Harry followed Harrison and the other first years out of the Great Hall and down a long corridor. Harry was very impressed to see the parts of the school he hadn't seen before. There were classrooms Harry had never seen before because he'd never had any reason to enter them before. Harry grinned as Harrison showed them how to get to the hospital wing, the Great Hall, the classrooms and finally the Common room.

"This is where the Slytherin common room is. The portrait will only allow you in if you know the password. The password for this month is Daffodils. If you wish to earn some points, present Professor Snape with a list of potions daffodils can be used to produce. This is something we do every month once the password changes," Harrison explained as he sat down on the couch.

"Why is Harry Potter here?" The first-year who asked that was staring Harry, clearly confused by the small child's presence. It was reasonable to be confused as it was almost unheard of for children under the age of eleven to attend Hogwarts.

"Thank you, Jimmy, that brings me to the next item on my speech. Harry is here because he was curious about the orientation and as an honorary Slytherin, it only seemed fair that he experience it. Harry is also a potions prodigy; this is why Harry will also be attending potions with you and the second years. That being said, he is only five; I want you to help his if he needs it and keep an eye out for him."

The first-years spent some time asking questions before Harrison announced it was time for everyone to turn in for the night. Harry watched as the first-years were shown where their rooms were and went through the door to Severus and Remus' quarters. Severus and Remus were curled up on the couch asleep. Harry knew they were waiting up for him so he gently shook them awake. Remus stirred first and pulled Harry into his lap.

"How was orientation, little snake?" Remus asked, causing Severus to grin proudly.

"It was great! The classrooms are great and the first years are okay. I can't wait to go to potions with them tomorrow," Harry said, snuggling into Remus' chest with a loud yawn. "I can't wait to go back to class. Tomorrow is going to be..."

Severus couldn't help but smile when Harry fell asleep mid sentence. Remus picked up the child and went down the hall to Harry's room. Severus followed behind in time to see Remus tuck Harry into bed. Remus and Severus had decorated Harry's new bedroom while he was away. The bedroom was mainly Slytherin colours except for a couple Gryffindor pieces and several neutral items.

"He looks so content, Sev. I can't believe it's been almost a year since he came to me... You should have seen him! He was so thin and nervous all the time. He was surprised I had given him a bed to sleep on and that I wasn't going to beat him or take food away when he was bad," Remus explained as he took off Harry's shoes. "His relatives told him 'magic' was a bad word."

Severus stared at his son; he didn't know all of this. He'd known Harry had been mistreated but this was the first time he'd heard a lot of these details.

"They tried to feed Harry as little as possible while stuffing their pig of a son as much as they could," Remus explained shaking his head and frowning. It was their neglect that resulted in Harry being left alone in a backyard on the evening of the full moon. Harry would still be human if it weren't for the Dursleys gross treatment. But, as much as Remus didn't want to think about Harry's infliction as a bad thing; if Harry hadn't been bitten, he would probably still be the Dursleys' personal house elf. "Harry got confused when I told him that he wouldn't have to cook for me or do anything to earn his keep."

Severus frowned and smoothed back Harry's hair. Severus' father had been a bit abusive but it sounded like the man was a saint compared to the Dursleys. He's never denied Severus food or basic needs. He didn't treat Severus like a house elf and certainly never made Severus sleep on the floor. His father had only been a nightmare while drunk but Harry's relatives had been a nightmare every minute of every day.

"He's had it rough but he will come out stronger for it. He's been through so much but was never crushed by it; that says something about his strength and character. He is a fighter," Severus said, silently acknowledging how lucky Harry was to be freed from that environment so early before it could do any considerable damage to the boy.

Severus shuddered when he thought about what condition Harry would have been in if left to remain in the Dursleys care until he was old enough to attend Hogwarts as a student. Knowing Petunia, they'd probably try and stop him from attending the school at all.

Remus and Severus retired to the living room where they sat on the couch and stared at the lively fireplace.

"He is going to be busier this year than last year. He'll be attending two classes and has made it clear that he wants to attempt the essays... I'll give him shortened versions of course. He's just learning to write and would never be able to do fifteen or thirty inches in the same timeframe as his classmates," Severus informed Remus, allowing the man to curl into his arms.

"He'll love that. He's been looking for things to write so he could practice for when he gets to write essays. He's excited to write essays now but wait until he's a student and they're coming at him left, right and centre for them... It'll be a different song and dance."

Severus nodded; Remus was right. Right now Harry wanted to prove he could keep up with the older kids. Severus could tell Harry would have no trouble with his classes but he wasn't crazy enough to think that the child would keep this level of excitement towards all of his assignments in all of his classes.

"Have you told Sirius about the engagement? The adoption?" Severus asked Remus who simply shook his head and frowned slightly.

"I'm going to tell him tomorrow; when he comes to take Harry out for ice cream," Remus assured Severus; Severus could hear Remus' voice going thick with exhaustion. Severus would have proposed going to bed but he was too tired to move off the couch. So that was where they fell asleep that night. They did not awaken until hours later when shouts of terror emerged from Harry's bedroom.