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Chapter Text

~o~

Harry stood between platform 9 and 10, confusion visible on his face. Hagrid must have forgotten to tell him something you had to do, like tapping the third brick on the left to get into Diagon Alley. He wondered if he should get out his wand and start tapping the ticket box. (

At that moment, a young boy and his mother walked passed just behind him and he caught a few words of what they were saying.
“– packed with No-mages, of course –”

Harry swung round. The speaker was a tall slim woman with wavy brown hair tied in a french braid that reached a few inches over her shoulders. She was talking to a younger boy, around Harry's age, with jet black hair and vibrant sea-green eyes, who was pushing a trolley like Harry's in front of him, with a black cat sitting on his trunk.

Heart hammering, Harry pushed his trolley after them. They stopped and so did he, just near enough to hear what they were saying.

“So what do we have to do to get to the platform?” the boy asked, impatience clearly heard in his voice.

‘Excuse me,’ Harry said nervously to the older one of the two . ‘Oh! Hello dear. How can I help you?” she replied.

“Well, the thing is I don’t know how to get to platform nine and three quarters….” Harry said. He briefly wondered if they would simply laugh him off and tell him he was crazy.

All doubt suddenly disappeared when the boy spoke up. “You're going to Hogwarts too?” he asked excitedly “I’m Perseus Jackson! But you can call me Percy”. He held out his hand which Harry hesitantly took. “I’m H-Harry, Harry Potter”

Harry expected him to ask about his scar, or what he remembered from the attack, or even squeal in excitement and demand to be friends or something.

What he didn’t expect was for Percy to smile politely at him and say “well that’ll do! Wanna be friends? You look like you really need one.”

“Well boys, I’d hate to break this adorable scene but the trains gonna leave in a few minutes and we need to get you two to the platform fast” Mrs. Jackson said, breaking the two boys from their conversation “Now, to get to the platform all you need to do is walk into the wall between platforms nine and ten, and from the side with platform nine written on it!”

“Um- Ok?” Harry said. He pushed his trolley around and stared at the very solid looking wall. “If it helps, then just push against the barrier and walk in with your eyes closed” Percy said, walking through the wall, Percy and vanishing through it. Next it was Harry’s turn. Closing his eyes he walked slowly towards the wall, ready to hit a wall. But it didn’t come. Instead, he kept on walking and opened his eyes….

His gaze fell on A scarlet steam engine waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said 'Hogwarts Express, 11 o’clock'. Harry looked behind him and saw an iron archway where the ticket box had been, with the words Platform Nine and Three-Quarters written in fancy letters on it.

Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd, while cats of every colour wound here and there between their legs. Owls hooted to each other in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and the scraping of heavy trunks. The first few carriages were already packed with students, some hanging out of the window to talk to their families, some fighting over seats. Harry pushed his trolley off down the platform in search of an empty seat. He passed a round-faced boy who was saying, ‘Gran, I’ve lost my toad again.’
‘Oh, Neville,’ he heard the old woman sigh, clearly displeased by the statement.

As he marveled the look of the platform, Percy walked up to him with his mother and trunk. “Come, lets go find an empty compartment to sit in.” He said, waving back to his mother as he came up to the door to a decently empty carriage. He put Hedwig inside first and then started to shove and heave his trunk towards the train door. He tried to lift it up the steps but could hardly raise one end and twice he dropped it painfully on his foot.
“Need some help?” Percy asked, taking out his wand. At Harry's nod of approval, Percy tapped the top of the trunk with his wand as it suddenly became easier to lift. At Harry's shocked and curious gase, Percy laughed, pulling his and then Harry’s trunk on the carriage, explaining it was an anti-gravity charm his mother taught him and promised to teach Harry when they got on the train.

As they settled into the compartment, Percy muttered a notice-me-not charms on the door. Not soon after, The Hogwarts express moved out of the platform and soon enough, ings cross was nothing but a dot in the bustling city of london.

“So! I bet you're quite new to the wizarding world right? Well, if you have any questions, you can ask me! Just, don’t make them too hard, I’m still kinda new to everything as well”

Harry skimmed through the blizzard of questions in his mind and finally decided on one. “I’ve heard of some of the houses at Hogwarts called Slytherin and Gryffindor. And this man named Albus Dumble-something. Mind explaining some of them?” Harry asked. He wanted to look at them from multiple points of view.

“How about we start with the houses?” Percy said. “Hogwarts has four houses in it , called Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Gryffindor and Slytherin. You get sorted into your house by a magic hat which can talk- questions later, let me explain. Where was I? Oh yeah! Um, each house has different traits assigned to it. Gryffindor represents the brave and bold, while Ravenclaw prefers people with a smart mind. My mother was a Ravenclaw.” Percy replied proudly “Anyways, there’s also Slytherin for the cunning and hufflepuff for the loyal. I honestly like hufflepuffs. My mother said they’d help you with anything and are fiercely loyal. Though I’m shooting for Slytherin, so that I can bring back honor to a previously ridiculed house. Which house would you want to go to?”

Harry honestly didn’t know. Percy’s explanation was way different then Hagrid’s who had openly put Gryffindor in the spotlight while criticizing the rest of the houses in one way or the other.

“Well, I guess I don’t know… But I hope we’re in the same house!” he replied instead. “Me too!” Retorted Percy.

The conversation soon moved to quidditch and other school matters as an undying bond formed between them, two strings the fates could never weave apart.

Beware the obsidian duo, for the two would take the world by storm.

~o~

Chapter Text

Percy and Harry had just finished changing into their school robes when a voice echoed through the train: “We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes’ time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately.”

“Well, guess we’re almost there.” Harry said “I wonder if Hogwarts looks as great as your mother said it would.”

“Oh I’m sure! Mother showed me a few pictures of her time at hogwarts. She said she knew your mom.” Percy replied, petting Calypso -his cat- on the head. The feline in question was a pure black cat with bright teal eyes that stood out against her silky fur. On her neck was a silver collar with ocean-like waves carved into it and a tag with Calypso written on it.

“Oh, really?” Harry wondered if she would tell him about his mother and maybe even his father. “I know what you're thinking, Harry, and yes, if you come over to my place, maybe my mother could tell you all about your parents, even trade a few pictures if you’d like.” Percy remarked.

Harry smiled happily at the revilation.

The train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way towards the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. Harry shivered in the cold night air. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the students and Harry heard a familiar voice:

“First’-years! First'-years over here! All right there, Harry?” Hagrid’s big hairy face beamed over the sea of heads. ‘C’mon, follow me – any more first'-years? Mind your step, now! Firs’-years follow me!”

Slipping and stumbling, they all followed Hagrid down what seemed to be a steep, narrow path. It was so dark on either side that Harry thought there must be a forest. Nobody spoke much. Neville, the boy who kept losing his toad, sniffed once or twice. “Yeh’ll get yer firs’ sight o’ Hogwarts in a sec,” Hagrid called over his shoulder, “jus’ round this bend here.”

Shouts of amazement were heard as the narrow path had opened suddenly on to a small wooden port at the edge of a huge black lake. And perched on top of a mountain on the other side was a magnificent castle, it’s windows sparkling with the light of the starry sky above.

No more’n four to a boat!’ Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Harry and Percy climbed into a boat with two other boys who introduced themselves as Blaise Zabini and Theadore Nott.

‘Everyone in?’ shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. At the shouts of approval he turned back around, ‘Right then – FORWARD!’ And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the vast lake. Along the ride, students stared at the castle or the water under their boat, while others struck up small conversations with the other people in their boat. Percy stared into the water, occasionally putting his hand in it and pulling it out as a fish leapt out of the water near them, while Harry talked nervously with Theo and Blaise. The latter seemed to really like fish.

‘Heads down!’ yelled Hagrid as the first boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the little boats carried them through a curtain of ivy which hid a wide opening in the cliff face. They were carried along a dark tunnel, which seemed to be taking them right underneath the castle, until they reached a kind of underground harbour, where they clambered out of the boats onto the rocks and pebbles on the shore.

“Oy, you there! Is this your toad?” said Hagrid, who was checking the boats as people climbed out of them. “Trevor!” cried Neville blissfully, holding out his hands.

After the small commotion, they clambered up a passageway in the cove and came out at last on to smooth, damp grass. They then walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around a huge, oak front door. “Everyone here? All right’.” Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door.

The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there. She had a very stern face That made Harry think that this was not someone you wanted to cross. ‘The firs’-years, Professor McGonagall,’ said Hagrid. ‘Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here.’

She pulled the door wide as the the duo and the rest of the first years walked into the entrance hall.

To say it was huge would be an understatement. The stone walls were littered with flaming torches, just like the ones at Gringotts and and in front of them was a beautiful marble staircase that led to the higher floors above.

As they followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor, Harry could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right – the rest of the school must already be here – but Professor McGonagall showed the first-years into a small empty chamber off the hall. The first years crowded in , peering about nervously.

“Welcome to Hogwarts,” said Professor McGonagall. “The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room. ‘The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.

“The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting.”

‘I shall return when we are ready for you,’ said Professor McGonagall. ‘Please wait quietly.’ With that done, she left the chamber. Harry swallowed.

“How exactly do they sort us into houses?” someone asked the redhead standing next to him. “Some sort of test, I think. Fred said it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking.”

He looked around anxiously and saw that everyone else looked quite terrified . No one was talking much except A bushy haired girl, who was whispering very fast about all the spells she’d learnt and wondering which one she’d need. Harry could pretty much tell what they were thinking, That Professor McGonagall would come back and lead them to their supposid doom.

“Should we tell them?” Harry whispered to Percy, who in turn smirked mischievously and replied “Nah, I would like to see their faces when they realise their worry was for nothing.”

“Is it true?” a boy with blonde hair said to Harry. The same boy he’d seen in Diagon Alley “They were saying all down the train that Harry Potter’s finally come to hogwarts. So it’s you, is it?”

‘Yes,’ said Harry. He was looking at the other boys. Both of them were thickset and looked extremely mean.

‘Oh, this is Crabbe and this is Goyle,’ said the pale boy carelessly, noticing where Harry was looking. ‘And my name’s Malfoy, Draco Malfoy.’. Draco then turned to Percy. “And who may you be?” Percy smiled at him “ Perseus Jackson, nice to meet you!”

Suddenly, The redhead who’d spoken up about the troll turned towards Harry and pushing Percy out of the way. “Blimley, It really is you! I’m-”

“I would kindly recommend you apologize to my friend.” Harry said coolly, sending an apologetic look towards Percy, who just looked mildly offended at being pushed around like a doll.
“What! But-”

Before he could continue something happened which made him and Percy jump about a foot in the air – several people behind him screamed.

“What the –?”
The duo gasped, and so did the people around him. About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to each other and hardly glancing at the first-years. They seemed to be arguing.

What looked like a fat little monk was saying, ‘Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance –’
“My dear Friar, haven’t we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he’s not really even a ghost – I say, what are you all doing here?’

A ghost wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first-years.
Nobody answered.
“New students!’ said the Fat Friar, smiling around at them. “About to be sorted, I suppose?”
A few people nodded mutely.
‘Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!’ said the friar. “My old house, you know.”

“Move along now,” said a sharp voice. ‘The Sorting Ceremony’s about to start.”
Professor McGonagall had returned.
One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall.
“Now, form a line,” Professor McGonagall told the first-years, “and follow me.” Feeling oddly exhausted, Harry got into line behind a boy with sandy hair, with Percy behind him, and they walked out of the chamber, back across the hall and through a pair of double doors, into the Great Hall.

Harry had never even imagined such a strange and splendid place. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles which were floating in mid-air over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the Hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting.

Professor McGonagall led the first-years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver.

Mainly to avoid all the staring eyes, Harry looked upwards and saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. He heard Hermione whisper, ‘It’s bewitched to look like the sky outside, I read about it in Hogwarts: A History.’ It was hard to believe there was a ceiling there at all, and that the Great Hall didn’t simply open on to the heavens.

Harry quickly looked down again as Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first-years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard’s hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. Aunt Petunia wouldn’t have let it in the house. Noticing that everyone in the Hall was now staring at the hat, he stared at it too.

For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth – and the hat began to sing of all things great-

“Oh, you may not think I’m pretty,
But don’t judge on what you see,
I’ll eat myself if you can find A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I’m the Hogwarts Sorting Hat And I can cap them all.
There’s nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can’t see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you’ve a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You’ll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don’t be afraid!
And don’t get in a flap!
You’re in safe hands
(though I have none)
For I’m a Thinking Cap!”

The whole Hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.

‘So we’ve just got to try on the hat!’ Ron whispered to Harry. ‘I’ll kill Fred, he was going on about wrestling a troll.’

Harry smiled weakly. Yes, Harry agreed, trying on the hat was a lot better than having to do a spell, but he did wish they could have tried it on without everyone watching. Now, If only the hat had mentioned a house for people who felt a bit queasy, that would have been the one for him.

Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment. ‘When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted,’ she said.
‘Abbott, Hannah!’

A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. A moment’s pause –
‘HUFFLEPUFF!’ shouted the hat.

The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. Harry saw the ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at her.

‘Bones, Susan!’
‘HUFFLEPUFF!’ shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah.

‘Boot, Terry!’
‘RAVENCLAW!’
The table second from the left clapped this time; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them.

‘Brocklehurst, Mandy’ went to Ravenclaw too, but ‘Brown, Lavender’ became the first new Gryffindor and the table on the far left exploded with cheers; Harry could see Ron’s twin brothers catcalling.

‘Bulstrode, Millicent’ then became a Slytherin. He was starting to feel definitely sick now.
He remembered being picked for teams during sports lessons at his old school. He had always been last to be chosen, not because he was no good, but because no one wanted Dudley to think they liked him.
‘Finch-Fletchley, Justin!’
‘HUFFLEPUFF!’
Sometimes, Harry noticed, the hat shouted out the house at once, but at others it took a little while to decide.
‘Finnigan, Seamus’, the sandy-haired boy next to Harry in the line, sat on the stool for almost a whole minute before the hat declared him a Gryffindor.
‘Granger, Hermione!’
Hermione almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head.

‘GRYFFINDOR!’ shouted the hat.
Ron groaned.

A horrible thought struck Harry, as horrible thoughts always do when you’re very nervous. What if he wasn’t chosen at all? What if he just sat there with the hat over his eyes for ages, until Professor McGonagall jerked it off his head and said there had obviously been a mistake and he’d better get back on the train?

When Neville Longbottom, the boy who kept losing his toad, was called, he fell over on his way to the stool. The hat took a long time to decide with Neville.

When it finally shouted ‘GRYFFINDOR’, Neville ran off still wearing it, and had to jog back amid gales of laughter to give it to

‘MacDougal, Morag’.

Malfoy swaggered forward when his name was called and got his wish at once: the hat had barely touched his head when it screamed, ‘SLYTHERIN!’ Malfoy went to join his friends Crabbe and Goyle, looking pleased with himself.

There weren’t many people left now. ‘Moon’ … ‘Nott’ … ‘Parkinson’ … then a pair of twin girls, ‘Patil’ and ‘Patil’ … then ‘Perks, SallyAnne’ … and then, at last –

‘Potter, Harry!’

Chapter Text

~o~

‘Potter, Harry!’
As Harry stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall.
‘Potter, did she say?’
‘The Harry Potter?’
The last thing Harry saw before the hat dropped over his eyes was the Hall full of people craning to get a good look at him.

He waited. ‘Hmm,’ said a small voice in his ear. ‘Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind, either. There’s talent, oh my goodness, yes – and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that’s interesting … So where shall I put you?’

Harry gripped the edges of the stool out of sheer nerves. ‘You could be great, it’s all here in your head, but your future shows bravery and honor, and your reckless nature to put your life on the line for others sets you apart from the rest. Well, I expect great things from you hier potter, for you most certainly belong in’ “GRYFFINDOR”

Harry heard the hat shout the last word to the whole Hall. He took off the hat and walked nervously towards the Gryffindor table. He was so relieved about finally being sorted that he hardly noticed that he was getting the loudest cheer yet. Another redhead boy got up and shook his hand vigorously, while the two redhead twins yelled, ‘We got Potter! We got Potter!’. They must have been brothers.

Harry sat down opposite the ghost in the ruff he’d seen earlier. The ghost patted his arm, giving Harry the sudden, horrible feeling he’d just plunged it into a bucket of ice-cold water. And now there were only four people left to be sorted.

“Tenebris Perseus!”

The hall grew silent as Percy nervously walked towards the chair and sat on it. Harry silently wondered why Professor McGonagall called out his last name as ‘Tenebris’ and decided to ask him later.

After what seemed like forever, the hat finally shouted out it’s answer.
“SLYTHERIN!”

Harry watched the table to the other side of the hall exploded in cheers as percy stumped towards them, obviously fazed as another perfect welcomed him to the house of snakes.He was slightly sad that they weren't in the same house and hoped that they would still be friends, even after they had been sorted into different houses.

The sorting continued on, with ‘Turpin, Lisa’ becoming a Ravenclaw and the annoying redhead from earlier -Ronald Weasley- in Gryffindor. Harry barely suppressed a groan when he sat right next to him.

‘Well done, Ron, excellent,’ said his brother, who had introduced himself to Harry as Percy Weasley, as ‘Zabini, Blaise’ was made a Slytherin.
Professor McGonagall then rolled up her scroll and took the Sorting Hat away.

Harry then decided to look up at the high table. At the end nearest him sat Hagrid, who caught his eye and gave him the thumbs-up. Harry grinned back. And there, in the centre of the High Table, in a large gold chair, sat Albus Dumbledore. Harry recognised him at once from a card he’d got out of the Chocolate Frog on the train. Dumbledore’s silver hair was the only thing in the whole Hall that shone as brightly as the ghosts. Harry spotted Professor Quirrell, too, the nervous young man from the Leaky Cauldron. He was looking very peculiar in a large purple turban.

Albus Dumbledore had got to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there. ‘Welcome!’ he said. ‘Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
‘Thank you!’
He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered. Harry didn’t know whether to laugh or not.
‘Is he – a bit mad?’ he asked Percy the perfect uncertainty. ‘Mad?’ said Percy airily, ‘He’s a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes. Potatoes, Harry?’

Harry’s mouth fell open. The dishes in front of him were now piled with food. He had never seen so many things he liked to eat on one table: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, chips, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup and, for some strange reason, mint humbugs.

The Dursleys had never exactly starved Harry, but they sometimes forgot to feed him and he was never allowed to eat as much as he liked. Dudley had always taken anything that Harry really wanted, even if it made him sick. Harry piled his plate with a bit of everything except the humbugs and began to eat. It was all delicious.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the hall, a certain Perseus Jackson -or should I say Tenebris- was striking up friendly conversations as he ate his pudding. Besides him, sat Draco Malfoy, who seemed like one of those spoiled playground bullies who picked on people for fun, but once you got to know him, was a whole new person. Across him sat Pansy Parkinson, who for unknown reasons, kept trying to talk with him about one thing or the other. No points to the person who guesses the gossip girl of the year. On his other side sat Blaise, who was a boy of few words, but a very observant person.Right now, he was talking to Theo about what subjects he was excited about.

“What do you think of Potter?” Draco asked suddenly, sartleing Percy a little. Parkinson, to no one’s surprise, spoke up first. “Bet he’s just another spoiled suck up brat who thinks he’s better than everyone just because he has a stupid scar on his face.”

“But did you see him walking up to the stool? He looked quite thin, do you think he’s abused? I hope not.” Blaise replied, a slight quiver in his voice.

“Blaise is right,” Percy spoke up, wanting to defend Harry’s cause “I met him on the muggle side of the wall. He didn’t even know how to get to the platform and was wearing clothes three times his size!”

“So what?” Draco said stubbornly. “ He could have been faking it for attention or something” “But he wasn’t!” Percy retorted “We were in the same compartment on the train and he kept flitching whenever I made a fast motion and apologised like crazy when he startled my cat, as if I’d murder him for the littlest of mistakes!” “Well whatever the case, by the end of the year he’d just be dumbledore’s perfect little golden boy”.

Percy highly doubted that.

Dinner was then replaced by pudding and Percy was convinced he’d set Draco off in some way as he kept talking about how Harry was just a spoiled little brat (as if he wasn’t one) that only wanted attention for the sake of it. At last, the puddings too disappeared and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The Hall fell silent.

‘Ahem – just a few more words now we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. ‘First-years should note that the forest in the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well.’
Dumbledore’s twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins. ‘I have also been asked by Mr Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. ‘Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.
‘And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death.’
Percy laughed, but he was one of the few who did.
“He’s not serious?” he muttered to Blaise.
“Honestly, looking at his face, I think he is.”
That really didn’t help Percy’s nerves.

‘And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!’ cried Dumbledore. Harry noticed that the other teachers’ smiles had become rather fixed. Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick as if he was trying to get a fly off the end and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself snake-like into words. “Everyone pick their favourite tune, and off we go!”

After the students and teachers (minus a few slytherins) had finally finished singing the (very weird) song, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand, and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest. “Ah, music,” he said, wiping his eyes. ‘A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!”

Soon, a pair of prefects led them to a door on the right side of the Entrance Hall Behind the door was a set of stone steps which descended deep into the dungeons. After walking for a few minutes, they stopped in front of a bare wall with nothing but two gloomy looking candles hooked on either side.

“Now listen carefully” said one of the perfects “This is the password to the Slytherin dorms and your only way to get in. It is changed every week so remember to check the board when it updates.”

He turned towards the wall and said “simul resurgemus”
‘Together we rise’ Percy translated mentaly, as a dark passage illuminated only by dim lights appeared before them and they walked inside.

Walking a short distance, the passageway finally opened into a magnificent room covered in green and silver. It was a low underground room with rough stone walls and ceiling, from which round, greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling under an elaborately carved mantelpiece ahead of them, and several Slytherins were silhouetted around it in carved chairs. On either side of the fireplace, two large windows revealed the insides of a huge water body which Percy suspected was the big lake they’d seen on the way.

“My name is Gemma Farley,” the female prefect said “and this is Marvin Isrial” said boy gave a nod at being recognised.”Welcome to Slytherin house. Israel here will be going over the rules with you”

“You have been sorted into Hogwarts' greatest and most reserved House. The next few years will not be easy. The rest of the school will mistrust you, accuse you, fear you as in the eyes of the world a Slytherin is always to blame. Therefore you must seek allies in your House. Only a fellow Slytherin knows what it is like to be judged harshly by their Hogwarts House. There is strength in numbers and you will stand a better chance of surviving, of thriving, if you do it together.”

“Now, whatever you do, do not get caught, no matter what you get up to. If you do get caught, however, whatever points you lose will be the least of your problems as detention with Professor Snape will also be in order. You are not allowed outside the common room after 8 and are expected to be back by then. The dorms are enchanted so that boys cannot get into the girls dorms and vice versa. If you have any problems with the dorms resembling gender and sexuality please report to the head of house, Professor Snape.”

He also told them which passage led to which dorms and pointed out the door to professor Snape’s office.

Finally, the students dispersed and went about their own separate ways. When they got to the dorms Percy was the last one in. There were round windows that showed an underwater view of the lake. Six four poster beds with green and silver beds lined the dark walls with small desks and wardrobes beside each, all of which were made of dark wood and

A door near the end seemed to lead to what Percy suspected was a bathroom. Percy’s trunk was in front of the first bed to the right. Percy sat down on his bed and processed what had happened since he waved goodbye to his mother on the platform.

He’d somehow befriended the Harry Potter, rode a train all the way from Kings Cross to Hogwarts (wherever on the face of earth it was), sat on a stool and had a talking hat that whispered into his ear and told him he was destined for ‘greatness’ of whatever and sorted him into slytherin. Then he ate dinner, sung a very queer song which was apperantly the hogwarts song, got led to his common room behind a wall of all things and developed a great fear and respect for his head of house before he even met him.

Yeah, what an eventful day.

“Tenebris,” Malfoy said as Percy turned to look at him.
“It’s Perseus, or Percy, however you’d like to call me. I really don’t like it when people use my last name for everything. It makes me feel like I’ve got myself in trouble.
“Well then,”Zabini started “you may call me Blaise”
“Theadore, But call me Theo please.” Theo called out as he came out of the bathroom.
“Vince.”
“Greg.”
Everyone looked expectantly at Malfoy as he hung up his robes grumbling about doing a house elf’s work. Feeling everyone's gaze on him, he finally gave in and grumbled a small “Draco” and plopped onto his bed, pulling the curtains around himself.

Percy decided to start unpacking as well and took out his robes, black leather bad and books, stashing them into his wardrobe one by one.

“After he was satisfied, he turned towards the bathroom door. “Hey, shouldn’t we have a schedule for using the bathroom?” Theo spoke up. “Way to state the obvious Theo” Draco grumbled, shooting a glare at said boy.

Oh yeah, we'll sort it out tomorrow when we get back to the dorms.” Percy called back as he entered the bathroom with blaise. “right now, I just want to put on my PJs and hit the hay.”

Hearing the phrase, Draco stared at the bathroom door in confusion before deciding it wasn’t worth the hussle.

Once Percy brushed his teeth, put on his pajamas and came out o the bathroom he made a be-line for his bed, making sure Calypso was there and drew the curtains around him falling fast asleep, just as a certain Messy haired gryffindor did the same up in the safety of his dorms, both excited for the day to come.

~o~

Chapter Text

‘There, look.’
‘Where?’
‘Next to that muggleborn kid.’
‘Wearing glasses?’
‘Did you see his face?’
‘Did you see his scar?’
Whispers followed Harry wherever he went from the minute he stepped out of his dormitory the next day. People kept staring at him and whispering to their friends until they realised he saw them and scurried away.

Though, if Harry was being honest, the whispers were probably the worst part. it seemed, at times, hogwarts was alive; arrive at the dining hall in time just by walking straight and keeping his mind clear (he’ll have to thank percy for that tip)!

After breakfast he had History with Professor Binns, the only teacher at Hogwarts who was a ghost. Harry barely managed to stay awake the entire lesson, much less take notes (he’ll probably form a study group for the subject).

Transfiguration with the ravenclaws was pretty normal compared to everything, except the fact that the strangely familiar cat on the desk was actually your head of house; that was one hell of a surprise for everyone (ravenclaws included).

It was lucky that Harry had tea with Hagrid to look forward to, because the Potions lesson turned out to be the worst thing that had happened to him so far. The only up-side being that he had been prepared (thanks to Percy, who insisted on catching him up with all the basics on the train).

Potions lessons took place down in one of the dungeons. It was colder here than up in the main castle and would have been quite creepy enough without the pickled animals floating in glass jars all around the walls.

Snape, like Flitwick, started the class by taking the register, and like Flitwick, he paused at Harry’s name. "Ah, yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new—celebrity."

Harry's first reaction was bewilderment, but when Draco Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle sniggered behind their hands he began to fume in silence. The only reason he was famous was because his parents were dead and he was alive. Harry was certain now that he hadn't been mistaken about the evil looking glare that Professor Snape had given him during the start-of-term feast, but at least Snape wasn't making his scar hurt this time. He scowled at the horrid Potions Master who was continuing the roll call.

Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class. His eyes were black and glittering, like obsidian, and cold and empty like a bottomless pit.

‘You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making,’ he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word – like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. ‘As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don’t expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses … I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death – if you aren’t as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach.’ More silence followed this little speech. Harry and Ron exchanged looks with raised eyebrows. Hermione Granger was on the edge of her seat and looked desperate to start proving that she wasn’t a dunderhead.

‘Potter!’ said Snape suddenly.

‘What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?’

Harry glanced at Percy, who was sitting next to him as he raised his hand eagerly, along with Hermione’s.
Harry tried to remember what the answer was, really, but he just couldn’t remember…

"The Draught of Living Death: a sleeping potion so powerful as to give the imbiber the appearance of a corpse," Harry answered, thanking his lucky stars that Percy had offered to help him with potions.

Snape's lips curled into a sneer.
"An answer copied almost word for word from One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi," he said dismissively. "Thought you'd show off a bit, did you? Well, let's see if the famous Harry Potter can give a repeat performance, or if it was just a fluke. … So, Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
Harry stared right back into Snape's stone-cold eyes, wondering why Snape was harassing him instead of giving Hermione a chance to answer the question when her hand twitched up, only to dejectedly lower it again. It was obvious Snape was trying to trip him up, asking a question about something in a completely different book, one which he’d borrowed from Percy.
"A bezoar comes from the stomach of a goat," said Harry through gritted teeth. "It's a good antidote for most poisons."
From across the room Ron gawked at Harry as if he were a three-headed cat; he was clearly surprised and not entirely comfortable with the fact that Harry actually knew stuff.
But Hermione actually looked impressed—Snape, not so much.
"Not so bright after all, are we, Potter?" Snape sneered nastily, peering down his hooked nose at Harry. "A six year old could have come up with that answer! … You neglected to mention that a bezoar is formed by excretions as a defence mechanism—a response to irritants in the stomach. The excretions coat the irritant, and layer upon layer of this coating is deposited until a bezoar is formed.
"Thought you wouldn't crack open The Organs and Excretions of Magical and Non-Magical Animals and Insects, and Their Uses in Potions before coming, eh, Potter? ... Tut, tut—fame clearly isn't everything."
Things didn't improve for the Gryffindors as the Potions lesson continued. Snape waved a wand at the blackboard and instructions appeared. Then he put everyone into pairs and set them to mixing up a "simple" potion to cure boils without a word about the theory, or explaining the procedure, or telling them how to go about it safely. Apparently Snape expected all the First Years to just know how to do it, as if they had all perfectly memorized their Potions Books .
Ron was subdued, still looking a bit unnerved, and he let Harry do most of the potion making, though he was perfectly willing to prepare the Potions ingredients as per Harry's instructions. He weighed dried nettles and crushed snake fangs while Harry focused intently on the cauldron.
Harry added the ingredients at just the right time, turned the temperature up and down at just the right time, and stirred the potion in the right direction for the precise number of times, and then reversed the direction of the stirring and exactingly counted out the number of stirs again. Every so often he would look up to make sure that Ron was preparing the potions ingredients correctly, and to see how the other students were getting on.
Hermione kept glancing over at Harry. He wasn't sure, as nobody had ever looked at him quite like that before, but if he had to guess, Hermione's expression seemed to be one of admiration.
Snape swept around the dungeon chamber in his long black cloak like a vampire, peering disdainfully down his hooked nose at the students and criticizing almost everyone except Malfoy, whom he seemed to like. He was just telling everyone to look at the perfect way Malfoy had stewed his horned slugs when clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing filled the dungeon.
Ron had somehow managed to melt Seamus's cauldron into a twisted blob, and their potion was seeping across the stone floor, burning holes in people's shoes. Within seconds, the whole class was standing on their stools while Ron, who had been drenched in the potion when the cauldron collapsed, moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs.
"Idiot boy!" snarled Snape, clearing the spilled potion away with one wave of his wand. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?"
Neville whimpered as boils started to pop up all over his nose.
"Take him up to the hospital wing," Snape spat at Seamus.
"You—Potter—why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look even better if he got it wrong, did you? That's ten points you've lost for Gryffindor!"
This was so unfair that Harry opened his mouth to argue, but Percy kicked him behind their cauldron.
"Don't push it," he muttered, " Snape can turn very nasty to gryffindors, but only cause of the house rivalry and the fact that he thinks your a bunch of dunderheads."
Harry raised his eyebrows at The raven haired boy.
"Really? I hadn't noticed," he said sarcastically.
"Well I don't see how he could get much worse," hissed Hermione Granger, who was close enough to have overheard. "Not unless Professor Dumbledore allows corporal punishment."

Harry gulped. Surely not! Nonetheless, he did his best to ignore Snape's sour looks throughout the rest of the lesson.
As they climbed the steps out of the dungeon an hour later, Harry's mind was racing and his spirits were low. He'd lost ten points for Gryffindor in his very first week—why did Snape hate him so much.
"Cheer up, Snape'll always taking points off Gryffindors, though I don’t know why he'd act so illogicaly… ” Wondered percy as he shouldered his Black leather bag “It’s fine really,” replied Harry as pushed open the door that led from the dungeons “I’ll just have to try not to anger him in any way.”

“That’s still not right” Hermione chirped in, much to the duo’s surprise. Interactions between Gryffindors and Slytherins were rare, especially if it was in a positive way. When Harry had told his dorm-mates about Percy, Ron started to rant on and on about how Percy was using him and how he was ‘just a slimy sneaky little snake’. Only Harry’s intense glare was enough to shut him up.
“While I’m still here,” Percy started “who was that owl you got from? If I remember correctly, You live with muggles who hate magic, so it can’t be them.”
“Really? Is that true?If so Why would Dumbledore send you to them?” Hermione wondered aloud to the two as they walked into the entrance hall from the dungeons.
“I don’t know… I might be able to ask him later if possible, though I don’t want to be a bother!”
Oh you're not a brother Harry!” Percy retorted “besides, I’ve got a few students from Slytherin and Ravenclaw who are interested in our study group…”
The conversation soon turned to the study group and how they would get everyone together; Ending with them splitting up in the entrance hall as Percy headed for the greenhouse ‘A’ for herbology and the two gryffindors making their way towards Muggle studies.
____________________________
At around five minutes to three The duo left the castle and made their way across the grounds towards Hagrid's hut.
When Harry knocked they heard a frantic scrabbling from inside and several booming barks. Then Hagrid’s voice rang out, saying, ‘Back, Fang – back.’
Hagrid’s big hairy face appeared in the crack as he pulled the door open. ‘Hang on,’ he said. ‘Back, Fang.’
He let them in, struggling to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boarhound. There was only one room inside. Hams and pheasants were hanging from the ceiling, a copper kettle was boiling on the open fire and in a corner stood a massive bed with a patchwork quilt over it.
‘Make yerselves at home,’ said Hagrid, letting go of Fang, who bounded straight at Percy and started licking his ears. Like Hagrid, Fang was clearly not as fierce as he looked.
``This is Perseus, or Percy for short” Harry told Hagrid, who was pouring boiling water into a large teapot and putting rock cakes on to a plate.
‘A Tenebris huh.’ said Hagrid, shooting a glance at percy’s face. ‘Sally’s kid righ’? One smart woman, that witch. Straight O’s in nearly everythin’!”
“I’ll be sure to tell her you said that!” Percy said, Plopping down next to Harry on the ginormous couch.
The rock cakes almost broke their teeth, so it came to no surprise to Harry when Percy furiously started to scribble down a proper muffin recipe, promising to give it to Hagrid by the end of the session, as Harry told Hagrid all about their first lessons.

Harry and Ron were delighted to hear Hagrid call Filch ‘that old git’.
‘An’ as fer that cat, Mrs Norris, I’d like ter introduce her to Fang some time. D’yeh know, every time I go up ter the school, she follows me everywhere? Can’t get rid of her – Filch puts her up to it.’ Harry told Hagrid about Snape’s lesson. Hagrid, like Ron, told Harry not to worry about it, that Snape liked hardly any of the students.

‘But he seemed to really hate me.’
‘Rubbish!’ said Hagrid. ‘Why should he?’
Yet Harry couldn’t help thinking that Hagrid didn’t quite meet his eyes when he said that. ‘How’s yer brother Charlie?’ Hagrid asked Ron. ‘I liked him a lot – great with animals.’ Harry wondered if Hagrid had changed the subject on purpose. While Ron told Hagrid all about Charlie’s work with dragons, Harry picked up a piece of paper that was lying on the table under the tea cosy. It was a cutting from the Daily Prophet:

GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST

Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of dark wizards or witches unknown. Gringotts’ goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied the same day. ‘But we’re not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out if you know what’s good for you,’ said a Gringotts spokes goblin this afternoon.

‘Hagrid!’ said Harry. ‘That Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday! It might’ve been happening while we were there!’ There was no doubt about it, Hagrid definitely didn’t meet Harry’s eyes this time. He grunted and offered him some more tea. Harry read the story again. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied earlier that same day. Hagrid had emptied vault seven hundred and thirteen, if you could call it emptying, taking out that grubby little package. Had that been what the thieves were looking for? As Harry and Percy walked back to the castle for dinner,Percy’s pocket a little lighter from the extra parchment he used to write a muffin recipe on, Harry thought that none of the lessons he’d had so far had given him as much to think about as tea with Hagrid. Had Hagrid collected that package just in time? Where was it now? And did Hagrid know something about Snape that he didn’t want to tell Harry?
In the future, a seventeen year old boy cursed himself for being so nosy and having so many questions. Sometimes the truth can be harsh, and most things are best left where they are; for ignorance... truly, is a bliss.

Chapter Text

~o~
As Percy got up the next day, he was truly excited to finally spend some time with Harry (though knowing the boy, he’ll probably have to spend some time helping him with his homework). As he got ready and walked out to the common room, he saw a new notice on the slytherin notice board. The common room was mostly empty, sans the few older years studying in the corner or talking in pairs. ‘Flying lessons?’ wondered percy nervously, as he looked up at the bold letters written on the parchment.

As you all should know by now, the equation is simple: Percy + air travel = Chaos. Something is bound to go wrong when you put the two things together, on a broom nonetheless! Percy pondered the possibility of asking Professor Snape if he could sit this class out- but immediately shook the thought out of his head. He’d rather face the possibility of falling from the sky than having to deal with the man (no one can really blame him though).

As he walked out into the great hall, he caught sight of Harry happily talking to Hermione, a recent addition to their little friend group. As the two locked eyes, they shared a silent word with each other to meet up near the great lake.

After having some tea, Percy made his way down to the grounds and sat under a tree near to the lake. Soon after, Harry and Hermione made their way towards him, with a book and a basket of cookies in hand.

Have you heard of the flying lessons Harry asked excitedly as he finished his cookie. “I have and I’m dreading it, ”Percy wined. “If I tried even getting five feet from a broom I’m pretty sure it’ll start attacking me” “I’m kind of nervous myself… I mean, This is a practical thing! You need to be naturally good on a broom to get it right! I read it in ‘Flying, a beginner’s guide’.” Hermione replied, fidgeting with the end of her magenta skirt.

“Well, I’m not sure how I’ll go but I’m pretty excited for the lessons if you ask me!” Harry said,eagerly, his eyes unfocussed, as if he were daydreaming about flying on a broom already.

“Well, at least you have some affinity on a broom, your father was a near professional level quidditch player after all!”
“really?” Harry looked up, excited and curious in his bright emerald green eyes.

“Well that’s what my mum told me, said he was brilliant on a broom, also said she wished he was that good on his feet. Called him a jerk a few times too, something about poor Sev, or whatever she called him. Must have been a friend of hers and your mum’s” Percy huffed as they got up and he transfigured the picnic blanket back into a pebble.

“Anywho, do any of you need help on your potion’s essay? I’ve got a few books you can reference on the uses to dragon blood….”

~o~
Thursday came as quickly as Harry was anticipating, having mentally crossing the days to the first flying lessons.
They chatted excitedly as he and the rest of the Gryffindores walked towards the fields, where a mop of black and green robes could already be seen.

At breakfast that morning, a barn owl brought Neville a small package from his grandmother. He opened it excitedly and showed them a glass ball the size of a large marble, which seemed to be full of white smoke.
“It’s a Remembrall!” he explained. ‘Gran knows I forget things – this tells you if there’s something you’ve forgotten to do. Look, you hold it tight like this and if it turns red – oh …’ His face fell, because the Remembrall had suddenly glowed a scarlet light, ‘… I’ve forgotten something …’
As Neville was trying to remember what he’d forgotten when Draco Malfoy, who was passing the Gryffindor table, snatched the Remembrall right out of his hand. “Hey give it back!” Harry shouted at malfoy as he examined the glowing orb. “Well, Potter I don’t think I will, finders keepers after all”

As Harry was about to retort, the orb suddenly flew out of Malfoy’s grasp and into the outstretched arm of a certain sea-green eyed boy. “Accio is quite a handy spell when dealing with people like you” Percy smirked as he handed the Remembrall back to a awe-stricken Neville, who in turn smiled at him gratefully.
~o~
The gryffindors chatted excitedly among themselves as they walked down to the quidditch pitch at three-thirty that afternoon.

The Slytherins were already there, and so were twenty broomsticks lying in neat lines on the ground. Harry had heard Fred and George Weasley complain about the school brooms, saying that some of them started to vibrate if you flew too high, or always flew slightly to the left.

Their teacher, Madam Hooch, arrived. She had short, grey hair and yellow eyes like a hawk. ‘Well, what are you all waiting for?’ she barked. ‘Everyone stand by a broomstick. Come on, hurry up.’ Harry glanced down at his broom. It was old and some of the twigs stuck out at odd angles. ‘Stick out your right hand over your broom,’ called Madam Hooch at the front, ‘and say, “Up!”’
‘UP!’ everyone shouted.

Harry’s broom jumped into his hand at once, but it was one of the few that did. Hermione Granger’s had simply rolled over on the ground, Neville’s hadn’t moved at all and Percy’s shot up with such force he had to take his hand back. Perhaps brooms, like horses, could tell when you were afraid, thought Harry; there was a quaver in Neville and Percy’s voices that said only too clearly that they wanted to keep their feet on the ground.
Madam Hooch then showed them how to mount their brooms without sliding off the end, and walked up and down the rows, correcting their grips. Harry and Percy were delighted when she told Malfoy he’d been doing it wrong for years.

“Now, when I blow my whistle, you kick off from the ground, hard,’ said Madam Hooch. ‘Keep your brooms steady, rise a few feet and then come straight back down by leaning forwards slightly. On my whistle – three – two – one!”
Before anyone could push off the ground, Percy’s broom gave a sudden jerk and started to lift up in the air unstably.
“Come back!” she shouted. “I can’t!” Percy screamed back, but he was already rising quite fast above the ground- twelve feet – twenty feet. Harry saw his scared white face look down at the ground falling away, saw him gasp, slip sideways off the broom and “Whaa!”
a thud and a nasty crack and Percy lay, face down, on the grass in a heap. His broomstick was still rising higher and higher and started to drift lazily towards the Forbidden Forest and out of sight. Madam Hooch was bending over the boy looking him over for injuries.
‘Broken ankle,’ Harry heard her mutter.
“Come on, boy – it’s all right, up you get hold onto me- there.” She turned to the rest of the class. “None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you’ll be out of Hogwarts before you can say ‘Quidditch!’. Come on, dear.”
Percy, his face filled with pain, hopping on one feet, hobbled off with Madam Hooch, who had her arm around him.

Harry would be lying if he didn’t say he wasn’t worried.

As the two moved out of site, Ron spoke up, “did you see his face? The slimy snake looked terrified! Surves the Death-Eater right!”
At the last comment Harry saw red. “You can’t call someone that just cause of their house!” Harry protested, strolling up to the arrogant redhead, much to everyone’s surprise.

”Why are you sticking up to him? You're a Gryffindor! You can’t really care about him?!”
“Just cause he’s from a different house, doesn't mean you can call him such things! Honestly, if you always act like this then you're no better than a playground bully!” Harry shouted once more at Weasley, barely containing his anger as his magic threatened to lash out.
The redhead in question turned a shade of red almost as red as his hair, but before he could retort, a voice called out behind them

“Weasley! What is the meaning of this?”bellowed an angry Professor Mcgonigal “Calling your fellow classmates such foul names? Fifteen points from Gryffindor!”

Shouts of protest were heard from the crowd of Gryffindors while the Slytherins tried to hide their snickers behind their robes.
Soon after, Madam Hooch came back from the hospital wing and dismissed them for the afternoon, as it was getting late. As soon as they got into the castle Harry and Hermione rushed as fast as they could to the hospital wing, asking directions from paintings and ghosts, who were more than happy to help.

When they got to the hospital wing they immediately hounded Percy asking if he was ok, much to the displeasure of madam poppy, who threatened to kick them out if they disterbed him more than necessary. After they calmed down, Harry told Percy all about how Ron called him a Death Eater and the aftermath of Prof. Mcgonagall heard them from her window and came down to check what was going on.

By the end of it, Percy told him not to go after Ron directly, and insead to tell his brother, the ‘other Percy’ as they called him, what he did. Harry snickered when Percy told him about how if he told the Prefect this afternoon, then to sit as far away from Weasley as possible during breakfast, as there would be a high chance he would be getting a very nasty howler.

Percy’s prediction came true as the screeching voice of Mrs. Weasley could be heard screaming about manners and disgrace all through the great hall the next morning, much to Harry, and quite a few other people's delight.
~o~

Chapter Text

“Why do you hang around the evil snake anyways?” Ron complained, swallowing his boiled potatoes gingerly, “I bet your parents are probably so disappointed in the fact that you stooped so low as to befriend a Slytherin. Honestly, he could just be using you for fame!”
They were having dinner in the great hall, and if looks could kill, Harry was pretty sure Ron would have been six feet under by the way Hermione kept glaring at him.

“To answer your statement, I hang around him cause he’s my friend” Harry retorted “And on the topic of my parents, I’ve never even met them so why should I care how they would feel?” He was really tempted to just hex the redhead at this point, but wisely decided to keep his cool.
Harry just really wanted to go back to the tower and crash near the firelace reading a book, but unfortunately, The Fates had other plans.

“Who do you think you are huh?” Started Malfoy, as he swaggered up to Weasley "Picking on one of our house mates?”

“Who cares? Your all just evil mini death eaters that’ll join you-know-who the minute he comes back!

Draco didn’t raise his wand, but the anger Harry could see in his glare betrayed his calm exterior. “ Well then, I guess a way to settle this would be a wizard’s duel, do you accept?”

“Of course I do,” said Ron, wheeling round. “Harry’s my second, who’s yours?”

Malfoy looked at Crabbe and Goyle, sizing them up. “Crabbe,” he said. “Midnight all right? We’ll meet you in the trophy room, that’s always unlocked.”

When Malfoy had gone, Ron and Harry looked at each other.‘What’s a wizard’s duel?’ said Harry. “And what in the world do you mean you’re my second?”

“Well, a second’s there to take over if you die,’ said Ron casually, getting started at last on his cold pie. Catching the look on Harry’s face, he added quickly, ‘but people only die in proper duels, you know, with real wizards. The most you and Malfoy’ll be able to do is send sparks at each other. Neither of you knows enough magic to do any real damage. I bet he expected you to refuse, anyway.”
“Mhm” Harry said as he got up from his seat “That’s good to know, cause I’m not going”

“Not going?!?” Ron looked at him like he’d grown a third arm. “That’s not a very Gryffindor thing to do!”

“Well then I’m not the Griffindor you think I am” Harry grumbled under his breath, as he walked towards the tower.

—-------------------------------------------
Percy watched the interaction from afar and silently thanked all the gods Harry declined Draco’s challenge. He of course knew about the blonde’s little scheme as he was talking (boasting) about his fool-proof to anyone who would care to hear.
—------------------------------------------

Perhaps it was because he was now so busy, while meeting up with Percy three evenings a week on top of all his homework, but Harry could hardly believe it when he realised that he’d already been at Hogwarts two months. The castle felt more like home than Privet Drive had ever done. His lessons, too, were becoming more and more interesting now that they had mastered the basics.

On Halloween morning, they awoke to the delicious smell of baking pumpkin wafting through the corridors. Even better, Professor Flitwick announced in Charms that he thought they were ready to start making objects fly, something they had all been dying to try since they’d seen him make Neville’s toad zoom around the classroom. Professor Flitwick put the class into pairs to practise.

Harry’s partner was Seamus Finnigan (which was a relief, because Neville had been trying to catch his eye). Ron, however, was to be working with Hermione Granger. It was hard to tell whether Ron or Hermione was angrier about this. She hadn’t spoken to either of them since the day Harry’s broomstick had arrived. “Now, don’t forget that nice wrist movement we’ve been practising!” squeaked Professor Flitwick, perched on top of his pile of books as usual. “Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words properly is very important!”

It was very difficult. Harry and Seamus swished and flicked, but the feather they were supposed to be sending skywards just lay on the desktop. Seamus got so impatient that he prodded it with his wand and set fire to it – Harry had to put it out with his hat. Weasley, at the next table, wasn’t really having much luck “Wingardium Leviosa!” he shouted, waving his long arms.

“You’re saying it wrong,’ Harry heard Hermione snap. ‘It’s Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the ‘gar’ nice and long.”
“You do it, then, if you’re so clever,” Ron snarled.

Hermione rolled up the sleeves of her gown, flicked her wand and said, “Wingardium Leviosa!” and Harry watched in awe as her feather rose off the desk and hovered about four feet above their heads.
‘Oh, well done!’ cried Professor Flitwick, clapping. “Everyone look here, Miss Granger’s done it!”
Ron was in a very bad temper by the end of the class.

“It’s no wonder no one can stand her,” he said to Harry, much to the latter’s dismay, as they pushed their way into the crowded corridor. “She’s a nightmare, honestly.”

Someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past him. It was Hermione. Harry caught a glimpse of her face – and was startled to see that she was in tears.

Harry Glared at Ron and hurried after hermione. He’d lost her a couple of times but in the end, he finally caught up.

“Don’t listen to him” Harry started “Infact, I’m more surprised he has any friends, considering his dirt of a personality.” Hermione gave him a grateful smile as she wiped her tears from her face, and they both headed to their next class
—-----------------------------------
Percy couldn’t find Harry anywhere. Sure, he might be with Hermione in the library finishing up homework, the problem- he wasn’t there.

After looking around for some time he finally gave up and started to look for hermione. He found her a few minutes later, also searching for the raven haired boy. Apparently, Malfoy, being the huge jerk he was, had picked up on the reason for Harry's sort of down mood and reminded him of the date, kindly informing him his parent’s death had happened on the same day. And of course, to rub salt in the wound, he’d insured them, calling them weak and pathetic, and taunting Harry with the fact he’d never have real parents to spend his life with for the rest of his life.

Percy vowed the next time he saw The blonde cockroach, he’d give him a good talk-down on manners and how to not be a pain in the but.

Soon, Both Hermione and Harry had to go to dinner, both coming to the conclusion that he’d most likely run off for some time to cry himself out and that he’d be back by dinner.

~o~
A thousand live bats fluttered from the walls and ceiling of the great hall, while a thousand more swooped over the tables in low black clouds, making the candles in the pumpkins stutter. The feast appeared suddenly on the golden plates, as it had at the start-of-term banquet. Children are chatting happily, while eating from their plates, oblivious of what was to come.
As it is, Harry was just helping himself to a jacket potato, when Professor Quirrell came sprinting into the Hall, with fear and terror on his face. Everyone stared as he reached Professor Dumbledore’s chair, slumped against the table and half-shouted, “Troll – in the dungeons! – thought you ought to know.” He then dramatically sank to the floor in a dead faint.

There was uproar. It took several purple firecrackers exploding from the end of Professor Dumbledore’s wand to bring silence. “Prefects,” he rumbled, “lead your houses back to the dormitories immediately!”

“OUR DORMITORY IS IN THE DUNGEONS YOU GOAT” Someone from the slytherin table shouted, causing more panic to go through the house of snakes.
Draco looked like he wanted nothing but to get ten miles away from the place, which was relatable, but shocking, cause he usually wanted a lot more things.

As Professor Snape went off to search for the troll, a horrible feeling dawned upon Percy; He hadn’t seen Harry anywhere, even at the Gryffindor table, even though he thought the raven haired boy would be there. A horrible thought came to Percy’s mind ‘What if he never came to the feast’ he thought, eyes widening ‘he might still be in the library, and not know about the troll!’

At that moment, Percy didn’t care if he got in trouble and lost house points or had to go to detentions for the rest of the year, all that mattered was Harry, and he’d be damned if something happened to the other boy.

Without thinking much, he slipped into a corridor next to the door to the dungeons, and slowly made his way towards the library.

As Percy reached the door to the corridor leading to his destination, he heard a scream coming from inside. Not wasting another minute, he pulled the door open and ran inside. Harry was shrinking against the wall opposite Percy, looking as if he was about to faint. The troll was advancing on him, knocking bookshelves down as it went.

He caught sight of Percy just as the boy ran through the door, his eyes widening in panic. The troll screamed and wailed as Percy took out his wand and sent a hex at it’s eye; giving Harry enough time to come out of his shock and sneak past it.

“Let's get out of here!” Harry whispered in a shaky tone. He looked as pale as the Bloody-Baron, the traces of fear still showing on his face as they hurried out of the corridor, a few seconds before the professors arrived from the other side.

Promising to meet up tomorrow, the two boys parted ways, both agreeing to not tell a soul about the incident that night, and keeping that promise for many years to come.

Chapter Text

~o~

As the residants of Hogwarts entered November, the weather turned very cold. The mountains around the school became icy grey and the lake like chilled steel. Every morning the ground was covered in frost. Hagrid could be seen from the upstairs windows, defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch pitch, bundled up in a long moleskin overcoat, rabbit-fur gloves and enormous beaver skin boots.

The Quidditch season had begun.

“I bet you 10 Galleons The slytherins are gonna win this round!” Percy started from his seat near the window, suddenly putting down his book. “Bet” replied Harry as he turned to stare at the sea-green haired boy “The Griffindors have a new seeker apparently, I’ve heard he’s pretty good on a broom” The duo were currently reading in the library, school books in hand, cuddled together in blankets near the fire-place.

“Don’t mean the Slytherins are to lack ya know. Marcus is a dam good keeper, there’s know way anyone can get past him!”

Well Wood’s just as good! I’ve heard one of the fifth years say he rode a broom upside-down to avoid a burglar!”
“No way!”
“Yes way!”
“whatever”

“Um… Tenebris?”
The two boys turned towards the sound to look at the new-comer. Neville had appeared from behind a bookshelf, a nervous look on his face.

“Yes?” Percy replied, a bright, welcoming smile on his face.

“Er…I need help… with my charms homework, and I heard from h-Hermione that you w-were starting an inter-house study group? A-and…um.. I’d like to j-join if you don’t mind?...” Neville stuttered, fidgeting with the ends of his shirt.
“I’d love to help! Though I’m probably not the best at charms…”

Neville joined the two raven haired boys, spreading out his supplies and books as the three sat together, enjoying the silence of the library and each other’s presence.

~o~

Slytherin had won the first match. Harry swore he was going to join the team next year and lead the gryffindors to victory. Percy has no doubt he will.

~o~

“Are you gonna stay here for Christmas?”Percy asked one day as they were walking outside in the Sunday morning snow.
“I think I will” Harry responded, his face darkening as he thought of the dursleys. “Well, I was wondering if you would like to come stay with me and mum this christmas.” Percy said, hopefully.

Harry stood there staring at Percy as if he was god. “I would love to!” He exclaimed finally, the thought of spending Christmas at Percy’s seemed like a dream to him. Hermione was leaving to meet her aunt for the occasion, and Ron would be the only Gryffindor boy staying back; and Harry doubted he would survive the holidays without punching him at least once.

~o~

The next day Harry sent Dumbledore a letter asking him if he could spend the winter break with Percy. Dumbledore wasn’t really in the position of saying no, after all, Mrs. Tenebris insisted.

~o~

It was the day before they were to leave for winter break and Harry, Hermione, as well as Percy, were walking down a corridor towards the grounds, where they were to meet up with a few people for a friendly little snowball fight. Suddenly, Hermione walked into someone, stumbling a little before she caught herself.

“Watch where you're going, mudblood!”

Percy looked up sharply to stare at the speaker- who was none other than Draco Malfoy himself.

“Maybe you should watch your mouth too.” Hermione said, surprising everyone. Percy held back a snort at that.

Draco huffed glaring at her “I don’t make a way for idiot mudbloods like you.”

Hermione smirked at him mischievously.
“Oh, but I do.” She replied, stepping aside to prove her point.

The two raven haired boys burst into laughter as a red-faced Malfoy shoved past them and stomped down the corridor muttering something about ‘telling his father about this’.

“Oh Percy!”Harry sighed dramatically through his giggles “You’ve infected her!”
The three first years laughed the rest of the way outside, eager to start the snowball fight of doom.

~o~

They were joined by a few other people, including Cedric Diggory, his girlfriend Cho Chang, Padma and Parvati Patil, the Weasley twins, as well as Blaise Zabini and Theadore Nott.
Theo and Blaise teamed up while Cedric and Cho decided to be in a team together with Hermione. The Weasley and Patil twins stuck to each other, leaving Percy and Harry together.

The teams had ten minutes to create a fort (read pile of snow) and afterwards they'd start the game.

Percy and Harry’s team won by the scratch, if Percy hadn’t controlled the snow to go around and hit the weasley twins at the start of the game then they would definitely be busted; Harry was pretty sure they had some really cool tricks up their sleeve, and really didn’t want to be on the receiving end of them.

~o~

The next day, the trio boarded the train, excitedly talking abut what they would do for the break. Neville joined them too, with a friend of his named Andrew Dare, a first-year muggle-born hufflepuff with a weird obsession with moving paintings. Apparently his cousin from the states is really good at drawings and he hoped that with magic he could find a way to animate them.

They played exploding snap for some time before they decided to do their own things for some time. Hermione, Neville and Andrew talked in hushed voices about muggle activities they did for christmas while Harry and Percy read a manga comic that Anndrew had snuck in about Heroes and Villains. I think it was called My Hero Academia?....

Eventually the announcement that they would reach king’s cross station came up and Hermione went to wake up The two raven haired boys, who had fallen asleep reading the comic, when Andrew stopped her.

“They look so cute!” He squealed quietly, while Naville looked at the two in amusement. “Leave them like this for a little longer!”

Suddenly, Neville accidentally stepped on Calypso's tail, causing her to shriek and climb onto Percy for safety, who woke up with a start, waking a flustered Harry in the process, while Hermione tried to calm everyone down. Andrew said it was the funniest scene he’d seen in his entire life.

~o~

Soon the Hogwarts Express wheeled into King’s cross; and as the group got off the train, they said their goodbyes and went off to search for their guardians.

Harry remembered when he first met Mrs. Tenebris, how she smiled at him, not in a strained, uncaring way like most adults before had done, but like he mattered in a way Harry had never felt in his life. She made Harry feel wanted, just like Percy did every time he hugged Harry randomly when hanging out with him; it made him feel loved.

“Mom!” Percy shouted suddenly, jolsting Harry from his thoughts “Over here!”
He looked towards the direction Percy was waving to see mrs. Tenbris talking to another woman. She was short, with hazel eyes and curly ginger hair.

Mrs. Tenbris looked towards them, and her expression brightened up considerably. “Percy!” She said bringing the boy into an embrace and kissed him on the cheek. “I missed you! How is hogwarts? Are you having a good year, who won the first quidditch match? Oh, and Harry, It’s so good to see you again.”
Harry straightened up at the attention as Mrs.Tenbris turned towards him, a wide smile on her face.
“Come on Harry” Percy said excitedly “I can’t wait to show you our home! Oh, mom, when are we leaving?”
“Hush now” She scolded playfully “We’re going home soon, but first, how about we get some dinner for you two? I know a friend who works at a diner near here, I’m sure they’ll give us a discount this time, especially since we’ve got a guest over!” Harry giggled as Mrs. Tenbris winked at them, leading them through the wall and out of the station.

Chapter Text

Sorry for the inconvenience but this fic will be on a temporary hiatus till my final exams are over, so I won't be available for the entirety of February. The next update will most likely come during the first week of March. Thank you for understanding. Also, don't worry, I'm not abandoning this fic UwU.

~Diana♡

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Dear readers
The chapters up till now will be rewritten over my spring break, until then there will be no new chapters coming out. This chapter will be deleted once I've finished rewriting the chapters.

Thank you for your patience
Diana

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I’ll Keep this short and simple. I can’t continue the fic.

I fell out of the fandom a few months ago and I can’t find it in myself to continue. School’s been weighing down on me and life demands me to come back into reality so I will be discontinuing this fic.

I am, however, not giving up on writing so you can see more from me in the future, but most likely not from this fandom.

The fic will also be up for adoption and you can use the idea, but please mention me in credits

Thank you for understanding and have a nice day.

-Diana