Chapter 1: Either Sort Me or Don't! You Can't Do Both

Author's Note(s):

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Just a heads up.

When it's applicable Spells will be Italicized, with Curses being Bold and The Unforgivable Three being Bold, Italicized and Underlined.

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A lot of the credit goes to J.K Rowling. Because Books 1 and 3 have always been my least favorites I have to heavily tweak parts of her works.

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(Giovanni Jonathan Rutledge POV)

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He hated getting up.

He loved to sleep.

But he hated leaving things unfinished.

He valued his free time.

But he hated being unprepared.

He adored a beautiful girl.

But hated unnecessary shows of affection.

He valued intelligence.

But he hated arrogance.

He loved a good fight.

But he hated inaction.

Thus, one Giovanni Jonathan Rutledge was on the Hogwarts express bored out of his skull. He was a Descendant of John Rutledge, Freemason, independence declaration signatory, and American Wizard.

Two years at Ilvermorny before transferring to Hogwarts permanently. Aye, he was Italian-American, but his mother was Dutch Irish. Thus, he qualified for Hogwarts and Beauxbatons. This also meant that in the event of another global Wizarding War he'd have a distinctive possibility of receiving medals from MACUSA and the Italian, Netherlands, and British Ministry of Magic's.

Giovanni Rutledge, previously known as ******* ******* from New Zealand, this was his second life, which felt odd since statistically speaking he had been born in 2001 which was ten years from now. So, the fact he'd been spending the last two years at Ilvermorny, before managing to wrangle a permanent transfer to Hogwarts was only a small blip on his radar in the face of that ten-year difference. He also set in motion a future temporary exchange to Beauxbatons or Durmstrang. It would ensure that he was nowhere near Hogwarts when that dead virgin Umbridge took over.

Of course, it was contingent on getting accepted, but his grades in Ilvermorny's Wampus Cat House were Peerless, provided he kept these marks consistently in Hogwarts he'd have little trouble in it. Of course, his disciplinary record would also likely play a part, but that was a secondary concern.

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Giovanni sat in silence, but his mind was at work.

At Ilvermorny all the Statues wanted him before he chose to Join Wampus Cat House.

Would the Sorting Hat have a Similar issue? Just whatever it chose better not be Gryffindor, Heroes are all well and good. Except when they can't tell the Wand between the legs with the one you use for spells.

He wanted to be clear, he would suffer neither fools, pricks, or bigots. So, Crabbe and Goyle, Ron Weasley, and Draco Malfoy wash your bloody mouths out with soap or J.R will do it for you...and he won't be kind about it either.

Of course, if a Girl espoused that crap, depending on the annoyance level he felt he may just end up banishing their school uniform away.

He was curious about many things, specifically whose skirt he'd get into first. He did after all, have the Rutledge Family eyes, the bane of many a marriage or virginity....

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(POV Shift: Susan Bones)

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Susan Bones was looking for a place of quiet, which she soon found in a compartment with only one occupant.

''You mind if I sit here?'' She asked, her light ginger hair swaying.

''Go right ahead.'' The Boy replied with an unusual accent.

''I'm Susan by the way, Susan Bones.'' She says introducing herself.

''J.R. First Year Student of Hogwarts, previously a Second Year at Ilvermorny.''

''Why J.R?'' Asks Susan, briefly ignoring the whole school's worth of a bomb just dropped in favor of the question at hand.

''You Brits have yer Purebloods. We have two types of Wizards above the rest in MACUSA. Witches and Wizards who Trace their descent to the original Aurors of America and those descended from signatories of the declaration of Independence. I'll let you figure out whether I descend from the former or the latter, if you do before the Sorting, I'll give you a prize.'' The Boy says, and he hasn't yet opened his eyes Susan notes.

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(POV Shift: Daphne Greengrass)

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Daphne was bored, and thus went off about the train looking for something interesting, which she soon found in a Wizard wearing strange robes.

The fact he shared a compartment with Susan Bones was just an added bonus.

Women of the Bones family were known for two things, being predominantly Hufflepuff and their early puberty of which they were usually embarrassed by. It wasn't unheard of for a Bones woman to have a rather large bust before graduating Hogwarts.

Susan wasn't exactly an exception, but Daphne gave her a year - two at the latest - before Susan Bones got a growth spurt in the chest area.

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Entering the compartment, she immediately noted the distinctiveness of the boy's robes, blue and cranberry in color. With a distinctively NOT Hogwarts symbol on the left breast of them.

"Ah Susan, new boyfriend?!" Daphne says teasingly, hoping to mostly gauge the Boys reaction more than Susan's. Susan immediately blushes and turns away before stuttering, the boy barely reacted.

Unfortunately for him, that immediately caught her insatiable interest.

"I'm Daphne, Daphne Greengrass." Daphne introduces herself.

"J.R." The mixed accent aside, the response is relatively uninterested.

"And your full name? You must have one, as it would be shown on the Ilvermorny Registry, no?" Daphne presses upon recognizing the symbol on his Robes.

"Your name is Daphne Greengrass, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Greengrass, you've a younger sister named Astoria who by my margins will be dead by 2020. Caused by the Blood Malediction in your Family. Which is curious since the last known Maledictus was a companion of Newton Scamander's friend, before becoming a pet to the impure bastard who mustn't be named." The reply...well Daphne simply can't respond, because who honestly could after that sort of a response?

"The Dark Lord wasn't Pure?" Asks Susan.

"No, he was a half-Blood, which anybody with the necessary clearance to find on the British Blood Registry Subsection of the International Pureblood Registry.'' Says The boy.

''And you have said clearance?'' Daphne asks, arching a single eyebrow doubtfully.

''No, but my father does, and as does every member of Congress with clearance levels 5 through to 17. I simply swiped his once because of boredom and went perusing.'' Says J.R.

''Attention Passengers, we'll be arriving soon. Please prepare for arrival.'' Says the conductor via magical announcement...probably a Charm.

''Times up. See you witches later.'' Says J.R before getting up and exiting

''Oh, he's a keeper.'' Daphne's eyes are practically gleaming with a hungry and predatory instinct in them as she speaks.

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(POV Shift: Albus Dumbledore)

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The school year starting in 1991 on September 1st was undoubtedly going to be an interesting one. Harry Potter and Giovanni Rutledge.

Giovanni Jonathan Rutledge, - known commonly as J.R - was the son of Italian American Auror Samuel Rutledge and Dutch Irish Hit Witch Roselyn De Groot.

Rutledge senior was the Boston Congress Representative for MACUSA, his wife was the former Deputy Headmistress of Beauxbatons as well as its DADA Professor.

There were rumors the younger Rutledge had the legendary eyes of Sir John Rutledge. A Rutledge man had eyes of magical persuasion. Capable of charming and compelling without limit. It was in essence a pulse of magic that no shield charm could protect against. In fact, it was so very difficult to defend against, that only sheer strength of will, could allegedly withstand the eyes said to be the Imperious Curse given Flesh.

Would the boy leave a trail of broken hearts or would he use his alleged gift to the betterment of others.

''Penny for your thoughts Albus?'' The Sorting Hat said in a rare moment of animation.

''Just thinking.'' He replies to the hat.

''I wonder if we'll have a Hat Stall this year, haven't had a good one in at least ten years.'' Hat says hopefully.

''We've an exchange student from Ilvermorny. All the Statues wanted him apparently, maybe he'll be the one you're looking for?'' Albus offers up.

''Hmm, really? Now I'm intrigued.'' The hat hums.

''As am I.'' Replies Dumbledore.

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(POV Shift: Giovanni Rutledge)

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It was strange.

He was a fourth-generation Bushman and a fifth-generation Mariner in his old life.

But he did not feel the least bit safe with Hagrid in charge of the boats. Now he liked the poor sod, he really well and truly did. But in this instance Hagrid really was an oaf. Magic or not the boats were in less than good in quality, and reasonably shouldn't take more than two people a boat.

Yet somehow, they crossed over the lake without sinking halfway across the water. Suffice to say he was never doing it again.

Not willingly at any rate.

He wasn't suicidal.

Unlike anyone who would willingly do that trip across the water more than once.

But like everyone else as they trekked up the path to the Castle the first glimpse up close of Hogwarts was breathtaking.

It was indescribable, and any attempt to describe it would constitute a gross injustice and failure on his part. It was in essence akin to committing perjury in a court of law.

Now Ilvermorny was beautiful in its own way, but Hogwarts was simply on a higher level. It's like seeing a photograph of bleeding edge camera quality and then seeing it in person. It might be similar, but it has to be experienced to be understood just how different the two truly are.

It wasn't until Hagrid raised a large fist and all but broke down the door that he was able to pinpoint the exact page number of The Philosopher's Stones Book.

Page 120, the last page before chapter seven which unfortunately he never got to reading. He fell asleep before he could turn the page and suffered a stroke which occurred before his family woke.

Fate was a Bitch like that...it played by its own rules and certainly not anyone else's.

To quote Ser Arthur Dayne from Game of Throne:

''And now it begins.''

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The door swung open at once. A tall, black-haired Witch in emerald, green robes stood there.

That plus the stern expression left very little doubt in his mind.

This was the Hogwarts Deputy Headmistress, Head of Gryffindor House, and Transfiguration Professor, Minerva McGonagall.

''The firs' years Professor McGonagall.'' Hagrid said.

''Thank you, Hagrid, I will take them from here.

She pulled the door wide. The entrance hall was so big you could fit a modestly sized house in it. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones in every medieval horror film, the ceiling was too high to make out, and a magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.

Together with everyone else, Giovanni followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. Like anyone he could also hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right -the rest of the school must already be here -- but Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, standing rather closer together than they would usually have done, peering about nervously.

Well, he wasn't. After having been sorted and spent two years in Ilvermorny the only thing he felt was nostalgic.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has its own noble history, and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.''

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."

Her eyes lingered for a moment on Neville Longbottom's cloak, which was fastened under his left ear, and on Ron Weasley's smudged nose.

"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall.

''Please wait quietly.''

She left the chamber.

Then something happened that made him jump about a foot in the air -- several people behind him screamed.

"What the --?"

Unlike everyone else, he didn't gasp. About twenty ghosts had just streamed through the back wall. Pearly-white and slightly transparent, they glided across the room talking to one another and hardly glancing at the first years. They seemed to be arguing. What looked to be the Fat Friar was saying: "Forgive and forget, I say, we ought to give him a second chance --"

"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost -- I say, what are you all doing here?"

A ghost wearing a ruff and tights had suddenly noticed the first years.

Nobody answered.

Well....

Nobody with balls at any rate.

''What in Isolt's Fiery Crotch does it look like we're doing? We were left here - rather conveniently I might add - by the Head of Gryffindor House, all just to apparently meet you sorry lot. Speaking of which, I've got a bone to pick with you Baron!'' Giovanni says singling out the Bloody Baron.

"New students!" Squealed the Fat Friar, cutting off any of the Baron's potential replies, smiling genially around at them as he did. "About to be Sorted, I suppose?"

A few people nodded mutely.

"Hope to see you in Hufflepuff!" said the Friar. "My old house, you know."

"Move along now," said a sharp voice.

"The Sorting Ceremony's about to start."

Professor McGonagall had returned. One by one, the ghosts floated away through the opposite wall.

Except of course for the Bloody Baron who kept his gaze on Giovanni.

"Now, form a line," Professor McGonagall told the first years, "and follow me.''

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They walked out of the chamber, back across the hall, and through a pair of double doors into the Great Hall. It was lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating in midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting. Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with the teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver.

Professor McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of the stool, she put a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty.

For a few seconds, there was complete silence. Then the hat twitched. A rip near the brim opened wide like a mouth -- and the hat began to sing, rather badly in J. R's opinion:

　　"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,

　　But don't judge on what you see,

　　I'll eat myself if you can find

　　A smarter hat than me.

　　You can keep your bowlers black,

　　Your top hats sleek and tall,

　　For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

　　And I can cap them all.

　　There's nothing hidden in your head

　　The Sorting Hat can't see,

　　So, try me on and I will tell you

　　Where you ought to be.

　　You might belong in Gryffindor,

　　Where dwell the brave at heart,

　　Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart.

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

　　Where they are just and loyal,

　　Those patient Hufflepuffis are true and unafraid of toil.

　　Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,

　　if you've a ready mind,

　　 Where those of wit and learning,

　　Will always find their kind.

　　Or perhaps in Slytherin

　　You'll make your real friends,

　　Those cunning folk use any means

　　To achieve their ends.

　　So put me on! Don't be afraid!

　　And don't get in a flap!

　　You're in safe hands (though I have none)

　　For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

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The whole hall burst into applause as the hat finished its song. It bowed to each of the four tables and then became quite still again.

Professor McGonagall now stepped forward holding a long roll of parchment.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!"

A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which fell right down over her eyes, and sat down. After a Moments pause --

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat.

The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. you could saw the ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at her.

"Bones, Susan!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!" shouted the hat again, and Susan scuttled off to sit next to Hannah.

"Boot, Terry!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

The table second from the left clapped this time; several Ravenclaws stood up to shake hands with Terry as he joined them.

" Brocklehurst, Mandy" went to Ravenclaw too, but "Brown, Lavender" became the first new Gryffindor, and the table on the far left exploded with cheers.

"Bulstrode, Millicent" then became a Slytherin.

''Davis, Tracy''

''Slytherin.''

"Finch-Fletchley, Justin!"

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Finnigan, Seamus," The sandy-haired boy next to Harry in the line, sat on the stool for almost a whole minute before the hat declared him a Gryffindor.

"Granger, Hermione!"

Hermione almost ran to the stool and jammed the hat eagerly on her head.

"GRYFFINDOR!" shouted the hat.

Ron groaned.

Ron was lucky Giovanni wasn't next to him, because that groan would have met with a swift slap upside the head.

''Greengrass, Daphne.''

''Slytherin!''

''Jones, Megan.''

''Hufflepuff!''

''Longbottom, Neville.''

The hat took a long time to decide with Neville. When it finally shouted, "GRYFFINDOR," Neville ran off still wearing it, and had to jog back amid gales of laughter to give it to "MacDougal, Morag."

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''Malfoy, Draco.''

Malfoy swaggered forward when his name was called and got his wish at once: the hat had barely touched his head when it screamed, "SLYTHERIN!"

Malfoy went to join his friends Crabbe and Goyle, looking pleased with himself.

There weren't many people left now. "Moon" "Nott" "Parkinson" then a pair of twin girls, "Patil" and "Patil" then "Perks, Sally-Anne" and then, at last the chosen one -- "Potter, Harry!"

After three minutes the Hat had decoded.

''-- GRYFFINDOR!"

And with that...

He was up.

''Rutledge, Giovanni.''

''If you give me lice hat, I will burn you to ashes.'' Giovanni tells the hat menacingly, as it is placed on his head.

''Ah so you're the one! Yes, this isn't going to be easy. Hmm, you've got traits of all four yet only one can be chosen...let me think...let me think.''

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The Sorting Hat was silent going on twenty minutes before Giovanni couldn't take it anymore.

''Listen you old shriveled up handbag, either sort me or don't! You can't do both. And don't put me in Gryffindor either, most of them are idiots.'' Says Giovanni unhappily.

''Hmm. Fine! Fine! If it can't be Gryffindor, then it had best be...Hufflepuff!''

''About bloody time.'' Says Giovanni as he heads to the Hufflepuff table and sits himself next to Susan, whose appearance was more in line with the fan version in that Adult Visual novel Innocent Witches by Sad Crab Company. Interestingly enough she wasn't the only one he noted.

Granted the others as well as Susan herself were not in an animated setting and were thus a live action equivalent, but The Grey Lady was the one with by far and wide the most in any similarity.

Not that he was complaining mind.

All the better, for eye candy purposes if for nothing else.

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Unlike many, Giovanni didn't stuff his maw with food like a tank of Piranhas on crank in a meat themed aquarium.

He took his time.

''So, Giovanni, was it? Where are you from? Your name is foreign.'' Looking at the person who spoke to him, he instantly recognized Cedric Diggory.

''Easy question, many answers. My Father's Italian American, and like him - however briefly - I attended the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Frankly I could have attended four or five different schools on account of mother and Father. Mother's a Dutch Irish, but as she was born in Rotterdam, she attended Beauxbatons. I'm here on a permanent transfer, with the possibility of a temporary exchange to Beauxbatons or Durmstrang in my last three years here.'' Giovanni replies curtly.

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At last, the desserts too disappeared, and Professor Dumbledore got to his feet again and the hall fell silent.

"Ahern -- just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you; First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well." Dumbledore's twinkling eyes predictably flashed in the direction of the Weasley twins.

"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.''

"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.''

"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."

And there it was.

That was one of the two that caught his interest.

The other was Quidditch.

If it was the last thing he did, he'd lead the Hufflepuff's to no less than two straight consecutive Quidditch House Cup wins. The other was the Philosopher's Stone.

He wanted it, his reason however was both good and bad.

He wished to create a Secret Society dedicated to the defense of the entire Wizarding world. He also, refused to let anyone else dictate his death. In many ways he wanted the elixir of life because it would let him and only him die on his own terms. Also, the wealth generated from it would serve multiple purposes.

Like getting him his own Quidditch Team.

And bringing endless money to making his dream in this life and the one past a reality.

His attention is recaptured by the Headmaster.

"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" cried Dumbledore. If one looked closely, they'd undoubtedly have noticed that the other teachers' smiles had become rather fixed.

Dumbledore gave his wand a little flick, as if he was trying to get a fly off the end, and a long golden ribbon flew out of it, which rose high above the tables and twisted itself, snakelike, into words.

"Everyone picks their favorite tune," said Dumbledore, "and off we go!"

And the school bellowed:

"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

Teach us something please,

Whether we be old and bald

Or young with scabby knees,

Our heads could do with filling

With some interesting stuff,

For now, they're bare and full of air,

Dead flies and bits of fluff,

So, teach us things worth knowing,

Bring back what we've forgot,

just do your best, we'll do the rest,

And learn until our brains all rot.

Everybody finished the song at different times. At last, only the Weasley twins were left singing along to a very slow funeral march. Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with his wand and when they had finished, he was one of those who clapped loudest.

"Ah, music," he said, wiping his eyes. "A magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"

It seems that Life at Hogwarts was going to undoubtedly unique. Time to see just how unique it was end up being...

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