Chapter 6
Harry walked to the Slytherin table with as much confidence he was capable of, though in all reality he was slightly trembling. He sat down as far away as possible from the other Slytherins who had mixed reactions, some were subtly glaring at him, and some seemed excited about the idea of the boy-who-lived in their house. Looking around Harry noticed the Gryffindors were glaring at him or looking at him in fear, the Hufflepuffs had a similar expression, and the Ravenclaws didn’t care or was observing him as if he was a science experience. Harry glanced over at the Professors, they seemed to have a neutral facial expression other than a specific two. Professor Snape, and Professor Quirrell, though they seemed to be staring at him with different reasons. Professor Snape was scowling at him with pure rage and hatred, as Professor Quirrell was staring at him curiously and observantly. All of a sudden, he felt burning sensation in is scar, Harry did his best to ignore it.
Harry looked down and started to eat his small portion of food trying to ignore the stares he was getting. Soon the feast was over, and the first years were called by the prefects to the follow them to the dungeons. While he was walking, he kept his head down to avoid conversation, all Harry wanted to do was go to bed and recollect himself in the morning. His hopes where soon crushed when he felt a tap on his shoulder, turning around he saw Malfoy.
“Potter, I was wondering if my friends and I could talk with you in the common room. Privately.” Malfoy sounded reasonable enough, Harry looked at him observing Malfoy he seemed genuine and nodded. Malfoy didn’t walk to his other friends, instead the two walked side by side in a comfortable silence. When they arrived at the dungeons, the prefects stopped them before they could walk in the common room.
“Now before we enter the common room and get to our own devices, I have to tell you rules of the Slytherin house. 1) No matter what do not tell on each other, if a student is doing something concerning go to Professor Snape. 2) We have a reputation to uphold, do not fight each other in public keep your useless squabbles in the common room. 3) The last and most important rule treat your housemates as you would treat your loved ones. Good night, if you choose to remain awake be quiet.” With that the prefect walked into the common room, all the first years quickly followed him.
When Harry entered, he observed the room he immediately liked it, the walls was a dark grey color, there was a fireplace and, on each side, there were a green banner with a silver snake. Harry looked around at the furniture as well, a long dark brown leathery couch was sitting by the fireplace, and a coffee table in between the two objects. There where windows leading to the outside, that confused Harry since the dungeons was under the black lake until he realized that magic exists. Before Harry could observe more Malfoy and his friends were walking up to him, Harry straightened himself up.
“Hey Potter, I just wanted to introduce you to my friends as I hope to form some sort of alliance.”
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Albus tried his best to seem neutral at the sorting ceremony, but Harry being sorted into Slytherin only added to his worries. He looked over at McGonagall who seemed to have looked just as terrified, no one else could see it but he could. When the feast was over, and everyone dispersed and headed to his office. It only took five minutes before Severus Snape to barge into his room. Severus came in and he immediately yelled, “TELL ME ALBUS WHY IS POTTER IN MY HOUSE? I ABSLOTLEY REFUSE TO HAVE AN AROGANT BRAT IN MY HOUSE!” Before Albus could reply Severus continued on his little rampage, “I WANT HIM RESORTED OR SOMETHING I WILL NOT HAVE MY SNAKES BE INFLUENCED BY HIM!” At this point Severus’s magic started to release and shake Albus’s belongings, he noticed when Severus realized this he quickly calmed down.
“Now Severus my dear boy you know students cannot be resorted; the hat made his choice. Harry is not his father Severus, you’ll quickly learn that he’s different from anyone you have ever met...” Albus replied taking advantage of Severus’s temporary silence, the younger man only looked at him oddly and stormed away. Albus sighed as the stress of the whole situation mad him actual age of one hundred and forty-three. Albus knew that Severus would be mean to the boy which worried him, anything other than kindness will destroy his already fragile mental state.
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“So, you are telling me that you want to be with me, if that was it why did we need to be super hush-hush about it?” Harry asked bluntly, attempting to hide his shock. They looked nervous and debating if they should tell him or not. This whole conversation was weird, Malfoy had made this whole thing feel like a drug deal just to learn he was asking for friendship. He had also introduced the little gang that followed him around, Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, Theodore Nott, Vincent Crabbe, and Gregory Goyle. (Those two seemed to be the less intelligent.)
After a few minutes of silence Parkinson sneered and exclaimed, “Look you stupid halfblood we were quiet about it because our parents are death eaters who support the Dark Lord. Since the Dark Lord killed your parents, we were nervous on how you would react! Even a dumb halfblood should understand that, but then again you mother was a mudblood so it’s not too sur-“ Before Parkinson could finish her sentence she was wailing on the floor, her body contorting.
To say Harry was mad was an understatement. Harry read his etiquette books, he was aware of the stigma that goes between muggleborns and purebloods, and everyone in between, he just never expected someone to take it this far. Harry forced his magic power on her, wishing to cause her the most pain he could cause her. He could tell the others froze and looked him in fear, but he couldn’t care less. He said in a cold dark tone that put shivers down everyone’s back, “I don’t care if your parents are death eaters, I don’t care if you insult other muggleborns, BUT DON’T YOU DARE INSULT ME OR MY MOTHER!” He felt like he was six again, the spell he cast was just as strong as well. After twenty seconds Harry broke the spell and he felt exhausted, though he didn’t show it he had a point to make. Taking a deep breathe he looked over at Malfoy who had a small smirk on his face, though the others were pale and wide eyed. Parkinson was groaning and still sprawled out on the floor.
“Anyway, this rule applies to you as well, just don’t insult me or my parents. Simple. Before I agree I want to know your rules/boundaries as well, it would be terrible if I accidently offended you as well.” Harry said converting back to his cold but polite voice, Draco and the others just nodded.
Draco chirped up and said, “The only thing I really expect is, do not insult or make fun of my own beliefs on blood purity. If you respect our opinion, we will respect yours, unless you are a muggle loving Weasley. Then we might need to fix that. Also going in that direction do your best to keep up appearances and not make a fool of yourself. DO NOT insult or make fun of the Dark Lord in any circumstance, I know you most likely hate him but the majority of the Slytherins are avid supporters including me. Basically, you insult our Lord, we will take it as a personal offense. Don’t call him by his name, if you do talk about him call him 'The Dark Lord.'” Draco sounded dead serious on the last part.
Harry nodded and said a quick goodbye and headed straight for bed. Laying down Harry thought of those conditions, he could agree with them they weren’t unreasonable. Just an uncomfortable tingling in his stomach on his newfound ‘friends’ were devoted supporters of a murder. ‘Then again so am I. accident or not, either way I am glad he is dead.’ Harry reminded himself smirking at the memory of him using his magic to push Thomas out of the window. After ten boring minutes Harry realized he could not sleep, deciding to read a book to help him sleep he grabbed out his ‘Theory of the Dark Arts’ book, he never really had the time to open it and read a bit. He soon started to feel sleepy, but before he would succumb to it he put his book back and promptly went to bed.
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After two minutes Pansy finally managed to get up, the pain in her bones was still aching but it was no longer debilitating. She felt like she just received a much weaker version of the cruciatus curse, her father once put her on it out of a fit of rage. He immediately apologized and started to cry when he realized what he did, but she could still remember the pain. Pansy flushed when she looked around to see a rather smug Draco, and her best friends standing besides him a little paler than usual. An uncomfortable silence waved over the group, until Blaise couldn’t handle it anymore and said,
“I think we are incredibly lucky for Potter to be on our side. I don’t even think he had his wand on him...” He sounded weaker than his usual self. Soon everyone made the mutual agreement to head to their dorms and sleep, it was late, and everyone’s nerves were haywire.
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Harry jerked awake; he barely got any sleep that night due to his nightmares about being brutally tortured by his ‘caretakers’. For a second the thought he was in the orphanage, and this had just been a dream, the sudden awareness that Malfoy was staring at him made him feel embarrassed that someone had seen him have nightmares. What annoyed him more is that Malfoy looked at him with worry.
“I decided to wake you up because were late for breakfast. If you are comfortable with telling me, what were you dreaming of?” Malfoy asked him gently, Harry contained a sneer. He wasn’t some weak animal that will break if you are too hard with him.
“Thank you for waking me up, though my dreams are none of your concern. I’ll learn to put some sort of silencing ward to avoid future incidents. If I may ask has anyone else but you heard me?” Harry asked in the same cold manner he usually maintained.
“I’m fairly certain it was just me; I doubt the other Slytherins would just let you scream in your sleep. Though I can’t be for sure since I too slept in. No worries I won’t tell anyone, let’s go.” Malfoy finally switched back to his normal tone. Harry only nodded in reply and got up, he hurriedly got dressed and did his best to tame his unruly hair. Sighing Harry walked to the great hall. When he entered the great hall, he was greeted by stares and whispers, his stride slightly stiffened but he walked as confidently as possible. He couldn’t eat anything as the meal he ate the previous day still sat heavy in his stomach, so he simply sat there waiting for his first class. Potions. Harry was slightly nervous he only read ahead on the first three chapters, so he felt unprepared.
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Severus Snape observed Potter throughout the dinner, the boy just sat there staring at his lap not bothering to eat. Severus did his best to suppress a sneer, though the frown on his face made is obvious. ‘The boy clearly thinks he’s better than the other Slytherins. He wont even look at them in the face! He won’t even eat, probably attention seeking.’ Severus thought to himself as he stabbed his sausage with his fork. He was not happy; his first class of the day would have to be with the brat. he shuddered at the thought of the boy attempting to make a potion. Not only does he have to worry about the brat be also had to worry about Quirrell, something was off about the man he just needs to learn what. Sooner than Severus hoped the kids and teachers were dismissed to go to class. When Severus got to the room, he saw all the Slytherins sitting quietly in their seats, even Potter. Most of the Gryffindor’s were talking and glaring at Potter, they clearly have some sort of feeling ‘betrayal’ because the boy was sorted into Slytherin. A pang of sympathy went out to the boy, but it died down fast.
“Now I do not expect much from you, or for you to understand to beauty and art of making potions, but I expect decent work from you. Even from little celebrities.” At those words he looked directly at Harry, a few Slytherins and Gryffindors sniggered at the sarcastic remark. The boy stiffened his already stiff posture, though he clearly did his best to not show his unease. Severus smirked at the slightly nervous boy.
“Now Mr. Potter care to tell me where I could find a bezoar?” Almost immediately Granger raised her hand, snaped ignored the excited girl.
“I am fairly sure it is found in a goat’s stomach, Sir.” Harry said cold and detached, his stiff posture slowly relaxing. Severus was expecting to boy to not have read ahead at all, nonetheless the second chapter of the book. His tone unnerved him as well, he had never met a first year sound cold like that before. Sneering in reply he quickly retorted,
“Well Mr. Potter what is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?” Severus asks in a cutting tone. The brat just stared at him expressionless, an awkward silence ensued all around the class. Severus was getting impatient, but he would not back down, the boy will have to admit defeat. The brat sighed before saying,
“There is no difference, Sir. Though I’m wondering why you are questioning me specifically instead of teaching the class.” Severus reeled backwards anger fluttering through his veins, ‘How dare that impudent brat question my teaching methods!’ Though a voice in the back of his head told him Potter was correct.
“Detention for your cheek Mr. Potter.” Everyone looked dumbstruck. Sure, they knew the Professor Snape wasn’t the nicest, but Potter didn’t even do anything wrong. Severus however did not care, he was expecting, no wanting a reaction from the boy.
Instead, he just said, “Yes sir." Severus sneered but did not punish the boy farther. The class went without incident as they only made a boil healing potion, other than Neville Longbottom had accidently blew up his cauldron. Though be begrudgingly sent the Weasley to take him to the hospital wing as it was clear Longbottom was hurt. Severus happily took off almost 70 points from Gryffindor and give ten detentions to them in total. The only thing he wasn’t too happy that he could not give Potter another detention since the boy was a damn good student. When he tested his potion, he noticed that the quality was slightly below average compared to the other students. But it could still get the job done if it was needed. Severus scowled ‘Of course the boy wouldn’t be good at potions.’ He thought as he gave the boy a lower grade then he really deserved.
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Next was Transfiguration taught by Professor McGonagall. When Harry arrived and sat down, he noticed that the teacher wasn’t there, what stood in her place was a black cat. When Harry sat down, he immediately grabbed the transfiguration book they would be needing and waited. Two minutes later Ronald Weasley seemed to have come back from sending Neville Longbottom to the hospital wing, he looked mad. Walking over to the Slytherins the red-haired boy yelled, “Who did it huh? I bet one of you Slytherins did it because you were jealous of our amazing potion.” He stopped for a second and looked directly at Harry and said, “I bet it was you, you traitor!” He sneered.
“Please tell me how I am a traitor? I was never in your house from the beginning, I also don’t appreciate your obvious bigotry to the Slytherin house. Not all Slytherins are ‘evil’ as you so call it, kindly leave us alone please.” Harry said with a slight hint of warning in his voice. Ronald Weasley turned red and took out his wand and pointed it at Harry. At that moment the cat jumped up and morphed into a Professor McGonagall, and dear gosh did she look mad.
“That will be enough Mr. Weasley, 10 points from Gryffindor for threatening a fellow student, and another 5 points for your rude generalization of Slytherins.” McGonagall said before summoning a matchstick in front of each student. She walked back up to her teaching podium and said, “Now before we attempt to Transfigure this matchstick to a needle let us discuss the theory.”
She proceeded to give a ten-minute lecture on how it works, Harry already knew all this, but he did not raise his hand at all. Which of course encouraged her to call on him, even if he wasn’t raising his hand. He answered all the questions correctly besides two, this seemed to annoy a bushy haired girl named Hermione Granger. She was the same kid who Harry was briefly met on the bus. Harry suppressed the urge to roll his eyes when she glared at him for the 3rd time. she clearly thought she was smarter than everyone else, just by the way she talked he could tell. Its, not even like Professor McGonagall ignored everyone else, she seemed like a fairly unbiased teacher. Finally, the lecture of theory was over, now all he had to do was transfigure this matchstick into a needle. She also told the students to raise their hand when they are done so she could look at it before it goes back to a matchstick. Harry did learn that transfiguration was not permanent at the moment, they will learn how to make it permeant in later years.
Harry managed to make the matchstick turn into a needle shape second try, though it was still wooden. At least no one else had managed to do it yet. Harry tried again and then the needle shape turned a silver, he smiled it had only taken him three minutes to do it. The person he was sitting next to him, Theodore Nott, noticed and raised his hand, McGonagall’s face flicked over and turned in surprise before it turned impassive again.
“Have you completed your assignment Mr. Nott?” She questioned curiously. Theodore only shook his head and said,
“No Ma’am but I noticed Mr. Potter did, I raised my hand for him.” Theodore said curtly as McGonagall walked over to the Slytherin table and noticed Harry’s perfect needle. She simply smiled and said,
“Twenty points to Slytherin for completing the task first and doing it in such a fast time. Good job Mr. Potter, for rest of the class I want you to try and create a pattern for extra points.” Harry didn’t bother to suppress a weak smile as he nodded and thanked his teacher. Now all the Gryffindors looked angry, they were glaring at him as if he’d just killed someone. Harry shook his head and went back to work. Soon he learned making patterns was a lot harder than he expected. He soon got frustrated he attempted to make a rose pattern but this time he put more magical effort into it, instead he created a small metal rose. It looked slightly sloppy as the sides were sharp triangles and not a smooth surface, it wasn’t too bad besides that.
When it became time to hand in their needles/matchsticks Harry got up and turned his pointy rose in while blushing slightly. She looked at it wide before looking back at him. Harry soon said, “Sorry Ma’am I did not intent for that to happen. I was trying to give it a rose pattern, but it turned into one, I could not transfigure it back to a matchstick no matter how hard I tried.”
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McGonagall nodded and she stared at observed him as he walked out of the classroom. She looked back at the rose, it had sharper edges then the average rose and almost pricked her finger when she touched the metal petal. She put his rose into a cabinet to keep safe, though he doubts it will stay a metal rose for very long as permeant transfiguration is a 3rd year skill. If it stays like that, she shall show this to Albus when they discuss their experiences and opinions of the first-year students. Though now she noticed the first year Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs is starting to enter the classroom and she began to teach the second lesson.
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Harry had around an hour and thirty-minute-long lunch period, so he went to the library first before heading to the great hall. It was massive, books where everywhere and he had no idea where to search. He wanted to find a spell book on curses and hexes that wont just demobilize the target but will hurt them. So far today he has been hexed two times, and he wants to be able to defend himself from them when it happens again. None of the books seemed useful of interesting, that was until he saw the restricted section. When he stepped in, he could feel the magic around him, it was more intense then the first time he entered Hogwarts. Grabbing a book called ‘Dark curses and spells level one” he opened it, and this was exactly what he was looking for! Though five minutes later he was stopped by the Liberian who gave him a five-minute-long lecture on how he shouldn’t be there. Apparently only teachers and how only prefects were allowed in there. Shrugging Harry left and went to the great hall.
Harry looked down at his rather good-looking sandwich with contempt, it seems at if he will only be managing to eat one small meal a day as he is not hungry at all. Harry was thinking about his classes they weren’t bad, but they were boring. He had plants with the Hufflepuffs, which wasn’t too bad some parts did interest him. Mainly poisonous plants. He also History with the Ravenclaws. History was particularly annoying as the Professor was not only a ghost, but only talked about Goblin wars. What he was looking forward to however was Defense against the Dark arts, that would be his next class after lunch.
Malfoy seemed to have noticed his lack of eating and tapped him on the shoulder, when Harry looked over at him, he said, “What is it Malfoy?” he just said in response and said, “Eat your bloody sandwich, its annoying to look at you stare at nothingness.” Harry glared at the boy, he glared back. Eventually forced himself to take a bite of his sandwich, Malfoy just stared at him until he was pleased. He ate half a sandwich. Finally, after a long ten minutes lunch was over and they went to his next class, defense against the dark arts.
Harry was disappointed. Professor Quirrell only talked about theory and had an annoying stutter that made it hard to understand. His scar hurt as well; it was only a slight pain but it gave him a headache anyway. It wasn’t that Professor Quirrell was a terrible teacher, he was quite good at explaining the theory, it’s just that he already knew it. He regretfully read the entire book when he first got it. He finally decided he would ask the man if he could get him the book he was reading earlier. When class ended and the students dispersed Harry got up and walked over towards the Professor, his scar hurt more but he ignored it.
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“M-Mr. P-P-Potter w-what can I h-help y-you w-with?” Voldemort asked the boy faking his stutter. Voldemort already knew he would have an upper hand when he got his body back and started the war. Potter was completely uninterested in defense! The boy was respectful enough he did not chatter and remained silent throughout the class, but you could see the boredom in his eyes.
“Hi sir, I was wondering if you could do me a slight favor…” The boy asked. This sparked the Dark Wizards interest. Whatever it was that he wanted, he thought that Quirrell could get it for him. Little does he know that he’s talking to the Dark Lord, he could just imagine the boy’s reaction if he told him.
“W-What is i-i-it? W-whatever i-it is I w-will n-not t-t-tell.”
“I was going through the library looking for some books when I found myself in the restricted section. Mind you I was unaware I wasn’t supposed to be there, Mrs. Prince already knows she was the one to lead me out…” The boy hesitated for a second before continuing, “I was wondering if you could get me the book I was reading before Madam Prince forced me out, it’s called, “Dark curses and Spells level one.” Now this was not what Voldemort was expecting. This boy seems to be full of surprises, not only was he sorted into his house, but he is already asking for a book on dark spells. This was not what he was expecting of the golden boy. He thought for a second before replying,
“I-I w-will d-d-d-do that f-for y-you j-just d-don’t t-t-tell a-anyone it was m-m-e. I-I’ll s-send y-you i-it b-by p-p-post.” Harry’s eyes lit up before saying a calm but cold tone,
“Thank you, sir, have a good day.” The boy then walked out. Voldemort sat there in contemplation on what he just did, this could be a test that Dumbledore put him on to test his loyalty. But if that was the case then the boy is a good actor. He doubted it though. Something was off about that boy even he could see it; this was just the confirmation. After a few minutes Voldemort decided that he will try and make the boy apart of his side. Oh, he would be an excellent death eater with the proper training. He would have to be subtle though, especially with Snape breathing down his back. Looking at the time he groaned and got up, ‘time to talk about a bunch of useless first years, well besides the kids of my death eaters and Potter but those numbers where few.’
Getting up he walked to the headmaster's office.