Harry watched and listened as the first years were sorted, only recognizing a few names that were spoken by Dumbledore. Among those familiar were Black, Bones, Greengrass, Parkinson and Weasley.
In order of sorting, they went, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Slytherin and Gryffindor.
At the shocked gasps of Black's sorting, he suspected that everybody had thought the same as him - that student was meant for Slytherin.
"Harry Peverell." Dumbledore spoke his name and as Harry made his way up to the man, he could see the encouraging smile offered.
He would be the last sorting of the year, having waited until all the First Years had gone and now he stood alone as the centre of attention. All eyes in attendance, be it student or staff were watching.
Putting his brave face on, Harry took the seat and felt the air shift as Dumbledore lowered the ancient hat onto his head. Now being here, in the seat, Harry just now realized he'd failed to plan for this.
What if the sorting hat gave it all away?
" Fear not, Harry Potter, all within your mind will stay just there. For better or for worse, all I see is kept to me."
Harry heard the familiar voice speak within his mind and tried his best not to visibly appear relieved.
" I suppose if you've seen everything, you know I belong in Gryffindor?"
A raspy chuckling was the initial response from the hat. " You're not the first from the future sent to the past to divert disaster. Just as they were, you've lost your memories of what sent you here."
That wasn't a response to what he'd asked, but that could provide information nonetheless. " Who else was sent back? Can you see my memories? Can you tell me who sent me back here and why I can't remember that conversation taking place?"
" Ah yes… yes I see it all, your conversation, your promises and… interesting Mister Potter."
Confused and annoyed at the cryptic reply, Harry pressed again.
" Who sent me here!?"
" An answer you'll find for yourself should you give it time, Harry Potter, for I can tell you nothing - or rather, I can tell you only one thing, that being where you belong."
He would receive no answer from this hat long past its time then, this time, Harry did visibly sag for the crowd - not that he realized it.
" Go on then, sort me into Gryffindor."
Another round of raspy chuckling greeted him. " You changed your fate once, Harry Potter. Now let me guide you to where you should've been - to where you belong, a place that'll put not only you but many others, on a path to greatness."
" No! Gryffindor is where I belong! Gryffindor is my fam-"
"Slytherin!" Was boomed from atop his head, cutting off his protests as Professor Dumbledore lifted the hat from him.
Silence greeted him, as Riddle's group looked to their master and Potter's did the same, both groups not having predicted that outcome.
Dumbledore was the first to start the applause, followed by those at the staff table, Slughorn even going so far as to whistle and stand; the wheels in the man's head already turning at breakneck speed. With the Professor's and staff seen cheering, all the students politely clapped, or in the case of Aster and Reinhard.
Riddle and the more mature of her crowd were louder than the rest of his new housemates, while still not being overly so.
Numbly, Harry removed himself from the seat, turning to nod at Dumbledore before he made his way over to a table he shouldn't be sitting at.
Ruddy sorting had ruined his next few years and all because it thought it to be right - but what would a hat know? It was an object that couldn't move, couldn't save itself should somebody want to destroy it, couldn't save others even if it knew monsters were sitting beneath it.
A mostly empty opening was towards the middle of the table and so Harry took it, sitting alone and away from the group he'd been familiar with. His justification being that with this sorting, he now had all the time he needed to get to know them and nothing would likely keep them away anyhow.
"Peverell." A calm voice greeted from opposite him.
Harry looked up at the other boy seated here, he had only two people sitting beside him with room to either of their sides.
"My name is Calder Crabbe, it's a pleasure to meet you." the boy then turned to his right. "This is Heir Pertinger," and then he turned to his left. "And this is Lucy Gerble, my betrothed."
Inwardly Harry was baffled - a well-spoken, mannered and not overly heavy ancestor of Crabbe? Next, he would see Luna's grandfather being the Head Writer over at the Daily Prophet!
"It's nice to meet you three." Harry gave as his official reply, seeing the three of them accept his greeting before going back to their conversation - thankfully they seemed to notice he didn't really want to speak with anyone at the moment.
Hearing Headmaster Dippet begin his speech, Harry knew he should probably pay attention to whatever the man said, he just couldn't find it in himself to care with the more important issues currently at hand.
There was nothing he could do about his new 'House', all he could hope for was the few bridges he'd begun constructing weren't torn down because of the green now appearing on his uniform. If it were like the future and in his time, he could probably count any hopes of true friendship with Marcus, Veronica or Goldhorn goodbye.
On the bright side of his new House, Slughorn would likely double down on his efforts to build a strong bond with him, something that could doubtlessly come in handy. Harry could even begin seeing just how deep Riddle's roots run too, he could see how the Seventh years responded to her, how well her followers acted without her guiding hand and how deeply in her pocket everyone was. With any luck, something he better have in abundance after this day, he could split her followers.
Now as for that cryptic message from the rag called a hat, Harry knew something or someone had sent him back rather than it being a freak accident. What that entailed, however, he couldn't even begin to guess. Maybe if he failed prematurely he would be given another try?
What was more curious to him was the fact that others were sent back before him to bring change, he could try and find who they were - though that presented its own set of problems. Namely not appearing as barking mad when he begins spreading around a questionnaire starting with ' Were you sent back in time by someone or something with no apparent reason other than the one you make for yourself? Me too! Now, what do we do?'
No, Harry would have to rely on the help of Dumbledore even more so. With all that man had experienced, he had no doubt the man could be convinced of the truth of his story and help him with his missing or locked memories.
Motion drew Harry from his thought process and he just about started to clap, assuming that's what everybody else was doing - it wasn't, he didn't know that ship had sailed a few moments ago. Rather than it having been the speech finishing or anything else that involved mass participation, it was the three across from him getting up and moving seats. Just as they were leaving, a mass of people began to take their seats just as others began to slide beside him.
"Peverell old buddy!"
"Hey Peverell mate, guess you would've missed handsome me after all huh?"
Aster and Reinhard had taken the seats beside him, taking the chance to begin ribbing him as soon as they could. Divination be damned, he could already see the many meals he'd have to eat here being interrupted by the two boys.
"Gryffindor, Peverell?" Corene questioned him from across the table with a smirk on her face. When he looked over to her he saw Riddle next to her and Daphne on the girl's other side.
"I'm just as surprised as you." Was his truthful response.
"I don't find it overly surprising mate, in case you haven't noticed you kind of fit in with us." Aster said in seriousness, his words drawing a few nods in agreement.
"Nicely said Aster." Riddle finally spoke up, her eyes intently staring at him while an unnerving smile was present on her face.
"Even he has to have moments of lucidity every now and then." Rosier's sister piped up, a round of laughs sounding at her little brother's expense.
Just as the laughter began dropping, the food appeared at the table, prompting all the teenagers to begin making their plates. Harry couldn't help but be impressed at the table manners of all the kids around him, including Aster. Nobody bumped into one another, dropped anything on the table or otherwise made a mess as was somewhat familiar when he'd sat with Ron and the other Gryffindor boys. While he missed many aspects of his old friends, that was one that he didn't.
Once the two boys to his sides had filled their plates high enough that their forks could disappear and as a result stopped adding to them, Harry made his plate, opting for light food with the queasy stomach he was having - something that was beginning to be a frequent occurrence when around Riddle.
"So Peverell, how have you enjoyed the scenery thus far?" Riddle questioned, motioning with her eyes around the large room.
"Hogwarts is as beautiful as expected." Was Harry's reply
Hogwarts is as amazing as I remembered it being. Went through his head.
"It is rather impressive, isn't it? Especially for its age, the taste is extravagant." Riddle commented offhandedly.
She then turned and began conversing with Corene, who nodded a few times and looked over to Harry.
"Would you like to come with the First Years for orientation and the tour?"
That would be embarrassing, his mind was already made up. "No, I think I'll tag along with Aster or you."
"Carrow is taking the First Years along with Abraxus." Daphne told him before the girl mentioned responded.
"Aster it is then. I'm sure he and Reinhard can tell me what's worth knowing."
"Now that won't do, will it Daphne?" Riddle said as she looked to the Head Girl who only shook her head in the negative.
Riddle looked back at him "You should have a Prefect or our Head Girl here give you a private rundown if you'd not want to be doing it with the crowd of First Years." She then played out for his benefit that she was thinking and seemingly came to an answer rather quickly, clicking her fingers and looking at Harry. "Seeing as I'm a Prefect and we shouldn't needlessly bother our Head Girl, why don't I help you out, Harry?"
Some Seventh Year chose that time to make a comment to her friend down the table, something Harry didn't hear but Riddle did.
"What was that Tilora, I must've misheard you."
Harry watched as those close enough looked between the two girls, the older one not backing down in her gaze and Riddle looking unreadable.
"I was saying that I've never seen you try so hard, it wasn't meant offensively if that's how you misconstrued it." Tilora's tone reeked of arrogance, he'd heard enough of it from Draco to recognize how she was likely raised.
Sitting beside Tilora, another girl spoke out hastily. "Riddle she's just in a mood, I apologize for her comment." The girl then turned and whispered into her friend's ear, causing the girl to look down at the table for a few moments.
"I understand perfectly well Caprine." Riddle responded to the girl's friend before looking at her. "You have my sincerest condolences in your betrothed's accident, it's truly horrible nobody could help him - should you need anything, come to me."
Harry could pick up something in her voice and mannerisms but he had no clue just what it was - guessing by how Tilora shook at Riddle's words, whatever it was couldn't have been very positive.
Aster took that moment to whisper in his ear. "Betrothed was some Gryffindor donny, found him dead in his parents' house just a week ago."
Reinhard leaned in from his other side. "Some people been saying its Murder, another boy from Ravenclaw died similarly last year."
Harry looked over to Riddle who was now conversing with Corene and Daphne after shutting down the older girl, smiling and laughing with the two girls light-heartedly - was she involved in some way? Who was he kidding of course she was, It's Riddle! He could try to find out more though he doubted she'd slip up around him.
Deciding now was as good a time as any to eat, Harry began doing so and just as it was in his time, the food was excellent.
And while he may have been content to eat in relaxed silence, those nearest to him wouldn't allow the luxury.
"Peverell, you going to continue looking at your food like it's the only interesting thing at the table or are you going to chat with us?" Lestrange prodded, the boy probably annoyed at the lack of attention he was shown following what he'd shared with the Peverell heir.
With a mouth full of chicken, Aster replied for Harry. "Surprised he hasn't been looking at Carrow, seems like they fancy one another eh?"
Harry went slightly red at the topic, Corene was attractive enough but there was no room for romance here.
Avery butted in from beside Lestrange. "Won't happen. Now, why don't you talk to Peverell here about something more important."
"Quidditch isn't important." Aster said with a roll of his eyes before looking back at Harry. "All he does when he isn't helping Riddle is talk about the bloody game."
Avery ignored Aster's remarks and looked Harry over. "You don't look too out of shape and playing Quidditch isn't without benefits. Why don't you come down for the tryouts when they're hosted?"
"I don't think I'll have the time." Harry replied with a polite smile.
"Sure you would! If you need help with a subject, navigating the halls or managing your day, one of us from the team would be more than happy to assist you." Avery answered easily.
"Why bother doing that?" They'd get nothing in return but wasted time if they wanted to help him catch up on work and prepare for his OWLs.
"Benefits, remember? Everyone on the team helps one another, think of us like a family within a family - whatever help you need somebody from the team could provide it."
That didn't sound half bad and Quidditch would go far in giving him an outlet for accumulated stress while being with said new 'family'.
But as good as it sounded, playing Quidditch would only kill valuable time, valuable time that could be spent countering years of Riddle's influence.
Not wanting to outright refuse the offer the same time he got it, Harry put on his earlier polite smile and told the boy he'd think about it. Avery saw that was the best he would get and dove back into a conversation on his other side.
"Corene doesn't like Quidditch much - just so you know." Aster told him with a wink.
"Lestrange, remember your offer in the dining room last night?" Harry would see if he could cash in on the boy's services.
"You bet I do." Reinhard replied while cracking his neck before looking at the smaller boy seated next to him. "Who're you thinking?"
"I'll give you a galleon if you slap Aster upside the head whenever he mentions Corene in my romantic life if that's arrangeable." Maybe that would stop the boy from making insinuations.
"Certainly arrangeable." Lestrange looked over to the Rosier boy who had an exaggerated look of betrayal. "Nothing personal old boy, just good business."
With his hands up in surrender, Aster looked at Lestrange. "I get it." his eyes then moved over to Harry. "He doesn't want me to make jokes about him ending up with you-know-who anymore… guess that means I'll have to agree with Walburga." he shuddered when he said that.
"Agree with her on what? Who Corene will end up with?" Harry didn't particularly care who she was interested in but did think it could be potentially useful should the person be important.
Aster scoffed at that. "Who cares who she ends up with? Talking about you and Riddle."
"What?"
"What?"
Harry and Reinhard asked in sync before both looked over at the girl who was still deep in conversation with the women around her, again in sync both looked back to Aster once finished looking at the girl.
Lestrange laughed loudly before Harry could lose the cloud of stupid that'd migrated from his friends head to his, preventing a response.
"You must have a deathwish to be saying that, Riddle's already had her reprisal on Black for that along with her challenge the other night."
Aster shrugged, taking a sip of pumpkin juice and then responding. "What's life without a little danger, that's why you offer help isn't it?"
"What did she do exactly?" Harry half expected to hear that she took a limb or murdered a family member.
"Riddle had Slughorn remove Walburga from his club, heard as much when she told Abraxus and Corene about it today." Lestrange spoke lowly and close to Harry's ear when he said that.
In an equally quiet tone, Harry asked another question, Aster leaning in from his side to hear it. "Walburga was in the compartment earlier wasn't she?"
"Likely the last time she'll be attending any event unless she chooses to be a server at one - should've known better than do what she did." Reinhard shrugged without care.
"Could you imagine her serving others in one of those outfits Professor Slughorn provides?" Aster said, cracking up the whole way through before bursting into outright laughter when he'd finished. Lestrange joined in and Harry couldn't help but find their laughing funny, both boys had an infectious laugh after all.
"Why am I not surprised to find Reinhard pulled into whatever conspiracy you two were planning earlier?"
Aster, Harry and Reinhard all looked across the table at the owner of the voice while in mid-laugh. Riddle had taken notice of the way they were speaking in hushed tones and laughing while looking vaguely in her direction, the girls she had been speaking with were now also watching the three boys.
"Worried?" Harry sniped at the girl, almost laughing at the way her eyebrows rose while the girls beside her looked between them.
His two partners in an imaginative crime stilled on either side, he could swear he heard Aster mutter 'nutter'
Harry and Riddle were looking at one another, her looking towards his eyes while his gaze stayed on her chin. He could see her lips raise and then open, giving her response.
"Not at all." she paused and then tilted her head to the side, "A piece of advice to you boys if you care about not being heard, use the magic you were born with."
A series of giggles from the girls around her sounded off, Harry ignored it and finished his plate in silence while the two boys around him chattered on with no particularly important topic coming up as they ate.
Not too much more time went by before Corene excused herself and made her way over to the First Years with Abraxus, taking the new students on a lengthy journey to their common room while other students began getting up to retire for the night. He heard some talking about going on walks which didn't sound too bad at the moment and so he also stood up, resolute on asking Goldhorn for a walk in hopes of getting to know more about Potter's group along with her own.
"Ready to turn in Peverell?" Riddle called from across the table, getting up herself.
"Actually, I was making my way over to a friend of mine. You can stay talking with Emilene and the others." He didn't need her tagging along with him.
Riddle looked at him closely. "Can I now?"
Something about the rather innocuous question unnerved him. "I'm sure they'd love to continue speaking with you - it's not like I'll be able to make my way to the common room without you anyway." He added that second bit as means to assure her that he wouldn't be ditching her in case that's why she'd decided to follow him.
"You know Harry, I've been letting it slide until now, but it's rather impolite not looking a girl in the eyes when she's speaking with you." Riddle said that louder than they'd been speaking, her voice turning slightly higher-pitched as if she were whining.
He looked to see a few of her friends glancing at him and with Aster along with Reinhard already gone, his bravery wavered.
You're a Gryffindor, act like it! Went through his head.
Even if he'd been sorted into the House of Snakes, Gryffindor was still a part of him. Besides, hadn't Snape taught him how to shut Voldemort out? All he needed to do was call on that training and not get lost in her eyes as he had last time.
Harry looked the girl in the eyes, seeing her face turn slightly red while she brushed a strand of her long black hair behind her ear - something he now identified her doing whenever she was wanting to play to a crowd's attention. "Better now?" she shyly nodded in response, "Good."
Still seeping confidence, Harry turned from Riddle and her friends, making his way over to Goldhorn. Riddle's laugh and the giggles from her friends being the last thing he heard before he was safely away from the table.
Far enough away from the girl, he sighed and was thankful she hadn't tried going into his mind while with the crowd. He then paused and looked over the Hufflepuff table, locating Goldhorn or rather Sarah, seeing as she had so many sisters in attendance. Hoping nobody would be overly antagonistic because of his robes colours, Harry made his way over to the girl. He'd been vigilant enough to notice her plate was empty, being better mannered than to interrupt her eating.
Once he got close enough to avoid speaking overly loudly, Harry spoke. "Hey, Sarah."
She turned and looked at him with just as friendly a smile as he was usually given by the girl. "Hey Harry!"
He looked for any signs of deception across the girls face and couldn't see any. Granted, he wasn't particularly granted at people reading but he liked to think a girl who seemed to wear her emotions on her sleeve as she did wouldn't be amazing at lying.
"I was wondering if you'd be interested in going on a walk with me." Straight to the point and it didn't come out jumbled like he'd been with Cho, score one for him!
Sarah looked surprised before agreeing quickly, standing up so abruptly she bumped into one of her sisters - that sister having been taking a drink at the time but luckily only managing to spill it on the table rather than herself.
"Sarah!" She exclaimed.
"Sorry Katie!" Sarah apologized, getting out her wand to take care of the mess she'd made while her sister quickly shook her head.
"No, no! I'll take care of it Sis, you go on your walk with your boyfriend ." The word was spoken teasingly, followed up with Sarah's younger sister sticking her tongue out at the girl.
Harry was incredibly amused while trying not to outwardly show it, as Sarah had taken it far worse.
Sarah was redder than he'd thought humanly possible, her blush being nowhere near as controlled as Riddle's usually is, even Veronica Weasley's blush hadn't been this bad!
"Katie! You- I do- Katie!" Sarah couldn't even formulate a sentence, needing another of her sisters to step in to reprimand the girl.
"Oh let them have their fun Katie, I'm sure Thomas will come over to take you on a walk sometime too." Harry thought it was Sammi that assisted Sarah and him, but couldn't be sure. Nonetheless, he dipped his head to the girl while leading a still choking on words Sarah away.
"Your sisters are pleasant." Was his attempt to lighten the mood.
"Ye-yes they are." Sarah squeaked out in reply, not as red as she'd been and now able to use words, but embarrassment still plain to see.
Seeing that she'd still need a few minutes before being able to formulate words well enough to hold a conversation, Harry led the two of them out of the Great Hall and around the massive Castle with no particular end goal in mind. They simply enjoyed one another's company in silence, passing by fellow students, moving portraits and seeing the occasional ghost.
Eventually, she'd regained enough composure to speak to him.
"Were you wanting to see the castle, Harry?"
"I do want to see the castle, yes, but I wanted to speak with you." Was that too weird to say?
Sarah's cheeks went red but not nearly as bad as they'd been earlier. "What do you want to talk about?"
It was probably impolite to ask a girl on a walk only to talk about her friends… and Harry did think she was fanciable. "I was hoping to get to know you a bit more, away from others derailing."
"I'll tell you about me if you tell me about you, is that okay?" Sarah seemed to be just as curious about his background as everybody else was, her only difference being that she had courtesy enough to ask permission.
"I suppose it'll be fine. Just keep anything too embarrassing to yourself, yeah?" He tried setting the girl at ease, seeing as she seemed the epitome of shy.
"Only if you'll do the same for me."
Harry smiled at the remark and the way she moved slightly closer to him, he started first. "Do you just have the three sisters I've met or do you have other siblings?"
"I have a sister and two brothers that you haven't met. Desmon, my older brother and Sana, the oldest of us girls - they're both graduated already. My younger brother Webster starts next year. Do you have any siblings?"
"None, my parents just had me." That was an honest answer for both the true him and the him that he was playing.
He followed up asking about her siblings by asking about her parents. "What do your parents do?"
"My mums works as a private Mediwitch, my dad makes the potions for her along with running his own potions business - he runs it from home." She seemed a bit embarrassed when she added the last bit, he couldn't understand why. It must be amazing always seeing your parents, even when they're working.
"Wicked, you must be brilliant with potions!" Maybe he could learn from her and trade-off his skills in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Embarrassed, she nodded her head and quickly reversed his question at him, asking what his parents did. He was expecting her to mimic any questions he asked and avoided showing any discomfort at the mention of his family.
"My parents have been staying away from the public, mostly managing the properties we have while teaching me."
She seemed to buy the answer and asked a followup question.
"How big is your family?"
Harry side-eyed her as they continued on their walk, it was as innocent a question one could ask but if she ever repeated the number to anyone and it didn't match up with what he'd say down the road should he forget, he'd be in for an awkward conversation at the least.
"Not overly big, just me, my parents and a few others. How big is yours?"
She looked sad for him before counting on her fingers, his eyebrows raised higher every time she'd start over after reaching ten, he half wondered if they merged with his hairline.
"I think fifty-four? I can't remember if my Aunt Clara just had twins or triplets." She then must've looked over to him and seen the look on his face. "Not used to a family that large?" her embarrassment had returned.
"No no, just imagining what life would be like with that many relatives running around." Harry liked to imagine that just how he was sent back here, there was another Harry out there with as big a family as the girl in front of him. "Christmas must be mental!"
She laughed and confirmed that any holiday was always a multiday affair with her family, she'd even invited him to a Christmas Eve supper if that was something he'd be interested in. Harry gave an elusive answer, he wanted to go but wasn't sure it'd be fully alright.
They both continued on in silence just as they'd begun, awkwardly looking at one another once they realized they'd lost track of whose go it was following their little tangent on family. Being the gentleman, Harry motioned for her to ask.
"You seem close with Riddle's group but I remember you saying I was the first person your age you met." Sarah looked around then, seeing if anybody was close before she leaned in to whisper. "Is everything fine?"
Taken aback by the seriousness and worry in the girl's voice, Harry answered her. "Yeah, I'm fine and believe me when I say, I'm not as close with Riddle and the others as people think."
Sarah exhaled when he said that, "Thank goodness, Veronica and Marcus get to me when all I ever hear about Riddle is negative - those two have a few bad experiences with the girl and think she's the worst witch to ever live!" she then jokes, "Hopefully their paranoia isn't rubbing off on me!"
Harry laughed along with her, pocketing another piece of information as he did so. Veronica Weasley and Marcus Potter were quickly climbing his list of people that he'd need to get on his side - Aster and Corene were still at the top, just below Dumbledore.
"Truth be told I met them the day after I met you. I'd just come out from Gringotts and wasn't sure where to buy Owls from. As luck would have it, I ran into Aster, Corene and the others who helped me find just what I was looking for. Malfoy invited me over to his home during that time to meet with others, which is where I first met Riddle." Harry then put a hand to his chin in thought. "Now that I think about it, I haven't even known her for a whole day."
"That's really something! That must make me the longest friend you've had, well, unless you've had others over before you came out publicly." Sarah was paying him close attention and Harry turned them around as he replied.
"No others, you are the longest friend I've had so far."
She seemed happy with that and started to ask another question before realizing it was his turn. Her getting on the topic of friends meant he could easily slide in a question or two regarding the people he was curious about.
"Are you close with Marcus and Veronica then?"
Sarah nodded rapidly. "I've been close to them since first year! You wouldn't believe the trouble they and their friends get into!"
Interested and in the mood for a story, Harry asked if she'd share an escapade of theirs, which she did.
"Veronica and Marcus were convinced that Riddle was behind one of their friends' brooms going wild during a quidditch match - even though she doesn't even attend them, not many of her circle do. They spent the whole year trying to gather evidence that she was beyond it and when they were finally convinced they had something solid, they went to their Head of House, Professor Dumbledore. He humoured the pair, being shown Riddle's school bag which they'd stolen from her while she was in the library. Nothing incriminating was found in it and they were the ones punished for theft - by the very Professor they'd gone to."
Either they were brilliant and lacked common sense or Riddle allowed them to have the bag just to get them off her back. Maybe Sarah had an opinion on it, it was worth asking. "Do you think they're just paranoid as you said earlier or do you think Riddle had something to do with it?"
Sarah scoffed. "What would she gain from doing that? It wasn't even Gryffindor's best player being targeted - I think they're just too suspicious of the girl because of the colour of her robes and the company she keeps. Marcus has never gotten on well with Abraxus and they've known each other since before they were attending Hogwarts. Now it's my question, right?"
Harry nodded in the affirmative, the pair were close to the Great Hall's entrance now.
"Do you think you'll stay here until you graduate, or will you leave before then?"
He had no clue how long he'd be here, but he doubted that was the answer she wanted from him. Maybe he'd be here until Riddle was taken care of, maybe he was here for a reason he didn't yet know, maybe he wasn't even actually here and this was all a dream - that last one was more a random thought than a possibility in his mind.
"I think I'll stay here until I graduate and do whatever comes next in life. I haven't exactly planned anything out." other than stopping Voldemort's rise to power, rebuilding my bond with the most powerful wizard alive and trying to meet my family who doesn't actually know I'm related to them.
The last goal of his was added on today and for reasons obvious to himself, he couldn't tell her any of what he'd thought even if he'd loved to have seen the look on her face should he do it.
Harry and Sarah were at the entrance now, she leaned against the wall beside it as students slowly exited every so often. "The last question before we enter back in is yours, Harry."
His eyes trailed her figure briefly as it was highlighted while she leaned against the door, a very polite cough from Sarah joined with a knowing look sent him on to ask his question while slightly embarrassed. However, before he could ask what he wanted to, he saw her sisters along with a few Gryffindor's making their way over to them.
"Were you supposed to be back by a certain time?"
Sarah cocked her head. "That's your last question?"
He pointed towards the group that was closing in on them. Marcus and Veronica weren't in it, but he assumed those with Sarah's sisters were friends of theirs.
"Sarah you're back! Enjoy a snog wi-"
Another of her sisters flicked the ear of the offending one, causing the girl to yelp before she could finish.
"Thanks Sammi!" Sarah said before wagging her finger at the girl holding her ears protectively.
"Care to introduce us to Peverell here, Sarah?" A boy wearing Harry's old colours asked.
Sarah stuck her tongue out at him but did so, motioning towards the group with one long sweep of her arm. "Harry, meet a few of my friends who were unlucky enough to share a common room with Potter and Weasley. Henry Prewett, Gabe Selpie, Indigo Birch and Jericho Prewett."
All four of them greeted him in some fashion when their name was said.
"You're more than welcome to sit with us whenever you'd like to, tomorrow morning included." Henry told him after shaking his hand.
"Right he is. I'll bet you'll be wanting to sit with us whenever possible to avoid a few of your new housemates, especially that Malfoy git!" Both Prewett brothers laughed as they passed by Harry, making their exit with the others in tow, a series of byes sounding when they passed him.
Sarah was the last one to go, telling him to sit with them for breakfast tomorrow if he'd like to as Henry offered - but not to feel obligated in doing so.
Once they were out of his field of view and swallowed up by the castle, Harry entered back into the Great Hall to see it with only a few dozen students still eating or socializing.
Riddle was waiting patiently as ever, with only Druella and Thyme with her, the two in conversation while Riddle was watching Dumbledore. Harry didn't know why she'd bother doing that, the man was busily chatting with Slughorn.
That was until he remembered what Tom had said in his time, Dumbledore always keeping an annoyingly close eye on him following the chamber of secrets and Harry knew for a fact that he hadn't seen Hagrid around during the feast - he would've noticed the giant man, as even in the memory he was huge as a boy. This was another thing he'd have to speak with Dumbledore about, just once his former Headmaster was assuredly on his side to avoid any suspicions.
Harry made his way over to Riddle, whose gaze was on him once she'd heard his footsteps.
"There you are. I suppose we can get moving now that you've done what you wanted to?" Riddle didn't wait for his response and stood up, her tone was odd, vaguely sharp with an unreadable element to it.
Druella followed her out while Thyme looked at him for a few seconds, shaking his head at Harry before he too followed Riddle out.
Unsure of what he'd missed, Harry brought up the rear of the group as it made its way through the halls of Hogwarts. They moved in silence for the entire trip, Riddle occasionally pointing out something to him though none of it was overly important.
Eventually, the group made it to the entrance of Slytherin's common room, Riddle filling him in on the password when she said "Gloria."
Harry made a mental note and followed in after the girl, the two others coming in behind him.
When he took in the room, its appearance was much the same as how it'd been when he snuck into it with Ron, as if nothing had changed after all that time in between. It made him wonder what the Gryffindor common room looked like.
Only a few students were about in the various seats, a good portion sitting near the fireplace with an open chair closest to it, facing the rest of the room. Aster and Reinhard weren't seated with those near the fireplace but rather playing a game of wizarding chess, another notable person not sitting near it was Walburga - the girl being joined by a half dozen students closer to the entrance. No younger students were around, if he had to guess everyone in the Common Room was a fourth year or higher. Thankfully, Harry had missed the First Years introduction into the house along with the orientation he was told about earlier - he imagined it must've been dreadful if a Malfoy was responsible for it.
"Thyme, have the chair beside mine cleared for Peverell." Riddle ordered the boy, turning next to Druella. "Rosier, tell Abraxus and Corene to have what I requested finalized by the time I finish telling our friend everything worth knowing."
Both pawns dipped their head and went to do as they were bid, not showing the slightest apprehension of having been ordered by the girl.
Having moved a bit away from the trio upon his entrance to examine the room in finer details than he had before, he was alerted by a hand closing around his wrist that she'd closed the distance.
"Don't think you'll be escaping so easily." Her hand tightened around his wrist as she walked in front of him, eyes alight with mischief - which immediately put to ease the drop in his stomach. "I can't have you doing anything that would reflect poorly on me, after all."
She thought herself funny with how she'd let a space drag between her speaking, making his mind race.
"I can go speak with Corene instead - I'd hate to hurt your reputation."
Riddle began tapping on him with the hand that'd encircled his wrist. "You think having you go to Corene after I've already taken the responsibility of overseeing your introduction wouldn't reflect negatively on me? You know better than that Harry - otherwise you wouldn't be here."
Not bothering to feed into her void that was Riddle, he changed the topic. "What is it I need to know then?"
"Not here, we'll go over to our seats - after you're done taking in your surroundings that is." She followed his gaze out through one of the windows seeing into the vast expanse of the lake. "I was just as impressed as you when I first entered."
Harry ignored the boasting tone in which she'd said that, but she wasn't completely wrong. As much as he loved everything Gryffindor, down here wasn't as horrible as a cupboard under the stairs or a bedroom with barred windows with used goods.
After a few minutes of appraising the room, he allowed her to lead him over to two empty chairs that could see the entire common room while being seated right next to the Fireplace. A multitude of greetings being fired at Riddle and by extension, him, as the two passed Riddle's various chest pieces.
With the kissing up completed, the two took their seats and the moment they did so she'd had her wand out and waved it intricately a few times in patterns he couldn't place - if she had meant to curse him, there'd have been nothing he could do to stop her. He cursed himself for being caught off guard.
Utter silence greeted him when she'd finished and by her smile, he guessed whatever she'd done in addition to silencing the conversations in their little bubble of the room was completed.
"Pay attention as I do hate repeating myself. Slytherin House is united in the eyes of Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and most importantly, Gryffindor. Should you ever find yourself in a disagreement with housemates, it stays within the confines of this area or other suitably private locations - never break that. Now let me make use of your dislike towards Abraxus - if you ever saw him or any other housemate of equal relation being confronted by those not within our house, you're expected to back him regardless of the fault of those involved. Other than that, don't get the First Years involved in anything overly nefarious and pay attention, things such as seating aren't without their own set of rules." She looked happy to have gotten that over with, leaning forward and relaxing her posture.
"Now onto more pleasurable affairs, I would very much like to be your friend, Harry. " She'd purposefully drawn attention to both his name and pleasurable, something that rather than allure, set him on edge. "As I've told you before and with reasons unknown to myself, I'm interested- no, more than that, I'm drawn to you."
Riddle leaned closer still, halfway off her chair.
Harry turned to look at the others in the room but noticed none of them were looking at them or even angling themselves towards the two. Still, he tried to remind her of something it seemed like she'd forgotten. "Not afraid of the others hearing all this?"
A wide smile prefaced her response. "You don't have to be worrying about them, they're certainly not minding us any attention - I do respect your attempted deflection, however."
Summoning his courage just as he had earlier, Harry ceased delaying whatever she was slowly getting at along with stopping his motion of leaning back from her. "What do you want then Elaine, get to your point and stop with the games you've been playing since we've met."
He expected her wand to be pointed at him for the blatant disrespect he paid to her - something he'd already prepared for, his hand hanging onto his, ready for a strike.
Just the opposite happened - Riddle full out laughed at him, her face getting rosy much to the delight of some of him and annoyance of the other half.
When she'd finished laughing but still with her face red, she smiled differently at him - more real, possibly or just another meaning behind it that made it feel different. "Nobody ever responds to me that way, you even seemed ready to curse me." He saw her close her eyes as a shudder ran through her body, one hand caressing the ring on the other. "I want to teach you daily, rather than you not having set actual time for our lessons."
"No." He wouldn't allow her that. As unlikely as it seemed, he worried too much time around her in a peaceful, safe environment would lower his suspicion of the girl - providing her with unlimited opportunities to ambush him or subtly raise her influence without his noticing.
She pursed her lips at him. "I want your forgiveness in meaning rather than words, Harry - teaching you more frequently would do that."
"You already have it, just help me when I'm stuck and we're even. Besides, I could always reach out to others for help too rather than overwork you." He leaned back in his seat but rather than look around the room anymore he was committed to keeping his eyes on her with his hand close to his wand.
"Help from Corene? Goldhorn? Walburga? You've heard Slughorn himself say just how talented I am, none of the three could compare to me. I could make you the top of your year, Harry." She was standing now, looking down at him as her tone went to something indecipherable.
Harry sighed and stood up himself, wanting to end whatever situation he'd gotten himself into quickly and before the girl began losing her head. "Being the top of my year doesn't mean too much to me-" he raised his hand when she made to speak, only a hissing sound coming from her mouth. "-but, I'll seek out your expertise when needed rather than the others. I'm still not committing to a schedule with you."
That seemed to suffice as she went from a mix of emotions back to composed. "I suppose that'll have to do."
She made to flick her wand to the side but stopped just before the motion went, looking at him. Her right hand raised towards his face, her fingers brushing his hairline while her thumb went to the corner of his lips, Harry didn't move just due to the absurdity of the moment he found himself in.
Riddle moved right in front of him, her thumb rubbing a little circle at the corner of his mouth as her left hand was moving in a way he couldn't make out - her expression was just as rapturous as it'd been in Malfoy's parlour room the night before. She seemed to shake herself from whatever had taken hold as she backpedalled and turned her face away from him.
"You had something at the corner of your mouth - bad manners not to point it out, excuse me." She then followed through with the flicking of her wrist this time.
Still standing looking at her in confusion while Abraxus and Corene made their way over to the girl, Harry was called to by Aster from the wizarding chess table when the boy noticed Riddle was done with him.
"Harry, come on over! We're just finishing up and we can show you the dorms!" Reinhard seemed to disagree with the 'just finishing up' but from what Harry could see, Aster was clearly vanquishing the much larger boy in a game of wits - much to the dismay of Harry.
Wanting to get away from Riddle and just slightly eager to see his new accommodations, Harry joined the two playing chess. He made it just in time to see yet another of Reinhard's pieces being beaten by Aster, leaving the boy with just three on the table compared to Aster's almost whole collection. Too bad Ron wasn't here so Harry could see if Aster was truly good at the game or simply playing a weak opponent.
Aster seemed to take notice of Harry's staring at the board and misplaced his thinking.
"Want to challenge me yourself sometime Pev?" Aster's voice was teasing as the boy effortlessly finished off Reinhard, standing up before the piece was even destroyed.
"Maybe sometime, but let's get to seeing those dorms." He'd probably amuse Aster sometime, likely whenever he needed a blow to his ego.
Aster shrugged and led Harry with Reinhard following through a few doors until they were in front of one marked for fifth years. To Harry's annoyance and Reinhard's laughter, Aster stood blocking the door with his hands on the handle.
Looking back at Harry, the boy asked, "Shall I?"
"Maybe he'll want to do it himself, first time and that." Lestrange pointed out from behind him.
Harry loudly sighed and told Aster to get on with it so he could get to his bed, the boy snickering before he flung open the door. Harry was the first to enter and had to admit, it was stunning.
A fountain with a few inches of water was in the exact middle of the room, a small statue in the middle of that. Large windows just as big as the ones in the common room were on the far wall while pillars of stone with snakes wrapped around them were dotted throughout. Huge tapestries covered the walls with equally huge curtains to conceal the windows should somebody want to avoid seeing the fish swim by. Most importantly to Harry, each bed was similar to that of the ones in Gryffindor tower but with more space between them.
It wasn't what he was used to in the slightest, but it would do.
Harry saw a few beds with items laying across them as he walked throughout the room, he made his way over to one closest to the windows of the Lake which the others seemed to dislike. When he asked why nobody had taken it yet, he was told that Abraxus and Yaxley stay closest to the door since they leave often for Riddle, they personally don't care where they go but the others in their year generally also like being close by the door.
Not caring overly much where he went, Harry picked one of the two beds available that have the windows right beside them, flopping onto it and relaxing into the comfortable mattress. It would allow him slightly more privacy than the others being both in the back of the room and having only one bed beside it rather than two.
Aster followed up his choice by picking the bed beside him while Lestrange picked the one across, both boys seemed to be sticking close to him since the train and events that followed - he wasn't sure if it was due to them thinking of him as a friend with similar interests or if Riddle wanted to keep an eye on him.
He supposed time would tell what they were doing and decided to head to bed - it wasn't overly late yet, nor was it early, but he was tired nonetheless.
Most of the fifth year boys were in their beds with only the two closest to the door still out and likely in the common room with Riddle.
"Hey."
Harry rolled over and watched as the fish leisurely swam by the window, a new sight to the boy.
"Hey."
In the eerie green light the room provided he could see the lake startlingly well, maybe he'd take to studying in one of the couches tucked in coves between the windows.
A book landed on Harry's torso, making him jump and look towards his assailant.
Aster was on his own bed laying on his stomach with his hands reaching into his satchel, likely readying another book to throw at him.
"I'm trying to sleep, what could possibly be so important that you threw a book at me?" Harry snapped before looking to see what Rosier had thrown, seeing it was a book on Magical History - he amended his question. "What could possibly be semi-important enough for you to throw this at me?"
"Well, I was thinking you'd want to know when we'd be leaving for breakfast, but if you're going to be short about it…" Aster trailed off while he placed a hand on his chest, exaggeratingly offended.
He was now convinced that if Riddle had been responsible for making them stick close to him, it was less having them spy on him and more them being a driving factor for him to meet with her to avoid the company they provided.
"I'll probably be joining Goldhorn for breakfast." Harry saw the affronted look across Rosier's face and rolled his eyes. "I suppose I can walk to the Great Hall with you."
Aster opened his mouth but closed it when Reinhard coughed. He opened it a second time, this time telling Harry that would do before he pulled out a book of his own to read along with some glasses for doing the reading.
Seeing the concentration on Aster's face, Harry knew the boy was winding down for the night and when he looked over to Lestrange the larger boy was doing much the same.
Harry turned back over and resumed watching the fish swim by the windows beside his bed.
He slowly counted them, one turning into ten turning into fifty, sleep slowly welcoming him into its embrace.
September 2nd
Thursday Morning
7:00 AM
"Wake up Peverell! Everyone is waiting in the common room for you to make the announcement of your engagement to Riddle, get a move on!"
Harry sat bolt upright and scrambled for the glasses he no longer needed, zoning in the face of Aster Rosier as the boy was grabbing his sides in laughter next to an equally as amused Reinhard.
His awareness in the morning had been lacking enough to fall for that very unfunny joke, he imagined his face showed the immense displeasure he was feeling when Aster managed to get out between breaths.
"This was our… third time wa-king your lazy… lazy arse up Peverell!"
Both boys were still wheezing by the time they'd made their way down to the waiting group, all of them giving questionable glances to which he shook his head. No way would he be letting them tell the others just what'd woken him up - he didn't want anyone thinking he fancied the Dark Lor- Dark Lady in waiting.
More talkative than he'd imagined them being this early in the morning, the Slytherin's around him seemed to be in good spirits and happy to converse. Corene had appeared on his left at around the midway mark with Aster's sister Druella going on his right. Both asked him what he'd thought of the dorms and how he'd enjoyed his first night at Hogwarts. They went on to make light conversation with him after his answer, until Riddle pulled him to the front of the group.
She'd asked almost the same questions as they had but walked close enough to him that their arms constantly brushed - whenever he'd move away she'd push back into the neutral zone he'd attempted making.
Their game went on like that a few times before he gave up, not bothering to stop her seeing as the walk was almost over. Harry could make out her smile at his admittance of defeat - a smile that dissipated once he made his way towards the Gryffindor table where he could see Sarah's sisters with two of the four Gryffindor's he'd met last night.
While her smile had vanished by the time he'd turned from the group, he'd not turned around to see the reactions that evolved from his choice of seating. Harry chose to avoid looking back as he made his way over to a seat between Sarah and one of the Prewett boys - both looking the same from behind.
"Save any bacon mate?" Harry said as a way of announcing his presence - whichever Prewett boy having a plate filled solely with the comfort food.
Around a mouthful of the food, the boy replied. "Maybe" which came out much more muffled than it should've.
A hand reached around Harry's back as it connected with the boy's head. "Manners Henry!"
That answered Harry's unasked question of which Prewett he was sitting beside.
Laughing with the few others at the table, Harry helped himself to a plate of food and engaged in small talk with various members of the House he belonged in. Only some at the table gave him weird looks when noticing his presence - those he was seated with putting to rest any contempt or problems before they arose.
After about an hour of sitting at the table, Marcus Potter came down with Veronica Weasley and more of the group he'd seen before behind them.
Both of those he was interested in sat across from Harry and easily joined the casual conversations.
Harry simply listened in and responded when he was personally included - something that gradually increased until Marcus finished eating and chose to converse with solely him while the other conversations became background noise.
"Enjoy your first night in the Castle, Pev?"
"It was as interesting as I'd hoped, the common room especially was brilliant."
Marcus nodded his head. "They're all pretty great looking, but nothing beats Gryffindors."
Harry almost agreed with the boy before realizing how that'd look, now that he thought back to what the boy said himself maybe he wasn't the only one to have seen multiple Common Rooms of the castle. Then again, he could be pulling his leg or basing it off what others have said.
"Think you'll be joining us more than just this once? I don't imagine Riddle or the others would be overly happy if you did so - even while we're all glad to have you."
He wondered what made Marcus say that and questioned the other boy about it. "I'll probably sit with you all from time to time - and why do you seem to think that?"
Marcus chuckled and looked past Harry. "Let's just say I've had a few extra sets of eyes on me since I've sat in front of you and as much as you seem to be good company, I wouldn't want to cause you any grief with your housemates."
Harry never thought he'd get used to hearing Slytherins being referred to as his housemates, nonetheless, he dipped his head. "I don't think it'd cause too many problems, not any more than being late on my first day of class would." He'd mentioned that as the time was getting close to the first class starting.
While sitting with the Gryffindors he'd been given his timetable by Slughorn who had briefly conversed with him and Potter, attempting to have the boys for tea that night of which both answered they'd potentially be able to.
"Maybe, but best be careful around Riddle. Goldhorn and most of the others think I'm crazy, I just can't help but feel Riddle is far more sinister in her interactions than others see. Now how about we get walking to class mate?"
Amiable enough to spend more time with Marcus, Harry stood up and joined the other boys' group of friends as they made their exit - when he looked to see if Riddle was gone since Marcus last mentioned her, he was surprised to see that she'd also gotten up with her group following.
On the speed she was going, they'd make their way to the exit at the same time.
And they did.
"Marcus, Harry. " Riddle greeted the two boys out front, in turn, saying the first name with contempt and the second with an undertone he didn't understand.
"Elaine." Marcus said back, dislike equally as readable.
"I do hope your breakfast was enjoyable Harry, some company I find to be more tolerable than others. Now, how about I take you to your first class?" Riddle addressed only him, speaking louder when Marcus' group took offence to what she'd said.
"Well Riddle, seeing as I'm in his year and we share the class, I'll be taking him. I wouldn't want to make you and your friends late after all." Marcus winked at Harry and took a step forward with him.
Riddle walked past them with her group behind her, Harry thinking she'd capitulated until she leaned against the door, effectively blocking it with those around her.
"I imagine Daphne could deal with it if I were." Riddle responded to Marcus while looking at Harry, she then spoke to him while extending her hand. "Come along, Harry. I have something else to show you on your way to class."
He could see everybody around him tensing - almost everyone, Aster was none too discreetly winking at him while looking between Riddle's hand and him.
Daphne began walking over to Potters group, which urged Harry to whisper an apology to the boy as he grabbed Riddle's outstretched hand - it felt as cold as he remembered.
Marcus seemed to understand why Harry'd done that and nodded his head, the boy knowing Harry didn't want to be responsible for any fallout that should occur from Daphne using her authority.
Riddle pulled him towards her and walked off happily humming with the others of his year following her, all tenseness from the moment vanished.
He'd noticed during her escorting of him to the class that she kept glancing at him and looking away whenever he'd look towards her. Eventually, he caught her and briefly saw the blush on her cheeks - he didn't know why until he realized their hands were still connected.
When he attempted to disconnect their hands, he felt her grip tighten as she got closer to him.
"Sit with me for Lunch." It wasn't a question and when he looked at her again, she was looking directly at him with her expression still unreadable as it'd been earlier.
"Fine, you're helping me with Arithmancy though." He may as well get something out of this and calm the crazy girl beside him before she goes on a cursing spree.
Riddle smiled and this time she was the one that looked away from his eyes, the faintest of blushes reappearing on her face.
"Deal."