CHAPER THREE: Hogwarts at last

Author's note: Thanks so much to everyone who's read this story. If you read chapter one before this chapter was posted, I suggest you reread it. I added a scene at Ollivander's, that although not extremely necessary to the plot, is an addition from the original way I wrote it.

Of course, reviews are always greatly appreciated.

Oh, and if you haven't noticed by now, I'm not J.K. Rowling, and everything belongs to her.

Well, well, who do we have here? Harry Potter, isn't it? And what a puzzle you are. You are loyal to those you call friend, so you could be a Hufflepuff. Quite smart, too, so Ravenclaw is a possibility. You are brave, and you would do quite well in Gryffindor. But you are also cunning and ambitious, which are the traits valued highly by Slytherin.

"Excuse me, Mr. Sorting Hat. How are you in my mind?" asked Harry.

It is an enchantment now lost to time, created by the four founders themselves. Anything I learn from a student's mind cannot be shared with anyone, even the Headmaster or Headmistress themselves. Many have tried, but all have failed to uncover the secrets I hold. Humans call the branch of magic most closely related to my mind-reading legilimency.

"Wow, I'll definitely have to ask Draco about that! Maybe he can teach me sometime. I can't even begin to imagine what someone could do if they could read minds. What if someone tries to read mine? There are a lot of things I don't want anyone to know about, like the fact I can talk to snakes."

Ah, yes, Mr. Potter, occlumency. The art of shielding one's mind. That is essential, especially when your very own headmaster is a skilled legilimens.

"Do you mean the headmaster uses legilimency on students? Is that even legal?"

Yes, Mr. Potter, he often uses legilimency. Although I am unaccustomed to the laws in this day and age, I am certain it is not legal.

"I hate to interrupt this conversation, but I'm beginning to get odd stares from the students. Perhaps you could sort me?"

Yes, that is the real reason for our meeting, is it not? Perhaps we can continue this discussion another time. Hmmm, let me think. You could do well in any of the houses, so I shall let you choose.

"Well, my friends are in Slytherin, so I think I would like that as well."

Oh yes, you will flourish with the Snakes. Best of luck, Mr. Potter, in SLYTHERIN.

Whispers erupted again in the Great Hall. Loud claps erupted from the Slytherin table, as well as Draco yelling, "We got Potter! We got Potter!"

Harry looked around at the people in the Great Hall. Dumbledore's eyes had lost its usual twinkle, and a fixed smile was on his face instead. Hagrid looked extremely disappointed, and a dark haired professor wearing all-black robes looked furious.

He walked quickly to the Slytherin table and sat down at the end, next to Draco. He paid little attention to the rest of the sorting. Ron Weasley, the red-haired boy he saw at Diagon Alley, was sorted into Gryffindor, and Harry thought that was where he belonged. One other boy, Blaise Zambini, became a Slytherin, and they clapped loudly for the last sorting for the year.

Albus Dumbledore stood up to give a short welcome speech, which ended with "Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"

"Father says that old Dumbles is a bit off his rocker, but all the same he is a powerful wizard, and not someone you want to have as an enemy."

After a feast with more food than Harry had ever seen, and a warning from Dumbledore not to go in the Forbidden Forest or the corridor on the third floor, they were off to their dorms.

Draco chose a bed in the middle, with Harry and Blaise on his two sides. Across from Harry was Theo, and across from Draco was Vincent. Gregory took the remaining bed.

Once they had settled in, Draco sat down and took out parchment and quill and quickly penned a letter to his parents.

"Dobby?" whispered Draco.

"Dobby is at Master Draco's service. What would he require Dobby to do?"

"Please deliver this letter to my parents. That's all. Goodbye, Dobby."

With a crack, Dobby had vanished.

"Draco, what was that?" asked Harry.

"Oh, that's a house-elf. They do chores around the house, like cooking and cleaning. I had it deliver a letter to my parents. Anyways, goodnight Harry. I'm so glad we were sorted todether."

"Me too, and thanks for everything," replied Harry sleepily. "Goodnight."

Lucius Malfoy was a busy man, managing the Malfoy estate, gaining and maintaining political connections, being a prominent member of the Wizengamot, and of course being a father to Draco. He sat glaring at a paper in his hands when a knock sounded at the door of his study.

"Who is it?" Lucius asked.

"It is Dobby, sir. With a letter from Master Draco."

"Yes, give that to me right away, Dobby. You are dismissed."

Lucius ran up to the master bedroom to look for Narcissa.

"Narcissa, love. There's a letter from Draco."

They quickly tore open the letter and began to read.

Dear Mother and Father,

Hogwarts is awesome! All of my friends and I were sorted into Slytherin, including Harry. He had a long chat with the sorting hat, and his sorting came as a very pleasant surprise. I'm glad I didn't tell him that all of the Potters were Gryffindor, then I'm sure he would have been sorted away from me. He's a very trusting boy, and I'm so glad we're in the same house.

It's getting late, and I want to be well-rested before the first day of classes.

All my love,

Draco

"Harry Potter would be a very powerful ally," whispered Lucius. "Very, very, powerful."