AN: Wooo! A little bit of longer one this time, wanted to get all the Introduction to Hogwarts out of the way.
Also, in case its not clear, both this world, that the story is written in, AND the original world that Harry came from are AU. I wanted a more serious, war veteran protagonist in this Harry. But to put it into perspective, you can imagine his original timeline as going fairly similar to canon up till year 5(with minor differences, obviously), and then branching fairly aggressively from there. You'll get more bits and pieces as the story goes.
Chapter 3: Into the Serpent's Nest
"When did you get so good at Chess?" Serena grumbled, as they left their trunks in the luggage pile. "I used to wipe the board with you and I couldn't even take a game today. Have you been holding back on me?" Harry just smiled as he affectionately bid farewell to Arcturus, the little ball of feathery hatred nipping furiously at the fingers trying to pet him through the bars.
"Maybe I have." Harry responded, skillfully keeping is fingers just a hair's breadth away from the sharp beak of his owl. He had decided over the rest of the train ride that he wouldn't be able to emulate Past Harry's lackluster performance. It would be hard enough to pretend that he was a simple first year, much less one with little skill. Not to mention, as loath as he found it, power is what mattered in this society. Whether financial, political or magical, only power got anything done. And he would need all three in spades for the coming war.
"Well, either way," Serena continued. "we are going to be playing more of that in the future. I thought you were weaseling out of it because I always beat you. Now you're some kind of prodigy." "Or maybe you are just rusty." Harry proffered. Serena just looked at him doubtfully but before she could respond, a booming voice echoed around them.
"Firs' Years! Firs' Years this way if ya' please!"
Harry looked down toward the lake shore and fondness welled up in him at the first sight of the towering form of Hagrid. Almost unconsciously, his hand drifted to the book around his neck. Images flashed before his eyes. Hagrid struggling beneath the enormous weight of the castle gates, screaming in pain as his body was assaulted by waves of oncoming spells and frightened children streaming around him to safety. His mangled body finally giving way only once every student had passed.
A hand grabbed his and pulled him, not only from his dark thoughts, but also literally as Serena began to drag him to the boats. They ran down the hill with the rest of their class and while Hagrid spoke to the group, welcoming them to Hogwarts, Harry was too busy looking around him. He saw Ron and Neville right away standing together talking in hushed tones. Hermione was, of course, near the front of the group listening to Hagrid with rapt attention. Scattered around were others, Dean and Seamus, Draco and the gorillas, Lavender and Marietta. In fact he recognized most of them he was relieved to find. Just a few he didn't, like a tall brunette boy standing off to one side, and few he should have seen but didn't, like the Patil twins. These discrepancies just further cemented his plan to take this slowly.
Soon they were all getting into the boats, the two of them sharing a boat with a pair of girls he recognized as Daphne Greengrass and Tracy Davis, not only from his experience but he was surprised to know them from Past Harry's memories as well. Apparently they had come across each other at social gatherings, a fact only supported by the way Serena immediately struck up a conversation with them as they crossed the lake.
Harry listened idly to the girl's conversation but didn't actively engage with them, most of his attention drawn to what lay ahead. As strange as it was for what was essentially a grown man to get giddy, the child in Harry was bursting to see a sight he had not seen in many a year.
The fleet of boats rounded a corner along the shore and there, towering above them, lit brilliantly against the dark sky behind, was the castle of Hogwarts. Even after all these years, it still took Harry's breath away. The girls quieted down as it came into view and he heard more than a few gasps from the boats around them.
Harry smiled sadly to himself as he gazed up at the monolithic towers. As much as he wanted to simply enjoy the moment, surrounded by people that had been his friends, returning to the place that had been his home in all but name, he couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't his Hogwarts. They weren't his friends. They were a good imitation. Identical even. But his Hogwarts was nothing more than a pile of rubble. And his friends...well... His hand once more reached for his book. The less he dwelled on that the better.
~*~
*THUD* *THUD* *THUD*
Hagrid's great fist hammered on the large doors of the Entrance Hall. A moment later they creaked open revealing a tall and stern figure.
"The firs' years, Professor. Safe and Sound. Ol' Squiddy didn't drag anyone in this time. Not feelin' playful today, I reckon." Hagrid said simply, stepping aside. "Thank you, Hagrid." Professor McGonagall answered and she took a few steps forward to the front of the crowd of children.
She took a few moments to survey them before continuing in her clipped scottish accent. "Welcome to Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Within these walls you will learn how to summon, harness and bend to your will the primal energy we call magic." This prompted a chorus of whispers from among the first years.
"But more importantly!" McGonagall continued, raising her voice. "You will learn to treat that energy, this school and those learning around you with the proper respect that they are due. Those who do not, will find this privilege, for attending Hogwarts is a privilege, taken from them. Am I understood?"
Several students called out an affirmative but she let that statement hang in the air for a moment before nodding her head and turning sharply on her heels. "Good. Now follow me."
~*~
"I heard that we are going to have to fight a troll." Harry smiled as he heard Ron whispering to Neville beside him. "And how we fight it, shows which house we belong in." Neville seemed to consider that for a moment before leaning in towards Ron. "And how do you fight a troll 'loyally'?" Ron opened his mouth to respond before snapping it shut again and cocking his head in thought.
Harry just shook his head. A large number of the first years around the two boys were watching them covertly, though most weren't listening in on the conversation as much as they were trying to get a glimpse of Neville's scar.
Neville's scar. Harry had looked for it straight away, more as confirmation than anything else, and it hadn't answered any questions. But it had raised a few. Firstly, it wasn't where he had expected, even young Harry knew where to look from the rumours. Secondly, it didn't look the same either.
Across the palm of Neville's right hand was a jagged series of scars that resembled shattered glass, like clay left to bake in the sun that had cracked unevenly across the surface. It certainly looked the part, from what Harry had seen. All red and angry and inflamed. But was it a horcrux? If it was, did that make Neville the Boy-who-Lived? He was marked, after all, just as Harry had been. Just as Harry no longer was.
Harry really hated divination and decided that now wasn't the time to think about it. Not that anytime ever was. He turned back to watching his classmates around him.
There were a lot of whispered conversations in the small antechamber they all stood in. Most excited, some nervous, about what lay ahead. Serena was talking with Daphne and Tracy again, who had stuck with them on the walk up from the boats. Once again he didn't join in the conversation. Apparently, past Harry was a quiet one so, thankfully, no one really expected him to talk anyway. Harry was more than happy to meet those expectations as he wasn't sure how good of an impression of an eleven year old he could do.
His eyes caught sight of Hermione again, having a whispered conversation of her own with a girl that he didn't recognize. He once again felt the urge to approach her. She certainly looked the same, all frizzy hair and overeager expressions. But he held himself back again. He would take his time. Take this whole year if need be to just watch and learn.
They didn't have long to wait before McGonagall returned and soon she was leading a group of awed children through the Great Hall of Hogwarts. Even those born to magical families, and indeed Harry himself who had seen and taken part in some very advanced magic, had their breath taken away by its enchanting beauty. There was a reason it was called one of the Thirteen Marvels of the Magical World.
As they reached the end of the aisle and approached the head table, Professor McGonagall turned and stood next to a stool, on which sat the sorting hat. She pulled a scroll from...somewhere, and then addressed the first years.
"Now you will be sorted into one of four houses. During your time here, your house will be your classmates, your mentors and your family. Those older than you will guide you and when your time comes, I hope you will do the same. Approach when I call your name."
With that, the sorting began, oddly absent the hat's usual song, but Harry didn't mind. He had always thought that a strange tradition. Harry paid rapt attention to the sorting, looking for any discrepancies, but thankfully it was much the same as he remembered, Neville into Gryffindor, Draco and the gorillas into Slytherin along with Daphne. But there were a few notable exceptions. Serena got sorted into Gryffindor, Hermione into Ravenclaw, Lavender into Hufflepuff and, most odd of all, Seamus into Slytherin of all places.
And then it was his turn, and, with Serena beaming at him supportively from the Gryffindor table, he stepped up to the stool. This was the first major change he had planned on doing and even with his pledge to take this slow, it still seemed to be the right decision. The Sorting Hat was gently placed on his head.
"Well now, let's see what we have here, shall we?" A voice suddenly erupted in his head. "Hmmmmm. Another Potter, eh? Don't get many of you. Traditionally Gryffindors but lets have a look at you and see if...Oh...oh my. Well I haven't seen anything like this in all my years."
Harry remained silent through the Hat's revelation and listened as it seemed to peruse his memories and personality, making small humming and muttering noises like a scholar trying to make sense of a particularly vexing tome.
"Now, isn't this interesting. Two minds becoming one. Two souls too similar to exist independently merged into a single entity. Aren't you quite the unique case study, Mr. Potter."
Harry tried not to fidget in his seat under the scrutiny of the ancient artifact. "That's not going to be an issue," he hesitantly thought back, "is it?"
"Oh, not at all. Not at all. It just makes you more interesting. All of the students I normally sort are all basically toddlers in terms of growth and personality. Just clones of their parents, really. But you? You are your own person. Own people, actually, if you want to be technical about it. Or were, until recently. My, it is nice perusing an actual mature mind for once, full of complex emotions and fully formed personality traits. Now, enough prattling. Let's get to sorting, shall we?"
Once again Harry was silent as the hat began his work. "Plenty of bravery of course, and loyal to a fault. Clever enough to pass and ambition in spades. You won't be easy, will you?"
"You gave me a choice, once." Harry interjected. "Could I simply choose again? Help you out a bit?"
"Oh, I see your plots and your plans, child. I know what you would choose. But, you see, toddlers get choices because they are, as of yet, not fully formed. Who they will be remains to be seen. But you? You might as well have been cast from stone. No, despite having qualities of all the Founders, there is a clear choice for you."
Harry blinked. This was unexpected, though perhaps it shouldn't have been. The hat's logic was sound. Of course most children got a choice. Not just him. That even explained the small discrepancies in the sorting he had just seen. But he had really been planning...
The hat chuckled in his mind. "Do not fret, child. Your own thoughts happen to align with mine in this matter. Maybe, indeed, purely because of your plotting, it is the obvious choice."
Harry relaxed. "Thank you. Regardless of your reasons, I do think it's the best way."
"No need to thank me. I'm simply fulfilling my purpose. But a piece of advice before you go, young Potter. Remember that here, they are children, and have not yet committed the atrocities that you experienced. Their paths are not yet set in stone, and perhaps with patience and understanding, they may yet be altered. But tread that path lightly, young Potter, lest they alter yours. Now, your future awaits you in...Slytherin!"
The last word resonated through the Hall and was met with whispers and hesitant claps from the Slytherin table. Harry hopped down from the stool and calmly made his way to the land of green and silver. As he was walking, Serena caught his eye from the Gryffindor table, and while she tried to give him a supportive smile, he saw panic in her eyes. He gave her a reassuring nod and sat down where the other first year Slytherins had clumped together in a convenient empty spot next to Daphne.
Harry didn't have to look around to know that they were all staring at him. He instead pointedly kept watching the sorting till its conclusion, with not even the final addition of Blaise Zabini to their ranks breaking the awkward silence.
As the feast began, it was Tracy that finally broke it. "Soooo..." she began, with exaggerated nonchalance, "Who wants to take bets on how long it takes for Lord Potter to show up storming about his son being a snake?" This got chortles and stifled laughs from the group. "Please. Less than a week." said Daphne from next to him. "Not even." Draco cut in smirking. "I'd say before class is over tomorrow."
"I don't think you're giving him enough credit." Harry responded with a small smile of his own. "I'm expecting him to break down those doors any minute now." Genuine laughs came now from most of them, but Harry could see the emotions in their eyes they weren't saying.
Disdain from Nott. Interest from Tracy and Blaise. Calculating and confused from Malfoy. Disinterest from Daphne and from the gorillas, well, Harry wasn't sure if there were emotions in there. It was a warmer welcome than he had expected, honestly, even if it did feel like a well rehearsed play.
He knew that it was most likely his political pull currently keeping them in check somewhat, something he had been lacking or at least lacking knowledge of, the first time around. Maybe the train encounter with Draco had circulated around. Regardless, it was better footing than he could have hoped for, and he intended to take full advantage of it.
~*~
Up at the head table, a pair of concerned and keen eyes watched Harry interact with his peers at the Slytherin table. Headmaster Dumbledore wasn't sure what to make of the unexpected sorting. He wasn't overly familiar with the young Potter, having only met him a handful of times, but James had been an Order member and they still had tea occasionally to catch up and speak on Wizengamont business. He knew James well, and James spoke often of Harry.
Everything he had heard seemed to point the boy to Gryffindor like his parents. Or perhaps Hufflepuff if anything. But Slytherin? That was a cutthroat society. And if he was as meek and innocent as he seemed, they would eat him alive.
~*~
A few chairs down from the Headmaster, another set of eyes watched Harry from afar. But these were not looks of concern. The were looks of outrage and...confusion? Severus Snape didn't quite know what to make of this sudden development. James' son in his House? A Potter wearing the silver and green? It was unthinkable. If Severus had been a religious man he would have called it blasphemous.
He had heard whispers of the boy standing up to Draco which was certainly out of character, but maybe he had gotten Lily's fire after all. Or maybe it was just the patent Potter arrogance making a late appearance. Irrationally, he tried to stoke the fire within himself. He wanted to hate the boy. But as he watched and listened from a subtle charm under the table, he wasn't the innocent dunderhead or the arrogant hothead he had been expecting to watch flounder when exposed to the delicate game of Slytherin. He was calm and confident and far from floundering in the game. He was playing it. And well.
~*~
"So tell me, Potter," Draco drawled during a lull in the conversation, "What in Merlin's name did you tell the hat to convince it to let you in Slytherin?" Other conversations quieted down at the not so subtle barb. Even some nearby older students seemed to be listening in.
"Because, for the life of me, I can't figure it out. Wonderful trick, though. Perhaps some...wisdom to pass down to other wanna-be Halfblood Slytherins? Come on, give us a hint. You must have told Tracy."
Tracy blushed a few seats down and turned her attention firmly to the creme brulee in front of her. As the only other halfblood in their group, she must have been the focus of Draco's attentions before Harry's sorting. He pitied her, but judging by the way Daphne's hand tightened around her fork at the offhanded statement, she wasn't alone in her corner, so he was grateful for that.
"It was actually quite simple, Malfoy." Harry responded between bites of a small treacle tart. "I just used your sorting as an example of Slytherin's declining standards. And if you had been allowed in, surely someone of an older bloodline, despite my blood status should be allowed in as well."
Snickers echoed around the table from the first years while Draco started steaming at the comment. He was about to rebuke it when Harry continued, not giving him any quarter.
"I mean, with your French ancestry, you're basically a halfblood yourself. So I thought I would shoot my shot."
"Look at you, Draco." Tracy cut in giggling, eager to poke back at the egotistical boy. "Paving the way for the little folk. We should get Rondha Golton from Witch Weekly in here, write a puff piece about your generosity."
Draco's chair clattered to the ground as he leapt to his feet, face purpling with rage. But thankfully they were saved from whatever outburst he had when the food suddenly vanished from the table and all the students started to rise around them. Apparently they had missed the Headmaster calling an end to the Feast in the midst of their conversation.
An older boy with severe features and short cropped hair was walking swiftly towards them followed closely by an older girl. "First Years!" He called out as he approached to get their attention.
"I'm Adrian Pucey and this is Alison Lykal. We are the fifth year Prefects and will be handling your orientation this evening." He had a no nonsense tone and seemed to glare at each of the first years in turn, before continuing.
What followed was a brief but thorough tour of the castle's main facilities and classrooms, led mostly by Adrian as Alison, it appeared was more the quiet type, those she did pitch in with details about the Library and its various professor lead study sessions.
Then, after an hour or so, they were led to the Dungeons and particular blank wall that Harry was already familiar with.
"This," Adrian stated, turning to face them, "is the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room, which in turn leads to the dormitories. The entrance reveals itself and opens with a password. That password is changed weekly and is posted to the other side of this door. Do not forget where the entrance is. Do not forget the password."
At this, Adrian gestured down a nearby hallway. "Those are simple rules, but if they prove to hard for you, you will have to go see Professor Snape, our Head of House, whose office is just there. And a word from the wise, he does not appreciate being interrupted for such trivial matters."
With that rather ominous statement, he turned and simply stated, "Sharp of Tongue, Keen of Mind." A grinding noise was heard followed by a loud hissing. A few of the first years jumped as one of the stone serpents coiled around the pillars in this portion of the castle, unfurled itself and slithered across the wall to form a large arch. Then a sharp crack came and a line appeared in the center of the arch before slowly opening inward as a large pair of double doors.
They opened into a large room very similar to the one that Harry had become so acquainted with back in his second year when he had spied on Draco obsessively, convinced he was the Heir of Slytherin. He spent long hours cowering in corners under his invisibility cloak in that room.
Much like it, this had many ornate chairs and couches situated in groups along with various fireplaces, bookshelves and a whole wall built as a plate glass window looking out under the Black Lake. The light from the window gave the room a distinct green hue.
Adrian and Alison lead them to the center of the room before turning to address them once more. "Now that we are in the sanctity of the Common Room, let us speak plainly." Adrian began, apparently still speaking for both of them.
"As all of you probably know, Slytherin stands apart from the other houses here at Hogwarts. We have a bit of a...reputation. In fact, it is not uncommon for the other houses to unite against us, even gang up on us on occasion. Thus, by necessity, Slytherin must provide a united front to the rest of the school. What disputes or troubles you have, they will be aired and settled here, within these walls. But out there, you travel in pairs and stand at each other's backs if needed."
He paused for a moment to gaze at them each, his eyes lingered on Draco for a moment longer. "I noticed a fight almost broke out at the feast. That is unacceptable." Draco had the grace to look abashed. "We have our own law here in Slytherin and all are expected to comply. Grievances can be aired in the open court," he gestured around them to the common room, "where we try to keep a prefect on hand should they be required. Or they can be aired privately, by coming to us in confidence. Should it become necessary, we even have a dueling circle the Seventh Year prefects have been allowed to supervise. But do try to resolve your disputes civilly until you actually learn something. No one likes to watch a couple toddlers throw minor hexes at each other for twenty minutes."
This got a few dry chuckles from the older students trickled around the room. "Now, are there any questions before we show you to your rooms?" None were forthcoming so the group was split Harry followed Adrian with the rest of the boys down a side corridor to a row of doors. "The four are the First Year rooms." He said pointing behind him. "Since there are seven of you, most will be bunked in pairs, but starting Third Year, you'll have your own room. They are already assigned, so no squabbling and no switching. Classes start tomorrow. Get some rest."
Adrian was blunt but earnest, Harry decided as he perused the names on the doors. Draco, of course had the solo room, which he looked quite smug about as he walked into it. Harry found his name just a few doors down paired with Blaise. The dark-skinned boy nodded at him as they met at the door and walked in together.
The room was simple by design. Two beds placed opposite each other each flanked by a desk, bookshelf and chest of drawers. Their own chests were at the foot of their beds.
They both spent some time unpacking in silence, Blaise seemed to be just as comfortable with it as he was, but when Harry was just about done, he turned back towards the center of the room to grab a few final books to find Blaise sitting on the end of his bed, staring at him.
Harry paused for a second before continuing. "Can I help you with something?"
"Probably." Came Blaise's reply, "But you probably won't." Harry looked quizzically at the other boy as he filed his books away on his shelf. "Come again?" Blaise just smiled slightly. "You are a curious case, Potter. And one I didn't expect. I'm wondering if your sorting is going to be a threat, an opportunity or an endless source of entertainment."
Harry shrugged. "I guess we'll have to see. I imagine it might be all three." Blaise nodded at that response before finally turning to get ready for bed.
"Indeed we will, Potter. Indeed we will."
Harry shrugged off the strange encounter before crawling into bed and drawing the curtains. A quick whispered spell enchanted them closed and he settled back against his pillow as he enlarged the massive tome he kept on a chain on his neck.
The pages were well worn as he worked the book open to the silk ribbon that served to hold his place. The page read:
October the 19th, 1997 - The Battle of Hogwarts
Harry smiled humourlessly. How fitting. The list of names on this page was long. And it began with Albus Dumbledore.
~*~
AN: That's a wrap! Next Chapter: Classes! And honestly probably a good portion of Year 1 as well. I don't intend to linger here unnecessarily. Hit a few key points then move on.
Hope you all are enjoying it so far!
