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Chapter 6
"So what did you say your name was?"
Harry looked up at the snooty voice, to a smug, self-important looking blonde boy. He was staring disdainfully down his nose.
"I didn't," retorted Harry, grabbing another chicken leg with his already greasy hands. The blonde boy flinched, holding his cutlery delicately.
"Don't you know how to use a knife and fork?"
"No."
The blunt answer took the blonde boy by surprise, leaving him unsure how to respond.
"Um… would you like me to show you?"
"No."
"Alright…"
They were starting to attract attention now, and Harry glared back at the curious eyes.
"My name's Draco Malfoy."
No answer.
"What's yours?"
Harry turned his icy stare on Draco, eyeing him suspiciously.
"What's it to you?"
There were murmurings now, and one older, ugly-looking boy sneered at him.
"Watch it, little brat."
"Fuck off."
"Are you American?" asked Draco. Harry shrugged.
"More or less."
"Where are your shoes?"
"Up your ass."
Draco sniffed.
"Well you could at least try to be civil."
Harry snorted.
"Are you a pureblood?"
"A what?"
Half of the Slytherins close by turned to stare.
"Were your parents wizards?"
"Well how should I know?" said Harry defensively. "They snuffed it years back. Don't even know their names. What's it matter?"
"It matters, because those who come from muggle stock have inferior blood."
"I see," said Harry, an evil glint coming into his eyes. "What's Dumbledore's blood status?"
"He's a pureblood, I guess," Draco frowned. "Why?"
"Coz his blood were the same red as the muggles in Manhattan," grinned Harry. "And he squealed like a stuck pig."
Nobody spoke to him for the rest of the meal.
XXX
"What were you doing under the bed?"
Harry stared at Nott as he emerged that morning.
"Well where else were I supposed to sleep?"
"You sleep in the bed, not under it!"
"Do I look like I care?"
Harry dressed quickly.
"You'll find your timetable on your bedside table," said Nott. "That'll tell you what books you need."
Harry picked up the sheet of paper, but set it down again just as quickly, shrugging. He left the dormitory without another word to make his way to breakfast.
If the food was like this every day, thought Harry as he spread jam on his toast. He could probably cope with staying here. It wasn't like they could actually force him to do the classwork.
"We've got Transfiguration first," said Draco. "Along with History of Magic and potions."
None of that meant anything to Harry, who elected to just follow the others.
Their first professor for that day was McGonagall, the thin, strict woman who had taken the sorting. She eyed Harry suspiciously as he sat at the back, noting that he didn't even bother to take his book out.
"Welcome to your first lesson at Hogwarts," she said. "You are here to learn the noble art of Transfiguration…"
Harry tuned out as she began a long lecture about classroom safety, and he made a mental note not to bother with this lesson next time around.
"Mr Potter," called McGonagall. "Would you like to read out the next passage for us?"
There was no response.
"Potter!"
Draco nudged him.
"Harry!"
"What?"
"She's talking to you!"
"No she ain't. She's talking to Potter."
There was muffled giggling. McGonagall glared at him.
"Do you know why I am standing here, Harry?"
"Cos Dumb-er-dore wouldn't give me my knife back, the wanker."
"Detention!"
"Huh?"
"I said, detention!"
"What's one of them, then?"
She glared at him, exasperated.
"See me after class. Now can you please read the fourth paragraph."
"No."
"Ten points from Slytherin. Miss Parkinson, please continue."
When the others left the room, McGonagall caught Harry's elbow before he could escape.
"Sit down, Mr Potter."
"My name's Harry, not fucking Potter. Can I go now?"
"Actually I think I need to talk to you about your attitude in class."
"Well get on with it."
"Now that is exactly the sort of attitude that is not acceptable within this room."
"Fine, I'll get out this room."
"Young man, you are not walking through that door until I've finished."
"Fine,"
And before she could grab him again he had darted across the room, and slid the window up.
"No!" she called, whipping her wand out, but then the next moment he was gone. She sprinted over to the window to see him plummet down wards, only to roll onto the grass and run off towards the forest.
"Got to speak to Severus," she muttered, transforming into a cat and running swiftly away.
XXX
Harry had been itching to properly explore the grounds of Hogwarts ever since seeing them in from the window of the hospital wing. He had never seen so much green before, it just went on forever. He had thought central park was big, but this…
He stopped at the edge of the forest, and turned to get his first proper view of the school. Snape had called it a castle. He had never seen one of them before. It almost reminded him of the skyscrapers back in Manhattan, only wider.
He wanted to spend some more time on the grass, but he knew the weird teacher lady would be looking for him, so he slipped into the cool shadows of the forest.
XXX
"At least we know he can't leave the school grounds," said McGonagall, staring into the forest that they had tracked Harry to.
"I wouldn't put it past him," said Snape. "I should have realised this would happen, I'll bet he's never been in a classroom before… oh Merlin, I didn't even think to check if he could read and write."
"He might be illiterate?" asked McGonagall, clearly shocked. "Oh no, I thought he was just being stubborn."
Snape ran a hand through his hair, looking more worried than McGonagall had ever seen him.
"Alright, let's get him out this forest," he sighed. "We can ask him some questions later."