Hello, everyone! Here's the second chapter for the story. Enjoy!

* Review response:
Siven80, I'm not sure why writing out how spells and parceltongue will look is bad. After all, we have at least one parcelmouth in the story: Tom Riddle aka Voldem ort. And Draconica's name will not be changed. Period. Still Not Dead Yet, this should answer your review about the name too.
Dark Dragen, kelnom, HarryHermioneBellaSwan, holyfoxboy, Raven Marcus, Siriusly Grim, thanks, folks!
RE5 forever, Siven80, my beta insisted on the story being published as HP/DM, but I moved it to HP/OC by now.
ChaosLord SilverLink310, wait and see. =)
DamnMeee, I solemnly swear not to abandon this story.
ShadowCub, only clinging. =)
Aries The Ram, hopefully, I will be able to write something at least a little original. ^_^
Still Not Dead Yet, about Harry being "not the chosen one you are looking for" - I planned to have some fun there. Poor Dumbles...
Shinjuu-Hime, he will have something to help him with healing, but it is not empathy and it won't appear for some time.

* Disclaimer: I DO NOT own "Harry Potter" and its characters in any shape or form.

"human speech"
'human thoughts'
"spells / parseltongue"

Special thanks to NARUHAREM FOREVA for beta-reading this story.

chapter 2: Hogwarts

Entering the first free compartment he came across, Harry sat down and pulled a book from his trunk. It was an old tome of biology, published in the late sixties. He had bought it and several more books on biology and medicine after deciding that becoming a doctor – magical or otherwise – was not a bad idea. Plus, the shopkeeper was as big gossip as his aunt, and by now the rumors that would somewhat counteract his hooligan rumors spread by Dursley were running around the neighborhood...

As it was getting closer to eleven in the morning when Hogwarts express would depart towards the school, more and more people were appearing on the platform and more and more students were filling the train, but Harry didn't let them bother him. Fifteen minutes before eleven he was joined by a dark-skinned boy with short black hair, half-blood with strong muggle ties or just a muggleborn, judging by his clothes. But as the boy didn't bother him after asking if he could sit there, Harry was quite OK with him being there...

"Have either of you seen Harry Potter around there?" Asked a lanky red-haired boy, opening the compartment door. The green-eyed wizard looked up from his book. It seemed that he got so engrossed in his reading that he actually missed the moment when the train pulled off... It took Harry only one glance to judge the redhead. And he did not want to be friends with a person like that. He didn't like 'parasites' that wanted to use his supposed fame for their own gain – not that he wanted or needed it himself... He would gladly exchange that and all of his money at Gringotts for even a day with his parents any time.

"No. Haven't seen him." Harry replied, before returning his attention to the book. The redhead swore under his breath and left. The rest of the train ride, bar the appearance of a lady with a trolley full of candies and snacks, went uninterrupted...

The boat ride to the grand castle of Hogwarts – a part of the local traditions – might have been great were it not raining tonight, but alas... And being assaulted by a poltergeist with water-filled balloons immediately after entering the castle didn't help much. But at least deputy headmistress that took the children from this point was kind enough to cast drying and warming charms on anyone who wanted her help...

Once everyone was dry and warm, professor McGonnagal explained that the sorting will happen in a few minutes and said that she will call them into the Great hall when it was time. Then she left, allowing the first years to theorize on what the sorting would be... The redhead that was looking for Harry Potter on the train was telling everyone who was willing to listen that they will have to wrestle a troll. A girl with bushy dark-brown hair was worrying that she didn't read enough to be sorted... A boy with long black hair was thinking that there will be some kind of a lottery...

Harry didn't listen to those or any other – even more crazy – theories about what the sorting will be. Instead he spotted Draconica among the students and approached her.

"Good evening, my Lady." The green-eyed wizard said, getting her attention. Silently he was thankful that she was standing by herself and not chatting with other girls, or he might not have found enough courage to approach her. Draconica's gray eyes studied him for a couple of moments, before she recognized him as the boy she spoke to in the Madam Malkin's shop – fine robes instead of hand me down clothes did make Harry look quite differently.

"Hello. It's nice to see you again." She greeted him back with a small bow. "I'm afraid, I haven't gotten your name from our last meeting." She added after a small pause.

"No, I haven't told you it back then." Harry said. And seeing a question she was about to ask, he added: "And you will learn it a couple of minutes anyway, so I'm not telling it right now." Draconica huffed in fake annoyance, but gave him an almost invisible smile a moment later. At this moment professor McGonnagal returned to the chamber the children were waiting in and, after giving a brief overview of schools Houses' history led the first years to the Great Hall.

"You still haven't decided which house you want to be in the most?" Draconica asked Harry as they entered the Great Hall.

"No, I still don't really care." The green-eyed wizard replied. "And you still want to be a Slytherin?" The blond witch nodded. The whole Great Hall became silent as the hat that sat on the stool in front of teachers' table opened its "mouth" and started singing. After it finished the song, professor McGonnagal spoke:

"Once I call your name, you will sit on the stool and place the sorting hat on your head. And once it sorts you, you will go sit with your new housemates." Several students laughed at surprised and annoyed face of the redhead – it looked like he was lied to about the sorting... "Abbot, Hannah." A girl with dirty-blond hair, made into two pigtails shyly moved too the stool and, fifteen seconds after placing the hat on her head, was sent to Hufflepuff...

The sorting ceremony progressed with each of the four Hogwarts houses getting new members: Susan Bones, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Wayne Hopkins, Megan Jones and Ernie Macmillan joining Hannah at the yellow and black table; Terry Boot, Mandy Brocklehurst, Michael Corner, Stephen Cornfoot, Kevin Entwhistle, Anthony Goldstein and Su Li becoming new Ravenclaws; Lavender Brown, Seamus Finnigan, Hermione Granger – the bushy haired brainiac girl – and Neville Longbottom joining older students under red and gold Griffindor banner; Millicent Bulstrode, Vincent Crabbe, Tracy Davis, Gregory Goyle and Daphne Greengrass becoming newest members of the Slytherin house.

"Malfoy Draconica." McGonnagal called, and Harry's female friend calmly walked towards the stool with the sorting hat sitting on it. As soon as she placed the hat on her head, it sorted her to the Slytherin house, adding green and silver colors to her previously neutral school robes. Removing the hat, Draconica walked to her house's table in the same calm and aristocratic manner, though she did smile back when she noticed Harry smiling at her.

The sorting continued with Morag McDougal joining Ravenclaw house, Theodore Nott and Pansy Parkinson becoming new Slytherins, Padma Patil too joined blue and bronze house of Ravenclaw while her twin sister Parvati became a Griffindor...

"Potter, Harry." It tool all of Harry's self control not to laugh at the shocked expression on Draconica's face, when she learned that she got friendly with the most famous preteen in the magical world and didn't realize who he was...

'Hmm... It's nice to finally sort you, Mr. Potter.' The Sorting Hat said in Harry's mind as soon as he placed in on his head. 'And what do we have here? You are hard-working and wouldn't mind helping others when they are in need, but for the most part you are doing things just for yourself... No, Hufflepuff isn't for you, though you do have qualities Helga favored so much...' The hat continued. 'And you have a bright mind and you seek knowledge, but, again, you seek it not for itself... Rowena's house too isn't for you.'

'So... It's either Slytherin or Griffindor for me.' Harry thought, noticing only now that he wasn't scared of the fact that magical hat was rummaging through his mind.

'Indeed, Mr. Potter. You have qualities of both houses, and either can make you great in their own way. You are ambitious and will walk through any obstacles towards your ambition – qualities of a true Slytherin. But at the same time you are quite noble and will fight straight and fair – something Godric wanted to see in his students... Where should I sort you, Mr. Potter?' The hat asked.

'And isn't sorting students your job?' Harry almost snapped at the hat.

'Yes, it is. But when one can fit into several houses I tend to allow them to make their own choice.' The Sorting Hat responded. 'So, where do you want to go, Mr. Potter?'

'I don't really care.' The green-eyed wizard replied. 'But even if the final choice is yours, you should do it soon, people are starting to wonder why I'm sorted for this long.' Harry observed.

'Impatient are we?.. No, patience is an important quality for a Slytherin, and you seem to be lacking it, Mr. Potter. I have no choice, but to put you in' "Griffindor!" The Hat announced. Removing the hat, Harry walked towards the red and gold table, trying to ignore their cheering for getting 'the Boy Who Lived'... Sitting at the far end of the Griffindor table, Harry made an eye contact with Draconica to see what her reaction was to him being in the rivaling house. The said girl shrugged, meaning the changes in their 'friendship' were unlikely – and it was what the green-eyed wizard hoped for: Draconica was his first friend and didn't want to lose her...

The sorting continued, and Dean Thomas – the guy who sat in the same compartment as Harry during the train ride – became a Griffindor, while Lisa Turpin joined ranks of the Ravenclaw house. The redhead, whose name was now known to be Ronald Weasley, was sorted into the Griffindor house, and Blaize Zabini became a Slytherin. With that the sorting was finished and, after saying some nonsense, the headmaster opened the welcoming feast...

After the dessert of the feast was finished by the students and professors, the remaining food disappeared from the tables, and the headmaster got everyone's attention by tapping on his golden goblet.

"Ahem - just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered..." Dumbledore said. "I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. First years should note that the forbidden forest on the grounds is just that, forbidden, to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." headmaster's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the red-haired twins.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. And for those interested, there is a list of forbidden items, published on his office door. Quidditch trials will be held starting the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch. And finally, I must tell you that this year; the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death." Several students chuckled at the last bit of information, but Harry could see that the headmaster was quite serious. Still...

"I think it's quite stupid to tell children no to go somewhere and not give a reason why. I's almost like he wants us to try sneaking into there." Harry mumbled under his breath, and a seventh year that sat close enough to hear him nodded in agreement... While the green-eyed wizards was thinking about what exactly was going on with the third-floor corridor, the headmaster added several more words to his speech, before sending the students to the dormitories...

"Follow me." Yet another redhead, but this time with a 'P' – prefect – badge on his robes, said to younger students, and the first years, Harry included, followed him to the Griffindor dormitories...

~/ *** \~

Dumbledore once again sat in his office, thinking about the situation with the chosen one of the British wizarding world. Neville wasn't chosen by that wand too, so the ancient mage still wasn't sure which boy was the one. And the sorting too didn't reveal which one was the one: both were sorted into the Griffindor house...

Still, Harry sat away from his peers, while Neville, despite being a very shy boy, was actively chatting with his housemates during the feast. Maybe he really did a mistake all those years ago, and Harry Potter wasn't the chosen one... But then again, why would Voldemort go after Potters, were their son not the chosen one.

'For now we still have time before Tom returns...' Dumbledore let out a sigh. 'The chosen one should reveal himself. The chosen one will go save the fake I'm using to lure Tom.' The old headmaster thought, before adding: 'Of course, neither shall know that the stone there is the fake one.' Happy with his plan to both find the real chosen one and deal a blow to the shade of Lord Voldemort at the same time, Dumbledore decided to retire for the day.

~/ *** \~

In the Griffindor dormitories Harry found himself facing a problem. A redhead problem to be exact. As soon as the first years were shown where their dormitories was, one Ronald Weasley decided to confront him:

"Why did you lie and said that you haven't seen Harry Potter on the train,when you are him?" The red-haired boy said loudly in an angry voice.

"I haven't looked into a mirror on the train, so I haven't seen myself there." The green-eyed wizard replied with a shrug, almost causing Ron to start yelling at him in anger. He just didn't want to tell the redhead upfront that he just didn't want to be friends with someone who wanted to use his fame for his own gain... Draconica might have being told by her family – he had looked up Malfoy family the previous night – but at least she was friendly enough with him even when she didn't know who he was... Still, if the Weasley boy was as thickheaded as he tried to look, Harry would have to tell him in no uncertain terms that he didn't want to be friends with him before long.

"But mate..." Harry gave the other boy a glare, making him shut up.

"I'm not your mate." The green-eyed wizard hissed out.

"But..." Another glare and Weasley shut up. Almost. "And you were all friendly with a Malfoy. And, mate, you should stop talking to her, before you turn completely dark." Ronald said loudly. Harry gave the boy one more glare.

"She is my friend." He stated, before closing the canopy of his bed. Not before hearing the redhead spouting nonsense about Draconica being an evil witch and him being a dark wizard just for talking civilly to her... Thankfully, Harry's bed was closest to the door out of the dormitory, and next to him was Neville's, who was a good guy. Otherwise, were Ron sleeping in the bed next to his, Harry would have been worried that the redhead will try to 'save' him from the 'darkness'... 'I need to learn privacy wards as soon as possible.' As incompetent as Hagrid was in higher level magics – no offense to the man – he managed to install into Harry's mind that wards were stationary protective enhancements. 'Yeah, definitely need to learn them before long.' He thought as he nodded to himself.

~/ *** \~

On the other end of the castle, in the dungeons where Slytherin dormitories resided, Draconica was sitting on her bed in her room – yes, Slytherin students were given personal rooms – thinking about what she leaned today:

The boy whom she had met in Madam Malkin's shop was really Harry Potter, the (supposed) hero of the wizarding world... And he wasn't what her father or anyone else had expected him to be: he wasn't arrogant in his fame – almost like he didn't know about it until that day; nor he was knowledgeable about the magical world, but he had a sharp mind and did a good job of not showing that he knew next to nothing about the world he (now) was a part of.

The scion of Noble house Potter was intelligent and, even thought he was technically a half-blood, he was nice to be around, Draconica had to admit. Better than Crabbe and Goyle her father wanted as her 'bodyguards' – those two were about as intelligent as a couple of gorillas. And better than her contracted, who was not only quite stupid, but he also was eleven years older than she was... Draconica sighed. She didn't want to marry that man, but she had seen the contract herself, and knew that unless something happened, she would be married as soon as she turned sixteen... Oh, well, her mother had taught her that life not always was fare, nor one could get all the he or she wanted, so Draconica had humbled by now...

Returning to the thoughts about Harry Potter, Draconica had to admit that she wouldn't mind keeping their friendship up – Greengrass and Davis were good, but they were about everyone worth her 'friendship' in the Slytherin house. But with Potter being sorted into the rivaling house, keeping up an open friendship was outright impossible – not that a real Slytherin should have any friendships, only associations that were benefiting, but one was easy to present as the other... But thanks to the headmaster stupidly believing that if he put Griffindor and Slytherin together in classes the rivalry would end, it was possible to mask their friendship as just working together in classes for common benefit...

Finally, while her mother, Narcissa Malfoy (nee Black) too was contracted to her father – and the marriage was quite loveless – she had given her daughter a dream of her prince charming, and right now Draconica idly wondered if Harry was that prince for her... But she quickly dismissed the idea as a ridiculous one: they were in rivaling houses, belonged to political factions that were all but at open war, and she was already contracted... There was no way that anything could grow between them...

That's all, folks!
The third chapter will be in one week.
Leave me a review.