A/N I am not going to do the sorting in alphabetical order, so sorry about that. Please don’t kill me. The story starts during the sorting. Harry did not sit with anyone on the train, so he did not meet Malfoy and does not hate Slytherin.

A horrible thought struck Harry, as horrible thoughts always do when you're very nervous. What if he wasn't chosen at all? What if he sat there with the hat over his eyes for ages, until Professor McGonagall jerked it off his head and said there had obviously been a mistake and he'd better get back on the train? But that was a stupid thought, the logical side of his brain said. Of course he would get chosen. He sighed, and focused back on the sorting.

Neville Longbottom, the boy who kept losing his toad, was called next. He fell over on his way to the stool. The hat took a long time to decide where it thought Neville belonged. When it finally shouted “Gryffindor,” Neville ran off still wearing it, and had to jog back amid gales of laughter to give it to “MacDougal, Morag.”

The blond kid he had met before, swaggered forward when his name was called, ‘Malfoy’ and got his wish at once: the hat had barely touched his head when it screamed “Slytherin!”

Malfoy went to join his friends, two thick looking kids, looking pleased with himself.

There weren't many people left now.

Nott… Parkinson... Moon… Zabini.... Then a pair of twin girls, Patil and Patil... Then “Perks, Sally-Anne...” and then, at last…

“Evans-Potter, Harry!”

As Harry stepped forward, whispers suddenly broke out like little hissing fires all over the hall.

“Potter, did she say?”

“ The Harry Potter?” He got annoyed at that. Did they even listen to his name? It was Evans-Potter . He also detested being called Harry . Honestly, what were his parents thinking, naming him that!? But he was stuck with it, so he sighed and kept walking.

The last thing Harry saw before the hat dropped over his eyes was the hall full of people craning to get a good look at him. Next second he was looking at the black inside of the hat. He waited, impatiently.

“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 – so where shall I put you?”

Harry shrugged and thought back annoyedly, ‘Wherever you think I’ll do best, of course.’

“A joker, eh?” said the small voice with a touch of malicious glee. “You are very ambitious and you are very cunning too… You would definitely do best in Slytherin, the things people say about that house are not all true… Salazar would be proud to have you in his house. Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that.”

‘Sure,’ thought Harry sarcastically, ‘If that’s where you really want to put me. It’s not like the whole wizarding world is waiting for me to be put in Gryffindor or anything. It will be funny to see their faces.’

The hat snorted. “It certainly will be funny. Well, if you’re sure, then I am required by Salazar Slytherin to give you some information that you’ll need in the house, since you have not been raised in the wizarding world. But since you have already been up here so long… I’ll just insert the information in your head, and it will be up to you to interpret it.” Well, that was unexpected.

Just then Harry felt a tingling in the back of his mind, and then his mind was overloaded with a bunch of information he didn’t have before. There was information on the tradition’s and customs of the wizarding world and a bit about how Slytherin house politics worked. He winced at the feeling of it all coming to him at once, but he was grateful. He would need it.

‘Thank you, Hat,’ He thought to the object.

‘It was no problem,’ The hat said, sounding a bit proud of itself. ‘Use the information well. You will still need to learn a lot, but this will do for now. And remember the name Tom Marvolo Riddle. Now I better officially sort you, since the students and professors are getting impatient. SLYTHERIN’ The last part it yelled out loud.

The hat’s declaration brought silence to the entire hall. The Slytherins all clapped politely. After a few seconds, the other houses joined in. Harry took the hat off his head, gave it to Professor McGonagall and he walked over to their table with his head held high. He was proud to be a Slytherin, and he was going to show it.

He wondered why the hat had wanted him to know the name ‘Tom Marvolo Riddle.’ Maybe it was a person here? He resolved to look it up later, and put the information to the back of his head.

He sat down at the table, next to the blond kid he had met in Diagon Alley. Draco Malfoy. On the other side of him, was a kid with tan skin, black hair, high cheekbones and long, slanting eyes. The kid smiled at him, inclined his head, and held his hand out for Harry to shake. “Greetings Heir Potter, I am Blaise Zabini, Heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Zabini. It is nice to see you in our house.”

Harry shook Blaise’s hand, but scrunched his face up in confusion at the title, tilted his head in question, and asked, “What do you mean by Heir Potter?”

The boy froze and the other students sitting next to them looked over in shock. “Do you mean you don’t know?” The blond boy, Malfoy, asked in surprise and anger.

“Know what?” Harry asked, confused. Blaise explained, in an outraged tone, “You’re the Heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter! One of the most ancient houses in the wizarding world! How can you not know about that?”

Harry shifted in his seat and said, “I was raised by Muggles, and they didn’t tell me anything of the wizarding world until I got my Hogwarts letter.” Everyone’s faces grew even more outraged. But just then ‘Greengrass, Daphne’ got sorted into Slytherin, so they all took time to clap for her, even if it was a bit distracted.

She walked over to them, sat down next to Malfoy, took one look at their faces, and asked, “What’s wrong?”

The girl sitting next to her, said in a horrified tone, “Heir Potter was raised by Muggles ! And they didn’t even tell him about magic until he got his Hogwarts letter!” She looked over at Harry, smiled dazzlingly at him, and said, “By the way, I am Pansy Parkinson, Heiress to the Noble house of Parkinson. But you can just call me Pansy.” Harry nodded, feeling a little dazed, and said, “You all can call me Harry, then.”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

The other girl also introduced herself. “And I’m Daphne Greengrass, Heiress of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Greengrass. You can call me Daphne.”

Everyone else introduced themselves as well. There was Draco Malfoy, Heir to the Most Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Heir to the House of Goyle, Lily Moon, Heiress to the Noble House of Mallory, Tracey Davis, Millicent Bulstrode, and Theodore Nott, Heir to the Ancient and Noble House of Nott.

After the introductions, the sorting ended and Dumbledore stood up. They all quieted, waiting for him to speak. “Welcome!” He said. “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! Oddment! Blubber! Tweak! Thank you!”

He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered. Everybody except Harry's fellow Slytherins.

“Bloody Hell! He is as mad as they say, isn't he?” Blaise commented in disdain.

“It's amazing they let him in charge of a school,” Daphne agreed. Blaise grinned at her approvingly.

“Well, you aren't wrong. Now Harry, you say you don’t know anything about your heirship? And you can eat stuff now.”

Harry looked down at the golden plates that had been empty a few seconds ago, and his mouth fell open in shock. The dishes before him were now piled with food. He had never seen so many things on one table: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, and for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs. He took some chicken, potatoes and peas.

Harry shook his head nervously. Blaise frowned, as did everyone else.

“Did the Muggles even know about magic?’’ Daphne asked curiously.

Harry nodded, and replied, “Yes they knew about magic, but they disliked it, and called it ‘freakish’ so they didn’t tell me.”

Her face darkened. “And how exactly did they show their... displeasure ?”

Harry shifted uncomfortably, which did not go unnoticed by any of the Slytherins. “They would just yell at me and lock me in my room if I did magic,” he lied. All of the Slytherins could tell he was lying but didn’t press him. They would find out soon.

Harry ate some chicken from off his plate, then asked “So what does it mean that I’m the Heir to House Potter?”

Everyone looked around uncomfortably. “How about we wait for a bit, then talk about this in the common room, so it will be a bit more private?” Blaise suggested. Harry nodded, feeling a bit disappointed, and the conversation evolved into quidditch teams. They all explained to him the different teams and he made a few comments, but mostly just listened.

Then suddenly Draco asked Blaise, “So what did the hat say to you?”

“Oh, it’s just what you’d expect. I’m so exceptional that they ought to make a new house and name it after me. No, really! Those were its exact words! Had to talk it out of that plan, though. Far too much trouble on the first day.” Everyone snorted.

“Can you be serious for once?” Pansy said in an amused tone.

He pouted, and replied, “I am always serious, Pansy dear.” She rolled her eyes and turned to Harry. “So what did the hat say to you?”

He shrugged, and said “It just said that I was ambitious and cunning and that I would do best in Slytherin.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Really?” He nodded, and she smiled. “Well, I guess everyone definitely got the wrong impression of you when you came here. If the hat said you belong here, then you definitely do.”

He smiled back at her. “Thank you.” Draco then asked Daphne what the hat had said to her, but Harry didn’t hear her answer. He was looking around the room in interest and spotted Professor Quirrell talking nervously with another teacher.

It was hard to miss Professor Quirrell due to the garish turban atop his head, but as Harry took a closer look at the person he was talking to, he decided there were worse things in the world than ugly head scarves. Greasy hair, for example. Just as Harry decided that the black haired professor might benefit from Professor Quirrell's fashion tips, the man in question broke off his discussion to stare directly at Harry.

Suddenly a flash of pain ran through his scar and he winced. He managed not to cry out loud, but it still hurt. The man was looking curiously at him, with an odd expression on his face. After a few more moments Harry looked away.

He nudged Blaise in the side, and asked, “Who is that man?” Harry pointed at the professor, but the man had resumed speaking to Professor Quirrell.

“That’s Professor Snape. He’s the Head of Slytherin House and he teaches Potions. He’s one of the harshest teachers, but only because Potions is so dangerous.” Harry nodded and looked away.

At that moment, the food and desserts vanished from the table as suddenly as they had appeared, and Dumbledore rose to his feet, With the slightest of gestures he brought silence to the hall.

“I have a few start-of-term notices to give you,” he began, “First years should note that the forest on the grounds is full of horribly dangerous beasts that want to kill and devour you. Also Hagrid, our gamekeeper, likes to store pets there. It is forbidden for students to go there without permission so stay out.” He looked pointedly at the two red headed twins who had helped him with his trunk. They just smiled innocently up at Dumbledore, who looked away and continued.

“I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, our caretaker, to remind you that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors. Also Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested trying out should contact Madam Hooch.”

“And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death.”

A few of the students laughed, but it was quickly silenced by the look on Dumbledore’s face.

“I’m completely serious,” he continued. “Don't go there. It’s not safe.”

Then Dumbledore finished, saying “Sleep well! Classes begin tomorrow! Prefects, make sure that everyone get's to the common rooms alright! And good night and sweet dreams!”

The students rose en masse and began to shuffle sleepily out of the Great Hall. A short, bossy looking girl jumped right up on the Slytherin table and bellowed in a voice surprisingly loud for her stature, “Alright, Slytherin first years! Follow me!”

Harry struggled to keep up with the others. The Slytherin prefect was walking quickly down the length of the table, her head bobbing above the crowd. For everyone else, especially the tiny first years, it was difficult weaving through the dense throng of moving bodies.

Daphne tugged on Harry’s sleeve and pointed to the long table.

“Path of least resistance?” she suggested, smirking.

“What?” Harry said, but Daphne just rolled her eyes and pulled him onto the table with her. She, Harry, and Blaise raced down the table toward their prefect, laughing a little at the looks they were getting from other students.

Their prefect nodded proudly once they’d joined her side. “Very good, very good. You guys learn fast. And look! It’s Heir PotterQ”

She gripped Harry’s hand in her own, shaking it enthusiastically without breaking stride. “I’m Gemma Farley. Nice to meet you. Now don’t you worry about your reception into Slytherin. We’re so glad to have you! Just forget everything you might have heard about us, ok? Don’t worry about any of that You-Know-Who business. We won’t mention it if you don't. Most of us are too young to remember any of the dark times anyway!? And none of us fought in the war anyways!. You’re gonna fit in just fine, Harry, I can tell.”

“Uh… Thanks.” Harry said. Gemma released him from her grasp and jumped nimbly to the floor to join the other prefect. Harry and the others scrambled after her, wondering how someone so short could take such long strides.

“The Slytherin common room is located in the dungeons,” The male prefet explained loudly for the other first years to hear, “I know that might not sound so appealing to some of you, but it’s very cool. Just you wait.” He started walking and everyone followed her.

Draco and Daphne went up next to the prefects, and whispered something to them. Their eyes widened and they glanced at Harry for a moment, before looking forward and whispering back. Harry had a feeling he knew what they were talking about, but he didn't care that much.

The dungeons were cold, as one would expect, and lit with torches that cast odd shadows. Harry found he didn't mind; after years sleeping in his little cupboard, the dark didn't scare him, but the light certainly did.

After walking for a bit, they came to what appeared to be the end of the hall. If anyone noticed they travelled slower than usual, no one said anything. Gemma said, "Listen, everyone. This is the entrance to the Slytherin Common Room. You can't bring anyone from the other Houses here without permission, do you understand?"

There were quiet mutterings of agreement. Harry understood the reasoning. The Common Room would be the place where all House matters, big and small, would be dealt with, but it would also be the place where everyone would relax and be themselves. And considering how the other Houses didn’t like the Slytherins, he could see the need for protection

The male prefect next to her added, "The password changes every fortnight. We'll announce the password the night before it changes, and it'll be posted on the House bulletin board. For now, the password is Basilisk."

As soon as he said the last word, the wall opened and they were ushered in, quickly and quietly. Harry didn't see the nod the female fifth-year prefect gave both the seventh year prefects. He was too busy looking at the Common Room.

The room was magnificent. There was a large fireplace, in which a large fire roared. There were large oriental rugs on the floor. Black leather couches and wing-backed chairs were separated into various seating arrangements. There were multiple desks and long tables nearer the walls, which Harry noticed were lined with bookshelves. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a pleasant glow through-out the room. But best of all was the fourth wall.

It wasn't a wall, at all. It was a large floor-to-ceiling window, which looked out into the lake. Harry could only imagine the amazing creatures that could be seen out of it. But before Harry could think about it too much, the prefects started lining all the Slytherins into rows with the first years in front.

Thinking back to the information the hat gave him he realised what they were doing. It was proper, formal greeting to the head of one's family, especially preceding a formal and/or important announcement or engagement.

Harry was nervous, but, luckily, didn't have time to dwell upon it. For no sooner was everyone settled into place did the wall open up again and reveal a tall, pale professor with black-hair and robes. It was Professor Snape.