I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS IN THIS FANFICTION. ALL RIGHT GO TO J.K. ROWLING

Harry was enjoying his train ride, the seats were a lot more comfortable than the ones he had experienced on his rare trips on the Muggle trains, and he was enjoying being engrossed in a book, even if it wasn't particularly interesting. Who knew that the Great Hall had an enchanted ceiling to look like the sky, shame it didn't tell him the enchantment.

His peace was interrupted when a knock was heard from the door, he looked up and saw a familiar face. He stood up, and opened the door, "Theo, nice to see you again," He was already wearing some plain Hogwarts robes, that meant that he was also a first year.

"You as well Harry, how was your Summer?"

"Well, I would have sent you a letter, but my father didn't seem to like it when I said I had been talking to you, but he can't stop me when I'm at school. That's okay right?" He wanted to make a friend who would be in his own year and seemingly ignoring him for a month didn't seem like a good start.

"Course it is," He said as he patted his back. Harry shrunk away from it, physical contact from those close in age to him was not usually a pleasant experience for Harry. Theo caught onto this, and his face suddenly looked quite sheepish, "Sorry," he muttered.

"No problem," Harry replied.

Theo decided to change the conversation before it got too awkward, "Hey, what book were you reading?"

"Um, Hogwarts: A History, I spent most of the Summer reading but didn't get around to reading this. Also, is your father on the Wizengamot?"

"Huh, you have done your reading, and yes, he is. It was supposed to be my Uncle, but he died in the war in the same attack that killed my grandfather, so Father inherited the seat."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Harry said, he knew his father had said that the Notts were supporters of Voldemort, but he saw no reason to believe his father, and even then, they were still family for Theo.

"Don't worry about it, it was before I was born. I never even knew them." Theo said with a frown. This was not how either of them pictured this conversation going, "Anyways, did you practice any of the spells in the books I showed you?"

"Nah, I magically exhausted myself to the point of passing out shortly after we met, and I haven't used 'Tempus' since."

Theo's eyes went wide, "You did what? How did you even do that?"

Harry shifted in his seat, "Um, I threw Toby about 10m down a corridor," he whispered in a low voice.

Theo took a moment before bursting out in a huge laugh, "That… That is… hilarious!" He said between gasps for breath, he took a moment to calm himself and Harry found himself smiling, "Why did you do that?"

"He deserved it," Harry said simply. Theo seemed nice but he didn't want him knowing all his family drama.

"Any more than that or nah?" Theo prompted.

"He made some comments I didn't really like, and I was not in the mood to be dealing with that in the slightest."

"Ah, fair enough, next time do it where I can see it, that sounds like a right laugh."

"Glad you found it funny, I suppose looking back at it, it was quite funny. He's basically ignored me since though, only spoke to me once to invite me over to the Weasleys…" Theo made a slight face, "to play… What was that face for, most of them are quite nice."

"Well, they are just a bit muggle loving are they not?" Theo said.

"Well, there dad asked me a few questions about them, that was it. Charlie and the twins are nice."

The door burst open, "Who are you…"

"…calling nice?"

Standing in the door were the 2 Weasley twins, both wearing smug smirks on their faces.

Harry who had just shaken off his surprise, "You guys," he said, "You invited me to play Quidditch after all."

"Hmm, I suppose…"

"…that is true."

"Good thing too as…"

"…you were very good…"

"…on the broom and…"

"…we Gryffindors need…"

"…someone to replace…"

"…Charlie!" Somehow their smiles turned even more smug as Harry turned to whoever was speaking as if he was watching a tennis match.

"Can you two stop that, it is seriously annoying." Harry practically begged. "Also, what makes you think I am going to be a Gryffindor?"

"Well, Potters are always Gryffindors you see," The one on the left said.

"Yes, but I wasn't given a particularly Potter upbringing was I?" Harry said trying to make a joke. Both twins flinched as if physically struck and instantly their grins were gone, and they looked incredibly apologetic. "I didn't mean it like that," Harry tried to make them feel less guilty. That seemed to bring the smiles back to their faces. "And my father thinks I will go to Ravenclaw, I do like reading."

"Hmm, I could see that," one twin started.

"Anyway, we need to go find Lee," the other informed them, who Lee was Harry had no idea, probably one of their friends.

"See you kids later," The first twin finished, and they left instantly after.

Harry turned to Theo who looked incredibly confused, "That was an interesting experience," Theo said.

"Yes, yes it was."

Harry and Theo sat in a companionable silence for most of the journey, they were only interrupted a few times when a girl with brown, bushy hair barged into the compartment and asked if they had seen a toad. Harry had been slightly taken aback by her apparent self-importance where she could just barge into compartments without asking or knocking and demand an answer from them. He looked over to Theo and saw he was shooting an incredibly dirty look towards her.

"No sorry," Harry said in the most passive voice he could manage.

She looked at the book Harry was reading and sat down, "Oh, you're reading Hogwarts: A History, what is your favourite part?"

Harry had not been in the mood to deal with strangers but luckily, he saw a very timid looking boy standing just outside the doorway, Harry pointed out that he was probably waiting for the girl, and she quickly left after thanking him for not letting her get side-tracked.

The only other interruption they had was when a very pale boy with almost platinum blonde hair and 2 others who could only be described as grunts.

"Ah, Theo, nice to see you again," He said as he walked into the compartment and sat down. The 2 other boys just stood by the door like bodyguards.

"Malfoy," Theo nodded towards the boy before returning his attention back to his book, which was something on Herbology.

"And you are?" He said as he turned his attention to Harry.

"Harry Potter, and you are?" He said as he extended his hand to shake.

Malfoys eyes went wide, "Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, you aren't related to Toby Potter, are you?"

"Yes, he is my twin brother." Harry said. He noted that he did not shake his hand, so Harry returned his hand to his side. He didn't really like Malfoy so far, and Theo didn't seem too either.

"Hmm, this is Crabbe," He pointed to the one on the right who had a more circular face, "And Goyle," he pointed to the other one who had a remarkable square face. As Harry was looking at them, he heard a shout from the corridor and both boys turned to look at the source.

That was when Toby, Ron and Susan barged past the 2 bodyguards and into their compartment. "Harry, what are you doing with these snakes!" Toby demanded.

"I," Harry started with remarkable calmness that even surprised himself, "was talking to Theo here, when we were joined by Mr Malfoy along with his 2 bodyguards."

Ron burst out laughing and he even managed to make Toby and Susan smile. Theo's book mysteriously was raised higher so you couldn't see his face.

Malfoy stood up and offered Toby and handshake, "Nice to meet you Mr. Potter, I am Draco Malfoy."

Toby started at the offered hand and ignored it, for once he agreed with Toby's actions. He was slowly turning red, and he turned back to face Harry, "Malfoy? Nott? Those are who you decide to spend your time with? Their families were all Death Eaters, you can't be hanging around with them. They will corrupt you and make you one of them. Come with us Harry." Toby said.

Harry had to force himself to not laugh as he saw Malfoys face go bright red. "I will have you know," Malfoy started, "That my father was under the Imperious curse,"

"Yeah right," Toby said, "And my father is actually Dumbledore," sarcasm dripping from the entire statement. He looked at Harry, who was surprised to see what looked to be genuine pleading on his face, "Please Harry, don't hang around with them, you can come hang with us."

"Nah, I was fine here with Theo," Harry replied. He hoped that Malfoy would catch the jab and by the look he shot Harry he had.

"Wait until Father hears about this," Toby said.

"Well, he can't exactly do anything can he, even if he did, he would probably mess it up, he has a history of that when it comes to me." Harry said venomously.

Toby almost stagged before leaving, "Come on," he muttered to the 2 other red heads who followed Toby, not before shooting incredibly dirty looks at Harry.

'3 down, 3 to go,' Harry thought.

Theo finally spoke up, "Well, it was good to see you again Malfoy, but I was having a rather pleasant time with Harry here, so if you could please leave I'm sure we would both appreciate it."

Malfoy huffed before leaving, the 2 other boys literally making way for him to pass before following him.

"Bodyguards, that was brilliant Harry." Theo complimented.

"Thanks."

Luckily that was the end of the interruptions.

When they left the Hogwarts Express a very large man was shouting over the sound of all the students talking and moving. It was dark out and so he was carrying a large lantern that was probably the size of Harry, "Firs' years! Firs' years over 'ere please!"

Harry doublechecked that Theo was still next to him, "C'mon, follow me, this way!" Harry would be surprised if every animal in a mile radius hadn't been woken up at his booming voice, it was incredibly loud but seemed to suit a man so tall. "Keep up, mind yer step!"

He led them down a narrow dirt and gravel path that was much steeper than Harry expected. There were trees either side of it, so it reminded him of the entrance to Potter Manor, just wilder. Harry liked the change.

At the end of the path, was a small pier with about a dozen small rowboats floating in the water, "Righ' then, no more than 4 to a boa'," he called out.

Harry climbed in the nearest boat followed closely by Theo. They were eventually joined by a rather large girl, who reminded him of the 2 bodyguards Malfoy had had, as well as an Asian girl who introduced herself as Sue Li. That was how he found out the other girl's name as well, Millicent Bulstrode. That was another name he knew from the Wizengamot, interesting.

"Righ'! Everyone in?" The voice called again, Harry felt sorry for those who were next to him, they would have ringing in their ears by the end of the night. The next word was even louder, and Harry was sure even he had ringing in his ears, "FORWARD!"

The boats lurched forward and started moving forward at a steady pace. They were coming round a cliff face that jutted out when he started hearing people 'ooo' and 'ahh.'

Harry wondered what that was about before he saw round the cliff and was met by a sight he would forever remember, atop another cliff face stood a magnificent castle. It had easily a dozen different towers all varying in height. It looked as if it had gemstones embedded inside it as the moonlight reflected from the thousands of windows. It was truly a breath-taking sight.

Harry couldn't take his eyes off of his home for the next 10 months, so he was a bit shocked when the boat suddenly stopped. He looked forwards to see they were at another pier, this one had a bit of shelter however and he could see Professor McGonagall standing there, waiting for them. She had a very stern expression on her face, and it seemed opposite to that she had shown him at Potter Manor.

"The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," The giant announced.

"Thank you Hagrid," So that was the man's name, "I will take them from here." She turned her attention to the crowd of first years still in the boats, "Right, out of the boats and follow me." No one had even started moving before she turned and started walking away. There was a mad scramble as everyone tried to get out of the boats to keep up.

She led them up a narrow and long staircase that gave them an amazing view of the half-moon reflecting in the still water of the Lake, he knew they were in Scotland but Hogwarts: A History called it a lake not a loch so he guessed it must be one of the few bodies of water in Scotland that were not lochs.

As she approached a big set of doors that could easily fit 3 Hagrids on top of each other they opened to let her pass. She waited until everyone was inside before the doors closed automatically. She cleared her throat, "Welcome to Hogwarts, the start of term feast will begin shortly after you have been sorted into one of our 4 houses. These houses will be your family whilst you stay here, good behaviour will be rewarded with house points, but any rule breaking will result in you losing house points."

She paused to let that sink in, "The 4 houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Now then, let us begin the Sorting Ceremony."

The doors opened behind her to show a very long room that had 5 long tables in it, 4 running along the length of the room and one spanning the width at the far side of the room. Every table had lots of people sitting at it, but Harry couldn't help feeling it was designed for more.

The Scottish Professor marched into the hall with her head high, Harry followed suit but was quickly distracted by the ceiling, he had read about it but seeing it as well as the possible thousands of floating candles was something different entirely.

At the end of the Professor's walk was a 4-legged wooden stool with a very old brown wizard hat sitting atop it. Harry was very shocked however when the hat started to sing:

"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffis are true And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

if you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folk use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

Everyone in the hall burst into applause once it had finished but was quickly silenced when Professor McGonagall raised her hand, "When I call out your name you will come forward, Abbott, Hannah."

The quiet timid girl went first and sat down; the Professor put the hat on top of her head before shouting out "Hufflepuff" after only a few seconds. Instantly her robes gained yellow highlights and the Hogwarts sign became that of a badger. She quickly hopped up and almost ran to the table where everyone else was wearing the same colour.

The process continued until and Malfoy, his 2 bodyguards and Theo all went to Slytherin. The timid boy who had lost his toad as well as the brown-haired girl both went to Gryffindor, both of them took quite a while to be sorted. The next thing Harry heard was, "Potter, Harry." Silence descended on the hall, and you could have heard a pin drop. That lasted for all of two seconds before intense muttering and whispering broke out about the name Potter.

Harry walked forward trying to put on as confident of a face as he could manage. He sat down and the hat was placed on his head.

'Hmm, how very curious,' a voice in his head spoke.

'Wait, you can speak?'

'Well of course I can, how else would I sort you, now then, let's see what we are working with," It was silent for a few seconds, 'Hmm, smart, a thirst for knowledge, no, not quite. A thirst to prove yourself would be a better way to put it. How very interesting indeed. And bravery,' The hat made a barking sound that must have been a laugh, 'very brave indeed. Gordric would be proud of you.'

It stayed silent for what felt like an eternity, 'Well, I can eliminate Hufflepuff for you, you are far too untrusting for them, you would do well in Gryffindor, but you could do better. Tell me Mr. Potter, why do you seek knowledge?'

Harry stopped to think, why did he seek knowledge, 'To prove to my father that he shouldn't have left me.'

'Ah yes, very tragic indeed, I'm sure you will manage that goal of yours, this however might delay it,' The hat paused for a single moment before bellowing out loud, "SLYTHERIN!"

Gasps ran through the hall and Harry looked down to see the look of pure betrayal and rage on the face of his twin. Very quickly the table furthest to the right started clapping. It didn't sound enthusiastic but it was some support so Harry wasn't going to refuse it.

Harry stood up and walked over to the only table making any noise and took a seat. He sat next to Theo who just smiled at him. "You were a hatstall,"

"A what?" Harry asked.

"A hatstall, it's when the sorting hat takes longer than 5 minutes to sort someone, it took 5 minutes and 14 seconds for it to sort you, they are normally very rare." Harry didn't want that, of course something else to make him stand out.

"Potter, Toby," Professor McGonagall's voice echoed out, silence overtook the hall once again.

Toby walked up and sat down and within less than 2 seconds the hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!" Toby stood up, shooting an absolutely filthy look at Harry before walking towards the Gryffindor table, that was now very rowdy as they were chanting and cheering. Harry thought it was a bit dramatic, but Toby was a celebrity, so it only made sense.

Harry didn't pay much attention to the rest of the sorting but after Blaise Zabini was sorted into Slytherin he noticed that the Headmaster had stood up from his seat, that looked very similar to a throne.

"Welcome, to those of you in first year, welcome to Hogwarts, to everyone else, welcome back to Hogwarts. Before we begin our wonderous banquet I just have a few words to say, Nitwit, Blubber, Oddment, Tweak!"

Suddenly the tables were filled with plates filled with an assortment of different foods. Harry's eyes went wide, this had to be the largest amount of food he had ever seen!

Harry looked up the table to see the other foods on offer but what he noticed was the looks that some of the older Slytherins were giving him. They seemed to be glaring at him as though he had personally offended them, he had never even seen most of these people.

He knew he was being observed so he made sure to eat slowly and politely, he wanted to make a good first impression to try and stop the side eyes he was receiving. The food was lovely, and Harry hoped all meals here were this nice because if they were he was convinced he would never leave.

Halfway through the meal, Harry looked up at the staff table, he made direct eye contact with a Professor who was wearing all black robes, had a hooked nose and looked quite pale, as if he didn't get enough sunlight. He moved his eyes to the left to see a man in a purple turban staring in the direction of the Gryffindor table.

That was when he felt a sharp jab of pain in his right hand before he looked away and it was gone. He gasped out and clutched his hand. Theo looked at him and raised an eyebrow, "It's nothing," he said. Theo just nodded, clearly not buying i

Eventually the meal was over, and Professor Dumbledore stood up once again, "Now that we have all filled our stomachs with food, I have a few notices to share with you all. For those of you in first year, The Forbidden Forest is off limits to all students, a few of the upper years would do well to remember that as well," Harry saw him focus his attention clearly on the Gryffindor table about halfway up. "I have also been asked by Mr. Filch to remind you all that magic is not permitted in the corridors in between classes. On a happier note, Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term and if you are interested there will be a sign-up sheet within your common room. Finally, I should warn you, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is strictly off limits to anyone who does not wish to die a most painful death." His voice had taken a serious tone and Harry was going to be sure to avoid that corridor.

"Now then, that is all and after the train journey I'm sure you are all wanting your beds, so off trot."

Harry was sure he was going to get lost on his way to his common room, who put it in the dungeons? The rest of the group was walking slightly in front of him, they all seemed to at least know each other, the only person he knew was Theo.

Eventually they stopped in front of a blank wall, Harry thought that was rather odd but magic was real so he should probably gain some perspective. The 5th year prefect at the front of the group spoke up, "Now then, this is the entrance to our common room, I hope for all your sakes that you never show anyone else this entrance, now, for the next month the password will be 'Ashwinder.'"

As she said the password, a section of the wall slid back and then to the side allowing people to see into the common room, Harry was too small to see inside so would just have to wait.

The prefect led everyone into the room, which Harry finally got a look of. It was a very long room that was not very well lit, it suited the dungeon theme, but it reminded Harry to much of the cupboard and wanted something a bit lighter.

The older years were already in the common room in the couches and armchairs scattered around the common room, a group of what looked to be seventh years sitting next to the fireplace which was decorated by a very intricately carved mantlepiece.

There were multiple portraits hanging on the walls, all of which seemed snake themed in some way, Above the fireplace was a large picture of a bald man with a white beard. He was wearing all green robes and had a snake in his hand.

That must be Salazar Slytherin, Harry had read he could talk to snakes as well as some other less flattering things about him.

The female prefect spoke up, "Now then, I am Gemma Farley, and I will be your 5th year prefect this year, we in Slytherin expect the very best from you and so if you find yourself struggling in any subject, please find one of the upper years and ask for help, we will arrange something to help you. Now then, boys, your dormitory will be down that corridor," she pointed down a corridor to the left of where they were standing, "It will be the room with the number 1 on it, girls you will be down that corridor," she pointed right this time, "with the same number. I recommend that you get some sleep before classes tomorrow."

Harry and the rest of the boys headed down the corridor and into their dorm. As soon as the door closed behind Harry, he felt a fist collide with his stomach and he keeled over. He looked up to see Malfoy smiling at him, and Crabbe's fist moving towards his face. He didn't have time to react before he was knocked to the ground. He punched even harder than Dudley!

The two bodyguards quickly grabbed Harry's arms and pinned them behind his back, preventing him from moving.

"Now Potter," Malfoy started, "We in Slytherin have some rules, and I feel like I should… educate you on some of them. We Slytherins have a hierarchy, and you will follow that hierarchy. For example, I am at the top of the hierarchy so if I tell you to do something, you will do it. Clear?" Harry just shot him a defiant look, "Also, you will stick with us when outside this common room, we don't air our issues with one another outside the common room, clear?" He asked in a mocking sweet tone.

Harry was about to give this jumped-up blondie a piece of his mind but saw Theo shaking his head and Harry was smart enough to know when to hold his tongue, the Dursleys had taught him that much at least, "Yes," he said in a defeated tone.

"Glad, now, since you are a dirty son of a mudblood, not only that but you were raised by muggles, truthfully it is a disgrace you were even sorted into this house but since you are, you no doubt will be at the bottom of the hierarchy, so don't get too comfortable." He waved his hand and Harry was lifted up by the two grunts either side of him, they moved him towards the bed furthest away from the door and threw him on. "Oh, and remember, what I said, what happens in Slytherin stays in Slytherin," and with that Crabbe and Goyle forcefully drew the curtains of his bed shut. He tried to open them, but they must have been holding them shut.

Harry gave up eventually and just tried to get back to sleep, this was going to be just like the Dursleys.

Authors Note

So, Harry has been sorted, it is clear that some do not particularly like this so how will Harry fare in the house of serpents.

Also, the whole hierarchy thing will be explained, there is a general hierarchy but Malfoy is making it out to seem bigger than it is.

As always, thank you for reading this chapter and I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for the reviews, and any suggestions or feedback is welcome.