Disclaimer: I think I might come up with a catchy little song about how I don't own Hp and other things from the series. It might save time.
Neville Longbottom, clumsy Gryffindor and dismal potions student, was rooted to his seat. Every eye in the great hall was glued to him and he couldn't move, couldn't even think. Did the sorting hat really just call his name? And if that really did happen what was he supposed to do and what did it mean? Gran was going to be so angry if this was bad.
He was drawn out of his shock when Harry nudged him and whispered, "Go on Neville."
The boy gulped and stared at Harry for a few moments. Harry nodded at laid a hand on his shoulder and nodded towards the teachers table. After a few more moments and another nudge from Harry, he slowly stood up. With a deep breath he began to walk towards the sorting hat. He kept his eyes forward even as he heard the other students whispering about him and what this all meant.
When he reached the sorting hat he looked at McGonagall for further direction. The transfiguration teacher gently steered him to sit on the stool and placed the sorting hat on his head. After a few moments the Hat yelled out, "Slytherin!" Neville's eyes went wide with shock and he stood frozen on the stool. He and the rest of the school were brought back to reality when the Hat began to call out another name.
Before Neville even sat down at his new house table, the hat had resorted Terry Boot into Gryffindor, Lavender Brown into Hufflepuff, and had called Harry Potter's name.
Harry Potter stood up, not a bit surprised that his name was called; the Hat had wanted to put him in Slytherin to begin with. And if Harry chose to think about it he knew that forcing the hat to put him in a different house was a mistake. But right now he didn't have time to dwell on that thought. He walked calmly up to the stool and sat down. He looked at the faces of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry students and found that most of them were looking back at him in shock and fear. Everything went black when the Hat was placed on his head. And Harry was grateful he was unable to see the fear in his classmates faces.
'Ah young Mr. Potter, back again I see. Not a bit surprised, were you? I fear that putting you in Gryffindor was a grave mistake. Perhaps if you had been put in Slytherin you would have had more knowledge for your last encounter with he-who-must-not-be-named. And you feel the same way I see. No matter now, what's done is done and there is no reason to regret what has happened. Now it is time for you to be put in your rightful house. Your father was a Slytherin after all.' The hats words had barely left his head when he heard it call out, "Slytherin!"
The great hall gasped in shock as one before erupting into chatter, and Harry made the long journey to the Slytherin table. Harry sat next to a relieved looking Neville. Harry stared at his plate unwilling to see what the other students thought of him now. Only Ron and Hermione knew that he was almost sorted into Slytherin, well now it seemed the entire school knew. Harry barely paid attention to the ramblings of a nervous Neville, who was too scared to keep quiet.
Thoughts were swirling inside Harry's head. How could His father be a Slytherin? James Potter had been Gryffindors golden boy. What was the Hat saying? Had Dumbledore lied to him about who his parents really were? What was going on here? Why hadn't any one even hinted that the Potters might not be his real parents? Was Harry crazy to even think that his parents weren't his parents? After all he was taking the words of some loony old hat with far too much time on its hands that was older then dirt. The hat was simply saying things that weren't true. Harry knew that sooner or later he would have to make sure that the hat was lying. But what was he going to do if it was telling the truth?
Harry was snapped out of his thoughts when the table filled with the welcoming feast. He began to fill his plate automatically grabbing whatever was in front of him. He tried to turn his mind off and tune into whatever Neville had been babbling about for the last 10 minutes. He had already missed Dumbledore's welcome speech, not that it mattered, it seemed by the whispered conversations of the Slytherins around him Dumbledore was to confused to say much of anything anyways.
"I'm so glad that we were put in the same house. I don't think I could bear to be alone in Slytherin. I wonder how Professor Snape is going to treat us now. Do you think the Gryffindors are going to be mad at us? I mean it wasn't really our fault being resorted into Slytherin. The hat could have very well just left us where we were. I bet Ron is fuming right now." Neville said looking at the other students around them. The boy did not continue on when he saw Draco Malfoy sneering at them.
"Well, well, how is it that St. Potter is a Slytherin? I bet your parents are turning over in their graves right now." Draco asked in his annoying drawling voice.
"Why do you care what my parents are doing?" Harry spat at the blonde boy, stabbing a piece of chicken rather violently.
"Oh don't worry about him; he's just jealous because now that you're a Slytherin you'll be taking all the attention away from him. Bloody self-centered prat that he is. Just ignore him Harry."Neville said stuffing a roll into his mouth.
Draco sneered at Neville, "And when did you get a brain Longbottom?"
"About the same time that your father was arrested and thrown into Azkaban."
Draco glared at the Neville and went back to his dinner. Neville smirked and turned to Harry. "Harry, are you alright? You've been kind of out of it since you were sorted. Are you worried about Ron and Hermione? Hermione won't care really and well Ron, he'll get over it eventually right?"
Harry shook his head. "No I'm alright Neville it's just something the Sorting Hat said that bothers me, but I'm sure it's nothing. What do you say we go and see if Ron and Hermione want to meet up tomorrow after class? Maybe they understand that we had no choice." Neville nodded and went back to his dinner.
When the two boys were stuffed full of puddings and pies, they stood up and looked around the great hall attempting to find their Gryffindor friends."Ron, Hermione over here." Harry yelled, waving his two friends over to where he and Neville stood by the Hufflepuff table.
"What do you want, Potter?" Ron spat at the boy who had been his friend for the last five years.
"What's gotten into you, Ron?" Harry asked, dreading the answer the red head was probably going to give him.
"Slytherin Potter? How could you go and betray your house like that? You've disappointed everyone. We Gryffindors don't associate with Slytherins. You're just as bad as your father is." Ron said storming out of the great hall and helpless Hermione following quickly behind him.
Harry frowned when his two former friends walked away from him. "Don't worry Harry. I'm sure they don't mean it, they are just upset." Neville said patting the boy on the back.
"I'm afraid they do mean it Neville. They are just too stuck in their 'Slytherins are evil' mind set to see past that. And Ron's always been the worst of the lot, he always thinks the Slytherins are the ones behind his bad luck. I had just hoped they would look past the house for one and remember that I'm still the same person. I wonder what they meant by saying I'm just as bad as my father?" Harry said his frown deepening.
"They were probably just trying to get to you that's all. We all know that your Dad was a Gryffindor. Come on Harry, I think Malfoy is going to show us the way to Slytherin common room." Neville said pointing at the blonde who was staring at them intently. When Draco saw that they were watching he nodded his head towards the entrance hall in a command to follow him.
The two boys ran after the Slytherin keeping their distance from him. Once they were in the common room, most of the Slytherin house cleared out quickly. Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, Crabbe, and Goyle were the only ones left. And by the look of things they had something to say to the newest snakes.
"Welcome to Slytherin, Potter, Longbottom. There are many things that you will need to learn about how to be a Slytherin, we do have a persona to carry out you see. Tonight we will simply lay down the ground rules. I am the Slytherin Ice Prince, as most of the school refers to me. But you see it is not a nickname, it is partly true. Slytherin house is run much like a Monarchy is. I am the Prince; I am the highest of royalty there is.
No one and I mean no one, questions my actions nor do they disobey an order I have set for them. Blaise is my right hand, he delivers my orders; Crabbe and Goyle carry them out. Pansy is our informant; she knows what goes on throughout the castle and outside these walls as well. "
Harry and Neville simply looked at looked at the people in front of them. Draco was sitting in the front, Pansy and Blaise sitting behind and to the left and right of him respectively. Crabbe and Goyle stood behind everyone their backs to them.
"What does this have to do with us?" Harry asked clearly confused by Draco's little monologue of the rules.
"I am going to make you an offer Potter. An offer I hope you will not refuse. The other students look up to us Potter; they respect us, they are willing to do anything to please us even those outside of our house. I know that we have gotten off on the wrong foot. I am willing to put the past behind us and start anew. I want to offer you a position on my council if you will. More than a position really, I want you to rule Slytherin house beside me. Become my equal. It involves a lot you see. A part of ruling Slytherin is to become a junior death eater at most, and to at least support the dark side.
I understand you're reasoning for denying who you really are, but I think it is time for you to embrace your heritage. I am offering you the world on a silver platter Harry. You can have everything you have ever dreamed of. And we won't forget dear Neville either, we will find a place for his as well. I will wait for your answer, take as long as you need, but if you deny me or go against us, you will pay dearly make no mistake about that. It is late, and we do begin classes tomorrow. The whole house meets in the potions classroom for our times tables at 7. You shall learn the basics of Slytherin then. Good night Harry, Neville."
Without another word, the group dispersed, leaving Harry and Neville alone. They were silent for a while, each going over what the Slytherin Prince had said. After a few moments time, Neville turned to Harry."Well what do you think Harry?"
"He is being sincere Neville, I know he is. But there is something I just don't understand. Ron, Draco, even the Sorting Hat, has made mention of something that is bothering me. They have said something about my parents, my father to be exact. They all said I turned out just like my father, or there is no use denying who I really am. I don't understand it Neville. For my entire life I have always been Harry Potter, how am I denying who I really am? Something is going on Neville and no one has told me anything about it. We have to find out what they are all talking about, and we have to figure it out before we can even consider what Malfoy has told us." Harry said staring into the fire, his mind racing with thoughts.
"Alright Harry, we can figure this out, perhaps Draco or even Pansy can help us. I'm sure they know something, especially if he mentioned something about it. We can ask him tomorrow. We'll find out the truth Harry I promise we will. Let's go to bed now. It is getting late and we have a lot to think over." Neville said with a yawn.
After searching a bit for the 6th year boy's dorm, the two teens got ready for bed and tucked themselves in. Within minutes Neville had fallen asleep, his light snores filling the room. Harry could not fall asleep so easily. Thoughts of what he was getting into filled his worried mind. He was no longer only looking out for himself, Harry now as looking out for Neville. And they were both in a pit of deadly snakes with no escape in sight.
The next morning, after Neville shook him a wake for ten minutes with no results and ended up dumping a glass of cold water on Harry's face to wake him much to the amusement of the other boys: Harry got ready for his first day as a Slytherin. Well as ready as he would ever be anyways. Harry checked himself in the mirror one last time, unused to the green of his robes and tie.
Once they were down in the common room, Neville commented that Harry looked wicked in green, which caused Harry to blush madly and Neville to laugh hysterically. Neville's laughter soon died out when Draco and his counsel appeared in the common room. The new snakes followed their classmates to the potions classroom.
They were greeted with an empty classroom when they arrived.. After taking their seats, which consisted of Draco and his little Royalty Council, then 7th years, 6th years and so on. Professor Snape entered the room, his robes billowing around in his usual dramatic fashion, though his usual scowl was not in place.
"Welcome to a new year Slytherins. This year to all of our great surprise we have a few new members. Perhaps we should show them a really Slytherin greeting." Snape said his sneer quickly in back on his face.
Harry and Neville eyed each other nervously as the others began to move about the small room. Maybe they weren't as safe as Draco claimed they would be.