Strange as it was, Harry managed to

Strange as it was, Harry managed to remain undisturbed for the entire trip. Well, he was eventually discovered by Neville, but his fellow Gryffindor was so timid that it wasn't even funny. Harry wondered why the Longbottom heir was like that. After all it's not like his own grandmother would treat him the way the Dursleys treated Harry. The two boys spent their time on the train talking and getting to know each other. Harry did his best to give Neville a much needed confidence boost, but he wasn't sure if he succeeded or not. He was quite surprised when the other boy told him that his wand was in fact that of Frank Longbottom and not really his own. This, Harry figured, was most likely the reason for Neville's abysmal work in classes where wand work was essential. From the remarkable progress Neville had in Herbology Potter knew that it was certainly not lack of intelligence that made the other boy such a poor student. Thus he made it his pet project to help the other boy. Harry had no idea why it was that he decided to help Neville (and Neville himself certainly was not even aware that Harry did decide to help him) but for some reason the Longbottom boy made him feel protective, like one would feel about a younger sibling, no matter that Neville was actually one day older than Harry. Obviously Harry wanted to find a person who would take care of him and help him, but since that seemed improbable at this point in time he would do his utmost best to at least help Neville.

As the two boys rode a carriage pulled by winged horses no one but the two of them seemed to see Harry once again recalled his meeting with Lord Malfoy. While he knew that the man most likely had a rather unpleasant public mask, just like his son Draco did, Harry had seen at least one side of the man behind the mask and he fervently wished that he could learn to be like Lucius – a respected pureblood Lord. And while he did not ask Neville's opinion, in his no one who had the position of power should shrink their duties. Thus he decided to do his best, both for his sake and Neville's.

Finally they reached the castle. It was just in time, Harry thought, since Neville was just about ready to fall asleep. Giving the other boy a nudge in the ribs, Potter hurried to join the other students in the Great Hall with Neville hot on his heels. As soon as they settled down the two young wizards were accosted by Harry's friends from first year – Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. While the girl seemed to be generally concerned for her friend, the carrot head was so angry at being ignored that he was practically foaming at the mouth, which made both Harry and Neville cringe in disgust. How he ever became Harry's friend was a question worth discussing… at least Neville Longbottom thought it prudent to figure out, after all Harry was nothing like the always boasting rude and all round lazy idiot that was Ronald Weasley. Hermione, Neville mused, was better… but not by much. Having been raised by his Gran made Neville very aware of how the Muggles and even worse, Muggleborns, affect the Wizarding World. The otherwise very timid boy was sure that had Harry known, he would not be friends with the overly bossy know-it-all that looked like an escapee from the Ravenclaw Tower, if not St. Mungoe's... The boy blinked as this though entered his mind. He couldn't believe it. It was just not like him to dislike a person like that… well, to be sure no one simply could be as nasty as his granduncle, but still… come to think of it, he never really liked Ron either. Of course Neville just chalked it up to him being jealous that Harry Potter of all people would pick a Weasley and a muggleborns as his best friends. Not like he thought they were bad people of course, but they just rubbed him the wrong way, Ron more so than Granger.

Soon after they all settled down McGonagall brought in the first years and they all listened to yet another song by the Sorting Hat.

Welcome children you should feel

For Hogwarts your home will be now

To some the second, to some the first

But a home still to all

It was created long ago

By four greatest mages that I've seen

There was the Gryffindor by name of Godric,

He was brave and liked heroics,

Though unfortunately a bit on the dumb side

The Hufflepuff, Helga was her name,

Was warm and fair as the sun

She liked children very much,

Her house is for those loyal, hardworking and honest.

The Ravenclaw, Rovena, chose those who were like her

Clever, studious, who like research more than people;

And there was Slytherin. Salazar was his name.

And though stories tell differently, dark he certainly was not

Into his house he chose the best, those who wanted to succeed in life,

Those cunning and ambitious to reach for what they want.

So like I said, put me on and I'll decide

Where your home here shall be.

As soon as the Hat finished the song, which in Harry's opinion that was no doubt shared by many other students sounded rather strange this year, the deputy Headmistress began reading the names of the soon to be first years. Even though just a year ago he was part of the same ceremony, Harry couldn't help but think that surely he didn't look as helpless as these kids did. Of course he noticed that only some of these kids were outright scared rather than simply nervous. There was a kid who was clutching a camera, that was certainly muggleborns, Harry decided. Those with the clothes of the better quality were definitely children of the pureblooded families and this year there more of them then when he was sorted. Potter was however unable to pay attention to the ceremony, as the Weasley finally noticed his high quality robes and began harping about them.

"Harry, mate…" – whined the moronic carrot top – "where the hell have you been? I searched the entire train for you."

At that Hermione glared at Weasley, clearly unhappy that he did not sit with her:

"Really Harry, we've not seen each other all summer. You could have come to sit with us."

The Potter heir rolled his eyes, although only Neville noticed the gesture:

"Sorry, I wanted to go over my summer assignments once more to make I sure I didn't accidentally leave anything at the Dursleys. It's not like I tried to hide or anything. Neville managed to find me just fine."

That was of course a jab at Ronald's efforts to find him, but he didn't actually care. He wouldn't outright tell the ginger head that he knew he was a spy, but he sure as hell wouldn't go out of his way to be pleasant either, after all he didn't benefit from being Ron's friend at all.

Hermione frowned slightly:

"Harry, you should have done that before leaving your home. Hogwarts Express is hardly the place for…"

She was than rather rudely interrupted by Ron, who snorted:

"Yeah, like you weren't doing the same thing. Still mate, this isn't like you."

The green eyed boy blinked at the duo:

"Well, Hermione. I find revision to be a better way to pass time than just goofing off. And Ron, please, since when were you such a specialist on my behavior? We've only known each other for 9 months. I hardly think that it's enough time to really get to know another person."


Up at the professors' table Severus Snape, youngest potions master ever, and also head of the Slytherin house was observing the students. He was rather surprised that this year's batch of first years was mostly Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, his own house got only three new girls and two boys, while Gryffindor had three boys and two girls. All things considered he thought there would be more. But then again the less the amount of students was, the more attention he could pay them.

He then looked to the Slytherin table, where his students were quietly talking to each other. No matter what others thought he was always proud of his snakes, even if no one else was. Then his eyes drifted to the Gryffindor table. He was somewhat surprised to notice that the Potter brat somehow managed to tame that mane he called hair. The boy also wasn't wearing glasses. While the changes were very small, they did the child a lot of good, even made him look more like Lily and not that good for nothing Potter. The man also noticed that for one the boy was dressed properly, which would also explain the way Weasley was making a scene of himself. Severus recalled his latest conversation with Lucius and decided that it wouldn't be a particular hardship to tone down his harassing of the boy. After all there was always plenty of other victims around.


Author's Note: And I think I will stop here for now. I really want to know what you people think of this one. I tried my best to right a sorting song that wouldn't be too ridiculous, but in the end this was all I could manage, so I hope it was okay. And yes, the first mention of Severus. After much thinking I finally decided that I would go with the Harry / Lucius pairing and try to make Harry to accept his professor as a parental figure.

Anyway, don't forget to review =)