The moment the sorting hat declared him to be in Gryffindor, a deafening cheer filled the hall courtesy of the aforementioned students. Harry could even hear someone shouting 'WE GOT POTTER! WE GOT POTTER!' through the roaring cheers.
Even when Minerva took the hat off his head, Harry could see some emotion in her exression before it was quickly smothered by the mask of professionalism as he leapt off the stool to take his seat at his new House.
"Hi Harry! I'm Angelina Johnson!" One girl immediately said as he made to sit down.
"Cormac McLaggen!"
"I'm Gred Weasley!"
"And I'm Forge! Weasley"
"Oliver Wood, captain of the Gryffindor Qidditch team!"
Several people spoke up at once as they tried to introduce themselves to him, yet at the same time Harry didn't get the feeling he had when everyone else was gawking at him like he was some kind of strange creature. It reminded Harry of when he first joined the Companions back in Skyrim, and how excited they had been to meet the Dragonborn.
Yeah, he was sure he made the right choice.
Looking over, Harry could see a few other of his new House-mates scrambling to try and meet him, including the round-faced boy who'd lost his toad, Neville Longbottom. Meanwhile Hermione was beaming happily across the table from him, obviously pleased they were in the same House.
"Ehem!" Minerva coughed, eventually to get the roudy House under control, and they immediately settled down.
"Thank you. Now then, Thomas, Dean."
Harry watched as the last one from the goup he had gotten to know walked up to the sorting hat, before it shouted a moment later that he too was a Gryffindor.
After Dean was only three more students, a girl named Lisa who went to Ravenclaw, the rehead boy named Ron Weasley, who also joined Gryffindor, and finally a boy by the name of Blaise Zabini, who joined Slytherin. And as he watched Blaise join his new House-mates, Harry also noticed a certain boy throwing dirty looks in his direction, recignizing him as Draco from the train.
Harry promptly ignored him as the hunchback from before took the hat and stool away, and Albus rose to his feet to address all of the students.
"Before we dig in and fill our bellies, I have a few words for all of you. Nitwit. Blubber. Oddment. Tweak!"
Giving a single clap to punctuate his words, the tables in front of them were suddenly filled with what seemed like a nearly endless supply of food. Everything a growing Nord needed!
Harry readily helped himself to a little bit of everything as he relished the culinary excellence of Hogwarts, which surpassed even that of the Gormet. His gusto was outdone only by the redhead sitting next to him, Ron Weasley.
"So Percy, what are the classes like?" He heard Hermione asking the other redhead, who eagerly began to explain to her the depths of Transfiguration, the fun of Charms, and the intrigue of History. Hermione, true to her love of all knowledge, soaked in every single word Percy told her while absentmindedly spooning food into her mouth.
Further down the table Harry heard Oliver Wood discussing Quidditch tryouts, and the prospects the team had this year. On the other side from him, the twins were busy sneaking something into his pockets. Harry made sure to note that.
As dinner continued Harry got to know more abut his new Housemates and Hogwarts in general, like the points system and how they haven't been able to win in the last seven years. They also told him about several of the professors, especially to watch out for the Potions master, Snape.
As soon as they all started to feel stuffed from the good food, the plates cleaned themselves before being filled once again with an array of delicious desserts. Harry could already hear the voices of his kids whining from Skyrim as he stuffed himself with ice cream and pie.
Soon those vanished as well, signaling the end to the feast as Albus stood once more.
"A few last minute announcements before everyone enjoys the warm embraces of their beds. Firstly, to our first years and a few of our more mischevious older students, please note that the Forbidden Forest is in fact forbidden to all students. Quidditch trials will take place in the second week of term, and the third-floor corridor on the right hand side is out of bounds to anyone who does not wish to die a terrible death. Finally, let us all sing the school song before going off to bed!"
Albus twirled his wand to conjure a series of streamers in midair that twisted themselves into a series of words.
"And off we go!"
With the headmaster leading, almost the entire school thundered as they sang the words floating before them. Harry didn't though, despite having taken some classes from the Bard's College in Solitude. Instead, his mind was on the warnings Albus had given them.
If Harry learned one thing in all of his travels around Tamriel, is was to go right where he was warned not to. ESPECIALLY when being told it was too dangerous.
"Ah music!" Albus said with a voice filled with emotion when the song finally finished, ending with the twins leading a slow mournful tune. "It truly is a magic more powerful than any other here. Now then, off you trot."
With the headmaster's dismissal, all of the students stood as they began to file out of the Great Hall.
"First years! Follow me!" Percy cried out to the Gryffindor first years, leading them up and away while the other three Houses went their own ways.
Harry analyzed everything around them as they were led up moving staircases, through a few corridors, and finally up to one of the towers where they stopped at the end of a corridor, which only held a singular portrait of a fat woman in a pink dress.
"Password?" She asked as Percy approached.
"Caput Draconis." Percy immediately answered in a loud and clear voice, making sure they all heard him.
"Be sure to remember that, as you can't get into the common room without the password." Percy explained to them as he led the way through the circular hole in the wall behind the portrait, and right to a warm and cozy sitting area large enough to house the entire House, and then some.
The girls were directed to their dorms, and the boys sent off to theirs as well for the night. Apparently the dorms were also split by years, as Harry was bunking with Ron, Neville, Dean, and another new Gryffindor boy by the name of Seamus. And all of their stuff was already there, as Harry's trunk sat at the foot of his bed.
"Great food, innit?" Ron said to them as they all changed into their pajamas and relaxed in their beds.
One by one the five boys quickly fell asleep, the sounds of their snoring filling the room. And only then, did Harry sit back upright.
No way in hell he was going to sleep tight in an ancient castle in need of exploring.
Creeping silently from his bed, Harry opened his trunk and soundlessly slipped inside, before emerging once more moments later wearing dark padded clothing. Not his Nightingale armor, but clothes meant to help him sneak around without being recognized.
As he crept down to the common room, Harry was surprised to see someone still awake, Percy, who was busy writing in a journal about what sounded like his first day as Prefect, as well as how to improve his approach to those who looked up to him.
Fighting the urge to roll his eyes, Harry silently made his way past Percy before sneaking out of the portrait hole. His movements were so soft, that not even the Fat Lady noticed anything as he moved her portrait open and then back into place.
As little more than a shadow, Harry crept through the halls of Hogwarts as he mentally mapped out the castle without even the portraits lining the halls noticing him.
Just by walking through the halls Harry knew there were any number of secrets and hidden passages around him, making him excited to discover every single one during his stay here. But right now he had a specific destination in mind for the night.
Taking the scenic route, Harry snuck through the halls unmolested thanks to his stealth, right up until a specter literally fazed through one of the stone walls in front of him.
"Hehehe~! Let's see how frumpy Filtch likes cleaning THAT up~!" The specter stated in a singsong voice, making Harry suspect that this was the poltergeist Peeves that he was warned about from one of the older students.
As quietly as possible, Harry took in a deep breath, and then let out three hushed words.
"Zul Mey Gut."
"HEY! DUNGUS BREATH!"
"!!!"
"Who said that?!" The poltergeist shrieked, immediately zooming off in the other direction in outrage. Harry shook his head before he continued on with his exploration.
Skimming through abandoned classrooms, broom closets, and hidden alcoves, Harry eventually arrived at his destination. The door on the third floor on the right hand side.
"Now then, let's see what the fuss is about~!" Harry practically whistled as he tried the handle, only to find it locked. A second later after he got his picks out, and the door swung open for him. Only, on the other side Harry was greeted by the sight of a giant dog, with THREE heads.