"I don't understand, sir," Harry admitted as he sat staring at Dumbledore. "But why did Gryffindor's sword come to me?"
"Curious question," Dumbledore answered, a twinkle in his eyes. "And it deserves a curious answer, don't you think?"
"Sir?"
Dumbledore lifted the sword up to examine it, admiration on his wizened face.
"Gryffindor's sword can only be drawn from the Hat by a true Gryffindor," the wizard explained.
"But I'm not a Gryffindor," Harry objected. "I'm a Slytherin."
"Yes, yes, I'm quite aware," Dumbledore smiled at him warmly. "But I'm also aware the Hat had quite a bit of trouble sorting you, did it not?"
"It still sorted me into Slytherin."
"Yes, and that my dear boy is curious," Dumbledore continued to smile, the warmth only growing in his eyes. "You see, Harry, you could have been a Gryffindor. You could have been a Hufflepuff. You could have been a Ravenclaw."
"But I'm a Slytherin. Is that because of Voldemort?"
"No, no, Harry," Dumbledore shook his head. "It is because you are Harry Potter."
"I'm a Slytherin because I'm me?"
"And you will make the best of whatever place you are put in," Dumbledore stated. "The sword recognized not that you were a Gryffindor, but that you showed true bravery and self-sacrifice to protect Ginny and it came to you because these are qualities Godric Gryffindor valued."
"I see, sir."
He wasn't really sure he did.
"You sure are an interesting one," Nott commented as he and Harry sat together at the Slytherin table.
Adrian was on the other side of Harry and talking as if the boy was a hero while Draco made disgusted remarks that Harry had managed to free the family house elf. It seemed the entire Slytherin House was divided on this issue, wondering if Harry was a hero for saving the school from being shut down or a villain for protecting so many Mudbloods.
"Did you here what happened to Lockhart?" Terence suddenly said as he sat across from them. "He was caught trying to sneak off the Hogwarts grounds. I guess, he had offered to find Ginny Weasley, but ditched instead. I've been telling you he's a complete fraud."
"Let's hope they can prove it," Adrian shot.
"He won't be coming back next year," Theodore pointed out. "There's no way they'd let him."
This made Harry smile and he turned to Adrian.
"What are you going to be doing this summer?"
"Oh, I thought I'd come pester you," Adrian grinned. "If you're all right with that."
Harry smiled, "I'd like that."
"What about you, Higgs?" Adrian asked.
"I'll be trying to find a job," Terence admitted. "I got a couple of N.E.W.T.s. I hope they're enough."
Nott made a scathing sound.
"What about you, Harry?" Terence asked.
"I'm going to try to survive the Dursleys," Harry told him. "But I'll bet that'll be easier since I got help from a certain "Minstry member"."
Adrian choked on his pumpkin juice, causing Terence and Harry to laugh at him.
The door suddenly opened and Hagrid walked in complaining about the owl who was sent with his release papers. Harry jumped up to give him a hug, ignoring the groans from the Slytherin table. Soon the entire Hall had broken out into applause and cheers and Harry decided this year had ended all right.
Despite that, he promised himself he wouldn't let it get this bad next year. In his thoughts, he realized he also needed to stop lying to himself.