Slowly, all the students fell into line as they followed Professor McGonagall from the room. Harry's group ended up near the center, with him between Neville and Daphne. Too nervous to talk, he followed silently as she led them back across the Entrance Hall, through two sets of double doors, and into the Great Hall.

Stone walls half covered in boarded panelling went on and on, ending in large, stained glass windows that stretched up into darkness. Great stone columns banked the room, each one with gargoyles holding burning braziers. Beyond the columns, large windows lined both sides of the room. Directly in front of them were four long tables. Hundreds of students sat there, staring at them.

At the front of the room, in front of the windows, was another long table. It was raised up on a dais, stretching across in front of the windows. Sitting at the table were more than a dozen adults. Glittering golden plates and goblets sat along the tables.

They followed Professor McGonagall down the center aisle, between two of the tables, and up the length of the Hall. Faces turned towards them as they went, hundreds of eyes watching them, Even the ghosts with their strange pearly eyes watched.

Harry glanced up, and floating above the tables were thousands of lit candles. Above that, stars in the night sky.

"It's bewitched, to look like the sky outside," Hermione whispered to Susan from where they walked in front of Neville.

Harry glanced up again, trying to find the trusses among the stars. Looking at it, it was hard to imagine there was anything other than sky above them.

They came to a stop at the base of the dais, the other first years fanning out is a loose circle. Professor McGonagall placed a stool just at the top of the dais, in full view of the rest of the school. On top of the stool sat a pointed hat. He couldn't tell what colour it had originally been, as it was old and fraying with patches all over it. And it was dirtier than anything he'd ever seen.

The hat twitched.

Harry blinked in confusion.

Then a rip opened like a mouth, and the hat began 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 Hufflepuffs 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!'

The hall burst into applause all around him. The hat bowed, then stopped moving.

Harry was stunned. A hat. They only had to place a hat on their heads to be sorted. It was the most absurd thing he'd ever heard.

And the most nerve wracking. Right then, he didn't feel brave, or smart, or anything else. Mostly, he felt queasy. Part of him felt as though he wouldn't get sorted at all. He would put the hat on, and be told it was all a mistake. Then, he'd be sent back. Not back to Linweald with James, but back to the Dursleys. Another part of him was terrified the hat would place him in the same House as Alex. Have him share a room with his brother, be available to be tormented night and day for the next seven years. Mostly, he was afraid of what James would say if he was sorted into any house but Gryffindor, regardless of how little he wanted to go there. What would he say, if Harry really did go to Ravenclaw, or Slytherin.

Professor McGonagall held a long piece of parchment in her hands as she stepped up next to the stool. "When I call your name, you will sit on the stool and put on the hat to be sorted," she said.

"Abbott, Hannah!" she called, her voice echoing in the silence.

Susan's friend walked up, shaking.

Harry, who had never been picked for anything, would have hated being called first more than not being called at all.

Professor McGonagall placed the hat on Hannah's head. It slipped down over her eyes. A moment later, the hat shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Cheers erupted from the table on Harry's left.

"Alton, Pamela!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

The table to his other side clapped and cheered, not quite as loud as Hufflepuff, but no less enthusiastic.

"Averill, Sylvester!" joined Hufflepuff next.

"Ayers, Shelly!" was the first new Gryffindor. The cheers and shouts from the table on the other side of Hufflepuff were the loudest yet.

There was another Hufflepuff then, it was Susan's turn.

"Good luck," Neville whispered as she walked up.

The hat took a little longer than it had for the other students. When it finally announced Hufflepuff, Harry clapped along with the rest of them.

Several more names were called, then, "Bullstrode, Millicent!" went to Slytherin. The table on the left hand side of the Hall, on the other side of Ravenclaw, was quite reserved with their clapping.

Sometimes, the hat would shout out a house almost immediately. Other times, the hat would sit on someone's head for a while before shouting out a house. It sat on Tracey's head for three full minutes, before shouting, "SLYTHERIN!" She was the third of what became four new Slytherins in a row.

Hermione's turn came. The hat sat on her head, and said nothing. At the four minute mark, whispers broke out all around the Hall. At the five minute mark, the professors sat at the head table got visibly excited, some leaning over their plates. Finally, after six minutes, he hat gave Hermione her wish. She ran off to Gryffindor grinning. Almost everyone cheered.

Daphne followed after her, Professor McGonagall barely had enough time to remove her hand before the hat sent Daphne to Slytherin.

The line was beginning to thin out, and Harry's hands shook.

Neville went to Gryffindor, and the sisters from the party, Morag, with the mismatched eyes, and Isobel MagDougal both went to Ravenclaw. Ernie went to Hufflepuff.

"Malfoy, Draco!" was the blond haired boy Alex had been arguing with when they boarded the boats. The hat never really touched his head before it shouted "SLYTHERIN!". His was the fastest sorting.

Names flew by, Harry could hardly pay attention. He was too focused on not collapsing from how much he was shaking.

When "Patil, Parvati!" went to Gryffindor. Padma went to Ravenclaw, looking incredibly pleased with herself.

There were a couple more students, then "Potter, Alexander!"

Alex swaggered up to the stool, even as another round whispers broke out across the Hall.

"Potter, did she say?"

"The Alex Potter?"

It took less than a minute for the hat to shout, "GRYFFINDOR!"

His cheers were the loudest. Even most of the professors were clapping. The redheaded twins he saw on the platform were standing on the long bench screaming, "We got Potter! We got Potter!", while the prefect that had checked in on Harry ran over the shake Alex's hand. Alex looked pleased.

Harry glanced at Neville, who was the only person at the table not celebrating. He looked horrified. Harry wondered if students could be resorted.

Things settled, then, "Potter, Hadrian!". It was his turn.

Harry swallowed his nerves, and walked up on steady feet. There were still whispers, but he ignored them as the hat dropped down over his eyes.

"Hmm," said a small voice in his ear. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind, either. There's talent, oh my goodness, yes – and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting … So where shall I put you?"

Harry gripped the edges of the chair, trying to keep his mind blank. He failed, and thoughts of Alex flashed through his head. "Please don't stick me with him," he thought.

"Sibling rivalry? Oh, I can fix that. You could learn to get along. You would be great together," the hat said. It paused, then, "No, not Gryffindor. Not for you, little snake. Oh, yes, I know your secret. I know what you yearn for. I know everything in your head."

Harry held his breath.

"There's really only one place you can go. Better be — SLYTHERIN!"

On shaking legs, he walked towards the Slytherin table. He hardly noticed that the Hall was quieter for his sorting. There was clapping, but it was much more subdued than any sorting before him.

He sat down in the first empty spot. Daphne slipped down next to him.

"Pleased?" she asked, quietly.

"Definitely."

Her eyes drifted to the other tables. "Well, someone isn't."

Harry followed the line of sight. Across the Hall, sitting at the Gryffindor table, Alex glared at Harry. He looked murderous. Harry smiled coldly back.

An older student hissed at them to be quiet.

A girl and boy joined Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw gained another boy. Three more girls joined Slytherin, sitting directly across from him towards the end of the table.

The line of waiting students was thinning out quickly. Eventually, the tall boy with red hair, Weasley, Ronald, happily joined Alex at the Gryffindor table.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, there was one student left. Zabini, Blaise joined them at the Slytherin table.

Professor McGonagall rolled up her scroll, and took the stool away.

The man at the center of the table stood. He was ancient, with a long silver beard and twinkling blue eyes over which he wore half-moon glasses. His robes were elaborate, purple with glimmering golden stars stitched all through it. The long billowing sleeves draped across the table when he spread his arms wide. He beamed at the students.

It wasn't until he started speaking, that it dawned on Harry who he was. The strange old man was the Professor Dumbledore he'd heard so much about over the summer. He definitely wasn't what Harry expected.

"Welcome!" he said in a soft, but powerful voice. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! 'Thank you!" He sat back down.

Harry turned to Daphne, who looked just as bewildered as he did. "That was…er — he's mad!"

She laughed. "Oh Harry, You're so clueless. You're going to be eaten alive."

"What is that supposed to mean?" he said, offended.

She just laughed more.

Clattering erupted all around the, He looked down to see the dishes were now piled high. Every food imaginable sat before him, from roast beef to lamb chops to Yorkshire pudding and chips.

It had been a long time since the sweets on the train, and even longer since breakfast. He piled some of his favourites onto the plate in front of him.

All around them, the first years were moving about, filling their plates, and moving to sit near their friends. Tracey slid down to join them. As did a tall boy with brown hair. Harry couldn't remember his name.

"You made it!" Tracey said brightly.

"So did you," Harry said.

"Yes, yes, how touching," the boy said.

"Do shut up, Theo," Daphne said.

There was a scream and a thud from across the Hall. Where Weasley had sat, there was now a ghost. And Weasley was climbing to his feet from where he'd fallen. Still clutched in his hand was a chicken leg.

Harry snickered along with half the people around him.

Ghosts were joining the first years all around the Hall. At his own table, a ghost with dark, translucent bloodstain that had rattling chains around his wrists was next to Malfoy, who had plastered himself to his friend's side.

"There was never any doubt he'd make it," Daphne said.

When Harry turned back, she was glaring at the trio of girls across from them. The middle girl had auburn hair in braids that wrapped around her head like a crown. She was glaring back at Daphne.

Both Tracey and Theo looked resigned.

"Although, I'm shocked you did, Roper," she said.

The girl swallowed, then spat back, "Really? We all knew I'd make it. But you on the other hand, well, we all thought you'd be going to Huffleputt."

Daphne scoffed. "Like anyone would have cared about that, but thinking you'd go to Gryffindor on the other hand…"

"Well, as you can clearly see, I didn't," she snapped.

As the two girls sniped at one another across the table, much to everyone's annoyance, Tracey leaned closer to him.

"They've hated each other since we were like six, and Sophie wore the same robes as Daphne did to her birthday party," she whispered.

Knock it off, Daph," Theo said.

"Thank you," Tracey mouthed silently to him.

Daphne settled back into her seat. "Merlin, I hate her," she said.

Tracey reached around Harry to pat her on the shoulder. Daphne shot her a glare.

"Not going to introduce your new friend?" Theo asked.

"Oh! Where have my manners gone? Theo, this is Heir Harry, of House Potter," she said, then she turned and said, "Harry, this is Heir Theo of House Nott."

"Well met," Theo Nott said.

"Well met,"

Harry was quickly getting tired of the formal greeting. Susan was right, it was a lot, especially for people their age. Not only was it exhausting, it made him feel old.

When the last person still eating finished, the remains of the food faded into nothing. The platters and plates were left sparkling clean, as though nothing had ever been there.

A moment later, the puddings appeared. Like a dream, every desert imaginable was there for the taking. There was ice cream of every flavour, éclairs, rice pudding. There were dozens of fruits, some of which Harry had never seen before, and so much more.

Practically full to the bursting, he helped himself to a small treacle tart.

Nott was silently appraising Harry while he picked at his own pudding, ignoring the girls chattering around them.

"Well, Potter, you're going to make waves being here," he said.

"How?" Harry questioned.

The girls stopped talking.

"Brother of the Boy-Who-Lived in the Dark Lord's own House. People are going to talk," Nott said.

Daphne laughed. "They absolutely hate one another," she said.

Nott smiled. It wasn't a nice one.

Daphne and Harry had exchanged owls for weeks following their meeting in Diagon Alley. Initially, Harry had just owled her to thank her for her help.

"This is going to be marvellous," he said.

"What is?" Harry asked.

"You'll see," Nott said.

"Oh, come off it, Theo. You're going to scare him away," Daphne said.

Nott laughed.

"He thinks being cryptic is finny. Mostly, it's just creepy," Tracey said.

"Right," Harry said. He wasn't at all sure if he liked Theo Nott.

"He's dreadful with people," Daphne said. "And might have been more sheltered than you."

"Can't possibly be worse than me," Harry assured them to a round of laughter.

Only Neville knew about Harry living with the muggles, and he intended to keep it that way for now.

It got louder in the Hall, if that was possible, as students finished eating. Before long, the puddings disappeared too.

Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again, and the Hall fell silent.

"Ahem – just a few more words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.

"First-years should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."

Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed towards the Gryffindor table. He seemed to be looking directly at the redheaded twins.

"I have also been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.

"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.

"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

Harry thought that was a weirdly ominous thing to say.

"He can't be serious?" Harry asked.

"No idea, but Mother will want to hear about this. I wonder what is so dangerous that they'd block off an entire corridor," Daphne said.

"I wonder if the Board knows. It's unheard off. I'll have to write to my father as well," Nott said.

Harry wondered if he should write James, but decided it wouldn't be worth it. What could he do? Well, really, what would he do? From the stories he'd told Harry, James loved Dumbledore. And he got the distinct feeling the families of his new housemates did not.

Students were moving about the Hall, leaving or moving over to other House tables to speak with their friends. Harry glanced at Neville's dejected face and thought about going over to check on him. Before he could move though, two older students were moving down their end of the table, collecting the first years.

"We'll escort you to the Slytherin Common Room, come along," the girl said.

In a knot of first years, Harry was ushered out of the Great Hall. The girl led them out of the Great Hall, and back across the Entrance Hall towards the front doors. At the base of the stairs, she turned sharply to the left.

"This way," she called.

From behind them, the boy that had been with her said, "If you fall behind, no one will come looking for you. Keep up."

Tucked behind the left hand stair, was a small door. She led them through it. Once they were all through, and the door closed behind them, she started speaking.

"There are two routes to the Slytherin Common Room from the Great Hall, this one and the main one, which is accessed from the Grand Staircase. Now, come along and keep up," the girl said.

She led them down a short corridor that ended in a spiralling staircase. Down they went, following the older girl beneath the castle. After what felt like a dozen flights of circling downwards, they emerged into a wide, but short corridor. From the corridor, they went left, then down another set of steps. At another intersection, they took another left.

They moved deeper and deeper into the dungeons, until they went through yet another door and stopped in a large open space. Iron chandeliers hung from the high ceiling with burning candles dripping wax that vanished after a couple of feet. Three pillars stood in the middle of the space decorated with iron snakes. Along the floor, winding through the space and disappearing through an archway across from where they came out.

They were ushered into the space, their backs to a wide staircase, facing the older girl. She stood in front of a blank wall, with none of the tapestries or portraits that had decorated the walls throughout the dungeons.

"For centuries, Slytherin House has valued its secrecy above all else. Ravenclaw and Gryffindor have their towers, noticeable to all who come to the castle, though inaccessible to those without the right merit. Hufflepuff has their den, guarded by naught but a few casks of vinegar," she said.

"The location of Slytherin House has never been revealed to outsiders, be they professors or even Headmaster. We value our privacy, as we do tradition."

She turned to the blank wall behind her, and said, "Vitality."

From the floor, a great stone snake appeared. It rose upwards, it's middle arching above their heads, revealing a door.

"Welcome, to Slytherin House," she said, and led them through the door.

There was a flowing fountain of two intertwined mermaids set back into an alcove just inside the door. Bracketing either side of it were two stone benches, with glowing lanterns mounted above them. Stone walls circled three sides of the space.

Another spiralling staircase led off from the room. In the open cavity, with skinny carved stone columns keeping them from falling into the void, water from the fountain rushed downwards. Green hued tapestries filled with motifs of snakes and aquatic life lined the other side.

The stairs let out next to a shallow pool with stone statues of snakes and more mermaids surrounding it. Next to the pool, completely out of place, stood a bulletin board.

They were led past the pool, though a lounge with antique sofas dotted in clusters around it, and off to the left. A short flight of stairs led stretched across the room, leading through an archway. Draping across the archways was a heavy set of grey-green curtains.

In the space, a central stair led up to a landing that branched off to either side. Standing on the landing was a tall man dressed in billowing black robes. He had long, lank hair that hung down around his shoulders, and a long hooked nose. His dark cold eyes stared at the first years as they filed into the room.

The curtain dropped down behind them with a snap, making several people jump.

The two students that escorted them moved to join the other four students standing on either side of the staircase.

"Welcome to Slytherin House," the man said. He didn't speak loudly, his words were low but commanding. They echoed off the stone walls.

Harry stood a little taller.

"I am Professor Snape, Head of Slytherin and Potions Master here at Hogwarts," he said as he stalked down the stairs. "Over the next seven years, you will be the representatives of our esteemed House. I expect you to act with dignity while you are here, to not embarrass the great Witches and Wizards that have come before you. As your head of house, I expect you to excel in your studies. Laziness will not be tolerated.

"Your prefects," he gestured to the six older students who stood at attention in front of them, "will be available should you need help. Should I have to intervene on your behalf, for any reason, it will not go kindly for you.

"Do not embarrass the great legacy you have been granted access to," he finished.

With that, Professor Snape swept from the room, leaving a stunned silence behind him.

One of the prefects stepped forwards, and said, "Listen up firsties, I know we're all tired but we have just a few more things to go over."

"I am Valentine Durant, one of your Seventh Year prefects," he said, then introduced each of the prefects. If they had formal titles, Harry didn't know, as they weren't used.

The girl that had led them to the common room was Gemma Farley, and the boy, Zander Blackridge, both fifth years. Killian Sallow and Leonore Rosier were the sixth years, and Tabitha Bainbridge, seventh year, rounded out the prefects.

"Now, as you know, much of the Wixen world blames our House for the events of the Blood War," Durant said.

"Not without reason," Sallow added quietly.

He was shushed by the others.

Durant continued, ignoring them. "As such, many of you will experience that backlash as students of Slytherin House. You will not rise to the bait, and you will act accordingly outside the common room. I don't care if you don't like one another, you will act as one when among the other students. It is our best defence.

"Secondly, if you are struggling academically or socially, you may come to any of us. Please try to approach the sixth years first. They have a bit more free time."

All of the older students chuckled.

"Try not to bother Professor Snape, if it can at all be avoided. Tomorrow morning, you will meet here by no later than seven o'clock to be escorted to the Great Hall for breakfast. There, you will receive your class schedules. After dinner tomorrow, you are to return here, and await further instruction.

"Now, boys, your dorms off to the right and down the center hall," he gestured to Harry's left. "Girls, the same to your left. Your names will be on your door. There will be no reassignments, so please don't ask. Boys, please note that you will not be able to enter the girls' dorms, so don't try."

With that, they were dismissed.

The corridor of the boys' dorms was long and narrow, raised up on a metal bridge with flowing water beneath it. It wrapped around with a second archway back into the lounge. Above each doorway, across the curved ceiling, were glass panes that glowed in an eerie green.

There was a short hallway that sloped downwards beyond the single door in the middle of the interior wall. It led to a small octagonal space with four doors wrapped around the walls. Three of the doors had silver placards with six names in curling script on each of them. The last door had nothing, and Harry guessed it was a bathroom.

His name was on the center door, listed between Nott and Zabini's. Through the door, he crossed over another grate.

On either side of the room were three beds. Each one had a small wardrobe, night stand and bookshelf. In the center of the room, between the rows of beds, was a small pool with a large glowing brazier set in the middle of it. At the end of the room, a large window jutted out, looking out into a moving darkness. Harry was sure it had to be the lake. A narrow, cushion covered bench sat beneath it.

Each of the four-post beds was carved with motifs of snakes curling around them. Velvet emerald curtains, embroidered with silver, hung down from the wooden canopy above them.

Being the first one in the room, he took stock of his options. Harry walked towards one of the beds nearest the window, and sat down. He didn't want to be trapped on both sides, nor have people moving past him at all hours.

The moment he touched the bed, his trunk popped into existence at the foot of the bed, with his school bag on top.

Harry almost rushed to grab it, to check on Morgan, but Nott had followed him into the room.

He chose the bed immediately next to Harry.

"At least I'll know someone I'm sharing with," Harry commented after Nott's things appeared.

Nott wrinkled his nose. "At least there's one person I don't hate in here."

They both laughed.

Zabini wandered in a moment later, glanced at the options left, and asked, "Do either of you snore?"

They both said no.

He claimed the bed across from Harry. Once his trunk appeared, he began rummaging through it. After he pulled his toiletries out, he stalked back out of the room.

"You going?" Nott asked.

"I think I'll wait until morning, when there's not as much of a crowd," Harry said.

Nott glanced towards the door, and the noise of the other boys drifting through where Zabini had left it cracked open.

"Good plan," he said. Then he pulled a book from his trunk.

Harry followed suit. He checked on Morgan before pulling one of the history books from his bag. He settled back on the pillows to read.

"Where did you get that?" Nott asked suddenly.

"Huh?"

"That book, where did you get it?" Nott repeated.

Harry looked from the book to Nott and back. The Untold Dark Ages, 316-720 was stamped across the front of the small dark book in peeling red script. It was one he'd found in the basement storage room at Linweald.

"Seriously, where? That book's illegal. Father's been dying to get his hands on another copy since ours was confiscated in a raid."

"A book is illegal?" Harry asked slowly, unsure of it he was hearing correctly.

"It's one of the books listed in the Dark Materials Ban of 1725. It's illegal to own or distribute. I'm surprised Lord Pitter had it lying around," Nott said incredulously.

"Would you be surprised if I said I found it in an old storage room?" Harry asked.

Nott laughed madly. When he finally calmed down, he asked, "How did you not know this?"

Harry had a few options. He remembered what Neville said about scandals, but Alex was sure to tell other people where Harry had grown up. And he couldn't be sure what exactly his other friends knew or didn't know.

"Would you believe James foisted me off to my muggle relatives for most of my life," he said.

"He didn't!" Nott said.

"He did. I never even met him until about a month ago," Harry said.

Nott laughed again. "I do believe you just became the most interesting person in our year. Call me Theo."

"Harry, then."

"So, how is it?" Nott asked.

"What?"

"The book."

"Interesting. Some of the battles are talked about in Muggle history, but a lot of it's different," Harry said.

"I wonder how different it is to real history," Nott said.

Harry shrugged.

Malfoy and his Dudley-sized friends came into the room then. He glanced at Theo and Harry.

"Really?" the blond boy spat, glancing disgustedly at both of them. "Keeping his kind of company now, Nott?"

"Better his than yours," Theo said.

"Well, I'm not sharing with the spawn of blood traitors," Malfoy said.

Harry wasn't sure what a blood traitor was, but even he could tell it was insulting.

"You don't have a choice, so get over it, Draco," Theo said.

Malfoy made a frustrated noise and took stock of his options. He flopped down onto the bed across from Theo. His lumbering goons took the beds closest to the door.

"Do you want me to curse him?" Theo asked Malfoy, glancing at the one that took the bed next to Theo.

Both boys glared at one another. The two goons were already going through their things.

"You can sleep next to Greg. It won't kill you," Malfoy said.

"No."

"If I have to room with a halfblood, you can deal with it."

"Harry, this rude lout is Heir Draco of House Malfoy," Theo said. "And his two friends are Vince Crabbe and Greg Goyle."

Like Tracey, neither of the two boys had titles.

"And Heir to the House of Black," Malfoy said.

"That's not what I heard. In fact, I heard the exact opposite, from Lord Black himself, and your mother. Supposedly it's still your cousin."

Malfoy looked murderous.

"Oooh, the Black Family drama," Zabini said as he came back into the room, his hair still damp from his shower. "Mother says they're a riot."

"Too bad the only ones to still carry the name are a decrepit old man and the other serving a life sentence in Azkaban. Your mother can't get her greedy claws into their fortune," Nott said.

Zabini glared at him. Tensions were running high, and Harry thought all the other boys were going to start fighting at any moment.

"Heir Harry, of House Potter," he said to Zabini.

"Well met, Heir Blaise Zabini of House Rosier," Zabini said.

That was different.

Malfoy joined his friends in getting his toiletries, while complaining loudly about halfbloods and foreigners.

Harry was tempted to shoot a stinging hex at him, but that wasn't the impression he wanted to make on the prefects who would no doubt come running. Or their frightening Head of House.

Theo had no such reservations. As Malfoy and his goons left for the bathroom, Theo shot a stinging hex at the blond, who howled with anger as he left.

"It'll be lovely sharing with such uncouth barbarians," Zabini said, causing both Theo and Harry to laugh. "And don't talk about my mother again."

"Noted," Theo said.

Both of them went back to reading as Zabini drew his curtains. Eventually, Crabbe and Goyle came back and crawled into bed. Theo turned in not long after.

Malfoy came back and glared at Harry before going to bed himself.

When Harry was sure all five boys were good and asleep, he tossed the book aside and scrambled for his bag.

Morgan was furious.

"I will never, Master-Speaker, never do that again," she said.

"I'm sorry."

"Make me a comfortable space, now."

"You're demanding," Harry said.

"It HURT. I'll complain if I want to, Master-Speaker."

"Sorry."

"You better be," she threatened.

The drawer of his night stand worked. Her rock, one of the rat skeletons, and a pile of old shirts filled the drawer, making a cosy nest inside. It left just enough space for Morgan to curl up and nap. She hissed at him as she slipped into the drawer.

He pulled his pyjamas out and changed behind the drawn curtains of his bed. With his wand tucked beneath his pillow, he passed out.