A New Beginning

Harry Potter stood watching people walking around Kings Cross station and wondered what to do next. He had been dumped at Kings Cross by his Uncle who had fled in the car as quickly as possible. The instructions that the giant Hagrid had given had seemed vague to say the least, and he certainly could not see a Platform 9 ¾, and to ask about a platform that didn't exist seemed stupid. Another thing that puzzled him was the fact that he was in the middle of one of the most busiest railway stations in the country and yet nobody seemed to notice the fact he had a snowy white Owl in a cage.

"Going my way?" a girl's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Um... No" Harry replied. He was fairly sure that he shouldn't talk to most people about going to Hogwarts.

"It's okay" replied the red haired girl, "I'm going to Hogwarts too. You just looked a little lost, so I presume that you are a Muggleborn"

"Well my Mum was" Harry replied, relieved that the girl might know how to get onto this mystery platform. "My dad was a wizard" he added.

"Was?"

"They died when I was a year old, or so I was told. I've not been told the entire truth really"

"Oh?"

"Well I grew up not knowing I was a wizard and being told all the time my parents were drunks and died in a car crash"

"Oh" the girl repeated. "Where is your family?" she asked as she glanced around.

"I live with Muggles" Harry replied. "Not that fond of magic... Or me"

"They left you on your own without any kind of instructions or help?" the girl sounded completely shocked at such a thing.

"I've been in worse situations" he shrugged.

"What's your name?" asked the girl. "I'm Susan Bones"

"Oh, hello, Susan... I'm Harry Potter"

"The Harry Potter?" the girl gasped.

"Please not another fan..." Harry groaned. He was beginning to wonder how many people would act like this Susan in all his years to come. He hated being famous for something that happened on the night of his parents death.

"I guess you have got that a lot recently. I bet it was a surprise when one of the teachers told you all about your history and fame"

"Actually" Harry frowned, "It was a big giant called Hagrid"

"Him?" Susan exclaimed.

"Was that wrong?" frowned Harry again.

"Well..." Susan seemed puzzled and confused by something, "It is just that it is supposed to be a teacher that comes and tells everybody about magic – if they didn't know about it of course" she added. "Wait a minute... If you didn't know you was magical, then how did you get the money to pay for all this stuff?"

"Hagrid took me to that bank and gave them my key"

"Why would he have your key?"

"I think he said something about Dumbledore. Mind you, he seemed very interested in moving something from another vault" Harry replied.

"You know, my Aunt should know about this. Having the key to a vault when you are not entitled to have it is a very serious offence. Your family could bring charges against Dumbledore and Hagrid"

"I don't think that Hagrid really knew. I do not want to be rude or anything, but he seems a little..."

"Simple?"

"Yeah"

"I suppose he is really" Harry admitted. "Anyway, why would your Aunt want to know about me and what happened?"

"Oh, she's an Auror" and at Harry's blank look the girl sighed. "Aurors are the people who go round upholding the law and stuff"

"So like policemen and policewomen"

"Yeah, but just with magic to help them"

"Well how can we see her? We've got to get the train to Hogwarts"

"Oh, we'll Portkey there... I'll explain in the way there" and Susan glanced around for a moment before pulling Harry and his things towards a tall black man in a purple suit. "Hi, Kingsley"

"Hello, Susan... Something wrong?" he asked in a deep and soothing voice.

"I think so" Susan replied. "This is Harry. He's just told me some very funny things about how he learned magic and was placed with Muggles after his parents died"

"That happens" said the tall man. He noticed Harry staring at him with some puzzlement and wonder. "Can I help you?"

"I think that is why Susan dragged me here" Harry replied. "But if you mean right now, I'm really sorry. It is just that I have never seen a black person before in real life. There arn't any where I come from"

"I see..." the tall man shrugged.

"And Hagrid had Harry's vault key"

"Really?" the man's eyebrows rose in surprise. "That is a very serious offence, young man. What is your surname?"

"Potter" and the man that Susan had called Kingsley looked to Harry's forehead, saw the scar and blinked in surprise.

"Yes, Susan... I think you have done the right thing. I had better take you to see my boss, Susan's Aunt. As it is now past 11am, I will arrange for both of you to Portkey over to Hogwarts later on. Although" he added with a sigh as another girl came rushing towards them, "It might be transport for three. Hello, Hannah"

"Hannah!"

"Susan!"

"Hannah!"

"Susan!"

"Hannah!"

"Susan!"

"Are they always like that?" asked Harry.

"Yes. There are times, Mr Potter, that I wish I could curse them. Young girls are the bane of my life" and he glanced down at Harry. "I'd better take you to see my boss" and after a few moments, Harry, the man, Susan and Hannah had all vanished from the station.

# # # # #

If Harry had thought that Kings Cross was a mass of people, then the Ministry was even more busy. People rushed backwards and forwards and queues formed every which way and round – so much so that Harry began to get dizzy just for looking. The four of them bypassed one of the queues before getting into a lift and heading to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. A few minutes later, and passing through some sort of scanner, Kingsley opened a door and allowed the three children to enter the office beyond.

"Susan?" a woman wearing robes and a monocle looked up from an awful amount of paperwork.

"Hi, Auntie"

"What has happened?" she asked the girl, but the question was directed towards the Auror.

"Susan found this boy and discovered that some crimes had been committed. Hannah turned up, they all missed the train so I brought them here for you to decide what to do"

"Could you not have sorted it out yourself, Kingsley?"

"Well I could have done so, certainly, but when I found out the name of the boy, I figured I would pass this on to higher authority"

"And what is your name?" the woman, Susan's Aunt, sighed and removed her monocle.

"Harry. Harry Potter"

"Oh my..."

"You see my point"

"What are these supposed crimes?" she asked – waving the three children to a chair each.

"As far as I can make out, Madam Bones" Kingsley's tone became all business like, "Illegal possession of a vault key, physical and mental abuse, disrespect towards an Ancient and Most Noble House and kidnapping"

"I thought this was just going to be about the key" Harry said. "And how do you know I was abused?"

"I've been trained to look out for signs of it, and I am sorry to say that I saw it in you whilst we talked and on the way here"

"You had better start from the beginning" Madam Bones said. "Kidnapping?"

"Mr Potter told me that Rubeus Hagrid took him from the ruins of his home, disregarded the wishes of Sirius Black and transported him to a house of Muggles who were noted Magic-Haters"

"And what did Hagrid have to say about that?"

"He just said that it was all on 'Dumbledore's orders' and he did was he was ordered to do" Harry said with a cringe. He spent the next hour and a half going over every bit of detail that he knew as well as that which Hagrid had told him himself.

"We'll have to make a point of speaking to Hagrid – he seems to be deeply involved in this one way or the other" Madam Bones said. "I presume that, from your tone, Hagrid also had his key?"

"That is my understanding" Kingsley said.

"This sounds complicated and a lengthy process to look into" Madam Bones made a decision. "Auror Shaklebolt, can you please take these three reprobates to the cafe before escorting them to Hogwarts?"she gave them a smile.

"My pleasure" the man grinned before letting them leave the office ahead of them. Once the door was closed, Madam Bones sighed and wondered what Dumbledore was playing at now. Over the last few years, she had become convinced that Albus Dumbledore was not the saviour and leader of the light in the way that the public portrayed him. Certain things he had done in the last ten years had made her wonder if he was quite alright in the mental department. With another sigh, she pressed a button on her desk and a short little woman walked in with red hair that went just under her shoulders.

"You rang?"

"We've got some work to do, Lucy. I want you to make an application for the search of Muggle premises..."

#

Harry spent the first part of the afternoon in the company of Susan and Hannah which was, to him, a chance to be the boy that his age said he should be. He'd seemed afraid to eat any large amount of food, half afraid the Dursleys would appear and beat him for taking more then a few scraps, but her enjoyed the soup he was given and came back several times for more. Both girls, coming from well loved families couldn't exactly understand why anybody would want to hurt a child and half starve them, but Kingsley was mentally compiling exactly what he would like to do to Harry's Aunt, Uncle and Cousin. After they had had their fill, Kingsley, or Auror Shacklebolt as he was when on duty, took the three on a short tour of the Ministry which Harry found fascinating before arranging for travel to Hogwarts. It was not that long until the students arrived and the trio took up their places with the other First Years to await sorting.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. My name is Minerva McGonagall, and I am the Transfiguration teacher and Deputy Headteacher here at Hogwarts. Now, in a few moments, you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you can take your seats you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Now, while you are here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you house points. Any rule breaking, and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup"

"I wonder where the troll is" muttered a boy.

"We keep one near the girl's bathroom on the lower floor, young man" McGonagall said dryly. "If you wish, I can arrange for you to pay it a visit"

"No, Ma'am"

"Very well... You will all follow me and await your name being called out" and she led them through another set of doors and into a hall. Long tables filled the middle with older students catching looks and sizing up the newest admissions to the hallowed halls of Hogwarts. There was a little bit of a long winded speech by a man whom Harry could only assume was Albus Dumbledore before Professor McGonagall placed an old hat on a three legged stool.

"What is that?" whispered Harry.

"I think it is the sorting hat" replied Susan. As they watched, a mouth and two eyes formed from the wrinkles in the hat prior to it surprising the First Years by singing.

Pounds, Shilling, Pence

Dumbledore Has No Sense

Snape Came To School To Act The Fool

Pounds, Shilling, Pence

"That... That was different" muttered the deputy. She unrolled a list before reading it carefully and calling out the first name. "Hannah Abbott" and Hannah walked forwards, sat on the stool and had the hat placed on her head. A few seconds later, the mouth of the hat formed again.

"HUFFLEPUFF!" and the students clapped and cheered – particularly those that appeared to be the afore mentioned house.

"Susan Bones" and Susan took Hannah's place before the hat announced that she, also, would be in Hufflepuff. It was some minutes before Harry's name was called out and he sat on the stool and had the hat placed on his head.

"Ah, I was beginning to wonder if I would ever get to you. No, you are not mad… I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat and, as you most likely guess, I sort students into one of the four houses based on their personalities and character"

"Can they hear you speak?"

"No, only you can hear me" the hat replied. "Now then… You have the thirst to prove yourself which would suit Slytherin very well… On the other hand, you have a great talent for bravery and honour which would place you in Gryffindor – the House your parents went into as it happens"

"What about Ravenclaw?"

"You are a bright and intelligent lad, Harry Potter, but I do not think that you belong there. The quest for knowledge and the way that house works can drive some to change themselves. No, I think Gryffindor would suit you best"

"Why can't I stick with Susan? She's the first ever friend in my entire life, Hannah is nice as well, and I don't want to be alone and without people I like"

"You would gain new friends in the other Houses, Mr Potter"

"So are you saying that I can not pick?"

"Not at all… On occasions, I have been unable to decide and so the pupil themselves chose which one to spend the next seven years in"

"Then I want to pick Hufflepuff because Susan and Hannah are my friends"

"Loyalty is, it so happens, one of the most endearing qualities of Hufflepuff" the Hat almost sighed. "HUFFLEPUFF!" it shouted and Harry thanked the Hat before taking it off and going over to the table where Susan and Hannah made a space for him between themselves. After a speech from Dumbledore, food appeared on the tables and Harry served himself a small piece from every plate and platter within range. Susan and Hannah frowned at each other before realising that Harry had most likely never seen any good food he was allowed to have until that day. Both girls added another entry on their list of reasons to beat up his Aunt, Uncle and Cousin when they were older and stronger. After the dinner had been finished, the deserts came out and Harry's eyes widened as he demolished everything in sight until older students wondered if he would start to eat the serving bowls and dishes. Once the school had had their fill of food, except for a red haired child at the Gryffindor table, the Houses were allowed to leave and the trio of friends followed their new housemates along various corridors and passages until they reached a pile of barrels. It was explained to the First Years that they had to tap the barrels in a certain manner before they moved aside slightly and revealed a door. Behind the door was a short little tunnel which led into a wide open space. It was round, earthy and low-ceilinged – Harry got the impression that it always felt sunny. Large and circular windows gave a view of rippling grass and dandelions. There was a lot of burnished copper about the place, and many plants, which either hung from the ceiling or sat on the windowsills. Overstuffed sofas and chairs are upholstered in yellow and black and littered the room or sat in groups along the walls of the common room. Lovingly polished copper lamps cast a warm light over the space and hang from the corners of the room. It seemed like Harry had left 1991 and gone back a hundred years to the Victorian era.

"This" said a Prefect, "Is the Hufflepuff common room. When you are not in class, you may relax here and play games, take part in celebrations or do your homework. Our Head of house, Professor Pomona Sprout, is Head of Herbology, and she brings the most interesting specimen, some of which dance and talk, to decorate our room – one reason why Hufflepuffs are often very good at Herbology. Boys will sleep through the larger door to the left and the girls the same on the right – they lead to the two person bedrooms. The other Houses have dorms that sleep a group of people together, but Hufflepuff is a little bit different so you are free to make your own arrangements or just take a random bit of luck. I am sure that Professor Sprout will be here shortly to welcome you all, but you'd better get yourselves sorted into rooms first" and the First Years broke up and went to find rooms. Harry followed the boys towards the little corridors and walked all the way to the end and found a problem – there was no room at the inn. Wondering if he had gone past a room, the boy turned round and walked back up and saw in every room there were two pupils. Not knowing what to do, he went back to the common room and saw a plumpish witch with a slightly faded and patched hat on her head.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"Um… I am not sure" Harry admitted. "The Prefect let us pick our own rooms, but there is no space at the inn for me"

"No space…" the witch frown before realisation dawned. "I see. This might be a problem then because the room corridors, once entered, can't be changed by adding another one"

"Well I could always sleep in a cupboard" Harry shrugged. "I am used to it after all" and the witch frowned but decided not to say anything for the moment.

"He can stay with me and Hannah, Professor Sprout" Susan said. The afore mentioned witch blinked before looking down at Susan who stood next to Harry with her arms folded.

"I am not sure that that would be appropriate, Susan. Boys are not allowed in the rooms of girls and the same is true of girls for boys"

"I know, but Harry has nowhere to stay and he needs a friend" Susan said.

"And isn't the House of friendship and loyalty?" Hannah asked. "If its not, then I don't want to be here" she added.

"What she said" Susan agreed. "Our room is mega huge, so we can easily fit in another bed and some more drawers"

"Very well… I shall speak to the Headmaster and see what can be done. I suggest that you all go to sleep now as it has been a long and tiring day for you all. Your lessons start the day after tomorrow, and you will be taken on a tour of the school so you know where all the different locations are and how you can get to them the quickest" and, with that, Sprout left the common room to have a word with Dumbledore.

"Come on, Harry!" Susan grabbed Harry's hand and dragged him to the room that he would be staying in. After getting some odd looks from some of the girls in his class, he was pulled through a door to the place he'd be staying in for at least a few days. Yet more copper lamps hung off the walls, but this time over the four-posters bed – all of which were covered in patchwork quilts, and copper bed warmers sat on a shelf by the door. The room also had its own small fireplace, and Harry wondered if the other rooms had it. A door to one side led to the most lavish bathroom that he had ever seen in his life – even more so then the one in the hotel the Dursleys and him had briefly stayed in. Before his very eyes, and for some reason, another bed, drawers and cupboard all appeared and, magically, squeezed in between the furniture that was already there. A few seconds later and his trunk appeared along with an empty cage - Susan had explained that Hedwig would have been let out and gone to the Owlry. The three started to empty their trunks and put away their clothes at which point Harry became very reluctant to have his trunk open for any length of time.

"Are you alright, Harry?" asked Hannah.

"I…" he sighed. They were his friends and friends, he knew, shouldn't keep too many secrets. "I don't have many clothes with me" he said.

"Well why didn't you pack more?"

"Because my Aunt and Uncle never got me anything. Remember what I said to Susan's Aunt? My Aunt and Uncle would never pay for any large amounts of new clothing. What I couldn't get from hand-me-downs from Dudley came from charity shops – except the underwear"

"Ewwwwwwww" Susan and Hannah exclaimed as they shuddered in horror together.

"Well we'll have to fix that" Susan picked up a notebook and made a note in it with a pen. Her Aunt was going to call on Harry in a few days to have a word with him about all the things he had disclosed to her in the office, and the newly minted Hufflepuff decided to mention it and see if her and Hannah could not arrange for some new clothes for him – at least some things he could wear at weekends. After taking turns going to the bathroom and changing, the three friends climbed into the cosy bed, pulled up the covers and drifted off to sleep with thoughts in their minds of what was to come the following day.

A/N:

Okay, slight change of plans here people…

Had my computer seized by the police because, for some reason, they think I am running a porn ring! This is something I deny, of course, but it did mean I was without a computer for some days. This, however, did not stop me and within 72 hours I was back online with a reincarnated Mildred - older reviewers and long term readers will know that was the computer that died three years ago… She suddenly started up again out of the blue. Anyway, whilst this means that fanfiction services are more or less back on track, readers of The Navigator Flies Again will have to wait until I re-write an entire chapter from memory! In the meantime, though, Hermione's Secret has been reactivated on the list of stories and will take the TNFA's place alongside this one. Normal service should be resumed in about three months.

Now, on to this fic…

Yes, its another Hufflepuff sorted Harry fic, but this one has a few twists to it even in the first chapter, some characters are not canon compliant and there will be a friendship that will go on to be something more in the future. One thing I have always wondered is why do lessons start the day after the pupils get there? How are students supposed to find their way around a castle they have never been to before or to a place they are unfamiliar with…? So, with that in mind, Harry, Hannah And Susan are getting a day to meet some of the teachers, have a little quiz of sorts and get shown round all of the places they may need to visit along with other useful bits of information.

Oh yes… Before anybody says something about it – the ability of Harry to get in a girls' room. As Hermione and others show the ability to enter the boy's dorm without any issues, I think the wards must work on intent – otherwise Lavender would have been in Ron's bed on a number of occasions. As Harry has no intentions towards Hannah or Susan, and he most likely thinks that girls are, to him at least due to his upbringing, a strange thing, the wards have allowed it.

All good reviews will be accepted – all bad ones will be used to destroy ISIS!

Regards

Pixel and Stephanie