Hi everyone, the reception of the first chapter was amazing, didn't know people still loved fanfiction as much as I did. I have big plans for this story and even ones after it in a trilogy. But enough what ifs, as always comments are welcomed I always love making my stories more fun for you to read for you guys. Although I will say that around the end of chapter 2 or the beginning of 3, the AU will crank up some so prepare for some surprises:). Enough talk yall came here to read. (chapters 2 & 3) I hope to have it up before the end of the day today. Enjoy!

bold=parseltonguegue

Italics= thoughts

Chapter 2: you too huh?

As their carriage slowly made its way up the path to Hogwarts, Harry's brain was spinning out.

How did I manage to somehow befriend the Slytherin Ice Queen and end up sharing a carriage with her? Although she is the most beautiful witch at school not how I thought how I spent the start of my year. I thought I'd be spending it with my best friends... His thoughts were interrupted as he thought he heard the aforementioned witch saying something.

"Potter, are you listening to me?" she said with an annoyed look but a perfectly manicured eyebrow raised in curiosity.

"Um, no I'm sorry Greengrass, my mind is just elsewhere right now." "What did you say?" Harry said trying to scramble to not mess up the tentative friendship he suddenly found himself in. although his emotions swirling in his head must have betrayed the face he was putting on.

"Are you alright potter you seem a little upset?" Daphne said much softer than he thought possible. He fidgeted slightly as he didn't expect her to notice or care.

"I just.." he paused, considering if he wanted to let this girl in on his troubles this soon. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he thought. It's not like I currently have anyone to talk to not after my fame, money, or a fanclub anyway. "It's my friends I guess, something happened over the summer and we kinda haven't seen each other or talked since." "After what happened here last year I thought we'd be inseparable, but after what happened they didn't even take my side." he managed to get out just loud enough so she could hear. He looked up to gauge her reaction, he was shocked to see what looked like tears behind her gorgeous steely eyes. She sniffed once and then the tears disappeared.

"It seems Potter like you need better company." "Perhaps you were indeed correct and you are in need of new friends." "Albeit ones that act like actual friends." she stated primly, her eyes intently gazing into his. He thought for a moment then decided to ask her the question he had been wanting to. He was able to put on a lopsided smile, the one he was famous for.

"So since I'm Head Boy this year and you're Head Girl, we'll be seeing a lot of each other?" he saw her eyebrows raise as if for him to continue so he did. "So I wanted to ask you if we haven't really interacted until this year, why did you say yes to being my friend so quickly?" he asked, with more suspicion in his voice than he meant to. She looked at him and chewed her bottom lip for a minute, which Harry thought was the most adorable thing he'd ever seen. He ran his hand through his still messy raven hair as he waited in uncomfortable silence for her answer. She looked out the window for a moment as the trees slowly passed them by, then looked back to him, as she sat up straight she decided to answer

"Well Potter, to answer your question, I have had let's say a personal interest in you for some years now." "Obviously, in the past few years based on the neutrality that my family took during the war, I had to wait to make your formal acquaintance." "Though us sharing the Head title this school year may prove beneficial with my desire to be friends with you." as Daphne finished Harry's mouth slightly hung open, yet forced himself to close it so he didn't embarrass himself in front of the prettiest witch had ever seen to date.

"Www-ait ," Harry was able to stammer out as the carriage came to a halt outside the front gate. Daphne smiled at him, with a hint of mischief behind them. As she spoke one final time she stuck her hand out for him to take.

"Yes Potter as hard as it is to believe, a Slytherin has been quite curious about you, for some time now." "I hope this year will alleviate my curiosity." "Now Lord Potter would you be so kind as to help me out of the carriage?" She said it with a glint of playfulness as Harry's mouth once again hung slightly open as he took her incredibly soft hand. He felt how small it felt in his rough larger ones, calloused and scarred from the war he had been forced to fight.

It has been so long since I've been able to read what a girl is saying to me, especially one that looks this beautiful. Ah fuck it I'm gonna go with confidence, what do I get to lose anyway.

He put on a grin and stepped out helping her down the steps. "It would be my pleasure Heiress Greengrass, please follow me." He kept her hand in his as he felt his neck and ears get hot. He couldn't help the reaction based on the new beautiful friend he had somehow found. He quickly glanced at Daphne and his eyes widened a bit as he saw a similar blush creeping up on her face. He smiled as they walked into the entrance hall of Hogwarts.

As Harry looked up to separate from her and head off to the Great Hall, he noticed almost every student staring at them. Some were whispering and based on the fact that Daphne had somehow already let go of his hand and fell out of step and broke off to her table. Harry immediately felt the lack of heat on his palms as he looked after her as he sat down at the Gryffindor table. As Ron and Hermione entered the Hall, Harry saw them wave at him and start to head over. He gave them a thin smile and just looked away. He looked to his right as Seamus Finnegan and Dean Thomas sat down next to him.

"Harry, blimey it's good to see you mate." Seamus said with a large grin, Dean also spoke up.

"Harry I had hoped to see you this year, are you still playing quidditch?" Harry smiled at his two friends and clapped them on their shoulders and laughed as he answered.

"Guys don't worry I'm still playing Quidditch, and I have other responsibilities this year." they both looked at him quizzically, as he laughed with them. Little did Harry know across the Hall a pair of blue eyes watched with a glint of sadness in them.

"Hi Daphy, what you looking at?" Astoria asked as she sat down next to her sister. It wasn't all that difficult for Astoria to track her sister's line of sight to a certain messy-haired boy across the hall. "You still crushing on Potter?" "Why don't you just ask him out already for fuck sake it's been almost 4 years Daphy?" she asked and then sat for a minute while Daphne shook herself clear from what could only be daydreams and she responded

"Tori I can't just go up to him and ask he has no real idea what I'm like." "Not to mention the past few years Malfoy has made all Slithryn look like junior Death Eaters or stuck-up prats in his eyes." "Plus the war and the huge battle here last year also decreased my chances." she sighed and then dropped the bombshell on her sister. "Potter is Head Boy this year, so I'll be sharing prefect patrols, meetings with Heads of Houses, and living together in the Head's dorm." she looked to see her sister grinning at her, holding back a laugh. "Merlin Tori what now?" she asked in exasperation.

"You're gonna be spending all this time, even living with the boy you've had a crush on since the fourth year?" "This is your chance, you have to take the chance you're being given right now, also you should see your face." Astoria pointed to the massive redness that was threatening to fully encompass her sister's face at the moment. Across the hall, Harry was finally being acknowledged by his two, hopefully still best friends.

"Hey Harry, how are you?" asked Hermione as she scooched up next to him. Ron kept a little distance between them as he smiled weakly at Harry.

"If you two had actually tried to talk to me at the Station you know this summer has been bloody awful." "But we haven't talked since July so this summer has been more of the same." he huffed out as he sat with his head leaning against his hand.

"I only ask Harry because, well Ron and I saw you gettin' into and out of the carriages with Daphne Greengrass." "She's a Slitheryn, she could be a Death eater Harry, or at the very least her family could've supported Voldemort." "Why would you even associate with that, let alone a Slithryn?" Hermione asked with a mix of anger and confusion on her face. Ron looked just angry, which mixed with what happened with Ginny over the summer, could not lead anywhere good.

"Harry, why would you ever even talk to a snake, especially after what they did to Fred last year?" "I wouldn't have even come back this year if the new Minister hadn't made us." "She's a snake, Harry, stay away from her." Ron's voice was laced with venom that Harry could almost feel coming off his tongue, he winced internally.

How is he mad at me right now?! After Ginny cheated on me while the three of us were on the run, fighting against the end of the world. She told me she loved me and would wait for me, yet when I come back I find out she's been fucking Blaise Zabini? And she did to my knowledge, keep it going all summer!

Suddenly Harry's look of shock turned to anger. He finally couldn't hold it back anymore

"You know what Ron, Piss off! My girlfriend cheated on me while the three of us were out risking our lives daily, not hourly to save the world." "A task which by the way I had no say in since before I was born!" "You didn't even hesitate to start hating me because I broke up with Ginny as soon as I found out, didn't even listen to my side of the story." "And yes we all miss Fred and yes Slithryn did recruit internally for the Death Eaters but that doesn't mean every single one was." "For your information, Greengrass has asked how I was when she saw me upset and on the verge of tears in the carriage because now I lost my two best friends." "And she's been the only one I've heard even ask." "I lost the rest of my family during the war, now you two."

he was out of breath and panting after his tirade, for some reason looked up and saw the majority of the Gryffindor table, and some of Ravenclaw, were staring at the three. He dropped his shoulders and slid down the bench looked up at the Staff tables, away from them, and slunk into the table. As he looked up again he saw Headmistress McGonogal stand up to make an announcement, unaware of the blue eyes that watched the whole interaction with a look of concern. The sound of a glass being tapped as the whole Great Hall turned to look at her.

"Good evening students and Staff, I'd like to welcome you all back for another year of Hogwarts!" as she spoke the Hall erupted into cheers, although not as loud or joyous as years prior. She calmed the room down and continued."I'd like to issue a thank you to all students and staff who fought valiantly to defend this great school a year ago, as well as those who lost their lives in defense of what's right." a quick moment of silence ensued. "Now, some brief announcements" She paused and then unrolled a sizeable length of parchment. "First off I would like to welcome all first-years who are joining us." "Now for the reveal of Head Boy and Girl for this school year," She cleared her throat. The Great Hall was so tense you could feel it. "Head Girl is Daphne Greengrass from Slyithryn and Head Boy is Harry Potter from Gryffindor." whispers rebounded around the room as the Boy-who-won was mentioned and the whole room seemed to look at Harry.

Great more unwanted attention, i thought all the stardom would die down over the summer, but I guess not.

He sighed audibly as the Headmistress continued,

"Furthermore, to promote rebuilding, unity, and to cultivate new beginnings, the returning students from last year attending for their eighth year will be resorted." the whole room fell completely silent. After a few moments, the whispers and murmuring returned, this time just much louder. "QUIET!" McGonogal said loudly with her wand pointed at her throat to amplify her voice. "Now I understand this is a a shock to all of you, but we must continue so we have time for all students to get settled." "Now when your name is called, please take your seat up front." The eighth years all lined up, Harry at the back followed by Daphne, Blaise, Seamus, Susan Bones, Tracey Davis he thought, and Ron and Hermione. "Seamus Finnegan." she called as he went up. He sat under the hat, silent for a few seconds when the hat boomed

"Slithryn!" it bellowed Seamus' face looked of shock as he slinked over to the Green and silver-filled table. "

Justin Finn-Feltchly" he went up next to the hat. It called out , "Hufflepuff!" he looked amused but not unhappy as he walked over.

"Pansy Parkinson" Pansy walked up and took a seat not cracking so much as a smile.

"Slitheryn!" she looked frustrated as she sat down next to Seamus of all people.

The list went on for a while, Ernie Macmillian, the Creeveys all being re-sorted to different houses, the Patil twins going to Hufflepuff, Katie Bell and Dean Thomas going to Hufflpeuff and Luna Lovegood going back to Ravenclaw. Susan Bones to Gryffindor as well as Hermione and Neville Longbottom. Blaise Zabini went back to Slithryn and Tracey Davis went to Hufflepuff. After a few more minutes, all that was left were Ron, Daphne, and himself. Ron walked up a tight look on his face, he sat down and huffed. The hat took his time as it searched his mind.

" Slithryn!" the whole Hall turned quiet again in an instant, you could hear a pin drop. Ron looked so angry he would explode, his face red his fists clenched as he stormed over to the table and sat alone at the end of the bench.

"Daphne Greengrass," said McGonigal as she kept checking names off her parchment. As Daphne walked up she gave Harry a smile at the corner of her mouth, then fell back to sitting up perfectly straight and looking icy as ever. The hat took its time reading her thoughts and desires, then out of nowhere the hat decided

"Ravenclaw!" as she stood up, Harry could just make out relief on her face as she brushed by him to go sit. The hall had filled back up with chatter and murmurs as she prepared to read the last name on the list, the one the whole room couldn't wait for.

"Harry Potter" was announced out loud, Harry sucked in a breath as he walked up and immediately felt the whole Hall's eyes on him as the hat was placed on his head. He tried to clear his mind as he thought about what he wanted this year, the things that swirled around his mind were doing well in classes for once, Quidditch, new friends hopefully, and for some reason a certain blonde witch made it in there. As Harry sat nervously waiting for a decision, it finally came.

"Hmmm.." it paused then shocked everyone with what followed. "Ravenclaw!" came the booming voice, the whole room fell stone cold as every face that looked back at Harry was firmly laden with shock. One pair of eyes sitting by herself at the Ravenclaw table found his, blonde hair surrounded her face as she offered a smile to him as he made his way over and sat across from Daphne Greengrass.