Obviously the first chapter warnings still apply. The Dursley's are good, Dumbledore isn't really, and Harry's friends are different (kind of). Also, I took liberty with the houses. As far as I'm concerned, changing one thing about a person's life can change them almost completely, so keep that in mind. Thank you to all the lovely people who alerted and favourited this story :D

I know I was about twenty-four hours later than I said I would be, but the next two chapters are already done. I'll probably post them tomorrow around 1:00pm central time, but probably sooner if I get reviews. I'm not going to hold out on chapters, but it would still be appreciated.

CHAPTER 2

Harry stared blankly at the letter for nearly a minute. From all Harry had heard from books and his aunt, Dumbledore was supposed to be a great man. Where in the world did he get off paying someone Harry's own money just to tell him who he should and should not be friends with and what house he should be in? What made him think that Harry's aunt and uncle were mean to Harry? What made him think he had the right to proclaim that the Patil twins would corrupt Harry or that Draco's family was too dark or that he had to 'avoid' Neville? They all seemed perfectly kind and truthful and hadn't tried to stuff their own beliefs down his throat so far…

"I'm sorry Harry," said Fred, breaking the silence. "I swear no one in the family knew Ron was doing this. Our parents would have skinned him alive. He should know none of that twaddle he said was true."

"They gave us the letter to read beforehand so we could all work together," Neville explained.

"Yeah," Harry said, nodding slowly. "I'm glad. I didn't really like the way Ron was talking about everyone all that much…and what he said about the houses was terrible. It was like he was trying to make them all look bad or wrong for me so I would end up where the headmaster wanted me to be."

Padma spoke next, and her voice was kind as she said, "Harry, our mum was friends with yours. That part of the letter was true."

"From what she told us of your parents," her sister continued, "They wouldn't have cared what house you were in, as long as you were happy and all."

Harry nodded, smiling. He certainly hoped so.

A few minutes later, after throwing Harry several more (unneeded) apologies, Fred and George Weasley left to find their friends, telling Harry to keep the letter and promising to keep an eye on their brother.

During the rest of the train ride, Harry became fast friends with the others.

He learned that Neville lived with his grandmother and loved plants, and that his toad Trevor liked to be high up (which was just where they found him; he had crawled onto a suitcase belonging to a girl a few compartments down, all the way up on the luggage rack). Neville was shy and sometimes awkward, but he had a good heart and Harry was completely comfortable with him, even more so than the others. It was an unusual experience for the black-haired boy; other than Dudley, he had never felt at all comfortable with anyone his age. Harry got the feeling that he could tell Neville anything and the other boy wouldn't judge him.

Padma and Parvati were alike in many ways, but Parvati seemed to be more bold than her sister, while Padma was intellectual and cautious. They both lived with their mum and younger brother and sister. Padma was a very loving and giving individual. She seemed the perfect person to go to for advice. Parvati was brave and a take-action type of girl who Harry was sure would always be there if you needed someone to defend you.

Hermione was Muggle-born and lived with her parents who were dentists. She said she had been beyond thrilled to learn she was a witch, and that she had to physically restrain herself from reading all of her course books before the year started, because she wanted to be surprised. Harry felt that Hermione was the sort of person who wanted to learn all she could beside you, and though some might take her tone sometimes and her constant spurting of facts to mean she was a know-it-all, Harry felt like she just wanted to share everything she knew with everyone she met because it excited her so much.

Draco's father had been dead for over ten years, after being forced to join Voldemort lest his wife and infant son be killed. Draco now lived in a large house with just his mother. Draco had been schooled at home by a tutor or his mum since a young age, and was eager to use his wand for real magic. He seemed to be the most excited about potions and charms, but told Harry that all were supposed to be exciting except perhaps History of Magic. Harry noticed that Draco was fussy about his appearance and straightened his clothes almost religiously. Draco seemed to Harry to be the kind of person who would always be ready with a sly comeback or a smooth piece of logic to set back a bully.

Before Harry knew it, the train was stopping at Hogsmeade station. Harry and their friends were told to leave their school things in the train, so they all climbed out together without their pets or trunks.

"Where are we supposed to–" Hermione began, but a loud voice cut her off.

"Firs' years this way! All firs' years, come to me!"

Parvati and Neville gasped. A few feet away, towering over the crowd, was a man who could only be described as a giant. Harry's aunt had mentioned him – Lily had been close to the man when she was at school. His name was Hagrid, and he was the gamekeeper.

Harry, Hermione, Draco, Neville, Parvati, and Padma all followed Hagrid down a muddy slope with the other first-years right behind them.

"No more than four to a boat!" Hagrid instructed. Harry, Hermione, Draco, and Neville took a boat together, while the twins sat with a boy and girl Harry didn't know yet. The boats seemed to not need to be paddled and simply floated along of their own accord. Hagrid was in the front with a boat to himself.

As Harry glanced cautiously over the edge of the boat into the inky black water, he shuddered. It was creepy looking, and who knew what might be lurking in there?

The boats took them under a low-hanging branch dangling with ivy and the children were forced to duck. As everyone looked up again, there was a collective gasp. Hogwarts was now visible.

It stood hundreds and hundreds of feet tall, with turrets and steeples and towers and buildings of all shapes and sizes standing connected at different heights and angles. Harry could pick out at least two bridges. He couldn't imagine what could be done with all of this space; wasn't it a little big for a school? But still, it was beautiful in a majestic and awe-striking kind of way.

Harry felt like the luckiest person in the world at that moment. Even if the headmaster of this school was trying to...manipulate him or something, and even if the first person he had met had tried to tell him what to think, Harry was still happy. He had a loving family back home, his cousin would be coming to join him next year, and he had just made six good friends. Not to mention that he got to live here.

"Isn't it amazing, Harry?" Hermione gushed softly, bringing the black haired boy back to reality. He nodded enthusiastically at her, taking in her glowing face and bright smile, then looking at the other two. Draco was smiling softly, eyes flickering around as he tried to memorize the view. Neville's mouth was hanging open, eyes wide, and Harry almost giggled at the boy's stunned expression.

Soon, the boats were docking and the students and Hagrid clambered out and onto the bank. Padma and Parvati rejoined the other four, and they grouped together as the giant led them up a grassy hill. At the top, Hagrid knocked loudly on a door, which opened a moment later.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall." Hagrid announced.

"Thank you, Hagrid." The Professor replied. Harry immediately thought that this woman was not one to try and cross. She looked quite austere, but kind at the same time. Like she was a good person, but wouldn't go easy on anyone.

"This way," Professor McGonagall told the first-years, and everyone followed her inside.

"Your attention please," the Professor said. Everyone settled down immediately. "Thank you. Now, in a moment you will pass through these doors and be sorted into one of the four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. While you are at Hogwarts, your house will be like your family. Triumphs will earn you point, and any rule-breaking will lose you points. The sorting ceremony will begin momentarily. I suggest you all straighten up a bit while you can." She eyed a Ron, who had a smudge on his nose and a girl whose robe was inside out before she turned into a small antechamber.

As soon as McGonagall left the room, several shimmery things appeared from the wall behind the First-Years. Several people screamed, including Neville, but the arguing ghosts took no notice.

"Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him another chance–" a fat little monk was saying.

"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and, you know, he's not even a ghost – I say, what are you all doing here?"

The ghost, who was wearing a ruff and tights, had suddenly noticed the First-Years.

Nobody answered.

"New students!" said the Fat Friar, smiling at them. "About to be Sorted, then?"

A few people nodded nervously.

"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said the Friar. "My old House, you know!"

And the ghosts floated off through a set of large double doors. A few moments later, professor McGonagall re–appeared.

"We're ready for you," she said, "Follow me."

The Great Hall was huge, just like his aunt had told him it would be. It was filled with older students on either side of them who were watching the first-years with interest. Harry tried to ignore the stares and focus on looking around.

Hermione was whispering to Neville about the ceiling, which Harry had read about in Hogwarts, A History. He tried to think about that and not about tripping over his feet or something equally embarrassing.

As they reached the front, Harry realized that they were to be sorted in front of the staff table, facing the whole school. At that moment, he was thankful that the sorting hat was supposed to be large and usually covered one's face.

Professor McGonagall set the hat down on the stool, and everyone stared at it. The hall was silent for a moment, and then…

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

Everyone clapped when the Hat finished, and Harry thought that it was wonderful.

"When I call your name, you will step forward and place the sorting hat on your head." Announced Professor McGonagall. After a second, Harry realized with a start that someone was staring at him – Professor Dumbledore.

Harry fought the urge to glare at the man – after all, he had decided before that he was going to wait for proof that someone was evil before he condemned them. The letter he had read, to Harry at least, just proved that Dumbledore wasn't as good as everyone said. He didn't want to do Harry harm, so Harry didn't think him evil. Nevertheless, Harry decided to keep a close eye on the man.

"Abbott, Hannah!" the professor called.

A pink-faced girl with blonde ponytails rushed forward and pulled on the hat, then sat down on the stool next to the Professor. After just a moment, the hat called out, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Hannah jumped up, handed Professor McGonagall the hat, and ran over to the cheering yellow and black table. Harry felt a pang of jealousy for her; he wished he could have been first and just get it over with.

And so it went. "Bones, Susan!" went to Hufflepuff as well, and "Boot, Terry!" became a Ravenclaw, while "Brocklehurst, Mandy!" was made the first Gryffindor, and "Brown, Lavender!" followed her. "Bulstrode, Millicent!" went to Slytherin, and "Corner, Michael!" went to Ravenclaw, as did "Cornfoot, Stephen!"

"Crabbe, Vincent!" became a Slytherin, as did "Davis, Tracey!". "Entwhistle, Kevin!" Was made a Ravenclaw after nearly a minute, and "Finch-Fletchley, Justin!" went to Hufflepuff after him.

"Finnigan, Seamus!" went to Gryffindor and "Goldstein, Anthony!" went to Ravenclaw. "Goyle, Gregory!" became a Slytherin as well, and then it was "Granger, Hermione!"

"Good luck!" Harry heard Padma whisper as Hermione walked determinedly, if a bit nervously, to the stool, where she sat for two minutes before the hat said, "RAVENCLAW!"

Harry, the twins, Neville, and Draco all clapped enthusiastically for her as Hermione rushed, beaming, to the blue and bronze table.

"Greengrass, Daphne!" went to Slytherin next, and one "Hopkins, Wayne!" was made a Hufflepuff, as was "Jones, Megan!", and "Li, Sue!" went to Ravenclaw. Then McGonagall said, "Longbottom, Neville!"

Poor Neville nearly tripped as he walked to the stool, and he sat there for – by Harry's count – a minute and a half, before the brim of the hat opened and it yelled, "HUFFLEPUFF!" and everyone clapped.

"MacDougal, Morag!" went to Ravenclaw next, and "Macmillan, Ernest!" went to Hufflepuff after.

"Malfoy, Draco!"

Draco looked vaguely nervous, but pressed his lips together and went to the stool with determination. The moment the hat touched his head, Draco became a Slytherin. Harry and the twins cheered.

"Malone, Roger!" went to Hufflepuff next, and then "Moon, Leanne!" became a Gryffindor. "Nott, Theodore!" went to Slytherin, as did "Parkinson, Pansy!" also went to Slytherin, then…

"Patil, Padma!"

Harry watched nervously as Padma sat under the hat for almost as long as Neville had. Finally, the brim opened and the hat cried, "SLYTHERIN!"

Harry and her sister cheered as Padma rushed to join Draco. Next, of course, came "Patil, Parvati!" and Harry gave Parvati what he hoped was an encouraging smile.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat yelled, and Harry cheered along with everyone else.

"Perks, Sally-Anne!" followed Parvati to Gryffindor right after, and then it was the moment everyone had been waiting for.

"Potter, Harry!"