The sorting hat and the Slytherin it sorts
Chapter 9: The sorting hat and the Slytherin it sorts
They step out onto the platform in a group of four, Luna takes a hold of his hand, he finds it very strange how easily Luna gives gentle touch and comfort, a part of him didn’t really believe hands were capable of gentleness, he waits for her to dig her nails into his palm drawing blood, breaking skin…something. But Luna just holds his hand softly no pain inflicted in fact it’s almost… comforting.
Fred and George Walk either side of them. They go to put their luggage in the designated place so it can be taken to the castle, but he doesn’t trust that his satchel will get to the castle safely, so he keeps it slung around his shoulders.
Hagrid is standing on the platform shouting for first years to come to him, they approach him and Hagrid looks down at them with a smile then he spots Harry and the smile melts of his face, it’s replaced with a wary frown.
“Hello Harry, I see yer got your school stuff alright.”
“Yes. I did.” Harry says curtly, scowling at the man.
“Right’o, boats are that way, its four kids per boat.” He says and then turns away from them looking for more first years.
Harry stares daggers at the man as he walks away, that prick left him with the Dursleys, Harry won’t ever forgive him.
“Why are you trying to kill that guy with your eyes?” Fred asks bluntly.
“He left me with my aunt and uncle.” Harry says angrily but decides not to elaborate any further. He doesn’t trust the twins enough to tell them about Vernon and petunia.
“Ok, why is that bad?” Fred asks.
“Shut up Fred, it’s not our business.” George scolds, Harry is very grateful to him for shutting the conversation down.
He looks at Luna and she’s looking at him with understanding on her face, he hasn’t really told her anything about the Dursleys. But she knows they have never hugged him, and the stuff Vernon said about crying. He doesn’t want her to know any more than that.
She squeezes his hand softly, “shall we get a boat together?” Luna asks.
“Yeah.” Harry replies. The twins nod in agreement.
They all board one of the little row boats. Once all the other boats are full of first years, Hagrid gets in his own boat and then commands the little fleet of boats to move. They set off across the dark water, the stars are starting to show in the sky and the air is chilled.
They round a corner and then… the most magnificent building Harry has ever seen in his life comes into view. It’s a humongous castle, with turrets and towers, huge oak doors and thousands of windows. Harry stares at it in complete awe, this tops anything he could have imagined in his head.
Luna George and Fred are looking at the castle equally as awestruck. “Wow, my dad told me about the castle and how cool it is, but this is…wow. Fred says in amazement.
“Yeah.” Harry breathes out. “Cool.
“I see it in my dreams sometimes but I think it better in real life.” Luna muses with her head tilted to one side like an owl as she stares up at the castle.
They slowly approach the magnificent building. They are about fifty metres from the shore, when George asks, “what houses are you lot hoping for?”
“I would quite like to be Ravenclaw like my parents were.” Luna responds happily.
“I’m hoping for Slytherin, but I would be happy with Ravenclaw as well.” Harry says boldly.
“ You want to be a snake?” Fred says in astonishment.
“Yeah, is that a problem?” Harry asks warily.
George cuts in before his brother can reply. “Nope, it won’t be a problem, you were nice to us, you shared your sweets and let us into your compartment, and you have really cool pets, I’ll stick with you whatever house you sort.”
Harry has gotten pretty good at detecting lies over the years but he doesn’t see any evidence of one on George's face. Which is a relief, he likes the twins and he hopes that he and Luna could become friends with them.
Fred looks thoughtful for a moment, “I guess… yeah ok.” Then he holds out a hand to Harry. “Friends?”
Harry hesitates for a moment briefly taken a back and wondering if Fred heard his thoughts. But he recovers quickly and smiles at the other boy, taking his hand and shaking it firmly. “Friends.”
“You too Luna, Friends?” Fred asks looking at Luna hopefully.
Luna takes his hand in both of hers and smiles at him brightly. “I would be most honoured, to be friends with Hogwarts new pranksters.” She says sincerely.
“Right, that’s settled then!” George says happily. “Look at us Fred, already two friends and we haven’t even stepped in the castle yet.”
“We will have the whole school know our names!” Fred shouts gleefully.
Harry shakes his head fondly at them, just as the boat hits the shore. The four of them quickly scramble out of the boat and eagerly follow the crowd of students towards the door. As they walk Harry hangs back a little to walk alongside George, and asks curiously, “George what house do you think you’ll get?”
“My whole family was in Gryffindor, my mum says me and Fred will be lions too. But… I’m not so sure…” He trails off into thought and Harry decides to leave him be.
They arrive at the castle's front steps, a stern-faced woman with a pointed black hat and red robes, stands waiting on the bottom steps. All the first years stop in front of her, “welcome to Hogwarts, I am Professor McGonagall deputy head mistress. Follow me please.” She says in a thick Scottish accent. Then she turns around to march up the stairs into the castle, the first year's scramble to follow her.
Harry almost trips flat on his face when a blonde boy with pointy features shoves past him to get into the castle first. Harry scowls darkly at the retreating back of the blonde, he reminds Harry eerily of Dudley. His cousin was always pushing to be first in everything and eager to shove Harry around like he is nothing more than one of Dudley’s toys, to be broken and discarded. It always made him feel pathetic and small. So, Harry decides he does not like the entitled blonde boy.
“Come on Harry.” Luna says and begins pulling him towards the castle with a skip in her step.
They enter through the doors and into a room with stone walls, professor McGonagall stands in the middle of the room with her hands clasped behind her back, and a firm but not unkind look in her eyes. The first years all come to a stop, looking up at the professor with varying levels of nervousness and excitement. “You will wait here until I come and get you. Then I will lead you into the great hall and you will all be sorted into one of our four houses.” She says in a no-nonsense manner, before leaving the room through a side door.
That’s when all the attention turns to Harry, he feels himself start to panic at all the eyes on him. He didn’t even notice before to focused on McGonagall to realises that some of the kids were whispering and pointing at his forehead.
Solace pecks his ear from where he sits on Harry’s shoulder, Luna squeezes his hand comfortingly, and the twins noticing all the people staring at Harry start glaring threateningly at anyone who dares to come close.
“It’s ok Star, your friends will keep you safe. Be calm.” Selena hisses quietly from where she’s wrapped around his wrist with her head poked out of his jumper sleeve. Harry can’t respond to her without everyone knowing he is a serpent speaker. So, he just strokes Selena’s head and clutches Luna’s hand tightly.
He looks back at the other first years, who are all staring at him, some more subtly than others.
The blonde boy steps towards him, “you’re Harry Potter?”
“Much to my annoyance, yes.” Harry says dejectedly.
“I’m Draco Malfoy. I see you’ve already associated yourself with the wrongsort.” He looks in disgust at Luna and the twins, which of course earns him a glare from Harry, aggressive enough to send anyone with common sense running.
Harry hates this entitled blonde brat, he would love to punch his stupid face but he decides that would not make a good impression if he got into a fight before he’s even been sorted.
“I think I know the wrong sort when I see them, and I can tell you with confidence that it’s not Luna Fred or George.” He says coldly.
Malfoy begins to splutter out some sort of retaliation, but he doesn’t get very far because professor McGonagall enters the room at that exact moment, quickly silencing every first year in the room.
“First years! Follow me.” She orders.
The flock of eleven-year-olds trail behind her through a set of huge oak doors, entering into what Harry assumes must be the great hall. Upon entering he immediately looks up in awe at the ceiling; instead of plain stone or white paint it showcases an entire night sky that seems to be an identical copy of the real one outside, stars and constellations shine bright in the backdrop of inky black sky and the half-moon is visible towards the edge of the ceiling. He read about this feature in Hogwarts a history but in person it beats anything he could have imagined. He wonders briefly if he could make the ceiling of his cupboard look like this, then it would probably feel less like a cage and more like a real room.
Under neath the sky/ceiling, hundreds of candles float in the air suspended by only magic, giving light to the hall. There are four long tables, one for each of the Hogwarts houses, placed parallel to each other all pointing to what must be the teacher table which stands on a small stage, with a wooden stool and a ragged hat set up in front.
He starts to feel the full weight of his nerves as he looks at the older students and teachers that are now all watching the first years expectantly.
Professor McGonagall leads them past the tables of students and stops next to the stage. “When I call your name sit on the stool and place the hat on your head.” She says in a firm voice, surveying the children through her spectacles.
She pulls out a list, but she doesn’t read it she simply watches the hat as if expecting something, then he notices the rest of the hall is doing the same. All of a sudden, the hat twitched and a rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth and bursts into song…
“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 of 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 hat stilled again, and the hall erupted into applause, while all the first years looked at the sentient hat in trepidation.
Once the hall was quiet again, professor McGonagall started calling names.
One by one students were called up, Harry tried to pay attention, but he was too busy panicking about going up on the stage and being watched by the whole school, they were probably hoping their boy saviour would be sorted into noble Gryffindor, but Harry new that wouldn’t happen. He snapped out of his thoughts when he heard professor McGonagall call the name, “Lovegood Luna!”
He watched as his friend walked nonchalantly up to the hat; she didn’t seem to care that the whole school was watching her. She placed the hat on her head, it twitched a few times but after about ten seconds it screamed “RAVENCLAW!” Luna put it back on the stool and made her way towards the Ravenclaw table with a huge grin on her face and a slight skip in her step as the students clapped politely.
The blonde-haired boy got called up next, he sauntered confidently over to the stool sat down and placed the hat on his head. Almost immediately the hat declared, “SLYTHERIN!” The blonde boy takes of the hat and boldly walks over to the Slytherin table, a proud look on his face.
A few more students are called up and sorted, and then… “Potter Harry!”
The students start whispering about him and craning their necks to get a good look at him, as he walks nervously up to the stool, he sits down and places the hat on his head. The hat’s voice echoes into his mind, “hmm, interesting, you have a brilliant mind, yes, a nice thirst for knowledge. Ahh and loyal, I see, brave too! But you’re a crafty little thing, aren’t you? Crafty enough to survive, hmm that's no small thing. Oh, and a healthy dose of ambition! I know where to put you!... SLYTHERIN!” The last word echoes for all to hear through the hall.
Harry stands up and takes off the hat, no one is clapping. They are all looking at him with mixed emotions, some astonished or horrified others angry or disappointed. Then all of a sudden, the Slytherin table breaks out into loud applause, the staff also start clapping politely.
Harry walks over to his new houses table and sinks into a seat and tries to disappear into the wood. He hates it when people stare at him, he hates feeling like a zoo animal on display for the world to see.
A few of the Slytherins try to speak to him or shake his hand, but Harry ignores them fixing his eyes back on the stage watching to see where Fred and George get sorted. Most of the student body is still ogling at him or whispering about him but he ignores them.
When Fred Weasley steps up to the hat, everyone stops gossiping to pay attention to Fred. Someone near him says, “pfft, another weasel, they’ve always sorted into the lion's den, I doubt these ones will be any different.”
It takes five minutes for the hat to decide where to put Fred, but eventually the hat calls out, “SLYTHERIN!”
Fred takes off the hat. He looks horrified, Fred looks at his brother desperately then stumbles through the hall past the whispering students to where Harry is sitting. Harry is grateful not to be alone at the table, but he’s also very worried about Fred, who is shaking and has a scared look on his face.
“No, No, No. I can’t be a snake, I can’t be. Mums gonna hate me, oh Merlin they’re all gonna hate me.” Fred mumbles his eyes glistening with unfallen tears.
“Fred, it’s ok…just breathe.” Harry says anxiously.
Fred shakes his head violently and then fixes his eyes on the hat, to where his brother is slowly sitting down on the stool. It takes fifteen seconds before the hat calls out again. “SLYTHERIN!”
Fred lets out a choked sound, Harry doesn’t know if it’s relief or fear. George walks over to them dejectedly and sits down in the middle of Fred and Harry.
“Freddy calm down. It’s going to be ok; I will write to mum and break the news. At least we’ll be with Harry, we’ll be ok. I promise.” He mutters to Fred, soothingly. “We can break down later, ok? But not here in front of everyone.”
Fred nods jerkily, straightening his back and wiping a stray tear off his face. George pats him on the shoulder, then takes a deep breath. “Well, that went horribly.”
“Why does everyone have to stare? Why can’t they find someone else to ogle at?” Harry says, glancing up and down the Slytherin table, noticing that most of the students were staring at him and the twins.
“I don’t know, but I can’t wait for this stupid feast to be over. I just want to go to sleep and forget this ever happened.” Fred says roughly.
“Yeah, me too.” George agrees.
Harry looks at the staff table, and sees an old man with a ridiculously long white beard, crescent moon spectacles and purple robes, staring at him with calculating blue eyes. He is sitting in a high-backed throne like, wooden chair at the middle of the staff table, his fingers rest on the table steepled together. Harry realises with a pang of anger that this must be the headmaster, Dumbledore that Hagrid was talking about. This is the man that instructed Hagrid to place Harry with the Dursleys, Harry looks at the man head on, pouring all his rage and hatred into his glare, the headmaster flinches ever so slightly but doesn’t look away.
Harry turns his back to Dumbledore and decides that he hates the man more than he hates anyone (except maybe Vernon) and he will find out the reason why Dumbledore placed him with the Dursleys, if it’s the last thing he does.
The Sorting ends, and professor McGonagall vanishes the hat and stool with a flick of her wand. Dumbledore rises from his seat and calls for attention. “I shall save the important words for the end of the feast but for now, ENJOY!” Everyone applauds enthusiastically.
Then all of a sudden food appears on the tables (and the school ghosts as well for some reason, but he can’t process that right now) Harry’s jaw drops open. There is so much food Harry doesn’t even know what to do with himself, piles of potatoes, mounds of roast chicken, salads, sausages. Mint humbugs? Anything Harry could possibly imagine was laid out in large Quantities all over the tables.
Never in his life had he seen this much food, oddly Harry wants to burst into tears. Eating has always been a difficult thing for him, all his life petunia has used food as a way to punish him, if she was annoyed with him, she would tell him that he wasn’t worth the money it took to feed him, she would sometimes let him go days without food. He has never eaten a full meal at the Dursleys because even when he was good enough for food, she still restricted it.
Since he has been staying in the leaky cauldron for the past month he has had access to full meals every day, but a lot of the time he would skip them or only eat small amounts. Sometimes it just felt like eating was an unimportant task or he would look at a plate piled with food and not know where to start. But other times he would hear petunias voice in his head telling him he wasn’t worthy of food that it was wasted on him, and he would look down at whatever he was trying to eat and want to choke on it.
And now looking at the piles of food around him, Harry felt frozen. It just all felt wrong people were still looking at him and there is food everywhere, Petunia is screaming in his head. “Worthless freak, go to your cupboard boy, you don’t deserve to eat.” Harry felt his heart racing he is struggling to breathe; everything is blurry.
“Harry?” A voice said worriedly. “What’s wrong?” The voice asked.
A hand rubbed his back, making him flinch. Harry looked up and saw George’s face looking at him concerned. Harry realises his eyes are blurry because of tears, he was shaking all over, his heart still thudding loudly in his chest. Harry wanted to get away from people and food and all the stares, but he knew that wouldn’t be possible right now.
So, he focused on his breathing and the feel of solace’s feet on his shoulder, the smoothness of Selena’s scales on his wrist the comforting flick of Selena’s dry tongue on his skin. He breathed in and out, in and out, in and out. He is fine it was just food, Petunia isn’t here, he is fine, he is fine.
George is still rubbing his back gently; Harry snaps out of his panic and looks at him apologetically. “Sorry I just… panicked. It’s a lot of food.” He looked around no one seemed to notice that he had just had a meltdown, he must have managed to keep it fairly concealed. He wipes his eyes only a few tears had fallen, only George seemed to have noticed something was wrong everyone else was too busy eating.
“Harry, you don’t need to apologise for being overwhelmed.” George said quietly. “Why is the food making you overwhelmed?”
“It’s nothing. I was just being silly. It won’t happen again, let’s not speak about it.” Harry said dismissively. George looked like he wanted to prod further for a moment but then simply nodded. “Ok Harry, but I’m here if you need me. Yeah?”
He smiled at him shakily, “yeah, thanks George.”
George smiles in return and then turns back to his food. Harry puts some salad and roast potatoes on his plate and started to slowly nibble at them.
Solace chirped indignantly, demanding to be fed, so he gives him a little piece of potato and Solace grabs it with his beak and swallows it down happily.
Selena had been mostly silent since they entered the castle, he could hear Selena hissing very quietly and very happily about being back in Salazars castle. But Harry couldn’t speak to her without people knowing he was a serpent speaker, so he would just have to speak to her later when they were alone.
Solace has been perched on Harry’s shoulder the whole time, he chirps occasionally but he seems to be a bit anxious about all the people, and he can probably feel how stressed Harry is through the tension in his shoulders. He was hoping Solace would learn a little bit of independence maybe go of flying by himself or find another perch other than Harry’s head or shoulder. But Solace seems to be deeply attached to him at this point and doesn’t ever want to be alone for more than a few seconds, he has no clue how this bird is going to carry mail for him.
He strokes Solace’s head fondly, and then goes back to eating the food.
~~~
Eventually the plates disappear from the tables once the students have eaten their fill of deserts and food. Dumbledore stands from his seat and calls for their attention, the hall falls silent and watches Dumbledore intently. “Now that 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. I’ve 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 refer to 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.” A couple of people laugh, most just look curious or wary.
Harry just stares angrily at Dumbledore, because the man winked at Harry as he said, “wish to die a very painful death” why would a headmaster have a deadly corridor in his school? And why the hell would Dumbledore wink at him?! Harry does not know and he does not want to find out. Then Dumbledore declares, “Bedtime! Goodnight to you all.”
An older boy with broad shoulders, short brunet hair, and a shiny silver pin on the front of his robes stands up from his seat and says, “right! First years follow me, I’m a prefect my name is Marcus flint. I’ll show you to the Slytherin common room and help you find your dorms.”
Harry stands up, checks that his satchel, snake and bird are all safely with him and walks with the twins after Marcus Flint. He still feels out of sorts, and he wants to just get away from all other humans and fall into a deep sleep, the twins look like they’re thinking the same thing.
As they walk through the expansive hallways of the castle Harry takes note of the other Slytherin students in his year, that he was too anxious to notice before.
The blonde boy (Draco Malfoy) that insulted his friends, is striding obnoxiously, next to the prefect, with his head held high and seems oblivious to the prefect's amused expression.
Two big muscular boys who look as if they could crush harry into dust if they ever get the urge too. Although both of them look nervous and confused so maybe he doesn’t have to worry.
A girl with grey eyes a brunette bob, pale skin, and a pug nose. She is walking (or strutting would probably be more accurate) confidently with a smirk firmly painted on her face.
A pretty boy with amber eyes, dark brown skin, and ebony hair closely cropped to his head. He holds himself stiffly, with a blank expression on his face and his head held high, each footstep precise as he walks.
A girl with long dark brown/almost black hair, hazel eyes, honeyed skin, and expensive looking earrings. She walks elegantly with her hands clasped in front of her and a bored look on her face.
And another girl with shoulder length brunette hair, chestnut eyes, and rosy cheeks. She looks nervous and her hands are shaking slightly.
He hasn’t got the strength left to greet any of them, so he just looks straight ahead as they walk.
The eventually stop in front of a brick wall at the end of a passage way. Flint turns to face them, “This is our common room, the wall opens via a password that our head of house changes every month.” The prefect says before looking back at the wall and stating clearly, “Salazar.”
The wall dissolves into nothing, much to Harry’s amazement. Flint gestures for them to head inside.
The Slytherin common room is magnificent. A large rectangular room with high ceilings dark green walls and dark wooden floors, a huge window stretches along one side of the room showing that the Slytherin common room is under water. It must be under the same lake they went across in boats earlier. Tapestry’s and moving portraits with intricate frames are hanging along the walls. Harry notices now that they have all walked into the common room the brick wall now looks like a large door. On the opposite wall to the lake window, there’s a big fireplace made of the same dark wood as the floor, and a silver grate set inside.
Around the fireplace, placed on a huge silvery grey rug, are three emerald green leather sofas and two armchairs, with fluffy blankets thrown over the backs and grey sofa cushions scattered about the seats, with a coffee table in the centre. Either side of the common room are spiralling staircases, probably leading up to the dorms. There are also various armchairs scattered evenly about the room and a big emerald crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
It’s amazing and Petunia would definitely be jealous of how elegant Harry’s new home is. She could only ever dream of making number four privet drive look anything even close to this. He feels suddenly very excited. This is his common room! He sorted into Slytherin, and he has three friends, he is finally at Hogwarts!
“Woww, this is so cool.” George says awestruck.
“Cool is an understatement.” Harry smiles at George briefly. Fred doesn’t say anything he just stands next to them looking anxious.
The blonde boy looks at the common room critically, “it’s just as magnificent as my father said it would be.”
“First years! This is our common room we take great pride in it; I ask you to do the same. Be respectful of the other Slytherins, and loyal to our noble house and you will find a family here with us. Despite what people say about us we are not evil, Slytherins look at for each other, if you ever have any questions or need help with anything please ask me or Gemma Farley we are Slytherins prefects this year.” He says speaking in a smooth voice. “Before I show you to your dorms, our head of house professor Snape will speak to you.” He tells them just as a tall man with sallow skin and greasy black shoulder length hair, sweeps into the room in all black robes.
“I am professor Snape. I will be your head of house for your time here at Hogwarts. You will find that most of the students outside of Slytherin do not like me, I am a strict teacher, I do not show favouritism, no matter who you are or how well you or your family is known.” He glances at Harry as he says that. “But I am fair, despite what others may say. I protect my snakes, and I take pride in our house, it is expected of you to make us proud, earn points do well in your classes make allies, achieve your goals.
And if you have any questions for me my office hours will be posted on the common room notice board.
Messers Weasley, you are expected in my office at 10am tomorrow. Mr Potter you are expected at 10.30am. That will be all, welcome to Slytherin.” Then he turns on his heel and sweeps out of the room (in a very dramatic manner) robes billowing behind him.
“Is he always so…?” The grey eyed girl asks sceptically with her eyebrow raised.
Marcus Flint chuckles, “Professor Snape can come across a little…harsh. But he cares about us Snakes and does all he can to make us safe. He is a brilliant potion teacher as well, he’s just very…blunt, and a bit dramatic at times.” He adds with a grin.
“Huh... okay.” The grey eyed girl shrugs. “Can we go to our dorms now?”
“Why does professor Snape want to see me Fred and Harry?” George asks worriedly, looking up at Flint.
“I’m pretty sure he wants to do a well fair check on you two, because your family is notoriously Gryffindor and you sorted Slytherin. He most likely just wants to know if you will be safe at home.” Flint says reassuringly.
“Oh, ok.” George says in a small voice. Fred still isn’t saying anything.
Flint continues speaking, “same goes for Potter.” He says looking at Harry.
Harry nods anxiously. He saw the professor at the staff table, watching him with concerned eyes. He is dreading the meeting with his head of house tomorrow; he does not want people to know about the Dursleys. But he shrugs it off, that is a problem for the morning.
“We have a fairly small group of Slytherin first years this year. So, let’s see… Pansy Parkinson, Daphne Greengrass, and Millicent Bulstrode-” Flint points at them in turn, the one with grey eyes is Pansy, Daphne is the girl with hazel eyes, and Millicent is the one with chestnut eyes. “-your dorm is up there.” He points to the spiral staircase to the left of the room. “Your names should be on the door.”
“Harry Potter, Fred and George Weasley, and Blaise Zabini-” the amber eyed boy must be Blaise. “-you can room together.”
Then Flint looks to the remaining three, “Draco Malfoy, Gregory Goyel, and Vincent Crabbe, you’ll share a dorm. It’s up that staircase, like I said names should be on the door.
All of your belongings will have been brought up by now, so you can unpack and settle into your dorms in peace. If you need any help, just ask me or Gemma.” He says with an easy smile. “Goodnight firsties and welcome to the snake den.” He says before leaving them to get to their dorm, heading back out of the common room presumably to go perform other prefect duties. Other students are starting to trickle into the common room now, so the first years part ways and head to their new dorms.
Harry and his three dormmates climb up the spiral staircase and find the door with their names on, they trail in tiredly. Harry looks around the dorm. It has dark wood floors the same as the common room, and forest green walls, a fluffy grey rug lays in the middle of the room. There is a four-poster bed for each of them, along the back wall opposite the door, with a bed side table next to each one. There is plain white bedding, with a soft looking quilt and two plump pillows per bed. There is a door in the far corner that Harry thinks will lead to their own bathroom, and a small chest at the foot of each bed. There is also a window, with a window seat, that looks out into the dark water of the lake.
All of the luggage has been placed on the rug (except for Harry’s because he still has his shrunk down inside his satchel) and there is a cage on the rug with a beautiful red fox inside, Blaise Zabini walks over to it Quickly and lets the fox out.
It leaps onto him and knocks him over licking his face, the boys blank look breaks open into a huge smile, “I know, I know. I’m sorry Freya, I won’t leave you again I promise.” The fox gives him one last lick and then hops off him and starts walking about the room exploring everything curiously.
Blaise fixes his blank look back in place but there is now a sparkle in his eyes that he can’t hide. “Freya is a good fox, she won’t bother any of you, and she won’t hurt your raven as long as I tell her it’s a friend.” Blaise says his voice empty and monotone.
“That’s fine, we all like animals here.” Harry smiles, “Do you want to introduce them now, so Solace doesn’t become a midnight snack?”
Blaise’s lips twitch as if he had to stop himself from smiling, then he says in his empty voice, “Freya come here.” The fox bounces over to them happily and sits down next to Blaise. “See the bird Freya? It’s a friend. Understand?” The fox looks at Solace who is now perched directly on Harry’s head, the fox tilts its head to the side then walks up to Harry.
He moves Solace off his head and onto his arm instead, so the fox can see him better. Solace takes one look at the fox, chirps and then flies down to land on Freya’s head. George bursts out laughing, “Harry your raven has no survival instincts, like none at all. He’s friends with a fox and a snake both of which are predators that usually eat small animals like him. How has he survived this long?” George says still laughing.
Harry grins at him happy that George is laughing, even Fred who still hasn’t said a word has a small smile on his face. “I honestly don’t know. Selena talks about killing him all the time, but she never actually does.” Harry says without thinking.
The twins don’t notice what he just said about Selena speaking, George is too busy laughing and Fred seems to have retreated back into his thoughts. But Blaise’s head snaps up from where he had been watching Freya who still has Solace happily perched on her head, he stares at Harry with questioning eyes.
Harry shakes his head subtly to indicate to Blaise that he shouldn’t say anything. Blaise stares at him for a few more seconds and then inclines his head in agreement. “Potter. Tomorrow I will take Freya for a walk around the lake, perhaps you and your bird would like to come with us?”
Harry sighs, he didn’t want to tell a complete stranger about his serpent speaking, but he doesn’t really have a choice. “Yeah sure, I’ll bring Selena as well she will be happy to be out in the grounds.” Blaise gives a short curt nod and then turns around and claims the bed furthest from the window and starts unpacking his trunk.
Harry glances at Solace to make sure he’s not getting devoured by a fox, and then turns to Fred and George. “Are you guys, ok?”
“Yeah, we’re fine, or we will be. I had a feeling this would happen; I’ve always thought we were going to be a bit to crafty for Gryffindor. Fred’s just in a bit of shock he’ll be fine after a good night's sleep.” George says glancing at his brother with concern clear in his eyes.
“Ok, let me know if you need anything. Yeah?” Harry says in attempt to be reassuring, George nods and starts shepherding Fred towards one of the beds in the middle of the room.
Harry claims the bed nearest the window, Selena slithers off his wrist and onto the bed, watching him with her emerald eyes. Harry takes his miniature trunk out from his satchel and gets it back to normal size, he starts unpacking some of his things into the chest at the foot of the bed, and then he gets in his pyjamas and brushes his teeth, and climbs into bed, pulling the curtains shut. Then he remembers that Solace is still with Freya, he peeks out the curtains, Blaise is still unpacking his stuff, Fred and George have retreated into one of the beds and drawn the curtains around themselves, their luggage still on the rug. And Freya is laid on the floor with Solace sat on her back, Harry quietly calls him over, and the little raven flies across the room and through the gap in the curtains.
“Hey little guy. Is Freya your friend now?” He asks fondly, Solace chirps and then hops up onto the headboard and seems to fall asleep. “I bought a strange bird.” He mutters to himself.
“Star, can you speak now?” Selena asks.
“Yes, but quietly.” Harry responds in a low hiss; he really should learn some sort of silencing spell so he can speak to Selena safely.
“It is good to be back in my Salazars school. I missed this place.” Selena says reverently.
“It’s amazing here, Selena. I didn’t get a chance to look at the castle much because I was too anxious, with all the people staring at me, and Dumbledore made me angry and all the food sent me into some sort of melt down… but, the Slytherin common room is brilliant, and Marcus Flint the prefect is really nice, he didn’t ogle at me or treat me any different from the other first years. And professor Snape seems alright, although he does remind me of a bat.” Harry rambles to Selena happily. “I’m sorry I couldn’t speak to you all day, that’s going to be difficult to get used to.”
“You did well today, my speaker. Even though it was difficult and you were anxious, you still achieved great things. You are now in Salazar’s house, and you made more allies. It is difficult to not speak to you for so long, but we will get used to it, do not worry.” She says reassuringly.
“Thanks, Selena.” He smiles at her fondly. “I’m glad classes don’t start till Monday, that gives me two days to settle in. Also, I have to deal with professor Snape asking me ‘welfare’ questions tomorrow morning, but it’s nothing I haven’t done before; my primary school was always doing ‘welfare’ meetings with me whenever I showed up with bruises. They never did anything about it though.” Harry says with a shrug.
“You could tell him that your family hurt you, Star. Maybe he could help you escape from them.” She hisses softly.
“No Selena, I’m not telling anyone. No one will help me anyway, there is no point.” He says firmly.
“Okay, Star.” She says sadly. “Go to sleep now, you are tired.”
He nods softly. “Goodnight Selena.” He says through a yawn.
“Goodnight, Star.” She coils up on the pillow, and Harry lets his eyes sink shut and drifts off into a deep sleep.