Hi, guys.
I meant to get an update written and posted before Christmas. But, as it happened, holidays got in my way between family traditions and my friends and me hanging out more often.
So this is late, I'm sorry.
Review responses:
Kira Akuma: Thanks! And I do plan on changing it quite a bit from canon. I don't know about completely, but it'll be different.
Zekrom1010101010: Thanks
Gojira Geek: I might. I haven't actually planned it out that far, but I'm considering it for sure.
grandshadowseal: I completely agree that there's too few Harry Potter crossovers with Dark. He's such an interesting character, so it seems such a shame to me. As for who Harry will be friends with, it'll become slowly more obvious starting as of this chapter. With Dark, usually if he's out wandering, he has his hair pulled over his ears so they aren't so glaringly obvious and due to the hue of red, I'd assume that most muggles would assume them to be brown. However, it might also be that he's covered by the same magic that most of the magical community is and it just isn't noticed and thought of as odd unless the other person is in the know of the magical world. Both are pretty decent theories.
Enjoy.

The train ride was quiet for a while for Harry, who watched outside the window as scenery went by in a blur. He only ever glanced away when he heard someone stop to talk.

Admittedly, he didn't do much talking with them, mostly just offering short replies and watching them, trying to pick out small bits about them as he did. He normally wouldn't bother, but these were the people he would be around for the next seven years, which gave him more than enough reason to observe them passively like he was.

By the time that they arrived, Harry had found a few people who he felt would be decent friends, and then some who he'd rather avoid at all costs whenever possible.

However, he kept to himself as they headed towards the school, contenting himself with awing over the view of the castle from the lake. Dark had told him that several places using magic would look rather wonderful, and while he had doubted him, he could see why he'd said so.

Still, as they were led into the castle, he kept his expression carefully blank, talking quietly with a few of the people around him out of nerves. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he figured it wouldn't hurt to be prepared for anything.

Needless to say, when he found out they just had to put on a hat that would sort them, he was disappointed. He'd relaxed, sure, but he'd also rolled his eyes at the sheer innocence of the entire act, as if they weren't learning to kill should need come to it.

He watched, half-interested, as others were sorted. Admittedly, he was still slightly nervous about the sorting.

Once it came his turn to be sorted, he immediately focused ahead of him, blocking out the whispers that hadn't been there for anyone else.

Throughout the entire time, he kept himself carefully guarded to those watching.

Still, a small amount of surprise was evident on his face when the Hat declared him a Slytherin. He made his way towards the designated table without much fanfare, continuing to watch the sorting absently as he thought.

He didn't show any interest as the Headmaster spoke - he'd listened for a moment before turning his eyes away and blocking it out. It got a few curious looks from his housemates.

Once the feast started, a few of them spoke to him. He glanced up at them as they spoke, eyes cold and guarded, but he answered some of them.

If he were to be honest, as of right then, the only one he didn't feel like was faking who they were was Blaise. He was careful not to let anyone know too much about him, and did his best to learn about those around him carefully, taking mental note of which ones he needed to be more careful around.

Needless to say, when they made it to their dorms, Harry was slightly exhausted. He still hadn't gotten used to being so guarded, and he definitely wasn't used to having to deal with such a large crowd of people at one time.

Before he got ready for bed, he sat down and wrote a quick letter to Dark to send the following morning, keeping true to his word to let him know where he'd ended up in Hogwarts.

As he finally settled down for bed that night, he let a small smile show. Though he knew he'd wind up homesick eventually, he couldn't see being here as a bad thing. After all, it would give him experience for later on in life, and he felt like he could set his own pace a bit more in his studies than when he was with Dark.

Sorry it was so short, and that it took so long.
Happy New Year!
-Sky