Edited On: 02/28/2020

Disclaimer: I do not own the underlined passages, it's from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. That being said, I do not own Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Italicized - Thoughts

Underlined - Quote from book

Harry's summer was rather simple, spend an hour every other day reading his new books (he did take small breaks at his dad's insistence) and then there were his normal chores (mostly concerning Spade and taking him flying and making sure his stable was clean).

Draco and his family never saw their house, but they did end up going to the aquarium one day where they got to see Percy lead a Dolphin show.

They were quite shocked, never really paying attention to Non-Magical animals much. So they all had a new experience and a blast at viewing all the animals at Percy's work (and weren't they surprised to learn that Percy was actually the boss of the establishment).

Draco loved the sharks and penguins, especially with Harry always talking about each animal's history with enthusiasm that is usually displayed by Percy when he sees a water animal.

His summer was filled with so much fun, he was startled to realize it was September First until his father was waking him up for their last breakfast before school started.

They arrived early at King's Cross and waited for the Malfoy family to meet them on the Muggle side to help them through (while they mentioned the invisible wall, they had no idea where it exactly was).

Barely waiting a minute, Lucius Malfoy was beside them and ushering them to this section of this wall where Percy and Harry were instructed to casually lean against it to not draw attention to themselves.

Following his advice, father and son acted casually and leaned into the wall to disappear into the other side.

In front of the Jackson family was a small scarlet steam engine that was almost empty except for a few people.

"Most people that arrive early here are Purebloods," Lucius told them as he started to lead them toward his wife and son who was eagerly waiting for his friend.

Draco seemed like he was just refraining from bouncing in his spot as he looked around, he spotted them very soon and grinned at Harry who easily returned it with just as much enthusiasm.

"Come on, I want you to meet some of my other friends," Draco told Harry and started to lead him to the other kids at the station that were quietly talking among one another.

"Daphne, Terry, Blaise, Crabbe, and Goyle, this is Heir Harry Potter. He'll join us in our compartment if that's fine with everyone."

Draco's friends look at one another and watched Daphne smile at Harry as she questions him, "What do you think about Dark and Light families?" she asked, wanting to see where his loyalties may lie.

Remembering what the Goblins told him, Harry replied, "There is no real such thing as Light and Dark Magic. Magic is Magic, it is all about intent. A ticking curse can easily feel like the Cruciatus Curse if held long enough. While the Killing Curse can be used to put someone out of their misery as it's intent when it was invented was for hospitals. It's like a sword, a sword can either be used to kill someone or be used to cut something like a rope. There are multiple purposes, but it's up to the user to work out what they wanna do with it."

The other children seemed shocked by his brief explanation of how light magic can be used with dark intent, and then how he explained the Killing Curse originated.

"Yeah, I think you can join us in our compartment," Blaise told his fellow year with a small smile.

Grinning, Harry told them to go on ahead while he saw goodbye to his dad. He got confused looks but Draco waved him off.

The small group watched Harry dart toward a man with black, untamed, almost wind-swept, hair who was talking to Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy.

They were a little surprised when their year-mate practically tackled the young man in a hug but were then surprised when the man returned the hug with little hesitation.

Percy, while hugging his son who he knew he wouldn't see till Christmas, he kissed the top of his head and then urged his son to go with his new friends.

While the two interacted, Lucius and Narcissa were smirking to one another, they've gotten used to the two and their interaction.

When they first started to publicly display the father-son affection, they were a little awkward. The only family that didn't have Muggleborn heritage to display such affections were the Weasley's, and most Purebloods don't quite talk to the group that much anyway. To see such a display among those they respected just as much as a Pureblood was a shock to their system, to say the least, but they adapted as Malfoys do.

They watched as Percy released the hug and then shooed his son back onto the train, after a certain distance away, Percy turned to talk to Lucius about plans that they are going to do with Draco away.

"We have a family friend coming over to stay with us. He was recently sick but is much better from a friend's help," Lucius started to explain, "Why? Did you have something planned?"

"Most of the stuff I want to introduce you to, I want to introduce Draco to it as well, but I thought you guys might like to view the aquarium again by yourselves. I can always give you back access too, where you can talk to the staff as well," Percy explained knowing how much Lucius was interested in becoming a sort of business-partner with Percy.

Percy himself was taking the offer slowly, their friendship still new and didn't fully trust him just yet. But he was getting there and perhaps one day he would accept Lucius help with the aquarium and possibly making more of the franchise or going into another business proposal.

"That would be lovely, Percy. We will see about taking up that offer soon," Narcissa told the young man that she loved to call a friend.

While he wasn't exactly a young boy, Narcissa saw him as a little brother, as he was still new to this world and was somehow raising a small child at his young age.

Looking at the time, Percy knew he had to go to work soon. Sighing, and wishing he could see the train off. Percy looked toward the windows, trying to spot his son.

It seemed Draco spotted Percy before any of the others and redirected Harry's attention to the window.

Spotting one another, Percy gave a small smile toward his son and gestured toward his watch. Harry understood instantly and started to wave to his father before hesitating, almost like he didn't quite know how to do it easily, hand movements that were in different shapes.

"I'll see you at Christmas, I love you," Harry's mind translated for him as signed to his father. Something he was still learning and hoping to perhaps apply in the future.

Waving back and signing I love you, Percy bid his goodbye to the Malfoy family, and started his way back to Muggle London, wishing his son farewell and to have fun at his school.

Harry turned back to his new group of friends (Well, Crabbe and Goyle kinda just sat there) after he saw his dad disappear back behind the wall.

"What was that about?" Draco asked as he got Exploding Snap ready to play.

"Dad was just saying that he had to go, so he wasn't late for his job. It was the last face-to-face farewell between us until Christmas," Harry explained while looking at the game curiously. "What are you playing?"

Draco paused before starting to explain the rules of the game, his fellow Pureblood friends helped him. He explained to them while Harry was hugging his dad earlier that their new friend was Muggle-Raised but had a rough understanding of the Wizarding World from an American Witch.

They took it in stride and talked to Harry about some of the customs and laws that were in the Magical World as other people started to trickle in.

They helped him with his trunk and then agreed that Eclipse can walk around and not be confined to his cage for the trip (which meant Draco could let Artemis out as well).

The two cats curled on their respective owners' lap and watched the doors to make sure their owner and friends were safe.

As the train started moving, around half past twelve there was a great clattering outside in the corridor and a smiling, dimpled woman slid back their door and said, "Anything off the carts, dears?" (- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Page 101)

Before Harry could say no thanks, Draco spoke up, "20 of everything please."

Draco then precariously dropped all the candy in the middle of the floor after he paid for them and threw one of each in Harry's hand.

"I already have a packed lunch," Harry tried to reason with Draco who seemed intent to have him try the candy.

"If you're going to be part of our world, you have to at least try each of the candies," Daphne explained as she unwrapped in a frog-shaped foil.

Harry was startled to see that as the last of the wrapping was off, the frog came alive and tried to jump out of Daphne's hand.

"Chocolate Frogs, one of the more common candies that kids eat," she explained as she handed Harry the frog careful that it didn't jump out of his hand.

"It's not a real frog, yeah?" Harry asked, looking a little sick if it was.

Terry, who was reading a book up until now, snorted and scolded him, "Of course not. We're wizards, not psychos. Who would want to eat frogs?" Sticking out his tongue in disgust, he went back to his book and ignored Goyle who was trying to get his attention away from said book.

"I mean, the French..." Blaise said with raised eyebrows toward Terry who pouted at the other boy.

"They make sure it's dead and then fry it though! I think, right..." he trailed off looking uncertain and slightly disgusted at the idea the French may not actually fry the frogs or perhaps actually kill them.

"I'm pretty sure they have to kill them to eat them," Daphne said with a 'you're being an absolute idiot' tone of voice.

Terry just huffed and went back to his book.

With that thought, Harry bit into the frog and found that it tasted surprisingly like common dairy milk in the English Muggle World but just a little different. It even had a hint of Hershey Chocolate if he had to guess (though, with him living in England, he rarely had Hershey as they seemed rather heavy in chocolate and only had some because they visited Hershey Park and Hershey World last year). Maybe it was because of the small wild magic that was connected to the frog, but it was delicious.

With that done, Harry took a look at Daphne who was examining a card that she then handed to the boy-who-lived. "Each Chocolate Frog comes with a card. Seems you got Dumbledore," she handed him the card with a scowl.

Reading the inscription of the card, Harry felt slightly confused as to why they seem to react negatively to his name. But as he got to the dark wizard part of Grindelwald, he thought that if the man he defeated was a dark lord. Then maybe he is seen as a light wizard. It was highly judgemental if Daphne was just judging him for being a 'light' wizard, but perhaps there was some sort of family history he didn't know about and therefore she actually has a reason to be angry at him. Harry decided to keep the comment about her being judgemental to himself.

While they never confirmed anything, Harry knew his friends and their families leaned more toward the 'Dark' magic then the 'light'. He had no problem with it, mostly because he read his school books already and knew that some 'light' spells can be used darkly in the right scenario.

Just as he was about to smoothly ask them why they disliked Dumbledore when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Daphne called out.

Opening the door, a nervous boy who looked like he was about to cry asked them, "Have you seen a toad at all?"

While Draco instantly saw that it was Neville Longbottom and was about to shoo him away, Harry stood up with a smile.

"Why don't we go look around, maybe find a prefect and see if they know any spells that might help the search?"

Before anyone could do anything, Harry and Eclipse (who was on Harry's shoulder, even if he was a kitten he loved the height) left with the boy to find his missing toad.

"Name's Harry Jackson-Potter," Harry introduced himself and shook the nervous boy's hand. He could tell that he lacked confidence and Harry just didn't like that one bit.

"Ne-Neville Lo-Longbottom," the boy stuttered out as he shook Harry's hand in return.

Giving the boy a soft smile hoping to ease his worries, and was happy when it did seem to, Harry happily told him, "Let's go find a Prefect."

Neville was surprised to find that he felt calm with the other boy, normally he was still stuttering at this point. But something about Harry just put Neville at ease.

"Do you know the way?" Neville asked as they went from compartment to compartment.

"Not off the top of my head, but I'm sure we'll find it at some point," Harry reassured the boy.

As they were walking, they made small conversation. Most of the time it drifted to family and Harry was very angry when he heard about Neville's uncle. Almost ranting the entire time much to Neville's amusement and horror.

Both boys were happy to say they were friends by the time they stumbled upon some prefects.

"Excuse me, we're looking for some of the prefects?" Harry asked after knocking on the next compartment.

"We're Prefects, how may we help?" A boy with red hair asked as he sat next to another girl with a P pin on her robes.

Neville looked sad and forlorn told them, "I lost my toad."

"Is there any way you can help us find him?" Harry asked after Neville finished his sentence.

The boy Prefect instantly nodded and grabbed his wand. "What's your toad's name?"

"T-Trevor," Neville stuttered out looking at the Prefect with hope.

The perfect nodded and in a clear voice with confidence said, "Accio Trevor the Toad."

After waiting for a few seconds, Neville started to look like he was about to burst into tears when the compartment door burst open and a flying toad went into the Prefect's outstretched hand.

"That took longer than I would've thought. Here you go," The prefect said handing the toad to Neville.

"Thank you, do you think you can teach me that charm?" Harry asked even as he filed away the wand movement and words so he can try it later (unknowing that it was a fourth-year spell).

"It's a bit advanced to try right now, maybe in a few years," The female Prefect told them with a smile.

Harry nodded and acted as if he would wait, but in reality, he was going to practice it the first time he had available, and then attempt to do it nonverbal and wandlessly.

"Thank you for your help Mr...uh," Harry paused as he had no idea what his name was.

"Percy Weasley," The redhead supplied and started to shake Harry's hand.

"Thanks for your help, Mr. Weasley. My name's Harry Jackson-Potter, this is Neville Longbottom. It was nice meeting you, thanks for your help again!" Harry told him as he grabbed Neville's hand and dragged him away back to his compartment where Draco will still be waiting.

During their way out, they didn't see the stumped expression on both prefects' faces. Neither prefect has seen the scar that was supposed to be on Harry's forehead.

What no one knew is that during the summer Percy talked with the Goblins and took care of the Dark Magic that was lingering in Harry's scar that kept it from healing all the way, and his blocked abilities.

With a little salve, they managed to make the scar disappear.

Reentering his compartment where the others were still playing Exploding Snap, Harry introduced everyone before dragging Neville (who was very nervous at being in a room of death eater children, for good reason to be honest) to sit next to him.

On his other side was Draco who was a little annoyed at the new person joining their group, but then saw Harry's excited expression and decided to put up with Longbottom.

"It is nice to meet you, Neville," Daphne told the nervous boy.

She was nicer out of everyone, but don't let that fool you. If you pissed her off, you will receive the true fury of the Ice Queen that was within her that included, but not limited to, a hex in the future and cold emotions from her.

After a few tense seconds, Neville released a breath and finally greeted them, wondering what exactly his friendship with Harry will entitle him into being dragged into.

"So, what house does everyone think they will be going in?" Draco drawled out getting bored of playing Exploding Snap, "I hope for Slytherin."

"What a shock," Daphne responded in a monotone voice before saying, "Either Ravenclaw or Slytherin."

"I agree with Daphne," Terry replied, who was still reading one of the books on their list.

"Slytherin," Blaise said while looking bored.

The four then turned to Harry and Neville, who was trying to shrink into himself.

"I like Hufflepuff. And it's the house my dad would probably go into if he was a wizard," Harry explained looking thoughtful as he remembered his dad's fatal fall was loyalty, "but, I can go for any house I think. I have tendencies from all houses."

Draco looked thoughtful before nodding with Harry's choice. While he was a bit put out of being friends with a Hufflepuff, it could be worse. Imagine Harry in Gryffindor.

"What about you Neville?" Harry asked while hitting his shoulder lightly with the other boy.

Neville looked like he was about to be sick as he replied, "I think I'm more Hufflepuff, but I'm afraid of what my grandma will do if I'm not in Gryffindor," Neville's voice was almost a whisper and he looked so sad.

Harry felt bad for the boy as the others looked at him confused. "Why would it matter what your grandmother thinks?" Draco asked

"For the longest time, my family thought I was a squib because I didn't do much accidental magic. The only time I did was when I was nine and Uncle Algie dropped me out of the three-story window," Harry heard the story before when they were walking, but that didn't stop him from being mad at his friend's relatives.

The others looked shocked at Neville. "You must be really powerful. If you don't show accidental magic when you're five, it means that your magic has more control than others and doesn't see any threat in your surroundings. As for your uncle, you should have him arrested, it's illegal to endanger a child's life to try and get magic to respond. Especially if the child is actually a squib," Draco explained looking horrified.

"After I did show magic my relationship with my grandma improved but I don't know. We didn't even stop by Ollivanders about getting me my own wand, she gave me my father's and I don't know what to do," Neville looked sad at his wand.

Because while he loved his dad and misses him every day (even if he is at Saint Margo's he's not really there) he knew that he can't be his dad and the wand just doesn't really accept him.

The others still looked horrified at the fact that Neville didn't have his own wand before looking between one another.

"I'll ask Professor Snape if we can head to Diagon Alley during a weekend, given that we have completed our homework, then we can try and get you a wand," Draco told his year-mate who looked grateful.

"That sounds like a good plan. Now on a happier topic, what did you guys do during the summer?" Harry asked eagerly, waiting to learn more about his friends.

They were talking for almost a few minutes before the door was barged into. Both Eclipse and Artemis hissed at the intruder who didn't knock.

The boy had familiar red hair like the Perfect and rudely asked, "Is it true? They're saying all down the train that Harry Potter's in this compartment. So is it you?" (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Page 108)

He stared at Harry with a pompous look and Harry felt instant dislike toward the boy. He could instantly tell the others disliked the boy as well (Even Neville looked uncertain at him).

"That's correct." Harry's reply was short and to the point.

The boy instantly looked toward his forehead where the lightning bolt scar used to be.

"Well show it then," he rudely stated.

Harry raised an eyebrow and decided to indulge just to see the boy's reaction. Lifting his hair from his forehead, he displayed his clear blank forehead.

The friends in the compartment watched as the boy's face went red. "You're a liar! Harry Potter has a lightning bolt scar on his forehead, everyone knows that."

Scowling at the boy, Harry sharply replied, "Clearly you have never heard of healing salves. The salve took care of the scar if you want to call me a liar once more then do leave this compartment."

The boy looked nervous for a second as he glanced around before narrowing his eyes at Draco. "If you're really Harry Potter then why are you hanging out with Dark Families!"

Harry clenched his teeth and felt his hands clench. He was about to sprout whatever was the first thing to come to his mind (most likely an insult) before using the training exercises his father taught him to cool his mind.

Now feeling calmer, Harry replied, "I think I can decide that for myself, now please leave this compartment. If you don't I will have to defend myself with my wand," Harry stated calmly as he leveled his wand at the boy.

The boy's eyes bugged and he scowled at everyone in the room before leaving the room, knowing better than picking a fight against all the children in there.

Especially ones he thought were children of Death Eaters.

"Nice one, Harry," Neville quietly said.

His voice broke up the silence and soon Draco was asking, "So, you don't have the scar anymore?"

Harry shook his head, already deciding to trust this small group he explained, "Once we found and took care of the small dark magic that kept it from being gone, and a bit of Goblin healing salve. Yeah, it was gone. Rather not be known just by the scar, I want people to know me just for being Harry. Not something my mother did," Harry explained as he slipped his wand back into the holster.

The Dark-Family children looked slightly shocked before nodding with his explanation, it made sense to them. Neville was just thinking about his parents and the Goblins.

"Do...Do you think the Goblins may know something that might help my parents wake up?" Neville asked hesitantly.

While the others pondered that, Harry smiled at the boy. "I'll mail my dad so he can ask the question to them next time he visits them."

"Why would Mr. uh, Percy, visit the Goblins? I thought they didn't like Muggles?" Draco asked

"My dad has an interesting relationship with Goblins, and the reason is that he's my financial adviser and already he's spotting a few things that need to be rectified."

"How so?" Blaise asked.

"There seems to be some withdrawals that neither of us made. 1,000 Galleons a month heading toward somewhere. Of course, my dad is checking it out and going to get the money back, but it was rather weird," Harry explained.

The others were shocked by how many Galleons were being stolen from the Potter Heir and felt outraged in them. This was their friend being stolen from!

"If you need any help just ask my father," Draco told the boy seriously.

Harry just gave him a reassuring smile. "I'm sure they have already discussed it at some point when they met once after getting our stuff for school."

Everyone looked shocked other than Harry. "My-my father has made plans with yours?" Draco asked, looking shocked. His father was not a big fan of Muggles. To befriend one and do summer plans, Draco has never heard of such a thing.

Harry just nodded like he knew their thoughts. "My dad has a way of making weird friends. Honestly, I don't really know how he does it."

After that topic, they started talking about Quidditch again and before they knew it. It was getting darker outside and they were arriving at Hogwarts.

They knew when to change into their robes because Harry's watch (courtesy of his dad's friends and was heavily magically resistant) beeped and Harry told them they were getting close.

Daphne excused herself to find the ladies' bathroom while the guys all changed quickly and looked away from one another.

For a few minutes after Daphne got back, there was tense anticipation silence broken when the train came to a halt.

They waited a few seconds to let some of the pushers off the train before following the higher years off the train.

They saw the other first years by some boats where a gigantic man was calling out for the first years. He told them no more than four to a boat and they started to split apart slightly.

Draco, Harry, Neville, and Blaise stepped into a boat stopping the redhead from earlier to try and claim the seat.

Meanwhile, Daphne and Terry met up with two girls who Draco told Harry were Susan Bones and Pansy Parkinson.

The groups followed the giant man who then introduced himself as Hagrid. "Ye' all get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."

There was a loud "Oooooh!" The narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black take. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. "No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore.

"Everyone in?" shouted Hagrid, who had a boat to himself. "Right then -- FORWARD!" And the fleet of little boats moved off all at once, gliding across the lake, which was as smooth as glass.

Everyone was silent, staring up at the great castle overhead. It towered over them as they sailed nearer and nearer to the cliff on which it stood. "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 that 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 harbor, where they clambered out onto rocks and pebbles.

They clambered up a passageway in the rock after Hagrid's lamp, coming out at last onto smooth, damp grass right in the shadow of the castle. They walked up a flight of stone steps and crowded around the huge, Oak front door. "Everyone here?" Hagrid raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the castle door. (- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Page 111-112)

As they walked, Harry didn't quite pay attention to what Professor McGonagall was saying after he realized that she was discussing the houses.

He read all about them and heard a lot from his friends, he was actually thinking about how the sorting would take place. No books actually mentioned how they were sorted, which was curious in itself.

After a few minutes, Harry started to pay back attention when he realized the Professor was gone and ghosts were starting to enter the room.

Honestly, he would be as surprised as the other first years, had he not have Nico Di Angelo as an uncle who sometimes talked to ghosts when he was on a hunt for the ones that escaped.

So seeing them, yeah that didn't surprise him as it probably should've. Nor when they started talking about a poltergeist, they were called poltergeists for a reason.

You can't exactly change their nature drastically, like making them that friendly. Sure you can befriend them and they won't attack you with pranks as much, but they cause havoc for a reason.

Harry was about to mention something along those lines before the Professor came back in and shooed the ghosts away. Which Harry thought was too bad, he had a lot of questions for them.

Like how they were there without Nico or Hades knowing, or did they know? In this case how did they get permission? Or was it something that Hecate had a hand in?

Huffing at the questions being unanswered for now, Harry followed the group and formed a single file line.

As they entered the Dining Hall where they would get sorted, Harry didn't pay attention to the whispers that floated along the hall.

No, he was rather staring at the ceiling intent on finding the spell that was used so he could use it in his bedroom. It would match his star theme (the reason he had the star theme was this crazy name Sirius that he had stuck in his head. When his dad told them about it being a star he kinda went star crazy to see why he remembered it).

Harry kept staring at the sky even as the hat that was going to sort them started singing. Which was pretty cool and something else he had to talk to the hat about, especially seeing about his(?) name. Everything needed a name, especially something that sorted him into a house.

He was jolted from his thoughts as his name was called, especially with his hyphenated name, he drew some whispers.

He was expecting this, however, and calmly walked up to the hat and allowed it to be put on him. As soon as it settled onto his name he thought to it, "What's your name so I know what to call you?"

A chuckle reverted through Harry's thoughts. "Now that is a Ravenclaw question, that being said. I have had many names over the years, but never a definite. What would you call me?"

Thinking about it clearly and remembering how the hat looked, and how he must have once looked. He settled on, "Sos. In Greek, it means safe, whole, unwounded. You give children a safe place where they can feel whole and won't be wounded in the long run."

Harry could feel that the Hat was pleased with the name and opened his mouth. "Hufflepuff." Before closing it and thought to Harry quickly.

"Your attitude and thoughtfulness will lead you to great places in Hufflepuff. Goodbye Harry Jackson, the one who displays all the houses."

Before Harry could say goodbye, the hat was taken off of him and he bid goodbye to the hat before sitting down at the Hufflepuff table who were smiling brightly at him.

"Welcome to the Hufflepuffs, Harry," The Hufflepuff ghost told him before everyone started to pay back attention to the sorting.

Harry noticed that Draco, Daphne, Blaise, Goyle, and Crabbe made it into Slytherin, while Terry went to the Ravenclaw house. He watched as others got sorted and perked up when Neville joined the house of Badgers.

Grinning at the boy who looked both worried and happy to get into Hufflepuff with Harry, they gave each other smiles and greeted the others in their year when the sorting was over.

Hannah Abbott, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Susan Bones, Zacharias Smith, Leanne, and Megan Jones was everyone that was sorted for the first year in his house. Which was actually not a lot now that Harry thought about it.

It made 4 boys and 4 girls. Quite an equal number.

After everyone was done being sorted, the Headmaster who Harry just noticed looked like Gandalf from Lord of the Rings (who Harry was hoping would stand up and shout "None Shall Pass" though he didn't).

The Headmaster stood up and said something strange even to Harry, "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. (- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Page 123)

He did feel surprised when the food was magically in front of them, it made questions burn inside of him but he suppressed it. Ask later, eat now.

Harry took his time eating the unknown food. Well, some of it was unknown. After tasting the Pumpkin Juice, Harry stopped and asked for Tea instead.

After a few minutes with Harry occasionally talking to his year mates, Harry got the feeling someone was watching him.

Looking toward the high table, Harry spotted the man who was staring at him. He had black hair and looked like it had seen better days while the nose was crooked. Harry felt slightly concerned noticing other details that a fellow once abused would notice about another fellow abuse.

Storing that information for another day, Harry smiled kindly at the man and waved at him before being pulled into a conversation with his housemates. Completely missing the startled look the man had who got pulled into a conversation with McGonagall.

"Who were you waving at Harry?" A fourth-year (he remembered his name was Cedric) asked who was eating calmly.

"The man in black with..." Pursing his lips hating the fact he was describing the man like he was, " with the greasy hair," he finished lamely. It fell flat and the others could say that he hated describing the man like that.

"That's Professor Snape. He teaches Potions, but he doesn't want to you see. He knows an awful lot about the Dark Arts." Cedric explained as Harry filed the name away in his head.

Harry watched Professor Snape for a while, but the man didn't look at him again.

At last, the desserts too disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again. The hall fell silent.

"Ahern -- just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. "First years should note that the forest on 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 two redheaded 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 the 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." (- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Page 126-127)

Most of the Hufflepuff's frowned toward Dumbledore's direction and a Perfect turned toward them. "If I see anyone that is not lost on the third floor, I will take away 20 points each person. I will know if you are lying," the Perfect warned before Dumbledore had us start singing Hogwarts anthem.

Harry was quickly thankful toward Draco and Neville who taught him the song on the train for he would have had no idea what the song would've been otherwise.

People started to finish rather quickly, except two redheaded twins who were singing it like it was a funeral and Harry found that it was actually funny listening to them.

After they were done and Dumbledore dismissed everyone, Harry followed the Perfects up to their common room.

As they walked, Harry felt the magic dance around him. He realized what some of the books meant by saying Hogwarts was alive.

He could feel her alive.

He knew that she was welcoming each of them, and when she greeted him he felt like dancing because their magic connected and Harry never felt more at home other than with his dad.

He brushed a hand against the wall and could feel her same excitement from the knowledge that she had someone to 'talk' to through their magic.

Feeling happy as his magic sang, Harry was led toward a portrait that had the founder Helga Hufflepuff on it.

Finally noticing that he was a descendant of her, he saw that she had red hair and blue eyes that could be mistaken for green depending on her mood.

"Ah, first years. Now get in a line. Let me get a good long look at you. See, we aren't like the other houses with their little passwords. I know all my Puffs and let them in when I see them. Don't try to Polyjuice by me either or Metamorph, I can sense magic you see!" She told them sharply but kindly.

After staring at all the first years, one of the two barrels underneath her opened and we were led into the Hufflepuff common room where one of the professors from the table greeted us.

He could feel the kindness coming off of her and instantly knew that he would like her. "Hello dears, I am Madam Pomona Sprout and am your Herbology teacher. Now, I will explain the rules tomorrow as I'm sure all of you are tired from your long journey. This way is for the first years. Each year has their own hallways, this one shall be yours for your coming years," Madam Sprout explained as they entered a soft yellow hallway.

"Please pair up with one person of the same gender, please. If you don't have a gender or are perhaps both genders, please pick someone that you can spend the rest of the year with, if there are any problems you can always come to me and we can discuss your own room then. This goes for anyone with sexuality that they cannot be paired with the same sex," She told the first years kindly, know that with the changing times, genders are also changing with them. While Dumbledore and some of the other professors haven't gotten up just yet, she knows for certain Minerva pairs the boys together and then the girl together without taking in their identities and ideology, she would always make sure to do so.

Instantly, Harry was next to Neville who gave him a relieved smile. "Now dears, as there is an even number, you may pick your dorms. I do ask if the boys are on the right, while the girls are on the left. As soon as you have picked a room, the door will have your nameplates on it."

Looking through the rooms, Neville and Harry picked the one that was near the hallway door (which was fine with Justin and Zach who were already friends and wanted the further back room).

As the two boys entered their room, Harry felt Hogwarts magic dance and turned to the door to see both his and Neville's nameplates on the door.

"Check it out, Madam Sprout wasn't kidding," Harry told Neville who turned to look at the golden plates that had their names in a proud, cursive black.

"Sometimes I forget you have two last names," Neville told his roommate as he moved to the bed that was farther from the bathroom.

"Sometimes I forget too. With my dad's name being Jackson sometimes I just introduce myself as Harry Jackson, not Harry Jackson-Potter," Harry explained as his trunk popped in front of the bed closest to their bathroom.

"That makes sense," Neville said as he grabbed his pajamas. "I'm going to change real quick."

Grabbing his own, both boys changed quickly and turned off the light on our bedside tables. Harry was about to go to sleep before remembering, "Tomorrow we gotta come up with what we want our dorm colors to be," he murmured.

"Tomorrow," Neville tiredly told him before they both fell asleep.

Next Chapter: Classes

Word Count: 6848