AN: Thanks for the kind reviews so far and here is the next chapter that include the train ride and the sorting ceremony.
Chapter 2: Making friends and enemies
King Cross station was busy as usual, for some reason September 1st always seemed to be an especially bad day for the employees though. This year was no different, people walking around with owls and trunks and talking about muggles. Harry Potter was very much enjoying himself however; at last he would visit the school he had heard about from his Uncles and his mother for as long as he can remember.
Sirius was helping Rebecca at the store today since her assistant became ill, but he promised Harry to write as soon as possible. Lily and Remus were here with him though, and they were both thrilled for him and sad that he was leaving from what his emphatic abilities could tell. One at a time they walked onto the hidden platform where the Hogwarts express stood hidden.
Harry who had never been here before thought it was both silly and exciting taking a train to a Magic School. They still had a few minutes to spare when they arrived, so Lily had plenty of time hugging her son four times while telling him repeatedly that he should behave and not cause any trouble. Remus just smirked when hearing this knowing that someone with an invisibility cloak, Marauder map and being raised by Sirius and himself couldn't go a week without being in trouble.
Suddenly he felt something in his mind, he had temporarily blocked his empathy ability since there where way too many people around to get a decent read. This was different though, it was like someone was calling for him. Shrugging it off as some weird side effect of being around so many magical people he said his last goodbye and walked onto the train and after a few tries found himself a completely empty compartment.
The train had been going for about 5 minutes when he heard someone open the door and in the opening a red haired boy stood, quite tall for his age and with some dirt on his nose.
"Hi, can I sit here?, everywhere else is full." He said in a pleasant voice. There was something off however, his feelings were off somehow which made Harry hesitate for a second, but then he replied "Sure, there is a lot of space."
The red haired boy sat down and looked at him for a while before saying. "My name is Ron Weasley, what is yours?"
"Nice to meet you, I'm Harry Potter" The reply came in a calm voice, but he was still trying to read the feelings from this boy. Then as soon as he said his name it all came to him. Jealousy, awe, greed, and lots of it.
"Are you really?, Do you have the scar?" He asked excited with a disconcerting look in his eyes that he didn't quite manage to hide. Harry realized at once that this wouldn't be a good friend to make; he was too insecure about himself and had way too many bad qualities. Also he seemed to only be interested in the Boy-who-lived title which was exactly the type of people Harry wanted to avoid.
"Yes, I am, and no I'm not going to show it to you." He responded trying to keep his negative feelings hidden for the moment. There was no need to make an enemy the first thing you do. Ron's face fell temporarily, but he recovered quickly and started to talk about Quidditch instead. Harry wasn't really interested, but let the boy speak his loud mouth of while thinking about something else. After a while the compartment door opened again and a bushy haired girl with large front teeth's showed up.
As soon as Harry's eyes fell on her he felt the same pull in his abilities again, it has something to do with that girl and I'm going to find out what. While she introduced herself as Hermione Granger and made a rude comment about Ron needing to clean his nose he quickly searched her feelings. They were harder to read then most people, but it was still not enough to cause him any problems. Behind her bossy exterior he felt a lot of insecurity, fear of not making friends, getting rejected, and being bullied. He noticed the signs of a troubled childhood and guessed that she was very smart and therefore was bullied by people. The bossy personality was there to hide her true self.
Meanwhile Ron had decided to open his big mouth. "Go away, we don't want you here." He said cruelly, and Harry shivered when he felt that the boy actually enjoyed making others feel bad. Hermione on the other hand had just felt another stab in her heart and it was bringing Harry close to tears. Realizing that he closed off his ability for a moment to gather himself.
Just before the girl left he smiled at her and said. "Wait, I want you to stay, please sit down." He didn't need empathy to see the relief and hope in the girls eyes, but then she turned to Ron again and replied. "Thank you, but I better go, he doesn't want me here." She said sadly with Ron just looking at her passively, but with the hint of a sneer.
"Well, in that case he can leave. You seem like a nice person and I would like to get to know you better." He replied still smiling. He trusted his unusual ability and it was calling for her for a reason, he knew it. Besides, this Ron was acting more like a jerk for every second that went by.
Her smile grew and it made her all the more beautiful Harry thought. Hold on, beautiful…never mind that now, focus Harry. She sat down next to him and he turned his body a little bit so he could see her better. Ron, now red faced, stood up and said. "Fine, I can tell when I'm not wanted, I'll just leave then." He didn't move though and seemed to wait for Harry telling him to sit down again. When Harry merely lifted his eyebrow the boy stormed outside ranting.
That could have gone better I guess Harry thought, I doubt I could have put up with him much longer though, the person needs some sort of therapy with all those negative feelings. He turned his head back to Hermione who was now looking terrified and upset.
He quickly scanned her feelings and determined she felt guilty about making his friend leave, well that shouldn't be so hard to fix he thought and said friendly to her. "Thank you, I'm not sure how much longer I could have put up with his attitude, so it's nice to have someone fun to talk to now."
She showed some degree of shock at his statement, but her eyes showed that he was breaking down her protective wall slowly. "I'm sorry Hermione, I didn't introduce myself properly, I'm Harry Potter." Her eyes widened at this and he mentally groaned, before she had a chance to say anything he continued. "And I need friends, not fans, would you like to be my friend?"
She closed her mouth and he could sense her emotions building up, and then she nodded and smiled shyly at him. Another quick scan showed him that she was touched and really meant it. Excellent, I have a feeling this is the beginning of a long lasting friendship he thought. With a small annoying voice saying and maybe more. Shrugging it off for the moment he started to talk about books and courses with her. Considering what he presumed was her background he felt it was a safe bet and he wasn't mistaken.
They spent the next three hours just talking and enjoying each other's company, and Harry did everything he could to treat her well and give her compliments since he had sensed how fragile her self-esteem was. When he mentioned that his first reaction to her had been beautiful she blushed deeply which made Harry chuckle. They talked about everything from their shared interest for Charms to which house they wanted to be in.
Hermione felt that Ravenclaw would probably be the best place for her considering her wish for learning, but Harry was of the opinion that Gryffindor would be an equally good choice. He didn't share this with her though because he had a feeling that she would have a harder time in a house like Gryffindor. Personally he was pretty sure he could end up in either of the houses except Slytherin, that one didn't seem to suit his personality at all considering how caring he was, and the face that he didn't like to use people.
When they were about halfway the door opened again and three boys stepped in, one blonde with a sneer that made Ron seem like an amateur. The other two seemed to in Harry's opinion act like bodyguards. He could have read their feelings, but he was pretty sure nothing good could come of it. He didn't need his abilities to dislike them, especially in the way they looked at Hermione, like she was beneath them.
"So you're Harry Potter." The blond one said with what he probably thought was a winning smile.
Harry rolled his eyes and replied. "Yeah, I've been told that, who are you and what do you want?" He should probably be a bit more polite, but the boy rubbed him the wrong way.
"I'm Draco Malfoy, this is Crabbe and Goyle he said waving at his two bodyguards." He said and then continued while looking at Hermione. "You shouldn't hang around with people like her,. You should be around someone better."
Harry could feel both anger and hurt from his comment and it made him furious with the idiot in front of him, but he didn't show that. You didn't become a master in the Mind Arts without controlling your temper. "That would be you I take it" Harry said and stood up, he could feel shock and more hurt from Hermione. Did she really think he would take this idiots offer?, I guess her confidence is lower than even I guessed.
Draco nodded and Harry smiled at him. "Well, I'm sorry, but I must decline. I'm pretty sure I can tell who is better of you two without your help." He said still smiling pleasantly. Draco turned slightly pink, but didn't show any more emotions, he just turned and walked away, he turned for a second in the door and his eyes promised pain to come. Harry didn't feel afraid though, he was probably so much more advanced and powerful that this boy didn't even show up on the scale.
After he had left Hermione turned to him and gave him a quick hug before blushing brightly again. Harry just smiled at her and said. "You're my friend now, I'm not going to leave you or let anyone harass you without them regretting it, I promise."
That earned him a much longer hug and he couldn't help liking the feeling of her in his arms, it felt right somehow and that calling feeling made itself known for the third time and he still couldn't understand what It was, but he had finally decided for sure that it was something good.
No one bothered them for the rest of the trip and they changed to their robes a few minutes before they arrived to the station. A giant of a man called all the first years when they climbed of the train and Harry realized at once who it was. Hagrid, and his mother's information made itself known. Good man, but very close to Dumbledore, thinks the old man can do no wrong and will probably report anything you say. Will probably make an effort to earn your friendship.
Sure enough the big man singled out Harry and said hello to him. Harry merely nodded and decided that he wasn't the most subtle person, but probably had a good heart just as his mother had said. Too bad he is under Dumbledore's control, would have made a good friend and ally in the future.
In the boat to Hogwarts they got company from Neville Longbottom, a round face boy that was apparently nervous about everything. There was also a deep sadness in his heart over something and Harry decided to help him if possible or at least be friendly to him. The other person in the boat was Daphne Greengrass, from her he sensed a deep fear of what would happen if she didn't end up in Slytherin. Her parents weren't the nicest people it seems, however, he sensed that deep down she was a good person and he wouldn't mind to get to know her better.
Arriving in the Entrance Hall they joined the other first years with both Draco and Ron scowling at him. Harry rolled his eyes again, and he was getting a feeling that would happen often when he dealed with those two, both acted immature and seemed to be idiots in their own way. For now he ignored them and kept talking to Hermione, Daphe and Neville.
They were met by a woman he recognized from Sirius and Remus descriptions as Professor Mcgonnagal, a very strict teacher that also had a lot of respect for Dumbledore, however, this was one you could trust to keep a secret at least, always good to know. She told them to wait for a few minutes before they were brought into the main hall and it was impressive, especially the ceiling.
Harry had mentioned to Hermione that a hat was going to sort them so they had a lot fun listening to Ron talking about fighting a troll or something. Finally the hat started to sing a song about the four houses which ended in applauds from the whole school, and then the first years were called up one by one.
After a while Hermione Granger was called and she went up to the hat and it had only been on her head for about 10 seconds before it yelled out RAVENCLAW! She gave Harry a happy smile and he returned it and nodded at her. Meanwhile Daphne Greengrass had surprisingly been put in Ravenclaw as well, she looked more sick then happy from it though and Harry promised himself that he would talk to her later about it.
Neville Longbottom joined Gryffindor to everyone's surprise but Harry, he had felt how afraid and nervous the boy was and he was still here, that showed courage. Draco Malfoy joined Slytherin as soon as the hat had touched his head and Harry hoped that he wasn't going there. Then it was time
Harry Potter!
He walked up the hat and Mcgonnagal put it on his head and then everything was black.
Hello there , I have to say you are a very intriguing person. An empath and the chosen one, and more knowledge than a first year should have. You're extremely loyal, but also intelligent and brave, very hard you are to place.
In that case I would prefer Ravenclaw if possible Harry thought as response thinking about Hermione.
Yes, that would be fine; your heart is there after all. Be careful , you have a great power; use it well and for good.
RAVENCLAW!
There was silence in the hall, everyone had expected Harry Potter to go to Gryffindor, but slowly the applause started at the Ravenclaw table and only increased in strength. Glancing up at the staff table he saw Dumbledore who looked neutral about the whole thing, so he decided to use his abilities instead. It was hard to focus with so many people around him, but he got a fleeting second of annoyance and anger from the old fool and it made Harry smirk slightly.
He sat down next to Hermione and Daphne and smiled at both of them which resulted in a sad smile from Daphne and another blush from Hermione. He scanned her feelings and noticed that she felt an attraction towards him, he had already figured that out, but decided to leave it be for the moment. They were young and had just met each other after all.
He whispered to Hermione that they should help Daphne adjust since her parents wouldn't be too happy with her not ending up in Slytherin. Hermione looked surprised for a moment, but then agreed heartily, she had taken a liking to the girl as well.
Ron Weasley was the next to be sorted and he ended up in Gryffindor for some reason that Harry couldn't really understand. Maybe Dumbledore had something to do with it; to him it was of little concern though, as long as Weasley was in another house all was well.
The feast was just as great as he had been told and he probably ate three times as much as he normally did. He sighed deeply and took another piece of treacle tart, it was too damn tasty. Looking up at the staff table he noticed the teacher with a weird turban staring at him and he sensed something sinister and evil from him. Shuddering slightly he went back to his food, but decided to keep an eye on the man. He also noticed that the sallow faced teacher with greasy hair stared at him with pure hate in his eyes. Hello there Snape he though, I'm sure I can convince you to drop this little vendetta, and if you don't, you will probably regret it.
After the feast Dumbledore sent them off to bed and the first year followed their respective prefects to their common room. Girls and boys went up different stairs and each year had their own room. Harry was tired after a very long day and just said goodnight to Hermione and Daphne before going to bed to get some sleep. It had been a long day and they had classes early tomorrow, and his own training started even earlier. Mentally reminding himself of sending a letter to his family tomorrow he fell asleep dreaming about a certain bushy haired girl.