Chapter 2

Hadrian awoke to a strange movement going across his face, cool scales were moving in his hair brushing against his scalp. It took Hadrian a moment to remember what it was, memories flashed by in Hadrian's head. A huge grin took over his face, the runespoor which Hadrian learned their names after he bought them, the left head was named Rhaeger, the middle Siderion, while the right head was called Leander. The Rhaeger and Leander argued a lot while Siderion only occasionally pipped in. Hadrian slowly left the huge bed and went to the dresser, he distantly remembered Ladu saying that they had clothes in each of their dressers for them. Hadrian stared at the shirt; it looked very formal like something you saw out of mediaeval times. It also seemed two sizes too big. Hadrian was still going to wear it; the shirt was far better than anything the Dursleys gave them. Hadrian was used to over-sized clothing anyways. Hadrian quickly took put on the shirt and to his shock it shook and started to shrink! 'Magic...' Hadrian thought to himself with a smile. Next Hadrian put on a pair of pants that did the same thing that the shirt did. Hadrian looked at himself in the mirror; the formal shirt was a dark green that brought out his eyes, what was strange though was that the Potter crest appeared on the shirt along with a strange crest that had designs with crows on it. It wasn't there before he put on the shirt. Hadrian chose not to think too much on it, the shirt was nice and comfortable and that's what mattered.

Hadrian turned to the runespoor. "You know I have to have a name for all three of you since you're technically the same snake. I can't introduce you as three separate names~." Hadrian told the three heads. Leander immediately spoke up, "If they can't bother with knowing each of our individual names then why should we bother with them~?!" "I think it would be nice, it's tiring being called runespoor all the time when they talk of all three of us. ~" Rhaeger said while Siderion nodded. Outnumbered by three to one Leander reluctantly surrendered. "Perhaps the name Numair. I heard that once somewhere." Hadrian said after a couple of minutes, and with that Hadrian and Numair left to go down stairs.

Hadrian met up with Stevenson at the stairs and he too had the Potter crest on his shirt, but not the one with crows. A large puppy with three heads was in Stevenson's arms, which once he set it down followed Stevenson loyally. The two boys didn't think they could be happier than they were now. They walked down the steps, looking at the multiple portraits, some of them even winked at the twins. Then they found themselves in the dining room. It was elegant, a beautiful chandelier hangs from the ceiling. The windows gave a direct view to the indoor gardens which also had an indoor water fall. It was gorgeous and was completed by the steaming breakfast that was already waiting there when the two entered. It was odd, Hadrian was used to making the food and only getting the scraps; having a full meal already made for him made him feel warm on the inside but also slightly nervous, it was a change in the routine but so was finding out about magic. Stevenson was also nervous, he never had an actual full meal, it just wasn't done at the Dursleys not to the twins anyways. The two boys sat on the chairs marveling on how comfortable they actually were and began to eat.

"Steve, where are you going to keep Pluto?" Hadrian asked once he was full. "What do you mean? All I have to do is find a secret room and play some music during class periods." Stevenson said with confusion. Hadrian sighed, "Professor Quirrell said that we have to keep our pets hidden. Do you know why? It's because they aren't allowed, he's pushing the rules for us. How do you think people are going to respond to you bringing a Cerberus onto the train? They won't allow it, Steve." Stevenson frowned and tried to come up with a retort, "Well people aren't going to respond well to you having a three headed snake around your neck." "I'm going to keep Numair under my robes; you can't do that to a puppy." Hadrian reasonably said to Stevenson. Both boys were startled by a sudden voice, "Why don't you use an expanded trunk, and keep the pup in there?" Hadrian and Stevenson turned around and stared at a portrait of a man, he looked like the paintings of pirates that were in the textbooks back at school. Except this guy seemed to have better teeth. The man was grinning with a rather cocky smirk. "What do you mean? How could we get an expanded trunk?" Hadrian asked warily, after all you shouldn't trust a man who reminds you of a pirate. "Ahh, new to the magic world are you? Makes sense, I suppose." The possible pirate then muttered about senile old men and Muggles. "There's a room on the right of the Master bedroom that leads to the east wing of the Manor. This path will lead you to a hallway which will have ten doors. The last door is the door where you will find a lot of trunks forgot why but doesn't make them any less good. I suggest taking the one that will suit your needs best."

The twins looked at each other than at the portrait. Stevenson sighed, "What do we have to lose, Hadrian?" "I don't know our limbs?! Are you seriously trusting the word of some painting of a pirate?" Hadrian looked incredulous at Stevenson. "I'll have you know that my word is very trust worthy." The pirate seemed to be pouting but the brothers weren't looking at him. "I doubt they would keep a portrait here if it was trying to kill us or dismember us." Stevenson deadpanned. "Okay, fine but if we die I'm going to haunt you." Hadrian said while scowling. "If, and that's a big if, we die then you can't haunt me because I'd be dead too." This seemed to perk Hadrian up and he eventually agreed. Of course the two boys had to pause for a moment and call Ladu to ask where the Master Bedroom was. But other than that it went smoothly.

The twins finally reached the master wing. It was lavish in detail and design, but then again it seemed everything in the house was. Well, at least that was the case for the two boys. They quickly found the room on the right and were shocked to find a cart. It was much like the ones at Gringots, except you didn't have fear of falling to your death, which was a nice touch. In only a couple of minutes Hadrian and Stevenson got off of the ride. They opened the door and see the hallway that the pirate talked about. Warily opening the last door, they see a bunch of trunks. They were organised in sections, one was for trunks with rooms, another for libraries, potions, and many more. The best part was they all looked like normal trunks so you couldn't tell they were different at first glance. Hadrian couldn't stop the wave of excitement of having a trunk with his own personal library. Stevenson meanwhile was simply happy over being able to bring Pluto to Hogwarts.

Once they were done collecting their trunks they began to wonder about the portrait. "It doesn't make sense, why is there a painting of a pirate in a fancy manor? Our fancy manor." Hadrian said with frustration. The two were heading to the living room to read, well Hadrian was going to read and then teach Stevenson. They had been trying it wandlessly, with various degrees of success. Well by various it actually means it was either a total failure or they could get it to slightly do what they wanted it to do. They mainly stuck to the levitation charms, mostly because they looked the coolest to do without a wand. They both were too nervous to practice with a wand once they heard about the ministry warning, but they eventually decided to practice that on the train. Speaking of trains, the two boys didn't know how to get to the area so they had to ask Ladu, who told them about the floo system. They landed on a floo station and quickly got off; a scarlet steam engine was waiting next to a platform packed with people. A sign overhead said Hogwarts Express, eleven o'clock. Hadrian and Stevenson looked at each other and grinned, this was going to be a special day, the twins were sure of that.

Smoke from the engine drifted over the heads of the chattering crowd, while cats of every colour wound here and there between their legs. Owls hooted to one another in a disgruntled sort of way over the babble and scraping of heavy trunks. Stevenson nervously looked at his own trunk, it wasn't heavy because of some charm put on it, but Pluto was in there. It didn't help that they were leaving the place that they were just beginning to call home. But their sadness of leaving the Manor was nothing compared to their excitement over going to Hogwarts.

The first few carriages were already packed with students, some hanging out of the window to talk to their families, some fighting over seats. Hadrian and Stevenson pushed their way down to the platform, in search of an empty carriage. They passed a round-faced boy who was saying, "Gran, I've lost my toad again."

"Oh, Neville," They heard the old woman sigh.

A boy with dreadlocks was surrounded by a small crowd. "Give us a look, Lee, go on." Someone from the crowd said. The boy lifted the lid of a box in his arms, and the people around him shrieked and yelled as something inside poked out a long, hairy leg. Stevenson whispered to Hadrian, "He's showing off his none regulated pet. It can't be that big of a deal, Hade." Hadrian looked at him with a deadpan stare, "A Cerberus and Runespoor is going to attract a lot more attention than a tarantula, a non-magical spider." He made sure to empathise on the non-magical part.

Stevenson chose to ignore it and pressed on through the crowd until he found an empty compartment near the end of the train. Stevenson put his trunk in first, so he could keep some sort of watch on Pluto. He was about to help Hadrian who was struggling with reaching the overhand of the compartment. Only to not be fast enough. "Want a hand?" A red-head asked. Hadrian with a slight blush of embarrassment said, "Yes, please." "Oy, Fred! C'mere and help!" With the twins help Hadrian's trunk was safely tucked away. Stevenson and Hadrian both turned to say their thanks, the ginger twins both turned to stare at Stevenson. "Blimy." Said the one on the right. "Are you- "The first twin interrupted with, "He is." "Aren't you?" He added to Stevenson. "What?" Stevenson said warily, he was used to people wondering about his huge scar on his forehead but no one ever acted like this. "Stevenson Potter," The red-head chorused. Hadrian's eyes lit up in recognition remembering Professor Quirrell's warning them about Stevenson's fame. Before Hadrian could remind Stevenson, "Yeah, I'm Stevenson Potter. What's it to you?" The red-heads were too busy gawking to answer the question, which was more like a demand.

"Fred? George? Are you there?" "Coming, Mum." With a final look at Stevenson, the other pair of twins hopped off the train. Hadrian and Stevenson sat opposite of each other, hearing the redhead's mother dotting on her children. "What was that about? Why did they even know my name?" Stevenson asked, he asked it as a rhetorical question but that didn't stop Hadrian from answering. "Because nitwit, you're famous. You couldn't have forgotten the professors warning already?" Said Hadrian. Stevenson blushed a bit in embarrassment, "No, I didn't forget, well kinda but I didn't think that I was all that famous. I mean if I was why leave us at the Dursleys?" At that Hadrian's face scrunched up cutely, "Looking like a kitten isn't going to answer the problem, Hadrian." Hadrian was now the one blushing in embarrassment muttering about how he didn't look like a kitten and how Stevenson looked like a yellow tortious.

They saw another red-haired boy pass by their carriage which made Stevenson mutter, "Just how many gingers are there." Hadrian rolled his eyes, used to Stevenson's way of copping. Hadrian brought out a book by the title of "Hogwarts: A History." "Hadrian, are you even my brother? Have you been possessed? How have you not finished it already?" Stevenson said dramatically. Hadrian glowered, "I'm making sure I remember the whole book. Also it's a magical book, it's bigger than it looks on the outside." Stevenson continued on, "Perhaps the book is so boring that not even you could finish it in a week. Have you learned anything fascinating from the book?" Hadrian paused from his attempt at backhanding Stevenson's head, "I'll have you know, that there are many fascinating facts in this book. One part goes onto explain the Chamber of Secrets. Slazar Slytherin allegedly made a secre-" "I'm talking about something that we would both find fascinating, not just you with your snaky mind." Stevenson said while resting his head on the table in front of them. "First off snaky isn't a word. And second off, let me finish. Slytherin possibly made a secret chamber that can only be entered with pharseltounge. In 1943 the chamber was believed to be opened. A girl by the name of Myrtle Warren was killed. Now this is where it gets interesting, they allegedly caught the 'murderer' who was known to have a pet Acrmantula. But they found no bight marks on the body, and Acrmantula can't petrify people." Stevenson perked up in interest when Hadrian mentioned the dead girl. "Do you think that she's a ghost at the school?" Hadrian kicked him, "I tell you about the fact that the person they caught was most likely not the criminal and all you care about is the possible ghost?!" Hadrian scolded. Stevenson just smiled sheepishly.

"Anything off the cart, dears?" A smiling, dimpled woman who slid back their door asked. Hadrian wanted to know if the food was different went out into the corridor. Hadrian was fascinated, and bought a bit of everything. So Hadrian came back into the carriage with arms full of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Cauldron Cakes, Liquorice Wands, and other names that Hadrian forgot were called. Stevenson stared at the packet of Chocolate Frogs, "Those better not be real frogs." Hadrian rolled his eyes, "The magical world may seem a bit backwards but that does not mean that they would eat chocolate-dipped, living frogs." Stevenson still looked doubtful and warily picked one up. A card fell out; it showed a man's face. He wore half-moon glasses, had a long crooked nose, and luxurious, flowing silver hair, beard, and moustache. Underneath the picture was the name Albus Dumbledore. Both boys were curious, Quirrell spoke briefly of the headmaster but he didn't speak nearly enough to curve the twin's curiosity. Hadrian read the card aloud, "Considered by many the greatest wizard of modern times Dumbledore is particularly famous for his defeat of the dark wizard Grindelwald in 1945, for the discovery of 12 C uses of dragon's blood, and his work on Alchemy with his partner, Nicolas Flamel. Professor Dumbledore enjoys chamber music and tenpin bowling." Stevenson noticed how the face on the back disappeared. The two boys looked at each other and muttered, "Magic."

Hadrian looked curiously at the bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, "Do you think when they say every flavour they truly mean every flavour?" Stevenson frowned, "Considering what we know about wizards and witches, probably." Hadrian was interrupted from opening the bag by the compartment door swinging open. A girl who already wore her new Hogwarts robes was with a boy they saw pass by before.

"Has anyone seen a toad? Neville's lost one," she said. She had a bossy sort of voice, lots of bushy brown hair, and rather large front teeth. "No we haven't seen a toad." Said Stevenson, but the girl wasn't listening, she was looking at the book in Hadrian's hand.

"Oh, are you reading Hogwarts: A History too? What do you think of the ghosts?" She sat down both of the twins looked slightly taken back but weren't bothered enough to say anything. "Oh, well I thought they should at least say the number of ghosts Hogwarts has, then they should go on to describe them. They leave out so many important details. How are we supposed to know if they will attack us? I mean they probably wouldn't have ghosts there if they were attacking students but they don't tell us that." The girl looked as if Christmas had come early for her, she immediately responded and Stevenson tuned them out. As much as he loved his brother, he wasn't nearly as interested in books, especially textbooks, as Hadrian was.

Eventually after a long conversation, or what seemed to be a long conversation, she introduced herself as "Hermione Granger" Hadrian glared at Stevenson in warning and introduced himself, "Hadrian Potter and this blond prat here is my twin, Stevenson Potter."

"Are you really?" Hermione said. "I know all about you, well not you but what the books say about you. You're in Modern Magical History and The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts and Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century." Stevenson looked at Hadrian, "I am?! Hade, why didn't you tell me?!" Hadrian glared, "You would have known if you actually read the books I assigned you. For someone who says they want to assimilate to the magical world quickly, you sure could stand to try harder." Stevenson groaned, "Well mayb-" He was interrupted by Hermione coughing, "Anyway, Neville and I better go and look for Neville's toad. You two better change, you know, I expect we'll be there soon."

"That was odd." Stevenson muttered. Hadrian frowned, "We both know she was just nervous." The door slid again, but it wasn't Neville the toadless boy or Hermione Granger this time.

Three boys entered, Hadrian and Stevenson immediately recognised the middle one at once. It was the pale boy from Madam Malkin's robe shop. He looked at Stevenson in a lot more fascination than before, though before he shoved him away so it wasn't very hard to beat that interest shown.

"Is it true?" He said. "Some girl said this is the Potter's compartment. So it's you, is it?" Stevenson glared at the boy, "Yes, we are the Potter's. Now why have oh so rudl-" Stevenson was cut off by a kick to the shin. The boy and the other two brown haired Dudley's entered the compartment. The middle boy spoke again, "This is Crabbe and this is Goyle, and my name's Malfoy, Draco Malfoy."

Hadrian and Stevenson just looked at him with a deadpan stare. "Do you not know who the Malfoy's are?" Hadrian looked the Malfoy in the eye; well he had to look up so it wasn't very intimidating. "Yes we know who the Malfoy's are. But considering that I'm heir to two lord ships that are on equal stanza to the Malfoy's and Stevenson here is heir to seven minor Houses I'd say we don't have to automatically respect someone who barged into our compartment. You can understand that, no?" Malfoy blushed, either because he was looking at Hadrian or in embarrassment was not known, but either way Stevenson didn't like it. "Well, you don't-" he seemed to flounder a bit and then left, his two body guards following him.

"Isn't this just a lovely train ride, Hadrian?" Stevenson said with a false smile. "You know the Granger girl was right, we should get our Hogwarts robes on." Hadrian said while rolling his eyes. "You know she mentioned the Hogwarts houses, we will still be close even if we're sorted into different houses, right?" Hadrian looked slightly embarrassed and Stevenson looked at him as if seeing him in a new light, "Of course we're still going to be close. With our personality differences we're bound to end up in different houses, and if anyone in our house tries to stop us, well we don't need to listen to them. We've been doing perfectly fine without other people; we don't have to start now."

A voice echoed through the train: "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be taken to the school separately." Stevenson's stomach lurched with nerves over leaving his trunk behind.

The train slowed right down and finally stopped. People pushed their way toward the door and out on to a tiny, dark platform. Stevenson shivered in the cold night air, remembering how he ignored Hadrian's warning about the weather in Scotland. Then a lamp came bobbing over the heads of the student, Hadrian heard a loud voice: "Firs' years! Firs' years over here! The twins stilled and saw one of the biggest person they'd ever seen. He wasn't big in the Vernon Dursley sense, but huge in the overall area. The long beard made him seem like a wild lumberjack.

Slipping and stumbling, they followed the giant of a man down what seemed to be steep narrow steps. It was dark; the guide's lamp only gave off a dim light. Then the floor became wet, they heard the sounds of some students slipping. "Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," the man called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here." Hadrian stared in awe; the narrow path had opened suddenly onto the edge of a great black lake. Perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky, was a vast castle with many turrets and towers. Hadrian turned to Stevenson who had a large grin on his face; Hadrian couldn't help the small smile that overtook him. Hogwarts was beautiful.

"No more'n four to a boat!" Called the guide, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Hadrian and Stevenson were followed into their boat by a dark skinned boy and a girl with pigtails who looked rather frightened. "Everyone in?" Shouted the guide, who had a boat to himself. "Right then- FORWARD!" The fleet of little boats carried them through thick algae and a curtain of ivy that hid a wide opening in the cliff face.

"So, umm what house do you think you'll get into?" The girl asked them while fidgeting with the ends of her robes. "Slytherin, of course." The other boy answered, this seemed to only frighten the girl more and she looked desperately at the twins to say something. "Whatever house we get into." The twins said simultaneously the girl nodded and looked at the view around them, the boy stared at them a bit in curiosity but clearly wasn't too interested by the fact that he didn't even notice Stevenson's scar.

The small boat landed and the four eleven year-olds got out. Stevenson noticed the guide handing the toadless boy a toad, the boy "Neville" a voice told him that sounded suspiciously like Hadrian held the toad as if it was his life line.

They walked up the steps and were greeted by the castle door. The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired witch in emerald green robes stood there. She had a very stern face and Hadrian noted her as a person that you would not want to cross. "The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said the guide. "Thank you, Hagrid. I will take them from here."

She pulled the door wide open. The entrance hall was huge. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was too high to make out any of the designs, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.

They followed the Professor across the flagged stone floor. Hadrian could hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right- the rest of the school must already be here- but Professor McGonagall shoved the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They all were crowded while also surrounding the Professor, Hadrian saw the blonde prat and one of the children from ginger clan; he stuck himself closer to Stevenson.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your House will be something like tour family within Hogwarts." Hadrian and Stevenson both shot a sceptical eye at that last sentence, McGonagall continued, "You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend free time in your House common room." She took a moment to pause and analysed each if the first years, "The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your House points, while any rule-breaking will lose House points. At the end of the year the House with the most points will win the House Cup."

"I shall return when we're ready for you," she said. "Please wait quietly." She left the chamber. Stevenson turned to Hadrian, "How do they even sort us into the fabulous Houses?" Hadrian looked a little peeved, "The books wouldn't say, something about it being a 'special' surprise that shouldn't be ruined." Then something happened that made the two boys jump about a foot into the air- several people behind them screamed. About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glanced at the first years. Stevenson was in awe at the sight and was determined to learn everything about ghosts. Hadrian was more focused on their conversation. What looked like a fat little monk was saying: "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance-" "My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost- I say, what are you all doing here?"

A ghost wearing tights and a collar thing 'suddenly' noticed the first years. The fat ghost, Friar said, "Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" Hadrian heard a few small snickers that fortunately went unnoticed. "My old House, you know." Then the door opened once again, "Move along now," said a sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to start." Professor McGonagall had returned which caused the ghosts to one by one float away. "Now in a line," Hadrian went behind a boy with sandy hair, with Stevenson behind him, and they walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of large double doors into the Great Hall.

The Hall was lit by thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. The tables had fancy sliver ware overly fancy it seemed. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. The line was facing the older students while the Professors were behind them. The ceiling was magnificent it was velvety black dotted with the stars. It was hard to believe there was a ceiling at all, Hadrian made sure to look up the spell so they could have an astronomy room at the Manor. Hadrian was so distracted he didn't notice McGonagall taking out a stool and a pointed wizard's hat. A hat that was patched, frayed, and extremely dirty. Stevenson saw the hat twitch and gave Hadrian an elbow to the stomach to get him to pay attention, it was also a bit of vengeance for before. Then the hat began to sing:

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,

But don't judge on what you see,

I'll eat myself if you can find

A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,

Your top hats sleek and tall,

For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head

The Sorting Hat can't see,

So try me on and I will tell you

Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their daring, nerve, and chivalry

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are just and loyal,

Those patient Hufflepuffs are true

And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

if you've a ready mind,

Where those of wit and learning,

Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin

You'll make your real friends,

Those cunning folks use any means

To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

The whole hall burst into applause once the hat finished its song. It turned its top half down as if to bow to each if the tables and then became quite still again. "Do you think we'll be trying on the hat?" "Yeah, considering the looks it is getting there are no other answers." Hadrian answered. McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment. "When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted." She said.

Professor McGonagall than took a look at the parchment and shouted, "Abbot, Hannah!" "HUFFLEPUFF!" Shouted the hat. "Bones, Susan!" "HUFFLEPUFF!" Shouted the hat again. "Boot, Terry!" "RAVENCLAW!" "Brocklehurst, Mandy" "RAVENCLAW!" "Brown, Lavender" "GRYFFINDOR!" "Bulstrode, Millicent" "SLYTHERIN!" "Finch-Fletchely, Justin" "HUFFLEPUFF!" "Finnigan, Seamus," a minute passed before the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" Granger, Hermione" "GRYFFINDOR!" "Longbottom, Neville" "GRYFFINDOR" "Malfoy, Draco." "SLYTHERIN!" Malfoy then went to join the dumb looking boys that followed him, he looked mighty pleased with himself when he sat down he made sure to get a good look at the Potters. Stevenson glared and Hadrian wasn't paying enough attention to notice the staring, he was too focussed on the names passing by then at last- "Potter, Hadrian!"

As Hadrian stepped forward the staring seemed more focussed then before, Hadrian swore he heard someone whispering about brother to the boy-who-lived. 'Perhaps, Stevenson's more famous than I thought' was Hadrian's last thought before the hat was dropped over his eyes. He waited for something to happen. "Hmm," said a small voice. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of loyalty, I see. You value intelligence enough to revile Rowena Ravenclaw herself, I'd say! There's talent, oh my goodness, yes- and a thirst for power. Plenty of cunning as well... So where shall I put you?" Hadrian responded immediately, "Whatever house that would not only suit me best but also where could use my potential to the fullest." "Slytherin will help you on your way to greatness and would certainly where you would use your fullest potential, no doubt about that-hmmmm you have a question?" The sorting hat asked "Yes, how do you see into our minds?" Hadrian was curious, after all mind reading would be very useful. "Oh, well it's an art called Legilimency. Slazar Slytherin himself was the one who put that ability onto me, you know. Speaking of him you better be SLYTHERIN!" There was a stunned silence for moment, then polite clapping that the Slytherins had done for everyone else came from the table. Hadrian didn't even notice that he held his breath until the clapping began; he quickly sat at the end of the table. Hadrian looked up at the line again to look at Stevenson's sorting.

"Potter, Stevenson!" Instead of the silence that greeted Hadrian whispers arose. It seemed everyone was trying to get a good look at Stevenson the hat then covered his head. "Just as difficult as your brother, I see. Plenty of loyalty and brashness. Not a bad mind either. Paranoid enough to survive the snake pit, though your bravery and boldness outweighs your other traits. Any opinions on which House you want to go to?" "If I choose my own House and Hadrian finds out I asked to be put somewhere where I wouldn't 'belong' he will nag me. So, for a more comfortable path I would rather you choose." Stevenson thought to the hat. "Well than better be GRYFFINDOR!" The Sorting hat was taken off his head and cheers erupted from the Gryffindor table, everyone was seemingly trying to shake his hand. Stevenson sat next to the toadless boy, once he was settled in his seat, Stevenson immediately set his eyes onto the Slytherin table looking for Hadrian.

He eventually found Hadrian, who was talking to some rabbity looking boy, the boy was pointing at a rather gloomy looking person that was at the head table, it took Stevenson a minute to realise that it was he creepy person from the shop. 'Another creepy Professor." Stevenson thought to himself in slight disappointment, a prefect noticed his staring and went onto explain who he was, "That's Professor Snape, he teaches potions. He doesn't like any House except his own House, Slytherin." The prefect had bright orange hair and a rather snooty voice. The rest of the Sorting preceded on, then at last the last first year was sorted. Stevenson eventually caught Hadrian's eye, but Hadrian gave a silent message that told him to just eat his food, and that they would talk later.

Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming, but it seemed somewhat strained at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to seen them all there. "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! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!" He sat back down, almost all the older students clapped. The Slytherins had a slow clap the Ravenclaws did theirs half-heartedly the Hufflepuffs just smiled and clapped with polite enthusiasm, while the Gryffindors clapped with extreme enthusiasm. It was almost terrifying. Hadrian didn't bother to clap, but for appearances he moved his hands, Hadrian noticed a few of the older years did the same. The headmaster clapped his hands and a feast appeared. Hadrian put some food onto the plate and made sure to pay attention to the way the others ate, one could never be completely sure of proper dining customs, after all. After Hadrian carefully ate about half of the food on his plate he felt as if someone was staring at him. It ended up being the disturbing fellow from the book store. Another first year, something Nott Hadrian remembered, noticed his observing and immediately started, "That's Professor Snape. He teaches potions, is Draco's godfather, and also absolutely favour's Slytherin. While he doesn't help our reputation he certainly does help our grades in potions, or at least that's what I have heard from the older years." Malfoy immediately perked up, "He's Slytherins head of House, he's supposed to favour Slytherin." He drawled out the words to Nott as if it was the most obvious thing. "Our reputation is already ruined enough; we don't need an overly obvious Professor to bring down any progress we've made so far in gaining the respect if the other Houses." Hadrian continued to eat his food in piece, choosing to simply watch the conversation play out.

"This will be your new home for the next several years, whether you want it to be or not. Your allegiance now lies with the Slytherin House and your fellow peers. We must put up a united front, whatever arguments, or dislike you have for another Slytherin can only be shown in your dorm rooms, which yes you will be sharing with one other person, or the common room. Majority of Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs do look over the reputation of Slytherin, though that does not mean that all of them do. Gryffindors," the prefect seemed to be particularly interested in Hadrian now. "Meanwhile are a lost cause in attempts of befriending. Do not humiliate yourself, and by extension the Slytherin House with your attempts." The prefect who introduced herself as Gemma Farley finished.

"The Slytherin House is for the cunning and ambitious. Do not think for a moment that all you will have to do is make connections to succeed, you will have to work for your grades. I do know that some of you will not listen, and will bribe another to do your homework to make a study guide for you so on and so on. If you do so, and get caught you will lose respect, and your place on the hierarchy will be lowered." The prefect stared down at everyone. Eventually the prefects Led them to a strange passage, "Passwords are changed every Friday. They will be posted at the split of the girl dorms and the boy dorms." Farley then said, "Antipodean Opaleye."

They then were split into the dorms, the boys looked for the room with their name on it, Hadrian was happy to discover that the first one he saw room was his, but was quickly disappointed when he saw that Draco Malfoy would be the one he was rooming with. Hadrian opened the black door that had silver name plates. Hadrian was happy to see his trunk was already there, waiting on the left four-poster bed. The room was large, forest green with silver trimmings, it had a dark wooden floor that was surprisingly warm. The beds were also big, seemed rather expensive but the House was known for pureblood heirs so what could one expect? The left bed was more of a light green, the curtains were silver, and the pillows had the Slytherin crest stamped on it; the right bed however had dark green curtains with a silver bed spread and pillows. Hadrian's bed was right next to a large window which led you to see the lake. Fishes of all types swam about, seaweed seemed to be everlasting, it was a beautiful view over all. Hadrian quickly opened his trunk, inside was a library of books. There was also a heated tank for Numair, which Hadrian placed inside his dresser so they wouldn't be seen. Hadrian was already in his pyjamas when Malfoy came into the room.

The meeting was silent and slightly awkward. Hadrian just decided to nod to Malfoy and tried to get into bed only to get interrupted, "Our first meeting was not the best, and I would like to start anew. It would be best for us to be friends." Malfoy shot out his hand with a cockyish attitude. Hadrian shook the hand while say, "While I believe we should start out on good terms, I do not see myself becoming friends with someone I just met. Please, try to understand I don't mean to be rude." Malfoy looked startled at that and his face first showed slight anger then a happy expression until it eventually cooled down into a black expression. "I understand." Hadrian nodded sent a small smile Malfoy's way and quietly said good night.