August 31( two months later)

Harry has finished reading all of his books, making a trip or two to purchase more, practiced brewing most of his potions, and was now on a first-name basis with practically all of the shop owners in Diagon Alley. He had had more ice cream than ever before as well as clothes and other miscellaneous items he had purchased or found in vaults on his occasional trip (twice honestly no more).

Tom, the bartender, had informed Harry that he should start packing to be ready for tomorrow. And that left Harry where he was now, standing in front of the bed looking at all of his possessions with his trunk at his feet. Harry sighed and decided to just start grabbing things and placing them inside. Harry grabbed all his books, then his potion brewing tools and ingredients stuffing them into his cauldron placing that inside. Then his overlayer robes and undershirts, on top of that were his miscellaneous items( toys and puzzles to keep himself entertained) than the other half of his clothes. Finally, he added the school bag he purchased, filled with ink quills and lots of parchment, and his pet care items. Harry looked at his sleeping snakes, tightly coiled with each other at the head of the bed, and sighed stretching his muscles, popping his joints, and joining Anguis and Nigrum on the bed for his last night's sleep at the Leaky Cauldron.

Harry woke to the sound of Tom knocking on his door telling him to wake up so he could eat and leave on time. Harry groggily sat up groaning as the bright sun rays shone in his eyes. Harry yawned widely and rubbed his eyes with one hand and fumbling to put on his glasses with the other. A series of amused hisses could be heard from the bed making Harry glare at Nigrum and Anguis before grabbing his clothes and heading to the bathroom to change and shower. When he came out, he went downstairs to see Tom setting down his usual eggs, bacon, and hash browns with orange juice in the front of the bar.

" Morning," he greeted." Your breakfast is ready." Harry smiled his thanks before digging in while Tom went around and set up chairs and tables for the day. Harry finished and was about to leave when he remembered that he had to ask Tom something.

"Hey Tom," he grunted to say he was listening to Harry, "I was wondering if you knew how to get on the platform. They don't actually give any instructions in the letter."

"Oh, yeah sure. I can take you through Apparation."

"You would take me?" Harry asked.

Tom smiled brightly before walking closer to Harry, ruffling his already messy raven locks. "Of course, I'll take you, Harry. I would love to. We'll leave in a couple of minutes so bring your stuff down." Harry was grinning so big you would have thought his face might break. He ran up the stairs and draped Anguis and Nigrum on his shoulders then grabbed his trunk before going back downstairs to meet Tom.

"Ready?" Harry nodded and Tom each red on to Harry's arm transporting them in front of a big red engine. Above them was a sign that indicated that they were on Platform 9 & 3/4. Harry smiled and gave Tom a light hug before rushing off into the crowded area near the train's doors. Tom shook his head smiling before apparating away with a sharp crack.

Harry rushed onto the train, ignoring the odd looks he was getting. He was eager to see Draco again. He hoped that Draco hadn't forgotten about their deal.

Soon Harry found an empty compartment and shoved his trunk overhead before sitting down with playing with Anguis and Nigrum occasionally looking out the window for a sign of blonde hair. Harry has just spotted Draco on the platform when a young boy with red hair, freckles and hand me down clothing opened the compartment door and smiled at Harry.

"Is this taken? All the other compartments are full." Harry raised an eyebrow at him and crossed his arms.

"Actually this compartment is full I am simply waiting for someone, and also I know for a fact that not all the compartments are full I came to this one for a reason passing plenty of open ones." To say the boy looked shocked was an understatement. He looked at Harry(more like his forehead) and was going to ask the million-dollar question when the blonde of the year spoke from behind him.

"Red hair and hand me down clothes. You must be a Weasley." Draco drawled in an overly exaggerated snobby voice. Harry snorted catching Draco's attention. " Hey, Harry. What are you doing hanging out with this blood traitor?" Weasley looked at Harry shocked.

Harry smirked,"I don't know Draco he came to me and I was kindly trying to send him away but he wouldn't leave. Seems as if I'm a damsel in distress. Oh please someone save me." Harry said this with sarcasm dripping off his every word.

Draco pulled a smirk matching Harry's and pushed Weasley off to the side while making his way in,"Well run along then Weasel, you're not needed here". The ginger's face turned darker than his hair before he stormed off leaving a laughing Harry and Draco behind.

"So Harry how have you been?" Draco spoke lightly with a smile on his face as he sat down opposite Harry. Harry smiled and crossed his legs effectively making Anguis and Nigrum leave his shoulders for the bigger spot of warmth.

"I'm good had an eventful rest of the summer. How've you been?" Draco was now staring at Nigrum and Anguis as he went into a detailed explanation of his summer which would have intrigued Harry had Draco not had a bored tone. Harry giggled making Draco look up confused. "Draco you're obviously not very entertained by what you're saying so let's do something that does catch your attention like my snakes perhaps?" Draco's eyes lit up and he nodded excitedly stretching his arms out for them to slither onto.

~ Go and be nice to him ok?~ Harry told them taking them off his lap and into Draco's arms.

~Yes master Harry ~ They replied in unison. They slowly made their way up Draco's arms and around his torso making Draco chuckled lightly at the sensation. Harry watched his pets interact with Draco and couldn't help but smile at the pure glee on Draco's face. Harry and Draco talked about what they were excited about for Hogwarts and different topics from their course books. Draco and Harry seemed to equally enjoy potions though Draco had a bit more experience with the subject. The boys both dressed into their school robes and waited for the trolley to pass by purchasing Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, licorice wands, and a bunch of cauldron cakes. They talked, they laughed and surprisingly weren't interrupted the entire ride.

The train skidded to a stop and both boys looked out the window to see a dock and a large trail into the woods. Harry and Draco left the compartment leaving their luggage but remembering to bring Anguis and Nigrum both slithering all over Harrys torso, arms, and shoulders.

Harry and Draco followed a line of young first years, which Draco had told Harry that all first-years go by the boats, and towards the rickety dock. Twenty or so boats were lined up four seats each waiting to push off towards the castle. Harry and Draco got into the front of one boat not bothering to look who had joined behind them for the entire journey. The boats pushed off and students shrieked in terror as black tentacles skimmed the surface occasionally splashing the students.

They reached a low hanging beach and had to duck to avoid being hit but when they looked back up their jaws hung loosely in awe. In front of them was a giant castle with staggering towers, large windows everywhere in which bright lights could be seen streaming through creating a warm glow over the dark grounds. They were eventually taken away from the sight as they passed under a curtain of ivy that leads into a dark tunnel. The tunnel opened up into a large glass structure with plenty of room for all the boats to dock.

They were all ushered up a flight of stairs, and a little way into the grounds when they reached a set of large oak doors. Harry recognized Rubeus' form as he raised a large fist to knock on the door. Everyone waited a moment before the doors were pulled open by a stern-looking woman with a severe bun.

" Welcome first years," the woman said sternly," I am Professor McGonagall and I will lead you all through the sorting. You will wait outside the Great Hall until I tell you then you will wait for your name to be called and go to sit on the stool to be sorted. Everyone got that?"

Multiple heads nodded and a chorus of 'yes's was heard. Professor McGonagall smiled softly and waited outside the doors of the Great Hall. Suddenly as if there was a secret signal she opened the doors and walked through students trailing behind. Harry and Draco stared in amazement, though Draco tried to hide it, at the starry night sky ceiling and hundreds of floating candles. The four house tables were filled with students of various ages all craning their necks to get a look at the fresh meat. Harry and Draco stood by waiting patiently for their names to be called when the Weasley boy came up behind them and addressed Harry.

"Hey Harry," Harry turned and wrinkled his nose in acknowledgment, "Look I know we may have gotten off on the wrong foot but I was hoping for maybe a do-over." Harry frowned at the hand Weasley stuck out. "Besides you could use me as a friend, you learn here that some wizarding families are better than others," he continued staring with a sneer on his face at Draco. Draco sneered right back. Harry stared at Weasley with a blank look on his face. Harry glanced back down at the hand and back up to its owner's face.

"I think I can tell the wrong sort out for myself, but thanks anyway Weasel." Harry turned back around and pulled Draco a little closer to the front of the dwindling crowd leaving an angered and shocked red-haired boy behind. Harry tried to keep a straight face but failed when Draco started snickering, using their hands to muffle the sounds of their laughter. A few odd looks were sent their way but they ignored them.

When they finally calmed down a certain and familiar name was called.

"Malfoy, Draco" Draco squared up and walked confidently and gracefully up to the stool and sat down. The dirty hat had barely touched the tip of Draco's hair when it screamed loud and clear,"SLYTHERIN!!" Draco smirked and his face softened into a smile when his gaze landed on a certain brunet. More names were called and Harry ran a hand through his already messy hair in anxiety.

"Potter, Harry" Murmurs spread all over the room everyone now looking at the remaining first years. Harry ignored it and replicated Draco's pose and walk to the stool. Everyone, including the teachers, smiled at the odd sight. A small boy with pure blood behavior, messy hair, and two large snakes wrapped around him tightly. Harry gulped as the hat was placed on his head. Harry nearly choked when an old-sounding voice sounded in his head.

'Interesting, quite interesting. Brains of a Ravenclaw, loyalty of a Hufflepuff, stubbornness of a Gryffindor, and the cunningness of a Slytherin. My my what a difficult decision.' Harry was in shock but managed to think properly and realized that since the hat could see into his mind that he didn't have to speak to reply.

'If it's any help I would really like to be put into Slytherin but if not I understand it is your decision after all'

'Well well you definitely have brains but Ravenclaw definitely isn't where you belong and you're not going to like it in Hufflepuff so Gryffindor or Slytherin' The silence in the rest of the hall was deafening. Everyone was curious to see what their 'savior' was put in and turned skeptical when the hat didn't say anything.

'Gryffindor or Slytherin, Gryffindor or Slytherin, Gryffindor or Slytherin well I think it better be..'

"SLYTHERIN!" Harry's face broke into a grin and waited for a shocked McGonagall to take off the hat before rushing to the open spot next to a beaming and smug Draco. No one noticed that the two snakes were slithering faster around Harry and hissing happily.

~ Congratulations Master Harry the house of the snakes~ Harry hummed softly.

~ Thank you I hope to enjoy my years as a figurative snake.~

Everyone in the hall stopped and turned to look at Harry who had apparently not realized he had spoken Parseltongue in front of the whole hall. The Slytherins stared in a mixture shock, awe, envy, and glee. The other stared with an array of fear and suspicion. The teacher's table was pulled into a flabbergasted silence all looking shocked except for one.

Harry was still quietly conversing when he stopped mid-hiss realizing where he was and what he was doing and looked up. There he saw the faces of the rest of the hall and promptly looked down, blushing. Draco cracked a smile and shook his head causing the rest of the Slytherins to smirk and glare at the rest of the houses daring them to say something. The silence was broken by the one and only Sorting Hat as it finally sorted Blaise Zabini into Slytherin, Blaise made his way to Draco's other side greeting him before turning to Harry holding his hand out introducing himself.

Harry timidly shook his hand lightly before hastily pulling away,"Harry."

An old man with long white hair paired with a matching beard, blue eyes that peered over half-moon spectacles the sat upon his long crooked nose, stood up and started speaking effectively dragging everyone's attention away from Harry.

"Ahem," he started. "Just a few more words before we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.

"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."

Dumbledore's twinkling eyes flashed in the direction of the Gryffindor table.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.

"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.

"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death." Harry frowned at the last comment and turned to an older student.

"He's joking right?"

The boy looked at Harry and glanced at Dumbledore before looking back to Harry,"Probably but I would stay away anyway. Nothing good ever comes out of people not listening to him."

Harry turned back to Draco and was shocked to see the boy had food on his plate and in his mouth. Harry was about to ask where he got it when he noticed the plates and platters full of food, all types of it too. There was roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and, for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs and so much more.

Harry's insides twisted at the sight of such rich foods and looked down the table for simpler things. Draco looked at the uneasy Harry, and he frowned.

"Aren't you gonna eat Harry?"

"Um, I can't eat certain things." It wasn't really a lie but Harry really didn't want to say in front of the whole school that he wasn't used to eating like this, if at all.

Draco immediately set down his fork and glanced down the table. "What do you want?"

"Some fruits would be nice, but I don't see much. And most of the vegetables seem drenched in butter or oil."

An older year caught their conversation and leaned in closer to them. "If you tap your wand to your plate and state what you want, the house elves will get it for you. As long as it's relatively simple, it will appear almost instantly."

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Really?" The student nodded. Harry smiled slightly. "Wicked." Harry discreetly pulled his wand out of his pocket and tapped the plate. "Fruit salad."

Harry laughed quietly when an array of berries, apple slices, peach slices, mango slices, and grapes appeared on his plate.

Harry happily speared a piece of mango with his fork and placed it in his mouth.

"Good?" Harry turned to Draco and smiled.

"The best." Draco smiled back and picked up his fork, set on finishing his meal.

***

Words~ 2915