Garnet

Harry, as expected, wasn't able to sleep at all that night. It was only about ten when they all went to bed so he had at least eight hours until it was acceptable for him to get up for the morning.

Harry waited until he knew everyone else in the dorm was asleep until he grabbed his textbooks. He had already read all of them at least five times but he wanted to skim over the notes he left in the margins to make sure he remembered everything.

He was finally going to let himself excel in his classes, and he was going to be top of his classes if it killed him.

The electives he chose for this year were Ruins, Arithmancy, and Astronomy. He knew almost everything there was to know about Astronomy since he had spent his whole life staring at the stars and he had read countless books on the topic but he loved the subject. He chose Arithmancy and Ruins since they seemed like the most interesting choices he may be able to use.

He wouldn't make it to graduation so he didn't need to worry about what he was doing after school, which was a relief. Even if he did, the one thing he would never be was an Auror. He always used to say that's what he would do since that's what everyone expected but he really couldn't think of anything worse than fighting dark wizards for the rest of his life when that's already what he had spent his whole life doing.

Once he was finished reviewing his textbooks he cast tempus and saw it was only four. He still had at least an hour until he could go down to the Common Room.

He was starting to feel the itch he had become so accustomed to, he knew the only way to get it to go away for the time being was to cut his wrists as he had done so many times before.

It's not like he wanted to do this he just couldn't help it, the itch won't go away unless he cuts so there was no way for Harry to not. Besides it was calming, his thoughts calmed down even if it was only for a few seconds.

Maybe he did want to, he needed to.

So he did.

He cut his wrists till he could barely hold the blade because of how hard his hand was shaking.

Then he got muggle bandages and antiseptic out of his trunk quietly to make sure no one would wake up and began cleaning off his arms. He made sure to add extra bandages since he didn't know when he would be able to change the bandages next and the last thing he needed was someone to see his robes soaked in blood. His glamors would cover the bandages and every other fucked up thing about his appearance but nothing could hide if his robes were dripping in blood.

But it would probably be fine since his magic usually closed the cuts he gave himself by the time the day was over. The cuts on his back however were not so lucky. They no longer bled but they were still cut raw and open even though it had been two weeks since he had gotten the last one.

By the time he had finished it was five so it was probably safe to go down to the Common room.

But first Harry made his bed, changed into his new robes, and packed his bag with all of his text books and everything he might need since he wanted to spend the day in the library studying and reviewing for classes once again.

He also wanted to study patronuses since he still hasn't found anything on if they can change and what causes it.

He also made sure to grab Arie out of her terrarium in his trunk, that he had yet to take out so she could sit with him in the common room, and so he had someone to talk to.

He didn't know whether to try to leave the common room before the other Slytherins came down or to wait and get the talk the other fifth years wanted to have, since Malfoy did say they were going to have a talk as a year.

He decided to wait because there was no way to get out of the conversation and he might as well get it over with.

He did say he was done running from his problems afterall.

He sat down on a black leather couch in the back of the Common Room. He found he liked the Slytherin dungeons more than Gryffindor tower. The tower was filled with bright red and gold where the dungeons were filled with greens and silver. It was cool but not so much the fires did not heat up the room. The lake gave the room nice lighting and a brighter look than Harry would have expected from the dungeons.

Harry sat down with Arie around his neck and pulled out his potions book since Snape was bound to be the hardest on him. He wanted to give the man no reason to hate him even more than he already does so early in the year.

He had forgotten to tell anyone about Arie but they were Slytherins, surly Harry having a snake even if it was venomous wouldn't be a problem. Plus Arie wouldn't hurt anyone unless Harry asked her to and he probably wouldn't do that.

All she did was lie wrapped around his chest and sleep as he read so there was no reason why she couldn't be out. She wasn't even big, only about three feet long.

Around six Gemma Farly came into the Common Room so quietly that if Harry hadn't depended on being able to hear his Aunt and Uncle he wouldn't have even known she was there.

¨What are you doing so early Potter? Don't you want to sleep in like everyone else?¨

¨I could say the same for you Farly, I'm just an early riser.¨

¨Gemma, everyone calls me Gemma.¨

¨Ok then Gemma.¨

They sat in comfortable silence for another twenty minutes till Harry heard Gemma gasp.

¨Potter is that a snake around your neck?¨

¨Oh yeah this is Arie, dont worry shes harmless and she may be poisonous but she won't hurt anyone unless I tell her to.¨

¨You know students aren't allowed to have snakes right Potter? I won't tell since I don't particularly care and I don't think anyone else in the house will but other people might, and what do you mean unless you tell her?¨

¨Thanks, I'll keep that in mind, and I just mean she listens to me since I rescued her and she wouldn't do something intentionally to harm anyone unless they were trying to harm me.¨

¨Oh right your a parselmouth, with that gift I don't know how you ever got into Gryffindor, and besides you never seemed like much of a Gryffindor anyways.¨

¨The hat wanted to put me in Slytherin in first year only. I had heard bad things about Slytherin and I was new to the wizarding world and wanted to make a good impression so I chose Gryffindor. Now I know not to base my judgment on rumors and stereotypes so I got placed here where I always was meant to go.¨

¨Well good on you Potter, I know I'm happy to have you here and I know others are happy too. The rest of the school might hate you which i'm sure you already know, but Slytherins protect Slytherins so we'll do our best to protect you.¨

¨Thanks Gemma, i'll keep that in mind.¨

Harry went back to his book occasionally muttering comments and facts he found interesting to Arie and answering any questions she had.

As more and more people slowly came down into the Common Room Harry was getting some pretty weird looks. Maybe because he was in the Common Room, maybe because of Arie, maybe both.

Everyone who came down stayed in the Common Room but it didn't feel crowded like the tower would have. Slytherin was the smallest house which Harry was now seeing had its perks.

Slightly before seven the rest of Harry's year came walking into the Common Room.

Harry secretly hoped they would sit near him because it would suck to spend the whole year alone but he had done it all of last year and for at least a month every other year since he had come to Hogwarts, so if it was to be like that so be it, Harry would be fine alone.

He had only ever really been alone.

He had no home, no family, he didn't need to pretend otherwise.

To his relief they all sat down around him, so maybe there was hope he wouldn't have to be alone the whole year. Maybe.

Harry was sitting at the end of a couch and Malfoy sat down next to him but not enough to touch him which Harry was grateful for. Next to Malfoy sat Parkinson, then Zabini, then Greengrass, Bulstrode, and Davis sat on the couch next to theirs, and Goyle and Crabb sat on the floor against the wall next to their couches.

Harry had no idea what to say or if he even wanted to say something, however that was fine since Bulstrode spoke first.

¨Ok so Potter on the first morning back to school the whole house walks to breakfast together at eight to show the first years where to go.¨

Harry was shocked that the Slytherins had a tradition like this but when he thought of it, it was really smart. The Gryffindors all went at different times and left the first years to find their own way which now that Harry was thinking about it was a really shitty thing to do to them.

¨Sounds good, Bulstrode.¨

¨I dont know why the fuck none of you or anyone else here has brought this up before now but is that a snake around our neck Potter.¨ Blaise sounded both intrigued and a bit scared as he spoke.

¨Yeah Zabini, do you have a problem with her.¨

¨No i'm cool with it but how did you sneak a huge snake into the school with no one noticing, and why do you even have one. You don't strike me as a snake person Potter.¨

¨It seems like no one remembers but I am a parselmouth so im defendly a snake person in more ways than one. Her name is Arie and she's not that big, she's only about three feet. I got her because she needed a home and since I can speak to her and listen to what she wants she wanted to come home with me, and who was I to object. I didn't sneak her into the school, she was just in a terrarium in my trunk which I charmed so she wouldn't get hurt. If you guys don't mind, can I take her terrarium out of my trunk and put it on my desk?¨

Next Draco spoke, ¨Yeah sure Potter put her wherever you want, it's your dorm too.¨

¨Thanks Malfoy.¨

Harry was worried that they would try to drag him into conversation like the Gryffidors would have but they didn't seem to mind that he continued reading.

He wasn't the only one of the group that pulled out a book either. Nott, Greengrass, and Davis all pulled out books on various topics and started reading. Malfoy, Parkinson, Zabini, all started a conversation about some type of coat they all seemed to hate. Goyle and Crabb started talking in a language Harry didn't recognise but no one else blinked an eye at.

Harry almost felt comfortable in the group as time went on.

Once everyone had come to the Common Room from their dorms Gemma stood up and told everyone that they were going to the great hall for breakfast.

Harry's heart sped up at the thought of sitting down for breakfast even if he wasn't going to be eating anything. What if someone commented on the fact he didn't eat, or forced him to eat something like Hermionie tried to do countless times. What if the Slytherins didn't want Harry to sit with them so he had to sit alone like he had so many times at Gryffindor. What if Ron yelled at Harry again or someone attacked him again.

Harry came back to himself when he realized Malfoy was trying to say something to him.

¨Potter are you alright, we can stay back if you want. We don't need to go to the hall or anything.¨

¨I don't know what your talking about Malfoy im fine, lets just go.¨

Malfoy miraculously let it go and led the group to walk to the great hall.

Harry fell into the middle of the fifth year group, which he found himself grateful for when everyone that passed them stared at Harry and whispered about him.

He was glad he remembered to wrap Arie around his chest and shoulders inside his robe since if anyone else besides the Slytherins saw her Harry was certain they would lose their shit.

The group walked towards the Slytherin table and it seemed like everyone was sitting in the same seats as the night before. There was still a space for him between Malfoy and Greengrass so he took a deep breath and sat down.

Everyone started talking and piling food on their plates, reading or talking. Harry didn't bother with food because why would he, he just listened to the conversation Malfoy and Pansy were having.

They continued on like that until Snape came around with their schedules.

Harry took one look at his and new it would be a long year, his schedule was:

Monday- Double potions with Gryffindor and Transfiguration with Gryffindor

Tuesday- Charms with Ravenclaw and Herbology with Gryffindor

Wednesday- Defense with Gryffindore and History of Magic with Hufflepuff

Thursday- Arithmancy with Ravenclaw and Astronomy with Hufflepuff

Friday- Ancient Ruins with Ravenclaw and Free Block

Harry had double potions first and he had four classes with Gryffindor, how unlucky could he get. Based on how they reacted today and yesterday to Harry, they would make his life a living hell. Snape would probably hate him even more for being sorted into his house.

¨Potter let me see your schedule and we can figure out what classes we all have together.¨

Harry silently handed his schedule to Davis and watched as she looked over all of their schedules.

¨Ok so we all have our monday through wednesday classes together then Me, Potter, Theo, and Daphne have the rest of our classes together too. Draco, Millie, Blaise, have creatures and then astronomy with us Thursday and then free all Friday. Then Greg and Vince have Divination and Astronomy with us on Thursday and free all Friday.¨

¨Well it seems all of our schedules lineup much better than last year.¨

Everyone besides Harry laughed at what he assumed to be memories of their previous terrible schedules.

Malfoy chimed in ¨Yeah, that was a nightmare we had like three classes together than the rest of our classes weren't aligned in the slightest.¨

¨When we get back to the Common Room do you want to have the talk about Potter coming to Slytherin and everything else so we're all on the same page?¨

Harry was happy Nott suggested this since Harry just wanted to get the conversation over with. After it if they still wanted to talk with him good, and if they didn't like he assumed they wouldn't, that's fine too.

Harry has made it this long on his own so he knew he didn't need anyone, especially people who probably don't even like him that much.