Hey peeps, thanks for all the great reviews.
Just a note or two. First, through the whole story, Harry's name will be Harrison, sometimes shortened to Harris or Haitch.
Second, there's no bashing of any characters, though some of them are on the shady side. Ron is, I hope, basically portrayed as he is in book one canon. Thoughtless, insensitive, and jealous, particularly in regards to Hermione. I don't hate Ron, I just don't like him enough to write him in a large role.
Lastly, I have finished writing this story, and it runs at seventeen chapters and at about 45,000 words. So, fear not, it will be a complete story by the time I get through posting it all.
TWO: THE SORTING FEAST
Harrison and Hermione stepped off the train, and heard a loud voice calling for "First Years over 'ere." They made their way to the huge man who'd been yelling, and stepped up to the group of fellow first years. Harrison noted that the blonde boy, Malfoy, was looking distinctly unsatisfied. Harrison pointed him out to Hermione, who snickered behind her hand.
"First Years o'er this way," the gigantic man called. "S'at everyone then? Alright, o'er to the boats then, come on. No more than four to a boat."
Hermione and Harrison settled into an empty boat and were then joined by Neville Longbottom, the boy who'd been looking for his toad. The fourth spot in the boat was taken by a dark skinned boy named Blaise Zabini.
As soon as everyone was settled into the boats, they began moving towards the castle. There was a hushed awe as the First Years took in the magnificent castle that would be their school for the next seven years.
"It's like something from a fairytale," Hermione whispered to Harrison.
"Not like," Harrison said. "Is. We're freakin' magic!"
Hermione smiled happily. The boats approached the shore, and then went into an underground cave. They stopped at the bottom of a large staircase, and awkwardly clambered out. The giant man led them up the stairs were they were met by a stern-faced witch who introduced herself as Professor McGonagall. Most of the students recognised her name as being the one who'd sent their letters, the Deputy Headmistress if Hogwarts.
"You'll soon be sorted into your Houses, which will be like your families within Hogwarts. Those four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Now, house points will be awarded for good behaviour, or demerited for misbehaviour, so it is to your own benefit, and to that of you new house to put your best foot forward," McGonagall explained. "Now, all of you stay here a moment, and no wandering off."
McGonagall turned to leave, and a buzz of excitement began with all the first years whispering frantically to new friends.
"I hope I'm in Gryffindor," Hermione whispered to Harry. "That's Dumbledore's old house. It sounds like the best one."
"I don't mind what house I'm in," Harrison said. "But, it'd be great if we could stay together."
Hermione flushed with pleasure. "T-that'd be really great Harrison."
"I can't believe he didn't show up," Malfoy sneered disdainfully. "What ever happened to the great Harry Potter?"
The other first years began whispering in hushed excitement. Harrison was surprised at the furious whispering of the name his birth parents had given him. Hermione looked at him, but Harrison shook his head in silent denial.
"This school's really gone to the dogs if the saviour of the wizarding world won't even deign to come here," Malfoy said. "Potter probably heard about Durmstrang and headed there. At least there they actually teach you about the Dark Art properly."
"We all really wish you'd gone there then," Harrison said loudly. "At least then we wouldn't have to listen to you moaning."
Snickering rose from the crowd, and Malfoy's cheeks turned red with embarrassment. "At least I'd get into Durmstrang. A mudblood like you wouldn't even be accepted there. Durmstrang only accept those of pure blood, so obviously it has the best students."
"You think you could have gone to Durmstrang then?" Harrison said.
"Of course. My parents just didn't want me to be so far away from them," Malfoy said.
"So, because you're a pureblood, you're going to be the best student in class?"
"Obviously. Magic's in my blood. Of course I'm going to be the best there is."
"Care to wager on that?" Harrison challenged.
Hermione tugged on Harrison's sleeve, whispering his name in shocked disbelief. "You can't make a bet like that. You don't know anything about him. He could be a really good student."
Harrison turned to his friend and raised an eyebrow. "Him? Seriously?"
Hermione shrugged. "Well, you never know."
Harrison laughed. "So, how about it Malfoy. I bet I can get better marks by the end of first term than you can. How about it?"
"What do I get when I win?" Malfoy demanded.
"What would you want?"
"Your wand."
There was a cumulative gasp from the first years as they listened to the terms of the wager.
"Harrison, no!" Hermione objected loudly. "You can't."
"And when I win, I get yours," Harrison replied. "It'll be a nice little Christmas present to myself."
Malfoy smirked. "I sincerely doubt you'll do better than me."
"Shake on it, then," Harrison said.
Malfoy stuck his hand out, and Harrison shook it roughly. Hermione pulled her friend away from the gathered crowd who were in awe of the challenge struck between the two boys.
"Do you know what you've done?" Hermione demanded. "If he wins, you'll have to go home. You'll never be able to do magic again."
"He's not going to win, Hermione," Harrison assured her. "I knew a hundred guys like him back home. He's not the type to apply himself to anything. Besides, you heard him going on about how well purebloods do, and that's just because he has magic in his blood. Well, it's just too bad that he doesn't know that I do too."
Hermione couldn't help but be terrified for her friend. Then again, from everything she had ever read about the Potter's, James and Lily had both been very gifted magically. Lily Potter had indeed been declared the Brightest Witch of her Age. It wasn't just something that people called a smart student, it was a title that was given to the most magically talented student in a seven year span. Lily Potter had been awarded the title at seventeen upon graduating from Hogwarts with twelve O.W.L's and twelve N.E.W.T's.
James Potter hadn't been a slouch either. Though nowhere near Lily's league, he'd been the Head Boy and had been in the top two percent of his graduating class. If Harrison had inherited either of their intellects, he should have a chance against Malfoy.
Still, Hermione didn't want to imagine Harrison having to hand over his wand to Draco Malfoy.
Professor McGonagall bustled back into the waiting area and held the double doors open for them. "The Sorting will now commence."
The students made their way down through the Great Hall and clustered together in front of the long Professors table. In the centre of the raised stage, a stool with an old and tattered magic hat stood waiting. McGonagall went and stood beside the stool and hat.
There was a moment of silence, and the new first years waited, some of them trembling in fear or excitement. Hermione's eyes widened in shock as the brim of the hat opened and a deep voice began singing.
"Oh you may not think I'm pretty-"
"Holy Moses, that's just weird," Harrison whispered.
"It's freakin' magic," Hermione teased him.
Harrison grinned in appreciation at having his words turned back at him.
"-in Gryffindor, where dwell the brave of heart-"
"Do you think we have to put it on?" he asked. "Do you think you can get magic lice?"
"Shush!" Hermione said, softly. "I want to listen."
"-For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat."
There was a round of applause from the students, but most of the first years were too stunned to do more than stare in amazement. McGonagall lifted the Hat from the chair and looked down at her list.
"Abbott, Hannah," McGonagall called.
A shy looking brown-haired girl stepped forward and took a seat on the stool as McGonagall held the magic hat above the student's head. There was a moment's pause, and then the hat yelled "HUFFLEPUFF," loudly enough for the entire hall to hear.
More applause.
"Strange way to sort people into houses, don't you think?" Harrison asked.
"According to Hogwarts: A History, it's been done this way since the year after the last of the Founders left the school," Hermione explained. "The hat's been imbued with the magical essence of the Four Founders, so it chooses where students go based on the attributes that the Founder's most valued."
Three more students were called up, and Harrison found himself start to fidget. It was soon to be his turn.
"Crabbe, Vincent" and "Davis, Tracey" became Slytherins, and then "Finch-Fletchly, Justin" was called.
Harrison turned to look at Hermione in a panic. "My name wasn't called."
"What?" Hermione asked.
"My name. She didn't call me."
Hermione remembered that he'd introduced himself as Harrison Evans on the train, though she'd nearly forgotten in the six hours since he'd said it.
"I'm about to get called, I'll tell her," Hermione promised.
Harrison bounced nervously from foot to foot, and then "Granger, Hermione" was called.
Hermione walked briskly up to McGonagall and said something so softly that no one else could hear it. The Professor's gaze landed on Harrison, and she looked down at the list. She gave Hermione a quiet answer, and the first year whispered furiously to the Professor. Hermione seemed to be quite ferocious in whatever she was whispering, and Harrison couldn't help but hope that Hermione was letting McGonagall know that his name was Evans.
Hermione looked back to her new friend and smiled brightly to him. The sorting hat was placed on Hermione's head, and she was promptly put into "GRYFFINDOR!"
Harrison was still nervous. He'd never used the name Potter. After his mum's divorce from Vernon Dursley, his mum Petunia had reverted back to her maiden name, and after legally adopting Harry, had changed his name to Harrison Evans. Dudley's last name had changed as well, and they'd been a happy family unit, despite all the troubles with Dudley's health. He didn't want to be known as Harry Potter. He wanted to be who he'd grown up as. He was Harrison Evans and no one could tell him otherwise.
"Evans, Harrison," McGonagall called.
Harrison was surprised, but pleased that she'd called him by his legal name, and that she'd slotted him in straight after Hermione. He wondered if anyone had even noticed that he'd been called out of alphabetical order. The older students didn't seem to be paying all that much attention.
"Thanks Professor," he whispered as he settled into his seat.
"They will find out, Evans," the Professor whispered.
"But not yet," he replied.
The Professor lowered the hat to his head, and Harrison felt the strange sensation of a magical talking hat speaking to him in his mind.
"Hmm, you're a strange one aren't you?" the hat whispered.
"Well, I think you're pretty strange too, but you don't see me going on about it," Harrison replied.
The hat chuckled. "You have a fine mind. Ambitious like your mother, mischievous like your father. Inquisitive like your friend. But where to put you?"
"With Hermione would be great. I've never been about to talk to anyone like I can to her. Not even to my brother."
"Loyalty, eh? That's more of a Hufflepuff quality."
"Well, I can't be loyal to her if I'm in Hufflepuff can I?"
"True, true. Alright, far be it from me to separate young love when you're so sure about it."
"Love? I wouldn't call it that."
"Really? I would."
"But-"
"Too late! GRYFFINDOR!"
Harrison shook his head as the hat was removed from his head. He moved to the cheering table and moved towards Hermione who flung her arms around him enthusiastically.
"I'm so glad we'll be together!" she enthused.
Harrison couldn't help but hug her back. "Me too."
They took their seats, and Harrison leaned in towards Hermione to whisper in her ear.
"What did you say to McGonagall?" he asked.
She turned to him and put her mouth beside his ear. "Just that you preferred the name your adoptive mother gave you and that you weren't ready for people to know who your biological parents were. I may have even pleaded tearfully at one stage."
Harrison couldn't help but whoop with laughter. He swiftly kissed Hermione's cheek. "You're the best Hermione," he declared loudly.
Hermione's cheek hurt from smiling so much. This had been the best day of her young life, and she couldn't wait to write to her parents to tell them that she had a new friend who was possibly the nicest person she'd ever met.
The sorting continued with "Longbottom, Neville" going to "GRYFFINDOR."
Neville looked stunned, and raced towards his seat, only noticing as he was halfway to the table that he'd left the Sorting Hat on his head. He ran it back to Professor McGonagall, smiling sheepishly the whole way.
"Malfoy, Draco" was called up to the stage, and Harrison grimaced as he thought about what the blonde boy's reaction would be to finding out that he'd challenged Harry Potter to a competition with their wands as the winning stake. No doubt Malfoy would be insufferable to get along with, and he could only hope that the pureblood boy wasn't in the same house as him. The hat barely touched Draco's head before yelling "SLYTHERIN".
Once "Weasley, Ronald" was seated at the Gryffindor table, and "Zabini, Blaise" was in Slytherin, the Sorting Hat was put away and the wizard with long white hair and a beard stood, causing the entire Great Hall to go silent.
"Welcome, welcome, to another year at Hogwarts. I'm certain that you are all hungry after your long journey on the Hogwarts Express, but before we begin the feast, there are just a few items that need to be brought to your attention. First, the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds to all students," Dumbledore said.
"Why bother having a forest that's forbidden anyway?" Harrison murmured to Hermione. "That's just asking for trouble."
"Also, the third floor corridor is strictly off limits for those who do not wish to die a painful death," Dumbledore continued
Hermione's eyes widened in horror. "He must be joking."
Harrison shook his head. "I don't think he is. Mental."
"Now, with that said, I have only but to say, tuck in."
Dumbledore gave a wave of his arms, and a feast like the first years had never seen appeared on the table.
Harrison shared a grin with Hermione. "It's freakin' magic," they whispered to each other, before promptly bursting into laughter.
Hermione reached for a plate of vegetables, while Harrison went straight for the chicken wings. While food was being passed from student to student, names were being exchanged, as well as their upbringings.
"I'm half-and-half," the Irish boy Seamus Finnegan said. "Dad's a muggle, mam's a witch. Bit of a surprise when he found out."
"I could be half, but I never met my dad. Mum's muggle though. What about you Harrison?" Dean Thomas asked.
"Well, my mum's not a witch, but my aunt was. Dad was definitely a wizard but I don't know how far back he went," Harrison said.
"So, half, technically," Ronald Weasley said. "My family's pure, but my dad says it's mostly by accident that we stayed that way."
"I'm Pureblood, too," Neville said shyly.
"My parents are both muggles," Hermione added. "They had no idea that magic even existed until I got my letter."
"I'm pureblood as well," Lavender Brown said.
"So's my family," Parvati Patil said. "But my sister and I are the first to attend Hogwarts. My father went to Durmstrang, and my mother went to a magic school in India."
"Is it unusual for siblings to be sorted into different houses?" Hermione asked.
"It's not unusual, but most siblings are sorted in together. The Weasley's have all been Gryffindors for generations," Ron said.
"Say, Harrison, what happened during the sorting, anyway?" Dean asked. "You were sorted after Hermione here, but your last name is Evans."
"Bit of a mix-up with names. When mum got divorced, she and my brother and I changed our name back to Evans in the Muggle world, but not in the wizarding world. On the register, my dad's last name still appears, but I've never used it. I've legally been an Evans since I was five," Harrison explained, managing not to lie even as he omitted several key points of information.
The newest Gryffindors all accepted his explanation and Hermione squeezed his hand, causing Harrison to smile at her and squeeze back.
"It's too bad Harry Potter didn't show up after all that hype," Ron said. "I was looking forward to meeting him."
"I'm still not too sure how this Boy-Who-Lived business could really be true," Dean said. "I mean, a baby defeats the darkest Wizard of the time while he's still in nappies. Doesn't that seem a little weird to anyone else?"
"Sounds weird to me too, Dean," Harrison said. "I mean, for all we know, it might have been his parents who actually did away with this Dark Lord guy. Maybe the Potter's took him out with them."
"No way, mate," Ron said emphatically. "Everyone agrees, Harry Potter is the one who did away with You-Know-Who."
"I Know Who, who?" Harrison asked.
"You know...the Dark Lord," Ron said.
"No one says his name," Hermione explained. "It isn't even written in any of the history books."
"You're kidding? You mean that a baby kills this Dark Lord, and people are still too afraid to say his name? I'm sorry, but that's just pathetic. He's dead, isn't he? He can't do any more harm, and being afraid of his name just seems really stupid."
Silence followed this statement, and Harrison couldn't help but wonder how on earth the wizarding world could see him as a saviour when, for all he knew, his parents really had been the ones to destroy the Dark Lord.
"Well, how do you explain the scar?" Ron asked.
"He could have got that falling out of his crib," Harrison said. "Or from accidentally hitting his head on a chair. Just because a kid has a scar, doesn't make him the saviour of the wizarding world."
Ron's eyes narrowed. "What do you have against him, huh?"
"Nothing," Harrison replied, putting his hands up in a show of surrender. "I just think that you're putting a lot of faith into some kid who's our age. I mean, what did you expect him to really be like anyway? Some powerful wizard?"
"Of course he'd be powerful," Ron replied. "He destroyed the Dark Lord."
"He might just be a regular wizard," Hermione said. "Just a boy, a student like us. Can you imagine the pressure of having a title like the Boy-Who-Lived. It'd be a constant reminder that his parents had died. It's not a very good title."
Ron focused his glare on her. "You wouldn't understand," he accused. "You didn't grow up hearing about him. How he saved our world from darkness. We grew up on stories about Harry Potter and how he fought the Dark Lord. He means a lot to us wizarding kids."
"He's still just eleven," Neville interjected. As everyone turned to look at him, he blushed bright red and began studying his food intensely.
Hermione shrugged. "Well, I just hope you're not disappointed if he turns out to be just like us. Eleven years old and trying to find a place in the world."
Ron scoffed. "He's Harry Potter. He's nothing like us."
Harrison and Hermione shared a look and sighed. Harrison was doubly grateful to his friend now. He could only imagine what sort of expectation would be thrust upon him were he to be revealed as this famed Boy-Who-Lived. He wasn't a saviour of anyone or anything. He was just Harrison Evans, brother and son, and now friend. Fame wasn't on his list of things to do.
As Harrison spooned a lump of mashed potatoes into his mouth, he felt a sharp pain pierce his forehead, and in the surprise of the moment began to choke. Hermione slapped his back a few times to no avail. Red-faced and gasping for air, Harry felt the pain in his forehead abate, and then a pair of strong arms went around his chest and squeezed. The lump of potatoes flew from his throat and onto his plate, and he breathed deeply for a moment before turning to his rescuer.
A pair of twin red head boys, who looked about thirteen, were staring at him with deep concern.
"Alright, mate?" the one on the left asked.
"We were right worried," the one on the right added.
"And left concerned," the left twin finished.
Harrison took a sip of water and took another deep breath. "Yeah, I think I'm alright. Thanks guys."
"Fred and George Weasley at your service," the left twin introduced. "Ickle Ronnikins here is our youngest brother."
Ron immediately turned red at the hated nickname and subsequent snickering from his fellow first years.
"I'm Harrison Evans," he said, shaking each twins' hand. "Thanks, I really mean that."
The twins wandered back to their seats, and Harrison shook his head in silent disbelief. Hermione turned to him, concern shining in her eyes.
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yeah. I just...felt this weird stabbing pain in my head, and then I swallowed wrong," Harrison explained.
"Stabbing?" Hermione asked. "Where?"
Harrison traced the shape of a lightning bolt in precise location of his covered scar and Hermione couldn't help wonder curiously what it meant. Being the only person who knew what Harrison's bandana hid was no easy task, and she wasn't very well informed about what exactly the scar on Harrison's forehead meant. She resolved to head to the library as soon as she could to research curse scars and their effects on people years after the scars had healed.
Dinner continued, but the subject of Harry Potter was left alone, and finally the evening drew to a conclusion. The students were lead towards their dorms by the fifth-year prefects, and the new members of Hogwarts were astounded by the sheer enormity of the castle. It would be a labyrinth to try and navigate, and with moving staircases it would be near impossible to remember every classroom and corridor.
The Gryffindor common room was decorated in red and gold, and the fifth year prefects, Percy Weasley and Lucinda Reynolds gave them a quick briefing on where their dorm rooms were located. The boys headed up to the right, and the girls headed to the left. Harrison grabbed Hermione's sleeve.
"Wanna meet tomorrow morning to explore?" he asked.
Hermione nodded eagerly. "Breakfast starts at seven, but classes aren't until eight-thirty. Shall we meet at ten to seven, have breakfast and then go for a wander?"
"Sounds great. We should bring our stuff for the first class, though, we don't want to be late," Harrison said.
Hermione certainly didn't want to be late, and she was thrilled that her new friend had the same attitude.
"Alright. I'll meet you down here tomorrow morning then. Good night Harrison."
"Night Hermione."
He flashed a grin and bolted up the stairs, leaving Hermione to stare after him in bewilderment. Her first day at a new school, and already she'd met a kindred spirit. It was nearly too good to be true. She couldn't wait to write a letter home to her parents telling them all about Hogwarts.
And about Harrison.
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A/N: I admit to not looking up Aladdin before using that quite. Let's just pus everything back a little, and make their first year begin in 1993 to make it work. Yes? Good.
Thanks again for all your reviews. I'm glad you're enjoying this take on the First Year at Hogwarts.