Neville didn't reply and instead simply seethed at the indignity of having his own underwear pulled over his head on the train while he'd been wearing it at the timeA.
Harry's attention went back to the rest of the sorting. It was nearly over. All he could think of was that now Dumbledore's (and Voldemort's) attentions would be split between watching Longbottom and himself. And probably the rest of the school for that matter as well. Great. Could his life get any more weirder? Wait. Scratch that. It already had. No reason to try and jinx it again.
The sorting ended a few minutes later and the feast began in earnest. While everyone was talking and introducing themselves, Harry listened in and tried not to speak if he could help it. After all, knowing his luck he'd open his mouth and insert his own foot. Sure enough, 30 minutes into the feast the hall began to quiet down. Harry had been talking over a spell semantic with Hermione when he suddenly realized that people were staring at him. Again. Correction… they were staring at something behind him.
Knowing nothing good could come from waiting, he looked behind him and saw the Bloody Baron looking at him intently again. Could this day just end already!
After a minute of the Baron gazing through him at something, he finally broke the ice (as it were) and said, "You must be the Bloody Baron. I've read about you. I read that you died from wounds and magical exhaustion after saving Hogsmeade from an invasion 467 years ago. Rumor has it the invasion was spearheaded by a coven of dark witches and wizards."
A ghostly eyebrow rose. "You're well read."
"It keeps the nifflers away."
The Baron almost smiled. Almost. "Welcome to Hogwarts, Harry Potter. The Sorting Hat was right, you have great talents within you. Talents that would make you do well in Slytherin. Perhaps you should demand a resort."
"Actually I'm not sure that would be a good idea as if I were to be resorted, the hat might take offence and decide to resort everyone. And you know how it is if a Slytherin were to suddenly have to go to another house like Hufflepuff or Gryffindor. Hmm, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea after all. I could see about getting Malfoy into Hufflepuff. And of course since his father is on the Board of Governors for the school, he'll probably ask that the ghosts change around since he told me he had his heart set on having the Bloody Baron as his house's ghost."
"Possibly Slytherin might not be the best house for you after all," the Bloody Baron acquiesced.
Harry winked at the ghost. "That's okay. From the sound of it, I'm probably going to be in all the houses. It ought to drive those professors who like to take points spare trying to figure out which house to subtract from."
The Baron gave a rare genuine smirk, and floated back to the Slytherin table.
Conversation returned to its normal levels and another ten minutes went by before Harry was again interrupted. This time by the Headmaster. Albus Dumbledore then went on to inform him that due to his unique status, he would have a bed in each House's first year dorm. He had the ability to go to whichever house he wanted whenever he wanted, just to inform his house head of the fact as earliest as possible. If unable to do that, he was to inform the Hogwarts Deputy, Professor McGonagall, of his decision. As is, this first night he was to stay with the Gryffindor first years until he had a chance to meet all the other first years and decide on a more equitable sleeping arrangement.
As he was an apprentice to all subjects, he was to attend classes with whomever he wanted, no matter the grade level. As he was technically still a first year student, he was to attend the classes with his own counterparts first until he decided to change it up however he wanted. Should he decide he wanted to attend the older classes on a permanent basis, he would need to take the end-of-year exams to ensure he knew the younger year material. It was a formality more than anything else, and was mandated by the Board of Governors. This would also give his teachers time to evaluate him and see where he needed additional instruction. Again, if he were to begin changing from the set course they had him on, he was to inform the Deputy Headmistress of his decision and they would see to its implementation.
Being an apprentice also meant he had more leeway with school rules and had unlimited access to the restricted section of the library, although he was still responsible for appropriately checking books out. He was to have regular contact with Professor McGonagall and inform her of any independent study projects he wanted to do. He would still be graded along with the rest of his classmates in the regular first year courses but certain higher expectations were going to be placed on him. Also, at certain times he would be expected to assist in classes, either helping students or helping the instructor, depending on the needs at the time.
In short, he was to get the lay of the land and then figure out what he wanted to do while still doing what he needed to do to stay alongside the key players of this little drama. Strangely enough, that was his entire plan to begin with. Thanks, Hat!
Near the end of the feast, Dumbledore made the same comments as last time about avoiding the Forbidden Forrest and the 3rd corridor under pain of death. Then came the school song (if you could call it that), and then the students were rounded up and sent on their way to their rooms for a good night's sleep. Honestly, who writes that drivel for the Headmaster anyway?
Percy Weasley was set to escorting the first years to the Gryffindor tower, and along the way they ran into Peeves. Harry had a soft spot in his heart for the pesky poltergeist, especially after the Umbridge year, but it had been a long day and Harry could see he had some dung bombs in his ectoplasmic hands.
Harry whipped out his wand and incanted, "Apocalypso-33!" (2) Suddenly a beam of greenish-brown light shot out and hit the poltergeist whose hands went to his rear end trying to sooth away the painful butt-boils on his ghostly body.
Peeves (and the dung bombs) took off with a scream. Percy gave Harry a confused frown, explaining to the nervous first years who Peeves was and that the only people that he listened to were the Bloody Baron and Headmaster Dumbledore.
"And Harry too I guess," Hermione said for her friend.
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