So you can really understand what he is saying?" Daphne asked in an interested voice.
"Yep," Harry nodded as Jet moved so he was now resting on Harry's shoulders. "he's my best friend, I talk to him more than anyone else."
"How long have you two known each other?" Tracy asked, looking just as interested as Daphne.
"Few years," Harry answered. "I woke up one day and he was just there." Harry smirked as Jet rubbed his head against Harry's cheek.
"Oh...um...can we touch him?" Tracy asked Harry.
"Let me check," Harry responded before turning to Jet and speaking in parsletounge. "Jet, can they touch you?"
"Yes, but why do they want to touch me?" Jet hissed in a questioning voice.
"Because you're interesting." Harry replied.
"Fair enough." Jet nodded, happy for the compliment.
"He says you can touch him." Harry said tot he girls.
"I don't know if I will ever get used to that." Daphne shook her head at Harry's casual use of parsletounge, she and Tracy carefully brought their hands up and began stroking Jet.
"Oh, he's so smooth." Tracy whispered.
"I told you snakes weren't slimy." Daphne smirked, reminding Tracy of a conversation they had yesterday. It had started with them discussing the different Hogwarts houses, then somehow ended up with them discussing how slimy snakes were and how aggressive badgers could get.
"Oh I like this." Jet hissed.
"What did he say?" Daphne asked Harry.
"He likes it." Harry answered.
"Oh, that's good." Tracy smiled.
"So, I didn't suspect that many people would be able to speak to snakes, but it sounds like it's really rare based off the way you two are speaking about it." Harry commented.
"It is," Daphne nodded. "the last person who was confirmed to have been able to speak it was Salazar Slytherin."
"The founder of Slytherin house?" Harry asked.
"The exact same one." Daphne nodded.
"I suppose it makes sense then that his house symbol is a snake." Harry said with a thoughtful look on his face. "You said the last confirmed one, does that mean there are others?"
"There might be." Daphne shrugged. "None that I know of, though it was rumored that you-know-who was able to speak it."
"Really?" Harry blinked.
"Yeah but that's just rumors, I don't know if they're real or just somebody trying to make you-know-who look better."
"Hmm." Harry hummed. "I..." Whatever Harry was about to say was cut off as the compartment door opened. Standing in the doorway was a girl about their age, she had bushy brown hair, buck teeth and was already in her Hogwarts uniform.
"Has anyone seen a toad?" The girl began in a tired tone. "A boy named Neville has lost one and..." The girl paused upon seeing the snake in the compartment, her eyes became wide and her jaw dropped.
"Haven't seen a toad." Harry replied.
"T...that's a snake!" The girl gasped as she pointed to Jet.
"We are very aware of that." Daphne replied with an amused look.
"But you can't have a snake!" The girl protested. "You're only allowed an owl, cat or a toad."
"I'm better than those!" Jet hissed angrily, the girl took a step back but to her credit didn't run away like the redhead from earlier.
"He's not my pet," Harry began explaining. "he is my familiar."
"Familiar?" She asked.
"Basically a bonded animal." Tracy explained.
"Oh," The girl frowned. "can anyone get a familiar?" She asked hopefully.
"No," Daphne shook her head. "most witches and wizards will go their whole lives without getting one."
"Oh," The girl frowned again, looking disappointed and a bit jealous. "but anyway, it doesn't matter if it's a familiar, it's still a pet and the rules say you can only have a cat, owl or a toad."
"Familiars are not pets!" Jet hissed, Harry said the exact same thing to this girl, except in normal English of course.
"I already asked teacher." Harry informed her. "And she said it was fine, anyway, don't you have to go back to getting a 'toad' or whatever it was?" Harry asked. The girl looked like she was about to say more but clearly decided against it as she closed the door and walked away with a small huff.
"Well, that was pleasant." Tracy said in a dry voice.
"Forget her! Pet me!" Jet hissed impatiently, Harry rolled his eyes but translated. The girls blinked at the command but dutifully continued.
A short while later the train had arrived at Hogwarts, all the students stepped out, wearing their uniforms. Harry had brought Jet with him because - I am not a damn pet and I am not staying on this damn train - Jet was hidden under Harry's right sleeve, he kept his body wrapped around Harry's arm.
"All first years this way." A voice called out, the first years all saw Hagrid waving them over, he had a giant lantern in one hand.
"He's a big man." Tracy gulped.
"He is called Hagrid." Harry informed her.
"You know him?" Daphne asked.
"Not really," Harry shook his head. "I met him once at Gringotts." Harry said before he looked around, all the first years looked disbelieving and intimidated in front of a giant man like Hagrid, they probably thought that he would eat them or something. Despite that they all followed Hagrid, as they walked Harry pretended not to notice people whispering and pointing at him, or his scar to be more accurate. A few people instantly realized who he was, others took a few moments but pretty soon everyone realized that the boy-who-lived was walking with them. A short while later they arrived at a lake that where a lot of boats were waiting for them.
"Four to a boat." Hagrid called as he took an entire boat for himself.
"Ladies first." Harry said to Tracy and Daphne.
"Thank you." Daphne said as she got into the boat.
"Thanks Potter," Tracy said as she got in next. "glad to know that chivalry isn't completely dead."
"Yeah, and I wanted to make sure the boat wouldn't sink." Harry quipped as he got in next, the fourth person to enter the boat was a black skinned boy who nodded to them all as he sat down in greeting.
"Nobody was sitting here, right?" The boy asked.
"No," Harry shook his head. "just the three of us."
"I'm Blaise, Blaise Zabini." The boy introduced himself just as the boats began moving on their own.
"Nice to meet you, that's Daphne Greengrass and Tracy Davis." Harry gestured to each girl, both nodding at their name. "I'm Harry, Harry Potter, though I guess it's pretty obvious."
"Yeah, the scar kind of gives it away." Blaise nodded. "I think most people have worked it out." Blaise commented as he glanced at the people in the other boats, they were subtly - and not so subtly in some cases - trying to get a look at Harry.
"Honestly," Harry shook his head with disbelief. "you think they would be more subtle."
"I would have thought that they would have realized that they have an entire year to look at you and don't need to squeeze it all into a single night." Daphne commented idly.
"Glad to know you've got a future in comedy." Harry said as he rolled his eyes.
"Oh, you think so?" Daphne smirked.
Harry was about to respond when suddenly Hogwarts came into the view, it was a wonderful sight. The light from the moon bouncing off the water as a beautiful stands there against he dark as if created by magic itself. Before Harry knew it, he was smiling,.
Harry and the other first years stood outside the hall, Professor McGonagall who was an elderly woman and the deputy headmistress plus transfiguration teacher, had given them a speech about how whatever house they go into would become their family. She then left, but not before she instructed them to all wait to be called in so they could begin the sorting. Harry had asked Daphne and Tracy if they knew how people were supposed to get sorted but they both didn't know either, neither did Blaise. Apparently it was a traditional thing to not tell people until they actually get sorted.
"So it's true then," A voice said, over the rest of the talking first year. The first years all stopped talking as a blonde boy with grey eyes walked up to Harry, following behind him were two big boys who looked like gorillas and the stereotypical examples of 'all brawn and no brain'. "what they were saying on the train, Harry Potter has come to Hogwarts." The other first years began whispering amongst each other as they watched, the boy didn't seem to notice as he continued talking. "This is Crabbe and Goyle," He gestured to the big boys behind him. "and my name is Malfoy, Draco Malfoy." He said with a smirk
Harry was about to respond but was cut off when an amused snort was heard, everyone turned to look at the source of that snort, it happened to be none other than Ron Weasley, the redhead from before.
"Think my name is funny, do you?" Malfoy glared at him. "I don't think I need to ask yours," He sniffed as if he smelt something unpleasant, "red hair and hand me down robes, you must be a Weasley." He said, causing Ron's face to turn red in anger and embarrassment. "You'll soon find out that some wizarding families are better than others," Malfoy said to Harry, "you don't want to be making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you with that." he said as he held out a hand for Harry to shake.
"Hmm," Harry hummed thoughtfully before shaking Malfoy's hand. "I think I can tell the wrong sort of myself, but I will be willing to listen to you." Harry said.
"What?! You can't be friends with him!" Ron protested.
"I never said I was," Harry said as he let go of Malfoy's hand. "we just met, all I said was that I'd listen to his opinions."
"But he's..." Whatever Ron was going to say was cut off as Professor McGonagall arrived.
"Students, follow me." She ordered before turning on her heel and walking off, the first years following after her and into the great hall.
The great hall was eye catching to say the least, there were four big tables that stretched along most of the hall and a fifth one on top of a stage at the opposite end of the hall for the teachers to sit at. Above them dozens of lit candles floated up in the air, above those candles was what looked like the night sky. Though Harry knew it was not actually the night sky, according to the books he read, it was simply enchanted to look like that. Harry assumed it was advanced magic but he really wanted to learn how to do that so he could apply it to his own room.
Harry had heard the bushy haired girl from before telling people about how she had read that it was an enchanted sky but he didn't really pay attention to her, he was more focused on the fact that everyone was looking at them. They were all also mostly looking at him, even if Harry wasn't the boy-who-lived he would still get attention just because of his scar.
The first years all stopped in front of the stage, while Professor McGonagall walked up the stage and stood next to a stool. Harry saw Bathsheda sitting at the table and saw her smiling at him, Harry smiled back and gave her a small nod before focusing on the sorting. On top of the stool was an ancient looking hat, one that appeared to be moving, after a few seconds it began speaking, not just speaking, it was singing.
"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
The students and teachers all burst into applause and cheers, Harry began clapping as well but kept his movements slow as he didn't want to bother Jet who was still wrapped around his arm. Professor McGonagall picked up the hat with one hand and held a scroll in her other hand.
"When I call your name you will come up here and sit down on the stool, I will then place this hat on your head. You will be sorted into a house, and once that is done you will go and join your house. Let us begin, Hannah Abbot." Professor McGonagall called, a nervous looking girl with blonde hair slowly walked forwards and sat on the stool. The Professor placed the hat on her head.
"Hufflepuff!" The hat shouted a few seconds later, Professor McGonagall removed the hat and allowed the girl to happily walk to the Hufflepuff table.
As the sorting continued, Harry took the opportunity to look at the teachers table, he recognized Professor Babbling and Hagrid easily enough. The other most interesting looking teacher was a man who looked the exact opposite of Hagrid in terms of height, in fact he looked no bigger than a Gringotts goblin. There were several other interesting looking teachers, including the headmaster.
The headmaster was wearing bright purple robes that had a star pattern on them, that with his hat and long white beard made him look like a typical story wizard. Another interesting teacher Harry couldn't help but notice was the black robes teacher sitting next to a Professor who was wearing a purple turban.
The black robed teacher was a thin man with sallow skin, a large, hooked nose and yellow, uneven teeth. He had shoulder-length, greasy black hair which framed his face in curtains, curling lips and dark, penetrating eyes that resembled tunnels. The man for some reason was glaring in Harry's direction, Harry was pretty sure that the man hated him judging by the way he was looking at him.
Harry placed his focus back on the sorting, mostly just to stop looking at the glaring man. Daphne and Tracy were sorted into Slytherin house along with Malfoy and the two boys that Harry was pretty sure were his bodyguards. Harry saw the bushy haired girl - Hermione Granger was her name apparently - get sorted into Gryffindor. Harry would have figured that she was more of a Ravenclaw person but who was he to argue with a magical hat. Eventually Harry was called up, Harry walked up towards the stool and sat down. He barely was able to see the hall staring at him before the hat was placed on his head.
'Oh,' Harry heard the hat speak, the odd thing was that the sound wasn't so much coming into his ears as it was already inside his ears. 'yes Mr Potter, I am speaking into your mind. Do not worry, what happens between you and me is strictly confidential, nobody else will know, student or teacher. I give you my word.'
"This is the sorting hat speaking, isn't it?' Harry mentally asked. 'What do I call you?'
'Hat will do, now shush. I need to sort you. Hmm, you have such an interesting mind, far less simple than most. Plenty of courage, not a bad mind either in terms of intelligence. You only have one friend at the moment but you are very loyal to him, even if he is a snake. There's talent, oh yes, and a thirst to prove yourself. But where to put you?'
'You're asking me? I thought this was your job.'
'It is, but there's nothing wrong with asking, is there?' The hat replied. 'Tell me Potter, do you have anything to say?' The hat asked.
'I...I don't really have a preference', Harry admitted. 'I...I just want to learn magic.'
'Why?' The hat asked.
'What do you mean why?'
'Why do you wish to learn? For the sake of learning?' The hat asked.
'No...no, I just...I love magic.' Harry replied. 'I want to be the best at it'.
'Hmm, I can see why. Your 'relatives' would never dare hurt you if they thought you would be a powerful wizard.' The hat said, Harry couldn't help but notice the disdain in his voice when he said 'relatives'. 'If I may, I'd recommend Slytherin.'
'Slytherin?' Harry asked.
'Yes, you'd be a perfect fit.' The hat replied. 'Not only do you possess the Salazar Slytherin's ability, but you are also a powerful and clever yet ambitious wizard. Slytherin will help you on your way to greatness.'
'Greatness?' The word echoed in Harry's head. 'Greatness, I like that.' Harry grinned, not just mentally.
"In that case," The hat spoke loudly so that everyone could hear. "it had better be Slytherin!" The hat yelled.
Harry felt the hat get removed, he stood up and looked at everyone. The Hufflepuff's looked surprised and a few looked worried, the Ravenclaws also looked surprised but not that bothered. The Gryffindor's looked like somebody had killed and curb stomped their puppy before pissing on it, they had clearly been hoping that the boy-who-lived would become a Gryffindor just like most people expected.
Harry walked to the Slytherin table, the majority of them looked surprised and disbelieving. Harry saw Tracy and Daphne sitting opposite each other and took a seat next to Tracy.
"Girls." Harry nodded to them.
"Called it." Daphne smirked at Tracy.