Dylan was unusually quiet during the train ride but Astoria kept trying to cheer him up. After several hours, they finally reached Hogsmeade station. When they disembarked, Harry pulled Dylan into a hug.
"Remember, whichever House you end up, I'll be there for you," he said quietly. "I'm really proud of how you are coping with all this. I'm not saying that it is going to be easy, but I know you can do it. I have confidence in you, but you need to believe in yourself. Ignore what everyone else has to say, understood?"
"Thanks, Harry," whispered Dylan.
"Good luck, Dylan," said Harry as he watched the boy go and join the rest of the first years. He made his way to the thestral drawn carriages and several minutes later, they reached the castle proper. Making his way to the group of third-year Ravenclaws, he sat down and made small talk with his Housemates. He did his best to ignore the people staring at him, but it was starting to get annoying. He took a deep breath and his emotions were back under control, his face impassive. Professor McGonagall led the new first years into the Great Hall and Harry could see Dylan looking at the starry sky above in awe.
"When I call your name, you'll come forth and sit on this stool and place the hat on your head to get sorted," said Professor McGonagall. She began reading the names and Harry felt his heart beating faster.
"Astoria Greengrass!"
Like her sister before her, Astoria calmly walked up to the stool and sat down gracefully. The Sorting Hat was lowered onto her head and there was silence for several seconds. Harry frowned slightly. He had known Astoria for two years and knew exactly where she would end up. The fact that it was taking so long meant one thing - she was fighting the hat's decision.
After a minute, the hat's brim opened as it shouted, "SLYTHERIN!"
Harry smirked. It looked like Astoria was unsuccessful in changing the decision of the Sorting Hat. He could see that she was glaring at the Hat and he couldn't suppress a smile. He wondered which House she wanted to go to. His guess was Ravenclaw, so that she wouldn't have to be in the same House as her sister.
Several names later, McGonagall swallowed slightly as she announced -
"Dylan Lestrange!"
There was absolute silence in the Great Hall as no one dared to breathe. Albus Dumbledore leaned forward slightly in anticipation and Harry mentally scowled. There was no way he would let Dylan be manipulated by the old fool. Harry didn't know why he was feeling so protective of the boy. True, when he first met Dylan he had felt bad for what had happened to him, but his mind had been working on how to use it to his advantage. Not the boy, but his predicament. Here was another wizard who had been abused by Muggles. After spending the last two months with Dylan, he had come to regard the boy as his little brother, mostly because of how both of them had grown up. He would be damned if someone messed with him!
Dylan slowly made his way to the stool, shaking slightly. Harry observed the expressions on the faces of many students. Most of them were terrified of the boy while some were openly scowling. His eyes narrowed when he saw a smirk on Draco Malfoy's face.
Once the Hat was placed over his head, Harry felt his heart beating faster again. After just three seconds, the brim opened as it shouted, "RAVENCLAW!"
Harry, Daphne, Astoria and a few others clapped but the rest of the Hall remained silent. Harry felt his anger beginning to rise as he pursed his lips in irritation. Dylan, having expected it, simply walked down and moved towards the Ravenclaw table, where the rest of the first years were seated. None of his Housemates even spared him a glance, as if they were purposely avoiding him. A few even scooted away, shooting fearful looks at the grey-eyed boy.
Harry clenched his fists, hoping that the feast would start soon. In his nervousness, he had not observed the new Defence teacher. His eyes widened marginally in shock as he recognised the man. What was Dumbledore up to?
After the sorting was over, Dumbledore stood up. "I have a few announcements to make," he said cheerfully. "But before that - tuck in!"
Food suddenly appeared in front of them as people began piling up their plates with food. Harry turned to the side and saw that Dylan was eating alone. Gritting his teeth in anger, he got up, in full view of everyone in the Great Hall, crossed over to the end of the Ravenclaw table and sat down next to Dylan, piling his plate with food.
"Told you I wouldn't leave you alone," muttered Harry.
Dylan swallowed his food and smiled slightly. "Thank you," he whispered.
....
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