More to Life

NOTE: Modified version of chapter Seven. Ron actually says something instead of acting like a thug so please re-read it again if you saw that version. I've also changed some spelling mistakes. Thanks to rayven (of ff.net), I found myself hating the Ron/Malkin part so I re-wrote it a little and I like it better now.

~+~

Chapter Seven - The Sorting

The train pulled slowly into the station near Hogwarts. Fully dressed in their school robes, Harry, Draco and Blaise made a mad dash towards the top end of the platform to avoid being crushed by hundreds of students.

"Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here!" A giant of a man shouted over the commotion of the crowd. He could be easily spotted; he was about 4 foot taller than any of the older children. His face was almost completely hidden by a long, shaggy mane of hair and a tangled beard.

As the three boys standing waiting for the rest of the first-years, Blaise spoke up. "I've been told the first-years have to cross the lake," he said.

Draco pulled a face. "Why? It's not as if we can see anything in this light," he said, motioning to the darkening sky.

Harry smiled. "Is Draco just scared that the giant squid will get him?"

Blaise sniggered under his hand as Draco scowled.

"As if the squid has any chance against moi," Draco said, a little muffled.

"If it gets you, I'm not coming in after you," Blaise said with a laugh. Harry joined in. Eventually Draco grinned a little.

"C'mon, follow me - any more firs'-years? Firs'-years follow me!" the giant said once again.

The small knot of first-years made their way to the small boats and scrambled to get in.

"No more'n four to a boat!" the voice called out once more.

Blaise, Harry and Draco jumped into the nearest boat, followed by a small girl, her chin length brown hair bobbing around as she did so. Draco turned to her and gave her a short smile.

"Parkinson," he said.

The girl turned to him and returned the smile. "Hullo Draco," she said rather pleasantly.

The fleet of boats then began to move across the calm lake, which was as smooth as glass. Soon enough the castle came into view. Harry, having seen it before, gave a side glance to Parkinson, who was staring at him intently.

"Who's this, Draco," she asked the blonde boy.

Draco looked at her neutrally. "Ask him yourself. He has a mouth, you know."

Parkinson bristled slightly. "Fine then." She turned back to Harry. "What's your name, then?"

"Harry," the dark haired boy mumbled, turning his attention to the castle again.

Parkinson sighed. "Alright, I'm Pansy. Now what's your last name?"

Harry hesitated so Blaise spoke up for him. "It's Potter," he said in a low tone.

"Thanks Blaise," Harry muttered under his breath so no one could hear. Pansy was gave him a look over.

"Shouldn't you be sitting in a boat with some Gryffindors," she muttered.

Draco stuck up for him. "He's no more of a Gryffindor than you are Pansy."

Pansy arched an eyebrow up. "Really now? Doesn't look like much."

"Thanks," Harry said sarcastically as the boats docked at the other side of the lake.

They all walked up a flight of stone stairs and crowded around a huge oak door.

"Everyone here?" the man then raised a gigantic fist and knocked on the door three times. The door swung open straight away. A tall, black haired witch in dark green robes standing there. "Firs'-years, Professor McGonagall."

"Thank you Hagrid," the witch said in return. She led them into the entrance hall, a place Harry had seen on his visit two years ago. It looked exactly the same as it did then; flaming torches were lit, the ceiling too high to see. They walked up the grand marble staircase and came to a stop outside the doors to the Great Hall, if Harry remembered rightly.

Harry quickly glanced around the group. They all looked nervous, some of them even looked like they were waiting for their doom. True, Harry was nervous, but he was pretty sure he didn't look that scared.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you can take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory and spend free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin.-" Harry heard Draco mumble 'See how she said Slytherin last?' "-Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the House Cup, a great honour. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours."

"How much longer is she going to drone on," Blaise mumbled in Harry's ear. Harry nearly snorted with laughter, but stopped himself just in time.

"The Sorting ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting. I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly," said Professor McGonagall, then she left.

Harry poked Draco. "Didn't Sev say something about a Sorting Hat?" he asked, clearly remembering the conversation they'd had with the Potions Master a few days before term began. Draco didn't stop begging until Severus told them what happened at the ceremony. Draco gave Harry a nod.

"I heard it's a test," said one nervous first year.

"I heard we had to wrestle a troll," said another.

"It hurts a lot," said yet another.

Draco cocked a thing blonde eyebrow up. "You'd think some people reckon the school's out to kill them," he muttered. Harry nodded in return.

The dark haired boy then felt a cold feeling that he had only felt two other times in his life. Harry turned his head slightly towards Draco. "Tell me it's not Peeves behind me," he moaned.

"No," Draco said as he shook his head. "It's the other one."

Harry turned around to come face to face with the Bloody Baron. "Peeves gave you trouble last time then?" the ghost asked. Harry gave a quick nod. "If he gives you trouble again, just threaten him. Say that you'll get me, that normally shuts him up."

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks."

The ghost then drifted away.

"The Sorting Ceremony is about to start," Professor McGonagall said, walking back towards the group once more. "Form a line and follow me."

The first-years scrambled to make a line. Harry ended up with Draco standing in front of him with Pansy behind. Blaise ended up near the back of the line. The Great Hall looked a lot livelier than last time. Floating candles were lit. The enchanted ceiling showed a darkened cloudy sky, the sun disappearing making way to the moon. Harry heard some of the students muttering but paid no attention to them. All the previous Hogwarts students were staring at them.

At the front of the hall was the teachers table. Harry noticed Severus sat next to another Professor. He also noticed Dumbledore sat in the middle, directly behind a stool which had an old, dirty looking hat sitting on it. Harry gathered that it was the Sorting Hat. The hat twitched and then it began to sing:

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 whole hall burst into applause when the hat had finished. Professor McGonagall stepped forward beside the hat with a scroll of paper in her hand.

"When I call you name," she began, "you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted. Abbott, Hannah!" was the first name she called out.

A small girl with blonde pig-tails stepped out of line and put on the hat, which fell over her eyes, and sat down. There was a moment's silence before-

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted.

The Hufflepuff table cheered for their new house student.

"Bones, Susan," Professor McGonagall shouted the next name.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" the hat shouted once again.

Terry Boot became a Ravenclaw, so did Mandy Brocklehurst. Lavender Brown went to Gryffindor.

"Bulstrode, Millicent."

"SLYTHERIN!" the hat called out.

Draco leaned over to Harry. "You'll like Millie," he said. "She helps keep Pansy in line." Harry grinned at this.

Vincent Crabbe became the first Slytherin boy. Harry remembered that Draco had mentioned the boy a few times, as well as his friend, who was yet to be sorted.

Justin Finch-Fletchley became yet another Hufflepuff. Harry began to notice that it varied from person to person how long it took the hat to state which house the student should be in.

Seamus Finnigan became a Gryffindor. Gregory Goyle, Vincent's friend, became a Slytherin. Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom became Gryffindors.

Soon enough Draco's name was called. "I'll save you a seat," he said with a wink. This made Harry feel a little better, but he could still feel his stomach churning.

"SLYTHERIN!" the hat called out only a few seconds after it touched Draco's head.

"Malkin, Stuart," was next. The hat sent him to Gryffindor, as Draco said it would.

Pansy Parkinson became a Slytherin, which left Harry standing on his own, but not for long. Two twins were sorted into Gryffindor and Ravenclaw respectively. Soon enough it was Harry's turn.

"Potter, Harry," Professor McGonagall called out and then the whispers started as Harry knew they would.

"Did she say Potter?"

"The Harry Potter?

"Wonder if he remembers what You Know Who looks like."

Harry rolled his eyes and took hold of the hat, shoving it over his head so he didn't have to look at the crowd staring at him anymore.

"Hmm," said a small voice in his ear. "Difficult. Very Difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind, either. There's talent, oh my goodness, yes - and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting... so where shall I put you?"

"Slytherin would be nice," Harry thought.

"Slytherin eh," the hat muttered. "You would do well there. Are you sure you don't want Gryffindor?"

"No!" Harry nearly yelled out loud.

"Hmm... Maybe you're right. Slytherin would help you on the way to greatness, as would Gryffindor. Well if you don't want Gryffindor it had better be SLYTHERIN!"

Harry heard the hat say the last word out loud to the Great Hall. He heard a piece of cutlery clang onto a plate. The silence seemed to last forever but in reality was only a few seconds. Harry took the hat off of his head and moved shakily towards the Slytherin table. That was all the Slytherins' seemed to need before they started cheering louder than any other house had for their new students.

Harry blushed and slumped into his seat next to Draco then hid his face in his arms. He heard Draco chuckle.

"That certainly gave everyone a shock, didn't it?" Draco said.

"You're telling me," Harry mumbled. He then looked up and saw some of the Professor, especially Professor McGonagall, staring at him with a shocked look. Dumbledore was just looking at him with that annoying twinkle in his eye that Harry was used to seeing the several times he had come into contact with the Headmaster. Severus was hiding a small grin behind his hand. It wasn't exactly much of a shock to him that Harry ended up in Slytherin. He had known the boy for two years.

Harry buried his head in his arms again and mumbled, "Everyone stopped looking yet?"

"Just about," Draco replied.

Professor McGonagall shook herself out of her retrieve and carried on with the sorting. Lisa Turpin became a Ravenclaw. Ronald Weasley became a Gryffindor. Harry remembered the Weasleys as the family Dumbledore had wanted him to stay with. If all Gryffindors were like Malkin he wanted to stay well away from them.

"Zabini, Blaise," was the last name called out. The brown haired boy sat on the stood for a few seconds before the hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" As Blaise came to sit down with Harry and Draco, Professor McGonagall took the hat and stool away.

Albus Dumbledore then rose to his feet behind the teachers table and gave all the students a warm smile. "Welcome," he began. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts. Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! Thank you!"

Harry blinked and slowly looked at Draco, who was looking slowly back at him. "That's the rest of the evidence I needed to come to the conclusion that Dumbledore is in fact insane," Harry commented.

"Here, here," Draco mumbled.

While the two of them were talking, food had appeared on the table in front of him. Harry's mouth fell open. He'd never seen so much food in his life. Harry doubted he could count how many different types of food there were and not lose count more than once. He was helping himself to some potatoes when the Blood Baron appeared again, sitting in the small gap between him and Draco.

The Baron gave a toothy grin that made Harry shudder a little. The ghost then disappeared. Harry blinked, shook his head then returned to his food. "Why is the Bloody Baron so creepy?"

Draco shrugged. "Maybe he has an image to keep."

"He's the Slytherin ghost so has to be the creepiest," Pansy piped up.

"It's better than having Peeves as our house ghost," Blaise mumbled.

"I'll second that," Draco said.

As the four of them were talking almost themselves, Dumbledore had given the start of term notices. They had just stopped talking enough to catch:

"Please note that the corridor that runs at the bottom of the staircases is in fact out of bounds to everyone. Anyone caught there will have to suffer the consequences."

Draco looked at Harry once again. "Wonder what all that's about."

Harry shrugged. "He's probably got a good reason for it."

Harry, Blaise, Pansy and Draco all shared a disbelieving look when Dumbledore announced the school song. None of them joined in. Harry was sure he couldn't sing so didn't even try and the words of the song weren't helping much to persuade him to sing. Draco couldn't stop sniggering at the words and Pansy was giving him a disdainful look. Millicent, a square-built, black haired girl, elbowed Pansy in the ribs.

"What's up with you?" she asked the other girl.

"How can he be so happy?" Pansy said with a yawn. She did the lady-like thing and covered her mouth with her hand as she did so.

"You know what boys are like," Millicent said.

Draco stopped laughing and scowled at her. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Millicent leaned over the table so she was a few inches from Draco's face. "It means you are an immature git," she said with a grin. Harry coughed to hide his laughter. The girl smiled at him. "I'm Millie by the way," she said introducing herself. "I hate the name Millicent so please, for the love of Merlin, call me Millie."

Harry smiled back. "Guess I don't need to tell you my name, right?"

Millie shrugged. "You could if you wanted to, but I already know it. It was called out during the sorting." She smiled again then stood from her seat as the rest of the table seemed to be doing.

The Slytherin first-years began to follow the male fifth-year Slytherin prefect, Nott, (Draco told Harry his first name was Andrew and he had a sister who was in their year) to the Slytherin dormitories. The Gryffindor first-years were nearby and before the two groups split apart, Harry heard his name called.

"Potter," a boy's voice shouted. "Going to your slimy snake's den, are you?" It was none other than Malkin. He seemed to have gained a friend already. Standing behind the plump boy was Weasley, who was scowling at Harry.

"No, I'm going to the Slytherin dorms, to sleep, like normal people," Harry answered.

Malkin scowled. "You've got no right to talk back to me," he said, going a little red at the cheeks.

"Maybe he's just scared of admitting the truth," Weasley said to back his friend up.

"What about you Weasley?" Draco sneered. "Why don't you go back to that hovel you call a home?"

Weasley made a dive at Draco, but the blonde stepped out of the way, making the red haired Gryffindor fall on the floor. Harry had to bite his lip to stop laughing.

Malkin took a step towards Harry and grabbed hold of the front of his robes. "I'd watch yourself if I were you Potter. I don't think the school would mind if I got rid of one lousy Slytherin."

Harry tired to curb his temper, not wanting to get into trouble within hours of arriving at Hogwarts.

"What's going on here then?" Nott asked, pushing his way to the front of the crowd. Malkin let go of Harry's robes extremely fast, pushed him to the ground and stepped away, but Nott had already seen. "Ten points from Gryffindor," he muttered. The Gryffindor Prefect came along and ushered the Gryffindors along. Nott stuck out his hand for Harry to take and pulled him up off the floor. "If he gives you anymore trouble come and get me, alright?" the boy said with a small grin. Harry gave a nod as Nott walked away.

"You alright, Harry?" Draco asked.

"Yeah," Harry replied. "You know, I didn't think I'd find someone who I hate more than my cousin, but I think I just have."

Draco grinned. "We'll get him back one day, just you wait. We have to get Peeves back first though."

"Yeah, Peeves first."

At the end of the last corridor, they came to a stop in front of a very old looking piece of stone wall. Harry looked around and noticed there was no where else to go. Nott put his hand on the wall and said the password loud and clearly for all the first-years to hear. "Serpentigena." The wall moved aside revealing the Slytherin common room.

The common room was a huge oblong shaped room, with a corridor off to the side. The entire room was decorated in dark greens and silver. A carpet covered half the floor the rest being dark coloured stone. There were plenty of sofas placed around the room, including in front of the huge fire at the far end of the room.

Nott clapped his hands together to gain everyone's attention. "The dormitories are down that corridor." He pointed towards the corridor to the right of him that Harry noticed earlier. "The corridor splits into two a little way down. Girls' dorms to the left, boys' to the right. Everything should have already been brought up for you."

The first-years scurried off to find their beds, wanting nothing more to sleep. Harry felt exactly the same, but held back until most of them had disappeared, not wanting to fight through the crowd. Harry soon found the dorm that had a small plaque on it that read 'First-years'. The only bed that wasn't taken was at the far end of the room.

There were five four-poster beds in a straight line against one wall, small torches lit at the top of each one. They all had the same green and silver bed quilt and a serpent was carved into the wood of the bed head.

Harry changed and fell into bed. He was asleep before his head hit the pillow, ignoring the chatter amongst the boys around him.

~+~

So I lied, no Hermione. She'll be around sooner or later but the Slytherin's aren't going to be chums with her but they aren't going to be so evil to her. I couldn't think of a comeback for Ron so he didn't say anything, just went for Draco. I think that sounds Ron-ish, don't you? Only took me three hours to write this, look at me I'm on a roll lol.

Just a quick reminder, THIS ISN'T THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE REWRITTEN SO NO CORRECTING ME SAYING THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN BECAUSE THIS IS MY OWN PLOT! There I think that's a good enough warning, don't you? About the sorting song, I can't rhyme so I took the one out the first book.

Leatrix Malfoy ~ 23^rd October 2003