The last word was shouted with an exuberance that raised some eyebrows all around the professor's table.
Harry took the hat off and kept his face carefully blank of any surprise, the Slytherin table was clapping politely. Harry wondered if anyone else knew just how much of the founders were in the sorting hat. He also made a mental note to investigate closer in the near future if the opportunity presented itself. Harry rolled his eyes slightly at all the gawkers he made the way over to the table, his robe already changing to acquire the silver and green trim of Slytherin.
On his way over, despite his internal resolution not to look for familiar faces, out of the corner of his eye Harry caught a glimpse of Ron for the first time in this world. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Harry could see that Ron had a sneer affixed to his face. Harry didn't really blame Ron. The Ron of his world had never gotten over his dislike of Slytherins, though that might have had to do with the fact that they had met very few Slytherins that weren't trying to put them down in their early years, or kill them in their later years.
As Ron so eloquently put it, "If it looks like a duck, smells like a duck, and quacks like a duck, chances are good that it's not a cow."
As he descended from the dais, Harry glanced up at the head table and saw Snape watching him with a blank expression, though Harry could tell he was curious. A quick curious glance at Dumbledore, showed nothing but polite clapping and a smile on the man's face. He did notice a slight flurry of activity from the other side of the table. Lily Potter eyebrows were drawn up in surprise as were the two teachers nearest to her. Though Harry only spared it a thought, wondering what they might be surprised by as he focused on the Slytherin table.
He could feel the evaluating eyes of the house even as they clapped politely. Harry saw Draco, surprise still etched on his face, nudging Crabbe over, so he made a beeline for the spot next to Draco. "Better the devil you know…" Harry thought as he approached and slid into the seat with a nod. Harry turned his attention from the surrounding hall, to Draco, and his new housemates.
Draco's expression was still surprised, and he leaned a bit closer and his voice was soft. "Never figured you'd end up here." He glanced around at all the people in Slytherin that were watching them with a variety of expressions, from cool indifference, which Draco knew was feigned, to thoughtful evaluation, to outright greed.
Harry glanced around at the Slytherin's, the majority of whom were either eyeing them with open curiosity, or pretending not to, and he smirked slightly at Draco. "You'll find I'm full of surprises Malfoy."
He kept his tone even, but his posture was stiff and Harry could feel his hand twitch slightly, instinctively wanting to lash out at several students that he knew would be death eaters in the near future, or at least they had been in his world. He took several slow breaths even as the people all around him seemed to be eager to interrogate him, but just didn't want to be the first person to break the ice.
Any further conversation was cut off as Dumbledore got up to make another announcement. Harry turned his head to listen to the announcement, though he was already well aware of what the Headmaster was going to announce.
Harry turned with feigned interest as Dumbledore announced the guests everyone had seen arrive with a flourish. Though Harry was attentive at the entrances of both Durmstrang and Beauxbatons, and was only mildly impressed at their theatricality and the impression they made on the other students.
Harry's eyes picked out Fleur out of the Beauxbatons group. She was at the very end of the Beauxbaton's line, and twirled before curtseying to the crowd with the rests of our schoolmates. Her cool eyes swept the room with a haughty expression, a thoughtful expression crossing her face as her eyes traced the room searchingly a second time.
"Looks like she's recovered from exposure to the cruciatus curse." Harry mused to himself as he turned away turning his attention back to the head table, mentally relieved at that fact. He had endured a busy week, and had checked the Daily Herald for any note about how she or Gabrielle had done. But there was nothing there about their status. Harry had wanted to check with St. Mungo's directly to be sure, but Nicholas had convinced Harry that if he did it would draw attention to him.
Harry didn't bother to roll his eyes at the excited murmurs that broke out through the student body and definitely didn't take part in any of the discussions that broke out when the fact that Viktor Krum was there caused murmurs to break out at all four tables.
Durmstrang came and sat down at their table. Most of the Slytherins shifted and moved in order to give Viktor Krum and his friends some space to sit. Several people throughout the table were making eyes at Krum. Though Harry noted that Draco made no move to engage him in conversation this time. Instead Draco remained nearby Harry, and merely nodded at Viktor Krum who seemed pleased at the subtle acknowledgement as opposed to the fawning that he became immediately besieged with.
Harry himself remained silent his eyes roving up and down the Slytherin table. He noted the boys and girls of Durmstrang all sitting stoically under the watchful eye of their headmaster. Then Harry's eyes roamed the people of Slytherin, though his eyes didn't linger anywhere. Once again Harry was struck by how many familiar enemy faces were sitting there, including some that Harry himself remembered killing.
The rest of the meal went as he remembered it. The introduction of the Tri-Wizard tournament. Moody coming into the great hall through the side entrance, the clouds in the enchanted ceiling thundering and lightning and him dispelling the effect with a blast of energy from his wand.
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