Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter sadly…
A short author's note. This is a one-shot though I have some ideas for later events in this stories' universe so I do plan on adding more chapters. But I'm going back to college soon so it might be a while before I can update.
Harry was heading towards the kitchens to grab a snack while he was taking a break from Hermione's N.E.W.T.s studying plan. It was hard to believe that he'd made it to seventh year and was head boy as well. But after defeating Voldemort in the Department of Mysteries at the end of his fifth year his life had calmed down some.
Unfortunately he was still famous, but he was learning to deal with the press, and as Hermione pointed out he could use his fame to bring attention to several issues that needed to change in the Wizarding World. Harry had come to realize that the Wizarding World would always be watching him and would look to him for answers, just like they had to Dumbledore once he defeated Grindelwald. It seemed that wizards and witches would always look to 'heroes' for guidance and leadership.
Defeating Voldemort and during the following summer had matured Harry and he could accept his fame somewhat graciously. Though he would never like it at least he could use it for some good. Of course learning about his lordship and the eventual seats he'd gain in the Wizengamot had him learning more about politics.
The sound of yelling caught his attention. Following it down a different corridor Harry found three Gryffindor students picking on a smaller lone Slytherin boy. Harry's face turned grim, he hated bullies and would certainly crack down on it while he was head boy.
Stopping behind them he said "What is going on here?" his face cold as the boys jumped and looked up at him. The Gryffindor boys relaxed obviously believing that he would side with them while the Slytherin boy, who had to be a first year, tensed even more and looked half hopeful and half defeated at his arrival.
"Oh, um… We were just telling him where he belongs." One of the Gryffindor's said, the boys looked a year or two older than the Slytherin and Harry thought they were probably second or third years.
Harry remained quiet and looked at them, they obviously took that as encouragement as they continued talking.
"Ya know, just letting him know that his sort doesn't belong here."
"How we'll be watching him cause he'll be doing dark magic."
They continued on in the vein for a little not noticing how Harry's face darkened until one of them finally looked at him and realized that they might be in trouble and elbowed the other two boys making them stop talking. Looking up at Harry the boys froze. Harry's face was as grim and dark as a thunderstorm, his eyes a furious shade of green and they could feel the angry pressure of Harry's magic around them. Almost simultaneously the three boys gulped in fear as they realized that maybe Harry didn't support their actions after all.
"It seems to me that you were bullying him and I don't like bullies. He's not evil or dark just because he's in Slytherin. He's only a child and cannot be blamed for anything his family or any other adult has done. All Slytherin's are not evil, some yes were Death Eaters but so were members of the other houses and I don't see any reason to pick on any student because of their parents believes." Harry stopped for a moment to breath and thought about continuing his tirade against bullying but he knew that it would be a lot of talking and that he should save it for when he talked to a bigger group of students. He knew that bullying had been an issue for a while and he had tried to stop it but it would hopefully stick better now that he was head boy. Harry wondered if he could get Professor McGonagall to talk about it to the whole house.
For now he would leave it at what he said but he planned to talk about it further with them because he knew it took a while for people to learn to look past their preconceptions. "All of the houses have good and bad qualities and you can't judge someone based on their house. But I digress let's talk about the punishment of bullying. 15 points from each of you and detention sounds good to me, I'm sure that Professor McGonagall will decide on how long your detention shall last after we chat with her after dinner tonight."
All of the boys looked shocked at his actions, though the Slytherin looked on in awe while the Gryffindor's were contrite and just a bit ashamed, Harry shooed the Gryffindor boys back to their common room before turning to check on the first year Slytherin.
Kneeling in front of the first year Harry looked him over and saw no signs of hexing or any physical evidence of bullying so it liked like they hadn't beaten him. "Hello, I'm Harry. Are you ok? They didn't hurt you did they?"
The boy pulled himself together although Harry could tell he was still upset. "I'm Nickolas Ashby and I'm fine." He said though he looked like he wanted to ask something. Harry waited patiently and after a moment Nickolas asked "Why did you stop them? I thought you hated Slytherins."
Sighing Harry replied to Nickolas' question. "I don't hate Slytherins, I don't get along with some of them but for the most part Slytherins avoid me and I don't antagonize them. I'm sure they believe that I hate them but for the most part it's just Malfoy and I who argue and that's not because he's a Slytherin. Though Professor Snape doesn't really like me either… But I stopped them because bullying is wrong and I won't just stand by and let it happen when I can stop it."
Harry thought for a moment before deciding that he would share a secret with Nickolas. "Want to know a secret?" Nickolas nodded Slytherins always loved learning secrets no matter their age. "The sorting hat almost put me in Slytherin."
Harry, eyes bright with concealed laughter, grinned when Nickolas eyes widened in shocked and exclaimed "What?!"
Chuckling Harry nodded his head in affirmation, "Ya, it's true. I would have been in Slytherin if I hadn't been told that I was supposed to be in the same house as my parents had been in and the fight I had gotten in with Malfoy on the train ride here didn't help either."
Nickolas looked at Harry appraisingly as he rose from his kneeling position. "I know what you're thinking and yes I am very cunning, or at least according to the hat I am and since everyone trusts it for themselves… But I think people put too much faith in the houses, just because you're sorted into one doesn't mean you don't have characteristics from the other houses. There are not just four types of people in the world we all have different amounts of several characteristics. So just because I'm cunning doesn't mean I can't be brave too. And not everyone that's brave is loyal or noble either."
Raising his eyebrow Harry looked at Nickolas, "You understand?" Nickolas nodded and Harry changed topics figuring that was enough for now. "Now were you heading somewhere? Slytherins don't usually travel alone and I wouldn't recommend it for a while."
"I was heading to the library with my friends before I realized I forgot something so I went back for it while they continued on. Then those Gryffindor's ran into me." Nickolas said.
"Hmm, well how about I escort you to the library, just in case, and you can tell me how you like Hogwarts."
They started heading towards the library while Nickolas thought about Harry's question. "I like learning about magic, especially charms, but …" He trailed off not sure if he should continue or not.
"You miss your family? Or you don't like how the other students act because of your house?" Harry asked. At Nickolas' hesitant look he continued, "I won't tell anyone if that's what you're worried about but I honestly am asking because I care. I know that coming to Hogwarts is a big change and I know how hard the other students can be. Several times I've been thought of as evil or crazy before they go back to thinking I'm some great hero."
"A bit of both, I've never been away from family before and I have no family in Hogwarts with me so it is a tad lonely. I like my housemates, for the most part, but it's not the same and I know others feel the same way but they don't show it. And everyone hates us because we're Slytherins and we're not supposed to go anywhere alone or show emotions." Nickolas said in a rush, getting it of his chest did make him feel better.
"Well I can't do much about your family except to encourage you to write them and perhaps ask Professor Snape if you can floo call them." Harry said, thinking about the rest of the issue Harry wondered if the hatred between houses would ever cease. "For the students, just stick with your friends and don't react like how they expect you to. Don't retaliate in anger or hatred, defend yourself but don't fall to their level. I'm trying to stop the bullying but the rivalry between the houses has been going on for a long time."
They were almost to the library before Harry spoke again. "I know it's hard but I hope it'll get better. I'm going to keep on working to improve the relations between houses but change doesn't happen because of one person. I can't guarantee that the students will change but it'll get easier being here without family. And if you ever need help with anything I am here if you want."
Nickolas looked up at him, "Thank you for helping me and I'm glad that you don't hate Slytherins." Stopping in front of the library doors Nickolas chewed on his lip for a moment before turning to Harry "Do you want to meet my friends? Otherwise I don't think they'd believe me about you."
Harry grinned "I'd love to. What are you guys studying anyways?" Opening the door Harry looked around for a group of Slytherins but followed after Nickolas.
"We're working on our Transfiguration homework and reviewing what we learned in class."
"What's your homework? Perhaps I'll have some tips."
"The theory behind turning a match into a needle and we're reviewing the notes we took on it in class though most of us didn't manage the transfiguration."
Harry smiled "I remember learning that and if I recall right only one student got the first day we practiced that spell. If you and your friends want I can stay a while and help with the theory. The spell work we can only work on in the study area if you guys wanted to."
Nickolas smiled "That'd be great and I'm sure they wouldn't mind."
Harry and Nickolas approached a table with seven little Slytherins sitting around it. If Harry remembered correctly this was the entire first year class for Slytherin, it seemed that Slytherin wasn't gaining a lot of new members for the past two years and Harry hoped that it didn't continue.
Stopping in front of the table Nickolas waited for all of his year mates to be looking before he introduced Harry. "And he's offered to help us with our homework if we need it." Harry was introduced to Eric, Eileen, Tristan, George, Margaret, Anthony, and Velma and then spent the next hour reviewing the topic with them. After giving a general look over their essays Harry said that they looked fine to him but that he wasn't exactly an expert essay checker.
Harry offered to help them practice the spell for a half hour in the study room next to the library. They all made good progress with the spell even though the other occupants of the room stared at them for a while before going back to their own homework or studying. "Well I'm sure that in the next class period you will all get it right and I think you all have a good understanding of the theory behind the spell. I'm proud of all of you."
The first year Slytherins smiled and Harry could tell that his words meant a lot to them. "Well I have something to do before dinner, do you guys need an escort or will you be fine without me?" They said they would be fine and he reminded them that they could come to him anytime for anything before leaving and heading towards the kitchen.
Tickling the pear Harry entered the kitchens looking for Dobby or Winky but didn't see them. One of the other house elves noticed Harry and came up to him. "Can Mizzy be helping Mister Harry Potter?"
"Yes, I was wondering if it's possible to have hot cocoa during dessert."
"Mizzy be happy to do that for Mister Harry Potter!"
"Just Harry is fine Mizzy. Could you possibly serve hot cocoa for the first year Slytherins then? They're a little down and I thought that some cocoa would help them feel better. Also, if they asked for hot cocoa at the table would they be served it?"
"Oh Mister Harry is very kind to be thinking of the small snakeys. Elves be happy to make hot cocoa any time when asked. Mizzy would be happy to make it tonight for Mister Harry and small snakeys!"
Harry smiled glad that the first years would be able to have a treat. "Would you mind possibly mind delivering a note along with the cocoa?" When Mizzy nodded eagerly Harry reached into his bag to grab his quill and a piece of parchment to write a quick note to who he was considering his first years.
Enjoy your treat and you can have some anytime as long as you ask nicely and say thank you.
-Harry
Handing it to Mizzy Harry said thank you again and left to drop off his things in Gryffindor tower before going to dinner. While in the common room Harry ran into Ron and Hermione, who griped and complained about abandonment and why he didn't come back to study, respectively.
As they walked to dinner Harry explained how he had run into a group of bullies and the following time he spent helping the Slytherins with their homework.
"Oh Harry, that's a wonderful idea! We could spend time in the study area and offer homework help to the younger years. It might even help reduce fighting between the houses if we encouraged them to study across the houses. Maybe we could organize a study thing for each year or subject." Hermione said.
She continued on but Ron whispered to him, "You've got her started on another campaign, mate."
"Well this one is a good idea and I wouldn't mind helping the younger years while also getting rid of some of the distrust between the houses." Harry said loud enough to count as a reply to both of them.
Near the end of dinner when desert was just starting Harry looked over to the Slytherin table where the first years where sitting. He heard a pop and glanced down to see a cup of hot cocoa in front of him grabbing it he looked back to the Slytherins. His first years all looked shocked and happy once they had read the note that arrived with the cups of hot cocoa. They turned to him smiling and waved in thanks, he raised his cup in reply and smiled back.
Noticing Ron and Hermione's looks Harry told them about his request to the house elves. Ron quickly asked for some while Hermione smiled at his gesture, commenting on how thoughtful he was.
As dinner ended Harry made sure to speak to Professor McGonagall about the bullying incident and when they reached the common room she collected the three boys before they headed to her office to talk about their punishment and why what they did was wrong. Hopefully, Harry thought, they wouldn't repeat their actions again.
~~~~~~~~~~~ (Earlier from another standpoint) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Draco and Professor Snape were heading towards Snape's office when they heard yelling, they made their way towards it and were just around the corner when they heard Potter's voice. Stopping they listened to the encounter, ready to step in when Potter didn't stop the bullies. To their shock however Potter didn't praise them but instead punished them before comforting Ashby.
Snape just about had a heart attack and Draco almost choked when they heard Potter's opinion of Slytherin's and his almost sorting. They could hardly believe their ears. Perhaps Potter wasn't as bad as they thought or maybe he was just trying to expand his fan base.
Later though when the first year Slytherins returned, from studying, they learned that Potter had helped them with their theory and spell work. And at dinner he had gotten them hot cocoa, perhaps Potter did actually like the first years though that didn't mean the rest of the house, or just Malfoy and Snape, would suddenly be nice to him.