Chapter 7: Welcome to Hogwarts!

He felt his feet stumble when the train's engine roared to life, whistle hollered, and tracks began moving. He steadied himself with a hand on the mottled cream-coloured walls of the carriage as he stared at the moving mass of black robes shuffling in and out of the rooms. Baggages as tall as him were dragged, tossed, and otherwise crammed through thresholds as his fellow students rushed to find empty spaces in compartments. Some were pulled in by eager friends. Others approached the minutes-long tenants of compartments tentatively to ask for permission to bunk in with them. He heard an owl hoot. He reached down to pet it, stroking its feathers as gingerly as he could given the circumstances.

"Sorry Hedwig, I'm trying to spot Arthur," Harry told his avian companion.

He received a peck from Hedwig in return. A signal that she'd be patient, but not for long.

He lugged his trunk and cage behind him as he walked down the carriage's hallway, peeking into rooms with their doors still open in hopes of finding his redheaded friend. He spotted familiar faces from the playground but he couldn't place a name to any of them.

"Harry!" he heard Arthur cry out.

He looked up and squinted. Four rooms down was Arthur's head poking out of a doorway, beckoning him by motioning his arm.

"Harry! Get over here!" Arthur shouted down the hallway again.

Harry felt a couple stares fix themselves on him, having apparently become the object of people's attention thanks to Arthur's yelling. He quickly made to shuffle his way to Arthur, excusing himself often as he, or his trunk, bumped into others.

Arthur stepped out of the room as Harry neared, helping the bespectacled boy with the cumbersome luggage. "Sorry it's all the way back here… It was the only empty one I could find."

"That's alright, at least we got a room. Have you seen Bella anywhere?" Harry asked.

Arthur shrugged his shoulders, "Haven't seen her."

The pair of boys shifted Harry's onto the overhead storage, and placed Hedwig's cage on the seat, near the window as they cracked a slight gap to let some fresh air in. Harry thought he heard a familiar laugh coming up the hallway. He snuck a peek since the room's door wasn't closed and he saw a handsome boy with black hair and sharp features engaged in a loud and boisterous conversation with someone who looked just like himself.

' That's Sirius… And me?' Harry thought, puzzled.

"Come on Potter, you can't believe the Harpies will win next season do you?" Harry heard Sirius say to the boy next to him.

The silent and horrifying realisation had dawned on Harry. The tall boy with the messy, slightly styled black hair and warm hazel eyes was none other than his own father, James Potter. He saw Sirius do a double take as he passed the door, peering in.

Harry quickly turned to face out the window, desperately wanting to avoid any interaction with Sirius and his father. He gulped in anticipation.

"Hey Har-" Arthur started while he was rummaging through his baggage. He was promptly cut off by a loud throat clearing from Harry. He raised an eyebrow as he looked back and found Harry gazing into the distance from the window.

"Let's go Black, room's taken," James said, ushering Sirius forward.

"Any mountains caught your fancy Harry?" Arthur asked, "Looking to be the first wizard to climb Everest?"

"Shut it Arthur… Just didn't want them to see me that's all," Harry replied brusquely.

"And why not?" a third voice asked from the doorway.

Harry and Arthur jumped in their skins.

"Don't scare us like that!" Arthur yelled.

"Bella! We didn't see you at the station," Harry greeted.

"My family insisted on having a 'private' send off with a couple other families. I have been looking for Harry since I got on," Bellatrix explained. She tossed a trunk into the room and sat down near Hedwig's cage.

"Be big strong boys and help me with that will you?" Bellatrix gestured to the trunk with her foot.

"We're not house-elves! Do it yourself you spoiled brat!" Arthur fumed.

Bellatrix looked at Harry with pleading eyes. Harry grinned but shook his head in the negative.

She huffed as she stood and hauled the trunk up.

"Some fantastic henchman you turned out to be…" she whined as she lugged the front half of the trunk onto a bent knee to gain some leverage.

"Right hand men are supposed to advise, leave the lifting to the minions," quipped Harry.

"I haven't got any minions yet, so you're supposed to fill that role," she said slightly breathlessly as she heaved the baggage up, waddling slightly as she delicately balanced the weight over the lip of the storage.

Harry pointed to Arthur, "There's the minion right there."

"Oi, leave me out of your dark wizard fantasies. I'm a future quidditch champion I'll have you know," Arthur turned his nose up at the verbal jab.

The two boys giggled as they watched Bellatrix collapse into her seat with heavy breaths.

"You didn't want to sit with your cousin Sirius?" Arthur asked.

Bellatrix rolled her eyes, "Pah! I'd sooner travel with a banshee than him."

She sat upright with a renewed vigor, "Speaking of which! Why'd you not want to sit with Sirius?"

Harry wilted under her scrutiny. Arthur certainly hadn't helped by joining her in staring at him expectantly.

"Well… I… Um…" Harry adjusted his collar.

"Hmm?" Bellatrix stared him down. He could see the faintest of up turns the corner of her lips made, despite the stern look. She was enjoying making him squirm.

Harry breathed a sigh, "Fine, I'll tell the truth…"

Bellatrix adopted a wicked grin. And so did Arthur.

"I wanted to save a space for you actually… I was hoping you'd pass by since I hadn't seen you in other cabins yet," Harry innocently lied through the skin of his teeth to Bellatrix, staring into her grey eyes with his own emerald green ones, praying that she'd fall for his ruse.

Arthur looked on with a slack jaw. He'd been stunned by his friend's sincere dishonesty.

Bellatrix crossed her arms and stuck her chin up with a triumphant "Hmph!"

"Looks like you're learning how to be a good henchman after all! A loyal lieutenant! Oh this will be just like those plays Mother brings us to watch!" Bellatrix exclaimed loudly, humming to herself from whatever mental victory she deemed the occasion to be.

Arthur leaned to Harry while Bellatrix hummed to herself haughtily to whisper, "Whatever the reason was, I don't need to hear it. Bloody good save mate."

Harry whispered back, "I can't believe it worked either…"

They were interrupted by a small knock on the door. They turned to see a blonde young girl, around their age. She had a trunk by her side as well. She had brown eyes, a round face and soft features, with flushed cheeks that stood out from her otherwise pale complexion. Her hair was short, at only about chin length and cut in a neat bob with bangs. She was only an inch or so shorter than Harry.

"Pardon me, but is there room for one more? Everywhere else is full…" Her voice was soft but high pitched. She dawdled with her fingers slightly as she asked. Her gaze skittered between Arthur and Harry with a semblance of hope, but never settled on Bellatrix, as if she was trying to avoid looking at her.

Harry turned to see Bellatrix with a rather sour expression on her face. Her brows were furrowed and whatever jovial mood she had been in previously evaporated. Grey eyes devoid of warmth, much like her father's, stared at the blonde girl in the doorway.

"I-if it's full that's alright too I guess… I'll try and find another cabin…" she made to turn away.

"Wait! We have space… You can come in," Harry called out.

"Yeah! Plenty!" Arthur stood up and walked over to her, helping her haul in the trunk she had.

"I think we're pretty low on space as is," Bellatrix's even voice cut through cleanly, "Go find another cabin."

"Bella! There's enough space for her, don't be difficult!" Harry chided as he got up to help the blonde girl with her trunk as well.

"Tch! Can't even carry your own baggage Alice?" Bellatrix crossed her legs and arms as she turned to face out the window.

Alice grimaced at the comment and drooped her head low, but didn't respond to her.

"Don't be mean Bellatrix. If you knew her already why didn't you just say so?" Arthur said as he and Harry helped Alice place the trunk in the overhead storage.

Bellatrix turned further, giving a literal cold shoulder to the group, "Don't get too comfortable talking to me that way, Weasley."

"Why I oughta…" Arthur gripped a small cauldron he was helping Alice with tightly.

"Knock it off! Both of you!" Harry nearly shouted. He sighed and gestured for Alice and Arthur to both take a seat opposite him and Bellatrix.

Alice bowed her head slightly, extending a hand to Harry, "I'm Alice. Alice Paddlebrim. Thank you for having me here."

Harry shook her hand, "Harry Potter. Pleased to meet you."

She introduced herself to Arthur and shook his head as well.

Arthur peeked at the stormy Bellatrix and asked Alice softly, "How did you meet her?"

"We used to play together at the playground near Gringotts," Alice softly answered.

Harry sighed in realisation. The day he met Bellatrix at the playground was the same day she'd been shunned by the group of kids Alice was playing with prior.

Alice and Arthur struck up their own quiet conversation. Harry was left with the unenviable task of chatting to the angry Bellatrix.

He shook her shoulder, "Bella"

"Hmph!" She turned her shoulder away defiantly.

Harry bit his lip in frustration. He tried again, "Bella?"

"Go away," was the reply he received.

He sighed and quietly asked, "What's wrong?"

Bellatrix turned to peek at him, before huffing and turning away again, "I guess her trunk's so much heavier than mine?"

Harry was confused, "What are you talking about?"

"You can help her with the bag, but you can't help me?" she accused.

Harry was astounded by her pettiness, but in an effort to broker the peace, he couldn't let it show.

"Bella, she had trouble even lifting the thing through the door frame. She'd have been squashed trying to put it up on her own…" Harry reasoned.

Bellatrix stayed coldly silent.

Harry sighed and rubbed his temples while she was turned away, "Besides, she's not as strong as you… She could never do it on her own, unlike you."

The praise had the effect Harry intended. She nodded for him to continue.

"And even if she miraculously could, I don't think she'd look as… graceful… doing it as you did," Harry really laid it on thick. Bellatrix turned to look at him finally.

"You know I prefer playing with you than anyone else too," Harry said.

Bellatrix gave a firm nod and smiled, "Good! Remember that!"

He rolled his eyes, "You are simply unbelievable…"

"Um… Bellatrix," Alice cut in.

Harry and Bellatrix turned to see the girl leaning forward in her seat. Bellatrix wasn't too pleased with having to look at her but gave a small nod for her to continue.

"I'm sorry… about what happened at the playground… I hope we can be friends again in Hogwarts?" Alice said.

Bellatrix's breath hitched. She gulped and looked towards Harry for some guidance. Harry gave her a small but encouraging nod. She pursed her lips and closed her eyes.

"Fine… I'll accept the apology Paddlebrim," Bellatrix told her.

Arthur cleared his throat.

"...And I'm sorry I was being difficult…" She added on between gritted teeth.

Alice giggled, "Thank you Bellatrix… Have you thought about where you'd like to be sorted?"

Bellatrix stared back at Alice as if she'd asked a question with the most obvious answer in the world, "Slytherin. No exceptions."

Alice swallowed a little before turning to Arthur, "W-what about you Arthur?"

Arthur stuck a fist over his heart in an exaggerated manner, "Gryffindor! Proud and noble!"

"I can't see anything you'd be proud of yourself for…" Bellatrix quietly commented.

"I'm sorry if our robes don't shine from daddy's money," Arthur riposted.

"What about you Alice?" Harry cut in, putting a conversational barrier to the two's animosity.

"My friends seem to think I'll be a Hufflepuff… But, I really hope I'll be a Gryffindor too," Alice confessed.

"Why so?" Arthur broke his staring contest to ask.

Alice fidgeted in her seat, looking towards her clasped hands, "I… I really look up to Albus Dumbledore… A-and I want to be taught by him!"

Arthur smiled, "With a passion like that, I'm sure you'll end up in Gryffindor. Do you like quidditch?"

"Don't scare her with the Chudley Cannons Arthur," Harry added.

Arthur stuck his tongue out at Harry in defiance.

"Oh!" Alice exclaimed as she turned to Harry.

"I'm sorry Harry, I forgot to ask you! Where would you like to be sorted to?" Alice asked.

Bellatrix and Arthur had their sights firmly set on Harry.

"I haven't given it much thought to be honest," Harry said non-committedly.

It was a brazen lie. To himself moreso than the others. The thought had been eating away at him for the previous few days. On one hand, he'd love to end up in Gryffindor where he could play quidditch with Arthur to his heart's content. On the other hand, Bellatrix had heaped her expectations of a right hand man onto him so much that he didn't think she'd forgive him if he went the opposite way.

He saw Arthur and Bellatrix were both about to unleash a verbal tirade about how he should be more serious about his life and about joining their house over the other. Harry couldn't understand the importance of it. It was nothing more than just who you'd be bunking in with, and who you'd be taking classes with. You could still be friends any other time. He was saved by the sharp tinkle of a bell.

"Pumpkin pasties! Sausage rolls! Chocolate frogs!" he heard a lady call out in front of their door, the jangling of the trolley accompanied her calls of various confectionaries.

He bolted out of his seat, reaching into his robe pockets to pull out a coin pouch, "Anyone wants some too?"

As eager as his friends were to grill him over his housing choice, they too were distracted by the allure of sugary goods.

"Chocolate frog for me!" Arthur said.

"Pumpkin juice, and a jam roll," Bellatrix added.

"Cauldron cake please Harry, thank you!" Alice asked.

Harry gave a nod, feeling his tensed shoulders relax as he stepped out of the room. The sweets trolley from Honey Dukes seems to have saved his hide this time, distracting them long enough that they would let the question go. But he didn't want to spend too long in the hallway either. He didn't know how he'd react to meeting his would-be father at this point in time.

'Does that mean mum is here too?' Harry thought to himself. A shiver ran down his spine. Logically, he knew they would never know who he really was. But the reality that he could see his parents in more than just faded photograph weighed on him heavily. These were the people Harry spent sizable portions of his nights dreaming about meeting. And now that it was a reality, he was unsure if he could handle it. Would they like him? Would they find him disappointing?

"Dear, are you alright?" the trolley lady asked.

Harry snapped back to a normal state. He swallowed the lump in his throat and cleared it.

"Sorry Miss, I had a hard time deciding what I want… Could I get two chocolate frogs, a jam roll, a cauldron cake, and a pumpkin juice please?" Harry listed out as he opened his coin purse.

-.-.-.-

"Say James, you wouldn't know a 'Harry' in your family tree would you?" Sirius asked in between bites of a licorice wand.

James Potter let out a loud belch and wiped his mouth, the crumbs of a cauldron cake still settled in his laps, "No, not that I know of. Why'd you ask?"

Sirius shrugged, "My cousin's friends with one Harry Potter, so I figured I might ask."

"Harry Potter? Never heard of a cousin named Harry… He might come from a muggle Potter family, it's not an uncommon surname for muggles either," James scratched his scalp as he struggled to remember if any of his numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, and otherwise distant relatives were named Harry and were around their age.

"He's on this train as we speak actually. Would have probably found my cousin Bella by now. Thick as thieves they are," Sirius slurped from his glass bottle of cold pumpkin juice.

James pouted, "So we aren't the only Potter-Black duo?"

"Sadly not , but we certainly are the best Black-Potter duo," Sirius comforted.

James pretended he hadn't heard the swap in name position. He brushed the crumbs off his lap and reached over to pick up a chocolate frog package from the pile of sweets they'd bought.

"Still, I'd like to meet Harry," James nibbled off the nose of the squirming chocolate amphibian.

"He's a spitting image of you. I actually walked up to you because I thought you were him before realising you were someone else," Sirius mentioned.

James grinned, "Poor me… My first friend in Hogwarts and he didn't even mean to meet me?"

Sirius barked a short laugh, "Ha! Don't worry James, you're slightly more tolerable than Harry."

"Ouch, don't badmouth potential family like that!" James bit back.

Sirius sighed dramatically, "He doesn't even like quidditch James! I asked him to fly with Reggie and I and he turned me down!"

James balked at the comment, "Sounding less and less like an actual Potter by the minute…"

"So you think he's a muggleborn?" Sirius asked with a slight bit of seriousness.

James eyed him askance, "I thought you weren't like your family?"

"I'm not. Don't get me wrong, I'm not asking for myself," Sirius defended.

"Your cousin then?" James derived.

Sirius nodded lightly, "Cousin Bella's finally got a good, loyal friend… I don't know how positively she'd take the news…"

James snorted, "Does it really matter all that much to you people? Who cares if he's pureblood, muggle, or in between?"

"It doesn't matter to me, but to Bella it will," Sirius sighed, for real this time.

James shook his head disapprovingly, "Personally I've always thought this whole thing about blood is a crock of nonsense. Even if us purebloods can do magic better, so what?"

"I don't get it either James… It's all my parents, uncles, and aunties ever talk about, but why?" Sirius pondered.

Sirius stared out the window as the deep orange rays of sunlight streaked into their cabin, the leaves of passing trees leaving their clustered shadows across his face.

"To be honest, I think Bella's got a hunch that Harry's a muggleborn. Why else would he be living in the Leaky Cauldron of all places?" Sirius announced.

"The Leaky Cauldron? That shabby old place? Father refuses to go back there ever since a rat dropped in his beer from the ceiling…" James asked in surprise.

"He's probably an orphan, James," Sirius said.

James grimaced at the statement. He'd thought of it when they were speaking but to hear it materialise was something else.

"He's very nice to Bella. Cousin Andromeda likes him too apparently. I hope they can continue to be friends," Sirius commented.

"Depends on where he gets sorted as well doesn't it?" James asked.

Sirius smiled, "I have a gut feeling he'll follow Bella wherever she goes. He's like a loyal dog."

"Tad bit rude to say that isn't it?" James pointedly asked.

"What's wrong with being a dog? I like dogs!" Sirius defended the insult.

"Yeah but you don't call people dogs!" James said.

Sirius grumbled under his breath as he turned to look at the dwindling pile of sweets. They'd gone through more than half of their original stash in about an hour.

"I'm going to get us more sweets. Anything in particular you want?" Sirius asked as he jumped up from his seat.

"Sausage roll would be nice mate, thanks!" James enthusiastically replied, thumbing through the introductory pages of their Introduction To Compelling Charms Volume Twelve textbook.

Sirius shook his head as he left the cabin. He'd certainly made an interesting friend.

-.-.-.-

"First-years this way! First-years this way!" A shrill voice shouted from amongst the crowd. A tall, thin woman in a witch's robes beckoned for the first-year students to gather. She wore a thick set of spectacles with silver frames. A gold badge pinned on the left chest of the robes glinted brightly in the lantern's light. A black enamel H was overlaid over a shield of four colour quadrants: red, blue, green, and yellow. Above the shield in silver lettering was the title "Head Girl."

Groups of boys and girls barely taller than her waist shuffled past older students to gather around her. They had just offloaded their luggage onto black carriages that were pulled by nothing but thin air. The moonlight was strong, providing above the minimum amount of light to navigate in the darkness, but the lanterns and candles held up by the student leaders helped too.

They were ushered by the Head Girl onto their respective row boats, which like the carriages before it, magically rowed themselves over to an imposing castle on the top of a craggy hill. The windows of the castle let out warm rays of orange light, serving as a beacon from its evening backdrop of the starry sky.

Harry felt a warmth within him. His shoulders loosened and he let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. As he stared at the ancient castle from within his small rowboat, a part of the stunned masses of first year school children, he could feel the goosebumps begin to surface. Tingles ran up his neck and his heart began beating like a drum.

He understood the sensation he was feeling. He felt it on a smaller scale when he first arrived in Diagon Alley those many months ago. He felt it in his fingertips when he handled Jake's heirloom pendant. The phenomena called 'magic' called to him. It was an instinctual hunger. A primal desire to feel and explore the limits of this new sixth sense. He snuck a peek at his friends, and they had the same enraptured look on their faces. Bliss washed over him. A single thought wisped up amidst the wonder.

' This is where I belong.'

"You're damn right about that…" Arthur commented, eyes never leaving Hogwarts.

Harry slapped a hand over his mouth, "Did I say that out loud?"

Alice giggled, "You sure did."

She sat in a relaxed manner in the front with Arthur. She leaned over the side of the boat and stared at the murky black depths of the lake beneath. She reached down and brushed the surface of the water and quickly retracted her hand, rubbing it to warm her fingertips. She laughed slightly to herself before looking back up towards the castle.

Harry hid his face in his palms, mortified with embarrassment. He felt someone scoot close to him and wrap an arm around his shoulders. He peeked up to see Bellatrix. She continued looking at Hogwarts with slightly narrowed eyes and a firm jaw.

He raised a brow at her. He was puzzled. He hasn't been that embarrassed about blurting out his inner thoughts. Surely he hadn't seemed that pitiful to receive comforting from Bella. He felt her grip on his shoulder though. He realised that however off her guess of his emotional state might be, he still appreciated the gesture.

"You'll always belong here Harry," she whispered, as she gave him a small grin that was returned and a firm shake around the shoulders that left his glasses in a crooked state before setting her determined gaze back onto the castle.

"We'll be at the top of this world…" she added under her breath. Harry had barely picked up on it. It seemed that he wasn't the only one letting his inner thoughts loose.

He leaned in to whisper back, "I'm sure you will. I'll do my best to make sure of it."

She jolted slightly, unaware that Harry had heard her. She saw him smirk, satisfied that he'd caught her unaware. She smirked back, taking her arm off his shoulders and she punched his arm lightly.

"Looks like you won't need henchman training after all…" she commented.

"Does that mean I can open my pub then?" Harry asked.

"Don't make me throw you in the lake, Potter," Bellatrix stated.

Harry pouted, his entrepreneurial dreams of owning his own inn dashed once more.

She sighed as she looked at the castle, "This is the real deal…"

Harry tilted his head slightly, surprise seeped in but he kept the conversation in a whispered tone, "You're worried about school?"

"Of course I am! No member of the Black family's ever flunked out from Hogwarts. I don't think anyone has even gotten less than straight Exceeds Expectations on their O. ," Bellatrix whispered exasperatedly.

Harry was boggled, but he knew he had to be helpful somehow, "I'm sure you'll do great for those Bella, whatever those are. Besides, I didn't take you as someone who'd worry about keeping up family traditions… or grades for that matter…"

Bellatrix glared daggers at him, "I'll have you know, I intend to take my grades very seriously. I'm not an idiot like you and Weasley over there. How else would I become Supreme Mugwump? Besides, I am a member of the Black family. We have a reputation of superiority to maintain. Especially to the muggles. Mother would kill me if I didn't."

Harry held his hands up in surrender, "I'm sorry I asked. But whatever the case is, I'm sure you'll do fine. You did extra reading already didn't you?"

Bella huffed, "So did every pureblood worth their salt! I'd die of shame if I got outscored by a Rosier, or worse, a Goyle!"

Their miniscule rowboat lurched and creaked to a halt. They had beached themselves on the shore. Harry looked out at the shore and saw lanterns hanging from trees. They gave a comforting orange glow, casting long shadows of tree limbs every which way.

"Get off your boats and follow your assigned prefects!" the same shrill voice that had been directing them all this while yelled.

Masses of black robes formed neat lines as they followed the taller seniors in the short hike up to Hogwarts castle.

A short walk later, they were seated amongst themselves in a magnificent great hall. It was an enormous, rectangular chamber with a high, vaulted ceiling that seemingly reflected the weather outside of it - a starry night sky it was for now. Long tables stretch the length of the hall, each with their own flag at the head of the table. Red with a lion, yellow with a badger, blue with an eagle, and lastly green with a snake. Candles lined the tables, and provided ample light in conjunction with the chandeliers overheard. Strangely though, the candles in the chandelier were held up by nothing at all. They simply floated around the structure. At the far end of the hall was a seperate table, slightly elevated, where the professors and headmaster sat, overlooking the students. The walls were lined proudly with large banners, bearing the symbolism and colours of the aforementioned flags.

Harry could barely hear himself think with the level of noise coming from the chatter of the students. He tried to speak with Arthur who sat next to him but to no avail. His tiny voice was drowned by the droning of the student populace.

He saw the eldest wizard sitting in the headmaster's seat, rise to the podium. He had a frail, slightly stooped posture that reflected his advanced age. He had thinning white hair, which was neatly combed, and a long, flowing beard. His face was lined with wrinkles, but his eyes retained a twinkle of warmth and gentleness. He dressed in dark navy robes, accentuated with silver highlights around the cuffs and neck. Despite the obvious signs of his advanced age, he carried himself with regal dignity, fit for a headmaster of Wizarding Britain's finest educational institution.

The headmaster produced his wand with a flick of his wrist, at a speed which did not match his elderly looks. He pointed it roughly to the enchanted ceiling and an ear-drum splitting crack of thunder roared through the great hall, silencing everyone. Some of Harry's contemporaries still had their hands clasped over their ears. When Harry settled back into his own skin after the dreadful fright, he tried to shake his head to clear the ringing to no avail.

"Ahem," began the Headmaster, wand gently resting at his throat. It clearly amplified his voice to reach the entire great hall with little effort. Still, his tone was gentle, and his voice was soft.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts my dear students. And for our first years, a very warm first welcome indeed! Hogwarts is elated to open her doors to such a bright and promising generation of students such as yours. For the fresh faces in the hall, I am Headmaster Armando Dippet. Seated behind me are your core professors, who will be teaching you the very best curriculum magic has to offer," Dippet shuffled as he turned to point at the first of the seated professors with an outstretched palm.

"Please greet your head professor for Herbology and head of house Hufflepuff, Ms. Pomona Sprout!" he enthusiastically introduced.

Ms. Sprout stood. She was shorter than most adults her age that Harry had seen. She was dressed in mustard yellow robes, with a dark brown witch's hat atop her round face. Messy brown hair poked down from the brim, framing a friendly face as she gave a toothy smile and cheerful wave. She looked to be in her early-thirties if Harry were to wager a guess. The audience gave a round of applause.

"And next, our esteemed Care for Magical Creatures head professor, Silvanus Kettleburn!"

This time the man who sat next to Ms. Sprout stood. He was of average height but had a stout and strong-looking build. He dressed simply in khaki trousers and a cream coloured shirt which he rolled the sleeves up for. Over it, Kettleburn wore a green vest - one which Harry could have sworn looked scaly. He gave a curt smile and a small wave of his hand, or whatever was left of it. It seemed the hazards of his occupation had claimed two fingers on his left hand. He had a thick set of black mutton chops for facial hair but his bare scalp envied the hair his face enjoyed. A few first years gasped at his injuries but Professor Kettleburn was well received by the school it seemed.

"Our head professor of potions and head of Slytherin house, Horace Slughorn!" Dippet gestured to a portly man.

He stood and gave a small bow. His black hair had been neatly combed to the side. He had a little extra weight on his frame, but it gave his cheeks a fuller, more friendly disposition which paired well with his button nose so Harry figured it worked to his benefit. He was dressed in dark green robes, but dots of jewelry were apparent on his person - one such article was the gold-chained monocle that hung from his lapel and nestled neatly near his breast pocket. Signet rings dotted both pinkies, and an ornate smoker's pipe hung from his lips. A respectful round of clapping was given for Professor Slughorn.

"Next, Hogwarts' very own duelling champion, head professor of Charms, and head of Ravenclaw, Filius Flitwick!"

A tiny man stood up, not being much taller at all standing compared to being seated, he was dressed smartly in a set of scholarly blue robes. A bushy moustache decorated his upper lip, and his hair was kept short and parted in the middle. Thick glasses framed his eyes. He gave a cheerful wave, and received tremendous applause.

"And of course," Dippet gestured to the man who sat on his right, "The head professor for transfiguration, and head of Gryffindor house. A man whose fame outshines even Hogwarts herself, Albus Dumbledore!"

Dumbledore stood. His hair was more white than black at this point, kept long but neatly tied. His beard was long - shorter than Dippet's but most certainly a "wizardly" length if Harry's muggle cartoons were anything to go by. He had the same warmth in his eyes as the Headmaster, if not more so. Strangely enough, he had a bright twinkle in his blue eyes. He wore deep purple robes, embroidered with designs matching the starry night sky just outside of Hogwarts. Wrinkles were deep set in his face but he still had a much more youthful character to him compared to the headmaster. He stood with a straightened back, with his hands clasped behind his back. He took a deep bow to the students, which was met with thunderous applause. Harry could have sworn he heard Alice squeal from excitement nearby.

"With the introductions of our teaching staff out of the way…" Dippet set a crumpled old brown witch's hat on a stool at the front of the stage, "It is time for the sorting to begin!"

Harry felt his stomach plummet. The ravenous hunger he had when he first stepped into these hallowed halls disappeared, replaced with a constricting coldness.

He gulped as his vision darted back and forth Arthur and Bellatrix, both of whom eyed the hat on the stool with determination.

"When your name is called, come up to the stool and place the Sorting Hat on your head. It will then sort you to your house accordingly and you shall find your seat among the house tables," Dippet explained.

"First off, Aaron Hudkins!" a female professor shouted, one who had not been introduced earlier.

Harry groaned and placed his head in his hands.

' I don't want to disappoint either of them…'

Harry watched as student after student was called to place on the vaunted old sorting hat.

"Alice Paddlebrim!"

And a short while later, "Gryffindor!"

' I don't suppose fate will be kind and sort Arthur to Slytherin?'

"Arthur Weasley!" the professor called.

Arthur stood up from near Harry, and slapped Harry on the back gently. Harry yelped and turned up to see Arthur grinning at him, his right hand giving a 'thumbs-up' symbol as he walked by. "Quidditch champions, Harry. Don't forget!"

Harry gulped. He couldn't find the words to say as Arthur turned and walked up to the stool. Nearly as soon as the hat was placed over his fiery red head it shouted out "Gryffindor!"

Harry sighed dejectedly. ' Fate… If somehow you could… Please put Bellatrix in Gryffindor…'

They had shortly moved to the names starting with "B" and soon enough, her name was called.

"Bellatrix Black!" the professor shouted.

She stood up from next to Harry. She hadn't looked back at Harry, so Harry was left to watch her from the back as she marched up. Quiet whispers were passed at the mention of her name. Apparently being a Black was a big deal after all.

She sat atop the stool and sat with all the regality that her upbringing had taught her. The Sorting Hat had been placed atop her head for only a second before it yelled out, "Slytherin!"

Harry watched as she walked off coolly to the Slytherin table, finding an empty spot for the first years.

' So much for fate…'

Harry pressed his clasped hands into the bridge of his nose, massaging it slowly. He hadn't expected the sorting ceremony of all things to be such a harbinger of stress for him but here he was, a mess of expectations of emotions.

"Hannah Arlington!"

' It's at H already?!' Harry thought in a panic. In his woes and lamentations, he hadn't realised the hat had advanced so quickly.

Finally, the dreaded name was announced. His own.

"Harry Potter!"

Harry swallowed hard as he stood. For the first time since he'd entered the hall the realisation of just how many people were in here dawned on him. He thought he heard Sirius' voice in the crowd. As he walked to the proverbial social gallows of sorting, he could feel the many thousands of eyes on him. He felt dizzy, and felt his stomach churn. He bit his lip and steeled himself.

' Wherever that stupid hat puts me, I'll just live with the consequences!'

Harry clenched his fists as he sat on the stool. He felt the old hat settle on his head like an ill fitting crown.

' You're an interesting one…'

Harry nearly jumped at the sudden voice.

' Behave… Bit of a coward you are…'

'Well I'm sorry, I hadn't realised you'd be talking to me in my own mind!' Harry replied back in a sharp thought.

' Hah! I take it back. You do bite! Good, good… Very good… You have loyalty, an admirable trait. You'd feel at home with the badgers… But there's a thirst for knowledge within you as well, a common trait among the eagles, no doubt you'd be happy there too… Oh! What's this? Plenty of courage to go around as well, I believe the lions would be more than happy to take you…'

Harry grimaced, a mental image of a girl with black hair floated in his mind.

" Ah… Ambition, but not of your own… Desire for power, but not for yourself… Cunning, for the benefit of others… Rare traits for a snake… But you'd do well there, I can tell… There's a part of you… An honest part that desires what Slytherin stands for! Oh, don't be so surprised boy, you can't hide your mind from me… Hmmm… Choices, choices…'

Harry shifted uncomfortably in his seat. As of yet, he'd been on the stool the longest and he could hear the crowd mummering already.

' Well then Harry Potter… I don't do this often… But I'll narrow it down for you if it helps, haha! Choose now boy, Gryffindor or Slytherin?"

Harry mentally recoiled, ' What do you mean choose?! You're the one sorting! That's your job!'

From atop his head, Harry could instinctually feel the ruddy cloth shift into a grin.

' Don't expect me to provide answers for your own dilemma boy! I cannot speak a name if both are equally suited for you!'

Harry almost placed his face in his palms again. He thought of Bellatrix and the days he spent playing with her in the playground. As muddy, sandy, and at times bloody he got, he treasured those memories.

Then he remembered Arthur. The closest he's had to a brother. Their likes were similar. Their goals differed but he could see the intense desire in Arthur's eyes to be Quidditch champions, as his brothers had been. He recalled the little adventure the trio had taken in the muggle world. He remembered searching for Arthur's stashed broom to fly with him. Bellatrix's quill that she got him for his birthday. The garish orange poster that was pasted next to his bed of the Chudley Cannons.

He recalled the lazy afternoon he spent with Bella under the shade of the tree. The brightest and most earnest smile he'd received from her when he spoke Parseltongue. Their conversation about their dreams and what they hoped to do in their lives. The inkling of a feeling that Bellatrix may never truly accept his ancestry nagged at his thoughts. He thought back to when they first met at the playground.

' I see you've come to a conclusion… Are you entirely sure about this?' The hat double-checked.

'It took me enough pain to get to the answer, don't make me doubt it now you silly old hat!' Harry replied.

Harry heard its boisterous laugh in his mind.

' Well said! You are certainly a courageous one!'

Harry smiled, ' I hope I can make the most of it when I'm there…'

The hat crinkled into another grin, ' You certainly will if your goals are any indication…'

The image of staring up at the tree branches as specks of sunlight escape through the foliage came up in Harry's mind once more. He nodded.

The hat finally yelled out a house after two minutes of grueling deliberation.

"Slytherin!"

The Slytherin house table cheered. He could see plenty of the happier Slytherins pocketing shiny coins they received off their less-than-pleased counterparts. Harry's eyes washed over the crowd. Oddly the first person he spotted was his own father, James Potter. They exchanged curious glances. Harry saw Sirius elbow James in his side before pointing at him. Near them there was another girl with bright, almond shaped emerald-green eyes. Her dark red hair was put up in a neat ponytail, and she gave a small smile when she caught Harry looking at her. Harry instinctively knew who that had to be. There was no mistaking the odd sense of familiarity. Just as he felt when he saw his father, the same feeling overwhelmed him.

' Mum…'

He gave a quick smile and looked away. He couldn't afford to mentally break in front of the whole school. His eyes continued their scan as he walked over to the Slytherin table. He peeked at Alice's happy expression as she clapped for him, and he smiled back.

Then he met Arthur's. A small, sad smile graced Arthur's features. His dearest friend looked absolutely defeated in that moment. Harry's heart shattered. Harry couldn't help himself. He mouthed a single word, ' Sorry…'

He saw Arthur shake his head and mouth a word back, ' Hat…', Arthur pointed back at the stage to indicate to Harry that he didn't blame Harry for it.

Harry swallowed a lump and nodded with force and looked away.

' I'm sorry Arthur… It wasn't the hat's choice…'

He reached the Slytherin's table at the first-years' section. Awaiting him was an empty spot, kindly reserved by the person next to it. His reason for being in Slytherin in the first place.

"Bella…" Harry uttered.

She smiled back at him. The same smile she gave when they were under the tree, when he stopped the snake from biting her. Ear-to-ear, without any care in the world. Brighter than any star Harry could pick from the enchanted ceiling.

"I knew you'd be here!" Bellatrix exclaimed. She nearly dragged Harry by his arm into the seat.

For all the joy Harry felt being with her, the guilt of abandoning Arthur was tearing him apart. He'd made his bed, and now it was time to sleep in it.

"Harry?" Bellatrix nudged him, "Are you alright?"

He breathed deeply, "Yeah… Yeah, I'm alright Bella… I was just nervous being up there, that's all…"

Bellatrix offered as consoling a smile as she can muster while she rubbed his arm gently before turning her attention to the next name being sorted. Harry joined in spectating the sorting. He needed the distraction after all.

-.-.-.-.-

The Erlingtons were a happy bunch. Malachi Erlington in particularly was a happy man. He had a loving wife and a lovely daughter, and the family adored their dog Layla. He'd make a small trip down the road every so often but for the most part, they enjoyed life in their little town of Pinkley. Dairy was sourced from Malachi's farm. Eggs were provided by his chickens. The occasional few rashers of bacon were delivered by his friends when they done curing it. Little Elizabeth had just begun learning how to read, homeschooled by the love of his life Margaret to prepare her for a bright future in Hogwart. All was good for the Erlingtons.

And yet, as Malachi enjoyed a frothy pint on his porch under a cloudy moon after having put Elizabeth to bed while Margaret cleaned up after dinner, something told him on a deeper, more primal sense that something was wrong. The sun had long since set. The light from their home stretched to their garden shed at most. Malachi had better eyes than most, but still, he couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.

He almost jumped out of his skin when he heard growling from nearby.

"Layla! What do you see girl? What's got you spooked?" Malachi got off his rickety chair and knelt down to pet the bloodhound.

He stroked her from head to tail gingerly, but Layla's growling continued as she looked into the darkness outside. Malachi kept his eyes trained in the same direction too but couldn't see anything wrong for the life of him.

Bark!

Layla had started barking at the darkness now. Her saliva frothed as she was whipped up into a rabid frenzy, pushing against her tightening rope leash. She bit and chomped at the air in between harsh barks. The clamping of her teeth echoed in the quiet night.

Malachi pulled his wand from his belt holster.

" Lumos!" he cried out. Light flashed out from his wand brightly, revealing trees and shrubbery. Nothing out of the ordinary as far as he could tell.

' Maybe I've downed a few too many pints… Layla must've smelled some animal or the other…' Malachi thought to himself.

He shook his head and gave a rub to Layla's side, "Relax girl, nothing's there. No reason to get spooked. Come on, let's head in Layla."

He undid his end of Layla's leash and tugged on it to beckon Layla home. She was still growling loudly, unbending in her will to stay on Malachi's porch and verbally intimidate whatever she saw fit to.

Malachi sighed, giving up on the hope of getting Layla to budge. He re-tied her leash to the porch's pillar and went home.

"Dear, something's gotten into Layla… she keeps barking and growling," Malachi complained to Margaret as she stepped out into the living room.

"I wouldn't worry too much honey… Maybe she just smelt something? She's got an awfully sharp nose after all," Margaret replied as she clasped his hand in hers, offering a sweet smile.

The tender moment between them was interrupted by a sharp cry from upstairs. Elizabeth was wailing.

Margaret sighed and rushed upstairs, "Are you alright darling?! Mummy's on the way!"

Malachi placed his hands on his hips and shook his head. There was still an unsettling feeling nagging at him, but he chalked it up to one too many pints.

All manner of relaxation was lost though when he heard Margaret scream.

"Malachi!" her voice boomed.

He pulled his wand out at the ready and made a mad dash upstairs. He bolted up the staircase three at a time. He saw the door to Elizabeth's room slightly ajar and he rammed in with his wand at the ready.

He spotted a horrible sight. Margaret was in a panicked flurry, placing her hands over Elizabeth's tiny shoulder and pulling them off just to spot more blood reflected on her palms in the pale moonlight. On and on she kept trying, blood was profusely leaking from nasty punctures in Elizabeth's little shoulder. Both Margaret and Elizabeth were crying loudly at this point.

" Episkey!" Malachi shouted as he sprinted over. Elizabeth's wounds closed up quickly but from her choked sobs it was evident they still burned with pain.

"What happened?!" Malachi demanded to know.

"I-I-I don't know! I came and… and she was all bloody! Oh I was so worried!" Margaret cried out, pulling her crying daughter into a desperate hug.

"It was * hic* the big * hic* dog…" Elizabeth choked out in her mother's embrace.

Malachi looked worriedly at Elizabeth, "Big dog…?"

Elizabeth gave a small nod and wiped her tears with her arms. She sniffled, then pointed to the window with her good arm, "From there."

Malachi realised for the first time since stepping into the room that the Elizabeth's window was wide open. He rushed up to the windowsill, placing a hand on it as he looked out and down. Nothing seemed amiss. He felt a strange texture on his hand though. He pulled away from the window and inspected his hands with assistance from his lit wand. He saw dark brown strands of hair. He had another chilling realisation.

' Layla's silent?'

He broke into a run downstairs, secure in knowing Elizabeth was safe with her mother. He nearly broke through the front door with the force he swung it open. He looked out into an empty porch. The rope which was leashed Layla was severed, the ends frayed. He crept closer, with his wand as his light source. His breath caught in its lungs. He saw streaks of red along the porch, over the banister, and out into the shrubbery beyond. Layla was gone.

-.-.-.-.-

[A/N] Apologies for the delay on this chapter. Work has swamped me immensely. This is a bit of a longer one and we've finally gotten Harry's sorting out of the way as well. I had quite a dilemma on where to place Harry if I'm being honest. Either house would have given this story a whole different direction, but I put my foot down on picking what I did. I kindly ask that you stay along for the journey. Who knows, perhaps when this story is over, I'll make a rewrite of Harry in the other house and see what changes.

I am cognizant that the pacing of the story so far has been slower. But now that a tone, setting, and character frameworks have been established, I hope to move it at a faster pace. Although I admit I am nervous that I might end up making it too rushed. I suppose that's what reviews are for though. I thank everyone who has given constructive criticism for this writing. The compliments are also well accepted, the insults are few and far in between but I understand stories are a subjective thing. If anyone has advice on writing actions scenes (i.e. fights, wand duels, chase sequences, etc) please do leave a review or a PM to me, it is something I aim on improving where possible.

Thank you again everyone for reading this. I can't promise when the next update will be (seeing as I am a few months overdue since my last promise) but I assure you I have not given up on this story nor has it died. In fact I do think about world building for this story rather often in my day dreams. It's just the actual writing of it that is time consuming for me.

Also, sorry if you guys received multiple alerts of a new chapter. I was having some issues with the FF net system so there might have been multiple instances where I uploaded the same document as a chapter. It was rather annoying.