The rest of the starting feast had gone much as Harry remembered from his own years, although without any mentions of gruesome deaths and more than a few other faces he didn't recognize among staff and students. The other irritation came as Harry realized despite his own lack of celebrity in the world, he was still receiving stares and hushed whispers from those around him.
At least it didn't seem as bad as his own first year, and soon enough they were being led back to the Slytherin dorms.
It felt wrong, being forced to live in such a deep place, away from the sunshine and heights that he had always craved in his earlier years. The Slytherin common room was dark by comparison to Gryffindor, and instantly felt foreign to him, far more than Gryffindor's had when he was first brought there.
"My name is Grace Riddle, and I will be your Head of House." the woman began once everyone had been brought into the chamber. "I expect everyone here to help each other and behave. You are not boisterous Gryffindors, shy Hufflepuffs, or antisocial Ravenclaws. We are the house of the cunning and ambitious. We pride ourselves on our resourcefulness and determination. I expect all of you to take this to heart, and the older students to help the younger as you were helped during your early years. Finally, should there arise any issues I expect you to come to me first."
She glanced around the room, eyeing the first years each in turn until reaching Harry. On him they lingered, far longer than on anyone else, before moving on after what felt like an eternity later. "Well then, you have all had a long day and classes will start tomorrow in the morning. Try to get some sleep. First Years will follow me to your rooms."
Before she could continue Crabbe quickly raised his hand. "Uhm, what about boys?"
The giggles and laughs echoed from the large group of women, earned a swift glare from the Head of House. "The males are in a separate passage that is Warded to prevent anyone else from sneaking in." Here, once again, she sent a warning look to the vast majority of the students. "The rest of you have a separate doorway for each year at Hogwarts."
With that they were dismissed, and one of the older boys gestured for them to follow towards a doorway on the opposite side of the other seven. "Here's where we are. There's a small room for each year so don't expect much, you can sleep easy though, like the Professor said, girls can't get in."
The words seemed to relax both Crabbe and Goyle, earning curiosity from Harry. He recalled in his own world the steps to the girl's Gryffindor rooms being Charmed against any boys from sneaking up, was this reversed here for some reason?
Without knowing how to ask, and not draw attention to himself, Harry merely followed along to the room he would be sharing with the other two. Sure enough, it was significantly smaller than his previous living spaces at Hogwarts, but with only two roommates it would be plenty.
"So, uh Harry, right?" He had to remind himself that this wasn't the Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle from his own world, and merely nodded. "My name's Vincent, this is Gregory. Nice to meet you."
"Same, do you two know each other from outside Hogwarts?"
The, thus far silent, boy nodded with a grin on his face. He wasn't sure what to expect, but even in the previous world, the two Slytherins weren't exactly known for their conversational skills.
"Our families are both old-tradition Slytherins and we knew each other from a long time ago. Do you mind if we take the beds farthest from the doorway?"
He shrugged but noted that it seemed to put some ease into their postures. Clearly, they were concerned about something.
"Thanks"
****
"Settle down children, this is not the class for excited movements or loud conversation." Harry stared, and yes, he knew he was staring but it wasn't like he could help it. Not only was Snape a woman, Professor Serena Snape, but she was sort of nice. His own version would have already been deducting House Points, calling students names, and generally making everyone miserable for breathing the same air as her.
As she reached the front of the room her eyes darted across the students, observing the Gryffindors first, with a noticeable frown directed at his 'sisters' which only further confirmed her identity in his mind, then proceeding with Slytherin.
When she came to him, however, the woman's eyes narrowed even further. Perhaps she wasn't as different as he thought she would be, Harry mentally noted.
"I will not be teaching you fancy Wand movements or cumbersome incantations." She spoke to the, now silent, room. "Instead, it is something far more useful, subtle, and calculated. To brew a potion is more than just placing ingredients into a cauldron and stirring.
It is balancing the inert Magical properties contained within and making the calculated reasoning to best bring out these qualities. We are creating entirely new substances, and many require precise practice and knowledge. For that reason, I will not tolerate any foolishness in this classroom, do I make myself clear."
Huh, Harry already liked this Snape better than his own. At least she hadn't started with...
"Amaryllis Potter."
And he had clearly spoken too soon.
____________________
Read 30 Advance Chapters on-
[ 30% OFF ON MAY MONTH]
patreon.com/rary01