The train ride seemed never-ending to Harry. His new friends were chatting away, their familiarity with each other making him feel like an outsider. Every now and then, they would direct a question his way, but he struggled to find common ground with them. They were all from prestigious wizarding families, and Harry felt like he didn't belong with them. He couldn't help but feel out of place and insignificant compared to their wealth and status.
As he sat there lost in thought, Daphne's voice interrupted his musings. "Hey, are you feeling okay?" she asked with concern.
Harry jolted out of his reverie and looked at her. "Huh? Yeah, I'm fine," he replied, but inside he just wanted to run away and hide from everyone.
Just then, a woman's voice interrupted the conversation, and Harry felt relieved. "Anything from the trolley?" she asked.
Draco leaned over in his seat to get a better view of the trolley. "The chocolate frogs and licorice wands are the best," Tracy chimed in.
There were so many sweets on display that Harry found it hard to focus and even harder to choose. The colorful boxes, the moving letters, the strange names - it was all so overwhelming.
"Yeah, I like those too," Daphne said. "Alright, we'll take three of each. Harry, do you want anything?" Draco asked.
Harry checked his pocket and realized he only had 20 Knuts (equivalent to 10 pound). They noticed his hesitation. "No, thank you," Harry said with an awkward smile, his stomach growling.
"Come on, Harry, we're friends here," Daphne said. "I'll pay for your food. Take whatever you want."
Harry chuckled nervously. "Thanks, Daphne. I'll have whatever you're having," he said, "but I'll make sure to pay you back someday."
After what felt like a never-ending journey, they finally arrived. "Look!" Daphne exclaimed, "We're here at Hogsmeade Station." Tracy added, "Finally!" Draco shouted.
Fifteen minutes later, Harry found himself standing at Hogsmeade Station, being ushered by the Hogwarts gamekeeper along with the other first-year students.
Harry was filled with awe as he gazed at Hogwarts, the most magnificent sight he had ever laid his eyes on. The castle's turrets towered above, its stone walls nestled on top of a mountain with a shimmering lake beneath. The countless candles in the windows gave the castle an enchanting glow.
The clamoring first years were led by a giant to boats, with strict instructions not to exceed four students per boat. Harry and Daphne joined Tracey and Draco in one boat, surrounded by excited students filling up the others. As the last student hopped in, the giant commanded them to move forward, and the boats began to glide across the lake.
The atmosphere in their boat was chilly and quiet. Harry observed the different appearances of the other students - tall, short, fat, skinny - he had never seen so many kids in one place. But there was a common thread amongst them all - determination in their eyes, a glimmer of hope to become the greatest wizard or witch.
Harry lacked the determination that seemed to come naturally to everyone else around him. No matter where he went or who he was with, he couldn't shake the persistent feeling of being an outsider.
Harry's thoughts were interrupted by a comment from a red-headed first year. "I heard we have to wrestle a troll," the boy said.
"You're an idiot," a girl with curly hair snapped at him.
"Come on, Ron. You don't really believe that, do you?" a boy whom Harry had seen with his family at the train station said.
Another girl beside them simply nodded in agreement with the second boy.
Torches lit the entrance hall. It was so large Harry was sure that the Dursleys' entire house could fit comfortably inside. His head swiveled trying to take in the room as well as the noise of what sounded like hundreds of muffled voices, sounds like a lot of students. He felt the knots form in his stomach. No pressure, right?
They were then led to a small empty chamber room which was rather bare. It was a tight fit for the first years who stood shoulder to shoulder. He was standing between Daphne and Draco, when Professor McGonagall finally addressed them.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall greeted them. "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 very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. 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 continued, "The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history and has produced outstanding witches and wizards. The sorting is based on your qualities, so do not fret. Now, follow me."
Harry was still uncertain which house he wanted to be sorted into. He couldn't ignore the negative reputation of Slytherin, but he refused to believe that any house could be completely bad or good. He swallowed nervously as he realized that in a few minutes, his fate would be decided.
As Professor McGonagall led them into the Great Hall, Harry tried to stick close to Daphne, Tracy, and Draco. The sheer size of the room was overwhelming, but he couldn't help but admire its splendor. Thousands of candles floated in midair, casting a warm glow over the four long tables where the other students were already seated. The tables were adorned with golden plates and goblets that glittered in the light.
At the top of the hall, the teachers sat at another long table. Professor McGonagall led the first years to a stop in a line, facing the other students with the teachers behind them. Hundreds of eyes were fixed on them, and Harry felt his stomach tighten with tension. He forced himself to look up, only to see a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars.
"I read about it in Hogwarts, A History," whispered a first-year behind Harry, referring to the bewitched ceiling. Harry turned to face the bushy-haired witch, but when she saw the outline of his scar, her eyes quickly moved upwards. He instinctively covered it with his hand, feeling a pang of discomfort
The girl was followed by the Boy Who Lived, who stared at Harry intently as if he had uncovered something about him. Two redheads followed the Boy Who Lived.
Harry averted his gaze, not wishing to be stared at or interrogated any further. It was yet another reminder of the image of Harry that everyone had constructed in their minds, and he couldn't help feeling bitter about it.
He fixed his stare straight ahead of him watching Professor McGonagall silently place a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty. For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth—and the hat began to sing.
All Harry could do was blink, of all the things he expected the hat to do, singing wasn't one of them. He stood amazed with the other first years as the hat continued to pelt a tune about its important job in sorting the first years into the four different houses.
Harry spotted the old man, who he looked at him and smiled, harry returned it with one of his own.
As the first students were called, they were called by name, harry started to sweat "they will find out!" Harry thought. Sweat started to form.
"Finally, the moment arrived. "Daniel Potter!" the professor called out. The entire hall fell silent, all eyes fixed on him as he waited for the Sorting Hat's decision.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the Sorting Hat proclaimed, and the Gryffindor table erupted in cheers, welcoming the boy who lived into their house. he breathed a sigh of relief and made his way over to join his new housemates, feeling grateful for their acceptance.
""Tracy Davis!" announced Professor McGonagall.
Tracy confidently stepped forward and sat on the stool with determination. The Sorting Hat was placed on her head.
"SLYTHERIN!"
Tracy grinned and made her way towards the Slytherin table, glancing back to her friends a reassuring smile.
"Draco Malfoy!"
Draco strode up to the stool confidently, his demeanor exuding pride and assurance. The Sorting Hat was placed on his head.
"SLYTHERIN!"
Draco's smile widened as he made his way towards the Slytherin table, joining his friends with a triumphant grin.
"Harry Winters?!" The name echoed through the Great Hall, causing the students to fall into a hushed silence. Harry's breath caught in his throat, his heart hammering in his chest. It was as if the darkness surrounding him had come alive, taunting him with every beat of his heart.
"Winters?" The whispers began to spread like wildfire, a twisted chorus of fear and curiosity. "The Curse Child!" The words were like poison on Harry's tongue, a constant reminder of his cursed existence.
"Harry Winters!" The voice called out again, but Harry could barely hear it over the deafening thud of his heart. He felt a sudden hand on his shoulder and spun around to face Daphne, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You're Harry Winters?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding in his ears.
The world around Harry began to warp and twist, a sickening vortex of fear and confusion. "Winters!" the voice called out again, but Harry could no longer tell where it was coming from. His legs gave out beneath him and he fell to the ground, his hood slipping back to reveal the jagged, lightning bolt scar that ran across his forehead. It was a mark of his cursed existence, a symbol of the darkness that had consumed him since birth.
"Harry," a sinister voice hissed in Harry's ear, causing him to jolt in terror. It was a voice he knew all too well, one that sent chills down his spine. "Listen to me, boy. Don't you dare try anything foolish. You are mine now, and I will not tolerate disobedience."
Harry's heart pounded in his chest as he tried to make sense of what was happening. He looked around frantically, but all he could see were shadowy figures looming over him. He felt trapped, suffocated, like he was drowning in darkness.
"Calm down, Harry," the voice continued, taunting him. "There's nothing to be afraid of. You're in good hands now. Just do as you're told, and everything will be fine."
Harry wanted to scream, to lash out, to fight back against the unseen forces that were controlling him. But he was powerless, helpless, at the mercy of his captors. He was trapped in a nightmare, a nightmare that he knew would never end.
As Harry's consciousness returned, he found himself gasping for air. His eyes darted around the Great Hall, searching for a way out. A voice echoed in his mind, "They're coming for you, Harry. They know who you are." His body trembled with fear.
Suddenly, he felt a strong grip on his shoulder, and he turned to see a concerned Dumbledore looking back at him. "Calm down, Harry. Everything is fine. No one will hurt you," Dumbledore's voice was soothing, but Harry couldn't shake off the feeling of impending doom.
As he looked around the room, his gaze landed on Daphne, who was staring at him with worry etched on her face. He knew that he couldn't trust anyone, but seeing her concern gave him a flicker of hope.
Daphne's voice was filled with concern as she asked, "Harry, are you okay?" Harry nodded slowly and replied, "Yes, I'm fine." However, before he could say more, Daphne rushed towards him and embraced him tightly. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," she said softly, her voice laced with worry.
Harry pulled away from Daphne's hug, feeling a little embarrassed about his reaction. He looked up at Dumbledore, who was still standing next to him, with a mix of confusion and fear in his eyes.
"What's happening to me, sir?" Harry asked Dumbledore, feeling like he was losing control of everything around him.
Daphne stepped back, still looking concerned, as Dumbledore guided Harry towards the chair. Harry couldn't help but feel grateful for the old man's presence. As he sat down, his heart racing, Dumbledore placed the Sorting Hat over his head.
Harry closed his eyes and waited, feeling the brim of the hat against his forehead. The whispers from the other students seemed to fade away as he focused on his thoughts. He didn't want to disappoint anyone, but he also didn't want to be judged solely based on his infamous past.
"Hmm, quite challenging, very challenging. Seems like he's not wanted by anyone?" The Sorting Hat pondered to itself, a sense of darkness creeping in its thoughts. "Not particularly brave, nor loyal, nor cunning. But there's something about him that screams Slytherin."
The atmosphere in the Great Hall turned tense as Harry's name was called. No one wanted him in their house, not even the Slytherins who were known for their cunning and ambitious nature. Harry felt the weight of their stares and the heavy burden of his cursed reputation. As the Sorting Hat was placed on his head, he could feel the weight of everyone's expectations and the fear of being rejected. The silence was deafening as the hat deliberated, and Harry felt like he was drowning in his own despair. Finally, the hat spoke and the verdict was final, leaving the Great Hall in shock and disbelief. The curse child had found his place, but at what cost?
"SLYTHERIN!"