Well, thought Harry, there's all my plans shot to shit, gone to hell and come out the other side.

I don't think Ron will ever be my friend now...

I'm not sure that I can actually defeat the Dark Lord without my friends... without Hermione...

Inside him, a leonine voice growled, Remember the first lesson.

Yeah? What's that?

Survive.

Right then. Harry thought. They haven't finished the sorting yet. I have until then to decide on a basic plan.

I'm in bloody Slytherin, home of the Death Eaters' children. Guess I shouldn't have been so quick to reject Malfoy - Draco. I'm going to need as many allies as I can possibly gather - because some of these children - near adults, have an axe to grind against me.

How many of their parents did my parents kill?

I killed their fucking Dark Lord!

Hat, you said I could be great - let's hope it's not a great big stain on the Common Room floor.

Great, that ghastly, gloomy room. I'd forgotten.

Agenda: Make Friends.

Sub-agenda: Don't Make Enemies unnecessarily.

Harry had sat with the first years, at the end of the table. A quick glance up it, told him just what he'd thought - they were sorted roughly by age, with the girls on one side, and the boys on the other.

I recognize the children from my year. And the Quidditch team. That's about it.

A few soon-to-be prefects, but that just tells me who is cunning, or rich, or special.

Good allies, but folks that don't need me.

I've already got a target on my back...

Why would they bother being my friend?

The Quidditch team. Home of Flint - who got held back, at least once.

Hmm... I can work with that.

The Slytherin team may have walked the edge of cheating the entire time I knew them, but they were tough brutes even then. Scrappers spoilin' for a fight.

I need to get them on my side - and I can't use my broomstick to do it.

Flint needs help - but I'm a first year. It's not like I can teach him magic.

Wait.

Not all our classes are magic, are they?

I bet the Quidditch team doesn't turn down homework help (or Free Homework Services), even from a firstie.

How hard can studying for History of Magic be, anyway?

The first rule of friendship is be valuable. It was why Hermione nagged so much - she was worried we'd leave her out of everything.

Harry heard the last Slytherin be sorted - Zambini, of all the names. Blaise, now. I can't keep calling them by their last names, it's standoffish.

Dumbledore stood to give his announcements - the older Slytherins rolled their eyes at the third floor corridor remarks - a stark contrast to the Gryffindors, particularly the twins, who'd looked entranced and excited.

Harry dove into the feast with a will - he knew he was underfed, and he needed his strength. Besides, eating hearty was just another game. All the other boys were doing it, he'd be noticed if he didn't.

Harry snuck a glance up at Snape, his new head of House. He looked contemplative, staring down the table of Slytherins. At least he's stopped smiling.

Soup, buttered bread, more fruit than Harry could shake a stick at. He was eating gobs, but it was light fare. My stomach won't accept anything more, not right now.

There were introductions all round - Tracey seemed nice, and Daphne seemed... proper. Pansy still seemed a right bitch, but Millicent had a warm, robust laugh. Theo was silent except for his name, the entire meal. And Draco had been trying to draw the other boy out... Blaise kept mostly quiet, but any question he was asked, he answered. Goyle and Crabbe - no, Greg and Vince - were too busy eating to be worth drawing into conversation - the only time Draco had tried, he got crumbs sprayed on his robes.

[a/n: It's not a long plan, but it's at least a sound one. Now Harry has to implement it. Leave a review?

Did you expect a hue and cry? It's coming...]