Confusion in Green

Chapter 2: September 1st

The news spread rapidly, the minister of magic himself was acting like a child on Christmas. The war was over. The danger was gone. Harry Potter had done it. Lord Voldemort’s body was bronzed and placed in the ministry of magic as a symbol of what power can do to you.
The noise level at Kings Cross station was loud, but nothing could compare to the cheers when Harry strode through the barrier of platform 9 ¾. No one really thought he would be there, but they were all gathered around watching for him anyway. Ron and Hermione, accompanied by the entire red-headed Weasly clan were in the front of the crowd. Harry didn’t raise his head when he stepped through the barrier. He just kept on walking towards the train.
His head was bowed and his long ebony-colored hair obscured his face from view. He was wearing a very tight, black, sleeveless shirt and black pants that rode very low on his hips and were torn in very precise places. His black and silver boots could be seen, through one of the rips, just below his knees. This was not a Harry people were used o seeing.
The cheering stopped when Harry continued to ignore everyone and load his things onto the train. He walked aboard without even a glance at anyone. He went straight to the back of the train and sat in a compartment to wait. He was waiting to see who would dare to disturb him.
The whistle blew and brought everyone back to their senses. The students said goodbye to their parents and boarded the train in a subdued manner. Ron and Hermione both set their wills and went to find Harry. They knew he would be different, but they knew he was still him. Deep down inside he had to be him, didn’t he? They opened the door to his compartment and stepped inside. Harry looked at them and they looked at him. No one moved or spoke. Finally, Harry broke into a smile. Hermione burst into tears and wrapped her arms around his neck. Everything was fine. It was like nothing had ever happened. They rode the train to Hogwarts as they had for the past six years. They were seventh years now, and they talked about what they would do when they left school and about quid-ditch, and left out the more serious matters for another time.

When they arrived at the entrance to the great hall they were told to line up by house. The first years were confused, since they had expected to be the only ones lining up. They were led into the Great Hall by Professor Snape, the Slytherin Head of House, and Potions Master of Hogwarts. There were only two tables where the four house tables had once stood. Professor Dumbledore was looking seriously at the head table.

“Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. You all know that the war is over. Yet the results of it shall last forever. Hundreds of our students have been lost to Voldemort‘s cause over the summer. As a result the school was going to be shut down. Since Voldemort’s defeat I have decided to leave the school open for those remaining to attend. However, since our number has been diminished and our castle partially destroyed, the staff and I have decided to open only two houses to students this term. The two houses will be Gryffindor and Slytherin. Since it is not fair only to sort out those members of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff to new houses, each and every student will be re-sorted. The hat will tell you whether you will move to a different house or stay in the same one. We have decided that this is the best thing for this term, so, let the sorting begin.“

Harry had no opinion on this one way or the other. He had been a Gryffindor forever and will always be. The students were sorted by house. Almost all the Hufflepuffs became Griffindors, and most of the Ravenclaws became Slytherins. Quite a few of the Slytherins changed houses, but most stayed. Then it was Gryffindor’s turn. They didn’t go in alphabetical order, just in the order they had lined up. Hermione went first, and stayed, then Ron, who also stayed. Harry was the last in line. He slumped up to the stool and sat down. He placed the hat on his head. He could hear the hat laughing. He heard it say “I always though you should be a Slytherin.” And within a second the hall had gone completely quiet. Harry Potter, the boy who lived, the chosen one, had been sorted into Slytherin. Harry stood up calmly and walked over to the Slytherin table and began to eat the food that appeared on his plate.