Grimmauld's Home for Unsafe Learners

Chapter 2: A New Era

Chapter summary: September 1981 - June 1982

TW: mentions of abuse (psychically, mentally, starvation), mentions of drowning, sleep deprivation

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To say Harry was surprised when he first saw Hogwarts was an understatement. Harry Potter had never felt so happy in his life. The view was amazing, and the ceiling of the Great Hall was beautiful. He never knew the sky could look like that. He looked up to the Head Table and noticed one professor in particular.

"Who's that?" Harry asked Ron, the friend he made on the train ride to the school.

"That's the Potions professor, Professor Black. The youngest professor on the staff. All my brothers say he's the best professor. Only sad part is that he's Head of Slytherin. He also lets kids stay at his house over the summer."

"What?" Harry asked, "For what?"

"I dunno. My brothers never really explained why."

Harry stayed thinking. Suddenly, the Professor looked at him and smiled. Harry felt the need to smile back.

Soon, Professor McGonagall started calling out names starting with Hannah Abbott who went to Hufflepuff.

Why would a professor take home students? Was it for students that were failing? Or was it because he liked them so much, he wanted to keep them? No, that didn't seem likely seeing as how all of Ron's brothers say he's the best professor.

Harry was lost in his own mind; he didn't even realize that the Professor had called his name until Ron nudged him slightly. The motion, although helpful, didn't help the bruise he had on his side from his Uncle Vernon.

Harry had his way up to the stool, looked straight at Professor Black. He just gave him a reassuring smile and Harry sat down.

"Hmm," The Hat spoke in his ear, Harry hadn't been expecting a hat to be able to talk, "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, oh my goodness, yes—and a thirst to prove yourself now that's interesting... So where shall I put you?"

The more Harry thought, Slytherin didn't sound so bad if Professor Black was there (he didn't know why he was already so attached to the man, he had just met him, and not even that! The man smiled twice at him and Harry didn't want to let go of that). But he didn't know anyone else in Slytherin and being in a House with Draco Malfoy wasn't very appealing to him. So, he thought to himself, not Slytherin, not Slytherin.

"Not Slytherin, eh? Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that—no? Well, if you're sure—better be GRYFFINDOR!"

The whole hall erupted into cheers. Once Harry sat down, he looked up again at Professor Black, who was now looking at someone at the Slytherin table (if Harry had been paying more attention, he would've realized he was looking at Draco Malfoy). Just like Ron said, he was the youngest Professor on staff, and it was evident. Unlike the Headmaster who was wearing sparkly robes, the young Professor had black, wavy shoulder length hair and was wearing a black, silk buttoned up shirt with black trousers and a forest green robe. If Harry was any other student, he wouldn't have noticed the slight tremor in his hand when he picked up his goblet to drink or the dark circles under his eyes.

Harry didn't know much, but he knew enough to know he wasn't sleeping, or at least, wasn't sleeping well. Harry knew the feeling well.

After the last student had been sorted (Zabini, Blasie in Slytherin), Dumbledore made an announcement and the feast began.