The gold and scarlet engine of the Hogwarts Express gave another long high-pitched whistle as it approached the ten-minute arrival point to Hogsmeade station, ensuring the students had time to change into their uniforms or ensure their luggage was prepared for the house elves to transport them to the dorms.

Daphne and Tracey had shrunk their trunks to carry them in their pockets while Theo stowed his books into his trunk and locked it down, leaving it on the rack for the house elves to transport it. Blaise woke up from his nap due to the whistle, looked around the compartment and at his friends preparing for departure and followed their lead.

After ten minutes, the train came to a standstill at the platform of Hogsmeade station, steam billowing out of the engine. The sky was clear that night, providing a rather breathtaking view of the stars in their grandeur. The Hogsmeade station was a rectangular structure, constructed with stone, with an arching entrance in the middle of it that led to the carriages that would carry the second years and above to the Hogwarts school grounds across a tree-lined path. The entire platform was lit up with eternal light charms. A path led from the platform to the boats that would ferry the first year students across the lake to Hogwarts. Three platform attendants, dressed in blue uniform robes, stood on the platform, waiting to lead the students to the carriages. Hagrid, holding an old-fashioned gas lantern, stood at the end of the platform, ready to lead the first years to the boats and Hogwarts.

The students, now dressed in their Hogwarts uniform, quickly departed the train. The senior years, alongside their friends, wanting to escape the biting England cold, quickly scrambled to the thestral-drawn carriages waiting to take them to the school grounds and a warm feast. Several of the senior years began casting warming charms onto themselves and their friends while most of the younger years huddled into their robes. The platform attendants, alongside the prefects, were directing the students to the carriages while ensuring that none of them were hurt in the rush.

Hagrid began shouting to be heard over the noise of the platform for the first years to gather around him, waving the lantern to signal them. "FIRST YEARS TO ME! FIRST YEARS GATHER AROUND!"

As the first years slowly began to congregate around Hagrid, Daphne stood on the platform looking around to spot her boyfriend. Tracey had cast a warming charm on Daphne and herself while Theo and Blaise did the same for themselves.

Daphne stood on her toes trying to spot the familiar mop of raven-black hair while Tracey stood at her side, an amused smile on her face. Theo grumbled about the cold and Blaise stood to his side with a smirk at Daphne's actions.

"Come on, Daphne! He'll meet us at Hogwarts anyway."

Daphne did not even acknowledge the words of her best friend and continued to search for her boyfriend.

"We'll meet him at HOGWARTS! He can't go anywhere else! It's a huge crowd." Tracey continued to pester Daphne, wanting to escape the cold. Most of the students had already boarded the carriages and Hagrid and the first years were no longer visible on the platform. A few stragglers remained on the platform, waiting for their friends to depart the carriages.

Daphne turned to glare at Tracey. Theo' and Blaise's comments about her being lovesick did not leave their throats at her spine-chilling glare.

Ignoring her glare as she usually did, Tracey spoke slowly. "Nearly everyone's gone. He might be coming straight to Hogwarts. Besides, I'm sure he would have met us if he was on the train." Seeing Daphne continue to be stubborn, Tracey played her final card. "The faster we get to Hogwarts, the faster you can see him."

Seeing Tracey' point and muttering about idiotic boyfriends, Daphne led the way towards the remaining carriages. Tracey walked beside her with an overly excited grin while Theo heaved a sigh at finally moving on their way. Blaise' lips twitched at her actions while his mind continued to wonder at the implications of Harry Potter, or rather, Ares Black's arrival at Hogwarts.

Emerald-green eyes sprang open as Ares woke up from his nap aboard the Hogwarts express. Realising the train had come to a complete halt, he stood up from the seat and stretched his muscles with a yawn. Eight hours of journey by train! He grimaced. Why the students could not just apparate or Floo in from home, he could never understand. It was so damned easier and less hectic. Although his father had told him that, the experience of riding the train was quite fascinating. Not that he knew. After all, he had slept away the better part of his time aboard it.

Bringing his trunk down from the rack, Ares shrunk it and put it inside his jacket. His father had specifically ordered it to be sewn for him. The Dragon-hide jacket, made from the rather thick skin of a Ukrainian Ironbelly, could easily absorb simple hexes and quite a few curses. It would not help him against powerful bludgeoners, but as far as cutting and slicing was concerned- it was the very thing he needed. Although if someone did attack him, it would be an entirely different matter. He wondered for a second why it was that he had come to this place, remembering the conversation with his father the previous night.

"Run it by me again. Why I need to go to Hogwarts? I can study by myself and take the OWL's from the Ministry directly, can't I?" Ares asked petulantly, pouting at his father.

"Harry…" Heaving a sigh, Sirius sat in front of him.

Father and son were seated on the loveseat in the living room. The living room was flanked by a large floor-to-ceiling window occupying an entire wall, overlooking the garden in front of the manor. The walls were painted in an azure blue with black accents and the ceiling was a peach white with an elaborate crystal chandelier lit with color-changing charms. A large coffee table occupied the centre of the room with a large sofa facing the window and two loveseats on either side of the table. The fireplace roared in the corner to keep out the chilly Bulgarian weather.

Sirius leaned back onto the arm of the loveseat and clasped his hands in his lap. "Ten years ago, you could do that. But with the recent laws of the Ministry, it is paramount that you should take them at Hogwarts. I think Dumbledore framed this law in order to get you back to Britain; especially since no other Ancient House lives abroad."

"Well, he has succeeded then!" Ares complained, a frown marring his face.

"Yes he has." Sirius smirked. Ares knew that smirk. It would always appear when his father was about to play an elaborate prank on some unsuspecting victim. "But, now that you are forced to return, we shall do what we have always have done."

"Tumble the chess board and own the game?" Ares asked cheekily, his own version of the smirk rising on his face.

"Exactly." Sirius smiled internally at his son's quick wit. "By the time we will be done with them, they will be wishing that they had left the Marauders alone!" Sirius ruffled his son's hair. "Also, your dad and I have so many memories of Hogwarts. It would be unfair to his memory if his son would not enjoy at least some years at Hogwarts." His expression turned serious. "And then there is your heritage to consider."

Ares leaned forward, a frown on his face. "Dad's puzzle?" A few years ago, Sirius had explained everything surrounding the death of his parents, including the clue left by his birth father. While he and Sirius had put together all their skills and resources, they could not make heads or tails of the clue given to him.

Sirius nodded. "Do you have your things ready?"

Leaning back, his elbow on the arm of the seat, Ares nodded. "Trunk packed, check. Satchel and mokeskin pouch taken, check. Mirror and emergency portkey, check. My wand and holster check. Dad's wand and holster; check. Yes, everything ready."

Sirius smiled at Ares. "Good boy. Now let's go off for an early sleep, you have a big day tomorrow."

Checking himself to ensure that all his belongings were in their respective pockets, Ares drew his wand and removed the wards he had placed around his compartment. Hearing the distinct lack of sound from his carriage, he walked out of the compartment and past several others to realise he was the ONLY person aboard the carriage.

Jumping out of the compartment, Ares stood on the platform and took stock of his surroundings. The platform was completely deserted, save for an attendant who had just walked into the station office and the sound of doors opening and closing from the other carriages. Realising he had slept through the departure of the entirety of Hogwarts' student population, he let out a sigh.

Taking one last look around the station for good measure, Ares walked off the platform and through the entrance of the station. He stood outside the station and realised that all the carriages had left. Shaking his head in frustration at a rather unlucky start to his upcoming school year, he stretched his legs before walking up the path towards the school grounds of Hogwarts, the place that would be his playground for the next three years.

Ares continued to walk up the path, his mind on all the stories that his father had shared about his alma mater; Most important among them – to Ares anyway – were the stories of the Marauders. He fondly remembered all the stories about the Marauders that father had shared with him. Like the time they changed the skin color of all the girls in the Gryffindor dormitory or the time they managed to vanish the clothes of the Slytherin seventh years during Charms class. But his most favorite story to date was when his mother had pranked the Marauder, causing to sing like a canary for an entire week. His reminiscences were brought to a halt by an unfamiliar sound around him.

Immediately shifting into a battle-ready stance and drawing his wand, Ares' eyes darted around him – the moon and stars provided adequate light - until he spotted an unfamiliar looking animal in the forest surrounding the path. Taking sharp note of the features of the animal, Ares stepped forward until he recognised, with a small gasp of surprise, the animal for what it was.

A Thestral! Pad wasn't playing a joke on me. Hogwarts actually has them.

The reptilian winged-horse –like creature turned towards Ares at his gasp, red eyes staring straight at him. The red eyes continued to stare at him through the trees until Ares holstered his wand, relaxed his posture and approached the animal. The thestral continued to stare at him until he was a few feet away from it. Just he was about to take another step forward, the thestral slowly approached him.

Ares stopped in his tracks and let the thestral come towards him. When the thestral finally neared him, Ares extended a hand towards the creature. The thestral looked at his hand for a moment before nosing his palm. Ares smiled at the gesture and let his hand wander across the neck of the creature that seemed delighted at meeting a human. He remembered them from his studies; Thestrals could only be seen by those that had seen and accepted death for what it is. They were also pack animals with a rather strong protective nature, but they were generally mellow creatures.

Ares smiled at the fact that, despite the rather reptilian appearance, the skin was rather smooth to the touch. Remembering a fact about thestrals with crystal clarity, he smirked at his idea. Facing the creature, he asked "Will you give me a ride to the school?"

The thestral nodded with recognition.

"Great!" Holding onto the back of thestral, Ares quickly got on the back of the creature, his hands on the neck and his legs dangling just ahead of the wings. Once he assured himself he had a tight grip, Ares spoke to the thestral. "Time to move, Mate. Let's go!"

Giving a neigh, the thestral took a running start with leathery wings stretched to their entire wingspan, forcing Ares to tighten his grip. Flapping its wings, the thestral took off, ascending towards the starry sky before angling itself towards Hogwarts. Giving another neigh, - Ares would swear that it was a warning – the thestral accelerated to full speed faster than any broom Ares had ever ridden. He swore that it was slightly faster than his Firebolt and held in his scream of delight, in case the thestral decided he was too noisy and threw him over. Spotting the distant lights that he realised was Hogwarts, Ares relaxed and enjoyed the rest of his ride to Hogwarts on a thestral.

Nope! Not a bad experience at all…

Within a minute of flying, Ares could spot various carriages that were nearing Hogwarts castle. After two minutes, he had neared the school grounds and the view took his breath away. His father's description had understated the beauty of Hogwarts. The pictures really don't do justice…The castle stood on a massive piece of rock flanked by the Black lake to the right of the castle. The castle itself looked decidedly medieval and built more like a fortress for war, rather than a school. The entire castle was lit up with hundreds of eternal light charms and the towers looked to defy the laws of gravity. A sudden thought had Ares wondering if the castle was actually built by the Founders or someone older…

Turning to his left, Ares could spot the first years entering the Black lake and slowly approaching Hogwarts. Looking down as the thestral made a loop over the castle and grounds, he could spot students of various houses disembarking the thestral-drawn carriages and walking towards the entrance.

Directing the thestral to land away from the students, Ares passed one glance at the castle from his perch. Once the thestral had properly descended onto the school grounds, Ares jumped off its back before moving forward and petting its sides. Ares looked the thestral in the eye and said "Thanks for the lift, friend."

The thestral nudged him with its face before taking off towards the Forbidden forest. Ares smiled at the departing creature before turning around and walking towards the entrance of the castle. Spotting a familiar blonde head entering the gates, Ares smirked and quickened his steps, just behind a group of sixth year Hufflepuffs that had disembarked from their carriage.

Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts and Transfiguration professor, had just placed the sorting hat and chair in front of the lectern at the head table and left the great hall, the doors closing behind her, as the last of the senior years were seated at their House tables, intending to enter the antechamber and begin leading the first years to their sorting. As she turned towards the antechamber, she spotted James Potter walking towards her. Figuring that he must be out for some mischief as usual and that she would have to admonish-

James Potter?

McGonagall felt her heart jump a beat before she quickly focused all her attention on the student approaching her. The student, who looked startlingly similar to the deceased James Potter, was nearing her, a rather warm smile on his face. As he drew near, her attention was drawn to the bright emerald eyes possessed by the student; a rather distinctive color that she had only ever seen on one person. A frown on her face, she quickly sifted through the memories, some of them clouded by time, until the answer hit her with all the force of a bludger. Lily Evans! Her student. Her friend…

Shocked at her conclusions, McGonagall stared at the boy in disbelief. Her mind was taking its own sweet time to reach the end of the deductive process due to the rather huge shock encountered by her. As the fifteen-year old neared her, her mind supplied the answer to her.

"Harry? Harry Potter?" McGonagall stammered out in disbelief.

Ares came to a halt in front of Minerva and smiled at her, remembering the fond stories his father had told him about the strict Head of Gryffindor house. "The very same, Madam, but I go by my official name. Ares James Black."

Mcgonagall frowned at the boy's answer, his mind sifting through her memories until the answer found gave her another jolt of surprise. Black? Sirius!? "You have been living with Sirius Black all these years?"

Ares gave her a warm smile at her question, confirming her suspicions.

McGonagall frowned for a moment before smoothing her face of all expression and then replied. "There have been a lot of rumors circulating about you, Mr. err... Black, but I am sure you will know all about them eventually. For now, please come in. The Headmaster had informed me that a transfer-student was indeed coming in for fifth-year, but he did not tell me it was you."

Ares kept his smile. He assumed that his face looked better smiling, rather than snarling in anger at the mention of the old coot.

Minerva gestured towards the antechamber. "Come on in, Mr. Pot -Black. You have been away from Britain for a long, long time, my boy. But first, let's get you sorted."

"Sure thing. Professor-" Ares smiled at her, turning the statement into a question at the end.

McGonagall expression cracked for a second at that smile. It looked far too much like Lily. Internally shaking off the grief, she smiled at the son of her deceased friends. "McGonagall. Minerva McGonagall. Now hurry up!"

Minerva walked towards the antechamber door with Ares on her heels. Opening the door, she entered the antechamber and Ares walked in beside her. The first years were huddled together and looked up at their entrance with curiosity, worry and boredom on their faces.

Professor McGonagall halted inside the room and turned towards Ares and spoke in a stern voice. "Wait here with the other first years, and enter when we call for all of you." With a parting affectionate look, she turned away and strode towards the Great Hall, the huge wooden doors opening at her approach and closing behind her. The antechamber door closed as the doors of the great hall did the same.

The first years were giving Ares curious looks, some of them wondering why a senior student was standing with them to be sorted and some wondering why a transfer student to come to Hogwarts.

Ares ignored the stares pointed at him and stared around the antechamber while his thoughts went back to the view of the castle and the corridors he passed. Hogwarts is huge! Black Manor has nothing over this. I will give you that! He smirked at the shenanigans he was planning on, his smirk sending several first year students away to the far side of the room in worry.

Ares' thoughts were interrupted when the door to the antechamber opened and McGonagall entered the chamber.

McGonagall passed he room a glance before looking at the first years and Ares. Adopting a strict demeanour, she spoke with steel in her voice. "You are expected inside. Please follow me."

The great hall was absolutely splendid. It was a large rectangular room with a ceiling enchanted to appear as the night sky. The far end of the room, opposite to the entrance, was slightly raised and held a long wooden table with a golden chair in the middle and several chairs beside it facing the entrance. A lectern, designed in the form of a golden owl in flight, stood in front of the table. A door was located on either side of the raised platform. A large window occupied the wall behind the table with the glass covered in moving mosaic pictures. The rest of the floor was occupied by four long wooden tables that were spread equidistant from each other with long wooden chairs on either side of the table. Four long banners hung on the walls beside the entrance to the great hall, designed to represent the tale of the House they faced. Four long windows occupied the space above the banners. Four glass tubes that looked to be filled with precious gems at the bottom were present behind and to the left of the Head table. Hundreds of lit candles floated across the length of the great hall while the entire hall was lit up with a complex light charm that ensured all parts of the hall were equally bright.

The long table at the far end was occupied by the teachers and staff, with the Headmaster occupying the golden throne-like chair. The House tables were filled with students of their respective houses. Most of the students were busy talking to their friends, discussing the upcoming school year or looking at Professor McGonagall lead the first years and Ares in the middle of the hall, between the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables. The students of all houses were staring in open interest at the fifteen-year old who had appeared with the first years, with no house colors on his uniform. Whispers began around the great hall, wondering who the newcomer was and where he came from.

At the Slytherin table, Daphne glared daggers at Ares who had looked at her for a second, sending a smile her way before turning to stare at the rest of the hall. Beside her, Tracey seemed to be trying, and failing, to hold in laughter at her friend's reaction. But she did pass an appreciative glance towards her best friend's boyfriend, who did not look like the description of the books she would never admit to reading. Blaise and Theo had shared a look while focusing their attention on Ares James Black, their thoughts on the upcoming reactions to his name being called. Draco, on the other hand, glared at Ares in murderous contempt for the insult dealt to him and hoping to find an opportunity to return the favour a hundredfold.

Ares followed just behind the first years who, in turn, followed McGonagall between the tables towards the chair, with a rather rough looking hat, situated in front of the Head table. Upon entering the hall, he had quickly passed a searching glance towards the Slytherin table on the far left of the hall. Spotting his girlfriend who was staring daggers at him, he smiled at her for a brief second, knowing he had to face her soon anyway. Tearing his eyes away from her, he looked around the hall, marvelling at some of the complex enchantments present. He stared at the Head table, taking stock of the staff seated in their chairs. Passing a wary glance towards Dumbledore - The old man was twinkling his eyes in his direction – he spotted some of the familiar faces that he had seen in father's memories., Flitwick, Sprout, Snape – or as his father called him, Snivellus – Sinistra and Burbage.

As they neared the Head table, McGonagall stopped, bringing the entire first year contingent and Ares to a halt. Turning back and asking them to wait there, she walked up to the platform and stood beside the worn hat sitting on a wooden chair.

Ares stared at the hat in curiosity. His father had told him nothing about the sorting, telling Ares that it was a rite of passage to enter Hogwarts. And he certainly didn't believe some of the outlandish stories that the first years were whispering about it. Looking at the hat, he noticed that it was patched, frayed, and extremely dirty. For a few seconds, Ares wondered if the hat was meant to do anything. To his surprise, the hat twitched. A resemblance of a face formed on the worn leather of the hat. It opened its wide mouth and…began to sing.

"In times of old when I was new

And Hogwarts barely started

The founders of our noble school

Thought never to be parted:

United by a common goal,

They had the self-same yearning,

To make the world's best magic school

And pass along their learning.

'Together we will build and teach!'

The four good friends-"

The sorting hat had nearly finished with its song and Ares, who had taken to observing the various students and teachers in the hall, turned his attention back to it, as it continued.

"And we must unite inside her

Or we'll crumble from within.

I have told you, I have warned you...

Let the Sorting now begin."

The whole hall burst into applause, most of it merely polite, as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.

As soon as the hat went still, Professor McGonagall stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment she had taken from her seat at the Head table. Opening the parchment, she announced "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," Seeing their relaxed faces, she looked at the parchment in her hands and called out the first name. "Brown, Devin!"

A thin pudgy looking boy walked up the stage, timid and fearful and sat on the stool. McGonagall placed the hat on his head and five seconds later, the hat cried out rather loudly. "HUFFLEPUFF!"

The boy seemed to give a long sigh, before he let the professor take the hat off and ran down to join the Hufflepuff table, where the existing members seemed to be quite glad to take him in. Ares wondered for a moment, where he would land, or if the hat would simply tell him that he belonged to all houses or refuse to sort him. A snort escaped him at the last thought as he imagined the reactions of the people surrounding him.

A tedious forty minutes and twenty-six sortings later, Ares stood in his place, waiting for his name to be announced for the sorting with the students of all houses staring at him in curiosity. Minerva rolled up her parchment and sent a pointed glance towards the Headmaster. Dumbledore stood up to make an announcement. Dressed in an azure robe that had all sorts of strange drawings over the robes, the old man seemed a bit... strange. Ares, however, knew that it was a clever misdirection to hide his true intelligence.

Once the students stopped speaking to stare at the Headmaster who had risen from his seat, Dumbledore began speaking. "Before the feast begins, we have one last student to sort. He has decided to join our prestigious institution after spending his formative years being home-schooled and privately tutored. He has completed his previous education abroad and has expressed his desire to-" Ares rolled his eyes. Wished? More like compelled. "-enroll himself into Hogwarts for his OWL year and above. I am of course, talking about Harry Potter."

Whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall, with the stares towards Ares changing from curiosity to awe, interest, calculative and a few were downright hostile. Several students across all four houses appeared to squirm in their seats at the announcement of the name. Draco stared at Ares in shock.

"Did he say Potter?"

"The Harry Potter?"

"The Boy-who-lived? But wasn't he-?"

Ares could not help but roll his eyes at hearing the ridiculous name penned by the British wizarding media from several students.

"Mr. Potter, please sit on the stool to be sorted." Dumbledore gestured towards the stool, next to Minerva who held the Sorting Hat in her right hand.

Ares stood his ground, his face expressionless. He knew this might happen. Dumbledore would announce that his name was Harry Potter to undermine Sirius' parenting.

Dumbledore stared at him, waiting for Ares to take his seat.

Ares stared back.

Silence filled the hall as Ares and Dumbledore stared at each other.

Uh-hmm!" Mcgonagall broke the abrupt silence with a polite cough. "Mr. Ares James Black, please come up here." She pointed at the stool. The student population were stunned to hear Harry Potter being referred to by another name entirely, with Draco staring at him, eyes wide with shock and horror. He made a mental note to immediately contact his father with the new information.

Ares gave his trademark grin and strode towards the stool. He could see the slight frown on Dumbledore's face and the scowl on Snape's countenance. Not yet sorted and already antagonised two of the staff! Well done Ares!

Ares walked up to the stool and sat down, facing the Great hall. McGonagall put the Sorting Hat on his head and Ares wondered if he would have to put down his Occlumency shields.

"Never mind." The Sorting hat spoke directly into his mind, the voice sounding quite snarky and mischievous. "I can see what either way is in there. You are a bit older than what I am accustomed. Now let us see what you got."

Ares sat quietly, wondering how long it was going to take for the Hat to pronounce judgement for him. His bloodline did not necessarily mean that he would be placed in his ancestor's house, but it was more of a distinct possibility.

"You… I am not even sure if I should sort you in the first place." The Hat replied solemnly.

Ares frowned. "Why so?"

"Destiny and Fate stalks you like no one I have ever seen. While the founders enchanted me to never consider the future implications of what I see in the minds of the students I sort… you are of Salazar's blood, the last of his line, and, I can't help but notice…"

"Is this… about my… problem?" Ares frowned mentally.

"You tell me, young heir…" The Hat replied in a condescending tone. "is this… about your problem?"

Ares stayed quiet, vanishing every single thought out of his mind.

"The enchantments on my person are immune to Occlumency, young heir. However, your choice has told me what I needed to know. Now," –the Hat's tone shifted to almost benign. "Let's get you sorted. Hmmm…. You have courage in spades, but with more than enough ruthlessness to back it up. Intelligent and hardworking, but only if it serves your personal aims. Oh and ambition! Quite a lot of it…"

"It is not a choice." Ares told the hat, automatically speaking in his mind without conscious thought. "My problem demands that-"

"Oh, now you are just fooling yourself. You might have started down the path because of it, but your motivation has changed."

Ares did not answer.

"Yes, I know the right house for you. But wait… what is this?" The hat stayed silent for a while before chuckling loudly, the voice echoing across the hall, drawing several stares and whispers.

Ares wondered what the Hat had landed on this time. Almost in answer to his mental query, the Hat spoke up. "Interesting. Very Interesting. I almost missed that bit."

"Am I going to get sorted anytime soon?" Ares thought with a frown.

"Oh, I didn't say that, did I? Well, you are going right into your ancestor's abode. A 'Slytherin' Slytherin after almost a thousand years."

Ares stiffened at the words. "Will the headmaster know about what you saw in my mind? I would like to keep my secrets to myself."

"Worry not, young lord. Your secrets are safe. Your ancestor-" The hat chuckled again, shocking everyone in the hall, "-made sure that all the secrets that I find in the minds of the students would remain secret. Now that you are here, perhaps you should take some time to investigate and visit his old Chambers. I am sure you know what I am talking about."

Ares gave a mental nod. "I am not Lord yet…"

"Semantics. Now shall we get to the sorting?"

Ares stayed quiet.

"Thank you. Now let us get you sorted. There is only one place here for you. You will bring glory to the name of your ancestor and to the house of Salazar SLYTHERIN!" The hat shouted the last word out with an exuberance that raised many eyebrows on the staff table and to the surprise of the student population, save perhaps a few, and deathly silence permeated the hall.

The sound of cracking glass reverberated through the silence. Nobody could tell what had happened, but Professor Snape's countenance looked rather pained.

"THAT... is Harry Potter?" Tracy almost drawled in delight. Daphne muttered something inaudible, but her countenance held a small frown. The tall, handsome young man walked towards the Slytherin table, ignoring all the stares around him and sat next to her.

"Hi Daph!" Ares began, giving off his trademarked grin.

"Can you just do one thing without attracting mass-attention?" Daphne returned with a scowl.

"Aww! You know me! It just happens!" Ares shrugged and looked at her with puppy-eyes and pouting lips.

"Black, just- don't!" Daphne heard a muttered "Cute!" from her best friend.

Ares continued to stare.

"I - I am—warning you!"

The stare continued.

"Black—stop that!" Daphne was struggling to hold her anger in the face of boyfriend's stare. The rest of the student population had begun whispering about Ares while the staff fell into deep discussion. Dumbledore had a severe frown on his face while Snape started at his House in muted horror. Draco appeared ready to kill Ares.

In the midst of all the attention, Ares continued to stare at his girlfriend with puppy-dog eyes.

"I—am! Oh, Darn! Fine!" Daphne threw up her hands in annoyance. "You are forgiven! Now stop that!"

Ares smirked at her answer, waggling his eyebrows.

Daphne muttered something about incorrigible people and stupid eyes. Tracy was busy pulling her sleeve continuously from behind, and Daphne finally lost her control, and hastily turned towards her. "WHAT?"

Tracey grinned. "Aren't you going to introduce him?"

Daphne's cheeks slightly reddened, but she controlled her blush. This was Hogwarts and the Ice-Queen had a reputation to maintain. Putting on her haughty look, she turned towards Ares. "Ares, meet Tracy Davis, Blaise Zabini and Theodore Nott. Oh and there is Astoria, but you already know her?" Tracy gave a wave, Blaise and Theo just nodded while Astoria waved happily towards him from the seat down the table. Pointing her hand towards him, Daphne spoke to her friends. "Everyone, this is Ares James Black."

Ares nodded towards the rest of the group. "Call me Ares."

"So Potter," Tracy began, and at his raised eyebrows, she continued, "I mean, Ares, what was that about you not going up for sorting?"

Ares smirked, passing a glance towards the Headmaster who continued to frown in his direction while Minerva hid a smile behind her cup at Dumbledore's reaction. "Oh that? Just the grand old man trying to undermine my father's paternal authority by calling me by my birth-name."

"But it is your name." Blaise spoke out, much to Tracy's consternation. "I mean, everyone in Britain knows you as Harry James Potter. Son of James and Lily Potter."

"Yes, and I love my mum and dad a lot." Ares' voice turned solemn at his next words. "However, at the same time, my father, Lord Sirius Black, adopted me as his son by blood and nurtured me after my parents' unfortunate death. I know my parents were wonderful people. Father has told me everything about them; but he raised me to the man I am today. My official name is Ares James Black. My father named me as his heir and I am proud to hold that name."

The entire Slytherin table was silent. On closer look, the Great Hall was silent, as everyone seemed to be intent on hearing what the Boy-who-lived was saying. Ares looked up towards Mcgonagall and found her looking at him. He smiled and she gave a soft smile in return.

"Hello Potter!" Ares looked behind upon hearing the voice to see a senior standing near him. "My name is Marcus Cuthbert. I am the seventh-year prefect. It is an honor to finally meet you." The senior was nearly the same height as him and had a square-cut face.

Ares shook the boy's hand. "I haven't done anything worthy of being honored yet, but thank you for the gesture." His words were not amiss by the rest of the House.

Albus Dumbledore stood up. "Now that we are all watered and fed, I have a few notices to give-"

Ares lost interest in whatever the old man had to say. Daphne's arm was much more interesting. His right hand went underneath the table and held Daphne's left suddenly. Daphne glanced at him and resisted the insane urge to blush. He waggled his eyebrows at her, sending her a not so-subtle mental message. "Looking very hot, ha!"

Daphne blushed. Then immediately realizing what her boyfriend had caused, she sharply looked down. The stone floor suddenly became much more interesting. Ares smirked but did not say anything. He looked beyond Daphne and saw Tracy grinning at her friend. He winked at her, causing her to stop suddenly as she felt her cheeks get a tinge of pink in them.

He turned back to the old man.

"So now that we are done, the prefects will show you the correct passages to your common rooms. Seniors, please descend the hall first."

"Headmaster! I swear this is a mistake! Potter cannot be sorted into Slytherin! He should have been in Gryffindor, just like his arrogant father!" Snape was close to frothing from his mouth, his lips set into a sneer.

While most of the teachers had left to attend to their houses or quarters, Dumbledore, Minerva and Snape stood near the Head table.

Minerva glared at the Potions master. She turned her gaze towards the venerable Headmaster of Hogwarts. "Albus, While I may not agree with his words, I do agree with him in spirit. How could a Potter be sorted into Slytherin? I met him on the grounds, and he reminded me so much of Lily."

"Harry Potter has lived with Sirius Black all his life." Dumbledore began. "Though Black was a Gryffindor, he comes from a long line of Slytherins. The Black family is a predominantly dark family after all. Seems like he has somehow... made the young Potter embrace Slytherin values over his Gryffindor nature. Apart from that? I believe we have to wait and watch."

Minerva nodded and left the Great Hall.

Snape grumbled about something impertinent, but then Dumbledore addressed him. "Severus, I know that you are still held up in your grudge against James Potter. But," he paused, drawing himself to full height, "There is a reason that I had to compel him to return back to his homeland. Make sure that no harm comes to my plans. Grudge or not, remember this. You are here on my accord."

Severus silently stared at the old Headmaster. He had never seen him so stern and… it was inexplicable. "I will try to keep my grudge in control." He replied finally.

"See that you do." Dumbledore answered, steel ringing in his voice.

With that, Severus Snape rushed back to the dungeons. He had the new arrivals to be acquainted with, and a nasty arrogant brat to tolerate.

The Slytherin common room was located in the dungeons. Harry walked in with the rest of Daphne's gang, muttering sweet little things in Daphne's ear, much to Daphne's annoyance and her friend's mirth. So far, they had found Harry Pot-... No, Ares Black a very charming and suave person. They entered through the potions corridor, took a sharp bend and stood in front of a blank wall.

"Pureblood." whispered Theodore, as the wall separated out into two-halves. He gave Ares a smirk when he saw him rolling his eyes at such an obvious password.

The common room that appeared in view was great, except for one thing. It was completely green and silver. The entire room, the various armchairs, sofas, desks and furnishings were in either green, silver or a combination of the two. While green and silver were one of Ares' favorite color combinations, matching the entire room and the furniture in the same colors seemed like overkill. Wondering if he should figure out a way to change colors or not, he walked into the room alongside the rest of Slytherin house who quickly assembled in the common room.

Marcus Cuthbert, along with three other students—two girls and one boy respectively, stood waiting for them and ready to deliver their welcoming speech to the first years and older students. Looking at Ares, Marcus said. "I have already explained the rules to the firsties. However, you seem quite familiar with Miss Greengrass here. So, I will let her explain the norms to you-"—he smirked— "personally."

Ares shrugged.

"Your room is on the right with the rest of the fifth years." Marcus pointed to one of the doors on the right wall, just beside an enchanted view of the water beneath the Black lake. "I believe you shall require no aid finding it?"

Ares nodded and muttered his gratitude and strode off with Daphne and the rest of the fifth years. The right corridor led to a series of doors. The third one had a "5" written over it. Daphne opened it and Ares saw that it opened into another corridor.

"So much serpentine design is ironic! Even for Slytherin's standards!" Ares whispered out.

The corridor had twelve rooms, presumably for the fifth years. The fourth room however had no tag on it. Daphne opened the door and looked at him. "This is your room. The next one is Blaise's, then Theo... Tracey and me have rooms on the opposite side." She pointed the rooms with her finger.

Nodding at her words, Ares entered the room that Daphne pointed out as his. It was quite Spartan on the inside. There was wooden chair, a table, a single-sized bed and some lights on the wall.

This is ...all?

Daphne observed the expression on Ares' face. "You will have to transfigure your room to your needs. They have just provided the necessities. Expand it, transfigure it, add stuff and ward it. How you keep your room is a symbol of your status in Slytherin!

I never saw that in the grimoire! Ares wondered if there were any other customs he needed to be aware of.

"Well. Good night for now then. I will... see you tomorrow morning." Daphne gave him a taunting smirk as she shut the door from outside.

That went well.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:(Dated 20-12-2017) And now it is time for more actors and actresses coming up to the stage to fill in with their roles.

DUMBLEDORE – MICHAEL CAINE (Gambol did a great job but it's time we see some… Caine magic. I wanted it to be Ian McKellen initially but I suppose he will have to wait for another role.)

Skadarken: We did argue a lot over this character. But, we finally came to a resolution. *Leans forward to whisper in the reader's ear* he bribed me for the character.

The roles of MINERVA MCGONAGALL and SEVERUS SNAPE have been played far too excellently to have them swapped. Hence, it is an unbreakable order that they shall continue to be in their roles.

Skadarken: I agreed with him and that was that. I also suggest you guys forward your recommendations of actors/actresses for the characters. Hey Arcturus, Don't you think we should tell them about tha-

*THUD*

Sorry, guys. But he was going to reveal a big spoiler. Let's save that for the story, eh… Phew.