Chapter Two: Hey Yeah, Don't Let 'em Know We're Comin'

Harry and Malfoy were the first two up, and both exchanged curt nods and civil greetings. The bathroom next to the room with the beds had three shower stalls so neither had to fight over the shower, and Harry took his time, reveling in the warm water. He chose a mirror, the one kitty-corner from Malfoy, and started drying his hair off and getting ready for breakfast. When his hair was dry, Harry headed out to where the other boys were just getting up. Blaise was waking up Theodore while Crabbe and Goyle were slowly extricating themselves from their beds.

"None of you are morning people, apparently," Harry said, and Blaise snorted.

"Crabbe and Goyle are as much morning people as Snape is happy," he replied, and Harry chuckled as Malfoy exited the bathroom.

"Do you want to walk to breakfast with me?" Malfoy asked, coming to a stop next to Harry. The left side of his mouth was quirked a little bit- not in a smirk- and his breathing spoke volumes about the trepidation he was feeling. "If we get down early, Professor Snape will give us our schedules early and then we'll have time to come back and get our books.

"Sure," Harry replied. "Just let me grab my wand." Harry walked over to his desk and grabbed his wand off it, then walked back over to Malfoy.

"If you buy a wand holster you won't have to worry about losing your wand," Theodore said, looking relatively awake- at least compared to how awake he had looked thirty seconds before.

"Thanks," Harry replied, nodding in the other boy's direction. Malfoy took the lead, traipsing up the stairs with Harry right behind him. As they were about to exit the common room, Malfoy grabbed a piece of paper off a table and unfolded it. They exited the common room, and Malfoy took off, studying the piece of paper very intensely.

"Is that a map?" Harry asked, and Malfoy nodded.

"The prefects are in charge of putting together the maps for us and any second years that might have forgotten how to get places. Ravenclaw generally ends up with a few copies during breakfast, and by the second day Hufflepuff have almost always procured a couple for sharing- at least, that's what all the older years say," Malfoy replied, shrugging. "They also say Gryffindors are constantly getting lost the first couple of weeks. We offer maps, they decline. Well, offer maps through Ravenclaw, but we still offer them our maps."

"Sounds like Gryffindors really hate us- although from what I've seen, that feeling is mutual," Harry said. "Do you know why?"

"Salazar Slytherin, the founder of Slytherin house, didn't think that muggleborns should be allowed to learn at the school because teaching them came at too great a risk of discovery. Godric Gryffindor thought otherwise," Malfoy replied.

"The differing styles of approach might have something to do with the continued feud," Harry added, and Malfoy nodded.

"Here, you navigate," the blond said, handing Harry the map. Harry looked down at it, seeing a green dot where he supposed they were in the castle.

"Okay, we need to take the second right after the suit of armor with the- do you know what a khopesh is?" Harry asked, looking at the suits of armor lining the hall.

"It's some kind of curved sword- I think that's the suit referenced," Malfoy said, pointing to where a suit of armor stood, a curved blade in its glove.

"Okay, so second right after that," Harry said, and the two of them found the hall way needed. "We have two flights of stairs then it should be a pretty straight shot to the Great Hall."

Upon entering the Great Hall, the two boys were greeted by one Ronald Weasley.

"Potter, I honestly thought you were better than this. All that crap about the 'right kind of people' on the train, and then you get sorted into Slytherin, and now you're hanging around the Malfoy git!" Ron snarled, wand in hand and arms waving in anger.

"He's my dorm mate. I have to be able to at least tolerate him, and most of the time he is tolerable," Harry replied, trying to sidestep the irate Weasley and enter the hall. Upon failing to do that, Harry fixed him with his best 'I-am-annoyed-by-your-insignificant-buzzing' look that he had learned from his aunt.

"You start tolerating them, you start becoming one!" Ron replied. "You keep hanging around them, you'll go dark, just like You-Know-Who! Come on, we can still get you resorted." He stepped forward, grabbing at Harry's arm. Harry jerked away violently, his expression shifting to his aunt's 'you-dare-touch-me-you-inferior-scum' look.

"No! I don't need resorted. I'm perfectly fine being a Slytherin, and if being resorted would mean I would have a chance of being sorted into a house with you, well, I'd just as soon be eaten by a dragon than have to share a dorm with someone so bigoted," Harry growled, pushing past Ron and into the hall. Draco followed, looking completely unruffled and slightly smug. The two Slytherin boys sat down at the end of the table next to the Ravenclaws, and started dishing food onto their plates. A few Ravenclaw girls, including Morag, stood up and walked over to Harry and Draco.

"Hey, thanks for standing up to that weasel," one of the girls- rather tall with curly brown hair- said. "He laid into Padma about not being in Gryffindor like her sister." Here an Indian witch was pointed out to the boys, and she waved shyly. "I'm Mandy Brocklehurst, by the way. You know Padma, but the others are Morag MacDougal, Lisa Turpin," short with blonde hair, "and Su Li." Su was a witch of Chinese descent.

"Harry Potter," Harry replied, holding his hand out. A couple of the girls- and Draco- were rather surprised at this action, but after a moment, Mandy shook his hand.

"Most men don't offer their hands to shake when meeting women," Lisa said, looking contemplative. "At least, not in wizarding culture."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I don't really know much about wizarding customs…" Harry trailed off, shifting where he sat.

"Muggle raised? That's weird, there were plenty of wizarding families clamoring to take you in, at least my dad says so," Mandy replied, frowning. (People seemed to do that a lot around Harry…) "Oh well, in wizarding society, when a man greets or is introduced to a woman, he kisses the back of her right hand."

"Like this?" Harry asked, standing up and then leaning over to delicately take Mandy's hand a pressed his lips to the back of it for a moment, then straightening.

"Yeah, and at that point, you would introduce yourself and let the witch know how nice it is to meet her," Lisa replied.

Harry smiled, and then retried the procedure with Lisa, but after he straightened back up, he smiled and said: "I'm Harry Potter, and it is wonderful to know one of the brightest witches in the school." Lisa giggled, and the other girls smiled.

"Keep this up and you'll be a well sought after wizard gentleman in no time," Morag said. "Now, practice makes perfect, so…"

Harry bent to kiss the back of Morag's hand, then straightened and said: "Harry Potter. What a pleasure to meet such a confident witch." He then turned to Padma and kissed her hand, and when he straightened, he said: "I'm Harry Potter, and I'm glad to meet such a charming witch." He then turned to Su, and kissed her hand, and when he straightened, he said: "I'm Harry Potter. I'm pleased to make the acquaintance of a lovely witch such as you." He looked each witch in the eyes- the same leaf green, a brown not dissimilar to chocolate, and brown so dark it was nearly black.

The girls were all smiling, and all the smiles reached their eyes.

"It was nice getting to talk to you, Mr. Potter," Su said, "but we haven't yet been introduced to the fine young fellow you've been sitting next to."

Draco stood, smiling in a charming manner, and Harry could tell it wasn't forced- Draco was genuinely enjoying these witches. He bent and kissed Su's hand and then straightened. "Draco Malfoy," he said. "I'm afraid this wizard beside me has already charmed you more than I could ever hope to."

Lisa giggled. "Don't sell yourself short, Mr. Malfoy," she said, offering him her hand. He repeated the greeting with the other Ravenclaw witches, and they all appeared rather pleased at this occurrence.

"Well, we must return to our breakfast, but it has been a pleasure meeting both of you," Mandy said. "I'm sure that we will have plenty of time to get to know each other this year."

"I look forward to the chance to get to know all of you better," Harry said, bowing to them. A slight nod of approval from Draco, and the beating of Harry's heart began to slow down to a more reasonable level.

"Farewell, ladies, and I look forward to the next time I get the privilege of speaking with you," Draco said, and the girls giggled and left to take their seats at Ravenclaw table. Draco and Harry sat down again and resumed eating.

"Another pro to the list of reasons why we should wake up early- it looks like at least all the Ravenclaw and a majority of Hufflepuff girls are early risers," Harry said, and Draco laughed.

"Meanwhile you," Draco replied with a pointed look at Harry, "have a lot to catch up with on wizarding customs and traditions."

"I look forward to learning under your tutelage, Mr. Malfoy," Harry replied, smirking.

"I am certain you will be a most entertaining student, Mr. Potter," Draco said, also smirking, and both boys laughed. A few minutes later and Blaise, Theodore, Crabbe, and Goyle entered the hall and made their way over to where Harry and Draco were sitting.

"Harry's a ladies' man," Draco proclaimed with a knowing smirk as they sat, and nudged the dark-haired boy with his elbow. "He was charming the entirety of the Ravenclaw first year girls."

"Was not," Harry protested, pouting petulantly and crossing his arms. "It was an etiquette lesson."

"In which you thoroughly charmed the entirety of the Ravenclaw first year girls," Draco restated drily, and then turned to the rest of the Slytherin first year boys. "We have to teach this guy etiquette, customs, and traditions, otherwise all the girls will teach him and then none of us will have a chance."

"So what was this etiquette lesson about?" Theodore asked, loading his plate with bacon and eggs. He was genuinely interested in hearing about it, his eyes belying his cool exterior.

"Meeting girls," Draco replied. "And introducing himself to girls."

"Well, that figures," Blaise said. "So, any you have your eyes on yet?"

"Too early to know," Harry replied, blushing.

"Oh, I saw how you were looking at Miss MacDougal," Draco said, smirking.

"Well, I already knew her. She introduced herself at the feast last night," Harry said.

"And in other news, the mail is arriving," Crabbe said, pointing up to where the windows opened and owls started flying in. A handsome eagle owl flew over to the Slytherin table and landed in front of Draco with a rather large package. Harry's own owl had neither letters nor any packages, but she flew down to Harry anyways and he fed her a strip of bacon.

"Huh," Blaise said. "Wonder why you haven't gotten any mail- I would've thought lots of people would be writing you, given you just started schooling. Lots of parents probably would be desperate to get a good word in for their kids."

"I've never gotten any mail," Harry said, frowning, and Draco paused in his opening of the package.

"Never?" Draco asked, looking Harry in the eyes. Harry was surprised at the amount of confusion, and to be frank, worry in those grey eyes.

"Well, except for my Hogwarts letter," Harry replied. The other boys found this answer unacceptable and all frowned.

"That's not right," Daphne Greengrass said, sitting down near the boys. Evidently she had heard them discussing that as she walked in. "I know for a fact that my mother and father have sent you mail before- I've even written a few words in some of them. That answers the questions my father had about whether you were snubbing us or what."

"My father has also sent letters before," Draco added, and the other girls joining at the table nodded in agreement.

"So obviously, someone's screening your mail," Blaise said. "It can't be your godfather- he's in prison."

"Wait," Harry said, throwing his hands up. "Back up. I have a godfather. In prison?"

Daphne sighed. "Yes. Your parents were under a Fidelius Charm, meaning that one person and one person alone can tell anyone where they were. Sirius Black, your godfather, is assumed to have been your parents' secret keeper, the person who can tell people about a location under Fidelius, but he was thrown in Azkaban, the wizarding prison, without a trial, so my family has held judgment. My father has a seat on the Wizengamot, the body that makes laws and acts as a jury during trials, so he would have known if Black had received a trial, as he would have been there."

"Okay," Harry said. "So if it's not my godfather…"

"Can't be your godmother, either," Theodore said. "That position is held by one Alice Longbottom but she was tortured to insanity a couple days after the Dark Lord attacked you."

"Okay," Harry said, shifting a little uneasily- partially at how much they knew, but then again they were Slytherins. "Not my godfather, not my godmother…"

"Really the only person that can screen your mail is your magical guardian, but the only way to find out who that is would be to get a copy of your parents' will. Your aunt and uncle are your parental guardians," Harry shuddered, "but they have no power in the wizarding world," Draco explained.

"Quick question," Harry said, "but how do you know who my godparents are?"

"Most of the ancient and/or noble wizarding families know who your godparents are," Daphne said. "Somehow word got out that neither of your godparents were able to take custody of you, and then every family with any sort of political clout- and some without- tried to get you."

"But I'm guessing they were all stonewalled?" Harry said, frowning.

"Exactly," Blaise said.

"Why couldn't my godmother or godfather's families have taken me in?" Harry asked.

"Well, Sirius is pretty much the last Black. Oh, Bellatrix Lestrange would have loved to have had you, but she got thrown in Azkaban. Andromeda Tonks, for being a quite well known Healer, was also denied custody because she had been kicked out of the Black family for marrying a muggleborn. Draco's parents also tried, but no luck there. And Augusta Longbottom tried to get custody of you, and let me tell you some of the stories told about her attempts are legendary, but she was prevented from taking custody of you from an argument that she would barely be able to take care of her grandson, let alone two kids," Daphne said.

"So, no idea who my magical guardian is, no idea why I was put with muggles… Who could I contact about my mail, at least?" Harry asked.

"Best bet would be Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Screening the mail of someone without their knowledge is illegal. And even if it is your magical guardian doing the screening, with the right support in the right places, even that can be fixed," Draco said.

"Bones… That name sounds familiar," Harry said.

"Her niece is a Hufflepuff in our year," Daphne said.

"I could talk to her about it," Harry said, nodding in comprehension and staring at his empty plate.

"You should," Theodore said. "But not now, timetables are being handed out."

True to Draco's word, he and Harry were some of the first Slytherins to receive their schedules.

"How does he remember the order everyone arrived at the hall in?" Harry muttered under his breath, looking at his timetable.

"Herbology with the Ravenclaws first, but you're in luck," Theodore said.

"A break then Charms with Hufflepuff," Harry replied, smiling. "Come on, let's go get our stuff."

The entire group of first year Slytherins rose as one and exited the hall together, heading down to the dungeons as the heads of houses watched.

"Your first year Slytherins are some of the most united Slytherins I've seen in years," Professor McGonagall said to Professor Snape, raising her eyebrows.

"Yes, I am quite impressed," Professor Flitwick said. "If only your Gryffindors were as considerate and united as the Slytherins."

Professor McGonagall fumed silently while Professor Snape had a small gloating smirk on his face.

Disclaimer: I am merely a visitor to this admittedly huge sandbox.

So, yeah. That happened. The Slytherins are scarily smart, and I do realize I've made them really mature. Well, if you don't like it you don't have to read it.

Thanks to everyone who followed and reviewed!

Question: What is your least favorite pairing in the HP universe?

Next time: the conspiracy begins.