that question some thought before he answered. He knew nothing about Harry except for what he just found out, and that was not enough to estimate an answer for that particular question.

So he went with what he had and hoped for the best.

Draco: From what I have heard thus far, I would have to say Slytherin.

Harry: Why?

Draco: You are very well spoken, have an air of superiority about you without pushing it on somebody, you outwit those around you and challenge them to their own thoughts. You also do not have any of the "KNOWN" traits of the other houses.

Draco said and felt that he had answered that question in a respectable way.

He also knew that Harry would not be satisfied with just that so he continued.

Draco: No offence meant to the other houses, but history shows that Slytherin is for the ambitious student, Ravenclaw for the book smart, Hufflepuff for the kind and gentle and Gryffindor for the brave. Although everybody may say that, it is far from the brutal truth.

Slytherins are known for their brutal ways in dominating others. Also they have an on-going war with Gryffindor.

Ravenclaws are known for sticking to the library and researching every detail of whatever they can get their hands on.

Hufflepuffs are known to stick to the Green houses and their common room.

Gryffindors are known to bully others, especially with Slytherins, and run into situations of danger without thinking it through.

This has been going on since before my father's time as a student at Hogwarts and according to him it started long before his time there.

It is like the muggle wars. Nobody actually knows why it started anymore.

Draco said the last bit and looked down to his feet. He hoped that the answer was taken the way he tried to let it sound. He personally did not have a problem with the Houses. He had a problem with the Jack-Asses who were in them.

Harry watched every detail about how Draco explained his version of the Houses and he actually agreed with all of it.

Harry's smile grew predatory as his thoughts turned to the way he was going to change everything as soon as he stepped foot inside Hogwarts.

Harry: This year just became much more interesting!

Neville and Draco got shills down their spines.

Neville was thankful he was Harry's God brother and friend.

Draco was thankful he decided to use his head when he introduced himself to Harry, instead of how his Father demanded him to greet Harry.

This year just became one for the history books.

Sam and Magic laughed as they saw Harry rub his hands together and cackle like a mad scientist and made poor Neville and Draco squirm in their seats.