Hfelton013095 issued a challenge.
I accept.
HaA
The First Years were led into the Great Hall.
The Whole School was silent.
A tradition with a millennium of History.
There in the front of the whole School was a stool and Hat. Both looked as old as the castle… and they were.
The firsties were agog at the Majesty of the Hall.
Then the Hat started to sing.
Oh, ,you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your tops hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
Y ou might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell brave of heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achive their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And you won't get in a flap!
You're safe in my hands(though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!!
For a minute the Hall was silent as the Hat finished its song. Then the hall exploded into applause.
The Hat bowed, then stilled .
The Prim and Proper Scottish Witch, and you could tell just by her Robes and Hat, what she was. Her Skirts were in a Tartan, as her Hat was tied in a Deerstalker fashion, but still was able to provide its primary function, Pulled a scroll from her sleeve.
"Abbot, Hannah"
A chubby Blond bounced forward, and sat on the stool as the Hat was dropped on her head. The Face of the Hat smiled.
"Hufflepuff!"
The Hall applauded, as the girl's robes turned yellow and black, and she skipped over to the Table with like trimmed robes.
"Bones, Susan."
A strawberry blonde was quick to sit on the stool. The Hat dropped onto her head, and …
"Hufflepuff!"
And so it went. Harry caught sight of something. He looked and the Hook nosed man at that end of the High Table was Glaring at him. He locked eyes with the man, and his mind opened up…
… Petunia yelling at him…
…Dudley playing 'Harry Hunting'...
….Veron throwing him into his cupboard…
Something cracked in his mind.
A voice from the otherside of the slatted door of his cupboard. 'There. That should do it. I have bound him again. Just a few months more and he will be out of your hair. Oh, and one more thing. Obliviate.
And then he was alone.
"Potter, Harry."
He approached the stool and Hat, rubbing his scar. A step short, he goes to his knees. The shell of glass in his mind snapped, cracked, and shattered.
And everything came back.
The Abuse.
The Hate.
The Power…
Harry opened his eyes, and the fire in his eyes was actually fire. The Hall darkened as Harry Stood. His eyes blazing green, he screamed as the bindings on his power did not just snap, but were burned to ash in the process.
The Wizard with a long grey beard stood, a knobby wand in hand…
Only for the Wand to Jump towards Harry, who caught it in his off hand.
A Crooning was heard. As Harry was lit up. He drew his Wand from Olivander and the Crooning changed to that of two birds singing in the Hall.
The Hat, Hanging out to be put on his head, 'cleared its throat' and spoke, "From here, I see two Houses to shape his Future. While he has the basic Tenets for each of the Four, only two would prepare him for the Coming Darkness. One will lead him to Burn the World, one will guide him to Lead us out into the Light. I choose the Light! May My Maker forgive me." The Hat went Slack in the Hand holding.
"Slytherin!"
The Hall went silent. Then two brutes in emerald and silver stood and collected the boy, and returned to their table.
The Hat twisted to look at the Witch holding it. "Next."
The witch shook her head and read from her scroll.
With the sorting of Weasley, Ronald and Zabini, Blaise, the Witch took her seat next to the Old man, and when he would not respond to her prodding, she snapped her fingers and food flooded the tables.
HaA
That night, in the dungeons, the Slytherin Common Room had a warmth that warmed the bones but was cool on the skin. The ceiling showed the Lake overhead, and the far wall was also clear.
Harry wandered over to inspect the view, surprised that the view was clear, thinking that alge should be growing on the glass.
"And I thought you said you were Not needing my Help… Potter."
Harry turned to look at the white haired boy. "And who said I need the help of one such as you?"
"Because I am Malfoy. My Father is the Richest Man in Magical Britain."
Turning to one of the boys that had picked him up, Harry asked a question, "I understand that some bitches in this House are born with a silver spoon up their asses. But is his really gold?"
Many of the females sneered as Harry started to speak, but when he finished, only three of the whole House were not snickering.
"You think you're Funny?"
Harry rocked back on heels. "I can be." He frowned, before smirking, "At least I am not waving my Daddy's Wand."
This time it was not just snickering.
As the whole House had surrounded the two lads, enjoying the sorting out of the pecking order, a Figure stood in the Shadows. He knew the Parents of both boys. He could tell that one was missorted. And to his amusement and churgin it was not the Pureblood.
As Draco went for his wand, the Seventh Year Prefect cleared his throat. "No Wands. Not in the Common Room." He pushed through the crowd into the center. "First Rule of Our House. Don't get Caught." He glared at the Blonde. "There is only so much Professor Snape can do to cover us, and only so much your Daddy's Gold will buy." He turned his back to the wall of sea glass. "Rule Two: Outside of Our Dorm, we are united. If you have a beef with one another, you handle it here." He smiled, "Rule Three: Do Not bring your shite to Professor Snape. If you can not handle it on your own, you either are not strong enough or don't want it enough. I will tell you what my Perfects told me. This House is full of your best friends and worst enemies. The Lines are already drawn, what is up to you is where you stand, and who you can bring to your side. Now we have a big day tomorrow. Everyone, not a First year, you know where your rooms are."
As everyone exited, three witches converged on Harry.
"Hello Potter. I'm Tracy Davis. My Cousin Daphne Greengrass, and then there is Milly."
"No last name?" He asked frowning.
"Oh she has one." The perky lass passed behind Harry, looking him over. "But you will be calling her Milly. Her House is an Ancient and Noble one. But they are light in gold and clout. In fact, she is looking for a Patron. You assuming that Role would be a real Feather in her Cap. Otherwise she will be at the beck and call of any witch that can trump everyone else. I can't because I am a Half blood of a squib, and Daphne is laying low this year…"
"That only leaves one witch in our year, and with the way she is hanging on Draco's arm…"
"I find that you are the better wizard here." The bigger girl smiled, a set of tusks showing in her lower jaw. "You used your wits to disarm and defang the anal growth. I am thinking he is not sorted into the correct House."
Harry offered his hand to Milly. "I think I will call you friend." After they shook hands, he looked at Tracy and Daphne. "And you two I will call Allies for now. I need to ask you three to guide me where the Protocol I am missing is called for."
Daphne smirked, "You are not doing too bad. A thing to remember, we use our Surnames unless we are talking to one another, and have permission."
"In that Case call me Harry."
Tracy smiled, "Tracy. And there is a reason I only introduced you to Millie as Millie."
As the two seventh year Prefects led to first years down a hallway further under the water, "All rooms have the enchanted ceiling. The story is that After Rowena did the Great Hall, Salazar tried to do the same down here, and messed it up. So instead of a sky view, we get a Lake view. Now unlike above, our sexes are not decided, but there is a bloodward on the Doors. Once you pick a room, you are to bind the ward to yourself. This will prevent people from entering your Chambers without your express permission. Only the Headmaster, The Deputy Headmistress, The Medi-Witch, and the Slytherin Head of House can enter at anytime."
The Female Perfect took up the litany. "We do this by Alphabetical SurNames. That Means, first Balustrade, Millicent and Crabbe, Vincent." She waved left then right, as she walked backwards. "Does anyone want to trade places?"
Millie grunted and shouldered into the indicated room.
Greengrass looked around and spoke up. "Hey Crabbe. Trade you. It would put you closer to Goyle."
The shorter brute gunted and stepped back, to allow the pale haired witch to enter the room.
"Next we have Davis, Tracy." The perky lass squealed and shot through the door.
Three Suites down and an open door on the Left and Right. "We would have Greengrass and Goyle, but with the trade …" The group moved on leaving the brutes to decide which room went to whom.
"Malfoy." The Male Prefect waved to the left hand side of the Hall three further .
The next Room down on the right was given to Parkinson, Pansy.
Then it was just Harry Potter and Blaise Zabini. Their rooms were at the other end of the Hall where the Dorm Hall returned to the Common Room. There were Four upper Classmates waiting outside the Doors.
"Good." The oldest stepped forward. "We will need a witness. We are wanting to talk about a trade. Now, we all want to move closer to the Common Room. I am two doors back on the outside. And I want a room right next to the Common room. Now if my math is correct…" he smiled and it was not a pretty smile. "These two rooms belong to our little firsties. Now just what do I need to offer up for a room?"
Blaise looked at Harry, before stepping forward. "Every Saturday you are not in Hogsmead, you will help me and Potter with any homework issues we might have. That also includes any witches we have with us."
"Deal"
"The inside suite is all yours." Blaise bowed and turned and walked to the third door on the outside ring and waited."
Harry looked between the three guys, and Blaise. "I am open to talks, but I want to see what I am getting both before and after the trade. He opened the door and looked around. Turning back with a smile, "And with an opening bid of…" the other three opened their doors, and Harry looked in.
In the end, he traded the room to the closest and to the closest and and ended up beside Blaise. Before he entered the room, he turned to look at the Witch. "Ah, one question, How do I engage the Wards?"
"You don't know?" She frowned at him. "But you're Harry Potter."
"Raised as a Muggle." Harry sneered. "The Headmaster's idea."
"Yeah, that's something He would do." She sighed. "Inside, there is a stone of a different colour than the rest of the room. A drop of blood and your magic… just prick your thumb, and press it to the square until it glows." I will be by this weekend and show you how to get your room made up."
Harry thanked her and as she left, he closed the door and found the miscoloured brick. Using his potions knife, he pricked his thumb and pressed it to the square.
TBC