The Harry Potter Conundrum

Chapter 2: The Tale of the Boy-Who-Lived

Though the second they stepped through the door, each and every student turned and stared at them. Harry instantly felt uncomfortable because of the attention he was receiving. But, in this case, it was unavoidable. Not every day someone, the age of a sixth-year student, walked into the hall with only Muggle clothes on that certainly had seen better days. Not to mention that nobody knew who he was.

However, what surprised everyone was when the boy followed Severus to the Slytherin table, where they both sat down.

That was when Dumbledore, who somehow managed to arrive before them, stood up and banged his gavel against his goblet, silencing the students.

"I want you to welcome Mr Tom Hadrian Eldrid to Hogwarts. He arrived today under unusual circumstances, and it was decided that he would stay at Hogwarts for the time being. I hope that everyone and especially Slytherin, which will be his house from now on, will give him a hearty welcome," the headmaster explained before he sat down again.

Instantly the entire hall broke out in murmuring, wanting to know who exactly the boy was and what those unusual circumstances were under which he had arrived. On the other hand, Harry groaned. He knew that now, even more attention was focused on him.

"Why was that disgusting Mudblood sorted into our house?" a boy several seats down from Harry outragedly muttered, sniffing indignantly.

"I have to inform you that this disgusting Mudblood had two magical parents," Harry sneered in reply. He glared at the boy in question to prevent him from commenting on his parents any further.

"Had?" was the inquiry of a female housemate now.

Harry sighed. This would be a long day.

"They died...this morning," he let his head hang for the show.

"Eldrid is not a pureblood name," the boy that made the Mudblood comment prior interrupted the conversation, not caring that the boy obviously just lost his parents.

"And who are you?" Harry snapped back.

"I am Evan Rosier, heir to the Noble and Ancient House of Rosier," the boy puffed up like a proud peacock. Harry had to wonder whether the boy had spent too much time around Lucius Malfoy, who also liked to stride around as one.

"Well, Rosier then. My parents went into hiding some time ago and consequently changed their names in the process," he elaborated. "So, it is no wonder that you don't recognise it."

Harry saw how every Slytherin bar Severus tensed upon his explanation. Meanwhile, Severus wondered why Harry would tell this those he surely must know are the children of the Dark Lord's followers. He must have known that they would conclude that his parents had been hiding from the Dark Lord.

"So, one of those who kiss Dumbledore's ass and fears the Dark Lord," someone Harry recognised as Rabastan Lestrange spoke up disgustedly.

That made Harry snort. "As if," he muttered.

Severus hid his smirk behind his goblet, so Harry had a reason for all of that, establishing that he was not one of Dumbledore's follower.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Rabastan suddenly looked at him curiously.

"That is supposed to mean that I would more likely bow to the Dark Lord than go anywhere near Dumbledore's ass or the man himself as it is," Harry chuckled. "Not that I'm inclined to bow to anyone at all."

"So, you're against the Dark Lord," the female retorted.

"That is not what I said. What is your name?" Harry sighed.