The giant of a man pounded on the door, and it was opened by a rather sever looking witch, "Welcome to Hogwarts! I am Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and Professor of Transfiguration. In a few moments you will go through these doors and join your classmates, but first you must be sorted into your houses. There four of them and each has its own noble history and has produced outstanding witches and wizards. They are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. While you are here your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you house points, and your rule breaking will lose points. I hope that each of you becomes a cred to whatever house becomes yours." The stern professor looked directly at a red-haired boy and then said, "I suggest that you each smarten yourselves up, I will return momentarily.
Sure, enough it took no more than a moment before the severe-looking Professor returned and led them into the Great Hall that was overwhelming in its beauty. Some were to be awestruck to speak and others, used to it, others couldn't stop talking like a bushy-haired girl several behind Harry.
The sky mimicked by the domed ceiling in the Great Hall showed the stars and candles floated above the various house tables. A small number of children stood in a set of double lines waiting anxiously as the stern witch at the front of the room stood. The incoming first year class was smaller than previous classes due to the war and Harry stood behind Theo as they waited for their turn to be sorted. Harry looked around at his year mates.
There was a crop of red hair letting him know where Weasley stood, a pair of Indian girls that were identical, a girl with strawberry blond hair done in double braids the niece of Amelia Bones Theo had noted for him earlier. Daphne stood towards the front looking unenthused by the process.
Theo and Harry watched as Bones and Abott became Hufflepuffs, and Terry Bootbecame a Ravenclaw, along with one of the Indian twins. The other ended up in Gryffindor. There were a few others before the sever looking professor called, "Daphne Greengrass." The hat seemed took a brief moment, but called out, "Slytherin" still. Neville Longbottom's sorting seemed to drag on forever, but in reality, probably only lasted 3 minutes before it shouted, "Gryffindor." Then the others watched as it became Malfoy's turn. It was of little surprise to him when the hat barely touched the blonde boy's head, and shouted Slytherin. Draco may have yet to learn the art of subtly and cunning, but he was extremely ambitious.
Theo strode up to the front as soon as his name was called his fringe falling coolly to one side his face a mask of indifference, but Harry knew better. Theo didn't want to become his father and so he wanted to be able to make his own choices and keep himself from getting lumped in potentially with the wrong crowd. The hat again seemed to take more time with Theo, the hat whispered softly in Theo's mind although Harry could not hear what was being said. Harry was unsure about the result until the hat finally announced, "Slytherin."
The schooled his features to keep the neutral mask in place understanding that he needed to work hard to keep himself protected. Any weakness would be used against him. He made his way over to the Slytherin table as his robes added the Slytherin Crest and green trim to his robes.
As Theo sat his brown eyes followed the rest of the sorting as Professor McGonagall called up the next student to be sorted, "Harry Potter." Whispers seemed to break out all around the hall, including at the Slytherin table. Draco was telling Flint, "Can you imagine that scrawny filthy half-blood defeated the Dark Lord." Flint simply nodded as though he couldn't care less. "Idiots," Theo mumbled under his breath as he contemplated spending way too much time around this lot over the next few years.
Brown eyes carefully watched even while listening to the conversation around him. The scrawny emerald eyed boy walked up hesitantly, and placed the sorting hat on his head, as he sat down on the stool. The old, raged hat slipped down over the emerald eyes that had held Theo's attention. It took too long as the student body waited anxiously to see where the last Potter would be staying for the next seven years. Harry was not overly surprised after reading Hogwarts a history by the hat speaking in his mind. So, he listened as the hat spoke, "Difficult, very difficult. Plenty of courage, and not a bad mind either, there is talent or thirst to prove yourself. Now where to put you?" Harry fidgeted a bit on the stool, "hmm…better be Slytherin."
Theo knew that the Potter family had a long-standing tradition in Gryffindor, though it might be affected by whatever the circumstances of his upbringing were. The Gryffindors would take this badly, and he figured that it would be necessary to make sure that Harry was protected in the pack of Slytherins that could be trusted truly.
Theo could have sworn that he saw the old man's countenance register shock momentary. He filed that little tidbit of information away for later. It was not nothing, Theo knew that much as he considered what he knew from his father about the Chief Warlock of the Wizegamot and Headmaster of the school. That deserved proper consideration later on he decided.
Theo loaded plenty of vegetables and fruit on his plate though small in portion, and Harry mimics his behavior and table manners as he came and sat down his robe now trimmed with green and a Slytherin badgeon his left. He would then select a lean protein afterwards. Both boys stuck to listening unwilling to make any enemies early on. This evening it was important he decided to the consider potential allies carefully. They would make moves later after plenty of time to think and consider all of his options.
By the time they all had finished their meals, the first years were directed gather behind Fawley and led to the dungeons. The fifth-year girl asked, "Does anyone know what the symbol of our house is?" Theo raised his hand, "The symbol of Slytherin house is a serpent. Salazar Slytherin was able to talk to snakes and thus the symbol of our house." Fawley nodded, "Well met, Nott. That will be ten points to Slytherin. The password is pureblood. Memorize it and do not give it out. Professor Snape changes it frequently so make sure to read the message board."
As they were let into the common room Theo and Harry went tofind their dorm after the usual notices about walking together in groups and schedules handed out at breakfast so make sure to set your alarm.
The one positive thing about Slytherin was that they had only one roommate. Thankful that they were placed into the same room Harry and Theo began to talk. Theo looked at Harry and smiled, "You did well today I see that the books did come in handy, and you were prepared enough quickly after your sorting to mimic those around you so that you would not stand out. Well met, Harry. I didn't have enough time to warn you on the train, be careful. Malfoy's father and others are the children of my father's associates. We'll have to choose our alliances carefullyif we want to keep out of potential harm and away from those influences as much as we can." Harry nodded, "What about Daphne and Blaise?" Zabini had been the last be sorted and joined them. Theo considered the question, "Their families are good solid connections politically, and both are from neutral families. That would be a smart call. Have you gotten through the reading?" Harry nodded, "Yeah Professor Snape told me to make sure that I read the books before getting to school and so I did." Theo smiled, "Good, Professor Snape is our head of house and so you want to be on his good side."