"Talking"

Chapter 3 – Sorting and First day

The old man watched as the firsties came in, following Minerva McGonagall from behind. Regulus Black, the new Potion teacher was watching the new batch of firsties, his eyes stopped on Harry, the boy feeling his stare and smirked. Regulus shifted uncomfortably on his chair, the boy knew something, he was sure of that. Quirrell was drinking his wine, he enjoyed the smell and the after taste of the red wine. What was horrible with his hairstyle with the top of his head completely hairless, he looked like a monk and his wardrobe didn't do to improvise his image. McGonagall stopped next to a chair and what looked like an old worn out hat.

"I'll call your name and you will sit on the chair. So we can sort you..."

She looked at the large parchment, unrolled it and cleared her throat.

"Abbot, Hannah!"

A blond girl walked to her and sat at the chair before the hat was put on her head.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the Yellow and Black strip house welcomed her.

And this were going on for 20 minutes, Susan Bones went to Hufflepuff, Hermione went to Ravenclaw, Daphne and Tracy went to Slytherin. The redhead named Ronald went to Gryffindor. Neville went to Gryffindor, the redhead stared at him like he waited for him to join the Gryffindor table.

"Harry James Vladimir Potter Romanov" said McGonagall lifting an eyebrow, which was a rather long name for a young wizard. She reread the parchment just to be sure.

Harry walked up to the front, he heard a lot of whisper and some who scowled upon hearing his last name. The boy sat at the chair, waiting for McGonagall to put the hat on his head. The teacher adjusted themselves on the chairs and the Headmaster adjusted his half-moon glasses.

'Ah!? Hmmm... I see... This is interesting... A Russian Prince in the land of Hogwarts. Never thought I would see something like this happen' he heard the hat voice inside his head.

'I guess there is a beginning to everything' though Harry.

'The Headmaster persuaded me to place you in Gryffindor, but I see if I done this. It would be a disservice to the House. Because, you really don't give a shit about traditions.'

Harry chuckled, the hat was right. He wasn't interested in following an old tradition that belonged in the past century.

'I doubt that Hufflepuff would do you good. A good camouflage maybe, but Helga would curse me if I sent you there. Ravenclaw... Yes, you would do well with them, despise your reluctance to use their house colors. Maybe I could persuade you to go there? No? Okay... Then that leave us...'

"SLYTHERIN!" His school robes were now green and sliver. Yes the colors suited him along with his green eyes. He smiled after McGonagall had pulled the hat and he went to sat next to Tracy and Daphne. The Gryffindors looked like they had swallowed something awful, the Headmaster had lost for a moment his twinkling, Regulus rolled his eyes and Quirrell was too busy eating an Ice cream. The Hufflepuff were staring at the Russian boy. The Ravenclaw were waiting for the Sorting to continue, Yet McGonagall hadn't moved since Harry had went to the Slytherin Table.

"Professor McGonagall?" called a student in the Gryffindor table, that was enough for her to regain her composure and continued with the sorting.

"That's a long name" said Tracy smirking.

"A Potter in Slytherin, Never thought I would see that in my life time" said a blond boy who had greasy hairs.

"There always a first to everything"

"But a Romanov?" said Daphne "You are a Russian prince... Are you going to be a Tsar for the eastern Magical world?"

"No, I don't believe I will be made a Tsar and I highly doubt that the soviet republics will let someone like me to hold power over them. It's merely a title like the Queen of England in the muggle side"

"Theodore Nott" said a boy who sat next to him after his sorting, he presented his hand

"Harry Potter" he said as he shook the new boy hand. An Italian boy sat across Harry, his name was Blaise Zabini, and the boy had a good poker face.

"Blaise Zabini" he presented himself.

"Harry Potter"

"Theodore Nott"

"Daphne Greengrass"

"Tracy Davis"

"Draco Malfoy" said the blonde boy.

"A pleasure" said the five of them to the blond boy.

The sorting had ended and all the first year students went to their assigned house. Dumbledore cleared his throat before he got up.

"To the new student and the returning one. I bid Welcome. I have a few warnings before we start the feast. The third floor is out of bound to any student, unless they wish to see a painful and horrible death. I will also remind you that the forbidden Forest is forbidden. Mr. Filch also wanted me to fill you on banned items from Hogwarts, if you want to look at the complete list, you can come to his office and consult the list. And I have a few words for you. Here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" And with that he sat back before he waved his hand as he lifted the notice me not charm on the food.

"That fossil is mental" said Draco before picking some food as he stole some potatoes from another first years. Draco was already showing his intent to be some kind of leader. Now Harry just to know how the Slytherin Hierarchy worked and get a position where he would left alone for the coming years. Zabini was staring at the Blond boy who bullied half-blood wizards and witches. After a review of his option and feeling a probe on his mind, he went to serve himself with some brown ash potatoes, chickens, a bowl of soup and he finished with a 3 chocolate cake. The feast was over, the food disappeared. Someone yelled after losing his plate of chicken wings. It was Weasley from the Gryffindor table. An older student came to them, he had a P badge on his robe.

"Hello, Firsties, my name is Adam Anders, I'm the prefect that was assigned to escort you to our common room. Follow me and don't get lost. There are fate worse than death in the corridors of this castle" The firsties walked along the Gryffindors, they went upstairs while the Slytherin went downstairs to the Dungeons.

They stopped into what looked a empty wall, they heard a eerie voice coming from above.

"I devour all things, flowers, trees, beast, birds, bites steel, gnaws iron, grinds hard stone to meal, beats mountain down, ruins towns and slays kings. What am i?"

"Time" said the prefect.

Harry lifted an eyebrow, he was surprised that the Slytherin would use a muggle riddle for their password. But, it was cunning in the end, no one would suspect the Slytherin to use a muggle riddle as a password to get in. He really loved Tolkien books, his favorites were the hobbits and the lord of the rings. Well, there was also the Silmarillion, but it felt incomplete for him since the book was published by the author's son after his death.

The prefect went inside, followed by the firsties. Inside stood Regulus Black next to the fireplace waiting for them.

"As the head of house of this noble House. I'll ask you to follow these five tenets of House Slytherin.
Firstly, outside of this common room, the Slytherin are united. It is a measure of protection since everyone label Slytherins as a dark house. Showing a united front will deter any attempt to intimidate us. Be wary about House Gryffindor.

Secondly, Make sure to follow the rules of this establishment. We are not some lowly Gryffindors that break rules every single week to show how stupid we are. At least make sure that you are not caught in the act, because I assure you, the punishment you will have from the headmaster or other head of house will be small next to what I have in reserve for you" the firsties gulped.

"Thirdly, if you have problems with other member of your house, refers to Rule number one and make sure that any friction you have is dealt inside this common room. We also have a duel training room to help you... Loosen your arguments...

Fourthly, always walk outside of the common room in group of two minimum. In the last few years, the other house had been rather hostile towards us. I would like to avoid any injuries to the new students until at least you are in your second year. There you can do whatever you want as long as you follow the rules.

And Lastly. Be sneaky, never show your true talent or true self to the other houses. Use your Cunning in acting like you are someone that you are not. Only that way, you will show yourself as a true member of this house." Finished Regulus before he went to his office, giving the responsibility of the sorting of dorms to the prefect who groaned.

"Alright, you heard him. Now it's time for you to be sorted to your dorms"

Crabbe, Goyle, Thompson and Malfoy had the first dorm. Parkinson, Bulstrode, Wilkins and Evergreen had the second. Zabini, Jackson, Patterson, Anderson had the third one. Then the prefect hesitated...

"Potter, Nott... Greengrass, Davis. You have the last one" he said, Anders was surprised that there was a dorm with 2 boys and 2 girls in. He went to Black office and get the confirmation of what was on his parchment. While the fourth group went to see their new dorms. The dorm was bigger than the others, a large living room, with four doors close to the entrance. Harry went to the first door on the left and opened it. It was a bedroom for one student. His trunk was there. The bedroom had everything he needed, a bed, a desk for his studies, a tablet, a large window offering a view of the black lake water. Corals, fishes, a large forest of green algae and the moon light piercing through the water.

His door was still open...

"Wow... This is bigger than other rooms" said Nott who was on his doorstep. The girls were also watching inside.

"So this is a Noble and ancient house dorm? I wish i was part of the twelves" said a voice behind them. It was the Prefect. The firsties didn't say nothing, Harry went out of his bedroom and walked to what looked like a living room. There was a desk there, a fireplace, two large windows offering a better view of Black Lake waters. Candles here and there, book shelves and long table.

They didn't talk much that first night, so they went to sleep early, they still didn't know the dynamic of the house so they didn't wanted to get punished by their head of house in the first day.

They woke up early, the girls had occupied the bathroom for half an hour, leaving the boys waiting in the living room. Theodore Nott had befriended Harry, both boys had similar interest, brooms, Quidditch, charms, duels and Flight racing. They were about to head to the great hall for dinner, when the girls finally got out of there fully prepared.

"The bathroom is free" said Davis smiling.

"About time, we thought we had to lower ourselves like Gryffindor for the first day" said Nott. Both boys washed quickly, what was like an hour for girls was just fifteen minute for them to finish. The group went into the Great hall together. Davis and Nott were silently arguing behind Harry and Greengrass who walked forth as cover. Most of the Slytherin were already in the Great Hall, Ravenclaw started to fill their table, Hufflepuff were absent and the same could be said about the Gryffindor. Soon after 7:20, the tables started to fill, Slytherin had finished their breakfast and so did Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor just started to start their own. Neville was nowhere to be seen.

The head of houses started to distribute the schedules to the students. Harry had double potion with Regulus Black and double Charms for today with Filius Flitwick. Tomorrow had Flying at 10 and Defense against Dark arts at 1 till 4. The Slytherin quickly picked up their bags and went to the dungeons where the Potion was given, they were followed by the Ravenclaws. They already went for the best seats. Harry sat with Nott and Zabini, Daphne went with Tracy and Pansy. Draco was with Crabbe and Goyle. Hermione was with two girls named Mandy and Jessie. The class was about to start when the Puffs and Griff's started to fill the empty potion stations. Just in time as Regulus swung the door open after it was closed. He quickly closed the windows only giving the bare minimum of light to the students, they had to use candles to illuminate their stations. He explained what the classes was about, potion making obviously and also how to prepare the ingredients to avoid disastrous failure of potion making.

His gaze stopped at Ron who was busy trying to talk to Neville, the boy was clearly annoyed, but had said nothing. Regulus decided to test Weasley, if he was like his older brothers, he would have at least one good answer. But alas, the boy didn't, Ron was deduced 5 points and instructed the class to do a healing draught, he put on the blackboard everything they needed, what to do, how to mince the ingredients and what temperature for the preparation. Harry, Nott and Zabini finished quickly their potion, Harry had the best teacher in potion which happen to be his mother. They were dismissed from the class, the next group to be dismissed was Hermione's group.

Nott and Zabini went to the Dungeon while he went for the Owlery, he had to send a letter to his family about his godbrother Neville and what house he had landed. On his way to the Owlery, he was followed by two older Slytherin boys. And just time, a group of Gryffindor were at the corner waiting for him, they hesitated when they saw the elder students with Harry.

"Be careful Ickle Harrykin" said a Redhead boy, reminding him of Ronald

"Yeah, they are rather vicious to our house after your sorting" said the other boy, they were twins...

"Fred and..."

"George Prewett"

"At your service" said both boys at the same time.

"Prewett? Is Gideon Prewett your father?"

"No, he is our Uncle. Our dear mother banished us from the Weasley Family, but our Aunt Muriel welcomed us in hers"

Harry liked these twins, they know what was going on and told him how it worked inside the school and told him about the intrigues in the Slytherin Hierarchy. . They mostly stayed out of their business, since they were not too keen in being part of a Hierarchy and both of them were Beaters of the Slytherin Quidditch team.

"How did you know I was up there?"

"That's our trademark secret. But one day, you will be part of our group" smirked the twins as they stayed just outside of the owlery. Harry quickly went upstairs and attached a letter for Horus to take to his parents. He watched his beautiful Peregrine Falcon fly away, he didn't see the snow white owl staring at him. On his way back to the castle, they saw Hagrid talking with Neville, he was nervous for some reason and there was Ronald just behind him.

"What are you doing with him, Fred, George" sneered Ron to Harry

"Ho? It's Fred and George now?" sneered the twins back. Ron remained silent.

"Know this, the moment you told us that we are better off dead. You have lost the right to even call us your brother" said George, while Fred made sure to glue a timed charm on him that would change his red hairs into a horrible pink. Once inside the school, the twins escorted Harry to the charms class. He thanked them before going inside, the Slytherins were already there and Nott had saved him a seat.

"Where were you?" Asked Nott

"I was in the owlery. Needed to send a letter"

"You went alone?"

"Yeah... I got saved by the Prewett twins"

The class was beginning, instruction started to be written by a levitating chalk on the blackboard. They started to takes note, while the cat on the teacher desk remained silent and watched the student. Then the door swung open, Neville was annoyed by Ron, he was the one who made them late for the Charm class. There was a note in the blackboard, Filius Flitwick was absent and needed to attend important matters outside of the castle and McGonagall was the replacement for his class.

"Good thing, she doesn't know that we are late" said Ron, while Neville already sat in the desk and opened his book. McGonagall was pleased with Longbottom while she was disappointed with her newest Weasley. The cat jumped from the teacher desk and morphed into her human form stopping just in front of him.

"This is wicked!"

"Ho, thank you Mr. Weasley. I guess you don't need a map to take your seat and begin the class?" Ron gulped before he took his seat next to Neville and started writing. While McGonagall went to back to her desk, Malfoy made a ball of paper and tossed it at the back of Ron, who groaned in annoyance. When McGonagall sat on her chair, she coughed to hide a laugh, Ronald had a horrible pink dyed hairs. Harry elbow Nott to see, they chuckled, more and more students started to snigger and the boy was not even aware of his new hair colors. The class ended with Ron cursing Fred and George before storming out of the classroom. And that was for his first day in Hogwarts, an entire house being his enemy, a group of people close to him being his allies. And he also came up with a surname for Ronald... Pinkie.

A/N : I'm planning to publish my other Harry Potter fic here. A Hufflepuff Harry. (well, around 30K words)