Chapter 003

Malfoy's eyes widened and his hand stayed extended for a moment before he sneered and pulled back like Harry had struck him. "When my father hears about this you'll regret spurning House Malfoy!"

"Am I supposed to know who your father is?" Harry scoffed with a low laugh. "Obviously I don't so, that's really not much of a threat now is it?"

Malfoy just snarled and turned around slamming the compartment door behind him.

After they had finally reached Hogwarts the Sorting Ceremony began and Harry had his first view of the Sorting Hat. And the endless possibilities such a thing implied! How had the Hat been created? Were there Thought runes embedded within it? Or maybe Perspective runes? Obviously some variant of a Perception rune was stitched into the lining somewhere. Cloth was likely a horrible magical conductor though so how had they made it permanent? Could he make anything permanent with the right combination? Could he make anything sentient? Could he make his own familiar out of a runic construct? No that was stupid, he already had Hedwig and she'd get jealous. What about etching runes into something else though? Maybe tattoos?

"…Potter…Harry Potter?"

"Huh?" Harry shook his head before turning to the tall, severe looking Professor McGonagall frowning at him. "Oh, right." He grimaced and walked forward to the stool with the Hat.

Ah, Mr. Potter. Quite a lot of possibilities there for my creation eh?

Harry flinched at the voice in his head and quickly glanced around but couldn't see anything besides the inner brim of the Sorting Hat. "Um, is this the Hat?" he whispered quietly.

Oh yes, that I am. Heldric Rowzar if you want to be technical, but most simply refer to me as: Hat. Please don't use Flopsy. I truly wish I had arms to smack the Headmaster whenever he insists on that foolish term. And just so you know, my creation was centered more around charms and enchantments instead of runes. Most people aren't quite at your level regarding those and the Founders preferred not to play with something that had the potential to blow them up when there were easier ways.

"Oh. Would my way have worked?"

Oh I have no doubt! I imagine it would take years to get right, but there is certainly more than one way to trim a mandrake, eh! Now, now where to put you, where to put you…hmm…I haven't had this many problems since your mother and then your cousin you know!

"My cousin!?"

Oh not that one. No, no, she's only very distantly related, something like a fifth cousin once removed. 'Cousin' was simpler than the full description. I settled on Hufflepuff for her in the end but that's really the only House not particularly suited for you. I think you'd do well in Slytherin however! Though in the past few weeks it appears that your interests and talents have shifted quite a bit, eh? Runes are certainly a fun specialty and Ravenclaw would lead the way to great things for your future. However I do see the burning desire to charge forward regardless of any consequences or obstacles. That is truly a trait Godric would admire. So many choices, so many choices!

"Ravenclaw was the one for people who liked to read and study right?"

Well I wouldn't have boiled it down quite so much but, yes, that is more or less correct.

"And Slytherin was for crafty and ambitious people?"

Generally, though pure-bloods that don't have many other stronger defining traits tend to go there as well.

"And Gryffindor is for the reckless?"

The Hat gave a rolling laugh in Harry's head. Oh I do like you, Mr. Potter! Don't let poor Minerva hear you say that!

"Um, do I get a say in this? Where did Hermione and Neville go? Ron has brothers here right? They're in Gryffindor right?"

All the current Weasleys, Mr. Longbottom and Miss Granger are all in Gryffindor. But I really think you'd fit in better with the Ravenclaws. This thirst for knowledge and experimentation is perfectly in line with dear Rowena's legacy.

"I'd prefer to go with them please. Neville looks like he could use a friend and Hermione actually seemed interesting from the train – even if she was a little bossy. The twins didn't even really question me about my scar…I'd really prefer to be with them. Please?"

Well if you're sure…better be – GRYFFINDOR! The Hat finished with a loud shout to the rest of the room. Harry smiled and, with a whispered thanks, took the head-covering off before hurrying over to the cheering table to sit down across from the people he'd met a few hours ago.

Several hours later Harry was sitting on a couch near the fire in the Gryffindor common room. The Welcoming Feast had ended with some time left before curfew so Harry had switched out his mother's notes for the third year Ancient Runes text and curled up to start his research. He smiled faintly as he searched through the textbook trying to find one of the missing components to complete his primer sequence.

"Harry, why are reading? Let's play chess!" Ron said striding up with a small board cradled in his arms.

"Sorry, I can't. I'm kinda busy, Ron."

"What could possibly be more interesting than chess? We don't even have homework yet!" Harry glanced up and almost fell over from the horror crossing Ron's face. His mouth was open and his face had gone white with his hands just hanging limp by his sides. It looked like someone had told him to eat Scabbers alive! Harry shook his head quickly deciding he was never going to study with the other boy.

"I'm looking for an Extinguisher. The current configuration is a bit too explosive when all I want is a fancy light show. An Extinguisher should damp the reaction before it combusts." Harry responded glancing up. Ron's expression of utter confusion was priceless. Hermione however, seemed worried as she walked over to the boys.

"An extinguisher? Muggle tech doesn't work at Hogwarts. It says so in Hogwarts, A History. I imagine an extinguisher might work as it doesn't have any electronic components but still I highly doubt you'll find one lying around the grounds."

Harry shook his head. "I know that tech doesn't work. I read that part in Hogwarts, A History too." Hermione's face morphed from confusion, to shock, and finally to amazement before he'd even started his next sentence. "But I don't mean a fire extinguisher. I mean a rune for extinguishing. My mum never wrote that one down. I'm hoping it's in one of the first two course books because I didn't have enough money on me to buy the fifth-seventh year curriculum ones. It seems like it should be pretty basic though so I'm guessing she just didn't see the need to write it down."

"You've – You've – You've," Hermione still seemed frozen, "You've read Hogwarts, A History?!" she finished in a high pitched squeak.

"Yeeeaaaah…" he said slowly. Was that supposed to be odd? Wouldn't it make sense to read a book about the history of the school you were about to attend?

"I – I – Wait! Did you say you're researching runes?" she demanded. Harry just nodded. "That's incredibly advanced. We don't start runes until Third Year!"

"Blimey, mate! Why the bloody hell are looking at stuff two years ahead?!" Harry was starting to get seriously worried that if Ron's eyes widened any further they would fall out of his skull.