A/N: Thank you for all the wonderful reviews. I love you all! -gives big gigantic hug to every single person who has ever reviewed and hand's out little gift baskets of cookies and other goodies-

Thanks to Erin for pointing out the mistake I made with Lily's name in Chapter four, I fixed it and it's all good. As for her letter in Chapter one, it was intended to be simple, childish and sarcastic so as to point out her annoyance with James and his childish behaviour. And just in case anyone skipped my warnings in Chapter one, all my characters will be either slightly or extremely OOC, way too much is different for canon personalities. And in answer to why Lily was ribbing James about neglecting one of his children while she was leaving another entirely…Lily, being the intelligent witch she is, knew that staying there would result in Harry's continued neglect. Plus, growing up with a parental figure constantly putting you down because of something out of your control…it would eventually break a child and the future would be drastically different to how it is. For instance, if I had left Harry with both parents, Daniel would be spoiled and Harry would become Dark; with his power he could easily be the next Dark Lord. See? It was a hard decision for Lily, but she chose the child who needed her more.

As for why Daniel didn't recognise his own mother, Lily doesn't look like she used to. She's grown up a lot more; having to deal with a child like Harry, with his…profession…would do that, not to mention the rather Dark curriculum of Durmstrang and the fact that there highly trained witches and wizards attending the school. And his memory of his mother is slightly off centre. I remember people from when I was younger, but when I see a photo from the same time, I'm suddenly confronted with the fact that my memory and the reality are slightly different.

Wow. What a long A/N…sorry.

Dedicating this to my wonderful beta, Jess, because I forgot I promised to go to her birthday party on Saturday. I ended up going to a baby shower instead. Crap, eh? Well, not crap per say, more of a 'damn, I should have remembered' and slap myself in the head type thing.

Chapter Six-- Sorting The Most Confusing Of Students

The Great Hall had erupted into chaos the moment the Durmstrang students had spoken out against the decision to Sort them. Ron Weasley was more than pleased with this new development. He would have more chances to prove that the Durmstrang students were nothing more than Death Eaters in training, and he could terrorise Daniel's twin. Oh yes, he was pleased with this.

His pale blue eyes rested on Harry, a slow smirk making its way onto his face. The seventh year was attempting to regain control over his peers, and was failing dramatically. The Head Girl was frowning as McGonagall stepped down to stop beside the Sorting Hat. In rapid fire French she began to talk to Harry, pointing and succeeding in gaining her fellow student's attention.

"Silens!"

Ron frowned. That sounded vaguely like Latin, but it was quite obviously not a spell. Yet the students silenced immediately.

"I will call out each name, and you will place the Sorting Hat on your heads. It will then Sort you into the most appropriate House." McGonagall cleared her throat and called out the first name, "Arcen, Diego!"

A seventh year glowered as he walked up to the three legged stool, giving it a disdainful look before picking the Hat up and sitting down. It took a full fifteen minutes, full of grimaces and scowls and white knuckled hands, before the Hat finally shouted out "SLYTHERIN!"

In fact the next seven students, two seventh, one sixth and four fifth years, all ended up in Slytherin. It wasn't until "Darcian, Laura!" that the repetitive cycle was broken. And just like the eight before her, at least fifteen minutes passed before the decision was reached. The shout of "GRYFFINDOR!" had his own table cheer just a little.

Laura glared at them and sat herself on the very end of the table, near to the doors. Her hazel eyes sparked with anger as the Gryffindor's attempted to talk to her. She kept her attention on her fellow students.

"Evans, Harry!"

Harry scowled and walked up to the Hat. He stared down at it, taking in the rip on it, which would shout out some stupid House. With a resigned sigh he lifted it onto his head, and sat down.

"Well now, what is this?"

He jerked slightly at the voice hissing by his ear, and felt something shift in his mind. He slammed his Occlumency walls up to full force.

"Now, now. I have dealt with eleven of you lot, and each and every one has argued with me over my right to read your mind. I cannot sort without knowing you."

Resigning himself, he spoke directly to it, well aware that Tom would hear it all. "And having a supposedly inanimate object rifling through it is not my idea of fun. Explain."

"Very well, though I wish the Headmaster had done it for me. So many more to Sort..." The voice trailed off for a moment. "I am Godric Gryffindor's hat, which he wore from the moment the Founder's built this school, to the moment he died. He gave me life and each of the four placed a part of themselves within me so that I could judge fairly on who belonged where."

"But people change. It's a stupid way of separating people."

"True, and once the students were Re-sorted each year just in case. But not now of course. Will you let me in?"

"Can you repeat anything you find?"

"No. I am bound not to tell."

"Very well." Harry cautiously lowered his shields, feeling Tom's quick retreat from his mind.

"Oh my," The Hat said. "You are unique. A Hecatamus, with the blood of a Werewolf. A hybrid like no other. With the Dark Lord as a mate, an alpha position within his own pack and a seat as an assassin on the Guild Council."

Harry jerked and his shields rose instinctually. "Get out!"

The Hat seemed taken aback. "I was merely reflecting. You need not worry, I will not tell anyone of your mission. I've been trying to tell them for years that there needs to be balance. But, oh, the world is black and white to them!"

"You're a very odd hat, you know."

"Yes. And I see you have met the portrait of my previous owner. How are the Founder's doing?"

"Dead, really. But their portrait selves seem quite dissatisfied with Dumbledore."

"Ah, yes. I noticed that the portraits in his office have refused to speak to him. In fact, they have retreated. He is quite confused; there isn't supposed to be more than the one copy of their portraits."

"A secret I doubt he will ever learn." Harry shifted slightly, shaking his head so that it fell to the side a little. He looked out over the Hall, his emerald eye sparking in anger. "This is foolish. I refuse to be placed within a House of bigoted idiots."

"And I would love nothing more than to place you within Slytherin, where you would undoubtedly be safer."

"What are you on about?"

"There are Death Eaters within that House, as well as a fair few of your fellow peers. Even young Laura would have fit. But she believes that each House requires a Durmstrang student, in order to keep yourselves safe."

"I figured that! What I meant, was what were you on about when you said 'I would love nothing more'?"

"Ah." The Hat suddenly became silent. With an audible sigh, it told him, in a fairly quiet voice, "I have been forced to allow one student, to enter into a House where he does not belong. The Headmaster chose you as that student."

"What?! You let him bully you!"

"I have little choice. Each year, the Headmaster of Hogwarts can force my decision on one student, and one only. Be content with the fact that he cannot force me to change the House for all of you. He would love nothing more than to shove you all into Gryffindor with his Saviour."

"Where are you going to put me?"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"You weren't supposed to say it!" Harry threw all his power into the Hat, forcing it to fly off as he stood. With eyes glowing with raw magic, he shot Dumbledore a look of intense hatred. All he got back was a twinkle and a nod. Furious, he stormed down to the Durmstrang table.

"Harry?" Mere gave him a worried look.

"He forced it! Make sure that it Sorts you all correctly. I wouldn't put it past the fool to cast a spell on it."

He spun and strode to the end of the Gryffindor table, nodding silently to Laura as he sat down. The fifth year gave him a curious look, but allowed him to calm down in silence.

"Swiner, Merena!"

Harry snorted when Mere glared up at the witch. "It's MERE! And it says so on our rolls!" She stood up and stalked up to the hat. "Stupid Wichards. Can't even read!" she glared down at the Hat. "You expect me to put that…thing on my head?"

McGonagall gave her a quizzical look. "Well, yes, young lady, we do."

Mere raised an eyebrow. "Right. What a grand idea. Let's just put the extremely ratty, old hat on my head. If I get lice…"

She sat down on the stool and scowled as she placed the Hat on her head.

"Oh, look, another who has shields. Mind lowering them?"

Mere jerked, unconsciously mirroring her fellow peers and slamming her own mental shields up full force. "What the hell?"

"My dear, I will be Sorting sixty three of you, and already I am sick of this business of explaining it all. I Sort you, and to do so I need access to everything. Now, please lower your shields!"

"Geez, no need to snap. Inanimate objects are supposed to be nice, you know."

"And whoever told you that is a nitwit. Now, let's see..." The Hat trailed off and she grimaced at the feeling of it shuffling through her mind. "Oh ho. Very nice, yes, yes. You're the only one I've seen today who belongs anywhere but Slytherin!"

"Well, we do practice the Dark Arts."

"And yet, none of you are corrupted by them! But, never mind. You are of the same thought of many of your peers, that one should be in each House."

"Oui. So place me in whatever one I belong in, and get the hell out!"

"Very well, better be RAVENCLAW!"

She whipped the Hat off, throwing it a disdainful glare. Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she made her way down to the Ravenclaw table. The students there all gave her friendly smiles, refusing to shy away when her amber eyes glared at them. With a resigned sigh she sat down at the end and began to listen as the seventh years introduced themselves. She wasn't overly interested, until a familiar looking girl, with a silver HEAD badge on her robes, sat down next to her.

"Hello. My name's Hermione Granger. I realise that we didn't get to meet the other day, and I'm sorry for not seeking you out sooner. Welcome to Ravenclaw."

Mere blinked at her, vaguely remembering Harry mentioning that the Head Girl was in Ravenclaw. "Mere Swiner, pleased to make your acquittance. You're the Head Girl, aren't you?"

"Yes." Hermione gave her a small smile while Mere threw a glare at a seventh year boy who waved his silver fork far too close for comfort. "I hope we'll be more accommodating then Gryffindor, who tend to be a tad biased."

"Biased? Ha! That's funny you know." She sighed and shook her head and glanced at the Slytherin table running alongside the Ravenclaw one. She gave a grin to a couple of fifth year Durmstrang students. "Well, at least most of us ended up somewhere where we'll be understood."

"How so?"

Amber eyes danced with laughter as she answered, "I'm sure you all know that we're taught the Dark Arts at Durmstrang?" The students near her nodded. "Slytherin is supposedly the most accepting of such practices. They won't be too hard pressed to practice."

Hermione looked slightly uncomfortable. "Well…it's rumoured that there are Death Eaters in there…"

"So? I see no problem with that. It's not like Old Voldie," She inwardly winced and threw a casual glance at Harry, hoping he never heard that. Ever. "Has been terrorising Muggles and Muggleborns as much this time round, has he? I reckon he found someone to love. It's an amazing emotion."

"Szina, Marci!"

Mere looked up as the sixth year Healer silently stood and made her way to the front of the Hall. She almost laughed at the wince Marci gave as she placed the Hat on her head.

Marci was silent as she sat there. Something was knocking against her shields, but they simply bent and swayed, refusing to fall or hold completely.

"Well, now, my dear. You are certainly different."

Unlike the others before her, Marci didn't jerk at the sudden voice. She simply smiled at it, waiting for it to continue.

"What? No demands to leave?"

"I'm not a fighter."

"No, no. You are a Healer, no? They are the only ones I know of with shields like yours."

"Yes. I am a Healer. Are you the Sorting Hat?"

"Why, yes I am." It sounded vaguely surprised that she should recognize it so quickly. "Would you mind if I rifle around your head a bit?"

"Is it purely to Sort me?"

"Still suspicious, I see. Yes, my dear, it is only to Sort you."

"Very well." Marci cautiously lowered her shields. She grimaced as it pushed aside the fake memories and 'important facts' that made up her secondary defence. Harry had taught her that, and it had taken them almost a year to perfect the ability to create false memories.

"Yes, I did see a similar thing in some of the others. They all had the same thing in common. It seems Durmstrang has its very own Werepack."

Panic filled Marci suddenly. "Please don't tell!"

"I couldn't. I am bound by magic not to reveal what I see to anyone. Not even the Headmaster himself. You and your pack are safe, my dear. Though I would be wary of the mutterings within these walls. Your alpha is in danger, he walks with it and though he may try to avoid detection, someone will eventually find him."

"You have Seers powers? How?"

"No, my dear, not it. But I speak with the portraits of the Founders, and they know him. Now, you should feel quite comfortable in HUFFLEPUFF!"

Marci sighed, removing the Hat and standing. She placed it on the stool and for a moment seemed tempted to put it back on. But with a visible effort she walked away and sat down at the Hufflepuff table, where the students welcomed her warmly, happily ignoring the obvious fact that she too practised the Dark Arts.

Several more students were Sorted. One fifth year ended up in Hufflepuff, nervously sitting beside Marci, who merely smiled and introduced him to some of the House members. Three more were put into Ravenclaw, a fact that Mere was eternally grateful for. A seventh year was also placed within Gryffindor, though that was only because he had yelled at the Hat to put him where he could be of use. The rest were quickly, meaning that the customary fifteen minutes suddenly vanished, Sorted into Slytherin. That particular table had been lengthened to accommodate the fifty-three Durmstrang students who now sat there.

Ron glared at Harry, who sat a few seats down from him. The fifth year girl, Laura, was whispering anxiously to him, motioning every now and then at the cutlery and plates. He couldn't understand what was wrong. Unless the gold utensils weren't good enough for them. He snorted.

"What's wrong, Ron?" Daniel looked as his friend inquiringly, following the pale blue eyes to where they rested on the three new members of Gryffindor House. "Ah. Don't worry, I'm sure we can set them on the right track."

Ron smirked in reply. "Oh, yes. We should be able to do that easily. And take that twin of your's down a notch or two!"

The two grinned widely at each other, fingering their wands fondly.

The last name, "Yealo, Darren!", was shouted out and a dark eyed, black haired, wizard stood. He cast a disgruntled look about the Hall, before striding up to the Hat. He looked at it and then looked McGonagall in the eye. "I'm supposed to put this on?"

By then, the Gryffindor Head of House had gotten sick of the same question, and had quickly decided that they most likely had collaborated on the best way to show their unhappiness with the idea of Houses. She knew that Durmstrang was a closely-knit group of individuals who, while mostly grouping together, would fight side by side no matter what confronted them. The failed attack was proof enough. "Yes, Mr Yealo. I'm afraid it is the only way to get this all over with."

He smirked at her. "Yeah, I guess four hours is long enough to sit on your own arse."

She scowled at him and silently motioned towards the Hat.

Darren grimaced, but sat down anyway, placing the Hat on his head. "Do your worse Hat!"

"You lot are getting increasingly annoying! First no one will allow me in! And now! Now, you all want to be smart about it!"

"It is your job to Sort us correct?"

"Yes, of cour--."

"Then we should have been told that our minds needed to be open. And then all of us would have been smart to you!"

The Hat snorted in his mind. "Oh, how much fun that would be, I'm sure."

"So...going to Sort me?" He felt something rifle through his mind and forced his own shields to remain lowered. Despite the fact that him and his peers had quickly come to the realisation that they had to open their minds, they were still incredibly reluctant to allow anything to see them completely.

"Hmm. Much easier than the others, I must say. Almost a text book case for the House o--."

"Don't you dare say Slytherin!"

The Hat seemed to do a double take. "And why ever not?"

"Because I can't go there."

"Why?"

"Fifty three students in one House. They're safe there but my...um...just put me in Gryffindor."

"Ah, I see now. You wish to protect the alpha of your pack. Very well, better be GRYFFINDOR!"

Darren let out a breath he hadn't known he had been holding. Whipping the Hat off, he gave McGonagall a pleased smirk. He turned and strutted down to where Harry sat next to Laura and Karl Wans. "Ah, the feeling of prejudice, separation and blatantly biased individuals." He breathed deeply as he sat next to Harry. "Can you smell it, Harry?"

Harry shook his head, laughing at his friend's antics. "I prefer not to inhale at all. Never know, we might become contaminated."

Darren snorted. "Too right, my dear friend. Should we take to wearing little surgical masks, like those Asian countries do?"

Karl shot him an amused look, before deciding to ignore the upset Gryffindor's surrounding them. "I don't think that would work. A Bubblehead charm, perhaps?"

Laura, as the only fifth year, gave them all surprised looks. Though she knew them quite well, they weren't usually this loud about their opinions. Well, except for Darren maybe. "No, that charm would make everything else so much harder to do. Maybe just an air cleansing spell, permanently placed on something?"

Harry laughed softly, his emerald eyes dancing. "Oh, we should all discuss this in the common room tonight. Maybe the others have more ideas."

Daniel was furious. He couldn't stand hearing this talk about them all, as if they were some disease! He glared at his twin with burning hazel eyes. "How dare you talk of us that way! As if we are beneath you!"

Harry took a deep breath before facing his brother. "Little brother, you need to get it through your thick skull, that we are better than you. Does Durmstrang have this stupid little system for promoting segregation and hate? No, I don't believe it ever did!"

Unknown to them, squabbles and arguments along similar lines were breaking out all over the Hall. Even in Slytherin, where they had expected to be more at home, they found that there was an extremely biased attitude. In Hufflepuff, though they were more demure and the arguments much quieter, still the same animosity remained. The four Durmstrang students in Ravenclaw found themselves faced with supposed logic based facts that were so far off the mark that Mere didn't know what to do.

"SILENCE!!"

Dumbledore's voice echoed harshly in the sudden cessation of sound. The Durmstrang students stood abruptly, all at once in a show of complete unity. They all faced the front, each and every pair of eyes focused intently on their own Headmaster. Remus sighed, standing up slowly.

"Please, students. I know that this system will take awhile to get used to, but be aware of the temporary situation. I am sure that we can all have a talk later today in our own common room to clear the--."

"No, Remus," Dumbledore's eyes were blank of their twinkle as he cut the wizard off. "The Durmstrang dorms will be closed off. Your students will be joining their new Houses."

In an instant, deafening noise erupted. The Hogwarts students, while hurt that these new ones were so against the idea, saw the utter strength of a unified front. They could only imagine what it would be like to face them in a battle setting.

Harry glared up at Dumbledore. He knew that the old wizard was well aware of what was going to happen. But the fact that that knowledge did nothing to sway his decision angered him. His fingers twitched and the warm spark of power flooded around them. His eyes flashed and began to swirl with gold. His magic was building, drawing in the latent tendrils in the air and using it to power up.

Harry!

He jerked, letting go of the magic in his hands, as Tom's voice cried out in his mind. Tom?

What the hell do you think you're doing? You'll expose yourself if you're not careful.

Tentatively, Harry reached out along the bond, seeking the comfort he could only find with his mate. But do you see what he's doing? He's trying to break us up, to force us to relinquish everything that makes us who we are!

I know. He felt warmth flood through him, dousing the flickering flames of anger that still burned. But you cannot allow him to. You are intelligent, love, find a way and utilise everything you and your peers have at your disposal.

This mission was stupid from the get go. We should have just refused. We knew what he was like!

Tom allowed love to flow down the link, filling Harry with the feeling and taking away his breath. We know that. And I hate you being there. He's a manipulative old fool, but he is powerful.

And the only wizard you have ever feared. Emerald eyes closed as Harry sat back down, his peers slowly following suit.

And that is the reason I am so worried about you.

Aw, touching.

Brat.

And you know you love me.

How could I not?