Hope everyone is enjoying the story so far. It's about to get a more exciting
"Harry?" he felt Hermione's gentle touch on his hand snapping him out of his daze."What?"
She frowned in concern "You're just staring at that boy is all".
Harry gazed back up at the boy who had just taken a seat on the sorting stool.
"It's strange but I feel like I know him".
Ron shrugged and helped himself to some pumpkin juice. "Well he does look just like you".
"Yeah" Harry muttered distractedly "Sure" His eyes narrowed as the hat was placed on the boys head. He looked practically beside himself with fear.
Ten students had been sorted so far and so far none of them into Griffindor.
"Oh look, that must be Dennis Malfoy" came Ron's bitter voice.
"Who?" Harry turned his attention back to Ron who pointed out the blond hair boy with side combed hair waiting next in line. "That's Malfoys younger brother" He finished.
"Oh that's right, Alicia Silverstone told me he'd be enrolling this year".
Harry shook his head "I wasn't aware he had a brother". But his attention had returned to the boy who's face was expressing an array of colorful emotions as that hat whispered sweet nothings in his head.
It was strange staring at the boy. It felt as if Harry was trying to decide whether he was a possible friend or enemy. The boys eyes met his again.
"Slytherin!" yelled the hat. The hall erupted in cheers from the Slytherin table as young Conor stepped down to join them. Harry fixed him with glare.
Harrys gaze shifted to the Slytherin table where Malfoy met it with narrowed suspicious eyes. As Conor came around the table Malfoy stood to offer the raggedy legged boy a seat beside him.
The boy looked disappointed, deflated like he wasn't happy with the hats choice of his house.
Once the sorting ceremony was over and the other first years were snuggly seated at their appropriate benches, McGonagall picked up the hat and retreated up to the teachers top table.
Dumbledore stood up calling for silence yet again.
The chatter died down and he smiled "Well done everyone. I would like to take this opportunity to inform students that as of the large amount of requests we received last year, mid- semester Hogsmeade trips will now be available to all years" Dumbledore rose a finger to his lips before the chatter started again. "Anyone wishing to attend should submit their forms before Saturday three weeks from now". His blue eyes met with Harrys and a crease appeared over his brow. "Having said at that I have one last word to say...Balbamerium!"
The usual feasts appeared on all the tables drawing out 'Ew's' and 'Ah's' from the first years. Even now it still brought a smile to Harry's lips. Immediately the students began to dig in and Harry was no different. He helped himself to some mash potatoes, beef and Yorkshire puddings. Hermione groaned as Ron began to overload his plate as usual and Harry snorted.
"What?" asked Ron with a full mouth.
Harry contemplated his own plate and didn't eat much. "Harry? Is everything ok?" came Hermione's smooth voice next to him. Harry nodded and sighed.
"It's just Sirius" Harry explained. She raised an eyebrow at him and Harry took his cue to continue on "He just said he'd collect me from the Dursely's by August, and like you know he never turned up".
"There's no need to worry mate, he's probably off enjoying his freedom for once" Ron muttered through a mouthful of sticky BBQ ribs. "It's not been long since his name was cleared. I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't just living it up somewhere".
Hermione huffed and smiled at Harry. "Ron's right Harry, even if he does have the manors of a walrus" she frowned at Ron.
Harry thought about that. They were probably right, it had only been a month since Voldemort had forced Petter Pettigrew to turn himself in and clear Sirius' good name. The thought brought a faint smile to his lips.
Once the start of year feast was over, Harry, Ron and Hermione followed the river of students out of the Great Hall. As they lingered outside they noticed Malfoy stand up, along with his little brother, who Harry could easily admit looked like a mini Draco replica. Crab and Goyle joined them and to his surprise so did the new Slytherin boy. Hermione took his hand as they made their way towards them. "Come on, let's not give them the satisfaction". Harry let her lead him away down the corridor to where Ron was waiting for them.
As the crowds filed out Harry could already hear Malfoy's little brother hassling young Conor. He had him pinned into a corner and was teasing him. Harry stopped and looked back. Noticing Harry's interest Ron and Hermione stopped with him.
"Look at him!" spat Ron. "He's just like his brother".
At the mention of his name, as if he knew Draco appeared out grinning. His eyes met Harry's over the mass of students and he laughed.
"Hey Potter! Nice report in the Witch Weekly eh?"
Harry felt his fists clench at his sides. Hermione's hand traveled to his shoulder and Harry watched as she stepped out "Let me handle it" she smiled.
Harry and Ron stood curious as she strode purposely forward. "Dennis leave that boy alone". She came to stop meters from the young Malfoy and frowned at him.
"Oh yeah?" Draco stepped up the them "Why should he?".
"What does she think she's doing?" Ron spat. Harry shook his head watching carefully.
Young Conor attempted to side step the gang. Draco nodded to his brother who pushed him back up against the stone walls of the now empty corridor.
"Five points from Slytherin" Hermione shouted "And if I see or hear of anymore attempts at bullying tonight it'll be twenty!" she spat flashing her new prefcts badge at them.
Malfoy, Crab and Goyle advanced on her but Harry was there in seconds, pulling her behind him and standing in Draco's face, feeling his shoulders square up in anger.
Draco glared at him. "Oh? What you going to do about it Potter?" he teased. Harry glanced to the side where Dennis Malfoy had Conor pined against the wall.
"Leave him alone" Harry said through gritted teeth, he was seething in anger. The young boy twitched nervously.
"Don't worry about him Dennis, Potter wouldn't dare try anything" he chuckled "He might damage a nail".
In a move so subtle that Draco didn't notice until it too late Harry raised his wand and pressed it under Malfoys chin. Crab and Goyle reacted Immediately and swiped for him with large fists which Harry avoided easily. They didn't make a second attempt as Ron and Hermione's joined in with their wands also. Malfoys eyes were wide. Harry frowned down at the young Malfoy who released Conor. Harry stared at the young boy "Do yourself a favor, don't hang around with slimeballs or you may just become one". The boys eyes brightened and he smiled.
Malfoy hissed "Dennis come on, lets leave Potter, Pauper and Mudblood to..."
He never got to finish his sentence for at that second Harry had yelled "Trallacaserum!" and visualized the third floor girls bathrooms. Malfoy disappeared with a nose like a person being suck down a rubber tube.
Crab and Goyle flexed and Harry frowned. "Want to join him?" he threatened. The two slytherin boys growled at him before backing off.
"W-what did you do to my brother?" came Dennis's shaky voice.
Harry gazed down his nose in disdain at the blond boy. "Oh he's alright" Harry smirked.
Crab took Dennis by the shoulder and the three reluctantly disappeared around the corner but not before Hermione informed them that she would reliving this incident to Professor Snape.
Harry turned to look at Hermione. She giggled as Ron let out an audible sigh and began to lead the way down the corridor. Harry wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him planting a kiss on her hair. "I forgot you could do that" he said.
She laughed "If he'd have cast a spark at me it would have been fifty".
"Remind me not to cross you this year" Ron laughed.
Harry stopped once again and glanced back down the corridor. Young Conor was collecting his books from the slate floor. "Go on" He told his frowning friends "I'll catch up with you in a few minutes".
They did so but not before Hermione planted a light kiss on his lips.
Harry watched them leave before he walked back down to the boy. He reached his side a bent to pick up..Book of Spells Volume three?
Harry held out a hand to the boy "Hi, I'm Harry" he introduced himself as he handed the him the beaten looking book.
"Thanks. I'm Conor" He replied shyly.
"You're a third year?" Harry asked confused. The boys green eyes twinkled as the corner of mouth lifted up in a smile.
"Yes. I just came here from a Muggle family but I was too old to go into first year" Conor spoke.
Harry studied the boys shape and hight. The boy looked no bigger than a first year but now Harry really looked he could see the boys eyes were older than that of an eleven year old.
Harry smiled at him "Well if you need to play catch up I can help you. I came from that kind of background myself". Harry twitched as the boys eye raised and settled on Harry' lightning shaped scar.
"I'm a Slytherin, why would you help me?" He asked.
Harry frowned not knowing how to answer that himself. "I don't know" He said at last "I suppose I feel like I know you. That's crazy I know..."
"No!" the boy shook his head "No it's not"
The boys fired off quick response stunned Harry and the two stared at each other in silence.
A muttering from behind them was all the warning they received before Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape exited from the Great Hall behind them. The two stopped seeing Harry and Conor standing in the corner.
"Potter! Explain yourself" Snape spat at once. Dumbledore held up an excusing hand.
"Now now Severus, they are not out that late" Dumbledore's blue eyes rested on Harry, he smiled.
"Harry do you think I could have a few minutes in my office? There is something me need to discuss?" Harry nodded and smiled at Conor.
"See you around Conor"
Conor nodded "Yeah see you Harry".
Dumbledore took his arm gently leading him away from the staring boy and the potions master.
They were silent as they made their way to large stone gargoyle that guarded the revolving staircase to Dumbledores office.
"Fizzing Whizzbies" Dumbledore muttered and lifted the hem of his long purple robes as he stepped onto the moving concrete stairs. Harry followed suit and soon found himself back in the huge office that was his headmasters. The room was large and resembled something of a library with knickknacks littered about and painting of sleeping x headmasters on the wall.
At the back of the room was a wroth iron circular staircase that harry could only assume led to the headmasters private quarters.
Fawks let out a heavenly musical chyme as they entered and for umpteenth time Harry found himself admiring her fiery plumage.
Dumbledore smiled noticing this and gestured to the seat opposite him "Please".
Harry did taking note of the tender voice the old wizard used. "Is something the matter sir?"
Dumbledore sighed. "I'm sure you are wondering why Sirius did not turn up to collect you as planned Harry?" Harry straightened and nodded. "He is stuck in Romania. There has been a problem with Charlie Weasley's dragons and Sirius offered to stay and help".
Harry frowned in concern "What kind of problem?"
"For some reason they've scattered all over the continent and Charlie and Sirius are leading a team to try and recover them while limiting the exposure damage, but that is not why I called you up here Harry".
Harry gazed at his Headmaster and noted the fresh lines of worry that had appeared on his kind face.
"Did you notice how many less students we've accepted this year?"
Harry nodded and felt a prickle of annoyance. "Yes. It's because of me isn't it?"
Dumbledore nodded smiling. " That's right Harry. You're in for a ruff year. We've been getting letters from all over the country from parents excusing their children from attending." Harry frowned but Dumbledore's smile didn't fade. "Of course that makes no difference, to me you are no different from any other Witch or Wizard who attends this school".
Harry sighed "They're afraid aren't they?" he muttered quietly.
"Yes. We don't expect them to understand Harry, but seeing you with young Conor in that corridor..."
Harry gazed up at his Headmaster. His knowing eyes told Harry he wasn't missing a trick. "What about him sir?"
"Harry Conor is new to magic and new to our ways, as such he can be easily mislead or even misleading. It's no surprise that he will need a lot of guidance and support to stay on the path".
Harry shook his head and felt his headmasters eyes linger on him.
"From the moment I met him sir" He spoke at last. "I-I felt that I knew him, that'd we met before".
Dumbledore nodded in understanding. "I saw that yes, and yet being put into Slytherin didn't make any difference to your judgment of him, why?".
Harry thought about that carefully and considered how to answer. "I'm not sure how to answer that professor. It was like when I saw the disappointment on his face at being sorted into Slytherin, well, I guess I knew he wasn't a typical Slytherin".
Dumbledore smiled, a broad open smile. It was one of those smiles that told him the old Wizard was impressed.
"Did you happen to catch his last name Harry?"
"Yes" Harry replied automatically. "It was R..." he felt his voice snag in his throat.
Dumbledore nodded "Riddle, yes Harry. Conor is Voldemort's only living son, apart from you that is" Harry was sure all the color had drained from his face. He swallowed and licked his lips. "That would make him".
"Indeed" Dumbledore cut him short "Conor is your half brother Harry".