"Why do I have to do this?" Harry whined for the millionth time. "I live at Hogwarts. In my own room I don't have to share."

People nearby on the crowded platform were all trying to listen without seeming like they were eavesdropping. Everybody always loved information on Harry. When Sirius had taken Harry to Diagon Alley for his school supplies there was a crowd of reporters and paparazzi waiting to ask questions and take pictures as he went shop to shop. Undoubtedly some of those same reporters were on the platform somewhere.

Harry never seemed to know how to respond to the attention. On one hand, Sirius could tell that Harry liked the reminder that he was special. But on the other, Harry had lived a fairly secluded childhood and was naturally shy around strangers.

"I've already explained this to you," Sirius said. Both he and Dumbledore agreed that Harry would be treated like a normal student. That meant sleeping in the dorms and riding the Hogwarts Express to his first day of school. "Are you excited at least? Now you get to learn magic all the time."

"I'm going to be just like mom and dad." Harry was bouncing up and down in anticipation of constant magic lessons.

Sirius sighed and pulled Harry off to a slightly quieter corner, crouching down so he was eye level with his godson. Sirius realized Harry must have started his first growth spurt. He used to have to bend down further. "Listen, Harry. This is a talk I should have had with you a long time ago."

"What?" Harry's head was tilted slightly and his mouth a puzzled frown.

"I loved your mom and dad as much as anybody," Sirius said, holding back two tears that threatened to form. Even after eleven years, he still cried at night sometimes. "But they're gone now. And as much as I wish your father would walk into the stands if you're Seeker for Gryffindor, or that your mother would be at your graduation if you're first in your class, they won't. You can't be exactly like both of them."

Harry was starting to cry now too. "But I want to."

"Somewhere your parents are watching hoping you'll grow up to be unique like only you can be. And they know just like I do that whatever you'll do, you're going to be something special at it."

By now Harry was full on crying so Sirius wrapped him up in a hug. "But I want to," he repeated. "If I'm like them then…" His voice trailed off into sobs.

"If you are exactly like your parents, then the world would be blessed for it. But it'll be an even better place if you do what you want to do."

Harry slowly stopped crying. "Ok. I'll think about it."

Sirius patted him on the back. "You do that. Right now, get on that train and go to Hogwarts."

"Where I was two days ago," Harry grumbled under his breath.

The platform was reaching max capacity as Sirius shouldered a way to the train. Families were saying goodbye, muggleborn first years were looking around in wonder with their parents, students were double checking they had everything they needed. Sirius gave Harry one last hug before he boarded the train. "I'll miss you kiddo," Sirius said.

"I heard you talk to grandfather about how you'll finally get to go on vacation now," Harry said accusingly.

Sirius laughed. "Well I suppose there's that, but I'll miss you on vacation. Good luck at Hogwarts."

"I'll make my own luck," Harry said confidently.

"Darn right you will. Alright, go find a place to sit."

The train was already mostly full as Harry looked for a compartment to sit in. Most everyone second year and up already had their friend group to sit with, but eventually Harry spotted a distinctive mop of ginger hair sitting alone. Sirius had fought in the war with Ron's parents, so they had already met a few times and Harry liked him fine.

Ron seemed surprised as Harry walked in. "Why are you on the train? Everyone says you live at Hogwarts all the time."

"I live at Hogwarts half of the time," Harry corrected. "And both grandfather and Sirius are making me ride the train."

Ron scrunched his face up. "I thought my parents mentioned a few times that your grandparents got dragonbox during the war and died."

"Dumbledore's my grandfather," Harry explained. "Well, he's not my real grandfather but he helps raise me and he's old so I call him that."

Wonder seeped into Ron's face as Harry talked. "You call the greatest wizard in a thousand years grandfather?"

Harry shrugged awkwardly as he put his trunk above his seat. "Well, yeah. I do."

Ron looked like his favorite Quidditch team had just won the league. Harry remembered it was the Chudley Cannons for some reason. "That's bloody amazing! Does he teach you magic?"

At this point Harry was starting to get uncomfortable. His friends at the ICW school all knew he was raised by Dumbledore and was learning some magic early, but they all knew him since he was little and had just learned to accept it. Of his pre-Hogwarts friends, only Eddie Carmichael was also going to Hogwarts, and he was a year older. Santiago was Spanish, and Enzo was Italian. He didn't know anyone else in his own year at Hogwarts very well.

"I get a few lessons," Harry said, deliberately downplaying as much as possible. "Not very much."

He was saved from Ron's response by the compartment door opening. A very pale boy with slick black hair stepped inside. Behind him were two heavyset boys that might have been twins. "They say Harry Potter is in here." His eyes passed over Ron but locked into Harry. "You're him."

"I'm me," Harry agreed. "Who are you?"

"These are my friends Crabbe and Goyle," the boy said, gesturing to the boys behind him. The trolls only grunted. "And I'm Draco Malfoy. I thought I'd take the time to introduce myself." He held out his right hand for a handshake.

Harry didn't take it. "I know you. You're father's trying to take the Black Heirship away from me."

Draco's face grew angry as he let his hand drop. "You're no Black," he spat. "My mother is. It should be me."

"My godfather disagrees," Harry said calmly. "What your father thinks doesn't matter."

"I came over here to introduce myself and you insult my family. It's been two years and the blood traitor still can't get the vote he needs. Just you see, I'll be Lord Black one day," Draco vowed before slamming the door shut behind him.

Both remaining boys were silent for a moment. "My father hates Malfoy too. Now I see why."

Harry sat down next to Ron. "Sirius says Lucius Malfoy is the worst person in the Wizengamot."

Ron nodded. "Sirius Black is in the same party as my father. I have older brothers so I don't get taught much about family politics but I know a few things."

Harry saw an opportunity to really break the ice here. "I bet that leaves more time for Quidditch though."

"I love Quidditch," Ron said excitedly. "I'm a Cannons fan, remember?"

"Yeah I remember," Harry said with a laugh. "And I still feel sorry for you."

Ron's face got serious. "We've won our last two games, this could be our season. Just you wait, Lobeski is going to take over the league."

Now Harry was laughing harder. "Lobeski got two lucky catches, that doesn't make him a superstar."

For a while the boys occupied themselves with Quidditch talk. Partway through a lady came by with a sweets cart and Harry bought some of his favorites. After seeing Ron forlornly pull out corned beef sandwiches he bought more for his new friend.

They were talking about what chocolate cards were missing from their collections when the door opened again and a bushy haired girl Harry didn't recognize walked in. "Have you seen a toad? Neville's missing his."

At the name "Neville" both Harry and Ron perked up and peered around Hermione. Neville waved from just outside the compartment. "Hi guys," the awkward boy said.

Both Harry and Ron had met Neville a few times. His parents had been tortured to insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange, so he was raised by his grandmother, an avid Dumbledore supporter. "Hi," Ron said. "I didn't know you had a toad."

"My grandma said that if I can be responsible with a toad then she'll get me an owl," the pudgy boy said miserably. "But he wriggled out of my hands."

"There hasn't been a toad in here," Harry said, looking at Ron for confirmation.

"Sorry mate," Ron said, shrugging.

It was then that Hermione saw Harry's scar. "You're Harry Potter! Did you know you're in Modern Magical History and Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts?"

"Yes, I know facts about myself," Harry said irritably.

"What's it like being the only person to ever survive the killing curse?" the tactless girl asked.

"I'd rather had my parents back," he said bitterly.

Hermione didn't seem to know how to take that. "Oh right. I'm sorry." She turned around to look back at Neville. "Trevor's somewhere else."

After they were gone Ron scooched over so he was sitting next to Harry. "My parents tell us stories about your blokes sometimes. Said they were the best."

Harry nodded his head but continued staring off into space. "Yeah, people tell me stuff too."

Ron and Harry spent the rest of the ride eating the remaining candy and talking about Hogwarts. Harry had to reassure Ron that the Sorting Ceremony didn't include wrestling a troll like his twin brothers said.

Eventually, older students with prefect badges on their shoulders started walking up and down the train. "Put your uniforms on," they said. "Remember, leave your luggage. All possessions will be brought to your dorm."

Harry was excited as he put on his robes. For as long as he could remember, he had seen Hogwarts students. Now, he was one. He and Ron had talked about what Houses they thought they'd be Sorted into. Ron was nervous he wouldn't get into Gryffindor like the rest of his family. "Where else might you go?" Harry had asked.

"Not Slytherin," the redhead had said vehemently. "And I'm not smart enough to be in Ravenclaw. But it'd be just my luck to go to Hufflepuff."

"Hufflepuff wouldn't be so bad," Harry said. "They're nice."

Ron shook his head. "Fred and George would never let me forget it. 'Little Ronnie, the only one not to get in Gryffindor.'"

Harry didn't know exactly where he wanted to be. Not Slytherin, most of Voldemort's Death Eaters had been from Slytherin. Dumbledore had gone to great lengths to remind Harry that not every Slytherin was a Death Eater, and that not every Death Eater was a Slytherin, but most were. Ravenclaw would be nice, he'd be with other people that love to learn. Gryffindor was where his parents and their friends were from, and nobody had anything against Hufflepuff.

Once off the train, Hagrid's booming voice caught everyone's attention. "Firs' years, firs' years with me."

"Hi Hagrid," Harry said as he walked up.

"Ahh, 'arry there you are. And you, red 'air, freckles, must be a Weasley." Ron nodded. "'Ow many more of ye are there?"

"Just my little sister," Ron told the massive groundskeeper. "I'm the youngest son."

Harry knew that the first years entered the castle by some other way then the carriages, but nobody had ever told him, saying it was a surprise. So, he was as surprised as everyone else when Hagrid led them to a fleet of little boats.

The castle was hidden from view by trees around a bend in the Black Lake when Harry and Ron climbed into a boat with Hermione and Neville, who was clutching a toad firmly in his pudgy hands.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called out as he claimed one for himself. "Everyone settled in? Yes? Then FORWARD!"

The boats all glided off the bank simultaneously and smoothly began traveling across the water, despite the fact that there were no oars to row. The first years were all talking excitingly, craning to get a view of the castle over the trees. "I can't tell if I'm dreaming," Hermione said. As a muggleborn, this must be all the more special for her.

After a minute the lead boats in the fleet rounded the corner, putting the castle in view. The students in them started cheering and clapping excitingly. As the rest of the boats came into view, each student lent their voice to the ruckus until the entire class of witches and wizards was giving Hogwarts a sitting ovation.

Harry sighed as he felt the magic imbued in Hogwarts all around him. It was present throughout the grounds but strongest around the castle itself. Whenever he felt it, he knew he was home.

"It's magnificent," Hermione said in delight.

"Better than the stories," Ron agreed.

"It's good to be home," Harry said. He failed to notice the odd looks that classmates within earshot gave him. A few whispered to fellow first years in their boats.

The first years were practically bouncing up and down with excitement as the boats docked at a boathouse Harry had never found in his years of exploration. They were then led up so many flights of stairs it felt like Hagrid was leading them all up a tower. The portraits waved hello and talked as the first years passed by. Several called out Harry specifically, which set off more rounds of whispering each time.

Several flights up Harry recognized where they were and could have led his classmates the rest of the way himself. Eventually Hagrid stopped them in front of McGonagall in the chamber outside the Great Hall.

She gave a whole spiel about Houses being family at Hogwarts and some basic instructions before going back into the Great Hall to make sure everything was in order.

While they were waiting, ghosts started gliding through the walls. "Ahh, a new batch of students," the Fat Friar said. "I'm sure the future Hufflepuffs in you will bring pride to our House."

The Bloody Baron chose then to make his entrance, cackling wildly as he swung his blood-stained sword over the students. "Oh stop that," Nearly Headless Nick chided. "You're scaring the kids."

"I didn't know ghosts were real," whispered somebody behind Harry. Probably a muggleborn.

"Not many people become ghosts," a girl who looked to have Indian heritage said. "I've never seen one before." Harry struggled to remember what Sirius had told him of an Indian immigrant who had risen to lead a party in the Wizengamot. This might be his daughter.

"How does somebody become a ghost?" Hermione asked.

"Ask them," somebody else replied. "We're not dead yet."

The doors reopened and McGonagall stepped through. "Follow me."

The first years "oohed" and "aahed" and pointed up at the enchanted ceiling as they walked to the front. Harry had to admit the spectacle held up even when you'd grown up with it, especially on a clear night. Some looked around nervously at the older students and the teachers at the head table.

Harry had seen the Sorting Hat sit on a shelf in his grandfather's office for as long as he could remember, but it had never spoken. He was just as delighted as everyone else as a face formed in the folds and it broke out into song.

"Abbot, Hannah," McGonagall called out. Hannah was a little shaky as she walked up to stand on the stool, but perhaps thirty seconds later the hat shouted "HUFFLEPUFF," a table of students with yellow highlights on their uniforms cheered, and the next person was called.

Most of the Sorting Ceremony was a bit of a blur for Harry. He paid minimal attention to most students being sorted, lost in his own thoughts. He did notice when Hermione was sorted into Gryffindor because Ron groaned and muttered "Know it all." Clearly Ron didn't realize that Harry knew much more than Hermione.

After the Patil twins were sorted, McGonagall said "Potter, Harry," and it was his turn. Whispers broke out around the hall as he walked up.

"I heard Dumbledore's training him," one person whispered.

"He's supposed to have insane magical power," said another.

Harry smirked as Dumbledore gave him a wink. They were more right than they knew.

Well now here is a familiar face. Mr. Potter, your sorting at last. From the people who went before him, Harry knew that only he could hear the telepathic words.

Can you hear me?

Perfectly clear Mr. Potter. Now, let's see here. Oh my, that is quite a lot of ambition. You have the drive to do great things.

That sounded like Harry was about to be sorted into Slytherin. Not Slytherin, please not slytherin.

No? You can be great, and Slytherin could help you on the way to greatness. Still no? Well perhaps not. More than a few people today I've sorted bear you a specific animosity and most went to Slytherin.

Death Eaters?

Jealous. Purebloods get so prickly sometimes. Slytherin is a fallen House these days. The more who avoid it, the more desperate Slytherins get. You could go a long way to restoring it to glory.

Not Slytherin.

Well then we'll look elsewhere. Ravenclaw perhaps? I see this is more amiable to you. Such thirst for knowledge. But this knowledge is a means to an end instead of the end itself. If you want to be a hero, stand brave in the face of danger then you better follow your parents to GRYFFINDOR!

The Gryffindor table cheered, half of its students rising to their feet. Twins that could only be Ron's older brothers clapped him on the back as he walked to take a spot. The boy prefect for Gryffindor made room for him to sit. "I'm Trevor Burnsworth," the prefect said as he shook Harry's hand. "Glad to have you."

There were few names left after Harry. Ron was sorted into Gryffindor and sat down next to Harry after being congratulated by his brothers. When Blaise Zabini sat down at Slytherin, Dumbledore rose to say a few words.

The elderly wizard surveyed faces new and old on the benches. This was one of his favorite days of the year. The hall quieted quickly. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" He sat down without any further explanation.

"His brilliance has driven him mad," a Ravenclaw said at the next table over. Harry shook his head and laughed softly. His grandfather could be quite mad sometimes.

Harry was used to Hogwarts house elf cooking, but not at this quantity. There was always something more to try, and after all of it disappeared there were deserts. If Harry had known deserts were coming he would have saved more room but as it was he could only eat a few treacle tarts without becoming sick. Somehow Ron; who had eaten just as much, was able to consume a full slice of chocolate cake, a tart, and pudding.

While Harry had basically lived at the castle part time for years, the only dorms he knew the location of were Hufflepuffs. The entrance was close enough to the kitchens that he saw students heading to and leaving the same location when he went to get snacks. Gryffindor's dorms proved to be in a tower rather close to the faculty tower where Harry's private room was. Harry even recognized the portrait guarding it, though he obviously hadn't known the Fat Lady was Gryffindor's guard.

The common room seemed like a cozy place to cuddle up, even if there was rather limited seating around the fire, but most students were too full of food and content to do anything but sleep. First years were directed to their dorms, where any possessions left on the train had been placed on everybody's new beds. Harry yawned and levitated his case under the bed after grabbing his pajamas without really thinking about it. His four dorm mates watched wide-eyed as he casually performed magic they hadn't been taught yet.

"Night guys," Harry said after he changed into his pajamas. This year was going to be great.

Alright guys, a slightly longer chapter. Harry is a bit of a celebrity already and classes haven't even started.

Next chapter, Sirius talks politics with his godson. And guys, sorry but I'm not adding Hermione in as a final love interest. Like Hermione, just don't feel like her here. Doesn't mean she won't be in the story.