AN:Hiya, I've returned! Thanks for all the reviews, and I just wanted to point out to those of you who mentioned it in the last chapter: Neville's hair colour is unspecified in the books, but JK revealed that she always believed he had blonde hair, which is what I am sticking with. It is commonly believed however that he has brown hair since in the movies Matthew Lewis that is how he is presented.

Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Harry Potter.

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Hidden in Hogwarts: Chapter 5

Harry walked happily to the Ravenclaw table, chasing to ignore the flabbergasted stares that followed his every move, instead opting to plop himself down opposite a highly confused-looking Hermione.

"You never said you were Harry Potter," she accused, to which Harry responded by laughing merrily.

"Well, you never asked," he answered, and Hermione rolled her eyes at the boy's antics. "Anyway, aren't you supposed to be dead?"

"Nah, that was just a suspicion. They had no evidence to support the claim, and were to lazy to find out any more."

"True, I guess. And what about your parents?" At this question, Harry's face became solemn.

"I'll tell you later," he replied, eyeing the Headmaster cautiously as he stood up to begin the welcome speech.

"Welcome!" Exclaimed the slightly batty old man. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"

Everyone clapped and cheered, minus Harry, who was trying to discover the hidden meaning behind the words. Finding none, Harry decided it was always possible the professor was describing himself. He certainly was an oddment in need of a rather large tweak.

The headmaster sat back down in his chair, and the tables were suddenly filled to the brim with food, and the hall filled with the first years' gasps of surprise. Harry and Hermione tucked in, and Harry was suddenly bombarded with a vast array of questions.

"Are you really Harry Potter?"

"Are you going to defeat You-Know-Who?"

"Are your parents alive? Are you living with them?"

At the last question, Harry released a dark glare to the enquirer, in turn causing the remainder of the students to hurry back to their meals. Harry was rather proud. He had been practising his glares, and was pleased to know his hard work had paid off.

The feast progressed, with Harry and Hermione conversing together. Harry soon learned that Hermione was muggle-born, and was raised by her Mum and Dad. She was especially keen on reading, or so he guessed. It wasn't hard to realise, what with the constant stream of facts she was reciting, as told Hogwarts:A History, and further backed up by her ramblings about the past of the Hogwarts ghosts- especially the Ravenclaw one, the Grey Lady.

Throughout the feats, Harry was unaware of a certain Defence professor's eyes on his back, gazing at him in disbelief.

At last, the puddings disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet, effectively silencing the entirety of the Great Hall.

"Ahem- just a few more words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First-years should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few older students would do well to remember that as well." His twinkling eyes flashed to two red-headed twins at the Gryffindor table, who looked vaguely similar to Ron Weasley. "I also have been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between class and in the corridors. Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I would like to introduce the new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher: Professor Sirius Black."

Harry's head shot up and, sure enough, sat up at the head table, sat Sirius Black- his father's best friend- staring at him with an unreadable expression on his face.

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Sirius Orion Black sat at the head table of the Great Hall, remembering the last day he had been here, with his best mates- James Potter, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, one of which is dead, one is a rebound traitor to the light, and one of which he had lost contact with several years ago. He was paying little attention to the Sorting ceremony that was occurring, too caught up in his own string of thoughts to pay any mind. However, he was soon jolted out of his daydream when the room was filled with a deafening silence after one name in particular was called-

"Potter, Harry."

Sirius's head shot up just in time to see a young boy of average height with jet black, messy hair step forward out of the line.

It couldn't be him, could it? It just can't. He was announced dead years ago- along with his parents. But the parchment of names didn't lie. And neither did his appearance.

Sirius gazed, entranced, at the back of the young boy's back. Could it be him? A shiver of hope ran through his body- did this mean James and Lily could be alive ion this was truly their son? It was an emotion that he believed to had been lost on that hateful Halloween night, and he had most certainly missed its thrilling grasp.

The boy he dearly hoped was Harry sat upon the famous three-legged-stool and the Sorting Hat was placed upon his head. Harry sat incredibly still for what seemed to him- and the other occupants of the hall- like an eternity. And eventually, the hat announced-

"RAVENCLAW!"

Sirius grinned. If this was James and Lily's baby, then it was clear to see where he had got his brains from, what with Lily's skills in charms and potions, and James's in transfiguration.

Harry strolled over happily to the Ravenclaw table, either oblivious or choosing to ignore the suspicious stares that followed his every move. Sirius predicted the latter. He examined the young boy closely. He had James's hair and bone structure, but had inherited Lily's piercing green eyes. Eyes that, upon further examination, held an age beyond his years. Hidden behind a confident and happy facade was an overworked boy with much too many responsibilities- but Sirius didn't even know half of it.

Sirius smiled as Dumbledore's speech ended and the feast appeared on the table, much to the first years' delight. The Hall was filled with the time of cutlery clattering against plates and happy chatter from each the four tables. He then helped himself to the food in front of him and began to converse with McGonagall, all the while keeping his eye on a certain Ravenclaw first year.

At long last the feast was finished and, with an exaggerated flourish, Dumbledore swept his hands as the plates vanished, before finishing his speech and finally introducing Sirius as the new DADA professor.

As this was announced, Harry's head shot up, and Sirius internally cheered. He was in need of a serious discussion with his Godson.