Only after Lily had taken baby Harry from Sirius and put him into his crib in his own room did the four sit and have a long, extensive talk. Discussing everything they had read so far, the good, and through a lot of teeth gritting and cursing, and then the bad. After their discussion, they then came to the consensual conclusion that they wouldn't hide anything from this Harry. They hadn't really planned on it before, but deep down they all wondered one thing. What if Harry couldn't get back to his own time?

What if he was stuck here with them? Sure he'd have all his memories of his old life back, but none of them even knew for certain how he'd come here. Time travel was the sketchiest part of any magic, and even the Department of Mysteries had only begun testing it, and they weren't very forthcoming with what they had. If this ended up being the case, then after they read these books they would have to come up with some sort of alibi for Harry.

Agreeing about more details on that later, they then briefly spoke of this supposed Death Eater that had followed through with Harry, here into this time as well. They were all convinced that the magical spells surrounding the house would have alerted them if there was someone here who shouldn't be, and to make sure they even went back over a few of them. Nothing came of it; Harry was their only uninvited guest.

The topic did briefly come up of how, of all the places Harry could have landed, the boy ended up here. It was quite a coincidence, and none of them really believed in coincidences. Perhaps after Harry had his full memories back he could explain this, or at least they hoped so, because now they all felt a bit less secure here.

They talked long into the night, until finally Remus almost cracked his jaw yawning, Lily

demanded they all go to bed, having meant what she'd told Harry, this had been the longest day of her life, and surely the others as well.

After a brief conversation, Remus and Sirius decided they would kip here for the night, Sirius merely slumping back on the couch, and tossing his feet out and claiming it as his. Remus took the hint and decided to use the other guest room for the night.

The next morning, once they'd all awoken and had a bit of breakfast, Remus disclosed his full story to Harry, and James and Sirius often jumped in. Harry beamed and laughed along, finally understanding and looking as if a great relief had been lifted from his shoulders. Telling them all that this made him happy and feel whole once more. This did puzzle them a bit, since Harry had only felt like this before when a strong memory had been returned to him. They knew that all the Marauders were dead in Harry's time, so they were the only ones that could give Harry this story.

Knowing there was nothing to it and no reason to ask the boy, they decided instead to gently ease into the topic of the Dursleys. Harry made to clench up at once, but they were all quick to reassure him. In fact they spent most of the morning trying to get him to warm up to them, and after only a few hours they seemed to have made a bit of progress in convincing him that what the Dursley's had done to him, was indeed wrong.

Harry still insisted that they hadn't left any lasting damage on him, but confided a few details he had neglected to tell them during the reading of the second chapter. Taking this as a small victory for now, they decided not to push their luck on what was clearly years of an embedded nature of secrecy.

They all went back to the living room and Remus volunteered to read this time, while Harry managed to slip in one more question. "Where is this Peter I've heard so much about? I'd very much like to meet him."

"A very good question," Sirius agreed, looking towards the door with just a hint of worry now.

"I sent him an owl before I went to bed last night," Lily quickly reassured. "If he doesn't answer by the end of the day, then you three can start panicking." She'd meant it in a light teasing type way, but she knew that these four had never gone longer than a week tops without speaking to each other. Therefore, any prolonged absence would worry each of them. After taking the same seats as before, Remus gave himself a firm shake and then began in bright tones.

When the door opens it revealed the description of Professor McGonagall from the first chapter, and was confirmed when Hagrid introduc ed the first years to her by name. Harry's first instinct about her was that she was someone not to cross.

"I hope you followed that first impression," Lily said, wanting very much for her son not to turn out like his father and be in detention more than out of it.

"Not surprised McGonagall's still there," Sirius said grinning, "she loves that school and every student in there."

The students now followed her into the entrance hall, which was a huge piece of

architecture from the high ceiling to the marble staircase.

Harry smiled to himself; the more he heard about this castle the better he was feeling. This sounded like a wondrous place, possibly full of the best of his memories.

McGonagall lead them across the hall, past another large room, which seemed to hold the rest of the students, but instead into an anteroom where she be gan to lecture them on the basics of the school. The four houses, and how you earn and lose points for those houses.

"I feel like, for every point I made for our house, you lot made us lose five," Lily said in

exasperation, it was a wonder they ever won the house cup with them around.

"You know you enjoyed watching the shows though," James said cheekily. Lily pressed her lips together in an effort to hide her smile.

At the end of the year, the house with the most house points will win the House Cup, an honor. She then told them they would be sorted into those houses in front of the rest of the school, and to enlighten them about themselves . Her eyes happened to linger on Neville's cloak, which wasn't fastened right, and Ron who still had a spot on his nose. Harry tried to flatten his hair in a bit of nerves.

"Why?" James laughed, "there's no bloody point. Honestly, after a while I did the opposite," he said, running his hand through his hair backwards for emphasis.

"One of the most annoying of your many annoying habits," Lily grumbled with some soft

affection.

"Nerves," Harry answered his father, thinking back to how the Dursley's often kept their hair flattened in an attempt to impress. He must have gotten that from them.

She instructed them to wait quietly until she returned, and then left.

"Does she really give the same speech every year?" Remus chuckled. "That was almost word perfect to the same one she gave us."

"McGonagall has always been a bit of a traditionalist," Sirius reminded him, smiling slightly.

Harry asked Ron how they were sorted, but Ron merely shrugs and says his brother told him it hurt, but he's sure Fred was kidding.

Harry went a bit wide eyed in fear for a moment, but when the other four burst out laughing, he decided it really must be a bit of a joke from Fred. James was quick to reassure, "don't worry Harry, it doesn't hurt one bit."

"But you still won't tell me?" Harry wheedled a bit.

"Where would be the fun in that?" Sirius chuckled.

"It's tradition," James agreed with a smirk. "You're not supposed to ruin what happens, why do you think Ron doesn't know either?" Harry decided instead of arguing, he'd let the book tell him.

Harry felt his whole body begin to tense up now. A test in front of the school? He didn't know any magic yet, what was he going to have to do?

"No, no," Lily said quickly, as she saw Harry's rising panic on his face, "it's alright dear, nothing like that," after casting a quick look round at the boys, who were all shaking their heads and silently pleading her not to tell she finally sighed and said, "it doesn't hurt and it's not a test. I promise."

Harry relaxed again and asked Remus to go on.

Harry looked around anxiously and was slightly relieved to see no one else looked to confident either. Harry himself hadn't felt so upset about something since he'd had to go home with a paper for the Dursleys to sign because he'd turned his teachers wig blue.

"Do we even want to know at this point?" James groaned.

Harry pressed his lips together for a moment, but after remembering the breakfast they'd all just had, he finally admitted to them the whole story. A student had been cheating off his test, and when he'd told him to stop it the boy quickly cried out that Harry had been the one cheating. The teacher had believed him instead of Harry, and Harry had been so mad he'd turned his teachers wig blue, though of course neither of them understood how at the time.

The teacher told the principal Harry had done it during their lunch break and that he must have somehow poured blue dye on it, and the principal had believed the teacher instead of Harry. After going home and having to get a signature from either his aunt or uncle, he'd been locked up in his cupboard for the night, but that was the only punishment he'd received. Because the principal had been convinced it was something as ordinary as acting out, Uncle Vernon chose to believe this as well. Therefore, in this particular moment, he must not have blamed Harry's magical background.

All four adults once again felt a downpour of emotions at yet another instance where, not only did no one believe Harry when he'd done nothing wrong, but he had been punished for something he'd had no control over. It was as wrong as every other instance they'd heard, but all they could do now was chalk it up to another moment they would like to take revenge on. For now, Remus decided to keep going.

Harry was now positive when McGonagall came back, he'd be lead away to his doom.

Sirius forced out a bit of laughter at that, saying, "bit melodramatic eh?"

"All eleven year olds are melodramatic," Lily smiled indulgently.

Then there came screams from behind him, and Harry nearly jumped out of his skin.

"The ghosts," all four said at once, causing all of them to start laughing.

In explanation to Harry's very confused face Remus told him, "Oh right, yeah there are ghosts at the castle."

"Okay," Harry drew the word out, but decided this was no weirder then everything else that had happened to him.

Floating through a wall was a group of mostly transparent figures, clearly arguing. One that looked like a monk was saying how they should give someone a second chance.

"Peeves again," Sirius rolled his eyes, "I hope he never does learn."

"Only you four," Lily shook her head at the ceiling. Harry briefly wondered who Peeves was, but since the book was clearly talking about him now, he decided to let Remus keep going.

Another returned that they had given Peeves all the chances in the world. Stated that he gave ghosts a bad name, and he wasn't even technically a ghost. Then he noticed the first years below, and asked what they were doing there.

"Like he doesn't know," James snickered.

The ghost who asked them was wearing a ruff and tights, and when nobody answered him, it was the monk who was referred to as the Fat Friar cried out happily how these must be the new first years. A few people nodded mutely to that. The Friar continued that he hoped to see them in Hufflepuff since t hat was his old house after all. Then McGonagall returned and told the Ghosts to move along, it was time for the sorting to take place.

"If McGonagall hadn't come back, they'd have all started introducing themselves," Sirius laughed.

The ghosts left and the students then conformed themselves into a line and followed her into the Great Hall. There were five tables in all in the room they entered putting the raised one on their left and it seemed to house the teachers. All around them were hundreds of faces watching so Harry looked to the ceiling instead a nd saw how it seemed to open up clear into the sky. Then he heard Hermione Granger behind him whisper how it's only bewitched to look like that, and that she'd read about it in a book called Hogwarts, A History.

"There, you see," Lily beamed, "I'm not the only one who enjoys outsource reading."

"Lily, you were never this bad," James told her knowledgeably, willing to put money that this girl would be a Ravenclaw, it already showed that she treasured knowledge greatly.

Looking again, Harry found that hard to believe because it looked like there was nothing above them but open sky.

"Lucky it doesn't come winter," Sirius said.

Then Harry drew his attention to a stool that had been placed down in front of them with an old hat placed on top. It was clearly very old and looked extremely dirty, and Harry thought to himself that his Aunt never would have let it in the house.

The four adults grimaced, hoping it wouldn't take too long for Harry to stop taking their minds back to that place. They all looked to Harry, who was looking as confused as he must have on that day.

They all smiled to themselves, pleased beyond measure that they could witness this.

Harry's first thought was that maybe they had to pull a rabbit out of the hat.

"That's seventh year magic that is," James said, shaking his head, "trying to conjure a rabbit out of nothing."

"Unless he means turning the hat into a rabbit," Sirius offered, "still advanced though. Like

second year at least." Lily rolled her eyes at the pair, and declined to mention that this was just simply something muggles did. Remus ignored them as well and just kept going.

Harry noticed that everyone else around him was watching the hat expectantly, so Harry continued watching it as well when suddenly a large rip opened near the brim, and the hat began to sing.

"Sing?" Harry interrupted, his mouth going a little slack at that.

"Yes Harry, sing," James said with high amusement, "keep going Remus." Remus took one more moment to capture this memory, of Harry's confusion and delight at a talking magical hat, but then hesitated and read out the first verse.

"Oh Remus no," the boys groaned, "you've got to sing it."

"No way," Remus said at once, going a bit red in the face, "I'm not that good a singer, so just let it go." Then he started over from the first line and read.

Insert first Sorting Hat Song.

The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song.

Both Sirius and James huffed in annoyance, and vowed that if they were lucky enough to get the sorting hat's song next year, they would sing along. Harry on the other hand was mulling over everything the hat had just said. So all you had to do was try on the hat? Oh, he couldn't wait to find out what house he was in. Despite all of their reassurances, he really hoped he was in Gryffindor like the rest of his family.

Then it bowed to the four tables and became still again. Ron whispered into Harry's ear how he was going to kill his brother, who'd been convincing Ron that he'd have to wrestle a troll.

"That's brilliant," Sirius cackled, "Wish I could have fooled Regulus into thinking that."

"Poor boy needs to learn not to take them at word," James said fondly.

Harry managed a small smile back. He agreed that trying on the hat was far better than anything he'd been fearing, though he didn't particularly feel brave or quick-witted, or anything the hat had mentioned.

"Don't worry dear," Lily said, "it doesn't take how you're feeling at the moment, it-"

James quickly cut her off saying, "Lily, we don't need an hour long lecture on the magic of how that hat works. Please, I want to know what house Harry's in." Lily threw him a dirty look but nodded, eager to learn this as well.

Now if the hat had mentioned a house for those who felt queasy, Harry would have been a shoo in for that.

"That would be the one for everyone," Sirius laughed.

Professor McGonagall pulled out a long roll of parchment and called out the name Abbott, Hannah, and a girl with blonde pigtails stumbled forward and put the hat on. After a moment's pause, the hat shouted Hufflepuff at the top of its non-existent lungs.

Harry looked very intrigued at this; it seemed rather simple, and far better than anything he was imagining moments ago.

The pattern continued for quite some time, as McGonagall continued c alling out the first years in alphabetical order, as the hat seated each new student. When the first Gryffindor, Brown, Lavender, was sorted Ron's twin brothers began catcalling her.

"Sounds familiar," Lily muttered, knowing at least, James and Sirius started doing this every year starting their second year.

"Got to make them feel welcomed," they said at the same time.

Then a student was sorted into Slytherin, and as Harry took his first good look at them, he couldn't help but think they looked rather unpleasant.

"Oh don't start that," Lily said, frowning at once. "It is possible to make friends outside of your own house." Harry gave her a strange look, she seemed rather defensive of the subject, but as the other three all simply rolled their eyes at her, Harry decided to say nothing.

As the names continued to dwindle down, Harry could feel himself starting to feel sick. In his school years during sports, he'd always been chosen last . Not because he wasn't any good, but because none of the other kids wanted Dudley to think they liked Harry.

"Well neither problem applies to this," James huffed under his breath.

"Or ever again," Remus agreed.

Determined to think about something else, Harry instead looked back and watched the hat call out more names. Sometimes he noticed the hat called out their houses instantaneously, while others it deliberated for a minute.

Lily smiled and said, "It's all to do with the hat's process and-"

"Lily!" all three boys said at once, Lily pouted but let the reading continue.

For instance, one boy named Finnigan, Seamus sat on the stool for a whole minute before the hat declared him a Gryffindor.

This time, Lily reached over and quickly whispered in Harry's ear, "it's to do with their

personality. Every person has the potential traits for all four houses, and the hat decides which one would suit that person best. Sometimes it's obvious, sometimes it takes a bit of work for it to figure out."

Harry nodded and had been listening so intently, he almost didn't hear Remus say.

Then it was Hermione's turn, and she sprinted forward eagerly for her turn. The hat considered for several moments before it declared her a Gryffindor.

"Really?" All four adults said together, while Harry smiled brightly. He knew his instincts about this girl had been correct.

"Guess I had her pegged wrong," Sirius acknowledged.

"Which is why you don't sort people," James laughed.

Harry began having a horrible idea, and wondered if the hat wouldn't choose a house for him at all.

"Never happened in Hogwarts history," Lily said at once, as nerves looked to be coming over her son again.

If he'd just sit there until the teachers decided a mistake had been made and send him back to the Dursleys.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"They'd never," James vowed, not even wanting to think on it.

When it was Neville Longbottom's turn,

"Longbottom?" They all said together in shock.

"So that is Alice and Frank's boy," James said with a bit of unease, remembering the train scene. Perhaps Harry hadn't been the only boy to lose his parents during this awful war.

Knowing the Longbottom's pretty well, Sirius really didn't want to think another good family had been destroyed, so he quickly said "Yes well, I'm sure that older woman dropping him off was just the one time thing. Since they're both Aurors, I mean that can be a very demanding job I'm sure," but as he trailed off, even he could hear the falseness in his own words.

Sighing deeply, Remus decided he wasn't going to jump to any conclusions, so he just kept going.

Harry was frowning to himself a bit, thinking for what felt like the hundredth time that he should know the answer to this, yet once again it was escaping him. He really hoped this feeling would either wear off already, or stop cropping up.

The hat seemed to take ages to make him a Gryffindor, and in his anxious state, Neville began walking off with the hat still on his head before walking back and handing it sheepishly to the next student.

James and Sirius were both chuckling at that, this was original and something they'd never seen and those moments were always a joy to them.

Malfoy's turn came around a nd he swaggered up to the stool and got his wish. The hat had barely touched his head declaring him a Slytherin.

James dearly wanted to make a comment how this was no surprise, but kept his mouth shut for Lily's sake.

Name's later, to Harry's dismay, it was his own turn.

"Yes," all four adults said eagerly.

As he made his approach, he heard spouts of whispers cropping up all over the hall, confirming amongst themselves they'd heard that name right.

A small frowned dampened their spirits just a bit, hoping all this whispering would get out of the students now, and knowing full well it wouldn't.

Harry didn't focus on that long though, as the hat was now whispering in his ear how difficult it was to sort him. Praising him for his mind, a lot of courage, an interesting thirst to prove himself, and how much potential for talent he had, then rhetorically asks where he should go.

Lily smiled brightly, alibet sadly at the way the hat was describing her boy, someone she should know better than anyone.

Harry desperately gives his opinion back, not Slytherin.

"Oh Harry," Lily groaned, rubbing at her own temple. She wished he wouldn't judge the whole house by such rumors.

The hat seems surprised , and then tries to convince Harry that Slytherin may be a great house for him on his way to greatness. However, at Harry's insistence the hat verbally declares Harry a Gryffindor.

"Yes!" All four boys cried as one, looking abundantly pleased despite what they had said. Even Lily couldn't deny how happy she was her boy wound up in her house. Although she still couldn't shake the feeling that, perhaps if Harry hadn't been brave enough to put up his opinion, he would have wound up in Slytherin. Oh well, no need to ponder it now.

"You know, that's a lot of what happened to me," Sirius said brightly, "the hat said I should go into Slytherin as well, but I fought back same as you pup." He grinned over at his godson with real pride for the first time, and Harry beamed right back.

"And I thank Merlin for that every day," James laughed, his best friend and him sharing a grin, "or I'm sure our school life would have been much different."

"I'll second that," Remus agreed.

In Harry's relief, he didn't seem to notice he was getting the loudest applause. When he sat down at his new table, a ghost reached over to pat his arm.

Remus shuddered a bit as he kept reading.

Giving Harry the sudden feeling he'd just plunged it into a bucket of ice-cold water.

Harry grimaced and rubbed his arm, clearly remembering that feeling all over again.

Now that Harry could see the teacher's table more properly, he got a better look at all of them. There was Dumbledore and Hagrid, as well as Professor Quirrell now wearing a purple turban.

"Maybe he wears it to impress the students," Lily said with a touch of concern, as Harry had once again grimaced in pain and began rubbing his temple in agitation.

"Yeah, suppose so," he agreed half-heartedly, unable to shake the feeling there was something important about that turban.

"Quirrell's still the only new teacher," Sirius piped up, trying to change the subject, "and the only new one I'm hoping. Since I rather liked all of my teachers."

"Couldn't tell that at school," Remus chuckled.

When it was finally Ron's turn at the hat, the boy looked rather green.

"Poor lad," James said sadly.

"Remember our sixth year and that Zabini bloke." Sirius laughed, "kid vomited because he was the last one."

"Yes, well, I'm sure the Hufflepuffs didn't hold that against him," Lily chuckled.

Harry crossed his fingers under the table and a second later the hat had shouted,

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Harry beamed, and they were all happy that Harry's new friend had joined him in their old house.

Harry clapped along with the rest of his house when Ron took a relieved seat next to Harry. Then the last student, Zabini, Blaise, was sorted into Slytherin.

"Would you look at that," James chuckled.

McGonagall rolled up her scroll and picked up the Sorting Hat to leave. Harry was now looking eagerly at his plate before him, thinking how long ago those snacks on the train felt.

"They always do by that time," Sirius agreed, rubbing his stomach.

First though, the headmaster took to his feet and began addressing the whole of the students, welcoming them, saying a string of random words, and then taking his seat again. Harry couldn't decide whether to laugh or not.

"I always choose laughter," James said, laughing even now at both Dumbledore's speech, and his son's expression of it.

So he turned to Percy and asked if Dumbledore was a bit mad?

"Perhaps a tad," Sirius said, cracking a small smile, "but we don't hold it against him."

Percy's first reaction is to say that he was a genius, best wizard in the world , and then ended with yes he is a bit barking.

"So was that a yes, or a no?" Remus asked, grinning with the others.

"I'll stand by what I said," Sirius told him.

Before Harry had a second to consider that, Percy was offering him some food, and to Harry's amazement, the whole table was covered with delicacies of every taste.

"What if someone was allergic to something?" Harry asked at random, remembering a day in his school cafeteria and an ambulance having to make an apperance. He imagined what someting like that at this place would be.

"The parents inform the school ahead of time, and it's taken up with the kitchens," Remus said with a shrug. He'd never looked into the matter personally, but since there had never been an instance, he was sure the house elves knew what they were doing.

Plus for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs.

"That's because Dumbledore loves those," Lily told him, grinning down at her boy.

The Dursleys had never exactly starved Harry.

All four adults then pursed their lips, thinking to themselves that rationing food as a punishment was akin to starving in their books, but letting it slide for now. They trusted that Harry had told them the truth.

He' d never gotten the chance to eat as much as he liked though, because Dudley always took anything that Harry wanted, even if it made him sick.

"Is there anything awful that child hasn't done?" James demanded in disgust.

"Well I'm glad he's eating his fill now." Sirius muttered, still wanting to knock that family a good one.

Remus and Lily simply decided to keep that opinion to themselves, as Harry was looking a bit peeky again.

While Harry piled his plate full, the ghost beside him said wistfully how good it looks, explaining that ghosts can't eat. Then properly introduces himself as Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, the ghost of Gryffindor Tower.

"Why does he say it like that?" Harry asked, "Can't all the ghosts go anywhere in the castle they please?"

"Yes," said Remus, "but there's at least one ghost who represents every house, as a sort of guide if you will. Nick's ours. The Fat Friar is Hufflepuffs, the Grey Lady's Ravenclaws, and the Bloody Baron is Slytherins." Harry nodded with interest, but let Remus keep going.

Ron suddenly burst out that he'd heard of him from his brothers, and called him Nearly Headless Nick.

"Nearly headless?" Harry asked, "How can he be nearly headless?"

"Oh he tells that story every year," Sirius laughed with remembrance. "I always made it a point to sit near a first year every year so I could see this."

Nick began to correct him, saying he'd much rather be called by his proper title, but was cut off by Seamus Finnigan demanding to know how he could be nearly headless. Nick seemed rather miffed.

"He's faking it," James laughed, "he loves showing off."

Remus wasn't so sure, considering how bitter he was about being left out of the Headless Hunt, but didn't restart the ongoing argument right now.

He answered nonetheless, grabbed hold of his left ear, and pulled. His whole head tilted to one side to land on his shoulder, leaving only the finest of skins attaching him to his body.

All three boys laughed boyishly as, once again, they got to witness a first year with a gaping mouth at this revelation. Yes, Harry may be older now than he was then, but that look never got old.

Someone had obviously tried to behead him, and hadn't finished the job. Now Nick looked quite pleased as he put his head right and continued where he'd like, by saying how happy he was to meet the new Gryffindors. How he hoped they helped to win the House Cup. The Slytheri ns had won it six years in a row now.

"Wow," Lily said, raising a brow, "that's almost a record. Two more years, and they'll have beaten it."

"Let's hope it doesn't keep then," James said with a groan of disgust.

Then he referred to the Slytherin ghost as the Bloody Baron, and how he'd been

unbearably proud of this fact. Harry glanced over and saw the indicated ghost, whose robes were silver stained with his blood. Seamus asked how that happened, and Nick said he'd never asked.

"We have," all three boys said at once.

"Why am I not surprised?" Lily asked the ceiling.

"He wouldn't tell us though," Sirius said with regret, "one of the most bloody annoying things about our seventh year. We tried everything, got every ghost there to tell us how they died in one way or another. Sadly, both the Grey Lady, and The Baron, never spilled." Harry was twitching again in real agitation, but as he had no way to really explain that he felt he knew the answers to this as well, he simply remained quiet.

Dinner passed on into deserts, everything imaginable.

"Please Remus, you're torturing me," Sirius groaned, now clutching his stomach as if in real pain.

Remus opened his mouth to respond, but just then a wail came from upstairs. Taking the excuse, Sirius lunged to his feet and had barreled up the stairs before either parent had any chance to react. Sirius came down a few moments later with a bright eyed baby, cooing to him about how baby Harry had saved Uncle Sirius from 'mean old Uncle Remus and his 'torturing'. Remus just rolled his eyes and kept going as Sirius plopped himself down on the love seat with the toddler.

The conversation had turned into people's families. Seamus was telling a funny story about how his Dad didn't know his mother was a witch until after they were married.

Remus nodded sagely, saying, "Yeah, my dad didn't tell my mum he was a wizard until he accidentally got her pregnant. Perhaps not the best time to inform her, but there you go." James and Sirius had heard this before, but Lily and Harry couldn't help but giggle a bit at this.

Ron asked Neville if he had anything to share and Neville admitted his grandmother raised him.

Now all four adults paled as they came to the horrid conclusion that Neville had lost his parents in some way, same as poor Harry. None of them said anything however, as Harry already looked troubled enough by this news, and they all comforted themselves with a reminder that they were going to change this.

His whole family thought he was a muggle. His Uncle kept trying to force some magic out of him, including nearly drowning him once .

"Really now?" Lily said, frowning severely once more. "Magic comes with age. You shouldn't try and force it out any more then you should try stamping it out." The other three all agreed. Perhaps it was the over lingering hatred of how the Dursley's had treated Harry, but they all felt a bit sensitive on the subject now. Remus quickly read on.

Nothing happened until Neville was once dropped out of a window.

Now all four adults looked ready to breathe fire. Really now, did they have to set up a whole new division in the ministry just to prevent child abuse!

Neville bounced down to safety.

"Still doesn't excuse the act itself," they all muttered in agreement.

Though Neville had showed magical powers, his family still worried he wasn't magical enough to get into Hogwarts.

"There's no such thing," Lily said at once, "often magic abilities can be latent, not appearing at all until harnessed through the use of a wand."

"It's okay Lily," Remus said, trying to sooth what looked like a full-blown tangent, "the boy got in. Hold your very loud and persuasive arguments for work eh?" Lily huffed and sat back, letting him go on. Sirius and James both threw him 'thank you' looks.

His uncle was so pleased he had, he'd given Neville his toad. On Harry's other side, Hermione and Percy were discussing things to expect in their lessons . Percy was telling Hermione about Transfiguration and how they'd be starting with small things like matches into needles.

"Aced that at once," Sirius said with pride.

Harry was starting to feel sleepy from so much food now, and looked back to the teachers table expectantly. His eyes once again landed on Quirrell's odd turban, and this time he spotted him talking to a teacher with greasy black hair.

James blinked several times, clearly startled. Then said quite loudly, "Oh bloody hell, you must be joking?"

"There's no way," Sirius groaned, letting his head fall back against the cushions, "someone please tell me Harry just has an extremely ugly teacher, who resembles an old Slytherin I never want to see again!"

"This can't be happening," Remus said at once, a bit of an edge in his voice "like Harry needs to put up with-"

"Enough," Lily said at once, glaring around at all of them. Privately Lily was doing quite the

happy dance in her head. Last she had heard of her old friend, he had gone and joined a group of Death Eater's! Yet if this really was who she was hoping it was, then surely Dumbledore wouldn't have hired someone who supported Voldemort. So if this was him, then surely Severus had changed his ways over the years. Forcing herself to keep her mind on track, she turned back to find the boys still mutinously muttering as she said, "Leave it be until we know for sure." None of them agreed, but let it slide until they were sure. Harry still wondered what they were even talking about, but kept it to himself.

It happened very suddenly while Harry was studying the new teacher he'd spotted, he felt a sharp pain shoot across the scar on his forehead.

"What?" All four said at once, instantly distracted from the drama of old school mates.

"Scar's shouldn't burn," Lily said at once, fear lacing her tone, "did it hurt again, just now?"

"No," Harry said at once, though he did vividly remember that pain now, as if it had happened all over again.

The three boys exchanged fearful looks, but none of them knew what to make of this. After all, they weren't even one hundred percent sure how Harry had gotten that scar. Sure, the book said that was where Voldemort had tried to kill him, and the green light vaguely implied which spell he had tried to use. However, there was no way Harry had survived the killing curse. No one ever had. So there must have been some new spell he had used, one that had got around Harry. Perhaps the side effects of that were that it would randomly pain him in his life.

James asked, "Has it ever pained to you before this?"

"No," Harry said sadly, looking as lost as they do.

Sirius grimaced, wanting terribly to point out that he didn't think it was a coincidence that Harry would have this sudden pain the moment he looked at old Snivellus, there was no doubt of that description as far as he was concerned. He knew the telling off he'd get from Lily for saying that. With no other proof or facts to look at, Remus decided that he should keep going, and hope an explanation came about soon.

Harry cried out in pain, but when Percy asked what was wrong, Harry denied it and tried to go back to normal. The pain had come and gone so fast he had no idea what to make of it. It was harder to forget was the look that dark haired teacher had given him, a distinct

look of hatred.

Lily pursed her lips, but refused to admit that these boys might be right. No, Severus was a better man than that, he had to be. All three boys muttered something about an understatement before going on.

Harry asked Percy who this teacher was, and Percy told him that was Snape,

"No," Lily said at once when it looked like these boys were going to start verbally abusing

Severus. "I don't want to hear a word of it." After all, her old friend may harbor a grudge against this lot, and who could blame him, but it shouldn't affect Harry at all. She told them all as much, and all three boys gave her a look as if suddenly fearing for her health.

"You must be joking Lily," James said in exasperation, "Snape, not being a prat to my son. It's perfect for him to get his revenge and-"

"No," Lily said with such firmness, they all wanted to take a step back from her. "Severus would never take out his anger at you on a child. I know him better than that."

"Knew him," Sirius muttered bitterly to himself, thinking back to their fifth year when the two had quite the public falling out and never really made up. James and Remus on the other hand had a better sense than to argue with her about this, though they too agreed with Sirius. All three dearly hoped they were wrong though, as they would never forgive themselves if Snape really were a prat to Harry just to get back at them. Wasn't the lot of them being dead good enough? They would have to hope so.

Harry was privately wondering through all of this, what was going on? There was clearly a back story here he hadn't been privy to. However, as his mother looked ready to burst into tears if the boys kept on this much longer, he said nothing, and instead tentativly wrapped his arm around her for comfort as Remus just decided to go on.

the Potions teacher, but the job he really wanted was Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"I'm not surprised at all," Sirius huffed to himself. "He would go apply for the Dark Art's job. Thankfully Dumbledore saw his real talents as a scrawny Potions know it all git."

"That was probably the nicest thing you ever said about him," Lily said, half a reprimand, half a thank you.

"Told you we were getting better," James said brightly.

Harry was still studying him curiously, but then Dumbledore got to his feet, and the hall fell silent to listen. Dumbledore gives out a few notices like how the Forbidden Forest is off limits.

All three boys cracked up a bit at this, since all four friends had broken that rule within their first month there. This had, incidentally, started a beautiful friendship. Harry even gave a small laugh at that, remembering them telling him this at breakfast. Lily simply shuddered in disgust. She had never set foot in that forest, and never intended to. It was creepy.

He added that some of the older students should remember that by now, while his eyes lingered on Fred and George Weasley.

"Liking them more and more," James said with glee.

He has also been reminded by Filch, the caretaker,

"Argh, that old git is still there," Sirius said in disgust.

"Filch isn't that bad," James said fairly, "so long as you know how to avoid him."

"You lot clearly weren't very good at that, as often as I saw him screaming at you," Lily laughed.

"Yes well, we had to let him catch us sometimes," Remus said, a sparkle of mischief clear in his eyes, "how else could we raid his office to get our stuff back."

Lily groaned and put her face in her hands, deciding she didn't want to ask anymore.

He also reminded the students magic was forbidden in the corridors, and then moved on to talk about Quidditch trials and who to contact to find out about those, a woman named Madam Hooch.

"Oh good," James said with glee, "Madam Hooch is still there. At least I know Harry will get proper flying instructions then."

"I notice she's the only teacher there so far who you've given her title," Lily said, shaking her head sadly, "is she really the only adult there you respected?"

"At the time," Sirius said slowly, "yes. But as we aged, we did come to respect all of our teachers for what they were."

"And we did call them properly in class, give us that," Remus said fairly. Lily again, simply rolled her eyes at her boys.

Then he finished with a new announcement that the third floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very unpleasant death.

All four adults blinked, now very clearly startled at this. "I'm guessing that wasn't there when you were then?" Harry asked, rubbing his temple furiously again, talking seemed to help lessen the pain though.

"No, not at all," Sirius said, an old tone beginning to creep into his voice.

"No." Lily said at once, giving all three boys very stern looks.

"Sirius just said that Lily," James told her, trying to avoid her gaze.

"You know exactly what I mean James Potter," Lily said severely, throwing Harry a very worried glance. "I don't care what you lot got up to at school, can't do anything about it now, but I do not want Harry to go around, poking into things he shouldn't. Did you not hear the 'very painful death' part? He could get really hurt!"

"Oh relax Lily," Remus laughed at the way she made his two best friends look almost ashamed of themselves. "Harry's perfectly alive and healthy right there. I'm sure even if he did find out; he didn't come to any harm." Lily hardly looked nullified, but the other three boys looked quite pleased at Remus' logic.

Harry laughed, but then realized he was one of the few who did. He asked Percy if

Dumbledore was serious .

Sirius was far too curious to hear this then to make his preferred joke.

Percy says that he must be because Dumbledore usually has a reason for his rules . Like the Forbidden Forest is full of dangerous creatures, but he hadn't really told them why this corridor was.

"Now that's a fair point," Remus pointed out, now frowning a bit himself, "I wonder why he

wouldn't have told them why?"

"All the more reason to stay away," Lily muttered, though she was clearly the only one thinking this.

Then Dumbledore declares they should sing the school song.

"Oh come on," James and Sirius groaned, while Sirius said, "I'll bet you're not going to sing this either?"

"Of course not," Remus sniffed, "I've told you, I don't like singing."

At Harry's confused look, Lily told him, "Dumbledore has them sing the school song every seven years. Your father and Sirius loved singing it in this old dirge tone, being the last ones to stop. Remus and Peter on the other hand, tried their best to avoid the public eye, so they were a bit more, how shall I put this, reserved." Harry smiled at her, then around at the rest of them as the boys were still arguing. Finally, Remus cut off the argument, by simply reading as fast as he could.

Dumbledore used his wand to create a golden ribbon, which strung itself in the air and began contorting itself into the first few li nes and Dumbledore instructed everyone to pick

their favorite tune and begin singing:

Insert Hogwarts school song.

While James and Sirius looked genuinely hurt that they hadn't been allowed to do the tune that they had greatly enjoyed making up on the spot in their sixth year, Remus looked relieved that this should be the last time he'd have to avoid singing.

Everybody finished the song at different times. Finally, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march.

"Brilliant!" James and Sirius laughed.

Dumbledore was one who clapped the loudest when everyone finished, then praised that music was his favorite form of magic. Then sent them all off to bed.

"I swear, Dumbledore's the only one who ever enjoys that," Lily chuckled.

"It didn't say, what tune did you do Harry?" Sirius asked brightly.

"I just kind of hummed along," Harry admitted. "I'm not much in the way of music either."

"Well, we can't all be The Three Toads," James said with a shrug. Harry blinked for a moment before deciding it must be some wizard band, and not asking about it.

The Gryffindor first years followed Percy out of the Great Hall and up a long series of passages and corridors. Harry was so tired by now, he wasn't paying much attention where they were headed.

All four adults looked like they wanted to laugh a bit at this. Harry really should have been paying attention to where he was going, or he was going to have a rough morning. It was too late now, however, to mention it.

They were stopped rather abruptly though by some walking sticks blocking their path. Percy snapped that someone named Peeves needed to show himself, but he merely blew a raspberry in response.

"His favorite response really," Sirius chuckled.

Percy threatens to go get the Bloody Baron.

"Ouch," James winced, "pulling the Baron card already? I think that's a bit unnecessary."

"He's trying to get the first years to bed," Lily said, "I'd be a bit curt with him to."

At this Peeves makes his appearance as a little man, floating in the air. He cackles upon seeing the first years and swoops low over them, making them all duck. Percy again threatens to go and get the Baron, and Peeves' response is to drop the walking sticks on Neville's head as he vanishes for good.

"That poor kid," Sirius winced, "he seems to be getting the short end since this thing started." None of them had really gotten over the fact that he was an orphan too, just like their little Harry. They were hoping that Harry would make friends with him soon though, it would make them all feel a bit better about it, if only slightly.

Percy explains to them that Peeves likes to cause trouble around the scho ol and that only the Bloody Baron can even slightly control him. Then complains how he won't even listen to the prefects.

"That boy sure thinks a lot of his position," Remus said with a bit of a frown, after all if you let the position go to your head, you won't get any respect from the other students.

Percy came to a stop again soon enough, in front of a portrait of a fat lady. She asks for a password, and Percy tells her Caput Draconis, which made the picture swing forward to reveal a hole in the wall.

Harry was grinning to himself, feeling very pleased with himself that he wasn't surprised one bit at this.

Percy instructs that the girls go up one passageway and the boys up another, and Harry climbs up to the very top of the tower to find five beds inside. Ron is already slumping into his own bed, telling his rat Scabbers to stop chewing on the sheets.

"Well then, you should have fed him at dinner," Sirius interrupted with a small laugh, thinking back to all the great times he and his friends had shared in their dormitory.

Harry is so exhausted he doesn't have any energy left for conversation and goes right to sleep, but has quite a strange dream. He's wearing Quirrell's turban, and it's tell him he needs to switch to Slytherin.

"You can't transfer," James snorted.

"You're not feeling guilty about being in Gryffindor?" Lily asked with some concern, "because really sweetheart, the house doesn't matter. It's the person in the house."

"It's fine mum," Harry said, massaging his forehead again in a bit of pain, there was something important about this dream. Something he really should remember, but it just wasn't coming to him.

"I'm sure it's like the book said. I just had a bit too much to eat. Strange sleeping place, all that's bound to give me a nightmare." Deciding to take this for what it was, Remus pressed on.

Harry tried to take the turban off but it seemed to be stuck to his head. Suddenly Malfoy's there, laughing at him and then Malfoy turns into Snape , glaring hatefully at him, then there's a loud cold laughter echoing everywhere, and a burst of green light, and Harry wakes with a start.

"Nightmare indeed," all three boys muttered, shaking themselves slightly. No one really wanted to dwell on that dream much.

Harry rolls back over and goes right back to sleep, and in the morning, he doesn't remember the dream at all.

"That's the end of the chapter," Remus said brightly, "Lily, did you want to go next?"

"Sure," she said, taking the book eagerly, wanting to get right to Harry's classes.