Disclaimer. I don't own Harry Potter, or anyone else in this story.
A/N. Chapter 3 already. A longer authors note is at the bottom, as well as a respond to the review I got. I'm really happy with every review I get, it is very motivating to know people are reading this. So please leave me a review to let me know you are reading this.
In Darker Times – Chapter 3
If he didn't know any better, Harry would have thought he hadn't left. Only professor Dumbledore wasn't there.
He was still on the same spot, looking at the Shrieking Shack. Harry knew it wasn't supposed to be haunted in this time, for Remus Lupin hadn't used it as a hideout yet.
Looking around, he remembered Dumbledore's words to go straight into Hogsmeade and find him. So Harry did just that. He just hoped Dumbledore remembered right, and they where supposed to meet in Hogsmeade. He didn't know what he was going to do if he wouldn't find his professor there.
He didn't have to worry though, as soon as he walked into the little magical village he saw professor Dumbledore walking out of the Hogshead, followed by an other man. Great, how was he going to get rid of him. He couldn't risk the man finding out.
Professor Dumbledore starter to walk in the direction of the castle, so Harry had to hurry. Deciding he would think of something, he started to run after the two men. 'Professor Dumbledore! Sir, please wait!' He panted, he wasn't in a very good condition after this summer.
Professor Dumbledore turned around, looking at Harry strangely. Realizing he was waiting for him to speak, Harry straightened up and took out his letter.
'Sir, I'm supposed to give you this. My name is Harry Evans, and it is very important you that read this. Preferably alone if that is possible.'
'Very well, Horace, if you don't mind,' Dumbledore eyed the letter a little sceptic. After a moment he seemed to decide he didn't trust it and cast some spells on it. After he finished his spell work he eyed Harry very strangely for a few seconds.
'This letter is from myself if I am not mistaken, is it not, Mr. Evans?'
'It is sir, please open it, everything will be explained in it.' Harry was getting worried, They stood here, in the middle of Hogsmeade. Everyone could be listening in on them right now.
Sensing Harry's worries, professor Dumbledore motioned for Harry to follow him to the castle.
The walk to Hogwarts was silent, making Harry feel very uncomfortable. He had to remember this Dumbledore didn't know him, and he would be suspicious to if he was given a letter from a complete stranger, one he wrote himself.
Once in the office of the future headmaster, the older man started to open up the letter. He was still watching Harry every few seconds.
After a few minutes He put the letter down again. 'Well, Mr. Evans, this letter doesn't seem to be false. The spells on it are most definitely my own and few people know how to send someone to an other time period, I am one of the only one at the moment.'
His eyes started to twinkle after this. 'I believe it is best to see headmaster Dippet, he will get you sorted into a house. He will also make sure everything will be arranged so you can roll right into your lessons. You have to be given a schedule of course. And you need robes in the colours of your house, the house elves will be able to take care of that.'
'Thank you headma, ehm, professor.' This was going to be harder than he thought.
'Term will start tomorrow, so you can start the year of with your new classmates. Well, shall we head over to the headmasters office then ?'
Not waiting for an answer, Dumbledore stood and walked over to the door, holding it open for Harry.
Harry started walking toward the office on his own, not realizing the professor was not following him.
'Mr. Evans.' At that Harry turned around. 'Remember, you are supposed to be an exchange student, you can't go walking around the castle like you have been here before.'
Harry realized his mistake, grateful no one else was around. He waited for professor Dumbledore to catch up before he started walking again.
Harry followed the professor in silence. He noticed Dumbledore looked much younger, but still very similar to the man he knew. His beard was shorter, and less white. But not only his appearance seemed different. There was something else entirely off about him. He seemed more tense, more on guard. Like he didn't trust Harry. He kept glancing at Harry from the corner of his eyes as they walked. It gave Harry a vary unnerved feeling. Was this how people would be treating him in this time ?
Harry wasn't used to people not trusting him, except maybe 4th year, with the triwizard tournament, people thought he was a liar. They thought he had put his own name in the goblet so he could compete. Even his best friend didn't trust him then.
Suddenly Harry realized he wouldn't be seeing Ron an Hermione for a while, and he hadn't even opened op their letters. What if it was something important they wanted to tell them ? He wouldn't find out for a few months at the least!
But before he could think further professor Dumbledore interrupted him by stopping. They had reached the headmasters office. Professor Dumbledore muttered the password, making sure Harry wouldn't hear it. It made him feel even more creeped out than he was already. The professor really didn't trust him, he hadn't imagined it.
It made anger flare up inside of him again. Dumbledore was judging him, when the man didn't even know him. He had proof enough! The letter was from himself, how could he not trust himself?
Pushing the anger away, Harry entered the office. Headmaster Dippet was standing behind his desk. The office was a lot different from how he knew it, less welcoming. Headmaster Dippet seemed to not belong behind that desk. The paintings on the wall where the same, except of course the painting from the current headmaster was missing, for he wasn't dead retired yet in this time.
Professor Dumbledore walked over to the headmaster, taking him aside a little bit, making sure Harry wouldn't be able to overhear them. Harry again felt the snake inside him curl up, ready to strike at the person before him. But he pushed his feelings away, further into his mind, and pretended not to notice. He looked around him, as if he was studying the office, but still tried to overhear the conversation.
Finally the two professors turned around. Headmaster Dippet took his seat behind his desk again, motioning for Harry to take the other seat. Professor Dumbledore didn't sit down, which seemed strange, but Harry paid no attention to it.
Harry noticed headmaster Dippet seemed like a very strict man, he missed the warmth Dumbledore always seemed to radiate. Harry did not feel at ease with him, and already made up his mind to stay away from the older man.
'Harry Evans it was ?' Harry confirmed with a nod, 'My name is Headmaster Dippet. Professor Dumbledore told me you wish to attend Hogwarts as an exchange student, am I correct ?'
'Yes sir.'
'Why don't you tell us something about yourself, so we know where you are from and why you want to attend Hogwarts. It is very uncommon for a student to switch magical schools.'
Harry felt goose bumps covering his arms, he hadn't thought about a story! Off course he had to tell people where he was from! Think Harry, something, anything they would believe!
'I was home schooled by my parent. Very secluded, my parents never liked attention and wanted me to live like them as well. But they got stuck, didn't know what else to teach me, so at last they sent me here.'
It was a stupid story, Harry knew they probably wouldn't buy it. Why couldn't he think of something else?
'I have never heard of the name Evans before,' Headmaster Dippet doubted him, he realised. Or was he asking if he was muggleborn ?
Harry knew from the story's he heard, that blood status was a big thing in this time. Especially of course with Tom Riddle, so he couldn't be muggle born, or his whole plan would be ruined.
'Half blood sir, my mother was a muggleborn.' Harry guessed right, judging the slight smile of headmaster Dippet. 'My father's a pureblood, but the Evans name is not commonly known, because they live so secluded, like I told you.' Maybe his story wasn't so stupid after all.
'Of course, Mr Evans, we will have to test your knowledge. But because it is such short notice, we can't have you make a test. How old are you ?'
'Sixteen, sir.' Harry just hoped he would be put in 6th year, the year Tom was in as well.
'Very good, you will be attending 6th year classes then. We will judge you on your skills during the first few weeks, if the teachers decide it is to much for you, you can be put back to 5th year. Of course, being home schooled, there is no shame in that. Not many home schooled witches or wizard stand up to our standards at Hogwarts.'
Harry almost felt offended, if he didn't know he wasn't really home schooled.
'I assure you, sir, my parents had high standard for my study's.'
'I'm sure they had, Mr Evans.' He didn't believe him. Harry smirked at the man, daring him to insult him. But to his slight disappointment the headmaster continued speaking, 'You have to be sorted as well, are you aware of the houses we use ?'
'Yes headmaster, my parents have told me about them. Slytherin, Griffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, am I correct ?'
'Yes you are, we have a sorting hat we use for the sorting. It will look inside your soul to put you in one of the houses. Albus, if you could please get it for Mr Evans ?' Harry had forgot about professor Dumbledore. He came out of the corner he vacated to walk over to one of the closets. Opening it up he saw the sorting hat.
Dumbledore walked over to Harry and gave the hat to him, motioning for him to put it on his head. Harry obliged, already knowing what to expect.
'A, Mr Potter, I see you are not from here. No matter, you have your reasons and secrets just like everyone else in this school. I wonder where to put you, you seem brave but cunning, very loyal to the ones you love. You are a true Griffindor, but have some sly habits that don't seem to fit in there…'
Harry closed his eyes, willing the hat to put him in Slytherin, he had to end up in Slytherin!
'Slytherin you ask for ? You seem to fit in there, and if that is truly you wish…'
'SLYTHERIN!' The hat bellowed.
Professor Dumbledore took the hat of his head to bring it back over to the closet. Eyeing Harry strangely. Did the man know about the conversation, and Harry asking the hat to put him in Slytherin ? Harry tried to look neutral, it wouldn't do well to show the two professors he was happy about the choice.
'As that is cleared out, I will call your head of house up after we finish, he can escort you over to your dormitories and help you fit in with your class mates and lessons. I will also make sure your school robes and books will be picked up for you by one of the house elves. Do you have any funds we can use for that ?'
'Of course sir, my parents gave me money to pay for everything I may need.' Harry stood, opening up his trunk, and got out a leather pouch. He gave it to the headmaster, not knowing what everything was going to cost in this time, and sat back down.
'The headmaster looked inside the pouch and closed it again, setting it aside. He turned towards professor Dumbledore, 'Albus, can you please floo call Horace and ask him to come over to get Mr. Evans ?'
'Everything will be taken care of for you Mr. Evans, your new clothes, books and school supplies will be brought over to your dorm for you. In the meantime, professor Slughorn will show you around.'
At that moment a middle aged man stepped out of the fireplace, it was the same man Harry had seen talking to professor Dumbledore in Hogsmeade he realised. He seemed like a nice person, with a warm smile on his face. He stepped toward Harry, nodding to headmaster Dippet shortly and stretched out his arm for him to shake.
'Mr. Evans, I am glad to meet you my boy. I heard you were sorted in my house, as a 6th year.'
Harry smiled at the kind gesture, and shook the mans hand. 'Yes sir, it's a pleasure to meet you as well.'
'Well, come with me, I believe you are quite ready here?' Looking over to see headmaster Dippet nodding, Harry stood and followed Professor Slughorn out of the office. Away from the judging eyes of the two other professors.
Out in the hallway, professor Slughorn started to walk in a brisk pace towards the direction of the main hall. 'So Mr. Evans, tell me about yourself, where are you from and who are your parents ?'
His heritage again seemed like a big deal here. 'I'm from near London, my father is a pureblood, my mother muggleborn. They live very secluded, so that is why no one knows our name. I was home schooled by them up until now.'
This seemed to please professor Slughorn. 'Well, I'm sure we can expect great things from you. We have a point system, you are rewarded house points for everything good you do, and point are taken if you do something bad. At the end of the year the house with most point wins, so make me proud Harry.' He winked at Harry.
Harry laughed at that, remembering professor Snape, his snarky potions professor was so totally different from this Slytherin head of house. Snape would never wink at him, not even if he was a Slytherin.
'This is the great hall Harry, all meals are here. Tomorrow this hall will be full of students. There are four long tables as you can see. The banners above them show which table belongs to which house.' Harry pretended to be amazed, seeing the great hall for the first time.
'The ceiling is enchanted to show the weather outside at all times. Amazing isn't it ?' Professor Slughorn was looking up at the ceiling with an awed look. Harry understood, even after 5 years, he was still amazed every time he looked at the ceiling himself.
'Well, I'll show you to your dormitories. I'll ask a classmate to show you around the first few days you are here. The castle is to big to show you now.'
Harry was glad by the time he was in the dorm. He missed the Gryffindor colours, they where a lot warmer than in here. The green and silver felt cold to Harry, unwelcoming. The whole dorm was empty, but Harry was grateful to the house elf that had lit the fire for him. At least the fire made it a bit warmer. There were no windows in the dungeons, and there seemed to be a chill always present in here. Harry didn't know if that was because the fire wasn't there for very long, but he knew the potions classroom was always a little chilly as well.
Harry didn't have a lot to unpack, and the things he had brought with him weren't to be unpacked. People weren't supposed to know he owned a invisibility cloak. His trunk was charmed to keep his secrets, it could only be opened by him. He did unpack some clothes, putting it in the drawer mend for him.
While he was unpacking, his journal gave of a golden glow. Picking it up, Harry wondered why professor Dumbledore would be writing to him about so soon. Opening it up, he saw the neat handwriting of his professor appearing on the paper.
Harry, has everything gone according to plan ?
Picking up a quill and a bottle of ink, Harry started writing a reply.
Sir, I'm in the Slytherin dorm right now. Everything went well, except professor Dippet and yourself don't seem to trust me.
After a few second wait a new reply started forming.
That is understandable, the war with Grindewald has just ended. You know from experience a stranger coming over to you, who is obviously keeping secrets, is bound to cause trouble.
That seemed logical, he hadn't realised Grindewald had just been defeated.
Alright sir, that seems to be logical. I understand. I'm just going to explore the common room further then, if there is nothing else you wanted to discuss ?
No Harry, that was all I wanted to know. Good luck, my boy, and don't hesitate to contact me with any further questions you might have.
I will sir, goodnight.
With that, Harry closes the journal again, putting it back in his trunk. He lied down on his bed, wondering if tomorrow would be any easier, but he supposed not. The Slytherins would not trust him any easier, he just hoped they wouldn't be to difficult to handle.
A/N. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. In the next chapter Harry will be meeting his new classmates.
I'm trying to follow the timeline from cannon, not inserting any OOC, maybe a teacher or something, but no main character. If I made mistakes with the timeline, or with any names, please mention them in a review, so I can change it. I tried to find out if the shrieking shack was already build in 1944 but couldn't find out anything, so I just put it in.
Hope you enjoyed, please leave me a review.
Strawhat Vampira. What do you mean with something more ? Maybe I could work on that ;) I agree with you about the intimate part, I think I might not make this slash, but they will definitely get a close bond. Thank you for your review.