Embracing the Real Us

The moment the carriages pulled up to the castle, the majority of the students headed into the Great Hall for the welcoming feast. However, Harry, Hermione, Draco and Layla made their way to the Headmaster’s office. As they approached, the gargoyle jumped out of the way, Dumbledore knew they were coming.

“Lemon Drop?” He asked as they entered his office. Each declined hurriedly. “Then, to what do I owe this visit so early in the school year?” Dumbledore looked at the group, slightly concerned that his golden boy was with Draco Malfoy, and also concerned about their appearances.

“Hermione and I need to be resorted.” Harry stated.

“That isn’t possible my boy.”

“Oh but it is sir.’ Hermione started, ‘You see, Harry was never meant to be in Gryffindor in the first place, if you recall, the hat wanted to put him in Slytherin.”

“And Hermione really shouldn’t have been put into Gryffindor either sir. If I’m not mistaken, her personality doesn’t fit that house at all.” Harry smirked at the old man who had started looking a tad bit scared.

“So sir, you have two options, you can either resort us, or we will just have to prove to you just how much we don’t belong in Gryffindor.” Hermione stared hard at the man. Trying to avoid suspicion, the headmaster opted to humor the two teens, believing that nothing would change.

“You will be resorted before the first years are sorted; however, if the hat puts you back into Gryffindor then I want to hear no more about it.”

“Sir, I don’t think that the sorting hat would make such a mistake twice, do you?” Harry said threateningly. The headmaster just stared at his two favorite students in awe. He couldn’t understand just what had happened to ruin his plans for them. The twinkle in his eyes faded drastically until his eyes were just a plain dark blue. Realization dawned on him that he was losing control and feared what would happen were the two of them to disregard him completely and do as they pleased. He stood from his desk and motioned for the teens to follow him.

“Let’s get back to the feast; I’m sure Professor McGonagall is anxious to start the sorting.” The walk to the Great Hall was done silently. When they entered the hall, all eyes turned to them, whatever conversations there were, died instantly. The four teens made their way to the Gryffindor Head of House and waited for Dumbledore to take his place.

“Since I have your attention, there are a couple of announcements I must make before the sorting takes place. Firstly, we have a transfer student from America joining the sixth years. And secondly, two sixth year students are to be sorted again, as they seem to believe they were placed in the wrong house their first year. Minerva if you would begin with Miss Malfoy.” The headmaster sat at the Head table. McGonagall sat Layla on the stool and before she could settle the hat on the girls head it screamed out, “SLYTHERIN!”

Layla moved to stand with Draco. Then McGonagall turned and looked at Harry and Hermione, the shock on her face evident to all.

“Hermione Granger.” She said as the girl sat herself down on the stool expectantly. All eyes at the Gryffindor table widened as they saw their most intelligent witch getting resorted. The hat was placed on her head.

“Back I see.” It said to her.

“I don’t care what Dumbledore told you before, you will put me where I belong. If you don’t, I know some wonderful acid charms that will eat right through you.” She whispered.

“That a girl, I knew you would bloom eventually, SLYTHERIN!” It shouted and gasps were heard throughout the hall. She laughed lightly and stood next to Layla. McGonagall looked up to Harry with a saddened expression on her face.

“Harry Potter.” She said quietly. Students jumped from their seats to see their savior seat himself on the stool. Whispers erupted amongst them, questioning why he was doing it and which house he would be put in.

“I knew you’d be back.”

“Yes well, I was mistaken in my opinion of Slytherin house. Let’s get this over with shall we.” Harry whispered coolly.

“I’ve been longing to do this, SLYTHERIN!” It cried and Harry smirked at the chaos that ensued. The four teens made their way to the Slytherin table where they were met with wide eyes and open mouths from all of the students.

“SILENCE!” Dumbledore shouted at the students. Scared, they seated themselves and turned their attention to their headmaster. He motioned tiredly for McGonagall to continue with the sorting. The Gryffindors sent glares to their former house mate, whispering angrily, gossiping that Harry was secretly in league with the dark lord. The Slytherins were suspicious of them. Still believing the two new teens were Dumbledore’s prodigies they sent their own glares and whispered their own ideas. No one spoke to them except for Draco and Layla. Pansy and Blaise ate in shock, remembering what Draco had said before. Crabbe and Goyle had dutifully taken their places across from Draco, watching Harry and Hermione warily.

However, no one was quite as astonished as one Severus Snape. He sat in his chair, his arms crossed on his chest staring at his house table, his minding turning over the arrival of the two most prominent Gryffindors, choosing to be resorted, and then winding up in his house. He decided that he would figure it out in the common room that night.

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“Before any of you go to bed, there will have to be some changes. Firstly, since Miss Granger was a Prefect for Gryffindor, but is now a member of Slytherin, and significantly more qualified, Miss Parkinson, I’m afraid you will no longer be a Prefect. As for your sleeping quarters, having you here does present a problem. Miss Parkinson, you will be rooming with Miss Bulstrode. Miss Granger, you, and oh yes, Miss Malfoy will have to room together, there is no where else to put you. As for Mister Potter.’ Snape snapped his head in the boy’s direction. Thinking he had found a punishment for the brunette and a way of keeping the in-house hostility to a minimum, he continued, ‘Mister Malfoy, you will share your quarters with Mister Potter. As for the first years, Mister Zabini and Miss Bulstrode, please show them to the dormitories. Mister Potter and Miss Granger, please come with me.” The two teens followed their Potions professor into the hall.

“Yes Professor?” Harry asked casually.

“I was suspicious when I saw your marks on the Potions OWL, Mister Potter, and now after this turn of events, I must ask what you were thinking when you requested to be resorted?”

“Well, sir, in my first year, the sorting hat wanted to put me into Slytherin, but after all the convenient remarks about how evil it was I begged it not to. I’ve seen my mistake in asking the hat to put me elsewhere and wished to remedy the situation as soon as possible.” Snape nodded thoughtfully.

“And as for you Miss Granger?”

“The Gryffindors are nothing but whining, attention hungry gits and I want nothing to do with them.” She said coolly. Snape was shocked at her admission, but hid it well.

“I see. I look forward to seeing you in Potions.” He said before stalking off to his own quarters.

“Did he just say looking forward to?” Hermione asked.

“I think he did.” Harry smiled before they turned and stepped up to the section of the stone wall where one grey stone had a carving of a snake set into it.

“Vipera.” Harry said and the wall dissolved into a doorway. They stepped through the stone passage into the Slytherin common room where many were waiting for them.

“There they are.” Layla said when she saw them walking back in.

“Miss us?” Harry smirked and unceremoniously sprawled out on the floor at Draco’s feet. Hermione took her seat in Layla’s arms.

“As amusing as you are, no I don’t think I did.” Draco replied. Harry feigned heartbreak, his hands going to his chest.

“That hurts, that really hurts.”

“Why the change of heart potter?” Blaise questioned from his seat next to Pansy across the room. “Last time I checked you’re the Gryffindor king and queen. McGonagall would kiss both your asses if it meant you would keep doing their bidding.”

“And that’s not reason enough to leave? Who the hell would want McGonagall kissing their ass?” Hermione cringed.

“We’re tired of being their lap dogs, doing whatever they want us to and having our lives run by them. It’s over. We were never supposed to be in that house anyway. I wanted to kill myself surrounded by those idiots.” The Slytherins eyed them carefully.

“I just don’t understand how this could happen so quickly.” Pansy asked them.

“Alright, here’s the whole story. For years I’ve thought that I had to do all these things you know? Be the brave, loyal, Gryffindor everyone expected of the boy-who-lived-to-kill-himself-killing-Voldemort. And I thought I was happy doing it because I thought I had friends to back me up, friends I could count on. Earlier this summer I was proved wrong. The little git Weasley; we were all at the Burrow for the first week of summer, a nice break for me from my so called relatives. Anyway, there we were the three of us having a good time, until one night towards the end of the trip and Hermione and I were heading in for supper when we heard Ron.”

“He was talking to his mother about how great it was being friends with the savior of the wizarding world, about how everyone knew him and how Harry’s influence would get him on a great Quidditch team after graduation. Then he started in on me. The fucking prat. He said how great it was dating the smartest girl in school, how I would help him get good grades. I wanted to kill him. That’s when Harry told me how he really felt about it all, we skipped dinner and went for a walk.”

“We found out we felt the same way and decided that we would play it cool and meet at the Leaky Cauldron later that summer. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’d been getting fed up with Dumbledore for awhile now, but Ron was the last straw.”

“We figured that here we knew where we stood. You guys hate us and we don’t blame you, but at least here we know what to expect from you.” The Slytherins nodded. Draco looked at them all.
“Harry? What did you mean by your ‘so called relatives’?” Millicent asked carefully.

“Let’s just say that they didn’t like me very much. And even though I told Dumbledore this, he still sent me to live with the abusive bastards.”

“They abused you?” Draco asked.

“That’s a whole other conversation.” Harry laughed awkwardly.

“So, since their here, you lot will behave and protect them correct?” Draco said threateningly, and also effectively changing the subject.

“Hell, Draco, I’ll kiss the man if he’s really changed that much.” Blaise joked.

“I don’t think so Blaise, you’re not my type.” Harry smiled, thankful that there most likely wouldn’t be too many problems with this lot.

“Wait, are you gay Potter?” Nott gaped.

“Oh flamboyantly so.” The group stared at him for a moment.

“You know, I recall something about Granger being your cousin’s girlfriend Draco.” Pansy recalled.

“And?” Draco raised an eyebrow at the girl.

“Does that mean Granger’s gay too?”

“Does it bother you?” Hermione looked at the girl.

“No, we’re just shocked you lot managed to keep it a secret, we all thought you were in love with the Weasel.”

“Gross, do not bring that up. It makes me sick just thinking about it.” Hermione cringed. The group erupted in laughter, Crabbe nearly falling out of his seat. “If you’ll excuse me, I have some things I need to take care of.”

“Want me to come with you?” Harry asked as she got up to leave.

“No Harry, I’ll fill you in later.” She left and Layla pounced on Harry.

“What’s going on Harry?”

“That’s not my business to discuss Layla, when it’s time for you to know, then she’ll tell you.”

“Come on, we should get to bed anyway, it’s late and who knows what they’ve given us first thing tomorrow.” Draco said breaking the two apart. The group slowly made their way to the bedrooms and prepared themselves for the next day, sure in the knowledge that it would be a trying day.

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The headmaster sat in his office contemplating the day’s events. He realized that his plan was unraveling before him, but he didn’t know what to do to amend the situation. He had not expected such a turn around on the two teenagers parts nor did he expect the Slytherin Prince, Draco Malfoy to welcome them with open arms. He stood from his chair and headed down to the dungeons, he walked into the deepest, darkest, and coldest part of the school. What he didn’t see was a certain brunette following him silently.

“Clandestinus.” He muttered when he stood in front of a unique candelabrum that burned with one black candle rather than white. The wall moved so he could enter the old passage. He had not been inside for months.

“I had hoped to use you later on, my boy, but it seems now that your presence would do me no good.” Dumbledore looked down on the sleeping man. The sleeping man who had not woken in fifteen years, lying in a dream state in the deepest parts of the castle where his only visitor was one Albus Dumbledore. Hermione stood in the shadows watching the old man, her eyes wide at the sight of the man they had all believed to be dead. She watched as her headmaster raised his wand above him and began to speak the words she knew would really kill him.

“Stupefy.” She whispered towards her headmaster. While the old man was frozen she levitated the sleeping man and hurried to the hospital wing.

“Ah yes Miss Granger, you are a Slytherin after all.” Dumbledore said before returning to his quarters and getting into bed.

Later, when he was awoken he told the aurors that he had been in bed the whole time and Hermione must have been mistaken in who she had seen, and offered to help search for the culprit. She had nearly thrown herself at the old man, screaming that they should believe her, but who would take the word of a sixteen year old girl, who had just voluntarily joined Slytherin, over the word of their esteemed headmaster?