HEY! Thanks to all of you who put me on alerts and favorited the story! I really appreciate how much you like it. It's always a moral booster! This is the second chapter, I hope you guys all enjoy it. If it seems a bit rough in spots my apologies. I'm still getting the story rolling. If you want to PM me, or put up a review I'm always glad to have them! There is nothing better than having sounding boards. I honestly don't know what I would do without them.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything by the amazing JK Rowling. Except for any made up characters.
WARNINGS: MxM, profanity, fighting
Chapter 2
I listen to the headmistress' opening speech distantly. My mind is in total disarray and I can barely keep myself from staring at Snape. He looks much better than he did during my time as a student. As though the fifteen years of sleep, healing and recuperation has removed years of pain and anger. Lines have smoothed out and his hair formerly oily looking looks softer and is considerably longer. It's a healthy black color and pulled back out of his face, pinned by a silver, black and green octopus claw clip. I glance at him and our eyes meet. I wonder what he thinks of me. My hair has been painfully tamed by a short military like cut, and my eyes are framed by rectangular black frames instead of my old wire frames. I haven't grown taller, but I've become lean and muscular instead of half-starved. There's also several scars from my period in the Aurors. I'd chosen the most difficult of jobs while serving just to avoid people. One reporter during my time there had written that I thrived on fighting the worse, but that wasn't the truth. My survivor's guilt had fed my recklessness and it had taken being forced into three months of desk work after a serious, nearly debilitating injury for me to realize it. After I put things into perspective I ended up quitting since office and ministry politics frustrated me past recognition. I resented people trying to control me because my abilities and fame, childish, but it put me in a much better position. Hearing the headmistress announce the beginning of sort I'm pulled out of my head and have to smile. I listen to the Sorting Hat's boisterous, half-snide song and chuckle at how stunned and amazed the first years look. One by one they step forward. I smile at Scorpious warmly when he settles under the hat gingerly. Almost immediately it calls out Slytherin and he glances at me and I smile even more warmly at the boy. He looks relieved and clambers down. He settles at the end and a few people pat his shoulder gingerly although there are more glares and scared looks, forcing me to hide a frown. You would think that the Deatheater foolishness would have stopped affecting any generation following mine, but I guess old pains were still prevalent even in this time.
"Meredith Dursley," the next name is called out, pulling me away from my thoughts and I focus on my baby girl. I grin at her and watch as she saucily saunters to the stool and plops herself down. The hat settles itself onto of her and nearly goes cross eyed. She twirls one of her free strands of hair and looks almost bored. "You're a tricky one..." The hat grumbles.
"Tell me something I don't know," she says with a laugh. I have to cover a smile with my hand, my baby was definitely coming into her own.
"You could go anywhere... Any preferences? Maybe your uncle's house?" It seems to ask, nay beg. She smirks.
"My uncle said to let you puzzle it out," and I laugh, unable to hide my pride and amusement. She glances at me and we share an unrepentant grin. The hat grumbles and seems to sulk a bit before coming to a conclusion.
"Ah... I know exactly where to put you... SLYTHERIN!" The whole teachers table seems to seize up and glance at me as a whole. I smile widely as she doffs the hat. She waves at me and patters down to Scorpious' side. He grins up happily at her as she ruffles his hair before plopping down next to him. I see Rose looking after them wistfully and after several more students she finally goes. She's the second to last this year, only Zabini is left and I have a pretty good idea where he's going as well, however I'm not so sure about Rose. She could end up in either Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Gryffindor, maybe even Slytherin with the way she is around my niece, she does have George and Fred's blood in here, the reckless maniacs. Finally she delicately settles the hat on her head. This time it does go cross eyed.
"Dear Lord... Are you trying to kill me?" It nearly screeches. I cock an eyebrow. It sounds extremely huffy and almost matronly. A tone I've never heard before. "I thought Dursley was bad." I hear mutter and I glare at it angrily, it did NOT just insult my baby. It seems to sense my animosity and glances at me and plainly flinches under my look of wrath. "Sorry Harry, didn't mean anything bad by that..." I humph and smile softly at Rose when she glances at me wide eyed with a slightly glass expression. I can only guess what internal conversation the two are having.
"You could go anywhere but... I think... Ra... No... You're far to... Hrmmmmm... You're sneaky, smart, brave, and loyal... However you're greatest trait must be your patience and kindness... So I'll send you where it'd be used best... SLYTHERIN!" I smile at the gasps and Rose squeals with excitement. She tugs the hat off, places it back on the stool and runs right to Merry. The two girls squeal in the otherwise silent room. A Weasley in Slytherin... I bet everyone expected Salazar Slytherin and Godric Gryffindor to be rising from the grave to berate us all for letting it happen.
"I'm going to get such a howler..." I hear Minerva whisper and I have to hide a smirk when Zabini is finally sent to Slytherin. Covering an unrepentant grin I leave my position to take my seat for the next part of the opening year feast. I can't exactly blame her, but I could almost see this coming. Because really? I taught my girl self-preservation and loyalty first then cunning and bravery as well as a love of learning and freedom. It made sense. If anything the fact the next seven years would be interesting was an understatement. The whole hall seems to have descended into whispers and I pat Minerva's shoulder as I pass to sit. I look into Snape's eyes and give him half a grin. Settling next to him, I lean slightly over and whisper conspiratorially, "My niece is ten times worse than I and the Weasley twins combined, you have my sympathies for your house, especially since Rose is with her... I can almost guarantee you... My years here will pale in comparison." He looks directly into my eyes and I feel a strange warm bubble in the pit of my stomach. I grin at him and turn back to the Headmistress.
...o0O0o...
I was still stunned from when I saw Potter leading the beginning year students into the hall so I missed what he said mostly though the words worse than I and the Weasley twins combined sinks in. I shake my head and ponder over what I had expected, in all honesty, I guess I had suspected his teenage gangly form and messy hair with his nervousness, which I had once mistaken as arrogance. However, he is much changed, in fact his whole demeanor seems to have changed. An air of calm and patience seems to have tempered his authority and recklessness. It made me itch to rile him and see those vibrant green orbs glare up at me once more. To see his passion, something that had centered me in the weeks of healing and time in between. His eyes, full of kindness, regret and gentleness was what carried me through the last fifteen years. His voice had skirted my subconscious on and off during my periods in stasis. The warmth and gentle bids for my survival had driven me. His worries and mentions of problems, never his own personal ones, but for the wizarding world gave me things to think on when I had nothing else and reminiscing merely brought pain. Seeing how his forest and jade dress robes had swirled sedately around him with the lithe, almost predatory gait attributed to his years of Auror work I felt my body tense, however there had almost been a mothering, parenting quality to it. Those movement made it sink in, Potter was a grown man. One who was now quite close to my physical age. Him in his early thirties and I in the later. It made my body pulse.
The fact I was still unbalanced when the names were called hadn't helped my situation, and I was more than a little surprised when every teacher's focus seemed to zero on a red-blond haired lass with an albeit mischievous glint and walk. It made me wonder what exactly was so special about her, but it was not in my nature to put myself at the mercies of others and kept quiet, doing what I did best only next to potions, spy. When I heard Longbottom murmur to Minerva that girl was Potter's ward, his dead cousin's daughter I nearly swallowed my tongue. When she was sorted into Slytherin and Potter had smiled proudly at her I choked, fighting to control my facial expression. The rest of the table had similar reactions. The next students had gone without hitch until the Weasley girl was sorted into Slytherin as well. I glanced at my house. The face were the definition of awestruck horror. I couldn't blame them. The Golden Trios spawn was in their house. I was admittedly less than thrilled. When I glanced to my right as someone moved to the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor seat I bite the inside of my cheek. Hearing the quiet words murmured to me in all serious I feel a slight slither of awareness down my spine. Seeing the humor in those richly colored eyes I stare deeply into them and feel my body turn warmer at the almost artless quality and beauty in that masculine-toned heart shaped face. When Potter's attention shifts back to McGonagall. I hear the introductions with a half-ear. I lean forward slightly to look around Potter to see McGonagall and suddenly feel his body brush mine ever so slightly, causing almost uncontrollable heat flood me. Then he rises to greet the students with half bow and serious look. My name is called and I rise as he settles back into his own seat causing us to brush once again, but more full on and blood rushes lower and I have never been more thankful for thick robes. I cast a severe look at all students. I was not to be fooled with and settled into my seat once more. I hear McGonagall drone on a little while longer then tuck into food when it appears.
"So Harry how have you been?" I hear Minerva say cheerfully, or whatever it was she was attempting to sound, because there is a clear significant strain on it. I glance surreptitiously at them and the whole table seems to have turned as one to focus on the boy who lived. He finishes his sip from his goblet and gives her a half grin.
"Fairly well except for being worried about my baby girl, I don't know how I'm handling her growing up." Is his response. "It's only a few years til she's chasing after boys and the such." The whole table chuckles when he frowns at the thought.
"Ah.. Meredith Dursley, right? She seems like a good girl." Filius says in a chipper manner. Potter snorts humorously and opens his mouth to say something.
"If I may be so bold," I interrupt, he closes it and gives me a friendly glance, "did you not mention she was worse than you and the Weasley twins combined?" I had be placed as Head of Slytherin once more and was wary about the children and their antics.
"Nope," he says happily, I hear a collective sigh of relief, "I said she was worse than I and the twins times ten."
"Oh joy." I mutter. I hear an expletive coming from several others and I just glance at Potter. The others turn away and discuss a few detention options and course work. Obviously distracted away from Potter's fame. I see his slight smirk and wonder if his actions were planned. I let us both eat for a few moments before saying catching his attention, "She is your... Cousin's child? If I am correct?"
"Yes," he says cutting into a bit of lamb. He places it and a little of the mashed potatoes and green beans in his mouth. He chews before asking, "Why do you wish to know?"
"I was just curious as to how long she's been in your care." I answer the question honestly without evasion. He nods and replies.
"Since she was about nine months of age." The rest of the table which has been listening in while holding filler conversations slightly jump.
"I didn't read about that in the Profit," says the new Divination teacher in a simpering manner. Potter turns and glares at her coldly which I join wholeheartedly. Really how tacky can one fawning female be? She'd flirted with every person of age in this school since I'd been here. In fact the Head boy had hidden in my office for an hour to avoid the woman and he was in Hufflepuff and terrified of me.
"I didn't know my private life was the thing for the masses," Potter says deathly serious. "I didn't know everyone was required to know such things." I flinch slightly, if that wasn't a que to mind your own...
"Why wouldn't they?" she continues stupidly on, and I can see other people at the table close their eyes and cover their face in exasperation, "I mean you're Harry Potter!" I see a few of the older teachers wince. McGonagall seems to be quickly regretting her choice of teachers and I for one would not mind it if she turned the foolish thing into a toad. Potter however seems to have it well in hand.
"And isn't that such a blessing?" He drawls slowly, putting his silverware down pushing back from the table a bit, positioning himself in an aggressive laid back manner. Arms crossed lazily in front of him, his left arm's elbow on the table his other arm's hand curling around his wand. Those who had experience in the war and/or dueling recognize what he's doing and shift out of the way. I hide a smirk before setting my own silverware down as well and settle back a bit to enjoy the show.
"Isn't it?" She says dumbly. I shake my head at her idiocy. The chit really lacks all common sense doesn't she? I think, any fool can see he's distinctly displeased with the line of thought.
"Why don't you tell me? Can being orphaned be considered that? Being put in a household that quite openly despised you? To enter a school where everyone hates or loves you for the simple reason you survived something you had no knowledge of? To be repeatedly nearly be killed, or perhaps having several insane people after you ever single damned day..." He grows quite sharp and the little fool seems to shrink into her gaudy robes, which to be completely honest try to show off obviously fake assets. "Would you consider that a blessing?" His fingers do the briefest of snaps and more than just the twit jump. In a dead voice he says, "Having close friends and people you consider die for a cause you were plopped into the headship of is not a blessing. Losing ones parents because of stupid inane prophecy is not a blessing. Having to deal with inane, unintelligent imbeciles on a regular basis, be it the general populace, the media or governance is irritating at it's best, down right hell at it's worse. So no, the fame for being the Boy Who Did What Grown Wizards Were to Scared To Do, is not, nor will it ever be, a blessing." She opens her mouth, whether to argue or plead for mercy is unknown, because he cuts her off with a look. "My child, someone who is in a vulnerable position, unable to protect herself, is not going to go through what I did. She'll not be subjected to people's whimsy and belittling opinions of what they consider famous should do. She will not be given things she does not need because she is famous, or get things she wants by saying she's of relation to me. She was raised to be levelheaded and if I hear one word of someone spoiling her outside of her natural abilities because she's the niece of the Boy Who Lived I promise you this, my anger right now? Consider it the very first drop in a vast and unending ocean. My Meredith was raised to work hard and achieve things she wishes for and dreams of. She is not the niece of the Defeater of Voldermort," everyone winces at the name except for I and McGonagall which makes him roll his eyes in exasperation, "she is not Dumbledore's Apprentice's niece, how they came up with that title," he closes his eyes and seems to draw on a well of patience, "she is and will always be a trouble-making, shorter than normal mischief maker named Meredith Dursley. Am I perfectly understood?" Several nods cross the table and the Divination teacher asks again, really this moron,
"Still why didn't you tell the Prophet?" I watch McGonagall close her eyes and slowly cover her face with a hand. I see the vein in Potter's head finally pulse uncontrollably in his forehead, it's been straining itself these past few minutes. I eye the witch almost pityingly once comprehension finally dawns on her. Her neighbors all shift away from her and Potter rises from his seat and leans forward, glorious in his fury.
"BECAUSE MY CHILD WASN'T BORN TO SATISFY SIMPLETONS CURIOSITIES," Potter snarls, "MY MEREDITH IS SPECIAL WITHOUT HAVING THE WHOLE WORLD TRYING TO SHAKE HER HAND FOR SOMETHING SHE DIDN'T DO, OR WHO SHE'S RELATED TO. IN FACT SHE HATES PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF WHO TAKE AWAY OUR VALUABLE TIME TOGETHER WITH VACUOUS, OTIOSE, IRKSOME, FEEBLEMINDED BLETHER OVER SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED NEARLY TWO DECADES AGO. SO DO YOURSELF A FAVOR, AND LET IT GO AND NEVER MENTION IT AGAIN!" The Divination teacher's mouth is finally covered by her neighbor's hand and more than one person hisses at her to silence herself while she nods at him rapidly. Potter's wand is half drawn and McGonagall looks just about ready to hex her as well as half of the table. Luckily none of the students appear to know what's going on. There's a few charms that make everything appear like the teachers are having boring discussions over plain topics as a way to dissuade eavesdroppers and tricksters who would use such information as a way to pit one teacher against another.
Another teacher raises their hand timidly, I grimace at who it is. He's the new Quidditch coach, an almost replica of Gilderoy Lockheart, and just as dumb and foolish as the Divination's teacher. Potter narrows in on him and bites out, "What can I do for you sir?" I almost shake my head, guessing correctly that he isn't going to ask a question much better than the previous one.
"Is it true you're involved with the new singer Milly McNall?" He asks and Potter does draw his wand this time, then clenches before returning it to his side then sits back down heavily. He glances at McGonagall and it speaks incredible volumes, she nods sharply, just as irritated as him. She glances at the pair who are cowering slightly in their seat. Potter mutters accio something. Suddenly a pair of earplugs comes flying out of nowhere and he slips them on while replying one final time to the idiots.
"I am uninterested in silly little chits of eighteen years who throw themselves while half naked at men who could be even less interested. In fact she's simply too young for me, I'm not a child molester. So no I'm not involved with her, not that it's any of your damn business." He then starts eating once more. Filius has leaned forward and I too have notice something fascinating about Potter. Well, besides his new airs and body, which is something different than fascination, though it is no less... I shake my head to clear my thoughts and stare at the earplugs. I am nearly certain they have multiple charms on them. Tempted to ask, I am saved by another internal battle when Filius inquires in my stead.
"I say," Filius Flitwick says studying the earplugs closely, "what charms are those? The ones you have on the earplugs my dear boy?" Potter glances at him with a half smile.
"They're charmed so I can't hear foolish prattle, they're usually to prevent overhearing Meredith and Rose's conversations about celebrities and they're current love interest, I find that they block out most unintellectual babble after a horrible twelve hour train and bus ride. I swear every wizard and witch on that trip only had stupid things to say." He growls. I stare at the muffs in fascination.
"You mean you can block out the prattle of useless talking? Especially that of love interests and general cockamamie interests?" I inquire highly interested. He nods.
"It only allows for selective conversation, you can charm it so you only hear on type of thing or certain people. It's quite useful in large groups and conventions in that manner. People can talk without worry of being misheard. I've a friend who charmed their after I made it for them to record all pertinence conversations as well with a self-writing quill."
"Fascinating..." Filius and I both say. "So you can't hear the two," I wave disinterestedly in the direction of the Divinations and Quidditch professors who are babbling at McGonagall apologetically. Potter smirks and nods.
"It's charmed to block out idiots, Professor Snape," he whispers after leaning over, "I'm sure you agree that applies to them." I snort in humor and ask if I might get a pair as well, he nods and tells me he'll have them to me by the end of the week. Smiling inside, I can't wait.
...o0O0o...
"Look at all the food!" I exclaim happily. Rose smiles at me and laughs. Scorpious, he's finally begged us not to call him Scoro, he's asked us to find something else so I'm still thinking.
"It looks delicious," he says with a slight smile. He lifts the jug of pumpkin juice and offers to Rose and I, "may I pour you some?" I smile and give him a nod.
"Yes please, Scorpious," Rose says with a soft smile. She turns and asks the boy next to her, "Will you pass the rolls?" The glare at her and she recoils slightly. We're all surprised by the animosity in the second, maybe third, year's eyes.
"I have no intention of helping you blood traitors." He snarls meanly and my eyebrows go down. His venomous gaze turns to Scropious, "Especially the one whose family is nothing but weak Deatheaters who betrayed the Dark Lord." My eyes narrow at how Scorpious pales and a slight tremble goes through Rose I catch her eye and we almost immediately agree that the fool needs to learn who he's messing with. She slips me a small ball and I have to hide a smirk. I lean forward and grab the older boy's attention.
"Who said we wanted your help," I snap and he seems to shift back under my own angry glare. "Heaven forbid you have any actual manners or decency as a human being. Of course that must come from your upbringing. I pity your poor mother who has a son who so happily fails her in courteous attitudes to a young girl. If I was of a mind I'd send a howler to your home describing you obvious innate ability to insult someone without proper intelligence." A look of shock and a hint of respect crosses his face. I turn to the the first year on my other side, Zabini I think it was, and say pleasantly to him, "Will you please pass the rolls on your other side?" He hands them over silently and smile at him warmly. "Would you like anything on our side? Maybe the cider?" He nods and I look at Scorpious, "Scorpious please pass it." He hands it over silent and somber, however, a turn up his lips belying his serious manner. As a group we ignore the older student. Zabini offers his cup and I delicately pour it in, I fill it three-quarters the way and say in a lady like manner, "Is that enough?" He nods at me a smirk starting to grace his features. I return the jug to Scorpious and finally handle the rolls. "Rose?" I say offering her one she smiles and nods, and I place one on hers before offering one to Scorpious who turns it down. I place one on my own plate and give the rolls back to Zabini. I glance at the older student coldly.
"As you can see your assistance is unneeded. Courtesy, piety and intelligence will get me where I wish," I tug out a prank from my Uncle George. I toss the slight ball at him and it explodes in his face, turning it purple, "and I'll use any mischief and deviousness to get me the rest of the way there." I enjoy the moment before I hear a stern voice call out,
"Meredith Louisa Dursley!" I wince and glance to see my Uncle rising from his seat at the front table. Both him and a dark haired professor seemed to have caught the action and the rest of the table seems to have noticed as well.
"Damn," I mutter watching him and the teacher next to him debate for a moment who is going to comeover and deal with it I imagine. Not Uncle Harry, not Uncle Harry... I think, then see him fully straighten. "Fuck."
"Language," Rose and Scorpious mutter, though Rose's eyes are laughing and Scoprious seems to be embarressed. I roll my eyes at him.
"Don't be so virginal Scorpious...You're really just too pious." The last word clicks and I test it in my mind, "Pious... Huh," I look at him then exchange a look with Rose, "think that'll work?" She nods. I turn back to see my uncle halfway across the hall, headed in my direction.
"What?" He says while I watch my Uncle swiftly head towards us. I get up and smirk at him.
"Don't worry Pious, you'll figure it out." I grin at my uncle who is now standing in front of me then start when he takes hold of my ear, it's going to be a long lecture. He glances at Rose who smiles weakly at him.
"Give him the antidote, and after I return from scolding Meredith we'll discuss your punishment while you are give me every single item George Weasley gave you or so help me... I will write your mother and grandmother." Both Rose and I flinch at that. The howlers alone would be worse than any punishment my uncle could come up with, I hope. He then marches me out of the room. "Hell Merry you have some explaining to do." He mutters and I smile sheepishly at the nickname. I was in such trouble.
...o0O0o...
Pious and I watch Professor Potter drag Merry away by her ear and I rub mine in sympathy. The professor wasn't much for corporal punishment but he could grab an ear harder than anyone, even my tempestuous grandmother.
"Do you think she'll be okay?" Pious inquires worriedly. I smile at him and nod.
"She'll get an earful and more than a few detentions though. Professor Potter would take points away but we haven't earned any yet." I glance at the rest of the observers pityingly. "She'll earn and lose points in one swing people, so I hope you are good at earning them." I see a few nods, a few glares, and a few sneers. Shaking my head I offer the purple faced boy a lozenge. He eyes it and I warily and I laugh.
"I'm the restraint, the recon, and the judge," I say honestly, "I don't have to do anything, everything is handled by dear Hell Merry. I'm the one who decides whether or not they deserve it."
"Are you sure that's such a good thing?" Pious said worriedly, "I mean, wouldn't it be better not to fight with people?" I give him a grin. Really, he was such a sweetheart, how did those tough as nail parents give birth to such a gentle, soft spoken guy?
"That's why you're Pious." He looks at me incredulously and I sigh in exasperation. "You're polite and sweet tempered Scorpious, you're also incredibly nice. If you weren't as good as you are with self-preservation you wouldn't be in Slytherin at all. You'd probably end up in Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw. However, Merry on the other hand is a demon of tricks and temper. You, in a way, balance her out, but I stand right with her in any mischief and scold her in any wrongdoings. I'll let someone get away with big things when I wouldn't let someone else get away with little. I'm the Reckoning and Recon in the group, Merry's the one running around messing with everyone, and you're the one who prevents us from going too far by trying to sidestep the problem while being extremely kind. It's really amazing how quickly we've found our third in all of nine hours. Thought we'd have to go half a school year before that happened."
"I don't sidestep the problem!" He protests, I smile at his acceptance that he's our third best friend already and sip my drink before replying.
"Oh really? What would you have done after this neanderthal," I jerk a thumb at the boy, he's still eying the lozenge warily so I glare and snap, "really, take the damn lozenge," he takes it, "if he hadn't given us the rolls how you have reacted?"
"I wouldn't have gotten upset, I would have just ignored him from now on, as well as asked someone else." He answers softly.
"And that's why you're the sweet one, really Pious haven't Merry and I taught you anything in the last nine hours?" I chide him lightly.
"Besides that you're incorrigible, not much." He deadpans and I can't help but laugh. "I can't believe what you did to my hair. Not a single apology, just a few swipes and a 'would you look at that, it actually worked.'"
"Really, aren't you going to forgive us for that trick?" I say and he merely eyes me annoyed.
"You didn't tell me the nail polish could change my hair color so I believe I'm right to be a tad miffed." He says slightly cranky, then he smirks and says, "but then again, I'm Pious and you're already forgiven." We laugh and dig into the food talking of upcoming lessons and debating over how many detentions Merry is going to get. I say four, Pious snorts and says a week, he ended up right.
A/N: HEY! I finally got this chapter up, whew, it's been just staring at me all day. I hope to get reviews! I also plan on starting three tonight so it should be up soon unless I get side lined by something. So R&R my darling readers :)
Amni
