Disclaimer: As always I do not own any rights to Harry Potter.

AN: Again I'd like to thank you all for reading. You guys are the best!

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Dumbledore entered his office with a pleasant smile on his face. After a few lemon drops and some tea he had settled down and thought over the Harry Potter situation. Then a thought had occurred to him. He might not be able to control the boys home life anymore but he was still the headmaster of Hogwarts. He approached the sorting hat who was slowly waking up.

"Good morning headmaster. Is it time to sort the new students," it asked. Dumbledore felt his smile widen.

"Not yet old friend. I was just going to make a request of you."

"And what would that be," the hat asked looking confused.

"I need you to sort Potter into Gryffindor," Dumbledore explained. The hat straightened itself.

"If that is where the boy belongs of course I will but if he belongs somewhere else I can't take requests to put him in another house," the hat explained.

Dumbledore sighed. He had figured that was what the hat would say. Luckily he had a plan.

"Maybe you will feel more accommodating after your cleaning," he suggested coyly.

"The house elves have already dusted me," the hat pointed out curiously.

"I know but I was thinking of a more thorough cleaning. We're going to be using a muggle invention to make sure you look your best this year," Dumbledore explained grinning evilly. The hat visibly shivered.

"What are you talking about," it demanded.

"We're going to put you in a muggle washing machine. Then we'll see how you feel about the Potter situation," Dumbledore answered picking up the hat and carrying it out of his office.

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Harry couldn't believe he was here, sitting on a magical train on his way to a mystical school that will train him to be a wizard. He and Draco had waved goodbye to Professor Snape and Mr. Malfoy as the train pulled away but Draco had been pulled into a train compartment by some of his friends leaving Harry alone. Harry really couldn't blame Draco though. Those people looked really pushy.

"Excuse me. Can I sit here, everywhere else is full."

Harry looked up at a red haired boy about his age.

"Of course not," Harry said gesturing to the seat across from him. The boy gave him a grateful smile and sat down.

"I'm Ron by the way, Ron Weasley," the boy introduced.

"I'm Harry, Harry Potter."

Rons' eyes widened significantly.

"So it's true. I mean do you really have the… the," he stuttered.

"What," Harry asked.

"Scare," Ron breathed out.

"Oh," Harry said in realization. He lifted his bangs up so the boy could see.

"Wicked."

Harry laughed. The boy seemed funny and they started talking about different things like what they expected Hogwarts would be like and Ron even gave Harry a speech about how great a wizarding sport called Quiddich was. When it came time for snacks Harry ended up sharing the lite meal Mr. Malfoy had packed him since Ron's sandwich got all smashed him. They were having a fun time talking and practicing spells on Rons' pet rat until a bushy haired girl walked by wearing her school robes.

"Have either of you seen a toad? A boy name Neville's lost one," she asked. Harry and Ron shook their heads. The girl stepped closer into the cabin.

"Well could you at least look under your seats," she asked. Harry and Ron complied but didn't find anything.

"I'm sorry but there's nothing here," Harry apologized looking up at the girl. His bangs must have got brushed aside because the girl's eyes suddenly got wide.

"Holy cricket, you're Harry Potter," she exclaimed. The girl didn't seem to want to wait for a response. "I'm Hermione Granger, and you are?"

"Ron Weasley," Ron introduced.

"Charmed. You'd best change into robes. I expect we'll be arriving soon," Hermione informed them. She then quickly sped out of the cabin, no doubt continuing her search for the missing toad.

"She was a weird one," Ron commented. Harry couldn't help but nod in agreement but he didn't think it was a bad thing. She seemed very smart and sure of herself. She definably was the type of person to leave an impression.

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After a short boat ride the first year students were herded into the school but not before Harry got a spectacular view of the castle that would be his home for the next few months. He had been so focused on the structure that he had almost fallen into the water. Inside the first year students all gathered together talking amongst themselves.

"Harry!"

Harry turned and smiled when he saw Draco and too other boys walking over to him.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to leave you by yourself," he apologized. Harry noticed Ron tense up beside him. Harry looked over at the two boys who were following Draco. "Oh, these are my friends Crabbe and Goyle."

"It's nice to meet you," Harry said shaking their hands. He noticed Crabbe looked angry for some reason and he gave his hand a hard squeeze. No one else seemed to notice and Harry just rubbed his hand wondering if he had offended the boy in some way.

"And what's your first name," Draco asked Ron. "I already know you're a Weasley."

Ron gave Draco a mean glare.

"How did you know that," Harry asked.

"Father says that if you come across a red headed wizard or witch it's most likely a Weasley. You have a lot of siblings who go to Hogwarts as well don't you," Draco asked Ron.

Ron gave a snort. Harry figured he probably didn't appreciate Draco talking about his family.

"Yes. All Gryffindors," Ron said puffing out his chest proudly. Draco started to look uncomfortable. Harry didn't understand why Ron was being so hostile towards him. He was being polite after all.

"Anyways did anyone say anything about missing a toad," Draco asked changing the subject.

A very round boy nearby suddenly looked over and ran toward them.

"You found Trevor," he asked looking at Draco expectantly.

Draco nodded and reached into his robes. He pulled out a large toad and the boy quickly took it from him.

"Thanks. I'm Neville Longbottom," the boy introduced.

Crabbe ad Goyle burst into laughter and the boy looked down and started to slowly walk backwards. Harry felt bad for the kid. Draco elbowed his to friends and gave them dirty looks. He looked like he was about to apologize to Neville when he was interrupted by an old women who introduced herself as Professor Mcgonagll. She announced that the sorting ceremony was about to begin.

They all followed the Professor into a great dining hall where all the other students were already sitting at their tables. At the front of the room there was a stool with a hat on top of it. Behind the strange set up was a long table where a group of older adults sat. Harry noticed Professor Snape sitting at the end. Harry barely heard Hermione to his side talking about the bewitched ceiling. He looked up and nearly tripped when he saw the night sky staring back at him. Harry had barely noticed the sorting ceremony had started when he heard Hermiones' name being called. She suddenly looked really nervous and Harry could hear her telling herself to relax.

"Mental that one I'm telling you," Ron whispered.

"Gryffindor," the hat announced. Hermione instantly relaxed and practically skipped over to her houses' table.

Harry waited patiently as a few more students were called and then sorted into houses. He couldn't wait to see where his new friends were placed. He hoped they would all be together. Even though Draco and Ron didn't seem to get along.

"Draco Malfoy."

Unlike the other first years, Draco looked confident as he walked up and sat down on the small stool. The hat had barely touched his head when it shouted, "Slytherin!"

The Slytherin table erupted into cheers as Draco walked toward it with a smug smile. Harry smiled at his friend. Perhaps he would also get into Slytherin. His attention was brought back to the ceremony when he heard Rons' name being called. Harry watched as his other friend was sorted into Gryffindor with his family. Now Harry wasn't sure where he wanted to be sorted. He guessed he'd leave it up to the hat.

"Harry Potter," Professor Mcgonagall called. Harry suddenly grew very nervous as everyone around him started to whisper. He couldn't help but notice that most of the whispers just sounded like people repeating his name. He hoped this wouldn't happen every time someone called on him. He felt his legs move on autopilot to the stool where he sat down. The hat was placed on his head and Harry couldn't help but be distracted by the smell of Downy fabric softener. Did they just have this hat cleaned? The hat almost sounded scared when it called out, "Gryffindore."

Harry could barely hear himself think when the Gryffindor's began to shout their excitement as he walked over to their table. A few of them even shook his hand. It was nice to feel wanted and Harry couldn't help smiling. He looked up at the teachers table and saw the old man in the middle, who he assumed to be the Headmaster, raise his glass slightly as a sort of salute. Harry looked over at Professor Snape he was also giving him a smile.

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Lucius couldn't help but feel a little depressed as he sat in his study looking over his paperwork. It hadn't even been a full day yet and he already missed Draco. It was bad enough when he couldn't see his best friend for a few months at a time but now his son was gone to that school as well. Perhaps he could use his position on the board of education to visit the school. A quiet knocking drew him out of his thoughts.

"Come in," he called. Doby walked in holding a letter. Doby wasn't his only house elf but he was the one Lucius trusted the most. Lucius gave him a polite smile.

"An owl from the ministry brought this sir."

Lucius took the letter and dismissed the house elf. He was surprised to see that it was from the MCPS. He had only sent the letter along with Severus' memories that morning. They had really acted fast. He opened the letter and read every sentence twice. It seemed that they were quite appalled by what Severus had seen and wished to take action immediately. Lucius could only guess it had something to do with the fact that the child in question was 'The Boy Who Lived'. The only thing that had Lucius concerned was that they were requesting Harrys' memories of his abuse. Lucius was more than a little concerned about how the boy would react to having his memories put on display for everyone to see. He would have to send a letter to Severus. Lucius sighed as he reached for a quill and a blank parchment. No doubt the MCPS had already contacted Dumbledore about what was happening. He hoped Severus wouldn't get in too much trouble for not contacting him about what they were doing.

He started writing when he overheard someone screeching. He let out another sigh and put his quill away. No doubt his wife had decided to race him with her presence after almost two weeks of being gone. He swept out of the room and followed the screeches to the manors' main entrance. Narcissa was yelling at her personal house elf named Pinky about not greeting her fast enough. Lucius rolled his eyes. God forbid the woman had to wait more than two second.

"Narcissa could you please calm down," he drawled. Narcissa looked up at him and sneered.

"I don't have to answer to you. I've had a long trip and need to relax," she complained.

"Ah yes, and where did you go this time," Lucius asked even though he knew he wouldn't be getting a truthful answer.

"Azkaban visiting my sister," Narcissa said pushing her bags to Pinky who disappeared. Lucius didn't feel like commenting that he knew that Azkaban wasn't currently allowing visitors due to a recent rioting.

"Oh and where is he," Narcissa asked looking around. Lucius was caught off guard by the question.

"Who?"

The bitch dared to roll her eyes at him.

"Our son of course," she explained sticking up her nose slightly. "You would think he knew his manners better. He should be greeting me as well should he not?"

"Draco is at Hogwarts," Lucius said through clenched teeth. Narcissa looked confused.

"But isn't he too young? I thought the age was twelve. He still has two years."

Lucius wanted to strangle the women. How dare she call herself Dracos' mother! He was a sweet and caring boy and she didn't even put in enough effort to remember his age. Lucius recalled how half the time he had to remind her when his birthday was and even then she wouldn't be home for it. Lucius couldn't wait until he could divorce the women. He would have done it long ago but he knew she would file for custody of Draco. Lucius didn't even want to think of what would happen to his son if Narcissa was in charge of raising him.

"Our son is twelve and is now a student at Hogwarts. If your waiting for him to greet you I'm afraid you'll be standing her a long time," he said trying to keep himself calm.

"I suppose I'll just go to my rooms then," Narcissa sighed as she passed him to go up the stairs.

Lucius waited until she was long gone before he dared to take a step. After dealing with that women he felt exhausted. He decided to just take a bath and just go to bed.

"But first to finish that letter," he sighed.

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Severus grudgingly walked into Dumbledore's office. He didn't have time for this. He had to set up his lessons for the first day of term. He usually would have had it done by now but he had been too busy with Potter, but he had to admit, he was glad he had gone to pick up the boy. Hagrid meant well but there was no way he would have saw the signs of abuse no matter how clear they were. The man was just too pure hearted. Severus thought back to the sorting ceremony. He hadn't been surprised that Harry had been sorted into Gryffindor. After all both his parents had been in that house, but Severus had to admit he had hoped the boy would be in his house. He was shy and new to magic but with how well he had already adjusted to everything Severus could tell he would be a good student.

Severus looked at Dumbledores' desk to see both him and Minerva standing there. They both looked serious. Severus looked down to see a letter from the MCPS. He couldn't help but feel impressed by how fast they had worked.

"Severus, I assume you know what this is about," Dumbledore said gravely.

"I assume it's a response to the report I made about Mr. Potters' relatives," Severus answered truthfully.

"Why didn't you inform me that you were doing this," Dumbledore asked.

"I didn't have the time. I was busy getting Mr. Potter ready for his first year of school," Severus explained. That was partly true. He was busy but he could have probably found time to send a letter.

"I knew it," Minerva interrupted. "I just knew it. I did tell you Albus. I told you that those muggles were the worst sort. I hope the boy isn't too hurt by all of this. Did you seem him at the ceremony? It doesn't look like they gave him a single bit to eat since we dropped him off."

Both men decided to sit back and let the woman rant. If she didn't get it out of her system now they would just have to hear it later.

"You have to believe me that I thought the boy would be better off with his relatives," Albus defended. "If he had grown up knowing that he was famous it would have changed him. I wanted to keep him innocent, and I thought he would only be able to get that in the muggle world. I also thought he would be safer."

"How," Severus interrupted. "How would he be safer in the muggle world than here?"

"No one other than a few people here knew of Lilys' sister. I was able to keep the whole thing a secret from the press so no one knew where the boy was. Not to mention the blood wards to keep out all those who had the intention of harming the boy," Dumbledore explained.

"Well it didn't keep out that family did it," Severus sneered. "It didn't stop that man stuffing that boy into a cupboard and it didn't put food on his plate."

Minerva placed her hand on his arm to calm him down. He took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Dumbledore watched him from his seat.

"I think we're done here for now but I wish to be informed about any and all developments with Mr. Potters situation," he said when it was clear the Severus had calmed down.

Severus nodded and swept out of the room. He couldn't stand that man. He always pretended to be this perfect vision of light and Severus felt like he was the only one who saw the man for what he was. A manipulating old man who loved being in the center of things. He let out a sigh as he began to head to the dungeons. He couldn't deal with the man now. He had to get his class ready.

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AN: I'd just like to say I'm grateful to all of you who are reading this and giving me the nice reviews. If you haven't figured it out this story is my first fanfiction and I was super nervous to post it but I'm happy you guys seem to like it. I plan on posting other stories in the future but for now I'm going to focus on this one. Again, you guys are awesome. Digital brownies for you all! Heehee Until the next chapter. See ya!