A/N: Thanks for the reviews, keep them coming. In response to the pairings, there will not be any serious romance in this story as it only chronicles the first three years. It will be more focused on the relationship between the twins, any friendships they make, and how they are affected by what tends to happen to the canon Harry. Hopefully, updates after this chapter will become more frequent.
"blah" – normal speech
"blah" – spells and thoughts
Chapter 2: Reactions and Classes
Sunlight streamed in through the window shining on the face of the boy sleeping peacefully on the four poster bed. Raising a hand to rub the sleep from his eyes, green eyes blearily opened and glanced around the room absorbing the details. Sitting up, he grabbed his wand from underneath his pillow and muttered, "Tempus". Large shadowy script showed the time to be five past seven and with a muttered curse, he dashed into the bathroom.
Having completed his morning rituals, including the shower, Harry walked back into his room with a towel on his head and quickly began to put on his uniform. Drying his hair he finished putting on his tie, running a hand through his unruly hair in an effort to make it lie flat. Deciding to forgo his bag until he received his schedule, he made his way toward the common room for the brief meeting.
Noting that he was one of the first to arrive, he sat on one side of a comfy forest green couch. Within several minutes, the other first years filled the common room along with the upper years and he soon found himself seated next to the dark-skinned Blaise Zabini.
"Alright first years," began Marius. "Professor Snape told you that Slytherin house is united. That means that all of you are expected to go to your classes together for this year. As we mentioned last night, the first-years have to attend a group study period. Your first one will be tonight after dinner."
"Also, Slytherin house is expected to attend breakfast together. We leave for breakfast at ten to and for today we will head back here as soon as Snape gives us our timetables. That will allow us time to retrieve whatever books we will need. Is that clear?" asked Cassandra. Hearing a general assent, she ushered the first years to the common room entrance and, seeing that the other years were following, began to make their way to the Great Hall.
Seating themselves at the Slytherin table, Harry looked around and noticed that there were several Ravenclaws at their table, a handful of Hufflepuffs and that there were no members of Gryffindor house. Figures, he thought that the house of lions wouldn't care to wake up at this time.
Placing food on his plate while light conversation was going, he ate a light breakfast as his excitement about classes and the unease about yesterday's sorting destroyed his appetite. Although he may have forgotten to write to his parents about the results of his sorting, he knew his brother hadn't.
Looking around the hall once more and seeing the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables near full with several Gryffindors, a large number of loud Gryffindors, each attempting to be heard over one another, disrupted the calm of the Great Hall. Finding his brother among the new group and seeing him avoiding his gaze, Harry knew right then that he had told his parents about his sorting amidst the other owls sending the shocking news to other families.
Hearing the squawking of owls, Harry looked up to see hundreds of them soaring in through the rafters carrying letters, packages, or newspapers. Among them he spotted his family owl, Ares, his black wings distinct among the other owls. He dropped a letter off to his brother and Ares soared toward him, landing right next to his plate of food. Untying the letter, he fed Ares two strips of bacon and watched as he soared out through the rafters. Picking up the only letter he received, he noticed his mother's handwriting and began to read.
Dear Hadrian
We received word of your sorting yesterday when Callum wrote home. You probably feel that he's avoiding you but you need to give him some time. He's always had it in his head that the two of you would be together wreaking havoc on all of Hogwarts. It must come as a shock to him that you were not sorted into the same house, but into one the both of you had heard many dreadful, false might I add, tales about.
Your sorting hasn't really come as much of a surprise to your father and me. Thinking back on your childhood, you always were more careful in what you did, your pranks always thorough. Don't despair Hadrian, each Hogwarts house has its fine points. I'm sure Slytherin is just right for you.
Try and make friends in your dorm-mates. Labels won't help you now that you are a Slytherin. Your father sends his love and, loathe as I am to write this, asks that you watch out for Severus Snape.
Love always,
Mum
His spirits lifted with his mother's letter, Harry turned back to his breakfast just as the Heads of Houses began handing out timetables. Receiving his with a sneer and glare from Snape, he quickly looked it over after hearing the groans from his year mates and cursed whoever decided to put the Gryffindors and Slytherins together for several of their classes, the most dangerous being Potions.
Standing as one, the members of Slytherin House made their way to the dungeons and retrieved the books they needed for that morning.
"Just what we need," complained Malfoy. "Transfiguration and Charms today with the Gryffindors."
"Yes well, they probably aren't going to be good are they" said Zabini on their way to class. "It'll be entertaining to see the Gryffindors fail."
The group of first year Slytherins quieted as they arrived at the transfiguration classroom with time to spare and, seeing the door open, entered and made their way to the seat on the left side of the room; by unspoken agreement, the Slytherins always sat on the left of every class separated from the other houses. Harry, glancing at the seating arrangement, sat in the middle of the Slytherin half with Blaise Zabini on his right and Theodore Nott on his left. While the soft whispers of his fellow Slytherins began, Harry looked around the classroom and spotted a tabby cat jumping on the professor's desk. Must be McGonagall he thought with a small smirk on his lips. Dad did say she did this with all her first-years.
A minute had passed and with it came the entrance of the bushy-haired Gryffindor who immediately ran to the front of the classroom. Setting her bag down and pulling out her textbook, parchment, quill and inkwell. Glancing wearily at the Slytherin side of the class and noting the sneer Malfoy sent her way, she turned around after sending them a glare.
Within minutes, the rest of Gryffindor house entered with the youngest Weasley rushing in mere moments before the bell rang. After glaring at the Slytherins, the Gryffindors found themselves seats, with Adele sitting next to Granger and Callum and Neville sitting behind them. Seconds after the class had settled the tabby cat jumped off the desk, turning into Professor McGonagall halfway through the leap. Her expression was strict and severe, and Harry was once again reminded to never cross her.
"Good morning class, and welcome to first-year Transfiguration. Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts," she said. "Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned."
Then she changed her desk into a pig and back again. They were all very impressed and couldn't wait to get started, but soon realised they weren't going to be changing the furniture into animals for a very long time. After having the class take very long and complicated notes, she handed each student a match and had them start trying to turn it into a needle.
The class began and Harry glanced around at the attempts made by his fellow classmates. About halfway through the period, he saw McGonagall point out Granger's work, showing how her match had turned silver and pointy. Five minutes later, she was praising his brother, Neville, and Adele on having turned their matches into complete needles and she had given the four of them a rare smile. Gryffindor house was awarded five points for Granger's partial completion and ten each for Callum, Neville, and Adele's complete transfiguration.
"Bloody Gryffindors are showing us up," muttered Malfoy.
Turning his attention back to his match, Harry raised his wand while recalling his father's lesson. Details and will he thought. Softly muttering the incantation while visualizing the needle, he saw his needle turn slowly into a sharp and pointy silver needle.
"How did you do that," whispered Zabini.
Turning to his right he replied, "You've got to visualise the needle mentally while you're saying the incantation."
Seeing a shadow over his desk, he looked up and saw McGonagall inspecting his newly transfigured needle. "Congratulations, Mr. Potter," she said. "Ten points to Slytherin." She walked away after that and he heard the mutterings of the Gryffindors. Looking at the front of the class, he saw Granger looking at between himself, his brother, Adele, and Neville calculatedly before turning back to her unfinished match.
As the class ended, McGonagall assigned them a foot long essay on the spell they had just learned and practice for those who had not gotten it.
The Slytherins grabbed their books and made their way toward the Charms room. Outside the Transfiguration classroom, Harry lingered for a bit so as to speak with his brother. Seeing Callum come out of the class, he turned to speak to him only to be cut off by Weasley.
"What do you want you slimy snake?" he spat.
Levelling a glare at him he replied coolly, "What I want, Weasley is none of your concern."
"Why don't you go off with your fellow death eaters in-training? Everyone knows what you Slytherins are like, you're a bloody traitor."
Harry stiffened in anger, and he was vaguely aware of his housemates surrounding him. Before he could retort, McGonagall came upon them and sent them off to their next class. Noticing his brother's silence throughout the exchange, he made his way to Charms with the other first-year Slytherins, silent and with a blank expression.
Sitting down in class, he was once again sitting next to Nott and Zabini. He noticed Malfoy sitting with Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle; Tracey Davis, Daphne Greengrass, and Lilith Moon were sitting together while Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bulstrode rounded off the first-year Slytherins. The class was with the Ravenclaws.
Professor Flitwick, a tiny man Harry suspected had some goblin blood in him, was the Charms Professor and the Head of Ravenclaw. He started the class off by calling names from the register. When he reached his name, he gave a tiny squeak and gazed at him with expectant eyes, probably hoping I have Mum's talent in Charms he thought.
They spent the entire class taking notes on the theory of Charms and why it is so important to know the theory behind certain spells before they could do it.
"This might seem all dull to you," he said "but we will soon begin with practical work. The first spell we will be working on will be the Wingardium Leviosa, which is used to make objects fly. Class dismissed" he cried hearing the bell.
The entire class sprung from their seats and Harry could hear Weasley cheering about lunch. Ignoring the Gryffindors, Harry and the other first-year Slytherins dropped their books off at the dormitory and made their way to the Great Hall for lunch.
Throughout the course of lunch, the first-year Slytherins were answering questions from the older years about their classes so far.
"We saw the house hourglasses," said Marius. "Slytherin's in the lead by about forty points." Seeing the questioning looks on their faces he continued, "Our fourth-years had Potions with Snape today and that gave us a handful of points. How did Gryffindor get so many points anyways?"
"The muggle-born, Granger, earned them several points because she memorized the textbooks by heart" drawled Malfoy.
"Yes well, Potter did get us ten points," said Zabini.
After Marius gave him an appraising look he said, "Snape hates people who sprout knowledge directly from a textbook. He prefers that they understand what they are doing instead of taking the book as law so expect the Gryffindors to lose some points in that class."
The end of lunch saw the Slytherins in Defence Against the Dark Arts with Professor Quirrell again with the Ravenclaws. The class they were most looking forward to turned out to be a joke. The classroom smelled like garlic, which everyone said was to ward off a vampire he met in Romania and was afraid was coming back to get him. His turban, as he told them, was given to him as a thank-you gift by an African prince for helping get rid of a troublesome zombie, but they weren't sure they believed his story. For one thing, when anyone asked to hear the story of how he defeated the zombie, he began stuttering and attempted to change the story. Also, Quirrell seemed afraid of his own shadow and many doubted he could handle any dark creature.
The end of DADA saw the Slytherins making their way to the greenhouses for their first Herbology lesson with the Hufflepuffs. Professor Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff and the Herbology Professor, was a short, dumpy little witch who taught them all about different plants and fungi and how to take care of them.
After that gruelling lesson, the Slytherins headed back to the dormitories to freshen up before going to dinner. Entering the Great Hall, Harry noticed a minor hush fall on those surrounding him as they gazed at the first Potter to have been sorted into Slytherin.
Sitting down at the Slytherin table, he filled his plate with some potatoes, roast chicken, and vegetables letting the conversation at the table distract him. As dinner came to an end, Slytherin house made their way to the dormitories after which many left to the library to begin their homework. The first-years and several fourth-years were left in the common room waiting for the arrival of their Head of House.
When Snape entered the common room, a hushed silence met his ears as everyone was waiting for his instructions.
"You first-years have already experienced classes and what is expected of you. Remember though," he said "that this is only the beginning of the year. The workload will increase, especially as you reach another year."
Glancing around the silent common room he continued, "The fourth-years have already experienced the study group; it is to help you, as first-years, adjust to Hogwarts curriculum. They will not be giving you direct answers nor will they be doing your work for you. They are merely here as guides and will help direct you in the right direction. When you reach your fourth-year, some of you will be expected to help as well."
Gesturing to the fourth-years he began introducing them. "This," he said, indicating a tall boy with brown hair and blue eyes "is Corvus Abrams, he is among the highest ranked in his year for Transfiguration. Alexander Stebbins," this time pointing to a black-haired brown-eyed boy "will be assisting you with your Herbology. Finally, Isabelle Williams," pointing to a short girl with blond hair and grey eyes "will be able to take care of any questions you have regarding Charms."
Glaring at the assembled group of first-years with a sneer he said, "They will have your respect while they are helping you. I suggest you make good use of this opportunity." With one last glare he turned on his heels and strode out the common room, his robes billowing behind him.
As soon as Snape left the common room, the first-years began their homework while keeping light conversation flowing. With the help of the fourth-years, they were able to finish their homework quickly and with little difficulties.
Deciding to write a letter home at the end of the week, Harry put away his belongings and fell asleep quickly, the long day finally getting to him.
The next morning, Harry continued his routine of getting ready, waiting for all of Slytherin house in the common room, and going to breakfast together. While at breakfast, the older years began regaling them with tales of their experiences in Potions with their Head of House.
"Snape always threatens to use his students as potions ingredients if they dare cause trouble in his class" one of the sixth-years said.
Malfoy, scoffing at the ridiculousness of their tales, said "He wouldn't use a student as potion ingredients. He wouldn't be here if he did."
"Yes, but there was that student who went missing when I was in my first-year" said Marius. "A Gryffindor too, must have made some horrible ingredients."
"Even if he did, he wouldn't use his own Slytherins" he retorted.
The smirk on Marcus Flint's face was sinister and his eyes were glinting with something unreadable as he looked at them. "That's the bad thing about being a Slytherin. Snape can easily dispose of you and use you as ingredients and no one would know about it."
Harry saw Crabbe and Goyle's faces pale as well as those of some of the students from nearby houses and had to suppress a snort at their fear tactic.
"Alright firsties" Flint said with some false cheer, "it's time to go to potions" and he left with a smirk on his face.
Outside of the potions classroom several minutes later, the Slytherins were waiting near the door alone before they heard the loud chatter associated with the Gryffindors. Malfoy narrowed his eyes at Weasley and a smirk flitted across his features.
"I'm surprised you're here Weasley," he said loudly. "I didn't think your family could afford to bring you to Hogwarts with the large number of you. Say," he continued with a smirk "is your hovel comfortable for you?"
Weasley flushed red at that comment and lunged for Draco muttering curses at him. Before he could reach him, the door to the potions classroom opened, banging against the wall, and Snape appeared. Narrowing his eyes at the scene before him he barked, "Weasley, five points from Gryffindor and it will be more if you don't keep quiet. Inside now, all of you," he hissed.
The first-years all rushed in the class, Draco throwing a smug smirk at a fuming Weasley, and separated as the Slytherins made their way to the left side of the class. Cold and dank, the class had pickled animal parts floating around in jars lining the walls. Snape began the class by taking the register and he paused at Callum's name.
"Ah, yes," he said softly, "Callum Potter. Our new – celebrity."
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle sniggered softy behind their hands in expectation of the Boy-Who-Lived's embarrassment. Snape finished calling the names, with a small pause at Harry's name, and looked up at the class. His eyes were black like Hagrid's, but they were cold and empty and made you think of dark tunnels.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word – like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses … I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death – if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually teach"
More silence followed this little speech. Harry saw many of the Gryffindors exchanging looks. He noticed Hermione Granger sitting on the edge of her seat, eager and desperate to prove to the professor that she wasn't a dunderhead.
"Potter," snarled Snape suddenly, and Harry looked up to see Snape looking at Callum. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Harry saw Callum clench his jaw in frustration as he didn't know the answer. Granger's hand shot up as soon as he finished asking the question.
"I don't know, sir," he said.
"Tut, tut – fame clearly isn't everything."
He ignored Granger's hand and continued questioning Callum.
"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
Stiffly, and with a small quirk of his lips, Callum replied, "In the stomach of a goat, sir."
Snape looked mildly surprised that he knew this but continued on, blatantly ignoring Granger's hand.
"What, Potter, is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
Callum lost the small smirk on his lips and retorted angrily, "I don't know, sir. Maybe you should ask Hermione, she seems to know the answer."
A few people laughed at that and Harry saw Weasley and Finnegan give his brother the thumbs up. Snape, however, was not pleased.
"Sit down," he snapped at Granger. Glaring at Callum he said, "It's clear that one Potter has no intellect, maybe the other will have more success. Potter," he said turning to Harry, "what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Somewhat startled that Snape had called on him, Harry answered "The Draught of Living Death, sir."
With a raised eyebrow and glint in his eyes Snape asked, "And what, Mr. Potter, is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
"Nothing, sir" he answered. "They are the same plant, also known as aconite."
Nodding sharply at him, Snape turned to the rest of the class and snapped, "Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?"
There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Over the noise, Snape said, "Ten points to Slytherin for those answers. And two points from Gryffindor for your cheek Potter."
Things didn't improve for the Gryffindors as the Potions lesson continued. Snape put them all into pairs and set them to mixing a simple potion to cure boils. Harry was paired with Daphne Greengrass, a black-haired pureblood with icy blue eyes. He saw Callum paired off with Weasley, Neville with Granger, and Adele with Thomas. Finnegan and Crabbe were paired together as both houses had an uneven number of students. While halfway through making their potion, clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing noise filled the dungeon. Finnegan and Crabbe's potion was seeping across the stone floors, while Crabbe's cauldron was melted and twisted beyond repair. Within seconds, the whole class were standing on their stools while Finnegan was drenched in the potion, angry boils springing up all over his arms and legs.
"Idiot boy!" spat Snape, clearing the spilled potion away with one wave of his wand. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?"
Finnegan merely whimpered in response and let out a pained moan as boils began appearing all over his nose.
"Take him to the hospital wing," Snape ordered Crabbe. Then he rounded on Callum and Weasley, who had been working next to the pair.
"You – Potter – why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong did you? That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor."
Callum looked as if he was going to argue but apparently thought better of it. An hour later, Snape was barking at the class to bottle their potion into separate vials with their names on it and to hand them in. Handing in his potion with an acceptable nod from Snape, Harry and the other Slytherins dropped off their books in the common room before deciding to go to the lake.
Sitting underneath a large oak tree, the group of first-year Slytherins overheard snippets of conversations regarding Harry's sorting.
"He's a Potter! I can't believe that he's a Slytherin."
"Can't believe he's related to the Boy-Who-Lived."
"He's bound to go dark. His entire family have been Gryffindors!"
Scowling and muttering curses under their breaths, the Slytherins sent glares at the other students.
"This whole bloody school is against our house," said Malfoy to nods of agreement from everyone else. Noting Harry's lack of interest in the comments he inquired, "Doesn't what they're saying bother you?"
Shrugging his shoulders he replied, "Not really, but I expected it after the hat called out Slytherin. I mean, it's annoying that they say these things about Slytherin house when they don't know any of us. Their opinions don't really matter to me."
Looking curious Zabini asked, "What about your family Potter? Aren't they upset at your sorting?"
"Surprisingly they aren't," he said with a chuckle. "Apparently, my parents can see why the hat placed me in Slytherin."
"And why's that," drawled Malfoy.
With a large smirk he said, "You'll have to find out for yourself. What about the rest of you?" he asked curiously. "Does this really bother you?"
"Our entire families have been in Slytherin, Potter" said Tracey Davis, the sun shining off her blond hair. "For that reason alone, they look at every one of us with distrust."
Making a face at her he said, "Just call me Harry will you? Or Hadrian if you want; Potter will eventually get confusing because there are two of us."
"Why Hadrian," asked Theodore Nott.
Looking at the lanky boy a bit surprised Harry said, "You probably didn't hear it at the sorting but it's my first name. My brother couldn't say it when we were younger so the name Harry just kind of stuck."
"Well, look who decided to grace us with his presence," drawled Malfoy.
Glancing at Malfoy and following his gaze, he saw his brother standing awkwardly behind the group, Neville and Adele standing with him.
"Hey Harry, ca-can we uh, talk for a minute?"
Looking at them with an unreadable expression, he nodded his head in acceptance. The other Slytherins stood to give them their privacy.
"We'll see you at lunch," they called before making their way inside the castle.
Leaning against the tree behind him, Harry sat with a blank expression on his face, waiting for his brother to begin speaking.
There was a tense silence until Callum blurted, "I'm sorry! I-I was angry that you weren't in the same house and let the thought of dark wizards in Slytherin take over and I- it's just, you're my brother," he said, heaving a sigh. "You're my twin and I always thought we would be in the same house, causing trouble together."
Shaking his head he said, "Just because I'm in a different house doesn't mean we can't hang out. Besides you dolt, we're brothers and being in rival houses shouldn't stop us."
"I kept telling him that," said Adele, "but the idiot wouldn't listen to me."
Laughing at his brother's face, Harry thought that it felt good to have things back to normal.
Sliding into his seat at the Slytherin table just before dinner, Harry saw his new friends glance at him questioningly.
"Is everything alright?" asked Draco.
With a small quirk of his lips he replied, "Yeah, everything's just fine."