what the Hat said
They filed into the great hall following Professor McGonagall and peered around trying to see everything after her introduction to the four houses of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. She steered the children into a line before a stool and a tatty old hat. Harry only paid enough attention to recognise the song the hat sang as the same the last time he was sorted. He watched as names were called and students sorted. Although this time Hermione Granger sorted Ravenclaw. It was almost Neville’s turn and Harry nudged him.
‘It’s okay if you are sorted into a different house, you have courage of your own, you don’t need to rely on the courage of your parents.’
Neville’s sorting was much shorter and he didn’t run off with the hat as he made his way to the Hufflepuff table to a round of applause. And now it was his turn. The silence as his name was called didn’t last and whispers spread about the room. Harry chanced a glance at Dumbledore and kept his smile to himself as the man did not look pleased as the hat covered Harry’s eyes.
‘Hmm, Difficult. Very Difficult.’
‘Yes, I imagine it is.’
‘I see you have been here before Mr Potter.’
‘Lady Magic decided I needed a chance to save a few of her children Mr Hat.’
‘Hmm, so do you want to weigh in on where I should put you this time?’
There were three wizards sitting at the high table that felt a cool breath at their necks when Harry Potter smiled under the sorting hat as it called out in a clear voice.
‘SLYTHERIN!’
There was silence as Harry walked towards his new house table. The trim on his robe turning green and he felt the warmth of Lady Magic laughing softly while he moved to take a seat. Murmuring began to fill the gaps as Harry watched the rest of the sorting, including the inevitable Gryffindor for Ron Weasley. He tuned Dumbledore out as the man welcomed them all and started the feast. He’d seen the confusion on the man’s face and wondered how long it would be before the interfering fool tired to speak with him.
Sitting next to Harry the dark skinned Blaise Zabini passed him the potatoes.
‘I will admit to some surprise to see you at this table, Lord Potter.’
‘I doubt you are the only one, Heir Zabini. Thank you.’ He dropped two perfectly roasted potatoes onto his plate followed by slices of roast beef, yorkshire pudding and gravy. Rounded out with fried cabbage with bacon he tucked into his meal.
‘What are you doing here Potter?’ Malfoy glared at him across the table where he sat between his bodyguards.
‘Eating dinner Heir Malfoy.’
‘You are at the wrong table.’
With a smile that chilled he shook his head. ‘That is not what the Hat said, perhaps you weren’t paying attention.’
‘You are going to end up the same way your mud blood mother did. Potter.’
Harry picked his knife up and slammed it into the table next to Malfoy’s hand. ‘Defying Voldemort and causing his death? Yes. I probably will. And that’s Lord. Potter.’ He looked around at the silent, wide eyed Slytherin’s staring at him. ‘I may be new to this world, since I was illegally placed by the headmaster with my mother’s magic hating sister. While my legally appointed, and incidentally totally innocent guardian, was put in prison without a trial and all. But Voldemort. Can anyone tell me which family he hails from? Its not a name that sounds like it belongs to a pure blood, is it.’ He turned back to his meal, a clean knife appearing beside his plate and nervous chatter began around him. The meal progressed until even the deserts where gone and Dumbledore gave his speech, including the promise of a very painful death to be had on the third floor. Although this time his eyes where a little less twinkly, the smile a little more forced. Leaving Harry glad for his occlumency barriers with a whispered thanks to Lady Magic. And it was finally time for first years to follow the prefects to their new dorms.
‘Alright, listen up firsties, and listen well. The password will change so pay attention to the common room notice board. The other houses are not welcome here so make sure no one follows you and that no one else ever finds out the password.’ She looked around to make sure she had their attention. ‘I’m Gemma Fawley for those of you who don’t know me, and tonight the password is, Cauldron.’ The wall opened and she ushered them into the room beyond. It was dark and groupings of chairs and couches placed around tables through the center of the room and in front of numerous fireplaces. There was a collection of tables and chairs along a wall of windows that looked out into the black lake and sitting in the center of the room was their head of house.
Snape wondered who he had so grievously offended to have Potter in his house. Knowing the boy hadn’t been raised as the pampered prince Dumbledore had spent the last ten years assuring everyone he was, didn’t make it easier. Having seen the little confrontation between the boy and his godson, he wasn’t looking forward to seeing how that was going to play out. But he’d seen the boy at the will reading, and the articles that were dripped into the Prophet over the remaining summer. The boy carried himself like a Lord despite a decade of Petunia’s delicate care and neglect. He also carried himself like a predator. There was a suppressed shiver as Snape contemplated just who or what his prey would be. And if his house would survive.
‘Listen very carefully. Although most of you will already be aware of what I’m about to say, being legacies. This House is your home at Hogwarts. If you have any issues with any of your house mates, you will sort it out yourselves. Discretely. You are in the house of the cunning and I expect you to remember that. Outside these walls we are vilified and must maintain a united front. Don’t get caught alone, in fact, don’t get caught. If any of you need help with your subjects, the sixth years are available to help you. But remember, nothing is free. And I expect you to maintain your grades. Your schedules will be handed out at breakfast. Potter, you will remain here, the rest of you will follow the prefects to your dorms.’
Draco shot Harry a gloating look before following the rest of the first years as they headed out of the common room.
‘If Dumbledore wants to speak with me I will regretfully have to decline.’
‘Oh he will but that is not why I asked you to remain behind.’
‘Perhaps you can remind him that any meeting with him, due to his previous and somewhat blatant disregard of wizarding law, will require both my legal guardian and lawyer be present. I believe this information was passed along to the school.’
Snape gave a small smile as he nodded. ‘Oh he is aware. But no, as you are a Lord you will have a separate room to your year mates.’
Harry nodded, thinking that was just as well and he followed Snape down the hallway where they reached a door with a silver plaque with his name on it.
‘It would be wise, Potter, to set a password on your door. I may not know what happened at the feast but you will likely face Malfoy for it. He lacks his mother’s patience, nor will he take an insult lightly.’
‘Hopefully he will consider that I will also not take an insult lightly. But unlike Heir Malfoy, I can afford to be patient.’
Snape turned to leave.
‘Professor, how do I set a password to my door?’
Snape handed him a slip of parchment. ‘You will need this spell then you say your password.’
‘Do you need to know my password?’
‘I have my own that allows me access.’
Harry looked at the spell. ‘Is there a wand movement specific to this?’
‘No.’
Standing before the door Harry held his wand. ‘Mutatio.’ The door glowed green. With a smirk Harry hissed and the door stopped glowing.
Snape schooled his features. ‘You are a passeltongue Lord Potter.’
Harry nodded. ‘I am. My inheritance test was quite revealing, Professor Snape. It seems my mother wasn’t actually a mud blood after all. That is the word Heir Malfoy used at the feast to describe her. And according to the goblins, Slytherin wasn’t the only line to possess the gift of speaking with serpents. It’s just better hidden in the other families. I trust I can rely on your discretion.’
‘Obviously.’ Robes billowing as he turned and stalked away.
Harry pulled the door closed and locked it before exploring his new domain. He was standing in a sitting room with a sofa before a fireplace with a large desk in the corner. Hedwig had settled into the owl perch next to the desk with a charmed window behind her. It showed the quidditch pitch and shimmered with magic. There was a door in the wall to the right of where he stood, which showed the bedroom and the fourposter bed favoured by wizards. Next to the wardrobe was the door into the bathroom. He looked around and smiled. He was not going to miss his old dorm mates with their smelly socks and snoring. Taking his trunks from his satchel he resized the trunk holding his clothes and waved his wand to put them away.
---
Harry woke with his alarm and stretched in the comfort of the large bed, still amazed at being in a space bigger than his old cupboard. Even if it had only been his for a few days this time around, it had been long enough. Showered and dressed in his school robes he packed his books in his satchel since he wasn’t sure what his first class would be following breakfast. He sent Hedwig off with a note for Sirius and Remus, the latter having opted to stay with Sirius for his rehabilitation into the wizarding world. He wanted to warn them that he had in fact, sorted Slytherin and Sirius owed Andi five galleons. He also wanted to warn them that Dumbledore hadn’t tried to speak with him yet. He made sure he wore the messenger disc on a chain around his neck and tucked it inside his shirt so he would be ready to summon his guardian and lawyer when required.
His year mates found him reading the Daily Prophet as he sipped a cup of tea in the Great Hall. The majority of them leaving a clear space around him with only Heir Zabini at all inclined to take a seat next to him.
‘Anything interesting in the paper today Lord Potter?’
‘Greetings Heir Zabini. I guess it depends on your definition of interesting. Did you know that the Minister for Magic was so forward thinking he has an under secretary who is a half blood.’
From the safety of his seat several spots away, Malfoy scoffed. ‘That can’t be true, everyone knows Fudge never hires anyone but pure bloods.’
‘Oh dear, it seems you are right Heir Malfoy.’ Harry looked over the top of the paper. ‘It says here that Delores Umbridge gained her ministry position claiming she was a pure blood. Her janitor father and muggle mother were so proud of her at the time. Since she lied about her status, it brings into question what else she may have lied about and has been dismissed.’ He laid the paper down so the headline was clearly visible.
Ministry Half Blood in Disgrace.
‘The article goes on to say all laws she has worked on since joining Fudge’s staff now need to be reviewed.’ He smiled sweetly, all wide eyes and innocent. ‘I don’t know much about the different reporters out there but this Skeeter character seems quite pleased with herself. She’s even included proof to back up her claims about the Umbridge woman’s blood status along with her school records. They aren’t very good.’
‘My mother mentioned a change in the quality of articles being produced since the Daily Prophet had a change in ownership.’
‘Is that good or bad?’
‘Depends on how you feel about the truth Lord Potter.’
‘I had a teacher once who took great pains to instil in me the importance of not telling lies.’
‘And yet you sorted Slytherin.’
Harry smiled. ‘The Sorting Hat was quite insistent this is the house to assist with my quest for greatness.’
‘I would have picked you for a Gryffindor myself.’
‘Judging by the looks on a few faces when I was sorted, it would seem you weren’t the only one.’
Zabini laughed. ‘I think I’m going to enjoy watching you Lord Potter.’
‘Funnily enough, that’s the same thing the Branch Manager at Gringotts keeps saying to me.’ He watched as more owls swooped into the hall dropping parcels and letters along with more copies of the Daily Prophet to students at their breakfast.
Snape was regretting the life choices that lead to him accepting the Merlin cursed role he was currently in, surely time travel wasn’t that difficult as McGonagall kept lamenting the Potter boy’s sorting. He stopped and turned to her.
‘Maybe, if Potter had been raised by a Gryffindor, he would have been the pampered son of James Potter you seem to be expecting him to be. Yet you know full well that his god father was wrongfully sent to Azkaban. Dumbledore let it happen while the boy was kept in a cupboard. So perhaps, in place of whining to me about it. You should be directing your attentions to the insufferable fool actually responsible for the brat being raised by his magic hating harpy of an aunt.’ He stalked away, he had timetables to hand out and he still wanted to enjoy his breakfast.
‘Well I never.’
‘Chin up Minerva.’ Pamona Sprout said cheerfully. ‘He’s quite right you know. If Potter had been raised by his godfather you would be lamenting the fact that he had been sorted to your house. I don’t even want to contemplate what a child with the intelligence of Lily Evens and the curiosity of James Potter would have turned out like, raised by Sirius Black.’
‘Oh well, there is that.’ She muttered as they headed for their house tables to hand out timetables.
---
Looking at the timetable he groaned. ‘History first, I’ve heard the professor is a ghost for that one.’
‘And it’s with the Ravenclaws, so we have to pay attention.’ Zabini shook his head. ‘So cruel.’
‘Ah well.’ Harry finished his tea. ‘We have to start somewhere.’
---
Harry sat next to Hermione and pulled his textbook out from his satchel along with a charmed notebook and fountain pen.
‘You aren’t using a quill Harry?’
‘No, I checked and there are no rules against using an ink pen, I just have to use the provided quills for any exams.’
‘And your books fit in your satchel?’
‘It’s got an undetectable extension charm along with one for being light so I can carry all my books. I wasn’t sure what we would have first and didn’t feel like having to go back to the dungeons after breakfast.’
‘That is a clever idea, where did you get it?’
‘It was in my family vault but I should think the shop that sells trunks would have them.’
‘And your notebook?’
‘That was from Quills and Quotes in Diagon Alley, it’s charmed to never run out of pages. I have one for each subject.’
‘I saw those but I chose to buy a few extra books instead.’
Harry reached into his bag and pulled a catalogue out for her. ‘You can always owl order them if you want. I decided I would have enough to carry around without worrying about making notes on miles of parchment paper.’ He watched as she tucked the catalogue into her book bag before looking about the room to see where his fellow Slytherin’s were sitting.
Malfoy strutted into the room next to a fawning Pansy Parkinson. ‘Father said it’s disgraceful that they still have a ghost teaching this class, but the rest of the board of governors wont agree to do anything about it.’ He looked around the room and scrunched his face up.
‘What’s wrong Malfoy, did someone fart in your general direction?’ Harry asked.
‘They really are letting standards slip, you should be sitting with your own house Potter.’
‘And as I pointed out to you last night, it’s Lord. Potter.’ He moved to reach for his bag. ‘I have another knife if I need to make my point more memorable.’ He watched as the already pale Malfoy lost another shade of colour before moving to a seat on the opposite side of the room.
Hermione frowned. ‘What was that about?’
‘Malfoy insulted my mother at dinner last night by calling her a mud blood. But as you know, I heard the most interesting theory recently, that muggle born witches and wizards are actually the descendants of squibs. It’s all the inbreeding in the pure blood families. Not enough fresh blood to keep the magic flowing. I hope you do get that inheritance test done, you may be more of a witch than you think.’
I wrote my parents about it after speaking with Neville on the train.’
‘I believe the Goblins will be recommending inheritance testing to all witches and wizards from the muggle world.’
‘Really?’
‘Apparently there are some vaults belonging to the older families that need to be claimed soon or the ministry will step in and try and claim them.’ He noticed a few of their classmates paying attention to his words and smiled as their teacher floated though the blackboard and began the lesson.
---
Harry waved Hermione off and headed for McGonagall’s classroom for transfiguration with Hufflepuff. He’d been reading the textbook and found the magical theory made much more sense with his mothers notes in her books. He was already planning to work on becoming an animagus over the summer. He just hoped his animal form was something useful, as awesome as his father’s stag was, it was hardly discrete. Looking about he smiled and called out. ‘Neville. I was hoping to catch up with you.’ Falling into step with his friend. ‘You look good in yellow, it suits you.’
‘Morning Harry.’
Lowering his voice so they wouldn’t be overheard Harry leaned in. ‘Your gran didn’t give you any grief I hope.’
Neville snorted. ‘She’s been too busy yelling at St Mungo’s for not bringing in Goblin healers back when they first decided they couldn’t do anything for my mum and dad.’
‘Yeah, I bet that’s something to see. Come on, lets find a seat before I have to sit with one of my house mates.’ He guided them to two seats in the front and began pulling his textbook out.
‘I should be surprised you ended up in Slytherin but I’m really not.’
‘That does seem to be the theme for today.’ He looked around the room and smiled when he saw the tabby cat sitting quietly on the desk at the front of the class. Watching McGonagall leap from the desk and transform from cat to witch cemented Harry’s determination to achieve his own animagus transformation.
Careful not to jump too far ahead, when given a match to turn into a needle, he under powered his spell. Playing with pushing different amounts of power through the incantation to transfigure the matchstick. He was happy it was getting pointy and turning silver, he didn’t need to be at the top of the class. It was more important he get used to his new wand and work on his wandless and wordless casting. He was however, more than happy to celebrate with his friend when Neville beat him to mastering the spell. Really, it said more about how important having the right wand was, as he watched his friend manipulate magic with an ease he hadn’t seen the first time around.
They walked into the great hall and Harry grinned as he waved Neville farewell and headed to the Slytherin table for lunch.
‘Oh so we are good enough to sit beside then.’ Blaise commented with a smile.
Harry shrugged. ‘What can I say, I’m working on collecting the full set.’
‘You just need a lion for that from what I’ve seen.’
‘Oh I have an idea for that.’ He smirked as he reached for bread and began making himself a sandwich. ‘You would be welcome to join me, to continue your amusement of course.’
‘We shall see Lord Potter.’
Harry just grinned as he looked around at the variety of sandwich fillings and asked for crisps out loud and said thank you when they appeared before him.
‘Oh that is a nifty trick. May I?’
Harry helped himself to the bowl of crisps before handing it to Blaise. ‘It’s probably just as well most of this lot don’t know about it really, can you imagine what they would be like.’
‘Well, if it’s any consolation, at least we both know I wont be rushing off to tell my father. Speaking of.’ He nodded over Harry’s shoulder as Malfoy approached, followed by his retinue.
Harry tilted his head slightly as he watched them take their seats as far away from him as they could. ‘I’m going to have to do something about him aren’t I.’
‘Yes.’
‘I’ll add that to my list. I see we have Herbology after lunch with the Ravenclaws.’
‘Ah, another chance to spend time with our Ravenclaw cousins. Will you sit with your muggle born friend again or branch out for your collection.’
Harry smiled as he reached for a goblet and the water jug.
---
‘Playing in the mud, should be just like home for you Granger.’ Malfoy sneered as they moved towards the greenhouse where Professor Sprout was waiting for them.
Harry caught her arm and shook his head. ‘Not his fault he doesn’t know better Hermione.’
‘Better? It doesn’t get better than me, I’m a Malfoy.’
‘Yes, the product of generations of inbreeding and pure blooded rhetoric. Championed by a half blooded megalomaniac with delusions above his own blood status.’
‘What half blood are you talking about Potter?’
‘Like I said last night. Voldemort is hardly the name of a pure blood. Sounds made up. Rather like something a half blood would come up with to impress your lot.’
‘I’ll see you in the common room, Potter.’ Malfoy hissed as they reached the greenhouse and their waiting professor.