Is this what I think it is? Yes, it is an update! Woohoo! and, yet again, the longest one up! Thanks to everyone who reviewed, it made me happy. I'm not sure when the next chap will be up, NaNoWriMo is coming up, and I actually want to finish the novel this time. This is a major chap, but you'll have to see why. There is a time skip of about three years, between the last chap and this one. Also, any part of the writing that resembles what happens in the books, is not mine, it belongs to JK Rowling, and will have an * at the end of sentence or line. However, I rewrote a lot of stuff. Now, read-
"Hurry up, Mom," a thin boy called up the stairs. "She's gunna be here soon."
"Be patient, Harry," a red haired woman laughed as she walked down the stairs.
"Yeah, Harry, be patient," a girl who looked exactly like the woman said from the living room.
Harry turned back to look at her, and stuck his tongue out. She returned the favor, and they both laughed.
"I want my letter," he grinned.
"Ooh, yeah, your magic letter," the girl laughed.
Harry smiled. He could still remember when Aunt Minnie had told him the truth about Hogwarts.
Harry sighed as he looked at the note in his hand. He had hoped that all of this would stop after leaving the Dursleys. He had obviously been wrong.
He really hadn't meant to let the class parrot out of its cage. He had only been watching Polly clean her feathers, and had really wanted to hold her, when the lock had suddenly opened.
The teacher had blamed him, of course. She had written his guardians a note, and had kept him in during recess.
"Cheer up, Harry," Kelly said from next to him.
Harry looked up at the girl. She smiled at him.
Harry didn't say anything, and looked back at the note. He knew it wasn't going to be that bad. Gibbs and Mrs. Gibbs were fair when it came to punishments. It wasn't the punishment he was dreading.
No, he was dreading the look of disappointment on Gibbs face. He hated when he didn't work up to the man's expectations.
Harry spent the rest of the bus ride in silence, while Kelly talked to some of their friends. She knew when there was no point in trying to cheer him up.
Too soon, the bus stopped, and Harry and Kelly got off. Kelly raced ahead, towards their house, while Harry walked as slow as he could.
However, he couldn't put it off too long, and before long, he was walking through the front door.
"It took you long enough," a Scottish voice commented as he passed the living room.
Harry spun to see an older woman sitting next to Mrs. Gibbs.
"Aunt Minerva," he exclaimed.
He rushed over to give her a hug. She laughed at his enthusiasm.
"It is good to see you as well, Harry," she said.
"Why are you here? It's a long way from England," he questioned.
"I wanted to see how you were doing. It is a big change between England and America," she explained.
"Yeah, but it's really cool here. All of the kids are nice, and school is really easy."
Minerva laughed. It was good to see Harry so happy.
"That is great. However, Mrs. Gibbs has told me that you get into trouble occasionally at school."
Harry's head instantly dropped.
"Yeah," he looked back up at her, and his voice grew urgent. "But it's not my fault. Things just seem to happen around me, and I can't control them."
"I know," she told him.
"You know?"
"Yes, that is one of the reasons I came by today."
"It is?"
"Harry, you have been lied to long enough; it is time for the truth to come out."
Harry's eyebrows furrowed. He glanced at Gibbs and Mrs. Gibbs, but looked just as confused as he felt. Minerva put her hand on his shoulder, and he looked back at her.
"All of these things you do, Harry, are magic," she told him. "You are a wizard."
Harry chuckled slightly as he thought of that day. Of course, none of them had believed her at first, and Gibbs had almost thrown her out of the house. However, after she transfigured one of the cups on the table to into a gerbil, and changed herself into a cat, the all just sat in amazement.
She had told him that his parents had been magical as well, and that Hogwarts was a magic school. Then, she explained parts of his past.
Harry had been amazed to hear that his parents weren't killed in a car accident. They had been murdered, and the man who killed them tried to kill him, but failed.
A knock drew him from his thoughts, and sent him racing towards the door.
He threw it open to see the Scottish teacher.
"Aunt Minnie!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms around her.
"Good morning, Harry," she laughed.
Harry led her to the living room, bouncing as he walked.
Minerva laughed as she watched Harry move. He was acting like many wizard children as they waited for their letter. The parchment seemed to be burning a hole in her pocket. She could not wait to give it to him.
Shannon and Kelly smiled at her when they saw her.
"It's good to see you again, Minerva," Shannon smiled as they hugged.
"You too, Shannon," Minerva replied.
"Hi, Aunt Minnie," Kelly waved from her seat on the couch.
"Hello, Kelly," she replied.
She smiled when she noticed that Harry had not sat down, and was, instead, bouncing in place. She reached into her pocket, and pulled an envelope out. She handed it to him, and he took it carefully.
He slowly opened it. It seemed like his fear that the letter might break if he handled it to roughly had overridden his excitement.
"Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall Deputy Headmistress*" he read.
His grin grew even more, and he launched himself at his guardian.
"Can we go get my stuff now?" he pleaded.
"If it is alright with your mother," Minerva chuckled.
Harry raced towards the woman, and looked at her with wide eyes.
"Please, please, please," he said.
Shannon laughed, and ruffled his hair.
"Of course," she replied.
"Yes!" Harry yelled. He was jumping up and down while pumping his fists in the air.
Less than an hour later, they were walking up the street in DC. Minerva was leading them through the muggle crowd until they reached an old restaurant.
Harry looked up at the sign over the door. The Age Old Tavern was written in old script. They entered the building quickly.
The inside was bright. It had wood walls and a stone floor that gave it a comfortable feel. The waiters and waitresses were in simple clothes reminiscent of the colonial ear. However, it did not feel like a tacky theme restaurant created to draw in tourists.
"Minerva, it's been years," a voice said. It held a thick Vermont accent.
They turned to see an old man walking towards them from the kitchen. He was wearing a similar outfit as the waiters, with the addition of a three cornered hat.
"John," Minerva smiled.
The man pulled her into a hug
"I'm guessing you needta get through?" he asked her.
"If we may," she replied.
"Course, this way," he said before walking towards the other side of the restaurant.
They followed him, and were soon in a back office. A large fireplace stood in one wall, and John grabbed a container from a shelf. He held it out to them.
"You need to stop in Reykjavik first, and then continue to London," he told them. "Just say 'Pit Stop.'"
Minerva roller her eyes at the American phrase, and grabbed a handful of powder from the container. She turned to her group, to see Shannon looking at the container wearily. She had made sure that Shannon had used the Floo System before, but she had never gone between countries.
"You take Kelly first," she told the younger woman. "I will follow with Harry. Just wait after you get out."
Shannon nodded, and grabbed a handful as well. She put a hand on Kelly's shoulder, and led her towards the fire. Moments later, they were gone, and the fire was turning its original orange.
Minerva looked at Harry, and the boy was grinning. She shook her head; he had to be the only person she had ever met to like traveling by Floo Powder.
"C'mon, Harry," she said.
He stepped next to her, and the next second they were gone.
Harry felt his eyes grow wide as he stumbled out of the fireplace.
He was in a crowded bookstore. The shelves were stacked to the ceiling, and stuffed full of books. More piles of books sat all over the floor, and one was almost blocking the door. People in robes were milling around the building.
He moved out of the way just as Kelly fell out. He helped her to her feet, and her eyes grew wide as well.
"I never thought I would find a bookstore interesting," she whispered.
Harry nodded in agreement as Shannon fell through the fire.
"I hate magic travel," she muttered.
"You get used to it," Minerva spoke up behind her.
Shannon shook her head, and looked around.
"This is amazing," she gasped.
Minerva smiled, and started to lead them through the store.
"We need to get some of your money first," she explained.
None of the others said anything as they got their first look at Diagon Alley. All three of them were looking in every direction as fast as they could. They eyes were wide, and their mouths were slightly open.
Minerva chuckled. Everyone from the muggle world reacted like that.
She led them down the street to Gringotts, where they stared at the Goblins.
Harry was grinning as they walked down the street. They had already picked up his books, potions supplies, and robes. Aunt Minnie had shrunk everything down, so he could carry them in his pocket.
In his arms, he carried a cage that held a white owl. He had jumped when the owl had landed on his shoulder only seconds after entering the store. She had refused to leave her perch until he had bought her. Only then had he been able to put her in the cage.
His eyes lit up when he saw their next destination, Ollivander's.
Ever since Aunt Minnie had told him about magic, he had wanted nothing more than his own wand. He had seen what she could do with it, and it amazed him.
When they first entered the small shop, it appeared empty. There was no-one behind the counter, and no noises coming from further in the store.
Harry and Kelly strained to see further into the store, but it seemed to fade away after a certain point. What they could see, however, was amazing within itself.
Small boxes were stored all over the store. They were crammed onto numerous shelves. They were cluttering the counter. Many piled up on the floor. They could even see some in other boxes on top of the shelves.
"Mr. Potter," a quiet voice rasped from further in the store, making them all jump, except Aunt Minnie. "I was wondering when I would be seeing you."
A small man came forward as he spoke. He had thin, white hair, and wide, glassy eyes. He was standing less than a foot from Harry when he stopped.
His silver eyes took in the group behind Harry.
"Minerva, Fir, dragon heartstring, nine and a half inches, on the stiff side," he rattled off when he saw Aunt Minnie. "Still working well?"
"Perfect since the day I bought it," she replied.
"Hold out your wand hand," he ordered, suddenly looking at Harry again. Surprised, and a little freaked out, Harry lifted his right arm.
Ollivander pulled a tape measure from his pocket, and started to measure Harrys arm.
"I still remember when your father walked through that door. Eager as any young wizard getting his first wand. It found him on the first try; mahogany, pliable, and excellent for transfiguration. Your mother, however, took a bit longer. But, we found it in the end; willow, swishy, and nice for Charm work."
It was then that Harry noticed that the measure was moving by itself, and the wandmaker was browsing the shelves.
The man was pulling out a thin box, and glanced at Harry before shaking his head and pushing the box back on the shelf.
"I remember every wand I have ever sold, Mr. Potter," he rasped. "Every wand, every customer, all that pass through my door, I remember."
Harry glanced at Kelly, who twirled her finger around her ear. Harry had to hold back a laugh while their mother pulled Kelly's arm down. He wasn't sure what he thought of the man; he just wanted his wand.
"The trick is, Mr. Potter, that no two wands are exactly alike, and each wand has its own master," the man continued. "Try this."
Harry jumped slightly when he noticed the man suddenly in front of him, holding out a wand. Harry tentatively reached up and grabbed it. It felt like any stick he had ever picked up in the park.
"Give it a wave, boy," Ollivander said.
Suppressing the feeling of looking like an idiot, Harry waved the wand. Nothing happened, and the next second a new wand was in his hand.
Ten minutes, thirty wands, and a few broken shelves later, Harry still did not have a wand.
Ollivander was browsing some of the back shelves, muttering about tricky customers. He suddenly came into view, looking between the single box in his hand, and Harry. He seemed to be having an argument with himself.
After a few moments, he walked forward, and took the wand out of the box. He handed it to Harry carefully.
Harry smiled slightly as the warmth spread through his body; it felt as though a close friend had just come home. Gold and red sparks flew from the tip of the wand and surrounded his body.
Ollivander clapped his hands once.
"Curious," he muttered. "Very curious."
"What's curious, sir?" Harry asked.
"This wand is holly, eleven inches with a phoenix feather core. The phoenix whose feather lies in this wand gave another feather, just one. The brother of this wand gave you that scar," Ollivander quietly told him.
Harry stared at the man, then down at the wand. A part of him was tempted to find another wand, but a much larger part told that part to shut up. The feeling he had had when he first held the wand, and the way it naturally felt in his hand assured him that this was the wand for him.
"The wand choses the wizard, Mr. Potter, not the other way around. This is your wand, and I expect we will be seeing great things from you. After all, its brother's owner did great things, terrible, yes, but great*."
Harry quickly paid for his wand, and they left the store as soon as possible.
"Pay him no mind, Harry," Aunt Minnie told him. "He enjoys scaring first years."
Harry nodded, but he couldn't help but think about what the man had said.
He stayed up late that night, looking at the wand. It held the same core as his parent's murderer's wand. After staring at it for a while, he shrugged, and put it back in the box. He didn't try to question why he was related to Aunt Petunia, so why should he waste time questioning this?
"I'm gunna miss you so much," Kelly whispered.
She had her arms tight around Harry, and he was returning the gesture.
"I'm going to miss you too," he replied before pulling back.
They were standing on Platform 9 ¾. The Hogwarts express sat just feet from them, and people were saying their own goodbyes all around them.
Shannon put a hand on Harry's shoulder, and pulled him close.
"We will see you soon," she told him.
Harry nodded, glancing at the clock. The train was leaving in less than five minutes.
"Go, you don't want to be left behind," she said, smiling sadly.
"I love you," he said, hugging them both again.
Kelly just nodded, and Shannon ruffled his hair.
The train whistle blew, and he jumped onto the train. He waved at them through the door window until he couldn't see them anymore.
He turned to make his way through the crowded aisle. He kept his eyes open for an empty compartment, while trying to avoid the stares of the other students. It took a few minutes, but he eventually found what he was looking for.
He sat down in the empty compartment, and watched the rest of the city fly by. Once the suburbs gave way to the country, he reached into his pocket, and pulled out a piece of paper. He unfolded it, and read it for the umpteenth time.
Harry,
I know you want me there to see you off to Hogwarts, but duty calls. I don't know yet when I will be home, but once I find out, and can let you know, I will tell you. Have a good time at school. Don't let your fame go to your head, and make sure you study hard. If you need anything, go to Aunt Minnie first, the send a letter to your mom with that owl you said you got. Don't send a letter directly to me, send it to your mom, and ask her to send it to me.
I'm proud of you,
Dad
Harry smiled. Gibbs was stationed overseas. He didn't know where, but he knew that wherever he was, his dad was serving his country.
The door opened, and Harry looked up to see a gangly boy with red hair, and freckles.
"Can I sit here?" the boy asked. "Everywhere else is full*."
"Sure," Harry said, thinking of how long it had taken him to find the compartment.
The boy grinned, and sat across from Harry.
"You a first year too?" the boy asked.
"Yeah. I saw you with a huge group out there. Your family?" Harry replied. He noticed the boy's face fall slightly.
"Yup. I'm Ron Weasley," the boy introduced himself, holding his hand out.
"Harry Potter," he replied, taking the other boys hand.
"You're Harry Potter," Ron gasped.
Harry shrugged, and unconsciously ran his hand through his hair. He noticed Ron's eyes flick towards his scar.
"Are you really?" he asked in awe.
"Last time I checked," Harry replied with a grin.
"Wow, do you remember?" He suddenly turned bright red. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"
"No, I don't remember it, I mean, it happened when I was a baby," Harry told him.
"Where have you been since? You just kinda disappeared."
"I lived with my aunt and uncle for a while, but now I live in the States with my family."
"You live in the states?"
Harry was glad he decided to pursue that line of conversation.
"Yup," he grinned.
"What's it like?"
They fell into easy conversation. Harry told Ron about the US, and Ron told Harry about his childhood home, the Burrow. Ron described what it was like growing up in a magical environment, while Harry explained muggle inventions like electricity.
They lost track of time, and surprised to see that it was slightly darker outside when the door opened. They both looked towards the new comer, to see a girl with dark, bushy hair.
"Have either of you seen a toad?" she asked them. "A boy named Neville's lost one*."
"Sorry, haven't seen anything," Harry shrugged.
Hermione gave him an odd look.
"Where are you from? I can't place your accent," she said.
"I lived in the United States for the past two years," he told her.
"Really? That's really interesting. Did you go to school there? I heard their school system is very different from ours. Well, the muggle school systems at least, apparently their magic schools are based more off of our systems," she rambled.
Harry and Ron glanced at each other. Did this girl ever breathe?
"Anyway, I'm Hermione Granger, and you are?" she asked them.
"Ron Weasley," the red head replied.
"Harry Potter," Harry added.
"Are you really?" the girl gasped. "I had no idea you lived in the States, of course there isn't much about you in any of the books I've read other than what happened when you were a baby? I mean, you are in so many books. Have you read any of them? I certainly would have if I were famous."
The girl was interrupted by the trolley passing bay. Harry made a beeline to the door, and bought an armful of candy.
"Are you sure you should eat all of that? My parents are dentists, and they say that we shouldn't subject our teeth to so much sugar, especially not at our age," Hermione said.
"Weren't you looking for a toad?" Ron broke through her rant.
"Agh, I completely forgot. I better go, Neville will be hopeless without me," she signed. "Well, I'll see you later."
"Doesn't breathe much, does she?" Ron muttered after she closed the door.
"Maybe girls don't need to breathe as much as boys," Harry shrugged.
They both burst out laughing, and, after Harry convinced Ron he was willing to share, attacked the pile of treats.
They continued to eat and talk until they noticed how dark it had become outside.
"I guess we should change into our uniforms," Harry suggested.
"Yeah," Ron replied.
Talk turned to houses as they changed.
"My entire family's been in Gryffindor. Well, I have one cousin who was a Slytherin, but we don't talk about her. Anyway, if I don't get into Gryffindor, I'll be the outcast of the entire family," Ron explained.
"I'm sure you'll be in Gryffindor, but I don't think your family will do that if you don't," Harry assured him.
"They will if I'm in Slytherin," Ron darkly muttered.
Harry rolled his eyes. Ron glanced at him, and he took it as his cue to talk.
"I'm going to be in Gryffindor," he proclaimed. "My parents were Gryffindors, and so is Aunt Minnie, my guardian."
"Cool, so we can be roommates," Ron grinned.
"Yeah," Harry agreed.
A few minutes later, the train pulled to a stop, and people started to file out.
"Firs' years! Firs' years, over here," a voice was calling over the noise.
Harry and Ron found the source of the calls quickly. It was a man. He was about twice as tall as a normal man, and easily several times as wide. He had a huge, bushy beard, and small black eyes.
Once all of the first years had gathered around him, he led them away from the train, and down a wide path.
Harry and Ron ended up in the front of the group, right behind the large man. They were chatting quietly when they turned a bend, and their breath left their body.
In front of them was the most amazing sight they had ever seen.
A large castle sat on the edge of a cliff, with a large, still lake between them and the castle. The castle had many of its window lit, throwing small dots of lights onto the water below.
The man led the, now quiet, pack of students onto a dock. Dozens of boats floated in the water around them.
"No mor'n four to-a boat," he told them.
Harry and Ron climbed into boat near them. They were joined by Hermione, and a thin black boy.
They all leaned forward as the castle drew closer. Harry grinned. He had waited for this day ever since Aunt Minnie had told him about Hogwarts.
Eventually, they were so close to the castle, that they were all straining their necks to see it above them. They ducked when they went under the cliff, and were soon climbing out of the boats, and onto a small dock.
The man, after finding a toad in one of the boats, led them up a slopping path and some stairs. A few minutes later, they were standing in front of the front doors of the castle.
The man knocked loudly, and the door opened almost instantly.
Harry grinned when he saw that it was his guardian who opened the door. She had her hair pulled into a tight bun, as usual, and was wearing emerald robes.
"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," the man said.*
"Thank you, Hagrid. I will take it from here," she said.*
The man nodded, and they followed her inside. The inside of the castle was just as amazing as the outside.
The entrance hall was so big the ceiling rose out of sight, and four hourglasses were built into the wall. Each held gems of a different color.
Before Harry got a good look around, they were herded into an empty chamber. Aunt Minnie closed the door behind her, and turned to address them.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," she started. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room."*
Harry felt excitement swell up inside of him. Another place he was going to belong, another family he was going to be adopted into.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."*
Harry saw her eyes flick to him momentarily, and had to suppress the urge to look sheepish. He had been known to pull pranks at the Gibbs house, and had no desire to quit his mischief. He just knew that he would have to work hard to earn any points he lost back.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."*
Her eyes flicked to some of the students. Ron, who had some dirt on his nose, and chocolate in the corner of his mouth, desperately rubbed at the areas. Hermione helped Neville fix his robe, which was fastened crooked. Harry didn't even bother trying to flatten his hair; she knew it was a lost cause
"I shall return when we are ready for you, please wait quietly," she said before leaving the room.*
Harry turned to grin at Ron. He almost laughed, however, at the pale pallor of his friends face.
"You'll be fine," he told the red head.
"How do you know? The sorting could be anything. My brother, Fred, told me that it hurts," Ron replied.
"And you believed him? Trust me. I don't know what it is, but my Aunt wouldn't do anything that could put me in danger," Harry reassured him.
"And who is your aunt to make that call?" a slimy voice said from behind him.
"I don't see how that is relevant," Harry shrugged, still facing the door.
Aunt Minnie had told him to not tell people about their relationship.
"I've never seen you before, so how could any relative of yours gone to Hogwarts?" the boy sneered.
Harry turned around to see a pale boy, flanked by two boulder-like boys. When he made eye-contact with the boy, he could see the boy pull back slightly.
"They said that Harry Potter was on the train," he said. "I guess it was true."
"Yeah, it was true, what of it?" Harry replied.
"Draco Malfoy," the boy said, sticking his hand out. "You could do much better that Weasley over there."
Harry stared at the hand before laughing.
"Do you think that I'll be your friend after you insult my family and friend?" he questioned.
Malfoys face fell instantly, and his hand followed. He scowled at Harry, and looked as though he was going to say something when screams came from behind him.
Malfoy spun on his heels, while Harry looked over the blonds shoulder.
Pale figures had glided through the walls. They seemed to be arguing about something, and looked shocked when they noticed the students in the room. A few moments later, Aunt Minnie entered the room, and shooed the ghosts away.
"Form a line,*" she ordered the students once everyone was calm.
They pushed their way into something the sort of resembled a straight line.
"Now, follow me,*" she said before leaving the room.
They quickly followed her. She led them through the entrance hall, and into the Great Hall.
If Harry had thought the entrance hall was amazing, it had nothing on the Great Hall.
Five tables sat beneath thousands of floating candles. Four of the tables held the students, while the fifth held the staff. Golden plates and goblets sat on the tables, one in front of each student, and a bunch of empty ones at the staff end of each table.
The true sight, however, was the ceiling. There didn't appear to be one. It was as if the hall just opened up to the sky; letting the occupants observe the heavens above as they pleased.
As they filed into the hall, Harry noticed a tattered old, hat sitting on a stool in the front of the hall. Aunt Minnie stopped the line just feet from the hat. Harry stared at the thing, expecting it to do something.
Seconds later, he was proven right when it started to sing.
"Oh you may not think me pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"*
The entire hall burst into applause, and Harry could feel the relief coming off of Ron from behind him.
"Bloody Fred, he was going on about fighting a troll," he whispered to Harry.
Harry just chuckled and shook his head.
"When I call your name, you will sit on the stool to be sorted," Aunt Minnie said.*
Harry looked up at her, to see a scroll that had appeared in her hand.
She started to call of names, and students were being sorted into their houses.
Harry let this fall to the background. He looked up at the staff, and locked eyes with Dumbledore. The old man nodded slightly in Harry's direction. Harry grinned back at the man. His eyes noticed a movement at the side of the headmaster.
He looked, to see a sallow looking man with a large nose. The man was scowling at Harry, but Harry just raised an eyebrow, and turned his attention back to the sorting.
He watched as both Hermione and Neville were sorted into Gryffindor. A few more students had to take their turns at the stool before Harry was called.
Fear and doubt tried to break through his confidence while he was waiting, but they had only gotten through enough to give him second thoughts on where he would be sorted.
He was almost positive he was a Gryffindor, but what if he was wrong? He had been sure Hermione would be a Ravenclaw, and Neville a Hufflepuff. He mentally shook his head, even if he wasn't in Gryffindor, his family would still accept him.
"Potter, Harry."
He didn't hear his name until Ron nudged him from behind. He glanced at Aunt Minnie, and could tell that she was fighting an exasperated look.
Slightly abashed, Harry walked up to the stool. He sent his guardian a small smile before sitting down on the stool.
Harry looked at the inside of the hat for a few moments. He had thought it would be more exciting.
"Exciting enough for you?" a small voice suddenly said in his ear.
Harry repressed the urge to jump on the stool.
"So you do do something," Harry thought back.
"Well, you certainly have cheek," the hat grumbled. "Unfortunately, that is not a house trait."
Harry didn't reply.
"Well, you are difficult," the hat mused. "Plenty of brains, loyal to the end, and courageous to a fault."
"That's three of the houses," Harry pointed out.
"I am well aware of that," the hat replied. "If you would let me continue…"
"Go ahead," Harry cut off.
The hat sat in silence for a few seconds before continuing.
"As I was saying, although you are smart, it is not the right brains for Ravenclaw, and although you will stand by your friends through anything, it takes too long to gain your trust for you to be a Hufflepuff. That leaves one house."
"Doesn't that technically leave two?" Harry questioned.
"You are not a Slytherin, you put people before yourself, something no modern Slytherin will do. No, boy, you are a GRYFFINDOR through and through."
The hat barely got to finish its sentence before it was pulled off of his head.
He quickly made his way to the Gryffindor table, and was greeted heartily.
Harry sat in a nook in front of one of the windows in his dorm. He had a piece of parchment in his lap. He was writing as fast as possible.
Hedwig sat on the window sill next to him, watching him with her wide eyes.
He quickly reread the paper, and gave it to her.
"Take it to Kelly and Mom as fast as possible," he whispered. "Try to get them before they go back home."
She hooted softly before flying off. Harry watched her disappear into the night before jumping out of the nook, and climbing into bed.
"He's at Hogwarts."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, my son just sent a letter saying that he was at the sorting."
"Then where has Dumbledore been hiding him?"
"According to my son, he has a slight American accent."
"America? Really? Well, I guess we need to change our plans then."
Yes, the plot thickens! I finally see where this is going, and actually wrote a small piece set about 20 years after this point in the story, so, I have something to work towards. I also decided on the pairing, and it is not canon! The next chap will be in an odd format; I'm thinking of having mostly letters between Harry and the Gibbs, with a few actual scenes with major changes from canon, but, it should still be good... hopefully.
Oh, and I've been meaning to tell you, this is officially my most popular story! It has more reviews, alerts, C2s, favorites, and, yes, even hits than any of my other stories. Thank you:)