The train arrived at Hogsmead Station right on time as expected. The three now friends got off the train and saw the half-giant Hagrid calling out to the first years.
Having yet to be introduced they just followed along. Mrs. Weasley was pushing Ron towards Harry. He was beginning to wonder if it had been a set up all along. This would require some more thought.
Harry Hermione Neville and a girl named Pansy Parkinson got into one of the boats. Ron came running up and grabbed Hermione's arm.
"Get out of here Mudblood, I want to ride over with my best mate!" Ron shouted as he pulled on Hermione.
Harry was not happy at this turn of events. Ron let go of Hermione and grabbed for his throat. "Let go of my friend, I don't know who you are. So find another boat!" Harry said forcefully but quietly.
When he released Ron he ran to a different boat and wound up riding over with Malfoy and his goons.
The castle was as beautiful as Harry remembered. He listened to all the oohs and ahhs, from the other children as the floated gently across the Black lake. The group worked its way up to the castle. Neville never lost Trevor this time Harry had put a mild sleeping charm on the run away toad that stayed in Neville's pocket.
Professor McGonagall, Gave her house is like your family speech as expected. Things went the same as before until Harry put on the sorting hat.
The hat attempted to enter Harry's mind and couldn't, it could only talk to Harry there.
Harry just told the Hat Gryffindor Please, and would not change it. Finally the hat relented and called out "GRYFINDOR!"
The only surprise when it reached Ron Weasley. It didn't do as it had in the previous time it called out "SLYTHERIN"
Ron flew into a rage. "I'm Not SOME SLIMY SLYTHERIN…..RESORT ME I'M
GRYFINDOR THROUGH AND THROUGH!
The entire Hall was silent; you could have heard a pin drop. The red rolling up Ron's face was rivaling his hair. McGonagall just ushered the small boy to his table as the last person was also sorted into the same house.
Ron was not a happy camper and his housemates were looking at him with enough scorn that Ron Weasley was in for one rough time in the house of snakes.
Dumbledore's Eyes had stopped twinkling as Ron was sorted, and Snape looked like he had been hit with a bowl-expelling curse. Harry was now sure the Weasleys had been a set up.
He looked up to the head table and saw professor Quirell with his head turned away from him and felt something hit his shields, He allowed some memories of the abuse he'd suffered at the hands of the Dursley's slip through and the intruder left. No need tipping his hand to early. Snape did not attempt it this time, he was to busy looking at Ron with loathing.
Harry could tell Dumbledore was not happy with the sorting. He knew when Dumbledore was deep in thought; he must be going over contingency plans. This was not going as Dumbledore expected. Harry would not look Dumbledore in the eye, with out a wand the only way to do passive legilimencey was eye contact, the last thing Harry wanted was Dumbledore finding his shields.
Dinner conversation was pleasant, and Hermione seemed to calming down a bit.
Harry had full intentions of helping the girl be more popular this time. Her constant having to be the one to answer every question put the other kids off, so they never really got to know the real girl. Harry knew that she did it as a defense mechanism, and to feel needed, It would be better if she wasn't so pushy with it. He just had to do it slowly with A bit of tact.
As dinner wound down Dumbledore Made the same announcements, he did the first time. Harry was not even worried about it, He would have Kreacher Pop him to the last room retrieve the stone and hide it himself at Grimauld Place. Quirell would be gone before he ever had a chance to even try for the stone.
The first years were then lead to there common rooms by the fifth year prefects. Harry was seeing Percy in an entirely different light than he had before. Something else was new too. He with out realizing it until they reached the common room was holding Hermione's hand the entire way.