August 31 - September 1
After four weeks of being independent, getting to know his house elves, catching up on school assignments, doing further studies, doing personal studies and enjoying everything his new home could provide, Harry had found out several things about Nekos and himself. The most obvious other than his physical change was that he slept for fewer hours and was prone to being lazy when he wasn't doing something that his Inner Neko deemed worthy of their attention. Those things tended to be studying, choosing clothes and anything to do with what was his. He had also noticed that places above ground or floor level were more comfortable, soft materials were heavenly (he especially liked the carpet in his room. He could lie and play in it all day.) And he was hungry more and ate a lot more than he used to.
He had been working on ways to hide it when he went to school and so far he had figured that there was no way he would be able to hide his suddenly urge for knowledge and his Inner Neko would never allow him to be less than great. He had thought of excuses for those though.
Now though he had Pots arranging his things for returning to school the next day while he and Letty looked through storage for an appropriate trunk. They had found a plain black one with the Potter crest on the front of it in gold. It was a beautiful thing. They had pulled it out and cleaned it up before Letty levitated it back to his room with them. Pots smiled when he saw the trunk they brought and both he and Letty began packing his uniforms and extra clothes and books into the trunk. Everything he didn't need was left in the room. He was going to be coming back in a few months anyway. There was no way Dumbledore was going to stop him from leaving the castle for Christmas.
"Thanks guys." he told them when they had finished putting his broom and a fresh uniform at the top. Fobs entered then and added a case with specially harvested potion ingredients from their garden.
Cappy's contribution came the next morning when Harry was pulling his trunk down the stairs to the floo. He had just put the trunk to rest when Cappy entered the meeting area with two Tupperware containers.
"Treacle tart and blueberry pie." Cappy announced setting them into the trunk. "Stasis charm stays good for long time."
"Thank you Cappy." Harry stated patting him. Letty entered just then with Hedwig in her cage. She handed the cage to Harry who greeted the owl. He stared at the fire place for a moment preparing himself for the trip.
"Would you prefer if one of us took you?" Fobs suddenly asked. Harry looked over at him.
"You can do that?" he asked.
"Of course." Fobs said.
"I don't want them to see me with a house elf. They'll start asking questions that I don't want to answer as yet." Harry said even though he wished he didn't have to take the floo.
"We can do illusions too." Fobs stated and weaved an illusion of a man taller than Harry but similar in appearance except for brown hair. "Master Alistir."
"Oh wow. To put a face to a name. You speak about him a lot." Harry stated and truly he did. Everything Neko related usually lead back to Master Alistir for the little elf.
"You remind me of him very much." Fobs answered and the illusions hand stretched towards Harry. Harry took it surprised that it was solid and warm.
"Let's go then, before we are late." Harry stated grabbing hold of his trunk and Hedwig's cage. He looked at the other three. "Bye guys see you when I get back."
"Goodbye Master Harry." they chimed.
House elf travel was weird. It stated with a tingle, a pop, then you were there and it left you tingly for a moment afterwards. They were on Platform 9 3/4. The scarlet Hogwarts Express was already waiting and families were milling around.
"Please remember to eat properly and wear warm clothes in the winter. Eat the food Cappy prepared and remember to change to your uniform before you get to school." Fobs stated as he began to fuss with Harry's clothes. "Do you need help on the train?
"No, I'm fine and I will be fine." Harry told him but allowed Fobs to mother hen him for a moment. He looked out at the crowd and spotted a head of red, fall through the wall and he knew the Weasleys had arrived. He turned back to Fobs. "You have to go. The Weasley's are here. They will want to know who you are and that would never work out well."
"Ok but remember everything. Enjoy the school year and remember we are just a call away." Fobs said quickly and Harry nodded.
"Thank you Fobs." Harry said and hugged the illusion. "See you when I get back."
"Yes sir." Fobs said and popped away. Not a moment later he heard Mrs Weasley call: "Harry!"
He turned to her smiling just seconds before she scooped him into her arms.
"Who was that? Where were you? Have you been eating? Oh my you've gotten taller!" Mrs Weasley ranted as she checked him over.
"Who was who?" Harry asked as she calms down.
"The man you were talking to." Mrs Weasley clarified. She still had her hands on his shoulders, looking up at him.
"Just someone who helped me in." Harry lied with a shrug. She eyed him for a moment but let it drop.
"You look good Harry. Healthy." she said happily as her eyes checked him over again more thoroughly. "Are those new clothes? What happened to your glasses?"
"Yes. I've decided to take care of myself more." Harry stated with a smile ignoring the question about his eyes. She smiled back at him before waving over her children and Hermione. She had told them to stay while she went to check on him. Ron was the first to reach him.
"Harry! Mate!" Ron exclaimed clapping him on the back as Hermione and Ginny clambered to hug him. "We're the same height now! What happened to your glasses?"
"Harry, why didn't you answer my owls?" Hermione asked in a worried tone as she practically went through the same checks as Mrs Weasley. Harry was getting tired of the worried checking overs.
"You sent me one owl Hermione." Harry told her his smile wilting to a half smile. "That owl told me about you being safe in you-know-where and I didn't see the point in jeopardising that safety for a small means of communication when I would see you at school. Especially not when I was perfectly fine."
"You disappeared Harry." Ginny said slowly and Harry turned his attention to her.
"I left." he clarified in am alone at bored tone.
"Why?" Hermione asked and Harry gave her a flat look.
"I obviously didn't want to be there." he answered.
"But why?" she pressed and Harry's look turned frosty.
"Can we please have this conversation somewhere private?" Harry said stonily half glaring at them. They would not stand and talk about private matters here in the middle of a crowded station. "We need to get on the train. It was nice seeing you Mrs. Weasley but we really should get on."
"Oh... Alright dear." the Weasley matriarch said before giving each of them a hug. "Travel safely."
The walk to the train and the search for a free compartment was done without much talking between them. When they finally found a compartment and packed away their trunks it was Ginny who first broached the topic.
"Alright now spill." she said but Harry ignored her and spoke to Ron and Hermione instead.
"You both know that I don't like going there and I've already given my reasons why." he stated and they both nodded. "I guess this summer it finally got too much and I decided I'd had enough and left."
"You ran away." Ginny accused and Harry turned cool eyes onto her.
"No." he said in a hard tone that gave them pause. "I emancipated myself, took on my rightful titles and left to make a new home elsewhere."
"Titles?" Hermione asked.
"Lord Potter and Lord Black." He answered simply. There was no use covering it up.
"Seriously?" Ron asked and Harry gave him a look that spoke of how serious he was.
"But that means you own Grimauld." Hermione pointed out and Harry nodded.
"Yes. Among other places."
"How did this happen?" Hermione asked. Her mind was already on the puzzle it presented.
"Is that where you've being living? In one of those other places?" Ginny asked hysterically drawing their attention. "How do you know if they're safe Harry?"
"Am I dead now?" Harry asked with a glare. He had quickly become tired of this. It was like they thought he was stupid. He was a little reckless but he wasn't stupid. He had his own brain and it was a very good one and in perfect working order. "Don't you think I wouldn't have made sure to check for the safest one?"
"But why didn't you stay with the blood wards Harry?" Hermione asked then.
"There were none. There was never any blood wards." he answered with a shake of his head.
"Impossible" Ron exclaimed in disbelief.
"Did you make them to know? Did you check them? Do you know how to check them?" Harry asked. He discovered then that he didn't like to be doubted. It didn't help that they seemed to already think him stupid.
"How did you find this out?" Hermione asked and Harry turned his attention to her with a sigh. "The only way you would know about the whole Potter and Black thing is Gringotts. What made you go there? What made you leave?"
"Hermione, let's just say I came into an inheritance over the summer that made me realised had other things to do and leave it at that." Harry said with irritation in his voice. He pulled his pushed his shoes off and pulled his feet up onto the seat to curl up as he continued speaking. "Now I'm quite finished with this conversation and I'm tired so I will be going to sleep. I'll wake up when I feel like it."
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, shocked at his sudden dismissal. "What kind of inheritance?"
"Leave him Hermione. He's already sleeping." Ron said watching Harry's even breathing. It was the first time that he had seen his friend drop off so quickly. He actually looked comfortable curled up like that. Whatever happened over the summer he could live with it if it meant Harry could sleep this well.
"You're just going to leave this?" Ginny asked shocked at her brothers easy acceptance.
"There is nothing emergency worthy wrong with him and if he fell asleep that quickly he must be tired so why can't we just let him sleep. The trip is long and it hasn't even started yet. He'll wake up eventually then we can talk." Ron answered her with a shrug.
"Are you saying you don't have a problem with this?" Hermione asked with a glare.
"I'm not saying I don't have a problem but he's tired Hermione." Ron tried to let her see. Hermione looked from him to the curled boy.
"Fine." she said slumping in her seat. "But as soon as he wakes we have to talk."
"Sure." Ron said sinking into his seat as the train gave its final whistles before departure. "But don't force him ok. You know how he gets when you do that."
It was almost two hours later when Harry finally shifted and stretched with an almost feline sound of contentment. He blinked his eyes open to look at the occupants of the compartment. Luna had joined them along with Neville and now they were all looking at him.
"Hello all." he greeted with a sleepy smile. Neville waved back shyly. Poor guy needed more confidence
"Hello Harry." Luna answered returning his smile with one of her own. "I like what the change has done to you."
Harry froze mid-stretch and he felt the hackles of his inner Neko rise. The look she was giving him told him that she knew all about his Neko inheritance. He calmed a little when he realised that this was Luna and she wouldn't say anything if he let her know he didn't want others to know.
"Thank you." he said brightly and continued his stretches. "I liked the change of scenery as well."
"It shows. You're practically glowing with happiness." Luna said and he knew she understood. People didn't give her enough credit. The girl was brilliant.
"Thank you Luna. I feel happy." Harry said before standing and reaching for his trunk. "Who wants pie?"
"You have pie?" Ron asked instantly and Harry couldn't help smiling at him and he flung the top of his trunk open. He pulled out the container of blue berry pie.
"It's blueberry." He told them as he pulled out an oddly sharp plastic knife. "I don't have plates so use your hands and lick them when you're finished."
"Really Harry?" Ginny asked and Harry looked up from deciding how to cut the pie. "That's so childish."
"Well if you don't want any, Ron can get your share." Harry told her and began cutting the pie. "Who wants a piece?"
"I'd like some Harry." Neville asked and Harry cut him a big slice. Neville hardly asked for anything so he should get a lot in case he wanted seconds and felt he shouldn't ask. He cut the others a slice each and left a slice for himself.
"Do you want a slice or not Ginny?" Harry asked when he cut hers last.
"Say no." Ron prompted her; his slice was already almost finished. "It's delicious."
"Ron can have it." she said disdainfully. Ron eagerly took the slice.
"Where did you get this pie?" he asked with a moan. Harry smiled. It was good to know Cappy made good pie.
"A friend gave it to me." he answered and Hermione gave him a critical look.
"The strange man?" she asked and Harry looked at her blankly as he thought of a way to answer that while he chewed.
"His nephew." he finally said. It wasn't exactly true since they weren't related and Cappy thought of Fobs as more of a grandfather anyway. He couldn't very well tell Hermione it was a house elf that made it either. That would be would be another can of worms.
The pie was finished quickly and they were seated comfortable and sated. Harry was aware of Hermione and Ginny watching him as if they wanted to continue the previous conversation but weren't sure they should start it with Neville and Luna present. Ron was content to just relax after eating the pie. To avoid a resumption of the questioning Harry turned to Luna.
"How was your summer Luna?" he asked and she smiled at him. From there it was just a matter if keeping them occupied until they got near enough to Hogsmeade to change. Even then he tried to keep them talking about anything that wasn't him.
"Wow Harry!" Neville's exclamation caught their attention. "You look almost regal. New uniforms?"
"I especially like the crest on your trunk." Luna commented and Harry shot her a look. Apparently her understanding hasn't extended that far. "The Potter crest is quite beautiful."
"Where did you get that Harry?" Hermione asked now that her attention was pulled to the crest. How could she have missed that before?
"Summer." Harry answered with a smile. She opened her mouth to protest but Harry cut her off. "Haven't we reached Hogsmeade yet? I can't wait for the welcome feast!"
"Me neither. It's going to be good." Ron agreed as they felt the train begin to slow. He and Ron talked animatedly about the feast as they all left the trains.
"Is it me or did Malfoy not visit us this year?" Harry asked suddenly. He looked around at the others. "Did I miss it when I was sleeping?"
"He didn't come." Hermione said shaking her head. She hasn't realised it either.
"Thank Merlin." Ginny said happily and found them an empty carriage.
"Odd." Harry commented following her up. He was happy to pull Luna and Neville with them into the carriage. They set off immediately.
"Maybe he has other things to worry about." Luna commented dreamily. "The Nargles might be upon him more than usual this year."
"Well I'm glad I haven't seen him." Ron stated folding his arms across his chest. "Can we talk about something else that isn't the ferret?"
"Sure Ron." Harry laughed leaning into his seat fully and getting comfortable. "What do you think this year will be like?"
"Who knows with you Harry?" his friend answered with a smile. "There's always something there."
"I for one think we should be studying for the NEWTS." Hermione stated and Rob gaped at her.
"Hermione!" he exclaimed and Harry chuckled.
"I've already started." Harry said and several pairs of shocked eyes turned to him. He watched them amused. "How about you Neville?"
"I've read a bit." Neville answered.
"You're studying Harry, that's great." Hermione said excitedly
"You've deserted me Harry!" Ron whined.
"No Ron." Harry told him laughing. "I'm not leaving you to fend for yourself. I'm still hanging around for the fun stuff. I'm not at Hermione's level of studying."
"What's that supposed to mean?" the girl asked with narrowed eyes.
"You're abnormal Hermione." Harry teased and Hermione pouted.
"Am not." she protested but everyone was laughing by then.
XXXXX
That night Harry lay silently in his bed listening to his roommates sleep and contemplating his day. He wasn't tired yet even though it was already a few minutes past midnight. He knew he would lay there for about another two hours before falling asleep to wake up with the others.
His day had progressed better than he had thought it would. Hermione, Ron and Ginny hadn't been able to question him after Neville and Luna had joined them so he had made it through the trip to Hogwarts and through the welcome feast without too many questions. He had spoken with Dean and Seamus for a little to get away from having them questioning him before employing the 'so tired I need to sleep' card and retreating to the dorm. He had then spent the next hours reading and preparing for his classes for the next week until everyone one came up sleep. He faked sleep for a while until Ron checked on him then went to his own bed. When he was sure that they had all finally fallen asleep he had sat up again and began practising the spells he had learned over the summer without actually performing them. He would have time to actually test them out soon enough.
He had been surprised at dinner when Dumbledore announced that Professor Snape would not be teaching Potions anymore instead it would be taught by a new professor Horace Slughorn. He wasn't sure whether to be horrified or excited that Snape would be teaching Defence Against The Dark Arts this year. Snape was bound to be irritating but he would teach them the important things and ensure they excelled at it. He might actually stand a chance in Potions this year as well. He wasn't going to give Snape a chance to bully him either. Perfect behaviour if need be.
The next thing to figure out was his time management. He had more hours in his day now with less sleep. He figured he could do normal school with everyone, hang with Ron and study with Hermione in equal amounts then do his own studying and work later in his free time and would eventually figure out a way to get some alone time and probably meditation on his own in the nights. It sounded like a good plan to him. Or he could nap more often. That sounded good too.
He cast a silent Tempus and silently cheered when its success was shown in the floating digits it presented. Got it right the first time he ever tried it. 2:30 am. He could sleep now and wake up about the same time the others woke up. He shifted into his bed and under the sheets and snuggled until he was comfortable. Two minutes more and he was fast asleep.
September 8
The first week of school turned out to be tiring. Actual school work was not a problem. Classes with Snape were just like he thought they would be: informative and advanced while being an absolute pain in the arse. Everything else was just about the same.
The tiring part of the week was the constant looks that Hermione and Ginny shot him. Ron wasn't so bad because he had accepted the reason why Harry had left the Dursleys and everything else Harry had told them. Hermione had gone off the handle when she had learned about Fobs, Pots, Letty and Cappy while Ron had shrugged and watched on as she raged at Harry. Some help he was.
'You've heard me talk about the injustice of having house elves and now you don't just have one but four?!' she had almost screamed to which Harry had answered her. 'If they don't want to be free there is not much I can do but treat them like normal people and a part of the family.'
She had glared at him and stomped off. Needless to say he got an earful from Ginny the next day about upsetting Hermione. Ron had simply said 'Sorry mate' then changed the subject to Quidditch. Hermione had been displeased for the rest of the week and it had irritated Harry while his Neko seethed in the back of his mind. It was his decision how to treat who lived in his house. It was his house.
He had quickly found that he could be calmed quite easily if he spent at least a few hours in the night at the Astronomy Tower taking in the stars and the cool air. He had taken to visiting there on nights when Astronomy students didn't have a class there even if there had only been one class so far. The rest of time before sleeping was spent exploring the castle or reading in his bed. He had perfected privacy wards and silencing charms in the few days since the start of the term so as not to bother his roommates. He had also become versed in the art of avoiding Mrs. Norris. She hadn't caught him yet but she had come close this evening.
After yet another glare filled day from Hermione and another round of assignments from each of his teachers Harry had slaved over them for a few hours on his own before heading to his bed with the others. Ron had been off trying to get Hermione to calm down and to help him with his work. He was tempted to just go to sleep but decided to go for a walk when he was sure they were all asleep.
He slipped out of his bed and silently made his way out of the dorm down to the common room and out into the schools halls. He revelled in the silence and slinked along the halls without so much as a sound. He listened intently for any noise within the castle as he moved toward his destination. The Astronomy Tower.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he finally saw the door to the open night sky he had come to see. He was so happy to finally make it that he missed the fact that the door was already slightly open. He slipped out into the night air and took in the cool edging on cold air before looking around and froze.
Someone had invaded his comfort space. Seamus. Yet it was a different Seamus then he was used to. This Seamus was sitting in the corner of the balcony railing leaned against the wall with his feet up and lost in thought. This Seamus was absently petting his golden furred tail with golden cat ears nestled in his longer than usual brown hair. He looked surreal and Harry stared. Full on stared. So lost was he that he didn't notice when Seamus frowned after catching his scent on the wind and only snapped out of it when he turned to look for the source. Seamus froze in panic instantly. Noticing that panic Harry opened his mouth to calm him and tell him he was the same but before he could so much as utter a sound, Seamus was gone. He had zipped past him and through the door before his brain was even able to catch up. Harry spun to chase after him but even then he knew he wouldn't catch him. Not now. He still did a small search before he resolved to find Seamus and have a talk with him. For the moment, he returned to the tower to bask in the moonlight and his thoughts on how he could have missed that Seamus was a Neko too.