Chapter One

Neville, Ron and Hermione sat at the Gryffindor table at the sorting ceremony waiting for the first years to be brought out so they could start eating.

'Come on' moaned Ron 'it's not like they had to swim across the lake!'

'Oh be quiet Ron, honestly all you think about is your stomach' answered Hermione reproachfully 'We're sixth years now we have to set an example'

'The two of you be quiet!' cut in Neville 'you sound like an old married couple'

The two of them turned to glare at Neville but after a few seconds all three of them began laughing. They were the Golden Three and Neville was the chosen one, he who had defeated Voldemort when he was only a child.

Dumbledore stood up his robes flowing dramatically behind him

'Welcome' he said his voice filling the great hall 'to another year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Before we begin the sorting I wish to introduce you to some new teachers'

Dumbledore gestured to a few new faces 'This year we have another Defence against the Dark Arts teacher to share the workload with Professor Lupin, we hope that two teachers will allow for more practical lessons to be taken more often', grins and smiles followed this statement

'May I present to you Professor Black, who is joining us after being cleared of all charges thanks to Mr Longbottom, Miss Granger and Mr Weasley he brings much experience to the job'

A few worried mutterings came with the general applause following this announcement and mutterings of

'Their letting Black teach Kids!'

'My parents are going to complain'

'I don't care if he was cleared I still think he killed that family'

'Aurors weren't they?'

'Yeh! didn't their kid die as well'

'I think he's still alive'

'What's his name?'

'How the Hell should I know!'

However most clapped loudly glad that they were getting Sirius as a teacher

'Silence!' roared Dumbledore 'The matter is closed. Next we move onto Professor York who has come on as our new Muggle studies teacher'

He gestured to an elderly looking witch, there was scattered applause from the Hall and a few boo's from the Slytherin table

'This year we also have an exchange student from The Hanskida Collage which is situated in Helsinki, Finland' Dumbledore paused to survey the assembled students 'This is an not a common occurrence so I hope all of you in his year will welcome him fully'

When Dumbledore had finished his speech many pupils leaned forward with interest as the Hall doors opened and the first years walked in led by Professor McGonagall behind them, at a slight difference an older lad followed.

The boy had on the school uniform but on him it looked cool and dangerous, he was a tall person with a slim and muscled physique. He had long black unruly hair that reached his shoulders it was tied in a pony at his neck. He was unbelievably pale almost as if he had been drained but somehow he managed to look healthy, his eyes were covered by dark glasses underneath you could faintly make out two green orbs that seemed to glow in another worldly way. He swept between the tables as if he was merely floating as apposed to walking at all. The students watched him with faint foreboding he on the other hand barely glanced in their direction.

--

Harry's heart was pounding in his mouth, the sheer volume of people was unnerving to say the least especially when they all seemed intent on watching his every move. Harry was a trained fighter and had learnt how to survive the hard way, but lots of people staring made him uneasy. Harry suddenly realised he wasn't walking as heavily as a 'human' should. Concentrating he tried to make his manner more brisk and less ethereal.

'It's ok' he thought to himself 'No one's going to find out your secret. Their probably not even interested'

What was it Kay had said to him before he left, oh yeh!

'Give them no reason to suspect anything, and they won't'

Harry wished he was going back to the Hanskida Collage instead of Hogwarts but he had been told it was necessary to come to check on the 'situation' in Britain and as he was underage it was compulsory to go to school. Not. He thought to himself that he still needed to attend school he had been taught in all area's of magic to be the best.

Calmer now than he had been before Harry surveyed the Grand Hall and the teachers in it. Two of the teachers at the front were watching him with confusion as if they recognised him from somewhere. 'Which' Harry thought to himself is impossible as he had left the country when he was eight years old after numerous foster homes and of course the, incident. He had found sanctuary in Finland and now he was back again in this dammed country.

Names were being called out by Professor McGonagall and anxious first years sat down on the stool to be sorted. One unfortunate girl tripped over her slightly to long new robes and fell flat on her face to a huge amount of laughter, the girl was then sorted into Hufflepuff were she fled with a bright red face nearly tripping over her robes again in her rush.

'Stop Laughing' scolded Hermione to Neville and Ron 'Honestly the poor girl looks mortified!'

'I know!' laughed Ron

'That's what makes it even funnier' joined in Neville smirking

'HARRY POTTER' Professor McGonagall read out loudly 'SIXTH YEAR'

Harry walked slowly to the stool and trying to look unfazed he sat down and waited for the hat to be put on his head. At the announcement of his name the two teachers had glanced at each other in surprise. Harry felt his concern deepen, all he wanted was to stay under the radar and draw as little attention to himself as possible.

'Hello Mr Potter' spoke the hat 'I was expecting you five years ago. Never mind though you're here now. To which house you should go in, that is the question. You have plenty of brains, no doubt about that, so not Hufflepuff. Ravenclaw's not an option either, you have too much courage for that. I don't think Slytherin would suit you though, you have too much of a sense nerve for that and the deep desire to help others is here.

'I do not have a deep desire to help others' thought Harry to the hat 'I have a desire to help me'

'Don't try and fool yourself' replied the hat 'The desire is strong. There is something else here though' the hat remarked thoughtfully 'Something I am unfamiliar with, a strange magic'

'What house are you putting me in then' Harry cut in, trying and get the hat of the vein of strange magic

'I suppose it'll have to be Gryffindor!' the hat eventually shouted

Loud applause came from the Red and Gold table and Harry stood up and went over to itcautiously thinking that the hat had been to close to discovering his secret. If they found out he was half vampire then the ramifications would be huge.

The three teenagers watched as Harry headed over to their table he was heading in their direction. The boy looked distracted and worried.

'Is this place free?' he asked Hermione gesturing to the seat next to her he spoke with a slight accent but he didn't sound particularly Finnish in fact he sounded pretty English

'Yes of course please come and sit by us' Hermione answered smiling warmly at Harry

Harry returned the smile faintly and sat down

'I'm Hermione' she introduced herself 'and this is Ron' she pointed to a lanky red headed boy opposite her, who smiled friendlily at him 'and Neville' she gestured to the lad on her left

'Alright' Neville smiled as well

'Yes thank you' nodded Harry

'How come your accent is English' cut in Dean Thomas 'I thought you came from Finland'

'I do' replied Harry hesitantly, but what, he supposed was the harm in saying where he had lived 'I used to live in Britain when I was younger, before I moved to Finland'

'Did you go with your family' asked Ron

'I have no family' said Harry offhandedly 'They were killed'

Ron's ears burned in embarrassment 'Sorry mate, I didn't realise'

'It's okay, they died when I was young, and I can't remember them'

'Harry Potter' Hermione repeated his name 'your parents were James and Lily right?'

'Yes' Harry replied 'That's them'

'I know how you feel' said Neville 'I don't have my parents either, but I have my Grandmother'

Before Harry could reply Dumbledore began to speak again 'Now the sorting is over I wish you a good year, and I remind you the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds as is Hogsmeade unless you have permission. Now to the feast and I hope you enjoy it!'

Food appeared in front of them filling the empty serving platters everyone tucked in apart from Harry who regarded the food thoughtfully

'This' he thought 'will be a problem'

Harry didn't eat solid food under any circumstances the slightest morsel was enough to send him retching into a bathroom. He didn't completely rely on drinking blood like all other vampires thank goodness he could get by on a pint a month if absolutely had to, but he did prefer once a fortnight, whereas normal vamps needed to feed every other day, which was at least something to be grateful for. Harry looked at the silver goblet in front of him, it was filled with pumpkin juice, frowning slightly Harry used some wandless magic and changed the liquid into butterbeer. There was still the problem of the food however

'Aren't you eating' asked Hermione

'I'm starving' Ron said stuffing his mouth 'How come your not?'

'I ate on the train' Harry said quickly searching for another answer 'and it will take a while before I'm used to British food again'

They all looked at him sceptically 'Well if you're sure' Hermione said eying him

'Quite' Harry replied firmly

'Hey what's wrong with our food' laughed Dean

'It's not as good as Irish food' interjected Seamus 'Not by half!'

'My Grandmother's stew is my favourite' Neville added wistfully

Harry was relieved the topic had gone off him and glancing down the table he spotted some soup that didn't look very thick. Turning to the third year next to him he requested her to pass it to him. When Harry had some in a bowl in front of him he spotted the next problem. Silverware

Silver was yet another barrier for Harry it didn't burn him like it did real vampires but on contact it brought out an allergic rash and on prolonged contact left blisters on his skin. Harry tentatively touched his spoon the immediate contact left an angry rash on the tip of his finger

'Fuck!' he thought

Harry couldn't transfigure silver no matter how much magic he used. so instead he reached into his robes and pulled out a pair of thin black gloves, it would look odd but there was no way around it putting them on he picked up his spoon without it hurting and was about to raise it to his mouth when he realised if he put the spoon in his mouth it would hurt like shit! 'Stupid' he thought to himself as the same would happen with the goblet if he touched it.

Harry may not have to eat, but he sure as hell was thirsty. Sighing he put the spoon back down. Seamus was looking at his gloves with confusion

'What's with the gloves' he asked curiously drawing the attention of the other sixth years.

Harry glanced round around at his sudden audience feeling slightly unnerved. He had always stayed out of any limelight cast his way before choosing to avoid any unwanted attention. Yet it seemed he was the new kid here and here Everyone! was interested in the new kid.

'Erm' Harry mumbled out not sure if his revelation of his would create suspicion Harry decided the best thing to do would be to make something up 'At my a…my old school…we erm… had to wear gloves at meal times I don't know why it was…um… just one of the rules'

'You have to wear gloves as a rule?' Ron said confused

'I'm sure it's completely normal in your schools culture' Hermione looked to Harry for confirmation

'We don't have a rule like that, thank goodness' Neville laughed.

'That's good' Harry lied wondering what the people at Hanskida would say if they heard him making up such stupid things, Harry was starting to feel like a right prat 'It always felt a bit weird'

Trying to think of a way to get them off the topic Harry said 'tell me about this Hogsmeade though it sounds like an interesting place'

They all jumped in telling Harry about the small village as well as about Hogwarts itself and the different passages and paintings. They got so wrapped up in it they didn't notice Harry didn't have a single thing to eat or drink. A few hours later they stumbled out of the hall laughing as they walked.