Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter in any way, It is the property of JK Rowling.
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A great thanks to Lonesith who edited this chapter, BTW if someone is interested for the editing and is better than what I write then please PM me.
Other than that, enjoy the chapter and Follow, Favourite and Review. This chapter was a challenge to write for me and for time I tried showing interaction between children from different backgrounds. Constructive Criticism is appreciated, but if you are calling me and my fic shit then please eat that shit and fuck off.
"I can't believe I forgot to ask, but who are your parents? Surely they would not leave you two alone?"
Panic seized her mind for a moment at the question, knowing enough from their late relatives' behavior that saying their parents were traitors to the biggest hot-shot here was a bad idea. Fortunately, she was saved from answering when Harry said
"Dead, we were too young to even remember them. They were killed in a riot ten years ago and we were left with our relatives."
From the corner of her eyes, Persephone saw Tom gape at them for a moment at the emotionless answer and then ask
"And where are your relatives? Surely they wouldn't leave two children alone in an unfamiliar area?"
"They are dead too, snake-bites four weeks ago. Now can we know the currency exchange point? I have some pounds with me and going by the gold and silver coins I am seeing around, paper currency doesn't seem like a workable option."
"Oh...Oh, for the galleons, just go to that big marble building there, that is Gringotts Bank. It's run by Goblins, take the pounds to a teller and they will open a vault to your names, for a fee of course."
Turning towards the barman, Persephone and Harry both smiled before thanking him profusely for all of his help. Waving the gratitude away, Tom walked back into the archway, the entrance closing behind him.
"We are fucked aren't we?"
"You don't even know what that means Harry."
"Vernon said it enough times for me to get the general meaning, it means we are in deep trouble."
Conceding the point, Persephone grabbed her brother's hand as they walked through the crowd towards the giant marble building, "Gringotts" written over the entrance of the bank in golden color on a plaque. Though, going by the amount of gold they had already seen as coins and jewelry, it wouldn't be far off for the lettering to be made of gold too. As they moved through the crowd she asked
"Do you think we should go by our real names here?"
Harry glanced at her, before looking around to make sure no one was watching them. He dipped his head towards her and mumbled
"For now, until we aren't surrounded by anyone, we go by Harry and Persephone Carter, I would have liked to go by Evans, but if someone who knew our mother came by us and heard us as 'Evans' then it probably would not be difficult to connect the dots."
"Wasn't I the one who read the crime novels?"
"And in whose lap you laid your head while your head was being brushed?"
Smiling softly at her brother, Persephone felt her cheeks heat up at the reminder before she lightly pushed him and asked.
"So Harry Carter, how many pounds did you bring?"
Grinning at her, Harry reached inside his pants' pocket to take out a wallet, which was almost bursting with the number of notes stuffed into it. Banknotes of 10, 20, 50 and even two 100's were present, and the total was sure to come around four hundred pounds.
"Four hundred and forty pounds, it is about a quarter of the money we took from Vernon's cupboard. The rest is in another wallet if this comes short of making a substantial amount of 'Galleons'".
Ruffling his hair, she looked up at the building in front of them. Its decorative handwriting, the marble construction and the three-foot-tall halberd-wielding guards seemed to loom over the bypassers, conveying a vague feeling of superiority over the humans below them.
As they ascended the steps, both watched the goblin guards with curiosity and awe in equal measure. Except for being pinkish-white instead of green in color, and being a little stockier these goblins were a dead ringer for those shown in children's tales.
'Or is it the other way around?'
Finally, inside the bank, Persephone felt her eyebrows shoot up at the display of wealth in the hands of goblins. Gold coins and jewels were being weighed at the counters in quantities sure to measure in kilograms.
"By the amount of gold here, I sure hope that something was left in our family vault for us. Somehow I am having a bad feeling regarding what was taken from us."
"You and me both Harry, you and me both."
About to move to an empty counter, Persephone and Harry both stopped as a guttural voice shouted,"You two, the redhead and the boy, come here."
Trepidation and fear filling their body in equal measure, both of them turned towards the voice, a myriad of scenarios running through both of their minds. Their gaze landed on a goblin shouting at a redhead man and a woman. Sagging against her brother in relief, Persephone wiped the built-up sweat from her forehead as she realized what had happened.
"Come on, let's open a new accoun-vault under our names and get some galleons."
"You are not going to ask for our family vault?"
"Harry, currently we don't know anything about this life except for magic, galleons and wands. I think first we should learn all about the mess our father created and learn a lot more magic before going for our vault. Because I don't think everybody would like for the children of a traitor to inherit money."
Both of them moved towards the nearest counter and Persephone cleared her throat causing the goblin to look down at them. Clad in a black suit with a tie and waistcoat, he looked like a high-ranking banker, only shorter, pinkier, and more vicious than the norm.
"Yes?"
"Um...we want to open a vault, under the name Harry and Persephone Carter. We have pounds with us, since we are muggle borns and want them converted into wizarding currency."
Beady black eyes locked onto the bulging wallet, before the goblin reached down and gave them a parchment with a quill.
"Fill in the details, and then give me the pounds. A vault will be opened under your names, and a key will be given to both of you. Gringotts will take three percent of your deposit as the fee for its services."
Finding a table nearby, Harry and Persephone both moved to it and painstakingly, slowly wrote their names on the parchment, the quill almost unmanageable by their pen-and-pencil-using hands.
"Another thing to do now, I have to practice quillmanship."
"Is that even a word?"
"Shut up Seph."
Finally having written their names on the parchment, Persephone gave it back to the goblin along with the pounds they had with them. From their height, they only saw a white light before the goblin dangled two keys above them. Taking hold of them, the twins looked at the bronze keys with wonder and happiness in their eyes.
"Do you want to make a withdrawal?"
Looking towards the goblin, Persephone nodded before Harry said
"How much money do we have to our name right now?"
"You gave me 440 pounds for the deposit which was converted into 55 galleons by the 8 pounds to one galleon conversion rate."
"And how much would we need for our Hogwarts supplies?"
Baring his teeth at them, the goblin growled, his pointed canines bared at them in clear displeasure, "Do I look like someone who looks after Hogwarts supplies' costs? Ask one of the wizards or witches here."
More than used to such behaviour, Persephone just sighed and looked around for someone who wasn't running around to somewhere or someone. Finding a blond-haired woman free nearby, Persephone moved towards her while dragging Harry behind her. Now that she was paying attention, she could see how black tresses also flowed in the blonde smooth hair of the woman, and how she seemed to exude an aura of untouchability and confidence.
Reaching the woman, Persephone cleared her throat. Startled by the sudden noise, something in the woman's hand dropped to the floor. Distaste and anger in her expression, the woman's blue eyes blazed in fury as she opened her mouth
"You stu…"
She stopped as no noise of anything dropping to the floor reached their ears. She looked down only to see the thing levitating above the floor instead of lying in pieces at her feet. The object floated towards Harry's hand and came to rest on his palm before he offered the now properly visible bracelet to the woman.
"Your bracelet, and Um...we are sorry for startling you ma'am."
The blue eyed woman took the bracelet from his hands before looking at both of them curiously. Her eyes roamed over their clothes and faces before she spoke in an inquisitive tone, "Was that accidental magic?"
"No, we have been levitating stuff for years. It isn't something that difficult," Persephone shook her head, "and once again, we are sorry for startling you."
"What are your names and why did you approach me?" she asked, running her hands over the curve of her bracelet as she looked at them with an arched eyebrow, "I certainly don't remember meeting either of you before now."
Looking down at their feet, Harry nudged Persephone as he spoke, "Harry and Persephone Carter ma'am. We are new here and wanted to know how much it would cost for our Hogwarts supplies."
"Oh! Muggleborns are you? and yet...Your supplies will need about fifty galleons for both of you if you go for good quality material and first hand products. As for the shops, first, you can go to Madam Malkins and after you have bought your robes you can get the rest of the information from her."
As the woman turned around and started walking away Persephone took a step forwards and said, "Thank you ma'am for the help."
Half turning towards them, the blue eyed woman spoke
"No problem dear, and my name is Narcissa Malfoy. Also, I would recommend you both to not display your abilities to everyone," she passed for a moment, "They may not be as well-received by others in our world."
As the woman went away, the twins turned around and moved back to the counter. The goblin who was busy shuffling some parchments looked up as Persephone nudged her brother and moved a little backward.
Throwing her a mild glare at her actions Harry cleared his throat, "Ahem, we would like to withdraw 50 galleons please, also is there a way to carry the coins?"
"Gringotts gives a weightless money bag for two galleons," the Goblin droned monotonously, as if repeating the same line for a millionth time—which may very well be true,"If you want to withdraw money then you just speak the amount desired and it appears inside it from your vault while if you want to deposit money then you have to drop the coins inside and it will automatically get sent to your vault."
"Is that usable for non-magical currency?"
"Only deposits of muggle currency will work, for withdrawal, you would have to come here."
"We will take the bag, thank you for the services."
Without a response, a small bag was dropped in his hands and the goblin returned to shuffling parchments atop the counter. Irritation brimming in her mind at the rude nature of the goblin, Persephone grabbed her brother's hand and dragged him out with a frown on her face.
Finally outside the marble structure, Persephone brought out the Hogwarts letter from her pocket and opened the parchment.
"I think first we should go for the trunks, so that we can keep our purchases inside them."
"And how do you think we will carry the trunks, Oh great Persephone?"
"Like that girl is carrying one."
Turning towards where she was pointing, Harry saw a girl half their height bringing a comparatively huge trunk along as if it weighed nothing. Turning towards his sister and then towards the goblin-given money bag, he pouted at her before moving towards the shop displaying trunks and cases in a glass display.
Opening the doors of 'Trunks and Furniture', she entered the shop along with her brother, their noses instantly blasted by the strong smell of sawdust and wood before the door closed behind them and along with it the smell too disappeared.
After blinking their eyes and pinching each other's arms, the twins looked at the much larger shop on the inside than the small door on the outside suggested. Before they could think more about the increased space inside the shop, a shout rang throughout the enclosed space
"What are you kids doing here? Oh right, must be here for the trunks right? First years by the look of things, so three by two or four by two point eight? Decisions Decisions…".
Subtly edging a little away from the rambling man who had just jumped out of a trunk, Harry and Persephone looked at each other as a shared thought passed between them.
'This is going to be a long day.'
1 September, Kings Cross, Platform 10
"Where the hell is platform nine and three quarters supposed to be? I mean they should have at least posted someone here to guide the students!"
Uncomfortably lugging his own and his sister's luggage with him, Harry glared at the back of his sister and a moment later the small mumbles coming out of her throat were silenced completely.
An ear-splitting smile on his face, Harry poked his tongue out at the now furious, red-faced girl before his eyes landed on a girl. A girl with pink hair, which was rapidly changing into blue!
In front of his eyes, the girl walked forwards into a stone pillar and vanished as if the pillar was a portal or something. Gobsmacked, he watched a few more people walk and disappear the same way and shouted towards his sister.
"Persephone, take your trunk, I found a way to the Express!"
Dropping his sister's trunk on the spot, Harry rushed towards the pillar and looked around himself, finding not a single muggle looking at him or the pillar. Feeling his sister beside him he nodded towards the pillar and walked forwards with his eyes closed.
A feeling like dripping water washed over his exposed skin before noise from all around nearly deafened him. As he opened his eyes, instead of the view of just seconds prior, platform nine and three quarters greeted him.
Parents were still on the platform and with ten minutes to spare, teary goodbyes were going on everywhere. His focus turning towards the locomotive itself, Harry was awestruck by the design. A gleaming red engine straight from the first time trains were used was at the front and the coaches made of a more brownish shade with the metal polished to perfection everywhere, the Hogwarts Express looked absolutely amazing.
The growing smile on his face was quickly overtaken by a grimace as his ear was twisted brutally by a familiar hand.
"Don't go walking into things like pillars without telling me what it means you dumb idiot, I thought you wanted to cave your face in!"
Turning around, Harry pressed a kiss against his sister's cheek and hugged her, rubbing her back soothingly. Stepping back he gave her a quick smile before picking up his trunk and dashing off into the crowd. Cursing as much as she knew, Persephone picked up her own trunk and mentally thanked the crafter once more for the weightless, no featherweight charm that he had applied to the trunks.
Weaving between the students and parents alike, Persephone reached her heavily breathing brother within moments. Swatting him on the head once, Persephone finally took a good look around herself.
Parents and children were all over the place, some standing stiff and dignified in rich-looking clothes while some were running around like headless chickens all over the platform. But the overall atmosphere painted a picture of familial love and protectiveness that made the smile on her face quickly evaporate and she boarded the coach without any delay.
His own expression made of stone at the reminder of what they may have had, Harry climbed up and moved to find his sister. Looking in front of him at the students milling about the corridor he caught her distinctive crimson hair moving inside a compartment, Harry grinned and moved towards her. Dragging his trunk amidst the other children was slightly grating due to all the pushing and pulling involved, but he finally reached the door with a nasty glare aimed in the direction of an older boy moving away from him. Rubbing his hip where he had been quite violently hit by a trunk in that boy's hands, Harry knocked on it and when the door opened, he took in the scene inside and paused for a moment before speaking
"Persephone, is everything okay?"
"Come in Harry, Susan was just telling me about the four houses of Hogwarts."
Moving into the compartment, Harry took a long look at the three girls and the single boy present inside. One girl was blonde while one girl was a redhead, and the other three were brunettes.
The redhead smiled at him widely before speaking
"Hello Harry, my name is Susan Bones, this is Hannah Abbot and these three are Ernie Macmillan, Fay Dunbar and Hermione Granger, who like you both, is a muggleborn!."
Sharing a glance with his sister, Harry nodded at all of them and sat down next to his sister, who was sharing the seat with Ernie Macmillan, a rather tall boy dressed in really nice looking robes, no doubt silk of some kind.
"Now Hogwarts has four houses, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Slytherin and Ravenclaw. Every house is named after one of the four founders of Hogwarts itself and all have students according to one of the following traits.
The brave and chivalrous go to Gryffindor, the hardworking and fair go to Hufflepuff, the cunning and ambitious go to Slytherin while the studious and smart g-."
"I am going to be a Gryffindor. I read "Hogwarts:A History" and from it Gryffindor seems like the best house. Did you know Headmaster Dumbledore was also a Gryffindor? And Professor MgGonagall was also a Gryffindor when she studied in Hogwarts. She is also the head of Gryffindor house and she told such good things about the house."
Stares were sent at the bushy-haired girl as she steamrolled over Susan's sentence. In the privacy of his mind, Harry couldn't help but imagine shutting up the girl in the most painful of ways much like how he and his sister were quieted over the years. Something about the sheer righteousness and smugness dripping from her voice, along with the rabbit teeth made him irritable at the very sight of her.
"Oh, um...that is good. I myself am hoping to join Hufflepuff like my aunt and father."
"That is nice Susan, from the description you have given us, I like the Hufflepuff house already."
With a dusting of pink on her cheeks, Susan thanked Harry before turning towards Hannah, prompting the blond to speak
"I and Ernie are also hoping for Hufflepuff, though different houses are also acceptable to me."
Satisfied, Susan turned towards Harry and opened her mouth but was again interrupted by Granger, and going by the pinched expression on her face along with shaking hands, Susan wasn't either used to it or was short on patience.
"Are you doing magic? Let's see."
Confused at the sudden words, Harry turned towards where the annoying beaver was looking to see his sister with her wand in her hands and a glare aimed at Granger.
But annoyed as they were at the brunette, Susan, Hannah and Ernie all turned towards Persephone and leaned forwards.
She turned towards him, but Harry just shrugged before waving his hand and sinking backwards into the comfortable seat. Glowering at him for a moment, Persephone raised her wand and spoke with her eyes closed
"Lux!"
Immediately three balls of light bloomed into existence at the tip of her wand, each one barely the size of a marble but the intensity of the light was enough to make him feel the heat from even a distance of more than two feet.
Within seconds the light balls fizzled out and winked out into small sparks before Persephone lowered her wand and kept it once again in her pocket.
"That was amazing! Lux is a second year spell and you can do it now? Are you really a muggleborn or are you pulling our legs?"
"Why would she be pulling your legs if she isn't a muggleborn?"
Hannah and Susan looked at each other for a moment before Hannah said
"Because Hermione, she just performed a second year spell. It didn't work out completely but that is besides the point. Unless she is a half-blood or a pureblood, she shouldn't have the knowledge or the ease with which she just performed the spell."
"Hannah, I assure you, neither my brother nor I have lived in a magical home and we don't have any tutelage given to us in magi-"
"WAIT! So you mean that these 'purebloods' and 'half-bloods' have an advantage over me and muggleborns! That is so unfair! Why don't the underage magic and other rules that Professor McGonagall told us of apply to them? Oh my god! They are cheating in a sense, how will there be a fair learning experience for everyone when others come with the work and magic already learned? This is so bad, How do th-"
"SHUT UP GRANGER!"
The rambling girl stopped at once due to Ernie's shout, who stood up massaging his temple. Walking forwards, Ernie took down her trunk from the rack and threw it down at her feet. Next, he opened the door and snarled out
"Listen Granger! No one cares about unfairness or anything when a little, illiterate muggleborn will expose our world to muggles in a really messed up way to show her parents what real magic looks like. And when the Obliviators will come to your home, cameras and what not would have already broadcasted the news of magicals being alive worldwide! Then you can cry about unfairness and classes! Now get out and let me sleep in peace with my friends! Nag someone else with your incessant prattling or rules and how you have learned everything."
Ernie had not even finished berating the girl before she was out of the door with her trunk banging everywhere and tears flowing down her cheeks. Slamming the door shut behind him, Ernie came back to his place and sat down with a huff, his whole face red with rage.
"Stupid bitch, running off her mouth every two seconds."
"Don't mind him too much, it's just that we spiked his morning juice with what we thought was a mild laxative, but instead turned out to be a rage-inducing drought. We didn't tell our parents, but Ernie is going to be explosive for about three hours more."
"Oh stop it, Suzie, you and I both know that girl was begging for a rant from any of us. For the last half an hour she has been going on and on and on about how she has learned the coursebooks or how she is going to be the best. She was getting on my nerves too."
Sharing a look, Harry voiced his question
"I realize why allowing muggleborns to do magic in muggle areas may be bad, but do Purebloods and Half-Bloods really get to do magic before Hogwarts?"
All the three hopeful Hufflepuffs turned towards him before Susan spoke
"Harry, those who live in wizarding homes have adults, and their wands both around them. While not much, heirs to houses learn a few charms and defensive magic at home if their guardian deems it important when we get our own wands. My own aunt is the head of the DMLE, the law enforcement department, and taught me the stinging hex last week," she explained, raising her wand in the air, "In the end, all of it comes down to the guardians themselves, so while some may have learned practical magic in advance, most will be as fresh as you to learning wandwork and applications. After all, we don't get our proper wand until we are eleven, though Neville Longbottom got his wand when he was nine but he is the boy-who-liv-"
Humming slightly, Harry leaned back into his seat with a small smile on his face. He had worried over the past days that after their heritage would be revealed, he and Persephone would get harmed left and right by people loving Longbottom, hating them, or bullying them just for the fun of it. But going by Susan's explanation, he and Persephone were definitely ahead of their peers and he came to realize why that Malfoy woman had told him to keep his power a secret.
Because everyone here was dependent upon wands, otherwise Susan wouldn't have specified their usage of them in her explanation. As his mind strayed to the magical sticks, Harry reached into his jeans' right pocket before taking out a 12 and ½ inch wand. His eyes traced the whitish-grey wood and he remembered the experience of bonding with his wand.
After buying everything on their list, Harry and Persephone had entered Ollivander's. The man had greeted them both warmly just like every other shopkeeper before him, and then he had started passing them wands of various lengths, woods and core combinations and removed them just as swiftly.
After about eleven failed tries Harry got hold of his wand,12 and ½ inches, Yew with Horned Serpent Core, a wand suited for healing, curses, and transfiguration. However, it had taken Persephone more than forty tries before she acquired her wand, Thirteen inches, Elder Wood with Thunderbird feather as the core.
Ollivander had congratulated them before saying that the wands would warn them when they would be in mortal danger, Harry's by hissing with a slight vibration and Persephone's by emitting sparks and bolts towards the danger's direction.
But even that hadn't been the most important detail of their visit to the wandmaker. When they had been exiting the dusty shop, Ollivander had spoken to them in a soft tone, and his words seared into their brains with burning clarity despite the noise which had come from the alley.
"I expect great things from you, Mr. and Ms. Potter. After all, your grandfather and ancestor did great things, and now their wands' brothers are in your hands. Greatness and excellence are in your blood, and so is power. But what will become of that? Will you turn into greatness like He-who-must-not-be-named? Or carve your legend separate from Charlus Potter and Albus Dumbledore?"
It had felt good hearing that their Grandparents had been powerful, but ultimately it was not something they particularly cared for. From the next day, they had immersed themselves in the first-year course books along with practicing writing with a quill.
While not having completed everything, Harry and Persephone had completely learned everything in the Defence against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms and Potions books from the front to back. In the weeks since then and now, History and Herbology had thoroughly bored them out of their minds, though that may have had something to do with their dislike for doing any kind of gardening.
Tired slightly from all the walking they did to get to the express, Harry soon slipped into deep sleep, leaning on his sister and snuggling into her.
"Hey Harry, give me some sickles, there are chocolates here!"
Jolting out of his thoughts, Harry turned towards his sister, who in turn stopped shaking him and nodded towards the door of the compartment. Turning towards the door, Harry spotted an old lady with a trolley full of candies and other assortments of sweets. His own mouth tasting bad due to sleep, Harry croaked out
"How much?"
"A single galleon will be enough for each of us, though Susan says that we should buy a little of everything since the ride is about eight hours long."
Shrugging, Harry stood up and brought his trunk down, before fishing out the money bag from it. Reaching into it, Harry spoke 'three galleons' and gave the coins to the trolley lady. With Susan and Hannah telling them what they should buy with occasional input from Ernie, the twins soon had their seat completely filled with sweets and candies of different types.
Susan picked up a packet from her own stash and started speaking
"Okay, so this here is Chocolate balls of W-"
And so began the twins' education in the veritable ocean-wide variety of treats and chocolates available in their seats. In the confines of their minds, both the twins felt proud of their idea of stealing pounds and wallets to fill up their vault with galleons. After all, it wasn't like anybody could detect the money now.
Disembarking from the express, Persephone raised her arms above her head and stretched, feeling her joints 'pop' after sitting for so long. Her black robes covering her from the slight chill in the wind, Persephone grabbed her brother's hand before following Susan and Hannah towards the monstrous giant of a caveman screaming for the first years to follow him.
They were one of the last ones to get down from the train, all other students already halfway to the giant. Watching their dark surroundings and the cloudy heavens, Harry shuddered and spoke
"Next thing I know a Yeti is gonna come around the bend."
Susan turned back at that and spoke with a smirk
"Silly Harry, Yetis are only found in India and Nepal. In Britain you only have to worry about forty feet tall giants, Dragons and Big Spiders."
Giggling at the flabbergasted expression on his face, Persephone dragged him forwards until they were side by side with the redheaded witch.
"That wasn't nice Susan, I was genuinely thinking a dragon was going to swoop down."
"That is what friends are for Harry, I was just teasing you."
Harry and Persephone both looked at Susan with wide eyes at that before Harry abruptly stopped and asked
"Susan, you are friends with us right?"
A frown on her face, Susan turned around with Hannah and spoke
"Why would you ask that? You haven't done anything bad have you? I am your friend."
"Yeah...haven't done anything bad."
A white skeleton, a pool of blood, hissing all around them, wide eyes..
Once they reached the giant, he raised his lamp a little higher and spoke in a gruff voice
"No more 'an 'our to a boat."
With that said, the giant plopped down into a small boat himself, and all around him boats of similar sizes floated up to the surface from the murky depths of the water. Apprehensive, Harry stepped in a boat with his sister, Susan and Hannah with him.
" 'Ight' then, 'orwards!"
At the giant's shout, all the boats started moving forwards on their own and soon they were told to duck down due to an overhanging stone arch. At the sides, Harry could see a dark, very dangerous looking forest. Occasionally chirps and sounds of insects would breach the silence around them, causing the children to stop talking for a moment and look around in fear.
"You lot 'ill get your firs' look of 'ogwarts now.'
Harry had imagined many things, but the view he was seeing was something out of the world entirely. Yellow lights dotted the whole castle, the fort itself sitting like a bastion on a cliffside. High towers and bridges were easily visible, and the parting of clouds above Hogwarts gave it an absolutely breathtaking look with the moon and stars above it.
'Oohs' and 'Ahhs' sounded throughout the boats as they took in Hogwarts in all of its glory. Excitement filled every inch of his body as the boats docked and they were led up the stairs towards the place where Sorting was to take place.
Reaching a giant set of doors, their escort went towards the smaller ones and exited, leaving them alone. Before anything else could be said, an old woman emerged from the same doors and walked towards them.
Dressed in dark green robes with a pointed hat on her head and a thin set of spectacles, the woman easily gave off the vibe of being strict and authoritative.
"Good evening students, My name is Minerva McGonagall and I am the deputy headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am also the Transfiguration professor and the Head of Gryffindor House. Within moments I will call you all for the sorting in front of all the teachers and the four houses.
You will be sorted into one of the following four houses. Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Each house has produced great witches and wizards, and will be like your family for the seven years you will be here. I suggest you all tidy up your appearances and get ready for the sorting."
With that McGonagall walked back the way she came, leaving a bunch of nervous children behind her. Before the door had even closed behind her, screams erupted from behind her, causing Persephone to turn and let out a shriek herself at the GHOSTS coming for them!
As she calmed down, Persephone realised that the castle, the bats, the forest and now the ghosts eerily reminded her of how the horror films set in old ages took place and then ended.
She could only groan as the 'Fat something' wished them luck for the sorting and then went away with the other translucent ghosts.
Smoothing down her robe, Persephone grabbed Harry's hand as the giant doors opened, causing the previously silent atmosphere to fill up with chatter and shots from the hall ahead. Students of all the years except first sat in front of them, the different colored robes parting them into four houses. Candles floated above them, lightening up the whole room with yellow light and providing a comfortable warmth.
At the head of the hall, the teachers sat across a table, facing towards the students. Her attention was immediately grabbed by an older than old man in neon orange robes and long beard that easily reached his waist. Along with the spectacles and the garish pointy hat, he looked like the poster man for the wizards everywhere.
In front of everyone, McGonagall placed a stool upon which a hat was dropped by her. The dusty garment wiggled for a moment before a partition like a mouth folded itself in it and then came the singing. The hat sang about the founders, about how they intended to choose students and how it sorted them according to their traits
"When I call your names according to the alphabetical order, you shall come forwards to get sorted!"
"Abbot, Hannah!"
With a smile from each of them the blond girl walked forwards towards the hat. As she sat on the stool, McGonagall dropped it on her head, obscuring her eyes from the view. Barely five seconds later the hat shouted "HUFFLEPUFF!" and it was lifted from her head.
As Hannah ran towards the cheering Hufflepff table, her robes gained yellow designs and the Hufflepuff insignia of a badger appeared over her robe's back and front.
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Boot, Trevor!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
On and on it continued with Ernie going to Hufflepuff and Granger going to Gryffindor until the most awaited name was taken
"Longbottom, Neville!"
Silence descended upon the hall as everyone leaned towards the stool. The chatter picked up again as a tall, dirty-blond haired boy in high quality robes walked towards the sorting hat.
His strides long and his shin up, Neville Longbottom certainly looked the part of a celebrity and a hero.
When the hat touched down on his head, it took less than a minute for it to scream out "GRYFFINDOR!" as cue the roaring at the red and gold table. Goblets and plates were banged on the table along with raucous sheering from the 'Lions' as shouts of 'WE GOT LONGBOTTOM!' rang throughout the chamber. Neville Longbottom was welcomed with hugs and handshakes to his new family and for more than two minutes straight the noise continued as it was.
Finally, after a shout from McGonagall did her house quite down and the sorting resumed with an Isobel MacDougal. So one it continued until Parvati Patil was sorted into Gryffindor.
In the post sorting cheers, Harry suddenly realised that it was his turn now, that the whole world was going to know that he and his sister were children of the biggest traitors known currently. As he watched McGonagall close her eyes and take a deep breath before looking up straight at him, Harry suddenly found himself short of breath.
"POTTER, HARRY!"
Once again silence descended upon the hall, but this time the angry undercurrent was palpable throughout it. Everyone searched among the remaining sortees to find out the object of their hatred.
Persephone gave his hand a squeeze, but he couldn't find it himself to squeeze back. Squaring his shoulders and clenching his fists Harry walked out from the students towards the sorting hat.
"Why is he here?"
"Hang him like his whore of a mother was hanged!"
"Longbottom will kick his butt!"
His sister's worried face and hundreds of accusing eyes were the last thing he saw before darkness enveloped his eyes.
'Hmmm...this is a strange change from the regulars, A strong desire to protect your sister, and anger enough to kill anyone who would harm her. You thirst for knowledge, not for self-gratification but to be powerful. A mine of talent and skill but exposed to the world's cruelty… you are brave, but Gryffindor will kill you in a single night physically and emotionally both, with a few of them also dying.
'ARE YOU SPEAKING IN MY HEAD?'
Hufflepuff, while good for you and your sister, won't be able to live with your morals.
You would do wonderful in Ravenclaw and Slytherin both, but which to choose?'
'Are you viewing my memories without my permission?'
'Of course I am, now let's see...talent, thirst for power, already murdered at the age of eight, somewhat sociopathic and distrust of authority figures along with your own peers. It feels like history is repeating itself...SLYTHERIN!"
As the hall quieted once more, Harry's eyes sought out his sister's and he smiled at her, trying to calm her. Moving towards his new house table, he was only halfway to it before he faltered at the amount of shouting which erupted behind him. 'Traitor!', 'Scum!' and 'As his father!' were some of the kinder phrases he could make out as he settled down at his new house table. Eyes firmly on his sister, Harry gave her his silent support as McGonagall shouted
"POTTER, PERSEPHONE!"
Once again shouts of 'traitors' and 'filthy Potter' filled his ears, some even outright issuing death threats at him and his sister. His eyes landed on the loudest of them, a tall Gryffindor sitting nearby Longbottom and a red haired boy. He calmed his anger somewhat by imagining choking that boy and returned his focus to the form of his sister awaiting the hat's verdict. He looked at her just in time to see the hat's brim open and
"SLYTHERIN!"
Moments later a relieved Persephone settled next to him and hugged his arm briefly. Before they could talk anymore, the silver bearded man at the center of the table stood up, his central position and the deference everyone showed to him easily cuing them to his identity.
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, Defeater of Dark Lord Grindelwald, and the person who left them with Petunia and Vernon for the last ten years.
"Welcome to all the students, new and old! Before you all are drowsy and warm due to the excellent feast and desserts, a few start-of-term notices. , our caretaker has increased the list of prohibited items again, and it can be found outside his office.
Professor Quirell, our Muggle Studies professor is rejoining us after a year of sabbatical as the new DADA Professor. Kindly throw a round of applause for the Professor!"
The Purple-turban wearing man stood up at the staff table, bowing down to the tables and the headmaster before sitting down.
"Also, the Third Floor Corridor is out of bounds for anyone who doesn't wish to die a painful death. On that note, happy feasting!"
His last point killing any 'happiness' for the moment, the liveliness of the hall returned a moment later as an enormous buffet appeared over the tables. Wherever the eyes went, roasted chicken, soup, lamb roast, steaks, potatoes and vegetables were being filled into plates. Taking some of the chicken and vegetables herself, Persephone took a bite and then her plate was cleaned off with gusto by the crimson-haired girl. Eyeing her enthusiasm and speed, Harry took a generous helping of steak and gravy before gulping both down at a speed similar to his sister. While certainly fast, they took care to not be a messy eater, unlike the red-haired ape on Gryffindor table, whose robe was already drenched in meat and gravy.
Soon the leftovers vanished and Treacle Tart along with Ice Cream of several flavors appeared in their plates. As they ate the ice cream in silence, Harry realised that no one from his house was speaking to them, despite the amount of chatting they were doing amongst themselves. Parkinson and Davis, the girls closest to his sister, were ignoring her presence entirely, even though she sat right in front of Davis and besides Parkinson.
His musings were cut off as a girl came up to where the first years were seated and spoke
"First Years, follow me to the Slytherin Common Room. I am the sixth year prefect Gemma Farley. Take care not to get lost, and memorise the path from the Great Hall to the common room."
All around the hall, first years were similarly getting up and following older students out of the Great Hall. Grabbing his sister's hand, Harry followed the girl, positioning both of them nearby the older student.
From the Great Hall, they took the left along with the Hufflepuff students right next to them. From the corner of his eyes, Harry could see students from both the houses pointing at him and his sister, the whispers nowhere as silent as they wished them to be.
A number of twists and turns later, the Hufflepuffs took a right at a fork, while they were led straight and downstairs. Already the temperature had started dropping due to them being underground and in the at a blank wall the prefect spoke
"This is the entrance to our Common Room. It is protected by a password and you have to take care not to speak it in another house's presence. Also, don't ever lead another student not of our house to this wall. You do that, you answer to the whole house."
"Toxins"
The wall immediately slid apart with a grinding noise, revealing a pathway leading inside the stone. Farley walked inside, the first years following her silently into the common room.
Dark and mysterious were the words that came to his mind as he saw the Slytherin Common Room. Shades of Green and Silver along with brown were everywhere. Green carpets, brown wood on silver and green sofas and tables. Silver fire braziers with green fire blazing in them.
Their seniors were all over the common room, some standing while some were sitting on the couches. And at the center of the room stood a black robed man, his stance and presence easily quelling the whispers amongst the first years while at the same time instilling an image of a man utterly strict and professional to the extreme. His greasy looking black locks falling to his neck with his pale skin, the man started speaking in the barest of whispers yet his voice echoed in their ears
"My name is Severus Snape. I am the Slytherin House' Head, and also the Potions Professor. You are all chosen to be Slytherins, and I don't want to regret any of your sortings. I care not for rule breaking, but I will certainly be displeased if you are caught during it.
Whatever the reason for your petty squabbling with each other, outside this room you are Slytherins and thus shall never stand against each other. Ambitiousness is one of the cornerstones of this house, and if any of you drop below 'Acceptable' in the inter-house rankings, then the punishment shall be severe."
With that the man left them, his sibilant words still reverberating inside their skulls. Harry was startled when Gemma Farley steeped up in front of them and spoke
"First year boys dorms are to the left of the staircase, while the girls go to the right. From the next year, all of you shall get private rooms, and thus shall be able to go up the staircase. Tomorrow morning, be present here at 8:00 AM sharp, seventh year prefects would like to talk to you before breakfast. Good night students."
With a choked throat, Harry hugged his sister goodnight, already knowing that sleep wouldn't come to him without his sister. Following the other boys in the first year dorms, Harry spotted his trunk by the bed farthest from the entrance. Malfoy, a blond haired rich boy moved to stand in front of his trunk, his two friends moving along with him while Nott and Zabini moved sideways.
Something in Malfoy's self-assured swagger and the giant boys beside him eerily reminded him of Dudley and his gang, but with reversed physiques. As they all turned towards him and smirked, Harry idly wondered whether a snake was available around here?
A big Thank you once again to Lonesith and Chronostasis for the edits. You guys are great.