Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter nor am I attempting to make any personal gain from this story.

Harry Slithers-in; Chamber of Secrets: Chapter 4: The Sorting Ceremony

When they exited their carriage Ron and Hermione hurried away before any other Slytherins could join them. Harry, Tracey and Daphne stayed behind until Draco and Pansy caught up along with their respective entourages then they all entered the Great Hall together and sat at the Slytherin Table.

Once everyone had settled in they sat talking quietly until Professor McGonagall entered leading a line of 35 first years. Ginny Weasley stood out plainly among the first years – she was the only red head in the group. Harry noticed they all seemed as nervous as he had felt the previous year.

After the sorting hat's song (Harry realised it was different to the one it had sung last year) Professor McGonagall began reading the names. One of the first to be called out was a tiny, mousey haired boy named Creevey, Colin. When the boy stepped up to the hat Draco said, "That's the boy with the camera from the train."

The hat yelled "Gryffindor," much to Harry's relief and Colin went to join the lion's table. After that Harry paid only a passing interest in the remainder of the names. Whenever someone was sorted into Slytherin he clapped along with his housemates but it was only a courtesy. Finally Professor McGonagall read out the last name, Ginevra Weasley, who was sorted into Gryffindor and then took the hat away. Professor Dumbledore then announced that Professor Lockhart would be new DADA teacher before the welcoming feast arrived.

Over the feast Harry caught up with those students he hadn't spoken to over the holidays. Marcus Flint, the Quidditch captain, told Harry that, since he had missed the team meeting held in July, he would need to trial for his place on the team. Harry was happy to do this and suggested the whole team trial for their positions. Flint told him that would not be necessary.

Pansy asked Harry about his stay with the Malfoys. Draco had told her Harry had conducted himself very well but Pansy wanted to know how Harry felt. Harry said it had been an enjoyable experience and thanked her for the etiquette lessons. Pansy seemed very pleased with this.

A couple of the 1st years introduced themselves and Harry greeted them in a friendly manner, as did his fellow second years. There were only nine new Slytherins, four boys and five girls, and all but one of the boys seemed nervous. The only one who looked comfortable was a boy named Desmond Harper who said he would like try out for the seeker position on the Quidditch team. Several older students laughed at him for this, saying they already had the best seeker at Hogwarts as well as the best reserve seeker. Apparently Draco had his eyes on Harry's position on the team as well.

After everyone had finished eating and Dumbledore had made his final announcements (nothing out of the ordinary this time) the Slytherin prefects called for the first years to join them. All the older students set off individually or as a group with one of the prefects while the other prefects stayed to bring the first years' in as a group. The older students were given the password (Pureblood) and released to their dormatories. Harry stayed behind in the Common Room along with some other older students to listen to the instructions given to the first years. These were the same as last year so eventually Harry headed off to bed.

The dormitory layout was the same as last year. Harry still had the bed next to the en-suite and Blaise still had the bed next to his. The only difference was they were no longer in the dormitory closest to the Common Room; they were now in the next one along the hallway.

Next morning the second years' entered the Common Room as a group at 7-05 am. Just as had happened last year the prefects had gathered the first years and were addressing them. The speech, this year given by 7th year prefect Anthony Burke, was almost word for word the same one Harry had heard last year. Harry wondered if this speech was written down somewhere and prefects were required to learn it off by heart.

Soon after the prefects finished Professor Snape entered the Common Room carrying their timetables. First, he called the second years to him and went around handing them their timetables without comment. That done he moved to the third years. Harry noticed he gave each third year a specific timetable rather than one from the top of the stack as he had done for the second years.

Scanning his timetable Harry realised they shared the same classes with the other houses as they had during first year. He assumed this would continue throughout his schooling. While he was checking his timetable he heard Theo say, "First up today we've got Transfigurations then we have a free period before lunch. That means we'll only need one textbook this morning and we'll be able to read ahead for our other subjects."

"Only you would use a free period to read ahead, Nott," Draco said. "I will be using it to relax. Anyone want to join me?"

"Actually, reading ahead sounds like a good idea," Harry said. "Mind if I join you, Nott?"

Ultimately there was a near even split between students wanting to read ahead and those wanting to relax. Joining Theo and Harry were Blaise, Daphne, Tracey and Millicent, although she took a while before deciding.

Since the Slytherins had History of Magic and Charms that afternoon they spent most of their time learning about these subjects. Inevitably, however, the topic of Defence Against the Dark Arts came up. "Do you think Lockhart really did all the things he claims he's done?" Millicent asked.

"Probably not," Tracey replied. "He must only be around 40 and I'd say some of these events happened some time ago. I just don't see how one person could have achieved so much in such a short time. My bet is that 'ghost wrote' most if these books."

"I believe him," Daphne said.

"Well, we'll find out for ourselves Wednesday, won't we?" Harry said.

In fact, before they had even had a DADA class, they were given every reason to suspect Lockhart was a fraud. The Gryffindor and Hufflepuff 2nd years' had DADA Monday right before lunch, Lockhart's first class apparently, and when they came in for lunch they were clearly very angry. Apparently Lockhart gave the class a ridiculous test that had nothing to do with his subject and then he'd released a cage full of pixies without giving the students any instructions on how deal with them. In the ensuing chaos a couple of students had been injured while Lockhart had run off and abandoned his them. There was speculation amongst the Slytherins they may not even have a lesson from Lockhart since there were already people saying he should be sacked for incompetence.

The Slytherins had DADA with the Ravenclaws straight after lunch on Wednesday. Lockhart had not been sacked although there was a rumour he had been given a reprimand by Dumbledore about not teaching his students proper technique before exposing them to danger. As it turned out DADA class started off the same way as it had for the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students but, instead of releasing a cage full of pixies, Lockhart had simply told them about his own first encounter with them. In fact the students didn't even need their wands for the class. After it many students complained that DADA looked as if it would be as boring as History of Magic was.

Fortunately their other classes were somewhat more enjoyable. In Herbology they found out they would be handling Mandrakes. Several students from pure-blood families said Mandrakes were classified as a dangerous plant and people needed special permits to handle them. Harry found this very interesting and he became curious about what other plants could be classified as dangerous.

Charms and Transfiguration were as complex as usual while Astronomy was really no different from the previous year. Their first potions lesson was Thursday morning and as usual Snape spent a lot of time belittling the Gryffindor students while complimenting the Slytherins, especially Malfoy. Harry was happy to get out of class and out into the grounds after class, stopping only long enough to get something to eat. Unfortunately for Harry Lockhart was also outside during the lunch break.

"Well, well, Harry Potter. A pleasure to meet you outside of class, and Miss Davis, too," Lockhart said when he spotted Harry and Tracey sitting in the grass near the entrance.

"Hello, Professor," Harry replied warily. Tracey looked on, her expression neutral.

"I hear you are a member of the Slytherin Quidditch team; Seeker isn't it?"

"Yes," Harry replied.

"I was a Slytherin myself, and I played Seeker too. If you ever want any one-on-one coaching please feel free to come by anytime. I'm always willing to help special people improve their skills."

"I think I'd prefer to stick to team trainings, thanks. I find that it's better if all the team trains together, rather than individuals going off doing their own thing."

"Perhaps then I could come to a training session? That way everyone on the team will get the benefit of my expertise. I'll have a word with Severus and arrange something through him," Lockhart said before walking back into the Castle.

"Can you believe him?" Tracey asked. "How arrogant is he? Maybe he should see Snape? I'm sure Snape will put him in his place."

"I'll speak to Flint tonight at trials," Harry said. "Flint will undoubtedly tell Snape and then we can have a good laugh at Lockhart."

That evening Harry found himself having to trial for the seeker position in a one-on-one with Draco Malfoy. Harry was still riding the broom he had been loaned the previous year and felt he had a good chance of regaining his position until he saw Malfoy riding a Nimbus 2001, the latest model racing broom. Flint released the snitch and Harry and Draco set off after it. Malfoy's broom was much quicker than Harry's but even so he was surprised when Malfoy pulled up with snitch in his hand less than a minute into the trial. Immediately Flint said, "Well done Malfoy, we start training Saturday. Better luck next time, Potter." With that Harry found himself being dropped from the team.

Harry returned to the castle where he soon found out the truth. Draco's father had offered to supply the Slytherin team with a full set of Nimbus 2001's if Draco was given a place on the team. To ensure this happened a slower than usual snitch was released when Malfoy was closer to it than Harry.

"I can't believe it," Harry complained in the Common Room. "Malfoy just bought his way onto the team. That trial was rigged right from the start so he would catch the snitch. I never stood a chance."

"You'll just have to try and win your place back then, won't you?" Tracey said.

"And another thing," Harry continued. "It suddenly looks very suspicious that the Malfoy's servant was stopping my mail, which cost me my place on the team, and now Malfoy is my replacement."

"That is suspicious," Tracey admitted. "Harry, I think you should see Snape about this."

Harry almost laughed. "Snape doesn't like me, anyway. He'll never do anything to help me."

After finishing his homework Harry went up to bed. He was still angry with Draco but decided to let it be for now. Their first match would be against Hufflepuff so Slytherin should have an easy first-up win but after that things would get tougher and he knew that Slytherin would need the best possible team for their later matches. Perhaps he would be able to play his way back into the team in the New Year.