Once they got off the train, Rose was still clinging to Harry's arm. Harry grabbed Astoria by the wrist and pulled her closer.
"Astoria" Harry spoke softly "could you do me a favour?"
"What do you need?"
"Could you make sure that nobody touches Rose?" Harry requested "Please"
"Uh…sure" Astoria nodded
"Thank you" Harry said appreciatively, he gently pried Rose's hands off of his arm and had her grip Astoria's sleeve "stay with Astoria, okay Rose?"
"Harry" Rose mumbled
"Just till the sorting" Harry reassured her "then I'll come and sit with you"
"But what if I get into a different house?" Rose whispered
"Then I'll still come and sit with you" Harry replied "I don't care what house you're in, I'm here for you. Just trust me, stay with Astoria until you get sorted, okay?"
"Okay Harry" Rose said weakly
"I love you Rose" Harry kissed her on the forehead
"Love you too" Rose mumbled
"Alright, goodbye for now" Harry gave her a last smile before he made his way to the carriages with Daphne.
"So, how long have you known Rose?" Daphne asked
"Since I was five" Harry answered "she wasn't always like that"
"What do you mean?"
"She used to be a pretty happy and kind girl" Harry replied "she used to love playing in the park and feeding pigeons"
"What happened to her?" Daphne asked, not sure if she wanted to know the answer
"Nothing me or her want to talk about" Harry said, with a sad look on his face "anyway, how was your summer?"
"It was fine" Daphne said "I spent most of it answering questions about you"
"There are worse fates" Harry joked
"Glad to know that you're still the exact same. Hey, if you were in Japan then how did you get your books?"
"I didn't, I told McGonagall before I left that I was travelling and asked if she or someone else could pick up the books on my behalf. By the way, apparently we have some celebrity for a teacher this year"
"Yes" Daphne sighed "Gilderoy Lockhart, he's this guy who claims to have done all these amazing things"
"Claims?" Harry raised an eyebrow
"Well, mum and dad don't believe it" Daphne explained "apparently he's too much of an idiot to actually do those things"
"He and my brother will get along then"
.....
Harry and Daphne sat at the Slytherin table during the sorting, soon came Rose's turn. Daphne noticed Harry tense and she was rather worried about him jumping up and running up there, but fortunately he controlled himself.
Rose timidly made her way up to the stool, she sat down and closed her eyes . The hat was placed on her head, Harry growled slightly and began looking at the hat like it had insulted his mother. A few moments later the hat had made a decision.
"Slytherin!" It shouted
McGonagall took the hat off Rose and she slowly made her way over to the Slytherin table, she sat next to Harry and he protectively wrapped an arm around her.
"Didn't think you'd be in Slytherin" Harry admitted
"I wanted to stay with you" Rose burrowed into Harry's chest
"Oh look" Malfoy smiled at the sight "what's wrong Potter? Greengrass not good enough for you"
"Malfoy if you have any plans about living long enough to finish this year then you will shut your mouth and be quiet" Harry said in a low voice, surprising many with how serious he was being.
"Oh yeah?" Malfoy sneered, not understanding how serious Harry was being
"Malfoy" Harry spoke in a slow and deadly tone "a little while later you're going to be alone with me in that big common room where I have plenty of room to throw you about and break your bones, if you shut up now then I may just forget to do that"
"Be quiet Malfoy" Theodore Nott said before the Malfoy heir could respond "as entertaining as it is for the rest of us, I doubt you'd want Potter to send you to the hospital wing on the first night back. Now stop before you embarrass yourself and the other Slytherins, again." Malfoy growled and looked away from Harry. Harry sent Nott an appreciative nod, then turned his attention back to Rose.
"Are you okay?" He asked her
"I don't like him" She whispered
"Not many do"
....
The sorting continued, Astoria was sorted into Slytherin as well. The only other person who Harry noticed was Ginny Weasley, Harry recognised her as the youngest Weasley and the only girl. Harry hoped that she take after the twins instead of Ron, speaking of Ron, he couldn't find Ron or his brother at the Gryffindor table.
Once the feast was done Harry bolted out of the hall to the common room, Rose had to leave with the other first years and Harry definitely did not like her staying out of his eye line. When he got there, he was thankful that Astoria had managed to keep the others away from her.
"Thanks for looking after her" Harry said to Astoria when he entered the common room.
"No problem" Astoria smiled
"You okay?" Harry asked Rose, the girl pulled him into a hug and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry Harry" She sniffed
"Don't be sorry" Harry said "you've done nothing wrong"
"What's the matter with you Potter?" Draco had entered the common room along with the other Slytherin's.
"Malfoy my ability to tolerate idiots is running a little thin" Harry let go of Rose and glared at the blonde boy "as is my temper"
"Trying to act tough for your little girlfriend there?" Malfoy glanced at Rose who had chosen to hide behind Harry
"Leave her alone Malfoy" Astoria jumped in to defend Rose
"I'd recommend listening to her" Daphne appeared at Harry's side
"And I'd recommend listening to her" Harry let out a little smile but still glared at the boy in front of him.
"Or what?" Malfoy challenged
"Or you'll be visiting the hospital wing" Harry replied "if you truly wish to spend more time there then just say the word"
"Oh, I'm so scared" Malfoy said mockingly
"Have you forgotten that he's beaten you in both a magical duel and a muggle fight?" Tracy said "And he had actually put you in the hospital wing before"
"Who asked you, half-blood?" Malfoy sneered at her
"Unlike you Malfoy, she's wanted here" Harry defended Tracy
"I'm wanted here"
"No we just can't get rid of you" Harry replied "believe me if we could then we would"
"You can't talk to me like that Potter"
"Comment dois-je vous parler? Vous, stupide, incompétent gaspillage d'oxygène"
"What was that?"
"It was French" Harry answered "I figure if you don't like me talking to you like that then I should probably try a different approach
"Did you insult me in French?!" Malfoy demanded
"Yes, I can also insult you in German if you want"
"Don't you dare!"
"Du siehst aus wie ein idiotischer Fährte"
"What does that even mean?!"
"Don't ask me, I'm not a translator" Harry shrugged "now, as much as I like embarrassing you, I have more important things to do. Now off you go Malfoy"
"You can't…"
"Shoo" Harry waved his hand "go on, shoo"
"You can't…"
"Shoo" Harry repeated
"I'm not a…."
"Shoo" Harry interrupted again
"I'm not a…"
"Shoo, shoo, go on. Shoo"
"I'm not…"
"Shoo"
"I'm…"
"Shoo"
"You can't…"
"Shoo"
"STOP THAT!" Malfoy snapped
"Hey Malfoy" Harry said
"What?!"
"Shoo"
Malfoy growled and stormed away, muttering curses under his breath as he did so. The other Slytherin's had gotten use to the Potter and Malfoy confrontations and didn't bat an eye when this one had started.
"Idiot" Tracy shook her head "oh, do you guys know what happened to the Gryffindor Potter and Weasley?"
"What happened?" Astoria asked
"According to the rumours he flew into school on a flying car and crashed into the whomping willow"
"As in the giant tree outside that likes to hit things?" Daphne asked
"The very same"
"How am I related to him?!" An exasperated Harry asked.
....
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