Hairball and Nymphikins

When he headed up to breakfast the next morning, Harry nearly ran into the group of first year Gryffindor boys outside the Great Hall. The two he didn’t know looked appropriately leery, and Ron was clearly a bit out of sorts, but Neville, at least, seemed to be taking things in stride.

“Hullo Harry.” The slightly chubby boy smiled.

“Wotcher, Nev! Good first night?”

“Not bad, at any rate.” In Neville speech, that was the equivalent of a standing ovation. And considering how much he’d clearly enjoyed the occasional visit to the Tonks household just as an escape from his frightful grandmother, Harry wasn’t surprised in the least.

“And you, Ron?”

“It was alright.” The redhead muttered, clearly uncomfortable to be talking with a Slytherin - even if it was one he’d known for years.

“I hope we get some good classes together.” Harry decided to go on. “Though maybe not Potions - I’d hate to be constantly showing you up.”

Ron snorted. “In your dreams, Potter.” Grinning, Harry just waved a farewell as he headed for the Slytherin table. He was well aware that many of his housemates had seen at least a bit of the interaction, and coupled with the conversation with the twins the night before, it was entirely likely at least someone would confront him over ‘fraternizing with the enemy’, as Padfoot would put it.

Harry headed for a relatively clear spot, just across from Theo Nott, the only other first year already present. Not surprised by the lack of conversation, he simply focused on filling his plate and eating quietly.

“You do realize the sort of impression you’re making,” Theo suddenly spoke, so softly that Harry had to strain to hear him. “Consorting with the likes of them.”

“I’ve been ‘consorting’ for years now. I’m hardly going to let go of my old friends now just because we wound up in different houses,” Harry replied neutrally.

“That’s how a proper Slytherin would conduct themselves.”

“As the Sorting Hat said, I’m a fairly even blend of the different House qualities. As it is, I expect to do quite well as an atypical Slytherin.”

Theo eyed him warily, but apparently decided that continuing the debate wouldn’t be worth it. The rest of their yearmates arrived not long after, Draco in the lead and bringing them over directly.

As soon as the blonde sat down, Harry rolled his eyes. “Do you have any idea how ridiculous you look when strutting?”

“What do you mean?” Draco demanded, ignoring the sudden surprised snorts and giggles of their fellow first years.

“Honestly, Draco, it’s like you’re copying the peacocks at your manor. It’s fine for arrogant birds, but please try to exercise some humility and walk normally, or else I’ll be hard pressed not to groan every time you enter a room.” As the boy’s cheeks reddened and others were distracted by their laughter, Harry leaned over to deliver a whispered warning.

“Remember what Aunt Andy told us about making friends, not followers? You’re off to a bad start with behavior like that.”

“Oh. But it’s how my father-”

“It’s how your father, who is wealthy and an important backstage manipulator at the Ministry, is allowed to act because there aren’t many people with the money or power to knock him down a peg. You, on the other hand, have only just started school and it’s going to be a while before you’re an upper year with actual power. So for pity’s sake, don’t go around antagonizing people who’ve already reached positions more important than yours!” When they were younger, Harry had started to drive home the point that just because he had an influential father, Draco couldn’t always rely on his support - doing so also made him a huge prat, something that the blonde found very insulting. He’d gotten better as the years went on, but still fell back onto old habits from time to time.

Suitably abashed, Draco nodded his thanks, before diving into the breakfast foods. Harry merely returned to sipping at his pumpkin juice, occasionally glancing around to see if anything interesting was happening, both at the Slytherin and other tables.

The other pair of Gryffindor boys, he was sorry to realize, had scooted away to give Neville and Ron a wide berth. Further down the table was a bushy haired girl with her nose in a book, being easily ignored by her housemates. Frowning, Harry compared that scene to the Hufflepuff table, where the first years were sitting together while talking to the older students gathered closely around them. At the Ravenclaw table, it was different again, with the new children interspersed among their housemates and eagerly absorbing the conversations going on around them.

Harry shook his head, marveling at all the inconsistencies. He debated whether it would be worth it to quietly reach out to the less well-adjusted first years of the various houses, but in the end decided to wait until he’d learned a bit more about them.

It was right about then that the different Heads of House began to hand out course schedules.

Steeling himself for the inevitable, Harry sat with remarkable restraint as Professor Snape drew closer and closer, not so much ‘handing’ as ‘slapping’ out the different sheets of parchment to his students. Draco, too, became much more still as the Potions Master approached, and the other first year Slytherins noticed and grew quiet themselves.

“Mister Potter.” The professor sneered as he stopped beside Harry’s seat. “I do hope you realize that while Gryffindor House may be the den of brutish troublemakers and blatant rulebreakers, we in Slytherin do not tolerate such obvious disregard for rules and authority.”

“I wouldn’t dare suggest otherwise, sir.” Harry said as respectfully as possible. He knew all about the bullying actions of the Marauders towards Severus Snape in their school days, and that he would have to be extra careful so as to not arouse the man’s misplaced anger. “I know others often look down on our House, unfairly, and intend to do what I can to rectify past acts of certain idiots.” He felt a glow of inner triumph at the startled blink Professor Snape gave him, but retained his outer, neutral expression.

“We shall see about that, Mister Potter.” A schedule with his name on it was thrown onto the table, and then the Potions Master was moving on, distributing the rest. Harry released a sigh of relief, and only then noticed the stares his yearmates were directing towards him.

“What was that about?" Pansy managed to ask first.

“My father and his friends behaved pretty rotten towards the Professor when they were all students here,” Harry explained carefully, not wanting to give too much away. “My current family was a bit worried he’d take out that old anger on me, but I think I’ve gotten myself a chance at being treated fairly now.”

“Blimey,” Greg muttered, awestruck. “An’ you actually wanted to be in Slytherin?”

“I like a challenge!” Draco snorted at his cousin’s cheerful response.

“Understatement of the year, Potter.”

The rest of breakfast, thankfully, was uneventful, and soon enough the students were getting up and preparing to head off to classes. Harry, Draco and the others set off to find the Charms classroom, joining up with the Ravenclaw first years along the way.

It ended up being a very exciting first day, seeing more of the castle and meeting several of his teachers. But at the end of it, Harry had to sit himself down for a very important task.

Dear Aunt Andy and Uncle Ted,

Hogwarts is definitely turning out to be all that you said it was! We’ve just got back from dinner, and to be honest I’m not entirely sure how average evening meals are supposed to be different from the Feasts - there was definitely the same amount of food present!

I talked to Padfoot last night, and he promised to pass along the news - I made it into Slytherin! The Hat (and why couldn’t you or Nymph ever just TELL me it was a hat?) said I would have fit with any of the Houses, but I’m really glad I got where I wanted to go. I won’t have my first class with Professor Snape until tomorrow, but we talked a little this morning when he was handing out the schedules. Well, I talked, and he warned, at any rate. I think we’re getting off to as good a start as could be hoped for, though.

I’ve finally gotten to meet the different pureblood kids that Draco’s told me about, as they’ve mostly wound up in Slytherin with us (surprise surprise). There are a few others well, that I’ll probably write more about as I get to know them better. I also got to see Neville and Ron (we’ll have quite a few classes together, I’m happy to say, despite their being in Gryffindor), along with the other Weasleys. They don’t seem like they’ll be treating me any different, for the most part, which is nice. I’m thinking of trying to make more friends from the other Houses, so that I have allies in all corners. Might not work out all that well, but I still plan on trying.

Love to you both,

Harry

P.S. Draco’s trying to convince me to try out for the Quidditch Team, since he thinks I’m a much better flyer than their current Seeker. I doubt anything will come of it, but I wanted to give you a heads up, just in case.

One letter down, he pulled out another sheet of parchment for the next.

Dear Nymphikins,

A hat? Students are sorted into their Houses by an enchanted HAT? Why in Merlin’s name didn’t you just tell me, instead of making up those stories about an obstacle course with deadly plants and booby-traps?!

You are such a horrid sister. I can’t believe I ever listened to you.

On to other subjects, I think the years of messing with you were just the right training I needed in order to fit in with my fellow Slytherins. Already, I’ve managed to intimidate most of them into keeping quiet around me, which will be quite nice. One older student at the Welcoming Feast even choked when he realized YOU were my big sister.

Professor Snape tried to threaten me into behaving this morning when he was delivering the different schedules - I don’t think he was expecting my response, when I told him I wanted to try and fix some of the bad blood caused by the Marauders. We’ll see whether I’ve made any real difference when I have Potions tomorrow, though.

Draco has been telling me about the current Slytherin Seeker, and he seems to think I could beat this bloke even as a first year. If I get a tryout and make it onto the team, would you plant the seed with Auntie and Uncle, or else Padfoot, about getting me a broom to use? Supposedly the school ones aren’t very good, but I don’t want to ask myself just in case they decide I’m being too greedy.

Love,

Harry