Harry was dropped off at Kings Cross but didn't know how to find the train. Vernon certainly wasn't going to help. When Hagrid came for him, Harry played dumb and went through Diagon Alley as if he never had seen it before. Now here at the station he remembered his mentor and some of their last days together. Hunter was chuckling. "I'm leaving you with a few surprises Harry. You have to find the train on your own, just like I did. You'll eventually get to Hogwarts if you fail, because Dumbledore will look for you, but I think you'll be too embarrassed to care by then." Hunter remembered that the entrance to 9 ¾ was how he met his beloved Ginny. Harry would have that opportunity. Even if it didn't end the same, he would have the chance.
Harry wandered around the station looking for track 9 ¾ with no luck. He refused to give up. Hunter would come back to tear the mickey out of him. He leaned against the wall while he thought and heard a woman say something about muggles as she passed by. He approached them and Ginny saw him first. "Hello, are you going to Hogwarts too?" Harry smiled and sighed. "Yes, thank you. I've been trying to figure out where the platform was for the last hour. My mentor promised I would make it to Hogwarts, but I'm not enthused to have the others tease me because Hagrid had to come get me for not making it to the train." Ginny explained it to him and Molly watched over her as she explained. She didn't approve of his mentor's tactics but she could see its merit. Harry watched the older boys go through and then walked through himself.
When the ladies came through, Harry decided to ham it up some as he thanked them. He took Ginny's hand and bowed to kiss it. "Thank you Lady Ginny. You have come to my rescue in my time of need. If ever you need a favor of Harry Potter, you have but to ask me. I am in your debt." He had a sly smirk on his face reminding her of the twins. She was already blushing at the silliness, as was her mother who was smiling at his playful banter, when Ginny realized what he said. "Harry Potter? Did you say Harry Potter?" Harry laughed. "Yeah, I'm not much, but like I said, if you need my help, just ask me." Ginny almost fainted as Harry waved and got on the train.
The train ride did not impress Harry. The Weasley twins were hilarious, but their brothers were a pain. Percy was so stuck up Harry wanted to pummel him and Ron was an unmannered moron. Harry had felt bad for the poor kid. When the snack cart passed, he bought a little of everything. He traded half the candy for half the corned beef sandwiches Ron had brought. All looked good until Harry saw Ron eat. Everything went downhill from there. He also met a bushy haired girl named Hermione. She acted as if everyone around was an idiot and she knew everything. Then there was Draco Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle. He was every bit the pureblood bigot Hunter had said the Malfoys were. When he met Neville Longbottom, The boy had not confidence at all. Harry remembered how he had been before Hunter, and decided that he was going to make Neville shine. Shine like Hunter had him.
November 16, 1991
Harry was still amazed he hadn't killed someone. Hunter had been a great teacher and a terrific mentor. While Harry hadn't many "friends" while growing up, he was friendly enough and the last four years had been great. Hogwarts, for all its wonder and majesty, had been a nightmare. He had already been in several fights because of either Malfoy or Ron Weasley. Some were due to both. The bushy-haired girl had recently become his latest project because he had saved her from a troll. Neville was coming along nicely but now that Hermione was part of the group there were arguments over cultural differences. What bugged him was both sides needed to be discussed. While Neville and Hermione could discuss things amicably, Ron refused to see the muggle way as anything but mental. If the twins hadn't intervened, Harry was certain he would have killed the boy. Though, Ron was better than Malfoy.
The little blond ponce was the bane of his existence. He hounded Harry. Hunter had warned him the Malfoys were bigots, but this was beyond real. The only good out of him was when he stole Neville's remembrall and Harry made the quidditch team while getting it back. If Hunter were here, Harry would punch him in the nose. That damned duel Malfoy had called for almost got him caught by Filch. Hunter didn't explain duels so he had to go on what Ron said. Neville only understood the very basics. Harry hated being ignorant and decided he'd get a book as soon as he could, and learn.
The teachers were another calamity. Most seemed to believe the sun rose and set with Dumbledore. Others like McGonagall were of their own mind but bowed to his authority as headmaster. The DADA teacher was a stuttering idiot and to make things worse, someone in that class was trying to enter Harry's mind while he was there. Harry couldn't tell who, but it was only in Quirrell's DADA class and Potions with Snape. That was the big one, Snape.
From day one Harry had problems with Snape. Hunter warned him and explained WHY Snape would be like this, but it didn't give a true account. Snape was without a doubt, the worst teacher Harry had ever met. He was asking questions a fifth-year student would have to look up and was angry that Harry knew the answer. Add to it, that the man didn't teach, just put the directions on the board and set them loose. If Neville didn't have Harry, this grease-ball vampire wanna-be would have had Neville causing explosions. Harry complained but he was told that there was nothing that could be done.
At Christmas Harry stayed at school. He had no desire to see the Dursleys. Neville went home but didn't think his grandmother would be okay with inviting Harry to join them. This left Harry alone with the Weasley boys. It wasn't all bad. The twins were a trip, and even Percy lightened up. He played chess with Ron and was amazed that someone who was a moron usually could be a master at chess. He must be some kind of savant. Harry was quite surprised to see presents waiting for him when Ron woke him on Christmas morning. When he opened the package with his dad's invisibility cloak Harry became a little angry. Hunter had told him about the cloak and even told him Dumbledore would return it at Christmas. Harry didn't believe Hunter on that. Even Dumbledore couldn't be that manipulating, could he? Now that he saw the cloak, he was forced to see Hunter was right. Harry got his temper under control and pretended he was happy throughout the day.
May 10, 1992
Harry was cursing himself. He had made sure he didn't forget the cloak, but waited too long to put it on. Now here he was, in McGonagall's office because Filch had caught them. She assumed that Draco and Neville had both been caught in a ruse designed by Harry and was docking them fifty points each. "Professor, this is my fault, you can't…" She became angrier at that. "Don't tell me what I can or cannot do Potter…" They were sent back to their dorms dreading the dawn. Harry had to comfort Neville, who was openly sobbing that night. Hermione was no better in the morning. Harry knew people were going to be upset, but he was amazed at the cruelty of his own housemates. It was if he, Neville and Hermione were lepers. Even his teammates were treating him like dragon dung. He was getting fed up. After Monday's practice he had had enough. He called Wood to the side. "Find a new seeker, Wood. I'm resigning. I don't need this." Wood was furious. "Resign?! How is that going to get the points back? And are you really going to let down Gryffindor, your team, me?" Harry shook his head. "Why not? You all gave up on me, Neville and Hermione." Harry then turned and left.
Tuesday night Harry and company were serving their detention. Something was killing unicorns and they were going to help Hagrid find it. They were split into pairs. Neville and Malfoy went with Fang, Hagrid's dog, while Harry and Hermione went with Hagrid. This was a mistake as far as Harry was concerned and he was proven correct after they met Bane and Ronan of the centaurs. Red sparks alerted them to trouble and Hagrid rushed to the sight. He returned with Malfoy, Neville and Fang. Neville was shaken up because Draco thought it would be funny to sneak behind and scare him. Harry wanted to rip the fool's head off. He was granted the opportunity when he was paired with Malfoy and fang for the rest of the time. Hagrid figured Harry would not let Malfoy scare him. For the next half hour, Harry searched the forest and plotted the best way to get Draco.
They came to a small clearing and surprisingly found a unicorn. It was obviously dead, based on the lack of movement and the odd position it was in. If it were merely asleep, there would be movement from breathing. As they got close, they saw something approach the unicorn and begin drinking its blood. Malfoy screamed and ran away, Fang close on his heels. This garnered the attention of the creature and when it stared at Harry, his scar felt like it caught fire. He drew his wand and fired a few hexes but he missed. He heard hooves and before the creature got to him, a centaur leaped over him. The pain in his scar began to fade and Harry saw the centaur who saved him.
Firenze, he called himself, carried Harry back to Hagid and the others. They had a small argument with Bane and Ronan but then they discussed what was going on. Harry knew the Sorcerers Stone was hidden in Hogwarts thanks to Firenze, but now he knew the pain in his scar was caused by Voldemort. That thing that attacked was Voldemort. Now Harry knew what Hunter had been talking about.
Before they left the forest that night, Harry spun Draco around and broke his jaw with a right cross. "Endanger me like that again, and I may kill you." Harry growled. "You're a coward and a bully, but I'm not putting up with it anymore. Cross me again and suffer. Savvy?" Draco nodded, and Harry left.
Facing Quirrel-mort took a lot out of Harry. Hunter had told him Voldemort would be back, but not this soon. Harry realized he was nowhere near good enough to face this guy for real. Just as a wraith of some kind he had almost won. Harry was going to have to take his studies more seriously. As Harry sat up on his bed in the hospital wing, Dumbledore made his presence known. Harry had not trusted this man before and was even more on guard now. When he asked the headmaster as to why voldemort came after him, he had hoped that the aged wizard would come clean. He was thoroughly disappointed. Since he looked down (presumably pouting) Dumbledore couldn't scan Harry's mind. It would be too noticeable, so Dumbledore didn't see just how much trust he had finally lost. Harry would never follow the man blindly now.
The leaving feast was a circus and Dumbledore was the ringmaster. Points he awarded to Harry and company pushed Gryffindor to a victory of the house cup. That led to Wood and the rest of the quidditch team to come asking Harry to rejoin the team. Harry vehemently refused. They had betrayed him. "Really you want me back? That wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that Ravenclaw waxed your arses would it?" Harry growled. Angelina showed a temper with a ferocity that was only equaled by it's stupidity and began railing at Harry. The twins tried to control her but it was too late and Harry held his wand pointed between her eyes.
"You think you're the head bitch in charge Johnson? Let me explain it in simple terms so that morons like you can understand. YOU TURNED ON ME! You held us as pariahs over a contest that is rigged from the start. Snape takes points from everyone else and piles them on to Slytherin and NOBODY stops him. Yet you people are so damned dumb, you get upset over it. You betrayed me, and then only after you realize that I have something you want, that you need, you come with open arms. You shouldn't be a lion because you're a bloody snake! I don't need quidditch. I just liked to fly. And my true friends stuck by me when the rest of you shunned us. 'Your house will be like your family...' Well you certainly match my relatives. You're nothing but a bunch of traitors and cowards!" Harry turned and left.
A week later, Harry was on his way back to London with a photo album with hundreds of pictures of his parents. Most of Gryffidor was still ashamed of themselves, but Neville, Hermione and the Weasley boys were all in good with him. Well, all but Percy that is.
