Of course, I don't own the characters nor wizard world. Those belong to J. K. Rowling
Please review, and enjoy!
Harry woke very early the next morning, intending to shower before the others were awake. Wrapping his towel around his waist, he made his way into the bathroom with agility. He hung his towel on a nearby hook, and pulled the shower curtain as tight as it would go. Turning the nozzle, the hot spraying water felt magnificent on his sore skin.
His uncle had pulled out the wooden bat a few days back for stealing food. Harry couldn't help it. He was so hungry. His uncle tacked on a longer list of chores than usual and he hadn't gotten through it. It usually took him only two days to finish, but he had been on the fourth day before succumbing to the rotten banana sitting in the trash. He was locked in the cupboard after that, reinforced by the numerous letters he was receiving.
Washing the bubbly soap across his body, he couldn't help but wait a moment longer under the warm water before turning it off and grabbing his towel. He walked back to his bed, pulling close the drapes and drying off. He put on his uniform, excited for the perfectly tailored clothing, and opened the drapes again. Placing on his glasses, he finished drying his hair when he finally saw Draco starting to stir.
"Morning Draco. Hope you slept well!" Draco nodded with a grin before going off to shower as well. The others also began to wake up. Harry hadn't gotten to know them very well yet, though some seemed friendlier than others.
Besides Draco, there were four other boys in the room. Crabbe and Goyle seemed like goons, but nice enough. Theodore Nott had been really funny the previous night, and seemed very popular already. Blaise Zabini was a quiet one – but contented with being in Slytherin. He'd even smiled at Harry last night when his house was announced, and said a sincere congratulation.
Harry didn't get to know much about any of the girls either. There was Pansy Parkinson, Daphne Greengrass, Millicent Bullstrode, and Tracey Davis. Draco seemed to know most of them already, and mumbled the previous night something about growing up with a lot of them.
Harry went through organizing his school things, when Draco came back out and got himself ready for the day as well. When they both were good to go, they made their way downstairs to take note of the Slytherin House Rules and password for the day (White Rabbit).
The Slytherin House Rules:
1. You will abide by a curfew set not by the headmaster, but by your Head of House. For first and second years, this is 9 pm. For third and fourth years this would be 10 pm. It is 11 pm for fifth, sixth, and seventh years. Curfew is the time at which you must be in the common room, and up until fifth year, must be in bed. Only a written form of consent can alter this.
2. You will eat healthy, balanced meals. Your Head of House and Prefects will be making sure this is followed. It is extremely important to have a good diet in order to remain successful in school.
3. You will use good manners at all times, doing all things. Being Slytherin is something to be proud of, and messiness, lateness, and rudeness will not be tolerated.
4. Though I might not take points away in class from Slytherin, you can bet that you will be making up for any behavioral problems ten-fold. Do not disappoint me.
5. Study groups have been created, and you will meet once a night at a designated time for homework. If you are to include other houses, you must do so in another common room or in the library – others in our common room will not be tolerated.
6. This lack of toleration is for you and your housemates. Slytherin isn't the most liked, and the common room is a safe place to express yourselves freely.
7. This is the most important rule. You will stick with each other. Encourage one another to be the best student and person possible. There are not many that will look after you, so be there for one another. Slytherin comes first.
Harry thought the list to be short, precise, and very reasonable. Draco mumbled something about the bedtime and not being a child. Harry laughed and poked Draco's side with his elbow. Draco laughed in return, and they both made their way to the great hall for breakfast.
Arriving at the great hall, Harry looked to find Hermione and Cho at the Ravenclaw table. He told Draco he'd be right there, and walked over to the girls. They both grinned up at him.
"How's your place?" questioned the nervous boy. He wasn't sure what it would be like now that he was a Slytherin and they Ravenclaw.
"It is MAGNIFICENT!" Cho began, "You enter through an eagle knocker that spouts out a riddle, you can get in once you solve it. The common room is round with giant windows. You can see everything from up there! The ceiling is a replica of the sky, and looks so real that it feels like you are outside. There is a big fireplace, and bookshelves lining all of the walls. You'd love it so much Harry!"
"The dormitory is really nice too!" Hermione added.
Harry was happy that they liked their house. He told them about his own common room and dormitory, as well as the house rules. They seemed surprised at that, though in the end considered them a good idea. Harry waved goodbye and headed over to sit by Draco. The boy seemed very interested in the Ravenclaw common room, but Harry could tell he was trying not to show it. Draco wasn't a very open person, at least not yet. Harry thought it smart.
"Hello Slytherins. I hope you have taken to look at the board in the common room. Now that you've seen the rules, there will be no exceptions. I have your class schedules at hand, and you will do well to make it to every class," Professor Snape then added, "Or else you better have a note from Madame Pomfrey the Mediwitch."
He passed out the schedules, and made his way back to the head table. Harry looked down to his list of classes. They seemed pretty reasonable.
There were eight, forty-five minute classes every day. Lunch sat in between the fifth and sixth class.
7:30 am Transfiguration with Ravenclaw ~Professor McGonagall
8:25 am Charms with Hufflepuff ~Professor Flitwick
9:05 am History of Magic with Ravenclaw ~Professor Binns
10:00 am Potions with Gryffindor ~Professor Snape
10:55 am Defense Against the Dark Arts with Hufflepuff ~Professor Quirrell
11:10 am Lunch and Break
12:30 pm Astronomy with Ravenclaw ~Professor Sinistra
1:25 pm Herbology with Gryffindor ~Professor Sprout
2:05 pm Flying with Hufflepuff ~Madame Hooch
~Every Wednesday at Midnight, Astronomy Assignment Done in Dormitory~
It was going to be a lot of work, but Harry felt ready for the challenge.
"Good thing we're in a study group together. I think we'll work well with Blaise and Daphne," Draco admitted. It was a big load of work. Draco looked to Harry's breakfast plate, this time highly concerned. He thought it was just the nerves the previous night, but the empty plate had reappeared. He decided to ask about it, "Harry. You know the rules state that we need to eat a balanced meal. The prefects and professor are not going to be happy if you keep this up."
Harry looked to Draco and smile, "It's alright. I'm just not hungry right now. I'll try to eat a bit though." He put a slice of toast and some eggs onto his plate, and nibbled them a bit though out breakfast. Draco didn't let it slip his mind that Harry was mostly just pushing his food around the plate.
Classes were fairly uneventful until Potions. He liked them, though found History of Magic extremely boring. When he got into the potions classroom he down sat next to Draco. The rest of the class filed in, and Harry remembered they would be with the Gryffindors. At the other end of the room he saw Ron sitting next to someone he hadn't met yet.
The doors flew open, and Professor Snape entered hurriedly – his robes billowing behind him. Harry began jotting down what the professor was saying, though was shocked when the professor suddenly addressed him.
"Mr. Harry Potter. Our. Famous. Celebrity," the professor began, "Do you find yourself too important to pay attention?" Harry only shook his head in reply. Why did he call him a celebrity? Maybe the professor was in on the joke going around the school as well.
Malfoy looked toward Harry, a little worried.
Snape continued on, drilling Harry with questions unanswerable to any of the first years. When Harry couldn't answer he finished, "Clearly, fame isn't everything."
Harry curled up in his desk, and averted eye contact. He really needed to ask someone about this joke.
After lunch, Harry decided to do just that. He pulled Hermione and Cho aside, bringing them out to a bench in one of the courtyards. It was a nice day outside, and Harry really wanted to enjoy the sun.
"I need to ask you guys something, and I need you to be truthful," he began, "What is this joke that everyone is on about? Why did Professor Snape call me a celebrity in class?" They looked at him worriedly.
"You really don't know, do you?" Hermione quietly asked Harry. She thought it was just a sensitive topic, that's why he didn't want to talk about it earlier. She really didn't feel like she should be the one to tell him. Looking to Cho, who was nodding slowly, she turned back to Harry, "Harry. You are famous, in the wizarding world. See, before we were born, the world was at war over blood purity. There was a dark wizard, Voldemort, who wanted the wizarding world free of half-bloods and muggles. Many were in support of him and his power. They were some very dark times Harry, many people died. He was gaining a lot of momentum, but was stopped by you. You see, your mother and father gave their lives to protect you – they were openly against Voldemort, and the time, in a safe house. Voldemort killed your parents, and gave you that scar while trying to do the same to you. He died in the process."
Harry sat quietly and unmoving, trying to process what was being said to him. His aunt and uncle told him his parents had died in a car crash. They had been murdered. Murdered to protect him. Tears formed in his eyes, and he worked very hard to keep them back. Though as soon as Cho started to rub little comforting circles on his back, they started to fall freely down his face. It was the first time he had cried in front of anyone since he was very little. Hermione wrapped her arms around him, with Cho doing the same as well. They sat for a few moments longer before Harry quickly wiped at the tears on his face and stood. Crying wouldn't help anything, his parents were gone and there was no bringing them back.
"Thank you for telling me," Harry stated quickly before turning to leave. Hermione and Cho were left on the bench, worried about his sudden exit.
"It was the right thing to do, right?" Hermione asked Cho.
"Of course, he needed to know. I am just shocked he hadn't heard it before," Cho replied. They got up, following Harry back into the school. It was time for their next class anyways.
Harry made his way towards Draco.
"Did you know? About my mother and father?" He asked curiously, not at all angry at the boy. Frustrated, but not angry. It wasn't Draco's job to have told him.
Draco only nodded nervously. Harry looked quite shaken. Draco finally spoke, "Did you really only just learn Harry? Maybe you should go see Madame Pomfrey for a calming drought or something. It will make you feel much better."
Harry nodded back, and turned to leave. He moved slowly to the infirmary, and was satiated by the Mediwitch's potion. Afterwards he climbed the moving staircases down to his dungeon. Pulling his drapes to a close, he let some more of his tears fall before finally going to sleep.