Chapter Two: Welcome Home
After being scared even further by a bunch of silvery ghosts the new first years strolled through an enormous doorway into the main hall which was utterly breathtaking to look at. Harry's nerves began to dissolve slightly when he realised that the sorting ceremony consisted of sitting on a stool underneath an old talking hat. However it did also concern him that the hat might have teeth or that he might not get sorted at all. The new students took their place on the stool one by one each getting sorted into Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin. Hermione seemed very eager to get sorted but the hat took what seemed like forever with her. People started to look awkward and whisper. McGonagall shushed them. Finally the hat spoke "GRYFFINDOR!" Hermione looked very pleased but Ron, standing next to Harry, grunted. Hermione then joined the Gryffindor table to sounds of applause. "All my brothers are in Gryffindor. It's where my whole family have always been I bet I'll get stuck with her now" said Ron. Harry was too nervous to respond so just briefly glanced at the red haired boy and bit his bottom lip. Several more were sorted and joined their respective tables to sounds of cheering with Neville also into Gryffindor.
The blonde haired boy Harry saw in Diagon Alley walked up behind him and smiled. "You look worried" he said. Harry nodded. "Don't be. The hat knows what it's doing. You're Harry Potter aren't you?" the boy said. "Yes I'm afraid I am" said Harry. He was pleased to hear, however, that the blonde boy didn't question him any further than that. Harry felt he might have screamed if he did. "I'm Draco Malfoy, pleased to meet you" he whispered and shook Harry's hand. Oh god, Harry was having one of those odd visions again - this time of refusing to shake Draco's hand as if he had said something to offend him. What was all that about? He just wanted to go to bed. Get all this over with. It was the most nerve wracking moment of his entire life. Also Ron started to snigger again and Harry had no idea why. Draco was about to speak up in defence when McGonagall called his name.
"That's me" said Draco, "just watch - there's nothing to it" and after a brief glare in Ron's direction he swaggered forward and sat casually on the stool as if he was merely about to get a hair cut. The hat had barely touched his head when it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!"
Ron groaned. "What now?" Harry asked feeling even more anxious.
"Well it's just that Slytherin was the house that-"
"Potter, Harry!"- Holding up the hat, McGonagall interrupted Ron. Harry felt his stomach drop. He checked the floor to ensure his intestines hadn't fallen out then slowly crept up on to the stool.
Harry closed his eyes and sat holding on to the sides of the stool tightly. After what seemed like an eternity the hat spoke:
"Hmm," said a small voice in his ear. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either.
There's talent, oh my goodness, yes - and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting...
So where shall I put you?"
Silence ensued and the hall was so quiet Harry could swear they heard his racing heart.
"You could be great you know" the hat continued.
"Me?" Harry whispered.
"Yes you" the hat chuckled. "You'll need a house to help you overcome this self doubt though". Silence continued. Finally the hat shouted out Harry's house to the entire school -"SLYTHERIN!" Harry couldn't hear his heart racing any more as the Slytherin table went crazy, whooping and cheering. Draco punched the air in glee.
Harry quickly moved over to the Slytherin table and sat next to Draco who offered him an empty seat. "See, he said, told you there was nothing to it".
"Welcome to Slytherin, Potter" said a tall fifth year prefect.
"Thanks" Harry whispered. "I'm just glad all that's over with".
They watched the remaining few students get sorted with Ron looking uncertain as he was put into Gryffindor and the last Slytherin student, Blaise, Zabini happily joining Harry's table and greeting him with a nod.
Finally they got to enjoy a feast. Harry had never seen so much food and, once again, wondered what Dudley would be thinking if he saw this.
"Wow" Harry grinned. "We can eat as much as we like?"
"Of course" replied Draco. "The house elves prepared it".
"House elves?" Harry asked.
"They work in the kitchens, they're servants, my family owns one" said Draco.
Harry wasn't quite sure what to make of this but tucked in to his supper with a ravenous appetite.
"Didn't the muggles feed you?" Draco asked as he watched Harry rush huge mouthfuls of food into his mouth.
"They did" Harry said, through a mouthful of mashed potato, "but not like this. My cousin Dudley ate enough for both of us".
"That's disgusting" Draco replied, wrinkling his nose.
The two larger boys shuffled in their seats slightly at the sound of this. Harry glanced up at them briefly.
"Where are my manners?" Draco laughed. "Harry Potter, this is Vincent Crabbe and this is Gregory Goyle" he said pointing to each boy in turn.
"Hello", Harry smiled, trying to chew on a chicken leg. The large boys didn't say anything, just nodded.
"They don't say much" Draco explained but they're useful in their own ways".
Harry didn't quite feel comfortable enough yet to ask what Draco meant by 'useful', especially in front of Crabbe and Goyle, so let the subject drop.
Suddenly Draco yelled in terror. Harry shivered as he felt a cold wind wrap over him. Slytherin's house ghost, The Bloody Baron, had sat next to him. "Hello there", said the blood splattered spectre. "Welcome to Slytherin House. This was my house, I'm always thrilled to see new students".
Draco didn't seem so thrilled. Harry forced a smile in the Baron's direction then glanced over at the Gryffindor table. Ron was smirking at the boys' discomfort. Harry wondered why he was being so mean and shot him a quizzical look. Ron just turned to Neville and continued talking. Hermione was deep in conversation with Ron's haughty prefect brother.
Harry then moved his gaze over to the teacher's table and noticed a dark haired, hooked nosed man briefly glance in his direction. The dark-haired man glanced back at Professor Quirrell, the dark arts teacher whom Harry met in the pub.
"Who's that?" Harry asked Draco.
"Professor Snape" Draco replied. "He's our head of house. You'll be in good hands with him. He's the potions teacher".
"Do you know him then?" Harry asked.
"Well my dad does, he's been to our house a few times. They went to school together."
"Your dad's a wizard?" Harry asked keenly.
"Oh yes all my family, well nearly all, were in Slytherin. They all went to Hogwarts". Harry smiled pensively. "That must be great - having magical parents" he said.
"It is" Draco nodded. They taught me a lot".
After a short moment of silence Draco asked "what was it like? Living with muggles I mean".
"Horrible" Harry replied. "They treated me like I was crazy or had some disease or something".
"Are they all like that?" Draco asked.
"What, muggles? I don't know, most of them I guess. I never got on with any in muggle primary school either. They used to pick on me".
"What for?" Draco raised his voice slightly in annoyance.
"That's just the way they were. My teachers all told me I was thick. They use to clout me over the head".
Draco grimaced. "Well they won't do that here" he said firmly. Harry hoped Draco was right and smiled briefly. The two little boys sat in comfortable conversation for some time about the difference between the muggle toys and wizard toys they played with when they were younger.
Suddenly, after a very enjoyable desert, Dumbledore interrupted. He went on about the Forbidden Forest, spell casting in corridors and quiddich.
"I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death." The headmaster continued. Harry and Draco burst out laughing.
"That guy's a hoot" Harry said.
"He's a crazy old coot" Draco replied.
Nobody else seemed to find it funny however especially of all Ron who kept shooting Harry filthy looks.
"What's up with him I wonder?" Draco sneered.
"No idea" Harry replied. "He was ok on the train coming here."
"I bet he's a Weasley" Draco continued.
"He is" Harry confirmed placing his desert spoon down on his empty plate.
"Well that explains it" Draco scoffed folding his arms and sitting back in his chair.
Harry was about to ask Draco what he meant when they were interrupted by the most annoying song Harry had ever heard in his life. He and Draco just sat there dumfounded while everyone from year two up started chiming on about 'Hogwarts, Hogwarts, hoggy warty Hogwarts'. The two Slytherin boys cringed and sunk down into their seats with embarrassment. Dumbledore then bid everyone goodnight and the first years were shown to their common rooms by prefects.
"I hope it's as wonderful as my parents said it was" Draco whispered as they walked down winding corridors and steps into what appeared to be the dungeons.
"It's a bit dark down here" Harry commented nervously.
"Don't worry" Draco assured him. "Once we're in the common room we'll be right at home".
Finally the new Slytherins arrived at another huge set of wooden, carved doors under an enormous archway. 'Dragon's Fire' the prefect muttered and the doors opened to present the most glorious room Harry had ever seen. Draco looked as pleased as Harry felt. Crabbe and Goyle stood either side of the two smaller boys like bookends. "You can go" Draco motioned. The thickly set boys moved away to explore the common room. Harry wondered at the power Draco seemed to have over them. The small, fair haired boy did a twirl, his black robes billowing behind him.
"If I might have your attention," the prefect called, "your belongings have been taken up to your dorm already. You have each been assigned a bed and you will find your new uniforms on them. Any questions, please ask one of us prefects only don't wake us in the middle of the night unless its and emergency".
Harry thought he seemed as haughty as Ron's prefect brother.
Harry then noticed the dark haired, snub nosed little girl he saw on the train with another dark haired but slightly prettier first year in the far corner of the room. They were talking intensely and kept glancing over at Draco and Harry. Harry didn't take too much notice of them and remained rooted to the spot in awe of his surroundings. The whole room was enormous - as big as the Dursley's house both upstairs and downstairs combined. It was Greco-Roman in architecture with ornate stone carvings, ivy bowers and huge blue-green windows. It was immaculately clean and tidy with several large, dark-green leather chairs and mahogany tables. The fire place was as big as one of Harry's bedroom walls and flickered invitingly. Animal skulls adorned the mantelpiece. Draco noticed them and ran over to get a closer look "wow cool" he said picking one of them up and examining it.
"Be careful with those" the prefect shouted across the room at the little blonde boy. Draco put it back and pulled a face. Harry's mouth was wide open.
"You do like it don't you?" Draco checked not knowing what to make of Harry's amazed expression.
"It's fantastic" Harry smiled. "Dudley would piss himself if he saw this".
Draco smirked and sat in front of the fire on one of the comfy chars. Harry followed suit, sat down and ran his hands over the smooth leather admiring its texture.
"Oi, you two!" the prefect yelled again "bed - now!" The two first year boys sighed and dragged themselves over to the dorm steps. "Please follow me", the prefect said motioning to the stairs. "First year dorms this way". Harry, Draco and the other first year boys followed the prefect down a short flight of stone stairs which led to a huge stone walled room full of four poster beds. "Wow" Harry whispered as he looked around him. Each of the beds were draped with dark green velvet curtains while the bedspreads were a lighter shade of green and looked silken. Draco was grinning from ear to ear. Heavy looking, mahogany, wooden trunks lay the bottom of each bed and matching bedside tables, with green shaded lamps, stood on either side of each bed. Their bags, belongings and pets had been placed neatly at the right hand side of their beds. Their clothes had been ironed and hung in their individual wardrobes which were made of the same colour wood as the chests. Their new Slytherin uniforms were neatly folded on the bed next to fresh, soft, white towels. Across every wall beautiful, medieval tapestries hung picturing ancient witches and wizards. "That's Merlin!" Draco squealed excitedly and pointed at a figure in the tapestry which hung directly over Harry's bed. "Merlin? Harry asked feeling puzzled. "Yes he used to go to Hogwarts he was in Slytherin too".
"Brilliant" Harry smiled. "I thought he was just a myth?"
"Merlin, a myth?" Draco scoffed at the very idea. "What have those muggles been teaching you?"
"Everything but the truth it would seem" Harry said.
Harry still felt a sadness of what had gone before in is life with the cruel muggles but was glad that he was finally in a place in which he felt he belonged. He had no idea Slytherin house would be so cool. Draco went hopping playfully up to the far end of the room but was called back by the prefect "Malfoy! Your bed is here" he said pointing to the bed next to Harry's. Draco purposely ignored him for a moment then came hopping back and jumped on his bed. "This is almost as nice as my bed at home" he said.
"Your bed is nicer than this?" Harry was shocked. Each dorm bed was the size of his whole bedroom in Little Whinging. Another one over on Dudley. Oh the satisfaction.
"Potter?" The prefect interrupted and beckoned Harry towards him. Harry thought he must have done something wrong.
"I know this is strange for you coming from such a…troubled past with muggles but you can rest assured we will look out for your best interests here. Saying that we won't treat you any differently from the other students. That wouldn't be fair to you or them" he said sternly.
"I don't expect special treatment" Harry responded openly. "In fact I wish people would stop treating me as if I'm a king or something".
"That won't happen in Slytherin House" the prefect assured Harry. "I can't promise the other students will behave themselves but Slytherins always know how to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner".
Harry felt the prefect was being a little haughty again.
"We're all friends here Potter", the prefect continued. "We don't fight amongst ourselves like the other houses, we don't try to get one over on a housemate. I want you to know you're welcome here, in Slytherin. We're happy to have you".
"I'm glad the hat put me here" Harry smiled. "It feels right - like I've been waiting to come back to this place somehow".
The prefect's haughty expression changed to a genuine smile. "Welcome home" he said and then bid all the new first year boys goodnight.