Disclaimer: I own no part of Harry Potter, nor will I ever. Therefore, I make no money off of this, or any other one of my stories.
Story Information:
ACI100's A Dangerous Riddle Challenge Response.
Challenge Information:
Plot: Harry is gearing up for yet another year at Hogwarts, one that threatens to be darker and more challenging than ever before with the return of Lord Voldemort. Harry expected darkness and challenges, but what he did not expect was the challenge of a new enigma who seems entirely too interested in him.
Rules:
OP/Super Delphi Riddle
The story must start at the beginning of, or the summer before either Harry's fifth or sixth year at Hogwarts.
In the same year, Voldemort must send his daughter Delphini to Hogwarts. The reason why is up to you.
Delphini must be in the same year as Harry.
Delphini must be sorted into Slytherin.
Delphini must be extremely powerful and a prodigy. (When I say prodigy, I mean like beyond Hermione level… like Albus Dumbledore or Tom Riddle level.) This should apply to combat magic and the mind arts in particular.
Delphini must be extremely manipulative and charming (she is the daughter of Tom Riddle after all)
Delphini must be an arrogant character and believe in her own superiority, though it does not need to be as excessive as her father.
Delphini must take an interest in Harry, and the interest must become obsessive. The nature of her interest is up to you, whether that be romance or furthering her own motives.
Harry can not know who Delphini is on first sight, though he must eventually find out, how is up to you.
Harry's power level is mostly up to you. But don't make him OP or Super please. To be honest, Delphini should be more powerful than Harry. I will however give you the option of making him a prodigy in one area of magic, that being DADA.
Voldemort must actually care for his daughter, and she must be treated as royalty by him and his followers. Furthermore, Delphini is completely off limits as far as Voldemort's anger and manipulations are concerned.
Delphini MUST know who her parents are and be proud of them.
The pairing must be built SLOWLY! No rushing into this, as it would NEVER work that way.
No EVIL Harry! I have given you the option of making him dark, but if you do so, keep him on the lower end of the spectrum. I would really prefer grey, but I know that people are going to want to make him dark, so the option is there, but don't overdo it.
Guidelines: Light/Grey/Dark Harry. (Grey) Dark/Evil Delphi. (Dark) Normal/Powerful Harry. (Powerful) OP/Super Delphi. (Super)
Delphini goes to Hogwarts under a false last name (Gaunt for example) Accepted
Albus Dumbledore suspects Delphini in some manner. (The extent of which is up to you) Accepted
Albus Dumbledore is in denial that Voldemort could ever have/love his daughter. Accepted
Delphini sees her relationship with Harry as a kind of game, and enjoys playing with him as much as she can get away with. Accepted
Delphini finds a way to protect Harry from her father. Accepted
Harry and Voldemort join forces to confront a common enemy (doesn't have to be Dumbledore, can be Grindelwald or an OC, or whatever) Perhaps
Delphini gains some measure of blackmail over Harry. Accepted
Delphini convinces her father to spare Harry, and instead take him on as a sort of apprentice (does not have to relate to the combining forces against a common enemy guideline) Sort of
Delphini overthrows her father. Unlikely, but not impossible
Delphini seeks revenge against those who have wronged Harry, Albus Dumbledore included. Accepted
Forbidden:
Crossovers (sorry, I know they're fun and I do enjoy them, but just not here.)
Creature Harry or Creature Delphi.
Evil Harry.
Delphini not being a prodigy.
Voldemort not loving Delphini.
Voldemort doing anything to harm Delphini.
Delphini not in Slytherin.
WBWL or alive Lily and James
To be honest, I just read a really good fic for this pairing, but can't find anything else that's decent. In many ways I just want more fics on this pairing, but I also see the potential in it, and though the pairing is mostly hated (Cursed Child and all) I actually see a large amount of untapped potential.
I will 100% be responding to this, probably quite soon as well, I just need to work and plan some things out.
Authors Note 1:
Yes, I am using a Cursed Child character as one of the main characters. Please, no flames simply because you dislike that play. I agree it is poorly written, and I even agree that the idea of Voldemort having a daughter is quite hard to believe. But I also believe I have found a way of justifying it, and this will take place in Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts, so there will be ZERO relation to The Cursed Child.
Authors Note 2:
I have posted a few challenges, but have yet to respond to any of them. That ends now!
If you guys would like to get in on any of my challenges, the link to my challenge forum can be found on my profile. On the forum, you are also encouraged to post any and all challenges of your own, I may even respond personally if I find an idea intriguing.
Also, if any of you guys take this challenge up, please PM me or leave a review, or comment on the challenge in the forum. I would love to read any and all stories you guys come up with.
Authors Note 3:
This story will definitely be different from the one I am about to mention, but there will be some similarities.
Either way, I just wanted to give a quick acknowledgment to the story that gave me inspiration for this one, and that showed me the potential of a pairing I would have NEVER written before. That story is:
Harry Potter and Delphini Riddle: A Matrimony Made For Peace.
Fair warning, the story is unfinished, far from perfect, and does touch on some rather sensitive topics. Aside from a few minor gripes though, I really enjoyed the story, and it is the inspiration behind the challenge and story to follow.
Authors Note 4:
Thank you to my beta, mineng101 for his work on this story.
Authors Note 5:
Sorry for the novel, this always happens on first chapters, but it won't happen very often.
Recommendations
Harry Potter and Delphini Riddle: A Matrimony Made For Peace by Rago Dragovian.
Cage and Key by Faromir.
BLOOD TRAITOR by SammieRose28.
The Forsaken Child, and Harry Potter and The Serpent Chronicles Book 1 by ACI100.
"Speech"
'Internal Dialogue'
Parseltongue
Memories
Chapter 1: Suspicions, Slytherins and The Slug Club.
"Mr. Weasley, can I have a quick word?" Said Harry, making up his mind on the spur of the moment.
"Of course." Said Arthur Weasley, who looked slightly surprised, but followed Harry out of earshot of the others nevertheless.
Harry had thought it through carefully and come to the conclusion that if he were to tell anyone, Mr. Weasley would be the right person. Firstly because he worked at the Ministry, and was therefore in the best position to start investigations, and secondly because he thought there was little risk of Mr. Weasley exploding with anger.
He could see Mrs. Weasley and the grim faced Auror casting the pair of them suspicious looks as they moved away.
"When we were in Diagon Alley," Harry began, but Mr. Weasley forestalled him with a grimace.
"Am I about to discover where you, Ron, and Hermione disappeared to when you were supposed to be in the back room of Fred and George's shop?"
"How did you…"
"Harry, please, you're talking to the man who raised Fred and George."
"Uh… yeah, alright, we weren't in the back room."
"Very well then. Let's here the worst."
"Well, we followed Draco Malfoy. We used my invisibility cloak..."
"Did you have any particular reason for doing so? Or was it a mere whim?"
"Because I thought Malfoy was up to something." Said Harry, disregarding Mr. Weasley's look of mingled exasperation and amusement. "He'd given his mother the slip and I wanted to know why."
"Of course you did." Said Mr. Weasley, sounding resigned. "Well, did you find out why?"
"He went into Borgin and Burkes" said Harry, "and started bullying the bloke in there, Borgin, to help him fix something. And he said he wanted Borgin to keep something else for him. He made it sound like it was the same kind of thing that needed fixing. Like they were a pair. And," Harry took a deep breath. "there's something else, we saw Malfoy jump about a mile when Madam Malkin tried to touch his left arm. I think he's been branded with the Dark Mark. I think he's replaced his father as a Death Eater."
Mr. Weasley looked taken aback. After a moment he said, "Harry, I doubt whether You-Know-Who would let a sixteen year old…"
"Does anyone really know what Voldemort would or wouldn't do?" Asked Harry angrily. "Mr. Weasley, I'm sorry, but isn't it worth investigating? If Malfoy wants something fixed and he needs to threaten Borgin to get it done, it's probably something dark or dangerous, isn't it?"
"I doubt it to be honest, Harry." Said Mr. Weasley slowly. "You see, when Lucius Malfoy was arrested we raided his house. We took away everything that might have been dangerous."
"I think you missed something." Said Harry, stubbornly.
"Well, maybe." Said Mr. Weasley, but Harry could tell Mr. Weasley was humouring him.
There was a whistle behind them, nearly everyone had boarded the train and the doors were closing.
"You'd better hurry." Said Mr. Weasley as Mrs. Weasley cried "HARRY, HURRY!"
He hurried forwards, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley helped him load his trunk onto the train.
"Now dear, you're staying with us for Christmas. We've got it all fixed with Dumbledore, so we'll be seeing you quite soon." Said Mrs. Weasley through the window as Harry slammed the door shut behind him and the train began to move.
"You make sure you look after yourself and" the train was gathering speed, "be good and" she was jogging to keep up now, "stay safe!"
Harry waved until the train had turned a corner and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were lost from view, then turned to see where the others had got to. Harry figured Ron and Hermione were sequestered in the prefect's compartment, but figured he could find some of his other friends from the D.A.
…..
It was a very stressed Draco Malfoy that sauntered his way into the compartment his two minions had reserved for their group, while the two boys in question, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle, marched in behind him lugging his substantial luggage with them.
In the compartment, Blaise Zabini quirked an eyebrow at him. "Should you not be doing your prefect rounds like the perfect schoolboy that you portrayed last year?" Asked Blaise neutrally.
Draco just shrugged. "I gave up the badge to Nott." He said simply. "I want to focus on my studies, and to be honest, I gain nothing from a fancy badge."
Blaise raised a sceptical eyebrow at this, but said nothing more. "Where's Parkinson?" Asked Blaise, "Doing her own rounds?"
"For now, yes." Said Draco cryptically.
Blaise was curious, but chose not to question the Slytherin prince, at least not so openly.
It was a moment later when the door slid open yet again and a beautiful young woman stepped inside.
She was not visibly carrying any luggage. She was pale, and very tall for their age. She had long, silvery blonde hair, but the tips were highlighted in a faint blue colour. Her lips were full, and painted in a dark colour. Her eyes were what caught their attention though, along with her confident, superior posture that simply could not be taught, this girl's eyes completed the picture.
They were a bluish grey, but seemed to radiate with both confidence and power, as well as a sense of danger.
Blaise's normally impressive mask cracked for a moment at the sight of this woman, his mouth gently falling open.
Crabbe and Goyle stared openly, but Draco only nodded respectfully to her, while inclining his head in a display that went unnoticed by everyone except the girl who smiled softly at him.
"Everybody," spoke up Draco, drawing their attention back onto himself. "This is our new student, Delphini Gaunt, Heiress to The Most Ancient House of Gaunt. Ms. Gaunt, this is Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, and Blaise Zabini."
She smiled warmly at the three boys as she stepped forward, her silvery blonde hair seeming to glow as the light streaming through the window reflected off of it.
"It is a pleasure to meet you all." She said in a smooth, confident voice.
Blaise immediately stepped forward and offered her his hand. Doing his best to hide the desire in his eyes. "Ms. Gaunt, it is a pleasure to meet you, especially when considering your bloodline. As Draco said, I am Blaise Zabini, Heir to house Zabini as well as Slytherin sixth year."
Blais's delivery was for the most part smooth, but his usually flawless posture cracked a bit in this girl's presence.
For one thing, she was taller than he was, and he was rather tall for a boy of his age, and this was throwing him off more than he would care to admit. For another, something about her left him with his confidence in shambles, and he thought it was more than her devastating exterior. He felt an odd urge to just grovel at her feet.
She smiled kindly at him and offered him her own hand. Blaise took it in his before gently raising it to his lips and kissing the soft skin of her knuckles before reluctantly loosening his grip.
Draco wasn't sure if he should smile or to be nervous at his housemates obvious interest in the new comer.
"A pleasure to meet you, Heir Zabini." She said, gracing the boy with another dazzling smile that made his knees feel weak.
"Please" said Blaise, managing to keep his voice level, "if it is not too presumptuous of me, call me Blaise."
The girl smiled at him yet again. "It is perfectly alright, Blaise, but if we are using first names you may call me Delphi, it rolls off the tongue far more naturally than Delphini, and I have always preferred it."
Blaise smirked victoriously before taking a seat once more.
"Certainly, Delphi." He said, relishing the taste of her name on his lips. "So, what brings you to Hogwarts? I am sure I would recognize such a radiant face."
Delphini didn't even blush, nor did she seem taken aback in the slightest by his forthcoming nature, nor by his somewhat aggressive flirting. She simply flashed yet another smile and spoke.
"My family thought it was best for me to make the move." She said smoothly, every word rolling precisely off her tongue, her voice easily filling the compartment without any real effort on her part. "Until this year, I attended Ilvermorny Academy in America despite my family living in England. They are not the biggest supporters of our esteemed headmaster you see. This year though, they thought it prudent to transfer to Hogwarts, with its legendary academic reputation."
Blaise simply nodded. "I am taking it someone of your standing is aware of the houses?" He asked, his voice startlingly polite, especially in contrast to his usually cold manner.
She nodded, as she put her long legs up on the empty seat, stretching luxuriously and looking right at home. "Yes, my family were initially planning to send me to Hogwarts, and many of them have attended Hogwarts in past generations, so I am very much aware of the houses."
"I suppose I can only hope that you are a serpent at heart?" Asked Blaise, trying and failing to sound uncaring.
Delphi smiled before making a fake hissing noise and miming a snake with her hands.
"I believe I best fit into the house of the ambitious." She said easily.
Blaise smiled at that, seeming rather pleased by the news.
"Any subjects stand out to you?" He asked, obviously trying to hold her attention.
"All of them truthfully." Delphi answered, twirling a blonde lock between her long, pale fingers thoughtfully. "In particular though, I would say Potions and Defense Against The Dark Arts peek my interest the most."
Blaise nodded.
"We've had two competent defense instructors since our first year, so I wouldn't get your hopes up."
At that, Delphini smiled a smile that suggested she knew something the dark skinned boy did not. "Oh, I wouldn't worry about it, Blaise. I have it on rather good authority that we will be well taken care of this year."
Blaise's eyebrows rose, but he sensed that she would give up no more in the subject.
"Did you take something similar to the O.W.L's in America?"
She shook her head. "Only standard end of year examinations. I did have to take O.W.L's to get into Hogwarts though."
"And?" Prompted Blaise.
She smiled. "I was pleased with my results."
"Anything jump off the page?" Blaise pushed.
Draco snorted and tried to cover it up with a cough.
The gesture did not go unnoticed by the girl, who shot him a cold look that literally made him freeze where he sat. "What was that Draco?" She asked him sweetly.
"Nothing." He said rather quickly.
"Planning to spread my marks all over the school?" Delphi said, but it was now clear she was more teasing than legitimately upset. A sentiment that seemed to relieve the Malfoy heir.
"Because you have so many horrible marks to hide?" Drawled Draco sarcastically.
"You did do well then." Observed Blaise.
Delphi smiled. "Well enough, yes."
There was a laugh from out in the hallway and Draco's eyes narrowed before he stood and gestured to Crabbe and Goyle.
The three left the compartment without a look back.
Blaise seemed to become a bit uncomfortable with being in a room alone with the girl, but Delphi didn't seem to notice.
"Where is he off to then?" Asked Delphi, allowing a bit of curiosity to creep into her tone.
Blaise shrugged.
"Probably off to go antagonize Potter and his minions." Said Blaise. "It is a kind of yearly tradition for him."
"Is it?" Asked Delphi, perking up at the mention of the famed Boy-Who-Lived.
Blaise nodded. "More often than not he just ends up looking like an idiot though." He commented.
Delphi gracefully swept to her feet, her long hair seeming to glide behind her as she stood.
"Can't have that now can we?" She asked sweetly. "I'm off to ensure that Draco does not embarrass himself. Could you save our seats, Blaise?" She asked the question with so much hopefulness in her voice, simultaneously locking eyes with the boy and shooting him a dazzling smile.
Blaise swallowed hard but nodded.
Delphini smiled at him once more before making her exit, following the path that she knew Draco had taken.
…..
The weather beyond the train windows was as patchy as it had been all summer. They passed through stretches of chilling mist, and then out into weak, clear sunlight.
It was during one of the clear spells where the sun was visible directly overhead that Ron and Hermione entered the compartment at last.
"Wish the lunch trolly would hurry up, I'm starving." Said Ron longingly, slumping into the seat beside Harry and rubbing his stomach. "Hi Neville, Hi Luna, guess what," he added, turning to Harry. "Malfoy's not doing prefect duty. He's just sitting in his compartment with the other Slytherins, we saw him when we passed by their compartment.
Harry sat up straight, interested.
It was not like Malfoy to pass up the chance to demonstrate his power as prefect, which he had happily abused all the previous year.
"What did he do when he saw you?" Asked Harry.
"Don't think he noticed me." Said Ron, shrugging. "Not like him though is it? Why isn't he out there bullying first years or something?"
"Dunno." Said Harry, though his mind was racing. Didn't this look like Malfoy had more important things on his mind than bullying younger students?
"Maybe he preferred the Inquisitorial Squad." Said Hermione. "Maybe being a prefect seems a bit tame after that."
"Or maybe," said a drawling voice as the compartment door slid open. "Maybe he just has better things to do than uphold the meaningless rules of a flawed institution."
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville all turned towards the source of the voice while Luna did not look up from her copy of The Quibbler.
Standing in the doorway was the sneering, aristocratic face of Draco Malfoy. Attached to a lean, tall frame, and adorned with platinum blonde hair that shown in the sunlight flowing through the open window.
"What's the matter, Potter?" Asked Malfoy with a smirk. "Cat got your tongue? Not so talkative when a real man enters the room?" Crabbe and Goyle sniggered at that.
Harry simply sneered right back at the boy. "Or maybe," he drawled, doing his best to imitate Malfoy's tone from seconds earlier. "Maybe I'm just thinking of a title low enough to address such a pathetic intruder."
At this, Ron buried his face in his robes trying to hold back the laughter, while Neville sniggered and Hermione hid a tight smile behind an artificial look of disapproval.
Malfoy flushed a bit. "You ought to be more careful, Potter." He said casually, stepping forward ever so slightly. "You may think you're a big shot because of a bit of luck in the Ministry, but I'll take that confidence away quickly enough if you don't mind your betters."
Harry mimed looking around, confused. "That's funny." He said, his voice carrying every bit of confusion. "I don't seem to see any." And then his eyes fell on Draco and widened comically. "If you're referring to yourself," said Harry, lazily drawing his wand from his sleeve, which caused everyone else, spare Luna, to do the same. "I would be happy to put your own confidence to the test the same way I did your father's."
The effect was instantaneous.
Malfoy turned puce as his face contorted with fury. Malfoy slashed his wand at Harry's chest.
"Diffindo!"
"Protego!" Countered Harry at top speed.
Malfoy's cutting curse slammed into his invisible barrier and sparked out.
Crabbe and Goyle though had taken aim at Luna, who had still not looked up.
They both muttered curses of their own and Harry realized he would not be able to shield Luna without lowering his own guard, which would put him in the line of fire for Malfoy's inevitable follow up attack.
He had just made the decision to do so anyways when a blue barrier sprung into existence in front of Luna, and the two spells sparked harmlessly against it.
"I'll get you for that, Potter!" Snarled Malfoy, raising his wand for yet another attack.
"That won't be necessary, Draco." Said a smooth, feminine voice from the door.
Harry, having assumed one of the others had cast the modified shield charm had not looked for it's caster, but now he realized it had been from the unknown speaker.
Harry looked up and met a pair of the most mesmerizing eyes he had ever seen.
Harry felt himself being drawn into the depths within the bluish grey orbs, as he could almost feel his power leaving him.
Quickly he snapped out of it and broke eye contact before examining the tall blonde girl more carefully, before coming to the conclusion he had never seen her before.
"I will!" Responded Malfoy, raising his wand again.
"No, you won't." Said the girl sharply, as Draco's wand flew out of his hand and into her own. Harry's eyes widened, he had not even noticed her cast the charm, clearly she had hid the wand movement behind the blonde's back. What really caught him off guard though was the non verbal casting.
It was something he had learned a bit of, but not to the level he would like yet. He could cast simple spells such as Lumos and Tempus, and even once in a while pull off a spell like Rictusempra, the tickling charm. He had never managed anything beyond that though.
The girl stepped forward and rested a pale hand on Draco's shoulder, who had gone stock still at her touch before surveying the five of them.
"You're Harry Potter then?" Asked the girl while looking at him, one hand still on Draco's shoulder while both his and her own wand were gripped in her other.
Harry nodded tightly. "And you are?" He asked cautiously.
The girl just smiled. "Delphini Gaunt." She said, inclining her head politely to him. "I believe we are in the same year?" She added.
"Sixth?" Asked Harry. She nodded. "I've never seen you before today." He noted with a bit of suspicion.
She just smiled again, a smile that Harry admitted that he liked quite a lot. "That is because I was studying abroad in the United States until my parents recently decided it was best if I attended Hogwarts."
Harry just nodded.
"Well," said the girl, Delphini. "I apologize for the conduct of my friend here." she indicated Draco by padding him on the head. "I imagine we will meet again, Mr. Potter, hopefully under more favourable circumstances."
Harry's eyes had narrowed in suspicion. Suddenly Draco seems to have some diabolical plan and this girl… Delphini Gaunt just happens to pop up?
"I suppose we will see, Ms. Gaunt." Responded Harry neutrally.
She just smiled at him once more before guiding Draco out of the compartment with a delicate hand still on his shoulder, while gesturing for the other two with her free hand, still clasping both wands.
When the door closed slowly, Harry looked out of the compartment to make sure the group was gone before speaking. "Not that I didn't enjoy the hell out of Malfoy getting emasculated like that, but who is that and what does she have on Draco Malfoy?"
Ron and Neville both laughed while Hermione simply looked thoughtful. "You're not kidding, are you?" She asked.
"No." Said Harry with conviction. "I have a very hard time believing he would act so…" he trailed off, trying to look for the right word.
"Submissive." Suggested Hermione.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, that, to a random new girl."
Ron just shrugged. "I think I love her." He proclaimed in a somewhat dreamy voice. Upon receiving startled looks from all round, Ron put up his hands. "What? She embarrassed Malfoy and she's easy on the eyes. Seems like a dream girl if there ever was one?"
Harry joined in the laughter this time.
Their laughter was interrupted when the door slid open yet again, this time admitting a very nervous looking third year.
"I'm s-supposed to d-deliver these to Neville Longbottom and Harry P-Potter." She faltered as her eyes met Harry's and she turned scarlet.
She was holding out two scrolls of parchment tied with violet ribbon.
Perplexed, Harry and Neville took the scroll addressed to each of them, and the girl stumbled back out of the compartment.
"What is it?" Ron demanded as Harry unrolled his.
"An invitation." Said Harry.
Harry,
I would be delighted if you would join me for a bite of lunch in compartment C.
Sincerely,
Professor H.E.F. Slughorn.
"Who's Professor Slughorn?" Asked Neville, looking perplexingly at his own invitation.
"New teacher" said Harry, "suppose we'll have to go won't we?"
"But what does he want me for?" Asked Neville nervously, as if he were expecting detention.
"No idea." Said Harry, which was not entirely true, but he had no proof yet that his hunch was correct. "Listen," he added, seized by a sudden brainwave. "let's go under the invisibility cloak, then we might get a good look at Malfoy on the way, see what he's up to."
This idea however came to nothing. The corridors, which were packed with people on the lookout for the lunch trolly, were impossible to negotiate while wearing the cloak.
Harry stowed it regretfully back in his bag, and reflected that it would have been nice to have it just to avoid all the staring, which seemed to have increased in intensity even since he had last walked down the train.
Every now and then students would hurtle out of their compartments to get a better look at him. The exception was Cho Chang, who darted into her compartment when she saw Harry coming.
As Harry passed the window, he saw her deep in a determined discussion with her friend Marietta, who was wearing a very thick layer of makeup that did not entirely obscure the odd formation of pimples, still etched across her face.
Smirking slightly, Harry pushed on.
When they reached compartment C, they saw at once that they were not Slughorn's only invitees. Although judging by the enthusiasm of Slughorn's welcome, Harry was the most warmly anticipated.
"Harry, m'boy!" Said Slughorn, jumping up at the sight of him so that his great, velvet covered belly seemed to fill all the remaining space in the compartment. His shiny bald head and great silver moustache gleamed as brightly in the sunlight as the golden buttons on his waistcoat. "Good to see you, good to see you! And you must be Mr. Longbottom!" Neville nodded, looking scared.
"Excellent, excellent!" Boomed Slughorn. "Well, take a seat then, take a seat. Mr. Longbottom, why don't you take a seat next to Mr. Zabini. Harry, m'boy, I believe there is an empty seat next to the beautiful young woman nearest the window." Slughorn gestured to each indicated seat and Harry did a double take.
The "beautiful young woman" whom Slughorn had indicated was the same girl who had so easily quelled Malfoy not long before.
She and Harry looked at each other for a brief moment, Harry's gaze more calculating than that of his counterpart. After a moment the girl… Delphini her name had been, smiled a beautiful, warm smile and padded the seat beside her.
Harry made his way over to her and took the offered seat.
"I don't bite you know."
Harry almost jumped as her whispered voice sounded right beside his ear as she had bent down to do so, her warm breath tickling his ear.
Harry glanced around at their fellow guests.
He recognized a Slytherin from their year, a tall black boy with high cheekbones and long, slanting eyes. There were also two seventh year boys Harry did not know, of course, the pretty enigma to his left, and squashed in the corner beside Slughorn, and looking not entirely sure how she had got there, Ginny.
"Now, do you know everyone?" Slughorn asked Harry and Neville. "Blaise Zabini is in your year of course." Zabini did not make any sign of recognition or greeting, and nor did Harry or Neville. Gryffindor and Slytherin students loathed each other on principal. "This is Cormac McLaggen, perhaps you've come across each other? No?" McLaggen, a large wire haired youth raised a hand, and Harry and Neville nodded back at him. "And this is Marcus Belby. I'm not sure if you've ever…" Belby who was thin and nervous looking gave a strained smile. "And this charming young lady tells me she knows you!" Slughorn finished.
Ginny grimaced at Harry from behind Slughorn's back.
"And then of course, our new young prodigy." Said Slughorn, gesturing to Delphini. Harry's eyebrows rose a bit at the description, but simply put it down to an exaggeration.
"Well now, this is most pleasant." Said Slughorn cozily. "A chance to get to know you all a little better. Here, take a napkin. I've packed my own lunch. The trolly, as I remember it, is heavy on liquorice wands, and a poor old man's digestive system just isn't up to such things. Pheasant, Belby?" Belby started, and accepted what looked like half a cold pheasant.
"I was just telling young Marcus here that I had the pleasure of teaching his uncle, Damocles." Slughorn told Harry and Neville, now passing around a basket of rolls. "Outstanding wizard, outstanding! And his Order of Merlin most well deserved. Do you see much of your uncle, Marcus?"
Unfortunately, Belby had just taken a large mouthful of pheasant. In his haste to answer Slughorn, he swallowed to fast, turned purple and began to choke.
"Onanpnio." Said Delphini, whom Harry had not even noticed draw her wand. Her voice was perfectly calm and her wand movements almost lazy. Despite that however, Belby's airway seemed to clear at once.
Harry raised an eyebrow at her as she slipped her wand up her sleeve once more with a smile on her features. He had never known that such a spell existed.
Slughorn shot her a huge smile while clapping his great hands together.
"N-not much of him, n-no." Said Belby, his eyes streaming.
"Well, of course. I dare say he's busy?" Said Slughorn, looking questioningly at Belby. "I doubt he invented the wolfsbane potion without considerable hard work."
"I suppose." Said Belby, who seemed hesitant to take another bite of pheasant until he was sure that Slughorn had finished with him. "Um, he and my dad don't really get on very well you see. So I don't really know much about…"
His voice trailed away as Slughorn gave him a cold smile and turned to McLaggen instead.
"Now, you, Cormac," said Slughorn, "I happen to know you see a lot of your uncle Tiberius because he has a rather splendid picture of the two of you hunting Nogales in I think Norfolk?"
"Oh yeah, that was fun that was." Said McLaggen. "We went with Berty Higgs and Rufous Scrimgeour. This was before he became minister obviously."
"Ah, you know Berty and Rufous too!" Beamed Slughorn, now offering around a small tray of pies. Somehow, Belby was missed out. "Now tell me…"
It was as Harry suspected. Everyone here seemed to be invited because they were connected to somebody well known or influential. Everyone except Ginny and Delphini
Zabini, who was interrogated after McLaggen turned out to have a famously beautiful witch for a mother. From what Harry could make out, she had been married seven times, with each of her husbands dying mysteriously and leaving her mounds of gold.
It was Neville's turn next, and this was a very uncomfortable ten minutes, for Neville's parents, well known aurors, had been tortured into insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange and a couple of Death Eater cronies. At the end of Neville's interview, Harry had the impression that Slughorn was reserving judgement on Neville, yet to see if he had any of his parents' flare.
"Now, Hogwarts newest enigma!" Said Slughorn with great interest turning to face Delphini. Harry also turned in his seat as to get a better look at her. She straightened her posture, though her hands remained in her lap, and her legs remained crossed, one on top of the other. "Tell me Ms. Gaunt, you received education abroad correct?"
Delphini smiled and nodded. "Ilvermorny sir. It is a wizarding school in the United States."
Slughorn nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, yes, I am aware of it. You had to take your O.W.L's to gain entry to Hogwarts though, am I correct?"
Delphini nodded once more. "Yes sir."
"And, I have it on good authority you had some of the most impressive O.W.L results in the history of the examinations!" Said Slughorn happily, shocking the rest of the compartment. "13 outstanding O.W.L's! And O+'s in Transfiguration, Charms, Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts."
Harry was dumbstruck. She had taken more courses than Hermione and finished with all O's, an achievement that not even his bushy haired friend had matched, and she was easily the most brilliant person of his age that he knew.
On top of that, 4 O+'s? Harry only knew they existed because he had managed one in DADA, a feat Hermione hadn't even managed in one class. Harry was fairly certain that the only reason he had achieved the grade in the first place was for his ability to produce a corporeal Patronus.
"Yes sir." Said Delphini a bit quietly, appearing to both try and fail to hide a slight blush.
"Incredible!" Praised Slughorn, a sentiment which even Harry very much agreed with. "Absolutely incredible! Why, I once taught a boy, the most brilliant student I ever knew, and even he only managed 3 O+'s! Why, I doubt even old Albus… You could be special, Ms. Gaunt, special indeed."
"Thank you, Professor." Said the girl, inclining her head modestly.
"Tell me, the name Gaunt. It was said to have gone extinct several generations ago, yet here you are. If it is not too personal a question, how is that so?"
Delphini just smiled openly, her visage one of relaxed poise. "Not at all professor. The line was near extinct several generations ago but they emigrated to the United States. My parents moved back to England before I was born. I was raised in England but went to school in the states. My parents aren't big into politics you see, so they never pursued making the return of our family common knowledge." She said all of that smoothly and confidently, not at all thrown off by the personal nature of Slughorn's question.
"Interesting" mused the professor, "very interesting indeed. Well, I think we can expect great things from you Ms. Gaunt. I say, what classes are you taking your N.E.W.T's in?"
"Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Charms, Defense Against The Dark Arts, Herbology, Potions and Transfiguration." She answered with no hesitation.
Harry's eyes nearly bulged out of his head, he thought Hermione may have had the same schedule.
Slughorn simply whistled appreciatively. "A very demanding schedule." He noted. "But based on your past excellence I believe it within your capabilities."
She smiled happily at the man. 'She really does have a nice smile.' Thought Harry against his will, his mind giving into teenage hormones.
"Thank you sir. I am going to do my best in every subject." She vowed.
The professor chortled indulgently. "Of that I have no doubt, Ms. Gaunt."
Then, finally, he turned his attention onto Harry, his face positively beaming with excitement as he observed his star act. "Harry Potter, where to begin? I feel as if I barely scratched the surface when we met over the summer." He contemplated Harry for a moment as though he were a particularly large and succulent piece of pheasant and then said, "The Chosen One, they're calling you now?"
Harry said nothing, McLaggen, Belby, and Zabini were all staring at him, and though he could not see her eyes beside him, Harry felt the stare of the new girl boring into him as well.
"Of course," said Slughorn, watching Harry carefully, "there have been rumours for years. I remember when… well, after that terrible night, Lily, James….and you survived, and the word was that you must have powers beyond the ordinary."
Zabini gave a tiny little cough that was clearly supposed to indicate amused skepticism. An angry voice burst out from behind Slughorn.
"Yeah Zabini, because you're so talented at posing!"
"Oh dear," said Slughorn comfortably, looking around at Ginny who was glaring at Zabini around Slughorn's great belly. "You want to be careful Blaise." Said Slughorn. "I saw this young lady perform the most marvellous bat boggy hex while I was passing her carriage. I wouldn't cross her!"
Zabini merely looked contemptuous. Harry caught him shooting a look at Delphini, but she didn't seem to return it, something that gave Harry and odd feeling of savage pleasure at the Slytherin's expense.
"Anyway," said Slughorn, turning back to Harry. "Such rumours this summer. Of course, one doesn't know what to believe. The prophet has been known to print inaccuracies, make mistakes. But there seems little doubt, given the number of witnesses that there was quite the disturbance at the ministry and that you were there in the thick of it all."
Harry, who could not see any way out of this without flatly lying, nodded but still said nothing, though to everyone else, it was clear he was uncomfortable.
"So modest, so modest! It's no wonder Dumbledore is so fond. You were there then. But the rest of the stories, so sensational. Of course, one doesn't know quite what to believe. This, fabled prophecy for instance…"
"We never heard a prophecy." Said Neville, turning geranium pink as he said it.
"That's right!" Said Ginny staunchly. "Neville and I were both there too, and all this "Chosen One" rubbish is just the prophet making things up as usual."
"You were both there too were you?" Said Slughorn, looking from Ginny to Neville with great interest, but both of them sat calm like in front of his encouraging smile. "Yes, well, it is true that the prophet often exaggerates, of course." Slughorn Continued sounding a little bit disappointed. "I remember Gwenog telling me… Gwenog Jones of course, captain of the Holyhead Harpies…"
He meandered off into a long winded reminiscence, but Harry had the instant impression that Slughorn had not finished with him, and that he had not been convinced by Neville and Ginny.
When Harry turned away, exhaling softly with relief and turning to look out the window, he nearly butted heads with Delphini, who was leaning into him with a peculiar look on her soft, angelic features. Harry could not place the gleam in her grey eyes, but it unnerved him deeply despite her polite visage.
The afternoon wore on with more anecdotes about illustrious witches and wizards whom Slughorn had taught, all of whom had been delighted to join what he called the "Slug Club" at Hogwarts.
Harry could not wait to leave, but couldn't see how to do so politely.
Finally, the train emerged from yet another long misty stretch into a red sunset and Slughorn looked around, blinking in the twilight.
"Good gracious, it's getting dark already! I didn't notice that they'd lit the lamps. You'd better go get changed, all of you. McLaggen, you must come by and borrow that book on Nogales. Harry, Blaise, anytime you're passing, same goes for you young ladies." He twinkled at Ginny and Delphini.
As he pushed past Harry into the darkening corridor, Zabini shot Harry a filthy look that Harry returned with interest.
He, Ginny, and Neville followed Zabini back along the train.
"I'm glad that's over." Muttered Neville. "Strange man isn't he?"
"Yeah, he is a bit." Said Harry, his eyes on Zabini. "How come you ended up in there, Ginny?"
"He saw me hex Zachariah Smith. Remember that idiot from Hufflepuff who was in the D.A? He kept on and on, about what happened at the ministry, and in the end he annoyed me so much I hexed him. When Slughorn came in I thought I was going to get detention. But he just thought it was a really good hex and invited me to lunch. Mad eh?"
"Better reason for inviting someone than because their mother's famous." Said Harry, scowling at the back of Zabini's head. "Or because their uncle…" but he broke off, an idea had just occurred to him. A reckless but potentially wonderful idea.
In a minutes time, Zabini was going to re enter the Slytherin sixth years compartment, and Malfoy would be sitting there. Thinking himself unheard by anybody except fellow Slytherins. If Harry could only enter, unseen behind him, what might he not see or hear?
True, there was little of the journey left, Hogsmeade station had to be less than half an hour away, judging the wildness of the scenery flashing by the windows. But no one else seemed to take Harry's suspicion seriously, so it was down to him to prove them.
"I'll see you two later." Said Harry as he slid out of view.
He was planning on sliding into an empty compartment to adorn the cloak without anyone seeing him. From there, he would rush after Zabini and hopefully get into the Slytherin's compartment in time.
He was so caught up in his thoughts that he did not react fast enough when a pair of arms seized him from behind, and a bag was shoved roughly over his head.
He tried to call out but the bag must have been magical, as his voice carried no further than the inside of the bag.
Harry fought to free himself, but whomever had hold of him had the strength of a gorilla.
And then Harry heard an all to familiar voice drawl out an all to familiar spell.
"Petrificus Totalus."
Harry felt his body go completely ridgid, and he could fight no more.
He felt himself be dropped roughly onto the ground. He landed roughly on his arm and felt something snap as he heard a sickening crack and felt a searing pain emanating from his elbow.
"Leave." He heard the voice command, followed by rather rushed footsteps.
Then, all at once, the bag vanished and Harry, still unable to move or speak, was looking up into the steely grey eyes of Draco Malfoy.
"I warned you earlier, Potter." He said softly, bending low as to look Harry in the eye. "I warned you I would show you to respect your betters. And I have told you before to never say a word against my family. My father is a great man who was fighting for a much needed revolution in our world. You," Malfoy said disdainfully. "You're just a cockroach that will be stamped out when the Dark Lord sees it as prudent."
Malfoy smirked down at him maliciously. "But while you're still around, I thought I'd give you a few things to remember me by before I leave you on the train, under that fancy cloak of yours." He said this last bit while rummaging through Harry's robes and coming out with the silvery invisibility cloak. "Maybe they'll find you in London and you'll be back off to live with muggles. Better yet, they won't find you at all, and I'll have made the Dark Lord's job all the easier." Malfoy's grin only grew as he stood and aimed his wand at Harry, his grin now positively maniacal, and reminiscent of the one often worn by his aunt.
"But first, Crucio."
Every nerve in his body was on fire, as all of his bones seemed to burn with an unquenchable flame that would surely burn him to death. His body fought to twitch against it's invisible bindings, but it was to no avail. Harry tried to scream but his mouth would not open, he couldn't even bite down on his tongue. The pain was too much, and his eyes watered. He closed them, refusing, if nothing else, to give Draco Malfoy the satisfaction of seeing him shed a tear at his hands.
Finally, as it seemed harry would die from the pain, the curse was lifted.
Harry did not open his eyes, as they were still rather wet. He heard Malfoy breathing very heavily, as if he had just ran a marathon, and then he laughed coldly, as Harry heard him approach.
"And one more thing, Potter." He heard Malfoy say, still winded. Harry was caught unaware as what he assumed to be Malfoy's heal slammed down on his nose. He would have winced or cried out but he couldn't. He felt his nose shatter as blood began to flow freely down his face.
"That was for my father." Draco said in a low, dangerous voice before Harry's vision was obscured by the cloak as Draco completely covered Harry in it. "Safe travels, scarhead. It's been nice knowing you."
As Draco left the compartment Harry felt terror the likes of which he had never felt before, above all else though, Harry felt pain. Though it was nothing in comparison to the aftermath of the torture he had received at the hands of Voldemort, his body still ached. Eventually the pain became too much, and Harry simply gave in and allowed himself to be consumed by the blackness.
…..
Authors Endnote:
Wow! Talk about a hot start!
A much longer chapter than I was initially going for, but there was really no good place to break it up, so here you go.
I hope this was an enjoyable read, and I hope people don't just abandon it because they don't like the concept of Voldemort having a daughter. I am rather proud of this chapter, and truly hope it was enjoyable.
So, what will become of our bloody, battered and broken savior? And what are the implications of this vicious assault?
Keep reading to find out!
In the next chapter… well, I would hate to spoil anything, so you're gonna have to wait:)