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A Different Path: The Sorcerer's Stone

By Dishonorable

Chapter Five:

Round One: Daphne Vs. Ron

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The next few years passed quickly. Harry was introduced to Daphne's cousin and best friend, Tracey Davis, and Blaise Zabini, an already tall, fair boy. And he had changed very much while staying with the Greengrasses.

He now lived in the former guest room and was officially a legal resident of the Greengrass household, which had occurred under the table at the Ministry with the aid of Lucius Malfoy. (Dumbledore and the general public had yet to hear this particular news and as of such Dumbledore were still quietly searching for the Boy-Who-Lived.)

Harry had grown a few inches and, with the careful nurturing of the Greengrasses, was being slowly educated into the mannerisms of a Slytherin. There was still the rather annoying habit of his desire to befriend everyone, despite their blood and the status of inferiority, but there was still time to nip that before he came of legal age. If worse came to worse, there was also the last choice of interfering spellwork.

It had finally been eleven years since Voldemort's defeat and the year that the Boy-Who-Lived and his close friend Daphne would attend Hogwarts. Daphne was earnestly shooting for Slytherin and, as she was his best friend, Harry was shooting for Slytherin as well. He didn't really want to be thrust into a house where he knew no one.

However, he kept on worrying. Daphne had remarked quite often that he had the most annoying Gryffindor qualities.

“Weasleys,” muttered Daphne disdainfully, tilting her head toward the train compartment's window that held the image of a crowd of redheads.

“Aren't they the populous muggle lovers?” asked Harry, stowing his trunk overhead.

“Yes, the filthy blood traitors,” Daphne confirmed, “Gryffindors, the lot of them, so luckily we won't have to deal with them that much, Harry.”

Harry nodded, though his insides were twisting. What if he did make it into Gryffindor? The redheads didn't look so bad -no, they were muggle-loving blood traitors, they were beneath him. It wouldn't do to consort with them of course...but still, there seemed to be a boy his age...However charming Blaise was or enthusiastic Mr. Greengrass was, Harry desired a fellow boy to shout over Quidditch with and grumble over tests with.

“Harry.”

He looked away from the window to see Daphne's disapproving face.

“Yeah?”

“I'm going to fetch Tracey and Blaise, hold the compartment, okay?” She really shouldn't leave him; she had seen the way he had looked at the Weasleys, but it was impertinent that Blaise join them and effectively bond with Harry and her on their first train ride to Hogwarts. Harry needed a close male friend and there wasn't anyone suitable enough except for Blaise. Draco Malfoy was in his own world, Theodore Nott was of questionable sort, and Crabbe and Goyle were entirely too stupid.

Tracey...she needed watching like Harry...

“Alright.”

“Don't let anyone in.”

“Sure, Daphne,” agreed Harry, far too complacently for Daphne's likening, “I want a quick review of Transfiguration anyways.”

With one last look at the messy-haired boy struggling with his trunk, Daphne left the compartment uneasily. She only wished she knew a locking spell.

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“Can I sit here?” asked a pale, befreckled redhead. It was a Weasley boy, the one who looked around Harry's age, if not a year older.

Harry reluctantly tore his eyes from the Transfiguration text, “Err, a friend of mine is and she doesn't really like...Blood traitors.”

The redhead recoiled, “And you?” he said fiercely.

“I don't know,” Harry finally said, “Daphne's my only good friend.”

“Sounds like you need to make better friends,” said the boy roughly, “That's a bloody dark, prejudiced way of looking at things.”

Harry just looked at him curiously. He had never talked with a blood traitor before and if they were anything like this boy, they were rash...yet firm in their beliefs. It was the Greengrasses' confidence in blood supremacy that had helped sway him toward that line of beliefs, (along with another compulsion charm).

“My name's Ron,” he said, “Ron Weasley. You wanna find another compartment away from this Daphne?”

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If you think that Harry should go with Ron, please go to Chapter Seven.

If you think that Harry should decline his offer and remain in the compartment, please go to Chapter Eight.