Chapter 2: Hogwarts Bound, Sorting Ceremony

- July 31, 1991 -

Arthur rolled over in bed as the sun shined through his bedroom window. He was 11 years old today and thus his Hogwarts letter would arrive. His life with Hosea was better than it had been when he had been with the Dursley's. First thing to change was his name and getting his account squared away. Arthur had seen his family's account manager Ironjaw. Magically changing his name and locking everyone but him and Hosea out. He even had the Potter Heir ring on and not under a glamour. Why would he when no one thought to look at it. There had been an illegal marriage contract for him and some girl named Ginerva Weasley. That was voided and Hosea was appointed his magical guardian.

Second thing to change was that Hosea had formally adopted him. Then turned around and made him the Matthews family Heir. There was no ring because the family wasn't that old. But they had a hefty sum tied away in the vaults. On top of that Hosea and him had done a few robberies in the mundane side of things. Magic sure was useful when you didn't want to be caught. Hosea had also taught him some magic but it was mostly combat oriented. Another thing that changed was the relationship between him and Hosea. Because they knew each other before their rebirth. It made thinking and calling Hosea dad or father easy.

Sitting up in bed Arthur rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Then threw back the blanket and got out of bed. His eyes landed on the large gun cabinet that was beside his closet. Thanks to his mother's notes he was able to create guns for both him and Hosea. His own were all engraved with the same designs that were on his pistol. All were black as well simply because they looked cooler that way. Looking down at his right wrist he couldn't help but smile at the band that was there. Bloodlocked to him and heavily enchanted, it held a good portion of his arsenal of guns. He had gotten it for his tenth birthday and because Hosea didn't want him to ever be without protection.

He walked over to his full length mirror and just stared at his reflection. His sandy colored hair reached his shoulders. His bangs long enough to cover that trademark scar of his. His eyes were still their blueish green that they had been. The scars from his previous life were no more. At eleven he had more muscles than the average boy due to his time in the fields. All and all he looked like a healthy boy his age and felt it too. Turning on his feet he made his way into the bathroom and hopped into the shower. He wanted to go from a ride before they did anything away from the house.

An hour later Arthur entered the dining room where he found Hosea still working through a cup of coffee. "Morning dad." He said as he sat down at the table where his own cup of coffee was waiting as well as a plate of food. "Thank you Tilly." He said to the quiet elf that was bonded to them. She was quiet but Arthur was sure one day she would speak. Hosea had rescued her from her abusive master and bonded her to them both. Its been a solid year but she trusts them now. Arthur himself had a personal house elf named Kuro who was his silent shadow. It didn't bother him at all that the elf wanted to that devoted to him.

"Morning son." Hosea said before he yawned trying to wake up as much as possible. "Happy birthday Arthur." He pulled out the letter that had been redirected to his study. Hosea wasn't going to let anybody or anything harm Arthur, his son in all but blood. "Your letter came today so we'll be heading out after breakfast. When we get back we can go for a ride on the horses. I think it's time I let you see the ward stone and connect you to the wards that sit over the lands and this house." He then tucked the letter away and smiled fondly at his son. He was glad he still had Arthur in this life and knew the boy felt the same. He was told everything that happened after his passing. How Dutch slowly but surely went insane and how half the gang had been died off. He didn't want to believe his old friend would do that but he had to because Arthur never lied to him before.

"I have a gift for you but you won't see it until we get home." He said as he finally tucked into his own breakfast. Arthur looked up from his plate to smile at Hosea. "Alright dad. I don't want a pet this year but I may want one next year. Just depends on whatever happens this year." Arthur frowned as he tapped his fork on the plate for a moment. "Do you think Professor Snape will continue to speak to me while I'm at Hogwarts?" He had been in constant contact with the potions master while living with Hosea. Thanks to his mother's journal he had learned a lot about the man. And he wanted to continue the slight friendship that was built between them.

"I think he will since he knows you look nothing like your parents. And that you aren't a massive bully like your father had been." Arthur winced at that knowing his father had been horrible as a child. "True, I was thinking of inviting him here for the holidays." Arthur said as he polished off his breakfast and then pushed his empty plate away. Then gripped his mug firmly hoping the warmth will chase away the cold he felt. He was nervous not that he would ever show it much. Hosea was the only one who could read him like an open book. They had known each other for 33 years in their previous life. And for another five in this life as well making it a total of 38 years.

Hosea looked at his son and frowned as he tried to figure out why. And then it dawned on him as he smiled softly. "Let me guess he reminds you of a better version of Dutch doesn't he?" Dutch was one man Arthur had always looked up to. Had done his best to make Dutch proud of him. He may have helped Dutch raise him but it was Dutch who guided the molded that potential that sat inside Arthur. "Yeah he does but in this case it's clear to me that Severus is more subtle and more guarded. Dutch always had these grand schemes but Severus isn't like that. He's got no real goal planned out to reach just surviving." Arthur said as he slowly drank his coffee. Hosea nodded and polished off his own breakfast.

- September 1, 1991 -

The platform was noisy as it filled with children and their parents. Arthur dusted his clothes down to rid himself of the ashes from the fireplace. His time spent between his birthday and now was fun. His supplies were bought and he had enjoyed his gift from Hosea. He had gotten him a black Pegasus Stallion who adored him as much as he adored it. He had named him Lucifer because he felt like his pegasus deserved a powerful name. Dark or not it was a powerful name and his pegasus seemed to have liked it. He had enjoyed the thrill of both flying and racing across the fields on the back of his stallion.

Stepping onto the train Arthur found a compartment that was empty. He looked around and ran a hand through his hair. Thanks to the band on his right wrist he was armed to the teeth. Slipping the satchel off his shoulders he sat down and opened it up. All his things were in there including his trunk. So he didn't need to keep it out in the open even if it was bloodlocked to him alone. He pulled out a book and settled in for the long ride to Hogwarts. He didn't like this part but Hosea said it was tradition. So he had to put up with the long ride with only his books as company.

Two hours into the train ride Arthur heard his compartment door open. Looking up from his book he saw a girl that was a bit older than him. She had black hair and warm brown eyes. "Hello...mind if I join you?" Arthur smiled and motioned with his hand. A child he may be here but he was always a gentleman when the situation called for it. "I don't mind ma'am." He tipped his head a bit hating the fact he couldn't wear his cowboy hat. He had brought anyways but didn't want to upset folks for wearing it on the train. The girl stepped inside and sat across from him. "Penelope Clearwater, what's your name?"

Arthur closed his book and slipped it into his satchel. "Arthur Morgan, nice to meet you Penelope." He looked every inch the cowboy he was but without his hat. Luckily his clothes were mage of the most durable material the wizarding world could offer. Money was of no issue for him or Hosea since they started robbing and investing. Perks of being outlaws was that they had a fine tuned sense of who makes the most money. He couldn't wait for the holiday so he could coax Severus into the world of outlaws. He had this feeling Severus would enjoy it the way that he and Hosea do.

His left hand ran through his hair again accidentally uncovering his trademark scar. "Arthur Morgan or Harry Potter? That scars says your Harry Potter but you look nothing like what everyone believes you to look like." He raised a brow at her and smirked as he crossed his legs at the ankles. "Ah now that is easily answered Penelope. I am Harry Potter but that hasn't been my name for as long as I can remember. Magically it was changed to Arthur Morgan. Maybe one day you'll know why that is. As for my looks according to my mother's journal I slowly changed over the course of my first year of life." He wouldn't go spilling all his secrets but this wasn't technically a secret. He had made sure if anyone went looking that would find the facts.

"Makes sense. So what house do you think you'll be placed in?" She asked him as she too got comfortable. To her Arthur fit more than Harry did and judging by how he acted he thought so too. "My surrogate father thinks I'll fit more in with either Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. I agreed with him because while I love learning and love books. Loyalty is a big thing for me as is family. I am not reckless nor dumb enough for Gryffindor. I can be subtle and cunning if I had to be but my father told me what Slytherin is really about. So I don't want to be placed in there if I can help it."

Penelope was shocked that such a young man could break down his own self in such a manner. One would have to know themselves completely to understand what each trait really means. "Everyone will expect you to be in Gryffindor like your parents. But I can see you being in either Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff." He snorted and leaned against the window. "My mother was actually able to pick her house. According to her journal she fit well for any of the houses. She picked Gryffindor because the morals her father instilled in her. She would have gone to Slytherin but because of her mundane family she wouldn't have been welcomed."

"That I can understand. Slytherin used to be a great house before the dark lord came into the picture. Now its looked down upon and it's kind of upsetting." Penelope sighed as she rubbed her face before looking out the window. "One day I hope Slytherin gets a brighter future without so much hate." He tilted his head and frowned. "I agree, one day maybe that will happen." He was enjoying her company so he resolved to be her friend. No matter what house he was in he would try and make time for her. Not that she knew that at the moment.

Through the whole ride Arthur and Penelope talked. She had become his first friend here followed by a clumsy girl name Tonks. Penelope had calmly told him her first name and he learned she hated her name. Thus telling him to call her Tonks instead. Now he was walking through the halls with the other first years. The boat ride wasn't that interesting and Arthur wasn't all that impressed with the castle. It was beautiful yes but sadly it wasn't awe inspiring like the others thought.

They entered the great hall and he took this moment to let his eyes wander. Over at the table in blue he could see Penelope. While at the yellow one he could see Tonks. The head table was up on a stage and he saw the Headmaster in a golden throne. He thought that was kind of stupid as it made it far too intimidating for a student to go up and speak to a professor. Professor McGonagall had pulled out a stool and placed a hat on it. Then it began singing and Arthur had to keep himself from cringing at how horrible it sounded.

Once the song was over she started calling names. "Abbott, Hannah!" A girl with light brown hair in pigtails walked up and sat down. "Hufflepuff!" The hat shouted after a few seconds. On and on it went until finally it reached his name. "Morgan, Arthur!" He walked up the steps of the stage and sat down on the stool. The hat was soon placed on his head and he had to keep himself from reacting. "You aren't all that difficult to sort are you? You aren't the only rebirthed soul to come into these halls. You know yourself better than any of these children here. While you could fit into any of the houses I believe you'll do better in... Hufflepuff!" The hat shouted before the hat was lifted from his head.

Arthur joined his fellow badgers and ended up sitting next to Tonks. He would have to write Hosea and tell him about the sorting. The rest of the sorting was kind of boring for him. The announcements were a bit odd to say the least but finally the food arrived and his was more on the healthy side. He really had to thank Kuro for making sure he got the proper nutrition here. Arthur had no doubt his time here at Hogwarts would be filled with interesting challenges.

This one was rushed a bit as well. A lot of the canon stuff won't happen here in this story of mine. And I have hinted that Severus Snape will be a good guy in this story. A hint about who is going to be bashed in this story.

I'm going to break down each year into two or three chapters. Classes will be different because in this story they will be ten times better. Arthur has become friends with Nymphadora (3rd year Hufflepuff) and Penelope (5th year Ravenclaw). I chose to make them like that because I wanted something different for my story.

I've narrowed down my preferences for Arthur. So if anyone wants to vote on them then pm me. They are Amelia Bones, Penelope Clearwater, Bellatrix LeStrange and Narcissa Malfoy. I chose older girls because Arthur is technically a 33 year old man in the body of an 11 year old. Third year is when he'll start noticing them in a more attractive light. So he'll be more inclined to court or at least build towards a relationship with his love interest.

Happy reading and don't be afraid to review! I'll be working on each chapter as best as I can. I'm not sure how often I'll be posting them right now. My aunt has to have hip surgery and so I'll be pretty busy taking care of her and the house. I'll still get the chapters out don't worry.

Thank you all who have favorited and followed this story as well as to oddfugh for your wonderful review!