Hello everyone! I'm terribly sorry for not updating sooner. Honestly, school just started up again (like a month ago) I've been a bit stressed out by it, and in all honesty, my muse has been quiet on this story. It took me about two weeks to think this chapter through, and even then the end is still kinda the result of me translating directly from brain to computer as it comes to me. I got awesome feedback about Harry's theme song, though I'll talk about that more in the end author's note.
There's people who are happy with the direction I'm taking this story, and there's been a few people who have responded negatively to it. To each their own, I guess. I just wanna give all of you who have read and supported this story a digital high five! Right there! Oh, and a guest reviewer offered me a cookie if I update... Well I'm kinda hungry.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Harry Potter. And I really wish I didn't have to type this out every chapter.
Harry had been reading for a while now, and had relaxed against the window of the room, enjoying the silence of the journey to Hogwarts as a noise from outside disturbed him. A young boy with blonde hair stuck his head in the door, seemingly searching for something.
Harry raised a brow as the boy eyed him up and down.
"I've been hearing that Harry Potter is on the train," the boy stated with a slight drawl.
"Perhaps he is," Harry shrugged his shoulders, placing his book in his bag. "Why are you looking for him?"
The boy was silent for a moment.
"I only wish to formally greet him and offer him my hand in friendship."
"Well, it would be good manners to introduce yourself first, correct?" Harry asked nonchalantly, leaning against the window once more and staring at the blonde.
The boy smirked slightly.
"Of course. My name is Draco Malfoy," he said, stepping into the compartment and sitting down across from Harry.
"Harry Potter," Harry responded.
"I figured as much, judging by your appearance," Draco said, offering Harry his hand. "I hope we can get along fine, and perhaps become closer friends one day."
Harry took his hand, analyzing this young boy in front of him. He seemed to be at least high middle class, judging from his clothes and from how he acted and spoke to Harry. His statement that they could perhaps become closer friends one day lead Harry to believe that this boy was pretty smart. It seemed he wanted to ally himself with the famous Harry Potter to improve his own standing publically. Normally Harry would think people like this were utter morons who would be better served starving in the Arctic. This boy, however, did not come off as a moron. Which meant that either Draco was far too arrogant for his own good, or he was among the elite in this world.
Looking at him more closely led Harry to believe that perhaps Draco was a bit of both.
"Forgive me, I am new here. I am not, however, stupid. I understand what you're trying to do, but seeing as I've never heard your name before, I'm unsure as to how you could help me in the manner that I would be helping you by befriending you," Harry said after his analysis.
Draco actually smiled as he said that.
"I am glad you show intellect, Mr. Potter. You wouldn't believe how many people I have to deal with in everyday life that can barely tell a swish from a flick," He sighed dramatically, settling into his seat. "It seems I was right to try to befriend you, as no doubt everyone will try to do when we get to school. As for what I can do for you, well let me just tell you that I come from the most influential family in Wizarding society. My father carries a lot of power and wealth, and by relation, I do too," Draco finished with pride in his voice.
Harry allowed himself a smile. The power of the most influential family in Wizarding Britain combined with the fame of the Boy-Who-Lived. He could accomplish many goals by befriending this family. But he had some reserves. Draco's behavior, coupled with the fact that he was a societal elite, made Harry think that perhaps an alliance would be unfavorable for him. The Malfoy family, at least Draco, was arrogant in his power, though he was good at hiding it. Harry wondered how many toes the family had trampled getting to top. They may be the most powerful, but it did not by any means mean that they were the most popular, and popularity was even more important than wealth.
'Perhaps this is why he wants to ally with me, to inprove public opinion about his family. I must be on the lookout for those who would wish to use me in this manner.'
"I see," Harry replied after his silent contemplation, Draco waiting patiently for an answer. "You've given me much to think about, Mr. Malfoy. I shall contact you soon with either an acceptance or rejection of your offer of formal friendship."
Harry thought he saw the faintest glimmer of anger within Draco's eyes, before it was replaced with a polite, if slightly cold countenance. Apparently he was used to people accepting these offers on the spot.
'Sorry, Mr. Malfoy, but I'm smarter than those you're used to dealing with.'
"Well, thank you for your time. But I must go, I have other business to attend to," and with that, Draco swept from the compartment, shutting the door again behind him.
No sooner had Harry gotten his book again when someone else opened the door to his compartment. It was a girl with bushy brown hair this time, accompanied by a meek boy with dark hair, nervously looking at the floor.
"Have you seen a toad? Neville here's lost one," She questioned him, before a look of surprise crossed her face. "You're the boy from the alley!" She said excitedely, making her way into the compartment and sitting beside him, in the same spot Draco had sat. Neville stood nervously around for a moment before taking the seat next to the girl - Hermione - Harry mentally corrected.
"I suppose I am," Harry answered, once again closing his book and placing it next to him. It would be no use to lie to her here, indeed it would most likely cause him to lose standing with her.
"Why did you go away? Where did you go? Where did you learn to fight? Why did you help us?" all of these questions were asked very quickly, Harry was impressed that he could even keep up with what she said.
"Well, I really needed to get home at the time and didn't really have the time to chat," Harry smiled politely.
"But you killed that man!" Neville started as that was said, now looking at Harry with wide eyes.
"I did," Harry responded evenly. "He was assaulting you, probably would have killed you had I not interfered."
"But you should have gone to a doctor!"
"Yes, well, I kind of got over it by myself."
Hermione looked at him, disbelieving.
"But that shouldn't be possible. Nobody our age would be able to get over it that quickly, or even at all by themselves," Hermione sounded both confused and a bit frustrated. Apparently she didn't like not knowing the answer to something.
"Look, I killed that man, but I did it to protect an innocent family. It's over and done with, so can we please not speak of it again?" Harry asked quietly, his eyes boring into Hermione's.
Slowly she nodded, although Harry got the feeling she would bring it up again.
"What house do you think you'll be in?" Hermione asked suddenly.
Harry of course knew about the four school houses from his school books: Gryffindor, house of the brave, Ravenclaw, home of the intelligent, Hufflepuff, where the loyal dwell, and Slytherin, den of the ambitious and cunning. Personally Harry thought he was more of a Slytherin than anything else, but he also knew that there was a deep rivalry between the houses of Gryffindor and Slytherin, these rivalries carrying out of school and into everyday life.
"What house do you think you'll be in?" Harry countered. Perhaps if he knew which houses people were going to be in, he could decide the most advantageous house and be in it.
"Well I'm really intelligent, some might even call me a bookworm," Hermione said, her eyes momentarily glistening. Bullies, Harry supposed. He really hated it when the strong picked on the weak, it wasn't a fair fight in the least. And if there was one thing Harry really hated, it was choosing to fight in a disrespectful manner.
"So I'll probably be in Ravenclaw, but I really would love to be in Gryffindor,"
"Why?" Harry asked, perplexed. Why would you not want to be in the house that matched your personality the best?
"Because," Hermione explained. "I don't want to be just the bookworm. I aspire to be brave, and strong enough to be looked up to, to be respected."
"A worthy goal," Harry noted, nodding towards her.
So Draco was from the Malfoy family, an elite among the society, one of Harry's books had said that those kinds of families were usually Slytherin. But Hermione wanted to be a Gryffindor. Harry liked this girl, she appeared smart, though obviously new to the Wizarding World. Given time, she could become a powerful asset. Or a formidable enemy. Harry really didn't want to pick sides in this conflict, as choosing one or the other would cost him potentially powerful friends. He had much to think about.
"Anyways, I haven't seen a toad anywhere. Sorry," Harry said, smiling politely at them.
Hermione took this as her cue to leave, pulling Neville out of his seat, where he sat in silent contemplation while looking at Harry, having not said a word, and leading him out of the compartment.
"WIll I see you later?" Hermione asked, turning back to Harry.
"I would like that," Harry responded, sighing as Hermione left him alone once more. Was it too much to ask that obtaining absolute power in society be made a little easier? All of this political stuff was really giving Harry a headache.
He settled in against the window again, this time closing his eyes and resting. It wasn't long at all before someone else entered his compartment. A tall boy with red hair and freckles.
"Mind if I sit here?" he asked. "Everywhere else is full."
"I certainly can't stop you now, can I?" was Harry's response.
The boy nodded and took a seat across from Harry, the same one that both Hermione and Draco had used earlier.
"I'm Ron by the way, Ron Weasely," he introduced himself, offering Harry his hand.
"Harry Potter," Harry said, politely taking his hand.
Ron's clothes were a bit dirty,as if they had been in use for countless years, and the state of his luggage led Harry to believe that he was from one of the poor Wizarding families, or perhaps even a poor Muggle child.
The following conversation was interesting, to say the least. Harry didn't believe he had much in common with Ron, but the boy's openness and apparant honesty made Harry enjoy his company. Harry didn't much care for Quidditch, or really anything else Ron talked about, save the goings-on in the Wizarding World, but Harry could see some slight potential within him. Sure, he didn't seem immensly intelligent like Hermione or even politically savvy like Draco, but still, honesty was an admirable trait to have. And those from poor backgrounds tend to be more humble than their more financially stable counterparts. Usually. It surely wouldn't hurt to befriend someone whose loyalty would never be called into question.
It wasn't long before night fell, and Harry and Ron changed into their school robes as they neared the castle. They disembarked and approached the castle in boats, giving a wonderful view of the giant construction, with its many turrets, towers, and stained-glass windows. After the boat ride, they came to a heavy wooden door situated slightly under the castle. Here a stern-faced woman, Professor McGonagall, told them of the rules they were expected to follow, the concept of houses, and other things Harry deemed uninportant. With a last few words, McGonagall lead them into the Great Hall of Hogwarts.
It was a giant room, with the Dursley's house being able to easily fit inside it multiple time, with four giant table spaced equally from one another, and a long table near the front of the room for teachers. Most other students, all beyond their first year, were already seated and watching Harry and his fellow First-Years entering the Great Hall. Near the front of the room sat a worn, pointed hat on a stool.
Harry was immensely surprised when it began to sing, but he didn't are much for the lyrics. It wasn't until the Headmaster rose and began to speak that Harry began to pay attention. Not to what Headmaster Dumbledore said, but to the power the man possessed. An aura of power radiated off of him in waves, and Harry was sure he wasn't even trying to amplify it in any way.
Harry's mouth started watering at the thought of being able to defeat an opponent as strong as he, and he was lost in violent daydreams of taking down the old man before he was suddenly snapped out of it.
"Potter, Harry."
Had he really been out of it that long? Shaking his head, Harry approached the front of the room and sat on the stool. McGonagall placed the hat on his head, and his world went dark as it sat below his eyes.
'It's been awhile since last I sorted a Potter' a voice said within his head. Harry almost jumped before he realized it was the Sorting Hat.
'But you aren't a Potter, are you?'
Harry gulped, this thing could read his mind.
'Don't worry, I shan't tell anyone of your true identity, indeed ancient magic forbids me from speaking of the students that wear me.'
Harry sighed, that was good.
'Do you know who my real parents are?' Harry questioned. Perhaps if the hat could read his mind, it could also know about his parents. In the Magical World, anything was possible.
'Unfortunately I do not. What I do know however is that are not from England, though that is all I know.'
Harry nodded mentally.
'Let's start this, then.'
And so the Sorting Hat began to look through his mind, analyzing his personality, goals, wishes, memories. It snorted after a moment of silence.
'It will take you a long while before you will be able to defeat Albus Dumbledore. If at all.'
'I will climb to his level and defeat him soon enough. Do not worry yourself over it.'
'I see. Well, it seems that you would do well in Slytherin. This Sorting is over.'
'Wait!' Harry mentally yelled at the hat. 'If you put me in Slytherin, that will alienate me from possible friends from the house of Gryffindor.'
The hat chuckled.
'Well then, where do you think I should put you?'
'Is there a house that is considered neutral; it wouldn't be considered a bad house to be in by either Gryffindors or Slytherins?'
'Ah, I know just the place. Better be-'
"Ravenclaw!"
And that's that. Once again I apologize for being so late. How do you guys like how I dealt with Harry's "friends" and his sorting? Tell me in a review! Also, I still have no idea why I asked you guys about Harry's theme song, I'm just a tad bit insane. But I got some great feedback from you all, indeed they were all great songs! Thanks for that. I have a small request for any artistically talented readers out there. I suppose it's a bit of a contest, if you will. See, I've been having trouble on what Harry's Mangekyo will look like, so whoever can draw an amazingly-super-ultra-mega-sexy Mangekyo Sharingan, send it my way, and I may use it in my story. Hopefully a lot of people do this, but if not, I guess it isn't a big deal. Until next time!