Harry was speechless.

Professor McGonagall led the group of nervously excited first years towards the huge doors of the Great Hall, which opened just before she would have reached them. Seconds later, Harry got his first look at the Great Hall. He stared at the floating candles overhead, and thought the enchanted ceiling was amazing – Harry knew it was enchanted, because his dad had said something about it once, though at the moment he could not remember what.

Harry lowered his gaze and felt a bit self conscious with all the other students staring at them from the two long tables on either side of him. He spotted the colours they wore and realised Gryffindor was to his right with Hufflepuff towards the far wall. On his left was Ravenclaw, with Slytherin near that wall. It was a good distraction for the time it took to walk to the front of the Great Hall, where the staff table sat on a slight platform. The professors faced the students, and Harry didn't recognised any of them. Other than Hagrid, who had led them across the lake, whereas McGonagall stood to his left with the all-important scroll clutched in her hands.

Harry looked away from her to the wooden stool in the center where the patched, aged, brown hat sat waiting for those it would be sorting.

The moment his emerald gaze fell on the object of unmentionable importance, Harry couldn't tear his eyes from it. It didn't look like much, but Harry feared it, not because he thought any harm would come to him, but he didn't know what house he was going to end up in and the choice wasn't his to make. The hat would be placed on his head and it will dictate which house was his own.

He couldn't focus on the night sky above, the floating candles, the sudden silence of the older years, the curious expression of his professors, or even his own classmates - nothing else mattered. All that did matter to Harry was the hat and it's job to place him in whichever house he belonged to.

He just wished he already knew which one it would be.

The entire hall remained mute, with the exception of the occasional whisper or shift of movement, until a split appeared on the hat in the form of a mouth, and it began to sing:

'When the greatest witches and wizards of the age,

Founded our fine magical school,

There where those inside who gathered to wage,

Their plots and schemes against the ideals,

Of those divided yet united within our walls,

Determined as they once were,

None were able to bring such intended up-haul,

Not all their intentions were good,

Nor did many of them last,

Though the founders were not worried,

Until their own separation came to pass.

It was the former students of this school,

Who saved it from its untimely end,

And now the past is said to be history,

When everything reached its amend,

Though I fear all is not well,

When there are many of us who are still appalled,

By the ways we teach and split,

Those who choose to study in our halls.

My job has always been clear yet rarely precise,

To sort those new and bright,

And pay tribute to the founders,

Who built this school until they took their flight,

I do not think my task is the best,

Nor should it happen each and every year,

To split friend from friend,

And bring our enemies near.

But sort you each I shall do,

For I've been at it a thousand years,

The founders once told us to stay strong and united,

Even when it was them who left us in tears,

So now their legacy lives on,

Through the houses you each belong,

This school is what we make it,

But each founder should be remembered,

For they left behind more than I can admit.

Gryffindor was the bravest,

And had the nerve to take a stand,

Godric's honour was what guided him,

And through it his conscious could withstand.

Though a loyal and patient achiever,

Hufflepuff's strength came from the heart,

Helga worked hard for what she had,

And under her guidance Hogwarts never fell apart.

Ravenclaw was by far the cleverest,

Though her creativity and wisdom were as divine,

Rowena was mysterious yet constantly intrigued,

And with her personality did brilliance truly shine.

Though known for valuing those of purer blood,

Cunning Slytherin was the most ambitious of the lot,

Salazar's far-reaching power and means were always highly noted,

Whereas his motives and intentions frequently forgot.

Every year I place each pupil into one of the four houses,

But heed my caution for there are those who still recall,

What each house truly means for the legacy left behind,

And how if we are to succeed then unity matters more,

A thousand years have passed and still mistakes are being repeated,

Let us not be the like founders who had failed Hogwarts once before.

I've had my say and the song is sung,

If you won't listen then you ought not be heard,

Let us not allow the founders' honesty to be undone,

This year I will be furthermore careful so pay close attention,

Because the moment has arrived and the sorting has begun.'

Whispers carried through the hall once the hat finished.

Harry thought it was the strangest song he'd ever heard, and his dad warned him he'd have to endure it. But it didn't sound like to sort of song his father had told him to expect. And listening to the mutterings in the hall, Harry could detect some worry and confusion amongst the older students and a few of the staff.

Even McGonagall looked rather surprised, as she unrolled her parchment list containing the name of every first year who stood before her. She lifted the sorting hat up from its stool with one hand, while holding the opened scroll (which trailed onto the floor), with the other.

'Quiet down!' She said firmly to the rest of the hall, which quickly decreased the volume and distraction.

With the hat's words about paying closer attention to the sorting, it seemed everyone from second year through to seventh were doing exactly that. Harry's nerves caused him to shiver and his palms were a bit sweaty. After the song had given warnings and said things he didn't understand, Harry only felt worse about the entire ordeal.

Harry wanted to tell McGonagall he was feeling sick and needed to lie down, if it weren't for the fact it would be too embarrassing. The thought of everyone laughing at him made Harry stand firmly where he was, the best he could. At least he had Ginny at his right and Jack on the left, so there was a little reassurance there, as McGonagall cleared her throat and began to call names from the roll.

'Argent, Oscar!'

Harry felt sympathetic for his smallest classmate; the blonde-haired, and freckled boy he'd sat with on the train. Oscar looked like he wanted to sulk about being called up first, but inhaled a deep breath and marched up to the stool. He sat down, his head and neck completely vanishing under the hat for only a few seconds, before the hat formed a mouth-like fold once again and declared Oscar's fate to the entire hall.

'RAVENCLAW!'

As McGonagall lifted the hat again, Oscar slid off the stool with a bit of difficulty and looked around with relief, though his eyes were wide with surprise. Giving his classmates a brief look, Oscar turned and hurried to the table towards Harry's left.

'Bailey, Jack!'

'Oh, no.' Jack groaned from beside Harry. 'Why do I have to be second?'

He looked scared, so Harry reached over and gave his arm a short pat. Jack looked at him, as though realising for the first time that he wasn't alone, and his entire mood changed. He stood taller and strode forward with determination.

Jack sat on the stool, with Harry watching him in dread, and let the hat fall over his face.

'Ah, interesting.' Said the hat, which Jack tried not to be startled by. 'You have plenty of bravery, I see. Quite a keen mind, and exceptional loyalty. Where to put you, hmmm...'

'Not Gryffindor.' Jack whispered as quietly as he could. 'I can't go to Gryffindor.'

'Really?' The hat sounded amused. 'I see it all here, yes, you would make a bold and true Gryffindor. Are you sure?'

'Cody's my best friend, and I can't let him be alone. He needs me.' Jack explained hurriedly. 'If I go to Gryffindor, it'll be harder for him because I think...I think he might be in Slytherin. His dad is in Slytherin and Cody's a lot like him.'

'Heritage does not always determine where one ends up.' The hat advised. 'I can see your boldness and courage. You will not stand for what is wrong, just like Godric Gryffindor before you. Yes, you will be right at home in Gryffindor house.'

'No, you're wrong! I don't care about that.' Jack insisted. 'I don't want to be in Gryffindor. Put me somewhere else – anywhere else!'

'If you're certain.' The hat sighed, though his voice sounded very pleased despite the fact he had an eleven-year-old arguing with him. 'Better be...'

Jack squeezed his eyes shut and felt very anxious.

He waited a few seconds longer for the hat to shout the result, wondering and fearing that his pleas would be ignored.

'HUFFLEPUFF!'

Exhaling with undeniable relief, Jack took off the hat and handed it to a mildly surprised McGonagall (who had just reached to take the hat herself when he'd done so), and hopped off the stool. He gave Harry a thumbs up and smile of encouragement, before he turned and headed for the Hufflepuff table on the far left of the waiting group of first years.

Harry had waved back and didn't know what he thought of Jack's sorting. He decided it was fitting and he was glad Jack seemed to be happy with here he was. Except, Harry didn't have any idea where he himself might end up, so his thoughts quickly returned to the situation at hand as he observed the continued sorting ceremony.

'Burke, Casey!'

Harry watched another boy from his compartment step up to the stool. The quiet and somewhat annoying Casey looked rather unsettled now, and his confidence had shed entirely. He sat slowly on the stool and moved some blonde hair from his face as the hat began to slide over his head.

'SLYTHERIN!' The hat declared ten seconds later.

Harry looked down and thought about what his parents had said regarding how it didn't matter which house he went to. He hoped he'd like the one he was placed in, he thought, as Colin Creevey was sorted into Gryffindor. The applause from the house to his right shook Harry from his thoughts once again, wishing he could be left in peace to think and worry until it was his turn to face the magical hat.

'Downey, Conner!'

Harry felt a nudge at his elbow when a boy a bit taller than he was passed by.

Seeing him sit down, Harry frowned as he recognised the brown-haired boy as the one who had shoved him earlier, when and Jack asked if they could share the boat. Harry furiously reminded himself of his mother's words about everyone having a story and not to judge them too hastily, because Harry really did not want to dislike someone from simple rudeness alone.

And he succeeded in erasing a lot his forming dislike when he saw how terrified Conner was just to sit on the stool. All the first years were pale and nervous (some more than others), but Conner's face gave the impression he thought he was about to face certain death for whichever house he was going to. Maybe his previous bad mood wasn't all his fault? Harry didn't realise until now how on edge the other boy was, and felt his annoyance towards Conner fade rather rapidly.

It was interesting when, much like Jack, Conner remained concealed under the hat for a longer length of time than most of the others who were called up for their sorting.

'RAVENCLAW!' The hat finally declared.

Conner didn't move until McGonagall lifted the hat from his head and gave him a stern look.

Harry wondered if the boy was in shock at first, until Conner slowly stepped down and went to join Oscar (who was clapping enthusiastically) at the Ravenclaw table.

Jessica Grove, a girl with wild black hair, was sorted into Ravenclaw afterwards and took the seat across from Conner, who was looking much less agitated. Harry noticed how some sortings like Jack and Conner took a while, whereas others like Jessica and Oscar only took several seconds.

'Hendrix, Ian!'

The next boy was taller than Harry, and likely an inch above Conner as well. He had neat side-combed brown hair, and stared at Harry with dark grey eyes as he passed. His expression was hard to read, though looked rather serious and calculating. Harry hadn't even noticed he'd been standing a little in front of the boy until Ian moved around him and began to make his way to the stool.

Ian sat down, and the hat was lowered towards the boy, but it shouted the house before it even properly touched his head.

'SLYTHERIN!'

Harry thought Ian's sorting was the quickest yet, until a girl called Luna Lovegood stepped up next and the same thing happened to her.

'RAVENCLAW!'

As he stood there, unable to feel his own feet in the nervousness he felt to be drowning in, Harry tried to guess why the sorting hat placed some of his classmates into houses faster than others. Were they somehow different, or showed stronger signs of a certain house than the others? What if he sat there for so long and the hat didn't know where to put him, what would happen?

What if he had to leave because he didn't belong anywhere?

Harry didn't feel smart, brave, or ambitious. He was loyal, though, and a hope swelled inside him at the idea of joining Jack at the Hufflepuff table.

'Makarney, Logan!'

Harry, despite all his attempts to listen to his mother's last words to him on the platform regarding giving everyone a chance, could not help glaring at Logan when the rude boy's name was called. Logan even looked towards him and sneered, before he confidently stepped towards the stool and seated himself. His sorting was average; not shorter nor longer than the rest, and Harry spent every second praying he never ended up in whichever house Logan went to.

'SLYTHERIN!'

Suppressing a groan, Harry turned away from the scene as Logan headed for the cheering house. He glanced to his right at Ginny instead. She looked nervous like all of them, but was coping really well. Harry remembered she wasn't the first in her family (in terms of siblings), to attend Hogwarts, so maybe she already had an idea where was going to be sorted? He glanced around and saw the mass of red-hair populating the Gryffindor table.

Had every one of the Weasleys ended up in Gryffindor, or did it just look that way because of a majority?

'Miles, Haylee!'

Harry quickly looked back to the stool in time to see the only girl who had joined with them in the train compartment sit down. He was glad he knew some of his classmates already, and felt he would have enjoyed the sorting if he wasn't one of the names on McGonagall's all-important list.

'HUFFLEPUFF!'

'I hope we're in the same house.' He heard Ginny whisper to him. 'I only know you and Jack. And my brothers, of course.'

'Me too.' Harry was surprised he was able to talk at all. 'I want to be with Jack, but...'

'Maybe we'll all be in Hufflepuff?' Ginny offered him a smile, which Harry returned, even if it never reached their eyes.

They were being hopeful and trying to remain calm, even if it was clear they had no idea where they would end up. Harry had been wrong about her composure, he realised, as Ginny was looking more unsure than ever when they watched a boy with curly brown hair, and hazel eyes, called Lionel Peddler, become a Slytherin. He felt a tiny bit of envy towards Jack, who had Haylee sitting with him and therefore got to share his house with someone he knew. Even Oscar seemed to be doing well, as he and Conner looked to be getting along already even if neither of them were talking as they too continued to watch the sorting.

Harry hoped he would be as lucky when his turn came to join a house.

-- 

The list was getting shorter.

Harry wished it would hurry up, and yet he hoped his turn never came. His nerve-riddled mind brought forth one of his memories when he'd been seven and had to give the family tree speech in front of all those families. He'd been scared and didn't think he could do it. Right when he'd been about to give up, he'd seen his dad in the crowd supporting him.

He wished he hadn't thought of that at such a time like this, because his father wasn't going to be in the crowd this time. Nor would his mother be there just out of view until the last second. Jack was already sorted and his parents were someplace else, so Harry was acutely aware of being on his own for perhaps the first time since he'd been saved by his hero over three years ago.

A brief cough from Ginny reminded him he wasn't entirely alone, and if it weren't for her, Harry might not have been able to remain upright and calm enough to think clearly and watch what was going on.

Ray Phaxer became a Hufflepuff, and so did Gavin Porter.

Harry felt Ginny's hand grip his wrist in encouragement, and he was stricken to understand why. They had reached “R” and everyone knew what letter came next. Harry wouldn't have escaped it, even if his surname had been “Snape” rather than “Summers”.

He was doomed either way.

'Rawlen, Paige!'

This was it, Harry thought. He was going to be next, he was certain of it, or at least very soon.

He hoped the girl, Paige, with black hair, and eyes that looked not quite blue yet not entirely grey either, would be sitting on the stool for quite a length of time. His hopes were dashed, however, when the hat didn't even make it halfway onto her head before it's voice was heard again.

'SLYTHERIN!'

'Summers, Cody!'

Harry froze in horror.

Professor McGoangall had called his name. He looked anxiously towards her and saw the hat was gripped in her hand, waiting for him to sit under it.

Harry shivered and didn't want to move, though he knew it would be inevitable.

'I can do this.' Harry told himself firmly and took a step forward, feeling Ginny release his wrist at the motion. He wished she hadn't.

'Good luck.' Ginny told him.

Harry felt he would need it.

With more strength and motivation than he thought he could muster at that moment, he walked forward and passed McGonagall as he headed for the stool. Turning, and cringing at the hundreds of eyes that were on him from all around the Great Hall, Harry sat down. He was slightly relieved when the darkness from the inside of the hat clouded the watchful eyes of his schoolmates.

As he waited, Harry gripped the sides of the stool with his hands and sat very still.

'I did not think I would get to sort you. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me.' The hat said in a quiet voice. 'Hmmm, right then. I know just where to put you...'

'SLYTHERIN!'

Harry, who had been too shocked by the possibility that the hat knew he had once been Harry Potter, despite his new name and family, almost missed the sudden announcement of his house. He was startled when the hat shouted it to everyone, and the ordeal was over far quicker than he had expected.

'Never forget who you are.' The hat managed to whisper before McGonagall removed it from Harry's head.

The boy wondered if it had been referring to Harry or Cody, but he had no time to ponder. Slipping down from the stool, Harry chanced a glance towards Jack in fear of his friend's sadness or rejection because they weren't in the same house. He was relieved to see his friend smiling and waving to him.

And with nothing left to stop him and no reason to remain where he was, Harry walked to the Slytherin table, where his new house-mates were cheering and clapping for him.

He managed a small smile because he was in the same house his dad had been in, and everyone at the table looked like they really were welcoming him rather than just clapping because that's what happened when a person was sorted. His treatment was no different to all the others, but it made Harry feel a bit better and his nerves began to lessen.

He ignored Logan entirely and sat beside Casey, across from a girl whose name he had already forgotten. She wasn't looking at him anyway, so Harry didn't worry about it, since there would be plenty of time later to get to know his classmates who were also in Slytherin. He hadn't looked at Logan, but the other boy was also ignoring him as though they'd had a mutual agreement regarding how to behave if then ended up in the same house.

'Hey.' Casey said in a far more easy-going tone than he had ever used on the train.

'Hi.' Harry replied, feeling a bit unsure, and turned around to watch the last of the sorting, his gaze resting only on Ginny. He wished he could stand with her, as she had for him, and give her confidence as well. Ginny looked more anxious than ever and appeared to be avoiding looking anywhere other than at the hat.

Harry didn't know why, considering the friends he had made on the train and the fact he had Jack, but he always sought Ginny in the crowd since he'd met her in Diagon Alley. There was just something about her he was drawn to, like he knew they could be really good friends and she was someone he could always count on. Harry had no idea if this was true, but his dad had once said sometimes their instincts could pick up on things their minds were a bit slow to catch.

His dad then told him how ignoring your instincts is like eating one of Erin's omelettes without first checking for broken eggshells. So as Harry sat on the wooden seat at the Slytherin table, he watched Ginny intently and decided he was going to be her friend even if he hardly knew her yet.

'Tessen, Laura!'

A girl with short, silky-looking dark hair hurried to the stool and impatiently pulled the hat over her eyes.

Harry watched as she was declared a Gryffindor, and then a girl named Eden Thorne, who had wavy copper hair, and blue eyes, was soon moving to sit beside him at the Slytherin table. Harry dutifully clapped for her, even if his gaze continuously rested on the red-haired girl still waiting for her turn to be sorted.

There was only one person left standing, and Harry felt deeply sympathetic for Ginny. She stood there all alone, waiting for McGonagall to call her name, though it hardly seemed necessary as it was the final one on the list.

'Weasley, Ginny!'

Harry saw her red-haired brothers cheering for her. He was glad they did, because Ginny seemed a little less frightened when she took notice of their obvious support of her before they even knew which house she was going to be placed in. The twins even whistled and said some hard-to-understand chant that met the disapproval of McGonagall. Ron, who was only a year older than the current first years, remained quiet with worry and anticipation. His prefect brother Percy was the same.

Harry wondered if it was just the difference between the Weasleys, or if perhaps Ron and Percy knew something the others did not, and therefore were much less confident about where their only sister would be placed.

And Ginny had perhaps the longest sorting of the entire lot.

Either that, or it felt to be the longest because she was the last one, and Harry really hoped she would end up in his house. He knew it was selfish, but Jack had already gone to Hufflepuff. Oscar and Haylee were in different houses as well. The only person he had was silent and mysterious Casey. Harry really did not want Casey to be his only possible ally in a dormitory shared with Logan, who was trying to quietly befriend the other two boys, Lionel and Ian.

Had Harry torn his gaze from Ginny for just a second, he would have seen Ian roll his eyes at Logan and begin to ignore him as well, whereas Lionel looked rather unsure and didn't seem to want to risk talking.

'GRYFFINDOR!' The hat shouted after what felt like five minutes.

McGonagall gave the girl a smile when she lifted the hat so Ginny could hop down from the wooden stool. She soon carried the stool with the hat away, because the sorting was concluded now that all the first years had a house to call their own. Ginny hesitated at the Gryffindor table and looked over at Harry, who tried to appear supportive despite feeling terribly disappointed.

She sat down to join her cheering brothers, and Harry wondered what was going to happen next.

-- 

He didn't have long to wait, as the Great Hall quietened when Headmaster Dumbledore rose from his seat and walked to the front to greet them all with a warm welcome, as though their attentive faces was the greatest sight for him to see.

'Welcome!' Dumbledore said in a loud and clear voice. 'Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I'm sure you're all eager to start our excellent feast, so bear with me as I have a few announcements to make.'

Harry looked around to see if this was a normal thing to happen each year, and the barely-attentive expressions on the older Slytherin's faces indicated it was. Feeling calmer than he had since waking that morning, Harry turned back to Dumbledore and sighed.

The worse of it was over, he felt, and settled in his seat to listen to what the Hogwarts Headmaster had to tell them.

'Firstly, there are a few important changes to the staff this year.' Dumbledore said. 'Let us give a warm welcome to Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, who has agreed to fill the post as our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor.'

As Professor Lockhart stood and smiled cheerily at the students, Harry wasn't the only one to notice the loudest and most enthusiastic applause came from the majority of the female population. Even some of the female staff members were heartily clapping for Lockhart. Harry clapped casually, wondering if all new staff members were greeted with such eagerness, because if so then his parents would get a good cheer too, he reckoned.

'In one week's time, there will be two other staff members joining us.' Dumbledore continued, which made Harry immediately sit higher in his chair.

Logan looked suspiciously at him and then stared intently at the Headmaster.

'Hogwarts has two new posts available this year, which were filled for a very special circumstance, rather than a dire need.' Dumbledore said. 'Next week a Miss Erin Summers will be joining us as our assistant Caretaker, to give our Head Caretaker, Argus Filch, some extra support - it is quite a big job for just one person.'

Harry gasped at this, because his mother said she would be looking for a way to help out since she would be living for free at the castle, but he had no idea she'd already have an actual job! He smiled and shifted in his seat, knowing his dad's announcement would be next.

'Additionally, Hogwarts will have its very first exceptionally employed tutor.' Dumbledore said. 'He is fully certified and optional assistance to those who would like the extra study, and mandatory for anyone falling behind. Severus Snape is a former Hogwarts student himself, so rest assured that he will be very up-to-date on all matters necessary.'

'Snape?' Someone's voice was heard over the mass of students.

A few other murmurs followed, which had Harry shrinking towards his seat in effort to hide. No one was looking at him, other than a suspiciously curious Logan, but he felt like they were. He hadn't wanted to believe it, but Harry could see his father was right about not many people at Hogwarts liking him.

'Settle down!' Dumbledore said loudly, which worked rather effectively. 'Another announcement I wish to make is in regards to the way classes take place. For many years, houses have been paired for their lessons, such as Gryffindor might have Potions with Slytherin one day and then Herbology with Hufflepuff another. This is a long-standing tradition, however, after careful consideration, this will be no more.' He told them.

'Though each grade will still be split into two separate classes for their lessons, each part will contain students from all four houses rather than just two.'

More comments ensued, which Harry had tuned out of. He didn't care about the class mingling as it hardly effected him (he hadn't gone to any of his classes yet), and his mind returned to the subject of his parents and their jobs at Hogwarts.

It was only when a huge array of delicious food appeared on the table in front of him did Harry return to the moment and allow himself to be distracted from his thoughts. He stared at the food and reached for his fork. Looking to the others around him, Harry noticed a lot of the Slytherins weren't very surprised or reactive to the food appearing other than looking hungry. Casey was one of the few of all the first years even who had his eyes wide and jaw agape.

Curious, Harry looked at the other tables behind him (hoping to see Jack or Ginny as well), and though he couldn't see anyone he recognised in the flurry of activity, he saw that most of the other first years and some younger years were delighted by the sudden magical appearance of their dinner.

Harry returned to his own plate, serving himself a bit of everything he could reach, apart from the peas. It wasn't that he didn't like his vegetables, it was more the fact that peas made him think of all the meals he shared with Jack in the past month and over the years. They always ended up flicking them at each other or tried to sneak them to Frogabook because the frog seemed obsessed with the little round vegetable and always snatched a pea with his tongue like he caught bugs.

He felt a bit ashamed to be missing his best friend already, even if Jack was just across the hall.

Harry reminded himself that it could have been much worse, if Jack had moved away with his parents and never gotten a Hogwarts letter as well. Feeling a bit better, Harry ate his chicken and thought about how more enjoyable the meal already was. It wasn't that the food was great, but rather his dad wasn't there making sure he ate a lot of vegetables and used good table manners, and his mum didn't keep sneaking more food onto his plate while he was distracted with conversation.

He loved his parents and enjoyed sharing any time he could with them, but Harry always liked the idea of a silent meal. Casey seemed to as well, because they were the only two first years who didn't say anything unless directly addressed with a question they wanted to answer. Most of the dinner chatter with his classmates involved Logan, two girls nearby, a pale second-year boy with slicked back blonde hair, and a momentarily shy Lionel. Ian had left his seat when the meal started, so Harry wasn't sure where at the table his new room-mate was.

Not that he really cared, as he ate his dinner and hoped no one would talk to him.

'Oi, Summers!' Logan spoke to him, which Harry tried to ignore. 'That new caretaker assistant, she has the same last name as you. Is she a relative?'

Nearby talking halted at those words as several more Slytherins turned to look over at Harry with interest. He blushed and looked down at his plate for a moment, feeling a bit embarrassed by the attention before he tried to brave an answer.

'Yeah,' said Harry. 'She's my mother.'

Whispers carried along the table and suddenly more people were turning to listen in. Logan, looking pleased to have generated such an interesting conversation, decided at add his own opinions about the matter.

'Is she that desperate for money?' Logan snorted.

Only a few joined in, but other than a girl with black hair, none of the first years seemed to think it was a very funny thing to say.

Neither did Harry, who had to hold back an angry glare.

'No.' Harry said adamantly with a frown on his face. 'My father, Severus Snape, will be the first official tutor at Hogwarts. Because my mother is going to be living here as well, she decided to help out to keep herself busy.' He had little idea if any of what he said was true, but he was too annoyed by Logan's words and the dislike shown towards his dad from the other houses to not defend his parents with anything he could.

'Your dad is Severus Snape?' A sixth year boy gasped. 'No bloody way! Prove it.'

'Yeah, as if.' Said a girl from fourth year. 'And why is he tutoring, anyway? Why not something more important?'

Harry hesitated with the chatter that followed, and clenched his fists over his lap once he had dropped his hands, not feeling as hungry as he once did. He ducked his head for a moment and tried to ignore what they were saying, but he couldn't. Harry refused to let anyone talk badly about his parents, and he did not want anyone not liking his dad for anything.

Not caring what was lie and what was truth, Harry once again defended them, even raising his voice to be heard.

'If you don't believe me, then you can ask him yourself when he gets here.' Harry had a theory that they wouldn't want to do that, and their pale faces proved him right. 'He's a tutor because all the Professor positions are taken. Besides, tutoring is important, I reckon. I mean, he only has to teach those who want to learn from him, and he told me he never really fancied being a professor anyway. Imagine how great we could all become with his help!'

Harry could tell he hadn't convinced many of his words, but at least they stopped saying things about his parents and returned to their conversations.

Logan gave him a glare, probably for bringing the topic to a halt, and turned to talk with Lionel again. Harry finished his dinner and turned around in his seat to watch the other houses. He did not feel like facing his housemates at the moment, and only answered questions if Casey was the one to ask them.

--

Dinner soon ended and dessert appeared, which Harry took great interest in and yet ate very little of.

When Dumbledore stood again and the plates were sparkling clean once more, Harry turned towards the headmaster and listened to the cautions about magic in the corridors, staying out of the forbidden forest, and a reminder that the Head of Houses will be stopping by the common rooms just before breakfast for a brief introductive meeting with the first years.

After he bid them good night, Harry rose with the rest of his Slytherin classmates to follow a dark-skinned prefect out of the Great Hall.

He lead them to the dungeons, which Harry thought were really cold and a bit spooky-looking. He glanced at Casey and changed his mind about not preferring his company as much as he'd thought before, because the blonde-haired boy seemed to react to things in similar ways Harry did.

As the prefect explained some tips on finding the Slytherin common room, he said the password to the wall and led them inside. Harry was glad it was a bit warmer inside the Slytherin common room and could not believe how big it was. Some of the older students were already there, lounging on sofas by the fireplace or whispering in small grounds around the corners.

'As you can see, this is the Slytherin Common Room.' Said the prefect. 'The girls dormitories are on the left, over there.' He pointed across the room. 'The boys are on the right. All of your belongings are already waiting for you inside. Remember that here in Slytherin we do not turn on each other in any situation. If there's someone in Slytherin you don't like, then avoid them. Regardless, you must at least be civil to every person in your dorm. We don't want to have to call Professor Slughorn because you've given someone a black eye or shredded their pillow.'

As he spoke, Harry and Logan turned to stare at each other.

They were both thinking of ways to avoid each other or else evade getting caught if they ended up in a scuffle. Harry didn't know who Professor Slughorn was or why he would be called if something seemingly minor like that happened, but Harry did not want to be the one who was put in that sort of situation.

The prefect walked away and Harry joined Casey in going to find their dormitory. As they were about to step inside, Logan shoved between them and strode passed. Harry and Casey glared at him and went to choose a bed each on the right side of the room. Harry had the one closest to the wall and door, while Casey was beside him. It went around the room with the door at the start and the bathroom at the end: Harry, Casey, Lionel, Logan, and Ian.

'Frogabook!' Harry grinned, his mood lifting dramatically, as he saw his frog sitting impatiently in his cage. He checked the dormitory door was shut and opened the cage, letting his frog enjoy its freedom.

'That is one big frog.' Casey commented while Logan and Lionel stared at it. 'Where did you get it?'

'Er, it's hard to explain.' Harry said and picked his frog up, carrying Frogabook to the bed.

He was glad no one commented on the name either, though Logan was sniggering into the back of his hand. He wondered if anyone else had pets, and saw both Ian and Logan had an owl, which fluttered to rest on the top of their bedposts. Lionel had a fluffy white cat, which instantly curled up on his pillow despite its owner's protests.

The five boys barely said another word to each other as they took turns in the shower and headed to bed.

Harry lay in his pajamas, staring upwards at his green curtains (which he had closed for privacy), and tried not to cry. He was glad the sorting was over and felt proud to be in his father's house, but he missed them. He missed Jack, and he missed his parents.

His mum wasn't there to tuck him in and whisper nice things to him.

His dad wasn't just down the hall if he woke from a nightmare or wanted reassurance that he was safe.

Harry rolled onto his side, and snuggled his previous;y sleeping frog close. A single tear trickled onto his pillow as the emerald-eyed Slytherin tried to fall asleep. And moments before he fell into a deep slumber about cars, trains, and boats, something he had recently heard drifted through his mind:

Never forget who you are.