Snake
Harry stumbled through the door to the great hall. He started shuffling towards the Gryffindor table before he remembered: his life was ruined. Forever. Slowly, painfully, he turned around and trudged towards the Slytherin table. He stood at the end of the table for a minute, not knowing where to go or what to do. Zabini, a fifth-year like him, noticed Harry standing there and elbowed Draco in the side. Upset at being jabbed in the ribs, Malfoy quickly looked up and tore into Zabini. Raising his hands in defense, he pointed towards Harry and said something unintelligible. Glancing up, Draco finally saw him. His eyes widened and he frowned before motioning for Harry to come towards him. Not seeing another solution for what to do, Harry made his way down the table to where Draco and Zabini sat.
“What are you doing here, Potter? And dressed like that, much less,” Malfoy immediately questioned.
“Uhh-” Harry responded intelligently.
“Spit it out, won’t you?” Zabini snapped.
Harry flinched. “I’m supposed to be here,” he mumbled, hanging his head.
“What? I can’t hear you. Speak up, Potter.” Draco seemed more annoyed than earlier.
Harry shrunk in on himself even more than before. Great, already annoying my new housemates. I definitely won’t die in my sleep at this rate. Harry thought. “I said that I’m supposed to be here,” Harry stated, raising his head to look Malfoy in the eye. “I- I have to be here now.” Harry felt sick, his knees were wobbling. He would fall over if he didn’t sit down in the next few minutes at this rate.
Malfoy and Zabini stared at each other for a moment before seeming to come to a decision. “Well, sit down won’t you? No need for you to stand there while you explain what you mean,” Draco announced.
Gratefully, Harry plopped down on the bench next to Zabini. He stared at the empty plate in front of him and contemplated putting some food on it. He didn’t feel like eating. His stomach would probably reject most food for a while anyways.
“Soooo, why are you supposed to be here exactly?” Zabini whispered.
“Yeah, why is The Great Harry Potter at our table, dressed in our precious Slytherin robes, no less?” Draco echoed.
Harry stared at his plate in silence. He didn’t know where to start. “Um, so apparently the paperwork that said I went to this school got lost and I had to be resorted?”
Zabini whistled. “You’re kidding right?”
“I wish,” Harry muttered under his breath. If either of them heard, they didn’t let on.
“So, you’re a Slytherin now? Like, you’re our house mate?” Draco questioned.
“I guess?”
Draco and Zabini exchanged another glance before they went back to their meal, attempting conversation with him to keep things not as awkward. It didn’t help Harry feel any better though. It was weird enough that they had just accepted it, much less acting civilly toward him. Malfoy looked especially uncomfortable, however. Harry didn’t touch anything.
After a tense meal, Malfoy and Zabini stood up and moved to walk away.
“Are you guys going to the dorms?” Harry blurted hurriedly.
“Yeah, why?” Zabini exchanged a look with Malfoy.
Harry looked down, whispering, “I- I don’t know where it is.”
A look of understanding dawned on Zambini’s face and he motioned for Harry to follow them.
Grateful, and not wanting to get on their bad side any more than he already was, he quickly hurried after them.
“Thank you,” Harry breathed.
“Yep.”
They turned a corner and stood for a second before a blank stone wall before Draco muttered “Professor Snape,” and the wall opened up for them to enter.
“Professor Snape? Why would you guys use such an obvious password? Anyone could guess that.” Harry questioned without thinking.
“Well, first they would have to know where our common room is. But it’s because it’s the beginning of the year. We use it because of the first years. Just for them to get used to it. We change it after a week,” Malfoy explained.
“That’s actually really nice,” Harry mused. “I wish the Gryffindors had done that.”
“Well, welcome to your new home,” Zabini grinned as they stepped into the Slytherin common room. “Do you know which room you’re going to be staying in?”
“Oh, shit, I didn’t even think about that,” Harry exclaimed. “What should I do?”
“Language!” Draco exclaimed.
“Talk to Professor Snape,” Zabini responded.
“This is going to be great,” he groaned. “Snape hates me.”
“He’s your head of house now, you’ll be fine,” Zabini assured.
“That’s not how it works. He literally hates me. And now he has complete control over me. I might actually die this year,” Harry lamented.
Draco and Zabini looked puzzled at this, but that was probably Harry’s imagination.
“Let’s call Professor Snape. We’ll get this all sorted out,” Malfoy decided. “Blaise, do you want to go get him, or do you want to stay here with Potter?”
Zabini, whose first name was apparently Blaise, considered his options for a minute before deciding to go grab Snape.
While they waited for Zabini and Snape, Draco decided to show Harry around the common room. Harry had been there before, while he and Ron were pretending to be Crabbe and Goyle, but he hadn’t exactly taken it all in. The common room was more open than the Gryffindor one had been, but wasn’t as cozy or warm. They were under the lake and it was just a little creepy. Although, not as scary as Harry’s dreams usually were.
“By the way, Potter. Since you’re a Slytherin now, you need to start acting like one. That includes being civil towards Professor Snape,” Draco stated.
“Snape won’t be civil towards me, that’s for sure,” Harry scoffed.
“Well, let’s start there,” Draco continued. “You can’t call him that. It’s disrespectful. You shall address him as Professor Snape.”
Harry thought for a minute before nodding his head in assent. He could do that at least. Hopefully, Snape won’t try to kill me on my first night here. Not likely though.
A few minutes later, Zabini came through the door, followed by Harry’s new Head of House.
“Mr. Potter,” Snape said, getting straight to the point. “I heard from Professor McGonagall and Mr. Zabini here that you have been resorted into my house,” he sneered. “I expect the best from you.” He then turned to address both Harry and Draco, “And both of you will behave as is appropriate for Slytherin housemates. Now, follow me.”
They hurried after Snape, being careful not to step on his billowing robes, as he lead them toward Harry’s new room. Next to what appeared to be the fifth-year boy’s rooms was a new room that had just been put there by the castle. Opening the door, Snape ushered them in.
“Welcome to your new home,” Snape muttered. Then loudly, “Your belongings will be brought over by the house elves in a few minutes. Make yourself at home. We will be having a house meeting in the common room at 8 this evening. Don’t be late.” Snape then strode out of the room.
After a moment of silence, Zabini whispered in awe, “I have never seen Professor Snape that rude yet civil to anyone before.”
Harry scoffed. “At least he hasn’t jinxed me yet. Wouldn’t put it past him yet though.”
Zabini and Draco looked worried again. But that was Harry’s imagination again.