Clarifications:
-"Person Talking"-
-(Person Thinking)-
-
[Jutsu and Spell]
(JC: Author's Notes)
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Let's get started
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Harry looked at his empty gold plate, trying to ignore the stares he was getting from the Hogwarts students, especially his housemates.
When all the new students were sorted, Albus Dumbledore stood up, beaming at the students, his arms wide open, as if nothing would please him more than to see them there.
-"Welcome!"- Dumbledore greeted all the students with glee. -"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our feast, I want to say a few words to you. And here they are, you nippers! You crybabies! You trinkets! You pinch!... Thank you very much!"-
He sat back down. Everyone clapped and cheered. Harry didn't know whether to laugh or not.
Harry smiled nervously. -"He's... a little crazy, isn't he?"-
Then his mouth dropped open. The plates in front of him were suddenly full of food. He had never seen so many things he liked to eat on a table: roast beef, roast chicken, pork and beef chops, sausages, bacon and steaks, boiled, roasted and fried potatoes, pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, tomato sauce and, for some strange reason, mint chocolates.
As someone like Harry who was raised in a quasi-Japanese culture, he was able to try delicious foods, one example being Ramen; but he always had a taste for foreign food, especially from Europe and America. Maybe it was his European heritage.
Harry filled his plate with a little bit of everything, except the mint chocolates, and began to eat. Everything was delicious.
When they had eaten all they wanted, the remains of food disappeared from the plates, leaving them as clean as before. A moment later, the desserts appeared. Pieces of ice cream of every flavor one could imagine; Apple pies, treacle tarts, chocolate lightning bolts, jam doughnuts, souffle cakes, strawberries, jelly, rice pudding...
Harry helped himself to a treacle tart, his favourite, and then began eating.
As he ate the tart, Harry looked towards the High Table.
The giant man, Hagrid, was drinking heavily from his goblet. Professor McGonagall was talking to Professor Dumbledore.
Then Harry looked at two teachers talking. One was a young man who had a very pale skin tone and wore a purple turban on his head. He was talking to a teacher with greasy black hair, a hooked nose and sallow skin. He was dressed in black robes that made him look like "an overgrown bat".
And then everything happened very quickly. The hooked-nosed teacher looked over the other teacher's turban, straight into Harry's eyes.
Harry could feel someone trying to get into his mind, but he was quickly stopped and driven away by the [Occlumency] shields.
The hook-nosed professor opened his eyes for a second, then returned to normal and continued talking to the turbaned professor.
Harry quickly recognized what the hook-nosed professor was trying to do. He tried to read his mind through [Legitimacy].
But suddenly, another probe tried to enter Harry's mind, but unlike the previous one, this one was stronger and more aggressive. The probe was quickly stopped by the mental shields.
Harry only knew that it was not the hook-nosed professor, but that it was close to him. His eyes went to the turbaned professor, and he could see that he never stopped talking to the other professor, nor did he ever see him directly.
Harry watched the two professors for a while.
After a while, the desserts disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore stood up again. The entire room remained silent.
-"Ahem... just a few more words, now that we've all eaten and drunk. I have a few announcements to make for the start of the year."-
-"First years should note that the forests around the castle grounds are off-limits to all students. And a few of our former students should also remember."-
Dumbledore's gleaming eyes pointed in the direction of a pair of red-headed twins at the Gryffindor table.
-"Mr. Filch, the Caretaker, has asked me to remind you not to do magic during recess or in the corridors."-
That announcement caused several students from all four houses to groan quietly.
-"Quidditch tryouts will take place in the second week of term. Those interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch."-
This time it caused several students to smile excitedly.
-"And lastly, I want to tell you that this year the third floor corridor, on the right side, is off limits to anyone who does not wish for a very painful death."-
Harry looked at Dumbledore with a raised eyebrow while a few students laughed, believing that the Headmaster was joking, which was not the case, as Dumbledore was frowning.
Harry couldn't help but think what was in the third floor corridor. -(There must be something in that place...)-
His great curiosity quickly made him plan to investigate what was on the third floor.
-"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!"-
Dumbledore smiled. Harry noticed that the smiles of the other teachers had become somewhat forced.
The headmaster then waved his wand, as if trying to catch a fly, and a long golden strip appeared, rose above the tables, writhed like a snake and transformed into words.
-"Let everyone choose their favourite tune!"- said Dumbledore. -"And off we go!"-
And the whole school roared:
Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Teach us something, please.
Even if we are old and bald or young with dirty knees, our minds can be filled with some interesting subjects.
For now they are empty and full of air, dead fleas and a little fluff.
So teach us things worth knowing, make us remember what we forget, do the best you can, we'll do the rest, and learn until our brains are wasted away.
They each finished the song at different times. At the end, only the red-headed twins were still singing, to the tune of a slow funeral march. Dumbledore led them through the last words with his wand, and when they finished, he was one of those who clapped the loudest.
-"Ah, the music!"- said Dumbledore, wiping his eyes. -"A magic beyond anything we do here!"-
Harry couldn't disagree. -(There is some truth to it...)-
-"And now, it's time to go to bed. Go trot!"-
At the Headmaster's last words, the Slytherin first years stood up and followed an older student through the bustling groups, out of the Great Hall and down the marble staircase.
After many twists and turns, they arrived at the dungeons of Hogwarts Castle and were led to one of its stone walls.
The older student said a word, and then the stone wall opened, revealing a small library with several bookshelves in it, and a passageway full of spiders leading to the dungeon entrance.
Before entering, the older student warned the first years never to bring students from other houses into the common room, or to reveal the password.
After being led through the passageway, they arrived at a dungeon-like room with greenish lamps and chairs. The room has lots of buttoned black and dark green armchairs, leather sofas; skulls; and dark wood cabinets. The walls are adorned with tapestries recounting the adventures of medieval wizards and witches. The room has a rather large atmosphere, but also very cold.
Suddenly, the hook-nosed professor entered the common room and stood in front of the first years.
-"Good evening, I am Professor Severus Snape"- Professor Snape introduced himself in a low, restrained voice. -"I am the Head of the Slytherin House and the Potions Professor of Hogwarts School"-
Harry mentally groaned as he saw that the Head of House was the same person who tried to read his mind. He had a feeling that he would have several problems with this professor.
-"Let me be clear"- Professor Snape continued without changing his tone of voice, but it was noticeable that he was serious now. -"You are members of the noble house of Slytherin, where we value cunning and ambition above all else, so do not bring dishonor to your house with silly problems; that is not being a Slytherin."-
-"Each student in Slytherin House has their own room, big enough for you and your things, and I don't expect any complaints about the size."-
Harry sighed inwardly, knowing that each student had their own room. He doubted he could handle some of his housemates.
-"If you have any problems or questions, I'll be in my office, and I hope they're important."- Snape warned. -"Now go to sleep. Tomorrow morning you'll receive your schedules and have your first classes."-
Snape then headed up a set of stone steps, disappearing in the process, but not before giving Harry one last look.
Each student was then led to their respective rooms. When Harry entered his, he could see a room big enough for one person.
Harry could see that his trunk and Hedwig were already there.
Hedwig, seeing Harry, began to whine to be let out of the cage.
-"I'm sorry girl, we're underground right now"- Harry apologized, but then smiled. -"But I promise that tomorrow morning I'll take you so you can fly freely"-
Hedwig seemed to understand, because she had already calmed down.
Harry then went to his bed to sleep, anxiously waiting for the first day of classes.
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-"There, look"-
-"Where?"-
-"There, sitting alone"-
-"The one sitting alone at the Slytherin table?"-
-"Have you seen his face?"-
-"Have you seen his scar?"-
Harry ate his breakfast, ignoring the comments and glances he received from the other students. Then someone sat in front of him, drawing his attention. Only to see Draco Malfoy accompanied by the two burly boys; who if Harry was not mistaken, were called Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle.
Malfoy quickly stepped forward and began to speak.
-"Harry Potter, it's nice to meet you, I'm-"-
-"Uzumaki"-
Malfoy was confused. -"Huh?"-
Harry answered calmly. -"I'm Harry Potter-Uzumaki"-
-"Ah... Yes..."- Malfoy said, not knowing how to react to that. -"As I was saying; I'm Malfoy, Draco Malfoy; heir to House Malfoy. These are Crabbe and Goyle."-
Malfoy smiled, then pointed at Crabbe and Goyle, who just nodded.
Harry remained calm. -"Yes, it's a pleasure."-
-"Let me be clear, it was a surprise that you were sorted into Slytherin. That's why you'll soon discover that some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter."- Malfoy smiled at him. -"You don't want to make friends with the wrong kind and bring shame to Slytherin House. I can help you with that."-
Malfoy then extended his hand to shake Harry's, but Harry didn't accept it.
Harry looked at Malfoy coldly. -"I think I can tell you who the wrong kind are by myself, thank you."-
Malfoy blushed with fury.
-"You don't seem to understand, Potter."- Malfoy said this time with a malicious smile. -"If you don't join me, I'll make your life in Slytherin a living hell."-
-"I don't care."-
Harry was not intimidated by Malfoy's threat.
Malfoy growled angrily, then stood up.
-"You'll pay for this, Potter; I assure you."-
With that threat, Malfoy then went with Crabbe and Goyle to sit far away from Harry.
Harry watched the whole scene with disinterest, then continued with his breakfast.
-"You are so brave, Potter."-
Harry looked to his right, where the voice came from. There, sitting and calmly eating breakfast, was a young man with dark skin, with marked cheekbones, black hair, and slanted brown eyes.
Harry looked at the boy next to him calmly. If he wasn't mistaken, the boy's name is Blaize Zabini.
-"Not many would do what you did. All Slytherins, even the older ones, are afraid of the political power that Malfoy has, or more specifically his father."-
Zabini said, without even looking at Harry, just concentrating on eating his breakfast.
Harry remained calm. -"I don't care if Malfoy's father is friends with the Minister of Magic himself"-
Zabini let out a small laugh.
-"You are brave, but you are also stupid"- Zabini said. -"Are you sure you shouldn't have been in Gryffindor?"-
-"I assure you that Slytherin is where you should be"-
-"As you say"- Zabini said disinterestedly. -"I just advise you to watch your back"-
Zabini then walked away with his plate.
Harry just nodded, still eating his breakfast.
After breakfast, each head of house handed out the schedules to the respective tables.
Harry looked at his schedule and quickly headed to his first class, which was Charms.
And so the first day of school began.
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...
The first period of class had already passed.
And Harry already had his opinions on the first classes he had.
First up was Charms with Professor Filius Flitwick.
Professor Flitwick is a tiny wizard who had to stand on a few books to see over his desk.
At the start of class, he pulled out the list and when he got to Harry's name, he gave a squeal of excitement and disappeared from view.
As the first class of the year, there was no spell practice yet, just theory, specific wand movements and proper pronunciation. Nothing Harry couldn't master. After all, he learned Charms from Rowena Ravenclaw herself.
Harry's first opinion of the class was that it was entertaining and interesting, especially when they had Professor Flitwick as their teacher.
But all that excitement of learning vanished after they had History of Magic…
It was after Charms and it was a very boring class, the only class taught by a ghost. Professor Binns was already very old when he fell asleep in front of the staff room fireplace and got up the next morning to teach, leaving his body behind.
Binns spoke monotonously, writing down names and dates, and making Elmer the Evil and Ulrich the Mad get confused.
Literally almost all the students fell asleep and only a few, including Harry, could stand it until the end of the class.
Even though Harry was trained by great Wizards, they could only teach what they knew about history in their time. The founders of Hogwarts lived since the Middle Ages, and several other historical events have happened since then. So Harry will have no choice but to listen and learn from the boring class.
After the 1st Period, it was still lunch time.
Harry entered the Great Hall, receiving glances from several students in the process.
Before he headed to the Slytherin table, Harry noticed Neville sitting alone at the Gryffindor table.
Harry looked at the Slytherin table for a moment, thinking for a few seconds, then walked over to the Gryffindor table, more specifically where Neville was sitting.
What Harry did quickly caught the attention of several students at the four tables, as well as the teachers.
Harry sat in front of Neville, catching his attention.
-"O-Oh, hello, James..."- Neville greeted nervously, then remembered that that wasn't his real name. -"S-Sorry, Harry"-
-"Yeah, sorry for lying to you"- Harry said embarrassed. -"I just didn't want to draw attention to myself so quickly"-
-"O-Okay, I understand"- Neville said. -"What brings you here?"-
-"I saw you sitting here alone, so I came to keep you company"-
Harry answered with a smile as he served himself some food.
Neville smiled at that. -"Th-Thanks, I find it very difficult to make friends."-
-"Don't say that."- Harry smiled at him. -"I am your friend after all."-
That surprised Neville. -"R-Really?"-
-"Of course. And tell me, how did your first classes go?"-
Harry's question made Neville sad.
-"Horrible. I'm completely bad at both spells and theory. I'm technically a Squib."-
-"Don't exaggerate. With study and practice you'll be able to do everything."- Harry said with a smile, then thought for a second. -"You know, I have plenty of knowledge, so I'll help you if you have any problems."-
That surprised Neville, who then smiled gratefully. -"Thank you."-
The two then began to talk, under the watchful eyes of the students and teachers.
After a few minutes, Harry noticed that Hermione had just entered the Great Hall.
-"Hey, Hermione!"- Harry shouted, getting Hermione's attention. -"Come, sit with us."-
Hermione became conflicted, she looked at the Ravenclaw table and then at the Gryffindor table. She also noticed that many students and teachers were looking at her waiting for her answer.
Hermione looked at Harry and smiled, then walked over to the Gryffindor table, sitting next to Harry.
-"Hi, guys?"- Hermione greeted with a smile. -"How are you?"-
-"Good."-
Harry replied with a smile, while Neville responded the same.
Now Hermione became curious. -"And how were your first classes?"-
Neville soured. -"Difficult."-
-"Interesting."- Harry said. -"Although History of Magic was very disappointing."-
-"Oh yeah?"- Hermione asked. -"Today I had Transfiguration and then Charms and it was amazing!"-
Then Hermione excitedly began to tell how the classes went.
And so the group of friends began to talk comfortably, under the attentive gaze of everyone in the Great Hall.
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-"Look at that"- Dumbledore said with a smile, looking at the Gryffindor table, catching Professor McGonagall's attention. -"A Slytherin, a Gryffindor and a Ravenclaw talking at the Gryffindor table. In all my years as Headmaster, Professor and Student at Hogwarts, I have never seen anything like that"-
McGonagall nodded, looking at the group of friends with a smile, then looking back with concern.
-"Should I stop them?"- McGonagall asked. -"It is against the rules to sit at tables that are not from your houses"-
-"No, leave them; they're not causing any trouble," Dumbledore said with a smile, then thought. -"Now that I think about it, I should talk to the Council about removing that rule."-
Before McGonagall could say anything, a shout came from the Gryffindor table.
-"What are you guys doing sitting here!?"-
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Harry sighed tiredly upon hearing the shout. He knew the owner of the voice.
He looked behind him and saw an angry Ron Weasley.
Harry was calm. -"Excuse me?"-
Ron was still angry. -"I said! What are you guys doing sitting here!?"-
-"Isn't it obvious, Weasley?"- Harry asked calmly. -"I'm eating and talking to my friends."-
-"Slytherin snakes aren't allowed to sit at the Gryffindor table," Ron said angrily, then looked at Hermione. -"Ravenclaws aren't allowed either."-
-"Oh, really?"- Harry asked, not changing his calm demeanor. -"And why is that?"-
-"Because the table is only for the brave wizards of Gryffindor, not the Dark Wizards of Slytherin and the know-it-all bookworms of Ravenclaw."-
Ron stated as if it was obvious. Not knowing that he said it loud enough for the houses he mentioned to hear him, causing them to get angry.
He then pointed at Neville with a furious look. -"You should know that, Longbottom. And the same for letting him sit at our table. You shouldn't have been in brave Gryffindor house, but in worthless Hufflepuff house."-
Now he had angered the Hufflepuffs.
Neville lowered his head sadly upon hearing that.
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Professor McGonagall stood up from her seat angrily, ready to reprimand her student for the insults.
But before she could act, Dumbledore stopped her. -"Wait Minerva, I don't think it's time for you to act yet"-
Dumbledore had a feeling that something was going to happen.
Professor McGonagall was about to protest, but upon seeing Dumbledore's serious look, she nodded with a sigh, then sat back down and continued watching the scene.
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Harry let out a small laugh. -"You're obviously an ignorant fool"-
Harry then stood up and stood in front of Ron. -"All those things you said, about Slytherins being Dark Wizards, about Ravenclaws being know-it-all bookworms, about Hufflepuffs being useless, and about Gryffindors being fools... It's all nonsense."-
Harry's words caught the attention of the students and teachers.
-"Ravenclaws being know-it-all bookworms? Nonsense. Maybe they like to read books and have more knowledge. So what? That's admirable and surprising. Smart people like them achieve great things in the world. As far as I'm concerned..."- Harry then stopped talking and looked at Hermione with a smile. -"Ravenclaws will bring great things in the future and achieve their goals; I have no doubt about that."-
Hermione was surprised, then smiled with a blush as she felt that those words were directed at her.
The Ravenclaws were surprised to hear this, and then smiled with pride for their house.
Professor Flitwick smiled when he heard about the house he once belonged to when he was a student at Hogwarts.
Harry looked back at Ron.
-"You said that Hufflepuffs are useless? What nonsense. Since when is loyalty and hard work considered useless? There are few people like that in the world. Who else can you trust? Well, a Hufflepuff, obviously!" - Harry smiled. -"Hufflepuffs are special and unique people in the world! I'm sure that whatever goal you have, you will work hard to achieve it." -
The Hufflepuffs were surprised, and then put on big smiles.
Professor Pomona Sprout, Professor of Herbology and Head of the Hufflepuff House, smiled with pride for her house.
-"As for Gryffindor, everyone says that their house is full of fools, that they don't think before they act and that they would rush headlong into danger. So what? If they do, it must be for a good reason; like to help a friend or a loved one. People that brave are rare in the world!"- Harry never stopped smiling. -"If we were in a battle, I assure you that the Gryffindors would never back down! They are the ultimate warriors!"-
The Gryffindors smiled and some even cheered loudly for their house.
Professor McGonagall smiled with pride for her house.
-"And as for the Slytherins, are they Dark Wizards? That's just nonsense. If being clever and ambitious is being evil, then more than half of the world's population is evil. The Slytherin house has something special, and that is that they are people who will achieve great things in the future. Merlin was in Slytherin, for God's sake! But because of one Slytherin in particular, along with his followers, they brought a bad reputation to the Slytherin house that everything is evil; but that is not true, the Slytherins are and will be incredible wizards..."- Harry smiled enormously. -"And I am proud to be one."-
The Slytherins were surprised to hear those words.
Professor Snape only had a gloomy look.
-"I hope you have learned something new, Weasley."-
Harry sighed tiredly, then sat back down and continued eating his lunch in silence, under the watchful eyes of everyone.
*Plas...Plas...Plas*
*Plas, plas, plas, plas, plas, plas, plas, plas -!*
Everyone clapped, from students of all houses to teachers.
The Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs clapped and whistled loudly.
The Ravenclaws and even some Slytherins clapped with excitement.
Most of the Professors clapped with smiles on their faces.
Harry smiled as he chewed his food.
When the applause stopped, Ron blushed from embarrassment and anger at being made a fool of. He was about to argue again, but a shout interrupted him.
-"Mr. Weasley!"-
An angry McGonagall arrived where Ron was.
Ron, seeing Professor McGonagall upset, quickly turned pale, almost looking like the many ghosts of Hogwarts.
-"You haven't even finished your first day of classes and you're already causing trouble by insulting the other houses!"-
Ron just stared at the floor, not brave enough to look directly at Professor McGonagall.
-"50 points less and a week of detention with Mr. Filch!"-
Ron groaned as he watched the Gryffindors glare at him for losing points on the first day of classes.
-"Now please sit down, eat your lunch in silence and think about what you did."-
After saying that, Professor McGonagall turned around to go back to the teachers' table.
Ron lowered his head and went to sit far enough away from his housemates.
Harry smiled at that, as well as seeing how things were changing, not only for Slytherin, but for the other houses as well.
-(This first day of school started off hectic)-
Harry sighed, then smiled, going back to eating and talking to his friends.
TO BE CONTINUED!!!
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Author's Notes
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[Legeremancy] Comes from the two Latin words: [Legere] (Read) and [Mens] (Mind).
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Upcoming chapters (Spoilers):
Chapter 3 - First Week of School and Potions Professor
Chapter 4- Flying Class Accident and New Seeker
Chapter 5- Sacred Gear, Gift, and the Midnight Duel