That’s the way
James and Harry said goodbye to their parents and walked onto the train. It was crowded, but James walked with a certain swagger.
He was a third year, he finally felt like he wasn’t a fresh face, like he was slightly above it all. However that could be due to his growth spurt.
Harry on the other hand attempted to make himself as little as possible, not wanting the eyes on him.
They entered the compartment Remus, Sirius, and Peter were already sitting in.
“Harry! Excited? It’s your first time on the hogwarts express.” Sirius asked joyfully.
“Yeah, just a little nervous. I thought you were bringing your brother.”
At that Sirius’s expression soured mildly, “I did for a moment but he didn’t want to stay with us.”
Harry and James got the sense it went beyond that.
In actuality the second Regulus Black saw the other two boys in the cabin, Remus and Peter, he decided he wanted no association. Some rude words were also said.
“It’s alright, are you ready to start the semester,” Harry veered the topic away.
The boys told him of the incredible pranks they planned for this semester. Some seemed a bit cruel, especially to whoever this ‘snivellus’ person was, but for the most part, Harry was thrilled to watch their antics. Ready to see the stories James had been telling him the last two years come to life.
Before no time they were changing into their school robes and walking off the train.
Sadly Harry had to be separated from his brother, as he and his friends went on the carriages which were pulled by some large frightening beasts no one had thought to mention to Harry. They were frightening but didn’t seem to be harming anyone so he paid them no mind.
He walked over to the first-year boats where he finally got a good view of the castle. It was grand, reminding him of the fancy pure blood palaces that Euphemia’s friends owned.
He’d visit with her often, the women would fawn over him, call him as pretty as a girl. The older women would chat and the younger ladies would dress Harry up like a doll.
He snapped out of his thoughts as he was bumped from behind. “Ah sorry,” the other boy said, he looked on the verge of tears.
“It’s alright,” they were ushered forward onto the same boat together. “What’s your name?” Harry asked.
The boy blushed lightly, though it was difficult to see as the only light was the dim glow of the moon bouncing off the water of the black lake.
“B-bartemius crouch jr.,” he extended his hand, which Harry took. The boy was obviously pure blood, no one would introduce their full name like that unless they wanted to prove their status. Though he seemed less like a purest, more like he was trained to do it by his family. Harry thought he might have heard the name in passing from his father.
“We’ll I’m Harry Potter, it’s good to meet you Bartemius,” Harry smiled at him.
“Ah, you can call me Barty- sorry I’m just used to saying my full name.”
“Ok, it’s good to meet you, Barty.”
They chatted until they reached the castle, Barty was the son of an up-and-coming politician apparently. His dad told him he’d be a ravenclaw, his mom said hufflepuff. He said he wanted to be a slytherin.
Harry had asked about gryffindor, but he said it wasn’t his crowd. Harry understood the sentiment. James and his friends could be a bit much at times.
Barty said he had heard of Harry from the papers when he was younger. Harry was bashful about it, he never liked the fact that people knew the details of his life.
Eventually they reached the great hall, Barty stood next to him, and they gave each other looks of encouragement. Harry was glad, he had his first friend at hogwarts.
A friend of his very own.
The hall was grand, absolutely gorgeous. The ceiling was sparkling with stars. James and his parents had told him about it but he hadn’t even imagined anything half as beautiful.
From the gryffindor table, James Sirius waved madly at him. Remus did a more polite suppressed sort of wave.
As the line moved up he saw Sirius look back at someone towards the rear of the line, he gave whoever he was looking at a smile. His brother, Harry figured.
When they got to the front kids were called up one by one. They went all over, no particular house was favored.
Harry recognized a few names but none personally. The first name he really took notice of was “Regulus Black.”
Regulus looked like his brother, very much like him. He was average high for boys their age, taller than Harry though, and a bit taller than Barty.
Harry leaned over, staring in fascination at the boy. His hair wasn’t as long as Sirius’s, and his resting face seemed a bit more sullen. Besides that, they were very similar.
Regulus sat on the chair for less than a minute before the hat yelled out “slytherin”.
Harry cringed lightly, Sirius acted like he didn’t care but he did. Harry had heard James and him speaking about how he was upset he was the odd one out in the family. The only black not in slytherin.
Harry looked back at Sirius whose expression was a mixture of sadness and anger. They locked eyes with each other and Harry attempted to give him a small reassuring smile.
Sirius forced a smile back.
Barry was sorted soon after, Harry gave him a bit of encouragement before he was sent up. The boy seemed mortified, in a way that made Harry a little less scared.
In the end, it seemed Barty’s father was right, he went into ravenclaw. He didn’t seem to be upset about it, Harry was happy for him.
Eventually, after what seemed like ages, Harry’s name was called. He took shaky steps up to the stool at the front of the hall.
Someone cheered from the tables, the person was quickly shushed. Likely James.
Harry could hardly focus on anything, his ears were ringing. The large hat was placed on his head, it was heavy, the brim of it blocking his vision entirely. It smelled musky, like old books.
‘Well if it isn’t Harry Potter’ the noise startled him causing him to jump a bit. It wasn’t a noise out loud, like a voice, more like a noise in his head. Like someone speaking directly into his mind.
It must be the hat, he reasoned.
‘Yes, hello, you are quite the enigma, young Potter.’
Was he? He didn’t think so. He thought his life was quite average.
‘Not so, you have a very interesting family tree.’
I’m just a Potter.
‘Yes a Potter, but yet so much more. Lost in time and space, with powerful magic and a fierce soul. But something hangs onto you, a remnant from a time far away.’
Harry didn’t have a clue what that meant, it seemed that was a theme.
‘You want to be a gryffindor with your brother, like the rest of your family. You want to fit in, to be with his friends. Deep down you know that's not you though, you know you aren't cut out for it.’
Harry scrunched his eyes shut, he so desperately wanted to be with James.
‘You are intelligent, you possess a huge talent. Whether or not you can harness the talent is entirely up to you. Ravenclaw will do you little help, you need a strong tutor. Surely one will come along, eventually.’
Again Harry wasn’t sure what he was implying, he was happy the hat told him he was smart. James always made fun of how hard it was for him to learn to read.
‘Hufflepuff seems like a good fit, you are fiercely loyal. Dedicated to those you hold dear. Possessive in a way, yearning to have those you love respect you.”
Harry could understand that it was the house Sirius had chosen for him.
‘But,’
Harry’s mouth grew dry.
‘Slytherin is calling to you. In every aspect you yearn. You are scared you won’t meet their expectations so you claw your way up. Present yourself all together.’
No.
‘You’re scared you’ll end up like Sirius and his brother, detached and unfriendly so you desperately show loyalty and love to keep it. You are so loyal you are desperate, you wish to hold onto what you have and you will do anything in the world to do that.’
No. No.
‘Deep down, even though you may not know it yet, you have a special connection to this house. One that will lead you to greatness.’
From the outside, the marauders became anxious, as did the rest of the great hall. It had been a whole 14 minutes before anything happened.
Until the hat opened its leather mouth and yelled, “SLYTHERIN.”
James glanced at Sirius who was staring towards the front with wide eyes at a small Harry who was awkwardly walking to the slytherin table. Then looked over towards Remus who looked less shocked but still incredibly confused.
He looked down at his lap, his hands trembled.
This couldn’t be happening, Harry was his baby brother, he knew his baby brother. Harry wasn’t like… that.
He wasn’t a blood purest, he loved muggle music, he loved hearing Remus’s stories about muggle London. He adored going to the muggle music shop with them all.
He wasn’t rude, he wasn’t evil. He was kind, caring, and sweet. He was small.
James had been told by his parents when Harry had first arrived that he would have to watch out for Harry. That Harry would be easily taken advantage of, that he was delicate, special.
Slytherin would eat him alive, they would destroy him, kill his joy, kill his light.
“This can’t be right,” he whispered. Harry had taken an awkward seat at the end of the table, he was greeted by the other first year snakes.
“He can’t-“ James couldn’t stand this. Could he be resorted? No, that wouldn’t work. In the history of Hogwarts no one had ever been resorted.
Perhaps he could make a case? Anything, anything for Harry.
He could think of nothing.
“Sirius,” James said, his voice quivering.
“What?” Sirius said, his voice had a bit of bite, he sounded angry.
“Maybe… can you, please, just talk to your brother.”
Sirius gave him a bewildered look like James had kicked a puppy. But it subsided quickly into something more neutral.
“Please Sirius, you know Harry, he won’t survive in there. He’s delicate.”
“I know,” Sirius snapped, then cringed at the harshness of his voice. “I’ll- I’ll talk with him.”
As James and Sirius panicked Harry settled at the slytherin table. When the house was announced he looked towards his brother, trying to find any kind of comfort in his brother.
But James wasn’t looking at him, instead, he was staring at his hands. Sirius looked at him, but it was not a comforting expression. It was the expression he used when he talked about his brother or his parents.
It was an expression that scared him and made him sad.
The table itself was full of pure bloods, they looked him up and down assessing him. Weighing his worthiness.
It seemed the assessment was that it was ok to talk to him, as regulus black reached his arm out to shake Harry’s hand.
Harry took a moment to consider. But based on his options, Regulus seemed the most logical person here to make friends with. He knew Sirius was a good person, Regulus couldn’t be that much different.
“I’m surprised to see you in slytherin.” Regulus stated, his voice was nice. Softer and smoother that Sirius’s, more well trained.
“I’m surprised to see myself here too,” Harry forced a smile.
“You know,” he began to add, “your brother thought I’d be a hufflepuff.”
Regulus snorted, “he said the same thing to me I’m sure it’s some kind of stupid joke.”
“Oh,” Harry breathed out, glad that Regulus was being responsive. From the way Sirius had described him he thought he’d be a total dick. “I guess I put too much weight on it, everyone seemed so receptive to his opinion.”
“Well they are all a bit stupid,” Regulus said without thinking before he seemed to remember who he was talking to and quickly apologized.
“It’s ok I get it, they can be a bit irritating at times. I do love them though, it kinda grows on you.” Harry said, reminiscing on his brother's friends' antics.
“Hmm, maybe.” Regulus stared at him for a moment, his eyes were piercing, like he was reading Harry’s thoughts. “You know, you really aren't what I expected.”
Harry looked at him with a bit of surprise, he blushed lightly before responding “nor are you.”
They talked through dinner and found they both had quite a bit in common, loud and sometimes obnoxious brothers. They want companionship but need silence.
They both disliked attention but tended to attract it. They both read fantasy novels and loved to learn.
They both liked quidditch. Harry had told regulus about how he had never really been allowed to play despite always finding the game so exciting. Regulus promised to take him to the pitch sometime.
They were quite different in aspects too, Harry is a bit too loud for Regulus's taste. Whenever he got over-excited by a topic, regulus would attempt to subtly tell him to lower his volume. Which Harry was extremely embarrassed about.
Regulus likes politics, Harry can’t stand it though, so he steers clear of the topic.
Overall Harry had no idea what Sirius was on about. Regulus seemed great. They had been so entranced in their conversation they had hardly spoken to their other housemates beyond common pleasantries.
Harry didn’t even remember anybody else’s name, Perhaps there was a Greengrass in their year, maybe a Parkinson. If you asked him he wouldn’t be able to give you a straight answer. Regulus was just so engaging.
Regulus thought the same of Harry, his first thoughts were that Harry was pretty. He knew this already in theory from Sirius, and the media of course. His virimli magic was hardly a well kept secret. At least not in pure blood spheres. But to see him in person was different. His magic was breathtaking.
It was odd being around him, Regulus found his usually impeccable pure blood manners flying out the window.
He had never really had a close friend his age before, besides Sirius, and their relationship was rocky as of current, so Harry was a breath of fresh air.
He understood why Sirius was so keen on Harry’s older brother, if he was anything similar to Harry Regulus would be too.
Eventually, dinner ended, as they were walking out of the great hall following the prefects to their new house both slytherin boys were pulled aside by their older brother.
Harry gasped as he was pulled away from Regulus, he struggled out of the grasp before he realized who it was. His brother James.
They both stared at each other for a moment and then he launched himself forward, hugging James. Nearly crying.
“I’m sorry James, I’m sorry.” The tears finally came, “I didn’t think this would happen. I’m sorry, I promise I’m not a bad person.”
James looked uncomfortable with Harry’s words but wrapped his arms around his younger brother nevertheless.
“It’s alright Harebear,” for the first time in ages Harry didn’t mind the embarrassing nickname. He was just glad James would still talk to him at all. “You’ll be ok, I could never hate you. I just… didn’t expect this. But everything will be okay, we’ll make it better.”
Harry didn’t know what he meant but he smiled anyhow, glad James still cared for him. James whipped Harry's tears away and pinched his cheek.
James ushered him back to the line of slyherins who were far down the hall by now.
“Bye James,” he said glancing behind himself. James gave him somewhat of a smile and waved him off.
It made him feel odd. He was glad James wasn't mad at him, but in a way, James treating him so distantly made him more uncomfortable. All he wanted was for James to be happy for him. To hug him and say he was proud.
Instead, he got a wave and a promise that he would ‘make things better’. But what was so bad about this? Regulus seemed fine. He hadn't really spoken to the rest of the students but they didn't seem bad, just a bit uptight.
Regulus stepped into pace next to him.
“What did James want to speak with you about?” Regulus asked him.
Harry smiled sadly, “he just wanted to congratulate me on the sorting.”
Regulus snorted, “sure”.
“What did Sirius want from you?”
Regulus clenched his fist, “he was congratulating me as well.”
Harry knew that wasn’t true but instead decided not to say anything, instead they continued to their dorms.