I think maybe I am on the verge of begging you to not let the story go the way it seems to be going. I mean, although it is not nessesairly a rehash of what happend in HPSS, it sure is getting there.
It seems you have already introduced Ron and Hermione. Isn't it entirely possible, that since circumstances have changed, Harry would not end up being best friends with those two? There are quite a few other people in Harry's year that will be attending Hogwarts right?
You have made a AU world, but somehow you are still keeping things exactly the same, with just a few addes plot elements.
Don't get me wrong, I like the story so far, but if it keeps going this way, why would anyone read it? I mean, I could just go back and reread HPSS and get the same thing right?
I honestly don't mean this to be flameish, it's just that I read tons of HP fanfiction, and anyone who tries an AU seems to just rehash the story in a slightly better way than JK did in the origional.
How about not having the stone at hogwarts, yet the other thing be there, the stone could be the next story. How about having Harry branch out with friendships a little bit, instead of just having Ron and Hemione as friends.
How about having Harry go to Ravenclaw house instead of the traditional Gryff or Slytherin that most all AU's end up doing. How about Harry actually thinking for himself for a change, and actually trying a little bit in his studies.
It has always been my opionion that Harry would do a LOT better in his studies without Hermione being around. Why? Because he just throws something together and has her correct it, he never really has to think about it.
Is the fact that Ron had to grow up with getting Handme down clothes enough of a reason to have Harry totally ignore his other faults, i.e. jeaolsy? I think not. You have set Harry up in such a way that he wouldn't just ignore those aspects of his character (that you have already alluded to in this chapter).
In essense this post is just to make you realize that if your are trying to write an AU, then write one, don't just rehash what we already know.
I will continue reading, even if it goes the way it seems to be going, simple with all the trash out there now, this fic does tend to stand out as one of better ones. However, it will be ashame if someone with your talent takes the road of least resistance, by just rehashing what happend in cannon.